Battery cell block, battery pack including same, and automobile

Abstract

A battery cell block, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle are disclosed. The battery cell block according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of cell units stacked in at least one direction, each cell unit including one or more pouch-type battery cells and a cell cover configured to encase the one or more pouch-type battery cells, and a fixing member configured to surround the stack of cell units to fix the stacked state of the cell units.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0089866 filed on July 20, 2022 and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0055789 filed on April 27, 2023, and the contents disclosed in the specifications and drawings of said applications are incorporated herein in their entirety.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery cell block, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle, and more particularly to a battery cell block that can efficiently mount and fix a plurality of cell units inside a pack case, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0003] The recent remarkable development of and increasing demand for various mobile devices, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems (ESS) has led to a rapid increase in interest and demand for secondary batteries as an energy source. While nickel-cadmium batteries and nickel-metal hydride batteries were widely used as secondary batteries in the past, lithium secondary batteries have recently come into widespread use due to their flexible charging and discharging capabilities, extremely low self-discharge rate, and high energy density, all of which are less susceptible to memory effects compared to nickel-based batteries.

[0004] This type of lithium secondary battery mainly uses a lithium-based oxide and a carbon material as the positive and negative electrode active materials, respectively, and includes an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate, each coated with the positive and negative electrode active materials, are arranged with a separator sandwiched therebetween, and an exterior material, such as a battery case, that encloses the electrode assembly together with an electrolyte.

[0005] Generally, secondary batteries can be classified into can-type secondary batteries, in which an electrode assembly is housed in a metal can, and pouch-type secondary batteries, in which an electrode assembly is housed in a pouch made of an aluminum laminate sheet, depending on the shape of the exterior material.

[0006] Recently, battery packs have been widely used for driving and storing energy in medium- to large-sized devices such as electric vehicles and energy storage systems (ESS). A conventional battery pack includes one or more battery modules and a control unit, known as a Battery Management System (BMS), that controls the charging and discharging of the battery pack inside a pack case. Here, a battery module is configured to include multiple battery cells inside a module case. That is, in the case of a conventional battery pack, multiple battery cells (secondary batteries) are housed inside a module case to form each battery module, and one or more such battery modules are housed inside a pack case to form a battery pack.

[0007] In particular, pouch-type batteries have various advantages, such as being lightweight and leaving little dead space when stacked, but they are vulnerable to external impacts and are somewhat difficult to assemble. Therefore, battery packs are generally manufactured by first modularizing multiple cells and then housing them inside a pack case.

[0008] However, conventional battery packs can be disadvantageous in terms of energy density, ease of assembly, and cooling due to modularization. Therefore, attempts have recently been made to develop cell-to-pack (CTP) battery packs. However, flexible pouch cells themselves present various problems, such as the difficulty of assembling them into the pack itself and the difficulty of securing them stably. Furthermore, conventional battery packs are difficult to ensure stability during venting. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] Therefore, the present invention has been devised to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a battery cell block that can efficiently fix blocked cell units and achieve stable venting, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle.

[0010] However, the technical problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention given below. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, a battery cell block may be provided that includes a plurality of cell units stacked in at least one direction, each cell unit having one or more pouch-type battery cells and a cell cover configured to encase the one or more pouch-type battery cells, and a fixing member configured to surround the stack of cell units and fix the stacked state of the cell units.

[0012] In one embodiment, the cell cover may be formed with a vent hole through which gas is discharged, and the fixing member may be configured to close the vent hole.

[0013] In one embodiment, a plurality of the vent holes are formed, and one fixing member can be configured to close the plurality of the vent holes.

[0014] In one embodiment, the fixing member may surround the stack of cell units in a manner corresponding to the stacking direction of the plurality of cell units.

[0015] In one embodiment, the fixing member may be configured to be opened by the ejection pressure or temperature of the substance ejected from the vent hole.

[0016] In one embodiment, the fixing member may have a cutout or notch formed in a portion corresponding to the vent hole.

[0017] In one embodiment, the fixing member may be formed with a jig fitting portion into which a jig can be fitted.

[0018] In one embodiment, the jig receiving portion may be formed at a corner portion of the upper end of the fixing member.

[0019] In one embodiment, the cell cover includes a first cover portion covering one side of at least one battery cell among the plurality of battery cells, a second cover portion covering the other side of at least one battery cell among the plurality of battery cells, and a third cover portion connecting the first cover portion and the second cover portion and covering an upper end portion of the at least one battery cell, wherein the vent hole is formed in the third cover portion, and the fixing member may be configured to contact the third cover portion to close the vent hole.

[0020] In one embodiment, the cell cover may be configured to support the at least one pouch-type battery cell in an upright position.

[0021] Meanwhile, according to one aspect of the present invention, a battery pack may be provided that includes the above-described battery cell block and a pack case that houses the battery cell block in an internal space.

[0022] In one embodiment, the cell cover may partially enclose the pouch-type battery cell to form an opening through which at least one side of the enclosed pouch-type battery cell is exposed toward the pack case.

[0023] In one embodiment, the pouch-type battery may include a control module configured to control charging and discharging of the pouch-type battery cell.

[0024] Meanwhile, according to one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle including the above-described battery cell block may be provided.

[0025] Meanwhile, according to one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle including the above-described battery pack can be provided. [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] According to one aspect of the present invention, cell units including pouch cells are blocked, and such blocked cell units can be efficiently fixed.

[0027] According to one aspect of the present invention, the vent holes of each cell unit are covered so as not to be exposed under normal conditions, thereby preventing foreign matter from penetrating into the battery cell side. Furthermore, such a vent hole covering configuration can be achieved together with a configuration for fixing the pouch cell unit block.

[0028] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, when thermal runaway occurs in a specific battery cell, it is possible to effectively respond to a thermal event. In particular, in the case of the present invention, of the three elements that cause a flame (fuel, oxygen, and ignition source), the accumulation and discharge of heat, which corresponds to the ignition source, can be blocked or appropriately controlled. Furthermore, in the case of the present invention, by quickly and smoothly discharging vent gas, heat accumulation can be blocked and explosions due to increased internal pressure can be prevented.

[0029] In addition, according to one aspect of the present invention, a plurality of pouch-type battery cells can be stably accommodated inside a pack case without the need for components such as a stacking frame, such as a plastic cartridge, or a separate module case.

[0030] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, a configuration in which pouch-type battery cells having flexible cases are easily formed into a rigid shape and directly stacked inside a pack case can be more easily realized, thereby improving the ease of assembly and mechanical stability of the battery pack.

[0031] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, a cell to pack (CTP) concept is adopted, and a module case, etc., is omitted, thereby improving cooling performance and energy density, etc.

[0032] In addition to these, the present invention can have various other effects, which will be explained in the respective embodiments, and explanations of effects that can be easily inferred by those skilled in the art will be omitted.

[0033] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and serve to further understand the technical concepts of the present invention as well as the content of the invention, and therefore the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to only the matters described in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0034] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a battery cell block according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the configuration of FIG. [Figure 3] 3A and 3B show an alternative embodiment of the fixing member of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 and 2. FIG. 4 shows another modified embodiment of the fixing member of FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one cell unit included in a battery cell block according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA′ in FIG. 5. [Figure 8] 2A and 2B show alternative embodiments of the battery cell block of FIG. 1. [Figure 9] 1. FIG. 4 shows another alternative embodiment of the battery cell block of FIG. [Figure 10] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 11] 1 is a diagram illustrating a vehicle including a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be construed as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be construed as meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical ideas of the present invention, based on the principle that the inventor himself can appropriately define the concepts of terms in order to best explain the invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiment described in this specification and the configuration shown in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiment of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical ideas of the present invention, and therefore various equivalents and modifications that can be substituted therefor may exist at the time of filing this application.

[0036] In the drawings, the size of each component or specific parts of the component may be slightly exaggerated, omitted, or illustrated schematically for ease of explanation and clarity. Therefore, the size of each component does not fully reflect the actual size. If a detailed description of related well-known functions or configurations is deemed to be likely to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, such detailed description will be omitted.

[0037] The terms "coupled" or "connected" as used herein include not only cases where one member is directly coupled or connected to another member, but also cases where one member is indirectly coupled or connected to another member via a joint member.

[0038] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a battery cell block according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the configuration of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a modified embodiment of the fixing member of FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another modified embodiment of the fixing member of FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one cell unit included in a battery cell block according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrows A-A' of FIG. 5.

[0039] 1 and 2, a battery cell block 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of cell units 100 and a fixing member 200.

[0040] Referring to Figures 5 to 7, the cell unit 100 may include a battery cell 110 and a cell cover 120, and as in Figures 1 and 2, multiple cell units 100 provided in the battery cell block 10 are stacked in at least one direction.

[0041] The battery cell 110 may be one or two or more pouch-type battery cells 110. For example, one battery cell 110 may be provided in each cell unit 100, two battery cells 110 may be provided, or three battery cells 110 may be provided. Alternatively, four or more battery cells 110 may be provided in each cell unit 100.

[0042] The pouch-type battery cell 110 is a pouch-type secondary battery and may include an electrode assembly, an electrolyte, and a pouch outer casing. That is, the battery cell 110 corresponds to a basic unit of charge and discharge, and may be manufactured by housing an electrode assembly and an electrolyte inside a soft metal case and sealing the metal case. In this case, the electrode assembly may be manufactured by sandwiching a separator between a positive electrode and a negative electrode.

[0043] In addition, electrode leads 111 electrically connected to the electrode assembly may be provided at the front and rear ends of the battery cell 110. Such a battery cell 110 may be configured in a pouch shape. When each cell unit 100 includes multiple pouch-type battery cells 110, the multiple cell units 100 may be stacked in at least one direction, for example, the left-right direction, with the receiving portions of the cell covers 120 facing each other.

[0044] 5 to 7, the cell cover 120 may be provided to at least partially enclose at least one pouch-type battery cell 110 among the plurality of pouch-type battery cells 110. For example, referring to Fig. 7, the cell cover 120 may be configured to at least partially enclose three battery cells 110. However, the number of three battery cells 110 is merely one embodiment, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0045] Here, the cell cover 120 may be configured to partially enclose the pouch-type battery cell 110 so that at least one side of the pouch-type battery cell 110 enclosed by the cell cover 120 is exposed to the outside.

[0046] The cell cover 120 may be configured to support the battery cells 110 housed therein. In particular, the cell cover 120 may be configured to stably support the battery cells 110 housed therein in an upright state.

[0047] Specifically, the cell cover 120 may be configured to support the pouch-type battery cells 110 in an upright position. Generally, it is not easy to stack the pouch-type battery cells 110 in an upright position. However, the cell cover 120 in the battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention can encase one or more pouch-type battery cells 110 and support the enclosed pouch-type battery cells 110 so that they remain in an upright position.

[0048] 5 and 6, the cell cover 120 may include a first cover portion 121, a second cover portion 122, and a third cover portion 123.

[0049] The first cover portion 121 may be configured to cover one side surface of at least one battery cell 110 among the plurality of battery cells 110. The first cover portion 121 may be configured in a shape that extends downward from one end of the third cover portion 123. For example, the first cover portion 121 may be configured in a shape that extends in an elongated shape downward from the left end portion of the third cover portion 123. The first cover portion 121 may be configured to enclose a wide surface of the battery cell 110 housed therein.

[0050] The second cover portion 122 may be configured to cover the other side surface of at least one battery cell 110 among the plurality of battery cells 110. The second cover portion 122 may be positioned so as to be horizontally spaced apart from the first cover portion 121. The second cover portion 122 may be configured to have a shape that extends downward from the other end of the third cover portion 123. For example, the second cover portion 122 may be configured to have an elongated shape that extends downward from the right end portion of the third cover portion 123. The second cover portion 122 may be configured to enclose a wide surface of the battery cell 110 housed therein.

[0051] The third cover part 123 connects the first cover part 121 and the second cover part 122 and covers an upper end portion of at least one battery cell 110. The third cover part 123 may have a vent hole 124 formed therein to discharge gas.

[0052] 7, when the cell cover 120 is configured to include a first cover portion 121, a second cover portion 122, and a third cover portion 123, the cross-sectional shape of the cell cover 120 viewed from the front side can be said to be roughly similar to the letter "n." Therefore, in this case, the cell cover 120 can be called an "n-fin."

[0053] Meanwhile, in a modified embodiment (not shown), the cell cover 120 may be configured to enclose both side surfaces and the lower edge of one or more pouch-type battery cells 110. In this case, the cross-sectional shape of the cell cover 120 viewed from the front side may be roughly similar to a "U" shape. In this case, the cell cover 120 may include two side cover portions and a lower cover portion. Here, the vent hole 124 may be formed in the lower cover portion. The fixing member 200 may be configured to cover the vent hole 124 of the lower cover portion.

[0054] At least one pouch-type battery cell 110 among the plurality of pouch-type battery cells 110 may be fixed by adhesion to the inner surfaces of the first cover part 121 and the second cover part 122. The material for adhesion may be thermally conductive. By such adhesion, the cell cover 120 is firmly bonded to the battery cell 110 and helps to dissipate heat generated from the battery cell 110 to the outside of the battery cell 110.

[0055] 2, 5, and 6, at least one vent hole 124 for discharging flames or gas may be formed in the cell cover 120. Here, the vent hole 124 may be configured to penetrate between the inner and outer spaces of the cell cover 120 so that gas can be discharged from the inner space to the outer side. The vent hole 124 may be configured to be closed by a fixing member 200, which will be described later.

[0056] The vent holes 124 may be formed in various numbers at various positions on the cell cover 120 along a predetermined vent direction. For example, the vent holes 124 may be formed in the third cover portion 123. Although three vent holes 124 are formed in the third cover portion 123 in Figures 2, 5, and 6, the number of vent holes 124 is not limited thereto.

[0057] In this way, when the vent hole 124 is formed in the third cover part 123, gas and the like can be discharged upward. This has the effect of discharging gas and flames generated in the event of thermal runaway of the battery cell 110 in an intended direction, for example, toward the upper side where other battery cells 110 or other battery modules are not arranged, thereby preventing a chain reaction of thermal runaway.

[0058] The cell cover 120 partially encloses the battery cell 110 to form an opening 125 through which at least one side of the enclosed battery cell 110 is exposed toward the pack case 20. This will be described in detail in the following section on an embodiment of the battery pack 1.

[0059] The cell cover 120 may be formed as a single unit. In this case, the cell cover 120 may be formed by bending a metal plate having a plate-like structure. That is, the cell cover 120 may be formed in a shape in which a single plate is bent.

[0060] The cell cover 120 may be made of a metal material. For example, the cell cover 120 may be made of steel, and in particular, may be made of a material including stainless steel (SUS), which is easy to process, highly corrosion-resistant, and has excellent mechanical strength and rigidity. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the cell cover 120 may be made of a variety of materials other than SUS to ensure rigidity. For example, the cell cover 120 may be made of a chromium (Cr)-based metal material. Such metal materials can more stably maintain the stacked state of the battery cells 110 and more safely protect the battery cells 110 from external impact. Furthermore, as an example, if the cell cover 120 is made of a steel material such as SUS, its high melting point allows the overall structure to be stably maintained even if a flame breaks out from the battery cell 110. In particular, because steel has a higher melting point than aluminum, it is less likely to melt even in the flames erupting from the battery cell 110, and its shape can be stably maintained. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent or delay the flame propagation between the battery cells 110, and effectively control the vent.

[0061] The cell cover 120 may include an insulating coating layer (not shown) on its inner surface. The insulating coating layer (not shown) may be formed by coating, applying, or attaching any one of insulating materials such as silicone resin, polyamide, and rubber. The insulating coating layer configuration of the cell cover 120 according to this embodiment maximizes the insulating coating effect with a minimal amount of coating. In addition, since the insulating coating layer (not shown) is applied to the inner surface of the cell cover 120, the insulation between the battery cell 110 and the cell cover 120 can be strengthened.

[0062] The cell cover 120 can be configured to encase a wide variety of numbers of pouch-type battery cells 110 together. For example, one cell cover 120 can be configured to encase one pouch-type battery cell 110. Alternatively, one cell cover 120 can be configured to encase two pouch-type battery cells 110 together. Alternatively, one cell cover 120 could be configured to encase three pouch-type battery cells 110 together. Alternatively, one cell cover 120 could be configured to encase even more pouch-type battery cells 110 together.

[0063] The cell cover 120 may be formed to a thickness of approximately 0.2t. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The cell cover 120 may also be formed to have different thicknesses in parts. Furthermore, polyimide (PI) of approximately 0.05t thickness may be attached to both sides of the cell cover 120 for insulation.

[0064] One or more pouch-type battery cells 110 may be configured in a vertically standing shape inside the cell cover 120.

[0065] In this way, one or more pouch-type battery cells 110 and one cell cover 120 enclosing the one or more pouch-type battery cells 110 may constitute one cell unit 100. In particular, from the viewpoint that the number of pouch-type battery cells 110 housed inside the cell cover 120 can be adjusted by adjusting the width of the cell cover 120, such a cell unit 100 may be referred to as an SPU (Scalable Pouch Unit).

[0066] A plurality of cell units 100 may be included in a battery pack 1, which will be described later. Here, the plurality of cell units 100 may be stacked in at least one direction. For example, as shown in Fig. 10, the plurality of cell units 100 may be arranged side by side in the left-right direction, facing each other.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 1, the fixing member 200 is configured to surround the stack of cell units 100, thereby fixing the stacked state of the cell units 100.

[0068] The fixing member 200 may contact a variety of parts of the cell unit 100, but, referring to Figures 1 and 2, for example, it may be configured to close the vent hole 124 formed in the third cover portion 123 of the cell cover 120.

[0069] 1, when the fixing member 200 surrounds the stack of cell units 100, the vent holes 124 of each cell cover 120 may be entirely covered by the fixing member 200 without being exposed to the outside. However, the fixing member 200 may be configured in a shape that covers only some of the vent holes 124 of the multiple vent holes 124 included in the stack of cell units 100.

[0070] 2, a plurality of vent holes 124 may be formed, and one fixing member 200 may be configured to close the plurality of vent holes 124. The fixing member 200 may be configured to surround the stack of cell units 100 in a manner corresponding to the stacking direction of the plurality of cell units 100.

[0071] To explain this as an example with reference to Figure 1, when multiple cell units 100 are stacked in an upright position in the left-right direction (the Y-axis direction in Figure 1) to form a stack of cell units 100, the fixing member 200 is band-shaped and can ensure that the stacked state of such a stack of cell units 100 is stably maintained.

[0072] The fixing member 200 may be formed in a square ring shape, for example, a square shape, but the present invention is not limited to this. In this case, the fixing member 200 may be configured in a shape that encloses the top, left, bottom, and right sides of the stack of cell units 100.

[0073] 1, a plurality of fixing members 200 may be provided in the stack of one cell unit 100. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of fixing members 200 may be changed in various ways. For example, one or more fixing members 200 may be provided in the stack of one cell unit 100.

[0074] The fixing member 200 may be made of a metal material such as steel to ensure a certain level of rigidity. Alternatively, the fixing member 200 may be made of a material such as a polymer. However, the material of the fixing member 200 is not limited thereto.

[0075] In this way, if the stack of cell units 100 is fixed by the fixing member 200, the battery cell block 10 including the cell units 100 and the fixing member 200 can be fixed more efficiently to the pack case 20 described below. That is, as shown in FIG. 1 , a battery cell block 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a plurality of cell units 100 and one or more fixing members 200 that fix the plurality of cell units 100.

[0076] As described above, the fixing member 200 closes the vent hole 124 formed in the third cover portion 123 of the cell cover 120 under normal circumstances, but can be configured to open due to the ejection pressure or temperature of the substance ejected from the vent hole 124 in the event of a thermal event.

[0077] Specifically, when no abnormal condition such as thermal runaway occurs, the fixing member 200 closes the vent hole 124, and therefore the fixing member 200 can prevent external foreign matter such as moisture or dust from penetrating into the battery cell 110 located inside the cell cover 120 through the vent hole 124 of the cell cover 120.

[0078] However, if an abnormal situation such as thermal runaway occurs, the ejection pressure and temperature of the material ejected from the vent hole 124 can open the fixing member 200, thereby allowing gas or flame to be exhausted.

[0079] To this end, the fixing member 200 may have a door-type structure that opens when the gas ejection pressure of the vent hole 124 exceeds a certain level. In another embodiment, the fixing member 200 may be configured to burst or be damaged when the gas ejection pressure or temperature of the vent hole 124 exceeds a certain level. To this end, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the fixing member 200 may have a cutout portion 210 or a notch portion 220 formed in a portion corresponding to the vent hole 124. Referring to FIG. 3, the cutout portion 210 may be formed in the shape of a dotted cut line. And referring to FIG. 4, the notch portion 220 may be formed in the shape of a notch groove in only a portion of the fixing member 200, rather than completely penetrating the fixing member 200.

[0080] In this case, the location of rupture or damage in the fixing member 200 is determined by the cutout portion 210 or the notch portion 220, so that the vent position in the fixing member 200 can be accurately determined in an emergency situation such as thermal runaway. Therefore, gas passing through the vent hole 124 and the fixing member 200 is smoothly vented. However, even if the cutout portion 210 or the notch portion 220 is not formed in the fixing member 200, the fixing member 200 can be configured to be ruptured or damaged by gas or flame.

[0081] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a modified embodiment of the battery cell block of FIG. 1, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another modified embodiment of the battery cell block of FIG.

[0082] 8 , when the battery cell block 10 is accommodated inside the pack case 20, a transport jig 300 may be used to accommodate the battery cell block 10. At this time, the transport jig 300 may be coupled to the fixing member 200. For example, as shown in FIG. 8 , a fastening member 400 such as a screw may be configured to fasten the transport jig 300 and the fixing member 200 together. Then, once the transport jig 300 is fastened to the fixing member 200 by the fastening member 400, the battery cell block 10 can be transported using the transport jig 300. As a result, a separate component for transporting the battery cell block 10 does not need to be attached to the battery cell block 10.

[0083] In another embodiment, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 9 , a jig fitting portion 230 may be formed in the fixing member 200. The jig fitting portion 230 may be provided by deforming the shape of one side of the fixing member 200 so that a transport jig (not shown in FIG. 9 ) can be fitted therein. For example, the jig fitting portion 230 may be provided as a through-hole formed inside an upper convex shape formed on both ends of the fixing member 200. Here, the jig fitting portion 230 may be formed in a corner portion at the upper end of the fixing member 200. Then, when the transport jig (not shown in FIG. 9 ) is fitted into the jig fitting portion 230, the battery cell block 10 can be transported using the transport jig (not shown in FIG. 9 ).

[0084] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0085] Hereinafter, a battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described, with the exception that content common to content described in the battery cell block 10 according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention supersedes the above-described content. Furthermore, content described in the embodiment of the battery pack 1 that is applicable to the embodiment of the battery cell block 10 described above can also be applied to the battery cell block 10 described above.

[0086] As described above, battery cells are typically housed in a box-shaped metal case to form a battery module, and the battery module is then housed in a pack case to form a battery pack. However, this increases the weight and volume of the entire battery pack and reduces the energy density of the battery pack.

[0087] To solve this problem, the battery pack 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured to directly accommodate the battery cells 110 in the pack case 20 of the battery pack 1 without the module case of the battery module.

[0088] This has the effect of improving space efficiency and increasing battery capacity by allowing additional battery cells 110 to be accommodated in the space previously occupied by the module case of the battery module within the battery pack 1. In other words, the module case of the battery module may not be included in the components of the present invention.

[0089] However, embodiments using a module case are not completely excluded, and it is conceivable that the pouch-type battery cells 110 of each embodiment of the present invention may be configured to be housed in a module case provided in a battery module, if necessary.

[0090] That is, a battery module provided with the pouch-type battery cell 110 to which the cell cover 120 according to each embodiment of the present invention is combined also falls within the scope of the present invention.

[0091] In this specification, even when simply referred to as a battery cell 110, the battery cell 110 refers to a pouch-type battery cell 110.

[0092] A battery pack 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a battery cell block 10 and a pack case 20. The battery cell block 10 has the same contents as those described above, and therefore supersedes the previous description.

[0093] The pack case 20 has an empty space formed inside, and can accommodate a plurality of pouch-type battery cells 110, for example, a stack of a plurality of cell units 100, in this internal space.

[0094] In particular, in an embodiment of the present invention, the pouch-type battery cell 110 is configured in the shape of a battery cell block 10 in which a plurality of cell units 100 are stacked and fixed by fixing members 200, and can be placed directly on the pack case 20.

[0095] 10, the pack case 20 may include a lower frame 21, side frames 22, and an upper cover 23. The pack case 20 may be made of a plastic or metal material. Alternatively, the pack case 20 may be made of any of a wide variety of exterior materials for battery packs 1 known at the time of filing of the present invention.

[0096] A plurality of battery cell blocks 10 are directly mounted on the lower frame 21. Here, the lower ends of the cell covers 120 may be directly mounted on the lower frame 21. In addition, the lower ends of the battery cells 110 housed inside the cell covers 120 may also be directly mounted on the lower frame 21 of the pack case 20.

[0097] The side frame 22 extends upward from the peripheral edge of the lower frame 21, and the side frame 22 forms an internal space that houses the battery cell block 10.

[0098] The upper cover 23 is coupled to the side frame 22 and covers the side frame 22 and the lower frame 21. A gas channel (not shown) through which gas can move may be formed inside the upper cover 23. However, the gas channel (not shown) does not necessarily have to be formed only in the upper cover 23, but may also be formed in at least one of the side frame 22 and the lower frame 21, as necessary.

[0099] 10 , the cell covers 120 provided on the plurality of battery cell blocks 10 may be directly accommodated in the internal space of the pack case 20. The cell covers 120 partially enclose the battery cells 110 to form openings 125 through which at least one side of the enclosed battery cells 110 is exposed toward the pack case 20. This configuration can further improve the cooling efficiency of the battery cell block 10. In particular, in one embodiment of the present invention, a portion of each battery cell 110 can be directly exposed to the pack case 20 through the openings 125, so that heat from each battery cell 110 can be effectively dissipated to the outside through the pack case 20.

[0100] For this reason, referring to Figure 7, the opening 125 may be configured to be formed between the end of the first cover part 121 opposite the end connected to the third cover part 123 and the end of the second cover part 122 opposite the end connected to the third cover part 123, but the present invention is not limited to this in any way.

[0101] Meanwhile, the battery pack 1 according to this embodiment may include a control module configured to control charging and discharging of the pouch-type battery cells 110. Referring to Fig. 10, such a control module may include a battery management system (BMS) 30 and a battery cutoff unit 40, and may be housed inside the pack case 20 together with the battery cell block 10.

[0102] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a vehicle including a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0103] 11 , an automobile 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention may include one or more battery packs 1 according to the above-described embodiments. Alternatively, although not shown, an automobile 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention may include battery cell blocks 10 according to the above-described embodiments, each of which is separate.

[0104] Here, the automobile 2 includes various automobiles 2 that are configured to use electricity, such as electric automobiles and hybrid automobiles.

[0105] In this specification, directional terms such as up, down, left, and right are used, but these terms are used merely for ease of explanation, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art of the present invention that these terms may differ depending on the position of the object in question, the position of the observer, etc.

[0106] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited thereto, and that various modifications and variations may be made by those skilled in the art within the spirit of the present invention and the scope of equivalents of the claims. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed above should be considered from an illustrative rather than a restrictive perspective. In other words, the true scope of the technical spirit of the present invention is defined by the claims, and all differences within the scope of equivalents thereto should be construed as being included in the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0107] The present invention relates to a battery cell block, a battery pack including the same, and an automobile, and is particularly applicable to industries related to secondary batteries. [Explanation of symbols]

[0108] 1 battery pack 2. Automobiles 10 Battery Cell Blocks 20 pack case 21 Lower frame 22 Side frame 23 Upper cover 30 Battery Management System 40 Battery disconnect unit 100 cell units 110 Pouch-type battery cell 111 Electrode lead 120 Cell Cover 121 First cover part 122 Second cover part 123 Third cover part 124 vent hole 125 Open area 200 Fixing member 210 Cutout 220 Notch 230 Jig insertion part 300 Jig 400 Fastening members

Claims

1. a plurality of cell units stacked in at least one direction, each cell unit including one or more pouch-type battery cells and a cell cover configured to encase the one or more pouch-type battery cells; a fixing member configured to surround the stack of cell units to fix the stacked state of the cell units; Including, The battery cell block, wherein the cell cover has a vent hole formed therein through which gas is discharged, and the fixing member is configured to close the vent hole.

2. The vent holes are formed in plurality, The battery cell block of claim 1 , wherein one fastening member is configured to close a plurality of the vent holes.

3. The battery cell block according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing member surrounds the stack of the cell units in a manner corresponding to a stacking direction of the plurality of cell units.

4. The battery cell block according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing member is configured to be opened by the ejection pressure or temperature of the substance ejected from the vent hole.

5. 5. The battery cell block according to claim 4, wherein the fixing member has a cutout formed in the shape of a dotted cutout line in a portion corresponding to the vent hole, or a cutout formed in the shape of a notched groove in only a portion of the fixing member without completely penetrating the fixing member.

6. The battery cell block according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing member is formed with a jig fitting portion into which a jig can be fitted.

7. A battery cell assembly comprising: one or more pouch-type battery cells; and a cell cover configured to encase the one or more pouch-type battery cells; and a plurality of cell units stacked in at least one direction; a fixing member configured to surround the stack of cell units to fix the stacked state of the cell units; Including, The fixing member is formed with a jig fitting portion into which a jig can be fitted, The jig fitting portion is formed at a corner portion of an upper end of the fixing member.

8. The cell cover is a first cover portion covering one side surface of at least one pouch-type battery cell among the one or more pouch-type battery cells; a second cover portion covering the other side surface of at least one pouch-type battery cell among the one or more pouch-type battery cells; a third cover portion that connects the first cover portion and the second cover portion and covers an upper end portion of the at least one pouch-type battery cell; Including, the vent hole is formed in the third cover portion, The battery cell block according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing member is configured to contact the third cover portion to close the vent hole.

9. The battery cell block according to claim 1 , wherein the cell cover is configured to support the at least one pouch-type battery cell in an upright position.

10. A battery cell block according to any one of claims 1 to 9; a pack case that houses the battery cell block in an internal space; Including the battery pack.

11. The battery pack according to claim 10 , wherein the cell cover partially encloses the pouch-type battery cell to form an opening through which at least one side of the enclosed pouch-type battery cell is exposed toward the pack case.

12. 11. The battery pack of claim 10, comprising a control module configured to control charging and discharging of the pouch-type battery cells.

13. A motor vehicle comprising a battery cell block according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

14. A motor vehicle comprising the battery pack of claim 10.

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