Battery pack

Abstract

To provide a battery pack capable of detecting the ignition of battery cells before ignition and thereby shortening a fire extinguishing time to improve safety.SOLUTION: A battery pack includes: a battery module having battery cells electrically connected and including vents; a smoke generating device configured to generate smoke in response to a temperature of the battery cells being higher than a reference temperature; a smoke detection device configured to detect the smoke generated from the smoke generating device and to generate an alarm signal; an agent storage unit including a fire extinguishing tube connected to the battery module and configured to store a fire extinguishing agent supplied to the fire extinguishing tube; and a fire extinguishing receiver configured to receive the alarm signal of the smoke detection device and to generate a supply signal causing the fire extinguishing agent in the agent storage unit to be supplied to the fire extinguishing tube.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery pack. [Background technology]

[0002] Recently, high-power secondary batteries using non-aqueous electrolytes with high energy density have been developed, and a battery pack is constructed by connecting a plurality of the above-mentioned high-power secondary batteries in series so that they can be used to drive the motors of devices requiring large amounts of power, such as electric vehicles.

[0003] Such battery packs are constructed by connecting several to even several dozen battery cells, and the heat generated by each battery cell must be easily dissipated. Therefore, temperature management of secondary batteries is of utmost importance.

[0004] In addition, a rise in the temperature of a secondary battery can lead to a fire, and due to the characteristics of a battery pack, a fire is difficult to extinguish once it occurs. Battery packs are generally made up of multiple battery cells and therefore have high capacity and high output, and therefore technologies to improve safety are being researched.

[0005] The above information disclosed in the background of the invention is merely intended to enhance understanding of the background of the invention and may therefore include information that does not constitute prior art. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention provides a battery pack that can detect a battery cell before it catches fire, shorten the time required to extinguish the fire, and improve safety. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The battery pack according to the present invention may include a battery module having electrically connected battery cells each having a vent formed therein; a smoke generating device that generates smoke when the temperature of the battery cell is higher than a reference temperature; a smoke detection device that detects the smoke generated by the smoke generating device and generates an alarm signal; a fire extinguishing agent storage unit that includes a fire extinguishing pipe connected to the battery module and stores extinguishing agent to be supplied to the fire extinguishing pipe; and a fire extinguishing receiving panel that receives the alarm signal from the smoke detection device and generates a supply signal to the agent storage unit to supply extinguishing agent to the fire extinguishing pipe.

[0008] The smoke generated by the smoke generator may have an externally identifiable color.

[0009] When a fire occurs in the battery pack, the fire extinguishing agent pre-supplied in the fire extinguishing pipe can be sprayed onto the battery cells.

[0010] The smoke generating device may be located external to the battery module.

[0011] The battery may further include a temperature detector that detects the temperature of the battery cell and transmits an abnormality signal to the smoke generating device when the temperature of the battery cell is higher than a reference temperature.

[0012] The smoke generator may be configured in the form of a sheet attached to the surface of each of the battery cells.

[0013] The battery pack according to the present invention may include a battery module to which battery cells having vents formed therein are electrically connected; a smoke detector that detects internal gas discharged through the vent and generates an alarm signal; a fire extinguishing agent storage unit that includes a fire extinguishing pipe connected to the battery module and stores extinguishing agent to be supplied to the fire extinguishing pipe; and a fire extinguishing agent receiving panel that receives the alarm signal from the smoke detector and generates a supply signal to the agent storage unit to supply extinguishing agent to the fire extinguishing pipe.

[0014] The smoke detector may include an intake pipe connected to the battery module for drawing in internal gas.

[0015] The battery cell can release internal gas through the vent when the internal pressure is greater than the reference pressure.

[0016] When a fire occurs in the battery pack, the fire extinguishing agent pre-supplied in the fire extinguishing pipe can be sprayed onto the battery cells. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention senses the temperature of a battery cell before a fire occurs in a battery module, and supplies a fire extinguishing agent to the inside of a fire extinguishing pipe in advance by operating a smoke generator. When a fire occurs, the fire extinguishing agent is immediately sprayed onto the battery cell, thereby shortening the time required to extinguish the fire and preventing the fire from spreading.

[0018] In addition, the battery pack according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a smoke generating device that detects the temperature of the battery cells and generates smoke before a fire occurs in the battery module, thereby notifying the outside of a dangerous state of the battery cells and preventing personal injury accidents. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a battery pack according to still another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] The following embodiments of the present invention are provided to more completely explain the present invention to those skilled in the art, and the following embodiments may be modified in various different forms, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Rather, these embodiments are provided to make the present disclosure more complete and complete, and to fully convey the disclosure of the present invention to those skilled in the art.

[0022] In the following drawings, the thickness and size of each layer have been exaggerated for convenience and clarity of explanation, and the same reference numerals refer to the same elements throughout the drawings. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any one and all combinations of one or more of the listed items. In addition, in this specification, the term "connected" refers not only to a case where member A and member B are directly connected, but also to a case where member A and member B are indirectly connected via member C interposed between them.

[0023] The terms used in this specification are used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. As used in this specification, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" can include the plural forms unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in this specification, "comprise" and / or "comprising" specify the presence of a stated shape, number, step, operation, member, element, and / or group thereof, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other shapes, numbers, operations, members, elements, and / or groups.

[0024] In this specification, terms such as "first," "second," and the like are used to describe various members, components, regions, layers, and / or portions, but it is clear that these members, components, regions, layers, and / or portions should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one member, component, region, layer, or portion from another region, layer, or portion. Therefore, a first member, component, region, layer, or portion described below can refer to a second member, component, region, layer, or portion without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

[0025] Space-related terms such as "beneath," "below," "lower," "above," and "upper" are used to facilitate understanding of one element or feature from another element or feature shown in the drawings. These space-related terms are used to facilitate understanding of the present invention in accordance with various process or use states of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. For example, if an element or feature in the drawing is inverted, an element described as "beneath" or "below" becomes "upper" or "upper." Therefore, "beneath" is a concept that encompasses "upper" or "upper."

[0026] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In order to enable those skilled in the art to easily carry out the present invention, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] Herein, parts having similar configurations and operations are designated by the same reference numerals throughout the specification. Furthermore, when a part is electrically coupled to another part, this includes not only when the part is directly coupled to another part, but also when the part is coupled via another element therebetween.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 1, a battery pack 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a battery module 110, a temperature sensor 120, a smoke generator 130, a smoke detector 140, a fire extinguishing receiver 150, and a chemical storage unit 160.

[0030] The battery module 110 may include a plurality of battery cells 111. In some examples, the plurality of battery cells 111 may be connected in series and / or parallel and housed in a housing. For example, the battery cells 111 may be cylindrical or prismatic. The battery cells 111 may have a shape in which an electrode assembly is housed inside a case and a cap plate or cap assembly is coupled to the top of the case. The battery cells 111 may also include a vent 111a that can be ruptured to release internal gas when internal gas is generated.

[0031] The temperature sensing unit 120 may sense the temperature of the battery module 110. In some examples, the temperature sensing unit 120 may sense the temperature of each of the battery cells 111. For example, the temperature sensing unit 120 may include a temperature sensor installed in each of the battery cells 111 to measure the temperature of the battery cell 111. The temperature sensing unit 120 may also sense the temperature of the battery cell 111 and transmit temperature information of the battery cell 111 to the smoke generating device 130. The temperature sensing unit 120 may transmit an abnormality signal to the smoke generating device 130 if the temperature of the battery cell 111 is equal to or higher than a reference temperature. For example, the reference temperature of the temperature sensing unit 120 may be set to 100°C, but this is not intended to be limiting in the present invention. The reference temperature set in the temperature sensing unit 120 may be changed according to a user's design. However, the reference temperature may be set to a temperature lower than the ignition temperature of the battery cell 111. In practice, the battery cell 111 may ignite at approximately 150°C.

[0032] The smoke generator 130 may generate smoke when an abnormal signal is transmitted from the temperature sensor 120. When the temperature of the battery cell 111 rises abnormally, the smoke generator 130 generates smoke in response to the abnormal signal transmitted from the temperature sensor 120, thereby alerting the outside to a dangerous situation. In some examples, the smoke generator 130 may include a drive circuit that can be activated when the abnormal signal is received from the temperature sensor 120. In some examples, when the abnormal signal is transmitted from the temperature sensor 120, the drive circuit is activated and the internal chemicals of the smoke generator 130 react with each other to generate smoke. The smoke generated by the smoke generator 130 may have a color, such as red or blue, that makes it easy to identify the smoke from the outside. In some examples, the smoke generator 130 may be installed on the exterior of the battery module 110, for example, on a housing that houses the battery cell 111. Before a fire breaks out in the battery module 110, the smoke generator 130 generates smoke in response to an abnormal signal transmitted from the temperature sensor 120 indicating an abnormal temperature rise in the battery cell 111, thereby alerting the outside and notifying the fire extinguishing receiving panel 150 via the smoke detector 140, thereby preventing a fire. For example, a manager or worker can detect the smoke generated by the smoke generator 130 and advise nearby people to evacuate, thereby preventing a fire-related accident resulting in injury or death. The smoke generated by the smoke generator 130 may be in sufficient quantity to be detected by the smoke detector 140 and may contain components harmless to humans.

[0033] The smoke detector 140 can detect smoke generated by the smoke generator 130. The smoke detector 140 can detect smoke and transmit an alarm signal to the fire extinguishing receiving panel 150 to notify the fire extinguishing device of the generation of smoke. In some examples, the smoke detector 140 can be installed in an area adjacent to the smoke generator 130. For example, the smoke detector 140 can be installed on the ceiling of an area where the battery module 110 is installed. Of course, the smoke detector 140 can detect not only smoke generated by the smoke generator 130 but also fire smoke generated when a fire breaks out in the battery module 110.

[0034] The fire extinguishing receiving panel 150 receives an alarm signal from the smoke detector 140 and can transmit a supply signal to the agent storage unit 160 to supply fire extinguishing agent. The fire extinguishing receiving panel 150 receives a signal from the smoke detector 140 to the agent storage unit 160 to supply fire extinguishing agent because the temperature of the battery module 110 is rising and there is a risk of a fire (or ignition), so the fire can be quickly extinguished.

[0035] The agent storage unit 160 stores a fire extinguishing agent therein. The agent storage unit 160 may include a fire extinguishing pipe 161 that supplies the fire extinguishing agent to the battery module 110. In some examples, the length of the fire extinguishing pipe 161 may be approximately 50 m, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The length of the fire extinguishing pipe 161 may be changed depending on the installation location of the battery module 110 and / or the agent storage unit 160. In some examples, the fire extinguishing agent may include a substance that can extinguish a fire that breaks out in the battery module 110. For example, the fire extinguishing agent may include one or more of argon, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Any type of fire extinguishing agent that can extinguish a fire may be used.

[0036] When the agent storage unit 160 receives a supply signal from the fire extinguishing receiving panel 150 to supply extinguishing agent, it supplies the extinguishing agent to the fire extinguishing pipe 161, so that the inside of the fire extinguishing pipe 161 can be pre-filled with the extinguishing agent before a fire breaks out in the battery module 110. Therefore, in the present invention, when a fire breaks out in the battery module 110, the extinguishing agent filled in the fire extinguishing pipe 161 can be immediately sprayed onto the battery module 110 to extinguish the battery module 110, thereby shortening the time required to suppress the fire (or extinguish the fire).

[0037] For example, if the length of the fire extinguishing pipe 161 is approximately 50 m, it may take approximately 20 to 30 seconds for the smoke detector 140 to detect smoke after a fire breaks out, transmit the detection signal to the fire extinguishing receiving panel 150, and for the fire extinguishing receiving panel 150 to send a signal to the agent storage unit 160 to supply a fire extinguishing agent, and for the fire extinguishing agent to be sprayed onto the battery module 110. Thus, during the tens of seconds it takes to recognize the fire after it breaks out and spray the fire extinguishing agent onto the battery module 110, the fire that broke out in the battery module 110 may spread instantaneously and become a larger fire. In this case, even if the same fire extinguishing agent is supplied from the agent storage unit 160, the fire may not be extinguished, or it may take even longer to extinguish the fire.

[0038] However, in the present invention, the fire extinguishing agent can be supplied and filled in advance inside the fire extinguishing pipe 161 by operating the smoke generator 130 before a fire occurs in the battery module 110, so that when a fire occurs, the fire extinguishing agent can be immediately sprayed onto the battery module 110, shortening the time required to extinguish the fire and preventing the fire from spreading. Also, the present invention can more effectively prevent fires the longer the distance between the battery module 110 and the agent storage unit 160.

[0039] In some examples, a fire occurring in the battery module 110 may cause a portion of the fire extinguishing pipe 161 to melt, spraying the fire extinguishing agent contained inside the fire extinguishing pipe 161. In some examples, the fire extinguishing pipe 161 may be installed in a form that encases the battery module 110.

[0040] In some examples, when the agent storage unit 160 receives a supply signal from the fire extinguishing receiving panel 150 to supply a fire extinguishing agent, the agent storage unit 160 supplies the fire extinguishing agent to the fire extinguishing pipe 161, and the fire extinguishing agent supplied to the fire extinguishing pipe 161 may be immediately sprayed onto the battery cells 111. In this case, spraying the fire extinguishing agent onto the battery cells 111 before a fire occurs in the battery module 110 has the effect of cooling the battery cells 111.

[0041] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 2, a battery pack 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a battery module 110, a smoke generator 230, a smoke detector 140, a fire extinguishing receiver 150, and a chemical storage unit 160.

[0043] The smoke generator 230 may be installed within the battery module 110. In some examples, the smoke generator 230 may be installed or attached to the surface of each battery cell 111. The smoke generator 230 may be formed in a sheet shape and may contain a chemical substance that undergoes a chemical reaction to generate smoke when a reference temperature is reached. Here, the reference temperature may be set to 100°C, but the present invention is not limited to this. The reference temperature set for the smoke generator 230 may be changed according to a user's design.

[0044] When the temperature of the battery cell 111 rises above a reference temperature, the smoke generating device 230 generates smoke to notify the outside, and also notifies the fire extinguishing receiving panel 150 via the smoke detector 140, thereby preventing fires.

[0045] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a battery pack according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 3, a battery pack 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a battery module 110, a smoke detector 340, a fire extinguishing receiving panel 150, and a chemical storage unit 160.

[0047] The smoke detector 340 may include an intake pipe 341 connected to the battery module 110. The intake pipe 341 may suck in internal gas generated from the battery cell 111. The smoke detector 340 may detect the internal gas generated from the battery cell 111 through the intake pipe 341. In some examples, when the temperature of the battery cell 111 rises, the internal pressure increases and the internal gas is generated. If the internal pressure is equal to or greater than a reference pressure, the vent 111 a may rupture and the internal gas may be discharged to the outside of the battery cell 111. At this time, the smoke detector 340 may detect the internal gas discharged from the battery cell 111 through the intake pipe 341 and transmit an alarm signal to the fire extinguishing receiving panel 150 to notify the fire extinguishing receiving panel 150 of the gas generation.

[0048] In this way, the smoke detector 340 detects the internal gas generated from the battery cell 111 before a fire occurs in the battery module 110 and notifies the fire extinguishing receiving panel 150, thereby allowing the fire extinguishing agent to be supplied and filled in advance inside the fire extinguishing pipe 161. Therefore, when a fire occurs, the fire extinguishing agent can be immediately sprayed onto the battery module 110, shortening the fire extinguishing time and preventing the fire from spreading.

[0049] What has been described above is merely one embodiment for implementing a battery pack according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. It can be said that the technical concept of the present invention is within the scope of the following claims, to the extent that anyone having ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains can make various modifications and implementations without departing from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 100, 200, 300: Battery pack 110: Battery module 111: Battery cell 111a: Vent 120: Temperature sensing part 130, 230: Smoke generator 140, 340: Smoke detector 150: Fire extinguishing receiving panel 160: Drug storage section 161: Fire pipe 341: Suction pipe

Claims

1. a battery module in which vented battery cells are electrically connected; a smoke generating device that generates smoke when the temperature of the battery cell is higher than a reference temperature; a smoke detector that detects smoke generated by the smoke generator and generates an alarm signal; a fire extinguishing agent storage unit including a fire extinguishing pipe connected to the battery module and storing a fire extinguishing agent to be supplied to the fire extinguishing pipe; a fire extinguishing receiving panel that receives an alarm signal from the smoke detector and generates a supply signal to the agent storage unit to supply the fire extinguishing agent to the fire pipe, The battery pack, wherein the smoke generating device is configured in the form of a sheet attached to the surface of each of the battery cells.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the smoke generated by the smoke generator has a color that is distinguishable from the outside.

3. The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein when a fire occurs in the battery pack, the fire extinguishing agent pre-supplied in the fire extinguishing pipe is injected into the battery cells.

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