Temperature detection member, battery module including same, and battery pack

Abstract

A temperature detection member according to one embodiment of the present invention is located between two adjacent battery cells and includes a body portion arranged parallel to one side of the battery cells, and a temperature measurement portion attached to the body portion and measuring the temperature of the battery cells, the body portion having a plate-like shape, and the temperature measurement portion inserted into one side of the body portion.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] [CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0170978 dated December 2, 2021, and all contents disclosed in the documents of that Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a temperature detecting element and a battery module and a battery pack including the same, and more particularly to a temperature detecting element with minimized detection error and a battery module and a battery pack including the same. [Background technology]

[0003] In modern society, as the use of portable devices such as mobile phones, laptops, camcorders, and digital cameras has become commonplace, the development of technologies related to these mobile devices is accelerating. Furthermore, rechargeable secondary batteries are a solution to address air pollution caused by existing gasoline-powered vehicles that use fossil fuels, and are used as the power source for electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (P-HEVs), creating a growing need for the development of secondary batteries.

[0004] Currently commercially available secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, and lithium secondary batteries, among which lithium secondary batteries are attracting the most attention due to their advantages of being freely chargeable and dischargeable, having a low self-discharge rate, and having a high energy density.

[0005] Meanwhile, secondary batteries used in small devices typically use two to three battery cells, while secondary batteries used in medium- to large-sized devices such as automobiles typically use medium- to large-sized battery modules or battery packs in which multiple battery cells are electrically connected. Since medium- to large-sized battery modules are preferably manufactured to be as small in size and weight as possible, prismatic batteries and pouch-shaped batteries, which can be stacked with a high degree of integration and are light in weight relative to their capacity, are primarily used as battery cells for medium- to large-sized battery modules.

[0006] On the other hand, if some battery cells in a battery module or battery pack are overvoltage, overcurrent, or overheated, safety and operating efficiency may become a major issue. Therefore, a voltage sensor, a temperature sensor, etc. are built into the battery module or battery pack, and the operating status of the battery cells can be checked in real time or at regular intervals through the voltage sensor or the temperature sensor.

[0007] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a temperature sensor provided in a conventional battery module.

[0008] 1, a temperature sensor 20 provided in a conventional battery module can be attached to a housing 10. The housing 10 has a frame shape that surrounds a battery cell stack in which battery cells are stacked, and the temperature sensor 20 can be disposed so as to extend from one point of the housing 10 toward the inside of the housing 10 where the battery cells are located. As a result, the temperature sensor 20 can be disposed between two adjacent battery cells and can detect the temperature of one side of the battery cells.

[0009] The temperature sensor 20 is provided in the battery module while attached to the housing 10, so that the temperature sensor 20 is stably positioned between the battery cells. However, if swelling occurs in the battery cells due to overvoltage, overcurrent, or overheating of the battery cells, the separation space between the battery cells may decrease, causing the temperature sensor 20 and the battery cells to pressurize each other, which may result in damage to the battery cells or cause the temperature sensor 20 to erroneously measure the temperature of the battery cells.

[0010] Therefore, there is a need for a new structure and shape of the temperature sensor 20 that can withstand the swelling stiffness of the battery cell while not applying excessive pressure to the battery cell. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a temperature detection member that can withstand the swelling rigidity of a battery cell without applying excessive pressure to the battery cell, and a battery module and a battery pack that include the same.

[0012] However, the problems to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above problems, and can be variously expanded within the scope of the technical ideas included in the present invention. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] A temperature detection member according to one embodiment of the present invention is positioned between two adjacent battery cells and includes a body portion arranged parallel to one surface of the battery cells, and a temperature measurement portion attached to the body portion and measuring the temperature of the battery cells, the body portion having a plate-like shape, and the temperature measurement portion inserted into one side of the body portion.

[0014] One side of the body into which the temperature measuring unit is inserted may have a protruding shape.

[0015] The temperature measurement unit may include a temperature sensor, and the temperature sensor may be disposed at a first location on the body.

[0016] The first point is a point located within a first distance from one side of the body into which the temperature measuring unit is inserted, and the first distance may have a value of 5 to 20% of the length of the body.

[0017] The temperature measuring unit may include a connector for electrically connecting with an external device, and the connector may be disposed to protrude from the body.

[0018] The thickness of the main body may be 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm.

[0019] The body can be made from polypropylene (PP) or polycarbonate (PC).

[0020] A battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention includes the above-described temperature detection element.

[0021] A battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention includes the above-described temperature sensing element. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] According to the embodiment, the temperature detecting member having a minimized thickness can prevent damage to the cell when a swelling phenomenon occurs, and can minimize temperature measurement errors.

[0023] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned above will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a temperature sensor provided in a conventional battery module. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of a temperature sensing element according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3]3A and 3B are diagrams showing the top and side surfaces of a temperature measuring portion included in the temperature detecting member of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 3 is a diagram showing the connection between a main body and a temperature measuring portion included in the temperature detecting member of FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 5] 3 is a diagram showing an example in which the temperature detection member of FIG. 2 is provided between battery cells. [Figure 6] 3 is a diagram for explaining the relative positions between a temperature sensor included in the temperature detection member of FIG. 2 and a battery cell. FIG. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an experiment to check whether or not a temperature detection member and a battery cell are damaged when a swelling phenomenon occurs in the battery cell, and the results thereof. [Figure 8] 3 is a diagram showing an example of a battery module provided with the temperature detection member of FIG. 2. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025]

[0033] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in various different forms other than those described below, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0026] In order to clearly explain the present invention, parts that are not necessary for the explanation will be omitted, and the same reference numerals will be used throughout the specification to refer to the same or similar components.

[0027] Furthermore, the size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrarily enlarged or reduced for the convenience of explanation, and it is obvious that the contents of the present invention are not limited to those shown in the drawings. In the following drawings, the thickness of each layer is enlarged to clearly show various layers and regions. In the following drawings, the thickness of some layers and regions is exaggerated for the convenience of explanation.

[0028] Furthermore, when a layer, film, region, plate, or other portion is described as being "on" or "above" another portion, this should be interpreted as including not only the case where the layer, film, region, plate, or other portion is "directly on" the other portion, but also the case where there is another portion therebetween. Conversely, when a layer, film, region, plate, or other portion is described as being "directly on" the other portion, it can mean that there is no other portion therebetween. Furthermore, being "on" or "above" a reference portion means being located above or below the reference portion, and does not necessarily mean being located "on" or "above" the opposite direction of gravity. Meanwhile, similar to descriptions of being "on" or "above" another portion, descriptions of being "below" or "below" another portion should be understood with reference to the above content.

[0029] In addition, since the upper and lower surfaces of a particular member can be determined differently depending on the reference direction, throughout the specification, 'upper surface' or 'lower surface' is defined to mean two surfaces of the member that face each other on the z-axis.

[0030] Furthermore, throughout the specification, when a part is said to "comprise" a certain element, this does not mean that it may further include other elements, unless specifically stated to the contrary.

[0031] Also, throughout the specification, "in a plane" means when the subject part is viewed from above, and "in cross section" means when the subject part is cut vertically and viewed from the side.

[0032] A temperature detecting member according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[0033] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a temperature detecting element according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a top and side view of a temperature measuring unit included in the temperature detecting element of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view showing the connection between a main body and a temperature measuring unit included in the temperature detecting element of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a view showing an example in which the temperature detecting element of Fig. 2 is provided between battery cells.

[0034] 2 to 5, the temperature detecting member 200 of this embodiment may be used to measure the temperature of the battery cells 110 in a battery pack or a battery module. The temperature detecting member 200 of this embodiment is inserted between the battery cells 110 in the battery pack or the battery module to measure the temperature of a specific position of the battery cell 110.

[0035] The temperature detection member 200 of this embodiment may include a body 210 arranged parallel to one surface of the battery cell 110 and a temperature measurement unit 220 attached to the body 210 to measure the temperature of the battery cell 110 .

[0036] The body 210 may be in the shape of a thin plate. As shown in Fig. 5, the body 210 can be inserted between two adjacent battery cells 110. The body 210 can cover one side of the battery cells 110. The body 210 may be in contact with one side of the battery cells 110.

[0037] The body portion 210 preferably corresponds entirely to one side of the battery cell 110. The body portion 210 preferably covers the entire one side of the battery cell 110. The body portion 210 may have a shape similar to that of one side of the battery cell 110. The body portion 210 may have a width and length similar to that of one side of the battery cell 110.

[0038] If the body 210 is smaller than one surface of the battery cell 110, the body 210 may cause a distance deviation between two adjacent battery cells 110, which may cause a large pressure to be applied to a specific part when the battery cell 110 swells, damaging the battery cell 110 or the temperature detection member 200. Also, if the body 210 is disposed at a somewhat large distance from the lower edge, the position of the body 210 may fluctuate due to gravity, making it difficult to measure the temperature at the position intended by the designer. Therefore, it is preferable that the body 210 cover 70% or more, 80% or more, or 90% or more of one surface of the battery cell 110.

[0039] The body 210 may be a plate-shaped member having a certain thickness. The thickness of the body 210 may be 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm, preferably 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm. If the thickness of the body 210 is greater than 0.7 mm, the distance between two adjacent battery cells 110 may increase, which may increase the overall volume of the battery cell stack in which the battery cells 110 are stacked. Also, if the thickness of the body 210 is less than 0.3 mm, it may be difficult to attach the temperature measuring unit 220 to the body 210.

[0040] The body 210 may be designed to have a uniform thickness, or may be designed to have a non-uniform thickness so as to accommodate a volume change of the battery cell 110 when the battery cell 110 swells. For example, the body 210 may be designed so that the thickness of the edge is greater than the thickness of the center.

[0041] The body 210 may be made of a material having a level of rigidity that does not deform excessively due to pressure applied to the body 210 when the volume of the battery cell 110 changes, and does not apply excessive pressure to the battery cell 110. For example, the body 210 may be made of polypropylene (PP) or polycarbonate (PC), or may be made of other materials having similar physical properties.

[0042] 3, the temperature measuring unit 220 may include a temperature sensor 222 for measuring a temperature, a connector 226 for forming an electrical connection with an external device, and a wire 224 for electrically connecting the temperature sensor 222 and the connector 226. In addition, a molded or injected product made of a thermoplastic resin may be disposed between the temperature sensor 222 and the wire 224. Examples of the thermoplastic resin that may be used include TPS, TPV, TPO, TPU, and TPEE.

[0043] The temperature sensor 222 can measure the temperature of the battery cell 110 by being attached or in close contact with one surface of the battery cell 110. The temperature sensor 222 may be a thermistor whose resistance varies with temperature, but this is not necessarily the case, and any type of sensor capable of measuring temperature can be used.

[0044] 4, the temperature measuring unit 220 can be attached to one side of the main body 210. An insertion groove 212 into which the temperature measuring unit 220 can be inserted can be provided on one side of the main body 210, and the temperature measuring unit 220 can be inserted into the main body 210 so that the temperature sensor 222 is located inside the main body 210. The connector 226 can protrude from the main body 210 and be disposed on the outside of the main body 210, and the wire 224 can be fixed in position at the edge of the main body 210 by a fixing member such as tape.

[0045] One side of the body 210 into which the temperature measuring unit 220 is inserted may have a protruding shape in the length direction. This allows the temperature measuring unit 220 to be stably attached to the body 210 and protects the temperature measuring unit 220, which has a somewhat elongated shape. In addition, since the connector 226 of the temperature measuring unit 220 must protrude outside the body 210 to connect to an external device, the protruding shape on one side of the body 210 allows the connector 226 to be more stably fixed or supported.

[0046] The thickness of the temperature measuring unit 220 may be similar to that of the main body 210. The thickness of the temperature sensor 222, the wire 224, and the connector 226 may be 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm, preferably 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm. The more similar the thickness of the temperature measuring unit 220 is to that of the main body 210, the easier it is for the temperature measuring unit 220 to measure the temperature of the battery cell 110, and the less likely the temperature measuring unit 220 is to damage the battery cell 110 or be damaged by the battery cell 110 when the battery cell 110 swells.

[0047] Here, the thickness of the temperature measuring unit 220 may be calculated based on the thickness direction of the body 210 or the stacking direction of the battery cells 110. The thickness of the temperature measuring unit 220 may be calculated based on a value measured on the xy plane as shown in the upper part of Fig. 3. The thickness of the temperature measuring unit 220 may refer to a value in the y-axis direction based on the x-axis.

[0048] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the relative positions between the temperature sensors included in the temperature detection member of FIG. 2 and the battery cells.

[0049] The battery cell 110 may generate heat during charging and discharging, and the temperature of the battery cell 110 may vary depending on the position. The battery cell 110 may include a first electrode lead 111 and a second electrode lead 112 protruding from one side or the other side of the battery cell 110 case. Because the first electrode lead 111 and the second electrode lead 112 are connected to an external bus bar, the temperature of the battery cell 110 may be higher at positions close to the first electrode lead 111 and the second electrode lead 112. In addition, the temperature of the battery cell 110 may be higher at a position close to the second electrode lead 112 than at a position close to the first electrode lead 111. This may be due to the direction of current flow.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 6, a hot spot HS is formed in the battery cell 110. The hot spot HS is a position where the highest temperature occurs, where the temperature is relatively higher than other parts of the battery cell 110. The hot spot HS refers to a position where the highest temperature occurs in a region of the battery cell 110 excluding the first electrode lead 111 and the second electrode lead 112. The hot spot HS may be located closer to the center of the battery cell 110 in the width direction (on the z-axis) than the edge. The hot spot HS may be located closer to the edge of the battery cell 110 in the length direction (on the x-axis) than the center. The hot spot HS is located at a position spaced a predetermined distance from the second electrode lead 112 located on one side of the battery cell 110. Here, the predetermined distance may be 5% to 20% of the entire length of the battery cell 110, including the first electrode lead 111 and the second electrode lead 112. Since an electrode tap connected to the electrode lead may be located within a range less than 5% of the total length from the second electrode lead 112, it is appropriate to exclude this range, and hot spots HS are unlikely to form within a range greater than 20% of the total length due to the distance between the electrode tap and the first electrode lead 111 and second electrode lead 112.

[0051] The temperature sensor 222 of the temperature detecting member 200 may be disposed so as to be located near the hot spot HS of the battery cell 110. By locating the temperature sensor 222 corresponding to the hot spot HS of the battery cell 110, the temperature detecting member 200 can measure the maximum temperature of the battery cell 110 or a temperature close to the maximum temperature, thereby preventing thermal runaway caused by heat generation of the battery cell 110.

[0052] The temperature sensor 222 of the temperature detection member 200 may be disposed at a first point P1 of the body 210. When the temperature detection member 200 and the battery cell 110 are disposed in parallel, the first point P1 may correspond to the hot spot HS of the battery cell 110 or the periphery including the hot spot HS. The first point P1 may be located closer to the center of the body 210 in the width direction (on the z-axis) than the edge. The first point P1 may be located closer to the edge of the body 210 in the length direction (on the x-axis) than the center. The first point P1 may be disposed within a first distance from one side of the body 210 into which the temperature measuring unit 220 is inserted. Here, the first distance may be within 5% to 20% of the total length of the body 210. The first point P1 corresponds to the hot spot HS, and the total length of the body 210 may be similar to the total length of the battery cell 110. Therefore, if the first distance is less than 5% or more than 20% of the total length, it may be difficult for the first point P1 to correspond to the hot spot HS.

[0053] FIG. 7 shows an experiment conducted to check whether or not the temperature detection member and the battery cell are damaged when the swelling phenomenon occurs in the battery cell, and the results of the experiment.

[0054] The experiment in Fig. 7 was conducted to confirm whether or not damage to the temperature detection member 200 and the battery cell 110 occurs due to an increase in pressure acting between the temperature detection member 200 and the battery cell 110 when swelling of the battery cell occurs. In this experiment, a thermistor was used as the temperature sensor 222, and the temperature detection member 200 was positioned between two battery cells 110, similar to an actual assembly situation. In addition, with voltage applied, pressure was applied to the battery cell 110 and the temperature detection member 200 at 1 kN / min, and the pressure was maintained for 5 minutes after reaching 16 kN.

[0055] After the experiment of FIG. 7, no damage occurred to the thermistor included in the temperature detection member 200, and no scratches or leakage due to the thermistor occurred in the battery cell 110.

[0056] 7, the resistance value remained constant even under the pressure environment, confirming that the thermistor was functioning normally. Therefore, it was confirmed that the plate-shaped temperature detecting member 200 did not damage the battery cell 110 and did not cause detection errors even in an environment where pressure increased due to swelling.

[0057] A battery module including a temperature detection member according to this embodiment will be described below.

[0058] The battery module including the temperature detecting member 200 can be provided in various forms.

[0059] For example, the battery module may include a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells 110 are stacked in one direction, a module frame that houses the battery cell stack, and a temperature detection member 200 positioned between adjacent battery cells 110 of the battery cell stack. The battery module may further include bus bar frames positioned on the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack, respectively, and end plates that are coupled to the module frame while covering the bus bar frames, and the battery module may have a structure that is sealed via the module frame or the end plates.

[0060] As another example, the battery module may be provided in a module-less structure in which the module frame is omitted.

[0061] Typically, a battery module is housed in a battery pack and attached to a device, whereby conventional battery cells are doubly protected by the module frame of the battery module and the pack frame of the battery pack. However, this double assembly structure not only increases the manufacturing cost and manufacturing process of the battery pack, but also has the disadvantage of making it difficult to reassemble if a battery cell becomes defective. Furthermore, if a cooling element is located outside the battery module, the heat transfer path between the battery cells and the cooling element becomes somewhat complicated.

[0062] However, if the battery module is provided in a moduleless structure, the battery cell stack can be directly coupled to the pack frame of the battery pack, which simplifies the structure of the battery pack, provides advantages in terms of manufacturing cost and manufacturing process, and reduces the weight of the battery pack.

[0063] As described above, a battery module having an open structure in which the module frame is omitted can be called a 'cell block'.

[0064] Hereinafter, the cell block type battery module will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

[0065] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a battery module provided with the temperature detection member of FIG.

[0066] Referring to FIG. 8, the battery module 100 provided in this embodiment may have a module-less structure in which a module frame is omitted.

[0067] The battery module 100 of this embodiment may include a battery cell stack 120 in which a plurality of battery cells 110 are stacked in one direction, side plates 130 located at both ends of the battery cell stack 120 in the stacking direction, retaining straps 140 that surround the side plates 130 and the battery cell stack 120 to fix their shape, bus bar frames 150 that cover the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack 120, and a temperature detection member 200.

[0068] Each battery cell 110 may include an electrode assembly, a cell case, and electrode leads protruding from the electrode assembly. The battery cells 110 may be provided in a pouch or prismatic shape, which maximizes the number of cells stacked per unit area. For example, a pouch-type battery cell 110 may be manufactured by placing an electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator in a cell case made of a laminate sheet, and then heat-sealing the sealing portion of the cell case. While the drawings show the positive and negative electrode leads of the battery cell 110 protruding in opposite directions, this is not necessarily the case; the electrode leads of the battery cell 110 may also protrude in the same direction.

[0069] The battery cell stack 120 may be formed by stacking a plurality of electrically connected battery cells 110 in one direction. The direction in which the plurality of battery cells 110 are stacked (referred to as the 'stacking direction') may be the y-axis direction (or the -y-axis direction, and the term 'axis direction' can be interpreted to include both + / - directions).

[0070] Meanwhile, since the battery cells 110 are arranged in one direction, the electrode leads of the battery cells 110 can be arranged on one side of the battery cell stack 120, or on one side and the other side opposite the one side. Thus, the side of the battery cell stack 120 on which the electrode leads are located can be referred to as the front or rear side of the battery cell stack 120, and in Figure 8, the front and rear sides of the battery cell stack 120 are illustrated as two sides facing each other on the x-axis. Also, the side of the battery cell stack 120 on which the outermost battery cells 110 are located can be referred to as the side of the battery cell stack 120, and in Figure 8, the side sides of the battery cell stack 120 are illustrated as two sides facing each other on the y-axis.

[0071] The side plates 130 may be provided to maintain the overall shape of the battery cell stack 120. The side plates 130 are plate-shaped members that can supplement the rigidity of the cell blocks in place of a module frame. The side plates 130 can be disposed at both ends of the battery cell stack 120 in the stacking direction, and can contact the outermost battery cells 110 on both sides of the battery cell stack 120.

[0072] The side plate 130 can be made of various materials and can be provided through various manufacturing methods. For example, the side plate 130 can be made of a plastic material manufactured by injection molding. For another example, the side plate 130 can be made of a leaf spring material. For still another example, the side plate 130 can be made of an elastic material that allows it to partially deform in shape in response to a change in volume of the battery cell stack 120 due to swelling.

[0073] The retaining straps 140 may be used to fix the position and shape of the side plates 130 at both ends of the battery cell stack 120. The retaining straps 140 may be members having a length and a width. Specifically, the battery cell stack 120 may be disposed between two side plates 130 that contact the outermost battery cells 110, and the retaining straps 140 may connect the two side plates 130 across the battery cell stack 120. In this way, the retaining straps 140 can prevent the distance between the two side plates 130 from increasing beyond a certain range, thereby maintaining the overall shape of the cell block within a certain range.

[0074] The holding strap 140 may have locking devices at both ends in the longitudinal direction for stable connection with the side plate 130. The locking devices may be formed by bending both ends in the longitudinal direction of the holding strap 140. Meanwhile, locking grooves may be formed in the side plate 130 at positions corresponding to the locking devices, and the holding strap 140 and the side plate 130 may be stably connected through the connection between the locking devices and the locking grooves.

[0075] The retaining straps 140 can be made of various materials or through various manufacturing methods. For example, the retaining straps 140 can be made of an elastic material, which allows the volumetric change of the battery cell stack 120 due to swelling to be within a certain range.

[0076] Meanwhile, the retaining straps 140, which are used to secure the relative positions between the side plates 130 and the battery cell stack 120, may be provided in a form different from that shown in the figure, as long as their purpose as a 'securing member' is achieved. For example, the securing member may be provided in the form of a long bolt that can cross between the two side plates 130. The side plates 130 may have grooves into which the long bolts can be inserted, and the long bolts can be passed through the grooves to simultaneously connect the two side plates 130, thereby securing the relative positions of the two side plates 130. The long bolts may be provided at the edges of the side plates 130, preferably near the apexes of the side plates 130. Depending on the design, the retaining straps 140 may be replaced with the long bolts described above, or both the retaining straps 140 and the long bolts may be provided on the cell block.

[0077] The bus bar frame 150 may be positioned on one side of the battery cell stack 120 to cover that side and guide the connection of the battery cell stack 120 to an external device. The bus bar frame 150 may be disposed on the front or rear side of the battery cell stack 120. Two bus bar frames 150 may be provided, one positioned on the front side and one on the rear side of the battery cell stack 120. Bus bars may be attached to the bus bar frame 150, and electrode leads of the battery cell stack 120 may be connected to the bus bars, thereby electrically connecting the battery cell stack 120 to an external device.

[0078] The bus bar frame 150 may include an electrically insulating material, which may limit contact between the bus bar and other parts of the battery cell 110 other than the part connected to the electrode lead, thereby preventing an electrical short circuit from occurring.

[0079] The temperature detecting member 200 may be disposed between two adjacent battery cells 110 as shown in FIG. 5 above. When eight battery cells 110 form the battery cell stack 120 as shown in FIG. 8 , the temperature detecting member 200 may be disposed between the fourth and fifth battery cells 110. Since it may be difficult to dissipate heat from the center of the battery cell stack 120, by locating the temperature detecting member 200 in the center of the battery cell stack 120, it is possible to measure the maximum temperature of the battery cell stack 120 or a temperature close to the maximum temperature, and to prevent thermal runaway caused by heat generation from the battery cells 110. Please refer to the above content for a detailed description of the temperature detecting member 200.

[0080] 8 shows that only one temperature sensing element 200 is provided, multiple temperature sensing elements 200 may be provided in the battery module 100 depending on the design. While it is preferable that the multiple temperature sensing elements 200 be arranged at equal intervals, this is not necessarily the case. If there is a location within the battery cell stack 120 where a temperature rise is concentrated, it is most preferable to position the temperature sensing element 200 at that location.

[0081] Meanwhile, the battery module may be included in a battery pack. The battery pack may include one or more battery modules according to the present embodiment, and may be packed with a battery management system (BMS) for managing the temperature and voltage of the battery, a cooling device, and the like.

[0082] The battery module and the battery pack including the same can be applied to various devices, including transportation means such as electric bicycles, electric cars, and hybrid cars, but the present invention is not limited thereto and can be applied to various devices that can use the battery module and the battery pack including the same, which also fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0083] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present invention defined in the following claims also fall within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 100: Battery module 110: Battery cell 111: First electrode lead 112: Second electrode lead 120: Battery cell stack 130: Side plate 140: Retaining strap 150: Busbar frame 200: Temperature detection member 210: Main body 212: Insertion groove 220:Temperature measurement part 222:Temperature sensor 224: Wire 226: Connector P1: First point

Claims

1. A temperature detection member located between two adjacent battery cells in a first direction, a main body portion disposed parallel to one surface of the battery cell; and a temperature measuring unit attached to the main body and configured to measure the temperature of the battery cell; In the temperature detecting member, the main body portion has a plate-like shape, and the plate-like shape has a first edge and a second edge in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; the temperature measuring unit is inserted into one side of the main body in the second direction, A temperature detection member wherein the first edge has a shape that protrudes toward the temperature measurement portion at the center in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction more than the portion other than the central portion.

2. the temperature measurement unit includes a temperature sensor, The temperature sensing element of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is located at a first point on the body.

3. the first point is a point located within a first distance from one side of the body into which the temperature measuring unit is inserted, 3. The temperature detecting element according to claim 2, wherein the first distance has a value of 5 to 20% of the length of the main body portion.

4. the temperature measuring unit includes a connector for forming an electrical connection with an external device; The temperature detecting element according to claim 1 , wherein the connector is positioned to protrude from the main body portion.

5. 2. The temperature detecting element according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the main body is 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm.

6. The temperature sensing element according to claim 1 , wherein the body is made of polypropylene (PP) or polycarbonate (PC).

7. A battery module comprising the temperature detecting member according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A battery pack comprising the temperature detecting member according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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