Battery pack

Abstract

According to an exemplary embodiment, a battery pack is provided, the battery pack including: a pack housing including a plate and a sidewall; a first battery cell assembly and a second battery cell assembly on the plate; a first exhaust device and a second exhaust device coupled to the sidewall, the first exhaust device being adjacent to the first battery cell assembly relative to the second exhaust device, the second exhaust device being adjacent to the second battery cell assembly relative to the first exhaust device; a first forced exhaust motor configured to open the first exhaust device; and a second forced exhaust motor configured to open the second exhaust device.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery pack. This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0149598, filed on November 2, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. [Background technology]

[0002] Unlike primary batteries, secondary batteries can be charged and discharged multiple times. Secondary batteries are widely used as energy sources for a variety of wireless devices, such as handsets, laptops, and wireless vacuum cleaners. In recent years, improvements in energy density and economies of scale have dramatically reduced the manufacturing cost per unit capacity of secondary batteries. As the driving range of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) has increased to the same level as fuel-powered vehicles, the primary use of secondary batteries has shifted from mobile devices to mobility.

[0003] The technological development trends for secondary batteries for mobility applications are toward improvements in energy density and safety. The safety of secondary batteries for mobility applications is extremely important because it directly affects the lives of passengers. The safety of secondary batteries can be achieved through mechanical robustness, reliable electrical insulation, and heat transfer delay in the event of a thermal runaway event. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The problem to be solved by the technical idea of ​​the present invention is to provide a battery pack with improved safety. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems, there is provided a battery pack including: a pack housing including a plate and a sidewall, a first battery cell assembly and a second battery cell assembly on the plate, a first exhaust device and a second exhaust device coupled to the sidewall, the first exhaust device being adjacent to the first battery cell assembly relative to the second exhaust device, and the second exhaust device being adjacent to the second battery cell assembly relative to the first exhaust device, a first forced exhaust motor configured to open the first exhaust device, and a second forced exhaust motor configured to open the second exhaust device.

[0006] The battery pack further includes a BMS (Battery Management System) configured to control the first forced exhaust motor and the second forced exhaust motor.

[0007] The BMS is configured to determine the occurrence and location of a thermal runaway event within the pack housing.

[0008] The BMS is configured to control the first forced exhaust motor and the second forced exhaust motor based on a location of the thermal runaway event.

[0009] When a thermal runaway event occurs in the first battery cell assembly, the BMS is configured to operate the first forced exhaust motor to open the first exhaust device.

[0010] When the thermal runaway event occurs in the first battery cell assembly, the BMS does not operate the second forced exhaust motor.

[0011] According to an exemplary embodiment, a battery pack is provided, including a pack housing including a plurality of plates and a first side wall and a second side wall, first to fourth battery cell assemblies on the plates, a BMS configured to monitor the first to fourth battery cell assemblies, first and second exhaust devices coupled to the first side wall, third and fourth exhaust devices coupled to the second side wall, first and second forced exhaust motors interposed between the first and second battery cell assemblies and the first side wall, and third and fourth forced exhaust motors interposed between the third and fourth battery cell assemblies and the second side wall.

[0012] The first forced exhaust motor is configured to open the first exhaust device, the second forced exhaust motor is configured to open the second exhaust device, the third forced exhaust motor is configured to open the third exhaust device, and the fourth forced exhaust motor is configured to open the fourth exhaust device.

[0013] The BMS is configured to determine the location of a thermal runaway event within the pack housing.

[0014] The BMS is configured to control the first to fourth forced exhaust motors based on the position of the thermal runaway event.

[0015] The BMS is configured to control the first to fourth forced exhaust motors so as to open the exhaust device that is closest to the thermal runaway event among the first to fourth exhaust devices.

[0016] The BMS is configured to control the first to fourth forced exhaust motors so as to open only the exhaust device that is closest to the thermal runaway event among the first to fourth exhaust devices. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when a thermal runaway event occurs inside a battery pack, only a portion of the exhaust device can be opened based on the location of the thermal runaway event, thereby preventing flames and high-temperature gases generated from a battery cell assembly from inducing a thermal runaway event in an adjacent battery cell assembly and improving the safety of the battery pack.

[0018] The effects that can be obtained from the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly derived and understood from the following description by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure belong. In other words, unintended effects accompanying the implementation of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can also be derived from the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure by a person having ordinary skill in the art. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a battery pack according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II' in FIG. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a battery pack according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating the operation of the battery pack according to the exemplary embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Before that, it should be noted that the terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted as meanings and concepts that are consistent with the technical idea of ​​the present invention, based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the term to best describe his / her invention.

[0021] Therefore, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical idea of ​​the present invention, and there may be various equivalents and modifications that can replace them at the time of this application.

[0022] Furthermore, in the description of the present invention, if it is determined that a specific description of related publicly known configurations or functions may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted.

[0023] The embodiments of the present invention are provided to more completely explain the present invention to those skilled in the art, and therefore the shapes and sizes of components in the drawings may be exaggerated, omitted, or shown in a schematic manner for clearer explanation. Therefore, the sizes and proportions of each component do not completely reflect the actual sizes and proportions.

[0024] (First embodiment) FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a battery pack 100 according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II' in FIG.

[0026] 1 and 2 , a battery pack 100 may include a pack housing 110, a plurality of battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126, a cross beam 130, a plurality of exhaust devices 141, 142, 143, and 144, a plurality of motors 151, 152, 153, and 154, and a battery management system (BMS) 160. The battery pack 100 may be an end product that is installed in an application such as a vehicle.

[0027] The pack housing 110 can provide a space for mounting the battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126. The pack housing 110 can include plates 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 and side walls 116, 117, 118, and 119.

[0028] The battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126 can be disposed on the mounting surface 110M of the pack housing 110. Two directions substantially parallel to the mounting surface 110M of the pack housing 110 are defined as the X direction and the Y direction, and a direction substantially perpendicular to the mounting surface 110M of the pack housing 110 is defined as the Z direction. The X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction can be substantially perpendicular to each other. Unless otherwise specified, the definitions of the directions remain the same for the following drawings. The X direction and the Y direction may also be referred to as the horizontal direction, and the Z direction may also be referred to as the vertical direction.

[0029] Each of the plates 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 and the side walls 116 and 117 can be provided by an extrusion process. The extrusion direction of each of the plates 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 and the side walls 116 and 117 can be the X direction. The plates 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 and the side walls 116 and 117 can be arranged in the Y direction. The side walls 118 and 119 can also be provided by an extrusion process.

[0030] 1 shows a pack housing 110 including five plates 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 between side walls 116 and 117, but this is a non-limiting example and does not limit the technical concept of the present invention in any way. The number of plates 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 can be changed depending on the design of the battery pack 100 to be ultimately manufactured.

[0031] Plate 111 can be interposed between plate 112 and plate 114. Plate 112 can be interposed between plate 111 and plate 113. Plate 113 can be interposed between plate 112 and side wall 116. Plate 114 can be interposed between plate 111 and plate 115. Plate 115 can be interposed between plate 114 and side wall 117.

[0032] Adjacent ones of the plates 111, 112, 113, 114, 115 and the side walls 116, 117 can be bonded to one another. Adjacent ones of the plates 111, 112, 113, 114, 115 and the side walls 116, 117 can be welded to one another.

[0033] Plate 111 can be welded to plates 112 and 114. Plate 112 can be welded to plates 111 and 113. Plate 113 can be welded to plate 112 and side wall 116. Plate 114 can be welded to plates 111 and 115. Plate 115 can be welded to plate 114 and side wall 117.

[0034] According to an exemplary embodiment, the plates 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 and the sidewalls 116 and 117 can be joined by friction stir welding. Friction stir welding (FSW) can involve processing the workpieces (i.e., the plates 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 and the sidewalls 116 and 117) with a non-consumable tool (typically including a probe) rotating at high speed. Friction heat is generated between the tool and the workpieces, softening the workpieces around the tool. The softened workpieces can be plastically flowed by the stirring of the tool, mixing the materials on both sides of the joining surface, thereby bonding the workpieces together. The sidewalls 118 and 119 can be joined to the plates 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 by a method such as friction stir welding.

[0035] During friction stir welding, the materials to be welded undergo intensive plastic deformation at high temperatures. The result of friction stir welding can include a microstructure characterized by fine equiaxed grains and can have improved mechanical properties. As a result of friction stir welding, the pack housing 110 can include a weld bead.

[0036] Based on what is described herein, one of ordinary skill in the art can easily arrive at embodiments in which the plates 111, 112, 113, 114, 115 and the side walls 116, 117 are joined by arc welding such as carbon arc welding, plasma arc welding, shielded arc welding, submerged arc welding, MIG (Metal inert gas) welding, TIG (Tungsten inert gas) welding, gas welding, electroslag welding, laser welding, ultrasonic welding, and the like.

[0037] Each of the plates 111, 112, 113, 114, 115 and the plate portions 116P, 117P of the side walls 116, 117 may include cooling channels CH, cavities CV, and ribs. Each of the cooling channels CH, cavities CV, and ribs may extend in the extrusion direction (i.e., the X direction).

[0038] The cooling channels CH may provide a path through which a cooling fluid flows. The cooling channels CH may be spaced apart in the Y direction. The cooling channels CH may be arranged along the Y direction.

[0039] The hollow CV is an empty space formed inside the plates 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115. The formation of the hollow CV can reduce the mass of the plates 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115, thereby improving the energy density of the battery pack 100 including the pack housing 110.

[0040] The ribs can define the cooling channel CH and the cavity CV. The ribs can surround the cooling channel CH and the cavity CV. The ribs can maintain the cooling channel CH and the cavity CV airtight.

[0041] The plate 111 may be located at the center of the pack housing 110. The plate 111 may include a center beam CB. The center beam CB may protrude from a mounting surface 111M of the plate 111. The center beam CB may extend in the X direction. The center beam CB may be formed together with the plate 111 by an extrusion process, or a separately provided center beam CB may be welded to the mounting surface 111M of the plate 111.

[0042] The side wall 116 may include a plate portion 116P, a side wall portion 116S, and a wing portion 116W. The side wall portion 116S may be substantially perpendicular to the plate portion 116P. The wing portion 116W may be located outside the side wall portion 116S. The wing portion 116W may be spaced apart from the plate portion 116P with the side wall portion 116S therebetween. The wing portion 116W may include a plurality of coupling holes. The wing portion 116W may be used for transporting the pack housing 110 or for securing the pack housing 110 (e.g., securing the pack housing 110 to a vehicle or other battery tray).

[0043] The side wall 117 may include a plate portion 117P, a side wall portion 117S, and a wing portion 117W. The side wall portion 117S may be substantially perpendicular to the plate portion 117P. The wing portion 117W may be located outside the side wall portion 117S. The wing portion 117W may be spaced apart from the plate portion 117P with the side wall portion 117S therebetween. The wing portion 117W may include a plurality of coupling holes. The wing portion 117W may be used for transporting the pack housing 110, and may be used for securing the pack housing 110 (e.g., securing the pack housing 110 to a vehicle or other battery tray) and transporting the pack housing 110.

[0044] The side wall 117 may be spaced apart from the side wall 116 by plates 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115. The plate portions 116P and 117P may form the base plate of the pack housing 110 together with the plates 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115.

[0045] Plates 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 and plate portions 116P and 117P can form a base plate of pack housing 110. Mounting surface 110M can include plates 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 and mounting surfaces 111M, 112M, 113M, 114M, 115M, 116M, and 117M of plate portions 116P and 117P. Plates 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 and mounting surfaces 111M, 112M, 113M, 114M, 115M, 116M, and 117M of plate portions 116P and 117P can form mounting surface 110M of pack housing 110.

[0046] The bottom surface 110B may be opposite the mounting surface 110M. The bottom surface 110B may be substantially parallel to the mounting surface 110M. The bottom surface 110B may include plates 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 and bottom surfaces 111B, 112B, 113B, 114B, 115B, 116B, and 117B of plate portions 116P and 117P. The plates 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 and the bottom surfaces 111B, 112B, 113B, 114B, 115B, 116B, and 117B of plate portions 116P and 117P may constitute the bottom surface 110B of the puck housing 110.

[0047] The plurality of battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126 can be disposed on the plates 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 and the plate portions 116P and 117P of the pack housing 110. The plates 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 and the plate portions 116P and 117P can support the plurality of battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126. The side walls 116, 117, 118, and 119 can horizontally surround the plurality of battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126. The side walls 116, 117, 118, and 119 can protect the plurality of battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126.

[0048] In one example, the battery pack 100 may be of a moduleless type, and each of the plurality of battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126 may not include a module frame. In another example, the battery pack 100 may be of a modular type, and each of the plurality of battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126 may include a module frame.

[0049] Each of the battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126 may include a plurality of banks connected in series. Each of the banks may include one or more parallel-connected battery cells. The number of series-connected banks and the number of parallel-connected battery cells may be determined depending on the magnitude of the voltage and current to be output from each of the battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126.

[0050] The battery cells are the basic units of a lithium-ion battery, i.e., a secondary battery. Each of the battery cells includes an electrode assembly, an electrolyte, and a case. Each of the battery cells may be any one of a cylindrical battery cell, a prismatic battery cell, and a pouch-type battery cell. The electrode assembly of the cylindrical battery cell is housed in a cylindrical metal can. The electrode assembly of the prismatic battery cell is housed in a prismatic metal can. The electrode assembly of the pouch-type battery cell is housed in a pouch case including an aluminum laminate sheet.

[0051] The electrode assembly may include a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes. The electrode assembly may be either a jelly roll type or a stack type. A jelly roll type electrode assembly may include a rolled structure of a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed therebetween. A stack type electrode assembly may include a plurality of sequentially stacked positive electrodes, a plurality of negative electrodes, and a plurality of separators interposed therebetween.

[0052] The battery cell assemblies 121 and 123 may be spaced apart in the X direction. The battery cell assembly 125 may be interposed between the battery cell assemblies 121 and 123. The battery cell assemblies 122 and 124 may be spaced apart in the X direction. The battery cell assembly 126 may be interposed between the battery cell assemblies 122 and 124. The battery cell assemblies 121, 123, and 125 may be spaced apart from the battery cell assemblies 122, 124, and 126 in the Y direction.

[0053] Therefore, such an arrangement of the plurality of battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126 can be said to be a 3 x 2 arrangement. Based on what is described herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art can easily arrive at an M x N arrangement of the plurality of battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126 (where M and N are each an integer of 2 or greater).

[0054] The center beam CB can be interposed between the battery cell assemblies 121, 123, 125 and the battery cell assemblies 122, 124, 126. The center beam CB can separate the battery cell assemblies 121, 123, 125 and the battery cell assemblies 122, 124, 126 in the Y direction.

[0055] The cross beam 130 can be interposed between the battery cell assembly 121 and the side wall 118, between the battery cell assembly 121 and the battery cell assembly 125, between the battery cell assembly 123 and the battery cell assembly 125, between the battery cell assembly 123 and the side wall 119, between the battery cell assembly 122 and the side wall 118, between the battery cell assembly 122 and the battery cell assembly 126, between the battery cell assembly 124 and the battery cell assembly 126, and between the battery cell assembly 124 and the side wall 119.

[0056] 1 is a non-limiting example and does not limit the technical concept of the present invention in any way. Based on what is described herein, a person skilled in the art can easily arrive at a battery pack including a variety of arrangements and numbers of center beams, cross beams, and battery cell assemblies.

[0057] The exhaust devices 141 and 142 may be installed on the side wall 118. The exhaust devices 141 and 142 may be coupled to the side wall 118. The side wall 118 may include exhaust holes connected to the exhaust devices 141 and 142. The exhaust devices 143 and 144 may be installed on the side wall 119. The exhaust devices 143 and 144 may be coupled to the side wall 119. The side wall 119 may include exhaust holes connected to the exhaust devices 143 and 144. Each of the exhaust devices 141, 142, 143, and 144 may be configured to slow thermal propagation by releasing high-temperature gas inside the battery pack 100 to the outside when an adjacent one of the plurality of battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, and 124 is in a thermal runway state.

[0058] Here, thermal runaway of the battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124 is a state in which the temperature change of the battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124 accelerates the temperature change, resulting in an uncontrollable positive feedback loop. The battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124 in a thermal runaway state exhibit a rapid temperature rise and emit a large amount of high-pressure gas and combustion debris.

[0059] The cross beam 130 and the side walls 118, 119 can provide space for electrical components to be mounted. According to an exemplary embodiment, the forced exhaust motors 151, 152 can be interposed between the cross beam 130 and the side wall 118. According to an exemplary embodiment, the forced exhaust motors 153, 154 can be interposed between the cross beam 130 and the side wall 119. According to an exemplary embodiment, the BMS 160 can be interposed between the cross beam 130 and the side wall 118.

[0060] The forced exhaust motor 151 can be configured to open the exhaust device 141. The forced exhaust motor 152 can be configured to open the exhaust device 142. The forced exhaust motor 153 can be configured to open the exhaust device 143. The forced exhaust motor 154 can be configured to open the exhaust device 144. The forced exhaust motors 151, 152, 153, 154 can be controlled by the BMS 160.

[0061] The BMS 160 can be configured to monitor, balance, control, etc. the battery pack. Monitoring the battery pack 100 can include measuring voltages and currents at specific nodes within the plurality of battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, and measuring temperatures at set locations within the pack housing 110. The battery pack 100 can include instruments for measuring the voltages, currents, and temperatures described above.

[0062] Balancing the battery pack 100 is an operation to reduce deviations between the multiple battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126. Control of the battery pack 100 includes preventing overcharging, over-discharging, and overcurrent. Through monitoring, balancing, and control, the battery pack 100 can operate under optimal conditions, thereby preventing a shortened lifespan of each of the multiple battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126.

[0063] The battery pack 100 may further include additional electrical components such as a cooling device, a power relay assembly (PRA), and a safety plug. The cooling device may include a cooling fan. The cooling fan circulates air inside the battery pack 100 to prevent overheating of each of the battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126. The PRA may be configured to supply or cut off power from the high-voltage battery to an external load (e.g., a vehicle motor). The PRA may protect the battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126 and the external load (e.g., a vehicle motor) by cutting off the power supply to the external load (e.g., a vehicle motor) in the event of an abnormal voltage such as a voltage surge.

[0064] The battery pack 100 may further include a plurality of bus bars configured to electrically couple the plurality of battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126. The plurality of battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126 may be connected in series by the plurality of bus bars. This allows the battery pack 100 to be configured to output a high voltage to an external load (e.g., a vehicle motor).

[0065] The battery pack 100 may further include lead plates coupled to the side walls 116, 117, 118, and 119. The lead plates may cover elements mounted inside the battery pack 100, such as the battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126 and electrical components. The lead plates may be fixed to the battery pack 100 by mechanical coupling means, such as fasteners.

[0066] (Second embodiment) FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the battery pack 100 according to another exemplary embodiment.

[0067] FIG. 4 is a plan view of battery pack 100 for explaining the operation of battery pack 100 according to the exemplary embodiment.

[0068] 3 and 4 , a thermal runaway event TR can be detected at P110. The thermal runaway event TR can be detected by BMS 160. According to an exemplary embodiment, BMS 160 can be configured to determine the occurrence and location of the thermal runaway event TR based on a temperature sensed by a temperature sensor. According to an exemplary embodiment, BMS 160 can be configured to determine the occurrence and location of the thermal runaway event TR based on a pressure sensed by a pressure sensor. According to an exemplary embodiment, BMS 160 can be configured to determine the occurrence and location of the thermal runaway event TR based on the atmosphere inside the battery pack using a gas sensor.

[0069] Subsequently, in P120, the forced exhaust motors 151, 152, 153, and 154 can be operated based on the position of the thermal runaway event TR. The BMS 160 can be configured to generate signals to operate the forced exhaust motors 151, 152, 153, and 154 based on the position of the thermal runaway event TR.

[0070] The BMS may be configured to operate one of the forced exhaust motors 151, 152, 153, and 154 to open one of the exhaust devices 141, 142, 143, and 144 that is adjacent to the location of the thermal runaway event TR. As illustrated in FIG. 4 , when a thermal runaway event TR occurs in the battery cell assembly 121, the BMS 160 may be configured to generate a signal to operate the forced exhaust motor 151. This allows the forced exhaust motor 151 to open the exhaust device 141, and flames and / or high-temperature gases inside the battery pack 100 to be exhausted through the exhaust device 141.

[0071] Here, the position of the exhaust device 141 and the position of the thermal runaway event TR being adjacent to each other means that, of the multiple exhaust devices 141, 142, 143, and 144, the exhaust device 141 is closest to the thermal runaway event TR.

[0072] According to an exemplary embodiment, when a thermal runaway event TR occurs in the battery cell assembly 121, the BMS 160 may not operate the forced exhaust motors 152, 153, and 154 and may not open the exhaust devices 142, 143, and 144. This may prevent a chain reaction of thermal runaway in the adjacent battery cell assemblies 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126 due to a flame and / or a flow of high-temperature gas generated from the first battery cell assembly 121, thereby improving the stability of the battery pack 100.

[0073] The BMS 160 can also be configured to open each of the multiple exhaust devices 141, 142, 143, and 144 when the nature of the thermal runaway event meets a critical condition (e.g., a thermal runaway event occurs in more than half of the multiple battery cell assemblies 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126).

[0074] As another example, when a thermal runaway event occurs in the battery cell assembly 122, the BMS 160 can be configured to generate a signal to operate the forced exhaust motor 152. This allows the forced exhaust motor 152 to open the exhaust device 142. When a thermal runaway event TR occurs in the battery cell assembly 122, the BMS 160 may not operate the forced exhaust motors 151, 153, and 154.

[0075] As another example, when a thermal runaway event occurs in the battery cell assembly 123, the BMS 160 can be configured to generate a signal to operate the forced exhaust motor 153. This allows the forced exhaust motor 153 to open the exhaust device 143. When a thermal runaway event TR occurs in the battery cell assembly 123, the BMS 160 may not operate the forced exhaust motors 151, 152, 154.

[0076] As another example, when a thermal runaway event occurs in the battery cell assembly 124, the BMS 160 can be configured to generate a signal to operate the forced exhaust motor 154. This allows the forced exhaust motor 154 to open the exhaust device 144. When a thermal runaway event TR occurs in the battery cell assembly 124, the BMS 160 may not operate the forced exhaust motors 151, 152, 153.

[0077] The present invention has been described in more detail above with reference to the drawings and embodiments, etc. However, the configurations shown in the drawings or embodiments in this specification are merely one embodiment of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention, and therefore, there may be various equivalents and modifications that can replace them at the time of filing this application.

Claims

1. a pack housing including a plate and a sidewall; a first battery cell assembly and a second battery cell assembly on the plate; a first exhaust device and a second exhaust device coupled to the sidewall, the first exhaust device being closer to the first battery cell assembly than the second exhaust device, and the second exhaust device being closer to the second battery cell assembly than the first exhaust device; a first forced exhaust motor configured to open the first exhaust device; a second forced exhaust motor configured to open the second exhaust device; a BMS (Battery Management System) configured to control the first forced exhaust motor and the second forced exhaust motor, When a thermal runaway event occurs in the first battery cell assembly, the BMS is configured to operate the first forced exhaust motor to open the first exhaust device. Battery pack.

2. 10. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the BMS is configured to determine the occurrence and location of a thermal runaway event within the pack housing.

3. The battery pack of claim 2 , wherein the BMS is configured to control the first forced exhaust motor and the second forced exhaust motor based on a position of the thermal runaway event.

4. The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the BMS does not operate the second forced exhaust motor when a thermal runaway event occurs in the first battery cell assembly.

5. a pack housing including a plurality of plates and a first side wall and a second side wall; first to fourth battery cell assemblies on the plate; a battery management system (BMS) configured to monitor the first to fourth battery cell assemblies; a first exhaust device and a second exhaust device coupled to the first sidewall; a third exhaust device and a fourth exhaust device coupled to the second side wall; a first forced exhaust motor and a second forced exhaust motor interposed between the first battery cell assembly and the first side wall, and between the second battery cell assembly and the first side wall; a third forced exhaust motor and a fourth forced exhaust motor interposed between the third battery cell assembly and the second side wall, and a fourth battery cell assembly and a third forced exhaust motor interposed between the third battery cell assembly and the second side wall, and a fourth forced exhaust motor interposed between the fourth battery cell assembly and the second side wall; the BMS is configured to determine a location of a thermal runaway event within the pack housing; The BMS is configured to control the first to fourth forced exhaust motors based on the location of the thermal runaway event. Battery pack.

6. the first forced exhaust motor is configured to open the first exhaust device; the second forced exhaust motor is configured to open the second exhaust device; the third forced exhaust motor is configured to open the third exhaust device; and The battery pack according to claim 5 , wherein the fourth forced exhaust motor is configured to open the fourth exhaust device.

7. 6. The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein the BMS is configured to control the first to fourth forced exhaust motors to open the exhaust device among the first to fourth exhaust devices that is closest to the thermal runaway event.

8. 6. The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein the BMS is configured to control the first to fourth forced exhaust motors so as to open only the exhaust device among the first to fourth exhaust devices that is closest to the thermal runaway event.

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