Battery packs and devices containing them

Abstract

A battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of battery cells in which battery cells each including a sealing portion are stacked in one direction, a cell cover covering at least a portion of the plurality of battery cells, a venting passage formed between the sealing portions of the plurality of battery cells and the cell cover, and an adhesive layer disposed on an inner surface of the venting passage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] [Cross - Reference to Related Applications] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10 - 2022 - 0089844 filed on July 20, 2022 and Korean Patent Application No. 10 - 2023 - 0076240 filed on June 14, 2023, and all the contents disclosed in the documents of the Korean patent applications are included as part of this specification.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery pack and a device including the same, and more specifically, to a battery pack and a device including the same, in which the energy density and cooling performance are improved and the safety is enhanced.

Background Art

[0003] In modern society, the use of portable devices such as mobile phones, notebook computers, camcorders, and digital cameras has become common, and the development of related technologies in the field related to such mobile devices has been active. In addition, rechargeable secondary batteries are used as power sources for electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug - in hybrid electric vehicles (P - HEVs), etc. as a solution to solve air pollution such as that of conventional gasoline vehicles using fossil fuels, and the need for development related to secondary batteries is increasing.

[0004] Currently commonly used secondary batteries include nickel - cadmium batteries, nickel - metal hydride batteries, nickel - zinc batteries, lithium secondary batteries, etc. Among these, lithium secondary batteries have attracted attention for their advantages of free charge and discharge, low self - discharge rate, and high energy density.

[0005] Such a lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate, on which a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material are respectively coated, are arranged with a separator interposed therebetween, and an exterior material that hermetically houses the electrode assembly together with an electrolytic solution, that is, a battery case.

[0006] Generally, lithium secondary batteries can be classified into two types based on the shape of their casing: can-type secondary batteries, in which the electrode assembly is housed in a metal can, and pouch-type secondary batteries, in which the electrode assembly is housed in a pouch made of aluminum laminate sheet.

[0007] In recent years, battery packs have been widely used for propulsion and energy storage in medium- and large-scale devices such as electric vehicles and energy storage systems. Conventional battery packs include one or more battery modules and a control unit, such as a BMS (Battery Management System), which controls the charging and discharging of the battery pack, inside the pack case. Here, the battery module is configured to contain multiple battery cells inside the module case. That is, in the case of conventional battery packs, multiple battery cells (secondary batteries) are housed inside the module case to constitute each battery module, and one or more such battery modules are housed inside the pack case to constitute a battery pack.

[0008] In particular, pouch-type batteries have advantages in various aspects, such as being lightweight and having less dead space during stacking, but they are vulnerable to external impacts and have some drawbacks in terms of ease of assembly. Therefore, it is common for battery packs to be manufactured in a form in which multiple cells are first modularized and then housed inside a pack case. As a typical example, in the case of conventional battery packs, multiple battery cells are first housed inside a module case to form a battery module, and then these battery modules are housed inside one or more pack cases. Furthermore, conventional battery modules often stack multiple battery cells using various components such as a stacking frame made of plastic material, also called a cartridge, plates at both ends in the cell stacking direction, and fastening members such as bolts. And often, the stacks formed in this way are then housed inside a module case again to modularize them.

[0009] However, conventional battery packs have disadvantages in terms of energy density. Typically, in the process of modularizing multiple battery cells by housing them inside a module case, the volume of the battery pack may unnecessarily increase due to various components such as the module case or stacking frame, or the space occupied by the battery cells may decrease. Furthermore, the space occupied by the components themselves, such as the module case and stacking frame, as well as the space occupied by the battery cells, may decrease in order to ensure assembly tolerances for these components. Therefore, conventional battery packs may have limitations in increasing energy density.

[0010] Furthermore, conventional battery packs also have disadvantages in terms of assembly. In particular, manufacturing a battery pack involves first modularizing multiple battery cells to form a battery module, and then housing the battery module in a pack case, which complicates the manufacturing process. Moreover, as disclosed in the aforementioned prior art, the process and structure for forming a cell stack using a stacking frame, bolts, plates, etc., can be extremely complex.

[0011] Furthermore, with conventional battery packs, the module case is housed inside the pack case, and the battery cells are housed inside the module case, which presents a problem in ensuring excellent cooling performance. In particular, if the heat from the battery cells housed inside the module case is to be dissipated to the outside of the pack case via the module case, the cooling efficiency may decrease, and the cooling structure may become more complex.

[0012] Furthermore, while the capacity and output are improved by connecting multiple battery cells in a conventional battery pack in series or parallel to form a battery cell stack, there is a problem in that the heat generated from multiple battery cells in the confined space within the battery module is aggregated, causing the overall temperature to rise more rapidly. [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0013] The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a battery pack and a device including an automobile that are excellent in terms of energy density, ease of assembly and / or cooling performance.

[0014] Furthermore, the objective is to provide a battery pack and a device including the same that have improved durability and safety by preventing continuous thermal runaway phenomena.

[0015] However, the problems that the embodiments of the present invention aim to solve are not limited to those described above, and other problems not described can be extended to the extent that they can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the present invention. [Means for solving the problem]

[0016] A battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of battery cells, each containing a sealing portion, stacked in one direction; a cell cover covering at least a portion of the plurality of battery cells; a venting channel formed between the sealing portions of the plurality of battery cells and the cell cover; and an adhesive layer disposed on the inner surface of the venting channel.

[0017] The sealing portion may be a part of the battery cell in which one side facing the cell cover is sealed.

[0018] The cell cover includes a first side cover portion and a second side cover portion that cover the sides of the plurality of battery cells, and an upper cover portion that covers the top of the plurality of battery cells, and the sealing portion is positioned on top of the plurality of battery cells.

[0019] The upper cover portion can be separated from the sealing portion.

[0020] The adhesive layer can be placed on the inner surface of the upper cover portion.

[0021] The adhesive layer can be further disposed on at least a part of the inner surface of the first side cover portion and at least a part of the inner surface of the second side cover portion.

[0022] The cell cover can cover the upper surface and both side surfaces of the plurality of battery cells and expose the lower surface of the plurality of battery cells.

[0023] The sealing portion can be bent one or more times.

[0024] The cell cover can have an integral shape.

[0025] The cell cover can include stainless steel (SUS).

[0026] Each of the plurality of battery cells may be a pouch-type battery cell.

[0027] A pack case for housing the plurality of battery cells and the cell cover in an internal space can be further included.

[0028] The device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the at least one battery pack.

Advantages of the Invention

[0029] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent high-temperature particles discharged from each battery cell from scattering to the outside when gas or flame occurs, and to prevent a continuous thermal runaway phenomenon.

[0030] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0031] [Figure 1] It is a schematic perspective view showing a separated part of the configuration of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic exploded perspective view showing a cell unit, including the configuration of a battery cell and a cell cover, housed inside a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing the combined form of the components in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view along cross-section A in Figure 3. [Figure 5] Figure 4 is a front view. [Figure 6] This diagram shows the state of a cell unit where ignition occurred, as in the comparative example. [Figure 7] Figure 3 is a diagram showing how the venting gas is discharged in the y-axis direction. [Figure 8] This is a drawing showing a cell unit according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0032] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings, so that those with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can easily implement them. The present invention can be implemented in a variety of other forms besides those described below, and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0033] To clearly explain the present invention, unnecessary parts have been omitted, and the same or similar reference numerals are used throughout the specification for components that are identical or similar.

[0034] Furthermore, the dimensions and thicknesses of each component shown in the drawings have been arbitrarily enlarged or reduced for the sake of explanation, and therefore the present invention is not necessarily limited to those shown. The thicknesses have been enlarged in the drawings to clearly represent multiple layers and regions. In addition, the thicknesses of some layers and regions have been exaggerated in the drawings for the sake of explanation.

[0035] Furthermore, when a layer, membrane, region, plate, or other part is said to be "on top of" or "above" another part, this includes not only cases where the layer, membrane, region, plate, or other part is "directly above" the other part, but also cases where there is another part in between. Conversely, when a part is said to be "directly above" another part, it means that there is no other part in between. Also, being "on top of" or "above" a reference part means being located above or below the reference part, and does not necessarily mean being located "on top of" or "above" in the opposite direction of gravity. On the other hand, describing something as being "below" or "below" another part can also be understood by referring to the above.

[0036] Furthermore, when a specification states that a certain part "includes" a certain component, unless otherwise specified, this means that it may include other components rather than excluding them.

[0037] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a partial configuration of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a cell unit, including the configuration of a battery cell and cell cover housed inside a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the components of Figure 2 combined.

[0040] Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a battery pack 1000 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a battery cell 100, a cell cover 200, and a pack case 600.

[0041] The battery cell 100 may be a pouch-type battery cell. That is, the battery cell 100 is a pouch-type secondary battery and may include an electrode assembly, an electrolyte, and a pouch outer casing.

[0042] Generally, a pouch-type battery cell 100 can be manufactured by injecting electrolyte with the electrode assembly housed in a cell case and then sealing the cell case. For example, the cell case can be sealed by bonding both ends of the battery cell 100 to one side connecting them.

[0043] Multiple such battery cells 100 can be included in a battery pack. These multiple battery cells 100 can be stacked in at least one direction. For example, as shown in Figure 1, multiple battery cells 100 can be stacked horizontally, for example, in the left-to-right direction (the x-axis direction in the drawing). Alternatively, multiple battery cells 100 can be arranged in the front-to-back direction (the y-axis direction in the drawing), as shown in Figure 1.

[0044] Furthermore, the multiple battery cells 100 can be arranged horizontally, forming multiple rows in the left-right and horizontal directions. For example, referring to Figure 1, the multiple battery cells 100 can be stacked in a configuration where two rows of cells arranged in the left-right direction are provided in the front-back direction.

[0045] Since the battery pack according to the present invention can employ various forms of battery cells 100 that were publicly known at the time of filing the application of the present invention, a detailed explanation of the configuration of such battery cells 100 will be omitted.

[0046] The pack case 600 has an internal cavity that can accommodate multiple battery cells 100. For example, as shown in Figure 1, the pack case 600 can comprise an upper case 610 and a lower case 620. More specifically, the lower case 620 can be configured as a box with an open top, allowing multiple battery cells to be stored in its internal space. The upper case 610 can be configured as a lid that covers the open top of the lower case 620. In this case, the upper case 610 can also be configured as a box with an open bottom. Furthermore, the internal space of such a pack case 600 can accommodate multiple battery cells 100 along with a cell cover 200. The pack case 600 can be made of plastic or metal. In addition, the pack case 600 can utilize various battery pack exterior material materials known at the time of filing of this invention.

[0047] The cell cover 200 can be configured to enclose the battery cells 100 within the internal space of the pack case. That is, the cell cover 200 can be configured to enclose at least some of the multiple battery cells 100 included in the battery pack. Furthermore, the cell cover can be provided to enclose at least partially the battery cells 100.

[0048] Furthermore, the cell cover 200 can be configured to support the stacked state of multiple battery cells 100 inside the pack case 600 through its structure that encloses the battery cells in this way. For example, multiple battery cells 100 can be stacked horizontally (in the x-axis direction in the drawing) as shown in Figure 1. In this case, the cell cover 200 can be configured to stably maintain the stacked state of multiple battery cells 100 stacked horizontally in this way.

[0049] According to this aspect of the present invention, multiple battery cells 100 can be directly mounted and housed inside the pack case 600 without a module case. In particular, in the case of battery cells 100, the outer material is made of a flexible material, making it vulnerable to external impacts and having low hardness. Therefore, it is not easy to house the battery cells 100 themselves inside the pack case 600 without housing them in a module case. However, in the case of the present invention, multiple battery cells 100 can be directly housed inside the pack case 600, with at least a portion of them enclosed by the cell cover 200 and coupled with the cell cover 200, while maintaining a stable stacked state.

[0050] Therefore, according to this aspect of the present invention, the battery pack 1000 does not need to further include a module case, a stacking frame, fastening members such as bolts for maintaining the stacked state of the cells, etc. Therefore, the space occupied by other components such as the module case and stacking frame, and the space required to ensure tolerances therefor, can be eliminated. As a result, the battery cells can occupy more space as the space is eliminated, and thus the energy density of the battery pack can be further improved.

[0051] Furthermore, according to this aspect of the present invention, since module cases, stacking frames, bolts, etc., are not provided, the volume and weight of the battery pack are reduced, and the manufacturing process is simplified.

[0052] Furthermore, according to this aspect of the present invention, handling of the battery cells 100 may become easier. For example, when multiple battery cells 100 are stored inside a pack case, the battery cells 100 can be gripped by a jig or the like. In this case, the jig can grip the cell cover 200 that encloses the battery cells 100 without directly gripping the battery cells 100. Therefore, damage or breakage of the battery cells 100 by the jig can be prevented.

[0053] Furthermore, according to this aspect of the present invention, the cell cover 200 is attached to the battery cell 100, and the battery cell 100 can be effectively protected even without a module case.

[0054] The cell cover 200 can be made of various materials to ensure rigidity. In particular, the cell cover 200 can be made of metal. With such a metal material, the stacked state of the battery cells can be maintained more stably, and the battery cells can be protected more safely from external impacts. Specifically, the cell cover 200 can be made of steel, and even stainless steel (SUS) material. For example, the cell cover 200 can be made entirely of SUS material.

[0055] Thus, when the cell cover 200 is made of steel, its superior mechanical strength and rigidity allow it to more stably support the stacked state of the battery cells 100. In addition, this can more effectively prevent damage or breakage to the battery cells 100 from external impacts, such as needle-like objects. Moreover, this makes handling the battery cells easier.

[0056] Furthermore, as in the above embodiment, when the cell cover 200 is made of steel, its high melting point allows the overall structure to be stably maintained when flames are generated from the battery cell 100. In particular, since steel has a higher melting point than aluminum, it does not melt even when flames are ejected from the battery cell 100, and its shape can be stably maintained. Therefore, excellent flame propagation prevention or delay effect, venting control effect, etc., between battery cells 100 can be ensured.

[0057] The cell cover 200 can be configured to enclose one or more battery cells 100. For example, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, one cell cover 200 can be configured to enclose one battery cell 100 or multiple battery cells 100. In this case, each of the multiple battery cells 100 may be individually connected to a cell cover 200, or the cell cover 200 can be configured to enclose two or more battery cells 100 together.

[0058] The cell cover 200 can be at least partially adhered to the outer surface of the battery cell 100. For example, the inner surface of the cell cover 200 can be adhered to the housing portion of the battery cell 100.

[0059] A battery pack may contain one or more cell covers 200. In particular, a cell cover 200 can be configured to group and unitize multiple battery cells 100 contained in the battery pack. In this case, one cell cover 200 can be said to constitute one cell unit 10. And one cell unit 10 can contain one or more battery cells 100. A battery pack may contain multiple cell units, in which case a battery pack may contain multiple cell covers 200. For example, if a cell cover 200 is configured to enclose one battery cell 100, the battery pack may contain the same number of cell covers 200 as the number of battery cells 100. As another example, if a cell cover 200 is configured to enclose two or more battery cells 100, the battery pack may contain a number of cell covers 200 less than the number of battery cells 100.

[0060] The cell cover 200 can be configured to support multiple battery cells 100 in an upright position. Each battery cell 100 has two broad surfaces, as shown in Figure 2, and the corners of the broad surfaces may contain sealing or folded portions of the pouch outer material. Therefore, it is generally difficult to stack the battery cells 100 in an upright position. However, in the battery pack according to the present invention, the cell cover 200 can be configured to enclose one or more battery cells 100 while supporting the enclosed battery cells 100 in an upright position, i.e., an upright position.

[0061] In particular, the cell cover 200 can be configured so that multiple battery cells 100 are stacked horizontally while standing upright. For example, as shown in the embodiments in Figures 1 to 3, multiple cell covers 200 can be stacked horizontally on top of each other, and each cell cover 200 can be configured to enclose one or more battery cells 100. In this case, the cell cover 200 can stably maintain a configuration in which multiple battery cells 100 are stacked horizontally in parallel while each is standing upright.

[0062] In particular, the cell cover 200 can be configured to stand upright within the internal space of the pack case 600. That is, the cell cover 200 can be configured to maintain an upright position on its own without the help of other components of the battery pack, such as the pack case 600 or the battery cell 100.

[0063] For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the cell cover 200 can be directly attached to the bottom surface of the lower case 620. In this case, a portion of the cell cover 200, specifically the lower end of the cell cover 200, can be attached in direct contact with the bottom surface of the lower case 620. In this case, a thermal resin layer 626 may be formed on the bottom surface of the lower case 620. The thermal resin layer 626 can transfer heat to a heat sink (not shown) so that the heat generated from the battery cell 100 is dissipated through the heat sink. Although not shown, a heat sink can be formed beneath the thermal resin layer 626. As an example, the heat sink can be formed on the bottom surface of the lower case 620, and the thermal resin layer 626 can be applied to the upper surface of the heat sink. The thermal resin layer 626 has adhesive properties, which allows the cell cover 200 and / or the battery cell 100 to be bonded to the bottom surface of the lower case 620 or to the heat sink. The thermal resin layer 626 can help maintain the upright position of the battery cell 100 and the cell cover 200 more stably.

[0064] Furthermore, when the lower end of the cell cover 200 is attached in this manner, it can be configured to maintain a stable attached state. In this case, if the cell cover 200 is made of a highly rigid metal material such as steel, especially SUS material, the self-supporting state can be maintained more stably. Therefore, in this case, the upright state of the battery cell 100 can be supported more reliably.

[0065] The cell cover 200 can be configured to partially enclose the battery cell such that at least one side of the enclosed battery cell is exposed to the outside. That is, the cell cover 200 can be configured to enclose only a part of the battery cell 100, rather than completely enclosing it. In particular, the cell cover 200 can be configured so that at least one side of the battery cell is exposed toward the pack case.

[0066] For example, referring to the embodiments in Figures 2 and 3, the cell cover 200 is configured to enclose one battery cell 100, but the lower part of the enclosed battery cell 100, i.e., the battery cell 100 housed in the internal space, may not be covered by the cell cover 200. Therefore, the lower part of the battery cell 100 is exposed toward the pack case 600 and can face the pack case 600 directly. In particular, referring to the embodiment in Figure 1, the lower part of the battery cell 100 can be exposed toward the bottom surface of the lower case 620.

[0067] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the cooling performance of the battery pack can be more effectively ensured. In particular, according to the above embodiment, the battery cells 100 and the pack case 600 can be in direct face-to-face contact. Therefore, the heat released from each battery cell 100 is directly transferred to the pack case 600, improving the cooling performance. In this case, a separate cooling structure does not need to be provided between the battery cells 100 and the pack case 600, so efficient cooling performance can be achieved. In this case, there may not be a space between the battery cells 100 for a coolant such as air to flow in.

[0068] On the other hand, in the battery pack according to the present invention, a Thermal Interface Material (TIM) can be interposed to improve the heat transfer performance between different components. For example, TIM can be filled between the battery cell 100 and the cell cover 200, between the cell cover 200 and the pack case 600, and / or between the battery cell 100 and the pack case 600. In this case, the cooling performance of the battery pack, such as dual cooling performance, can be further improved.

[0069] In particular, the cell cover 200 can be configured to enclose one of the multiple edges of the battery cell 100 housed inside, specifically the edge portion that does not have electrode leads. For example, referring to the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the battery cell 100 may have two electrode leads 110, namely a positive electrode lead and a negative electrode lead. In this case, the two electrode leads may be located on the front edge portion and the rear edge portion, respectively. In this case, the cell cover can be configured to enclose one of the remaining two edge portions, excluding the front and rear edge portions.

[0070] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the battery cell 100 can also be considered to be formed as a nearly hexahedron. Electrode leads 110, i.e., a negative electrode lead and a positive electrode lead, can be formed on two of the six faces. The cell cover 200 is provided to enclose at least a portion of three of the remaining four faces of the six-faced battery cell 100, excluding the two faces on which the electrode leads 110 are formed.

[0071] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the direction of exhaust of flames and the like can be guided to the exposed side surface of the cell cover 200. For example, according to the embodiment, since the front and rear sides of the cell cover 200 where the electrode leads 110 are located are open, flames and the like can be exhausted in the direction of these open surfaces. In particular, when the cell cover 200 is configured in a form with the front and rear open as described above, side directional venting can be easily achieved.

[0072] According to such embodiments of the present invention, a configuration in which one or more battery cells are supported and protected by a single cell cover 200 can be easily realized. In particular, according to the above embodiment, the lower edge portion can be in direct contact with the pack case 600 without being enclosed by the cell cover 200. Therefore, the heat from the battery cell 100 enclosed by the cell cover 200 can be quickly and smoothly dissipated to the lower pack case 600 side. Thus, the cooling performance of the battery pack can be more effectively ensured.

[0073] In particular, this configuration can be implemented more effectively when cooling is mainly performed at the bottom of the pack case 600. For example, in the case of a battery pack installed in an electric vehicle, since it is installed at the bottom of the vehicle body, cooling may mainly occur at the bottom of the pack case 600. In this case, as in the above embodiment, when the lower edge of each battery cell 100 is in direct contact with the pack case, heat can be rapidly transferred from each battery cell 100 to the pack case, and the cooling performance can be further improved.

[0074] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, when high-temperature gas or flames are discharged from the battery cell 100 in situations such as thermal runaway, it is possible to effectively prevent the discharged gas or flames from moving upwards. In particular, when passengers are located on the upper side of the battery pack, such as in an electric vehicle, according to the above embodiment, it is possible to suppress or delay the movement of gas or flames towards the passengers.

[0075] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, it can be said that the cell cover 200 is formed in a shape that is roughly similar to an "n". Through this shape, the cell cover 200 is configured to cover the battery cell 100 housed inside, except for the front and rear sides where the electrode leads protrude, and the bottom side. In other words, the cell cover 200 can be provided to cover the outside and top sides of the housing portion of the battery cell housed inside.

[0076] More specifically, the cell cover 200 may include an upper cover portion 210, a first side cover portion 220, and a second side cover portion 230, as shown in Figure 2.

[0077] Here, the upper cover portion 210 can be configured to enclose the upper part of the battery cell 100 housed inside. In particular, the upper cover portion 210 can be configured to contact or be separated from the upper edge portion of the battery cell 100. Alternatively, the upper cover portion 210 can be configured in a planar shape. In this case, the cross-section of the upper cover portion 210 is formed in a horizontal straight line, and it can enclose the upper edge portion of the battery cell 100 from the outside in a straight line.

[0078] The first side cover portion 220 can be configured to extend downward from one end of the upper cover portion 210. For example, the first side cover portion 220 can be configured to extend long downward (in the -Z axis direction in the drawing) from the left end of the upper cover portion 210. Furthermore, the first side cover portion 220 can be formed in a planar shape. In this case, the first side cover portion 220 can be configured to be bent at the upper cover portion 210.

[0079] Furthermore, the first side cover portion 220 can be configured to enclose the outside of one side housing portion of the battery cell 100 housed inside. For example, if one battery cell 100 is housed in the cell cover 200, the first side cover portion 220 can be configured to enclose the left side surface of the housing portion of the housed battery cell 100 from the left side. In this case, the first side cover portion 220 can directly contact the outer surface of the housing portion.

[0080] The second side cover portion 230 can be positioned horizontally separated from the first side cover portion 220. The second side cover portion 230 can be configured to extend downward from the other end of the upper cover portion 210. For example, the second side cover portion 230 can be configured to extend downward from the right end of the upper cover portion 210. Furthermore, the second side cover portion 230 can also be configured in the same planar shape as the first side cover portion 220. In this case, the second side cover portion 230 and the first side cover portion 220 can be said to be arranged parallel to each other while being horizontally separated.

[0081] Furthermore, the second side cover portion 230 can be configured to enclose the outside of the other side housing portion of the battery cell 100 housed inside. For example, if one battery cell 100 is housed in the cell cover 200, the second side cover portion 230 can be configured to enclose the right side surface of the housing portion of the housed battery cell 100 from the right side. In this case, the second side cover portion 230 can directly contact the outer surface of the housing portion.

[0082] In the above embodiment, the internal space can be limited by the upper cover portion 210, the first side cover portion 220, and the second side cover portion 230. The cell cover 200 can then house one or more battery cells in this limited internal space.

[0083] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the lower ends of the first side cover portion 220 and the second side cover portion 230 can contact the bottom surface of the pack case 600. In particular, the contact configuration between the lower ends of the first side cover portion 220 and the second side cover portion 230 and the pack case 600 can be formed in a form that extends long in the front-to-back direction (y-axis direction in the drawing). According to this embodiment, a more stable self-supporting configuration of the cell cover 200 that can maintain the battery cell 100 housed inside in an upright position can be realized.

[0084] Furthermore, the first side cover portion 220 and the second side cover portion 230 can have the same height. That is, the first side cover portion 220 and the second side cover portion 230 can have the same length extending downward from the upper cover portion 210. In this case, the self-supporting configuration of the cell cover 200 can be achieved more easily.

[0085] On the other hand, to describe again the cell cover 200 and battery cell 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention, the upper cover portion 210 can face the upper edge portion of the battery cell 100 and, together with the first side cover portion 220 and the second side cover portion 230, can enclose the upper edge portion.

[0086] Furthermore, the cross-sectional areas of the first side cover portion 220 and the second side cover portion 230 are provided to be larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the battery cell 100 that the first side cover portion 220 and the second side cover portion 230 face, thereby preventing the storage portion from being exposed to the outside and ensuring maximum safety.

[0087] On the other hand, the battery cell 100 may include a sealing portion 240 (see Figure 4). The sealing portion 240 (see Figure 4) may be a portion of the battery cell 100 that is sealed on one side facing the cell cover 200. The sealing portion 240 (see Figure 4) may be sealed by methods such as heat fusion and may be folded one or more times to improve sealing performance. For example, the sealing portion 240 (see Figure 4) may be a double-side-folded portion.

[0088] In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the upper edge portion can be the double-sided folded portion of the battery cell 100 as the sealing portion 240 (see Figure 4). The lower edge portion can be the unsealed portion of the battery cell 100.

[0089] Here, the cell cover 200 encloses the battery cell 100, but can be configured to enclose at least a portion of the sealing portion, leaving at least a portion of the unsealed portion exposed to the outside. For example, referring to the embodiment in Figure 2, the cell cover 200 can be configured to cover the upper edge portion, which is part of the sealing portion of the battery cell 100. In this case, the battery cell 100 housed inside the cell cover 200 is configured such that the upper edge portion, which is the sealing portion, faces the upper cover portion 210. Alternatively, the cell cover 200 can enclose the battery cell 100 so that the lower edge portion, which is the unsealed portion of the battery cell 100, is exposed to the outside. In this case, the lower edge portion, which is the unsealed portion of the battery cell 100, is located on the open surface of the cell cover 200.

[0090] The upper edge portion of the battery cell 100, which acts as a sealing portion, may be more vulnerable to the discharge of relatively high-temperature gases and flames than the lower edge portion, which is an unsealed portion. However, according to the above embodiment, the upper edge portion, which acts as a sealing portion, is positioned to face the upper cover portion 210, which can be more advantageous for directional venting.

[0091] Furthermore, the lower edge portion of the battery cell 100, which is an unsealed portion, has a relatively larger cross-sectional area than the upper edge portion, which is a sealed portion. It has a flat shape and can be placed on the open surface of the cell cover 200, allowing it to directly contact the thermal resin layer 626 in Figure 1 and increase cooling efficiency.

[0092] Furthermore, when the lower case 620 is mounted on one surface of the vehicle body, the first side cover portion 220 and the second side cover portion 230 can extend from the upper cover portion 210 toward one surface of the vehicle body, and the upper edge portion can be positioned further away from one surface of the vehicle body than the lower edge portion. In other words, when the lower case 620 is mounted on one surface of the vehicle body, the cell cover 200 can be configured in such a way that the surface positioned relatively close to one surface of the vehicle body is open.

[0093] Conversely, when the upper case 610 is mounted on one surface of the vehicle body, the first side cover portion 220 and the second side cover portion 230 can extend away from the upper cover portion 210 and away from the surface of the vehicle body, and the upper edge portion can be positioned even closer to the surface of the vehicle body than the lower edge portion. In other words, when the upper case 610 is mounted on one surface of the vehicle body, the cell cover 200 can be configured in such a way that the surface that is relatively away from the surface of the vehicle body is open.

[0094] In other words, the arrangement of the cell cover 200 and the battery cell 100 can be set in various ways depending on the relationship with the vehicle body, the pack case 600, and the configurations that are arranged on the vehicle body other than the pack case 600.

[0095] On the other hand, although the above embodiment mainly illustrates and describes a configuration in which the cell cover 200 is formed in an n-shape, the cell cover 200 can be configured in a variety of other forms. For example, the cell cover 200 can be formed in a variety of other shapes such as I-shape, U-shape, L-shape, etc.

[0096] Figure 4 is a schematic, separated perspective view showing a portion of the battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0097] Referring to Figure 2, the battery pack according to the present invention may further include a busbar assembly 300, which can be configured to electrically connect a plurality of battery cells 100 to one another. For example, as shown in Figure 2, the busbar assembly 300 can be coupled to the electrode leads 110 of the plurality of battery cells 100 to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells 100 in series and / or parallel. The busbar assembly 300 may comprise busbar terminals made of an electrically conductive material such as copper or aluminum that directly contact the electrode leads 110 and a busbar housing made of an electrically insulating material such as plastic that supports the busbar terminals.

[0098] Furthermore, if the battery cell 100 has electrode leads 110 on both sides, the busbar assembly 300 can also be located on both sides where the electrode leads 110 are located. For example, as shown in Figure 2, if the electrode leads 110 protrude both forward (y-axis direction in the drawing) and backward (-y-axis direction in the drawing), the busbar assembly 300 can also be located on both the forward and backward sides.

[0099] The busbar assembly 300 can be coupled to one or more cell covers 200. In this case, the busbar assembly 300 can be coupled to the end of one cell cover 200. In this case, one or more battery cells 100 can be housed in one cell cover 200.

[0100] The busbar assembly 300 can be connected to the cell cover 200 in various ways. For example, the busbar assembly 300 can be connected and fixed to the cell cover 200 through various fastening methods such as bonding, welding, insert bonding, hook bonding, bolting bonding, and riveting.

[0101] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the battery pack 1000 according to the present invention may further include an insulating cover portion 350 and an end plate 400. The insulating cover portion 350 is made of an electrically insulating material and prevents the busbar assembly 300 from being exposed to the outside by the end plate 400, thereby ensuring and maintaining electrical insulation.

[0102] The end plate 400 can cover the front and rear surfaces of multiple battery cells 100 and be coupled with the cell cover 200. The end plate 400 may include a first end plate 410 positioned on the front side (y-axis direction in the drawing) of the battery cells 100 and a second end plate 410 positioned on the rear side (-y-axis direction in the drawing) of the battery cells 100.

[0103] The end plate 400 can be joined to the cell cover 200 so as to be sealed by welding.

[0104] At this time, the end plate 400 can secure the busbar assembly 300 and the insulating cover portion 350, thereby ensuring the structural stability of the cell unit 10. On the other hand, the end plate 400 can have a hole through which the insulating cover portion 350 is exposed, and directional venting can be induced through this hole if necessary.

[0105] The venting channels and adhesive layers included in the battery pack 1000 according to this embodiment will be described in more detail below.

[0106] Figure 4 is a perspective view shown by cross-section A in Figure 3.

[0107] Figure 5 is a front view of Figure 4.

[0108] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, an air gap can exist between the top of the cell cover 200 and the battery cell 100. A venting channel (VP, see Figure 7) is formed through this air gap, allowing gas generated from the battery cell 100 to move. In particular, the upper edge of the battery cell 100, where a sealing portion 240 is formed, allows for better discharge of relatively hotter gases and flames compared to the unsealed lower edge. When gases and flames are generated, they are released as hot gases and sparks through the venting channel (VP, see Figure 7), and ignition may occur when the sparks come into contact with external oxygen, etc. Therefore, to solve the above-mentioned problems, the battery pack of this embodiment may include an adhesive layer 250 to prevent sparks, i.e., hot particles, from being scattered to the outside. The adhesive layer 250 can be placed on the inner surface of the space between the cell cover 200 and the battery cell 100. Specifically, the adhesive layer 250 can be placed on the inner surface of the upper cover portion 210. Furthermore, the adhesive layer 250 can be further disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface of the first side cover portion 220 and at least a portion of the inner surface of the second side cover portion 230. For example, the adhesive layer 250 can be disposed on the inner surface of the upper cover portion 210, the inner surface of a portion of the first side cover portion 220 extending downward from one end of the upper cover portion 210, and the inner surface of a portion of the second side cover portion 230 extending downward from the other end of the upper cover portion 210. In particular, by forming a relatively larger amount of adhesive layer between the sealing portion 240 and the upper cover portion 210, it is possible to catch even more sparks.

[0109] When an adhesive layer 250 is formed on the cell unit 10, particles that move along the air gap, which is a venting channel, when the battery cell 100 ignites can adhere to the adhesive layer 250, thereby preventing the particles from scattering outside the cell unit 10. When the release of high-temperature particles, i.e., sparks, is restricted by the adhesive layer 250, the possibility of sparks coming into contact with external oxygen is reduced, thereby preventing further thermal runaway phenomena.

[0110] The adhesive layer 250 can be attached to the inside of the venting channel in the form of a layer, or it can be applied in liquid form and then formed into a layer.

[0111] The adhesive layer 250 may contain an adhesive substance. Any type of adhesive substance that can be used in the adhesive layer 250 is acceptable as long as it has adhesive properties to which particles can adhere. Examples of adhesive substances include those containing attrilates or silicones, and the above-mentioned adhesive substances may be further mixed with ester rubber, phenolic resins or other substances as auxiliary agents, or with low molecular weight substances such as castor oil or polyisobutylene.

[0112] The adhesive layer 250 can be provided in the venting channel. The venting channel can extend along the y-axis as shown in Figures 2 and 3. When directional venting is induced through the holes in the end plate 400, the gas and flame are discharged along the venting channel. At this time, the adhesive layer 250 restricts the release of high-temperature particles, i.e., sparks, which reduces the likelihood of sparks coming into contact with external oxygen, thereby preventing additional thermal runaway phenomena.

[0113] Figure 6 is a diagram showing the state of a cell unit where ignition occurred in a comparative example.

[0114] Figure 7 is a diagram showing how the venting gas is discharged in the y-axis direction of Figure 3.

[0115] Referring to Figure 6, the cell unit may include a venting channel formed between the cell cover 21 and the battery cell 1. The battery cell 1 can generate a large amount of heat during the charging and discharging process, and if its temperature rises above the appropriate temperature due to overcharging or other reasons, its performance may deteriorate, and if the temperature rise is excessive, it may explode or ignite. When the battery cell 1 ignites, internal materials of the cell may be ejected to the outside along with high-temperature flammable gases. Such internal materials are mainly substances such as C, Cu, Al, Ni, Co, Mg, and Li, and are ejected in the form of high-temperature particles, i.e., sparks.

[0116] On the other hand, such sparks can cause ignition when they come into contact with flammable gases or external oxygen that are emitted along with them, thus potentially causing a continuous thermal runaway phenomenon outside the battery pack containing battery cell 1.

[0117] Referring to Figure 7, the cell unit 10 according to this embodiment may include a venting channel (VP) formed between the battery cell 100 and the upper cover portion 210. The venting channel (VP) can be used to discharge gases and other substances generated from the battery cell 100 to the outside of the cell cover 200. The venting channel (VP) can be formed in the separation space between the cell cover 200 and the battery cell 100. A venting section for discharging internal gases from the battery cell 100, such as a hole in the end plate 400 described in Figures 2 and 3, may be located at one end of the venting channel (VP). Flames, gases, and other substances discharged from each battery cell 100 into the venting channel (VP) can move along the venting channel (VP) and be discharged to the outside through an outlet (not shown) provided in the cell unit 10.

[0118] As shown in Figure 7, when the battery cell 100 ignites, particles moving along the venting channel (VP) can adhere to the adhesive layer 250, thereby preventing the particles from scattering outside the cell unit 10. When the release of high-temperature particles, i.e., sparks, is restricted by the adhesive layer 250, the likelihood of the sparks coming into contact with external oxygen is reduced, thereby preventing further thermal runaway phenomena.

[0119] Figure 8 is a drawing showing a cell unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0120] The embodiment in Figure 8 is a modification of the embodiment in Figure 5, and the cell unit 20 according to this embodiment may further include a heat transfer member 260 that covers the top of the battery cell 100. The heat transfer member 260 can be formed by coating with a silicone-based material or by forming it with a thermally conductive pad. The adhesive layer 250 can be formed between the heat transfer member 260 and the upper cover portion 210. The adhesive layer 250 can be formed on the inner surface of the upper cover portion 210, on the inner surface of a portion of the first side cover portion 220 that extends downward from one end of the upper cover portion 210 to the heat transfer member 260, and on the inner surface of a portion of the second side cover portion 230 that extends downward from the other end of the upper cover portion 210 to the heat transfer member 260. However, the formation location of the adhesive layer 250 is not limited to these, and it can also be formed by directly coating or adhering it to the upper surface of the heat transfer member 260.

[0121] In addition to the differences described above, all of the information shown in Figure 5 is applicable to this embodiment.

[0122] On the other hand, although not specifically mentioned above, a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a battery management system (BMS) and / or a cooling device for managing the temperature and voltage of the battery.

[0123] A battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention can be applied to a variety of devices. For example, the device to which the battery pack is applied may be a means of transportation such as an electric bicycle, an electric vehicle, or a hybrid vehicle. However, the devices are not limited to those described above, and the battery pack according to this embodiment can be used in a variety of devices other than those exemplified above, and this also falls within the scope of the present invention.

[0124] In this embodiment, terms such as front, back, left, right, up, and down were used to represent directions. However, these terms are for convenience of explanation and may differ depending on the position of the object in question, the observer's position, etc.

[0125] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art, utilizing the basic concepts of the present invention as defined in the claims, also fall within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0126] 10, 20 cell units VP venting channel 100 battery cells 200 Cell Cover 210 Upper cover section 220 First side cover section 230 Second side cover section 240 Sealing section 250 Adhesive layer 260 Heat transfer member 300 Busbar Assembly 350 Insulation cover section 400 End Plate 600 pack case 610 Top Case 620 Lower Case 626 Thermal resin layer 1000 Battery Pack

Claims

1. A plurality of battery cells, each containing a sealing portion, stacked in one direction; A cell cover that covers at least a portion of the plurality of battery cells; Venting channels formed between the sealing portion and the cell cover of the plurality of battery cells; and The vent channel includes an adhesive layer disposed on the inner surface of the channel, The cell cover covers the top and both sides of the plurality of battery cells, and exposes the bottom surface of the plurality of battery cells, in a battery pack.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the sealing portion is a portion of the battery cell formed by sealing one side of the battery cell that faces the cell cover.

3. The cell cover includes a first side cover portion and a second side cover portion that cover the sides of the plurality of battery cells, and an upper cover portion that covers the top of the plurality of battery cells. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the sealing portion is located on top of the plurality of battery cells.

4. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein the upper cover portion is separated from the sealing portion.

5. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein the adhesive layer is disposed on the inner surface of the upper cover portion.

6. The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein the adhesive layer is further disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface of the first side cover and at least a portion of the inner surface of the second side cover.

7. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the sealing portion is folded one or more times.

8. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the cell cover has an integral shape.

9. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the cell cover includes stainless steel (SUS).

10. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of battery cells is a pouch-type battery cell.

11. The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising a pack case that houses the plurality of battery cells and the cell covers in an internal space.

12. An apparatus comprising the battery pack described in claim 1.

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