Battery pack with improved cooling structure and device including the same

Abstract

A battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a battery module including a cell assembly formed by stacking a plurality of battery cells and a module frame that houses the cell assembly, a pack housing to which at least one battery module is attached, and a cooling tube assembly attached within the pack housing, wherein one end of the battery module is positioned to overlap the cooling tube assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] [Cross - reference to Related Applications] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10 - 2022 - 0133707 filed on October 18, 2022, and all the contents disclosed in the documents of the Korean Patent Application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery pack and a device including the same, and more particularly, to a battery pack having an improved cooling structure and a device including the same.

Background Art

[0003] As the technology development and demand for mobile devices increase, the demand for secondary batteries as an energy source has been rapidly increasing. In particular, secondary batteries have attracted much attention not only as an energy source for mobile devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras, notebook computers, and wearable devices, but also for power devices such as electric bicycles, electric vehicles, and hybrid electric vehicles.

[0004] For small mobile devices, one or two to four battery cells are used per device, while for medium - to - large devices such as automobiles, high - power and large - capacity are required. Therefore, medium - to - large battery modules in which a number of battery cells are electrically connected are used.

[0005] On the other hand, when a plurality of battery cells are connected in series / parallel to form a battery module and / or a battery pack, it is common to form a battery module consisting of at least one battery cell and add other components using at least one battery module to form a battery pack.

[0006] The battery cells that make up such medium- and large-sized battery modules are composed of rechargeable secondary batteries, and such high-power, high-capacity secondary batteries generate a large amount of heat during the charging and discharging process. In this case, the heat from many battery cells is amplified in a confined space, which can cause the temperature to rise rapidly and excessively. In other words, while high output can be obtained in battery modules with many battery cells stacked on top of each other and in battery packs with such modules attached, it is not easy to remove the heat generated by the battery cells during charging and discharging. If the heat dissipation of the battery cells is not properly carried out, the degradation of the battery cells will accelerate, shortening their lifespan and increasing the risk of explosion or fire.

[0007] Furthermore, battery modules included in vehicle battery packs are frequently exposed to direct sunlight and may be subjected to high-temperature conditions such as summer or desert regions. Also, because numerous battery modules are densely arranged to increase the vehicle's driving range, flames or heat generated in one battery module can easily spread to neighboring modules, potentially leading to the battery pack itself catching fire or exploding.

[0008] Figure 1 shows the heat dissipation path in a conventional battery module.

[0009] Referring to Figure 1, a conventional battery module 30 includes a cell assembly 70 containing battery cells 60 stacked in a predetermined direction, and a module frame 40 housing the cell assembly 70, the cell assembly 70 being fixedly positioned on a thermally conductive resin layer 50 located on the underside of the module frame 40. In this case, to cool the heat generated in the cell assembly 70, a heat sink 90 is provided facing the bottom of the module frame 40 located in the -z axis direction in Figure 1, and a thermal conductive pad 80 for heat transfer may be further provided between the heat sink 90 and the bottom of the module frame 40.

[0010] However, since the heatsink 90 does not directly contact the cell assembly 70 to transfer heat, its cooling efficiency is not very high, and a cooling path is formed in one direction (-z axis direction) within the width of the battery cell, which may cause a temperature gradient.

[0011] Therefore, in order to extend the lifespan of battery modules and / or battery packs, it is necessary to improve the cooling efficiency of the battery modules / battery packs to prevent the temperature of the battery cells from rising. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0012] The problem that this invention aims to solve is, To prevent the temperature of the battery cells from rising, improve the cooling efficiency of the battery module / battery pack. The objective is to provide a battery pack and a device containing the same.

[0013] Furthermore, the objective is to provide a battery pack and a device including the same that can overcome the disadvantage of limited space making connection work difficult when connecting the coolant supply connection part after the battery modules have been placed in the battery pack.

[0014] The problems that this invention aims to solve are not limited to those described above, and any problems not mentioned should be clearly understood by a person with ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains from this specification and the accompanying drawings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] A battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a battery module including a cell assembly formed by stacking a plurality of battery cells and a module frame housing the cell assembly, a pack housing to which at least one of the battery modules is attached, and a cooling tube assembly attached inside the pack housing, wherein one end of the battery module is arranged to overlap with the cooling tube assembly.

[0016] One end of the battery module and the cooling tube assembly may overlap in the vertical direction.

[0017] The battery module further includes a sealing cover formed at one end of the battery module so as to cover the cell assembly, and the sealing cover may overlap the cooling tube assembly in the vertical direction.

[0018] The sealing cover includes a lid portion that covers one end of the cell assembly from which electrode leads protrude from the plurality of battery cells, and a protruding portion that protrudes from the lid portion, the protruding portion may overlap the cooling tube assembly in the vertical direction.

[0019] The cooling tube assembly may include cooling tubes extending along the direction in which the plurality of battery cells are stacked, and a fixed frame assembled with the cooling tubes.

[0020] The cooling tube and the protrusion may have openings formed in them, respectively, in directions facing each other, and the insulating coolant injected into the cooling tube assembly may pass through the openings and flow into the interior of the battery module.

[0021] The sealing cover and the fixing frame may be connected by fastening members.

[0022] The battery pack may further include a sealing member located between the cooling tube and the protrusion.

[0023] The fixing frame may include a plurality of fixing blocks arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the direction in which the cooling tube extends.

[0024] The cooling tube may include a main tube, a hose connected to one end of the main tube, and a connector connected to the hose.

[0025] The cooling tube assembly includes an injection cooling tube assembly and a discharge cooling tube assembly. The injection cooling tube assembly may be disposed between one of the side frames of the pack housing and one end of the battery module, and the discharge cooling tube assembly may be disposed between the other one of the side frames of the pack housing and the other end of the battery module.

[0026] The battery module further includes a first sealing cover formed at one end of the battery module to cover the cell assembly and a second sealing cover formed at the other end of the battery module to cover the cell assembly. The injection cooling tube assembly may be located below the first sealing cover, and the discharge cooling tube assembly may be located above the second sealing cover.

[0027] The discharge cooling tube assembly includes a main tube, a hose connected to one end of the main tube, and a connector connected to the hose. The hose is a flexible tube, and a height step may be formed between the main tube and the connector when the hose is bent.

[0028] The cooling tube assembly includes a cooling tube extending along the direction in which the plurality of battery cells are stacked, and a fixing frame assembled with the cooling tube. A plurality of battery modules are attached to the pack housing, and the battery pack further includes a partition disposed between adjacent battery modules. One end of the partition may include a groove surrounding the cooling tube.

[0029] The inside of the module frame may be impregnated with an insulating coolant to directly cool the battery cells.

[0030] A device according to another embodiment of the present invention includes the aforesaid battery pack. [Effects of the Invention]

[0031] According to the example, the use of space in the injection and discharge sections of the insulating coolant can be improved by using a cooling tube and a fixed frame.

[0032] Furthermore, by performing the process of connecting the insulating coolant injection section and the insulating coolant discharge section before or after the process of arranging the battery module in the battery pack, it is possible to provide a battery pack and a device including the same that can overcome the disadvantage of limited space making connection work difficult.

[0033] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and any effects not mentioned should be clearly understood by a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains from this specification and the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0034] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows the heat dissipation path in a conventional battery module. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a plan view showing the battery pack in Figure 2. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an injection cooling tube assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is an enlarged view of section A in Figure 4. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows a cooling tube assembly for discharge according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the battery module included in the battery pack shown in Figure 2. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a magnified view of area B in Figure 7. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a battery module related to a comparative example. [Figure 10]Figure 10 shows the battery module from Figure 9 arranged inside the battery pack. [Figure 11] Figure 11 shows a diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] Figure 12 shows a diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] Figure 13 shows a diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] Figure 14 shows a diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] Figure 15 shows a diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] Figure 16 shows a diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] Figure 17 shows the path of the insulating coolant in a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0035] The following describes in detail, with reference to the attached drawings, various embodiments of the present invention so that those with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can easily implement them. The present invention can be embodied in a variety of different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0036] To clearly explain the present invention, unnecessary parts have been omitted, and the same or similar reference numerals have been used throughout the specification for identical or similar components.

[0037] Furthermore, the dimensions and thicknesses of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrary for illustrative purposes, and therefore the present invention is not necessarily limited to those shown. Thicknesses are shown enlarged in the drawings to clearly represent various layers and regions. Additionally, the thicknesses of some layers and regions are exaggerated in the drawings for illustrative purposes.

[0038] Furthermore, when a specification states that a part of it "includes" a certain component, unless otherwise specified, this means that it can further include other components rather than excluding them.

[0039] Furthermore, throughout the specification, when "on a plane" is used, it means when the part in question is viewed from above, and when "on a cross-section" is used, it means when the cross-section of the part in question, obtained by cutting it perpendicularly, is viewed from the side.

[0040] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a plan view showing the battery pack of Figure 2. In Figure 3, the battery module 100 configuration of Figure 2 is omitted for convenience in order to show the discharge cooling tube assembly 205B.

[0041] Referring to Figure 2, a battery pack 1000 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a pack housing 700 on which at least one battery module 100 is attached, and the pack housing 700 includes a lower pack frame 710 on which the bottom surface of the battery module 100 is placed, a side pack frame 720 surrounding the sides of the battery module 100, and an upper pack frame 730 located on top of the battery module 100. Here, the lower pack frame 710, the side pack frame 720, and the upper pack frame 730 are joined to each other by methods such as welding, so that the inside of the battery pack 1000 can be sealed.

[0042] The side pack frame 720 is equipped with pack ports 650 and 660, which are connected to the cooling tube assembly 205 (Figure 4), described later.

[0043] The battery module 100 may include a cell assembly 120 in which multiple battery cells are stacked along a predetermined direction, and a module frame 200 that houses the cell assembly. The module frame 200 may be a monoframe in the form of a metal plate with integrated top and bottom surfaces (in the z-axis direction and the -z-axis direction) and both sides (in the x-axis direction and the -x-axis direction). The cell assembly 120 can be mounted inside the module frame 200 to constitute the battery module 100. However, the module frame 200 is not limited to the above, and may include an upper frame and a lower frame, the lower frame being a U-shaped frame including a bottom plate and side plates extending upward from both corners of the bottom plate, and the upper frame being a flat plate structure.

[0044] At least one partition wall 500 is formed on the lower pack frame 710. Here, the lower pack frame 710 and the partition wall 500 and / or the side pack frame 720 and the partition wall 500 may be joined to each other by methods such as welding. However, they are not limited to methods such as welding, and may be joined using adhesive.

[0045] Multiple battery modules 100 may be partitioned from each other by a side pack frame 720 and multiple partition walls 500. Specifically, multiple battery modules 100 may be arranged in multiple regions formed by the side pack frame 720 and adjacent partition walls 500.

[0046] As a result, multiple battery modules 100 are surrounded by multiple bulkheads 500 and side pack frames 720, and each battery module 100 can be protected from external impacts.

[0047] The side pack frame 720 is positioned along the periphery of the bottom surface of the lower pack frame 710 and may extend upward from the bottom surface of the lower pack frame 710. More specifically, it may extend upward from each periphery of the bottom surface of the lower pack frame 710. Here, the upper part of the side pack frame 720 may be in contact with the upper pack frame 730. In this case, the upper part of the side pack frame 720 and the upper pack frame 730 can be joined to each other by welding or other means, thereby sealing the inside of the battery pack 1000.

[0048] Multiple partition walls 500 may be spaced apart from each other. Here, the distance between adjacent partition walls 500 may be the same as or greater than the width of the battery module 100. Here, the width of the battery module 100 may be the size measured along the direction in which the multiple battery cells are stacked.

[0049] Furthermore, the ends of the bulkhead 500 may be in contact with the inner surface of the side pack frame 720. More specifically, both ends of the bulkhead 500 may be in contact with the inner surface of the side pack frame 720.

[0050] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the battery pack 1000 according to this embodiment includes a cooling tube assembly 205 that supplies an insulating coolant to the battery module 100. The insulating coolant is a substance that has electrical insulating properties and a cooling function, and may be insulating oil, for example. The cooling tube assembly 205 includes an injection cooling tube assembly 205A and an discharge cooling tube assembly 205B. The injection cooling tube assembly 205A is positioned between one of the side pack frames 720 of the pack housing 700 and one end of the battery module 100, and the discharge cooling tube assembly 205B may be positioned between the other side pack frame 720 of the pack housing 700 and the other end of the battery module 100.

[0051] The following describes in detail a cooling tube assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] Figure 4 shows an injection cooling tube assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 is an enlarged view of portion A in Figure 4. Figure 6 shows a discharge cooling tube assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a battery module included in the battery pack of Figure 2. Figure 8 is a partially enlarged view showing area B in Figure 7.

[0053] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the injection cooling tube assembly 205A according to this embodiment includes a cooling tube 220 extending along the direction in which multiple battery cells are stacked (the y-axis direction in Figure 3), and a fixing frame 210 assembled with the cooling tube 220. The cooling tube 220 and the fixing frame 210 may be joined to each other using an adhesive, or the sealing cover (150 in Figure 7), described later, and the fixing frame 210 may be joined by fastening members without using an adhesive, and the cooling tube 220 may also be fixed together. Alternatively, both an adhesive and fastening members may be used, and the fastening members may be of a bolted structure. In this case, the fixing frame 210 may include a plurality of fixing blocks arranged to be spaced apart from each other along the direction in which the cooling tube 220 extends.

[0054] More specifically, the cooling tube 220 included in the injection cooling tube assembly 205A according to this embodiment may include a main tube 221, a hose 250a connected to one end of the main tube 221, and a connector 270 connected to the hose 250a. The hose 250a may be a flexible tube. The hose 250a of the injection cooling tube assembly 205A may be positioned in a straight line with the direction in which the main tube 221 extends. The main tube 221 may be formed by extruding a metallic material, for example, it may be made of aluminum. The hose 250a can be used for ease of assembly, and the connector 270 can serve to assemble the main tube 221 and the pack port 650 without a separate bonding or coupling process.

[0055] The fixing frame 210 in this embodiment may have a structure that surrounds the lower and left and right sides of the main tube 221 so that the upper part of the main tube 221 is exposed. With such a fixing frame 210 structure, an opening 225 may be formed in the upper part of the main tube 221.

[0056] Referring to Figures 2 through 5 and Figure 7, insulating coolant flows from outside the battery pack 1000 into the pack inlet port 650 and is supplied to the cooling tube 220 connected to the pack inlet port 650. Subsequently, the insulating coolant flows through the opening 225 of the main tube 221 contained in the cooling tube 220 to the sealing cover 150 (described later), and through the sealing cover 150, the insulating coolant can enter the inside of the battery module 100. The insulating coolant that enters the inside of the battery module 100 can directly cool the electrode leads 111 and the busbars (not shown) connected to the electrode leads 111, and the insulating coolant can be inserted into the gap space GS formed between the battery cell 110 and the module frame 200, forming a cooling channel. The insulating coolant can move along the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 7. Although not shown, a busbar frame, insulating cover, end plate, etc., which form the connection between the busbars and the electrode leads 111 and 112, may be placed between the battery cell 110 and the sealing cover 150. The end plate may be formed in a manner that covers the outside of the sealing cover 150.

[0057] Referring to Figure 6, an exhaust cooling tube assembly 205B according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a cooling tube 220 extending along the direction in which multiple battery cells are stacked (the y-axis direction in Figure 3), and a fixing frame 210 assembled with the cooling tube 220. The cooling tube 220 and the fixing frame 210 may be joined to each other using an adhesive, or the sealing cover (150 in Figure 7), described later, and the fixing frame 210 may be joined by fastening members without using an adhesive, and the cooling tube 220 may also be fixed together. Alternatively, both an adhesive and fastening members may be used, and the fastening members may be bolted structures. In this case, the fixing frame 210 may include a plurality of fixing blocks arranged to be spaced apart from each other along the direction in which the cooling tube 220 extends.

[0058] More specifically, the cooling tube 220 included in the discharge cooling tube assembly 205B according to this embodiment may include a main tube 221, a hose 250b connected to one end of the main tube 221, and a connector 270 connected to the hose 250b. The hose 250b of the discharge cooling tube assembly 205B is a flexible tube, and a height difference may be formed between the main tube 221 and the connector 270 by bending the hose 250b. This is a difference from the injection cooling tube assembly 205A described above. In other words, the hose 250a of the injection cooling tube assembly 205A may be arranged in a straight line with the direction in which the main tube 221 extends. The main tube 221 of the discharge cooling tube assembly 205B may be formed by extruding a metallic material, for example, it may be made of aluminum. Hose 250b can be used for ease of assembly, and connector 270 can serve to assemble the main tube 221 and pack port 660 without separate bonding or coupling processes.

[0059] The fixing frame 210 in this embodiment may have a structure that surrounds the top and left and right sides of the main tube 221 so as to expose the lower part of the main tube 221. With such a fixing frame 210 structure, an opening 225 may be formed at the bottom of the main tube 221.

[0060] Referring to Figures 2, 3, 6, and 7, the insulating coolant injected into the battery module 100 through the aforementioned inlet cooling tube assembly 205A may, after directly cooling the busbars, battery cells, etc., pass through the sealing cover 150 located at the other end of the battery module 100 while at a high temperature, and then be discharged into the discharge cooling tube assembly 205B through the opening 225 of the main tube 221 of the discharge cooling tube assembly 205B.

[0061] In the following section, with reference to Figures 7 and 8, we will examine in more detail the relationship between the battery module 100 and the cooling tube assembly 205.

[0062] Referring to Figures 7 and 8, one end of the battery module 100 may be positioned so as to overlap with the cooling tube assembly 205. In this case, the end of the battery module and the cooling tube assembly 205 may overlap in the vertical direction (the z-axis direction in Figure 7). This arrangement improves space efficiency compared to a method in which the connector for circulating the insulating coolant inside the battery module is directly connected to the battery module.

[0063] Specifically, the battery module 100 may include sealing covers 150 at both ends of the battery module 100 so as to cover the cell assembly 120. In this case, the sealing covers 150 may overlap the cooling tube assembly 205 in the vertical direction. The sealing cover 150 may include a lid portion 150a that covers one end of the cell assembly 120 from which electrode leads 111 and 112 protrude from the plurality of battery cells 110, and a protruding portion 150b that protrudes from the lid portion 150a. The protruding portion 150b may overlap the cooling tube assembly 205 in the vertical direction.

[0064] When a sealing cover 150 formed on one end of the battery module 100 so as to cover the cell assembly 120 is referred to as the first sealing cover, and a sealing cover 150 formed on the other end of the battery module 100 so as to cover the cell assembly 120 is referred to as the second sealing cover, the injection cooling tube assembly 205A may be located below the first sealing cover, and the discharge cooling tube assembly 205B may be located above the second sealing cover.

[0065] An opening 227 may be formed in the sealing cover 150, with the opening 227 being formed in the lower part of the first sealing cover 150 and the opening 227 being formed in the upper part of the second sealing cover 150. Specifically, an opening 227 may be formed in the protruding portion 150b of the sealing cover 150, and the opening 227 may communicate with an opening 225 formed in the main tube 221 of the cooling tube, allowing the insulating coolant to pass through.

[0066] A sealing member 230 may be positioned between the cooling tube 220 and the protrusion 150b.

[0067] The sealing member 230 may be a sealing foam tape. By forming the sealing member 230, leakage of insulating coolant between the cooling tube 220 and the protrusion 150b of the sealing cover 150 can be blocked, thereby improving cooling efficiency. Here, an opening (not shown) may also be formed in the sealing member 230, and the opening of the sealing member 230 may communicate with the opening 225 of the main tube 221 and the opening of the protrusion 150b described above.

[0068] The sealing cover 150 and the fixing frame 210 may be connected to each other by fastening members 165. The fastening members 165 may be bolted fastening members.

[0069] Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a battery module related to a comparative example. Figure 10 is a diagram showing the battery module of Figure 9 arranged inside a battery pack.

[0070] Referring to Figures 9 and 10, the battery module 800 in the comparative example includes a module frame 820 that houses the cell assembly 805, and end plates 810 that cover the front and rear surfaces of the cell assembly 805, excluding the portion enclosed by the module frame 820. In this case, the front and rear surfaces of the cell assembly 805 and the end plates 810 each have an inlet port 850 and an outlet port 860 formed therein for introducing and discharging refrigerant into and out of the battery module 800. If the quick connector DC shown in Figure 10 is directly connected to the battery module 800 in order to circulate insulating coolant through the inlet port 850 and the outlet port 860, the spatial loss may become very large.

[0071] Figures 11 to 16 show a method for manufacturing a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0072] Figure 13 is a magnified view of area C in Figure 12.

[0073] Referring to Figures 11 and 12, the injection cooling tube assembly 205A described in Figure 4 may be prepared and placed on the lower pack frame 710 of the battery pack 1000. In this case, as shown in Figure 14, the side pack frame 720 of the pack housing is provided with a pack inlet port 650 connected to the injection cooling tube assembly 205A, and the cooling tube 220 of the injection cooling tube assembly 205A may be connected to the pack inlet port 650.

[0074] At least one partition wall 500 according to this embodiment may be positioned on the lower pack frame 710. For example, as shown in Figure 12, a plurality of partition walls 500 may be arranged at predetermined intervals, and the predetermined interval may define an area on the lower pack frame 710 where a plurality of battery modules 100, as described later in Figure 14, are mounted. In other words, the partition wall 500 may be positioned between adjacent battery modules 100 mounted on the lower pack frame 710, as described later. In this case, one end of the partition wall 500 may include a groove 500h surrounding the cooling tube 220 of the injection cooling tube assembly 205A, as shown in Figure 13. The groove 500h may be a hole for the cooling tube 220 to pass through one end of the partition wall 500, so that the cooling tube 220 extends along the direction in which the plurality of battery cells are stacked. The fixing frame 210 included in the cooling tube 220 may be positioned between adjacent partition walls 500, and for this purpose the fixing frame 210 may be formed of a plurality of fixing blocks that are spaced apart from each other along the direction in which the cooling tube 220 extends.

[0075] After the injection cooling tube assembly 205A is placed on the lower pack frame 710, the battery module 100 shown in Figure 14 may be mounted on the lower pack frame 710. In this case, multiple battery modules 100 may be mounted between adjacent bulkheads 500, and the bulkheads 500 facilitate the positional alignment of the multiple battery modules 100.

[0076] When the battery module 100 is mounted on the lower pack frame 710, the sealing cover 150 of the battery module 100 may be joined to the fixed frame 210 by fastening members 165, as shown in Figures 7, 8, and 15. The sealing cover 150 formed on one end of the battery module 100 may be mounted on top of an already provided injection cooling tube assembly 205A. Specifically, the opening 227 of the projection 150b of the sealing cover 150 may be positioned to communicate with the opening 225 of the main tube 221. A sealing member 230 may be formed on the main tube 221 before the battery module 100 is mounted.

[0077] Referring to Figure 16, the discharge cooling tube assembly 205B may be attached to the other end of the battery module 100 after the multiple battery modules 100 have been mounted on the lower pack housing. In the case of the discharge cooling tube assembly 205B, as shown in the upper left section of Figure 7, the discharge cooling tube assembly 205B may be attached to the upper part of the projection 150b of the sealing cover 150. In this case, the fixed frame 210 of the discharge cooling tube assembly 205B and the sealing cover 150 may be connected by fasteners such as bolts, similar to the fastening method using fasteners 165 described for the injection cooling tube assembly 205A in Figure 8.

[0078] The discharge cooling tube assembly 205B is largely the same as the inlet cooling tube assembly 205A, differing only in that the hose 250b is a flexible tube, and when the hose 250b is bent, a height difference is formed between the main tube 221 and the connector 270, and the opening 225 of the main tube 221 is formed at a specific location. Therefore, the details of the inlet cooling tube assembly 205A described with reference to Figures 7 and 8 can be applied almost entirely to the discharge cooling tube assembly 205B.

[0079] The cooling tube 220 may be connected to the pack discharge port 660 formed in the side pack frame 720 by bending the hose 250b included in the discharge cooling tube assembly 205B.

[0080] As described above, by forming two types of cooling tube assemblies, the injection cooling tube assembly 205A and the discharge cooling tube assembly 205B, and by providing the injection cooling tube assembly 205A and the discharge cooling tube assembly 205B on the battery pack 1000, separately before and after the battery module 100 is attached to the pack housing, the disadvantage of the battery module 100 and the cooling tube assembly 205 being difficult to connect due to limited space can be eliminated. Specifically, as shown in Figure 10, in the conventional method of directly connecting the inlet port and outlet port of the module to the quick connector, space is required for the quick connector as well as for the worker to assemble and connect the quick connector. For example, if the quick connector is inserted by hand, additional space is required in the pack and module for the worker's hand and the quick connector, which may result in space loss.

[0081] Figure 17 shows the path of the insulating coolant in a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0082] Referring to Figures 7 and 17, it can be seen that the insulating coolant flows in from outside the battery pack 1000 through the pack inlet port 650, and then is discharged to the outside of the battery pack 1000 via the inlet cooling tube assembly 205A, the battery module 100, the discharge cooling tube assembly 205B, and the pack discharge port 660. In this way, by impregnating the inside of the battery module 100 with insulating coolant, the busbars, electrode leads, and battery cells are directly cooled, thereby increasing the cooling efficiency.

[0083] The battery pack according to this embodiment may have a structure in which one or more battery modules are grouped together and packaged with a battery management system (BMS) that manages the temperature and voltage of the batteries, as well as a cooling device.

[0084] The aforementioned battery pack can be applied to a variety of devices. Such devices can be used as means of transport, such as electric bicycles, electric vehicles, and hybrid vehicles, but the present invention is not limited thereto and is applicable to a variety of devices that can use a battery module, and this also falls within the scope of the present invention.

[0085] 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 by those skilled in the art, using the basic concepts of the present invention as defined in the following claims, also fall within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0086] 100: Battery Module 1000: Battery pack 120: Cell Assembly 150: Ceiling cover 150a: Lid 150b:Protrusion 165: Fastening member 200: Module Frame 205: Cooling tube assembly 210: Fixed frame 220: Cooling tube 221: Main tube 225, 227: Opening 230: Sealing components 250a, 250b: Hose 270: Connector 500: Bulkhead 500h:Groove 650: Pack Inflow Port 660: Pack ejection port 700: Pack Housing 710: Lower pack frame 720: Side pack frame 730: Upper pack frame

Claims

1. A battery module including a cell assembly formed by stacking multiple battery cells and a module frame that houses the cell assembly, A pack housing to which at least one of the aforementioned battery modules is attached, The cooling tube assembly installed inside the pack housing, Includes, A battery pack in which an insulating coolant is impregnated inside the module frame, and the battery cells are directly cooled, The battery module further includes a sealing cover formed at one end of the battery module so as to cover the cell assembly, The sealing cover extends parallel to the cooling tube assembly, A battery pack in which an insulating coolant injected into the cooling tube assembly flows through the sealing cover into the interior of the battery module.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein one end of the battery module and the cooling tube assembly extend in parallel.

3. The sealing cover includes a lid portion that covers one end of the cell assembly from which electrode leads protrude from the plurality of battery cells, and a protruding portion that protrudes from the lid portion. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion extends parallel to the cooling tube assembly.

4. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein the cooling tube assembly includes cooling tubes extending in the direction in which the plurality of battery cells are stacked, and a fixed frame assembled with the cooling tubes.

5. The battery pack according to claim 4, wherein openings are formed in the cooling tube and the protrusion, respectively, in directions in which the cooling tube and the protrusion face each other, and an insulating coolant injected into the cooling tube assembly flows through the openings into the interior of the battery module.

6. The battery pack according to claim 4, wherein the sealing cover and the fixing frame are connected by a fastening member.

7. The battery pack according to claim 4, further comprising a sealing member located between the cooling tube and the protruding portion.

8. The battery pack according to claim 4, wherein the fixing frame includes a plurality of fixing blocks arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the direction in which the cooling tube extends.

9. The battery pack according to claim 4, wherein the cooling tube includes a main tube, a hose connected to one end of the main tube, and a connector connected to the hose.

10. The cooling tube assembly includes an injection cooling tube assembly and a discharge cooling tube assembly, The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the injection cooling tube assembly is positioned between one of the side pack frames of the pack housing and one end of the battery module, and the discharge cooling tube assembly is positioned between the other side pack frame of the pack housing and the other end of the battery module.

11. The battery module further includes a first sealing cover formed at one end of the battery module so as to cover the cell assembly, and a second sealing cover formed at the other end of the battery module so as to cover the cell assembly. The battery pack according to claim 10, wherein the injection cooling tube assembly is located below the first sealing cover, and the discharge cooling tube assembly is located above the second sealing cover.

12. The aforementioned discharge cooling tube assembly includes a main tube, a hose connected to one end of the main tube, and a connector connected to the hose. The battery pack according to claim 11, wherein the hose is a flexible tube, and a height difference is formed between the main tube and the connector when the hose is bent.

13. The cooling tube assembly includes a cooling tube extending along the direction in which the plurality of battery cells are stacked, and a fixed frame assembled with the cooling tube. The pack housing is fitted with multiple battery modules and further includes partitions positioned between adjacent battery modules. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein one end of the partition wall includes a groove surrounding the cooling tube.

14. A device comprising the battery pack described in claim 1.

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