Battery pack and automobile including said battery pack

Abstract

The present invention provides a battery pack configured to discharge high-temperature gas to the outside of the battery pack without affecting other adjacent battery modules when gas is generated inside the battery module. The battery pack according to an embodiment of the invention may include a pack housing, a first battery module, a second battery module, and a pack cover.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery pack and an automobile including the battery pack, and more particularly, to a battery pack configured to discharge high-temperature gas to the outside of the battery pack without affecting other adjacent battery modules when gas is generated inside the battery module, and an automobile including the battery pack.

[0002] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0149030 filed on November 9, 2022, and all the contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of the application are incorporated into this application.

Background Art

[0003] As the demand for portable electronic products such as notebook computers, video cameras, and mobile phones has rapidly increased, and as the commercialization of robots, electric vehicles, etc. has become full-scale, research on high-performance secondary batteries that can be repeatedly charged and discharged has been actively conducted.

[0004] Currently commercialized secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, lithium secondary batteries, etc. Among them, lithium secondary batteries are attracting attention because they can be freely charged and discharged because they hardly exhibit a memory effect compared to nickel-based secondary batteries, have a very low self-discharge rate, and have a high energy density.

[0005] Such lithium secondary batteries mainly use a lithium-based oxide and a carbon material as a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material, respectively. A lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode plate coated with such a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode plate coated with a negative electrode active material are arranged with a separator interposed therebetween, and an exterior material, for example, a battery case, for hermetically storing the electrode assembly together with an electrolytic solution.

[0006] Generally, lithium secondary batteries can be classified into two types based on the shape of their outer 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, secondary batteries have been widely used not only in small devices such as portable electronic devices, but also in medium- and large-scale devices such as electric vehicles and energy storage systems (ESS) for propulsion and energy storage. Multiple such secondary batteries are electrically connected and housed together inside a module case to form a single battery module, and these battery modules are further electrically connected in a confined space to form a battery pack in order to improve energy density.

[0008] However, when multiple battery modules are densely packed in a confined space, they are vulnerable to accidents such as fires and explosions. For example, if a thermal event such as a thermal runaway occurs in one battery module, high-temperature gas may be released from that module. If this gas cannot be properly released to the outside of the battery pack, it may spread to other battery modules inside the battery pack, potentially causing a chain reaction. In this case, the internal pressure of the battery pack will increase, posing a risk of explosion. If a battery pack explodes, the pressure of the explosion can cause significant damage to surrounding equipment and users, and the scope and speed of the damage can be further increased. Therefore, there is a need to develop a battery pack with a structure that allows high-temperature gas to be safely released to the outside of the battery pack without affecting other adjacent battery modules, even if gas is released due to a malfunction in some battery modules. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] This invention was devised in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and one of its objectives is to control the flow of gas in a desired direction by adding an additional vent flow path forming structure to a component that serves as the frame of a conventional battery pack.

[0010] Furthermore, one objective of the present invention is to enable the safe discharge of high-temperature gas, which is ejected when a thermal event occurs in some battery modules, to the outside of the battery pack without affecting other battery modules inside the battery pack.

[0011] Another objective is to control the gas flow via independent paths depending on the location where a thermal event occurs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] To solve the above problems, a battery pack according to one aspect of the present invention includes a pack housing comprising a bottom plate having a first housing space and a second housing space located spaced apart from the first housing space, a first side frame coupled to one side of the bottom plate, and a second side frame coupled to the other side of the bottom plate facing the one side; at least one first battery module disposed in the first housing space; at least one second battery module disposed in the second housing space; and a pack cover configured to cover the first housing space and the second housing space.

[0013] The first side frame includes a first side vent channel configured to guide the gas generated in the first battery module to at least one of the two ends of the first side frame.

[0014] The second side frame includes a second side vent channel configured to guide the gas generated in the second battery module to at least one of the two ends of the second side frame.

[0015] The pack cover includes a first top vent channel configured to connect the first containment space and the first side vent channel, and a second top vent channel configured to connect the second containment space and the second side vent channel.

[0016] Multiple instances of the first battery module and the second battery module may be provided.

[0017] The pack housing may include partitions positioned between adjacent first battery modules and between adjacent second battery modules.

[0018] The partition wall can be coupled with the pack cover such that it blocks the movement of vent gas between the respective housing spaces of the first battery module and between the respective housing spaces of adjacent second battery modules.

[0019] A sealing member may be provided between the partition wall and the pack cover.

[0020] The first side vent passage may include a first upper passage that communicates with the first top vent passage, and a first lower passage that does not communicate directly with the first upper passage and is provided below the first upper passage.

[0021] The second side vent passage may include a second upper passage that communicates with the second top vent passage, and a second lower passage that does not communicate directly with the second upper passage and is located below the second upper passage.

[0022] The pack housing may further include a center frame having a center vent channel that communicates with the first and second accommodation spaces.

[0023] The center vent passage may include a first center vent passage communicating with the first accommodation space, and a second center vent passage communicating with the second accommodation space and not directly communicating with the first center vent passage.

[0024] The pack housing may include a gas collection space formed on at least one of one side and the other side along the extending direction of the center vent passage, the first side vent passage, and the second side vent passage.

[0025] The gas collection space may communicate with the center vent passage, the first side vent passage, and the second side vent passage.

[0026] The gas collection space may communicate with the center vent passage, the first side vent passage, and the second side vent passage.

[0027] The pack housing may include a vent hole configured to discharge the vent gas of the gas collection space to the outside of the pack housing.

[0028] The first top vent passage and the second top vent passage may be formed on the inner surface of the pack cover.

[0029] ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ According to one aspect of the present invention, effective gas discharge is possible by discharging gas through a vent channel close to the location where a thermal event occurs in each battery module.

[0033] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, the gas on the side of the battery module moves along the side vent channel, and the gas on the top of the battery module moves along the top vent channel, thereby reducing the possibility of thermal events spreading to adjacent battery modules.

[0034] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, gas that has moved to the top vent channel can move again along the side vent channel, thereby lowering the temperature of the gas during movement, and even if a flame is generated along with the gas, the flame weakens as it moves along the vent channel. This eliminates or reduces damage that could occur if high-temperature gas and flames are ejected to the outside.

[0035] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, a function to control the flow of gas can be added by forming vent channels in the side frame and pack cover of the pack housing, which are components of a typical battery pack.

[0036] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, the housing spaces of adjacent first battery modules and the housing spaces of adjacent second battery modules are structurally isolated from each other by partition walls. As a result, gas generated in a particular battery module does not move towards the adjacent battery module but instead travels through the side vent passage and the top vent passage. During this movement, the temperature of the gas decreases and the flame weakens, thereby minimizing the impact of the high-temperature flame and vent gas generated in each battery module on other battery modules.

[0037] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, the gas moves through the side opening to the lower flow path, or moves through the top vent flow path and then through the upper opening to the upper flow path, thereby independently forming gas movement paths in each battery module according to the location where a thermal event occurs. Therefore, a time difference in gas discharge occurs for each location where a thermal event occurs, which can prevent fires or delay the spread rate of fires.

[0038] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, gas is discharged not only from the side vent passages and top vent passages, but also from the center vent passage. Therefore, more effective gas discharge is possible, which significantly reduces the possibility of thermal events spreading to adjacent battery modules.

[0039] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, when a large amount of gas is generated at once and the internal pressure of the battery pack increases, the internal pressure of the battery pack can be quickly reduced through a gas collection space that has a relatively larger volume than the side vent passages and the center vent passages. In addition, the gas can be discharged in the intended direction through the vent holes, and by increasing the size or number of vent holes, gas discharge can be performed more quickly and smoothly even when a large amount of vent gas is generated instantaneously.

[0040] The present invention can achieve a variety of other effects, which will be described in each embodiment, but effects that are easily inferred by those skilled in the art will not be explained.

[0041] The following drawings accompanying this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention, serve to further illustrate the technical idea of ​​the invention; therefore, the invention should not be construed as being limited solely to what is shown in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0042] [Figure 1]This is an exploded perspective view showing a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the appearance of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This figure shows the gas flow in the space between the pack housing and the pack cover included in a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This figure shows a partial cross-section of the pack housing, including the first side frame, as shown in Figure 3. [Figure 5] This figure shows a partial cross-section of the pack housing, including the center frame, as shown in Figure 3. [Figure 6] This figure shows an embodiment in which a gas collection space is formed within the pack housing of the present invention. [Figure 7] This figure shows an embodiment of a pack cover included in the battery pack of the present invention. [Figure 8] This figure shows a pack cover included in the battery pack of the present invention, and is a diagram showing an embodiment different from that of Figure 7. [Figure 9] This diagram schematically shows an automobile including a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0043] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. The drawings attached herein illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention later, serve to further illustrate the technical concept of the present invention; therefore, the present invention should not be construed as being limited only to what is shown in the drawings. The same reference numerals indicate the same components. In addition, in the drawings, the thickness, ratios and dimensions of components may be exaggerated to effectively illustrate the technical content.

[0044] Terms and words used in this specification and in the claims are not to be interpreted in their ordinary and dictionary sense, but rather in a sense and concept that corresponds to the technical idea of ​​the present invention, in accordance with the principle that the inventor himself may appropriately define the concept of a term in order to best describe the invention.

[0045] In this specification, terms indicating direction such as up, down, left, right, front, and back are used, but these terms are used for convenience of explanation, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that they can change depending on the position of the object being examined, the position of the observer, etc.

[0046] Therefore, the embodiments and configurations shown in the drawings described herein represent only one of the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical concept of the invention. It should be understood that there are various equivalents and modifications that can be substituted for these at the time of filing this application.

[0047] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery pack 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the battery pack 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 3 is a diagram showing the gas flow in the space between the pack housing 100 and the pack cover 200 included in the battery pack 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a pack housing, a battery module, and a pack cover.

[0049] Referring to Figure 1, the pack housing 100 includes a bottom plate 130 having a first accommodation space 110 and a second accommodation space 120 located spaced apart from the first accommodation space 110, a first side frame 140 connected to one side of the bottom plate 130, and a second side frame 150 connected to the other side of the bottom plate 130, which is located opposite to the first side. The first side frame 140 may have a substantially plate shape. The first side frame 140 may be in a form that extends elongated in one direction along the connection portion with one side of the bottom plate 130. The second side frame 150 may have a substantially plate shape. The second side frame 150 may be in a form that extends elongated in one direction along the connection portion with the other side of the bottom plate 130. The bottom plate 130 and the first side frame 140 may be configured in a form that is at least partially integrated with each other. Similarly, the bottom plate 130 and the second side frame 150 may be configured in a form that is at least partially integrated with each other. Alternatively, each component may be manufactured separately and then joined together through welding, fastening, or other means.

[0050] The first battery module 111 is located in the first housing space 110. The second battery module 121 is located in the second housing space 120. There may be multiple first battery modules 111 and second battery modules 121, and thus the first housing space 110 and second housing space 120 may also contain multiple spaces for housing each battery module. The first battery module 111 and second battery module 121 may contain multiple battery cells. A battery cell may include an electrode assembly, an electrolyte, a battery case housing the electrode assembly and the electrolyte, and a pair of electrode leads connected to the electrode assembly and drawn out to the outside of the battery case. For example, a battery cell may be a pouch-type rechargeable battery. However, other forms of rechargeable batteries, such as cylindrical batteries and prismatic batteries, may also be used as battery cells in the present invention. The first battery module 111 and second battery module 121 may include multiple battery cells in a stacked configuration. Furthermore, although not shown in the figures, the first battery module 111 and the second battery module 121 may further include a variety of components in addition to the stacked battery cells. For example, the battery module according to the present invention may further include, in addition to the stacked battery cells, a module housing that accommodates the stacked battery cells, and components such as busbars that can electrically connect the electrode leads of each of the battery cells. The module housing may include a vent section configured to discharge gas generated in the battery module, and the vent section may be provided at a position corresponding to the position of the side opening O1 and / or the center opening O3 and / or the inlet O5, which will be described later.

[0051] The pack cover 200 is configured to cover the first storage space 110 and the second storage space 120. The pack cover 200 may be configured to be coupled with the pack housing 100 to cover the first battery module 111 and the second battery module 121 in the first storage space 110 and the second storage space 120. The pack cover 200 may have a substantially plate shape.

[0052] Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the first side frame 140 includes a first side vent channel 141 configured to guide gas generated in the first battery module 111 to at least one of the two ends of the first side frame 140. The first side vent channel 141 may have a configuration that extends along the extending direction (X-axis direction) of the first side frame 140. The second side frame 150 includes a second side vent channel 151 configured to guide gas generated in the second battery module 121 to at least one of the two ends of the second side frame 150. The second side vent channel 151 may have a configuration that extends along the extending direction (X-axis direction) of the second side frame 150. The first side frame 140 and the second side frame 150 may have the first side vent channel 141 and the second side vent channel 151 in their internal spaces. Gas generated by a thermal event in the first battery module 111 located in the first containment space 110 may move toward the first side frame 140 and move to the first side vent channel 141 through a side opening O1 provided on the side of the first side frame 140 (a plane substantially parallel to the XZ plane). Gas generated by a thermal event in the second battery module 121 located in the second containment space 120 may move toward the second side frame 150 and move to the second side vent channel 151 through a side opening O1 provided on the side of the second side frame 150 (a plane substantially parallel to the XZ plane). The first side vent channel 141 may be configured to guide gas to at least one end of its extending direction, in which case at least one end of the extending direction of the first side frame 140 may be at least partially open. The second side vent passage 151 may be configured to guide gas to at least one end of its extending direction, in which case at least one end of the second side frame 150 may be at least partially open. The side vent passages (first side vent passage 141, second side vent passage 151) may include one or more gas transport passages, and if they include multiple gas transport passages, they may be configured so that they are not directly connected to each other.

[0053] Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the pack cover 200 includes a first top vent channel 201 configured to connect the first containment space 110 with the first side vent channel 141, and a second top vent channel 202 configured to connect the second containment space 120 with the second side vent channel 151. Gas from a thermal event generated in the first battery module 111 located in the first containment space 110 may move towards the pack cover 200, travel along the first top vent channel 201, and then move to the first side vent channel 141 through the upper opening O2 provided in the first side frame 140. Gas from a thermal event generated in the second battery module 121 located in the second containment space 120 may move towards the pack cover 200, travel along the second top vent channel 202, and then move to the second side vent channel 151 through the upper opening O2 provided in the second side frame 150.

[0054] With this configuration of the present invention, effective gas discharge is possible by discharging gas through the vent passage closest to the location where a thermal event occurs in each battery module. Gas discharged from the side of the battery module moves along the side vent passages (first side vent passage 141, second side vent passage 151), and gas discharged from the top of the battery module moves along the top vent passages (first top vent passage 201, second top vent passage 202), thereby reducing the possibility of thermal events spreading to adjacent battery modules. Furthermore, with this configuration of the present invention, gas that has moved to the top vent passages (first top vent passage 201, second top vent passage 202) moves again along the side vent passages (first side vent passage 141, second side vent passage 151), so the temperature of the gas decreases during movement, and even if a flame is generated along with the gas, the flame weakens as it moves along the vent passages. This eliminates or reduces damage that could be caused by the ejection of high-temperature gas and flames to the outside. Furthermore, according to this configuration of the present invention, it is possible to add a function to control the flow of gas by forming vent channels in the side frame and pack cover of the pack housing, which are components of a typical battery pack.

[0055] Referring to Figures 1 to 3, when multiple first battery modules 111 and second battery modules 121 are provided, partition walls 160 may be provided at corresponding positions between adjacent first battery modules 111 and between adjacent second battery modules 121. The partition walls 160 are connected to the pack cover 200 to block the movement of gas between the respective housing spaces of adjacent battery modules. The connection between the partition walls 160 and the pack cover 200 can be performed, for example, by welding or fastening.

[0056] With this configuration of the present invention, the respective housing spaces of adjacent first battery modules 111 and the respective housing spaces of adjacent second battery modules 121 can be structurally isolated from each other by partition walls 160. As a result, gas generated in a particular battery module does not move towards the adjacent battery module but instead moves through the side vent channels (first side vent channel 141, second side vent channel 151) and top vent channels (first top vent channel 201, second top vent channel 202). During this movement, the temperature of the gas decreases and the flame weakens, thereby minimizing the impact of the high-temperature flame and vent gas generated in each battery module on other battery modules.

[0057] Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a sealing member S may be provided between the partition wall 160 and the pack cover 200. The sealing member S may be configured to cover at least a portion of the joint between the partition wall 160 and the pack cover 200. In this case, the effect of preventing gas from moving into the gap between the partition wall 160 and the pack cover 200 can be further improved.

[0058] Figure 4 shows a partial cross-section of the pack housing shown in Figure 3, including the first side frame.

[0059] Referring to Figure 4 together with Figure 3, the first side vent channel 141 may include a first upper channel 141a that communicates with the first top vent channel 201, and a first lower channel 141b that does not directly communicate with the first upper channel 141a and is located below the first upper channel 141a. The second side vent channel 151 may include a second upper channel 151a that communicates with the second top vent channel 202, and a second lower channel 151b that does not directly communicate with the second upper channel 151a and is located below the second upper channel 151a. The fact that the upper flow channels (first upper flow channel 141a, second upper flow channel 151a) and the lower flow channels (first lower flow channel 141b, second lower flow channel 151b) do not communicate directly means that they can communicate via the containment space (first containment space 110, second containment space 120), but the side vent flow channels (first side vent flow channel 141, second side vent flow channel 151) provided in the internal space of the side frames (first side frame 140, second side frame 150) do not communicate directly within the internal space of the side frames (first side frame 140, second side frame 150). Some of the gas generated by the heat event in the first battery module 111 located in the first containment space 110 can move towards the first side frame 140 and move to the first lower flow channel 141b through the side opening O1 provided on the side of the first side frame 140. Furthermore, some of the gas generated by a thermal event in the first battery module 111 located in the first containment space 110 may rise towards the pack cover 200, move along the first top vent channel 201, and then move to the first upper channel 141a through the upper opening O2 provided in the first side frame 140. Some of the gas generated by a thermal event in the second battery module 121 located in the second containment space 120 may move towards the second side frame 150, and then move to the second lower channel 151b through the side opening O1 provided on the side of the second side frame 150. Also, some of the gas generated by a thermal event in the second battery module 121 located in the second containment space 120 may rise towards the pack cover 200, move along the second top vent channel 202, and then move to the second upper channel 151a through the upper opening O2 provided in the second side frame 150.

[0060] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the gas moves either through the side opening O1 to the lower passage (first lower passage 141b, second lower passage 151b) or through the top vent passage (first top vent passage 201, second top vent passage 202) and then through the upper opening O2 to the upper passage (first upper passage 141a, second upper passage 151a), so that the gas movement path is independent depending on the location where a thermal event occurs in each battery module. Therefore, a time difference in gas discharge occurs for each location where a thermal event occurs, which can prevent fires or delay the spread rate of fires.

[0061] Figure 5 shows a partial cross-section of the pack housing 100, including the center frame 170, as shown in Figure 3.

[0062] Referring to Figure 5 in conjunction with Figure 3, the pack housing 100 may further include a center frame 170 having a center vent passage 171 communicating with the first and second housing spaces 110 and 120. The center frame 170 may be located in the corresponding space between the first and second housing spaces 110 and 120. The center frame 170 may have a center vent passage 171 in its internal space. Gas from thermal events generated in the battery modules (first battery module 111, second battery module 121) may move towards the center frame 170 and move through a center opening O3 provided on the side of the center frame 170 (a plane substantially parallel to the XZ plane) to the center vent passage 171. The center vent passage 171 may include one or more gas passages, and if it includes multiple gas passages, the gas passages may be configured not to communicate directly with each other. For example, the center vent channel 171 may include a first center vent channel 171a that communicates with the first accommodation space 110, and a second center vent channel 171b that communicates with the second accommodation space 120 and does not directly communicate with the first center vent channel 171a. In this case, some of the gas generated by a thermal event in the first battery module 111 located in the first accommodation space 110 may move towards the center frame 170 and move to the first center vent channel 171a through a center opening O3 provided on one side of the center frame 170. Also, some of the gas generated by a thermal event in the second battery module 121 located in the second accommodation space 120 may move towards the center frame 170 and move to the second center vent channel 171b through a center opening O3 provided on the other side of the center frame 170. On the other hand, the fact that the first center vent channel 171a and the second center vent channel 171b are not directly connected means that they can communicate through other spaces or components of the pack housing 100, but they are not directly connected within the internal space of the center frame 170 in the case of the center vent channel 171 provided in the internal space of the center frame 170.

[0063] With this configuration of the present invention, gas is discharged not only through the side vent passages (first side vent passage 141, second side vent passage 151) and the top vent passages (first top vent passage 201, second top vent passage 202), but also through the center vent passage 171. Therefore, gas can be discharged more effectively, and the possibility of thermal events spreading to adjacent battery modules can be significantly reduced.

[0064] Figure 6 shows an embodiment in which a gas collection space is formed within the pack housing of the present invention.

[0065] Referring to Figure 6, the pack housing 100 may include a gas collection space 180 formed on at least one side of the first side vent channel 141 and the second side vent channel 151 along their extending directions. The gas collection space 180 may communicate with the first side vent channel 141 and the second side vent channel 151. Gas from thermal events generated in the battery modules (first battery module 111, second battery module 121) moves through the first side vent channel 141 and the second side vent channel 151 and collects in the gas collection space 180. For example, the gas collection space 180 may be provided at one end of the pack housing 100 in a direction parallel to the extending direction of the first side vent channel 141 and the second side vent channel 151. The pack housing 100 may also include a vent hole 190 configured to discharge the gas from the gas collection space 180 to the outside of the pack housing 100. The vent hole 190 may penetrate the pack housing 100. The vent hole 190 may be configured not only to be completely open, but also not to be completely open, being closed in a steady state and being able to be opened in response to changes in pressure, temperature, etc. However, the present invention does not limit the form, location, and number of gas collection spaces shown in Figure 6, nor does it limit the shape of the vent hole 190. On the other hand, if the pack housing 100 is provided with a center vent passage 171, the gas collection space 180 may also be in communication with the center vent passage 171. In this case, gas from thermal events generated in the battery modules (first battery module 111, second battery module 121) will move through the first side vent passage 141, the second side vent passage 151, and the center vent passage 171 and collect in the gas collection space 180.

[0066] With this configuration of the present invention, when a large amount of gas is generated at once and the internal pressure of the battery pack 10 increases, the internal pressure of the battery pack 10 can be quickly reduced through the gas collection space 180, which has a relatively larger volume than the side vent passages (first side vent passage 141, second side vent passage 151) and the center vent passage 171. In addition, the gas can be discharged in the intended direction through the vent holes 190, and by increasing the size or number of vent holes 190, gas discharge can be performed more quickly and smoothly even when a large amount of vent gas is generated instantaneously.

[0067] Figure 7 shows an embodiment of the pack cover 200 included in the battery pack 10 of the present invention.

[0068] Referring to Figure 7, the first top vent channel 201 and the second top vent channel 202 can be formed on the inner surface of the pack cover 200. The first top vent channel 201 and the second top vent channel 202 may be in the form of grooves formed on the inner surface of the pack cover 200. In this case, production is easier because it is easier to implement than when a separate member for forming the top vent channels (first top vent channel 201, second top vent channel 202) is attached to the pack cover.

[0069] Figure 8 shows a pack cover 200 included in the battery pack 10 of the present invention, and is a diagram showing a different embodiment from Figure 7.

[0070] Referring to Figure 3 along with Figure 8, the first top vent channel 201 and the second top vent channel 202 may be formed inside the pack cover 200. The pack cover 200 may consist of, for example, one member, and may have the first top vent channel 201 and the second top vent channel 202 formed inside it. Alternatively, the pack cover 200 may include, for example, multiple members. In this case, the multiple members may be joined together, and the first top vent channel 201 and the second top vent channel 202 may be formed in the spaces between the multiple members. The pack cover 200 may include, for example, a cover plate 210 that covers the accommodation space of the pack housing 100, a first channel plate 220 that is joined to the inner surface of the cover plate 210 in the first accommodation space 110, and a second channel plate 230 that is joined to the inner surface of the cover plate 210 in the second accommodation space 120.

[0071] The first flow path plate 220 may be equipped with an inlet O5 and an outlet O4. The inlet O5 may be configured to communicate with the first containment space 110. The outlet O4 may be configured to communicate with the first side vent flow path 141. In this case, gas generated in the first containment space 110 flows through the inlet O5 into the first top vent flow path 201, and the gas that flows in flows through the outlet O4 into the first side vent flow path 141, and can be discharged to the outside of the battery pack 10. If the first side vent flow path 141 includes a first upper flow path 141a and a first lower flow path 141b, the outlet O4 may be configured to communicate with the first upper flow path 141a. Similarly, the second flow path plate 230 may be equipped with an inlet O5 and an outlet O4. The inlet O5 may be configured to communicate with the second containment space 120. The outlet O4 may be configured to communicate with the second side vent flow path 151. In this case, the gas generated in the second containment space 120 flows through the inlet O5 into the second top vent passage 202, and the gas that flows in can flow through the outlet O4 into the second side vent passage 151 and be discharged to the outside of the battery pack 10. If the second side vent passage 151 includes a second upper passage 151a and a second lower passage 151b, the outlet O4 may be configured to communicate with the second upper passage 151a. In this case, the first containment space 110 and the first upper passage 141a do not communicate directly but can communicate via the first top vent passage 201. The second containment space 120 and the second upper passage 151a do not communicate directly but can communicate via the second top vent passage 202.

[0072] Referring to Figures 3 and 8, the inlet O5 may be formed in the form of a rectangular opening or a hole. The inlet O5 may be located close to the center frame 170. The inlet O5 may be formed in a gap created when the first flow path plate 220 and the second flow path plate 230 are joined to the cover plate 210 at a certain distance apart. The closer the inlet O5 is located to the center frame 170, the longer the gas travel path through the top vent flow paths (first top vent flow path 201, second top vent flow path 202), which can prevent fire or effectively delay the spread of fire by lowering the temperature during gas movement.

[0073] The outlet O4 may be formed in the form of a rectangular opening or a hole. The outlet O4 may be located in a position corresponding to the side frame (first side frame 140, second side frame 150). The outlet O4 may be located in a position corresponding to the upper opening O2. The outlet O4 may be formed in a gap separated by the connection of the first flow path plate 220 and the second flow path plate 230 with a certain distance between them and the cover plate 210. However, the present invention is not limited to such forms, formation methods and locations of the inlet O5 and outlet O4.

[0074] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram showing an automobile including a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0075] Referring to Figure 9, a battery pack 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention can be applied to an automobile 1 such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. That is, an automobile 1 according to the present invention may include the battery pack 10 according to the present invention. In addition to such a battery pack, an automobile according to the present invention may further include a variety of other components included in the automobile. For example, an automobile according to the present invention may further include, in addition to the battery pack according to the present invention, a vehicle body, a motor, an electronic control unit (ECU), and other control devices.

[0076] The present invention has been described above, focusing on preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of obvious modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be interpreted as being in accordance with the claims described to include such a variety of modifications. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 1. Automobile 10 Battery Packs 100 Pack Housing 111 First Battery Module 121 Second Battery Module 130 Bottom Plate 140 First side frame 141 First side vent channel 141a First upper channel 141b First Lower Channel 150 Second side frame 151 Second side vent channel 151a Second upper channel 151b Second Lower Channel 160 Bulkhead 170 Center Frame 171 Center vent channel 171a First center vent channel 171b Second Center Vent Channel 190 vent holes 200 Pack Cover 201 First top vent channel 202 Second top vent channel 210 Cover Plate 220 First channel plate 230 Second channel plate

Claims

1. A pack housing including a bottom plate having a first storage space and a second storage space located apart from the first storage space, a first side frame connected to one side of the bottom plate, and a second side frame connected to the other side of the bottom plate facing the one side, At least one first battery module arranged within the first accommodation space, At least one second battery module arranged within the second accommodation space, A pack cover configured to cover the first storage space and the second storage space, A battery pack including, The first side frame is provided with a first side vent channel configured to guide the gas generated in the first battery module to at least one end of the two ends of the first side frame. The second side frame is provided with a second side vent channel configured to guide the gas generated in the second battery module to at least one end of the two ends of the second side frame. The pack cover includes a first top vent channel configured to connect the first containment space and the first side vent channel, and a second top vent channel configured to connect the second containment space and the second side vent channel. The first side vent passage includes a first upper passage that communicates with the first top vent passage, and a first lower passage that does not communicate directly with the first upper passage but is located below the first upper passage. The gas generated by a thermal event occurring in the first battery module located in the first containment space moves through the first upper passage or the first lower passage. The second side vent passage includes a second upper passage that communicates with the second top vent passage, and a second lower passage that does not communicate directly with the second upper passage but is located below the second upper passage. A battery pack in which gas generated by a thermal event occurring in the second battery module located in the second containment space moves through the second upper passage or the second lower passage.

2. Multiple first battery modules and second battery modules are provided, The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the pack housing includes partition walls positioned at corresponding locations between adjacent first battery modules and at corresponding locations between adjacent second battery modules.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein the partition wall is coupled to the pack cover such that it blocks the movement of vent gas between the respective housing spaces of an adjacent pair of first battery modules and between the respective housing spaces of an adjacent pair of second battery modules.

4. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein a sealing member is provided between the partition wall and the pack cover. The battery pack according to claim 2.

5. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the pack housing further includes a center frame having a center vent channel communicating with the first housing space and the second housing space.

6. The aforementioned center vent passage is A first center vent channel communicating with the first containment space, The battery pack according to claim 5, further comprising a second center vent channel that communicates with the second housing space and does not directly communicate with the first center vent channel.

7. The aforementioned pack housing is The battery pack according to claim 5, further comprising a gas collection space formed on at least one side of the center vent channel, the first side vent channel, and the second side vent channel along their extending directions.

8. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein the gas collection space is in communication with the center vent passage, the first side vent passage, and the second side vent passage.

9. The battery pack according to claim 8, wherein the pack housing is provided with a vent hole configured to discharge the gas in the gas collection space to the outside of the pack housing.

10. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the first top vent channel and the second top vent channel are formed on the inner surface of the pack cover.

11. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the first top vent channel and the second top vent channel are formed inside the pack cover.

12. The aforementioned pack cover is A cover plate that covers the storage space of the pack housing, A first flow path plate is coupled to the inner surface of the cover plate in the first containment space, A second flow path plate is coupled to the inner surface of the cover plate in the second containment space, The battery pack according to claim 11, including the following:

13. An automobile comprising a battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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