Battery module and battery pack containing it

Abstract

A battery module according to the present invention includes: a cell unit stack consisting of a plurality of cell units stacked in one direction; a bus bar frame assembly disposed inside the cell unit stack and electrically connecting pouch-type battery cells; and a module case accommodating the cell unit stack and the bus bar frame assembly, wherein the cell unit includes at least one pouch-type battery cell; and a cell cover that surrounds the pouch-type battery cell and the bus bar frame assembly and is configured to have an open bottom.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery module, and more particularly, to a battery module excellent in safety against thermal events and the like, and a battery pack including the same.

[0002] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0168019 filed on December 5, 2022, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0043170 filed on March 31, 2023, and all the contents disclosed in the specifications and drawings of the applications are incorporated into this application.

Background Art

[0003] With the significant increase in the development and demand for various mobile devices, electric vehicles, energy storage systems (ESS), etc., the interest and demand for secondary batteries as an energy source have been rapidly increasing. Conventionally, nickel cadmium batteries, nickel metal hydride batteries, etc. have been widely used as secondary batteries. Recently, however, lithium secondary batteries, which have almost no memory effect compared to nickel-based secondary batteries, are freely chargeable and dischargeable, have a very low self-discharge rate, and have a high energy density, are widely used.

[0004] Such a lithium secondary battery mainly uses 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 and a negative electrode plate coated with such a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material are arranged with a separator interposed therebetween, and an exterior material that encloses the electrode assembly together with an electrolytic solution, for example, a battery case.

[0005] Generally, secondary batteries are classified into a can-type battery in which an electrode assembly is built in a metal can and a pouch-type battery in which an electrode assembly is built in a pouch of an aluminum laminate sheet, depending on the shape of the exterior material.

[0006] Lithium-ion batteries, which are widely used these days, have an operating voltage of approximately 2.5V to 4.5V per unit. Therefore, in the case of electric vehicles and power storage devices that require large capacity and high output, battery modules or battery packs are constructed by connecting multiple lithium-ion batteries in series and / or parallel, and these are used as an energy source. In particular, to satisfy the output and capacity requirements of electric vehicles, battery modules and battery packs contain a very large number of lithium-ion batteries.

[0007] On the other hand, it is also important to design battery modules and battery packs to withstand thermal phenomena.

[0008] Referring to Figure 1, a conventional battery module (a battery module developed by the applicant) is configured such that a cell unit group 1 is formed by stacking cell units, each containing approximately 2 to 3 pouch-type battery cells in a cell cover 2, in one direction, and then assembling a busbar frame assembly 3 onto the cell unit group 1. Here, the cell cover has a shape that covers three sides (top, left side, and right side) of the stacked 2 to 3 pouch-type battery cells, and the busbar frame assembly may include a plurality of busbars welded to electrode leads located in front of or behind the cell unit, and a busbar frame that supports the plurality of busbars and is provided to cover the front / rear of the cell unit group. A frame cover may be further attached to the front of the busbar frame.

[0009] One of the purposes of using a cell cover to house two to three pouch-type battery cells and stacking multiple cell units to form a cell unit group is to block the propagation of thermal runaway in pouch-type battery cells in the event of a thermal event, and to achieve directional venting to guide and discharge vent gas ejected from the trigger battery cell in a predictable direction.

[0010] Incidentally, due to assembly tolerances between the cell unit group and the busbar frame assembly (or frame cover), gaps like the one labeled "Gap" in Figure 1 may occur, and vent gases and particles may be ejected from these gaps. If vent gases and other particles are ejected in such an unpredictable direction, directional venting, which guides the vent gases and other particles in the intended direction, cannot be achieved, and furthermore, it may cause thermal damage to other battery modules and burning materials around the modules, potentially leading to greater damage. Therefore, measures to solve the above problems are required. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0011] The present invention was made to solve the above technical problems, and aims to provide a battery module with excellent directional venting performance that discharges high-temperature gases, etc., in the intended direction when a thermal event occurs.

[0012] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a battery module that can increase the support force and rigidity of pouch-type battery cells and effectively block the propagation of thermal energy between pouch-type battery cells in the event of a thermal event.

[0013] The technical problems that this invention aims to solve are not limited to those described above, and other problems not mentioned should be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention below. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] A battery module according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a cell unit stack consisting of a plurality of cell units stacked in one direction; a busbar frame assembly disposed inside the cell unit stack and electrically connecting pouch-type battery cells; and a module case housing the cell unit stack and the busbar frame assembly, wherein the cell unit may include at least one pouch-type battery cell; and a cell cover surrounding the pouch-type battery cell and the busbar frame assembly, configured to be open on the bottom.

[0015] The cell cover may include: an upper cover portion configured to cover the upper part of the battery cell and the busbar frame assembly housed inside; a first side cover portion and a second side cover portion extending downward from the left and right edges of the upper cover portion, respectively, and configured to cover the left and right sides of the battery cell; and a front cover portion and a rear cover portion extending downward from the front and rear ends of the upper cover portion, respectively, and configured to cover at least a portion of the busbar frame assembly.

[0016] The cell cover may be configured such that the lower side of the battery cell is open.

[0017] The cell cover may be configured such that the first side cover portion and the second side cover portion each have a length shorter than the length of the upper cover portion.

[0018] The cell cover has a symmetrical structure between the first side cover portion and the second side cover portion, and the portion between one end of the first and second side cover portions and the front cover portion, and the portion between the other end of the first and second side cover portions and the rear cover portion, may each include an open side cutout.

[0019] In the cell unit laminate, at least one of the cell covers may include a terminal hole through which a terminal bus bar provided in the bus bar frame assembly can pass.

[0020] The bus bar frame assembly includes a metal bar-shaped bus bar and a plate-shaped bus bar frame that supports the bus bar. The bus bar frame may include a fitting groove provided so as to fit at least one of the end portions of the first side cover portion and the end portion of the second side cover portion to a predetermined depth in the stacked cell units.

[0021] The module case may include a gas vent hole provided in a bottom plate that supports the cell unit laminate at the lower part of the cell unit laminate.

[0022] The gas vent hole may be provided at a position corresponding to the position of a cell terrace where an electrode lead of the pouch-type battery cell protrudes in the bottom plate.

[0023] According to another aspect of the present invention, a battery pack including the above-described battery module can be provided.

Advantages of the Invention

[0024] According to the present invention, a battery module excellent in directional venting performance for discharging high-temperature gas or the like in an intended direction when a thermal event occurs can be provided.

[0025] Further, according to the present invention, a battery module capable of enhancing the support force and rigidity for a pouch-type battery cell and effectively blocking the propagation of thermal energy between pouch-type battery cells when a thermal event occurs can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026] [Figure 1] It is a figure showing a part of a conventional battery module. [Figure 2] It is a schematic perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a schematic exploded perspective view of the battery module of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] It is a cell cover according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view showing the cell cover before bending the wing part. [Figure 5] It is a perspective view showing the cell cover after bending the wing part in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] It is a figure showing an example of an assembly process of a cell unit assembly and a bus bar frame assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] It is a figure showing an example of an assembly process of a cell unit assembly and a bus bar frame assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] It is a figure showing an example of an assembly process of a cell unit assembly and a bus bar frame assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] It is a partial cross-sectional view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] It is another partial cross-sectional view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0027] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. The terms and words used in this specification and the claims are not to be interpreted in a manner limited to their usual or dictionary meanings, but rather in a manner corresponding to the technical idea of ​​the present invention, in accordance with the principle that the inventor himself may appropriately define the concepts of terms in order to best describe the invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described herein and the configurations shown in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent the entirety of the technical idea of ​​the present invention, and that there may be a variety of equivalent and modified embodiments that can be substituted thereat the time of this application.

[0028] In the figures, the size of each component or specific part of a component is sometimes exaggerated, omitted, or shown schematically for ease of explanation and clarity. Therefore, the size of each component does not fully reflect its actual size. Detailed explanations of related known functions or configurations are omitted if it is deemed that such explanations would unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the battery module of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a perspective view of a cell cover according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing the cell cover before the wing portion is folded, and Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the cell cover after the wing portion is folded in Figure 4.

[0030] Referring to these figures, a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a cell unit stack 100, a busbar frame assembly 200, and a module case 300.

[0031] As shown in Figure 3, the cell unit stack 100 includes a plurality of cell units 101 stacked in one direction. Here, each cell unit 101 includes at least one pouch-type battery cell 110 and a cell cover 120 that at least partially surrounds the pouch-type battery cell 110. In particular, as will be described in detail below, the cell cover 120 is configured to surround at least a portion of the busbar frame assembly 200.

[0032] The pouch-type battery cell 110 includes electrode leads 111, an electrode assembly, an electrolyte, and a pouch case that can sealably house the electrode assembly and the electrolyte. For example, the pouch-type case may consist of two pouch sheets, at least one of which may have a groove formed therein. The electrode assembly and the electrolyte are placed in the groove, and the edges of the two pouch sheets are heat-sealed. In such a pouch-type battery cell 110, the portion in which the electrode assembly is housed is called the housing portion 112, the area around the housing portion 112 is called the edge portion, and the portion of the edge portion that is sealed by heat-sealing the pouch sheet is called the sealed portion.

[0033] The electrode lead 111 has one end connected to the electrode assembly inside the pouch case and the other end protruding outside the pouch case, and a portion between the one end and the other end can be fixed between the two pouch sheets when heat-sealing them together. The portion of the electrode lead 111 exposed outside the pouch case can function as an electrode terminal of the pouch-type battery cell 110.

[0034] A pouch-type battery cell 110, which packages the electrode assembly with two pouch sheets, may have four sealing portions (a front edge portion where the electrode leads 111 protrude, a rear edge portion, and the remaining two side edges (corresponding to the upper and lower edges when the battery cell 110 is positioned upright as in this embodiment)). Furthermore, a pouch-type battery cell 110, which packages the electrode assembly by folding a single pouch sheet, may have three sealing portions (referring to the front edge portion where the electrode leads 111 protrude, the rear edge portion, and one side edge portion). Hereinafter, of these sealing portions, the front edge portion where the electrode leads 111 protrude and the right edge portion will be referred to as the cell terrace 113.

[0035] One or more of the pouch-type battery cells 110 can be housed inside the cell cover 120. For example, a housing section 112 is provided vertically, and approximately 2 to 3 pouch-type battery cells 110 stacked horizontally can be housed in the cell cover 120.

[0036] The cell cover 120 allows the pouch-type battery cell 110 to be stably positioned upright inside the module case 300, protects the pouch-type battery cell 110 which is vulnerable to external impacts, and further serves to block the propagation of thermal energy (such as flames or high-temperature gases) from the trigger battery cell 110 to the other battery cells 110 in the event that some of the battery cells 110 among the multiple battery cells 110 included in the battery module experience thermal runaway.

[0037] Such a cell cover 120 may be made of a metallic material. For example, the cell cover 120 may be made of stainless steel (SUS) material, which has high rigidity and a high melting point.

[0038] Specifically, referring to Figures 4 and 5, the cell cover 120 may include an upper cover portion 121, a first side cover portion 122, a second side cover portion 123, a front cover portion 124, and a rear cover portion 125, with the lower side being open.

[0039] The upper cover portion 121 is configured to cover the upper edge portion of the battery cell 110 housed inside the cell cover 120. Furthermore, the upper cover portion 121 extends further than the first and second side cover portions 122 and 123, and is configured to also cover the upper part of the busbar frame assembly 200.

[0040] The first side cover portion 122 extends downward from the left edge of the upper cover portion 121 and is configured to cover the left side of the battery cell 110 housed inside the cell cover 120. The second side cover portion 123 extends downward from the right edge of the upper cover portion 121 and is configured to cover the right side of the battery cell 110 housed inside the cell cover 120.

[0041] When one battery cell 110 is housed in the cell cover 120, the left side of the battery cell 110 means the left side of the single battery cell 110, and the right side of the battery cell 110 means the right side of the single battery cell 110. Furthermore, when a cell stack in which two or more battery cells 110 are stacked is housed in the cell cover 120, the left side of the battery cell 110 means the left side of the cell stack, and the right side of the battery cell 110 means the right side of the cell stack.

[0042] The first side cover portion 122 and the second side cover portion 123 may each be configured to have a length shorter than the length of the upper cover portion 121. As shown in Figure 5, the first side cover portion 122 and the second side cover portion 123 may be formed to extend downward from both side edges of the upper cover portion 121, excluding both ends of the upper cover portion 121.

[0043] The front cover portion 124 extends downward from the front end (-Y direction) of the upper cover portion 121 and is configured to cover at least a portion of the busbar frame assembly 200. The rear cover portion 125 extends downward from the rear end (+Y direction) of the upper cover portion 121 and is configured to cover at least a portion of the busbar frame assembly 200. That is, as shown in Figure 3, the front cover portion 124 is configured to cover the busbar frame assembly 200 connected to the front electrode lead 111 of the pouch-type battery cell 110, and the rear cover portion 125 is configured to cover the busbar frame assembly 200 connected to the rear electrode lead 111 of the pouch-type battery cell 110.

[0044] For example, the cell cover 120 before housing the pouch-type battery cell 110 may be provided in a shape having wings, as shown in Figure 4. Here, the wings refer to a portion extending in the -Y direction from the location indicated as "F1" in Figure 4 and a portion extending in the +Y direction from the location indicated as "F2". In the case of the cell cover 120 according to one embodiment of the present invention, the wings may be bent downward so that they form a front cover portion 124 or a rear cover portion 125, as shown in Figure 5.

[0045] The first side cover portion 122 and the second side cover portion 123 have a symmetrical structure, and as mentioned above, the length of each of them is shorter than the length of the upper cover portion 121. Therefore, when the wing portion is folded at a right angle to the upper cover portion 121, as shown in Figure 5, side cutouts O can be provided, which are open in the portion between one end of the first and second side cover portions 122 and 123 and the front cover portion 124, and in the portion between the other end of the first and second side cover portions 122 and 123 and the rear cover portion 125.

[0046] On the other hand, when configuring the battery module, although not shown in the figures, it is also possible to apply a busbar frame assembly sized to correspond to one cell cover 120, or, as in this embodiment, to apply a busbar frame assembly 200 sized to correspond to multiple cell covers 120 stacked in one direction. In other words, in either case, the configuration of the cell cover 120 including the side cutout portion O according to the present invention allows the busbar frame assembly 200 to be surrounded and housed inside the cell cover 120.

[0047] The following briefly describes an implementation configuration in which one busbar frame assembly 200 is assembled to the stacked cell cover 120, with reference to Figures 6 to 8.

[0048] First, a cell unit 101 is prepared, in which 2 to 3 pouch-type battery cells 110 are housed in each cell cover 120. At this time, as shown in Figure 4, a cell cover 120 having wings is used. Then, as shown in Figure 6, the cell units 101 are stacked in one direction to form a temporarily assembled cell unit stack 100.

[0049] Next, as shown in Figure 7, the busbar frame assembly 200 is attached to the front and rear sides of the temporarily assembled cell unit stack 100, respectively.

[0050] Next, as shown in Figure 8, the wing portions of the cell cover 120 are folded simultaneously so that the busbar frame assembly 200 is surrounded by the cell cover 120. In this way, the busbar frame assembly 200 and the cell unit 101 can be assembled to place the busbar frame assembly 200 inside the cell unit stack 100.

[0051] On the other hand, it should be noted that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the assembly examples described above. For example, the busbar frame assembly 200 and the pouch-type battery cell 110 can be assembled first, and then these can be integrally housed in a stacked cell cover 120. That is, it is also possible to stack multiple cell covers 120 as shown in Figure 5, and then cover the pre-assembled busbar frame assembly 200 and pouch-type battery cell 110 with these covers.

[0052] As described above, the battery module according to this embodiment includes a cell cover 120 with a structure that can cover five surfaces, including the upper cover portion 121, the first side cover portion 122, the second side cover portion 123, the front cover portion 124, and the rear cover portion 125. As shown in Figure 8, it can cover not only the pouch-type battery cell 110 but also the busbar frame assembly 200 located in front of and behind the pouch-type battery cell 110.

[0053] Referring again to Figure 6, the busbar frame assembly 200 may include a busbar frame 210 and a plurality of busbars 220. The busbar frame 210 may be provided in the form of a plate-like body with a size approximately corresponding to the overall width and height of the stacked cell cover 120, and may be provided so as to be connectable to both ends of the first and second side cover portions 122, 123 of the stacked cell cover 120.

[0054] The busbar frame 210 may be provided with lead slits 211 through which the electrode leads 111 of the pouch-type battery cell 110 can be drawn out in the +Y direction or the -Y direction. The busbar frame 210 may also be made of a material having excellent electrical insulation and fire resistance, and may be configured to allow the busbars 220 to be attached to its outer surface. In particular, the inner surface of the busbar frame 210 facing the pouch-type battery cell 110 may be coated with a fire-resistant material, a heat-resistant material, or a fire-resistant substance.

[0055] Furthermore, the busbar frame 210 may include a fitting groove 212 provided in the stacked cell unit 101 to fit at least one of the end portions of the first side cover portion 122 and the end portion of the second side cover portion 123 to a predetermined depth.

[0056] Specifically, as shown in Figure 6, multiple fitting grooves 212 may be provided on the inner surface of the busbar frame 210 along the stacking direction of the cell covers 120. The number of fitting grooves 212 may be appropriately provided depending on the number of stacks of cell covers 120.

[0057] As shown in Figure 9, the fitting groove 212 may be configured to fit the end of the first side cover portion 122 of the cell cover 120 to a predetermined depth. In this case, the fitting groove 212 may be configured so that, in two stacked cell covers 120, the end of the first side cover portion 122 of one cell cover 120 and the end of the second side cover portion 123 of the other cell cover 120 are fitted into it.

[0058] Therefore, the busbar frame 210 can be fixedly coupled to the stacked cell covers 120 without using separate fastening members. Furthermore, the stacked cell covers 120 are also integrally held by the busbar frame 210, so that no play (gap) occurs between the cell covers 120.

[0059] The busbar 220 is a means for connecting the pouch-type battery cells 110 in series and / or parallel, and is made of a metal material such as copper, aluminum, or nickel, and may be formed in a rod shape. The electrode leads 111 of the pouch-type battery cells 110 are drawn out to the outside of the busbar frame 210 by passing through the lead slits 211 of the busbar frame 210, and the portions thus drawn out may be attached to the surface of the busbar 220 by welding or other means.

[0060] Two of the busbars 220 can be used as electrode terminals for a battery module. Here, the busbars 220 used as electrode terminals for a battery module are specifically referred to as terminal busbars 221 and 222, and the terminal busbars 221 and 222 include a positive terminal busbar 221 and a negative terminal busbar 222. The terminal busbars 221 and 222 are formed to be longer than the other busbars 220, and one end may be exposed to the outside of the module case 300.

[0061] As shown in Figure 2, the battery module of this embodiment has terminal busbars 221 and 222, one end of which is exposed on the upper part of the module case 300. For this reason, as shown in Figure 3, the module case 300 has a case terminal hole 311 in the top plate 310, and as shown in Figure 6, the cell unit stack 100 has a terminal hole TH in the outermost cell cover 120 of the cell covers 120, through which the terminal busbars 221 and 222 can pass.

[0062] The case terminal hole 311 and the terminal hole TH can be insulated and sealed, for example, by an insulating gasket (not shown). Depending on the structure or position of the terminal bus bars 221 and 222, the number and position of the terminal holes TH and / or case terminal holes 311 may differ from that of this embodiment. That is, in this embodiment, terminal holes TH are formed in each of the two outermost cell covers 120, but in this alternative, terminal holes TH may be formed in cell covers 120 other than the outermost cell cover 120, or terminal holes TH may be formed in only a plurality of cell covers 120. Alternatively, terminal holes TH may not be formed in the cell covers 120, and the terminal bus bars 221 and 222 may be routed towards the side cutouts O of the cell covers 120 and configured to extend outside the module case 300.

[0063] The module case 300 is provided to have an internal space capable of housing the cell unit stack 100 and the busbar frame assembly 200. A module case 300 according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a top plate 310 covering the upper part of the internal space, a bottom plate 320 covering the lower part of the internal space, a pair of side plates 330, 340 covering both sides of the internal space, and a pair of end covers 350, 360 covering the front and rear of the internal space, respectively.

[0064] Referring again to Figure 3, the bottom plate 320 and the pair of side plates 330 and 340 can be formed integrally. This integration of the bottom plate 320 and the pair of side plates 330 and 340 is called a U-frame. With a module case 300 including such a U-frame, the battery module can be assembled by placing the cell unit stack 100 inside the U-frame, then attaching the top plate 310 to the top of the U-frame, and subsequently attaching the end covers 350 and 360.

[0065] Furthermore, the bottom plate 320 may be pre-coated with thermal resin TR. Since the lower part of the cell cover 120 is open, the bottom plate 320 and the lower edge portion of the battery cell 110 can face each other. By applying thermal resin TR so that no gap (air layer) is created between the bottom plate 320 and the lower edge portion of the battery cell 110, the heat dissipation efficiency of the battery cell 110 can be maximized.

[0066] Furthermore, the module case 300 is provided with a circular gas vent hole 321 in the bottom plate 320, as shown in Figure 3. The module case 300 is provided with a plurality of gas vent holes 321 in the bottom, i.e., the bottom plate 320. As a result, in the battery module according to the present invention, if gas or flame is generated in the battery cell 110, the gas or flame can be directionally vented downwards in the module case 300.

[0067] On the other hand, pouch-type battery cells 110 may generate gas as a side reaction during charging and discharging, for example. In particular, during overcharging or over-discharging, a large amount of gas can cause a significant increase in internal pressure, potentially leading to a swelling phenomenon where the pouch case expands. If the swelling phenomenon becomes severe, the bonding strength of the heat-fused seal weakens, causing the seal to rupture and gas to be ejected. At this time, the cell terrace 113, which has electrode leads 111, is relatively less airtight than other parts, and generates more heat, is more likely to be damaged first. In view of these structural characteristics of pouch-type battery cells 110, the battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention is provided with gas vent holes 321 at positions corresponding to the cell terrace 113 where the electrode leads 111 of the pouch-type battery cell 110 protrude, as shown in Figures 9 to 10, so that the diffusion of gas ejected from the battery cell 110 inside the module case 300 is minimized, and the gas can be discharged to the outside of the module case 300 via the shortest path.

[0068] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9, each gas vent hole 321 is configured to be located between the first side cover portion 122 and the second side cover portion 123 of each cell cover 120. In this case, the distance between the first side cover portion 122 and the second side cover portion 123, that is, the ratio of the width of the cell cover 120 to the diameter of the vent hole 321, can preferably be determined in the range of 1:0.5 to 1:0.7.

[0069] With this configuration, gases and other substances ejected from a battery cell 110 housed in a specific cell cover 120 can be discharged to the bottom of the module case 300 only through a vent hole 321 located at the bottom of the specific cell cover 120. In other words, because the entire circumference is closed with respect to the vent hole 321, directional venting of gases downward can be more effectively guided. This also has the effect of preventing gases and other substances from moving from the specific cell cover 120 to other cell covers 120 adjacent to it.

[0070] As described above, with the configuration of the battery module 10 according to the present invention, when a thermal event occurs in the battery cell 110, gases and the like can be more effectively guided to the gas vent holes 321 provided at the bottom of the module case 300. Therefore, the battery module according to the present invention can improve directional venting performance compared to conventional battery modules.

[0071] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the support force and rigidity of the pouch-type battery cell 110 can be increased, and in the event of a thermal event, the propagation of thermal energy between the pouch-type battery cells 110 can be effectively blocked.

[0072] On the other hand, the battery pack according to the present invention may include one or more battery modules. Furthermore, the battery pack according to the present invention is applicable to automobiles such as electric vehicles.

[0073] As described above, although the present invention has been explained with limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it goes without saying that various modifications and variations are possible within the equivalent scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention and the appended claims by persons with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains.

[0074] On the other hand, while the present invention uses terms to represent directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and back, these terms are for convenience of explanation, and it is obvious to those skilled in the art that they may vary depending on the position of the object in question, the observer's position, etc. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0075] 1 Cell Unit Group 2 Cell Cover 3 Busbar Frame Assembly 10 Battery Modules 100-cell unit stack 101 Cell Unit 110 battery cells 111 Electrode Leads 112 Storage Unit 113 Cell Terrace 120 Cell Cover 121 Upper cover section 122 First side cover section 123 Second side cover section 124 Front cover section 125 Rear cover section 200 Busbar Frame Assembly 210 Busbar Frame 211 Lead Slit 212 Fitting groove 220 Bus Bar 221 Positive Terminal Bus Bar 222 Negative Terminal Bus Bar 300 Module Case 310 Top Plate 311 Case terminal holes 320 Bottom Plate 321 Gas vent holes 330, 340 side plates 350 End Cover 360 End Cover

Claims

1. A cell unit laminate consisting of multiple cell units stacked in one direction, Displaced inside the aforementioned cell unit stack is a busbar frame assembly that electrically connects pouch-type battery cells, A module case that houses the cell unit stack and the busbar frame assembly, Includes, The aforementioned cell unit is A battery module comprising at least one pouch-type battery cell and a cell cover that encloses at least a portion of the pouch-type battery cell and the busbar frame assembly, with only the bottom side open.

2. A cell unit laminate comprising a plurality of cell units stacked in one direction, Displaced inside the aforementioned cell unit stack is a busbar frame assembly that electrically connects pouch-type battery cells, A module case that houses the cell unit stack and the busbar frame assembly, Includes, The aforementioned cell unit is It includes at least one pouch-type battery cell and a cell cover that surrounds the pouch-type battery cell and the busbar frame assembly, and is configured to be open at the bottom, The cell cover is An upper cover portion configured to cover the pouch-type battery cell and the upper part of the busbar frame assembly housed inside, The first side cover portion and the second side cover portion extend downward from the left and right edges of the upper cover portion, respectively, and are configured to cover the left and right sides of the pouch-type battery cell, The front cover portion and the rear cover portion extend downward from the front end and rear end of the upper cover portion, respectively, and are configured to cover at least a part of the busbar frame assembly, A battery module, including...

3. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the cell cover is configured such that the lower side of the pouch-type battery cell is open.

4. The cell cover is The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the first side cover portion and the second side cover portion are each configured to have a length shorter than the length of the upper cover portion.

5. The cell cover is The first side cover portion and the second side cover portion have a symmetrical configuration. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the portion between one end of the first and second side cover portions and the front cover portion, and the portion between the other end of the first and second side cover portions and the rear cover portion, each include an open side cutout.

6. In the aforementioned cell unit laminate, The battery module according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the cell covers is provided with a terminal hole through which a terminal busbar provided in the busbar frame assembly can pass.

7. The busbar frame assembly includes a metal rod-shaped busbar and a plate-shaped busbar frame that supports the busbar. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the busbar frame is provided with a fitting groove in which at least one of the end portions of the first side cover portion and the end portions of the second side cover portion is fitted to a predetermined depth in the stacked cell units.

8. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the module case is provided with gas vent holes in a bottom plate that supports the cell unit stack at the lower part of the cell unit stack.

9. The aforementioned gas vent hole is The battery module according to claim 8, wherein the bottom plate is provided at a position corresponding to the position of the cell terrace from which the electrode leads of the pouch-type battery cell protrude.

10. A battery pack comprising a battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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