Battery disconnect unit and battery pack including the same

Abstract

A battery disconnection unit according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a contactor; a busbar electrically connected to the contactor; a heat dissipation sheet inserted and injection-molded together with at least a portion of the busbar; and a cooling plate located below the heat dissipation sheet, wherein the end of the busbar is electrically connected to the contactor.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery cutoff unit and a battery pack including the same, and more specifically, to a battery cutoff unit with improved heat dissipation performance and a battery pack including the same. Background Technology

[0002] With the increasing technological development and demand for mobile devices, the demand for secondary batteries as an energy source is rapidly increasing. In particular, secondary batteries are attracting significant interest as an energy source not only for mobile devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras, laptops, and wearable devices, but also for power devices such as electric bicycles, electric vehicles, and hybrid electric vehicles.

[0003] While small mobile devices use one or two or three battery cells per device, medium-to-large devices such as automobiles require high output and large capacity. Therefore, medium-to-large battery modules are used by electrically connecting multiple battery cells. In these battery modules, capacity and output are improved by connecting multiple battery cells in series or parallel to form a battery cell stack.

[0004] In addition, a Battery Disconnected Unit (BDU) capable of cutting off power may be placed between the power converter and the battery module. The battery disconnected unit can improve the safety of the battery pack by cutting off the battery power in situations such as when the current exceeds a set range.

[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional battery cutoff unit.

[0006] Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional battery disconnect unit includes a contactor (20), a busbar (30) electrically connected to the contactor (20), a heat transfer pad (50), and a cooling plate (60). Here, a cooling channel (65) is formed in the cooling plate (60). Additionally, the cooling plate (60) is located on the contactor (20) and the busbar (30). Additionally, the heat transfer pad (50) is located between the cooling plate (60) and the contactor (20) and the busbar (30). Here, in the conventional battery disconnect unit, heat generated from the busbar (30) can be dissipated through the heat transfer pad (50) to the cooling plate (60).

[0007] Recently, there has been a technical need to increase the power output of electric vehicles and reduce charging time, which has led to an increase in the amount of current flowing through components within the battery cutoff unit. In particular, conventional battery cutoff units have attempted to prevent excessive temperature rise in the battery cutoff unit by increasing the cross-sectional area of ​​the busbar in proportion to the amount of current flowing. However, as shown in Fig. 1, there are structural constraints on increasing the cross-sectional area of ​​the busbar within the battery cutoff unit, which limits the improvement of heat dissipation performance. Accordingly, there is a growing need for a battery cutoff unit with improved heat dissipation performance that overcomes the structural limitations of conventional battery cutoff units. The problem to be solved

[0008] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a battery cutoff unit with improved heat dissipation performance and a battery pack including the same.

[0009] The problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to those described above, and problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from this specification and the attached drawings. means of solving the problem

[0010] A battery disconnection unit according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a contactor; a busbar electrically connected to the contactor; a heat dissipation sheet inserted and injection-molded together with at least a portion of the busbar; and a cooling plate located below the heat dissipation sheet, wherein the end of the busbar is electrically connected to the contactor.

[0011] The end of the busbar may be bent in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the heat dissipation sheet and may extend toward the contactor.

[0012] The above cooling plate may include a cooling channel.

[0013] The above cooling channel may include an inlet and an outlet formed on at least one side of the cooling plate.

[0014] Cooling water can be injected into the above inlet.

[0015] The above inlet and the above outlet may be formed on the same side of the cooling plate.

[0016] It may further include a heat transfer pad located between the heat dissipation sheet and the cooling plate.

[0017] The above heat transfer pad is a plate-shaped structure and may include silicone resin and a heat-conducting material.

[0018] The thickness of the busbar may be thinner than the thickness of the heat dissipation sheet.

[0019] The above heat dissipation sheet may be made of a heat dissipation plastic material.

[0020] A battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention includes the battery cutoff unit described above. Effects of the invention

[0021] According to the embodiments, the present invention relates to a battery cutoff unit comprising a heat dissipation sheet that is insert-molded together with at least a portion of a busbar, and a battery pack comprising the same, wherein heat dissipation performance can be improved while minimizing the cross-sectional area of ​​the busbar.

[0022] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, and unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from this specification and the accompanying drawings. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional battery cutoff unit. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a battery cutoff unit according to the present embodiment. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of area A of the battery cutoff unit of Figure 2. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0024] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0025] To clearly explain the present invention, parts unrelated to the explanation have been omitted, and the same reference numerals are used for identical or similar components throughout the specification.

[0026] Furthermore, the size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are depicted arbitrarily for convenience of explanation, and thus the present invention is not necessarily limited to what is illustrated. Thicknesses have been enlarged in the drawings to clearly represent various layers and regions. Additionally, for convenience of explanation, the thickness of some layers and regions has been exaggerated in the drawings.

[0027] Furthermore, throughout the specification, when a part is described as “comprising” a certain component, this means that, unless specifically stated otherwise, it does not exclude other components but may include additional components.

[0028] Additionally, throughout the specification, "planar" means when the subject part is viewed from above, and "cross-sectional" means when the cross-section obtained by vertically cutting the subject part is viewed from the side.

[0029] Hereinafter, a battery cutoff unit according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. However, the description herein will be based on the front side of the battery cutoff unit, but is not necessarily limited thereto, and the description may be identical or similar in the case of the rear side.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a battery cutoff unit according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of area A of the battery cutoff unit of FIG. 2.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 2, a battery cutoff unit (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a contactor (200); a bus bar (300) electrically connected to the contactor (200); a heat dissipation sheet (400) inserted and injection-molded together with at least a portion of the bus bar (300); and a cooling plate (600) located below the heat dissipation sheet (400), wherein the end of the bus bar (300) is electrically connected to the contactor (200).

[0032] Here, the battery cutoff unit (100) can be configured so that the battery pack is optionally electrically connected to a power transmission system that is an electrical load.

[0033] Additionally, the battery cutoff unit (100) may include a frame (not shown) on which components such as the aforementioned contactor (200), busbar (300), heat dissipation sheet (400), and cooling plate (600) can be mounted. The frame may be divided into an upper cover and a lower frame, such that the components are mounted inside the lower frame and the components are covered by the upper cover. For example, the frame may be made of a plastic material.

[0034] The contactor (200) is a component responsible for supplying and cutting off HV (High Voltage) power to a device to which the battery cutoff unit (100) is applied. Here, the contactor (200) can be electrically connected between the terminals of the battery pack and the power transmission system and can be controlled by a BMS (Battery Management System) or a VCM (Vehicle Control Module).

[0035] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 2 and FIGS. 3, the busbar (300), heat dissipation sheet (400), and cooling plate (600) according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

[0036] The busbar (300) is configured to connect the contactor (300), etc., to the terminals of the battery pack or the power transmission system. Here, the end of the busbar (300) can be electrically connected to the contactor (200). For example, the busbar (300) may be an electrically conductive metal plate.

[0037] The heat dissipation sheet (400) can be formed by insert injection molding together with at least a portion of the bus bar (300). Accordingly, the battery cutoff unit (100) according to the present embodiment has the bus bar (300) and the heat dissipation sheet (400) integrated with each other, which can save space and offers advantages in manufacturing costs and manufacturing processes. In addition, while fixing the bus bar (300), it can prevent the insert-molded bus bar (300) from being damaged by other parts. For example, the heat dissipation sheet (400) may be made of a heat-dissipating plastic material.

[0038] Additionally, the heat dissipation sheet (400) is positioned between the lower part of the contactor (200) and the bus bar (300) and the cooling plate (600), so that the heat dissipation sheet (400) can directly transfer heat generated from the bus bar (300) to the cooling plate (600), and the heat dissipation performance can be improved.

[0039] Additionally, the end of the bus bar (300) may be bent in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the heat dissipation sheet (400) and may extend toward the contactor (200). More specifically, the heat dissipation sheet (400) may have a thickness greater than that of the bus bar (300), so that at least a portion of the bus bar (300) is not exposed to the outside. Accordingly, only the end of the bus bar (300) is exposed to the outside from the heat dissipation sheet (400), thereby minimizing the cross-sectional area of ​​the bus bar (300) electrically connected to the contactor (200). Furthermore, the heat dissipation sheet (400) may come into contact with the front surface of at least a portion of the insert-molded bus bar (300), so that heat generated from the bus bar (300) can be effectively dissipated through the heat dissipation sheet (400).

[0040] Additionally, the cooling plate (600) may be located below the heat dissipation sheet (400). Accordingly, the heat dissipation sheet (400) is in direct contact with the cooling plate (600), so that heat generated from the bus bar (300) can be dissipated to the outside of the heat dissipation sheet (400).

[0041] More specifically, the cooling plate (600) may include a cooling channel (650). The cooling channel (650) may include an inlet and an outlet formed on at least one side of the cooling plate (600). Additionally, the cooling channel (650) may have cooling water injected into the inlet and discharged through the outlet.

[0042] For example, the cooling channel (650) may have the inlet and the outlet formed on the same side of the cooling plate. However, it is not limited thereto, and the inlet and the outlet may be formed at various locations as long as they do not exceed the structural constraints of the battery cutoff unit (100).

[0043] More specifically, when the battery cutoff unit (100) according to the present embodiment is placed in a battery pack, a refrigerant path flowing for cooling may be formed in the battery pack. That is, a circulation structure may be formed in which a refrigerant introduced from outside the battery pack absorbs heat generated from each component inside the battery pack and then is discharged back outside the battery pack.

[0044] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, one side of the cooling plate (600) may be exposed to the outside of the battery cutoff unit (100). Here, one side of the cooling plate (600) may be exposed to the outside of the battery cutoff unit (100) and may come into contact with or be connected to the refrigerant path of the battery pack.

[0045] In addition, the busbar (300) is inserted into the heat dissipation sheet (400), so that a large amount of heat generated from the busbar (300) can be transferred to the cooling plate (600) via the heat dissipation sheet (400). At this time, the heat dissipation sheet (400) can come into direct contact with the cooling plate (600), so that the heat generated from the busbar (300) can be effectively cooled. Furthermore, the heat transferred from the heat dissipation sheet (400) to the cooling plate (600) can be transferred through the cooling plate (600) to the refrigerant path of the battery pack located outside the battery cutoff unit (100). Accordingly, the heat generated from the busbar (300) can be cooled more effectively.

[0047] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a battery cutoff unit (100) according to another embodiment of the present invention may further include a heat transfer pad (500) located between a heat dissipation sheet (400) and a cooling plate (600). For example, the heat transfer pad (500) may be a plate-shaped structure and may include silicone resin and a thermal conductive material. There are no particular limitations on the thermal conductive material, and it may include metal powder, graphite, etc. Additionally, according to another embodiment, the heat transfer pad (500) may be replaced with a heat transfer layer coated with a thermal interface material.

[0048] Here, the heat transfer pad (500) can be configured to be compressed between the heat dissipation sheet (400) and the cooling plate (600), thereby maximizing surface contact between the heat dissipation sheet (400) and the cooling plate (600). Additionally, indirect contact for heat transfer between the cooling plate (600) and the heat dissipation sheet (400) can be maintained by relying on the compression of the heat transfer pad (500).

[0049] The battery cutoff unit according to the embodiment described above can be mounted together with various control and protection systems, such as a battery module, a Battery Management System (BMS), and a cooling system, to form a battery pack.

[0050] The above-mentioned battery cutoff unit or battery pack can be applied to various devices. Specifically, it can be applied to means of transportation such as electric bicycles, electric vehicles, and hybrids, but is not limited thereto and can be applied to various devices capable of using secondary batteries.

[0051] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements by those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present invention as defined in the following claims also fall within the scope of the present invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0053] 100: Battery disconnect unit 200: Contactor 300: Busbar 400: Thermal sheet 500: Heat transfer pad 600: Cooling plate 650: Cooling Euro

Claims

Claim 1 A battery disconnect unit comprising: a contactor; a busbar electrically connected to the contactor; a heat dissipation sheet inserted injection together with at least a portion of the busbar; a cooling plate located below the heat dissipation sheet; and a frame in which the contactor, the busbar, the heat dissipation sheet, and the cooling plate are mounted, wherein the end of the busbar is electrically connected to the contactor. Claim 2 A battery disconnection unit according to claim 1, wherein the end of the busbar is bent in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the heat dissipation sheet and extends toward the contactor. Claim 3 In claim 1, the cooling plate is a battery cutoff unit including a cooling channel. Claim 4 In paragraph 3, the cooling channel is a battery cutoff unit comprising an inlet and an outlet formed on at least one side of the cooling plate. Claim 5 In paragraph 4, a battery cutoff unit into which coolant is injected into the inlet. Claim 6 In paragraph 4, the battery cutoff unit, wherein the inlet and the outlet are formed on the same side of the cooling plate. Claim 7 A battery cutoff unit according to claim 1, further comprising a heat transfer pad located between the heat dissipation sheet and the cooling plate. Claim 8 In claim 7, the heat transfer pad is a plate-shaped structure and is a battery cutoff unit comprising silicone resin and a thermally conductive material. Claim 9 In claim 1, the battery cutoff unit, wherein the thickness of the busbar is thinner than the thickness of the heat dissipation sheet. Claim 10 In claim 1, the heat dissipation sheet is a battery cutoff unit made of a heat dissipation plastic material. Claim 11 A battery pack including a battery cutoff unit according to paragraph 1.

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