Battery pack

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery pack that accommodates a battery module, comprising: a pack case including a module area on which the battery module can be seated; and an upper cover coupled to the pack case to cover the upper portion of each battery module seated in the pack case; wherein the pack case comprises: a base plate supporting the lower portion of the battery module; and a side wall coupled along the edge of the base plate; and wherein the base plate is thinner than the upper cover.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery pack and is characterized by preventing high-temperature heat generated by thermal runaway of some of the accommodated battery modules from propagating to other normal battery modules through a base plate corresponding to the bottom of the battery pack. Background Technology

[0003] Ensuring the safety of lithium-ion batteries is a critical challenge due to the risk of explosions and fires caused by overheating. If these abnormal phenomena are not properly addressed in the early stages, the internal temperature of the battery can rise rapidly due to heat generation. This rapid temperature increase can trigger a thermal runaway phenomenon, potentially leading to the explosion of the battery and spreading to adjacent batteries, causing significant damage to the battery pack.

[0004] FIG. 1 shows a pack case (20) constituting a conventional battery pack and an upper cover (10) coupled to the pack case (20). As shown in FIG. 1(a), a plurality of battery modules (M) are supported at the bottom by a base plate (30) and at the sides by a side wall (40) and a partition wall (50). Accordingly, each battery module (M) can be protected in all directions by a base plate (30) supporting the bottom, an upper cover (10) covering the top, and side walls (40) and partition walls (50) supporting the sides.

[0005] Generally, the base plate (30) is manufactured with a thick thickness for stability. Specifically, a conventional base plate (30) is manufactured so as not to deform even under the pressure of high-temperature gas generated by thermal runaway of the battery module (M). Therefore, the conventional base plate (30) can maintain continuous contact with the thermally runaway battery module (M) as shown in FIG. 1(b). The conventional battery pack has a fatal problem in that high-temperature heat can be conducted to other normal battery modules (M) due to such contact. Prior art literature

[0007] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2021-0133788 The problem to be solved

[0008] Accordingly, the present invention was devised to solve the above-mentioned problems and aims to provide a battery pack with a structure capable of preventing high-temperature heat generated by thermal runaway in some of the accommodated battery modules from propagating to other normal battery modules.

[0009] Other objects and advantages of the present invention may be understood from the following description and will become more clearly apparent from the embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, it will be readily apparent that the objects and advantages of the present invention can be realized by the means and combinations thereof set forth in the claims. means of solving the problem

[0011] According to the present invention, a battery pack is provided that accommodates a battery module, comprising: a pack case including a module area in which the battery module can be seated; and an upper cover coupled to the pack case to cover the upper portion of each battery module seated in the pack case; wherein the pack case comprises: a base plate supporting the lower portion of the battery module; and a side wall coupled along the edge of the base plate; and wherein the base plate is thinner than the upper cover.

[0012] The above base plate may be deformed by a change in at least one of pressure and temperature in the module area.

[0013] The above pack case further includes a main bulkhead that crosses the center and is coupled to a base plate; and sub-bulkheads that are coupled to the base plate at both ends, respectively, and spaced apart at a predetermined interval along the longitudinal direction of the main bulkhead, and the module area may be formed in multiple parts by the partitions of the main bulkhead and sub-bulkhead.

[0014] The above pack case further includes a support block protruding from the boundary of the sub-bulk and the base plate, and the battery module further includes a protrusion protruding on both sides to be supported on the upper portion of the support block, and the battery module can be fixed to the pack case by a bolt member that penetrates the protrusion and is screw-coupled to the support block.

[0015] The above pack case further includes a fixing member coupled to the sub-bulk and a battery module mounted adjacent to the sub-bulk, and the battery module can be fixed to the sub-bulk by screw-coupled the top and the end of the fixing member.

[0016] The above fixing member can be screw-coupled to each of the battery modules located on both sides of the sub-wall across the sub-wall.

[0017] The above fixing member can be fixed by screwing it to the top of the sub-bulkhead.

[0018] Each of the above module areas can be sealed by the main bulkhead and sub-bulkhead.

[0019] The above base plate is formed by combining a plurality of support plates corresponding to each module area, and each support plate can be deformed by a change in at least one of the pressure and temperature of the corresponding module area.

[0020] The above base plate may include a plurality of protrusions protruding upward.

[0021] The above protrusions may be formed in a dot shape distributed on the upper surface of the base plate, or may be formed in a line shape extending parallel in one direction on the upper surface of the base plate.

[0022] The above-mentioned dot-shaped protrusion may protrude in either a horn shape or a pillar shape.

[0023] The above-mentioned line-shaped protrusion can be extended and formed in either a straight line or a curve.

[0024] The above base plate may have a strength capable of supporting at least the weight of the battery module.

[0025] The above base plate can bulge outward due to the pressure of the gas generated in the module area. Effects of the invention

[0027] According to the present invention, even if high-temperature heat and gas are generated due to thermal runaway of some of the battery modules among the accommodated plurality of battery modules, the propagation of said heat can be prevented to improve the stability of the battery pack. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0029] Figure 1 shows a conventional battery pack. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a battery pack according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a pack case of the present invention and a plurality of battery modules seated in the pack case. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified example of the pack case of the present invention. Figure 5 shows a cross-section of the pack case and upper cover of Figure 4. Figure 6 shows the combination of the pack case and the upper cover of Figure 5. Figure 7 illustrates a phenomenon in which one of the multiple battery modules housed in the battery pack of Figure 6 undergoes thermal runaway. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a pack case included in a battery pack according to a second embodiment of the present invention to which a fixing member is applied. Figure 9 shows a cross-section of the pack case and upper cover of Figure 8. Figure 10 shows the pack case of Figure 9 combined with an upper cover. Figure 11 shows that thermal runaway occurred in some of the battery modules among the plurality of battery modules accommodated in the battery pack of Figure 10. FIG. 12 shows a cross-section of a battery pack according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Figure 13 shows that thermal runaway occurred in some of the battery modules among the plurality of battery modules included in the battery pack of Figure 12. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a pack case included in a battery pack according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Figure 15 shows a cross-section of the pack case and upper cover of Figure 14 combined. Figure 16 shows that thermal runaway occurred in some of the battery modules among the plurality of battery modules included in the battery pack of Figure 15. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0030] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Prior to this, terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, and should be interpreted in a meaning and concept consistent with the technical spirit of the present invention, based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the terms to best describe his invention.

[0031] Therefore, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention; thus, it should be understood that various equivalents and modifications that can replace them may exist at the time of filing this application.

[0032] In addition, in describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known components or functions may obscure the essence of the invention, such detailed description is omitted.

[0033] Since embodiments of the present invention are provided to more fully explain the invention to those skilled in the art, the shapes and sizes of the components in the drawings may be exaggerated, omitted, or schematically depicted for clearer explanation. Accordingly, the size or proportion of each component does not entirely reflect the actual size or proportion.

[0036] The present invention relates to a battery pack in which a battery module (M) is accommodated, and is characterized by preventing high-temperature heat generated by thermal runaway of some of the accommodated battery modules (M) from propagating to other normal battery modules (M) through a base plate (110) corresponding to the bottom of the battery pack.

[0037] FIGS. 2 to 6 relate to a battery pack according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 7 to 10 relate to a battery pack according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 11 to 12 relate to a battery pack according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 13 to 15 relate to a battery pack according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Each embodiment of the battery pack of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0040] (First embodiment)

[0041] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a battery pack according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] The battery pack of the present invention includes a pack case (100) and an upper cover (200) as shown in FIG. 2.

[0043] The above-mentioned pack case (100) includes a module area (150) on which a battery module (M) can be seated, and supports the side and bottom of each seated battery module (M) and protects it from the outside.

[0044] The above pack case (100) includes a base plate (110) that supports the lower part of the battery module (M) as shown in FIG. 2(a) and a side wall (120) that is joined along the edge of the base plate (110).

[0045] The base plate (110) corresponds to the bottom of the pack case (100) and serves to support and protect the lower part of the mounted battery module (M).

[0046] The above side wall (120) serves to support the sides of a plurality of battery modules (M) mounted on the base plate (110) and protect them from the outside.

[0048] FIG. 3 shows a pack case (100) of the present invention and a plurality of battery modules (M) seated in the pack case (100). As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the pack case (100) of the present invention may further include a main partition (130) that crosses the center and is coupled to a base plate (110), and a sub-partition (140) that is coupled to the base plate (110) at both ends, respectively, and is spaced apart at a predetermined interval along the length direction of the main partition (130).

[0049] The main partition (130) spans the internal space of the pack case (100) and divides the space where the battery module (M) is seated into two large spaces, and the sub-partition (140) further divides the space divided by the main partition (130) into multiple spaces.

[0050] Various wires and busbars used in a battery pack may be inserted or mounted inside the main bulkhead (130), or the interior of the main bulkhead (130) may be empty.

[0051] The above sub-wall (140) partitions a plurality of battery modules (M) located on one side of the main wall (130) so that they can be separated from each other.

[0052] The module area (150) of the present invention is formed by the partitions of the main partition (130) and the sub-partition (140).

[0053] A battery module (M) can be installed in each module area (150) formed by the partitions of the main bulkhead (130) and sub-bulkhead (140).

[0054] The battery module (M) accommodated in the module area (150) may be fixed to the pack case (100) for more stable mounting.

[0055] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified example of the pack case (100) of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the pack case (100) and upper cover (200) of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a combined view of the pack case (100) and upper cover (200) of FIG. 5.

[0056] The battery module (M) used in the battery pack of the present invention may include protrusions (M1) protruding on both sides as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Additionally, the pack case (100) on which the battery module (M) of the above form is mounted may further include a support block (160) protruding from the boundary of the sub-partition (140) and the base plate (110). Specifically, the battery module (M) is seated in the module area (150) such that the protrusions (M1) are supported on the upper part of the support block (160) as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0057] The battery module (M) seated in the module area (150) can be fixed to the pack case (100) by a bolt member (B) that penetrates the protrusion (M1) and is screw-coupled to the support block (160).

[0059] The upper cover (200) is coupled to the pack case (100) to cover the upper portion of each battery module (M) seated in the pack case (100) as shown in FIG. 2(b). More specifically, the upper cover (200) may be coupled such that its end contacts the upper portion of the side wall (120) coupled along the edge of the base plate (110), and may be screw-coupled to the side wall (120) by means of a bolt member (B) or the like so that the inside of the pack case (100) can be sealed.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 6, the battery pack of the present invention can be sealed so that each module area (150) is independent of each other by the combination of the pack case (100) and the upper cover (200). More specifically, each module area (150) of the present invention can be sealed by the upper cover (200) combined with the pack case (100) coming into contact with the top of the main partition (130) and sub-partition (140), etc., without any gap. Therefore, even if a thermal runaway occurs in a battery module (M) included in one module area (150), the high-temperature gas resulting from the thermal runaway is not directly transferred to the battery module (M) of another module area (150).

[0063] Generally, the base plate (110) can be manufactured from aluminum and is manufactured with a thick thickness so as not to deform even under high temperature and high pressure. That is, since the conventional base plate (110) is manufactured with a thicker thickness than the upper cover (200), when high temperature and high pressure gas is generated inside the sealed battery pack, the upper cover (200), which is relatively thin, swells and deforms due to the gas pressure.

[0064] The battery pack of the present invention is characterized in that the thickness of the base plate (110) included in the pack case (100) is adjusted to be thinner than the upper cover (200). That is, the battery pack of the present invention is characterized in that when high temperature and high pressure gas is generated inside, the base plate (110) is designed to deform due to the gas pressure before the upper cover (200).

[0065] However, the base plate (110) must have enough strength to withstand at least the weight of the battery module (M).

[0066] Preferably, the base plate (110) of the present invention can be deformed by a change in at least one of pressure and temperature in the module area (150).

[0067] Figure 7 illustrates a phenomenon in which one of the multiple battery modules (M) housed in the battery pack of Figure 6 undergoes thermal runaway.

[0068] When the battery module (M) undergoes thermal runaway, high-temperature heat and gas are generated, causing the sealed module area (150) to be filled with gas pressure. Subsequently, the gas pressure pushes out the base plate (110), which is relatively thin and weak in strength, thereby deforming the shape of the base plate (110).

[0069] Due to the shape deformation of the base plate (110), the contact area between the battery module (M) and the base plate (110) is reduced, thereby reducing the rate at which high-temperature heat is transferred through conduction. Consequently, high-temperature heat generated from a thermally runaway battery module (M) cannot be easily transferred to an adjacent battery module (M) through the base plate (110), thereby preventing other battery modules (M) from undergoing a chain reaction of thermal runaway.

[0071] (Second embodiment)

[0072] The battery pack of the present invention may additionally include a fixing member (170) capable of fixing the battery module (M) to the sub-wall (140).

[0073] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a pack case (100) included in a battery pack according to a second embodiment of the present invention to which a fixing member (170) is applied, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the pack case (100) and upper cover (200) of FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a view of the pack case (100) of FIG. 9 combined with the upper cover (200).

[0074] A pack case (100) included in a battery pack according to a second embodiment of the present invention further includes a fixing member (170) that is coupled to a sub-partition (140) and a battery module (M) mounted adjacent to the sub-partition (140), as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10. Specifically, the battery module (M) mounted in the pack case (100) has its upper end coupled to the end of the fixing member (170), and is additionally fixed to the sub-partition (140) by a bolt member (B) that penetrates the fixing member (170) and is screw-coupled to the upper end of the battery module (M).

[0075] The above fixing member (170) can be screw-coupled to each battery module (M) located on both sides of the sub-wall (140) across the sub-wall (140) as illustrated. That is, a pair of adjacent battery modules (M) can be fixed to the sub-wall (140) interposed between them through a single fixing member (170).

[0076] Fixing the battery module (M) to the sub-bulk (140) through the fixing member (170) in this manner is intended to prevent the battery module (M) from sinking along with the base plate (110) when the base plate (110) swells outward and sinks downward due to thermal runaway of the battery module (M). In other words, the fixing member (170) serves to minimize contact between the battery module (M) and the base plate (110) by continuously fixing the battery module (M) that has undergone thermal runaway to the sub-bulk (140).

[0077] In the battery pack of the present invention, four fixing members (170) may be fixed to one battery module (M) as illustrated, but as long as each battery module (M) can be fixed to the sub-partition (140), the number and shape of the fixing members (170) used do not need to be limited to those illustrated.

[0078] It is also preferable that the above-mentioned fixed member (170) is screw-coupled to the sub-bulkhead (140).

[0079] The above fixing member (170) can be fixed by screwing it to the top of the sub-partition (140) as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10.

[0080] Additionally, although not shown, the fixing member (170) may be fixed to the sub-wall (140) by a bolt member (B) that penetrates the upper cover (200) and the fixing member (170) simultaneously and is screw-coupled to the top of the sub-wall (140).

[0081] Figure 11 shows that thermal runaway occurred in some of the battery modules (M) among the plurality of battery modules (M) accommodated in the battery pack of Figure 10.

[0082] Referring to FIG. 11 above, it can be seen that the base plate (110) is deformed and sinks downward due to gas pressure caused by thermal runaway of the battery module (M), but the battery module (M) does not sink together with the base plate (110) and is maintained in a fixed state by the fixing member (170).

[0083] That is, as the base plate (110) becomes increasingly deformed by gas pressure, the contact area between the thermally runaway battery module (M) and the sinking base plate (110) decreases.

[0085] (Third embodiment)

[0086] The base plate (110) included in the battery pack of the present invention may be formed by combining a plurality of support plates (111).

[0087] FIG. 12 shows a cross-section of a battery pack according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0088] As shown in FIG. 12 above, a single base plate (110) is formed by connecting a plurality of support plates (111).

[0089] That is, the base plate (110) is formed by the combination of a plurality of support plates (111) corresponding to each module area (150), and the support plates (111) are deformed by a change in at least one of the pressure and temperature of the corresponding module area (150).

[0090] Each support plate (111) can be screw-coupled to the bottom of the side wall (120), main bulkhead (130), and sub-bulkhead (140), and can also be connected and coupled to each support plate (111).

[0091] If necessary, an insulating member may be additionally interposed between each support plate (111) to minimize heat transfer between the support plates (111).

[0092] Figure 13 shows that thermal runaway occurred in some of the battery modules (M) among the plurality of battery modules (M) included in the battery pack of Figure 12.

[0093] Referring to FIG. 13 above, only the support plate (111) corresponding to the module area (150) in which the battery module (M) that has undergone thermal runaway is accommodated is deformed.

[0095] (Fourth embodiment)

[0096] The battery pack of the present invention may have protrusions (112) applied to the surface of the base plate (110) to minimize the contact area between the battery module (M) and the base plate (110).

[0097] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a pack case (100) included in a battery pack according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 15 shows a cross-section in which the pack case (100) of FIG. 14 and the upper cover (200) are combined.

[0098] The base plate (110) includes a plurality of protrusions (112) that protrude upward as shown in FIGS. 14 and FIGS. 15.

[0099] The above protrusions (112) may be formed in a dot shape distributed on the upper surface of the base plate (110) as illustrated, but are not limited thereto and may also be formed in a line shape extending in one direction on the upper surface of the base plate (110).

[0100] The above-mentioned dot-shaped protrusion (112) can be protruded in various shapes. For example, the protrusion (112) can be protruded in either a horn shape or a pillar shape.

[0101] The above-mentioned line-shaped protrusion (112) can be extended and formed in either a straight line or a curve.

[0102] Therefore, the battery module (M) seated in each module area (150) is supported on the top of the protrusion (112), so that the entire surface area cannot come into contact with the base plate (110).

[0103] Figure 16 shows that thermal runaway occurred in some of the battery modules (M) among the plurality of battery modules (M) included in the battery pack of Figure 15.

[0104] Referring to FIG. 16 above, the base plate (110) located at the bottom of the battery module (M) where thermal runaway has occurred is deformed while maintaining the protrusion (112), so the contact point with the battery module (M) is further reduced. In addition, even if high-temperature heat is transferred through the base plate (110) to a plurality of adjacent normal battery modules (M), only a small amount of heat is transferred due to the protrusion (112).

[0107] The present invention has been described in more detail above through drawings and embodiments. However, the configurations described in the drawings or embodiments described in this specification are merely one embodiment of the present invention and do not represent all technical concepts of the present invention; therefore, it should be understood that various equivalents and modifications that can replace them may exist at the time of filing this application. Explanation of the symbols

[0109] 10: (Prior art) Upper cover 20: (Prior art) Pack case 30: (Prior art) Base plate 40: (Prior art) Sidewall 50: (Prior art) bulkhead 100: Pack Case 110: Base Plate 111: Support plate 112: Protrusion 120: Sidewall 130: Main bulkhead 140: Sub-bulkhead 150: Module Area 160: Support block 170: Fixed member 200: Upper cover B: Bolt member M: Battery Module M1: Protrusion

Claims

Claim 1 A battery pack for accommodating battery modules, comprising: a pack case including a module area where the battery modules can be seated; and an upper cover coupled to the pack case to cover the upper portion of each battery module seated in the pack case; wherein the pack case comprises: a base plate supporting the lower portion of the battery modules; a side wall coupled along the edge of the base plate; a main bulkhead traversing the center and coupled to the base plate; and a sub-bulkhead having both ends coupled to the main bulkhead and the side wall, respectively, and spaced apart at a predetermined interval along the longitudinal direction of the main bulkhead and coupled to the base plate. A battery pack comprising, wherein the module area is formed in multiple portions by the partitions of the main bulkhead and the sub-bulkhead, the pack case further comprises a support block protruding from the boundary of the sub-bulkhead and the base plate, the battery module further comprises a protrusion protruding on both sides to be supported on the upper portion of the support block, the battery module is fixed to the pack case by a bolt member that penetrates the protrusion and is screw-coupled to the support block, and the base plate is thinner than the upper cover. Claim 2 In claim 1, the base plate is a battery pack that is deformed by a change in at least one of pressure and temperature in the module area. Claim 3 delete Claim 4 delete Claim 5 In claim 1, the pack case further comprises a fixing member coupled to the sub-bulk and a battery module seated adjacent to the sub-bulk, and the battery module is a battery pack fixed to the sub-bulk by screw-coupled to the top and the end of the fixing member. Claim 6 In paragraph 5, the fixing member is a battery pack that is screw-coupled to each of the battery modules located on both sides of the sub-partition across the sub-partition. Claim 7 In paragraph 5, the above fixing member is a battery pack fixed by screw coupling with the top of the above sub-partition. Claim 8 In claim 1, each module area is a battery pack sealed by the main bulkhead and sub-bulkhead. Claim 9 A battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the base plate is formed by the combination of a plurality of support plates corresponding to each module area, and each support plate is deformed by a change in at least one of the pressure and temperature of the corresponding module area. Claim 10 In claim 1, the battery pack comprises a base plate having a plurality of protrusions protruding upward. Claim 11 A battery pack according to claim 10, wherein the protrusions are formed in a dot shape distributed on the upper surface of the base plate, or formed in a line shape extending parallel in one direction on the upper surface of the base plate. Claim 12 In claim 11, the above-mentioned dot-shaped protrusion is a battery pack protruding in either a horn shape or a pillar shape. Claim 13 In Clause 11, the above-mentioned line-shaped protrusion is formed by extending into either a straight line or a curved shape in a battery pack. Claim 14 In claim 1, the base plate is a battery pack having strength capable of supporting at least the weight of the battery module. Claim 15 In claim 1, the base plate is a battery pack that swells outward by the pressure of gas generated in the module area.

Images