Battery module comprising guide unit for preventing venting

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a battery module comprising a plurality of pouch-type battery cells, each battery cell including: an electrode assembly; an accommodation unit for accommodating the electrode assembly; a terrace unit forming edges of the accommodation unit; and a sealing unit positioned on the outside of the terrace unit, wherein a guide unit having a predetermined shape is interposed between each pouch-type battery cell, and one side of the guide unit extends to the vicinity of the sealing unit.

Description

Battery module including a guide section for preventing venting

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0150165 filed October 29, 2023 and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2025-0056070 filed April 29, 2025, and all contents disclosed in the documents of said Korean patent applications are incorporated herein as part of this specification.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery module including a guide portion for preventing venting, and more specifically, to a battery module including a guide portion capable of preventing or delaying venting of a pouch-type battery cell sealing portion when a pouch-type battery cell expands.

[0003]

[0004] Rechargeable batteries include lithium-ion batteries, lithium-polymer batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, etc. Generally, the operating voltage of a rechargeable battery unit cell is about 2.0V to 5.0V, and if a higher output voltage is required, a cell assembly can be formed by connecting multiple unit cells in series. Considering the output voltage and capacity, a battery module can be formed by connecting cell assemblies in series and / or parallel, and a battery pack can be manufactured using multiple battery modules.

[0005] Meanwhile, secondary batteries can be classified into cylindrical, prismatic, and pouch types depending on the shape of the battery case. Among these, the pouch type is attracting significant attention due to its ability to be stacked with high integration density, high energy density per unit weight, low cost, and ease of deformation. A pouch-type battery cell refers to a battery cell in which the battery case is made of a laminated sheet, and the electrode assembly is embedded inside the battery case.

[0006] Since gas is generated inside battery cells during usage processes such as charging and discharging, potentially causing the battery case to expand and explode, various technologies are being proposed to enhance the safety of pouch-type battery cells.

[0007] FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of a battery module according to the prior art, and FIG. 2 is a drawing for explaining the case where gas is generated inside a pouch-type battery cell housed in a battery module according to the prior art.

[0008] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of pouch-type battery cells (100) housed inside a module case (not shown) are electrically connected to a bus bar (210) provided in an ICB assembly (200).

[0009] When gas is generated inside the pouch-type battery cell (100) and the internal pressure increases, the sealing portion (40) may be deformed or damaged as the storage portion (20) that houses the electrode assembly and the terrace portion (30) that forms the edge of the storage portion (20) expand.

[0010] In this regard, Patent Document 1 relates to a pouch-type battery cell including a venting control means for a sealing portion, wherein a venting control means is provided in the direction in which an electrode lead protrudes from the sealing portion of a pouch-type battery case, and the venting control means controls the opening and closing of the sealing portion according to the internal gas pressure of the pouch-type battery case.

[0011] In the case of Patent Document 1, there is a separate means for controlling the opening and closing of the sealing portion itself, and the opening and closing means maintains the seal by physical compression rather than conventional thermal compression. In order to use the venting control means, individual precise mechanical design considering the material, strength, etc., of each pouch-type battery case is required.

[0012] Patent Document 2 includes a guard unit installed facing at least a portion of the terrace portion and at least a portion of the sealing portion to delay damage to the sealing portion of the battery cell. The guard unit of Patent Document 2 has a shape facing more than half of the total length of the terrace portion and the sealing portion with respect to the longitudinal direction of the battery cell.

[0013] In the case of Patent Document 2, in accordance with the general common sense that the supporting force increases when a large portion is physically supported, the guard unit is limited to facing more than half of the total length of the terrace portion and the ceiling portion.

[0014] However, when a guard unit according to Patent Document 2 is added, the volume that expands in the terrace section, etc. is limited, so the overall volume that can expand is reduced. In other words, due to the limited total volume, the internal pressure of the battery cell may increase more quickly.

[0015]

[0016] (Prior Art Literature)

[0017] (Patent Document 1) Korean Published Patent Application No. 10-2022-0163090

[0018] (Patent Document 2) Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 10-2450176

[0019]

[0020] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems by providing a battery module that effectively prevents or delays damage to the sealing portion even when the pouch-type battery cell expands, while minimizing the increase in pressure inside the pouch-type battery cell.

[0021]

[0022] As a technical means for achieving the above-mentioned purpose, a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of pouch-type battery cells (100), each comprising an electrode assembly (10), a storage portion (20) for housing the electrode assembly (10), a terrace portion (30) forming the edge of the storage portion (20), and a sealing portion (40) located outside the terrace portion (30). In this battery module, a guide portion (70) having a predetermined shape is interposed between the pouch-type battery cells (100), wherein one side of the guide portion (70) is positioned to extend to the vicinity of the sealing portion (40).

[0023] In addition, in a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, one side of the guide portion (70) is characterized by extending to the boundary point between the sealing portion (40) and the terrace portion (30).

[0024] In addition, in a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, the guide portion (70) is characterized by being positioned with respect to a sealing portion (40) in the direction in which the electrode lead (50) of the pouch-type battery cell (100) protrudes.

[0025] In addition, in a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, the guide portion (70) is characterized by being positioned on one side and / or the other side of the sealing portion (40).

[0026] In addition, in a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, the distance (h) between one surface of the guide portion (70) facing the sealing portion (40) and one surface of the sealing portion is smaller than the depth (H) of the storage portion.

[0027] In addition, in a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, the corner portion (71) of the guide portion (70) is characterized by having a rounded shape with a predetermined radius of curvature.

[0028] In addition, in a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, the guide portion (70) is characterized by being positioned between the sealing portions (40) of a pair of pouch-type battery cells (100) located adjacent to each other.

[0029] In addition, in a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, the guide portion (70) is characterized by simultaneously facing the sealing portion (40) of a pair of pouch-type battery cells (100) located adjacent to each other.

[0030] In addition, in a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, the guide portion (70) is characterized by having a cuboid shape.

[0031] In addition, the present invention is characterized as being a battery pack comprising the aforementioned battery module.

[0032] In addition, the present invention is characterized as being a device comprising the aforementioned battery module.

[0033]

[0034] As explained above, according to the battery module of the present invention, one side of the guide portion is extended to the vicinity of the sealing portion, thereby effectively preventing or delaying damage to the sealing portion.

[0035] In addition, since the guide section is extended to the vicinity of the boundary between the sealing section and the terrace section, it is possible to secure clearance space for the pouch-type battery cell to expand when gas is generated inside the pouch-type battery cell, thereby minimizing the increase in pressure inside the pouch-type battery cell.

[0036]

[0037] FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of a battery module according to the prior art.

[0038] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the case where gas is generated inside a pouch-type battery cell housed in a battery module according to the prior art.

[0039] Figure 3 is a plan view illustrating a pouch-type battery cell.

[0040] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a guide portion constituting a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Figure 7 is an exploded view of a test unit for simulating the expansion of a pouch-type battery cell.

[0044] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a test unit assembled for simulating the expansion of a pouch-type battery cell.

[0045] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating the inflation of an airbag model according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] FIG. 10 is a simulation result of a pouch-type battery cell housed in a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] Figure 11 is a simulation result of a pouch-type battery cell housed in a battery module according to Comparative Example 1.

[0048] FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a guide portion extended to the terrace portion of a pouch-type battery cell as Comparative Example 2.

[0049] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a battery module having a guide portion as shown in FIG. 12.

[0050] Figure 14 is a simulation result of a pouch-type battery cell housed in a battery module according to Comparative Example 2.

[0051] FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram of a modified guide part according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0052]

[0053] Embodiments that enable a person skilled in the art to easily implement the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. However, in describing the operating principles of preferred embodiments of the present invention in detail, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known functions or configurations may unnecessarily obscure the essence of the present invention, such detailed description is omitted.

[0054] In addition, the same reference numerals are used for parts having similar functions and operations throughout the drawings. Throughout the specification, when a part is described as being connected to another part, this includes not only cases where they are directly connected, but also cases where they are indirectly connected with other elements in between. Furthermore, unless specifically stated otherwise, the inclusion of a certain component does not exclude other components but implies that additional components may be included.

[0055]

[0056] Hereinafter, a battery module according to the present invention will be described.

[0057] FIG. 3 is a plan view for explaining a pouch-type battery cell, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a part of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention cut off, and FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a guide part constituting a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention. For the sake of explanation, the terrace part (30) and the sealing part (40) of the pouch-type battery cell (100) illustrated in FIG. 5 are shown, but the electrode leads are omitted.

[0058] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 6, a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of pouch-type battery cells (100), a module case (not shown), an ICB assembly (200), and a guide part (70).

[0059] First, the pouch-type battery cell (100) includes an electrode assembly (10), a storage portion (20) that accommodates the electrode assembly (10), a terrace portion (30) that forms the edge of the storage portion (20), and a sealing portion (40) located outside the terrace portion (30).

[0060] The electrode assembly (10) may be composed of a jelly-roll type assembly in which a separator is interposed between long sheet-type positive and negative electrodes and then wound, a stack type assembly in which rectangular positive and negative electrodes are stacked with a separator interposed between them, a stack-folding type assembly in which unit cells are wound by a long separator film, or a lamination-stack type assembly in which battery cells are stacked with a separator interposed between them and attached to each other, but a stacked electrode assembly is typically used in pouch-type battery cells (10).

[0061] The electrode tab (11) of the electrode assembly (10) is electrically connected to an electrode lead (50) that protrudes outward. A separate lead film (60) for adhesion is provided between the portion of the electrode lead (50) and / or the electrode tab (10) that protrudes outward and the sealing portion (40).

[0062] Such an electrode assembly (10) is housed in a pouch-type battery case. The housing portion (20), terrace portion (30), and sealing portion (40) correspond to the pouch-type battery case. The pouch-type battery case is typically composed of a laminate sheet structure consisting of an inner layer, a metal layer, and an outer layer. Since the inner layer is in direct contact with the electrode assembly, it must have insulating properties and resistance to electrolytes. Additionally, to ensure sealing from the outside, the sealing properties—that is, the sealing portion formed by the heat bonding of the inner layers—must have excellent heat bonding strength.

[0063] The material for this inner layer may be selected from, but is not limited to, polyolefin resins such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene acrylic acid, and polybutylene, polyurethane resins, and polyimide resins, which have excellent chemical resistance and good sealing properties; however, polypropylene is most preferable as it has excellent mechanical properties such as tensile strength, stiffness, surface hardness, and impact strength, as well as excellent chemical resistance.

[0064] The metal layer in contact with the inner layer serves as a barrier layer that prevents moisture or various gases from penetrating into the battery from the outside, and a lightweight aluminum thin film with excellent formability can be used as a preferred material for this metal layer.

[0065] An outer layer is provided on the other side of the metal layer, and this outer layer may use a heat-resistant polymer with excellent tensile strength, moisture resistance, and air permeability resistance to ensure heat resistance and chemical resistance while protecting the electrode assembly, and may use, for example, nylon or polyethylene terephthalate, but is not limited thereto.

[0066] After the electrode assembly (10) is housed in the outer periphery of such a battery case, a sealing portion (40) is formed to seal the battery case.

[0067] The pouch-type battery cell (100) includes an electrode lead (50) consisting of a pair of positive and negative leads, and the electrode lead (50) is joined to the electrode tab (11) of the electrode assembly (10) by a method such as welding, and when stored in a battery case, a portion protrudes outside the battery case and is electrically connected to other battery cells or devices.

[0068] The direction in which the positive lead and the negative lead protrude can have various forms, for example, a form in which the positive lead and the negative lead protrude in a direction facing each other, or a form in which the positive lead and the negative lead protrude in the same direction. In FIGS. 3 to 6, the electrode leads (50) are provided on both sides of the electrode assembly (10), but the electrode leads (50) may be provided on one side of the electrode assembly (10).

[0069] Additionally, the pouch-type battery cell (100) may use a lead film (60) to increase the sealing between the electrode lead (50) and the battery case, but is not limited thereto.

[0070] A pouch-type battery cell (100) is manufactured by housing an electrode assembly inside a pouch case, injecting an electrolyte, and sealing it. The pouch-type battery cell (100) may typically have a sealing portion (40) formed on the outer edge of three or four sides, including the part where the electrode lead protrudes.

[0071] A module case (not shown) stores multiple pouch-type battery cells (100) and serves to protect them from external impacts, and various known module cases can be applied.

[0072] The ICB (Interconnect Board) assembly (200) is generally equipped with a bus bar (210) to electrically connect the electrode lead (50) of the pouch-type battery cell (100) to the bus bar (210). It also functions to transmit various periodic signals corresponding to the temperature or voltage of the pouch-type battery cell (100) to a battery management system (BMS), etc., during the charging and discharging of the pouch-type battery cell (100).

[0073] The electrode lead (50) passes through a slit (not shown in the drawing) provided in the ICB assembly (200) and is coupled with the bus bar (210). A protrusion (220) may be formed in the ICB assembly (200) toward the pouch-type battery cell (100), which may be provided to distinguish and install the pouch-type battery cell (100) or to prevent disconnection between the electrode leads (50).

[0074] The guide portion (70) is located inside a module case (not shown) and may be interposed between multiple pouch-type battery cells (100) having a predetermined shape, for example, a cuboid shape. The guide portion (70) is positioned to face the sealing portion (40) of the pouch-type battery cell (100) and may be positioned with respect to the sealing portion (40) in the direction in which the electrode lead (50) of the pouch-type battery cell (100) protrudes.

[0075] That is, the guide portion (70) can be positioned between the sealing portions (40) of adjacent pouch-type battery cells (100). Accordingly, the guide portion (70) can simultaneously face the sealing portion (40) of the pouch-type battery cell (100) and the sealing portion (40) of the adjacent pouch-type battery cell (100).

[0076] At this time, the guide portion (70) is positioned with respect to the sealing portion (40) located on one side where the electrode lead (50) of the pouch-type battery cell (100) protrudes, and the guide portion (70) can be positioned so that one side (3 o'clock direction in Fig. 6) extends to the vicinity of the sealing portion (40). In other words, one side of the guide portion (70) can extend to the vicinity of the boundary point between the sealing portion (40) located on one side where the electrode lead (50) of the pouch-type battery cell (100) protrudes and the terrace portion (30).

[0077] The sealing portion (40) and the terrace portion (30) of the pouch-type battery cell (100) are connected continuously, and the guide portion (70) can be provided to extend to one end of the sealing portion (40), which is the sealing area of ​​the battery case, and extend only to the boundary between the sealing portion (40) and the terrace portion (30).

[0078] Since the terrace portion (30) is not fused with a seal, the battery cases of the terrace portion (30) may not be in close contact with each other, but in a normal state where no gas is generated inside the pouch-type battery cell (100), they may be maintained in a state close to close contact. However, when gas is generated inside the pouch-type battery cell (100), the terrace portion (30) may expand due to the generated gas.

[0079] Referring to FIG. 6, gas is generated inside the pouch-type battery cell (100) and expansion proceeds to the terrace portion (30), but the sealing portion (40) area can be maintained in a sealed state by the guide portion (70).

[0080] The guide portion (70) may be placed on one side (12 o'clock direction in Fig. 6) and the other side (6 o'clock direction in Fig. 6) of the pouch-type battery cell (100). Although not shown in the drawing, the guide portion (70) may be placed only on the part where the storage portion (20) is formed. That is, if the storage portion (20) is formed only on one side, the guide portion (70) may be placed only on one side of the pouch-type battery cell (100) where the storage portion (20) is formed, and if the storage portion (20) is formed on both sides, the guide portion (70) may be placed on both sides of the pouch-type battery cell (100).

[0081] The distance (h) between one side of the guide part (70) facing the sealing part (40) and one side of the sealing part can be set to be smaller than the depth (H) of the storage part. At this time, it is preferable that one side of the guide part (70) and one side of the sealing part (40) are provided in a state where they are not in close contact with each other. That is, the distance (h) between one side of the guide part and one side of the sealing part can be provided to have a distance exceeding 0 mm.

[0082] Accordingly, even if heat is generated in the pouch-type battery cell (100), the generated heat can be easily discharged through the gap between one side of the guide portion and one side of the sealing portion.

[0083] In addition, the guide portion (70) may have a constant thickness and height relative to the sealing portion (40) so that the distance (h) between one side of the guide portion and the sealing portion is maintained constant.

[0084] One side corner (71) of the guide portion (70) facing the storage portion (20) may have a rounded shape with a predetermined radius of curvature. For example, the guide portion (70) may be provided with a rounded corner (71) to prevent the battery case from being damaged when the corner (71) of the guide portion (70) comes into contact with the terrace portion (30) when gas is generated inside the pouch-type battery cell (100) and expands to the terrace portion (30).

[0085] For example, the guide portion (70) may be individually provided and arranged to be interposed between a plurality of pouch-type battery cells (100). In addition, as another example, the guide portion (70) may be formed by extending further from the protrusion (220) provided in the ICB assembly (200). In other words, the guide portion (70) may be formed by extending from the protrusion (220) of the ICB assembly (200) in the direction in which the pouch-type battery cells (100) are located, and in this case, the guide portion (70) may extend to the boundary between the sealing portion (40) and the terrace portion (30).

[0086]

[0087] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a test unit for simulating the expansion of a pouch-type battery cell, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the test unit for simulating the expansion of a pouch-type battery cell in an assembled state. The test unit (300) simulates a pouch-type battery cell (100) and a guide part (70) placed inside a battery module to simulate the stress of the sealing part (40) caused by the expansion of the pouch-type battery cell (100).

[0088] At this time, the simulation was performed using a pouch-type battery cell (100) with a unidirectional battery cell in which an electrode lead (50) is provided on one side of the electrode assembly (10).

[0089] The test unit (300) is configured to include a first plate (310) positioned on the upper part of a pouch-type battery cell (100), a second plate (320) positioned on the lower part of a pouch-type battery cell (100), and a guide plate (330) configured to mimic a guide portion (70).

[0090] According to FIGS. 7 and 8, a pouch-type battery cell (100) is positioned between a first plate (310) and a second plate (320) that are not deformed, and a guide plate (330) is provided with an extension (331) that protrudes in the direction of the sealing portion (40) of the pouch-type battery cell (100). The extension (331) is provided as a pair spaced apart at a constant angle on the upper and lower parts of the sealing portion (40) and / or terrace portion (30), and a space (e.g., a slit) capable of accommodating electrode leads may be formed inside.

[0091] The test unit (300) can be assembled by fixing the four corners of the first plate (310) and the second plate (320) and two central sides. When the test unit (300) is assembled, the gap between the first plate (310) and the second plate (320) is equal to the thickness of the pouch-type battery cell (100). Also, it is preferable that the first plate (310) and the second plate (320) be provided with a size capable of applying pressure to the entire surface area of ​​the pouch-type battery cell (100) when combined and assembled together.

[0092] When the thickness of the pouch-type battery cell (100) is set to 8.6 mm, the gap between the first plate (310) and the second plate (320) is provided to be 8.6 mm, and the thickness of the guide plate (330) interposed between the first plate (310) and the second plate (320) can also be provided to be 8.6 mm.

[0093] Also, at this time, a pair of extension parts (331) are each set to have a thickness of about 2.3 mm and can be spaced apart from the sealing part (40) at a predetermined interval.

[0094] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating the inflation of an airbag model according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing a cross-section of a pouch-type battery cell, and the dotted line indicates the state in which the pouch-type battery cell (100) is inflated. The inflation of the pouch-type battery cell shown in FIG. 9 was illustrated using an airbag model in LS-DYNA. Here, LS-DYNA is a finite element analysis (FEA) program specialized in crash, fracture, and large deformation analysis, and since it corresponds to known technology, a detailed description is omitted.

[0095] The condition for the rupture of the battery case itself of the pouch-type battery cell (100) for the expansion simulation of the pouch-type battery cell may be 55.4%, and the condition for the damage to the sealing part may be 5.07%.

[0096] In other words, the pouch-type battery cell (100) prepared for the expansion simulation of the pouch-type battery cell used a pouch-type battery cell (100) in which the battery case itself ruptures when the strain in the battery case reaches 55.4%, and the sealing part is damaged when the principal plastic strain in the sealing part (40) reaches 5.07%.

[0097] Also, the pouch-type battery cell (100) for the expansion simulation of the pouch-type battery cell has an overall width of 150 mm, an overall length of 137.5 mm, and a thickness of 8.6 mm. At this time, the length of the sealing portion (40) in the direction in which the electrode lead (50) protrudes is 5.5 mm, and the length of the terrace portion (30) is 12.45 mm.

[0098] To simulate the expansion of a pouch-type battery cell, a test was conducted by artificially injecting gas into and expanding the inside of a pouch-type battery cell (100).

[0099] Of course, it is also possible to expand the pouch-type battery cell (100) by applying power to the electrode lead (50).

[0100] FIG. 10 is a simulation result of a pouch-type battery cell housed in a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) is a diagram showing the stress applied to the sealing portion when the pouch-type battery cell expands in the form of contour lines, (b) is a diagram showing the area around the sealing portion enlarged and viewed from above, and (c) is a cross-sectional view cut along line AA.

[0101] According to FIG. 10, it can be seen that the stress on the sealing portion is low even when the interior of the pouch-type battery cell expands. Of course, the extension portion (331) of FIG. 7 is positioned to extend only to the boundary between the sealing portion and the terrace portion, so that internal expansion proceeds to the terrace portion area.

[0102] That is, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the pouch-type battery cell can minimize stress on the sealing part by means of the extension part (331), and can expect the effect of delaying the time of failure of the sealing part due to internal expansion of the terrace part.

[0103] FIG. 11 is a simulation result of a pouch-type battery cell housed in a battery module according to Comparative Example 1, wherein (a) is a diagram showing the stress applied to the sealing portion when the pouch-type battery cell expands in the form of contour lines, (b) is a diagram showing the area around the sealing portion enlarged and viewed from above, and (c) is a cross-sectional view cut along the BB line.

[0104] In the case of FIG. 11, the experiment was conducted without mounting the guide plate (330) that constitutes the test unit of FIG. 7. As can be seen in FIG. 11, since no extension is provided around the sealing portion of the pouch-type battery cell, it can be seen that a part of the sealing portion is damaged by the expansion of the pouch-type battery cell, and a lot of stress is applied to the remaining sealing portion.

[0105] FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a guide portion extended to the terrace portion of a pouch-type battery cell as Comparative Example 2, and FIG. 13 is a perspective view with a portion of a battery module having the guide portion shown in FIG. 12 cut off.

[0106] Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, in Comparative Example 2, the guide portion (70) is positioned to extend to the terrace portion (30) of the pouch-type battery cell.

[0107] FIG. 14 is a simulation result of a pouch-type battery cell housed in a battery module according to Comparative Example 2, wherein (a) is a diagram showing the stress applied to the sealing portion when the pouch-type battery cell is expanded in the form of contour lines, (b) is a diagram showing the area around the sealing portion enlarged and viewed from above, and (c) is a cross-sectional view cut along the CC line.

[0108] Referring to FIG. 14, it can be seen that the stress on the sealing part can be reduced by positioning the extension part (331) so that it extends to the terrace area.

[0109] However, as the extension portion (331) extends to the terrace portion area, the expansion of the terrace portion is limited, and this causes the pressure caused by the gas generated inside the pouch-type battery cell to increase more rapidly, thereby shortening the time to reach the sealing portion rupture.

[0110] Furthermore, if the guide section extends beyond the sealing section to the terrace section, there is a risk that the guide section may damage or compress the electrode assembly, including the battery case. In addition, when multiple pouch-type battery cells are housed in a module case (not shown) and mounted in a battery module, the height of the protruding parts of the electrode leads may not be uniform, and in this case, there is a possibility that the electrode leads may be damaged by the guide section.

[0111] In contrast, in the present invention, since the guide portion extends only to the sealing portion, there is spatial clearance between the terrace portion and the electrode assembly, thereby reducing the risk of the aforementioned problems occurring. In other words, since the guide portion of the battery module according to the present invention extends only to the vicinity of the sealing portion, there is spatial clearance between the terrace portion and the electrode assembly, which can prevent damage to the pouch-type battery cell when stored in the module case.

[0112] In addition, the present invention minimizes the stress applied to the sealing portion by the guide portion during internal expansion of the pouch-type battery cell, while simultaneously not restricting the expansion of the terrace portion, thereby making it possible to delay the rupture time of the sealing portion caused by the expansion of the terrace portion.

[0113]

[0114] FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram of a modified guide part according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0115] Referring to FIG. 15, a guide member (70) constituting a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention may be arranged to be interposed between a plurality of pouch-type battery cells, but the other side (12 o'clock direction with respect to FIG. 15) of the plurality of guide members (70) may be connected by a connecting member (80). At this time, a plurality of slit grooves (81) may be formed in the connecting member (80) so that the electrode leads of the pouch-type battery cells can pass through.

[0116] Additionally, the guide portion (70) may be spaced apart from the connecting member (80) by a preset distance. Here, it is obvious that the preset distance can be set by considering the distance between one side of the guide portion and one side of the sealing portion.

[0117]

[0118] A battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention. The battery pack may include a battery module and a pack case (not shown) for housing the battery module.

[0119] In addition, a device according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0120]

[0121] As specific parts of the present invention have been described in detail above, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that such specific descriptions are merely preferred embodiments and do not limit the scope of the invention, and that various changes and modifications are possible within the scope and spirit of the invention, and that such variations and modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.

[0122] (Explanation of symbols)

[0123] 10: Electrode assembly 11: Electrode tab

[0124] 20: Storage compartment

[0125] 30: Terrace section

[0126] 40: Sealing part

[0127] 50: Electrode lead

[0128] 60: Lead film

[0129] 70: Guide section 71: Corner section

[0130] 80: Connecting member 81: Slit groove

[0131] 100: Pouch-type battery cell

[0132] 200: ICB assembly

[0133] 210: Busbar 220: Protrusion

[0134] 300: Test Unit

[0135] 310: First plate

[0136] 320: Second plate

[0137] 330: Guide plate 331: Extension part

[0138] H: Depth of the storage compartment

[0139] h: Distance between one side of the guide section and one side of the sealing section

Claims

1. A battery module comprising a plurality of pouch-type battery cells, each comprising an electrode assembly, a storage portion for housing the electrode assembly, a terrace portion forming the edge of the storage portion, and a sealing portion located outside the terrace portion. A battery module characterized by having a guide portion having a predetermined shape interposed between the above pouch-type battery cells, wherein one side of the guide portion is positioned to extend to the vicinity of the sealing portion.

2. In Paragraph 1, A battery module characterized in that one side of the guide portion extends to the boundary point of the sealing portion and the terrace portion.

3. In Paragraph 2, A battery module characterized in that the above guide portion is positioned with respect to the sealing portion in the direction in which the electrode lead of the pouch-type battery cell protrudes.

4. In Paragraph 3, A battery module characterized in that the above guide portion is positioned on one side and / or the other side of the above sealing portion.

5. In Paragraph 2, A battery module characterized in that the distance between one surface of the guide portion facing the sealing portion and one surface of the sealing portion among the guide portions is smaller than the depth of the storage portion.

6. In Paragraph 2, A battery module characterized by the corner portion of the guide portion having a rounded shape with a predetermined radius of curvature.

7. In Paragraph 2, A battery module characterized by the above guide portion being positioned between the sealing portions of a pair of pouch-type battery cells located adjacent to each other.

8. In Paragraph 7, A battery module characterized by the above guide portion simultaneously facing the sealing portions of a pair of pouch-type battery cells located adjacent to each other.

9. In Paragraph 2, A battery module characterized by the above guide portion having a cuboid shape.

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

11. A device comprising a battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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