Battery device and manufacturing method therefor

Abstract

A battery device according to embodiments comprises: a plurality of battery cells; a housing having an accommodation space for accommodating the plurality of battery cells; a lower plate coupled to a lower portion of the housing so as to close a lower side of the accommodation space; and a cooling member filled in the accommodation space so as to be in contact with at least one of the plurality of battery cells, wherein the cooling member includes a phase change material, a thickener, and a flame retardant, and the lower plate can be coupled to the housing by means of an adhesive member.

Description

Battery device and method of manufacturing the same

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery device and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 2024-0201071 dated December 30, 2024, and all contents disclosed in the document of said Korean Patent Application are incorporated herein as part of this specification.

[0003] Secondary batteries are rechargeable and dischargeable, so they are widely used in mobile devices such as digital cameras, mobile phones, and laptops, and recently, they are receiving attention as an energy source for electric vehicles and energy storage systems (ESS).

[0004] As large capacity and high output power are required in electric vehicles and power storage devices, battery devices (e.g., battery modules or battery packs) that house multiple secondary batteries (battery cells) inside a housing are being widely utilized.

[0005] For stable charging and discharging of a high-capacity battery device containing multiple battery cells, a cooling structure capable of effectively cooling the battery cells is required.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a battery device comprising a cooling member capable of rapidly and effectively cooling, and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0007] In addition, the objective of the present invention is to provide a battery device having a cooling member filled inside, capable of forming a stable airtight structure while having a simple coupling structure, and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0008] To achieve the above objective, embodiments of the present invention provide a battery device comprising: a plurality of battery cells; a housing having a receiving space for accommodating the plurality of battery cells; a lower plate coupled to the lower part of the housing to close the lower side of the receiving space; and a cooling member filled in the receiving space to contact at least one of the plurality of battery cells, wherein the cooling member comprises a phase change material, a thickener, and a flame retardant, and the lower plate is coupled to the housing via an adhesive member.

[0009] In the embodiments, the housing includes a seating portion on which a lower plate is seated, and an adhesive member may be arranged along the seating portion to form a closed loop.

[0010] In the embodiments, the gap between the lower plate and the housing can be sealed by an adhesive member.

[0011] In the embodiments, there may not be a fastening member that mechanically secures the lower plate and the housing.

[0012] In the embodiments, the battery device may further include an injection hole in the form of an opening disposed on the upper part of the housing and communicating with a receiving space, and a glue layer that closes the injection hole.

[0013] In the embodiments, the battery device further includes a plurality of busbars disposed above a plurality of battery cells and electrically connecting the plurality of battery cells to each other, and at least one of the plurality of busbars may include an avoidance portion that avoids an injection hole.

[0014] In the examples, the phase change material includes paraffin, and the cooling member may have a higher viscosity than paraffin.

[0015] In the examples, the thickener comprises a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer (Styrene-Ethylene-Butylene-Styrene, SEBS), and the flame retardant may comprise tricresyl phosphate (TCP).

[0016] In the examples, the viscosity of the cooling member may be 300 to 1,500 cP at 80°C.

[0017] In the examples, the phase change temperature between the solid and liquid of the cooling member may be 40 to 45 °C.

[0018] In embodiments, a method for manufacturing a battery device is provided, comprising the steps of: arranging a plurality of battery cells in a receiving space of a housing that is open on one side; applying a first adhesive member along the edge of the open side of the housing; closing the open side of the housing by covering it with a lower plate; and filling the receiving space of the housing with a cooling member comprising a phase change material, a thickener, and a flame retardant, wherein the lower plate is fixed to the housing via the first adhesive member.

[0019] In the embodiments, the first adhesive member is applied to form a closed path, and as the first adhesive member hardens, the gap between the lower plate and the housing can be sealed.

[0020] In the embodiments, the method for manufacturing a battery device further includes the step of applying a second adhesive member to a plurality of battery cells, and the first adhesive member and the second adhesive member may be made of the same material.

[0021] In the embodiments, the method for manufacturing a battery device may further include the step of closing an injection hole into which a cooling member is injected with a glue layer.

[0022] According to the embodiments, a cooling member can be filled inside the battery device to effectively cool the battery cell.

[0023] In addition, according to the embodiments, the viscosity of the cooling member can be increased through a thickener to reduce the possibility of leakage of the cooling member filled inside the battery device, and the coupling structure of the case (e.g., housing and bottom plate) accommodating the cooling member can be simplified.

[0024] In addition, according to the embodiments, the number of parts required to manufacture a battery device is reduced, which can lower manufacturing costs and increase manufacturing process efficiency.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery device according to embodiments.

[0026] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a battery device according to embodiments.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a bottom exploded perspective view of a battery device according to embodiments.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a top view of a battery device according to embodiments.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of the upper surface of a battery device according to embodiments.

[0030] FIG. 6 is a reference diagram exemplarily showing an adhesive layer formed on the upper part of a housing included in a battery device according to embodiments.

[0031] FIGS. 7 to 11 are reference diagrams for explaining a method for manufacturing a battery device according to embodiments.

[0032] Prior to the detailed description of the present invention, terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings. Instead, they should be interpreted in a sense and concept consistent with the technical spirit of the present invention, based on the principle that the inventor may appropriately define the concept of the terms to best describe his invention. Accordingly, 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 aspects of the technical spirit of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that various equivalents and modifications capable of replacing them may exist at the time of filing this application.

[0033] Identical reference numbers or symbols in each drawing attached to this specification represent parts or components that perform substantially the same function. For convenience of explanation and understanding, the same reference numbers or symbols may be used to describe different embodiments. That is, even if components having the same reference number are depicted in multiple drawings, the multiple drawings do not all represent a single embodiment.

[0034] In the following description, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Terms such as "comprising" or "constituting" are intended to specify the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not precluding the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0035] In addition, it should be noted in advance that expressions such as upper side, top, lower side, bottom, side, front, and rear in the following description are based on the direction depicted in the drawings, and may be expressed differently if the direction of the object changes.

[0036] Additionally, in this specification and claims, terms including ordinal numbers, such as "first," "second," etc., may be used to distinguish between components. These ordinal numbers are used to distinguish identical or similar components from one another, and the meaning of the terms should not be limited by the use of such ordinal numbers. For example, the order of use or arrangement of components combined with such ordinal numbers should not be limited by the number. If necessary, each ordinal number may be used interchangeably.

[0037] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented. For example, a person skilled in the art who understands the scope of the present invention may propose other embodiments that fall within the scope of the concept of the present invention by adding, changing, or deleting components, and such embodiments shall also be deemed to be within the scope of the concept of the present invention. In the drawings, the shapes and sizes of elements may be exaggerated for clearer explanation.

[0038] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery device (10) according to embodiments.

[0039] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a battery device (10) according to embodiments.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 together, a battery device (10) according to embodiments may include a plurality of battery cells (100), a housing (200) that accommodates the battery cells (100), a lower plate (300), and a cooling member (500) filled inside the housing (200).

[0041] A plurality of battery cells (100) included in the battery device (10) may be secondary batteries capable of charging and discharging. For example, referring to FIG. 2, the battery cell (100) may be a cylindrical secondary battery in which an electrode assembly is housed inside a cylindrical case. However, the battery cell (100) included in the battery device (10) according to the embodiments is not limited to a cylindrical secondary battery. For example, the battery cell (100) may be a prismatic secondary battery in which an electrode assembly is housed inside a prismatic case having a certain rigidity, or a pouch-type secondary battery in which an electrode assembly is housed inside a sealed pouch.

[0042] A plurality of battery cells (100) can form a cell assembly and be accommodated inside a housing (200). Referring to FIG. 2, the housing (200) may have a structure in which at least one side of the internal accommodation space (e.g., S in FIG. 7) is open, and may be configured so that a plurality of battery cells (100) can be inserted and arranged through the open side. For example, the housing (200) may include a side frame (210) forming a side wall and an upper frame (220) connected to the side frame (210), and the opposite side of the upper frame (220) may have an open structure.

[0043] The upper frame (220) and the side frame (210) of the housing (200) may be formed integrally. However, in various embodiments, the housing (200) may be formed by combining the side frame (210) and the upper frame (220) provided separately therefrom. The structure of the housing (200) is not limited to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and may have any structure as long as it can stably accommodate a plurality of battery cells (100).

[0044] A lower plate (300) may be attached to one side of the housing (200) that is open. For example, referring to FIG. 2, the lower plate (300) may be attached to the lower part of the housing (200) to close the lower part of the receiving space (S). As the lower plate (300) is attached to the housing (200), a plurality of battery cells (100) may be supported on the upper surface of the lower plate (300).

[0045] At least one of the housing (200) and the lower plate (300) may be formed of a metal material having sufficient rigidity to protect a plurality of battery cells (100) housed inside. For example, at least a portion of the housing (200) and the lower plate (300) may include aluminum. If the housing (200) and the lower plate (300) include aluminum, due to the excellent thermal conductivity of aluminum, the effect of rapidly dissipating heat energy generated in the battery cells (100) to the outside of the battery device (10) can be expected.

[0046] In the embodiments, the lower plate (300) may be attached to the housing (200) in various ways. For example, the lower plate (300) may be attached to the housing (200) via an adhesive member (410). Alternatively, the lower plate (300) may be mechanically attached by engaging with a part of the housing (200). Or, the lower plate (300) may be attached to the housing (200) by press-fitting.

[0047] A plurality of battery cells (100) housed inside a housing (200) can be electrically connected to each other through a busbar assembly (600). The busbar assembly (600) may include a plurality of conductive busbars (610) electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells (100).

[0048] The busbar assembly (600) may further include a sensing unit (620) capable of detecting the state of a plurality of battery cells (100) housed inside the housing (200). The sensing unit (620) is electrically connected to a sensing line outside the battery device (10) and can transmit various state information, including the voltage or temperature of the battery cells (100), to the outside of the battery device (10).

[0049] In the embodiments, the battery device (10) may further include a cooling member (500) filled inside a receiving space (S) for smooth cooling of a plurality of battery cells (100). The cooling member (500) may be filled between the plurality of battery cells (100) inside the housing (200) and come into contact with the battery cells (100). For example, the cooling member (500) may be injected into the housing (200) and then cured during the process of manufacturing the battery device (10) to be filled between the battery cells (100).

[0050] In the embodiments, the cooling member (500) may include a phase change material that absorbs heat while undergoing a phase change as the ambient temperature rises. For example, the phase change material included in the cooling member (500) may cool the battery cells (100) by absorbing heat from the battery cells (100) as it changes from a solid state to a liquid state as the temperature of the plurality of battery cells (100) rises.

[0051] In this way, as the cooling member (500) is filled inside the housing (200), the cooling performance of the battery device (10) can be improved. Additionally, the cooling member (500) can minimize temperature differences between multiple battery cells (100) and prevent a chain reaction of thermal runaway of the battery cells (100), thereby greatly increasing the stability of the battery device (10). Furthermore, the cooling member (500) can be filled between multiple battery cells (100) to structurally support the battery cells (100), thereby greatly increasing the mechanical and structural stability of the battery device (10).

[0052] In the embodiments, the cooling member (500) can be injected through an injection hole (e.g., 221 in FIG. 5) provided on the upper part of the housing (200), and after the cooling member (500) is injected, an adhesive layer can cover the upper surface of the housing (200) to close the injection hole (221).

[0053] Meanwhile, although not illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the battery device (10) according to the embodiments may further include an upper cover that covers the upper part of the housing (200). For example, the upper cover may be provided to cover and protect the upper frame (220) and the busbar assembly (600) of the housing (200).

[0054] In the embodiments, the cooling member (500) introduced into the interior of the battery device (10) may have high viscosity, and accordingly, a sealing structure for stably accommodating the cooling member (500) in the housing (200) and the lower plate (300) can be simply formed. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 3, the sealing structure of the battery device (10) according to the embodiments will be described.

[0055] FIG. 3 is a bottom exploded perspective view of a battery device (10) according to embodiments.

[0056] Since the battery device (10) described in FIG. 3 corresponds to the battery device (10) described above through FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, descriptions that overlap with FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 may be omitted.

[0057] Referring to FIG. 3, the lower plate (300) is coupled to one side of the housing (200) to close one side of the housing (200)'s receiving space (e.g., S in FIG. 7) into which the cooling member (500) is filled. For example, with the housing (200) and the lower plate (300) coupled together, the cooling member (500) can be injected into the housing (200) through the upper side of the housing (200), and the lower plate (300) is closely coupled to the housing (200) so that the cooling member (500) injected into the housing (200) does not leak out between the housing (200) and the lower plate (300).

[0058] In the embodiments, the cooling member (500) filled inside the housing (200) may include a phase change material. For example, the phase change material may include paraffin. Paraffin can cool the surrounding battery cell (100) by absorbing heat while undergoing a phase transition from a solid state to a liquid state.

[0059] In the embodiments, the cooling member (500) may be injected into the housing (200) in a liquid state as a phase change material, and may harden as the temperature decreases after injection and exist in a solid state inside the housing (200). As the temperature of the battery cell (100) increases during the charging and discharging process of the battery cell (100), the cooling member (500) may absorb heat, and in particular, may absorb a large amount of heat during the phase transition from a solid state to a liquid state so that the battery cell (100) may operate within a safe temperature range.

[0060] In the embodiments, the cooling member (500) filled in the battery device (10) may be prepared by mixing additional materials with the phase change material. Accordingly, the cooling member (500) may have a state of higher viscosity than the phase change material itself in a liquid state. For example, the cooling member (500) may further include a thickener. The thickener may be mixed with the phase change material to increase the viscosity of the cooling member (500). For example, the thickener may include a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer (Styrene-Ethylene-Butylene-Styrene, SEBS). If the thickener includes SEBS, the molecular weight of SEBS and paraffin may be formed similarly, thereby further increasing the bonding strength between the two materials. Accordingly, SEBS and paraffin may not separate during the repeated charge-discharge cycles of the plurality of battery cells (100). As SEBS and paraffin are mixed, the viscosity of the cooling member (500) can be increased compared to the case where paraffin is used alone as the material of the cooling member (500). However, the material of the thickener is not limited to the SEBS described above, and any material that can increase the viscosity of the cooling member (500) while maintaining a stable state of mixing with the phase change material may be applied.

[0061] In the embodiments, the cooling member (500) may be provided in the form of a mixture in which a flame retardant is added to a phase change material and a thickener to increase flame retardancy. For example, the flame retardant included in the cooling member (500) may include tricresyl phosphate (TCP). Such a flame retardant has excellent thermal conductivity and simultaneously possesses high flame retardancy, allowing the cooling member (500) to cool the battery cell (100) more effectively and to more effectively surround and protect the battery cell (100) in event situations. However, the material of the flame retardant is not limited to the aforementioned TCP, and any material that possesses excellent flame retardancy while maintaining a stable mixture with the phase change material and the thickener may be applied.

[0062] In the embodiments, the phase transition temperature of the cooling member (500), which is a mixture of a phase change material, a thickener, and a flame retardant, can be configured to have a range of approximately 40 to 45°C. When the cooling member (500) undergoes a phase transition at a temperature in this range, the temperature of the battery cell (100) can be controlled more effectively. However, the phase transition temperature of the cooling member (500) is not limited to the above-mentioned value and can be varied as needed.

[0063] In the embodiments, the viscosity of the cooling member (500) containing a thickener can be formed to be 300 to 1,500 cP at approximately 80°C. However, in various embodiments, the viscosity of the cooling member (500) is not limited to the above-described numerical value.

[0064] Since the cooling member (500) may exist in a liquid state while being injected in liquid form or during the cycle process of the battery device (10), the lower plate (300) needs to be tightly bonded to the housing (200) so that the cooling member (500) does not leak out through the gap between the housing (200) and the lower plate (300). According to the embodiments, the viscosity of the cooling member (500) is configured to have a viscosity higher than that of paraffin, thereby simplifying the bonding structure of the housing (200) and the lower plate (300). Below, such a simplified bonding structure of the housing (200) and the lower plate (300) is described.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 3, the lower plate (300) can be joined to the housing (200) via an adhesive member (410). Since a cooling member (500) having a high viscosity of 300 to 1,500 cP at approximately 80°C is applied, sufficient airtightness between the lower plate (300) and the housing (200) can be secured even through the joining using the adhesive member (410). For example, since a cooling member (500) having a high viscosity is applied to the battery device (10) according to the embodiments, separate fastening members such as screws, bolts, and nuts, which were conventionally used for joining the lower plate (300) and the housing (200), can be omitted. Accordingly, the joining structure of the battery device (10) can be simplified. In addition, since separate fastening members are omitted, the number of necessary parts is reduced, which can reduce manufacturing costs and increase manufacturing process efficiency.

[0066] Referring to FIG. 3, the lower plate (300) can be seated and coupled to a seating portion (211) formed along one side edge of the housing (200). An adhesive member (410) may be applied to the seating portion (211), and the lower plate (300) can be fixed to the seating portion (211) of the housing (200) through the adhesive member (410).

[0067] In the embodiments, the adhesive member (410) may include an adhesive or binder for bonding structures. However, the adhesive member (410) is not limited to those described above, and various materials capable of mutually bonding and fixing two members may be applied.

[0068] In the embodiments, the gap between the lower plate (300) and the housing (200) can be sealed by an adhesive member (410). For example, the lower plate (300) can be tightly bonded to the housing (200) with the adhesive member (410) interposed between them, and the housing (200) and the lower plate (300) can be tightly bonded so that the cooling member (500) does not leak out. Alternatively, the adhesive member (410) can seal the gap between the housing (200) and the lower plate (300) so that the cooling member (500) does not leak out between the housing (200) and the lower plate (300). In the embodiments, as the cooling member (500) having high viscosity is filled inside the housing (200), sufficient airtightness can be secured by the adhesive member (410) alone without a separate fastening member that seals the housing (200) and the lower plate (300).

[0069] In the embodiments, the adhesive member (410) may be arranged along the seating portion (211) to form a closed loop. For example, referring to FIG. 3, the adhesive member (410) may be applied so as to be continuously connected along the seating portion (211) to form a closed path, i.e., a closed loop. Accordingly, the adhesive member (410) may be continuously connected along the edge of the lower plate (300) to effectively seal the gap between the housing (200) and the lower plate (300). However, in various embodiments, the adhesive member (410) may form some discontinuous sections while ensuring sufficient airtightness between the housing (200) and the lower plate (300).

[0070] In the embodiments, as the high-viscosity cooling member (500) is filled inside the housing (200), a separate sealing gasket may not be placed between the housing (200) and the lower plate (300). For example, an adhesive member (410) may be interposed between the housing (200) and the lower plate (300) to provide sufficient airtightness to prevent the high-viscosity cooling member (500) from leaking out, and thus a sealing gasket (e.g., a rubber gasket) may be omitted.

[0071] In the embodiments, the viscosity of the cooling member (500) can be formed to have a high viscosity such that it does not leak between the housing (200) and the lower plate (300) even if a crack occurs in the adhesive member (410) due to thermal shock or mechanical shock. For example, if the cooling member (500) has a viscosity of 300 to 1,500 cP at approximately 80°C, it may not leak between the housing (200) and the lower plate (300) even if some damage occurs in the adhesive member (410).

[0072] However, in various embodiments, as needed, a separate fastening member such as a bolt or nut may be additionally applied to the connection between the housing (200) of the battery device (10) and the lower plate (300), or a sealing gasket may be placed between them.

[0073] In the embodiments, an adhesive member (420) may be disposed between a plurality of battery cells (100) and a lower plate (300). In the following description, to distinguish it from the adhesive member (410) between the housing (200) and the lower plate (300), the adhesive member (410) disposed between the housing (200) and the lower plate (300) is referred to as the first adhesive member, and the adhesive member (420) disposed between the plurality of battery cells (100) and the lower plate (300) is referred to as the second adhesive member.

[0074] In the embodiments, the second adhesive member (420) is applied to the surface of the battery cell (100) facing the lower plate (300) to fix the battery cell (100) to the lower plate (300). For example, the second adhesive member (420) may be made of the same adhesive material as the first adhesive member (410) and applied to the battery cell (100), and the battery cell (100) may be stably fixed in a state interposed between the lower plate (300) and the battery cell (100) as the lower plate (300) is seated in the housing (200).

[0075] In the embodiments, the cooling member (500) can be injected into the receiving space (S) through the upper part of the housing (200). Hereinafter, the upper structure of the battery device (10) according to the embodiments will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

[0076] FIG. 4 is a top view of a battery device (10) according to embodiments.

[0077] FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of the upper surface of a battery device (10) according to embodiments.

[0078] FIG. 6 is a reference diagram exemplarily showing an adhesive layer formed on the upper part of a housing (200) included in a battery device (10) according to embodiments.

[0079] Since the battery device (10) described in FIGS. 4 to 6 includes all the technical features of the battery device (10) described in FIGS. 1 to 3, descriptions that overlap with FIGS. 1 to 3 may be omitted.

[0080] Referring to FIGS. 4 and FIGS. 5 together, one or more injection holes (221) into which a cooling member (500) can be injected may be provided in the upper frame (220) of the housing (200) of the battery device (10). For example, the injection holes (221) have a hole structure that communicates with the receiving space (e.g., S in FIG. 7) of the housing (200), and multiple holes may be formed on the upper frame (220) corresponding to the number of battery cells (100). If only one injection hole (221) is provided, the injection hole (221) may be located in the center of the upper frame (220) so that the cooling member (500) can spread stably inside the housing (200). However, the size, shape, location, or number of the injection holes (221) are not limited to those described above and may be varied as necessary.

[0081] In the embodiments, a busbar assembly (600) is disposed on the upper frame (220) of the housing (200) of the battery device (10) and can be electrically connected to a plurality of battery cells (100).

[0082] The busbar assembly (600) may include a plurality of busbars (610) that are seated in the housing (200) and electrically connected to the negative and / or positive electrodes of the battery cells (100). In this case, the electrical connection between the busbars (610) and the plurality of battery cells (100) may be a parallel and / or series connection.

[0083] A plurality of busbars (610) may include a plurality of first busbars (611) that are positioned above the battery cell (100) and electrically connected to the battery cell (100), and a plurality of second busbars (612) that are electrically connected to the battery cell (100) and can serve as terminals for electrical connection with an electrical circuit outside the battery device (10). For example, referring to FIG. 4, a plurality of first busbars (611) may be positioned on the upper frame (220) of the housing (200) between a pair of second busbars (612) that serve as positive terminals and negative terminals.

[0084] Referring to FIG. 5, a plurality of battery cells (100) may have a portion exposed to the outside of the housing (200) through a connection hole (222) formed in the upper frame (220), and a plurality of bus bars (610) may be supported by the upper frame (220) of the housing (200) and electrically connected to the battery cells (100) through the connection hole (222). If necessary, at least one of the plurality of connection holes (222) may also be utilized for injecting a cooling member (500).

[0085] In the embodiments, the bus bar (610) may include an avoidance portion (613) that avoids the injection hole (221) of the housing (200). For example, referring to FIG. 5, the bus bar (610) may include an avoidance portion (613) that avoids the injection hole (221) so as not to obstruct the injection hole (221). Accordingly, the bus bar (610) may not overlap with the injection hole (221) in the opening direction (e.g., Z-axis direction) of the injection hole (221), and the injection process of the cooling member (500) may be carried out smoothly.

[0086] In the embodiments, the busbar assembly (600) may further include a connecting member (630) that electrically connects the busbar (610) and the battery cell (100). For example, referring to FIG. 5, the connecting member (630) is positioned to pass through the connecting hole (222), and one side is in contact with the busbar (610) and the other side is in contact with the battery cell (100) so as to electrically connect the busbar (610) and the battery cell (100).

[0087] The busbar (610) and the connecting member (630) may be formed of a conductive material. For example, the busbar (610) and the connecting member (630) may include copper or aluminum, which have excellent electrical conductivity. However, the materials of the busbar (610) and the connecting member (630) are not limited to those described above.

[0088] In the embodiments, after the injection process of the cooling member (500) is completed, the injection hole (221) can be closed by a sealing member. For example, referring to FIG. 6, an adhesive layer (700) formed by applying and curing a high-viscosity adhesive material can be formed on the upper frame (220) of the housing (200), and this adhesive layer (700) can cover the bus bar (610) and the upper frame (220) to close the injection hole (221). In this way, the injection hole (221) is closed by the adhesive layer (700), so that the cooling member (500) injected into the housing (200) does not leak to the upper side of the housing (200).

[0089] Hereinafter, a method for manufacturing a battery device (10) according to embodiments will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 11. FIGS. 7 to 11 are reference drawings for explaining a method for manufacturing a battery device (10) according to embodiments.

[0090] Since the battery device (10) produced by the manufacturing method described in FIGS. 7 to 11 includes all the technical features of the battery device (10) described above in FIGS. 1 to 6, descriptions that overlap with FIGS. 1 to 6 may be omitted.

[0091] Referring to FIG. 7, a method for manufacturing a battery device (10) may include the step of placing a plurality of battery cells (100) in a receiving space (S) of a housing (200) that is open on one side. For example, the housing (200) may have a box-shaped structure that is open on at least one side, and a plurality of battery cells (100) may be introduced into the housing (200) through the open side of the housing (200). If necessary, when placing a plurality of battery cells (100) inside the housing (200), a cell guide member (not shown) for maintaining alignment between the battery cells (100) may be further included.

[0092] A method for manufacturing a battery device (10) may further include the step of applying a first adhesive member (410) along the edge of one side of an open housing (200). For example, referring to FIG. 8, the first adhesive member (410) may be positioned along the edge of one side of an open housing (200). Such a first adhesive member (410) is for joining the housing (200) and the lower plate (300), and the first adhesive member (410) may be positioned along a seating portion (211) on the housing (200) where the lower plate (300) is to be seated.

[0093] A method for manufacturing a battery device (10) may further include the step of applying a second adhesive member (420) to a plurality of battery cells (100). For example, referring to FIG. 8, the second adhesive member (420) may be applied to a portion of the battery cell (100) that is exposed through an open side of the housing (200). At this time, the application process of the second adhesive member (420) may be performed simultaneously with or sequentially with the application process of the first adhesive member (410). Alternatively, the second adhesive member (420) may include the same adhesive material as the first adhesive member (410). However, the application process of the second adhesive member (420) is not limited to what is described above. For example, the second adhesive member (420) may be made of a material different from that of the first adhesive member (410).

[0094] The method of manufacturing the battery device (10) may further include the step of covering and closing one side of the housing (200) with a lower plate (300). For example, referring to FIG. 9, the lower plate (300) may be seated on the seating portion (211) of the housing (200) and bonded to the housing (200) with an adhesive member (410) interposed therebetween. Accordingly, the lower plate (300) may be in close contact with the housing (200) sufficiently so that the cooling member (500) does not leak out. The bonding structure and sealing structure between the lower plate (300) and the housing (200) by the adhesive member (410) can be described above with reference to FIG. 3. After the lower plate (300) is seated on the housing (200), the gap between the lower plate (300) and the housing (200) may be sealed as the adhesive member (410) is sufficiently cured.

[0095] However, in various embodiments of the present disclosure, the lower plate (300) may be coupled to the housing (200) without an adhesive member (410). For example, an uneven structure that is male-female coupled to each other may be formed on the lower plate (300) and the seating portion (211) of the housing (200) that contacts it, and the lower plate (300) may be mechanically fastened to the housing (200) by such an uneven structure. As a cooling member (500) having high viscosity is applied to the battery device (10) according to the embodiments, a sufficient level of airtightness can be secured solely by coupling through such an uneven structure.

[0096] Referring to FIG. 10, the method of manufacturing a battery device (10) may further include the step of electrically connecting a plurality of battery cells (100) and a bus bar (610) to each other. For example, a plurality of bus bars (610) may be placed on an upper frame (220) of a housing (200), and a connecting member (630) may be connected between the bus bars (610) and the battery cells (100) to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells (100) to each other.

[0097] Referring to FIG. 11, the method of manufacturing a battery device (10) may further include the step of injecting and filling a cooling member (500) into a receiving space (S) of a housing (200). The cooling member (500) may be injected into the housing (200) through an injection hole (221) provided in the upper frame (220) of the housing (200). The injected cooling member (500) is filled between a plurality of battery cells (100) and can cool the battery cells (100) while undergoing a phase transition during the cycling process of the battery cells (100).

[0098] In the embodiments, the cooling member (500) may be injected at a temperature of approximately 80°C. At this temperature, the cooling member (500) may exist in a liquid form, and its viscosity may be formed in the range of approximately 300 to 1,500 cP. When the cooling member (500) is injected at a temperature of approximately 80°C, it is possible to prevent the cooling member (500) from hardening without sufficient diffusion due to the low temperature of the internal components of the battery device (10), including the battery cell (100). However, the viscosity of the cooling member (500) is not limited to the range described above and may be appropriately changed as needed. As the cooling member (500) having such high viscosity is injected, sufficient airtightness can be ensured so that the cooling member (500) does not leak out even with only the bonding through the adhesive member (410) between the lower plate (300) and the housing (200).

[0099] In the embodiments, the cooling member (500) may include a phase change material, a thickener and a flame retardant, and a detailed description thereof may be made by referring to FIG. 3.

[0100] The method for manufacturing the battery device (10) may further include the step of closing the injection hole (221) with an adhesive layer (700) after the injection process of the cooling member (500). For example, an adhesive material having high viscosity may be applied and cured on the upper frame (220) of the housing (200), thereby forming an adhesive layer (700) that covers the upper surface of the upper frame (220) and can close the injection hole (221).

[0101] Meanwhile, the battery device (10) according to various embodiments of the present disclosure can be used as a power source for various electronic devices, and the battery device may be, for example, a laptop computer, netbook, tablet PC, mobile phone, MP3, wearable electronic device, power tool, electric vehicle (EV), hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), electric bicycle (E-bike), electric scooter (E-scooter), electric golf cart, or power storage system (ESS), but is not limited to these.

[0102] Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and it will be obvious to those with average knowledge in the art that various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention as described in the claims. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments may be implemented by deleting some components, and each embodiment may be implemented in combination with one another.

Claims

1. Multiple battery cells; A housing having a receiving space for accommodating the plurality of battery cells; A lower plate coupled to the lower part of the housing to close the lower side of the receiving space; and It includes a cooling member filled in the receiving space to be in contact with at least one of the plurality of battery cells, and The above cooling member comprises a phase change material, a thickener, and a flame retardant, and A battery device in which the lower plate is joined to the housing via an adhesive member.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above housing includes a seating portion on which the lower plate is seated, and A battery device in which the adhesive member is arranged along the seating portion to form a closed loop.

3. In Paragraph 2, A battery device in which the gap between the lower plate and the housing is sealed by the adhesive member.

4. In Paragraph 3, A battery device in which there is no fastening member mechanically fixing the lower plate and the housing.

5. In Paragraph 1, An injection hole in the form of an opening disposed on the upper part of the housing and communicating with the receiving space; and A battery device further comprising a glue layer that closes the injection hole.

6. In Paragraph 5, It further includes a plurality of busbars disposed on the upper side of the plurality of battery cells and electrically connecting the plurality of battery cells to each other, A battery device comprising at least one of the plurality of busbars having an avoidance portion that avoids the injection hole.

7. In Paragraph 1, The above-mentioned phase change material includes paraffin, and The above cooling member is a battery device having a higher viscosity than the paraffin.

8. In Paragraph 7, The above-mentioned thickener includes a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer (Styrene-Ethylene-Butylene-Styrene, SEBS), and A battery device comprising the flame retardant tricresyl phosphate (TCP).

9. In Paragraph 8, A battery device having a viscosity of 300 to 1,500 cP at 80°C of the cooling member.

10. In Paragraph 8, A battery device in which the phase change temperature between the solid and liquid of the cooling member is 40 to 45 °C.

11. A step of arranging a plurality of battery cells in a receiving space of a housing that is open on one side; A step of applying a first adhesive member along the edge of one open side of the housing; A step of closing one open side of the above housing by covering it with a lower plate; and The method includes the step of filling the receiving space of the housing with a cooling member comprising a phase change material, a thickener, and a flame retardant, and A method for manufacturing a battery device, wherein the lower plate is fixed to the housing via the first adhesive member.

12. In Paragraph 11, The first adhesive member is applied to form a closed path, and A method for manufacturing a battery device in which the gap between the lower plate and the housing is sealed as the first adhesive member hardens.

13. In Paragraph 11, The method further includes the step of applying a second adhesive member to the plurality of battery cells, and A method for manufacturing a battery device in which the first adhesive member and the second adhesive member are made of the same material.

14. In Paragraph 11, A method for manufacturing a battery device, further comprising the step of closing an injection hole into which the cooling member is injected with a glue layer.

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