CN-122003782-A - Battery module, battery pack including the same, and vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery module including a plurality of battery cells, and a deformation member disposed at least one side of the battery cells and configured to increase in volume in a direction toward the one side by changing its shape at a specific temperature or higher.

Inventors

• Jin Deyou
• LI GENXU

Assignees

• 株式会社LG新能源

Dates

Publication Date

20260508

Application Date

20250306

Priority Date

20240318

Claims (17)

1. 1. A battery module, the battery module comprising: a plurality of battery cells, and A deformation member provided at least one side of the battery cell, and configured to change its shape at a specific temperature or higher and to increase in volume in a direction toward the one side.
2. 2. The battery module according to claim 1, Wherein the deformation member is formed of a shape memory alloy.
3. 3. The battery module according to claim 1, Wherein the volume of the deformation member is configured to reversibly change.
4. 4. The battery module according to claim 1, Wherein the plurality of battery cells are stacked in one direction, and Wherein the deformation member is disposed between adjacent battery cells such that a gap between a battery cell having a temperature reaching a certain temperature or higher and an adjacent battery cell is increased by deformation of the deformation member.
5. 5. The battery module according to claim 4, Wherein a plurality of deformation members are arranged along the one direction, and Wherein the deformation member in contact with the battery cell having a temperature reaching the specific temperature or higher increases in volume in the one direction, and The remaining deformation members are configured to decrease in volume in the one direction.
6. 6. The battery module according to claim 1, Wherein the deformation member includes: A first contact portion configured to contact one side of the battery cell and having one end and the other end, A second contact portion configured to be spaced apart from the first contact portion by a predetermined distance, and having one end opposite to one end of the first contact portion and the other end opposite to the other end of the first contact portion, and A connection portion configured to connect the first contact portion and the second contact portion to each other and to increase a gap between the first contact portion and the second contact portion at the specific temperature or higher.
7. 7. The battery module according to claim 6, Wherein the connection portion is configured to connect one end of the first contact portion with the other end of the second contact portion.
8. 8. The battery module according to claim 1, Wherein the deformation member comprises a folded portion configured to be at least partially folded.
9. 9. The battery module according to claim 8, Wherein the deformation member is configured such that the folded portion is unfolded at the specific temperature or higher.
10. 10. The battery module according to claim 8, Wherein the folded portion is configured to have elasticity.
11. 11. The battery module according to claim 1, Wherein the deformation member is disposed at the bottom of the battery cells, and the deformation member is configured to separate the battery cells having a temperature reaching the specific temperature or higher from the adjacent battery cells.
12. 12. A battery module, the battery module comprising: A plurality of battery cells stacked in one direction, and A deformation member configured as a shape memory alloy plate, and disposed between the battery cells or at the bottom of each battery cell, Wherein the deformation member has at least two folded portions configured to be folded in opposite directions, and Wherein, in the event of a temperature rise of one of the battery cells, the folded portion is unfolded at a specific temperature or higher such that the battery cells are spaced apart or separated from the remaining battery cells.
13. 13. A battery pack comprising the battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 12.
14. 14. The battery pack according to claim 13, Wherein a plurality of battery modules are arranged, The battery pack further includes a module deformation member disposed between the adjacent battery modules, and the module deformation member is configured to increase a gap between the adjacent battery modules at a specific temperature or higher.
15. 15. The battery pack according to claim 13, Wherein a plurality of battery modules are arranged, The battery pack further includes a module deformation member disposed at the bottom of the battery module, and the module deformation member is configured to separate the battery module from an adjacent battery module at a specific temperature or higher.
16. 16. A battery pack, the battery pack comprising: A plurality of battery modules stacked in one direction, and A module deformation member configured as a shape memory alloy plate, and disposed between the battery modules or at the bottom of each battery module, Wherein the module deforming member has at least two folded portions configured to be folded in opposite directions, and In the case that the temperature of any one of the battery modules increases, the folded portion is unfolded at a specific temperature or higher such that the battery module is spaced apart or separated from the remaining battery modules.
17. 17. A vehicle comprising a battery pack according to any one of claims 13 to 16.

Description

Battery module, battery pack including the same, and vehicle Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a battery module, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a battery module capable of suppressing heat propagation inside the battery module, and a battery pack and a vehicle including the battery module. The present application is based on and claims priority from korean patent application No.10-2024-0037366 filed on the year 2024, month 3, 18, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Background Secondary batteries, which are easily applied according to product groups and have electrical characteristics such as high energy density, are generally used in Electric Vehicles (EVs) or Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) driven by electric driving sources, as well as portable devices. These secondary batteries are attracting attention as new energy sources for improving the eco-friendliness and energy efficiency because the main advantage thereof is a significant reduction in the use of fossil fuels, and the other advantage is that byproducts caused by the use of energy are not generated. Secondary batteries that are widely used at present include lithium ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel cadmium batteries, nickel hydrogen batteries, nickel zinc batteries, and the like. When a higher output voltage is required, the battery module or the battery pack may be configured by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series. In addition, the battery module or the battery pack may be configured by connecting a plurality of battery cells in parallel to increase charge/discharge capacity. Accordingly, the number of battery cells included in the battery module or the battery pack may be set in various ways according to a desired output voltage or charge/discharge capacity. On the other hand, since the battery cells chemically react upon charge and discharge, their performance may deteriorate if used at a temperature higher than an appropriate temperature, and accidental ignition or explosion may be more likely to occur if heat cannot be controlled to the appropriate temperature. In addition, the battery module has a structure in which battery cells are stored in a module case in a concentrated manner. Thus, if a thermal event such as thermal runaway occurs inside the battery cell, high-temperature gas or flame ejected from the battery cell may spread to the adjacent battery cell, thereby causing a chain reaction of explosion in the battery cell, which is very dangerous. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a structure capable of suppressing and delaying heat propagation by clearly dividing and separating battery cells, thereby preventing high-temperature gas or flame from diffusing to other battery cells inside the battery module and causing thermal runaway even if a thermal event occurs in some battery cells inside the battery module. Disclosure of Invention Technical problem The present disclosure is directed to solving the problems of the prior art, and therefore, the present disclosure is directed to providing a battery module capable of effectively preventing or delaying thermal runaway propagation between battery cells by clearly separating the battery cells. The present disclosure also provides a battery pack and a vehicle including such a battery module. However, the technical problems that the present disclosure seeks to solve are not limited to the above-described problems, and other problems not mentioned above will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the present invention described below. Technical proposal In one aspect of the present disclosure, a battery module is provided that includes a plurality of battery cells, and a deformation member disposed at least one side of the battery cells, and configured to change its shape at a specific temperature or higher and to increase in volume in a direction toward the one side. The deformation member may be formed of a shape memory alloy. The volume of the deformation member may be configured to change reversibly. The plurality of battery cells may be stacked in one direction, and the deformation member is disposed between the adjacent battery cells such that a gap between the battery cell having a temperature reaching a certain temperature or higher and the adjacent battery cell is increased by the deformation of the deformation member. A plurality of deformation members may be disposed along the one direction, and the deformation members in contact with the battery cells having a temperature reaching the specific temperature or higher are increased in volume in the one direction, and the remaining deformation members are configured to be decreased in volume in the one direction. The deformation member may include a first contact portion configured to contact one side of the battery cell and having one end and th