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EP-4379935-B1 - BATTERY PACK, AND ESS AND VEHICLE INCLUDING THE BATTERY PACK

EP4379935B1EP 4379935 B1EP4379935 B1EP 4379935B1EP-4379935-B1

Inventors

  • KIM, SEUNG-HYUN
  • OH, Young-Hoo
  • OK, SEUNG-MIN
  • JO, SANG-HYUN
  • CHO, YOUNG-BUM
  • HONG, Sung-Goen

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20221227

Claims (12)

  1. A battery pack (1) comprising: a module assembly (M) comprising a plurality of battery modules (10) arranged in a first direction; a vent channel (20) located on a surface of the module assembly (M) and configured to communicate with each of the plurality of battery modules (10); and a discharge delay member (30) provided in the vent channel (20) and configured to delay discharge of venting gas generated in at least some of the plurality of battery modules (10) and introduced into the vent channel (20), wherein a plurality of discharge delay members (30) are provided, wherein the plurality of discharge delay members (30) are arranged in the first direction, wherein each of the plurality of battery modules (10) comprises: a cell assembly (CS) comprising a plurality of battery cells (100) each comprising an electrode lead (110); a module housing (200) comprising at least one open side and configured to accommodate the cell assembly (CS); and a cover frame (300) comprising a lead slit through which the electrode lead (110) passes and configured to cover the at least one open side of the module housing (200), and characterized in that the cover frame (300) is configured to be melted by the venting gas to close the lead slit.
  2. The battery pack (1) according to claim 1, wherein the discharge delay member (30) is configured to be melted by the venting gas.
  3. The battery pack (1) according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of battery modules (10) comprises an outlet (OL) configured to discharge venting gas in the battery module (10), and the vent channel (20) comprises a plurality of inlets (IL) each formed at a position corresponding to the outlet (OL).
  4. The battery pack (1) according to claim 4, further comprising a passage lid (40) configured to cover at least one of the outlet (OL) and the inlet (IL) and to be melted by the venting gas.
  5. The battery pack (1) according to claim 1, wherein a space in the vent channel comprises a plurality of partition spaces isolated from each other by the discharge delay member (30), wherein each of the plurality of partition spaces communicates with at least one battery module (10).
  6. The battery pack (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cover frame (300) comprises: a first cover frame (310) configured to have a first melting point; and a second cover frame (320) configured to have a second melting point higher than the first melting point.
  7. The battery pack (1) according to claim 6, wherein the first melting point is a temperature lower than a temperature of the venting gas, and the second melting point is a temperature higher than the temperature of the venting gas.
  8. The battery pack (1) according to claim 7, wherein the cover frame (300) is configured so that the first cover frame (310) and the second cover frame (320) overlap each other to contact each other or to be spaced apart from each other, or is configured so that the first cover frame (310) covers the second cover frame (320).
  9. The battery pack (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a pack cover (50) facing the cover frame (300) to cover a side of the module assembly (M).
  10. The battery pack (1) according to claim 9, further comprising a pack opening (P2) formed at at least one of both ends of a space (S) formed between the module assembly (M) and the cover frame (50) in the first direction.
  11. An energy storage system (ESS) (3) comprising the battery pack (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.
  12. A vehicle (5) comprising the battery (1) pack according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a battery pack, and an energy storage system (ESS) and a vehicle including the battery pack. The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0188648, filed on December 27, 2021 in the Republic of Korea. BACKGROUND ART A battery pack applied to a device such as an energy storage system (ESS) or an electric vehicle may be manufactured to include a plurality of battery modules to which high-power and high-capacity lithium secondary batteries are applied. To satisfy output characteristics of battery packs applied to devices that require high power and large capacity such as energy storage systems (ESSs) and electric vehicles and to realize high capacity, the number of lithium secondary batteries included in one battery module may be increased and the number of battery modules included in one battery pack may be increased. However, when a fire or explosion occurs in a battery pack including such a large number of lithium secondary batteries, damage is inevitably increased. A fire occurring in a battery pack starts from an abnormal temperature increase and generation of internal gas of a lithium secondary battery in a battery module. When a temperature of a lithium secondary battery abnormally rises, internal gas is generated, and internal pressure of the lithium secondary battery increases to a certain level or more, venting occurs in the lithium secondary battery, and thus, high-temperature gas is ejected to the outside of the lithium secondary battery, and a high-temperature spark including an electrode active material and aluminum particles is ejected. When the high-temperature gas and spark meet oxygen, a fire may occur. In particular, a situation where high-temperature venting gas and a high-temperature spark generated by a thermal event meet a large amount of oxygen is likely to occur when venting gas generated in a battery pack rapidly escapes to the outside at high pressure. That is, because pressure in a battery pack is greatly increased for a moment due to venting of a secondary battery caused by a thermal event, and then, when venting gas is rapidly discharged, the pressure in the battery pack is greatly reduced in a short time, a large amount of oxygen may rather be introduced inward from the outside. In this case, a fire may occur when high-temperature gas and spark remaining in the battery pack and the large amount of oxygen meet each other. Accordingly, it is necessary to develop a battery pack structure in which venting gas, generated during a thermal event, may be discharged at an appropriate speed despite high venting pressure. Document US 2012/263982 A1 discusses a battery pack in which prevention of entry of water from the outside is ensured, and when gas is generated from a battery, the gas is safely released to the outside. WO 2021/201443 A1 discloses the preamble of claim 1. DISCLOSURE Technical Problem The present disclosure is designed to solve the problems of the related art, and therefore the present disclosure is directed to minimizing or preventing introduction of external oxygen by discharging venting gas, generated during a thermal event, at an appropriate speed despite high venting pressure. However, technical objectives to be achieved by the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and other unmentioned technical objectives will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the description of the present disclosure. Technical Solution A battery pack according to the present disclosure includes a module assembly including a plurality of battery modules arranged in a first direction, a vent channel located on a surface of the module assembly and configured to communicate with each of the plurality of battery modules, and a discharge delay member provided in the vent channel and configured to delay discharge of venting gas generated in at least some of the plurality of battery modules and introduced into the vent channel. A plurality of discharge delay members are provided, wherein the plurality of discharge delay members are arranged in the first direction. The discharge delay member may be configured to be melted by the venting gas. Each of the plurality of battery modules may include an outlet configured to discharge venting gas therein, and the vent channel may include a plurality of inlets each formed at a position corresponding to the outlet. The battery pack may further include a passage lid configured to cover at least one of the outlet and the plurality of inlets and to be melted by the venting gas. A space in the vent channel may include a plurality of partition spaces isolated from each other by the discharge delay member, wherein each of the plurality of partition spaces communicates with at least one of the plurality of battery modules. Each of the plurality of battery modules include a cell assembly including a plurality of battery cells each including an electrode lead, a modu