Search

EP-4742392-A2 - BATTERY MODULE WITH REINFORCED SAFETY

EP4742392A2EP 4742392 A2EP4742392 A2EP 4742392A2EP-4742392-A2

Abstract

Provided is a battery module having an improved structure to appropriately manage heat or gas discharged from the battery module. A battery module according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a cell assembly including one or more battery cells, a module case having an inner space in which the cell assembly is accommodated, the module case including a venting hole through which venting gas generated from the cell assembly is discharged, a venting unit provided outside the module case, and configured to allow venting gas discharged from the venting hole to be introduced and discharged to an outside, and a cooling unit including at least a portion provided in a path through which the venting gas flows, the cooling unit being configured to absorb heat and release the heat to an outside.

Inventors

  • JANG, SUNG-HWAN
  • SEONG, JUN-YEOB
  • JUNG, Hye-Mi

Assignees

  • LG Energy Solution, Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20221017

Claims (11)

  1. A battery module (M) comprising: a cell assembly (100) comprising one or more battery cells; a module case (200) having an inner space in which the cell assembly (100) is accommodated, the module case (200) comprising a venting hole (H1) through which venting gas generated from the cell assembly (100) is discharged; a venting unit (300) provided outside the module case (200), and configured to allow venting gas discharged from the venting hole (H1) to be introduced and discharged to an outside; and a cooling unit (400) comprising at least a portion provided in a path through which the venting gas flows, the cooling unit (400) being configured to absorb heat and release the heat to an outside, the cooling unit (400) being configured to be at least partially ruptured by a temperature or pressure of the venting gas.
  2. The battery module (M) according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the cooling unit (400) is provided in the venting unit (300).
  3. The battery module (M) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the venting unit (300) has a plate shape in which at least an end is bent, and the bent end of the venting unit (300) is attached to an outer surface of the module case (200).
  4. The battery module (M) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least a portion of the cooling unit (400) is located between an outer surface of the module case (200) and an inner surface of the venting unit (300).
  5. The battery module (M) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least a portion of the cooling unit (400) contacts an outer surface of the module case (200).
  6. The battery module (M) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cooling unit (400) comprises a cooling pipe comprising a hollow through which a cooling fluid flows.
  7. The battery module (M) according to claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the cooling pipe is bent in an inner space of the venting unit (300).
  8. The battery module (M) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a rupture portion (D1) configured to be ruptured by a pre-set temperature or pressure is pre-formed at a certain position in the cooling unit (400).
  9. The battery module (M) according to claim 8, wherein the venting unit (300) is located on a side surface of the module case (200), wherein the rupture portion (D1) is located at an upper portion in an inner space of the venting unit (300).
  10. A battery pack comprising the battery module (M) according to any one of claims 1 through 9.
  11. A vehicle comprising the battery module (M) according to any one of claims 1 through 9.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0138849 filed on October 18, 2021 in the Republic of Korea, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The present disclosure relates to a battery, and more particularly, to a battery module with improved safety and a battery pack and a vehicle including the same. BACKGROUND ART As the demand for portable electronic products such as laptops, video cameras, and mobile phones has recently rapidly increased and the commercialization of robots, electric vehicles, etc. has begun in earnest, research on high-performance secondary batteries capable of repeated charging/discharging has been actively conducted. Currently commercialized secondary batteries include nickel cadmium batteries, nickel hydride batteries, nickel zinc batteries, and lithium secondary batteries. Among them, lithium secondary batteries are in the spotlight because they have almost no memory effect compared to nickel-based secondary batteries, and thus, have advantages of free charge/discharge, very low self-discharge rate, and high energy density. A lithium secondary battery mainly uses a lithium-based oxide and a carbon material as a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material, respectively. A lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate coated with a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material are located with a separator therebetween, and a casing in which the electrode assembly is air-tightly accommodated with an electrolyte, that is, a battery case. In general, according to a shape of a casing, lithium secondary batteries may be classified into can-type secondary batteries in which an electrode assembly is received in a metal can, and pouch-type secondary batteries in which an electrode assembly is received in a pouch of an aluminum laminate sheet. Recently, secondary batteries have been widely used for driving or energy storage not only in small devices such as portable electronic devices but also in medium and large-sized devices such as electric vehicles and energy storage systems (ESSs). A plurality of secondary batteries may be electrically connected to each other and accommodated together in a module case to constitute one battery module. A plurality of battery modules may be connected to each other to constitute one battery pack. However, when a plurality of battery modules are included in a battery pack, the battery pack may be vulnerable to a thermal chain reaction between the battery modules. For example, when an event such as thermal runaway occurs in one battery module, it is necessary to suppress propagation of the thermal runaway to other battery modules. When propagation of thermal runaway between battery modules is not appropriately suppressed, an event occurring in a specific module may cause a chain reaction in several battery modules, which may cause a big problem such as an explosion or fire. In particular, when an event such as thermal runaway occurs in any one battery module, heat or gas may be discharged to the outside. In this case, when the discharge of heat or gas is not appropriately controlled, the heat or gas may be transferred to other battery modules, which may cause a thermal chain reaction of the other battery modules. DISCLOSURE TECHNICAL PROBLEM The present disclosure is designed to solve the problems of the related art, and therefore the present disclosure is directed to providing a battery module having an improved structure to appropriately manage heat or gas discharged from the battery module, and a battery pack and a vehicle including the battery module. However, the technical purpose to be solved by the present disclosure is not limited to the above, and other objects not mentioned herein will be clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art from the following disclosure. TECHNICAL SOLUTION In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a battery module including a cell assembly including one or more battery cells, a module case having an inner space in which the cell assembly is accommodated, the module case including a venting hole through which venting gas generated from the cell assembly is discharged, a venting unit provided outside the module case, and configured to allow venting gas discharged from the venting hole to be introduced and discharged to an outside, and a cooling unit including at least a portion provided in a path through which the venting gas flows, the cooling unit being configured to absorb heat and release the heat to an outside. Here, at least a portion of the cooling unit may be provided in the venting unit. Also, the venting unit may have a plate shape in which at least an end is bent, and the bent end of the venting unit may be attached to an outer surface of the module case. Also, at least a po