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JP-7855706-B2 - Enhanced safety battery module

JP7855706B2JP 7855706 B2JP7855706 B2JP 7855706B2JP-7855706-B2

Inventors

  • スン－ファン・ジャン
  • ジュン－ヨブ・ソン

Assignees

  • エルジー エナジー ソリューション リミテッド

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20231011
Priority Date
20221012

Claims (11)

  1. A module case that forms the internal space, The module case contains a plurality of battery cells arranged in at least one direction, A guide plate is directly connected to at least one side of the module case and has a shape that extends diagonally from the side of the module case , A battery module, including...
  2. The aforementioned module case is Includes side plates configured to cover both sides of the plurality of battery cells, The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the guide plate is connected to the side plate and has a shape that extends diagonally.
  3. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the guide plate includes one or more through holes through which vent gas is discharged.
  4. The battery module according to claim 3, wherein the through-hole is formed at the upper end of the guide plate.
  5. The aforementioned guide plate is A first plate having a shape that extends diagonally, A second plate is connected to the upper part of the first plate, positioned horizontally, and in contact with the upper frame of the pack housing, The battery module according to claim 1, including the following:
  6. The battery module according to claim 5, wherein the second plate includes one or more through holes formed inward from the position of the first plate.
  7. The battery module according to claim 6, wherein the through-hole communicates with a vent channel formed inside the upper frame and is formed at a position corresponding to an inlet formed on the lower surface of the upper frame.
  8. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the guide plate has one or more groove lines extending horizontally formed on its inner surface.
  9. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the guide plate has one or more protrusions that project outward from its inner surface.
  10. A battery pack comprising the battery module described in any one of claims 1 to 9.
  11. An automobile comprising a battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

Description

This invention relates to a battery module, and more specifically, to a battery module with enhanced safety features, such as an improved structure that allows for the discharge of vent gases. This application claims priority under Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0130264, filed on October 12, 2022, and all information disclosed in the specification and drawings of said application is incorporated herein by reference. With the rapid growth in demand for portable electronic products such as laptops, video cameras, and mobile phones that use electricity as a power source, and the widespread commercialization of mobile robots, electric bicycles, electric carts, and electric vehicles, research into high-performance rechargeable batteries is becoming increasingly active. Currently, commercially available rechargeable batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, and lithium-ion batteries. Among these, lithium-ion batteries stand out because they exhibit almost no memory effect compared to nickel-based batteries, allowing for flexible charging and discharging, and they have a very low self-discharge rate. Furthermore, their high energy density and high operating voltage have led to more intensive research and extensive application in actual products compared to other types of rechargeable batteries. Recently, secondary batteries are widely used not only in small devices such as portable electronic devices, but also in medium- and large-scale devices such as electric vehicles and energy storage systems (ESS). In this case, battery modules, in which multiple electrically connected secondary batteries are housed together inside a module case, are primarily used. Furthermore, when high power or high capacity is required, battery packs consisting of multiple such electrically connected battery modules are also used. Although secondary batteries possess these advantages and their use is expanding into various forms, their behavioral characteristics mean that they are susceptible to issues such as swelling, inrush current, overheating due to Joule heating, or thermal runaway due to electrolyte decomposition reactions. Furthermore, if events such as a short circuit between secondary batteries or an excessive temperature rise occur, there is a risk of generating a large amount of vent gas. If this becomes severe, not only may flames be generated, but high-temperature particles containing electrode active materials and aluminum particles may also be released. Therefore, ensuring the safety of battery modules is considered even more crucial. Battery modules and battery packs are particularly vulnerable to thermal events because multiple secondary batteries (battery cells) or cell assemblies are densely packed together in a spatially intensive manner. In particular, if thermal runaway occurs inside a battery module, high-temperature gases, flames, and heat are generated. If these are not quickly controlled, thermal propagation can cause a chain reaction of fires and explosions not only in the affected battery module but also in adjacent battery modules. In the case of medium- and large-sized battery packs applied to vehicles such as electric vehicles that carry passengers, the increased output and capacity require the even more concentrated installation of numerous battery cells and battery modules. This raises concerns not only about the potential for large-scale fires but also about the risk of personal injury. Therefore, there is a strong need to suppress and control thermal phenomena that may occur in battery modules and other components from the initial stages. Although conventional battery modules include structures such as vents to expel thermal events like vent gases or flames, their overall sealed or closed structure means that if a thermal event exceeding the vent capacity occurs in a short period of time, there is a risk of fatal safety problems such as the collapse of the battery module's structure or the battery module itself exploding. This is a perspective view showing the overall appearance of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention.Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the internal configuration of the battery module.This figure shows a schematic representation of how vent gas and other substances are discharged in a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention.This figure illustrates the overall structure of a guide plate according to one embodiment of the present invention.This figure illustrates the overall structure of a guide plate according to another embodiment of the present invention.This diagram illustrates the guide plate of the present invention, which is connected to the upper frame of the pack housing.This figure illustrates the structure of the upper frame of the pack housing that is physically coupled to the guide plate of the present invention.This figure illustrates the