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KR-102963288-B1 - Battery Module and Battery Pack Having the same

KR102963288B1KR 102963288 B1KR102963288 B1KR 102963288B1KR-102963288-B1

Abstract

A battery module is provided comprising: a battery cell assembly formed by stacking a plurality of battery units, wherein each battery unit comprises at least one battery cell having an electrode lead; a busbar assembly electrically connected to the electrode lead of the plurality of battery units; and a module housing installed to face at least a portion of the outer surfaces of the battery cell assembly and the busbar assembly; wherein the battery unit comprises a venting member for discharging gas generated inside the battery unit to the outside of the battery unit, and the module housing comprises a discharge guide member for guiding the gas discharged from the venting member to flow in a preset direction.

Inventors

  • 전해룡
  • 최양규

Assignees

  • 에스케이온 주식회사

Dates

Publication Date
20260511
Application Date
20210915

Claims (20)

  1. A battery cell assembly formed by stacking a plurality of battery units, wherein each battery unit comprises at least one battery cell having an electrode lead; A busbar assembly electrically connected to the electrode leads of a plurality of the battery units; and A module housing installed to face at least a portion of the outer surfaces of the battery cell assembly and the busbar assembly; Includes, The battery unit includes a venting member that discharges gas generated inside the battery unit to the outside of the battery unit, and The above module housing includes a discharge guide member that guides the gas discharged from the venting member to flow in a preset direction, and The above module housing includes an end plate corresponding to the portion where the battery cell assembly is coupled to the busbar assembly, and The above-mentioned venting member is a battery module comprising a second venting member disposed in a portion facing the end plate among the battery units.
  2. In paragraph 1, The above module housing includes a module cover that covers the upper surface of the battery cell assembly, and The above-mentioned venting member is a battery module comprising a first venting member disposed in a portion facing the module cover among the battery units.
  3. In paragraph 2, The above discharge guide member is a battery module comprising a first guide member formed in a groove shape in the module cover to communicate with the first venting member and guiding the gas discharged from the first venting member in a first direction.
  4. In paragraph 3, Each of the above-mentioned battery units includes a plurality of the above-mentioned first venting members, and The above first guide member is a battery module having a shape that communicates with a plurality of the above first venting members.
  5. In paragraph 3, The above module cover is a battery module comprising a plurality of first guide members to correspond to the first venting members each included in the plurality of battery units.
  6. In paragraph 5, A plurality of the first guide members are battery modules having shapes partitioned from each other in the stacking direction of the battery unit.
  7. In paragraph 5, A plurality of the above-mentioned first guide members are connected to each other at the ends of the first direction of the battery module.
  8. In paragraph 3, A battery module having a blocking cover that blocks the propagation of heat or flame between the upper surface of the battery cell assembly and the module cover.
  9. In paragraph 8, The above-mentioned barrier cover is a battery module formed from a material including mica and ceramic wool.
  10. In paragraph 8, A battery module in which a through hole corresponding to the size of the first venting member is formed in the above-mentioned blocking cover so that the first venting member penetrates the blocking cover and communicates with the first guide member.
  11. In paragraph 2, The above module cover is a battery module formed from a material including glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) and carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP).
  12. delete
  13. In paragraph 1, A battery module having a discharge hole formed in the end plate that communicates with the second venting member.
  14. In Paragraph 13, The above-mentioned exhaust guide member includes a second guide member that guides the gas discharged through the second venting member and the exhaust hole in a second direction, and A battery module in which a venting channel through which gas flows is formed between the second guide member and the end plate.
  15. In Paragraph 14, A battery module having a shape and size that surrounds the perimeter of the second venting member or simultaneously surrounds the perimeters of two or more second venting members, so as to guide the gas discharged from the second venting member into the venting channel.
  16. In Paragraph 14, The above second guide member is a battery module having a shape in which one end of the two ends in the direction in which the battery units are stacked is open and the other end is closed. The above second direction is a battery module in which the direction facing the open end among the stacking directions of the battery unit.
  17. In Paragraph 14, The second guide member has a shape in which at least one of the two ends in the direction in which the battery unit is stacked is open, and The above second direction is a battery module that is the stacking direction of the battery unit.
  18. In paragraph 1, The above module housing is a battery module that surrounds five surfaces, excluding the bottom surface, among the six surfaces forming the outer surface of the battery cell assembly.
  19. In Paragraph 18, The above-described module housing comprises a module cover covering the upper surface of the battery cell assembly, an end plate corresponding to the portion where the battery cell assembly is coupled to the busbar assembly, and a side plate covering the side of the battery cell assembly.
  20. In Paragraph 19, The above-mentioned side plate is a battery module formed by combining a plurality of plates in a form that overlaps each other.

Description

Battery Module and Battery Pack Having the Same The present invention relates to a battery module having a battery cell assembly in which a plurality of battery units are stacked, and a battery pack including the same. Unlike primary batteries, secondary batteries can be charged and discharged, so they can be applied in various fields such as digital cameras, mobile phones, laptops, hybrid cars, and electric vehicles. Examples of secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, and lithium secondary batteries. Among these secondary batteries, extensive research is currently underway on lithium-ion batteries, which possess high energy density and discharge voltage. Recently, lithium-ion batteries are being manufactured and used as flexible pouch-type battery cells or rigid prismatic or cylindrical can-type battery cells. Furthermore, multiple battery cells are electrically connected to form a stacked cell stack, which is then placed inside a module housing to form a battery module. Multiple battery modules are installed inside a pack housing to form a battery pack. Recently, to increase the energy density of the battery pack, a cell-to-pack structure is also being used, in which the module housing is omitted and the cell stack is installed directly into the pack housing to form the battery pack. Meanwhile, electrolyte gas may leak out of the battery cell when various events occur, such as when the battery cell reaches the end of its lifespan, when swelling occurs in the battery cell, when the battery cell is overcharged, when the battery cell is exposed to heat, when a sharp object such as a nail penetrates the casing of the battery cell, or when the battery cell is subjected to external impact. In particular, in the case of pouch-type battery cells, a problem may arise in which a large amount of electrolyte gas is exposed through the sealing area of the pouch (casing) when such events occur. When a battery cell overheats or ignites within a battery cell, a thermal runaway phenomenon may occur in which high-temperature electrolyte gas, flames, and/or combustible materials are ejected outside the battery cell and propagate heat and/or flames to neighboring battery cells. In order to delay or reduce such thermal runaway, it is necessary to rapidly discharge gases generated inside the battery pack or battery module (in this specification and claims, 'gas' is defined as including electrolyte gas, flames, and combustible materials) to the outside of the battery pack and/or battery module. Recently, a technology has been proposed to increase the length of a cell stack by connecting multiple battery cells along the length direction of the battery cells and configuring the cell stack using the multiple connected battery cells as a unit. However, the conventional technology has a structure in which multiple battery cells constituting a unit are exposed to the outside, which causes gas generated from the battery cells to be discharged in random directions, making it difficult to effectively respond to thermal runaway phenomena. Additionally, since the battery cells contained in each unit are exposed to the outside, there is a problem in that heat and/or flames easily propagate to battery cells contained in adjacent units. Furthermore, in the case of conventional technology, there is a problem in that it is difficult to effectively respond to thermal runaway phenomena because the gas emitted from the battery cells included in the unit cannot be stably guided in a specific direction or location. In particular, battery packs or battery modules according to conventional technology have a problem in that they cannot rapidly discharge the gas generated from the battery cells constituting the unit to the outside of the pack housing or module housing. In addition, in the case of conventional technology that forms a unit by connecting battery cells in the longitudinal direction, there is a problem in that the electrical connection structure between battery cells is complex when connecting battery cells in the longitudinal direction. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery cell bundle according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery cell bundle shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the state in which a cover member is coupled to a battery cell bundle shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a battery cell according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line I-I' of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 (a) and (b) are cross-sectional views illustrating variations of the battery cell bundle shown in FIG. 5, respectively. FIG. 7(a) is a cross-sectional view along the line II-II' of FIG. 1, and FIG. 7(b) is a cross-sectional view according to a modified example of FIG. 7(a). FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the support member, internal busb