KR-200500332-Y1 - Spacer for a battery stack and battery module comprising the battery stack

KR200500332Y1KR 200500332 Y1KR200500332 Y1KR 200500332Y1KR-200500332-Y1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a spacer disposed between battery cells of a battery stack. The spacer comprises a rectangular frame body and a pair of positioning members erected vertically from the plane of the frame body and extending over both corner portions of a first longitudinal side.

Inventors

라스 헬무트

Assignees

삼성에스디아이 주식회사

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20200323
Priority Date: 20190412

Claims (10)

As a spacer placed between battery cells of a battery stack, The above spacer A frame body having a rectangular shape; and A pair of positioning members that are erected vertically from the plane of the frame body and extend over both corner portions of the first longitudinal side. Includes, The above frame body is a spacer surrounding an opening penetrating the above frame body.
In paragraph 1, A spacer in which the above-mentioned frame body and the above-mentioned positioning member are integrally formed.
In paragraph 1, A spacer having a frame body thickness in the range of 0.5mm to 1.5mm.
In paragraph 1, The above spacer further includes a spacing member disposed on the first longitudinal side and erected vertically from the plane of the frame body in a direction opposite to the positioning member, and The above spacing member is a spacer having a length in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm.
In paragraph 4, The above spacing member is a spacer disposed on the outer edge of the first longitudinal side.
In paragraph 4, A spacer in which the above-mentioned frame body and the above-mentioned spacing member are integrally formed.
In paragraph 4, The above frame body, the above positioning member and/or the above spacing member are spacers made of plastic.
In paragraph 1, A spacer provided with an adhesive layer on one side of the frame body facing in the same direction as the positioning member.
In paragraph 8, The above adhesive layer is a spacer provided on one side of the second longitudinal side.
A battery module comprising a battery stack having an arrangement in which battery cells and spacers according to any one of claims 1 to 9 are alternately arranged.

Description

Spacer for a battery stack and battery module comprising the battery stack The present invention relates to a spacer for the arrangement between battery cells in a battery stack. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a battery module comprising a battery stack having an alternating arrangement of battery cells and spacers. In recent years, means of transporting goods and people have been developed using electricity as the driving source. These electric vehicles are automobiles propelled by electric motors using energy stored in rechargeable batteries. Electric vehicles can be driven entirely by batteries or take the form of hybrid vehicles, for example, driven by a gasoline generator. Additionally, vehicles may include a combination of an electric motor and a conventional combustion engine. Generally, an electric vehicle battery (EVB) or traction battery is a battery used for the propulsion of battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Electric vehicle batteries differ from starter, lighting, and ignition batteries because they are designed to supply power for an extended period. Rechargeable or secondary batteries differ from primary batteries in that they can undergo repeated charging and discharging, whereas the latter only provides an irreversible conversion of chemicals into electrical energy. Low-capacity rechargeable batteries are used as power sources for small electronic devices such as cellular phones, laptop computers, and camcorders, while high-capacity rechargeable batteries are used as power sources for hybrid vehicles. Generally, a secondary battery comprises an electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes, a case housing the electrode assembly, and electrode terminals electrically connected to the electrode assembly. An electrolyte solution is injected into the case to enable the charging and discharging of the battery through an electrochemical reaction between the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the electrolyte solution. For example, the shape of the case, which may be cylindrical or rectangular, varies depending on the application of the battery. Lithium-ion (and similar lithium-polymer) batteries, widely known for use in laptops and consumer electronics, are most prominent in the latest group of electric vehicles currently under development. The secondary battery can be used as a battery module formed of a plurality of unit cell cells connected in series and/or parallel to provide high energy density, particularly for driving the motor of a hybrid vehicle. That is, the battery module is formed by connecting the electrode terminals of a plurality of unit cell cells to realize a high-output secondary battery according to the required amount of power. In particular, rectangular battery cells are generally provided as a compact battery stack within a shared battery module housing. This battery stack may include a pair of rigid end plates and a plurality of cooling plates disposed, for example, between adjacent battery cells. For example, battery cells in regular operation may expand (or swell) due to temperature changes. In the case of battery cell expansion, the expansion force can be transmitted and accumulate along the battery stack toward a pair of end plates. As a result, the end plates are typically reinforced to withstand mechanical stress and reduce self-bending. However, significant stress may still exist on the battery cells arranged at both ends of the battery stack next to the end plates. This can lead to increased aging of the corresponding battery cells. To reduce the mechanical stress caused by expansion, spacers may be placed between the battery cells to compensate for the expansion force at least partially. For example, EP 1 701 404 B1 relates to a battery module comprising a plurality of prismatic battery cells and cell barriers disposed between the battery cells. Specifically, cell barriers having different strengths are disposed between the battery cells to prevent deformation of the battery module due to expansion. Here, the cell barriers may have cooling channels penetrating the interior. US 9,023,504 B2 relates to a secondary battery module having an alternating arrangement of prismatic battery cells and spacers. Each spacer comprises a base portion that contacts the side of a rectangular battery cell, a wing portion that projects from the base portion toward an adjacent battery spacer, and a fastening portion located on the wing portion. The fastening portion is designed to connect the spacer with an adjacent spacer. The base portion may be designed as a perimeter frame. The battery cell may expand into a free space enclosed by the frame during expansion. US 2017/0365837 A1 discloses other battery modules having an alternating arrangement of prismatic battery cells and spacers. The spacers should be designed to correspond to the maximum expansion area of