KR-20260066299-A - PACK CASE HAVING BOTTOM VENTING STRUCTURE WITH PARTITION MEMBER CONSTRUCTING A PART OF VENTING PATHS

KR20260066299AKR 20260066299 AKR20260066299 AKR 20260066299AKR-20260066299-A

Abstract

The disclosed pack case comprises a support plate on which a plurality of battery assemblies are mounted on its upper surface, a heat sink that is in close contact with the lower surface of the support plate and has a cooling channel inside, a pack lower plate spaced apart from the heat sink to form a lower venting channel, and a hollow partition member that is erected on the support plate and has an inlet communicating with the lower venting channel to form a side venting channel.

Inventors

이정훈
정혜미

Assignees

주식회사 엘지에너지솔루션

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20241104

Claims (10)

A support plate on which a plurality of battery assemblies are mounted on the upper surface; A heat sink that is in close contact with the bottom surface of the above-mentioned support plate and has a cooling channel inside; A pack lower plate spaced apart from the heatsink above to form a lower venting passage; and A hollow partition member that is installed upright on the support plate and has an inlet communicating with the lower venting passage to form a side venting passage; A pack case containing
In paragraph 1, The above bulkhead member is, Pack case, at least one of a center frame, a side frame, and a cross beam.
In paragraph 1, The inlet of the above bulkhead member is, A pack case disposed between adjacent battery assemblies along the extension direction of the above bulkhead member.
In paragraph 1, The inlet of the above bulkhead member is positioned to face the battery assembly, and A pack case in which the distance between the inlet and the battery assembly is shorter than the distance between adjacent battery assemblies arranged along the extension direction of the bulkhead member.
In paragraph 1, Battery assemblies are arranged on both sides based on the extension direction of the above bulkhead member, and A pack case in which the above-mentioned inlet is provided on both sides to form a pair of side venting channels.
In paragraph 1, Inside the hollow of the above bulkhead member, A pack case having at least one baffle that suppresses backflow from the lower venting channel.
In paragraph 6, The above baffle is, Pack case, which is a bent plate forming an opening toward the lower venting channel.
In paragraph 6, The above baffles are provided in multiple numbers, and A pack case in which the plurality of baffles are alternately arranged in the vertical direction along both sides of the hollow inner wall of the bulkhead member.
In paragraph 6, The above baffle is, A pack case positioned directly below the above-mentioned inlet.
In paragraph 1, The outlet of the lower venting channel is formed as an opening on the edge of the support plate adjacent to the venting device, and A pack case in which the inner corner of the opening forms an inclined surface toward the venting device in the lower venting channel.

Description

Pack case having a bottom venting structure with a partition member forming a venting passage The present invention relates to a pack case with a lower venting structure designed so that a venting channel for responding to a thermal event occurring in a battery pack flows into the lower space of the pack through a partition member of the pack case. Unlike primary batteries, secondary batteries are rechargeable and are currently the subject of extensive research and development due to their potential for miniaturization and high capacity. The demand for secondary batteries as an energy source is increasing rapidly due to the growing technological development and demand for mobile devices, as well as the rise of electric vehicles and energy storage systems driven by the contemporary need for environmental protection. Rechargeable batteries are classified into coin batteries, cylindrical batteries, prismatic batteries, and pouch batteries according to the shape of the battery case. In rechargeable batteries, the electrode assembly mounted inside the battery case is a power generation device capable of charging and discharging, consisting of a laminated structure of electrodes and separators. Since secondary batteries require continuous use over long periods, it is necessary to effectively control the heat generated during the charging and discharging process. To effectively dissipate the heat generated by secondary batteries, heat sinks (also called cooling plates) through which a refrigerant flows are widely used. Heat sinks are mounted on the bottom surface of a group of multiple secondary batteries, for example, a battery pack containing multiple batteries, and perform a cooling function by absorbing heat generated inside the pack using a refrigerant and releasing it to the outside. However, if the amount of heat generated by the secondary battery is excessive and the cooling of the secondary battery is not carried out smoothly, a positive feedback chain reaction occurs in which the temperature rise of the secondary battery causes an increase in current, and the increase in current again causes a temperature rise, eventually leading to a catastrophic state of thermal runaway. In addition, when secondary batteries are grouped in the form of modules or packs, a thermal propagation phenomenon occurs in which surrounding secondary batteries are continuously overheated due to thermal runaway occurring in one secondary battery. That is, when thermal runaway occurs in a battery module within a battery pack, a large amount of conductive dust, gas, and flames are ejected from the high-voltage terminal of the battery module, and consequently, dust accumulates on the high-voltage terminal of an adjacent battery module, and the thermal propagation phenomenon is triggered by heat transfer caused by the gas and flames. When thermal propagation occurs within a battery pack, the internal pressure and temperature rise rapidly. To withstand this surge in pressure and temperature, the battery pack must maintain structural robustness for a significant period. If the battery pack collapses and external air enters, combustion reactions intensify rapidly, posing a major risk to the exterior of the pack, such as fire or explosion. To maintain the battery pack's structure for as long as possible in response to such thermal events, an appropriate venting structure is designed into the battery pack. By discharging high-pressure, high-temperature gases within the pack through venting channels, pressure is relieved, thereby preventing structural collapse. However, since the high-temperature gases flowing along the venting channels can adversely affect other normally operating battery modules and cause heat propagation, this issue must be fully considered in the design of the venting channels. Nevertheless, most battery packs are equipped with venting channels that discharge gases through the sidewalls via the space within the pack where the battery modules are mounted, so improvements are required in this regard. The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and serve to further enhance understanding of the technical concept of the present invention together with the detailed description of the invention provided below; therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited only to the matters described in such drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pack case according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line "AA" of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the "BB" line of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating an embodiment regarding the arrangement of the inlet of a bulkhead member. FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating another embodiment regarding the arrangement of the inlet of a bulkhead member. FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating the internal hollow structure of a bulkhead member having a