US-12626997-B2 - Battery module and battery pack having battery module

US12626997B2US 12626997 B2US12626997 B2US 12626997B2US-12626997-B2

Abstract

A battery module includes a cell assembly including a plurality of battery cells, and a module housing having an arrangement space for accommodating the cell assembly and a cover plate covering a top surface of the cell assembly. The cover plate has at least one discharge hole for discharging gas generated in the cell assembly. A blocking member is disposed between the top surface of the cell assembly and the cover plate to block flame or a combustion material from being discharged externally of the module housing through the discharge hole.

Inventors

Hae Ryong Jeon
Kang Gu Lee

Assignees

SK ON CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230111
Priority Date: 20220120

Claims (16)

1 . A battery pack comprising: a pack case including a bottom case and a cover case coupled to each other to form an accommodation space; and a plurality of battery modules accommodated in the pack case, wherein each of the plurality of battery modules includes: a cell assembly including a plurality of battery cells; a module housing having an arrangement space for accommodating the cell assembly and a cover plate covering a top surface of the cell assembly and including a plurality of discharge holes for discharging gas generated in the cell assembly; and a blocking member disposed between the top surface of the cell assembly and the cover plate to block flame or a combustion material from being discharged externally of the module housing through the plurality of discharge holes, wherein, in each of the plurality of the battery modules, the plurality of discharge holes are disposed in at least one row, wherein the cover case is structured to cover a plurality of cover plates provided in a plurality of module housings, wherein the cover case includes a plurality of guide grooves to form a flow space in which the gas discharged through the plurality of discharge holes flows, and wherein each of the plurality of guide grooves is structured to cover a plurality of discharge holes arranged in a row on any one of the plurality of cover plates and not to cover other discharge holes disposed on other cover plates to prevent a gas discharged from an inside of one battery module from affecting other battery modules.
2 . The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of battery cells comprise can-type secondary batteries having a plurality of electrode terminals, and at least one of the plurality of electrode terminals is disposed toward the cover plate.
3 . The battery pack of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of battery cells comprise cylindrical secondary batteries, and the plurality of battery cells are arranged in an upright state in the arrangement space.
4 . The battery pack of claim 2 , wherein an electrode connection member electrically connected to the cell assembly is disposed between the cell assembly and the blocking member.
5 . The battery pack of claim 4 , wherein the electrode connection member includes an electrically insulating supporting plate and an electrically conductive bus bar supported by the supporting plate.
6 . The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of battery cells comprise can-type secondary batteries including a casing accommodating the electrode assembly and a cap plate covering an open portion of the casing, and the cap plate is disposed toward the cover plate.
7 . The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the blocking member includes a mesh filter having a pore.
8 . The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the cell assembly includes an insulating member disposed between battery cells to block flame or high-temperature heat energy between adjacent battery cells.
9 . The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the gas flowing through the flow space is discharged externally through a venting unit provided in the pack case.
10 . The battery pack of claim 9 , wherein the venting unit is disposed on a side wall of the pack case, and a flow guide member is disposed between the battery module and the venting unit and the flow guide member guides the gas flowing through the flow space formed by a guide groove to be discharged through the venting unit.
11 . The battery pack of claim 10 , wherein an additional blocking member is disposed between the flow guide member and the venting unit to block flame or a combustion material from being discharged externally of the pack case through the venting unit.
12 . The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein a number of the plurality of guide grooves corresponds to a number of rows formed by the plurality of discharge holes.
13 . The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the cover case and the cover plate are disposed in close contact with each other at an edge of the guide groove.
14 . The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the blocking member includes at least one of a mesh filter having a pore, a porous metal foam, a metal mesh, or a non-metal porous body.
15 . The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the blocking member has a pore average size of 400 to 800 μm in a radial direction, and has a melting temperature of 500° C. or higher.
16 . A battery pack comprising: a pack case including a bottom case and a cover case coupled to each other to form an accommodation space; and at least one battery module accommodated in the pack case, wherein the at least one battery module includes: a cell assembly including a plurality of battery cells; a module housing having an arrangement space for accommodating the cell assembly and a cover plate covering a top surface of the cell assembly; and a blocking member disposed between the top surface of the cell assembly and the cover plate, wherein the cover plate has at least one discharge hole for discharging gas generated in the cell assembly, wherein the cover case has at least one guide groove to form a flow space in which the gas discharged through the at least one discharge hole flows, and wherein the gas flowing through the flow space is discharged externally through a venting unit provided in the pack case, wherein the venting unit is disposed on a side wall of the pack case, and a flow guide member is disposed between the battery module and the venting unit and the flow guide member guides the gas flowing through the flow space formed by the guide groove to be discharged through the venting unit, wherein the flow guide member has a guide portion disposed to be spaced apart from an inner surface of the side wall of the pack case such that the gas is guided to flow along the inner surface of the side wall of the pack case and then to be discharged through the venting unit, and a blocking portion extending from the guide portion toward the inner surface of the side wall of the pack case to block a space between the venting unit and a bottom surface of the bottom case.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) This application claims benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0008697 filed on Jan. 20, 2022 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a battery module including a plurality of battery cells including a secondary battery, and a battery pack having the battery module, and more particularly, to a battery module capable of easily discharging gas and a battery pack having the battery module. BACKGROUND Unlike primary batteries, secondary batteries may be charged and discharged, and thus are applicable to devices within various fields such as digital cameras, mobile phones, notebook computers, hybrid vehicles, and electric vehicles. Examples of the secondary battery may include a lithium secondary battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, a nickel-metal hydride battery, and a nickel-hydrogen battery. Such a secondary battery is manufactured as a pouch-type battery cell having flexibility or a prismatic or cylindrical can-type battery cell having rigidity. A plurality of battery cells may form a cell assembly. The cell assembly is disposed within a case (housing or frame) to be included in a battery device such as a battery module or a battery pack. US Patent Application Publication No. 2021/0159567 A1 discloses a battery module having a plurality of battery cells. According to the US Patent Application Publication, a cylindrical can-type secondary battery for accommodating an electrode assembly in a rigid casing is used as a battery cell. According to the US Patent Application, cooling of a battery cell is performed in order to prevent ignition or explosion in the battery cell caused due to a rise in internal temperature of the battery module. Specifically, the US Patent Application Publication discloses a configuration in which a cooling channel in contact with the battery cell is formed between battery cells and the cooling channel is extended externally of the battery module. However, ignition of a battery cell may occur in various events or situations, such as when a lifespan of the battery cell reaches an end point, when a swelling phenomenon 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 passes through a casing of a battery cell, when an external shock is transferred to the battery cell, and the like. Accordingly, ignition of the battery cell may not be prevented only with cooling of the battery cell. Accordingly, in the US Patent Application Publication, an ignition phenomenon may occur in the battery cell when an event occurs. In particular, when some battery cells are ignited, fire may rapidly spread to adjacent battery cells, and internal pressure of the battery module may rapidly rise due to a flame, a combustion material, and high-temperature gas (including electrolyte gas and combustion gas). A rise in the internal pressure of the battery module may lead to damage, breakage, or explosion of the battery module, and thus the flame may be exposed externally of the battery module. The flame exposed externally of the battery module may be rapidly propagated by successive ignition of adjacent battery modules. In addition, since a plurality of battery modules included in a battery pack is installed in a vehicle or energy storage system (ESS), fire generated in the battery modules may spread rapidly, leading to a large-scale fire in the entire vehicle or ESS. SUMMARY An aspect of the present disclosure provides a battery module capable of delaying or minimizing external exposure of flame even when a fire occurs within the battery module, and a battery pack having the battery module. Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a battery module capable of stably discharging gas generated in the battery module externally, and a battery pack having the battery module. Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a battery module capable of delaying or preventing successive ignition of battery cells by blocking transfer of flame or high-temperature heat between adjacent battery cells, and a battery pack having the battery module. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a battery module including a cell assembly including a plurality of battery cells, and a module housing having an arrangement space for accommodating the cell assembly and a cover plate covering a top surface of the cell assembly. The cover plate may have at least one discharge hole for discharging gas generated in the cell assembly. A blocking member may be disposed between the top surface of the cell assembly and the cover plate to block flame or a combustion material from being discharged externally of the module housing through the discharge hole. The plurality of battery cells may comprise can-type secondary batteries having a