CN117581417A - Battery module, battery pack, and vehicle including the battery pack - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided are a battery module, a battery pack, and a vehicle including the battery pack, the battery module being configured to ensure structural stability even in the event of a thermal event. A battery module according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a cell assembly including at least one battery cell; and a module frame configured to accommodate the battery cells in the cell accommodating portion and to open a portion of the cell accommodating portion.

Description

Battery module, battery pack, and vehicle including the battery pack

Technical Field

The present application claims priority from korean patent application No.10-2022-0052364 filed in korea at month 27 of 2022 and korean patent application No.10-2023-0051624 filed in korea at month 4 of 2023, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure relates to a battery module, and a battery pack and a vehicle including the same, and more particularly, to a battery module configured to ensure structural stability in the event of a thermal event, and a battery pack and a vehicle including the same.

Background

Recently, with the rapid increase in demand for portable electronic products such as notebook computers, video cameras, mobile phones, and the like, and the continuous development of electric vehicles, storage batteries for energy storage, robots, satellites, and the like, research into high-performance secondary batteries that can be repeatedly charged is underway.

The secondary batteries currently commercially available include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, and lithium secondary batteries. Among them, lithium secondary batteries are attracting attention because they have little memory effect compared to nickel-based batteries, and thus have advantages of free charge/discharge, very low self-discharge rate, and high energy density.

Lithium secondary batteries mainly use lithium-based oxides and carbon materials as a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material, respectively. In addition, the lithium secondary battery includes: an electrode assembly including positive and negative electrode plates coated with positive and negative electrode active materials, respectively, and a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrode plates; and a hermetic package or a battery case in which the electrode assembly is accommodated together with the electrolyte solution.

Further, the lithium secondary battery may be classified into: can-type secondary batteries in which an electrode assembly is contained in a metal can and pouch-type secondary batteries in which an electrode assembly is contained in a pouch made of an aluminum laminate sheet. Can-type secondary batteries can be sub-classified into cylindrical batteries and prismatic batteries according to the shape of a metal can.

Here, the pouch of the pouch-type secondary battery may be largely divided into a lower sheet and an upper sheet covering the lower sheet. In this case, the pouch accommodates an electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator, which are stacked and wound together. Additionally, edges of the upper and lower sheets are sealed by thermal welding after receiving the electrode assembly. Additionally, an electrode tab drawn from each electrode may be coupled to an electrode lead, and an insulating film may be added to the electrode lead at a region contacting the sealing part.

The pouch-type secondary battery may be so flexible that it may be constructed in various shapes. Additionally, the pouch-type secondary battery can realize the same-capacity secondary battery with a smaller volume and mass.

The lithium secondary battery is used to construct a battery module or a battery pack by stacking or stacking a plurality of battery cells themselves in a case to form a densely packed structure and electrically connecting them to provide high voltage and high current.

One of the generally important issues in battery pack construction is safety. Specifically, when a thermal event occurs in any of the battery cells included in the battery pack, it is necessary to suppress the propagation of the event to other battery cells. Unless the heat propagation between the battery cells is properly suppressed, a thermal event may be spread to other battery cells included in the battery pack, resulting in greater problems such as fire or explosion in the battery pack. In addition, fire or explosion in the battery pack may cause personnel and economic loss and damage. Therefore, the battery pack requires a configuration for properly controlling the thermal event.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem

The present disclosure is directed to solving the above-described problems, and therefore, the present disclosure is directed to providing a battery module configured to ensure structural stability in the event of a thermal event, and a battery pack and a vehicle including the battery module.

However, technical problems to be solved by the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described problems, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

Technical proposal

In order to achieve the above object, a battery module according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a cell assembly having at least one battery cell; and a module frame configured to accommodate the battery cells in the cell accommodating part and to open a portion of the cell accommodating part.

In an embodiment, the cell receiving part may be configured to open a part located at an upper side or a lower side of the received battery cell.

In an embodiment, the battery cell may be provided as a plurality of battery cells, and the cell housing portion may be provided as a plurality of cell housing portions in which the battery cell may be respectively housed, and the plurality of cell housing portions may be configured such that a portion located at an upper side of the housed battery cell and a portion located at a lower side of the housed battery cell are alternately opened when viewed in a stacking direction of the battery cells.

In an embodiment, the plurality of cell receiving parts may be configured to be separated from each other by a barrier when viewed in the stacking direction of the battery cells.

In an embodiment, the barrier may be formed in a multi-folded structure when viewed in the stacking direction of the battery cells.

In an embodiment, the battery cell may include a cell case having an accommodation space for accommodating the electrode assembly therein and protruding electrode leads electrically connected to the electrode assembly to the outside, and the cell case may be configured to be in close contact with the inside of the cell accommodation portion in the stacking direction of the battery cell.

In an embodiment, the cell receiving part may be formed to be longer than the cell case in the longitudinal direction of the battery cell.

In an embodiment, the cell receiving part may be configured to be partially opened at both longitudinal sides of the received battery cell.

In an embodiment, the battery module may further include a unit fixing member configured to surround the unit assembly and the module frame.

In an embodiment, the battery module may further include a heat blocking member disposed on at least one of both sides of the unit case within the unit accommodating part when viewed in the stacking direction of the battery cells.

In an embodiment, the battery module may further include a guide portion provided on at least one of both longitudinal sides of the cell receiving portion and formed by bending in the stacking direction of the battery cells.

In an embodiment, the battery module may further include: and a bus bar frame for supporting bus bars electrically connected to electrode leads of the battery cells received in the cell receiving parts of the module frame, and the bus bar frame may include fixing grooves into which ends of the module frame are inserted and fixed at a predetermined length.

In an embodiment, the bus bar frame may include: a first bus bar frame having a first fixing groove in which one end of the module frame is inserted and fixed; and a second bus bar frame having a second fixing groove into which the other end of the module frame is inserted and fixed.

A battery pack according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes one or more of the above-described battery modules.

Further, a vehicle according to yet another aspect of the present disclosure includes one or more battery packs.

Technical effects

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, by guiding exhaust gas and/or flame to be discharged to a specific region of the unit accommodating part, a factor of ignition in the battery module may be suppressed, thereby enhancing structural stability of the battery module.

In addition, according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, adjacent battery cells can be prevented from firing at the same time.

In addition, various additional effects may be achieved by various embodiments of the present disclosure. Various effects of the present disclosure will be described in detail in each embodiment, or descriptions of effects that can be easily understood by those skilled in the art will be omitted.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and together with the foregoing disclosure serve to provide a further understanding of the technical features of the present disclosure, and therefore, the present disclosure should not be construed as being limited to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating a unit assembly included in the battery module of fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view illustrating a module frame included in the battery module of fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion a of fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a view illustrating a unit fixing member included in the battery module of fig. 1.

Fig. 7 to 12 are diagrams illustrating an assembly process of the battery module of fig. 1.

Fig. 13 is a view illustrating a battery module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 14 is a view illustrating a battery module according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 15 is a view illustrating a battery module according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 16 is a view showing a state in which a module frame of the battery module shown in fig. 15 is fixed by a bus bar frame.

Fig. 17 is a diagram illustrating a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Before the description, it should be understood that the terms used in the specification and the appended claims should not be construed as limited to general and dictionary meanings, but interpreted based on the meanings and concepts corresponding to technical aspects of the present disclosure on the basis of the principle that the inventor is allowed to define terms appropriately for the best explanation.

Accordingly, the description set forth herein is for the purpose of illustration only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, as it should be understood that other equivalents and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module 10 of fig. 1, fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating a unit assembly 100 included in the battery module 10 of fig. 1, fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating a module frame 200 included in the battery module 10 of fig. 1, and fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion a of fig. 1.

In detail, fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the module frame 200 guides exhaust gas and/or flame discharge due to thermal runaway of the cell assembly 100 within the battery module 10 of the present disclosure. At this time, in fig. 5, the exhaust gas is denoted as "V", and the flame is denoted as "F".

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the X-axis direction shown in the drawings may represent a longitudinal direction of the battery cell 110 described later, while the Y-axis direction may represent a lamination direction in which the vertically upright battery cell 110 is laminated on the XY plane, and the Z-axis direction may represent a vertical direction perpendicular to both the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

Referring to fig. 1 to 5, a battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a cell assembly 100 and a module frame 200.

The cell assembly 100 may include at least one battery cell 110. Here, the battery cell may represent a secondary battery. The battery cell 110 may be provided as a pouch-shaped battery cell, a cylindrical battery cell, or a prismatic battery cell. As an example, the battery cell 110 may be a pouch-type battery cell.

In one embodiment, the unit assembly 100 may include a plurality of battery cells 110, and the plurality of battery cells 110 may be stacked and arranged side by side in one direction (Y-axis direction).

The module frame 200 may be configured to accommodate the battery cells 110. For this, the module frame 200 may include a cell receiving part S having an empty space and receiving the battery cells 110 therein. The empty space of the cell receiving part S may have a shape corresponding to the shape and size of the battery cell 110 such that the battery cell 110 may be received therein. Further, the battery cell 110 may be accommodated in the cell accommodation portion S provided in this manner.

In this case, the unit accommodating portion S may be configured to be partially opened. That is, the unit accommodating portion S may be configured to form an empty space therein, and a portion of the empty space is opened. Specifically, the opening of the unit receiving portion S may be formed such that the battery cell 110 is inserted into the unit receiving portion S. Accordingly, the opening portion of the unit receiving portion S may have a size or shape into which the battery cell 110 may be inserted.

In addition, the module frame 200 may include a material having high heat resistance and rigidity.

In a general battery module, an event such as thermal runaway may occur in a specific battery cell among battery cells constituting a cell assembly. In this case, high-temperature and high-pressure exhaust gas may be generated inside a specific battery cell, and when this exhaust gas encounters oxygen, flames may be generated inside or outside the battery cell.

At this time, there is a high risk that such flame will be transferred to another battery cell adjacent to the specific battery cell, and thus, simultaneous firing of a plurality of battery cells may occur. On the other hand, since the conventional battery module has a structure in which a large number of battery cells are disposed in a sealed module case, there is a problem in that it is susceptible to the aforementioned simultaneous fire.

To solve this problem, the module frame 200 of the present disclosure accommodates the battery cells 110 inside the cell accommodating part S configured to be partially opened, so that exhaust gas and/or flame, which are caused by the battery cells 110, can be induced to be discharged through the opening of the cell accommodating part S when a thermal runaway phenomenon occurs.

According to this embodiment of the present disclosure, exhaust gas and/or flame may be induced to be discharged to a specific region of the unit accommodating portion S (an opening portion of the unit accommodating portion S). Therefore, by suppressing the factor of ignition in the battery module 10, the structural stability of the battery module 10 can be enhanced.

Specifically, the unit receiving part S may be constructed such that a portion of the unit receiving part S located at the upper side or the lower side of the battery cells 110 received in the unit receiving part S is open. The battery cell 110 may be inserted into the cell receiving part S through an opening of the cell receiving part S. Therefore, the battery cells 110 can be easily inserted into the module frame 200. In this way, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the opening of the unit accommodating part S through which the battery cell 110 can be inserted into the unit accommodating part S is referred to as a unit inserting part O. That is, the unit insertion part O may be formed in a portion of the unit receiving part S located at the upper side or the lower side of the battery cell 110 received in the unit receiving part S.

In one embodiment, the length of the battery cell 110 extending in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) may be longer than the length of a portion including the electrode lead 114, which will be described later. Further, the unit insertion part O may be formed at a portion of the unit receiving part S located at the upper side or the lower side of the battery cell 110 based on the height direction (Z-axis direction) of the battery cell 110. Therefore, the cell insertion part O may be formed with a larger area than a portion of the cell receiving part S corresponding to a portion including the electrode leads 114 of the battery cell 110, which will be described later.

In this way, by forming the cell insertion part O wider than the part of the cell receiving part S corresponding to the part of the battery cell 110 including the electrode leads 114, exhaust gas and/or flame can be induced to be discharged to the outside of the cell receiving part S more quickly. Therefore, the ignition factor in the battery module 10 can be suppressed more reliably.

Referring again to fig. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the battery cells 110 may be provided in plurality, and the cell receiving parts S may be provided in plurality accordingly. In this case, the plurality of unit accommodating parts S may be configured independently of one another.

Specifically, the plurality of battery cells 110 may be respectively accommodated in the plurality of cell accommodating parts S.

Further, the plurality of unit accommodating parts S may be configured such that portions of the first unit accommodating part located at the upper side of the battery cells accommodated in the first unit accommodating part and portions of the second unit accommodating part located at the lower side of the battery cells accommodated in the second unit accommodating part (adjacent to the first unit accommodating part) are alternately opened when viewed in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110. That is, the cell insertion parts O may be alternately formed at a portion located at the upper side of the battery cell 110 accommodated in one cell accommodation part S and at a portion located at the lower side of the battery cell 110 accommodated in another adjacent cell accommodation part S. In this case, the unit insertion parts of the plurality of unit housing parts S may be configured to have the same shape and size as each other.

With this configuration, exhaust gas and/or flame can be induced to be discharged in the opposite direction (upward or downward direction of the battery module 10) between the adjacent battery cells 110. Therefore, the adjacent battery cells 110 can be prevented from firing at the same time.

Hereinafter, the detailed structure of the above-described module frame 200 will be described in more detail.

Referring back to fig. 1, 2, 4, and 5, the module frame 200 may include a first frame 220 and a second frame 240.

The first frame 220 may constitute a side surface of the cell receiving portion S in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110.

The second frame 240 is connected to the first frame 220 and may constitute an upper surface or a lower surface of the unit accommodating part S. The second frame 240 may be configured in a flat shape.

As illustrated in fig. 1 and 2 and fig. 4 and 5, two first frames 220 and one second frame 240 may constitute a unit accommodating portion S, for example. In this case, the second frame 240 may connect upper ends of the two first frames 220 or lower ends of the two first frames 220.

More specifically, when the second frames 240 connect the upper ends of the two first frames 220, a cell insertion part O may be formed at the lower part of the battery cell 110 received in the cell receiving part S. Further, when the second frames 240 connect the lower ends of the two first frames 220, a cell insertion part O may be formed at a portion located above the battery cells 110 received in the cell receiving part S.

In addition, the first frame 220 and the second frame 240 may be constructed as an assembly to construct a barrier (barrier). The barrier may refer to the side of the cell receiving part S in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110 and the upper or lower surface of the cell receiving part S. As an example, the first frame 220 and the second frame 240 may be coupled to each other by welding or integrally formed by injection molding, but are not limited to these manufacturing methods.

Further, the first frame 220 and the second frame 240 may be provided in plurality in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110. In this case, the second frame 240 may be coupled to the first frame 220 to alternately construct the upper or lower surfaces of the cell receiving parts S when viewed in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110.

The plurality of unit receiving parts S may be configured to be separated from each other by a barrier formed by the first frame 220 and the second frame 240 when viewed in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110.

With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the battery cells 110 adjacent in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110 from firing at the same time.

Specifically, this barrier may be formed in a multi-fold structure when viewed in the lamination direction of the battery cells 110.

Specifically, the barrier composed of the assembly of the first frame 220 and the second frame 240 may be constructed in a "Z" shape or in a shape in which, when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the battery cell 110 or the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the module frame 200The structure in the form of a shape is a repeating shape.

Further, as shown in fig. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the battery cell 110 may be accommodated in a cell accommodating part S, which is a folded part of the barrier. Accordingly, the module frame 200 may be constructed more compactly in size than the non-folding frame structure.

In addition, the module frame 200 having the multi-folded structure can be easily constructed without providing a separate structure for preventing flame from being transferred between the adjacent battery cells 110. In addition, by inserting the battery cells 110 into the cell receiving parts S through the opening parts (the cell insertion parts O) of the cell receiving parts S formed in the module frame 200, it is possible to simply and effectively restrain the adjacent battery cells 110 from firing at the same time.

Referring to fig. 1 to 5, the battery cell 110 may include a cell case 112.

The unit case 112 may have a receiving space for receiving an electrode assembly (not shown) therein, and may protrude an electrode lead 114 electrically connected to the electrode assembly to the outside. At this time, the electrode assembly may include a first electrode plate having a first polarity, a second electrode plate having a second polarity, and a separator interposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate.

The cell case 112 may be configured to be in close contact with the inside of the cell receiving part S in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110. Specifically, the unit case 112 may be in close contact with the first frame 220 constituting the side surface of the unit receiving part S in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110.

In this way, since the cell case 112 is in close contact with the inner side of the cell receiving part S in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110, exhaust gas and/or flame may be blocked by the first frame 220 constituting a barrier. Therefore, exhaust gas and/or flame can be induced to be more effectively discharged to the opening portion (unit insertion portion O) of the unit accommodating portion S.

Specifically, the cell receiving part S may be formed longer than the cell case 112 in the longitudinal direction of the battery cell 110. Specifically, the first frame 220 may be formed longer than the unit case 112 in the longitudinal direction of the battery cell 110.

Accordingly, exhaust gas and/or flame generated at both longitudinal sides of the battery cell 110 may be discharged toward the cell insertion portion O while colliding with the longitudinal ends of the two first frames 220 disposed to face each other in the lamination direction of the battery cell 110. In addition, it is possible to restrain the transfer of exhaust gas and/or flame generated at both longitudinal sides of one battery cell 110 to another battery cell 110 adjacent thereto in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110 while colliding with the longitudinal ends of the first frame 220.

According to this embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to induce the exhaust gas and/or flame to be discharged to the outside of the unit accommodating portion S more quickly, and also to minimize the simultaneous ignition of multiple points.

Referring again to fig. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the unit receiving portion S may be configured such that portions located at both longitudinal sides of the battery cells 110 received in the unit receiving portion S are open.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the unit receiving part S may be constructed such that only a portion (unit insertion part O) located at the upper side or the lower side of the battery cell 110 received in the unit receiving part S is opened. Alternatively, the unit receiving portion S may be configured such that only portions located at both longitudinal sides of the battery cells 110 received in the unit receiving portion S are opened. In addition, the unit receiving portion S may also be constructed such that portions located at the upper or lower side of the battery cells 110 received in the unit receiving portion S and portions located at both longitudinal sides are open.

In this way, when the portions of the cell accommodating portion S located at both longitudinal sides of the battery cells 110 accommodated in the cell accommodating portion S are also opened, exhaust gas and/or flame can be induced to be discharged to the outside of the cell accommodating portion S more rapidly.

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating a unit fixing member 300 included in the battery module 10 of fig. 1.

Referring to fig. 1, 2 and 6, the battery module 10 may further include a cell fixing member 300.

The unit fixing member 300 may be configured to surround the unit assembly 100 and the module frame 200. As an example, the unit fixing member 300 may include a material having strong heat resistance and rigidity. In addition, the unit fixing members 300 may be provided in a single or in plurality in the longitudinal direction of the battery cells 110.

In this way, since the unit assembly 100 can be fixed to the module frame 200 having the multi-fold structure by the unit fixing members 300, the battery module 10 can be stably received in a battery pack constructed of assemblies of a plurality of battery modules without a separate case structure.

Fig. 7 to 12 are diagrams illustrating an assembly process of the battery module 10 of fig. 1.

The assembly process of the above-described battery module 10 of the present disclosure will be briefly described below.

First, as shown in fig. 7, a module frame 200 formed in a multi-fold structure is prepared.

Next, as shown in fig. 8, the battery cells 110 are first inserted into a portion of the plurality of cell receiving parts S of the module frame 200. At this time, each battery cell 110 may be inserted into the corresponding cell receiving part S via the cell insertion part O of the corresponding cell receiving part S.

When the battery cells 110 are fully inserted into some of the plurality of cell receiving parts S, as shown in fig. 9, the module frame 200 is rotated 180 degrees.

Next, as shown in fig. 10, the battery cell 110 is secondarily inserted into the remaining cell receiving parts S, among the plurality of cell receiving parts S, in which the battery cell 110 is not inserted. At this time, each battery cell 110 may be inserted into the corresponding cell receiving part S through the cell insertion part O of the corresponding cell receiving part S.

In this way, when the battery cells 110 are completely inserted into the remaining cell receiving parts S, as shown in fig. 11, the module frame 200 is rotated again by 180 degrees.

Finally, as shown in fig. 12, the unit assembly 100 is fixed to the module frame 200 by the unit fixing members 300. Accordingly, as shown in fig. 1, the battery module 10 may be constructed as an assembly.

According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the battery module 10 may be constructed only by sequentially inserting the battery cells 110 into the module frame 200 through the opening portions of the module frame 200 having the multi-fold structure, and then fixing the battery cells 110 and the module frame 200 by the cell fixing members 300. Therefore, the battery module 10 can be simply assembled, and the adjacent battery cells 110 can be restrained from firing at the same time with a simpler structure.

Further, as described above, since the second frame 240 of the module frame 200 is formed in a flat shape, the battery cells 110 can be stably seated in the module frame 200 even if the module frame 200, in which the battery cells 110 are inserted, is rotated during the assembly of the battery module 10.

Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating a battery module 12 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Since the battery module 12 according to this embodiment is similar to the battery module 10 of the previous embodiment, redundant description of substantially the same or similar components as those of the previous embodiment will be omitted, and differences from the previous embodiment will be described below.

The battery module 12 shown in fig. 13 may further include a heat blocking member T.

The heat blocking member T may be disposed on at least one of both sides of the unit case 112 within the unit receiving portion S, as viewed in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110. Specifically, the heat blocking member T may be disposed between the unit case 112 and the first frame 220 in the front-rear direction of the battery cell 110.

The heat blocking member T may be configured to block flames due to thermal runaway of the battery cells 110. As an example, the heat blocking member T may be provided in the form of a thermal barrier coating. Specifically, the heat blocking coating agent may be coated or attached to the heat blocking member T.

In the case of the battery module 12 according to the present embodiment, the diffusion of the flame to other adjacent battery cells 110 may be delayed mainly by the heat blocking member T for blocking the flame due to thermal runaway of the battery cells 110, and the diffusion of the flame to other adjacent battery cells 110 may be suppressed by the barrier 2. Therefore, the structural stability of the battery module 12 can be more stably maintained.

Fig. 14 is a diagram showing a battery module 14 according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure. At this time, in fig. 14, the exhaust gas is denoted as "V", and the flame is denoted as "F".

Since the battery module 14 according to this embodiment is similar to the battery module 10 of the previous embodiment, redundant description of substantially the same or similar components as those of the previous embodiment will be omitted, and differences from the previous embodiment will be described.

The battery module 14 shown in fig. 14 may further include a guide portion G.

The guide portion G is provided on at least one of the two longitudinal sides of the cell receiving portion S, and may be formed by bending in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110.

Specifically, the guide portion G may be provided at both longitudinal ends of the first frame 220 or at only one longitudinal end of the first frame 220.

This guide portion G can more easily guide exhaust gas and/or flame generated from both longitudinal sides of the battery cell 110 to be discharged toward the cell insertion portion O. That is, as shown in fig. 14, exhaust gas and/or flame generated at both longitudinal sides of the battery cell 110 may be discharged toward the cell insertion portion O while colliding with the guide portion G bent in the lamination direction of the battery cell 110. In addition, by the guide portions G bent in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110, it is possible to restrain the transfer of exhaust gas and/or flame generated at both longitudinal sides of one battery cell 110 to another adjacent battery cell 110.

In one embodiment, as shown in fig. 14, the guide portions G may be provided in pairs at longitudinal ends of the two first frames 220 facing each other in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110. At this time, the pair of guide portions G may be formed by bending to face each other in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110.

In this case, it is possible to induce exhaust gas and/or flame to be discharged to the outside of the cell housing part S more quickly, and it is also possible to minimize the simultaneous firing of the battery cells 110 adjacent in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110.

Fig. 15 is a diagram showing a battery module 16 according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Since the battery module 16 according to this embodiment is similar to the battery module 10 of the previous embodiment, redundant description of substantially the same or similar components as those of the previous embodiment will be omitted, and differences from the previous embodiment will be described.

As shown in fig. 15, the battery module 16 may further include a bus bar frame 400 as compared to the battery module 10 described above. The bus bar frame 400 may be coupled with bus bars 410 electrically connected to the electrode leads 114 of the battery cells 110 received in the cell receiving part S of the module frame 200 to support the corresponding bus bars 410.

In addition, the bus bar frame 400 may include a slot 402, and the electrode leads 114 of the battery cells 110 received in the cell receiving portion S of the module frame 200 are inserted into the slot 402. The ends of the electrode leads 114 inserted into the slots 402 and passing through the corresponding slots 402 may be connected to the bus bars 410.

Specifically, the bus bar frame 400 may include a fixing groove 404, and an end portion along a longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the module frame 200 accommodating the battery cells is inserted into the fixing groove 404 by a predetermined length and fixed. Such a fixing groove 404 may be configured to be matched with an end of the corresponding module frame 200.

In one embodiment, the bus bar frame 400 may include a first bus bar frame 400A and a second bus bar frame 400B.

The first bus bar frame 400A may be coupled to one end of the module frame 200 based on the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the module frame 200. In addition, the second bus bar frame 400B may be coupled to the other end of the module frame 200, which is located on the opposite side of the one end, based on the longitudinal direction of the module frame 200.

In this case, the first bus bar frame 400A may have a first fixing groove into which one end of the module frame 200 is inserted and fixed. In addition, the second bus bar frame 400B may have a second fixing groove into which the other end of the module frame 200 is inserted and fixed.

As described above, since the fixing grooves 404 into which the ends of the module frame 200 are inserted and fixed are provided in the bus bar frame 400, deformation of the module frame 200 (for example, deformation of the cell receiving parts S) due to the load or external force of the battery cells 110 can be prevented, and the number of cell fixing members 300 surrounding and fixing the module frame 200 can be reduced or the cell fixing members 300 can be omitted.

Fig. 16 is a view showing a state in which a module frame of the battery module shown in fig. 15 is fixed by a bus bar frame.

As shown in fig. 16, both longitudinal ends of the module frame 200, in which the battery cells are received, are inserted into and fixed to the first and second bus bar frames 400A and 400B, respectively, so that deformation of the module frame 200 (e.g., deformation of the cell receiving parts S) due to the load or external force of the battery cells 110 can be prevented.

Fig. 15 and 16 show that the battery modules 16 include the cell fixing members 300, but when the above-described bus bar frame 400 is applied to the battery modules 16, the cell fixing members 300 may be omitted from the corresponding battery modules 16.

As described above, according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, by inducing exhaust gas and/or flame to be discharged to a specific region of the unit accommodating part S, it is possible to suppress a factor of ignition in the battery modules 10, 12, 14, thereby enhancing the structural stability of the battery modules 10, 12, 14, 16.

In addition, according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent simultaneous firing of adjacent battery cells 110.

Fig. 17 is a diagram showing the battery pack 2 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in fig. 17, a battery pack 2 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include one or more battery modules 10, 12, 14, 16 according to the present disclosure.

In this case, the battery pack 2 may include various devices for controlling the charge and discharge of the battery modules 10, 12, 14, 16, for example, a Battery Management System (BMS), a current sensor, and a fuse.

In addition, the battery pack 2 may include battery pack cases 2A, 2B accommodating one or more battery modules 100.

The battery pack case 2A, 2B may include a battery pack tray 2A having a receiving space S1 to receive a plurality of battery modules, and an upper open battery pack cover 2B covering the battery pack tray 2A.

In addition, the battery pack 2 may include various electrical components (not shown) that control the charge/discharge operations of the battery modules 10, 12, 14, 16 or the battery cells included in the respective battery modules 10, 12, 14, 16 or monitor SOC (state of charge), SOH (state of health), etc. housed in the battery pack cases 2A, 2B. These electrical components may be housed in the battery pack cases 2A, 2B together with the battery modules 10, 12, 14, 16.

As such, the battery pack 2 according to the present disclosure is manufactured in a cell-to-pack (cell-to-pack) method, so that the overall weight and volume of the battery pack can be reduced and the energy density can be improved.

Such a battery pack 2 may be applied to a vehicle such as an electric vehicle. That is, a vehicle according to the present disclosure may include one or more battery packs 2 according to the present disclosure.

The present disclosure has been described in detail. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the disclosure, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the scope of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

On the other hand, in the present specification, terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front and rear are used, but these terms are merely for convenience of explanation and it is apparent to those skilled in the art that these terms may vary depending on the position of a target object or the position of an observer.

Claims (15)

1. A battery module, the battery module comprising:

a cell assembly having at least one battery cell; and

and a module frame configured to accommodate the battery cells in the cell accommodating part and to open a portion of the cell accommodating part.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the cell receiving part is configured to open a part located at an upper side or a lower side of the received battery cell.

3. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the battery cells are provided as a plurality of battery cells, and the cell housing portion is provided as a plurality of cell housing portions,

wherein the battery cells are respectively accommodated in the plurality of cell accommodating portions, and

wherein the plurality of cell receiving parts are configured such that portions located at the upper sides of the received battery cells and portions located at the lower sides of the received battery cells are alternately opened when viewed in the stacking direction of the battery cells.

4. The battery module according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of cell housing portions are configured to be separated from each other by a barrier when viewed in the stacking direction of the battery cells.

5. The battery module according to claim 4, wherein the barrier is formed in a multi-fold structure when viewed in the stacking direction of the battery cells.

6. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the battery cell comprises a cell case having an accommodation space for accommodating an electrode assembly therein and protruding an electrode lead electrically connected to the electrode assembly to the outside, and

wherein the unit case is configured to be in close contact with the inside of the unit accommodating part in the stacking direction of the battery cells.

7. The battery module according to claim 6, wherein the cell receiving part is formed longer than the cell case in a longitudinal direction of the battery cell.

8. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the cell receiving parts are configured to open parts located at both longitudinal sides of the received battery cells.

9. The battery module of claim 1, further comprising a cell securing member configured to enclose the cell assembly and the module frame.

10. The battery module according to claim 6, further comprising a heat blocking member disposed on at least one of both sides of the unit case within the unit accommodating portion, as viewed in the stacking direction of the battery cells.

11. The battery module according to claim 1, further comprising a guide portion provided on at least one of both longitudinal sides of the cell housing portion and formed by bending in a stacking direction of the battery cells.

12. The battery module according to claim 1, further comprising a bus bar frame for supporting bus bars electrically connected to electrode leads of the battery cells accommodated in the cell accommodating part of the module frame,

wherein the bus bar frame includes a fixing groove into which an end of the module frame is inserted by a predetermined length and is fixed.

13. The battery module of claim 12, wherein the bus bar frame comprises:

a first bus bar frame having a first fixing groove into which one end of the module frame is inserted and fixed; and

and a second bus bar frame having a second fixing groove into which the other end of the module frame is inserted and fixed.

14. A battery pack comprising one or more than 2 battery modules according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. A vehicle comprising one or more than 2 battery packs according to claim 14.