Title of the invention: Battery module, battery pack including same, and automobile
Technical field
[One]
The present invention relates to a battery module, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle.
[2]
This application is an application for claiming priority for Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0014093 filed on February 05, 2018, and all contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of the application are incorporated herein by reference.
Background
[3]
Secondary batteries with high ease of application and high energy density according to product group are not only portable devices, but also electric vehicles (EVs) or hybrid vehicles (HEVs) driven by electric drive sources. It is universally applied. Such a secondary battery is attracting attention as a new energy source for environmentally friendly and energy efficiency enhancement in that it does not generate by-products from the use of energy as well as the primary advantage of being able to dramatically reduce the use of fossil fuels.
[4]
Types of rechargeable batteries currently widely used include lithium ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel cadmium batteries, nickel hydride batteries, and nickel zinc batteries. The operating voltage of such a unit secondary battery cell, that is, a unit battery cell, is about 2.5V to 4.6V. Therefore, when a higher output voltage is required, a battery pack may be formed by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series.
[5]
In addition, a battery pack may be configured by connecting a plurality of battery cells in parallel according to the charge/discharge capacity required for the battery pack. Accordingly, the number of battery cells included in the battery pack may be variously set according to a required output voltage or charge/discharge capacity.
[6]
On the other hand, when configuring a battery pack by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series/parallel, a battery module consisting of at least one battery cell is first configured, and other components are added to the battery pack using at least one battery module. How to configure is common. Here, the battery cells constituting the battery module or the battery pack are generally provided as a pouch-type secondary battery having the advantage of being able to easily stack each other.
[7]
Conventional battery modules generally include a plurality of battery cells and a busbar unit electrically connected to electrode leads of the plurality of battery cells. Here, the electrode leads and the busbar unit are interconnected by welding or the like.
[8]
However, in the conventional battery module, there is a problem in that electrode leads connected to the bus bar unit may be separated or disconnected from the bus bar unit due to expansion of battery cells during swelling of the battery module.
[9]
Here, the separated or broken electrode leads may cause short circuits with peripheral electronic components or other adjacent electrode leads, and thus, there is a problem that the risk of explosion or fire of the battery module due to swelling may be further accelerated.
[10]
Therefore, there is a need to find a way to prevent the electrode leads of the battery cells from being separated from the busbar unit during swelling of the battery module. In addition, there is a need to find a way to reduce the tension received by the electrode leads of the battery cells connected to the busbar unit according to the force expanded during swelling of the battery module.
Detailed description of the invention
Technical challenge
[11]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery module capable of preventing separation of electrode leads of battery cells from a busbar unit during swelling of the battery module, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle.
[12]
In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a battery module capable of reducing the tension received by the electrode leads of the battery cells connected to the busbar unit according to the force expanded during swelling of the battery module, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle For.
Means of solving the task
[13]
In order to solve the above object, the present invention provides a battery module, comprising: a plurality of battery cells stacked together; And a bus bar unit electrically connected to the electrode leads of the plurality of battery cells, wherein the electrode leads of the plurality of battery cells are bent at least once to secure a predetermined length, and the plurality of battery cells It provides a battery module, characterized in that at least partially unfolded according to expansion due to swelling.
[14]
The electrode leads of the battery cells disposed at the outermost of the plurality of battery cells may be further bent while having a longer length than the electrode leads of the remaining battery cells.
[15]
The electrode leads of the plurality of battery cells may gradually increase in length from the center in the stacking direction of the plurality of battery cells toward the outermost side.
[16]
The electrode leads of the plurality of battery cells may gradually increase in number of bending as they move from the center in the stacking direction of the plurality of battery cells toward the outermost side.
[17]
The electrode leads of the plurality of battery cells may be arranged to have a symmetrical shape with respect to the center of the stacking direction of the plurality of battery cells.
[18]
The bus bar unit includes: a bus bar frame covering at least one side of the plurality of battery cells; And a connection bus bar provided on the bus bar frame and connected to electrode leads of the plurality of battery cells.
[19]
In addition, the present invention, a battery pack, at least one battery module according to the above-described embodiments; And a pack case for packaging the at least one battery module.
[20]
In addition, the present invention provides a vehicle, comprising: at least one battery pack according to the above-described embodiment.
Effects of the Invention
[21]
According to various embodiments as described above, a battery module capable of preventing separation of electrode leads of battery cells from a busbar unit during swelling of the battery module, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle may be provided.
[22]
In addition, according to various embodiments as described above, a battery module capable of reducing the tension received by the electrode leads of the battery cells connected to the busbar unit according to the force expanded during swelling of the battery module, a battery pack including the same, and You can provide a car.
Brief description of the drawing
[23]
The following drawings appended to the present specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and serve to further understand the technical idea of ​​the present invention together with the detailed description of the present invention, which will be described later. It is limited only to and should not be interpreted.
[24]
1 is a view for explaining a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[25]
2 is a diagram illustrating electrode leads according to another embodiment of battery cells of the battery module of FIG. 1.
[26]
3 is a view for explaining a state of electrode leads of battery cells before swelling of the battery module of FIG. 1.
[27]
4 is a view for explaining a state of electrode leads of battery cells after swelling of the battery module of FIG. 1.
[28]
5 is a diagram illustrating a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Mode for carrying out the invention
[29]
The present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described herein are illustratively shown to aid understanding of the invention, and it should be understood that the present invention may be implemented with various modifications different from the embodiments described herein. In addition, in order to aid understanding of the invention, the accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale, but dimensions of some components may be exaggerated.
[30]
1 is a view for explaining a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view for explaining electrode leads according to another embodiment of the battery cells of the battery module of FIG. 1.
[31]
1 and 2, the battery module 10 may include a battery cell 100, a module case 200, and a bus bar unit 300.
[32]
The battery cell 100 is a secondary battery, and may be provided as a pouch-type secondary battery. In addition, it goes without saying that the battery cell 100 may be formed of a cylindrical secondary battery or a prismatic secondary battery.
[33]
Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, the battery cell 100 is limited to being provided as a pouch-type secondary battery.
[34]
The battery cells 100 may be provided in plural. The plurality of battery cells 100 may be stacked to be electrically connected to each other. Specifically, the plurality of battery cells 100 may be electrically connected to each other through a bus bar unit 300 to be described later.
[35]
Each of the plurality of battery cells 100 may include an electrode assembly, a battery case accommodating the electrode assembly, and an electrode lead 150 protruding out of the battery case and connected to the electrode assembly.
[36]
Here, in any one battery cell 100, the electrode lead 150 may be electrically connected to the electrode lead 150 of the adjacent battery cell 100. Specifically, the electrode lead 150 of any one battery cell 100 may be connected to the electrode lead 150 of the adjacent battery cell 100 and the busbar unit 300 to be described later through welding or the like.
[37]
In more detail, the electrode leads 150 of the plurality of battery cells 100 are bent at least once outside the battery case to secure a predetermined length, and swelling of the plurality of battery cells 100 It can be at least partially unfolded according to the resulting expansion.
[38]
Meanwhile, the electrode leads 150 of the plurality of battery cells 100 may have different protruding lengths outside the battery case. For example, as disclosed in FIG. 2, the electrode leads 170 of the plurality of battery cells 100 gradually increase from the center C in the stacking direction of the plurality of battery cells 100 to the outermost (E) side. It may be provided to increase the length.
[39]
This is because when the battery module 10 is swelled, the positional deformation of the battery cells 100 disposed at the outermost side in the stacking direction of the plurality of battery cells 100 is the most severe.
[40]
In more detail, the electrode leads 170 of the battery cells 100 disposed at the outermost part E among the plurality of battery cells 100 are more than the electrode leads 170 of the remaining battery cells 100 It can be bent more while having a longer length.
[41]
Further, the number of bending of the electrode leads 170 of the plurality of battery cells 100 may gradually increase as the plurality of battery cells 100 move from the center C in the stacking direction toward the outermost E side.
[42]
Accordingly, the electrode leads 170 of the plurality of battery cells 100 may be arranged to have a symmetrical shape with respect to the center C in the stacking direction of the plurality of battery cells 100.
[43]
The module case 200 accommodates the plurality of battery cells 100 and may package the plurality of battery cells 100. To this end, an accommodation space capable of accommodating the plurality of battery cells 100 may be provided in the module case 200.
[44]
The bus bar unit 300 covers at least one side of the plurality of battery cells 100 and may be electrically connected to electrode leads 150 of the plurality of battery cells 100.
[45]
The bus bar unit 300 may include a bus bar frame 320 and a connection bus bar 350.
[46]
The bus bar frame 320 covers at least one side of the plurality of battery cells 100 and may be coupled to the module case 200. A plurality of slots 325 through which electrode leads 150 of the plurality of battery cells 100 may pass may be formed in the bus bar frame 320.
[47]
The connection bus bar 350 is provided on the bus bar frame 320 and may be provided in plural. Each of the plurality of connection busbars 350 may be interconnected with electrode leads 150 of the two battery cells 100 through welding or the like.
[48]
Hereinafter, the appearance of the electrode leads 150 of the plurality of battery cells 100 during swelling of the battery module 100 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.
[49]
3 is a view for explaining a state of electrode leads of battery cells before swelling of the battery module of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a state of electrode leads of battery cells after swelling of the battery module of FIG. 1 to be.
[50]
3 and 4, when the battery module 10 is swelled, the plurality of battery cells 100 may expand. According to the expansion of the plurality of battery cells 100, the positions of the plurality of battery cells 100 in the module case 200 may be changed.
[51]
Specifically, as disclosed in FIG. 3, during the swelling, the battery cells 100 may be deformed by pressing toward the module case 200 and thus their positions may be changed. This positional misalignment may occur most severely in the battery cells 100 disposed at the outermost of the plurality of battery cells 100.
[52]
Accordingly, tension may be applied toward the electrode leads 150 of the battery cells 100 connected to the bus bar unit 300. In this embodiment, the electrode leads 150 are initially at least so as to secure a predetermined length in the space between the connection bus bar 350 of the bus bar unit 300 and the interior of the module case 200. Since the bent portion is provided while being bent once, the tension applied toward the electrode leads 150 can be reduced while the bent portion is opened during the swelling.
[53]
Therefore, in this embodiment, as the battery cells 100 expand when the battery module 10 is swelling, the electrode leads 150 connected to the bus bar unit 300 are connected to the bus bar unit 300. ) Can be prevented more effectively from being separated from or broken.
[54]
In this embodiment, when the battery module 10 is swelled, it is possible to prevent separation and disconnection of the electrode leads 150 of the battery cells 100, so that the peripheral electronic components or other adjacent electrode leads 150 The risk of over and short circuits can be significantly reduced.
[55]
Accordingly, in this embodiment, the risk of explosion or fire of the battery module 100 during swelling of the battery module 10 can be significantly improved.
[56]
5 is a diagram illustrating a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[57]
Referring to FIG. 5, the battery pack 1 may include at least one battery module 10 according to the previous embodiment and a pack case 50 for packaging the at least one battery module 10.
[58]
The battery pack 1 may be provided in a vehicle as a fuel source for a vehicle. As an example, the battery pack 1 may be provided in an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, and in other ways in which the battery pack 1 can be used as a fuel source.
[59]
In addition, it goes without saying that the battery pack 1 may be provided in other devices, devices, and facilities, such as an energy storage system using a secondary battery in addition to the vehicle.
[60]
As such, the battery pack 1 according to the present embodiment and the apparatus, apparatus, and equipment including the battery pack 1 such as the vehicle include the battery module 10 described above, and the battery module described above It is possible to implement a battery pack 1 having all of the advantages due to (10) and a device, apparatus, and equipment such as an automobile including the battery pack 1.
[61]
According to various embodiments as described above, the battery module 10 capable of preventing the electrode leads 150 and 170 of the battery cells 100 from being separated from the busbar unit 300 during swelling of the battery module 10 ), it is possible to provide a battery pack 1 and a vehicle including the same.
[62]
In addition, according to various embodiments as described above, the tension received by the electrode leads 150 and 170 of the battery cells 100 connected to the busbar unit 300 according to the force expanded during swelling of the battery module 10 It is possible to provide a battery module 10, a battery pack 1 including the same, and a vehicle that can reduce the battery module 10.
[63]
In the above, preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, but the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and is generally used in the technical field to which the present invention belongs without departing from the gist of the present invention claimed in the claims. Of course, various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, and these modifications should not be understood individually from the technical idea or prospect of the present invention.
Claims
[Claim 1]
A battery module, comprising: a plurality of battery cells stacked together; And a bus bar unit electrically connected to the electrode leads of the plurality of battery cells, wherein the electrode leads of the plurality of battery cells are bent at least once to secure a predetermined length, and the plurality of battery cells Battery module, characterized in that at least partially unfolded according to the expansion due to swelling.
[Claim 2]
The battery module of claim 1, wherein the electrode leads of the battery cells disposed at the outermost of the plurality of battery cells are further bent while having a longer length than the electrode leads of the remaining battery cells.
[Claim 3]
The battery module of claim 1, wherein the electrode leads of the plurality of battery cells gradually increase in length from the center of the stacking direction of the plurality of battery cells toward the outermost side.
[Claim 4]
The battery module according to claim 3, wherein the number of bending of the electrode leads of the plurality of battery cells gradually increases as the plurality of battery cells move from the center in the stacking direction toward the outermost side.
[Claim 5]
The battery module of claim 3, wherein the electrode leads of the plurality of battery cells are arranged to have a symmetrical shape with respect to a central portion in the stacking direction of the plurality of battery cells.
[Claim 6]
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bus bar unit comprises: a bus bar frame covering at least one side of the plurality of battery cells; And a connection bus bar provided on the bus bar frame and connected to electrode leads of the plurality of battery cells.
[Claim 7]
At least one battery module according to claim 1; And a pack case for packaging the at least one battery module.
[Claim 8]
A vehicle comprising: at least one battery pack according to claim 7.