【5 TECHNICAL FIELD】
The present disclosure relates to a battery module and a battery pack including the same,
and more particularly, to a battery module that effectively delays the speed of heat propagation
between battery cells, and a battery pack including the same.
10 【BACKGROUND ART】
As technology development and demands for mobile devices increase, the demand for
batteries as energy sources is rapidly increasing. In particular, a secondary battery has attracted
considerable attention as an energy source for power-driven devices, such as an electric bicycle,
an electric vehicle, and a hybrid electric vehicle, as well as an energy source for mobile devices,
15 such as a mobile phone, a digital camera, a laptop computer and a wearable device.
Small-sized mobile devices use one or several battery cells for each device, whereas
middle or large-sized devices such as vehicles require high power and large capacity. Therefore,
a middle or large-sized battery module having a plurality of battery cells electrically connected
to one another is used.
20 The middle or large-sized battery module is preferably manufactured so as to have as
small a size and weight as possible. For this reason, a prismatic battery, a pouch-shaped battery
or the like, which can be stacked with high integration and has a small weight relative to
capacity, is usually used as a battery cell of the middle or large-sized battery module.
Meanwhile, in order to protect the battery cell stack from external impact, heat or vibration, the
25 battery module may include a module frame in which a front surface and rear surface are opened
to house the battery cell stack in an internal space.
2 / 19
In the conventional battery module, the battery cells are attached to each other through an
adhesive material such as a double-sided tape between the battery cells in a battery cell stack.
However, in this case, when a fire occurs in the battery module, there is a problem that it is
difficult to delay the transfer of ignition phenomenon occurring in some battery cells to other
battery cells. Further, in some battery modules, a 5 compression pad made of a polyurethane
material is attached between battery cells in order to prevent a swelling phenomenon of the
battery cells, but the compression pad also has a problem that the effect of delaying the heat
propagation time is insufficient. Consequently, unlike the conventional case, there is a need to
develop a battery module that effectively delays the speed of heat propagation between battery
10 cells and has improved safety.
【DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION】
【Technical Problem】
It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a battery module that effectively delays
15 the speed of heat propagation between battery cells, and a battery pack including the same.
The objects of the present disclosure are not limited to the aforementioned objects, and
other objects which are not described herein should be clearly understood by those skilled in the
art from the following detailed description.
20 【Technical Solution】
According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a battery module
comprising: a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked; a module frame
for housing the battery cell stack; and flame-retardant members respectively located between at
least one pair of battery cells adjacent to each other in the battery cell stack, and further
25 comprising a fire extinguishing member located between the module frame and an upper portion
of the battery cell stack.
The flame-retardant members may be disposed at the same intervals from each other in the
3 / 19
battery cell stack.
The flame-retardant member may be extended along the length and width directions of the
battery cells.
The fire extinguishing member may be extended along the stacking direction of the battery
cell stack between the module frame and the 5 upper portion of the battery cell stack.
A thickness of the fire extinguishing member may be equal to a distance separated between
the module frame and the upper portion of the battery cell stack.
The battery cell may include a central portion, and electrode lead portions respectively
located on both sides of the central portion, and an electrode lead may protrude from an end of
10 the electrode lead portion.
The flame-retardant member may be extended along the length and width directions of the
central portion.
The flame-retardant member may be extended to a boundary line between the central
portion and the electrode lead portion.
15 A width of the fire extinguishing member may be extended along a stacking direction of the
battery cell stack between the module frame and an upper portion of the battery cell stack.
A length of the fire extinguishing member may be extended along a longitudinal direction of
the central portion on a side surface of the central portion.
A length of the flame-retardant member may be extended to a boundary line between the
20 central portion and the electrode lead portion on a side surface of the central portion.
According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a battery pack
comprising the above-mentioned battery module.
【ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS】
25 According to embodiments of the present disclosure, flame-retardant members are
located between at least one pair of battery cells adjacent to each other in the battery cell stack,
and a fire extinguishing member is located on an upper portion of the battery cell stack, thereby
capable of effectively delaying the speed of heat propagation between battery cells.
4 / 19
The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above and
additional other effects not described above will be clearly understood from the description of
the appended claims by those skilled in the art.
5 【BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS】
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a battery cell stack in which a module frame is removed in
the battery module of Fig. 1;
10 Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the battery cell stack of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a top view showing a battery cell in a state in which a flame-retardant member is
attached in the battery cell stack of Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a top view of region A of Fig. 2 as viewed from above; and
Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the battery module taken along the cutting line a-a' of Fig.
15 1.
【DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS】
Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail
with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement
20 them. The present disclosure may be modified in various different ways, and is not limited to the
embodiments set forth herein.
Portions that are irrelevant to the description will be omitted to clearly describe the
present disclosure, and like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the
specification.
25 Further, the size and thickness of each element shown in the figures are arbitrarily
illustrated for convenience of description, and the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to
those illustrated in the figures. In the figures, the thickness of layers, regions, etc. are
5 / 19
exaggerated for clarity. In the figures, for convenience of description, the thicknesses of some
layers and regions are shown to be exaggerated.
In addition, throughout the specification, when a portion is referred to as "including" a
certain component, it means that the portion can further include other components, without
excluding the other components, unless otherwise 5 stated. Further, throughout the specification,
when referred to as "planar", it means when a target portion is viewed from the upper side, and
when referred to as "cross-sectional", it means when a target portion is viewed from the side of a
cross section cut vertically.
Below, the battery module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be
10 described. However, the description herein is made based on the front surface of the front and
rear surfaces of the battery module, without being limited thereto, and even in the case of the rear
surface, the same or similar contents may be described.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a battery cell stack in which a module frame is
15 removed in the battery module of Fig. 1.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the battery module 100 according to the embodiment of the
present disclosure includes a battery cell stack 120 in which a plurality of battery cells 110 are
stacked, a module frame 300 for housing the battery cell stack 120, and end plates 400 located on
the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack 120. In addition, a busbar frame (not shown)
20 may be located between the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack 120 and the end
plates 400, and a busbar may be located on the busbar frame (not shown).
The module frame 300 may include a U-shaped frame containing a bottom portion and a
side portion, of which an upper surface, a front surface and a rear surface are opened, and an
upper plate that covers an upper portion of the battery cell stack 120. However, the module
25 frame 300 is not limited thereto, and can be replaced with a frame having another shape such as a
mono frame surrounding the battery cell stack 120, except for the L-shaped frame or the front
and rear surfaces.
6 / 19
The battery cell 110 is preferably a pouch-type battery cell. The battery cell can be
manufactured by housing the electrode assembly in a pouch case of a laminate sheet including a
resin layer and a metal layer, and then heat-sealing the sealing portion of the pouch case. Such a
battery cell 110 may be composed of a plurality of cells, and the plurality of battery cells 110
form a battery cell stack 120 that is stacked so as to be electrically 5 connected to each other. In
particular, as shown in Fig. 2, a plurality of battery cells 110 may be stacked along a direction
parallel to the x-axis.
Further, referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the battery module 100 according to the embodiment of
the present disclosure includes a fire extinguishing member 130 located between the module
10 frame 300 and the upper portion of the battery cell stack 120.
Referring to Fig. 2, the fire extinguishing member 130 may be extended along the stacking
direction (x-axis) of the battery cell stack 120 between the module frame 300 and the upper
portion of the battery cell stack 120. Here, the width of the fire extinguishing member 130 may
be extended along the stacking direction (x-axis) of the battery cell stack between the module
15 frame and the upper portion of the battery cell stack. More preferably, the width of the fire
extinguishing member 130 may be extended to be equal to or smaller than the width of the upper
portion of the battery cell stack between the module frame and the upper portion of the battery
cell stack.
Therefore, in the battery module 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure,
20 the fire extinguishing member 130 is disposed at a position corresponding to the upper portion of
the battery cell stack 120, and when a flame occurs in some of the battery cells 110 of the battery
cell stack 120, the intensity of flames occurred in the battery cell 110 can be effectively
suppressed. In addition, the safety of the battery module 100 can also be improved.
The fire extinguishing member 130 may be a member containing an extinguishing agent
25 material. Here, the fire extinguishing member 130 may be a member in the form of a foam.
Further, the extinguishing agent material may be an extinguishing agent in the form of a powder
7 / 19
that is commonly used. As one example, the extinguishing agent material is sodium hydrogen
carbonate (NaHCO3), potassium hydrogen carbonate (KHCO3), ammonium phosphate
(NH4H2PO3), and a mixture of "potassium hydrogen carbonate (KHCO3) and urea ((NH2)2CO)”.
In particular, the extinguishing agent material containing in the extinguishing member 130 may
include potassium hydrogen carbonate (KHCO3). However, 5 the fire extinguishing agent material
is not limited thereto, and can be used without limitation as long as it is a material that performs
a fire extinguishing function.
Therefore, when an ignition phenomenon occurs in the battery module 100 according to the
embodiment of the present disclosure, the fire extinguishing member 130 is located adjacent to
10 the upper portion of the battery cell stack 120, so that the strength of flames can be effectively
suppressed. In addition to this, in the process of extinguishing flames generated in the battery
cell 110 by the extinguishing member 130, carbon dioxide and water vapor may be generated.
Such reaction is endothermic and can absorb the heat of the battery cell 110 and also can cut off
oxygen supply, whereby flame and heat propagation speed between the battery cells 110 can be
15 effectively delayed. In addition, the safety of the battery module 100 can also be improved.
Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the battery cell stack of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a top
view showing a battery cell in a state in which a flame-retardant member is attached in the
battery cell stack of Fig. 3.
Referring to Fig. 3, the flame-retardant member 150 is located between at least a pair of
20 battery cells 110 adjacent to each other in the battery cell stack 120. Further, the flame-retardant
member 150 may be located between the battery cells 110 adjacent to each other in the battery
cell stack 120. However, although not limited thereto, the number of flame-retardant members
150 disposed in the battery cell stack 120 can be disposed to the extent sufficient to maintain the
density of the battery cells 110 in the battery module 100 in an appropriate range while delaying
25 the ignition phenomenon.

【CLAIMS】
【Claim 1】
A battery module comprising:
a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked;
a module frame 5 for housing the battery cell stack; and
flame-retardant members respectively located between at least one pair of battery cells
adjacent to each other in the battery cell stack, and
further comprising a fire extinguishing member located between the module frame and an
upper portion of the battery cell stack.
10 【Claim 2】
The battery module of claim 1, wherein:
the flame-retardant members are disposed at the same intervals from each other in the
battery cell stack.
【Claim 3】
15 The battery module of claim 1, wherein:
the flame-retardant member is extended along the length and width directions of the battery
cells.
【Claim 4】
The battery module of claim 1, wherein:
20 the fire extinguishing member is extended along the stacking direction of the battery cell
stack between the module frame and the upper portion of the battery cell stack.
【Claim 5】
The battery module of claim 4, wherein:
a thickness of the fire extinguishing member is equal to a distance separated between the
25 module frame and the upper portion of the battery cell stack.
【Claim 6】
The battery module of claim 1, wherein:
the battery cell comprises a central portion, and electrode lead portions respectively located
13 / 19
on both sides of the central portion, and
an electrode lead protrudes from an end of the electrode lead portion.
【Claim 7】
The battery module of claim 6, wherein:
the flame-retardant member is extended along 5 the length and width directions of the central
portion.
【Claim 8】
The battery module of claim 7, wherein:
the flame-retardant member is extended to a boundary line between the central portion and
10 the electrode lead portion.
【Claim 9】
The battery module of claim 6, wherein:
a width of the fire extinguishing member is extended along a stacking direction of the
battery cell stack between the module frame and an upper portion of the battery cell stack.
15 【Claim 10】
The battery module of claim 9, wherein:
a length of the fire extinguishing member is extended along a longitudinal direction of the
central portion on a side surface of the central portion.
【Claim 11】
20 The battery module of claim 9, wherein:
a length of the flame-retardant member is extended to a boundary line between the central
portion and the electrode lead portion on a side surface of the central portion.
【Claim 12】
A battery pack comprising the battery module of claim 1.