Title of the invention: Battery module, battery rack and power storage device including the same
Technical field
[One]
The present invention relates to a battery module, a battery rack including the same, and a power storage device.
[2]
This application is an application for claiming priority for Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0033749 filed on March 25, 2019, and all contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of the application are incorporated herein by reference.
Background
[3]
Rechargeable 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 an electric drive source. It is universally applied. Such a secondary battery is attracting attention as a new energy source for eco-friendly and energy efficiency enhancement in that it does not generate by-products from the use of energy as well as the primary advantage that it can dramatically reduce the use of fossil fuels.
[4]
Currently widely used types of secondary batteries 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 4.5V. Therefore, when a higher output voltage is required, a battery pack may be configured by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series. 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.
[5]
Meanwhile, when configuring a battery pack by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series/parallel, a battery module including at least one battery cell is first configured, and other components are added using at least one battery module. It is common to construct a battery pack. Here, the battery pack including at least one battery module may constitute a power storage device including battery racks including at least one such battery pack according to various voltage and capacity requirements.
[6]
In the case of a battery module constituting a conventional power storage device, a firefighting facility in order to cope with the risk of fire, such as overheating, which may occur due to the characteristics of the battery cell in the rack container accommodating battery racks including a plurality of battery modules. The structure is provided.
[7]
However, when a fire starts in the battery module, there is a problem in that it is difficult to quickly extinguish the fire. If the fire is not quickly extinguished in the battery module or the time for the fire to spread is not delayed, there is a problem in that the fire transfer to the surrounding battery modules is accelerated. Accordingly, there is a problem that there is a high possibility that the firefighting facility structure in the rack container is already in operation after damage that is difficult to recover has occurred.
[8]
Therefore, when a fire situation occurs, it is necessary to quickly extinguish the fire, and for this, it is necessary to suppress the fire and prevent the spread of fire in the battery module unit.
Detailed description of the invention
Technical challenge
[9]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery module capable of suppressing fire and preventing the spread of fire in units of a battery module when a fire situation occurs, a battery rack including the same, and a power storage device.
Means of solving the task
[10]
In order to solve the above object, the present invention provides a battery module, comprising: a plurality of battery cells; A module case accommodating the plurality of battery cells; An air intake part provided on one side of the module case and guiding air into the module case for cooling the plurality of battery cells; An air discharge part provided on the other side of the module case and discharges air that has entered the module case through the air intake part outside the module case; And at least one sheet member attached to the inner wall of the module case between the air discharge part and the air intake part, and expanding at a predetermined temperature or higher to seal the inner space of the module case. to provide.
[11]
The sheet member may be provided in plural, and the plurality of sheet members may be attached to a front inner wall, a rear inner wall, both side inner walls, an upper inner wall, and a lower inner wall of the module case, respectively.
[12]
The plurality of sheet members may be mutually sealed at each rim.
[13]
The battery module may include a pair of air circulation guide members disposed inside both sides of the module case to face the air intake part and the air discharge part, and forming an air circulation passage therein.
[14]
The pair of air circulation guide members may be made of the same material as the at least one sheet member.
[15]
The pair of air circulation guide members may be disposed to face each other with the plurality of battery cells interposed therebetween.
[16]
The pair of air circulation guide members may include a plurality of guide slits provided on one side facing the plurality of battery cells and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.
[17]
The pair of air circulation guide members may include a plurality of guide partition walls provided adjacent to the plurality of guide slits and disposed inclined at a predetermined angle in the air circulation passage.
[18]
In addition, the present invention, as a battery rack, at least one battery module according to the above-described embodiments; And a rack case accommodating the at least one battery module.
[19]
In addition, the present invention provides a power storage device comprising: at least one battery rack according to the above-described embodiment as a power storage device.
Effects of the Invention
[20]
According to various embodiments as described above, a battery module capable of suppressing fire and preventing the spread of fire in units of a battery module when a fire situation occurs, a battery rack including the same, and a power storage device may be provided.
Brief description of the drawing
[21]
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 to and should not be interpreted.
[22]
1 is a view for explaining a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[23]
2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module of FIG. 1.
[24]
3 is a cross-sectional view of the battery module of FIG. 2.
[25]
4 is a diagram illustrating an air circulation guide member of the battery module of FIG. 2.
[26]
5 is a cross-sectional view of the air circulation guide member of FIG. 4.
[27]
6 is a view for explaining another embodiment of the air circulation guide member of FIG. 5.
[28]
7 is a view for explaining air circulation for cooling the battery module of FIG. 1.
[29]
FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the operation of the seat member and the air circulation guide member when the battery module of FIG. 1 has a predetermined temperature or higher.
[30]
9 is a view for explaining a battery rack according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[31]
10 is a diagram illustrating a power storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Mode for carrying out the invention
[32]
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 variously modified and implemented differently 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.
[33]
1 is a view for explaining a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module of FIG. 1.
[34]
1 and 2, the battery module 10 includes a battery cell 100, a module case 200, an air intake part 300, an air discharge part 400, and a sheet member 500. I can.
[35]
The battery cell 100, as a secondary battery, may be provided as a pouch-type secondary battery, a prismatic secondary battery, or a cylindrical secondary battery. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, the battery cell 100 is limited to being provided as a pouch-type secondary battery.
[36]
A plurality of battery cells 100 may be provided. The plurality of battery cells 100 may be provided to be stacked on each other. The plurality of battery cells 100 may be electrically connected to each other.
[37]
The module case 200 may accommodate the plurality of battery cells 100. The module case 200 may include a case body 210 and a case cover 250.
[38]
An accommodation space for accommodating the plurality of battery cells 100 may be provided in the case body 210. The case cover 250 is disposed above the plurality of battery cells 100 and may be coupled to the case body 210.
[39]
The air intake unit 300 is provided at one side of the module case 200, specifically, at the rear of the case body 210, and the module case 200 for cooling the plurality of battery cells 100 ) Air can be guided inside.
[40]
The air discharge unit 400 is the other side of the module case 200, specifically, so that air that has entered the module case 200 through the air intake unit 300 can be discharged out of the module case 200 , It may be provided in front of the case body 210.
[41]
The sheet member 500 is attached to the inner wall of the module case 200 between the air discharge part 400 and the air intake part 300, and expands at a predetermined temperature or higher to the inner space of the module case 200. Can be sealed.
[42]
The sheet member 500 may be formed of a material capable of expanding its volume at a predetermined temperature or higher. For example, the sheet member 500 may be formed of a foam-shaped material whose volume increases at a predetermined temperature or higher.
[43]
The sheet member 500 may be provided in plural.
[44]
The plurality of sheet members 500 may be attached to a front inner wall, a rear inner wall, both side inner walls, an upper inner wall, and a lower inner wall of the module case 200, respectively. Specifically, the plurality of sheet members 500 may be attached to a front inner wall, a rear inner wall, both side inner walls, a lower inner wall, and an upper inner wall of the case cover 210 of the case body 210. Here, the plurality of sheet members 500 may be mutually sealed at each rim.
[45]
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the battery module of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a view for explaining the air circulation guide member of the battery module of Figure 2, Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the air circulation guide member of Figure 4, Figure 6 is 5 is a view for explaining another embodiment of the air circulation guide member, and FIG. 7 is a view for explaining air circulation for cooling the battery module of FIG. 1.
[46]
3 to 7, the battery module 10 may further include a pair of air circulation guide members 600 and 700.
[47]
The pair of air circulation guide members 600 and 700 face the air intake part 300 and the air discharge part 400 to face the module case 200, specifically, the case body 210 It can be placed inside both sides of the room. Specifically, the pair of air circulation guide members 600 and 700 may be disposed to face each other with the plurality of battery cells 100 interposed therebetween.
[48]
The pair of air circulation guide members 600 and 700 may be made of the same material as the at least one sheet member 500. That is, the pair of air circulation guide members 600 and 700 may be formed of a material whose volume expands at a predetermined temperature or higher.
[49]
The pair of air circulation guide members 600 and 700 may include a first air circulation guide member 600 and a second air circulation guide member 700.
[50]
The first air circulation guide member 600 is for guiding the air introduced through the air intake unit 300 toward the plurality of battery cells 100, and includes an air circulation passage 610 and a guide slit 630. ) And a guide partition wall 650.
[51]
The air circulation passage 610 communicates with the air intake unit 300 and may be elongated along the stacking direction of the plurality of battery cells 100.
[52]
The guide slit 630 communicates with the air circulation passage 610 and may be provided on one side facing the plurality of battery cells 100. The guide slit 630 may be provided in plurality. The plurality of guide slits 630 may be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along the stacking direction of the battery cells 100, and the air in the air circulation passage 610 toward the plurality of battery cells 100 Can guide the movement of.
[53]
The guide partition wall 650 may be provided in plurality. The plurality of guide partition walls 650 may be disposed adjacent to the plurality of guide slits 630 and may be disposed inclined at a predetermined angle within the air circulation passage 610. The plurality of guide partition walls 650 may guide more uniform air inflow toward the plurality of guide slits 630.
[54]
The second air circulation guide member 700 is for guiding the air cooled by the plurality of battery cells 100 toward the air discharge unit 400, and includes an air circulation passage 710 and a guide slit 730 And a guide partition wall 750.
[55]
The air circulation passage 710 communicates with the air discharge part 400 and may be formed to extend along the stacking direction of the plurality of battery cells 100.
[56]
The guide slit 730 communicates with the air circulation passage 710 and may be provided to face the plurality of battery cells 100. A plurality of the guide slits 730 may be provided. The plurality of guide slits 730 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along the stacking direction of the battery cells 100, and the air circulation passage 710 of the air at the side of the plurality of battery cells 100 You can guide the movement to the side.
[57]
The guide partition wall 750 may be provided in plurality. The plurality of guide partition walls 750 may be disposed adjacent to the plurality of guide slits 730, and may be disposed inclined at a predetermined angle in the air circulation passage 710. The plurality of guide partition walls 750 may more evenly guide the movement of the air introduced from the side of the plurality of guide slits 730 to the side of the air discharge unit 400.
[58]
Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 5, the guide partition wall 750 may be coupled as a separate member, or as shown in FIG. 6, the guide partition wall 755 may be integrally formed.
[59]
FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the operation of the seat member and the air circulation guide member when the battery module of FIG. 1 has a predetermined temperature or higher.
[60]
Referring to FIG. 8, in the case of the battery module 10, a fire may occur due to overheating or the like in at least one of the plurality of battery cells 100 inside the module case 200.
[61]
In the event of such a fire, when the temperature inside the module case 200 rises and reaches the predetermined temperature or higher, the plurality of sheet members 500 and the pair of air circulation guide members 600 and 700 expand. While doing so, the inner space of the module case 200 may be sealed.
[62]
According to the expansion of the plurality of seat members 500 and the pair of air circulation guide members 600 and 700, the inner space of the module case 200 is sealed, the air intake unit 300 or the air discharge Inflow of oxygen into the module case 200 from the side of the part 400 may be blocked.
[63]
Accordingly, a fire generated inside the battery module 10 may be extinguished more quickly or significantly attenuated, and heat diffusion to the outside of the battery module 10 may be effectively prevented.
[64]
As such, the battery module 10 according to the present embodiment, through the sheet member 500 and the air circulation guide member 600, 700, more quickly in the unit of the battery module 10 when a fire situation occurs It can extinguish a fire early or effectively prevent the spread of fire.
[65]
9 is a view for explaining a battery rack according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[66]
Referring to FIG. 9, the battery rack 1 may include a rack case 50 accommodating the plurality of battery modules 10 and the plurality of battery modules 10 of the previous embodiment.
[67]
Since the battery rack 1 according to the present embodiment includes the battery module 10 of the previous embodiment, a battery rack 1 including all the advantages of the battery module 10 of the previous embodiment can be provided. I can.
[68]
In other words, the battery rack 1 according to the present embodiment, even if a fire situation occurs in any one battery module 10, the battery module ( By sealing the inside of 10), it is possible to extinguish a rapid fire and effectively prevent the spread of fire to the adjacent battery module 10.
[69]
10 is a diagram illustrating a power storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[70]
Referring to FIG. 10, the power storage device E may be used as an energy source and for home or industrial use. The power storage device E may include at least one of the foregoing embodiments, and in this embodiment, a plurality of battery racks 1 and a rack container C accommodating the plurality of battery racks 1. .
[71]
Since the power storage device E according to the present embodiment includes the battery rack 1 of the previous embodiment, a power storage device E including all the advantages of the battery rack 1 of the previous embodiment is provided. Can provide.
[72]
According to various embodiments as described above, the battery module 10 capable of suppressing fire and preventing the spread of fire in the battery module 10 unit when a fire situation occurs, the battery rack 1 including the same, and the It is possible to provide a power storage device (E).
[73]
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 pertains without departing from the gist of the present invention claimed in the claims. Of course, various modifications may be implemented by those skilled in the art, and these modifications should not be understood individually from the technical spirit or prospect of the present invention.
Claims
[Claim 1]
A battery module, comprising: a plurality of battery cells; A module case accommodating the plurality of battery cells; An air intake part provided on one side of the module case and guiding air into the module case for cooling the plurality of battery cells; An air discharge part provided on the other side of the module case and discharges air that has entered the module case through the air intake part outside the module case; And at least one sheet member attached to an inner wall of the module case between the air discharge part and the air intake part, and expanding at a predetermined temperature or higher to seal the inner space of the module case.
[Claim 2]
The method of claim 1, wherein the sheet member is provided in plural, and the plurality of sheet members are each attached to a front inner wall, a rear inner wall, both side inner walls, an upper inner wall, and a lower inner wall of the module case. Battery module.
[Claim 3]
The battery module of claim 2, wherein the plurality of sheet members are mutually sealed at each rim.
[Claim 4]
The method of claim 1, further comprising: a pair of air circulation guide members disposed inside both sides of the module case to face the air intake part and the air discharge part, and having an air circulation passage formed therein. Battery module.
[Claim 5]
The battery module of claim 4, wherein the pair of air circulation guide members are made of the same material as the at least one sheet member.
[Claim 6]
The battery module of claim 4, wherein the pair of air circulation guide members are disposed to face each other with the plurality of battery cells interposed therebetween.
[Claim 7]
The battery module of claim 6, wherein the pair of air circulation guide members comprises a plurality of guide slits provided on one side facing the plurality of battery cells and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.
[Claim 8]
The air circulation guide member according to claim 7, wherein the pair of air circulation guide members comprises a plurality of guide partition walls disposed adjacent to the plurality of guide slits and disposed inclined at a predetermined angle in the air circulation passage. Battery module.
[Claim 9]
At least one battery module according to claim 1; And a rack case accommodating the at least one battery module.
[Claim 10]
At least one battery rack according to claim 9; Power storage device comprising a.