Title of the invention: Battery module, battery rack and power storage device comprising such battery module
technical field
[One]
The present invention relates to a battery module, a battery rack comprising such a battery module, and a power storage device.
[2]
This application is an application for priority claiming Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0083358 filed on July 10, 2019, and all contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of the application are incorporated herein by reference.
background
[3]
Secondary batteries that are easy to apply according to product groups and have electrical characteristics such as high energy density are not only portable devices, but also electric vehicles (EVs) or hybrid vehicles (HEVs) driven by an electric drive source. It is universally applied. These secondary batteries are attracting attention as a new energy source for improving eco-friendliness and energy efficiency in that not only the primary advantage of being able to dramatically reduce the use of fossil fuels but also the fact that no by-products are generated from the use of energy.
[4]
The types of secondary batteries currently widely used include a lithium ion battery, a lithium polymer battery, a nickel cadmium battery, a nickel hydride battery, a nickel zinc battery, and the like. The unit secondary battery cell, that is, the operating voltage of the unit battery cell is about 2.5V ~ 4.5V. Accordingly, when a higher output voltage is required, a plurality of battery cells are connected in series to form a battery pack. In addition, a plurality of battery cells may be connected in parallel to form a battery pack 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]
On the other hand, 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 the at least one battery module. It is common to configure battery packs or battery racks. Here, the battery rack including at least one battery module also constitutes a power storage device having at least one such battery rack according to various voltage and capacity requirements.
[6]
In the case of the battery module constituting the conventional power storage device, in order to cope with the risk of fire due to overheating that may occur due to overheating that may occur due to the characteristics of the battery cell in the rack container accommodating the battery racks including a plurality of battery modules, firefighting facilities 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 within the battery module is not quickly extinguished or the time for the spread of the fire is not delayed, there is a problem in that the fire spreads to the surrounding battery modules quickly. Accordingly, there is a problem in that there is a high possibility that the fire-fighting facility structure in the rack container is more likely to be damaged after the damage that is difficult to recover has already occurred at the time of operation.
[8]
Accordingly, when a fire situation occurs, it is necessary to quickly extinguish the fire, and in particular, measures to prevent an accident by detecting a danger in advance before a fire occurs. For this, fire suppression and fire spread prevention are required in the battery module unit.
[9]
Therefore, it is required to find a way to provide a battery module capable of suppressing thermal runaway and heat propagation more quickly when an abnormal situation occurs in a battery cell, a battery rack including the battery module, and a power storage device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
technical challenge
[10]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery module capable of suppressing thermal runaway and heat propagation more quickly when an abnormal situation occurs in a battery cell, a battery rack and a power storage device including such a battery module.
means of solving the problem
[11]
In order to solve the above object, the present invention provides a battery module, comprising: at least one battery cell; a module case for accommodating the at least one battery cell; a relay unit provided in the module case and electrically connected to the at least one battery cell; and a shunt unit electrically connected to the relay unit and provided outside the module case.
[12]
The battery module may include a heat sink provided between the module case and the shunt unit.
[13]
The shunt unit and the heat sink may be provided above the module case.
[14]
The shunt unit and the heat sink may be provided under the module case.
[15]
and a thermal insulation unit provided between the module case and the shunt unit.
[16]
The shunt unit and the heat insulating unit may be provided above the module case.
[17]
The shunt unit and the heat insulating unit may be provided below the module case.
[18]
And, 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; provides a battery rack comprising a.
[19]
The shunt unit is provided above the rack case, and the battery rack is provided between the rack case and the shunt unit and is a heat insulating unit mounted on an upper surface of the rack case.
[20]
In addition, the present invention provides a power storage device comprising a; at least one battery rack according to the above-described embodiment as a power storage device.
Effects of the Invention
[21]
According to various embodiments as described above, it is possible to provide a battery module capable of suppressing thermal runaway and heat propagation more quickly when an abnormal situation occurs in a battery cell, a battery rack and a power storage device including such a battery module.
Brief description of the drawing
[22]
The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and serve to further understand the technical spirit of the present invention together with the detailed description of the present invention to be described later, so that the present invention is described in such drawings should not be construed as being limited only to
[23]
1 is a view for explaining a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[24]
2 is a view for explaining a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[25]
3 is a view for explaining a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[26]
4 is a view for explaining a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[27]
5 is a view for explaining a battery rack according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[28]
6 is a view for explaining a battery rack according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[29]
7 is a diagram for explaining a power storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Modes for carrying out the invention
[30]
The present invention will become more apparent by describing preferred embodiments of the present invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are illustratively shown to aid understanding of the invention, and the present invention may be implemented with various modifications different from the embodiments described herein. In addition, in order to help the understanding of the invention, the accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale, but dimensions of some components may be exaggerated.
[31]
1 is a view for explaining a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[32]
Referring to FIG. 1 , the battery module 10 includes a battery cell 100 , a module case 200 , a cooling fan 300 , a relay unit 400 , a shunt unit 500 , and a heat sink 600 . ) may be included.
[33]
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 this embodiment, the battery cell 100 will be described by limiting it to a pouch-type secondary battery.
[34]
At least one or more of the battery cells 100 may be provided. When the battery cells 100 are provided in plurality, the plurality of battery cells 100 may be stacked to be electrically connected to each other.
[35]
The module case 200 may accommodate the at least one or more plurality of battery cells 100 . To this end, an accommodating space capable of accommodating the at least one or more plurality of battery cells 100 may be provided in the module case 200 .
[36]
The cooling fan 300 is for cooling the at least one or more of the plurality of battery cells 100 , and may be mounted on the module case 200 . The cooling fan 300 may be provided as a blowing fan in an air cooling method.
[37]
The relay unit 400 is provided in the module case 200 , and may be electrically connected to the at least one or more plurality of battery cells 100 . The relay unit 400 is electrically connected to a shunt unit 500 to be described later, and operates when an overcurrent occurs due to an abnormal condition of the at least one battery cell 100 to generate a battery cell ( 100) may be induced to the shunt unit 500 side.
[38]
The shunt unit 500 is electrically connected to the relay unit 400 and may be provided outside the module case 200 . Specifically, the shunt unit 500 may be disposed to be spaced apart from the module case 200 by a predetermined distance from the lower side of the module case 200 .
[39]
The shunt unit 500 can quickly externally short-circuit the battery cell 100 in which the abnormal situation occurs when the relay unit 400 connected to the battery cell 100 in which the abnormal situation occurs operates.
[40]
The heat sink 600 may be provided between the module case 200 and the shunt unit 500 . Specifically, the heat sink 600 may be provided below the module case 200 and between the module case 200 and the shunt unit 500 .
[41]
The heat sink 600 may be provided in a water-cooled or air-cooled structure, and it is possible to minimize the transfer of heat generated in the shunt unit 500 to the module case 200 side when the external short circuit occurs.
[42]
As such, in the battery module 10 according to the present embodiment, when an abnormal situation occurs in at least one of the battery cells 100 through the relay unit 400 and the shunt unit 500 , the abnormal situation occurs By short-circuiting the battery cell 100 from the outside of the module case 200 more quickly, it is possible to prevent a fire or explosion of the battery cell 100 in an abnormal situation in advance.
[43]
In addition, in the battery module 10 according to the present embodiment, thermal runaway and heat caused by the battery cell 100 in which an abnormal situation occurs through an external short circuit through the relay unit 400 and the shunt unit 500 . The risk of radio wave can be effectively prevented in the battery module 10 unit.
[44]
2 is a view for explaining a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[45]
Since the battery module 20 according to the present embodiment is similar to the battery module 10 of the previous embodiment, hereinafter, redundant descriptions of components substantially the same as or similar to those of the previous embodiment will be omitted, and the previous embodiment and The differences are mainly explained.
[46]
Referring to FIG. 2 , the battery module 20 includes a battery cell 100 , a module case 200 , a cooling fan 300 , a relay unit 400 , a shunt unit 505 , and a heat sink 605 . may include
[47]
The battery cell 100 , the module case 200 , the cooling fan 300 , and the relay unit 400 are substantially the same as or similar to those of the previous embodiment, and thus, redundant descriptions will be omitted below.
[48]
The shunt unit 505 and the heat sink 605 may be provided above the module case 200 . As such, the shunt unit 505 and the heat sink 605 may be provided on the upper side instead of the lower side of the module case 200 , and the shunt unit 505 is the module case 200 . Of course, if it can be spaced apart from the module case 200 from the outside, it may also be provided on the left or right side of the module case 200 .
[49]
3 is a view for explaining a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[50]
Since the battery module 30 according to the present embodiment is similar to the battery modules 10 of the previous embodiment, hereinafter, redundant description of components substantially the same as or similar to those of the previous embodiment will be omitted, and the previous embodiment will be omitted. The difference between and will be explained.
[51]
Referring to FIG. 3 , the battery module 30 includes a battery cell 100 , a module case 200 , a cooling fan 300 , a relay unit 400 , a shunt unit 500 , and a heat insulation unit 700 . may include
[52]
Since the battery cell 100, the module case 200, the cooling fan 300, the relay unit 400, and the shunt unit 500 are substantially the same as or similar to the previous embodiment, the following: A duplicate description is omitted.
[53]
The heat insulation unit 700 may be provided between the module case 200 and the shunt unit 500 . Specifically, the heat insulation unit 700 and the shunt unit 500 may be provided below the module case 200 , and the heat insulation unit 700 may be provided under the module case 200 under the shunt unit ( 500) may be spaced apart from the module case 200 by a predetermined distance.
[54]
The heat insulation unit 700 may prevent the transfer of heat generated during an external short circuit through the shunt unit 500 to the module case 200 side. To this end, the heat insulation unit 700 may be provided with a ceramic heat insulating material or a fiber heat insulating material.
[55]
As such, in this embodiment, heat transfer from the shunt unit 500 to the module case 200 side during the external short circuit can be effectively prevented through the heat insulation unit 700 instead of the heat sink.
[56]
4 is a view for explaining a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[57]
Since the battery module 40 according to this embodiment is similar to the battery module 30 of the previous embodiment, hereinafter, redundant descriptions of components substantially the same or similar to those of the previous embodiment will be omitted, and the previous embodiment and The differences are mainly explained.
[58]
Referring to FIG. 4 , the battery module 40 includes a battery cell 100 , a module case 200 , a cooling fan 300 , a relay unit 400 , a shunt unit 505 , and an insulation unit 705 . may include
[59]
The battery cell 100 , the module case 200 , the cooling fan 300 , and the relay unit 400 are substantially the same as or similar to those of the previous embodiment, and thus, redundant descriptions will be omitted below.
[60]
The shunt unit 505 and the heat insulation unit 705 may be provided above the module case 200 . As such, the shunt unit 505 and the heat insulation unit 705 may be provided on the upper side instead of the lower side of the module case 200 , and the shunt unit 505 is the module case 200 . Of course, if it can be spaced apart from the module case 200 from the outside, it may also be provided on the left or right side of the module case 200 .
[61]
5 is a view for explaining a battery rack according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[62]
Referring to Figure 5, the battery rack (1), at least one or more of a plurality of battery modules 10 of the previous embodiment, the rack case 50 for accommodating the at least one or more plurality of battery modules (10) And it may include a BMS unit 70 for the management and control of the battery rack (10).
[63]
The battery rack (1) according to this embodiment, to include the battery module 10 of the previous embodiment, to provide a battery rack (1) including all the advantages of the battery module 10 of the previous embodiment can
[64]
On the other hand, the battery rack 10 may also include the battery modules 20, 30, 40 of the previous embodiment other than the battery module 10, at this time, the battery modules 20, 30 of the previous embodiment Of course, it is also possible to provide a battery rack (1) including all of the advantages of 40).
[65]
6 is a view for explaining a battery rack according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[66]
Since the battery rack (2) according to this embodiment is similar to the battery rack (1) of the previous embodiment, hereinafter, redundant descriptions are omitted for substantially the same or similar configurations as the previous embodiment, and the previous embodiment and The differences are mainly explained.
[67]
Referring to FIG. 6 , the battery rack 2 may include a plurality of battery modules 15 , a rack case 50 , a BMS unit 70 and a heat insulation unit 80 .
[68]
The plurality of battery modules 15 may include a battery cell 100 , a module case 200 , a cooling fan 300 , and a relay unit 400 , respectively. Since the battery cell 100 , the module case 200 , the cooling fan 300 , and the relay unit 400 are substantially the same as or similar to those of the previous embodiment, a redundant description will be omitted below.
[69]
Meanwhile, the plurality of battery modules 15 may include a shunt unit 550 .
[70]
The shunt unit 550 is integrally connected to the relay unit 400 of the plurality of battery modules 15 , and may be disposed at an upper side of the rack case 50 to be spaced apart from the rack case 50 . .
[71]
The rack case 50 may accommodate the plurality of battery modules 15 . The rack case 50 may stack the plurality of battery modules 15 in the vertical direction.
[72]
The BMS unit 70 is electrically connected to the plurality of battery modules 15 , and can manage and control the battery rack 2 . Specifically, the BMS unit 70 may be electrically connected to the battery cells 100 and the relay unit 400 of the plurality of battery modules 15 , and An operation of the relay unit 400 may be controlled.
[73]
The heat insulation unit 80 is provided between the rack case 50 and the shunt unit 550 , and may be mounted on an upper surface of the rack case 50 . The heat insulation unit 80 can effectively prevent heat generated during an external short circuit through the shunt unit 550 from being transferred to the BMS unit 70 side.
[74]
Meanwhile, it may be possible to prevent heat transfer from the shunt unit 550 to the BMS unit 70 through the heat sink or a predetermined air gap of the previous embodiment instead of the heat insulating unit 80 .
[75]
In the present embodiment, when overheating occurs due to the occurrence of an abnormal situation in at least one of the battery modules 15 , the BMS unit 70 controls the battery module 15 in which the abnormal situation occurs. By operating the relay unit 400 of , the battery module 15 in which an abnormal condition has occurred may be externally short-circuited through the shunt unit 550 .
[76]
As such, the battery rack 2 according to this embodiment, when an abnormal situation occurs in at least one of the battery modules 15 of the battery modules 15, only the battery module 15 in which the abnormal situation occurs externally short Thus, it is possible to minimize the loss of the battery modules 15 when an abnormal situation occurs.
[77]
In addition, in the battery rack 2 according to this embodiment, since only one of the shunt unit 550 is provided in the battery rack 2 unit, the manufacturing cost of the battery rack 2 is reduced and the entire The system can be further simplified.
[78]
7 is a diagram for explaining a power storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[79]
Referring to FIG. 7 , the power storage device E, the power storage device E, may be used as an energy source for home or industrial use. The power storage device (E), at least one of the preceding embodiment, in the case of this embodiment, a plurality of battery racks (1) and a rack container (C) for accommodating the plurality of battery racks (1) may include .
[80]
The power storage device (E) according to this embodiment, including the battery rack (1) of the previous embodiment, the power storage device (E) including all the advantages of the battery rack (1) of the previous embodiment can provide
[81]
On the other hand, the battery rack (1) may be provided in vehicles such as electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, etc., in this case, it is possible to provide a vehicle including all the advantages of the battery rack (1) of the previous embodiment, of course am.
[82]
In addition, the battery rack (2) of the previous embodiment other than the battery rack (1), of course, can also be provided in the power storage device (E) or the vehicle, even in this case, the battery rack of the preceding embodiment Of course, it is possible to provide a power storage device (E) or a vehicle including all of the advantages of (2).
[83]
According to various embodiments as described above, the battery module 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 capable of suppressing thermal runaway and heat propagation more quickly when an abnormal situation occurs in the battery cell 100, such a battery module ( 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 may provide a battery rack (1, 2) and a power storage device (E) including.
[84]
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 it is common in the technical field to which the present invention pertains without departing from the gist of the present invention as claimed in the claims. Various modifications may be made by those having the knowledge of, of course, and these modifications should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or perspective of the present invention.
Claims
[Claim 1]
A battery module comprising: at least one battery cell; a module case for accommodating the at least one battery cell; a relay unit provided in the module case and electrically connected to the at least one battery cell; and a shunt unit electrically connected to the relay unit and provided outside the module case.
[Claim 2]
The battery module according to claim 1, further comprising a heat sink provided between the module case and the shunt unit.
[Claim 3]
The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the shunt unit and the heat sink are provided above the module case.
[Claim 4]
The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the shunt unit and the heat sink are provided under the module case.
[Claim 5]
The battery module according to claim 1, further comprising a heat insulating unit provided between the module case and the shunt unit.
[Claim 6]
The battery module according to claim 5, wherein the shunt unit and the heat insulation unit are provided above the module case.
[Claim 7]
The battery module according to claim 5, wherein the shunt unit and the heat insulation unit are provided under the module case.
[Claim 8]
at least one battery module according to claim 1; and a rack case accommodating the at least one battery module.
[Claim 9]
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the shunt unit is provided above the rack case, and the battery rack is provided between the rack case and the shunt unit and includes a heat insulating unit mounted on the upper surface of the rack case. Battery rack, characterized in that.
[Claim 10]
The power storage device comprising a; at least one battery rack according to claim 8.