Title of Invention: Battery pack and device including same
technical field
[One]
Cross-Citation with Related Application(s)
[2]
This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0045308 dated April 14, 2020, and all contents disclosed in the literature of the Korean patent application are incorporated as a part of this specification.
[3]
The present invention relates to a battery pack and a device including the same, and more particularly, to a battery pack in which a cooling structure is integrated and a device including the same.
background
[4]
Secondary batteries are receiving a lot of attention as an energy source in various product groups such as mobile devices and electric vehicles. Such a secondary battery is a powerful energy resource that can replace the use of conventional products using fossil fuels, and is in the spotlight as an eco-friendly energy source because no by-products are generated according to energy use.
[5]
Recently, as the need for a high-capacity secondary battery structure, including the use of secondary batteries as an energy storage source, increases, the demand for a battery pack having a multi-module structure in which a plurality of secondary batteries are assembled in series/parallel connected battery pack is increasing. .
[6]
On the other hand, when configuring a battery pack by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series/parallel, a battery module composed of battery cells is configured, and other components are added using at least one battery module to configure the battery pack. How to do it is common
[7]
The battery pack includes a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, and a plurality of battery modules each including a module frame accommodating the battery cell stack.
[8]
1 is a view showing a conventional battery pack in which a plurality of battery modules are disposed.
[9]
Referring to FIG. 1 , a conventional battery pack includes a structure in which a refrigerant flows along a flow path 20 to a lower side of a plurality of battery modules 10 accommodated in a lower housing 30 . In the case of the battery pack structure of FIG. 1, since the number of battery modules is relatively large, it is difficult to individually control the temperature for each battery module. A temperature deviation may occur between the module, the battery module farther from the inlet portion of the coolant, and the battery cells inside the battery module. When a temperature deviation occurs between battery modules and between battery cells, the lifespan of the secondary battery may be shortened.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
technical challenge
[10]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack having a cooling structure integrated therein and a device including the same.
[11]
The problems of the present invention are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.
means of solving the problem
[12]
A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention for realizing the above object includes a plurality of battery modules; a plurality of heat sinks formed under each of the plurality of battery modules; a first flow path for supplying a refrigerant to each of the plurality of heat sinks; and a second flow path for discharging the refrigerant circulated in the plurality of heat sinks, wherein the refrigerant supplied to each of the heat sinks circulates in a space formed between the heat sink and a lower surface of the module frame, respectively.
[13]
The first flow path may include: an inlet into which a refrigerant is introduced; a main supply passage for guiding the introduced refrigerant; and a plurality of sub-supply flow passages for respectively supplying the refrigerant that has passed through the main supply passage to the heat sinks, wherein the second passage includes: an outlet for discharging the refrigerant; a main discharge passage for guiding the refrigerant to the outlet; and a sub discharge passage for discharging the refrigerant circulated in the heat sink to the main discharge passage.
[14]
The sub supply passage and the sub discharge passage are formed below the heat sinks, the sub supply passage supplies the refrigerant upward to a space between the heat sink and the bottom of the module frame, and the sub discharge passage is the It may be discharged downward from the space between the heat sink and the bottom of the module frame.
[15]
The main supply flow path part and the main discharge flow path part are respectively disposed outside the plurality of battery modules, the sub supply flow path part is formed to extend toward the main discharge flow path part, and the sub discharge flow path part extends toward the main supply flow path part can be formed.
[16]
The sub-supply flow path part is formed to extend so that the sub-supply flow path part passes through at least one heat sink for supplying the refrigerant, and the sub-discharge flow path part includes at least one heat sink for discharging the refrigerant to the sub-discharge flow path part. It may be formed to extend past.
[17]
The first flow path and the second flow path may be disposed to cross a lower middle portion of the battery module assembly.
[18]
The plurality of battery modules may be arranged in at least one column, and the sub supply passage part and the sub discharge passage part may be disposed in each row.
[19]
In the plurality of battery modules, one battery module is disposed in a portion adjacent to the portion where the inlet and the outlet are formed, and then the plurality of battery modules are arranged in two rows along the main supply passage and the main discharge passage. can
[20]
a lower housing accommodating the plurality of battery modules, the first flow path, and the second flow path; and an upper housing covering the plurality of battery modules, the first flow path, and the second flow path from an upper side.
[21]
A device according to another embodiment of the present invention includes the battery pack.
Effects of the Invention
[22]
According to embodiments of the present invention, in a battery pack structure including a large-area battery module in which the number of battery cells is increased, the temperature deviation between battery modules can be minimized by supplying a refrigerant to heat sinks formed separately in each of the battery modules. can
[23]
In addition, the cooling structure can be simplified through the cooling structure in which the module frame and the heat sink are integrated.
[24]
Effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.
Brief description of the drawing
[25]
1 is a view showing a conventional battery pack in which a plurality of battery modules are disposed.
[26]
2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a battery module and a heat sink coupled thereto according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[27]
3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[28]
4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating in more detail a structure in which a plurality of battery modules of FIG. 3 and heat sinks disposed below each of the battery modules are formed.
[29]
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of part A of FIG. 4 .
[30]
6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a battery pack according to a modified embodiment of the present invention.
Modes for carrying out the invention
[31]
It should be understood that the embodiments described below 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. However, in the description of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or component may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description and detailed illustration thereof will be omitted. In addition, the accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale in order to help understanding of the invention, but dimensions of some components may be exaggerated.
[32]
The first and second terms used in the present application may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.
[33]
In addition, the terms used in the present application are only used to describe specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the scope of rights. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this application, terms such as "comprises", "consists of" or "consisting It should be understood that it does not preclude the possibility of addition or existence of further other features or numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.
[34]
Hereinafter, the configuration of the battery module, the heat sink connected thereto, and the first and second flow paths according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 .
[35]
2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a battery module and a heat sink coupled thereto according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating in more detail a structure in which a plurality of battery modules of FIG. 3 and heat sinks disposed below each of the battery modules are formed. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of part A of FIG. 4 .
[36]
2 to 5 , a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, a plurality of battery modules 100 and a plurality of battery modules 100, respectively. It includes a plurality of heat sinks 400 formed under the. The heat sinks 400 also include a first flow path 200 for supplying refrigerant to the plurality of heat sinks 400 and a second flow path 300 for discharging the refrigerant circulated in the plurality of heat sinks 400 . The refrigerant supplied to each circulates in a space formed between the heat sink 400 and the bottom of the plurality of battery modules 100 , respectively.
[37]
The plurality of battery modules 100 may include a battery cell stack 110 in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, and a module frame 120 accommodating the battery cell stack 110 , respectively. The battery cell according to this embodiment is a secondary battery, and may be configured as a pouch-type secondary battery. The battery cells may be configured in plurality, and the plurality of battery cells may be stacked to each other so as to be electrically connected to each other to form the battery cell stack 110 . Each of the plurality of battery cells may include an electrode assembly, a cell case, and an electrode lead protruding from the electrode assembly.
[38]
The module frame 120 may accommodate the battery cell stack 110 . The module frame 120 may include a lower frame 121 that covers the lower surface and both sides of the battery cell stack 110 , and an upper plate 122 that covers the upper surface of the battery cell stack 100 . However, the structure of the module frame 120 is not limited thereto, and may be in the form of a mono frame surrounding on four surfaces except for the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack 110 .
[39]
The battery module 100 according to the present embodiment may further include an end plate 130 covering the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack 110 . It is possible to physically protect the battery cell stack 110 accommodated therein through the module frame 120 described above.
[40]
The heat sink 400 may be formed under the module frame 120 . The heat sink 400 is formed on one side of the lower plate 410 and the heat sink 400 forming a skeleton of the heat sink 400 and in contact with the bottom of the module frame 120 to form the heat sink 400 from the outside. ) The inlet 420 for supplying the refrigerant to the inside, the outlet 430 formed on one side of the heat sink to allow the refrigerant flowing inside the heat sink to flow out of the heat sink, and the inlet 420 and the outlet 430 are connected and a flow path part 440 through which the refrigerant flows.
[41]
Specifically, the flow passage 440 may refer to a structure in which the lower plate 410 in contact with the lower surface of the lower frame 121 corresponding to the bottom of the module frame 120 is depressed downward. The upper side of the flow path part 440 is opened to form a flow path between the flow path part 440 and the bottom of the module frame 120 , and a refrigerant may flow through the flow path. In other words, the battery module 100 according to the present embodiment may have a cooling-integrated structure in which the bottom of the module frame 120 serves to correspond to the upper plate of the heat sink 400 .
[42]
Conventionally, a structure in which a refrigerant flows is separately formed on the lower side of the module frame, so that the module frame cannot but be indirectly cooled, so cooling efficiency is lowered and a separate refrigerant flow structure is formed on the battery module and the battery pack equipped with the battery module. There was a problem that the space utilization rate was lowered. However, according to an embodiment of the present invention, by adopting a structure in which the heat sink 400 is integrated in the lower part of the module frame 120 , the refrigerant flows directly between the flow path part 440 and the bottom part of the module frame 120 . As a result, the cooling efficiency due to direct cooling increases, and the space utilization rate on the battery module and the battery pack on which the battery module is mounted is further improved through the structure in which the heat sink 400 is integrated with the bottom of the module frame 120 . can do it
[43]
The lower plate 410 may be formed to correspond to the bottom of the module frame 120 . The bottom portion of the module frame 120 corresponds to the bottom portion of the lower frame 121 , and the bottom portion of the lower plate 410 and the lower frame 121 may be coupled by welding, and the battery module may be connected through the lower plate 410 . The overall rigidity can be reinforced. Since the bottom of the lower plate 410 and the lower frame 121 are sealed through welding, the refrigerant may flow through the flow path 440 formed inside the lower plate 410 without leakage.
[44]
Referring to FIG. 5 , both the inlet 420 and the outlet 430 may be formed on one side of the heat sink 400 . In more detail, both the inlet 420 and the outlet 430 may be formed on one side of the heat sink 400 formed in the portion where the end plate 130 is located. The inlet 420 and the outlet 430 may be respectively located at both ends of one side of the heat sink 400 . A refrigerant supply unit and a refrigerant discharge unit are formed on the lower side or upper side of the heat sink 400 , so that the refrigerant supplied through the refrigerant supply unit may flow into the inlet 420 , and the refrigerant discharged through the outlet 430 may be discharged through the refrigerant discharge unit. can be discharged to the outside.
[45]
The flow path 440 may be formed to cover the bottom of the module frame 120 while being bent. The flow path part 440 is formed in most areas except for the part where the lower plate 410 of the bottom part of the module frame 120 comes into contact with the bottom part of the module frame 120 , so that the upper part of the bottom part of the module frame 120 is formed. All parts of the battery cell stack 110 arranged to occupy most of the area of ​​the bottom of the module frame 120 may be uniformly cooled.
[46]
A portion where the flow passage 440 is bent may be formed as a curved surface. When the angled corner portion is formed in the flow path portion 440 , the flow of the refrigerant is stagnated at the angled corner portion, so that the temperature deviation and pressure drop may increase. In this regard, if the bent portion is treated as a curved surface as in an embodiment of the present invention, the flow of the refrigerant may be made naturally.
[47]
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of heat sinks 400 may be formed under each of the plurality of battery modules 100 . The first flow path 200 supplies refrigerant to each of the plurality of heat sinks 400 , and the second flow path 300 discharges the refrigerant circulated in the plurality of heat sinks 400 to the outside.
[48]
Conventionally, a flow path for the flow of the refrigerant is separately formed at the lower side of the plurality of battery modules, and the separately formed flow path is disposed to pass through the lower side of the plurality of battery modules. However, in the conventional case, it is difficult to control the individual temperature of the battery module , a problem that a temperature deviation between the battery module and battery cells located near the coolant inlet point and the battery module and battery cells far from the coolant inlet point may occur, which may shorten the life of the battery module there was
[49]
Accordingly, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of heat sinks 400 are integrally formed under each of the plurality of battery modules 100 , and each of the plurality of heat sinks 400 is formed through the first flow path 200 . By adopting a structure in which the refrigerant is supplied to the battery module, the temperature deviation between the battery module and the battery cells can be minimized, and the lifespan of the battery module and the battery pack can be increased.
[50]
In addition, as in this embodiment, in the case of a large-area module in which the number of battery cells stacked instead of having a larger size than the battery module of FIG. 1 is greater than the number of battery cells of FIG. 1, the number of battery modules shown in FIG. Compared to that, it is possible to reduce the number of battery modules inserted into a battery pack having the same volume, thereby further simplifying the refrigerant supply structure to be supplied to each battery module.
[51]
Hereinafter, a refrigerant supply and discharge structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 .
[52]
4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating in more detail a structure in which a plurality of battery modules of FIG. 3 and heat sinks disposed below each of the battery modules are formed. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of part A of FIG. 4 .
[53]
Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5 , the first flow path 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an inlet part 210 into which a refrigerant flows, a main supply flow path part 320 for guiding the introduced refrigerant, and a main It may include a plurality of sub-supply passage units 230 for respectively supplying the refrigerant that has passed through the supply passage unit 320 to the heat sinks 400 . In addition, the second flow path 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an outlet portion 310 through which the refrigerant is discharged, a main discharge passage portion 320 for guiding the refrigerant to the outlet portion 310 , and a heat sink 400 . It may include a sub-discharge passage 330 for discharging the refrigerant circulated in the main discharge passage 320 .
[54]
At this time, the sub supply flow passage 230 and the sub discharge passage 330 are formed below the heat sinks 400 , and the sub supply passage 230 supplies the refrigerant to the heat sink 400 and the module frame 120 . may be supplied upwardly to the space between the bottom of the , and the sub-discharge flow path 330 may be discharged downwardly from the space between the heat sink 400 and the bottom of the module frame.
[55]
As a result, the refrigerant introduced through the inlet part 210 passes through the main supply flow path part 220 and the sub supply flow path part 230 in order, and the inlets of the heat sinks 400 located below the battery modules 100 . Each of the supplied refrigerants is supplied through the 420 , and the supplied refrigerant circulates in the heat sink 400 through the flow path 440 formed in each heat sink 400 , and the refrigerant that is circulated is completed at the outlets of the heat sinks 400 . It may be discharged to the outside of the battery pack through the outlet 310 passing through 430 and passing through the sub discharge passage 330 and the main discharge passage 320 in sequence.
[56]
According to the present embodiment, the main supply passage 220 and the main discharge passage 320 are respectively disposed outside the plurality of battery modules 100 , and the sub supply passage 230 is the main discharge passage 320 . ), and the sub discharge passage 330 may extend toward the main supply passage 220 . At this time, the sub-supply flow path part 230 is formed to extend so that the sub-supply flow path part 230 passes all of the at least one heat sink 400 that supplies the refrigerant, and the sub-discharge flow path part 330 is the sub-discharge. The at least one heat sink 400 for discharging the refrigerant to the flow path part 330 may be extended to pass all of it.
[57]
The sub-supply flow path part 230 is formed to extend past the inlet 420 of the heat sink 400 to reach a portion where the main discharge flow path part 320 is located, so that at least one heat sink 400 and the battery located on the upper side thereof are extended. It can support the load of the module 100 . The sub discharge flow path part 330 may extend to reach a portion where the main supply flow path part 220 is located, thereby supporting the load of at least one heat sink 400 and the battery module 100 positioned above the sub discharge flow path part 330 .
[58]
The plurality of battery modules 100 may be arranged in at least one column, and a sub supply flow passage 230 and a sub discharge passage 330 may be disposed in each row. According to this embodiment, in the plurality of battery modules 100 , one battery module 100 is disposed in a portion adjacent to a portion where the inlet portion 210 and the outlet portion 310 are formed, and then the main supply passage portion ( 220) and a plurality of battery modules along the main discharge passage 320 may be arranged in two rows.
[59]
According to the present embodiment, a lower housing 500 accommodating the plurality of battery modules 100 , the first flow path 200 , and the second flow path 300 , and the plurality of battery modules 100 , the first flow path 200 . and an upper housing 600 covering the second flow path 300 from the upper side.
[60]
Hereinafter, a battery pack according to a modified embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6 .
[61]
6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a battery pack according to a modified embodiment of the present invention.
[62]
Referring to FIG. 6 , in the battery pack according to the modified embodiment of the present invention, the first flow path 200 and the second flow path 300 may be disposed to cross the lower middle portion of the battery module assembly. As described above, it is possible to implement a battery pack having an arrangement structure of the first and second flow paths 200 and 300 modified in various forms.
[63]
The battery pack according to the embodiments of the present invention is packed by adding one or more battery modules according to the present embodiment to a battery management system (BMS) that manages the temperature or voltage of the battery and a cooling device, etc. It can be one structure.
[64]
The battery pack may be applied to various devices. These devices can be applied to transportation means such as electric bicycles, electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, etc., but the present invention is not limited thereto and can be applied to various devices that can use a battery module, which also falls within the scope of the present invention. .
[65]
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 are possible 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.
[66]
Explanation of symbols
[67]
100: battery module
[68]
110: battery cell stack
[69]
120: module frame
[70]
121: lower frame
[71]
122: upper plate
[72]
130: end plate
[73]
200: 1st Euro
[74]
210: inlet part
[75]
220: main supply flow path part
[76]
230: sub-supply flow path part
[77]
300: 2nd Euro
[78]
310: outlet
[79]
320: main discharge flow path part
[80]
330: sub discharge flow path part
[81]
400: heat sink
[82]
500: lower housing
[83]
600: upper housing
[84]
[85]
Claims
[Claim 1]
a plurality of battery modules; a plurality of heat sinks formed under each of the plurality of battery modules; a first flow path for supplying a refrigerant to each of the plurality of heat sinks; and a second flow path for discharging the refrigerant circulated in the plurality of heat sinks, wherein the refrigerant supplied to each of the heat sinks circulates in a space formed between the heat sink and the lower surface of the module frame, respectively. .
[Claim 2]
The method of claim 1, wherein the first flow path comprises: an inlet into which the refrigerant flows; a main supply passage for guiding the introduced refrigerant; and a plurality of sub-supply flow passages for respectively supplying the refrigerant that has passed through the main supply passage to the heat sinks, wherein the second passage includes: an outlet for discharging the refrigerant; a main discharge passage for guiding the refrigerant to the outlet; and a sub-discharge passage for discharging the refrigerant circulated in the heat sink to the main discharge passage.
[Claim 3]
The method of claim 2, wherein the sub-supply passage part and the sub-discharge passage part are formed below the heat sinks, and the sub-supply passage part supplies the refrigerant upward to a space between the heat sink and the bottom of the module frame, and A battery pack configured to discharge the sub discharge passage downward from a space between the heat sink and the bottom of the module frame.
[Claim 4]
The method of claim 2, wherein the main supply flow path part and the main discharge flow path part are respectively disposed outside the plurality of battery modules, the sub supply flow path part is formed to extend toward the main discharge flow path part, and the sub discharge flow path part is the main A battery pack extending toward the supply flow passage.
[Claim 5]
5 . The sub-supply channel unit of claim 4 , wherein the sub-supply channel unit extends to pass through at least one heat sink for supplying the refrigerant, and the sub-discharge channel unit comprises at least one of the sub-supply channel units for discharging the refrigerant to the sub-discharge channel unit. A battery pack that extends past all of its heat sinks.
[Claim 6]
The battery pack of claim 2 , wherein the first flow path and the second flow path cross a lower middle portion of the battery module assembly.
[Claim 7]
The battery pack of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of battery modules are arranged in at least one column, and the sub supply passage part and the sub discharge passage part are disposed in each row.
[Claim 8]
[Claim 8] The method of claim 7, wherein, in the plurality of battery modules, one battery module is disposed at a portion adjacent to a portion where the inlet and the outlet are formed, and then a plurality of battery modules are disposed along the main supply passage and the main discharge passage. Battery packs arranged in these two rows.
[Claim 9]
The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a lower housing accommodating the plurality of battery modules, the first flow path, and the second flow path; and an upper housing covering the plurality of battery modules, the first flow path, and the second flow path from an upper side.
[Claim 10]
A device comprising the battery pack according to claim 1 .