Specification
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. 10-2020-0052254 dated April 29, 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 having improved cooling performance and safety, and a device including the same.
background
[4]
In modern society, as the use of portable devices such as mobile phones, laptops, camcorders, and digital cameras has become commonplace, the development of technologies related to mobile devices as described above has been active. In addition, a rechargeable battery capable of charging and discharging is a measure to solve air pollution such as conventional gasoline vehicles using fossil fuels, and electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles ( P-HEV) is being used as a power source, and the need for the development of secondary batteries is increasing.
[5]
Currently commercialized secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, and lithium secondary batteries. Among them, lithium secondary batteries have little memory effect compared to nickel-based secondary batteries, so they can be charged and discharged freely. , the self-discharge rate is very low and the energy density is high.
[6]
Such a lithium secondary battery mainly uses a lithium-based oxide and a carbon material as a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material, respectively. A lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate to which the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material are respectively applied with a separator interposed therebetween, and a battery case for sealingly accommodating the electrode assembly together with an electrolyte.
[7]
In general, a lithium secondary battery may be classified into a can-type secondary battery in which an electrode assembly is embedded in a metal can and a pouch-type secondary battery in which an electrode assembly is embedded in a pouch of an aluminum laminate sheet according to the shape of the exterior material.
[8]
In the case of secondary batteries used in small devices, 2-3 battery cells are disposed, but in the case of secondary batteries used in mid- to large-sized devices such as automobiles, a battery module in which a plurality of battery cells are electrically connected this is used In such a battery module, a plurality of battery cells are connected in series or parallel to each other to form a battery cell stack, thereby improving capacity and output. In addition, one or more battery modules may be mounted together with various control and protection systems, such as a battery management system (BMS) and a cooling system, to form a battery pack.
[9]
In the case of a secondary battery, when the temperature is higher than an appropriate temperature, the performance of the secondary battery may be deteriorated, and in severe cases, there is a risk of explosion or ignition. In particular, in a battery module or battery pack having a plurality of secondary batteries, that is, a battery cell, heat emitted from the plurality of battery cells is added up in a narrow space, so that the temperature may rise more rapidly and severely. In other words, in the case of a battery module in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked and a battery pack equipped with such a battery module, high output can be obtained, but it is not easy to remove heat generated from the battery cells during charging and discharging. If the heat dissipation of the battery cell is not performed properly, the deterioration of the battery cell is accelerated and the lifespan is shortened, and the possibility of explosion or ignition increases.
[10]
Furthermore, in the case of a battery module included in a vehicle battery pack, it may be frequently exposed to direct sunlight, and may be placed in a high temperature condition such as in summer or in a desert area.
[11]
Therefore, when configuring the battery module or battery pack, it can be said that it is very important to secure a stable and effective cooling performance.
[12]
1 is a partial perspective view of a conventional battery pack, and FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view illustrating a method of mounting a battery module included in the battery pack of FIG. 1 .
[13]
1 and 2 , a conventional battery pack may include a plurality of battery modules 10 and a pack frame 11 in which the plurality of battery modules are accommodated. For convenience of explanation, only one battery module is shown in FIG. 1 .
[14]
In theconventional battery pack, a refrigerant pipe is provided for cooling the battery module 10 , and the refrigerant is supplied through the refrigerant pipe connector 13 connected to the refrigerant pipe. This refrigerant is usually a cooling water, and a fluid indirect cooling structure in which the temperature is lowered by flowing such cooling water inside the battery pack is applied.
[15]
Meanwhile, when the battery module 10 is accommodated in the pack frame 11, mounting holes are provided at four corners, and the mounting bolts 12 pass through the mounting holes to be fastened to the pack frame 11. . Such a mounting coupling may be made for each battery module 10 .
[16]
At this time, the cooling configuration such as the coolant tube connector 13 for cooling the battery module 10 and the mounting configuration such as the mounting bolt 12 for mounting the battery module 10 are separate configurations, for each configuration. There is a problem that there are many parts and it is complicated.
[17]
In addition, a situation in which refrigerant leaks from the refrigerant pipe or the refrigerant pipe connector 13 may occur due to assembly defects or accidents during operation. this can be
[18]
Accordingly, there is a need to develop a battery pack capable of minimizing damage due to refrigerant leakage while improving cooling performance.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
technical challenge
[19]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack capable of preventing damage due to refrigerant leakage while improving cooling performance and a device including the same.
[20]
However, the problems to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described problems and may be variously expanded within the scope of the technical idea included in the present invention.
means of solving the problem
[21]
A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a plurality of battery modules including a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, and a module frame for accommodating the battery cell stack; a pack frame accommodating the plurality of battery modules; and fixing brackets positioned on the front and rear surfaces of the battery module, respectively, wherein protrusions are formed on the front and rear surfaces of the battery module, respectively, and the fixing brackets surround the protrusions and are coupled to the pack frame.
[22]
The protrusion may be formed at a lower edge of the front surface of the battery module and a lower corner of the rear surface of the battery module, and the fixing bracket may include a fixing part surrounding the upper surface and one side of the protrusion.
[23]
A bracket hole may be formed in the fixing bracket, and a first pack frame hole may be formed in the pack frame. The battery pack may further include a first bolt passing through the first pack frame hole and the bracket hole, and a first nut coupled to the first bolt.
[24]
The battery pack may further include an insulating member positioned between the protrusion and the pack frame.
[25]
The battery module may include a heat sink positioned below the bottom of the module frame, and the bottom of the module frame may constitute an upper plate of the heat sink.
[26]
The pack frame may include a pack refrigerant supply pipe for supplying a refrigerant and an opening for supplying a refrigerant connected to the pack refrigerant supply pipe, and the heat sink may include an inlet through which the refrigerant flows, the inlet and the refrigerant The feeding openings may be interconnected.
[27]
The battery pack may further include a gasket that surrounds the inlet and the opening for supplying the refrigerant while being positioned between the heat sink and the pack frame.
[28]
The pack frame may include a pack refrigerant discharge pipe for discharging the refrigerant and an opening for discharging the refrigerant connected to the pack refrigerant discharge pipe, the heat sink may include an outlet through which the refrigerant flows, the outlet and the refrigerant The outlet openings may be interconnected.
[29]
The module frame may include a module frame extension formed by extending a portion of a bottom portion of the module frame, and the heat sink may include a heat sink extending from one side of the heat sink to a portion where the module frame extension is located. may include wealth.
[30]
A second pack frame hole may be formed in the pack frame, a first mounting hole may be formed in the module frame extension part, and a second mounting hole may be formed in the heat sink extension part. The battery pack may further include a second bolt passing through the first mounting hole, the second mounting hole, and the second pack frame hole, and a second nut coupled to the second bolt.
[31]
The fixing bracket may include a cover part covering the module frame extension part and the heat sink extension part.
[32]
A penetrating drain hole may be formed in a portion of the pack frame covered by the cover part.

Claims

[Claim 1]
a plurality of battery modules including a battery cell stack on which a plurality of battery cells are stacked and a module frame for accommodating the battery cell stack; a pack frame accommodating the plurality of battery modules; and fixing brackets positioned on the front and rear surfaces of the battery module, respectively, wherein protrusions are respectively formed on the front and rear surfaces of the battery module, and the fixing brackets surround the protrusions and are coupled to the pack frame. .
[Claim 2]
The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is formed at a lower edge of the front surface of the battery module and a lower corner of the rear surface of the battery module, and the fixing bracket includes a fixing part surrounding the upper surface and one side of the protrusion. .
[Claim 3]
The method of claim 1, wherein a bracket hole is formed in the fixing bracket, a first pack frame hole is formed in the pack frame, a first bolt passing through the first pack frame hole and the bracket hole, and the first bolt; The battery pack further comprising a first nut to be coupled.
[Claim 4]
The battery pack of claim 1 , further comprising an insulating member positioned between the protrusion and the pack frame.
[Claim 5]
The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the battery module includes a heat sink positioned below a bottom of the module frame, and the bottom of the module frame constitutes an upper plate of the heat sink.
[Claim 6]
The method of claim 5, wherein the pack frame comprises a pack refrigerant supply pipe for supplying a refrigerant and an opening for supplying a refrigerant connected to the pack refrigerant supply pipe, and the heat sink includes an inlet through which the refrigerant flows, the inlet and the A battery pack in which openings for supplying refrigerant are connected to each other.
[Claim 7]
The battery pack of claim 6 , further comprising a gasket positioned between the heat sink and the pack frame, the gasket surrounding the inlet port and the refrigerant supply opening.
[Claim 8]
The method of claim 5, wherein the pack frame comprises a pack refrigerant discharge pipe for discharging the refrigerant and an opening for discharging the refrigerant connected to the pack refrigerant discharge pipe, the heat sink includes an outlet through which the refrigerant flows, the outlet and the A battery pack in which the refrigerant discharge openings are connected to each other.
[Claim 9]
The module frame of claim 5 , wherein the module frame includes a module frame extension formed by extending a portion of a bottom of the module frame, and the heat sink extends from one side of the heat sink to a portion where the module frame extension is located. A battery pack including a heat sink extension.
[Claim 10]
The method of claim 9, wherein a second pack frame hole is formed in the pack frame, a first mounting hole is formed in the module frame extension portion, a second mounting hole is formed in the heat sink extension portion, and the first mounting A battery pack further comprising a hole, a second bolt passing through the second mounting hole and the second pack frame hole, and a second nut coupled to the second bolt.
[Claim 11]
The battery pack of claim 9 , wherein the fixing bracket includes a cover part covering the module frame extension part and the heat sink extension part.
[Claim 12]
The battery pack of claim 11 , wherein a drain hole is formed in a portion of the pack frame surrounded by the cover part.
[Claim 13]
The battery pack of claim 9 , wherein the heat sink includes an inlet for introducing a refrigerant, and at least a portion of the inlet is located in the heat sink extension portion.
[Claim 14]
The battery pack of claim 5 , wherein the heat sink and the bottom of the module frame form a refrigerant passage, and the bottom of the module frame is in contact with the coolant.
[Claim 15]
The battery pack of claim 5 , wherein the heat sink includes a lower plate joined to the bottom of the module frame and a depression formed downwardly.
[Claim 16]
According to claim 1, wherein the pack frame comprises a support frame for supporting the battery module and a lower frame located below the support frame, the support frame, a pack refrigerant supply pipe and a pack positioned between the support frame and the lower frame A battery pack including a refrigerant discharge pipe.
[Claim 17]
A device comprising the battery pack according to claim 1 .