BATTERY PACK

A battery pack, including a plurality of battery cells; and first spacers and second spacers between the plurality of battery cells to form gap flow paths, the first spacers and second spacers extending to face each other, the first spacers extending from a first position and the second spacers extending from a second position, the first and second positions facing each other such that the first and second spacers interlock.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0015591, filed on Jan. 30, 2015, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and entitled “Battery Pack,” is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

One or more exemplary embodiments relate to a battery pack.

2. Description of the Related Art

Secondary batteries may be rechargeable unlike primary batteries that cannot be recharged. The secondary batteries may be used as energy sources in, for example, mobile devices, electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, electric bicycles, and uninterruptible power supplies, and may be of a single-battery type or a pack type in which multiple batteries may be electrically connected to each other and bound in one unit, according to types of external devices using the secondary batteries.

SUMMARY

Embodiments may be realized by providing a battery pack, including a plurality of battery cells; and first spacers and second spacers between the plurality of battery cells to form gap flow paths, the first spacers and second spacers extending to face each other, the first spacers extending from a first position and the second spacers extending from a second position, the first and second positions facing each other such that the first and second spacers interlock.

The first spacers and second spacers may extend at least to locations where end portions of the first spacers overlap end portions of the second spacers.

End portions of the first spacers may extend toward the second position, but may not reach the second position.

End portions of the second spacers may extend toward the first position, but may not reach the first position.

Each of the first spacers and the second spacers may include a plurality of unit members between neighboring battery cells.

Each of the plurality of unit members may have a pole shape extending in one direction.

The first position may correspond to a first case, the second position may correspond to a second case, and the first and second cases may be coupled to each other along upward and downward directions, in which the first spacers and second spacers face each other, by interposing the plurality of battery cells between the first and second cases.

The first spacers may extend from the first case to the second case, and end portions of the first spacers may be separated from the second case, and the second spacers may extend from the second case to the first case, and end portions of the second spacers may be separated from the first case.

The gap flow paths may include a space between the first spacers and the second case, a space between the first and second spacers interlocking with one another in a comb form, and a space between the second spacers and the first case.

The gap flow paths may induce air flow in a zigzag pattern reciprocating along the upward and downward directions.

The battery cells may include battery cells aligned in a first column and a second column, and a main flow path connected to a fluid machine may be formed between the battery cells in the first column and the battery cells in the second column.

The battery cells in the first column and the battery cells in the second column may be aligned diagonally with respect to the main flow path.

The battery cells in the first column and the battery cells in the second column may be symmetrically aligned with respect to the main flow path.

The battery pack may further include a first case and a second case coupled to each other in upward and downward directions, the first spacers and second spacers facing each other in the upward and downward directions, the first and second cases providing a space for housing the battery cells. The first case may have a box shape including a bottom portion, side portions for forming the space, and an open upper portion, and the second case may have a plate shape that covers the open upper portion of the first case.

The main flow path may be formed in a front-rear direction of the first case, the battery cells in the first column and the battery cells in the second column may be aligned on left and right sides of the main flow path, one of the side portions may be on a front of the first case, the one side portion may include a first through hole, and side portions on left and right sides of the first case may each include a second through hole.

The first through hole may be connected to the fluid machine and may discharge air to outside the battery pack, and the second through holes may receive air from outside the battery pack.

The fluid machine may generate air flow by using a suction force.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, a battery pack will be described in detail by explaining exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1illustrates a perspective view of a battery pack according to an exemplary embodiment.FIG. 2illustrates an exploded perspective view of the battery pack ofFIG. 1.FIG. 3illustrates a plan structure of a first case110ofFIG. 1.FIG. 4schematically illustrates air flow in the battery pack ofFIG. 1. Also,FIG. 5illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along a line V-V ofFIG. 2(not indicated inFIG. 2) and schematically illustrates air flow in neighboring battery cells. For convenience of illustration, the battery cells are not illustrated inFIG. 1.

Referring to the attached drawings, the battery pack may include at least two battery cells10and spacers131and132aligned between the battery cells10. The spacers131and132may induce air flow in a reciprocating zigzag pattern between the neighboring battery cells10.

The battery cells10may be aligned in a first column R1and a second column R2. The battery cells10in the first column R1and the battery cells in the second column R2may be aligned in a diagonal direction, e.g., at an acute angle, based on a main flow path D formed at the center of the battery pack. For example, the battery cells10in the first column R1and the battery cells10in the second column R2may be diagonally aligned at an acute angle to the main flow path D. The battery cells10in the first column R1and the battery cells in the second column R2may be symmetrically aligned with respect to the main flow path D.

The spacers131and132may be aligned between the neighboring battery cells10. The spacers131and132may include first spacers131and second spacers132protruding in an upward direction and a downward direction of the battery pack in which the first spacers and second spacers face each other. For example, the first spacers131may extend in the upward direction from a first position P1(corresponding to a bottom position), and the second spacers132may extend in the downward direction from a second position P2(corresponding to a top position). The first and second spacers131and132may interlock with one another in a comb form and may be alternately formed.

The first and second spacers131and132may extend from the first position P1and the second position P2, and the first position P1and the second position P2may respectively correspond to the first case110and a second case120, which may be coupled to each other in the upward direction and downward direction in which the first spacers and second spacers face each other. The first and second spacers131and132may be respectively formed in the first case110and the second case120. The first spacers131may protrude in the upward direction toward the second case120from the first case110, and the second spacers132may protrude in the downward direction toward the first case110from the second case120.

The first spacers131may include a plurality of unit members131aaligned between a pair of neighboring battery cells10in a diagonal direction. Similarly, the second spacers132may include a plurality of unit members132aaligned between a pair of neighboring battery cells10in a diagonal direction. The unit members131aand132aof the first and second spacers131and132may have substantially the same pole shape. The phrase “pole shape” refers to an elongated shape extending in one direction (a vertical direction), and a cross-section of the pole shape may have various shapes such as a circular, oval, rectangular, or polygonal shape.

The first and second spacers131and132may interlock with one another in a comb form. Gap flow paths G may be formed between the first and second spacers131and132, which may interlock with one another. As shown inFIG. 5, the gap flow paths G may be formed in a zigzag pattern reciprocating along the upward and downward directions.

Referring to the attached drawings, the first spacers131may extend toward the second case120, which may be disposed at a top portion of the battery pack, from the first case110, and may not contact the second case120(for example, the first spacers131may extend toward the second position P2, and may not reach the second position P2). Similarly, the second spacers132may extend toward the first case110, which may be disposed at a bottom portion of the battery pack, from the second case120, and may not contact the first case110(for example, the second spacers132may extend toward the first position P1, and may not reach the first position P1).

The first spacers131may extend in the upward direction from the first case110, and end portions of the first spacers131may be not contact the second face120and may be separated from the second case120. The second spacers132may extend in the downward direction from the second case120, and end portions of the second spacers132may not contact the first case110and may be separated from the first case110. The end portions of the first spacers131and the end portions of the second spacers132may form the gap flow paths G between the second case120and the first case110, which respectively may face the end portions of the first spacers131and the end portions of the second spacers132.

The first and second spacers131and132may extend in the upward and downward directions, in which the first spacers and second spacers face each other, to locations where the end portions of the first spacers131overlap the end portions of the second spacers132. The first and second spacers131and132may extend to the locations where the end portions of the first spacers131overlap the end portions of the second spacers132or may extend further from the locations where the end portions of the first spacers131overlap the end portions of the second spacers132. As described below, this structure may generate flow reciprocating in a zigzag pattern along the upward and downward directions, for example, due to the first and second spacers131and132, and may be configured to block the shortest flow path that passes straight between the first and second spacers131and132and increase the length of a heat dissipation path by forming a flow path reciprocating in a zigzag pattern.

In short, it may be advantageous that the first and second spacers131and132extend in the upward and downward directions, in which the first spacers and second spacers face each other, and overlap one another, and do not contact the second case120and the first case110, which respectively face the end portions of the first spacers131and the end portions of the second spacers132.

The gap flow paths G may be defined by the first and second spacers131and132, which may interlock with each other, and may have a zigzag pattern reciprocating along the upward and downward directions. The gap flow paths G may be formed when a space between the first spacers131and the second case120, a space between the first and second spacers131and132, which may interlock with each other, and a space between the second spacers132and the first case110are continuously connected, e.g., the gap flow paths may include a space between the first spacers and the second case, a space between the first and second spacers interlocking with one another in a comb form, and a space between the second spacers and the first case. As a space between the first spacers131and the second case120, a space between the first and second spacers131and132, and a space between the second spacers132and the first case110are interconnected, the gap flow paths G may have a reciprocating zigzag pattern.

As shown inFIG. 4, air that forcibly flows, for example, due to a fluid machine M, may pass through the gap flow paths G, and the battery cells10may dissipate heat. In one exemplary embodiment, the fluid machine M may be of a suction type which generates air flow through a suction force providing negative pressure. In an embodiment, the fluid machine M may be of a blow type which forces air flow by providing positive pressure.

A pressure difference generated by the fluid machine M may generate air flow in the main flow path D and may generate air flow in the gap flow paths G continuously connected to the main flow path D. For example, the fluid machine M may be formed on the main flow path D. The main flow path D may be formed along a front-rear direction of the battery pack, and the fluid machine M may be arranged on a front side of the first case110. The pressure difference generated by the fluid machine M may absorb air flow through the main flow path D and may generate air flow of the gap flow paths G continuously connected to the main flow path D. The air flow through the gap flow paths G may have a zigzag pattern reciprocating along the upward and downward directions, for example, due to the first and second spacers131and132, which may interlock with one another in a comb form. As the air flow through the gap flow paths G has the zigzag pattern reciprocating along the upward and downward directions, lengths of the gap flow paths G exchanging heat with the battery cells10may be doubled. If the gap flow paths G are not formed in the zigzag pattern and have the shortest distance by crossing the battery cells10, the lengths of the gap flow paths G may not be great enough to exchange heat with the battery cells10.

Referring toFIG. 4, the battery cells10in the first and second columns R1and R2may be diagonally aligned at a predetermined acute angle to the main flow path D by interposing the main flow path D therebetween. According to operations of the fluid machine M formed on the main flow path D, air flow may be generated in the main flow path D and in the gap flow paths G continuously connected to the main flow path D. As the battery cells10in the first and second columns R1and R2are diagonally aligned at a predetermined acute angle to the main flow path D, the fluid resistance between the main flow path D and the gap flow paths G may decrease, and pressure loss may also decrease, and the operation power of the fluid machine M for generating the same amount of flux may decrease.

In one exemplary embodiment, the battery cells10may be aligned in the first and second columns R1and R2. In an exemplary embodiment, the battery cells10may be aligned in a single column on any one of a left or right side of the main flow path D, or may be aligned in four columns on both the left and right sides of the main flow path D.

In one exemplary embodiment, the battery cells10may be diagonally aligned with respect to the main flow path D. In an exemplary embodiment, the battery cells10may be vertically aligned with respect to the main flow path D. According to the exemplary embodiment described with reference toFIG. 4, if the gap flow paths G between the battery cells10are diagonally formed with respect to the main flow path D, the gap flow paths G between the battery cells10may be vertically aligned with respect to the main flow path D. The first and second spacers131and132, which may be disposed between a pair of neighboring battery cells10, may interlock with one another in a comb form and may induce air circulating in a zigzag pattern reciprocating along the upward and downward directions.

Referring toFIG. 2, the battery pack may include the battery cells10disposed between the first case110and the second case120, and the first case110and the second case120coupled in the upward and downward directions, in which the first spacers and second spacers face each other. The first and second spacers131and132may be respectively formed in the first case110and the second case120.

The first case110and the second case120may have a space for housing the battery cells10. The first case110and the second case120may be asymmetrically formed. The first case110may include a bottom portion110band side portions110sto form a housing space, and the second case120disposed on the first case110may form a ceiling of the housing space. The first case110may have a hexahedron-box shape having an open upper portion, and the second case120may have a flat-panel shape. The second case120may be disposed on the first case110to cover the open upper portion of the first case110.

An opening110′ may be formed in the upper portion of the first case110to insert the battery cells10into the first case110, and the second case120may be assembled on the battery cells10, which may be housed in the first case110, through the opening110′. Therefore, the open upper portion of the first case110may not mean that the first case110does not have an upper structure, but may mean that the opening110′ for assembling the battery cells10may be formed.

In the first case110, an opening110″ corresponding to the main flow path D may be formed. The opening110″ may be covered by the second case20. The openings110′ and110″ may be provided for convenience of assembly of the battery cells10and the fluid machine M. The first case110may have a circuit housing portion110cfor housing a protection circuit module. The second case120may be disposed on the circuit housing portion110c, in which the protection circuit module may be housed.

At least one of the first case110and the second case120may have through holes, for example, first and second through holes1101and1102for inducing low-temperature air and discharging heated air. For example, the first through hole1101and the second through hole1102may be formed in the side portions110sof the first case110. The first through hole1101may be formed to be adjacent to the fluid machine M to be connected to the main flow path D. The first through hole1101may be fluidally connected to the fluid machine M. For example, the fluid machine M may be mounted in the first through hole1101, and the first through hole1101may forcibly discharge inner air to the outside, for example, due to a pressure difference generated by the fluid machine M. The second through hole1102may be formed to be adjacent to the battery cells10to be connected to the gap flow paths G.

In one exemplary embodiment, the fluid machine M may be of a suction type which may generate air flow through a suction force. The low-temperature air coming through the second through hole1102may be heated when passing through the gap flow paths G between the battery cells10and may be discharged to the outside by sequentially passing through the main flow path D and the first through hole1101. The second through hole1102may function as an inlet for receiving the low-temperature air, and the first through hole1101may function as an outlet for discharging the heated air.

For example, when the main flow path D is formed along a front-rear direction of the battery pack, the first through hole1101may be formed in the side portion110s on the front of the battery pack, and when the battery cells10in the first and second columns R1and R2are aligned on the left and right sides of the battery pack, the second through hole1102may be formed in the side portions110son the left and right sides of the battery pack.

Openings1201may be formed in the second case1120to expose upper portions of the battery cells10. For example, the openings1201of the second case120may be formed in a diagonal direction such that the openings1201may be parallel to the battery cells10at locations corresponding to the battery cells10. For example, a bus bar for electrically connecting the battery cells10or wires for obtaining or transmitting state information of the battery cells10may be arranged on the upper portions of the battery cells10which may be exposed by the openings1201and may be connected to terminals formed on the upper portions of the battery cells10.

The openings1201formed in the second case120may function as outlets for discharging the heated air to the outside. For example, flow of the air, which may be heated while passing through the gap flow paths G between the battery cells10, may be elevated, for example, due to buoyancy, and the air may be discharged to the outside via the openings1201of the second case120.

According to one or more exemplary embodiments, a battery pack that may have improved heat dissipation efficiency is provided. As heat dissipation paths having a zigzag pattern reciprocating between the neighboring battery cells10may be formed, heat dissipation paths having enough lengths may be formed. As the air flowing in the heat dissipation paths and heat in the battery cells10are sufficiently exchanged, the heat dissipation efficiency of the battery cells10may be improved.

As the battery cells10may be aligned in a diagonal direction with respect to the main flow path D connected to a fluid machine M, pressure loss between the main flow path D and the gap flow paths G disposed between the battery cells10may decrease, and operation, e.g., driving, power of the fluid machine M for generating air flow having the same flux may be decreased.