Patent Description:
A rechargeable battery with high applicability with ease according to product groups and electrical characteristics such as high energy density are universally applied to electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles driven by electric drive sources, as well as portable devices and power storage devices. Such a rechargeable battery is attracting attention as a new energy source for enhancing environmentally-friendly and energy efficiency in that it does not generate any byproducts from the use of energy as well as the primary merit of dramatically reducing the use of fossil fuels.

A currently commercially available rechargeable battery includes a nickel cadmium battery, a nickel hydrogen battery, a nickel zinc battery, and a lithium rechargeable battery, and the lithium rechargeable battery is attracting attention for its merits of charging and discharging freely, a very low self-discharge rate, and high energy density because the memory effect hardly occurs compared to the nickel-based rechargeable battery.

In general, a lithium rechargeable battery can be classified into a cylindrical or prismatic rechargeable battery in which an electrode assembly is built into a metal can, and a pouch-type rechargeable battery in which an electrode assembly is built in a pouch of an aluminum laminate sheet, depending on the shape of the exterior material.

Recently, as the need for a large capacity rechargeable battery structure, including the use of rechargeable batteries as an energy storage source, increases, the demand for a battery pack with a medium-to-large module structure in which a plurality of rechargeable batteries are assembled in series or coupled in parallel battery modules is increasing. In such a battery module, a plurality of battery cells are coupled serially or in parallel to form a battery cell stack, thereby improving capacity and output. In addition, a plurality of 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.

In particular, the battery pack has a structure in which a plurality of battery modules are combined, and thus in the case of overvoltage, overcurrent or overheating occurs in some battery modules, the safety and operation efficiency of the battery pack may be problematic. In particular, the capacity of the battery pack is gradually increasing to improve mileage, and as a result, the internal energy of the pack is also increased, and it is necessary to design a structure to satisfy the reinforced safety standards and to secure the safety of the vehicle and driver. For this purpose, particularly, the need for a structure that can prevent internal thermal runaway in advance and minimize the damage when it occurs is emerging.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a conventional battery pack. <FIG> schematically illustrates the dotted-line area in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, in a conventional battery pack <NUM>, a plurality of battery modules <NUM> are mounted on a pack housing <NUM>, and the plurality of battery modules <NUM> are mounted on a cooling plate <NUM> positioned on the pack housing <NUM>. More specifically, referring to <FIG>, the battery modules <NUM> adjacent to each other are mounted on the pack housing <NUM>, and may be positioned together on the cooling plate <NUM> attached to a lower portion of the pack housing <NUM>.

Here, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, an abnormal phenomenon (CE) such as overvoltage, overcurrent, or overheating may occur in some of the battery modules <NUM> that are adjacent to each other. In this case, in the conventional battery pack <NUM>, the heat of the battery module <NUM> in which the abnormal phenomenon (CE) has occurred may be transmitted to the cooling plate <NUM>, and thus heat propagation may be generated to another battery module <NUM>. In particular, in general, the cooling plate <NUM> is made of aluminum (Al) with high thermal conductivity for cooling performance, and thus the heat propagation may occur more quickly by the cooling plate <NUM>. Due to this, there is a problem that thermal runaway may occur even for other battery modules <NUM> in which the abnormal phenomenon (CE) does not occur, and there is a problem that a chain thermal runaway occurs for other battery modules <NUM> positioned on the same cooling plate <NUM>.

Accordingly, unlike the conventional battery pack <NUM>, it is necessary to develop a battery pack and a device including the same that prevent thermal runaway from occurring by preventing heat propagation between adjacent battery modules <NUM> from occurring.

Examples of background art can be found in <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

The problem to be solved by the present invention relates to a battery pack that minimizes heat propagation between adjacent battery modules and a device including the same.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by a person of an ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs from this specification and the attached drawing.

A battery pack of the present invention includes: a pack frame in which a plurality of battery modules are mounted to be spaced apart from each other; and an insulating member positioned between a bottom surface of each battery module of the plurality of battery modules and a bottom surface of the pack frame, wherein each battery module of the plurality of battery modules includes a battery cell stack where a plurality of battery cells are stacked, a module frame that accommodates the battery cell stack, and a heat sink that is positioned on a bottom portion of the module frame, the bottom portion of the module frame forms an upper plate of the heat sink, and the bottom portion of the module frame is in contact with refrigerant supplied in the heat sink.

The insulating members positioned under each adjacent battery module among the plurality of battery modules may be spaced apart from each other.

The insulating member positioned under one battery module among the plurality of battery modules and the insulating member positioned under another battery module may be spaced apart from each other.

The insulating member may extend along a bottom surface of the battery module.

The insulating member may have a different size from the lower surface of the battery module, but may have a larger size than the lower surface of the battery module.

The insulating member may have the same size as the bottom surface of the battery module.

The insulating member may have a different size from the size of the heat sink, but may have a larger size than the heat sink.

The insulating member and the heat sink may have the same size.

The insulating member may be formed of an expanded polypropylene (EPP) foam.

The heat sink may be coupled with the bottom portion of the module frame, and includes a lower plate where a recess portion is formed, and a refrigerant may flow between the recess portion and the bottom portion of the module frame.

A protrude pattern may be formed in the recess portion.

A device according to another embodiment of the present invention includes the above-described battery pack.

According to the embodiments, in the battery module of the embodiment of the present invention includes the heat sink that is positioned on the bottom portion of the module frame, and the insulating member is positioned between the bottom surface of the battery module and the bottom surface of the pack frame such that heat propagation between adjacent battery modules can be minimized.

The effect of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and the effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by a person of an ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs from this specification and the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawing, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail such that a person of an ordinary skill can easily practice it in the technical field to which the present invention belongs. The present invention may be implemented in several different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

The drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.

In the drawings, size and thickness of each element are arbitrarily illustrated for convenience of description, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to as illustrated in the drawings. In the drawings, the thickness of layers, films, panels, regions, etc., are exaggerated for clarity. In addition, in the drawing, for convenience of explanation, the thickness of some layers and regions is exaggerated.

In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements.

Further, throughout the specification, the phrase "on a plane" means viewing a target portion from the top, and the phrase "on a cross-section" means viewing a cross-section formed by vertically cutting a target portion from the side.

Hereinafter, a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a top view of the battery pack of <FIG>.

A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a pack frame in which a plurality of battery modules are mounted to be spaced apart from each other; and an insulating member positioned between a bottom surface of the battery module and a bottom surface of the pack frame.

A pack frame <NUM> may be a lower housing on which a plurality of battery modules <NUM> are mounted, and may further include an upper cover (not shown) coupled to the pack frame <NUM> to cover an upper portion of the battery module <NUM>. However, hereinafter, the upper cover (not shown) is omitted for convenience of explanation, but the battery pack <NUM> of the present embodiment can be described assuming that a generally-used upper cover (not shown) is coupled together therewith.

The pack frame <NUM> may be formed by including a bottom surface on which the plurality of battery modules <NUM> are disposed, and a side wall extending upward from an edge of the bottom surface. An upper cover (not shown) covering the upper portion of the battery module <NUM> is coupled to the pack frame <NUM> to protect the internal electric field. In this case, various control and protection systems such as a battery management system (BMS) and a cooling system may be mounted inside the pack frame <NUM> together with the battery module <NUM>.

For example, the pack frame <NUM> may be made of a steel or aluminum material. More preferably, the pack frame <NUM> is made of a steel material having relatively low thermal conductivity compared to an aluminum material, and thus the level of heat energy transfer between adjacent battery modules <NUM> through the pack frame <NUM> can be reduced. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and any material having sufficient rigidity is applicable to the pack frame <NUM>.

The insulating member <NUM> may be positioned under the battery module <NUM>. More specifically, in the plurality of battery modules <NUM>, the insulating member <NUM> may be positioned under each battery module <NUM>. That is, in the battery pack <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the insulating member <NUM> may be disposed under each of the battery modules <NUM> mounted on the pack frame <NUM>. That is, each battery module <NUM> may be individually or independently disposed on the insulating member <NUM>.

In addition, the insulating members <NUM> respectively positioned under the adjacent battery modules <NUM> among the plurality of battery modules <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other. In other words, the insulating member <NUM> disposed under one battery module <NUM> may be spaced apart from the insulating member <NUM> disposed under the other adjacent battery module <NUM>.

Accordingly, unlike the conventional battery pack <NUM> (refer to <FIG>), a battery module <NUM> is positioned on each of insulating members <NUM> that are spaced apart from each other, and thus even though heat due to an abnormal phenomenon (CE) such as overvoltage, overcurrent, overheating, and the like of the insulating member <NUM> is transferred to the insulating member <NUM>, the heat transferred to the insulating member <NUM> may not be directly transferred to other adjacent battery modules <NUM>.

The insulating member <NUM> may be positioned between the bottom surface of the battery module <NUM> and the bottom surface of the pack frame <NUM>. In other words, in the present embodiment, it may have a structure in which the pack frame <NUM>, the insulating member <NUM>, and the battery module <NUM> are stacked in that order.

The insulating member <NUM> may extend along the bottom surface of the battery module <NUM>. More specifically, the insulating member <NUM> may extend along the bottom surface of the heat sink <NUM> (refer to <FIG>).

As an example, the insulating member <NUM> may have a different size from that of the bottom surface of the battery module <NUM>, but may have a larger size than that of the bottom surface of the battery module <NUM>. As another example, the insulating member <NUM> may have the same size as the bottom surface of the battery module <NUM>.

As an example, the insulating member <NUM> may have a different size from the size of the heat sink (<NUM>, <FIG>) positioned on the bottom surface of the battery module <NUM>, but may have a larger size than the size of the heat sink <NUM> (refer to <FIG>). As another example, the insulating member <NUM> may have the same size as the heat sink <NUM> (refer to <FIG>).

Accordingly, the bottom surface of the battery module <NUM>, that is, the contact area of the insulating member <NUM> for the heat sink <NUM> (<FIG>) is sufficiently secured, and heat transferred from the heat sink <NUM> (<FIG>) to the pack frame <NUM> can be effectively blocked.

For example, the insulating member <NUM> may be made of a foaming material such as expanded polypropylene (EPP) foam. However, the insulating member <NUM> is not limited thereto, and it can be any material as long as it has excellent thermal insulation properties.

Accordingly, with the above configuration, the insulating member <NUM> can prevent the bottom surface of the battery module <NUM>, that is, the heat sink <NUM> (see <FIG>) and the pack frame <NUM>, from directly contacting each other. That is, it is possible to prevent the heat transferred from the battery module <NUM> from being directly transferred to the pack frame <NUM>, and it is possible to prevent the heat generated outside the pack frame <NUM> from being transferred to the battery module <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a battery module included in the battery pack of <FIG>. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the battery module of <FIG>. <FIG> is a perspective view of the bottom surface of the battery module of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the plurality of battery modules <NUM> of the battery pack <NUM> according to the present embodiment include a battery cell stack <NUM> where a plurality of battery cell <NUM> are stacked, a module frame <NUM> that receives the battery cell stack <NUM>, and a heat sink <NUM> positioned on the bottom portion of the module frame <NUM>.

The battery cell <NUM> is preferably a pouch-type battery cell. For example, the battery cell <NUM> may be manufactured by accommodating an electrode assembly in a pouch case of a laminate sheet including a resin layer and an inner layer, and then heat-sealing a sealing portion of the pouch case. The battery cell <NUM> may be formed in a rectangular sheet-type structure. Such a battery cell <NUM> may be provided in plural, and a plurality of battery cells <NUM> are stacked to be electrically connected to each other to form the battery cell stack <NUM>.

The module frame <NUM> may include an upper cover <NUM> and a U-shaped frame <NUM>. Here, the U-shaped frame <NUM> may include a bottom portion and two side portions extending upward from both ends of the bottom portion. In this case, the bottom portion may cover the lower surface of the battery cell stack <NUM>, and the side portion may cover the side surface of the battery cell stack <NUM>. The upper cover <NUM> and the U-shaped frame <NUM> may be joined by welding or the like in a state in which corresponding edge portions are in contact with each other to form a structure that covers the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the battery cell stack <NUM>. For this, the upper cover <NUM> and the U-shaped frame <NUM> may be made of a metal material having predetermined strength. However, the module frame <NUM> is not limited thereto, and may be a mono frame in the form of a metal plate in which upper and lower surfaces and both sides are integrated.

The end plate <NUM> may be positioned on an open first side (x-axis direction) and a second side (the opposite direction of the x-axis) of the module frame <NUM> to cover the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack <NUM>. Accordingly, the end plate <NUM> can physically protect the battery cell stack <NUM> and other electrical equipment from external impact.

Meanwhile, although not specifically illustrated, a bus bar frame on which a bus bar is mounted and an insulating cover for electrical insulation may be positioned between the battery cell stack <NUM> and the end plate <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the module frame <NUM> according to the present embodiment may include a module frame protrude portion 116a that is formed by being extended from a bottom portion of the module frame <NUM>, that is, a bottom portion of the U-shaped frame <NUM>, to pass through the end plate <NUM>. In this case, a refrigerant inflowing and discharged by a cooling port <NUM> connected to an upper surface of the module frame protrude portion 116a may be supplied to and discharged from the heat sink <NUM> through the module frame protrude portion 116a.

Specifically, the cooling port <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes a refrigerant injection port for supplying refrigerant to the heat sink <NUM> and a refrigerant discharge port for discharging refrigerant from the heat sink <NUM>. The module frame protrude portion 116a may include a first module frame protrude portion and a second module frame protrude portion positioned to be spaced apart from each other on one side of the module frame <NUM>, and the refrigerant injection port may be disposed on the first module frame protrude portion and the refrigerant discharge port may be disposed on the second module frame protrude portion.

Hereinafter, referring to <FIG>, the heat sink according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

A bottom portion of the module frame <NUM> may form an upper plate of the heat sink <NUM>, and the bottom portion of the module frame <NUM> may contact the refrigerator supplied in the heat sink <NUM>.

The heat sink <NUM> may be positioned under the module frame <NUM>. More specifically, the heat sink <NUM> may include a lower plate <NUM> that forms the skeleton of the heat sink <NUM> and is directly coupled to the bottom portion of the module frame <NUM> by welding and the like, and a recess portion <NUM> that a path through which the refrigerant flows.

The heat sink <NUM> may include a heat sink protrude portion 200P protruding from one side of the heat sink <NUM> to a portion where the module frame protrude portion 116a is positioned. Here, the heat sink protrude portion 200P and the module frame protrude portion 116a may be directly coupled to each other by a method such as welding.

The recess portion <NUM> of the heat sink <NUM> corresponds to a portion in which the lower plate <NUM> is recessed downward. A cross-section of the recess portion <NUM>, cut vertically in the x-z plane based on a direction in which the refrigerant flow path extends may be a U-shaped tube, and the bottom portion of the module frame <NUM> may be positioned on an open upper side of the U-shaped tube. As the heat sink <NUM> is in contact with the bottom portion of the module frame <NUM>, a space between the recess portion <NUM> and the bottom portion of the module frame <NUM> becomes a region through which refrigerant flows, that is, a flow path for refrigerant. Accordingly, the bottom portion of the module frame <NUM> can be in direct contact with the refrigerant.

Although there is no particular limitation on a manufacturing method of the recess portion <NUM> of the heat sink <NUM>, the U-shaped recess portion <NUM> with an open upper side may be formed by providing a structure in which a depression is formed with respect to the plate-shaped heat sink <NUM>.

Such a recess portion <NUM> may be continued from one of the heat sink protrude portions 200P to another. The refrigerant supplied through the refrigerant injection port of the cooling port <NUM> passes between the module frame protrude portion 116a and the heat sink protrude portion 200P and then flows into the space between the recess portion <NUM> and the bottom portion of the module frame <NUM>. Thereafter, the refrigerant moves along the recess portion <NUM>, passes between the other module frame protrude portion 116a and the heat sink protrude portion 200P, and is discharged through the refrigerant discharge port of the cooling ports <NUM>.

In addition, the bottom portion of the module frame <NUM> may be joined by welding to a portion of the lower plate <NUM>, in which the recess portion <NUM> of the heat sink <NUM> is not formed. Through the integrated cooling structure of the bottom portion of the module frame <NUM> and the heat sink <NUM>, the present embodiment not only improves the cooling performance described above, but also supports the load of the battery cell stack <NUM> accommodated in the module frame <NUM> and reinforces the rigidity of the battery module <NUM>. In addition, the lower plate <NUM> and the bottom portion of the module frame <NUM> are sealed through welding and the like, and thus refrigerant can flow without leakage in the recess portion <NUM> formed inside the lower plate <NUM>.

For effective cooling, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, it is preferable that the recess portion <NUM> is formed over the entire area corresponding to the bottom portion of the module frame <NUM>. To this end, the recess portion <NUM> may be bent at least once and then continued from one side to the other. In particular, the recess portion <NUM> is preferably bent several times in order to form the recess portion <NUM> over the entire area corresponding to the bottom portion of the module frame <NUM>. As the refrigerant moves from the start point to the end point of the refrigerant flow path formed over the entire area corresponding to the bottom portion of the module frame <NUM>, efficient cooling of the entire area of the battery cell stack <NUM> can be achieved. On the other hand, the refrigerant is a medium for cooling, and there is no particular limitation, but it may be cooling water.

Meanwhile, referring back to <FIG> and <FIG>, a protrude pattern 240D may be formed in the recess portion <NUM> of the heat sink <NUM> according to the present embodiment.

In the case of a large-area battery module in which the number of stacked battery cells increases significantly compared to the prior art, such as the battery cell stack <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the refrigerant flow path may be formed wider, and thus the temperature deviation may be more severe. In particular, compared to the case in which approximately <NUM> to <NUM> battery cells are stacked in one battery module, the case in which approximately <NUM> to <NUM> battery cells are stacked in one battery module is included in a large-area battery module. In such a case, the protrude pattern 240D according to the present embodiment has the effect of substantially reducing the width of the cooling path, thereby minimizing the pressure drop and simultaneously reducing the temperature deviation between widths of the refrigerant path. Therefore, it is possible to implement a uniform cooling effect.

In the conventional battery pack shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, battery modules <NUM> adjacent to each other are mounted on the pack housing <NUM> and positioned together on the cooling plate <NUM> attached to the lower portion of the pack housing <NUM>, and thus the heat generated by some battery modules <NUM> is transferred to the cooling plate <NUM>. Accordingly, there is a risk of heat propagation such that the heat generated by the thermal runaway in some battery modules <NUM> is transferred to the other battery modules <NUM> through the cooling plate <NUM>.

On the other hand, in the battery pack <NUM> according to the present embodiment, each battery module <NUM> implements a cooling integrated structure of the module frame <NUM> and the heat sink <NUM>, and thus the heat transferred to the heat sink <NUM> in some battery module <NUM> can be prevented from being transmitted to a heat sink <NUM> of another battery module <NUM>. Accordingly, although some of the heat caused by abnormal phenomena (CE) such as overvoltage, overcurrent, or overheating generated in some battery modules <NUM> is transmitted to the heat sink <NUM>, the risk of heat propagation to the adjacent battery module <NUM> can be prevented.

In addition, the battery module <NUM> having the above-described integrated cooling structure is individually cooled, and thus the cooling efficiency of each battery module <NUM> may be further increased. In addition, through a structure in which the heat sink <NUM> is integrated with the bottom portion of the module frame <NUM>, the space utilization rate on the battery module <NUM> and the battery pack <NUM> on which the battery module <NUM> is mounted can be further improved. In addition, the height of the battery module <NUM> is reduced by removing the unnecessary cooling structure, and thus it possible to reduce costs and increase spatial utility. Furthermore, since the battery module <NUM> can be compactly disposed, the capacity or output of the battery pack <NUM> including a plurality of the battery module <NUM> can be increased.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, according to another embodiment of the present invention, a venting gate <NUM> that can communicate with the inside of the battery module <NUM> and dissipate the flame or heat generated inside is included in either side of the end plate <NUM> positioned on the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack <NUM>. In the battery pack <NUM>, the venting gate <NUM> is disposed to face the outside of the battery pack <NUM>, and preferably, as shown in <FIG>, it can be disposed to face outside toward both ends of the first direction (x-axis direction) in the battery pack <NUM>.

In addition, it may further include a venting induction frame <NUM> disposed along edges of a plurality of battery module <NUM>. More specifically, a plurality of battery modules <NUM> and the venting induction frame <NUM> may be mounted in the pack frame <NUM>.

For example, at least one rupture portion <NUM> is formed on one side wall of the pack frame <NUM>, and thus heat or flames generated thereinside can be discharged to the outside. In the present embodiment, although the two rupture portions <NUM> are formed on only one side of a pair of horizontal beams <NUM>, it is not limited thereto and the rupture portion <NUM> is also provided on the other horizontal beam <NUM> or may be provided in the vertical beam <NUM>, and the position and number of the rupture portions <NUM> can be appropriately selected as necessary.

In addition, the venting induction frame <NUM> may be disposed along the entire edges of the plurality of battery modules <NUM>. The venting induction frame <NUM> is formed in the shape of a tube along each side of the battery pack <NUM>, and a pair of vertical beams <NUM> and a pair of horizontal beams <NUM> are extended along the first direction (x-axis direction) and the second direction (y-axis direction), respectively, and they may be formed to be able to communicate as a whole.

With the above configuration, a passage is formed to communicate with the whole inside the square-shaped venting induction frame <NUM> formed of the vertical beam <NUM> and the horizontal beam <NUM>. The passage communicates with the venting gate <NUM> and the rupture portion <NUM> of the battery module <NUM>, and thus, when a thermal runaway occurs from the battery module <NUM>, heat and flame are induced to the outside, thereby minimizing the influence on the surrounding battery module. In this case, the flame contained in the generated high-pressure venting gas is combusted while passing through the passage inside the venting induction frame <NUM> and can be discharged to the outside in a safer state. In addition, this venting induction frame <NUM> serves as a support frame to stably support the battery module <NUM>, not during thermal runaway, to improve the stability of the battery pack <NUM>.

Hereinafter, a heat propagation path when issues such as overvoltage, overcurrent, or overheating occur in some battery modules in the battery pack will be described in detail.

<FIG> schematically show a cross-section of <FIG>, taken along the axis A-A'.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, in the battery pack <NUM> of the present embodiment, a cell event CE may occur in some battery modules <NUM>. Here, the cell event CE may mean that an abnormal phenomenon such as overvoltage, overcurrent, or overheating occurs in the battery module <NUM>, and thus the battery module <NUM> generates a high temperature and gas.

Here, heat generated in the battery module <NUM> in which the cell event CE has occurred may be transmitted through a heat energy movement path passing through the heat sink <NUM> and insulation member <NUM> included in the battery module <NUM>.

More specifically, the heat generated in the battery module <NUM> in which the cell event CE has occurred may first be transferred to the heat sink <NUM>. As described above, due to the integrated cooling structure of the bottom portion of the module frame <NUM> and the heat sink <NUM>, each battery module <NUM> includes a heat sink <NUM> individually, and thus the heat transmitted from the battery cell stack <NUM> to the heat sink <NUM> is not transmitted to another adjacent battery module <NUM>.

Accordingly, according to the present embodiment, due to the integrated cooling structure of the battery module <NUM>, even though the cell event CE occurs in some battery modules <NUM> among a plurality of battery modules <NUM>, heat propagation to the adjacent battery module <NUM> can be prevented.

In addition, some of the heat transmitted to the heat sink <NUM> of the battery module <NUM> may be transmitted to the insulation member <NUM>. Here, the insulating member <NUM> may block some of the heat transmitted from the heat sink <NUM> of the battery module <NUM> while preventing the heat generated from the battery module <NUM> from being directly transmitted to the pack frame <NUM>. That is, although a cell event CE occurs in some battery modules <NUM> among a plurality of battery modules <NUM> and relatively much heat energy is generated, heat energy transmitted to the pack frame <NUM> through the insulating member <NUM> is minimized, and the temperature rise of the adjacent battery module <NUM> can also be minimized.

In addition, as described above, as the insulating member <NUM> is individually separated from each other in the lower portion of the battery module <NUM>, the heat transmitted to the insulating member <NUM> of the battery module in which the cell event CE has occurred is not directly transmitted to another battery module <NUM>. More specifically, some of the heat transmitted to the insulating member <NUM> of the battery module <NUM> in which the cell event CE has occurred may be transmitted to the pack frame <NUM>, and some of the heat transmitted to the pack frame <NUM> may be transmitted to an insulating member <NUM> of another adjacent battery module <NUM>.

Accordingly, although some of the heat generated in the battery module <NUM> in which the cell event CE has occurred is transmitted to the other adjacent battery module <NUM>, the heat transmitted from the pack frame <NUM> can effectively blocked by the insulating member <NUM> of another adjacent battery module <NUM>.

Accordingly, in the present embodiment having the above heat propagation path, although a cell event CE occurs in some battery modules <NUM> among a plurality of battery modules <NUM>, it is possible to effectively prevent heat propagation to other adjacent battery modules <NUM>, there preventing a series of thermal runaway phenomena.

The battery pack described above may be applied to various devices. Such a device may be applied to transportation means such as an electric bicycle, an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, and the like, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and is applicable to various devices that can use a battery pack and this is also included within the scope of the present invention.

Claim 1:
A battery pack (<NUM>) comprising:
a pack frame (<NUM>) in which a plurality of battery modules (<NUM>) are mounted to be spaced apart from each other; and
an insulating member (<NUM>) positioned between a bottom surface of each battery module (<NUM>) of the plurality of battery modules (<NUM>) and a bottom surface of the pack frame (<NUM>),
wherein each battery module (<NUM>) of the plurality of battery modules (<NUM>) comprises a battery cell stack (<NUM>) where a plurality of battery cells (<NUM>) are stacked, a module frame (<NUM>) that accommodates the battery cell stack (<NUM>), and a heat sink (<NUM>) that is positioned on a bottom portion of the module frame (<NUM>),
the bottom portion of the module frame (<NUM>) forms an upper plate of the heat sink (<NUM>), and
the bottom portion of the module frame (<NUM>) is in contact with refrigerant supplied in the heat sink (<NUM>).