Patent Description:
Rechargeable batteries are classified into coin type batteries, cylindrical type batteries, prismatic type batteries, and pouch type batteries according to a shape of a battery case. The secondary battery accommodates an electrode assembly and an electrolyte. In such a secondary battery, an electrode assembly mounted in a battery case is a chargeable and dischargeable power generating device having a structure in which an electrode and a separator are stacked.

The electrode assembly may be approximately classified into a jelly-roll type electrode assembly in which a separator is interposed between a positive electrode and a negative electrode, each of which is provided as the form of a sheet coated with an active material, and then, the positive electrode, the separator, and the negative electrode are wound, a stacked type electrode assembly in which a plurality of positive and negative electrodes with a separator therebetween are sequentially stacked, and a stack/folding type electrode assembly in which stacked type unit cells are wound together with a separation film having a long length.

A cylindrical or prismatic battery according to the related art is constituted by an electrode assembly and a can accommodating the electrode assembly, and the can is constituted by a can body, in which an accommodation part is formed, and a cover covering the accommodation part.

Here, the cover through which an electrode lead of the electrode assembly passes is heated by heat generated in the electrode lead, and thus, only an end of the can body, which is adjacent to the cover, may be locally heated.

Thus, it has been difficult to dissipate the heat generated in the electrode lead.

[Prior Art Document] (Patent Document <NUM>) <CIT>.

An example of a battery and battery module is described in <CIT>. An example of a lithium ion battery having a heat conducting element arranged in an interior region is <CIT>.

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a can for a secondary battery, which is capable of uniformly distributing heat generated in a local region of a can to the can to dissipate the heat, and a secondary battery.

A can for a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention is defined in independent claim <NUM>. Therefore, heat is dissipated through the can body when the heat generated in the electrode lead is transferred from the cover to the can body.

A secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention is defined in independent claim <NUM>.

According to the present invention, the heat may be uniformly distributed to the can body through a heat pipe, through which the heat is effectively transferred to the can body, to effectively dissipate the heat. Therefore, the heat dissipation efficiency may be improved to increase in battery lifespan and improve battery performance.

The objectives, specific advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the reference numerals are added to the components of the drawings in the present specification with the same numerals as possible, even if they are illustrated in other drawings. Also, the present invention may be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a can for a secondary battery and a secondary battery comprising the can according to a first embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> is an exploded perspective view illustrating the can for the secondary battery and the secondary battery comprising the can according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a perspective view taken along line A-A' of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a can <NUM> for a secondary battery according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a can body <NUM> that is opened to accommodate an electrode assembly <NUM> and a cover <NUM> which seals the opening of the can body <NUM> and through which an electrode lead passes, and the can body <NUM> comprises a body heat pipe P1 that transfers heat generated in the electrode lead <NUM> to dissipate the heat through the can body <NUM> when the heat is transferred from the cover <NUM> to the can body <NUM>.

In more detail, the can body <NUM> forms an electrode assembly accommodation part <NUM>, in which the electrode assembly <NUM> is accommodated, and is opened to one side.

Furthermore, the can body <NUM> may comprise an aluminum or copper material.

Also, the can body <NUM> comprises the body heat pipe P1 that transfers heat so that the heat is dissipated through the can body <NUM> when the heat generated in the electrode lead <NUM> is transferred from the cover <NUM> to an end of one end of the can body <NUM>.

The body heat pipe P1 comprises an inner wall <NUM> disposed at a side of the electrode assembly accommodation part <NUM>, an outer wall <NUM> spaced a predetermined distance from the inner wall <NUM>, a partition block <NUM>, which partitions a space between the inner wall <NUM> and the outer wall <NUM> to form a plurality of body partition spaces <NUM>, and a volatile heat medium that is accommodated in the body partition space <NUM>.

The body heat pipe P1 may be formed in any one or more of a plurality of columns or rows along a longitudinal direction of the can body <NUM>.

Here, for example, the body heat pipe P may be formed in a plurality of rows along the longitudinal direction of the can body <NUM>.

The partition block <NUM> may have one side provided on the inner wall <NUM> and the other side provided on the outer wall <NUM> in a width direction.

The volatile heat medium may be vaporized to effectively transfer heat when the volatile heat medium is heated.

Here, the volatile heat medium may be made of at least one or more of acetone, water, freon, or ammonia.

The body partition space <NUM> in which the volatile heat medium is accommodated may be provided as a sealed vacuum space. Also, the body partition space may be formed along the longitudinal direction of the can body <NUM> so that the volatile heat medium accommodated in the body partition space <NUM> easily transfers the heat along the longitudinal direction of the can body <NUM>. Here, when an upper end of the can body <NUM>, which is in contact with the cover <NUM>, is heated through the cover <NUM> due to the generation of heat in the electrode lead <NUM>, the heat may be effectively transferred up to a lower portion of the can body <NUM> to easily dissipate the heat through the can body <NUM>.

The cover <NUM> may cover the end of the onside of the can body <NUM> to seal the opening, and through-holes <NUM> and <NUM>, through which the electrode lead <NUM> of the electrode assembly <NUM> passes, may be formed in the cover <NUM>. Here, a lower edge of the cover <NUM> may be coupled or fixed to an upper end of the can body <NUM>.

Also, the cover <NUM> may be formed in a rectangular or circular plate shape.

Also, the cover <NUM> may comprise an aluminum or copper material.

Here, when each of the can body <NUM> and the cover <NUM> comprises the aluminum material, the volatile heat medium may be acetone.

In the cover <NUM>, an insulator may be disposed between the electrode lead <NUM> and each of the through-holes <NUM> and <NUM> to insulate the electrode lead <NUM> and the cover <NUM> from each other.

Also, an outer surface of each of the can body <NUM> and the cover <NUM> may be wrapped with the insulator to insulate the can <NUM> from the outside.

The can <NUM> for the secondary battery according to the first embodiment may further comprise thermal grease applied to the outer surface of the can body <NUM>. Thus, the can body <NUM> may increase in thermal conductivity to improve a heat dissipation effect.

In the can <NUM> for the secondary battery according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which is configured as described above, the heat generated at a side of the cover provided with the electrode lead <NUM> may be effectively dissipated through the can body <NUM> provided with the body heat pipe P1. That is, when the cover <NUM> and the upper end of the can body <NUM>, which is adjacent to the cover <NUM>, are heated, the heat may be uniformly transferred to the entire can body <NUM> through the body heat pipe P1 provided on the can body <NUM> to realize the effective heat dissipation. Furthermore, even if heat is generated not only at the upper end of the can body <NUM> but also at other local portions of the can body <NUM>, the heat may be uniformly effectively distributed to the entire can body <NUM> through the body heat pipe P and thus be effectively dissipated. Therefore, the heat dissipation efficiency may be improved to increase in battery lifespan and improve battery performance.

In addition, since the can body <NUM> is provided in a heat dissipation structure comprising the body heat pipe P1, it is not necessary to install a separate heat dissipation device, thereby securing flexibility in space utilization. Thus, when compared to a secondary battery or battery pack having the same size, it may have a remarkably high energy density. In addition, since the number of components for the heat dissipation decreases, the number of assembly processes may decrease to improve productivity. Here, according to the related art, heat dissipation is realized only when a heat transfer process is performed through a structure constituted by a cell, a cartridge, and a heat dissipation plate. On the other hand, according to the present invention, the structure for dissipating heat through the heat transfer process using the electrode assembly <NUM> and the can <NUM> comprising the body heat pipe P1 may be provided to reduce the number of component for the heat dissipation.

Furthermore, the heat pipe manner, in which the inner and outer surfaces of the can <NUM> are formed, and the partition space is formed therein, and then, the volatile liquid is put to make a vacuum state, thereby quickly transferring heat, according to the present invention may be applied to the can <NUM> having a thin thickness to increase in space that is occupied by the electrode assembly <NUM>, thereby improving the energy density. However, for example, when the heat radiation grease or heat radiation pad is put in the partition space, the can <NUM> may increase in thickness. As a result, the space that is occupied by the electrode assembly may be reduced to deteriorate the energy efficiency. In addition, since the can <NUM> is designed to have the thin thickness, it may be difficult to apply the technology of putting the heat dissipation grease or heat dissipation pad in the partition space.

Hereinafter, a can for a secondary battery according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a can for a secondary battery and a secondary battery comprising the can according to a second embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> is an exploded perspective view illustrating the can for the secondary battery and the secondary battery comprising the can according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B' of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a can <NUM> for a secondary battery according to a second embodiment of the present invention comprises a can body <NUM> that is opened to accommodate an electrode assembly <NUM> and a cover <NUM> which seals the opening of the can body <NUM> and through which an electrode lead passes, and the can body <NUM> comprises a body heat pipe that transfers heat generated in the electrode lead <NUM> to dissipate the heat through the can body <NUM> when the heat is transferred from the cover <NUM> to the can body <NUM>.

The can <NUM> for the secondary battery according to the second embodiment of the present invention is different from the can for the secondary battery according to the foregoing first embodiment of the prevent invention in that the can <NUM> further comprises a cover heat pipe P2 on the cover <NUM>. Thus, in description of the can <NUM> for the secondary battery according to this embodiment, contents duplicated with the can for the secondary battery according to the forgoing first embodiment of the present invention will be omitted or briefly described, and also, differences therebetween will be mainly described.

Also, the can body <NUM> comprises the body heat pipe that transfers heat so that the heat is dissipated through the can body <NUM> when the heat generated in the electrode lead <NUM> is transferred from the cover <NUM> to an end of one end of the can body <NUM>.

The cover <NUM> may cover the end of the onside of the can body <NUM> to seal the opening, and through-holes <NUM> and <NUM>, through which the electrode lead <NUM> of the electrode assembly <NUM> passes, may be formed in the cover <NUM>.

Furthermore, the cover <NUM> may comprise a cover heat pipe P2 that transfers heat so that the heat generated in the electrode lead <NUM> is dissipated through the cover <NUM>.

The cover heat pipe P2 may comprise an inner plate <NUM> disposed at a side of an electrode assembly accommodation part <NUM>, an outer plate <NUM> spaced a predetermined distance from the inner plate <NUM>, a partition part <NUM> disposed between the inner plate <NUM> and the outer plate <NUM> to partition a space between the inner plate <NUM> and the outer plate <NUM> so as to form a plurality of cover partition spaces <NUM>, and a volatile heat medium that is accommodated in a cover partition space <NUM>.

Here, the volatile heat medium accommodated in the cover partition space <NUM> may be made of at least one or more of acetone, water, freon, or ammonia.

The cover partition space <NUM> in which the volatile heat medium is accommodated may be provided as a sealed vacuum space.

The can <NUM> for the secondary battery according to the second embodiment of the present invention, which is configured as described above, may be provided with the cover heat pipe P2 on the side of the cover <NUM> provided with the electrode lead <NUM>, and thus, when peripheral portions of the through-holes <NUM> and <NUM> passing through the electrode lead <NUM> are heated by the electrode lead <NUM>, heat may be easily transferred to the entire cover <NUM> and an upper end of the can body <NUM>.

Thus, the heat generated in the electrode lead <NUM> may be transferred to the cover <NUM> and the upper end of the can body <NUM>, which is adjacent to the cover <NUM>, and thus be quickly uniformly transferred to the entire can body <NUM> provided with the body heat pipe so as to be more effectively dissipated.

Hereinafter, the secondary battery according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Referring to <FIG>, a secondary battery <NUM> according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises an electrode assembly <NUM> and a can <NUM> accommodating the electrode assembly <NUM>. The can <NUM> comprises a can body <NUM> that is opened to accommodate an electrode assembly <NUM> and a cover <NUM> which seals the opening of the can body <NUM> and through which an electrode lead passes, and the can body <NUM> comprises a body heat pipe P1 that transfers heat generated in the electrode lead <NUM> to dissipate the heat through the can body <NUM> when the heat is transferred from the cover <NUM> to the can body <NUM>.

The secondary battery <NUM> according to the first embodiment of the present invention relates to a secondary battery <NUM> comprising the can <NUM> for the secondary battery according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Thus, in description of the secondary battery <NUM> according to the first embodiment, contents duplicated with the can <NUM> for the secondary battery according to the first embodiment described above will be omitted or briefly described, and differences therebetween will be mainly described.

In more detail, the secondary battery <NUM> comprises the electrode assembly <NUM> and the can <NUM> accommodating the electrode assembly <NUM>.

The electrode assembly <NUM> may be a chargeable and dischargeable power generation element and may comprise electrodes <NUM> and separators <NUM>, which are alternately stacked. Here, the electrode assembly <NUM> may be provided in a wound form.

The electrodes <NUM> may comprise a positive electrode <NUM> and a negative electrode <NUM>. Here, the electrode assembly <NUM> may have a structure in which the positive electrode <NUM>/the separator <NUM>/the negative electrode <NUM> are alternately laminated. Also, the electrode lead <NUM> may comprise a positive electrode lead <NUM> connected to the positive electrode <NUM> and a negative electrode lead <NUM> connected to the negative electrode <NUM>.

The positive electrode <NUM> may comprise a positive electrode collector and a positive electrode active material stacked on the positive electrode collector.

The positive electrode collector may be made of an aluminum foil.

The positive electrode active material may comprise lithium manganese oxide, lithium cobalt oxide, lithium nickel oxide, lithium iron phosphate, or a compound or mixture containing at least one of the above-described materials.

The negative electrode <NUM> may comprise a negative electrode collector and a negative electrode active material stacked on the negative electrode collector.

The negative electrode collector may be made of, for example, a foil made of a copper (Cu) material.

The negative active material may be a compound or a mixture containing a graphite-based material.

The separator <NUM> is made of an insulation material to electrically insulate the positive electrode <NUM> from the negative electrode <NUM>. Here, the separator <NUM> may be made of a polyolefin-based resin film such as polyethylene or polypropylene having micropores.

The can body <NUM> forms an electrode assembly accommodation part <NUM>, in which the electrode assembly <NUM> is accommodated, and is opened to one side.

The body heat pipe P1 comprises an inner wall <NUM> disposed at a side of the electrode assembly accommodation part <NUM>, an outer wall <NUM> spaced a predetermined distance from the inner wall <NUM>, a partition block <NUM> disposed between the inner wall <NUM> and the outer wall <NUM> to partition a space between the inner wall <NUM> and the outer wall <NUM> so as to form a plurality of body partition spaces <NUM>, and a volatile heat medium that is accommodated in the body partition space <NUM>.

The body heat pipe P1 may be formed in any one or more of a plurality of columns or rows along a longitudinal direction of the can body <NUM>. Here, for example, the body heat pipe P may be formed in a plurality of rows along the longitudinal direction of the can body <NUM>.

The volatile heat medium may be made of at least one or more of acetone, water, freon, or ammonia.

The body partition space <NUM> in which the volatile heat medium is accommodated may be provided as a sealed vacuum space.

Hereinafter, a secondary battery according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Referring to <FIG>, a secondary battery <NUM> according to the second embodiment of the present invention comprises an electrode assembly <NUM> and a can <NUM> accommodating the electrode assembly <NUM>. The can <NUM> comprises a can body <NUM> that is opened to accommodate an electrode assembly <NUM> and a cover <NUM> which seals the opening of the can body <NUM> and through which an electrode lead passes, and the can body <NUM> comprises a body heat pipe that transfers heat generated in the electrode lead <NUM> to dissipate the heat through the can body <NUM> when the heat is transferred from the cover <NUM> to the can body <NUM>.

The secondary battery <NUM> according to the second embodiment of the present invention relates to a secondary battery <NUM> comprising the can <NUM> for the secondary battery according to the forgoing second embodiment of the present invention. Thus, in description of the secondary battery <NUM> according to this embodiment, contents duplicated with the can <NUM> for the secondary battery according to the forgoing second embodiment of the present invention will be omitted or briefly described, and also, differences therebetween will be mainly described.

In addition, the cover <NUM> may comprise a cover heat pipe P2 that transfers heat so that the heat generated in the electrode lead <NUM> is dissipated through the cover <NUM>.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the specific embodiments thereof, the can for the secondary battery and the secondary battery according to the present invention are not limited thereto. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein.

Claim 1:
A can (<NUM>, <NUM>) for a secondary battery (<NUM>, <NUM>), comprising:
a can body (<NUM>), in which an electrode assembly accommodation part (<NUM>) accommodating an electrode assembly (<NUM>) is formed, and which is opened to one side; and
a cover (<NUM>, <NUM>) which covers one end of the can body to seal an opening and in which a through-hole (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), through which an electrode lead (<NUM>) of the electrode assembly (<NUM>) passes, is formed,
wherein the can body (<NUM>) comprises:
an inner wall (<NUM>) disposed at a side of the electrode assembly accommodation part (<NUM>);
an outer wall (<NUM>) spaced a predetermined distance from the inner wall (<NUM>);
a partition block (<NUM>) disposed between the inner wall (<NUM>) and the outer wall (<NUM>) to partition a space between the inner wall (<NUM>) and the outer wall (<NUM>) so as to form a plurality of body partition spaces (<NUM>); and
a volatile heat medium accommodated in the body partition space (<NUM>) such that a body heat pipe (P1) that transfers heat is formed integrally with the can body.