Patent Description:
A battery used in a machine requiring output greater than output required for a conventional electric vehicle may generate a large amount of heat, and thus need to be effectively cooled.

For example, air mobility may require two to three times greater output than the conventional electric vehicle. The air mobility requiring such greater output may generate a large amount of heat from its battery used as a power source, and the battery may thus need to be cooled more effectively.

<FIG> are views respectively showing a conventional cooling structure of a battery cell and a table showing a temperature of the battery cell for each position.

As shown in <FIG>, a conventional cooling structure <NUM> of a battery cell may cool a battery cell <NUM> by bringing a cooling block <NUM> into contact with one side of the battery cell <NUM> (see <FIG>).

In the conventional cooling structure <NUM> of the battery cell, a portion of the battery cell <NUM> that is adjacent to the cooling block <NUM> may be cooled to have a lower temperature. However, a portion of the battery cell <NUM> disposed away from the cooling block <NUM> may be cooled to a higher temperature due to lower cooling efficiency (see <FIG>).

Therefore, a temperature deviation of the battery cell for each position may be large when the battery cell is cooled using the conventional cooling structure <NUM> of the battery cell to thus cause a problem such as lower performance of the battery cell. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a battery module having a cooling structure which may cool the battery cell while minimizing the temperature deviation of the battery cell for each position.

In addition, a battery module using a conventional cooling method of a battery cell such as a liquid immersion cooling method may be heavier. However, it is important for a machine such as the air mobility to be lightweight. Accordingly, it is required to develop a battery module including a cooling structure which may effectively cool the battery cell while being lightweight.

<CIT> discloses a battery heat exchange structure capable of performing heat exchange between a heat exchange panel and a battery cell with high efficiency and stably maintaining high heat exchange efficiency even when the battery cell expands. The structure includes a heat exchange panel between adjacent battery cells. Holding plates are provided on the outer sides of the heat exchange panels located at both ends in the arrangement direction of the battery cell and the heat exchange panel of the battery body. The battery body sandwiched between the holding plates is installed with the insulating material fixed to the inner wall of the insulating container main body interposed therebetween.

<CIT> relates to a battery module suitable for a secondary battery and including a plurality of unit batteries in which cell barriers disposed in the unit batteries have different characteristics depending on their position in the battery module. The battery module includes one or more cell barriers between and around the unit batteries. The battery module includes two types of cell barriers. One or more of each type of cell barrier are included in the battery module. The cell barriers are disposed around and between, and in contact with, adjacent unit batteries to support them. The cell barriers may be configured to flow a cooling medium, e.g., air, between the unit batteries.

<CIT> discloses reliable, efficient, and cost-effective overcurrent protection of the sensing circuits within the battery systems. The battery system includes one or more battery modules and corresponding bus bar modules mounted to the battery modules.

<CIT> discloses a heat dissipation module and a battery module and concerns the technical problem that a cooling assembly currently applied to a battery module has a complex structure. The battery module includes a housing assembly, a plurality of battery cells, and a heat dissipation module. The housing assembly is provided with an accommodating cavity, and the battery cell is received in the accommodating cavity. The heat dissipation module is also received in the accommodating cavity, and the heat dissipation module is disposed between the battery cells and/or between the battery cell and the housing assembly.

The present disclosure is directed to providing a battery module including a cooling structure which may effectively cool a battery cell while being lightweight.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to providing a battery module including a cooling structure which may cool a battery cell while minimizing temperature deviation of the battery cell for each position.

Technical tasks of the present disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other tasks not mentioned here may be obviously understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

According to the present invention, a battery module is set forth in claim <NUM> and preferred embodiments are provided in the dependent claims. In one general aspect, a battery module comprising a cooling plate filled with a phase change material includes: a plurality of battery cells; a plurality of cooling plates each installed between the adjacent battery cells among the plurality of battery cells to absorb heat from the plurality of battery cells; a heat transfer interface material coupled to one side of the plurality of battery cells to be in contact with the plurality of cooling plates, and receiving heat from the cooling plates; and a cooling block coupled to one side of the heat transfer interface material to receive heat from the heat transfer interface material and transfer heat to the outside, wherein the cooling plate is filled with the phase change material.

At least one chamber is disposed in the cooling plate, and the phase change material fills the chamber.

The plurality of chambers may be disposed in the cooling plate to be further away from the heat transfer interface material.

The phase change materials filled in the chambers respectively have different phase change temperatures.

The phase change material filled in the chamber disposed at a first distance from the heat transfer interface material may have the phase change temperature of a first degree, the phase change material filled in the chamber disposed at a second distance from the heat transfer interface material may have the phase change temperature of a second degree, the first distance may be longer than the second distance, and the first degree may be lower than the second degree.

The cooling plate may be made of aluminum.

The number of the plurality of chambers may be <NUM> or less.

A shortest distance between the chamber and an outer circumferential surface of the cooling plate may be half of a width of the chamber.

The width of the chamber may be <NUM> or less.

A height of the chamber may be <NUM> or more.

The cooling plate may have a predetermined portion inserted into the heat transfer interface material, and a length of the predetermined portion may be <NUM>% or more of a longitudinal length of the cooling plate to be further away from the heat transfer interface material.

The phase change material filling the cooling plate may be a paraffin-based material.

The phase change temperature of the phase change material filling the cooling plate may be <NUM> degrees or more and <NUM> degrees or less.

A pad having elasticity may be installed between the cooling plate and the battery cell adjacent to the cooling plate.

The battery module, in which each of the plurality of battery cells is a prismatic battery cell or a pouch-type battery cell, may further include: a board including a bus bar electrically connecting the plurality of battery cells to each other and a printed wiring circuit board for measuring the voltages and temperatures of the plurality of battery cells, and installed on top of the plurality of battery cells; a front plate coupled to the front of the plurality of battery cells; a rear plate coupled to the rear of the plurality of battery cells; a side plate coupled to the side of the plurality of battery cells; and an upper cover coupled to the top of the plurality of battery cells to cover the board.

The heat transfer interface material may have a thermal conductivity of 3W/mk or more.

Details of other embodiments are included in the description and drawings of the present disclosure.

Hereinafter, embodiments are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings to be easily practiced by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. However, the present disclosure may be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. In addition, in the drawings, portions unrelated to the description are omitted to clearly describe the present disclosure, and similar portions are denoted by similar reference numerals throughout the specification.

In addition, throughout the specification, when one part is referred to as being "connected to" another part, one part and another part may be "directly connected to" each other, or may be "electrically connected to" each other with still another part interposed therebetween.

Throughout the specification, when one member is referred to as being disposed "on" another member, one member and another member may be in contact with each other, or a third member may be interposed between one member and another member.

Throughout the specification, "including" one component is to be understood to imply the inclusion of other components rather than the exclusion of other components, unless explicitly described to the contrary. As used throughout the specification, a term of degree "about", "substantially", or the like is used to indicate the number of a stated meaning or its approximation when its manufacturing or material tolerance inherent therein is given. Such a term is used to prevent unscrupulous infringers from unfairly using the present disclosure in which exact or absolute figures are stated to facilitate the understanding of this application. As used throughout the specification, a term of "step of (doing)" or "step of~" does not indicate a "step for~".

Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and the description provided below. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described herein, and may also be embodied in another form. Same reference numerals denote same components throughout the specification.

Hereinafter, the description describes a battery module comprising a cooling plate filled with a phase change material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

<FIG> is an exploded view showing the battery module comprising the cooling plate filled with the phase change material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a battery module <NUM> comprising a cooling plate filled with a phase change material may include a battery cell <NUM>, a cooling plate <NUM>, a pad <NUM>, a heat transfer interface material <NUM>, a cooling channel <NUM>, a board <NUM>, a front plate <NUM>, a rear plate <NUM>, a side plate <NUM>, and an upper cover <NUM>.

First, the battery cell <NUM> is described.

The plurality of battery cells <NUM> is provided, and the battery cell may be a conventional prismatic battery cell or a pouch-type battery cell.

Next, the cooling plate <NUM> is described.

As shown in <FIG>, the cooling plate <NUM> is installed between the adjacent battery cells <NUM> among the plurality of battery cells <NUM>, and absorb heat occurring from the plurality of battery cells <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the cooling plate.

Referring to <FIG>, the cooling plate <NUM> may be filled with a phase change material.

Here, the phase change material filling the cooling plate <NUM> may be a paraffin-based material, and the phase change temperature of the phase change material may be <NUM> degrees or more and <NUM> degrees or less.

In detail, the cooling plate <NUM> has at least one chamber <NUM> disposed therein, the phase change material fills the chamber, and the phase change material may be made of aluminum.

The plurality of chambers <NUM> may be disposed in the cooling plate <NUM> to be further away from the heat transfer interface material <NUM> described below, and the phase change materials filled in the chambers <NUM> respectively have different phase change temperatures.

For example, among the plurality of chambers disposed in the cooling plate <NUM>, the phase change material filled in the chamber <NUM> disposed at a first distance from the heat transfer interface material <NUM> may have the phase change temperature of a first degree, the phase change material filled in the chamber <NUM> disposed at a second distance from the heat transfer interface material <NUM> may have the phase change temperature of a second degree, the first distance may be longer than the second distance, and the first degree may be lower than the second degree.

<FIG> is a table showing an example of the cooling plate filled with the phase change material having a different phase change temperature for each chamber.

In detail, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the chambers <NUM> of N1, N2, N3, N4, and N5 may be arranged in the cooling plate <NUM> in order of a closer distance from the heat transfer interface material <NUM>. In this case, a temperature of the phase change material filled in each chamber <NUM> may be lower from the chamber <NUM> of N1 to the chamber <NUM> of N5.

As such, the chamber <NUM> accommodating the phase change material having a lower phase change temperature may be disposed adjacent to the battery cell <NUM> disposed away from the heat transfer interface material <NUM> to thus have a higher temperature, and the chamber <NUM> accommodating the phase change material having a higher phase change temperature may be disposed adjacent to the battery cell <NUM> disposed close to the heat transfer interface material <NUM> to thus have a lower temperature. Accordingly, temperature deviation of the battery cell <NUM> for each position may be minimized regardless of its distance from the heat transfer interface material <NUM>.

In addition, the phase change material may effectively absorb heat even with a small amount. Therefore, the cooling plate <NUM> filled with the phase change material may be made lighter by including such a small amount of the phase change material.

Meanwhile, referring to <FIG>, the number of the plurality of chambers <NUM> arranged in the cooling plate <NUM> may be <NUM> or less, and a shortest distance "b" between the chamber <NUM> and an outer circumferential surface of the cooling plate <NUM> may be half of a width "a" of the chamber.

In addition, the width "a" of the chamber <NUM> may be <NUM> or less, and a height of the chamber <NUM> may be <NUM> or more.

In addition, a predetermined portion of the cooling plate <NUM> may be inserted into the heat transfer interface material <NUM> described below.

<FIG> is a view showing the cooling plate whose predetermined portion is inserted into a heat transfer interface material.

In detail, referring to <FIG>, the cooling plate <NUM> may be brought into contact with the heat transfer interface material <NUM> by inserting its predetermined portion into the heat transfer interface material <NUM>, and a length h1 of the predetermined portion of the cooling plate <NUM> that is inserted into the heat transfer interface material <NUM> may be <NUM>% or more of a longitudinal length h2 of the cooling plate <NUM> to be further away from the heat transfer interface material <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the pad <NUM> may be installed between the cooling plate <NUM> and the battery cell <NUM> adjacent to the cooling plate <NUM>, and have elasticity to suppress swelling of the battery cell <NUM> and swelling of the cooling plate <NUM>.

Next, the heat transfer interface material <NUM> is described.

Referring to <FIG>, the heat transfer interface material (TIM) <NUM> is coupled to one side of the plurality of battery cells <NUM> to be in contact with the plurality of cooling plates <NUM>, and receive heat from the plurality of cooling plates <NUM> and transfer the same to a cooling channel <NUM> described below.

In addition, the heat transfer interface material <NUM> may have a thermal conductivity of 3W/mk or more.

Next, the cooling channel <NUM> is described.

Referring to <FIG>, the cooling channel <NUM> may be coupled to one side of the heat transfer interface material <NUM> to receive heat from the heat transfer interface material <NUM> and transfer heat to the outside.

This cooling channel <NUM> is configured in the same way as the cooling block included in a conventional battery module.

Referring to <FIG>, the board <NUM> may include a bus bar electrically connecting the plurality of battery cells <NUM> to each other and a printed wiring circuit board (PCB) for measuring the voltages and temperatures of the plurality of battery cells <NUM>, and may be installed on top of the plurality of battery cells <NUM>.

Next, the front plate <NUM>, the rear plate <NUM>, and the side plate <NUM> are described.

Referring to <FIG>, the front plate <NUM> may be coupled to the front of the plurality of battery cells <NUM>, the rear plate <NUM> may be coupled to the rear of the plurality of battery cells <NUM>, and the side plate <NUM> may be coupled to the side of the plurality of battery cells <NUM>.

The front plate <NUM>, the rear plate <NUM>, and the side plate <NUM> may each have a plate shape.

Next, the upper cover <NUM> is described.

Referring to <FIG>, the upper cover <NUM> may be coupled to the top of the plurality of battery cells <NUM> to cover the board <NUM>, and may have a plate shape.

The battery module <NUM> comprising the cooling plate filled with the phase change material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure configured as described above may effectively prevent an increase in the temperature of the battery cell <NUM>, and may minimize the temperature deviation of the battery cell <NUM> for each position.

<FIG> is a table showing a temperature of a battery cell for each position based on a conventional cooling plate and a cooling plate included in the battery module comprising the cooling plate filled with the phase change material.

In detail, as shown in <FIG>, compared to a battery module including the conventional cooling plate, the battery module <NUM> comprising the cooling plate <NUM> filled with the phase change material has not only a lower overall temperature of the battery cell <NUM>, but also a smaller temperature deviation of the battery cell <NUM> for each position.

As such, the battery module comprising the cooling plate filled with the phase change material according to the present disclosure uses the cooling plate filled with the phase change material which may effectively absorb heat even with such a small amount to cool the battery cell, thereby effectively cooling the battery cell while being lightweight.

In addition, among the plurality of chambers disposed in the cooling plate, the phase change material filled in the chamber disposed away from the heat transfer interface material may have the lower phase change temperature than the phase change material filled in the chamber disposed close to the heat transfer interface material. It is thus possible to minimize the temperature deviation of the battery cell for each position, thereby preventing the lower performance of the battery cell.

According to one general aspect of the present disclosure described above, the battery module comprising the cooling plate filled with the phase change material according to the present disclosure may use the cooling plate filled with the phase change material which may effectively absorb heat even with such a small amount to cool the battery cell, thereby effectively cooling the battery cell while being lightweight.

The above-described embodiments are illustratively provided, and it is apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains that the present disclosure may be embodied in another specific form without any change in its technical idea or essential characteristics. Therefore, it is to be understood that the embodiments described hereinabove are illustrative rather than being restrictive in all respects. For example, the components each described as a single type may also be implemented in a distributed manner, and similarly, the components described as being distributed from each other may also be implemented in a combined manner.

Claim 1:
A battery module (<NUM>) comprising:
a plurality of battery cells (<NUM>);
a plurality of cooling plates (<NUM>) each installed between adjacent battery cells (<NUM>) among the plurality of battery cells (<NUM>) to absorb heat from the plurality of battery cells (<NUM>);
a heat transfer interface material (<NUM>) coupled to one side of the plurality of battery cells (<NUM>) to be in contact with the plurality of cooling plates (<NUM>), and receiving heat from the cooling plates (<NUM>); and
a cooling block (<NUM>) coupled to one side of the heat transfer interface material (<NUM>) to receive heat from the heat transfer interface material (<NUM>) and transfer heat to the outside,
wherein each cooling plate of the plurality of cooling plates (<NUM>) is filled with the phase change material,
wherein a plurality of chambers (<NUM>) are disposed in a cooling plate of the plurality of cooling plates (<NUM>), and the phase change material fills the chamber,
wherein the phase change materials filled in the plurality of chambers (<NUM>) respectively have different phase change temperatures.