MIDDLE OR LARGE-SIZED BATTERY PACK CASE PROVIDING IMPROVED DISTRIBUTION UNIFORMITY IN COOLANT FLUX

• US 20100203376A1
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Ahn, Jaesung, Yang, Heekook, Yoon, Jongmoon, Choi, Dooseong, Im, Ye Hoon, Han, Sang Phil, Kang, D.M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,614,206 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/120
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/30 Nickel accumulators H01M10/34 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/617 for achieving uniformity or desired distribution of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/651 characterised by parameters specified by a numeric value or mathematical formula, e.g. ratios, sizes or concentrations
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6566 Means within the gas flow to guide the flow around one or more cells, e.g. manifolds, baffles or other barriers H01M10/6565 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/581 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a middle- or large-sized battery pack case in which a battery module having a plurality of stacked battery cells, which can be charged and discharged, is mounted, wherein the battery pack case is provided with a coolant inlet port and a coolant outlet port, which are disposed such that a coolant for cooling the battery cells can flow from one side to the other side of the battery module in the direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the battery cells, and the battery pack case is further provided with a flow space (‘inlet duct’) extending from the coolant inlet port to the battery module and another flow space (Outlet duct’) extending from the battery module to the coolant outlet port, the inlet duct having a vertical sectional area less than that of the outlet duct.

Claims

1. A middle- or large-sized battery pack case in which a battery module having a plurality of stacked battery cells, which can be charged and discharged, is mounted, wherein

the battery pack case is provided with a coolant inlet port and a coolant outlet port, which are disposed such that a coolant for cooling the battery cells can flow from one side to the other side of the battery module in the direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the battery cells, and

the battery pack case is further provided with a flow space (‘

inlet duct’

) extending from the coolant inlet port to the battery module and another flow space (Outlet duct’

) extending from the battery module to the coolant outlet port, the inlet duct having a vertical sectional area less than that of the outlet duct.

2. The middle- or large-sized battery pack case according to claim 1, wherein the inlet duct has a vertical sectional area equivalent to 50 to 90% of the vertical sectional area of the outlet duct.

3. The middle- or large-sized battery pack case according to claim 1, wherein the difference of the vertical sectional area between the ducts results from the difference of the vertical height between the ducts in a condition of the ducts having the same width.

4. The middle- or large-sized battery pack case according to claim 3, wherein the inlet duct has a vertical height equivalent to 55 to 85% of the vertical height of the outlet duct.

5. The middle- or large-sized battery pack case according to claim 1, wherein the battery pack case is constructed in a structure in which the length of the battery pack case in the stacking direction of the battery cells is greater than the length of the battery pack case in the lateral direction of the battery cells, and the ducts are arranged parallel to the stacking direction of the battery cells.

6. The middle- or large-sized battery pack case according to claim 1, wherein the battery pack case is constructed in a structure in which a suction fan is mounted in the coolant outlet port for forcibly moving the coolant, introduced through the coolant inlet port, to the coolant outlet port, after the coolant flows through the battery module.

7. The middle- or large-sized battery pack case according to claim 1, wherein the battery pack case is further provided with beads formed in a concavo-convex shape for improving the structural stability of the battery pack case against an external force, the beads being constructed in a structure in which the beads do not disturb the flow of the coolant from the coolant inlet port along the advancing direction of a fluid in a flow space (“

inlet duct”

) extending from the coolant inlet port to the battery module.

8. The middle- or large-sized battery pack case according to claim 7, wherein the beads are constructed in a concavo-convex structure having a large length to width ratio, and the beads are arranged parallel to each other.

9. The middle- or large-sized battery pack case according to claim 7, wherein the battery pack case is constructed in a structure in which the length of the battery pack case in the stacking direction of the battery cells is greater than the length of the battery pack case in the lateral direction of the battery cells, the beads are formed at the battery pack case such that the beads are arranged parallel to the lateral direction of the battery cells, and the beads are not formed at a predetermined region of the inlet duct adjacent to the coolant inlet port.

10. The middle- or large-sized battery pack case according to claim 7, wherein the battery pack case is constructed in a structure in which the length of the battery pack case in the stacking direction of the battery cells is greater than the length of the battery pack case in the lateral direction of the battery cells, the beads are formed at the battery pack case such that the beads are arranged parallel to the lateral direction of the battery cells, and the inward height of the beads at a predetermined region of the inlet duct adjacent to the coolant inlet port is gradually decreased toward the coolant inlet port.

11. A middle- or large-sized battery pack constructed in a structure in which a battery module is mounted in a middle- or large-sized battery pack case according to claim 1.

12. The middle- or large-sized battery pack according to claim 11, wherein the battery module includes a plurality of plate-shaped battery cells that can be charged and discharged.

13. The middle- or large-sized battery pack according to claim 12, wherein the battery cells are lithium secondary batteries.

14. The middle- or large-sized battery pack according to claim 12, wherein the battery pack is used as a power source for electric vehicles or hybrid electric vehicles.