Battery module assembly having coolant flow channel

• US 9,786,968 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2014
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Bum Hyun, Choi, Ji Young, Shin, Jin-Kyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Huff, Mark F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wills, Monique
• Application Number:
  US14/894,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20160134000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6556 Solid parts with flow channel passages or pipes for heat exchange closed pipes H01M10/6552
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6557 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/211 adapted for pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a battery module assembly including unit modules, each of which includes unit cells mounted to a cartridge in a state of being electrically connected to each other via bus bars, the battery module assembly including two or more sub-modules, each of which includes two or more unit modules vertically stacked from a ground to form a coolant flow channel at an interface therebetween, the sub-modules being arranged in a lateral direction in a state of being spaced apart from each other to provide the coolant flow channel, a base plate, on which the sub-modules are loaded, side cover plates mounted at sides of the sub-modules, each of the side cover plates having at least one coolant inlet port, through which a coolant is introduced, and a bracket for fixing ends of the sub-modules, the bracket having a coolant outlet port communicating with the coolant flow channel.

Claims

1. A battery module assembly comprising unit modules, each of which comprises unit cells mounted to a cartridge in a state of being electrically connected to each other via bus bars, the battery module assembly comprising:

a base plate;

two or more sub-modules loaded on the base plate, each of which comprises two or more unit modules vertically stacked relative to the base plate to form a coolant flow channel at an interface therebetween, the coolant flow path extending parallel to the base plate, the sub-modules being arranged in a lateral direction in a state of being spaced apart from each other to provide the coolant flow channel;

side cover plates mounted at sides of the sub-modules, each of the side cover plates having at least one coolant inlet port, through which a coolant is introduced; and

a bracket for fixing ends of the sub-modules, the bracket being located between the sub-modules, the bracket having a coolant outlet port communicating with the coolant flow channel.

2. The battery module assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the unit cells is a plate-shaped battery cell or a battery cell assembly comprising two or more plate-shaped battery cells mounted in a cell cover in a state in which electrode terminals of the battery cells are exposed.

3. The battery module assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of the battery cells is a prismatic secondary battery or a pouch-shaped secondary battery.

4. The battery module assembly according to claim 3, wherein the pouch-shaped secondary battery is configured to have a structure in which an electrode assembly is mounted in a laminate sheet comprising a resin layer and a metal layer in a sealed state.

5. The battery module assembly according to claim 2, wherein the cell cover comprises a pair of sheathing members coupled to each other for covering outer surfaces of the battery cells excluding the electrode terminals.

6. The battery module assembly according to claim 1, wherein the unit cells of each of the unit modules are connected in parallel to each other.

8. The battery module assembly according to claim 1, wherein each cartridge is provided at opposite sides thereof with protrusions each having a fastening hole, and the cartridges are coupled to each other using fastening members inserted through the fastening holes to constitute the sub-modules.

9. The battery module assembly according to claim 1, wherein the unit modules of each of the sub-modules are connected in series to each other.

10. The battery module assembly according to claim 1, wherein one end of a surface of each of the bus bars, to which a corresponding one of the electrode terminals is coupled, is bent upward or downward, and the bent end is connected to a series connection member such that adjacent unit modules are connected in series to each other.

15. The battery module assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the bracket comprises a plate-shaped main body, a fixing part, and an output port formed through a middle of the main body,

the main body is provided at each end thereof with a concave and convex part corresponding in shape to a concave and convex structure of the rears of the sub-modules, and

the fixing part is provided with a fastening hole, through which the bracket is fastened and fixed to the rears of the sub-modules.

16. The battery module assembly according to claim 1, wherein the coolant flow channel defined between the sub-modules and the coolant outlet port of the bracket are formed in a straight line when viewed above.

17. The battery module assembly according to claim 1, wherein a fan or a discharge duct is mounted at the coolant outlet port of the battery module assembly.

18. The battery module assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

an upper cover plate loaded on top surfaces of the sub-modules, the upper cover plate being fastened and coupled to the sub-modules and the side cover plates; and

a front cover plate mounted at fronts of the sub-modules in a direction in which the coolant is introduced into the battery module assembly, the front cover plate being fastened and coupled to the sub-modules, the base plate, and the side cover plates.

19. A device comprising a battery module assembly according to claim 1 as a power source.

20. The battery module assembly according to claim 19, wherein the device is an electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, a power storage apparatus, a power supply for emergency, a power supply for computer rooms, a portable power supply, a power supply for medical facilities, a power supply for fire extinguishing facilities, a power supply for alarm facilities, or a power supply for refuge facilities.

7. A battery module assembly comprising unit modules, each of which comprises unit cells mounted to a cartridge in a state of being electrically connected to each other via bus bars, the battery module assembly comprising:

two or more sub-modules, each of which comprises two or more unit modules vertically stacked from a ground to form a coolant flow channel at an interface therebetween, the sub-modules being arranged in a lateral direction in a state of being spaced apart from each other to provide the coolant flow channel;

a base plate, on which the sub-modules are loaded;

side cover plates mounted at sides of the sub-modules, each of the side cover plates having at least one coolant inlet port, through which a coolant is introduced; and

a bracket for fixing ends of the sub-modules, the bracket having a coolant outlet port communicating with the coolant flow channel,

wherein the unit cells of each of the unit modules are connected in parallel to each other, and

wherein the unit cells are mounted to the cartridge such that the electrode terminals face each other, and the electrode terminals are connected in parallel to each other via bus bars mounted to the cartridge.

11. A battery module assembly comprising unit modules, each of which comprises unit cells mounted to a cartridge in a state of being electrically connected to each other via bus bars, the battery module assembly comprising:

two or more sub-modules, each of which comprises two or more unit modules vertically stacked from a ground to form a coolant flow channel at an interface therebetween, the sub-modules being arranged in a lateral direction in a state of being spaced apart from each other to provide the coolant flow channel;

a base plate, on which the sub-modules are loaded;

side cover plates mounted at sides of the sub-modules, each of the side cover plates having at least one coolant inlet port, through which a coolant is introduced; and

a bracket for fixing ends of the sub-modules, the bracket having a coolant outlet port communicating with the coolant flow channel,

wherein each of the side cover plates comprises;

a main body for covering a corresponding one of the sides of the sub-modules;

fixing parts formed at opposite ends of the main body, the fixing parts extending while being bent in a shape of covering the sub-modules, the fixing parts being fastened and fixed to the sub-modules; and

a handle formed at one end of the main body, and

the coolant inlet port is formed at the main body.

12. The battery module assembly according to claim 11, wherein the coolant inlet port is formed in the shape of a circle, an oval, a polygon, or a slit when viewed above.

13. The battery module assembly according to claim 11, wherein the coolant inlet port comprises a first inlet port group comprising two or more first inlet ports and a second inlet port group comprising two or more second inlet ports, the first inlet port group being located at a front part of the battery module assembly, the second inlet port group being located at a rear part of the battery module assembly, in a direction in which the coolant is introduced into the battery module assembly.

14. The battery module assembly according to claim 13, wherein the second inlet ports have an area equivalent to 110 to 300% greater than that of the first inlet ports.