CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0088782 filed on Jul. 23, 2019, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present disclosure relates to a battery module.

2. Description of Related Art

Secondary batteries, unlike primary batteries, can be charged and discharged, and thus, secondary batteries can be applied to devices within various fields, such as digital cameras, cell phones, laptops, and hybrid vehicles. Such secondary batteries may include, for example, a nickel-cadmium battery, a nickel-metal hydride battery, a nickel-hydrogen battery, a lithium secondary battery, and the like.

Among these secondary batteries, many studies have been conducted into lithium secondary batteries having high energy density and discharge voltage. Recently, lithium secondary batteries have been manufactured as pouch-type battery cells with flexibility to be configured and used in the form of a module through the connection of a plurality of pieces.

On the other hand, when the battery module is used for an extended period of time, heat is generated by the battery, especially when charged, an internal temperature may rise rapidly, and the temperature rise of the battery may shorten a lifespan of the battery and deteriorate efficiency of the battery. In addition, ignition or explosion may occur in the worst case.

In the conventional case, battery cells accommodated therein are all disposed in one space. Accordingly, when a flame is generated in one battery cell, there is a problem that the flame may propagate easily to the other battery cells, such that the flame may spread.

Therefore, a battery module capable of suppressing the propagation of flame or heat to the other battery cells is required.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a battery module that can suppress the propagation of flame or heat to the other battery cells when the flame occurs in the battery cells.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a battery module includes: a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked; and a heat dissipation plate coupled to one side of the battery cell stack, to discharge heat generated in the battery cells externally, wherein the battery cell stack includes: a first blocking member formed of an insulating material and disposed between a plurality of insulating spaces to provide a plurality of insulating spaces, wherein the plurality of battery cells are distributedly disposed in the plurality of insulating spaces.

In the present embodiment, the battery cell stack may further include a second blocking member disposed on both side surfaces of the first blocking member to form the insulating space, wherein an electrode lead of the battery cells may be disposed to be exposed to an outside of the second blocking member.

In the present embodiment, each of respective insulating spaces may be configured as an internal space formed by the first blocking member, the second blocking member, and the heat dissipation plate.

In the present embodiment, a heat transfer member disposed between the battery cell stack and the heat dissipation plate may be further included.

In the present embodiment, the heat transfer member may be formed of any one of thermal grease, a thermally conductive adhesive, and an epoxy resin.

In the present embodiment, a cooling device coupled to an outer surface of the heat dissipation plate may be further included.

In the present embodiment, the first blocking member may be formed of a single piece of member having ductility.

In the present embodiment, in the battery cell stack, the one battery cell may be disposed in the one heat insulating space.

In the present embodiment, a plurality of buffer pads disposed between the plurality of battery cells may be further included, and the first blocking member may be disposed to alternately encompass at least the one battery cell and the buffer pad.

In the present embodiment, the heat dissipation plate may include a lower plate disposed below the battery cell stack and an upper plate disposed above the battery cell stack.

In the present embodiment, at least one of the first blocking member and the second blocking member may be formed of a fiber fireproof insulating material.

In the present embodiment, at least one of the first blocking member and the second blocking member may be formed by applying a gel-type heat insulating material to a flexible thin film.

In the present embodiment, at least one of the first blocking member and the second blocking member may be formed of a rubber material containing expandable graphite.

In the present embodiment, at least one of the first blocking member and the second blocking member may be made of a rubber material including ceramic having thermal shielding performance.

In the present embodiment, at least one of the first blocking member and the second blocking member may be formed of ceramic wool having a flame retardant performance.

