Apparatus and method for detecting swelling of battery module

An apparatus for detecting swelling of a battery module, comprising:

• a battery module housing defining a space for accommodating the battery module;
• a swelling detection panel attached to a side surface of the battery module and having an edge in contact with an inner surface of the battery module housing, wherein the swelling detection panel is configured to move within an internal space of the battery module housing along a swelling direction away from the battery module as the swelling of the battery module increases;
• a slant portion protruding from the inner surface of the battery module housing into the internal space of the battery module housing, wherein the slant portion is tapered to increasingly narrow the internal space of the battery module housing in the swelling direction from a first location adjacent to the edge of the swelling detection panel to a second location;
• a contact sensor installed within the space of the battery module housing immediately after the second location along the swelling direction;
• an alarm configured to output an alarm message visually or audibly;
• and
• a control unit operably coupled to the contact sensor and the alarm,
• wherein the contact sensor is configured to output a swelling detection signal in response to the swelling detection panel moving in the swelling direction along the slant portion past the second location along the swelling direction such that the edge of the swelling detection panel contacts the contact sensor, and
• the control unit is configured to control the alarm unit to output the alarm message in response to receiving the swelling detection signal.