JP2010192207A - Cooling device for battery, and battery pack - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress that temperature of a unit battery becomes high after realizing simplification of a structure, and improving degree of freedom of alignment of the unit battery. <P>SOLUTION: A cooling device 3 for the battery equipped with a support member 11 to support a supported face of a plurality of unit batteries 2, and a cooling means 13 for cooling the support member is provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery cooling device and an assembled battery.

  Conventionally, in order to suppress the unit cell from becoming high temperature when charging or discharging an assembled battery including a plurality of unit cells made of secondary batteries and the like and a storage container for storing these unit cells, A cooling device for cooling a battery is known. As this type of cooling device, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, cooling air introducing means for introducing cooling air into a storage container (case) is provided, and cooling in the storage container of the assembled battery (laminated battery pack) is performed. A configuration is known in which the air passage and each single cell (laminated battery module) are arranged such that only the electrode terminals (electrode tabs) and the arrangement side portions of the electrode terminals are in contact with the cooling air in each single cell.

JP 2008-282545 A

  However, in the conventional cooling device, since the cooling air is introduced into the storage container, it is necessary to ensure high sealing performance in the storage container. As a result, there is a problem that the structure of the cooling device becomes complicated. Further, since it is necessary to form a cooling air passage, there is a problem that the degree of freedom of arrangement of the cells is limited.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to simplify the structure and improve the degree of freedom of the arrangement of the unit cells, and to increase the unit cell temperature. It is providing the battery cooling device which can be suppressed, and an assembled battery provided with this battery cooling device.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes the following means.
The battery cooling device according to the present invention includes a support member that supports the supported surfaces of a plurality of single cells, and a cooling unit that cools the support member.

According to the battery cooling device of the present invention, the support member that supports each unit cell is cooled by the cooling means. Therefore, when the temperature of the unit cell rises, the unit cell is interposed by the cooling unit via the support member. Thus, it is possible to cool from the supported surface, and it is possible to suppress the unit cell from becoming high temperature.
Further, it is possible to cool these single cells in a state where the supported surface of each single cell is supported by the support member, and for example, a storage container having a high sealing property as in the prior art is required. Therefore, the structure can be simplified, and the degree of freedom of arrangement of the unit cells can be improved.

  The cooling means includes a Peltier element having a heat absorption part cooled by applying a voltage, and a power supply part for applying a voltage to the Peltier element, and the support member is the heat absorption part. It is desirable.

According to this configuration, since the Peltier element having the heat absorption part cooled by application of voltage is provided and the support member is the heat absorption part, the power supply unit applies voltage to the Peltier element. The support member can be cooled.
In addition, since the cooling control of the support member can be performed by controlling the voltage applied to the Peltier element by the power supply unit, the cooling control of the single cell can be easily performed.

  Further, the cooling means includes a heat pipe having an evaporating part that evaporates the working fluid enclosed therein and absorbs latent heat, and a condensing part that condenses the working liquid evaporated in the evaporating part to release latent heat. And a cooling unit that cools the condensing unit, and the evaporation unit is preferably embedded in the support member.

According to this configuration, since the evaporation part of the heat pipe is embedded in the support member, when the unit cell becomes high temperature, the working fluid in the evaporation unit evaporates due to the heat conducted from the unit cell to the support member. By absorbing latent heat, the support member can be cooled. Moreover, since the cooling unit for cooling the condensing unit is provided, after the working fluid evaporated in the evaporating unit moves to the condensing unit, the working fluid releases the latent heat and condenses in the condensing unit. Since it moves to an evaporation part, a support member can be cooled stably.
Moreover, when adopting a configuration in which the evaporating unit is cooled by natural cooling, such as a heat sink, as the cooling unit, a power source for driving the cooling unit can be eliminated.

  The cooling means preferably includes a cooling passage formed in the support member, and a cooling medium supply section for circulating the cooling medium in the cooling passage.

According to this configuration, the support member can be cooled by circulating the coolant in the cooling passage formed inside the support member by the coolant supply unit.
In addition, since the cooling control of the support member can be performed by controlling the flow rate of the cooling medium circulated in the cooling passage by the cooling medium supply unit, the cooling control of the single cell can be easily performed.

  Further, a first contact thermal resistance reduction member that reduces contact thermal resistance is interposed between the support member and the supported surface, and the support member is interposed via the first contact thermal resistance reduction member. It is desirable to support the unit cell.

  According to this configuration, since the first contact thermal resistance reducing member is interposed between the support member and the supported surface of the unit cell, the contact thermal resistance between the supported surface and the support member is reduced. The thermal conductivity can be improved. Therefore, the unit cell can be cooled more efficiently by the cooling means, and the unit cell can be reliably prevented from reaching a high temperature.

  The positioning member is fixed to the support member and includes a positioning member that positions the unit cell in contact with a side surface continuous with the supported surface of the unit cell, and the positioning member has higher thermal conductivity than air. desirable.

According to this configuration, the unit cell can be positioned by the positioning member.
Further, since the positioning member is in contact with the side surface of the unit cell and is fixed to the support member, and the thermal conductivity is higher than that of air, when the temperature of the unit cell rises, the heat of the unit cell is used as the support member. It is possible to actively conduct not only from the supported surface but also from the side surface through the positioning member. Therefore, the unit cell can be cooled more efficiently by the cooling means, and the unit cell can be reliably prevented from reaching a high temperature.

  Moreover, it is desirable that a second contact thermal resistance reducing member for reducing contact thermal resistance is interposed between the positioning member and the side surface of the unit cell.

  According to this configuration, since the second contact thermal resistance reducing member is interposed between the positioning member and the side surface of the unit cell, the thermal conductivity is reduced by reducing the contact thermal resistance between the positioning member and the side surface. Can be improved. Therefore, the unit cell can be cooled more efficiently by the cooling means, and the unit cell can be reliably prevented from reaching a high temperature.

  The positioning case includes a positioning case that is supported by the support member and has a higher thermal conductivity than air, and the positioning case includes the supported surface of the unit cell and the side surfaces that are connected to the supported surface. It is preferable that a plurality of positioning recesses are formed so as to position the unit cell in contact with each other, and the support member supports the unit cell via the positioning case.

According to this configuration, the single cell can be positioned by the positioning case.
In addition, since the support member supports the unit cell through the positioning case having a higher thermal conductivity than air, when the temperature of the unit cell rises, the unit cell is supported by the cooling unit via the support member and the positioning case. Thus, it is possible to cool from the supported surface, and it is possible to suppress the unit cell from becoming high temperature.
In addition, since the positioning case comes into contact with the supported surface and the side surface of the unit cell, the heat of the unit cell is positively conducted not only from the supported surface but also from the side surface through the positioning case. Can do. Therefore, the unit cell can be cooled more efficiently by the cooling means, and the unit cell can be reliably prevented from reaching a high temperature.

  Moreover, it is desirable that a third contact thermal resistance reducing member for reducing contact thermal resistance is interposed between the positioning case and the supported surface and the side surface.

  According to this configuration, since the third contact thermal resistance reducing member is interposed between the positioning case and the supported surface and the side surface of the unit cell, the contact heat between the positioning case, the supported surface and the side surface. Resistance can be reduced and thermal conductivity can be improved. Therefore, the unit cell can be cooled more efficiently by the cooling means, and the unit cell can be reliably prevented from reaching a high temperature.

  An assembled battery according to the present invention includes a plurality of single cells, the battery cooling device according to the present invention, and a storage container for storing the plurality of single cells supported by a support member of the battery cooling device. , Are provided.

  According to the assembled battery according to the present invention, since the battery cooling device according to the present invention is provided, the structure of the unit cell is simplified and the degree of freedom in arranging the unit cells is improved. As a result, the entire assembled battery can be prevented from becoming high temperature.

  Moreover, it is desirable that at least a part of the wall portion of the storage container is a support member of the battery cooling device.

  According to this configuration, since at least a part of the wall portion of the storage container is the support member of the battery cooling device according to the present invention, the structure can be simplified and the degree of freedom in arranging the cells can be improved. In addition, it is possible to suppress the unit cell from becoming high temperature, and as a result, it is possible to suppress the entire assembled battery from becoming high temperature. And the number of components can be reduced rather than the assembled battery with which the storage container and the cooling device are comprised separately.

According to the battery cooling device of the present invention, the structure can be simplified and the degree of freedom of arrangement of the unit cells can be improved, and the unit cells can be prevented from reaching a high temperature.
Moreover, according to the assembled battery which concerns on this invention, while aiming at simplification of a structure and improving the freedom degree of the arrangement | sequence of a single cell, it can suppress that the whole assembled battery becomes high temperature.

It is side surface sectional drawing of the assembled battery which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a top cross-sectional view of the assembled battery shown in FIG. 1. It is a perspective view of the principal part of the assembled battery shown in FIG. It is upper surface sectional drawing of the assembled battery which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the assembled battery shown in FIG. It is an upper surface sectional view of an assembled battery concerning a 3rd embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the assembled battery which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the assembled battery which concerns on 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the assembled battery which concerns on 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the assembled battery which concerns on 7th Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing along the Y direction of the assembled battery shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the assembled battery which concerns on 8th Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing along the Y direction of the assembled battery shown in FIG. It is side surface sectional drawing of the assembled battery which concerns on 9th Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 16 is a top cross-sectional view of the assembled battery shown in FIG. 15.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, an assembled battery according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an assembled battery according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a top cross-sectional view of the assembled battery shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of the assembled battery shown in FIG.
The assembled battery 1 according to the present embodiment is an assembled battery 1 provided with a plurality of single cells 2 that are chargeable / dischargeable secondary batteries. For example, a power source of a moving body such as a deep sea exploration device or an electric vehicle, or It is used for power storage devices, uninterruptible power supply devices, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the assembled battery 1 includes a plurality of single cells 2, a cooling device (battery cooling device) 3 that cools these single cells 2, a control unit 4 that controls the single cells 2, A battery 2 and a storage container 5 that stores a support member 11 and a control unit 4 described later of the cooling device 3 are provided.
The storage container 5 stores the unit cell 2, the cooling device 3, and the control unit 4, and has a lower casing 6 having a bottomed rectangular tube shape and having an opening 6 a, and an opening 6 a of the lower casing 6. An upper housing 7 that is a lid that opens and closes, and both the lower housing 6 and the upper housing 7 are formed of an insulator such as a synthetic resin.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the lower housing 6 has a rectangular shape in plan view of the bottom wall portion 8. In the following, the direction along the longitudinal width direction of the bottom wall portion 8 in plan view is the X direction, and the direction along the short width direction of the bottom wall portion 8 in plan view is orthogonal to any of the Y direction, the X direction, and the Y direction. This direction is referred to as the Z direction. In the Z direction, the bottom wall 8 side of the lower housing 6 is referred to as the lower side, and the opening 6a side is referred to as the upper side.

  The lower housing 6 is provided with a partition wall 6b that partitions the inside of the lower housing 6 and forms a unit cell chamber 9 and a control unit chamber 10 in which the unit cell 2 and the control unit 4 are separately stored. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the partition wall 6 b is configured such that the unit cell chamber 9 and the control unit chamber 10 are adjacent to each other in the X direction inside the lower housing 6, and the shape of the unit cell chamber 9 and the control unit chamber 10 in plan view is any. Is formed so as to cross the inside of the lower housing 6 in the Y direction so as to be rectangular. Furthermore, the partition wall 6b is fixed to the lower housing 6 at both ends in the Y direction, and extends over the entire area of the lower housing 6 in the Z direction.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the cooling device 3 includes a supporting member 11 that supports each unit cell 2 by a lower end surface (supported surface) 2 a of each unit cell 2, and a cooling unit 12 that cools the supporting member 11. It is equipped with. In the present embodiment, the cooling means 12 includes a Peltier element 14 having a heat absorption part 13 that is cooled by applying a voltage, and a power supply part 15 that applies a voltage to the Peltier element 14. The support member 11 of the device 3 serves as the heat absorption part 13 of the Peltier element 14.

  The Peltier element 14 includes the heat absorbing portion 13 formed in a flat plate shape, a heat radiating portion 16 that is formed in a flat plate shape and spaced from the heat absorbing portion 13, and heat is transferred from the heat absorbing portion 13. It is arranged between the portion 13 and the heat radiating portion 16 and includes a joint portion 17 that mechanically joins and electrically connects both. In the drawings shown in the present specification, the joints 17 of the Peltier elements 14 are schematically shown for easy viewing.

The heat absorbing portion 13 and the heat radiating portion 16 are formed of a metal such as aluminum, for example, and as shown in FIG. 2, each of the planar views has the same shape and size as the planar view of the unit cell chamber 9. Is formed. As shown in FIG. 1, the Peltier element 14 has the heat radiating portion 16 on the upper surface of the bottom wall portion 8 of the unit cell chamber 9 with the heat absorbing portion 13 facing upward and the heat radiating portion 16 facing downward. It is fixed. In addition, an insulating film 13 a is formed over the entire upper surface of the heat absorbing portion 13.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the power supply unit 15 is a pair that extends from the joint portion 17 to the outside of the lower housing 6 through a pair of wiring openings 19 a that are opened in the side wall portion 18 facing the Y direction in the lower housing 6. The wiring 19 is electrically connected to the joint 17.

As shown in FIG. 3, the single battery 2 is a secondary battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, for example.
As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of unit cells 2 are arranged in the unit cell chamber 9 at equal intervals in the X direction so that each of the planar views has a rectangular shape that is long in the Y direction. . Moreover, the side surface 2b which faces the Y direction of each cell 2 is mutually in agreement with the Y direction. Furthermore, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the distance between the side wall portion 18 and the partition wall 6 b of the lower housing 6 forming the unit cell chamber 9 and the side surface 2 b of the unit cell 2 facing each other is equal to each other. The interval is equal to the interval between the side surfaces 2b of the unit cells 2 adjacent to each other. In addition, these unit cells 2 are supported by the support member 11 in a state where the lower end surface 2 a of each unit cell 2 is in contact with the support member 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper end surface 2 c of the unit cell 2 is provided with a pair of electrode terminals 20 that are formed in a columnar shape and project upward. The positive electrode and the other electrode terminal 20 are a negative electrode.
As shown in FIG. 2, the adjacent unit cells 2 are arranged such that the positions of the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the electrode terminal 20 are alternately arranged in the X direction. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the electrode terminals 20 of the adjacent unit cells 2 are electrically connected in series by a plate-like bus bar 21 formed of a conductive material. Further, one of the single cells 2 arranged at both ends in the X direction is not electrically connected to the other single cell 2 and the positive electrode, and the other is electrically connected to the other single cell 2 and the negative electrode. The electrode terminals 20 that are not connected and are not electrically connected to the other single cells 2 are respectively inserted into insertion holes 7a formed in the upper housing 7 of the storage container 5, as shown in FIG. Are exposed to the outside, and each is a positive electrode or a negative electrode of the battery pack 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bus bar 21 has a pair of through holes 21 a through which the electrode terminals 20 are inserted at both ends, and the through holes 21 a are inserted through the electrode terminals 20 from above, respectively. It is fixed by bolts 22.
Further, between the bus bar 21 and the bolt 22, a ring-shaped detection terminal 23 that is electrically connected to the control unit 4 by a wiring (not shown) is sandwiched and fixed by the bus bar 21 and the bolt 22.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, only one detection terminal 23 is shown for easy understanding of the drawings, and the remaining detection terminals 23 are not shown.
In the example shown in FIG. 2, four unit cells 2 are provided and the unit cells 2 are electrically connected in series. However, the number of unit cells 2 is four. It is not limited, and it may be more or less than four. Moreover, the cell 2 may be connected in parallel, for example.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 4 detects the voltage and temperature of the cell 2 when charging and discharging the assembled battery 1, and controls the voltage and the like based on the detection result.
In the present embodiment, the cooling start temperature is recorded in the control unit 4 in advance, and when it is determined that the detected temperature of the unit cell 2 has exceeded the cooling start temperature, the cooling unit 12 of the cooling device 3 is used. And the support member 11 is cooled. The control unit 4 is a control circuit formed on a substrate, for example, and is accommodated in the control unit chamber 10.

Next, the operation of the assembled battery 1 described above will be described in the case where the unit cell 2 has risen in temperature in the process of discharging and charging the assembled battery 1.
First, when the control unit 4 that detects the temperature of the unit cell 2 determines that the detected temperature of the unit cell 2 has exceeded the cooling start temperature, the control unit 4 controls the power source unit 15 of the cooling unit 12 to control the Peltier element 14. A voltage is applied to. Here, since the support member 11 is the heat absorption part 13 of the Peltier element 14, the power supply part 15 applies a voltage to this Peltier element 14, and the support member 11 (heat absorption part 13) can be cooled. Therefore, when the temperature of the unit cell 2 rises, the unit cell 2 can be cooled from the lower end surface 2a via the support member 11 by the cooling means 12, and the unit cell 2 is prevented from becoming high temperature. be able to. As a result, it can suppress that the assembled battery 1 whole becomes high temperature.
The heat transferred from the heat absorbing portion 13 to the heat radiating portion 16 is radiated to the outside from the bottom wall portion 8 of the lower housing 6 to which the heat radiating portion 16 is fixed.

According to the assembled battery 1 shown above, it is possible to cool these single cells 2 in a state where each single cell 2 is simply supported by the support member 11 at the lower end surface 2a of each single cell 2, for example, Since there is no need for a storage container having high sealing performance as in the prior art, the structure can be simplified, and the degree of freedom of arrangement of the cells 2 can be improved.
Moreover, since the control part 4 controls the voltage which the power supply part 15 applies to the Peltier device 14, it is possible to perform the cooling control of the supporting member 11, and therefore the cooling control of the single cell 2 can be easily performed.

  In the present embodiment, the heat absorbing portion 13 of the Peltier element 14 constitutes the support member 11, but is not limited thereto. For example, a support member made of an insulator different from the Peltier element 14 may be disposed between the Peltier element 14 and the unit cell 2, and the support member may be cooled by the heat absorbing portion 13 of the Peltier element 14.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the assembled battery 30 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a top cross-sectional view of an assembled battery according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a main part of the assembled battery shown in FIG.
In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different points will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the assembled battery 30 of the present embodiment, the support member 32 of the cooling device 31 is a flat body formed of a metal such as aluminum, for example, and its lower surface is the bottom wall of the unit cell chamber 9. It is fixed to the upper surface of the part 8. An insulating film 32 a is formed on the entire upper surface of the support member 32.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cooling means 33 condenses the working liquid 36a enclosed therein, the evaporation section 34 that evaporates and absorbs latent heat, and the working liquid 36a evaporated in the evaporation section 34 condenses. And a heat pipe 36 having a condensing part 35 for releasing latent heat, and a heat sink (cooling part) 37 for cooling the condensing part 35.

As shown in FIG. 4, all of the heat pipes 36 extend along the Y direction and are arranged at equal intervals in the X direction, and one end thereof is the evaporation unit 34. The other end is the condensing unit 35.
The evaporation unit 34 is embedded in the support member 32. In the example shown in FIG. 4, at least one heat pipe 36 (evaporating part 34) is embedded in a portion of the support member 32 located below the lower end surface 2 a of the unit cell 2. Further, a portion of each heat pipe 36 that is located closer to the condenser 35 than a portion embedded in the support member 32 is externally provided through a plurality of pipe openings 36 b formed in the side wall 18 facing the Y direction of the lower housing 6. It is extended to.

In addition, the heat pipe 36 has, for example, a condensing unit 35 so that the working fluid 36a evaporated in the evaporating unit 34 moves to the condensing unit 35 and the working fluid 36a condensed in the condensing unit 35 moves to the evaporating unit 34. Is formed so as to be located above the evaporation section 34.
Moreover, the boiling point of the working fluid 36a of the heat pipe 36 corresponds to the cooling start temperature, and is, for example, equal to the cooling start temperature. In the present embodiment, the cooling start temperature may not be stored in the control unit 4. In addition, the boiling point of the working fluid 36a may be lower than, for example, the cooling start temperature in consideration of the effect of heat dissipation in the heat conduction process.

The heat sink 37 includes a heat sink body 38 in which the condensing part 35 of the heat pipe 36 is embedded, and a plurality of heat radiation fins 39 that are formed on the upper surface of the heat sink body 38 and cool the heat sink body 38. The heat radiating fins 39 are plate-like bodies protruding upward from the upper surface of the heat sink body 38, and are arranged at intervals in the X direction.
According to the heat sink 37 configured in this way, a large contact area with the air can be ensured by the radiating fins 39, so that the condensing part 35 embedded in the heat sink body 38 can be naturally cooled.

Next, the operation of the assembled battery 30 described above will be described in the case where the unit cell 2 has risen in temperature in the process of discharging and charging the assembled battery 30 and the like.
First, when the temperature of the unit cell 2 rises and the working fluid 36a in the evaporation unit 34 is heated above the boiling point of the working solution 36a by the heat conducted from the unit cell 2 to the support member 32, the inside of the evaporation unit 34 The working fluid 36a evaporates. Here, since the working fluid 36a evaporates and absorbs latent heat, the support member 32 can be cooled. Therefore, when the temperature of the unit cell 2 rises, the unit cell 2 can be cooled from the lower end surface 2a via the support member 32 by the cooling means 33, and the unit cell 2 is prevented from becoming high temperature. be able to.

  Next, when the working fluid 36 a evaporates in the evaporation unit 34, the evaporated working fluid 36 a moves to the condensing unit 35. Here, since the cooling device 31 includes the heat sink 37 for cooling the condensing unit 35, the working fluid 36 a releases latent heat in the condensing unit 35 to condense, and the condensed working fluid 36 a moves to the evaporation unit 34. Therefore, the support member 32 can be cooled stably.

According to the assembled battery 30 described above, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the heat sink 37 that cools the evaporation unit 34 by natural cooling can be used as a cooling unit that cools the condensation unit 35. Since it employs, a power source for driving the cooling means 33 can be eliminated.
In the present embodiment, the heat sink 37 that does not require a power source is employed as the cooling unit that cools the condensing unit 35. However, for example, a cooling fan that requires a power source may be employed.

(Third embodiment)
Next, an assembled battery 40 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a top cross-sectional view of an assembled battery according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
Note that in the third embodiment, the same components as those in the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different points will be described.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the cooling device 48 of the assembled battery 40 of the present embodiment, the cooling means 41 includes a cooling passage 42 formed inside the support member 32 and a cooling medium that distributes the cooling medium 43 a through the cooling passage 42. A supply unit 43.
A plurality of cooling passages 42 are formed so as to extend along the Y direction, open toward both ends in the Y direction, and are formed at equal intervals in the X direction. In the example shown in FIG. 6, at least one cooling passage 42 is formed in a portion of the support member 32 located below the lower end surface 2 a of the unit cell 2.

  The cooling medium supply unit 43 encloses the cooling medium 43a and communicates the opening on one side and the opening on the other side of each cooling passage 42 with the flow rate of the cooling medium 43a in the external pipe 44. And a heat exchanger 46 configured to cool the cooling medium 43a in the external pipe 44. Examples of the cooling medium 43a include a refrigerant such as ammonia, air, and the like. In the present embodiment, the cooling medium flow path 47 through which the cooling medium 43a formed by the cooling passage 42 and the external pipe 44 circulates is a circulation flow path closed to the outside.

  The external pipe 44 includes a plurality of first branch pipes 44a that communicate with the opening on one side of each cooling passage 42, a first communication pipe 44b that communicates the first branch pipe 44a with each other, and the other side of each cooling passage 42. A plurality of second branch pipes 44c communicated with the openings, a second communication pipe 44d that communicates the second branch pipes 44c with each other, and a main that communicates the first communication pipe 44b and the second communication pipe 44d with each other. And a pipe 44e.

  One end of each of the first branch pipe 44a and the second branch pipe 44c is connected to the cooling passage 42 through a plurality of pipe openings 44f opened in the side wall 18 facing the Y direction in the lower housing 6. Both other end portions extend to the outside of the lower housing 6. The other end of each first branch pipe 44a is connected to the first communication pipe 44b, and the other end of each second branch pipe 44c is connected to the second communication pipe 44d.

  Both the pump 45 and the heat exchanger 46 are arranged in the main pipe 44e, and the cooling medium 43a cooled by the heat exchanger 46 is arranged to be capable of being pumped by the pump 45 to the first communication pipe 44b. . The pump 45 and the heat exchanger 46 are electrically connected to the control unit 4, and their operations are controlled by the control unit 4.

  According to the cooling medium supply unit 43 configured as described above, the cooling medium 43a in the main pipe 44e cooled by the heat exchanger 46 is pumped by the pump 45, and the first communication pipe 44b and each first branch pipe. After circulating 44a, the cooling passage 42 can be circulated from the opening on one side toward the opening on the other side. The cooling medium 43a that has passed through the opening on the other side of the cooling passage 42 flows through the second branch pipes 44c and the second communication pipes 44d, flows into the main pipe 44e again, and is cooled by the heat exchanger 46. .

Next, the operation of the assembled battery 40 described above will be described in the case where the unit cell 2 has risen in temperature in the process of discharging and charging the assembled battery 40 and the like.
First, when the control unit 4 that detects the temperature of the unit cell 2 determines that the detected temperature of the unit cell 2 has exceeded the cooling start temperature, the control unit 4 controls the pump 45 and the heat exchanger 46 of the cooling medium supply unit 43, respectively. The cooling medium 43a is circulated through the cooling passage 42 by controlling. Thereby, the support member 32 can be cooled. Therefore, when the temperature of the unit cell 2 rises, the unit cell 2 can be cooled from the lower end surface 2a via the support member 32 by the cooling means 41, and the unit cell 2 is prevented from becoming high temperature. be able to.

According to the assembled battery 40 described above, the same effect as that of the second embodiment can be obtained, and the cooling medium 43a that is circulated in the cooling passage 42 by controlling the pump 45 of the cooling medium supply unit 43. Since the cooling control of the support member 32 can be performed by controlling the flow rate of the battery 2, the cooling control of the unit cell 2 can be easily performed.
The cooling medium supply unit 43 is not limited to the configuration shown in the present embodiment as long as the cooling medium 43 a is allowed to flow through the cooling passage 42.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, an assembled battery 50 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a main part of the assembled battery according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
Note that in the fourth embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different points will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the cooling device 58 for the assembled battery 50 of the present embodiment, a first gel sheet (first contact) that reduces the contact thermal resistance between the support member 11 and the lower end surface 2 a of the unit cell 2. (Thermal resistance reducing member) 51 is interposed, and the supporting member 11 supports the unit cell 2 via the first gel sheet 51. The first gel sheet 51 is formed so as to cover the entire top surface of the support member 11 from above. That is, the support member 11 is in contact with the lower end surface 2 a of the unit cell 2 via the first gel sheet 51.

  The first gel sheet 51 is an insulator, and the hardness thereof is lower than the hardness of the support member 11. The first gel sheet 51 is interposed between the lower end surface 2a of the unit cell 2 and the support member 11, so that the first gel sheet 51 is deformed so as to be in close contact with the lower end surface 2a of the unit cell 2 and the support member 11, respectively. It is so soft that it can be filled without gaps. Thereby, the contact thermal resistance between the lower end surface 2a of the cell 2 and the support member 11 can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the hardness of the first gel sheet 51 is a penetration (1/10 mm) measured based on JIS K 2207, for example, 10 or more and 100 or less, preferably 90, and the first gel sheet 51 The thermal conductivity of 51 is measured based on JIS R 2616 and is, for example, 1 W / (m · K) or more, and in this embodiment, is 20 W / (m · K) or less.

  According to the assembled battery 50 described above, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the first gel sheet 51 is interposed between the support member 11 and the lower end surface 2a of the unit cell 2. Thus, the thermal conductivity can be improved by reducing the contact thermal resistance between the lower end surface 2a and the support member 11. Therefore, it becomes possible to cool the cell 2 more efficiently by the cooling means 12, and it is possible to reliably suppress the cell 2 from becoming high temperature.

  In the present embodiment, the gel sheet is used as the first contact thermal resistance reducing member that reduces the contact thermal resistance between the support member 11 and the lower end surface 2a. However, if the gel sheet has flexibility as described above. For example, the first contact thermal resistance reduction member may be solid.

(Fifth embodiment)
Next, an assembled battery 60 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a main part of the assembled battery according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.
In the fifth embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different points will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the cooling device 68 of the assembled battery 60 according to the present embodiment is a positioning member that is fixed to the support member 11 and contacts the side surface 2 b that continues to the lower end surface 2 a of the unit cell 2 to position the unit cell 2. 61 and 62 are provided. In the present embodiment, the cooling device 68 includes, as positioning members, a plurality of X-direction positioning members 61 that abut on the side surface 2b facing the X direction of the unit cell 2 and a plurality of abutments that contact the side surface 2b of the unit cell 2 facing the Y direction. Y-direction positioning member 62.

The plurality of X-direction positioning members 61 are formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the single cells positioned at the gaps between the adjacent unit cells 2 and at both ends in the X direction so that each planar view shape is a rectangular shape that is long in the Y direction. The battery 2 is disposed on the outer side in the X direction.
That is, five X-direction positioning members 61 are arranged at equal intervals in the X direction, and the intervals are equal to the size of the unit cell 2 along the X direction. Furthermore, the size along the X direction of the X direction positioning member 61 is equal to the size along the X direction of the interval between the adjacent unit cells 2, and along the Y direction of the X direction positioning member 61. The size is smaller than the size of the unit cell 2 along the Y direction. Further, the center position in the Y direction of the X direction positioning member 61 coincides with the center position in the Y direction of the support member 11.

As a result, in the X direction positioning member 61, both surfaces facing the X direction in the X direction positioning member 61 disposed between the adjacent unit cells 2 are in contact with the side surface 2 b of the unit cell 2. In addition, among the X direction positioning members 61, the surfaces facing the inner side in the X direction in the X direction positioning members 61 arranged at both ends in the X direction are also in contact with the side surface 2 b of the unit cell 2.
In addition, in the X direction positioning members 61 arranged at both ends in the X direction, the surfaces facing the outside in the X direction are in contact with the side wall portion 18 and the partition wall 6 b facing the X direction in the lower housing 6.

The plurality of Y-direction positioning members 62 are formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and each unit cell 2 has a surface facing in the Y direction and a side wall portion of the lower housing 6 so that each planar view has a rectangular shape that is long in the X direction. 18 are arranged in a gap with each other.
In other words, the Y-direction positioning member 62 has a pair of Y-direction positioning members 62 arranged in the Y direction with an interval equivalent to the size along the Y direction of the unit cell 2 spaced apart from each other in the X direction. Four sets are arranged. The size of the Y direction positioning member 62 along the Y direction is equivalent to the size of the X direction positioning member 61 along the X direction, and the size of the Y direction positioning member 62 along the X direction is The size of the unit cell 2 is smaller than the size along the X direction. Further, the X-direction center position of the Y-direction positioning member 62 coincides with the Y-direction center position between the X-direction positioning members 61 adjacent to each other.

Thereby, the surface facing inward in the Y direction in the Y direction positioning member 62 is in contact with the side surface 2 b of the unit cell 2. Note that the surface of the Y-direction positioning member 62 facing the outside in the Y direction is in contact with the side wall portion 18 facing the Y direction in the lower housing 6.
According to the X-direction positioning member 61 and the Y-direction positioning member 62 configured as described above, a single battery is provided between the X-direction positioning member 61 adjacent in the X direction and the Y-direction positioning member 62 adjacent in the Y direction. By arranging 2, the unit cell 2 can be positioned on the support member 11.

  The X-direction positioning member 61 and the Y-direction positioning member 62 both have a thermal conductivity higher than that of air, and are formed of an elastic body having insulation properties such as synthetic rubber, natural rubber, and synthetic resin. ing. Further, the X-direction positioning member 61 and the Y-direction positioning member 62 both have the same size along the Z direction, and are smaller than the size along the Z direction of the unit cell 2.

According to the assembled battery 60 described above, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the single battery 2 can be positioned by the positioning members 61 and 62.
Further, each positioning member 61, 62 is in contact with the side surface 2b of the unit cell 2 and is fixed to the support member 11 and has a higher thermal conductivity than air, so when the temperature of the unit cell 2 rises, The heat of the battery 2 can be positively conducted to the support member 11 not only from the lower end surface 2a but also from the side surface 2b through the positioning member. Therefore, it becomes possible to cool the cell 2 more efficiently by the cooling means 12, and it is possible to reliably suppress the cell 2 from becoming high temperature.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, since each positioning member 61 and 62 is contact | abutting to the side wall part 18 and the partition wall 6b of the lower housing | casing 6, it heats each cell 2 from the side surface 2b to each positioning member 61 and 62. Thus, not only the support member 11 but also the side wall portion 18 of the lower housing 6 can be conducted, and this heat is released from the side wall portion 18 of the lower housing 6 to the outside, whereby the unit cell 2 is discharged. Can be cooled. Therefore, it becomes possible to cool the cell 2 more efficiently, and it can suppress more reliably that the cell 2 becomes high temperature.

(Sixth embodiment)
Next, an assembled battery 70 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a main part of the assembled battery according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.
Note that in the sixth embodiment, the same components as those in the fifth embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different points will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the cooling device 78 for the assembled battery 70 of the present embodiment, a first gel sheet 71 that reduces the contact thermal resistance is interposed between the support member 11 and the lower end surface 2 a of the unit cell 2. Has been. That is, the support member 11 is in contact with the lower end surface 2 a of the unit cell 2 via the first gel sheet 71. A plurality of the first gel sheets 71 are provided, and the plan view shape thereof is formed in the same shape and size as the plan view shape of the lower end surface 2a of the unit cell 2, and is disposed between the lower end surface 2a and the support member 11. Yes. The first gel sheet 71 is made of the same material as the first gel sheet 51 shown in the fourth embodiment. According to the first gel sheet 71, the same functions and effects as those of the first gel sheet 51 shown in the fourth embodiment are used. Can be played.

  Moreover, between the X direction positioning member 72 and the Y direction positioning member 73, and the side surface 2b of the cell 2, the 2nd gel sheets 74 and 75 which reduce contact thermal resistance are interposed. In the present embodiment, the cooling device 78 includes, as the second gel sheet, the X-direction second gel sheet 74 that reduces the contact thermal resistance value between the X-direction positioning member 72 and the side surface 2b of the unit cell 2, and the Y-direction positioning member. 73 and the Y direction 2nd gel sheet 75 which reduces the contact thermal resistance value between the side surface 2b of the cell 2 and the cell 2 is provided.

  In the present embodiment, the X direction positioning member 72 has an X direction so that there is a gap between the X direction positioning member 61 shown in the fifth embodiment and the side surface 2b facing the X direction of the unit cell 2. The Y-direction positioning member 73 is formed between the side surface 2b facing the Y-direction of the unit cell 2 as compared with the Y-direction positioning member 62 shown in the fifth embodiment. The size in the Y direction is reduced so that the interval is increased. The second gel sheets 74 and 75 are interposed between the positioning members 72 and 73 and the side surface 2b of the unit cell 2.

The X direction second gel sheet 74 has a side view shape from the X direction that is the same shape as the side view shape of the X direction positioning member 72, and the X direction positioning member 72 is placed on the side surface 2 b of the unit cell 2 in the X direction. The second gel sheet 74 is in contact.
The Y-direction second gel sheet 75 has a side view shape from the Y direction that is the same shape as the side view shape of the Y-direction positioning member 73, and the Y-direction positioning member 73 is placed on the side surface 2 b of the unit cell 2 in the Y direction. The contact is made through the second gel sheet 75.

  The material of each of the second gel sheets 74 and 75 is the same material as that of the first gel sheet 51 shown in the fourth embodiment, and the hardness thereof is lower than the hardness of both positioning members 72 and 73. Each of the second gel sheets 74 and 75 is interposed between the corresponding positioning members 72 and 73 and the side surface 2b of the unit cell 2 so as to be in close contact with the positioning members 72 and 73 and the side surface 2b of the unit cell 2 respectively. It is so soft that it can be deformed to fill between the two without any gap. Thereby, the contact thermal resistance between the side surface 2b of the cell 2 and each positioning member 72 and 73 can be reduced.

  According to the assembled battery 70 described above, the same operational effects as those of the fifth embodiment can be obtained. Moreover, since each 2nd gel sheet 74 and 75 is interposed between each positioning member 72 and 73 and the side surface 2b of the cell 2, contact thermal resistance between each positioning member 72 and 73 and the side surface 2b Can be reduced to improve thermal conductivity. Therefore, it becomes possible to cool the cell 2 more efficiently by the cooling means 12, and it is possible to reliably suppress the cell 2 from becoming high temperature.

  In this embodiment, the gel sheet is used as the second contact thermal resistance reducing member that reduces the contact thermal resistance between the positioning members 72 and 73 and the side surface 2b of the unit cell 2, but the degree of softness described above is used. However, the second contact thermal resistance reducing member may be a solid, for example.

(Seventh embodiment)
Next, an assembled battery 80 according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a main part of the assembled battery according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the battery pack shown in FIG. 10 along the Y direction.
Note that in the seventh embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different points will be described.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the assembled battery 80 of the present embodiment, the cooling device 88 includes a positioning case 81 that is supported by the support member 11 and has a higher thermal conductivity than air.
The positioning case 81 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the shape in plan view is the same shape and size as the shape in plan view of the support member 11, and the side surface 81 a of the positioning case 81 is the side wall portion 18 of the lower housing 6. And abuts against the partition wall 6b. Further, the size of the positioning case 81 along the Z direction is smaller than the size of the unit cell 2 along the Z direction, and there is a gap between the upper surface of the positioning case 81 and the upper housing 7. ing. The positioning case 81 is made of the same material as the positioning members 61 and 62 shown in the fifth embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 11, the positioning case 81 includes a plurality of positioning cases 81 that position the unit cell 2 in contact with the lower end surface 2a of the unit cell 2 and the side surface 2b continuous to the lower end surface 2a. A positioning recess 82 is formed, and the support member 11 supports the unit cell 2 via the positioning case 81.
Four positioning recesses 82 are formed on the upper surface of the positioning case 81, and the planar view shape of each positioning recess 82 is the same shape and size as the planar view shape of the unit cell 2 and is a rectangular shape that is long in the Y direction. It has become. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 11, the sectional view shape of each positioning recess 82 is rectangular, and the size of the positioning recess 82 along the X direction is the same as the size of the unit cell 2 along the X direction. In addition to being equivalent, the size of the positioning recess 82 along the Y direction is equivalent to the size of the unit cell 2 along the Y direction. The size of the positioning recess 82 along the Z direction is smaller than the size of the unit cell 2 along the Z direction.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the positioning recesses 82 are formed at equal intervals in the X direction, and the center position of each positioning recess 82 in the Y direction coincides with the center position of the positioning case 81 in the Y direction. ing.
As shown in FIG. 11, the lower part of the unit cell 2 is inserted into the positioning recess 82, and the upper part of the unit cell 2 protrudes from the positioning case 81 toward the upper part.
According to the positioning recess 82 configured as described above, the cell 2 is positioned in the positioning case 81 so that the lower end surface 2a and the side surface 2b of the lower portion are positioned in the positioning case 81 by inserting the lower portion thereof into the positioning recess 82. Positioning is made in contact with an inner surface 82a which is a surface facing the inside of the recess 82.

  That is, the positioning case 81 is provided between the positioning member 83 and the support member 11, and the positioning member 83 whose outer shape in plan view is formed in the same shape and size as the plan view shape of the support member 11. A bottom member 84, and the positioning member 83 is formed in the same shape and size as the unit cell 2 and has an opening penetrating the positioning member 83 in the Z direction. The material 84 is formed integrally. Note that the opening of the positioning member 83 forms a positioning recess 82.

According to the assembled battery 80 described above, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the unit cell 2 can be positioned by the positioning case 81.
Further, since the support member 11 supports the unit cell 2 via the positioning case 81 having a higher thermal conductivity than air, the unit cell 2 is supported by the cooling means 12 when the temperature of the unit cell 2 rises. It becomes possible to cool from the lower end surface 2a via the member 11 and the positioning case 81, and it can suppress that the cell 2 becomes high temperature.

Further, since the positioning case 81 contacts the lower end surface 2a and the side surface 2b of the unit cell 2, the heat of the unit cell 2 is transferred to the support member 11 via the positioning case 81 from not only the lower end surface 2a but also from the side surface 2b. Can also be conducted positively. Therefore, it becomes possible to cool the cell 2 more efficiently by the cooling means 12, and it is possible to reliably suppress the cell 2 from becoming high temperature.
Moreover, since the positioning case 81 is integrally formed, the structure can be further simplified as compared with the case where a positioning member composed of a plurality of members is arranged.

(Eighth embodiment)
Next, an assembled battery 90 according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a main part of the assembled battery according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the battery pack shown in FIG. 12 along the Y direction.
In the eighth embodiment, the same components as those in the seventh embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different points will be described.

As shown in FIG. 12, in the cooling device 98 for the assembled battery 90 of the present embodiment, the third gel sheet 92 that reduces the contact thermal resistance between the positioning case 93 and the lower end surface 2a and the side surface 2b of the unit cell 2 is provided. Is intervening. That is, the positioning case 93 is in contact with the lower end surface 2 a and the side surface 2 b of the unit cell 2 via the third gel sheet 92.
In the present embodiment, the positioning recess 91 has an X direction and a Y direction so that there is a gap between the lower end surface 2a and the side surface 2b of the unit cell 2 as compared to the positioning recess 82 shown in the seventh embodiment. The third gel sheet 92 is interposed between the first and second gel sheets 92.

That is, as shown in FIG. 13, the third gel sheet 92 is formed in a bottomed rectangular tube shape, its outer surface 92a is in contact with the inner surface 91a of the positioning recess 91, and its inner surface 92b is a unit cell. 2 is in contact with the lower part.
The third gel sheet 92 is made of the same material as the first gel sheet 51 shown in the fourth embodiment, and the hardness thereof is lower than the hardness of the positioning case 93. The third gel sheet 92 is interposed between the lower end surface 2a and the side surface 2b of the unit cell 2 and the positioning case 93, so that the lower end surface 2a and the side surface 2b of the unit cell 2 and the positioning case 93 are in close contact with each other. It is so flexible that it can be deformed to fill the gap without any gap. Thereby, the contact thermal resistance between the lower end surface 2a and the side surface 2b of the unit cell 2 and the positioning case 93 can be reduced.

  According to the assembled battery 90 shown above, the same operational effects as those of the seventh embodiment can be obtained. Further, since the third gel sheet 92 is interposed between the positioning case 93 and the lower end surface 2a and the side surface 2b of the unit cell 2, the contact thermal resistance between the positioning case 93, the lower end surface 2a and the side surface 2b is reduced. The thermal conductivity can be improved by reducing the thermal conductivity. Therefore, it becomes possible to cool the cell 2 more efficiently by the cooling means 12, and it is possible to reliably suppress the cell 2 from becoming high temperature.

  In the present embodiment, the gel sheet is employed as the third contact thermal resistance reducing member that reduces the contact thermal resistance between the positioning case 93 and the lower end surface 2a and the side surface 2b of the unit cell 2. If it has flexibility, it will not be restricted to this, The 3rd contact thermal resistance reduction member may be solid, and also may be a liquid.

(Ninth embodiment)
Next, an assembled battery 100 according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. FIG. 14 is a side sectional view of an assembled battery according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention. 14 is a top cross-sectional view of the assembled battery shown in FIG.
Note that in the ninth embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different points will be described.

In the assembled battery 100 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the storage container 101 stores a plurality of single cells 2 and a control unit 4 in the single cell chamber 9, and will be described later in the single cell chamber 9. The cooling device 108 is not accommodated.
A fourth gel sheet 104 is interposed between the bottom wall (wall) 103 of the lower housing 102 and the lower end surface 2 a of the unit cell 2. In the example shown in FIG. 14, the planar view shape of the fifth gel sheet 104 is formed in the same shape and size as the planar view shape of the unit cell chamber 9.

Thus, in the assembled battery 100 of the present embodiment in which the fifth gel sheet 104 is arranged, the bottom wall portion 103 of the lower housing 102 supports the lower end surface 2 a of the unit cell 2 via the fifth gel sheet 104. .
The fourth gel sheet 104 is made of the same material as the first gel sheet 51 shown in the fourth embodiment, and the hardness thereof is lower than the hardness of the bottom wall portion 103 of the lower housing 102. The fourth gel sheet 104 is interposed between the lower end surface 2 a and the bottom wall portion 103 of the unit cell 2, so that the fourth gel sheet 104 is deformed so as to be in close contact with the lower end surface 2 a and the bottom wall portion 103 of the unit cell 2. It is flexible enough to embed between the two without any gap. Thereby, the contact thermal resistance between the lower end surface 2a and the bottom wall part 103 of the cell 2 can be reduced.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 15, in the assembled battery 100 of the present embodiment, a gap between the side wall portion 106 of the lower housing 102 and the side surface 2 b of the unit cell 2, and a gap between the partition wall 6 b and the side surface 2 b of the unit cell 2. And the 5th gel sheet 105 is arrange | positioned so that the clearance gap between the cell 2 adjacent to each other, ie, the clearance gap in the cell chamber 9, may be filled up. In the example shown in FIG. 14, the size of the fifth gel sheet 105 in the Z direction is equal to the size of the single battery 2 in the Z direction.

  The fifth gel sheet 105 is made of the same material as the first gel sheet 51 shown in the fourth embodiment, and the hardness thereof is lower than any of the hardness of the side wall portion 106 of the lower housing 102 and the partition wall 6b. ing. The fifth gel sheet 105 is deformed so as to be in close contact with the side surface 2b of the unit cell 2 and the side wall portion 106 and the partition wall 6b of the lower housing 102, and has such a degree of flexibility that it can be embedded without any gaps. . Thereby, the contact thermal resistance between the side surface 2b of the cell 2 and the side wall part 106 of the lower housing | casing 102 can be reduced.

And as shown in FIG. 14, the bottom wall part 103 of the lower housing | casing 102 is the heat absorption part 13 of the Peltier device 14 which is the supporting member 11 of the cooling device 108. As shown in FIG. Further, the joining portion 17 and the heat radiating portion 16 of the Peltier element 14 are disposed below the heat absorbing portion 13 of the Peltier element 14 constituting the bottom wall portion 103.
Further, as shown in FIG. 15, in this embodiment, the side wall portions 106 of all the lower housings 102 are heat absorbing portions 13 of the Peltier elements 14 provided corresponding to the respective side wall portions 106. The joining portion 17 and the heat radiating portion 16 of the Peltier element 14 are disposed outside the storage container 101 of the heat absorbing portion 13 of the Peltier element 14 constituting each side wall portion 106.

  The power supply unit 15 connected to each Peltier element 14 shown above is electrically connected to the control unit 4 via a wiring (not shown), and the control unit 4 is connected to the power supply unit 15. By controlling the above, it is possible to cool the lower housing 102 which is the heat absorbing portion 13 of each Peltier element 14.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the lower housing 102 is configured by the heat absorbing portion 13 of the Peltier element 14. The cooling device 108 includes a bottom wall portion 103 of the lower housing 102 of the storage container 101 that supports the plurality of single cells 2, a cooling unit 12 that cools the bottom wall portion 103, and a lower housing of the storage container 101. 102, and a Peltier element 14 and a power supply unit 15 which are provided corresponding to the side wall portions 106 and are other cooling means for cooling the side wall portions 106. Further, the cooling device 108 includes the fourth gel sheet 104 and the fifth gel sheet 105.

  According to the assembled battery 100 described above, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and each unit cell 2 is supported by the lower end surface 2 a of each unit cell 2 in the storage container 101. Since the bottom wall 103 is the support member 11 of the cooling device 3, the number of components is reduced as compared with the assembled battery 1 shown in the first embodiment in which the storage container 5 and the cooling device 3 are configured separately. can do.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the fourth gel sheet 104 is interposed between the bottom wall portion 103 of the storage container 101 and the lower end surface 2a of the unit cell 2, the fourth gel sheet 104 is interposed between the bottom wall portion 103 and the lower end surface 2a. The thermal conductivity can be improved by reducing the contact thermal resistance. Therefore, it becomes possible to cool the cell 2 more efficiently by the cooling means 12, and it is possible to reliably suppress the cell 2 from becoming high temperature.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the side wall portion 106 of the lower housing 102 is constituted by the heat absorbing portion 13 of the Peltier element 14 and the fifth gel sheet 105 is provided. The single cell 2 can be cooled by positively conducting to the side wall portion 106 of the lower housing 102 via the 5 gel sheet 105. Therefore, it becomes possible to cool the cell 2 more efficiently, and it can suppress more reliably that the cell 2 becomes high temperature.

In the present embodiment, the fourth gel sheet 104 and the fifth gel sheet 105 are provided. However, only one of them may be provided, or these may be omitted. Further, the size of the fifth gel sheet 105 in the Z direction may not be equal to the size of the single cell 2 in the Z direction.
In the present embodiment, all the side wall portions 106 of the lower housing 102 are formed by the heat absorbing portion 13 of the Peltier element 14. However, the present invention is not limited to this. May be the heat absorbing portion 13 of the Peltier element 14. Further, the side wall portion 106 may not be the heat absorbing portion 13 of the Peltier element 14.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in the fourth to ninth embodiments, each of the cooling devices 58, 68, 78, 88, 98, 108 includes the cooling means 12 shown in the first embodiment as a cooling means. The cooling means 33 shown in the second embodiment may be adopted, and the cooling means 41 shown in the third embodiment may be adopted.

In the first to eighth embodiments, the storage container 5 stores the support members 11 and 32 of the cooling devices 3, 31, 48, 58, 68, 78, 88, 98, and 108. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the entire cooling device, that is, the support member and the cooling means may be accommodated.
Moreover, in each said embodiment, although the supporting members 11 and 32 were all flat plate shape, it is not restricted to this.

Further, the shape of the unit cell 2 and the arrangement of the plurality of unit cells 2 are not limited to those shown in the above embodiments.
Moreover, in each said embodiment, although the to-be-supported surface of the cell 2 which the supporting members 11 and 32 support was all the lower end surface 2a, it replaces with this, for example, the side surface 2b of the cell 2 is used as a supporting member. May be supported.

  In addition, it is possible to appropriately replace the constituent elements in the embodiment with known constituent elements without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the above-described modified examples may be appropriately combined.

1, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 Battery pack 2 Cell 2a Lower end surface (supported surface)
2b Side surface 3, 31, 48, 58, 68, 78, 88, 98, 108 Cooling device 5, 101 Storage container 11, 32 Support member 12, 33, 41 Cooling means 13 Heat absorption part 14 Peltier element 15 Power supply part 34 Evaporating part 35 Condensing part 36 Heat pipe 36a Hydraulic fluid 37 Heat sink (cooling part)
42 Cooling passage 43 Cooling medium supply unit 51, 71 First gel sheet (first contact thermal resistance reducing member)
61, 62, 72, 73, 83 Positioning member 74, 75 Second gel sheet (second contact thermal resistance reducing member)
81, 93 Positioning case 82, 91 Positioning recess 92 Third gel sheet (third contact thermal resistance reducing member)
103 Bottom wall (wall)
106 Side wall (wall)

Claims (11)

A support member that supports the supported surfaces of the plurality of single cells;
Cooling means for cooling the support member;
A battery cooling device comprising: The battery cooling device according to claim 1,
The cooling means is
A Peltier element having an endothermic part that is cooled by applying a voltage;
A power supply for applying a voltage to the Peltier element;
With
The battery cooling device, wherein the support member is the heat absorbing portion. The battery cooling device according to claim 1,
The cooling means is
A heat pipe having an evaporating portion that evaporates the working fluid enclosed therein and absorbs latent heat, and a condensing portion that condenses the working fluid evaporated in the evaporating portion to release latent heat;
A cooling unit for cooling the condensing unit;
With
The battery cooling device, wherein the evaporation section is embedded in the support member. The battery cooling device according to claim 1,
The cooling means is
A cooling passage formed inside the support member;
A cooling medium supply section for circulating a cooling medium in the cooling passage;
A battery cooling device comprising: In the battery cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Between the support member and the supported surface, a first contact thermal resistance reduction member that reduces contact thermal resistance is interposed,
The battery cooling device, wherein the supporting member supports the unit cell via the first contact thermal resistance reducing member. The battery cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A positioning member that is fixed to the supporting member and contacts the side surface of the unit cell that is continuous with the supported surface, and positions the unit cell;
The battery positioning device, wherein the positioning member has a higher thermal conductivity than air. The battery cooling device according to claim 6,
A battery cooling device, wherein a second contact thermal resistance reducing member for reducing contact thermal resistance is interposed between the positioning member and the side surface of the unit cell. In the battery cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A positioning case supported by the support member and having a higher thermal conductivity than air;
In the positioning case, a plurality of positioning recesses are formed so that the positioning case contacts each of the supported surface of the unit cell and a side surface continuous with the supported surface to position the unit cell,
The battery cooling device, wherein the support member supports the unit cell via the positioning case. The battery cooling device according to claim 8,
A battery cooling device, wherein a third contact thermal resistance reducing member for reducing contact thermal resistance is interposed between the positioning case, the supported surface, and the side surface. Multiple cells,
The battery cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
A storage container for storing the plurality of single cells supported by a support member of the battery cooling device;
An assembled battery comprising: The assembled battery according to claim 10,
An assembled battery, wherein at least a part of a wall portion of the storage container is a support member of the battery cooling device.

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