JP5130955B2 - Assembled battery - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an assembled battery.

  A battery pack is known in which a cell, which is a battery element, is in close contact with an inner wall surface of a portion (cooling surface) corresponding to the heat radiator of a case provided with a heat radiator whose outer wall surface is in contact with outside air (Patent Document). 1). In this battery pack, the heat generated in the cell is indirectly radiated through the heat radiating body to suppress the temperature rise of the cell.

JP 2000-188091 A (paragraph 0010)

  However, when the technique of Patent Document 1 is applied to a large-scale assembled battery, the distance between the cell disposed at a position away from the inner wall surface of the cooling surface of the assembled battery case and the cell disposed at a position close to the inner wall surface. Alternatively, a temperature gradient is generated not only between cells arranged at positions away from the inner wall surface but also within each cell. For this reason, there was a limit to the heat dissipation performance of each cell constituting the assembled battery.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an assembled battery capable of efficiently cooling the whole without causing a temperature gradient in each cell even when the size is increased.

The present invention provides an assembled battery in which a plurality of cells are hermetically sealed in a case having a cooling surface, and the battery module containing the cells is placed in the case so that a second space is formed between the battery modules. A plurality of the battery modules are arranged and sealed inside, and the battery module is disposed at a first interval with respect to the inner wall surface of the case corresponding to the cooling surface, and the convection generating means is disposed inside the case. And the convection generating means is constituted by a fan device, and the fan device blows the inside air in the vicinity of the fan device toward the second interval, thereby reducing the inside air in the case. The above problem is solved by convection.

  According to the present invention, since the inside air in the space formed between the cell and the cooling surface of the case is convected, the entire battery can be efficiently cooled even when the assembled battery is enlarged.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<< First Embodiment >>
First, an example of the assembled battery of this example will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an assembled battery according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an image view of FIG. 1 viewed from the II direction (plane direction). FIG. 3 is a side view taken along line III-III in FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of another assembled battery according to the first embodiment.

  The assembled battery 1 of this example shown in FIGS. 1-4 is a vehicle-mounted battery mounted in vehicles, such as a motor vehicle, and has the case 10 arrange | positioned at the outermost side of the assembled battery 1. FIG. The case 10 has a sealed structure in which a convection generating fan device 40 and a battery module 200 containing a plurality of cells 200a, which will be described later, are installed inside, and the upper case 102 and the lower case 104 are overlapped by the flange portions 102c and 104c. .

  The case 10 of this example includes an upper case 102 having a top surface and a lower case 104 having a bottom surface. In this example, the case where the top surface of the upper case 102 and the bottom surface of the lower case 104 are used as the cooling surface 11 is illustrated. In addition, about the number and position of the cooling surface 11, it is not limited to this aspect, The side surface of cases 102 and 104 may be sufficient. Further, all surfaces of the cases 102 and 104 may be the cooling surface 11. The cooling surface 11 plays a role of indirectly performing heat transfer (cooling) to the outside air of the cell 200 a accommodated inside the case 10.

  For example, two rows of module groups 20 and 20 are arranged in the case 10. Both module groups 20 and 20 are configured to be connected in a state of being aligned in the width direction of the case 10 (Y direction in the figure). Each module group 20, 20 is configured by connecting a plurality of battery modules 200,..., 200 stacked in the longitudinal direction of the case 10 (X direction in the figure). Each battery module 200 is configured by connecting a plurality of cells 200a (unit batteries) in series. Each cell 200a can be composed of, for example, a lithium-based, flat plate, or stacked type chargeable / dischargeable thin secondary battery.

  The number of modules 20 arranged, the number of stacked battery modules 200, and the number of cells 200a constituting the battery module 200 (number of stacked layers) can be changed as appropriate according to the required output, the required operating time, and the like. . Further, the arrangement direction of the module group may be as shown in FIG. 5, for example. Further, the configuration of each cell 200a is not particularly limited in this example.

  Returning to FIGS. 1 to 4, in this example, the inner wall surface 10 a (102 a, 104 a) of the case 10 (the upper case 102 and the lower case 104) is provided with a plurality of protruding portions 10 b (102 b, 104 b). Therefore, each battery module 200 is separated from the inner wall surface 10a of the case 10 corresponding to the cooling surface 11 (hereinafter also simply referred to as “inner wall surface 10a”) by a predetermined space S1 (first interval). Are arranged. That is, a predetermined space S1 is provided between the inner wall surface 10a corresponding to the cooling surface 11 and the outer wall surface 200b of each battery module 200 (see FIG. 3). In this example, this space S1 is used as the convection flow path 12 in which the inside air (for example, air) in the case 10, particularly the inside air near the inner wall surface 10 a of the case 10 convects. Note that the clearance of the space S1 is appropriately set within a range that does not hinder the convection of the inside air.

  In addition, in this example, the module groups 20 are also arranged with a predetermined space S2 (second interval, fourth interval) therebetween. In this example, this space S2 is also used as the convection channel 12 through which the inside air in the case 10 convects (see FIG. 2). Furthermore, in this example, the battery modules 200 are arranged to face each other with the spacer 30 interposed therebetween. That is, the battery modules 200 and 200 adjacent to each other in the stacking direction (X direction in the drawing) are arranged with a space S3 (second interval, third interval) corresponding to the thickness of the spacer 30 therebetween. In this example, the space S3 corresponding to the thickness of the spacer 30 is also used as the convection channel 12 in which the inside air in the case 10 convects. The clearances of the spaces S2 and S3 can be set as appropriate within a range that does not hinder the convection of the inside air, as in the case of the space S1.

  In this example, a convection generating fan device 40 (convection generating means, fan device) that starts operation upon receiving a drive signal from a control device (see FIG. 6) such as a battery controller is disposed inside the case 10. The inside air in the case 10 can be forcibly convected inside the case 10. In addition, since the convection generating fan device 40 of this example only needs to convect the inside air in the case 10, the blowing resistance may be low, the wind pressure and the blowing amount may be small (small capacity), and the required power during operation is also low. Few.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the convection generating fan device 40 shown in FIGS.

  6 includes a convection fan 41, a fan motor 42 that drives the convection fan 41, and a fan drive control unit 43 that controls the drive of the fan motor 42. The drive control of the fan drive control unit 43 is executed in response to a drive signal from the control device.

  In this example, in order to uniformly distribute the convection of the inside air in the case 10, ducts and rectifying plates (both not shown) may be formed in an appropriate arrangement.

  Next, the operation of the assembled battery 1 of this example will be described.

  In FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, an example of the convection path of the inside air is indicated by a white arrow.

  When the operation of the convection generating fan device 40 is started and the convection fan 41 is rotated, first, the inside air in the vicinity of the fan device 40 passes through the space S2 between the two module groups 20 and 20, and the case inner wall on the opposite side to the fan device 40 (Refer to FIG. 2). In this example, since the space S1 is secured between the battery module 200 and the inner wall surface 10a of the case 10, a part of the inside air that has reached the vicinity of the inner wall of the case opposite to the fan device 40 is Convection counterclockwise (around arrow a in FIG. 2) along the inner wall surface 10a, and the remainder of the inside air convects clockwise (around arrow b in FIG. 2) along the inner wall surface 10a of the case 10. (Convection in the plane direction).

  The inside air in the vicinity of the fan device 40 also moves toward the inner wall of the lower case opposite to the fan device 40 through the space S1 between the module groups 20 and 20 and the inner wall surface 104a of the lower case 104 (see FIG. 3). ). The inside air that has reached the inner wall of the lower case opposite to the fan device 40 travels along the inner wall surface 104a of the lower case 104 in the thickness direction of the case 10 (Z direction in the figure), that is, from bottom to top (arrow c in FIG. 3). Direction) and convection near the fan device 40 along the inner wall surface 102a of the upper case 102 (convection in the thickness direction).

  In the middle of moving the space S1 between the module groups 20 and 20 and the inner wall surface 104a of the lower case 104 toward the lower case inner wall opposite to the fan device 40, a part of the moving inside air is From the inner wall surface 104a of the lower case 104 through the space S3 between the battery modules 200, 200, the lower case 104 rises from the bottom (in the direction of the arrow c in FIGS. 3 and 4) and along the inner wall surface 102a of the upper case 102. Convection may occur in the vicinity of the fan device 40 (second convection in the thickness direction).

  As described above, in this example, convection of the inside air is forcibly generated in the case 10, and the cells 200 a constituting each battery module 200 accommodated in the case 10 are uniformly cooled using the inside air. To do. Thereby, it is prevented that a temperature gradient is generated in each cell, and the entire assembled battery 1 can be efficiently cooled.

  Heat is generated in the cell along with the discharge, and the cell temperature rises due to the generated heat. In general, as the cell temperature rises, the charging efficiency of the cell tends to decrease. Therefore, it is desirable to efficiently reduce the increased cell temperature. Therefore, in order to reduce the temperature of each cell, conventionally, the cell is brought into close contact with the inner wall surface of the cooling surface of the case, and the heat generated in the cell is indirectly radiated through the cooling surface. However, when such a technology is applied to a large-scale assembled battery, the heat dissipation performance of each cell is limited as described in the background art section.

  According to the assembled battery 1 of the present example, the convection generating fan device 40 for ensuring the space S1 between the battery module 200 and the inner wall surface 10a of the cooling surface 11 and forcing the inside air of the case 10 to convect. By providing and operating inside the case 10, the inside air in the case 10 is forced to convect inside the case 10. Thereby, the inside air in the case 10 reaches not only the cell 200a in the vicinity of the cooling surface 11 but also the cell 200a at a position away from the cooling surface 11. By such an action, each cell 200a is uniformly cooled without causing a temperature gradient between the cells 200a constituting each battery module 200. As a result, even if the assembled battery 1 is enlarged, the entire assembled battery can be efficiently cooled.

  Further, in this example, the space S2 and the space S3 are secured between the module groups 20 and between the battery modules 200, so that the convection efficiency of the inside air is further improved.

  When the above-described conventional technology is applied, for example, when the outside air temperature is low, heat absorption from the outside air (= heat transfer to the outside air) is promoted, and as a result, the temperature of each cell may be excessively lowered. In the cell after being left in such a low temperature state, the target output may not be obtained. On the other hand, in this example, the cooling of each cell 200a does not depend on the outside air temperature, and the space S1 serves as a heat insulating layer even if the outside air temperature is low. For this reason, heat transfer to the outside air is not promoted too much. As a result, the target output of each cell 200a is not lost.

<< Second Embodiment >>
FIG. 7 is a side view according to another embodiment corresponding to FIG. FIG. 8 is a side view according to another embodiment corresponding to FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the member same as the member shown in FIGS. 1-5, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The assembled battery 1a of this example shown in FIG.7 and FIG.8 is mounted in vehicles, such as a motor vehicle. The assembled battery 1a is arranged such that the width direction of the case 10 (the Y direction in the figure) is along the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Further, the assembled battery 1a is not provided with the convection generating fan device 40 (see FIGS. 2 to 4 and 6), and instead, in the convection generating region 60 formed on the lower side of the bottom wall 104d of the lower case 104. An operating wall 50 (convection generating means, operating member) is provided. These points are different from the first embodiment, and other parts are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  The working wall 50 of this example is formed so as to extend along the longitudinal direction (X direction in the drawing) of the case 10, and is provided so as to be movable by a force acting in the front-rear direction of the vehicle caused by acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle. . When the vehicle is accelerated when the vehicle is dispatched or overtaken, acceleration G (Gravity) acts on the rear side of the vehicle, thereby moving the working wall 50 to the point P2 (see FIG. 8). On the other hand, when the vehicle is decelerated, the deceleration G acts in front of the vehicle, and the working wall 50 moves to the P1 point (see FIG. 8) side. That is, the working wall 50 of this example moves along the width direction (Y direction in the figure) of the case 10 by acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle. By such movement, the inside air in the case 10 can be forcibly convected inside the case 10 through the vent 104e. This is the same as in the first embodiment.

  In this example, the assembled battery 1a may be arranged in the vehicle so that the width direction of the case 10 (the Y direction in the drawing) is along the left-right direction of the vehicle. In this case, the working wall 50 moves in the left-right direction of the vehicle by the centrifugal force generated when the vehicle is cornered. By such movement, the inside air in the case 10 can be forcibly convected inside the case 10 through the vent 104e.

  According to the assembled battery 1a of the present example configured as described above, since the working wall 50 operates with the input G to the vehicle, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be achieved.

  Further, in the assembled battery 1a of this example, since the convection generating fan device 40 (see FIG. 2 and the like) is not provided, there is no need for a power source for supplying driving power to the fan device 40 or drive control of the fan device 40. For this reason, the structure of an assembled battery can be simplified.

  In addition, in the assembled battery 1a of this example, you may employ | adopt the structure which provides the convection generation | occurrence | production fan apparatus 40 of 1st Embodiment in addition to the working wall 50 mentioned above.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an assembled battery according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an image view of FIG. 1 viewed from the II direction (plane direction). FIG. 3 is a side view taken along line III-III in FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of another assembled battery according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the convection generating fan device of FIGS. FIG. 7 is a side view according to another embodiment corresponding to FIG. FIG. 8 is a side view according to another embodiment corresponding to FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,1a ... Battery assembly 10 ... Case 102 ... Upper case 104 ... Lower case 102a, 104a ... Inner wall surface 102b, 104b ... Projection part 102c, 104c ... Flange part 104d ... Bottom wall 104e ... Vent hole 11 ... Cooling surface 12 ... Convection flow Road (first to fourth intervals)
S1 ... Space (first interval)
S2: Space (second interval, fourth interval)
S3: Space (second interval, third interval)
20 ... Module group (cell)
200 ... Battery module (cell)
200a ... cell 30 ... spacer 40 ... convection generating fan device (convection generating means, fan device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 41 ... Convection fan 42 ... Fan motor 43 ... Fan drive control part 50 ... Working wall (convection generating means, working member)
60 ... Convection generation region

Claims (3)

An assembled battery in which a plurality of cells are sealed and accommodated inside a case having a cooling surface,
A plurality of battery modules containing the cells are arranged and sealed inside the case so that a second gap is formed between the battery modules, and the battery module is a portion corresponding to the cooling surface. with respect to the case of the inner wall, while disposed at a first distance, comprising a convection generation means within said casing,
The convection generating means is composed of a fan device,
The assembled battery according to claim 1, wherein the fan device convects the inside air in the case by blowing the inside air in the vicinity of the fan device toward the second interval . The assembled battery according to claim 1 ,
A plurality of battery modules containing the cells are stacked such that a third interval is formed between the battery modules in the stacking direction, and a module group of the battery modules stacked at a plurality of the third intervals, An assembled battery, wherein a plurality of arrays are arranged and sealed inside the case so that a fourth interval is formed between the module groups in a direction orthogonal to the stacking direction. A plurality of battery modules containing a plurality of cells inside a case having a cooling surface are arranged inside the case so that a second interval is formed between the battery modules, and the portion corresponding to the cooling surface is A method for cooling an assembled battery housed in a state of being arranged with a first gap with respect to an inner wall surface of a case ,
A method of cooling an assembled battery , wherein the inside air in the case is convected by blowing air inside the fan device toward the second interval by a fan device .

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