DE102012217383A1 - System for degassing of accumulators - Google Patents

Abstract

System (2) for degassing accumulators, comprising at least one accumulator unit (4), comprising a sealed housing (6) with at least one accumulator element; characterized in that the system further comprises a guide element (8), and a receiving element (12); wherein the guide element (8) is connectable to the accumulator unit (4) and the receiving element (12); wherein the guide element (8) is arranged, in the event of a fault, to discharge accumulator material of the at least one accumulator unit (4) from the housing (6) to the receiving element (12).

Description

The present invention relates to battery technology in vehicles or stationary or mobile devices. In particular, the present invention relates to a system for degassing of batteries and a vehicle, in particular electric or hybrid vehicle with a system according to the invention.

State of the art

Electric or hybrid vehicles have accumulators of different technology for energy storage. For example, such vehicles may have lithium ion batteries, which are characterized by high energy density, high thermal stability and negligible memory effect. Accumulators for use in vehicles regularly have an accumulator unit with a sealed housing, in which housing the actual accumulator elements are arranged.

In such a housing of a rechargeable battery unit, however, a pressure may build up in the case of internal faults or even incorrect wiring, which pressure can lead to bursting of the housing or of the outer sheath of the rechargeable battery unit. In such a bursting process usually occurs accumulator material, for example, electrolyte, and contaminates the environment of the accumulator. The accumulator material may contain solvents, for example diethyl carbonate and / or conductive salts, for example LiPF6. The solvents can be flammable and in particular generate explosive solvent vapor-air mixtures, while conductive salts can split off highly aggressive hydrofluoric acid (hydrogen fluoride-HF), in particular by reaction with moisture.

These and other accumulator materials can contaminate the environment of a battery unit in the event of a fault when the housing bursts and, in the worst case, impair the function of further accumulator units or adjacent control units.

The risk of bursting of the housing of an accumulator unit can be reduced by providing a rupture disk in the housing; an accumulator unit which is under excessive internal pressure thereby blows off at a predetermined point.

A large number of individual accumulator units are regularly combined into accumulator banks, and a large number of accumulator banks in larger applications are in turn combined into accumulator cabinets. Usually, a rechargeable battery cabinet or the accumulator bank is completely switched off when it is recognized that an accumulator unit is being blown off, as a result of which a vehicle can no longer be moved in the extreme case.

Accumulator units and in particular lithium ion batteries are used in various types of vehicles on the road, rail, in the water or in the air and in stationary or mobile devices.

Disclosure of the invention

One aspect of the present invention can thus be seen in the fact that individual accumulator units, in particular an accumulator bank or an accumulator cabinet can safely blow off while the remaining accumulator units can be used at least to a limited extent.

Accordingly, a system for degassing of batteries and a vehicle, in particular an automobile, more particularly an electric or hybrid vehicle according to the independent claims is displayed. Preferred embodiments will be apparent from the dependent claims.

According to the invention, such a system provides a possibility of deliberately directing or conveying accumulator material emerging from an accumulator unit and introducing it into suitable collecting containers, thereby avoiding contaminating the surroundings of an accumulator unit or an accumulator bank or accumulator cabinet by accumulator material. In this case, at least one accumulator unit or alternatively a plurality of accumulator units is connected to a receiving element or reservoir for collecting the accumulator material. For this purpose, guide elements or tubes or a hose system can be provided, which connects a battery unit suitable with the receiving element.

On the one hand, the accumulator material can be solid or (tough) liquid and, on the other hand, gaseous. The receptacle may be configured to receive and securely bind at least one type, but preferably all types or types of accumulator material. In the case of leaking electrolyte, a receiving element may further provide suitable absorbent material, for example gelling agent, which securely binds outgoing electrolyte.

In addition, absorption material for gaseous accumulator material can also be provided. This further absorption material can either be in the same receiving element or in a downstream receiving element or Be provided absorber element. Also, the system may include a vent to relieve pressure from the system, but without allowing accumulator material to escape. In the event that a significant pressure is built up in the degassing, this may also have a pressure element, such as a bursting foil.

The guide elements or the hose system can / preferably be made transparent so that accumulator material residues located in the guide element can be detected by a signal, for example an optical signal, by viewing the hose system. Furthermore, indicator elements for accumulator material can be provided, for example reacting to electrolyte, solvent and / or gaseous accumulator material.

The inventive system for degassing of accumulators, the atmosphere around a defective accumulator remains respirable, is not explosive and does not have a corrosive effect on electronics and structural components. Also, non-damaged accumulator units may continue to be used until repaired, that is, a system is stabilized until repair or replacement of a defective accumulator unit, and remains at least partially operational, such that a vehicle, for example, in an emergency, up to one Workshop can continue. By electrolyte-contaminated vanes or absorbers can, especially due to provided indicator elements, are easily recognized by the eye and are safe exchangeable.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the following drawings and explained in more detail in the following description.

It shows

1 an exemplary embodiment of a system for degassing of accumulators according to the present invention.

Embodiments of the invention

1 shows a system 2 for degassing of accumulators with exemplary 3 accumulator 4 , Each accumulator unit 4 has a tight housing 6 in which the accumulator elements of the respective accumulator unit are accommodated. Each accumulator unit 4 may be a valve element or pressure relief valve, for example a rupture disk element 10 , exhibit.

Furthermore, each accumulator unit 4 using a guide element 8th , For example, a suitable hose to a receiving element 12 tethered. The receiving element 12 or Reservoir is to receive from the accumulator units 4 set off leaking accumulator material. The accumulator material may be gaseous and / or solid-liquid. valve elements 10 , For example, rupture disc elements or Berstfolienelemente, on the receiving element 12 be provided and in particular individual guide elements 8th opposite the receiving element 12 decouple.

In the case of a defect of an accumulator unit 4 is due to the leaking accumulator material or the resulting increase in pressure to a respective guide element 8th associated valve element 10 open, so that the leaking accumulator material initially in the associated guide element 8th and then in the receiving element 12 can spread.

The receiving element 12 exemplifies absorber material 14a on, which can absorb and bind the leaking accumulator material. The absorber material 14a can be set up in particular for solid or liquid or viscous accumulator material, while gaseous accumulator material can be forwarded. For example, another absorber element 18 can be attached to the receiving element 12 using another guide element 8th be connected. The arrangement of absorber element 18 and receiving element 12 In this case, it may be designed such that occurring gaseous accumulator material from the receiving element 12 in the absorber element 18 is einströmbar. In the absorber element 18 can furthermore absorber material 14b be arranged for receiving and binding, at least the aggressive constituents of the gaseous accumulator material.

To deliver a build-up in the system pressure can in the absorber element 18 again a valve element 10 , For example, a Berstfolienelement be provided, which opens the entire system to the atmosphere, so that in this way a pressure in the system is degradable. Both the receiving element 12 as well as the absorber element 18 can be an indicator element 16a , B to display, to what extent accumulator material in the receiving element 12 or the absorber element 18 penetrated and was tied there.

The individual accumulator units 4 In addition to or on the valve elements may have adapters on which the conductor elements 8th can be coupled. Adapters and guide elements 8th For example, hoses may be made of transparent polyethylene (PE) or polypropene (PP). It is also conceivable embodiment of higher temperature resistant transparent fluoropolymers such as Teflon, Teflon FEP or PFA. By such a transparent configuration can be realized in a simple manner, a guide element which is inexpensive, solvent and hydrogen fluoride resistant, which is visible through the transparency in the guide element penetrated accumulator material.

The guiding elements 8th can on the accumulator element 4 be provided with an adapter which is in a counter-element to the Akkumulatoreinheit 4 attacks, is plugged into this, for example. This adapter may for example be formed of aluminum and on the housing 6 the accumulator unit 4 attached, in particular be welded to this. The guide element connection can turn reversibly and tightly with the connection element on the accumulator unit 4 be engageable.

Is a valve element or rupture disc on a Akkumulatoreinheit 4 provided, this can in particular in the connection of the guide element 8th be integrated. Alternatively, another valve element in the housing of the accumulator 4 be provided, which however responds at a significantly higher, especially catastrophic pressure build-up, which pressure build-up by the inventive system for degassing a battery unit may not be degradable.

At the transition from the guide element 8th in the receiving element 12 or the reservoir can also valve elements 10 or Berstfolienelemente be provided, which at an overpressure in the guide element 8th burst and thus allow emptying of accumulator material or electrolyte of a defective cell in the reservoir. The remaining, undamaged accumulator units, however, are replaced by their valve elements 10 Protected against contamination by leaking accumulator material of the defective accumulator unit and remain usable.

baffles 8th can be designed as smooth hoses or as corrugated pipes. In a smooth hose accumulator material accumulations are better visible, while corrugated hoses are better protected against kinking.

According to the inventive concept, a plurality of accumulator units 4 (For example, 2.3, up to 100 or more) using a plurality of vanes 8th to a receiving element 12 be connectable, in particular by the fact that the probability of the defect of a battery unit is low.

receiving element 12 may also be made of a transparent material, such as PE, PP or fluoropolymers. Possible production methods are blow molding or injection blow molding, injection molding or welding.

baffles 8th can be plugged or welded. The receiving element 12 preferably has a volume such that at least the accumulator material content of an accumulator unit 4 can be caught. More preferably, the content of a plurality (for example, 2, 3 or 4) of accumulator units 4 be recorded.

The construction principle of the receiving element 12 is comparable to a wash bottle. A guiding element 8th leads inside the receiving element 12 until just before or above the absorber material 14a while on the upper side of the receiving element 12 an exhaust connection, in particular with a valve element 10 or a Berstfolienelement is provided.

The receiving element 12 may preferably be with an absorber material 14a or a gelling agent for solvents. This absorber material, for example, swells due to solvent residues in the accumulator material or electrolyte, as a result of which the evaporation of the electrolyte and thus the danger of explosion may be reduced. In the case of gelling agent this forms a no longer flowable gel. Suitable gelling agents are, for example, cotton wool or polyester (PET) or pelleted waxes.

An indicator element 16 For example, a color indicator for solvents, in the receiving element 12 be provided. For example, powder of a solvent-soluble dye may be provided in a granulate, for example rhodamine 6G or the solvatochrome dye MOED, which, for example, turns red in solvent or dissolves. This makes it easy to see visually, to what extent the receiving element 12 Accumulator material or solvent has. Also possibly emerging conductive salt is first with the resulting gel or in the absorber material 14a generally bound and reacts so slower with diffusing humidity.

The exhaust gas of the receiving element 12 Can via an absorber element 18 For example, a hydrogen fluoride absorber may be vented to the ambient atmosphere, thereby preventing leakage of HF. The housing of the absorber element 16 may for example be tubular and a connection for a guide element 8th exhibit. As absorber material 14b For example, soda-lime granules or limestone granules (CaCO3) may be provided. As a result, hydrogen fluoride is absorbed before it exits into the atmosphere. As the last layer before the atmosphere can be in the absorber element 18 a layer of activated carbon may be provided which absorbs residual solvent or hydrogen fluoride. Absorber element can be before the passage to the film 18 another valve element 10 or a bursting foil element.

The valve elements 10 or Berstfolienelemente may for example be designed as a thin PE film or fluoropolymer film, which breaks at a defined pressure. The valve element 10 can be on one end of a guide element 8th attached, for example, be welded, or the guide element 8th itself is sealed and defined thinned so that it opens at a defined pressure. About the thickness of the film or a suitably embossed notch in the guide 8th the opening pressure or Zerknalldruck can be adjusted.

When providing several valve elements 10 its bursting pressure can be adjusted in particular as follows. The bursting pressure of a valve element 10 an accumulator unit 4 can be larger, in particular much larger than that of a valve element 10 of the receiving element 12 which in turn is larger than that of a valve element 10 the guide element of a cell and this in turn greater than the bursting pressure of the valve element 10 of the absorber element 18 ,

As indicator elements, those may be provided for acid and for hydrogen fluoride. As acid indicators or pH indicators, for example, thymol blue or methyl orange can be provided, which both stain red with acid. Also conceivable is bromothymol blue, which is colored green in the neutral state but is colorless on contact with acid. As an indicator element for hydrogen fluoride, for example, red iron rhodanide, which is decolorized by fluoride. The indicators can be embodied as paper, as a thin layer or in granules as a powder or as a coating of the absorber granules. The indicators can either be in the guiding elements 8th or in the absorbent granules 14a , b or in both places.

An outlet can also be detected by an electrical conductivity probe, this will be 2 metallic electrodes in the receiving element 12 housed and their resistance monitored, trapped electrolyte changes the resistance. In the simplest case, a smooth cut coaxial cable serves as an electrode in containers 12 , Any other level sensor is also suitable.

A defect case arises here as follows. A defective accumulator unit 4 builds up internal pressure and opens a first valve element 10 What happens in the transition between accumulator unit 4 and guide element 8th can be provided. Accumulator material or electrolyte flows under pressure into the guide element 8th a discolors an indicator element possibly arranged there and reaches a valve element 10 in front of the receiving element 12 , With suitable pressure, the respective valve element opens 10 , whereby accumulator material in the receiving element 12 flows and in particular there by absorber material 14a is bound, for example gelled with gelling agent. A in the receiving element 12 provided indicator element may become discolored. Possibly resulting hydrogen fluoride gas leaves the receiving element 12 over the further guide element 8th , enters the absorber element 18 and is there by absorber material 14b bound. Any remaining vapors are bound in any activated carbon. A residual gas pressure can in turn valve element 10 at the absorber element 18 open, whereby the overpressure can be finally released to the atmosphere. In the process, the remaining, functioning accumulator units become 4 and the atmosphere in the vicinity of the accumulator units does not deteriorate and remain usable.

In the case of repair, the areas contaminated by the accumulator material are separated in a region which is not yet contaminated and is removed without the accumulator material emerging. In other words, a defective accumulator unit becomes a contaminated receiving element 12 , a possibly contaminated absorber element 18 as well as all guiding elements 8th removed, which have come into contact with accumulator material or lead to the filled receiving element. Depending on the design of the guide element 8th This can be partially reused, for example, clean hoses are cut off. Spare parts can subsequently be mounted in a clean atmosphere, which restores the operational readiness of the entire accumulator system.

Claims (10)

System ( 2 ) for degassing of accumulators, comprising at least one accumulator unit ( 4 ), comprising a sealed housing ( 6 ) with at least one accumulator element; characterized in that the system further comprises a guiding element ( 8th ), and a receiving element ( 12 ); the guide element ( 8th ) is connectable to the accumulator unit ( 4 ) and the receiving element ( 12 ); the guide element ( 8th ) is arranged, in an error accumulator material of the at least one accumulator unit ( 4 ) out of the housing ( 6 ) to the receiving element ( 12 ). System according to the preceding claim, wherein the accumulator unit ( 4 ), the guiding element ( 8th ) and / or the receiving element ( 12 ) at least one valve element ( 10 ), which is a guiding of accumulator material in the direction of the receiving element ( 12 ) and which is a guiding of accumulator material in the direction of the accumulator unit ( 4 ) stops; the valve element ( 10 ) is formed in particular as a Berstfolienelement. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one accumulator element is designed as a Li-ion Akkumulatorelement. System according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of accumulator units ( 4 ) using a plurality of guide elements ( 8th ) to a receiving element ( 12 ) are connectable. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide element ( 8th ) and / or the receiving element ( 12 ) is at least partially transparent or translucent. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving element ( 12 ) an absorber material ( 14a ), in particular for receiving by means of the guide element ( 8th ) discharged accumulator material. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving element ( 12 ) a first indicator element ( 16a ) for providing a signal in the case of receiving accumulator material. System according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising an absorber element ( 18 ) for receiving gaseous accumulator material, wherein the absorber element ( 18 ) with the at least one accumulator unit ( 4 ) and / or the receiving element ( 12 ) connected is; the absorber element ( 18 in particular further comprising a second indicator element ( 16b ) for providing a signal in the case of receiving gaseous accumulator material. System according to one of the preceding claims, for use in a stationary and / or mobile device or application. Vehicle, in particular automobile, aircraft, rail vehicle or watercraft, further in particular electric or hybrid vehicle, comprising a system ( 2 ) according to one of the preceding claims.

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