JP2000021456A - Secondary battery - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To readily manufacture a secondary battery into a simple shape, and to reduce a cost by arranging plural battery installing parts in a fin block, and making contact directly or indirectly with a large number of fins or bending fins with the outer periphery of the secondary battery by these battery installing parts. SOLUTION: Fins 2 are composed of iron and aluminum superior in thermal conductivity, and plural fins 2 are juxtaposed at intervals in a direction vertical with respect to the axis of a battery 1, or are arranged by being bent in a meandering shape to form a fin block 3. The installing parts 2c composed of through-holes 2a and the flange parts 2b are arranged in a plurality in the respective fins 2, and heating by the battery 1 is conducted to the fins 2 through the installing parts 2c to exchange heat with outside air. Even when an inter- battery temperature fluctuates by an arranging environment, heat is transmitted/ uniformized between respective batteries through the fines 2. When the fins 2 are arranged in large numbers in a heating concentrating place of the battery 1 and a temperature rise place in a composite battery, the temperature is uniformized, so that fluctuations can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a secondary device used as a power source for products such as mobile devices such as electric vehicles and electric carts, portable devices such as video cameras and personal computers, backup devices in the event of a power failure, and security devices. The present invention relates to an assembled battery in which a number of batteries are connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, high current charging / discharging and large capacity secondary batteries have been demanded, and high energy density secondary batteries such as nickel-metal hydride batteries have been actively developed. . However, charging / discharging with a large current involves a large amount of heat generated inside the battery, and since a large number of batteries are stored in a limited space, the battery temperature rises and battery performance deteriorates. is there. Further, in the assembled battery, a temperature distribution in the battery pack occurs due to a rise in the temperature of each battery and an installation environment, which causes a variation in deterioration among the batteries and a local deterioration.

[0003] This deterioration variation and local deterioration are difficult to detect and control, and may cause an accident due to overcharge or overdischarge. In response to these problems, conventional secondary batteries have
For example, a heat radiation structure of a battery as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-122293 and a method in which plate-shaped fins are arranged in an equilateral triangle around the battery are being studied.

[0004]

However, in the case of the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-122293, the heat generated in the battery is radiated to the outside through a heat radiating member attached to each battery. However, since each heat radiating member is independent, it is difficult to equalize the temperature variation between batteries or to perform centralized cooling for batteries with a high temperature rise, depending on the installation conditions in the battery pack, and the manufacturing cost There were problems in heat dissipation and practicality, such as bulkiness.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple-shaped, easy-to-manufacture and inexpensive heat-dissipating battery pack having both an efficient heat-dissipating effect of heat generation inside a battery and an effect of equalizing temperature variations between batteries. I will provide a.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention transfers the heat of each battery to a fin block and a heat transfer section of a battery module which are in direct or indirect contact with each other and exchanges heat. Make the temperature variation of the battery uniform. Further, in a battery pack composed of a plurality of fin blocks or battery modules, forced air cooling by a fan or heat radiation using fins is performed to make temperature variations among the battery modules uniform.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Some embodiments of the battery pack according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment according to the present invention.
(A) and (b) show. In FIG. 1, the battery 1 has an insulating property with respect to the inside except for the positive terminal 1a and the negative terminal 1b. The fins 2 are made of iron, aluminum, copper, magnesium, an alloy, or the like having excellent thermal conductivity, and a plurality of fins 2 are arranged at intervals in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the battery 1. Are bent in a meandering shape and installed so as to be orthogonal to the battery 1 and the fin block 3
Is formed.

Each fin is provided with a plurality of mounting portions 2c each having a through hole 2a and a flange portion 2b which rises perpendicularly to the surface direction of the fin 2. The battery 1 is held by being fitted to each of the mounting portions 2c of the fin block 3, and can be easily mounted and removed. The heat generated by the battery 1 is transmitted to the fins 2 through the mounting portion 2c, and exchanges heat with external air.

[0010] In addition, even when the temperature varies between batteries due to the installation environment, heat is transferred from the battery 1 having a higher temperature to the battery 1 having a lower temperature through the fins 2 to achieve uniformity. By arranging a large number of sheets densely in a place and in a place where the temperature in the assembled battery is high, the temperature of the entire assembled battery can be made uniform and variation can be suppressed. Further, the fin block 3 can be easily manufactured in a simple and easy-to-manufacture shape, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

The second embodiment relates to the arrangement of the assembled battery according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the batteries 1 are arranged in a grid pattern An air passage 4a is formed between the batteries 1 to increase the efficiency of heat exchange. Further, when the batteries 1 are arranged in a staggered arrangement 5, the effect of turbulent mixing of air is promoted, and heat can be more efficiently and quickly radiated.

The third embodiment relates to the arrangement of the assembled battery according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, a battery 1 in which the positive terminal 1a and the negative terminal 1b are in the same direction is opposite to the terminal of the adjacent battery. In the case of batteries in which the positive electrode terminal 1a and the negative electrode terminal 1b are in the same direction, the terminals of adjacent batteries in the same direction have different polarities. Charge
During the discharge, the temperature inside the battery 1 is axially oriented,
Since the high temperature side and the low temperature side are arranged symmetrically, the temperature orientation in the battery 1 is relaxed, and the local temperature rise in the battery can be suppressed.

A fourth embodiment is an assembled battery according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, a cooling pipe 6 for cooling the fins 2 is installed in the fin block 3 in a direction perpendicular to the fins 2. . The refrigerant pipe 6 is made of iron, stainless steel,
Aluminum, copper, magnesium alloy or the like is used, and is directly connected to the fin 2 by spot welding or the like.

As the refrigerant 6a, water, a flame-retardant HFC-based refrigerant having a small ozone depletion potential or a global warming potential, and a solution of an inert gas are safe and suitable. The refrigerant 6a transports the heat of the fins 2 transmitted to the refrigerant pipe 6 to the outside of the fin block 3 as latent heat, and at the same time, equalizes the temperatures of the fins 2 arranged in parallel. In addition, since the heat exchange efficiency is lower at the central portion of the fin 2 than at the end portion and the temperature tends to increase, the installation of the refrigerant pipe 6 is effective in making the temperature above the fin 2 uniform.

FIG. 5 shows a fifth embodiment. Reference numeral 7 denotes a battery module in which a plurality of batteries 1 are integrally connected. A heat transfer section 9 made of metal or conductive resin is provided on the inner wall of the case 8 made of resin or metal, and one end of the heat transfer section 9 is exposed to the outside of the case 8. The outer peripheral portion of each battery 1 is in contact with the heat transfer section 9 and heat is transferred from a high temperature to a low temperature through the heat transfer section 9 to make the temperature of the battery 1 uniform and cool the exposed section 9a. By doing so, the temperature of the entire module 7 can be suppressed.

The sixth embodiment is an assembled battery according to the fifth embodiment, wherein an insulating layer made of synthetic resin or aluminum oxide is provided on the surface of the heat transfer section 9.

The seventh embodiment is a battery pack according to the fifth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, a heat dissipating member 10 composed of fins 10a arranged vertically to the case 8 is installed on the outer wall of the case 8, as shown in FIG. The silicon grease 9b is fixed to the heat transfer section 9 with screws 9c. The heat radiating member 10 is made of iron, aluminum, copper, magnesium alloy, or the like having excellent heat conductivity, and can lower the temperature of the battery module 7 more effectively.

FIG. 7 shows an eighth embodiment. Reference numeral 11 denotes a battery pack including a plurality of fin blocks 3 or battery modules 7. In this example, the battery modules 7 are arranged in a vertically stacked manner. The battery module 7 is air-cooled directly by the cross-flow fan 12 installed close to the battery module 7 to make the temperature orientation between the modules uniform.

FIG. 8 shows a ninth embodiment. In this embodiment, a fan 13 that can be operated independently for each fin block 3 or each battery module 7 is installed. Although a temperature difference between the battery modules 7 occurs due to the conditions of the installation environment, the temperature sensor installed in the battery module 7 detects the battery module 7 that has reached the specified temperature and performs cooling by the fan 13 so that the battery module 7 is locally located. In this case, the temperature rise is suppressed, and the temperature of the entire battery pack 11 is made uniform. Further, since the cooling range per fan is one module, it can be sufficiently cooled by a small fan and a motor, which is advantageous in cost.

FIG. 9 shows a tenth embodiment. The battery pack has a structure in which a heat dissipating member 14 composed of a large number of fins 14a is installed and a part of the fin block 3 or the exposed portion of the heat transfer section of the battery module 7 is directly or indirectly contacted. The heat dissipating member 14 is made of iron, aluminum,
Made of copper, magnesium alloy, etc., heat dissipation member 1
Heat is transferred from a high temperature to a low temperature through 4 to make the temperature between the modules uniform.

[0021]

As described above, in the present invention, the battery is radiated through the fin block and the heat transfer section of the battery module, and the temperature variation between the modules is made uniform by the air cooling of the fan, so that the large current can be obtained. Charging and discharging of the battery and prolonged battery cycle.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are a perspective view schematically showing a structure of an assembled battery according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a partial detailed view of FIG. 1A.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views schematically showing a structure of an assembled battery according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a structure of an assembled battery according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing a structure of a battery pack according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing a structure of an assembled battery according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically showing a structure of an assembled battery according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing a structure of an assembled battery according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view schematically showing a structure of a battery pack according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view schematically showing a structure of an assembled battery according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Battery, 1a ... Positive electrode terminal, 1b ... Negative electrode terminal, 2, 10
a, 14a: Fin, 2a: Through hole, 2b: Flange, 2c: Mounting part, 3: Fin block, 4: Grid arrangement, 4a: Air ventilation path, 5: Staggered arrangement, 6: Refrigerant pipe, 6a: Refrigerant, 7: Battery module, 8: Case, 9
... heat transfer part, 9a ... exposed part, 9b ... silicon grease, 9a
... Screw, 10, 14 ... Heat dissipation member, 11 ... Battery pack, 1
2 ... once-through fan, 13 ... fan.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Koichi Sato 800, Tomita, Odai-machi, Ohira-cho, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi Prefecture Inside the Hitachi, Ltd.Cooling Division F-term in Hitachi, Ltd. Cooling Division (Reference) 5H020 AA01 AS06 AS11 AS13 CC06 CC13 KK13 5H031 AA09 EE01 EE04 KK01 KK08

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A block formed by arranging a number of fins so as to be orthogonal to a battery or bending one fin in a meandering shape is provided with a plurality of battery mounting portions. A fin block configured to directly or indirectly contact the outer periphery of the rechargeable battery with the mounting portion provided on the rechargeable battery, or to directly contact the plurality of fins or bent fins with the battery. . 2. The secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the battery is arranged in a grid pattern or a staggered pattern. 3. In the battery arrangement, if the positive and negative terminals for current extraction are in the same direction as the battery, the terminals of adjacent batteries are not arranged in the same direction, or the positive and negative terminals for current extraction are not arranged in the same direction. 2. The battery according to claim 1, wherein in a battery having a negative electrode terminal not in the same direction as the battery, the terminals in the same direction of the adjacent battery have different polarities. 3. 4. The secondary battery according to claim 1, further comprising a refrigerant circulation pipe in a direction perpendicular to the fins of the fin block. 5. Inside a battery module having a case or a frame made of resin or metal and having a plurality of batteries installed therein, a metal or conductive resin having an exposed portion to the outside of the case at the same time as being in contact with the outer periphery of each battery. A secondary battery characterized by including a heat transfer section. 6. The secondary battery according to claim 5, wherein an insulating layer is provided on a surface of the heat transfer section. 7. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein a heat dissipating member comprising a plurality of fins is provided so as to be in direct contact with the case or frame made of metal or the heat transfer plate which comes into contact with the outer periphery of each battery. Secondary battery. 8. A secondary battery, wherein a fan that directly cools the fin block or the battery module is installed in a battery pack including a plurality of the fin blocks or the battery modules. 9. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein a temperature of each of said fin block and said battery module is detected, and a fan which can be operated independently is installed for each of said fin block and said module. Item 8
The secondary battery according to any one of the preceding claims. 10. A radiating member comprising a plurality of fins is provided in the battery pack, and the fin block and the exposed portion of the module are in direct or indirect contact with the radiating member, respectively. The secondary battery according to claim 1 or claim 5.