JP2008044476A - Vehicular battery cooling system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular battery cooling system capable of suppressing influence to fuel economy of the vehicle while enhancing vehicle mounting property. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicular battery cooling system is provided with the battery 2 installed on the vehicle and used for traveling; a battery case 1 covering at least a bottom surface side of the battery; a cooling line 11 of the battery 2 provided integrally with a battery case portion at the bottom surface side of the battery 2 and becoming a flow passage for flowing a coolant; and coolant lines 31, 32 for performing connection to an air-conditioning system so as to feed and recover the coolant relative to the cooling line 11 of the battery 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention belongs to the technical field of a vehicle battery cooling system for cooling a traveling battery installed in a vehicle.

Conventionally, the temperature of the battery is detected by a temperature sensor, and the control means controls the switching means for switching between the circulation and stoppage of the refrigerant in the battery cooler in which the refrigerant path is connected in parallel with the air conditioning evaporator, and the battery When the temperature exceeds the preset upper limit temperature, the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant flows through the battery cooler, and when the battery temperature falls below the preset lower limit temperature, the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant circulation of the battery cooler is stopped. By providing the battery with a cold storage amount defined by the difference between the lower limit temperature and the upper limit temperature when cooling the battery, it is not necessary to cool the battery until the battery temperature reaches the upper limit temperature from the lower limit temperature. The start frequency of the compressor that is driven by power and constitutes the refrigeration cycle is reduced (for example, Patent Document 1). Ether.).
JP 2001-105843 A (page 2-9, full view)

  However, conventionally, the refrigerant line is mixed with the battery, the refrigerant path of the cooler and the evaporator is selected, and the compressor driven by the internal combustion engine is used. Therefore, the battery main body becomes large and the design is free. As a result, the vehicle mountability is problematic, and the fuel consumption of the vehicle is also a problem.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle battery cooling system capable of suppressing the influence on the fuel consumption of the vehicle while improving the vehicle mountability. There is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a battery that is installed in a vehicle and used for traveling, a battery case that covers at least the bottom surface side of the battery, and a battery case portion on the bottom surface side of the battery are provided integrally. A battery cooling line serving as a flow path for flowing the refrigerant, and a refrigerant circulating means for supplying and collecting the refrigerant to the battery cooling line.

  Therefore, in this invention, the influence on the fuel consumption of a vehicle can be suppressed, improving vehicle mounting property.

  Embodiments for realizing a vehicle battery cooling system according to the present invention will be described below as a first embodiment corresponding to the invention according to claim 1, a second embodiment corresponding to the invention according to claims 1 and 2, and a claim. Example 3 corresponding to the invention according to claims 1, 2, 3, 6; Example 4 corresponding to the invention according to claims 1 to 4; and Example 5 corresponding to the invention according to claims 1, 2; And based on Example 6 corresponding to the invention which concerns on Claims 1-6, it demonstrates.

First, the configuration will be described.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a battery cooling structure in the vehicle battery cooling system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a battery installation position in the vehicle battery cooling system according to the first embodiment.
The vehicle battery cooling system according to the first embodiment includes a battery case 1, a battery 2, and refrigerant lines 31 and 32 as main components.
As shown in FIG. 2, the battery case 1 is a structural member for fixing the battery 2 above the vehicle body panel 4 under the vehicle trunk or floor, and is a protective member that protects the battery 2 against the surroundings. is there. The battery case 1 does not have to cover the entire surface of the battery 2, but at least the bottom surface is formed to support the battery 2 directly or indirectly.

Furthermore, the battery case 1 is provided with a cooling line 11 for flowing a refrigerant on the bottom surface. The cooling line 11 is provided integrally with the battery case 1.
Connected to the cooling line 11 are a refrigerant line 31 for allowing the refrigerant to flow into the cooling line 11 and a refrigerant line 32 for allowing the refrigerant to flow out of the cooling line 11. It is assumed that the refrigerant in the cooling line 11 is supplied and recovered by an air conditioner system.
The refrigerant lines 31 and 32 pass through the lower part of the vehicle body panel 4 as shown in FIG. In addition, the solenoid valve 6 is provided in the refrigerant | coolant line 31, and control of the refrigerant | coolant amount is performed. This control may be performed by an air conditioner system or may be controlled by a controller that controls charging / discharging of a battery (not shown).

The battery 2 is a lithium ion battery that performs charging and discharging by exchanging lithium ions between electrodes. Lithium-ion batteries have the advantageous feature that no so-called memory effect occurs.
The battery 2 used for running the vehicle is an assembled battery in which a plurality of lithium ion batteries are combined in series.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-116427 is given as a detailed example of the battery pack for traveling. The structure of the assembled battery is not limited to this detailed example, but a plurality of minimum unit batteries combined with plate-like lithium ion batteries are used. The total number reaches several dozen.

  In the vehicle battery cooling system according to the first embodiment, charging / discharging of the battery, temperature management, and the like are performed by a controller (not shown).

The operation will be described.
[Driving battery cooling]
The vehicle battery cooling system according to the first embodiment is used for a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle.
The battery 2 used for traveling generates heat due to charging / discharging during traveling, and reaches a high temperature by repeating this charging / discharging.
For example, in a lithium ion battery, when the temperature is high, deterioration, peeling of members forming the gaps, precipitation of impurities, and the like occur, resulting in a decrease in battery capacity and a lifetime. In the worst case, it will be damaged.

For this reason, in a lithium ion battery, it is necessary to cool it to about 50 degrees or less in order to exhibit good battery performance.
Other batteries need to be cooled for the same reason.
You can think of the air cooling device by the driving wind and blower generated by the vehicle running, but as the demand for driving performance to the vehicle becomes higher, the lighter and larger capacity of the battery will be required, and more Aggressive cooling is needed.

  The vehicle battery cooling system according to the first embodiment solves such a problem and maintains the battery at a temperature at which good performance can be exhibited by active cooling. And battery cooling, and the influence on the fuel consumption of the vehicle can be suppressed.

(a) Positive cooling action In the vehicle battery cooling system of the first embodiment, the battery 2 is installed inside the battery case 1.
The heat of the battery 2 that generates heat due to charging and discharging during traveling is transferred to the battery case 1.
Since the refrigerant circulates in the cooling line 11 provided integrally with the bottom surface portion of the battery case 1, the heat of the battery 2 is absorbed through the battery case 1.

The heat of the battery 2 is radiated to the outside by efficiently exchanging heat between the refrigerant whose temperature has increased due to heat absorption and the outside air or traveling wind by the condenser of the air conditioning system.
By this active cooling, the battery 2 can be kept at an appropriate temperature, and the performance of the battery 2 can be exhibited well.
In the case of a lithium ion battery having a plate-like wide flat surface like the battery 2 of the first embodiment, when the cooling is performed on the bottom surface of the battery case 1, heat is transferred on a wide facing surface, so that it is efficiently cooled. be able to.

(b) Effect of improving vehicle mountability In the vehicle battery cooling system of the first embodiment, the battery case 1 does not greatly expand the outer shape of the battery case 1 but rather is provided outside with a blower or the like. Since the cooling line 11 is formed on the bottom surface portion, the space is saved and the vehicle mountability is improved.

(c) Action for suppressing the influence on the fuel consumption of the vehicle The air conditioner system for supplying and recovering the refrigerant to the vehicle battery cooling system of the first embodiment is configured as an electric compressor in a hybrid vehicle. Since it does not become a driving load, it is possible to promote a reduction in fuel consumption and suppress an influence on the fuel consumption of the vehicle.

Next, the effect will be described.
In the vehicle battery cooling system of the first embodiment, the effects listed below can be obtained.

  (1) A battery 2 installed in a vehicle and used for running, a battery case 1 that covers at least the bottom surface side of the battery 2, and a battery case portion on the bottom surface side of the battery 2 are provided integrally with each other to serve as a flow path for flowing refrigerant. Since the cooling line 11 of the battery 2 and the refrigerant lines 31 and 32 for connecting the refrigerant to the cooling line 11 of the battery 2 are connected to the air conditioner system, the vehicle mountability is improved and the vehicle fuel efficiency is improved. The influence of can be suppressed.

The vehicle battery cooling system of Example 2 is an example in which the refrigerant line is arranged in parallel with the air conditioning line.
The configuration will be described.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a battery cooling structure in the vehicle battery cooling system of the second embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an air conditioner system that is cooperatively controlled with the vehicle battery cooling system of the second embodiment.
In the second embodiment, in the air conditioner system, the refrigerant line that supplies the refrigerant is divided into two directions, one being the refrigerant line 51 that goes to the air conditioning evaporator 5 and the other being the refrigerant line 31. And the solenoid valve 6 is provided in a two-way distribution part, and distribution amount is changed. This control is performed by the controller of the air conditioner system.
In addition, the refrigerant line 32 that recovers the refrigerant from the cooling line 11 of the battery case joins the refrigerant line 52 that recovers the refrigerant from the air conditioning evaporator 5, and is directed to the air conditioner system, that is, the condenser 101 and the electric compressor 102.

Here, an air conditioner system that performs refrigerant control in cooperation with the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The air conditioning system that performs coordinated control with the second embodiment sends the high-pressure refrigerant compressed by the electric compressor 102 to the condenser 101 to cool and dissipate the heat, and then liquefies the refrigerant by removing moisture and dust in the liquid tank 103. The refrigerant flow to the electromagnetic valve 6 and to the refrigerant line 51 heading to the air conditioning evaporator 5 and the refrigerant line 31 heading to the cooling line 11 of the battery case 1 are controlled. Then, the refrigerant is expanded to a low pressure by a valve (not shown), the refrigerant is evaporated by the air conditioning evaporator 5, the air sent by the fan 104 to the passenger compartment is cooled, and the evaporated low-pressure refrigerant is collected by the refrigerant lines 32 and 52 to be electrically operated. It is circulated by being sent to the compressor 102.

The electric compressor 102 and the electromagnetic valve 6 are controlled by a controller 105 in the air conditioner system. Description of sensors etc. is omitted. The controller 105 of this air conditioner system communicates with the controller of the battery 2 (not shown) by in-vehicle communication, etc., communicates necessary information and commands, and controls the refrigerant flow rate by the electromagnetic valve 6.
A valve for expanding the refrigerant to a low pressure is also provided in the refrigerant line 31 (not shown). Moreover, you may provide integrally with the solenoid valve 6. FIG.

The operation will be described.
[Both air conditioning and battery cooling compatibility]
In the vehicle battery cooling system of the second embodiment, the refrigerant lines 31 and 32 for cooling the battery 2 are provided in parallel with the refrigerant lines 51 and 52 to the air conditioning evaporator 5, and the refrigerant flow is freely controlled by the electromagnetic valve 6. By controlling to, indoor air-conditioning and battery cooling are performed accurately and at the same time.

Next, the effect will be described.
In the vehicle battery cooling system of the second embodiment, in addition to the effect of (1) of the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  (2) The refrigerant circulation means includes refrigerant lines 31 and 32 to the cooling line 11 of the battery 2 provided in parallel with the refrigerant lines 51 and 52 to the air conditioning evaporator 5 in the vehicle air conditioning system, and the air conditioning evaporator. 5 and the solenoid valve 6 for controlling the refrigerant flow rate in the refrigerant lines 31 and 32 to the cooling line 11 of the battery 2, the air conditioning and the battery cooling are independently performed by connecting them in parallel. In particular, control complexity can be suppressed compared to serial connection, and compatibility with the air conditioning system can be achieved.

The third embodiment is an example in which cooling is performed with a refrigerant flow in one direction on a cooling line provided in parallel with a plurality of battery cases.
The configuration will be described.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the vehicle battery cooling system according to the third embodiment.
In the third embodiment, a plurality of cooling lines 11 are arranged in parallel on the bottom surface of the battery case 1 so as to be integrated with the battery case 1.
The plurality of cooling lines 11 are integrally provided with an extrusion material by providing the bottom surface portion of the battery case 1 by extrusion processing.

In the third embodiment, the battery 2 is configured by a plurality of units on the bottom surface of the battery case 1 and arranged in at least three places as shown in FIG. To be located.
In other words, the cooling lines 11 are provided so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the plurality of batteries 2.

The configuration for supplying and collecting the refrigerant is the same as that in the second embodiment. In the third embodiment, the refrigerant flows in the same flow direction in the cooling lines 11 provided in parallel. That is, like the first and second embodiments, the refrigerant flows from the rear of the vehicle toward the front of the vehicle so as to flow in the cooling line 11.
Since other configurations are the same as those of the first and second embodiments, the description thereof is omitted.

The operation will be described.
[Efficient battery cooling]
In the third embodiment, the refrigerant is caused to flow in the same direction through the plurality of parallel cooling lines 11. Therefore, the cooling of the battery 2 is effectively performed by cooling the battery 2 as a main endothermic effect without causing a relationship between heat generation and heat absorption so that the cooling lines 11 cancel out the cooling effect.
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, since the battery 2 is cooled through the bottom surface of the battery case 1, heat exchange is performed by increasing the heat transfer area, thereby further efficiently cooling.

Furthermore, the battery case 1 in which the cooling line 11 is integrally provided also serves as a cold storage material. That is, the battery case 1 is sufficiently preliminarily cooled by the amount of cooling that is greater than the amount of heat generated by the battery 2 or by the response delay of the cooling performance when the amount of refrigerant is controlled to be low as the heat generation of the battery 2 decreases. It will be.
This contributes to the rise of the cooling performance by the refrigerant amount control when the battery 2 generates heat next time, and the battery 2 is preliminarily cooled until the cooling performance by the refrigerant amount control becomes sufficient. Will be able to.

Regarding the action of the cold storage material, the battery case 1 in which the cooling line 11 is integrally formed by the extruded material has a large heat capacity, and a remarkable effect is obtained.
In addition, when the load on the air conditioning in the vehicle interior is small or not, the compatibility with the air conditioning in the vehicle interior can be further improved by performing cold storage in the battery case 1.
In addition, a cooling line 11 is provided on the bottom surface of the battery case 1 mounted on the vehicle body panel 4 so that the battery 2 is warmed by radiant heat from the road surface when the road surface temperature is high because the battery case 1 serves as a cold storage material. Can be suppressed.
Since other operations are the same as those of the first and second embodiments, the description thereof is omitted.

Explain the effect.
In the vehicle battery cooling system of the third embodiment, in addition to the effects (1) and (2) of the first and second embodiments, the following effects can be obtained.

  (3) The cooling line 11 of the battery 2 is provided in parallel with the battery case portion on the bottom surface side of the battery 2, and a plurality of the cooling lines 11 are arranged in parallel, and the refrigerant flows in the same direction. Since the configuration is adopted, the battery can be further efficiently cooled, and compatibility with the vehicle interior air conditioning can be further improved.

  (6) Since the battery case 1 and the cooling line 11 provided on the bottom surface side of the battery 2 are formed of an extruded material, a sufficient heat transfer area can be secured and productivity can be improved.

The vehicle battery cooling system of Example 4 is an example in which a cooling line is also provided in the vicinity of the side of the battery.
The configuration will be described.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the vehicle battery cooling system according to the fourth embodiment.
In the fourth embodiment, similarly to the third embodiment, a plurality of cooling lines 11 are arranged in parallel on the bottom surface portion of the battery case 1 and provided integrally with the battery case 1 by an extruded material.
Furthermore, in Example 4, the cooling line 7 is provided in the vicinity of the side portions on both sides of each battery 2 on the bottom surface portion of the battery case 1. The extension direction of the cooling line 7 is the same as that of the cooling line 11, and the direction in which the refrigerant flows is also the same as that of the cooling line 11.
Since other configurations are the same as those of the third embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

The operation will be described.
[Action to enhance cooling effect]
In the fourth embodiment, the battery 2 is cooled by the cooling line 11 via the bottom surface of the battery case 1, and is also cooled from the side by the cooling lines 7 provided near the side portions on both sides of each battery 2. .

Since each battery 2 is cooled from three different directions, the cooling effect is enhanced. Moreover, since the cooling line 11 and the cooling line 7 are made the same in the flow direction of the refrigerant, the refrigerant that has absorbed heat does not warm other refrigerant flows, and good cooling performance can be obtained. .
In addition, from the viewpoint of cold storage of the battery case 1, heat is more easily stored, so that the effect of cold storage as described above is further enhanced.
Since other operations are the same as those of the third embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

Explain the effect.
In the vehicle battery cooling system of the fourth embodiment, in addition to the effects (1) to (3) and (6) in the first to third embodiments, the following effects can be obtained.
(4) Since a side cooling line 7 that extends in the same direction as the cooling line 11 of the battery 2 and flows the refrigerant in the same direction as the cooling line 11 of the battery 2 is provided in the vicinity of the side of the battery 2, further battery cooling is provided. The effect can be enhanced.

Example 5 is an example in which a space is provided inside the battery case.
The configuration will be described.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the vehicle battery cooling system of the fifth embodiment.
In the fifth embodiment, the bottom surface of the battery case 8 has a box shape having a space inside, and a plurality of cooling pipes 81 are provided in parallel inside to form a cooling line.
The battery case 8 may have such a configuration.
Other configurations and functions and effects are the same as those of the first and second embodiments, and thus description thereof is omitted.

Example 6 is an example in which the refrigerant line has a double tube structure.
The configuration will be described.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a refrigerant line in the vehicle battery cooling system of the sixth embodiment.
In the sixth embodiment, the refrigerant lines 31 and 32 for supplying and collecting the refrigerant of the air conditioner system and the battery case 1 are constituted by the double pipe 9.
As shown in FIG. 8, the double pipe 9 has an inner pipe as a high pressure side and an outer pipe side as a low pressure side. The reverse configuration may be used. It is assumed that the battery case 1 is branched in two near the cooling line 11 and connected to the cooling line 11.

The operation will be described.
[Simplification of configuration]
In Example 6, since the refrigerant | coolant lines 31 and 32 are comprised by the double pipe 9, the mounting property to a vehicle and workability | operativity improve.

Explain the effect.
Example 6 has the following effects in addition to the effects (1) to (4) and (6).
(5) Since the refrigerant line to the cooling line 11 of the battery 2 has a double-pipe structure composed of a supply side and a recovery side, it is possible to simplify handling, reduce weight, and save space.

As mentioned above, although the vehicle battery cooling system of the present invention has been described based on the first to sixth embodiments, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and each claim in the scope of claims. Design changes and additions are permitted without departing from the spirit of the invention according to the paragraph.
Although the vehicle battery cooling system of the embodiment has been described as being used for a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle, the vehicle battery cooling system may be used for a fuel cell vehicle, for example.

It is explanatory drawing of the battery cooling structure in the battery cooling system for vehicles of Example 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the battery installation position in the battery cooling system for vehicles of Example 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the battery cooling structure in the battery cooling system for vehicles of Example 2. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the air-conditioner system coordinated with the vehicle battery cooling system of Example 2. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the battery cooling system for vehicles of Example 3. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the battery cooling system for vehicles of Example 4. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the battery cooling system for vehicles of Example 5. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the refrigerant | coolant line in the battery cooling system for vehicles of Example 6. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Battery case 11 Cooling line 2 Battery 31 Refrigerant line 32 Refrigerant line 4 Car body panel 5 Air-conditioning evaporator 51 Refrigerant line 52 Refrigerant line 6 Solenoid valve 7 Cooling line 8 Battery case 81 Cooling pipe 9 Double pipe 101 Capacitor 102 Electric compressor 103 Liquid Tank 104 Fan 105 Controller

Claims (6)

A battery installed in a vehicle and used for traveling;
A battery case covering at least the bottom side of the battery;
A battery cooling line provided integrally with the battery case portion on the bottom side of the battery and serving as a flow path for flowing the refrigerant;
Refrigerant circulation means for supplying and collecting the refrigerant to the battery cooling line;
A battery cooling system for a vehicle, comprising: The vehicle battery cooling system according to claim 1,
The refrigerant circulating means is
A refrigerant line to the battery cooling line provided in parallel with the refrigerant line to the evaporator in the vehicle air conditioning system;
Refrigerant flow control means for controlling the refrigerant flow rate in the refrigerant line to the evaporator and the refrigerant line to the battery cooling line;
A battery cooling system for a vehicle, comprising: The vehicle battery cooling system according to claim 1 or 2,
The battery cooling line is provided in parallel with a battery case part on the bottom side of the battery,
In the battery cooling line in which a plurality are arranged in parallel, the refrigerant flows in the same direction.
A vehicle battery cooling system. In the vehicle battery cooling system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Near the side of the battery, provided with a side cooling line extending in the same direction as the battery cooling line and flowing a refrigerant in the same direction as the battery cooling line,
A vehicle battery cooling system. The vehicle battery cooling system according to claim 2, wherein:
The vehicle battery cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerant line to the battery cooling line has a double-pipe structure including a supply side and a recovery side. The vehicle battery cooling system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The battery case and a battery cooling line provided on the bottom side of the battery were formed of an extruded material,
A vehicle battery cooling system.

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