JP2008269989A - Electricity accumulation unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electricity accumulation unit securing cooling of an accumulator module. <P>SOLUTION: The electricity accumulation unit 10 is provided with: a storing case 13 which can store the accumulator module formed by having a plurality of storage cells lined up; an outside reservoir 11 with a smaller width in the direction of lining up of the storage cells than the width of the storing case 13, holding air to be supplied inside the storing case 13, and which can supply the air inside the storing case 13; a suction tube 15 with a suction opening 15b which can take in the air and supply the air to the outside reservoir 11; an inside reservoir stipulated by partition walls provided inside the storing case 13 and which can hold air supplied from the outside reservoir, a hold chamber stipulated inside the storing case 13, which can store the accumulator module with a plurality of the storage cells, and in which the air supplied from the inside reservoir can be circulated through a communicating tube 17 formed in the partition walls; and an ejecting tube 12 connected to the storing case and ejecting the air inside the storing case 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a power storage unit, and more particularly to a power storage unit disposed in the vicinity of a cross member of a vehicle.

  In recent years, an electric vehicle using an electric motor as a drive source, or a so-called hybrid vehicle combining an electric motor as a drive source and another drive source is known. In such a vehicle, a battery for supplying electric power to the electric motor is mounted. As this battery, for example, a secondary battery such as a nickel cadmium battery, a nickel metal hydride battery, or a lithium ion battery that can be repeatedly charged and discharged is employed.

  Such a secondary battery is configured as a battery module in which battery cells are stacked, and is mounted on a vehicle or the like in a state where the battery module is housed in a case.

  The battery module generates heat due to an internal electrochemical reaction, and its temperature rises. Since the power generation efficiency of the battery module decreases when the temperature becomes high, for example, cooling air from the outside is introduced into the case to cool the battery module.

For example, in the battery unit described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-294336, an internal intake duct that supplies a refrigerant to the battery module and a refrigerant derived from the battery module are introduced into the internal intake duct in the casing. And an internal exhaust duct that discharges to the outside in a direction opposite to the direction of time.
JP 2006-294336 A JP 2000-92624 A JP 2004-327142 A JP 2005-63681 A JP 7-132859 A

  In recent years, a power storage unit such as a battery unit is often disposed in a narrow region such as a narrow region located between side members of a vehicle and in the vicinity of a cross member.

  However, the power storage unit such as the conventional battery unit has a large volume and is difficult. Further, even if the battery module can be arranged in the narrow area as described above, it is difficult to ensure the cooling of the battery module. Further, the present invention is not limited to the battery module composed of the battery cells as described above, and even when a chargeable / dischargeable capacitor is employed, the capacitor is similarly accommodated in a narrow area while ensuring the cooling of the capacitor. There is a need to reduce the size of the power storage unit.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a region located between the side members of the vehicle and in the vicinity of the cross member by reducing the size in the width direction. It is possible to provide a power storage unit that can be accommodated in a narrow region such as a power storage module and in which cooling of the power storage module is ensured.

  A power storage unit according to the present invention includes a storage case that can store a power storage module formed by arranging a plurality of power storage cells, and a width in a direction in which the power storage cells are arranged smaller than the width of the storage case. An external storage section that stores air to be supplied therein and can supply air into the housing case. The power storage unit has a suction port through which air can be taken, and is defined in the housing case by a suction pipe capable of supplying air to the external storage portion, and a partition wall portion provided in the housing case. An internal storage unit capable of storing air supplied from the storage unit. Further, the power storage unit is defined in the storage case, can store a power storage module having a plurality of power storage cells, and air supplied from the internal storage portion flows through the communication portion formed in the partition wall portion. And a discharge pipe connected to the storage case and capable of discharging the air in the storage case.

  Preferably, the external storage section and the housing case are connected to each other, and further provided with a supply pipe capable of supplying air in the external storage section into the internal storage section, and the opening formed in the external storage section of the supply pipe is external It is located below the opening of the suction pipe formed in the reservoir.

  Preferably, the external storage portion is disposed on the upper surface of the storage case. Preferably, the external accommodating portion is adjacent to one third side surface among the third and fourth side surfaces located between the first and second side surfaces arranged in the arrangement direction of the storage cells among the side surfaces of the accommodating case. It is provided at a matching position.

  Preferably, the storage case is on an underbody having a side member extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and spaced apart and a cross member extending in the width direction of the vehicle, and located between the side members. The vehicle is disposed at a position adjacent to the cross member on the rear side of the vehicle.

  Preferably, the storage case is arranged so that the storage cells are arranged in the arrangement direction of the side members, and the side member is positioned between the first and second side surfaces of the storage case arranged in the arrangement direction of the storage cells. Of the third and fourth side surfaces to be tilted downward from one third side surface side to the fourth side surface side. And the said discharge pipe is connected to the part located above a side member among the side surfaces of a storage case.

  Preferably, the suction pipe passes over the cross member. Preferably, both the external storage unit and the internal storage unit extend in the arrangement direction of the storage cells.

  According to the power storage unit of the present invention, the width direction can be reduced, and the vehicle can be accommodated in a narrow region located between the side members of the vehicle and in the vicinity of the cross member. The storage cell can be cooled.

  A battery unit (power storage unit) 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention and a vehicle including the battery unit 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, about the same structure or an equivalent structure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted. Note that in the embodiments described below, when referring to the number, amount, and the like, the scope of the present invention is not necessarily limited to the number, amount, and the like unless otherwise specified. In the following embodiments, each component is not necessarily essential for the present invention unless otherwise specified.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a plan view of hybrid vehicle 100 on which battery unit 10 according to Embodiment 1 is mounted. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the rear seat of FIG. 1 and the vicinity thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, the hybrid vehicle 100 includes an occupant compartment 70 and a trunk room 64 having a space for loading luggage.

  In the passenger compartment 70, a front seat 61 and a rear seat 62 are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, hybrid vehicle 100 is disposed between side members 50 that are disposed on side portions arranged in the width direction of hybrid vehicle 100 and extend in the front-rear direction of hybrid vehicle, and between side members 50. An underbody having a cross member 51 extending in the width direction of the hybrid vehicle 100 and a floor panel 52 disposed between the side members 50 and connected to the lower surface of the cross member 51 is provided.

  A partition panel 63 is provided above the cross member 51 shown in FIG. 2, and the partition panel 63 has a passenger compartment 70 and a trunk room 64 capable of accommodating luggage or the like on the rear side of the passenger compartment 70. It stipulates. An occupant accommodation chamber 70 is defined on the front side of the cross member 51, and a trunk room 64 is defined on the rear side of the cross member 51.

  A deck board 65 is provided behind the cross member 51 and above the floor panel 52, and the deck board 65 constitutes a floor surface of the luggage room 60.

  The floor panel 52 includes a receiving portion 53 that is formed so as to protrude upward so that the cross member 51 can be received, and has a recess that can receive the cross member 51 on the lower surface.

  The floor panel 52 is formed so as to bend downward toward the front side of the hybrid vehicle 100 so that the rear seat 62 can be attached to a portion located on the front side with respect to the receiving portion 53. It has. The rear seat 62 is attached to the curved portion 55.

  The floor panel 52 includes a battery mounting portion 54 formed in a flat surface located below the upper surface of the receiving portion 53 on the rear side of the hybrid vehicle 100 with respect to the receiving portion 53. The battery mounting portion 54 is located below the trunk room 64 and is further located on the lower surface of the deck board 65.

  A battery housing chamber 57 is defined by the floor panel 65 and the battery mounting portion 54 behind the cross member 51. The battery unit 10 is disposed in the battery storage chamber 57.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view of the battery housing chamber 57. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the battery unit 10 is capable of storing a housing case 13 that houses a battery module therein, and air that is supplied into the housing case 13, and supplies air into the housing case 13. The external storage part 11 which can be provided, and the exhaust pipe 12 which can discharge | emit the air in the storage case 13 are provided.

  The housing case 13 is provided on the rear side of the hybrid vehicle 100 with respect to the cross member 51 and is housed between the side members 50.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the side member 50 has a portion located on the side of the receiving portion 53 bent upward, and is directed downward from the bent portion 50 a toward the front-rear direction of the hybrid vehicle 100. It is formed so as to be inclined. Of the side members 50, of the side members 13 a and 13 c aligned in the front-rear direction of the hybrid vehicle 100, the portion located on the side of the side surface 13 a located on the front side is positioned at least above the bottom surface of the housing case 13. ing. In addition, depending on the arrangement state of each member, it is located above the upper surface 13e of the storage case 13.

  A portion of the side member 50 located on the side of the side surface 13 c is located below the bottom surface of the housing case 13.

  The exhaust pipe 12 is connected to one side surface 13d of the side surfaces 13b and 13d arranged in the width direction of the hybrid vehicle 100. And the connection location of the exhaust pipe 12 with respect to the storage case 13 is located above the side member 50.

  The exhaust pipe 12 passes above the side member 50 and is connected to the side surface of the hybrid vehicle 100 so that the air in the housing case 13 can be discharged to the outside.

  A fan 16 shown in FIG. 1 is provided in the exhaust pipe 12 so that air in the exhaust pipe 12 can be sucked and actively discharged to the outside.

  In FIG. 2, the external storage portion 11 is provided on the upper surface 13 e of the storage case 13, and is further formed so as to protrude toward the side surface 13 a facing the cross member 51, of the peripheral surface 13 f of the storage case 13. Has been.

  The battery unit 10 includes an intake pipe 15 that is connected to the external storage unit 11 and has a suction port 15b that sucks air in the passenger compartment 70.

  The suction pipe 15 passes through the cross member 51 and the receiving portion 53 that receives the cross member 51 and reaches the passenger compartment 70. Then, the air in the passenger compartment 70 is sucked through the gap between the rear seat 62 and the curved portion 55. Air sucked from the suction port 15 b is supplied into the external storage unit 11.

  Here, in FIG. 3, the side surfaces 11 b and 11 d arranged in the width direction of the hybrid vehicle 100 of the external storage part 11 are in the width direction with respect to the side surfaces 13 b and 13 d arranged in the width direction of the hybrid vehicle 100 of the housing case 13. Located inward. For this reason, the size of the hybrid vehicle 100 in the width direction is reduced in the region where the external storage unit 11 is located. Thus, while the external storage part 11 and the storage case 13 extend in the width direction of the hybrid vehicle 100, the external storage part 11 is formed smaller than the storage case 13 in the width direction.

  In the region where the external storage unit 11 is located, the side member 50 is located above the bottom surface of the housing case 13, but the size in the width direction of the hybrid vehicle 100 is reduced as described above. The battery unit 10 can be accommodated between the side members 50.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing the battery unit 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the external storage portion 11 includes an overhanging portion 14 that projects from the upper surface 13 e of the housing case 13. A plurality of connecting pipes 17 are provided on the lower surface of the overhanging portion 14, and the connecting pipes 17 are connected to the side surface 13 a of the housing case 13. The connection pipe 17 hangs down from the lower surface of the overhanging portion 14 and is connected to the central portion in the height direction of the side surface 14 a, and supplies air stored in the external storage portion 11 into the housing case 13.

  The opening 17 a in the overhanging portion 14 of the connection pipe 17 is located below the opening 15 a in the external storage portion 11 of the suction pipe 15. And the air which distribute | circulates the inside of the suction pipe 15 distribute | circulates from the front side of a vehicle toward the back side. For this reason, the air that has entered the external storage unit 11 mainly flows from the front side to the rear side of the hybrid vehicle 100.

  And since the suction pipe 15 is connected to the front side surface 11 a of the hybrid vehicle 100 among the peripheral surfaces of the external storage portion 11, the air that has entered the external storage portion 11 flows around the external storage portion 11. It flows toward the side surface 11c located on the rear side of the hybrid vehicle 100 among the surfaces.

  The suction pipe 15 is connected so as to be connected to one side surface 11d of the side surfaces 11b and 11d arranged in the width direction of the external storage portion 11 among the side surfaces 11a of the external storage portion 11. For this reason, the air which entered from the opening part 15a flows toward the side surface 11c along the side surface 11d.

  And if the air which entered the external storage part 11 is sprayed on the side surface 11c, it will mainly spread in the external storage part 11 along the surface of the side surface 11c. On the other hand, the opening 17a of the connection pipe 17 is located on the bottom surface of the overhanging portion 14 and is provided at a position away from the side surface 11c. For this reason, it can suppress that the air which entered in the external storage part 11 enters into the connection pipe 17 directly.

  Thereby, the air that has entered the external reservoir 11 from the opening 15a spreads into the external reservoir 11, and then enters the opening 17a. For this reason, it can suppress that a big difference arises in the inflow amount which enters in each opening part 17a.

  FIG. 5 is a plan sectional view of the battery unit 10. As shown in FIG. 5, the battery housing in which the battery module 30 having the plurality of battery cells 20 is housed in the housing case 13 by the partition wall portion 41 provided in the housing case 13 and extending in the width direction. A chamber 19 and an internal reservoir 18 in which air supplied from the connecting pipe 17 is stored are defined.

  A plurality of communication passages 19 a are formed at intervals in the width direction of the housing case 13 in the partition wall portion 41 that partitions the internal storage portion 18 and the battery housing chamber 19. The number of communication paths 19a is larger than the number of openings 18a in the internal reservoir 18 of the connection pipe 17, and the interval between the communication paths 19a is set smaller than the interval between the openings 18a. ing.

  Then, the air supplied from the connecting pipe 17 into the internal reservoir 18 spreads in the internal reservoir 18. For this reason, it can suppress that a big difference arises in the supply amount of the air supplied into the battery accommodating chamber 19 from each communicating path 19a.

  A plurality of battery cells 20 housed in the battery housing chamber 19 are arranged in the width direction of the housing case 13 at intervals. That is, the battery cell 20 is arranged in the arrangement direction of the side surfaces 13b and 13d of the accommodation case 13 and in the width direction of the accommodation case 13, and the arrangement direction of the battery cells 20 is the vehicle case. It is arrange | positioned so that it may become the width direction. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of each battery cell 20. As shown in FIG. 6, a passage defining member 21 is sandwiched between battery cells 20 adjacent to each other in the width direction of the housing case 13, and the supplied air can flow through the passage defining member 21. A plurality of flow passages 22 are formed in the height direction.

  The air supplied into the battery housing chamber 19 circulates in the flow passage 22 through the communication passage 19a. Thereby, each battery cell 20 can be cooled. In particular, since it is possible to suppress variation in the amount of air supplied from each communication path 19a, each battery cell 20 can be cooled uniformly.

  And the air which cooled the battery cell 20 is discharged | emitted outside the hybrid vehicle 100 through the exhaust pipe 12. FIG.

  Thus, in the battery unit 10 according to the first embodiment, the battery unit 10 can be accommodated in a region adjacent to the rear side with respect to the cross member 51 between the side members 50, and each battery cell. 20 can be cooled evenly.

(Embodiment 2)
A battery unit 10A according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9 and FIGS. 1 to 6 as appropriate. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the structure which is the same as that of the structure shown by the said FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view of battery unit 10A according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a plan sectional view of battery unit 10A shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the battery unit 10 </ b> A includes an external storage unit 111 connected to the housing case 13. This external storage part 111 is arrange | positioned among the side surfaces 13a and 13c arranged in the front-back direction of the hybrid vehicle 100 among the storage cases 13 in the front side of the side surface 13a located in the front side.

  Side surfaces 111b and 111d of the external storage unit 111 arranged in the width direction of the hybrid vehicle 100 are located between the side surfaces 13b and 13d of the housing case 13 arranged in the direction of the hybrid vehicle 100.

  That is, also in the present embodiment, as with the battery unit 10 of the first embodiment, the width of the external storage portion is made smaller than the width of the housing case 13. The portion where the is located can be accommodated between the side members 50.

  The external storage unit 111 is connected to a suction pipe 115 that can take in air from the passenger compartment and supply the air into the external storage unit 111.

  The suction pipe 115 includes a curved portion 116 that curves upward in order to pass above the cross member 51 shown in FIG. 2 and the like in the vicinity of the connection portion connected to the external storage portion 111. The suction pipe 115 passes over the cross member 51 and reaches the passenger compartment, and can suck the air in the passenger compartment.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the suction pipe 115 is connected to the external storage portion 111 through an opening 115 a formed in the external storage portion 111.

  The opening 115 a is a side surface 111 a located on the front side of the hybrid vehicle 100 on the peripheral surface of the external storage unit 111, and is provided in the vicinity of the side surface 111 d.

  The inside of the external storage unit 111 and the inside of the housing case 13 are communicated with each other by a plurality of connecting pipes 117 arranged in the width direction of the hybrid vehicle 100.

  Here, the opening 117 a of the connection pipe 117 formed in the external storage part 111 is located below the opening 115 a of the suction pipe 115. Here, FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between each opening 115a, the opening 117a, and the opening of the communication path 19a.

As shown in FIG. 9, the opening 115a is located above the opening 117a.
For this reason, the air that has entered the external reservoir 111 from the opening 115 a enters along the wall surface of the side surface 111 d of the external reservoir 111. A part of the air that has entered the external reservoir 111 enters the connection pipe 117 through the opening 117. On the other hand, a part of the air that has entered the external reservoir 111 is located above the opening 117a of the connection pipe 117 and is directed toward the side 111b along the wall surface that defines the side 111c of the external reservoir 111. Flowing.

  And it penetrates in each connecting pipe 117 sequentially from the opening 117a of each connecting pipe 117 arranged in the width direction. As described above, the closer to the opening 115a of the suction pipe 115 in the connection pipe 117, the more the supplied air is suppressed, and the supply amount of air supplied to each connection pipe 117 is made uniform. Has been.

  Also in the battery unit 10 </ b> A according to the second embodiment, the storage case 13 stores the internal storage portion 18 in which air supplied via the connection pipe 117 is stored and the plurality of battery cells 20. And a battery housing chamber 19.

  Note that the side member 50 is positioned below the bottom surface of the housing case 13 in the vicinity of the side surface 13c located on the rear side of the hybrid vehicle 100 among the side surfaces 13a and 13c arranged on the front and rear sides of the hybrid vehicle 100. Yes.

  The exhaust pipe 12 can exhaust the air that has cooled each battery cell 20 to the outside of the hybrid vehicle 100 through an exhaust hole formed in a side surface of the hybrid vehicle through the side member 50.

  Thus, also in battery unit 10A according to the second embodiment, as described above, it is accommodated in the region located between rear members 50 and on the rear side of hybrid vehicle 100 with respect to cross member 51. It is possible.

  As described above, in both the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the battery unit including the battery module having a plurality of battery cells has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it can also be adopted in a power storage unit including a plurality of chargeable / dischargeable capacitors. In other words, the battery unit according to the present embodiment is not limited to the one that creates power by chemically changing itself, such as a battery cell, and can be discharged by being charged from the outside like a capacitor. You may adopt something. Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it should be considered that the embodiment disclosed this time is illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  The present invention relates to a power storage unit, and is particularly suitable for a power storage unit mounted on a vehicle.

It is a top view of the hybrid vehicle by which the battery unit which concerns on this Embodiment 1 is mounted. It is sectional drawing in the rear seat of FIG. 1, and its vicinity. It is a top view in a battery storage chamber. It is a perspective view which shows a battery unit typically. It is a plane sectional view of a battery unit. It is sectional drawing in each battery cell. It is a perspective view of the battery unit which concerns on this Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a plane sectional view of the battery unit shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the positional relationship of each opening part and an opening part and the opening part of a communicating path.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,10A Battery unit, 11 External storage part, 12 Exhaust pipe, 13 Storage case, 14 Overhang part, 15 Intake pipe, 16 Fan, 17 Connection pipe, 18 Internal storage part, 19a Communication path, 19 Battery storage room, 20 Battery cell, 21 passage defining member, 22 flow passage, 30 battery module, 50 side member, 51 cross member, 52 floor panel, 54 battery mounting portion, 57 battery accommodating chamber, 60 luggage room, 61 front seat, 62 rear seat, 63 Partition panels, 64 trunk rooms, 65 deck boards, 100 hybrid vehicles.

Claims (8)

A housing case capable of housing a power storage module formed by arranging a plurality of power storage cells;
The width in the direction in which the storage cells are arranged is smaller than the width of the storage case, stores air supplied into the storage case, and an external storage unit capable of supplying air into the storage case;
A suction pipe capable of taking in air and capable of supplying air to the external reservoir;
An internal storage part that is defined in the storage case by a partition wall provided in the storage case and can store air supplied from the external storage part; and
A storage that is defined in the storage case and can store a power storage module having a plurality of power storage cells, and through which the air supplied from the internal storage section can circulate through a communication section formed in the partition wall section. Room,
A discharge pipe connected to the storage case and capable of discharging air in the storage case;
A power storage unit. Further comprising a supply pipe that connects the external storage part and the housing case, and is capable of supplying air in the external storage part into the internal storage part,
The power storage unit according to claim 1, wherein an opening formed in the external storage portion of the supply pipe is positioned below an opening of the suction pipe formed in the external storage portion.   The power storage unit according to claim 1, wherein the external storage unit is disposed on an upper surface of the housing case.   The external accommodating portion is adjacent to one of the third side surfaces of the third and fourth side surfaces located between the first and second side surfaces arranged in the arrangement direction of the storage cell, of the side surfaces of the accommodating case. The power storage unit according to claim 1 or 2, provided at a matching position.   The storage case is on an underbody having a side member extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and provided at an interval, and a cross member extending in the width direction of the vehicle, and is located between the side members, The power storage unit according to claim 1, wherein the power storage unit is disposed at a position adjacent to the cross member on a rear side of the vehicle. The storage case is arranged so that the storage cells are arranged in the arrangement direction of the side members,
The side member is directed from one third side surface side to the fourth side surface side among the third and fourth side surfaces positioned between the first and second side surfaces of the housing case arranged in the arrangement direction of the storage cells. Tilt down,
The power storage unit according to claim 5, wherein the discharge pipe is connected to a portion of the side surface of the housing case that is located above the side member.   The power storage unit according to claim 6, wherein the suction pipe passes above the cross member.   8. The power storage unit according to claim 1, wherein both of the external storage unit and the internal storage unit extend in an arrangement direction of the power storage cells.

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