JP2009205820A - Capacitor and vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To cool a capacitor efficiently. <P>SOLUTION: In a capacitor 1, a plurality of battery cells 11 are laminated via a gap for making a cooling air pass through. A flow-in face into which the cooling wind flows is formed on a face adjacent to a terminal installing face of the battery cell 11, and a constraining band 16 for constraining the plurality of battery cells 11 is installed at the terminal installing face. A medium passage of a heat exchange medium flowing in the gap between respective capacitor elements is not sacrificed; and the constraining band can be arranged compactly in a narrow region in the periphery of the terminal. It is preferable to install an abutting part to inhibit movement of the constraining band to an in-plane direction including the terminal installing face, and to a direction orthogonal to a laminating direction of the battery cells 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a capacitor in which power storage elements are stacked through a gap for allowing a heat exchange medium to pass through.

  As an electric power source for driving electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles, or an auxiliary power source, an assembled battery in which square batteries are stacked through a gap for allowing a refrigerant to pass therethrough is known. In this type of assembled battery, the entire assembled battery is constrained by a restraining band in order to prevent positional displacement of each rectangular battery due to vibration received during vehicle travel.

The structure of the assembled battery disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-68081) will be described.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the assembled battery.

  The assembled battery 100 is configured by arranging a plurality (15 in the illustrated example) of rectangular battery cells 102 in parallel. End plates 103 and 104 are provided at both ends of the battery cells 102 in the juxtaposed direction.

  A positive electrode terminal 111 and a negative electrode terminal 112 are provided on the side surface including the XZ plane of each battery cell 102, and each battery cell 102 is arranged in parallel so that the positive electrode terminal 111 and the negative electrode terminal 112 are alternately opposite to each other. The battery cells 102 are connected in series by sequentially connecting the adjacent terminals 111 and 112 to each other.

  A restraining plate 105 is fixed to the end plates 103 and 104 by a fixing member 106. The restraining plate 105 extends in the direction in which the battery cells 102 are arranged side by side, and traverses the assembled battery 12 as viewed in the Z-axis direction. It is provided as follows.

A gap 120 for allowing the refrigerant to pass therethrough is formed between the adjacent battery cells 102, and cooling air flows in the Z-axis direction through the gap 120 inside the assembled battery 100. Thereby, the assembled battery 100 is cooled and the deterioration of the assembled battery 100 due to a temperature rise is suppressed.
JP 2001-68081 A JP 2006-172882 A JP 2007-48750 A JP 2007-165698 A Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-5167

  However, in the above-described configuration, the cooling air flowing into or out of the gap 120 formed between the adjacent battery cells 102 contacts the restraint plate 105. Therefore, the cooling efficiency for the assembled battery 100 may be impaired.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to achieve both cooling and restraint of the capacitor.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a capacitor of the present invention is (1) a capacitor in which a plurality of power storage elements are stacked via a gap for allowing a heat exchange medium to pass, and is adjacent to a terminal installation surface of the power storage element. An inflow surface through which a heat exchange medium flows is formed on the surface to be mounted, and a restraining band for restraining the plurality of power storage elements is installed on the terminal installation surface.

  According to the configuration of (1), the medium passage of the heat exchange medium flowing through the gaps between the power storage elements is not sacrificed, and the restraining band can be compactly arranged in a narrow region around the terminal.

  (2) In the configuration of (1), the contact portion that prevents the restraint band from moving in the in-plane direction including the terminal installation surface and in a direction orthogonal to the stacking direction of the power storage elements. Is preferably provided.

  According to the configuration of (2), when an external force is applied to the battery, it is possible to effectively suppress the displacement of each battery element.

  (3) In the configuration of (2), the contact portion can be provided in a spacer disposed in the gap.

  According to the structure of (3), since it is not necessary to comprise a contact part with a spacer and another member, the structure of an electrical storage device can be simplified.

  (4) In the configuration of (3), it is preferable that the spacer is provided with a plurality of protrusions that press the power storage elements adjacent in the stacking direction.

  According to the structure of (4), since the electric power generation element inside an electrical storage body can be pressed, the performance fall of an electrical storage body can be suppressed.

  (5) In the configuration of (4), the protrusion also serves as a guide member for guiding the heat exchange medium.

According to the configuration of (5), the heat exchange medium in the gap can be smoothly flowed in one direction. In addition, since the protrusion serves as both the pressing member and the guide member, the cost can be reduced and the structure can be simplified by reducing the number of parts.
(6) In the configurations of (1) to (5), the restraining band can be disposed outside the inter-terminal region on the terminal installation surface.

  According to the structure of (6), the area | region between terminals in a terminal installation surface can be utilized effectively. For example, it is possible to easily avoid interference with the gas release valve arranged in the inter-terminal region. In addition, the size of the gas release valve can be increased.

  According to the present invention, the medium passage of the heat exchange medium flowing through the gap between the respective power storage elements is not sacrificed, and the restraining band can be compactly arranged in a narrow area around the terminal.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  With reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 4, a schematic configuration of a battery that is an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the battery, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the assembled battery. 4 is a Y1-Y2 cross-sectional view of the battery of FIG. 1, and a part of the structure is projected and shown for easy explanation.

  The battery 1 includes a battery pack 12 in which battery cells (power storage elements) 11 are stacked in the X-axis direction via spacers 13, and end plates 14 and 15 respectively disposed at both ends of the battery pack 12 in the X-axis direction. . In this embodiment, two assembled batteries 12 are arranged in the Y-axis direction. In addition, the stacking direction of the battery cells 11, that is, the X-axis direction corresponds to the “stacking direction” described in the claims.

  A positive electrode terminal 11 a and a negative electrode terminal 11 b are provided on one end surface (hereinafter referred to as a terminal installation surface) of the battery cell 11 in the Z-axis direction. In addition, a restraining band 16 for compressing the assembled battery 12 in the X-axis direction is installed outside the region between the terminals 11a and 11b on the terminal installation surface. The terminal installation surface means the surface on the side where the terminals 11a and 11b are located among the end surfaces of the assembled battery 12 in the X, Y, and Z axis directions.

  In this manner, by placing the restraint band 16 in contact with the terminal installation surface, the restraint band 16 can be compactly placed in a narrow area around the terminals 11a and 11b. Thereby, the battery 1 can also be reduced in size.

  The restraint band 16 extends in the stacking direction (X-axis direction) of the battery cells 11, one end thereof is fixed to the end plate 14, and the other end is fixed to the end plate 15. The spacer 13 and the end plates 14 and 15 are formed with contact portions 13a, 14a and 15a for preventing the restraint band 16 from moving in the Y-axis direction. The Y-axis direction corresponds to “a direction in the plane including the terminal installation surface and perpendicular to the stacking direction of the power storage elements” described in the claims.

  According to the above-described configuration, when a load in the Y-axis direction is applied to the battery 1, the restraint band 16 can be brought into contact with the contact portions 13a, 14a, and 15a. It is possible to effectively suppress the displacement of the position.

  An intake pipe 17 for introducing cooling air (heat exchange medium) into the capacitor 1 is attached to one end surface (inflow surface) of the capacitor 1 in the Y-axis direction, and is connected to the other end surface of the capacitor 1 in the Y-axis direction. Is provided with an exhaust pipe 18 for discharging the cooling air introduced into the battery 1.

  In the above-described configuration, the cooling air introduced into the intake pipe 17 flows into the gap between the battery cells 11 adjacent in the X-axis direction from the one end surface side of the assembled battery 12 in the Y-axis direction. The cooling air flowing into the gaps between these battery cells 11 advances in the Y-axis direction along the spacers 13 and cools each battery cell 11.

  The cooling air used for cooling the battery cell 11 flows out from the other end surface of the assembled battery 12 in the Y-axis direction and is discharged to the exhaust pipe 18. Thus, by arranging the restraint band 16 avoiding the end surface in the Y-axis direction of the assembled battery 12 in which the inlet and outlet of the cooling air are formed, it is possible to prevent the cooling air from coming into contact with the restraint band 16. . Thereby, the fall of the cooling efficiency with respect to the assembled battery 12 can be suppressed. In other words, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the ventilation area of the cooling air to the assembled battery 12.

  Next, a detailed configuration of the battery 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the battery illustrating the structure of the restraining band 16 in detail, and FIG. 5 is a side view of the battery 1 as viewed in the X-axis direction. In FIGS. 1 to 3, the contact portion 13a is omitted.

  In these drawings, the battery cell 11 has a square shape and has a power generation element. The power generation element includes an electrode plate (a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate), a separator, and an electrolyte, and a known configuration can be appropriately applied.

  Here, as the positive electrode plate, a positive electrode layer formed on the surface of a current collector formed of a metal such as aluminum (including an alloy) is used. As the negative electrode plate, a metal such as aluminum (including an alloy) is used. What formed the negative electrode layer in the surface of the electrical power collector formed by 1 can be used. More specifically, in a nickel-hydrogen battery, nickel oxide is used as the active material of the positive electrode layer, and MmNi (5-xyz) AlxMnyCoz (Mm: Misch metal) is used as the active material of the negative electrode layer. The hydrogen storage alloy can be used. In the lithium ion battery, a lithium-transition metal composite oxide can be used as the active material for the positive electrode layer, and carbon can be used as the active material for the negative electrode layer.

  On one end surface in the Z-axis direction of the battery cell 11, a protruding positive electrode terminal 11 a and negative electrode terminal 11 b are provided side by side in the Y-axis direction. The battery cells 11 adjacent in the X-axis direction are arranged so that the directions of the positive electrode terminal 11a and the negative electrode terminal 11b are opposite to each other in the Y-axis direction. Further, the battery cells 11 adjacent in the Y-axis direction are arranged so that the directions of the positive electrode terminal 11a and the negative electrode terminal 11b are the same in the Y-axis direction.

  A gas release valve 11c is formed between the positive terminal 11a and the negative terminal 11b (see FIG. 2). The gas release valve 11c is configured to be destroyed when the internal pressure of the battery cell 11 is increased by gas generated by electrolysis of the electrolyte during overcharge or the like. Thereby, the gas inside the battery cell 11 can be released to the outside of the battery cell 11, and an increase in the internal pressure of the battery cell 11 can be suppressed.

  Battery cells 11 adjacent in the Y-axis direction are connected in series by a bus bar (not shown). Specifically, among the terminals 11a and 11b of each battery cell 11, the terminal 11a and the terminal 11b located on the center side (the center side in the Y-axis direction) of the assembled battery 12 are connected by the bus bar.

The battery cells 11 adjacent in the X-axis direction are connected in series by a bus bar (not shown).
Specifically, among the terminals 11a and 11b of each battery cell 11, terminals 11a and 11b located outside the assembled battery 12 (outside in the Y-axis direction) are connected by the bus bar. Since the restraint band 16 and the contact portions 13a, 14a, and 15a prevent displacement of each battery cell 11 in the Y-axis direction, deformation of the bus bar can be suppressed.

  Next, the structure of the spacer 13 arrange | positioned in the clearance gap between the battery cells 11 adjacent to a X-axis direction is demonstrated. As illustrated in FIG. 2, a plurality of protrusions 13 c are formed in a comb shape on both end faces of the spacer 13 in the X-axis direction (the stacking direction of the battery cells 11). Resin can be used for the material of the spacer 13.

  The protrusions 13c extend in the Y-axis direction, and a plurality of protrusions 13c are provided with a constant interval in the Z-axis direction. The dimensions in the Y-axis direction of the protrusion 13c and the power generation element housed inside the battery cell 11 are set to be substantially the same. In the assembled state of the battery 1 (see FIG. 1), the end surface in the X-axis direction of the protrusion 13c is in contact with the battery cell 11 and presses the power generation element inside the battery cell 11. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the active material of the positive electrode layer and the negative electrode layer from being peeled off from the current collector during vibration of the battery 1. As a result, the performance degradation of the assembled battery 12 can be suppressed.

  Moreover, in the contact state of the protrusion 13c and the battery cell 11, a gap is formed between the protrusions 13c. Through this gap, the cooling air sucked from the intake pipe 17 moves in the Y-axis direction along the outer surface of the battery cell 11. Thus, the protrusion 13c of this embodiment has a role as a pressing member that presses the battery cell 11 and a guide member that guides cooling air. Thereby, cost reduction and reduction in size of the capacitor 1 can be achieved by reducing the number of parts. Furthermore, it is possible to simultaneously realize prevention of battery performance degradation and improvement of cooling efficiency.

  As shown in FIG. 4, first to third contact portions 13 a 1 to 3 are formed on the upper end surface of the spacer 13. A first upper restraining band 16a1 is provided between the first contact portion 13a1 and the negative electrode terminal 11b of the battery cell 11 disposed on the right side, and is disposed on the right side with the second contact portion 13a2. A second upper restraining band 16a2 is provided between the positive electrode terminal 11a of the battery cell 11 and the second contact portion 13a2 and the positive electrode terminal 11a of the battery cell 11 disposed on the left side. A third upper restraining band 16a3 is provided therebetween, and a fourth upper restraining band 16a4 is provided between the third contact portion 13a3 and the negative electrode terminal 11b of the battery cell 11 arranged on the left side. Is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the upper restraining bands 16 a 1 to 4 have curved portions 161 a 1 to 4 bent at both ends in an L shape, and the curved portions 161 a 1 to 4 are X of the end plates 14 and 15. It extends in the Z-axis direction along the end face in the axial direction.

  Resin can be used for the material of upper restraint band 16a1-4. Moreover, it is preferable to insulate the surface of upper restraint band 16a1-4. Thereby, the electric leakage of the capacitor 1 can be prevented.

  Holes 162a1-4 for fastening rivets (not shown) are formed in the curved portions 161a1-4 of the upper restraining bands 16a1-4.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the lower restraint bands 16 b 1 to 4 have bent portions 161 b 1 to 4 bent at both ends in an L shape, and the bent portions 161 b 1 to 4 are X of the end plates 14 and 15. It extends in the Z-axis direction along the end face in the axial direction.

  Resin can be used for the material of the lower restraint bands 16b1-4. Moreover, it is preferable to insulate the surface of the lower restraint bands 16b1-4. Thereby, the electric leakage of the capacitor 1 can be prevented.

  Holes 162b1-4 for fastening rivets (not shown) are formed in the curved portions 161b1-4 of the lower restraint bands 16b1-4.

  In the above-described configuration, in a state where the upper restraint band 16a1 and the lower restraint band 16b1 are positioned at the mounting position of the battery 1, the hole 162a1 of the upper restraint band 16a1 and the hole 162b1 of the lower restraint band 16b1 are positioned in the YZ plane. Are duplicates.

  Therefore, the upper restraint band 16a1 and the lower restraint band 16b1 can be fixed by inserting and crimping rivets (not shown) into the holes 162a1 and 162b1 from the X-axis direction. Thereby, the assembled battery 12 can be restrained from the X-axis direction.

  Furthermore, the upper restraint band 16a1 is in contact with the terminal installation surface. Thereby, the upper restraint band 16a1 can be assembled compactly in a small space around the terminals 11a and 11b.

  Further, by arranging the upper restraint band 16a1 between the terminal 11a or the terminal 11b and the first contact portion 13a1, it is possible to prevent the gas release valve 11c and the upper restraint band 16a1 from overlapping. Thereby, gas can be easily released from the gas release valve 11c when a battery abnormality occurs. Furthermore, the size of the gas release valve 11c can be increased.

  The upper restraint bands 16a2-4 and the lower restraint bands 16b2-4 can also be fixed in the same manner as the upper restraint band 16a1 and the lower restraint band 16b1. Moreover, the upper restraint bands 16a2-4 can obtain the same effect as the upper restraint band 16a1.

  An insulating sheet 24 is disposed between the assembled battery 12 and the lower restraint bands 16b1-4. Thereby, the electric leakage of the battery 1 can be prevented.

  The end plates 14 and 15 are formed with fastening holes 14b and 15b, respectively, and the end plates 14 and 15 are fixed to the lower cover (not shown) by fastening bolts to the fastening holes 14b and 15b. can do. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, only five spacers 13 out of 27 spacers 13 arranged in parallel in the X-axis direction are formed with fastening holes 13b for fixing to the lower cover (not shown). .

  As described above, by forming the fastening hole portions 13b only in some of the spacers 13, it is possible to reduce the working efficiency and cost compared to the case where the fastening hole portions are formed in all the spacers 13. Further, since the assembled battery 12 is compressed and restrained in the X-axis direction by the restraining band 16, even if the number of the spacers 13 having the fastening hole portion 13b is small, the positional deviation of the battery cell 11 can be reliably prevented. Can do.

  The intake pipe 17 is attached to one end face of the assembled battery 12 in the Y-axis direction, and the exhaust pipe 18 is attached to the other end face of the assembled battery 12 in the Y-axis direction.

  Next, the operation at the time of cooling the battery 1 will be described. When the temperature of the assembled battery 12 exceeds a predetermined temperature, a cooling fan (not shown) is activated and cooling air is supplied into the intake pipe 17. The cooling air in the intake pipe 17 flows into a gap formed between the spacer 13 and the battery cell 11 from one end surface of the assembled battery 12 in the Y-axis direction.

  In this embodiment, since the restraint band 16 is disposed avoiding the end surface in the Y-axis direction of the assembled battery 12 where the inlet of the cooling air is formed, it is possible to prevent the cooling air from coming into contact with the restraint band 16. That is, since the cooling air can be sent to the assembled battery 12 without being obstructed by the restraining band 16, the assembled battery 12 can be efficiently cooled.

  The cooling air that has flowed into the assembled battery 12 proceeds in the Y-axis direction while being guided by protrusions 13c (see FIG. 2) formed on both end surfaces of the spacer 13 in the X-axis direction, thereby cooling each battery cell 11. The cooling air used for cooling the battery cells 11 flows out from the other end surface of the assembled battery 12 in the Y-axis direction, and is discharged to the outside through the exhaust pipe 18.

  In this embodiment, since the restraint band 16 is arranged avoiding the end surface in the Y-axis direction of the assembled battery 12 where the outlet for cooling air is formed, it is possible to prevent the cooling air from contacting the restraint band 16. . That is, since the cooling air can be discharged from the assembled battery 12 without being obstructed by the restraining band 16, the assembled battery 12 can be efficiently cooled.

(Modification of the embodiment)
In the above-described embodiment, the protrusion formed on the spacer 13 is the contact portion 13a. However, the protrusion is formed on the restraining band 16, and the protrusion is formed on the spacer 13 (the contact portion). May be engaged. Thereby, the position shift to the Y-axis direction of the battery cell 11 can be effectively suppressed similarly to the above-mentioned embodiment.

  Further, the spacer 13 can be omitted. Even in this configuration, since the restraint band 16 is disposed so as to avoid the inlet and the outlet of the cooling air, it is possible to prevent the cooling air from coming into contact with the restraint band 16. When the spacer 13 is omitted, a contact portion that contacts the restraining band 16 can be provided on the outer surface of the battery cell 11.

  The numbers of the battery cells 11 and the assembled batteries 12 can be changed as appropriate.

It is a perspective view of a battery. It is a perspective view of an assembled battery. It is a disassembled perspective view of the battery which illustrated in detail the structure of the restraint band. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the battery Y1-Y2 in FIG. It is a side view of a capacitor when viewed from the X-axis direction. It is a perspective view of the conventional assembled battery.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 40 Capacitor 11 411 421 Battery cell 11a 11b 41a 41b Terminal 12 41 42 Battery assembly 13 Spacer 13a Contact part 13c Protrusion part 14 15 48 49 End plate 16 46 47 Restraint band 17 Intake pipe 18 Exhaust pipe

Claims (9)

A capacitor in which a plurality of energy storage elements are stacked through a gap for passing a heat exchange medium,
An electricity storage device, wherein an inflow surface through which the heat exchange medium flows is formed on a surface adjacent to a terminal installation surface of the electricity storage element, and a restraining band for restraining the plurality of electricity storage devices is provided on the terminal installation surface. .   2. A contact portion that prevents movement of the restraining band in an in-plane direction including the terminal installation surface and in a direction orthogonal to the stacking direction of the power storage elements. The electric storage device described in 1. A spacer disposed in the gap;
The battery according to claim 2, wherein the spacer includes the contact portion.   The said spacer has a some projection part which presses the electrical storage element adjacent to the said lamination direction, The electrical storage battery of Claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The electric storage device according to claim 4, wherein the protrusion also serves as a guide member that guides the heat exchange medium.   6. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the restraining band is located outside a region between terminals on the terminal installation surface.   The electric storage device according to claim 1, wherein a gas release valve is provided in a region between terminals on the terminal installation surface.   The power storage device according to claim 1, wherein the power storage unit has a rectangular shape. A vehicle comprising the electric storage device according to claim 1.

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