JP2010182427A - Storage body, battery, and battery system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery case capable of warming up a battery without consuming any useless electric power, the battery equipped with the battery case, and a battery system equipped with the battery. <P>SOLUTION: A storage body to store a power generation element has an outer surface coated with an adsorbent for adsorption and desorption of an adsorbate containing steam or carbon dioxide, or with an absorbent for absorption and discharge of an absorbent matter containing steam or carbon dioxide. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a container, a battery including the container, and a battery system including the battery.

  A large-capacity secondary battery is mounted on a vehicle such as a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle to drive a motor. The secondary battery has low electrical characteristics in a low temperature environment, and the capacity that can be substantially charged and discharged becomes small. In particular, since the lithium ion secondary battery has a high viscosity of the electrolytic solution, the internal resistance becomes high in a low temperature environment and cannot exhibit sufficient performance.

  Therefore, a system for warming up the secondary battery has been proposed for the purpose of improving battery characteristics in a low temperature environment (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2008-290636 A JP 2008-230508 A

  As a general method for warming up a secondary battery, there is a method in which the power of the secondary battery is supplied to a heater to warm up the secondary battery. In this method, a part of the power stored in the secondary battery is used. It will be consumed. In addition, since the electrical characteristics are degraded in a low temperature environment, the power supplied to the heater cannot always be extracted from the secondary battery.

  In addition, there is a method of supplying engine exhaust gas to the secondary battery and warming it up. In this method, in order to prevent condensation on the surface of the battery can, water vapor in the exhaust gas is removed or another heat exchange medium is supplied. Heat exchange is required, resulting in a complicated system and an increased cost.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery case that can warm a battery without consuming unnecessary power, a battery including the battery case, and a battery system including the battery.

  The present invention is a container that houses a power generation element, and an outer surface of the container is coated with an adsorbent that adsorbs and desorbs an adsorbent containing water vapor or carbon dioxide.

  Moreover, this invention is a container which accommodates an electric power generation element, Comprising: The absorber which absorbs and discharge | releases the absorption substance containing water vapor | steam or a carbon dioxide is coated by the said container outer surface.

  In the container, the adsorbent is preferably selected from at least one of silica gel, zeolite, and activated carbon.

  In the container, the absorbent is preferably selected from at least one of calcium oxide and magnesium oxide.

  Moreover, in the container, the adsorbing substance or the absorbing substance is preferably -30 ° C or higher.

  In the container, the adsorbing substance or the absorbing substance is preferably engine exhaust gas.

  Moreover, the battery of this invention contains the said accommodating body and the electric power generation element accommodated in the said accommodating body.

  Moreover, the battery system of this invention is provided with the supply means which supplies the said battery and the said adsorption material or the said absorption material to the said container.

  According to the present invention, the secondary battery can be warmed up without consuming unnecessary power.

It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of a structure of the battery which concerns on this embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of a structure of the battery system which concerns on this embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows another example of a structure of the battery system which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of operation | movement of the battery system which concerns on this embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. This embodiment is an example for carrying out the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of the battery according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the battery 10 includes a container 12 and a power generation element (not shown) housed in the container 12. The container 12 includes a lid and a case, which are integrally formed by caulking such as curling (double winding method). However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this, and bonding such as a laser may be used.

  The container 12 of the present embodiment accommodates a power generation element, and is used for, for example, a capacitor in addition to the battery 10. Examples of the battery 10 include a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, an alkaline secondary battery, and various primary batteries, but are not particularly limited in the present embodiment. Examples of the capacitor include an electric double layer capacitor, a ceramic capacitor, an aluminum electrolytic capacitor, and the like, but are not particularly limited in the present embodiment.

The power generation element is composed of a positive electrode body, a negative electrode body, and an electrolyte, and can be charged and discharged. For example, a power generation element of a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a positive electrode in which a positive electrode active material such as LiCoO ₂ is formed on an aluminum foil, a negative electrode in which a negative electrode active material such as graphite is formed on a copper foil, such as ethylene carbonate a mixed solvent of dimethyl carbonate, and an electrolyte prepared by dissolving LiPF _6. The positive electrode body of the power generation element is electrically connected to the positive electrode terminal 14, and the negative electrode body is electrically connected to the negative electrode terminal 16.

  The outer surface of the container 12 of this embodiment is coated with an adsorbent that adsorbs and desorbs an adsorbent containing water vapor or carbon dioxide. Alternatively, the outer surface of the container 12 is coated with an absorbent that absorbs and releases an absorbing material containing water vapor or carbon dioxide.

  Here, the coating method of the adsorbent and the absorbent is not particularly limited. For example, an adsorbent or a mixed agent obtained by mixing the absorbent and an adhesive such as an epoxy resin is used as the outer surface of the container 12. In addition, it is applied by the generally used coating methods such as spin coating method, dip coating method, spray coating method, cast coating method, bar coating method, micro gravure coating method, gravure coating method, etc. A method is mentioned.

  The adsorbent of the present embodiment has an exothermic action when adsorbing an adsorbing substance containing water vapor or carbon dioxide and an endothermic action when desorbing the adsorbing substance. And, when the adsorbent adsorbs the adsorbent containing water vapor or carbon dioxide by coating the adsorbent on the outer surface of the container 12 as in this embodiment, due to the exothermic action during adsorption, The battery 10 is warmed (heated). For example, when the battery 10 is started at a low temperature, particularly the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has a high viscosity of the electrolyte, the internal resistance is high at the time of starting at a low temperature, and the performance of the battery 10 is not sufficiently exhibited. However, in the present embodiment, the battery 10 can be warmed by the heat-generating action of the adsorbent, so that the battery performance can be sufficiently exhibited even when the battery 10 is started at a low temperature. In addition, when the adsorbent coated on the outer surface of the container 12 desorbs an adsorbent containing water vapor or carbon dioxide, the container 12 is cooled by an endothermic action that absorbs heat of desorption during the desorption. For example, since the battery 10 self-heats with charging / discharging, it becomes high temperature. This is particularly noticeable in high temperature environments such as summer. And when the battery 10 becomes high temperature, the lifetime and deterioration of the battery 10 progress. However, in this embodiment, since the battery 10 can be cooled by the endothermic action of the adsorbent, the battery 10 can be prevented from overheating even if the battery 10 becomes hot due to self-heating, etc. Deterioration can be suppressed.

  The adsorbent of the present embodiment preferably has a large adsorption capacity per unit volume and a large adsorption heat when adsorbing water vapor and carbon dioxide, and for example, zeolite, silica gel, activated carbon and the like are suitable. These adsorbents may be used alone or as a mixture as required.

  Since zeolite is an adsorbent having a water vapor adsorption isotherm rising on the low relative pressure side, it easily adsorbs and desorbs water vapor at low humidity and low temperature. Therefore, when the purpose is to heat the battery 10 in a low temperature environment such as winter, it is preferable to use zeolite as an adsorbent. Examples of the zeolite include FAU type aluminosilicates and aluminophosphates having a silica / alumina ratio of 2.5 or more, and crystalline aluminophosphates containing at least Al and P in the skeleton structure are particularly preferable.

  Activated carbon is an adsorbent that has a rise in the water vapor adsorption isotherm on the high relative pressure side, and therefore readily adsorbs and desorbs water vapor at high humidity and high temperature. Therefore, for the purpose of preventing overheating of the battery 10 in a high temperature environment such as summer, it is preferable to use activated carbon as an adsorbent.

  Since the water vapor adsorption isotherm of silica gel is a gentle straight line, it adsorbs and desorbs water vapor in a wide range of humidity and temperature. Therefore, when both the heating of the battery 10 in a low temperature environment and the prevention of the overheating of the battery 10 in a high temperature environment are intended, it is preferable to use silica gel as an adsorbent.

  In the adsorbent of this embodiment, the size of the adsorbent particles (average particle diameter) is preferably in the range of 0.1 to 600 μm from the viewpoint of increasing the diffusibility of water vapor and carbon dioxide in the adsorbent individual particles. A range of 1 to 10 μm is more preferable. Further, when an adhesive is used when coating the adsorbent on the outer surface of the container 12, it is preferable to use an adhesive that does not cover the pores of the adsorbent.

  The absorbent according to the present embodiment has an exothermic action when absorbing an absorbing substance containing water vapor or carbon dioxide and an endothermic action when releasing the absorbing substance. As in the case of the adsorbent, when the absorbent material containing water vapor or carbon dioxide is absorbed by coating the absorbent on the outer surface of the container 12, the container is caused by the exothermic action during absorption. 12 is warmed (heated). In addition, when the absorbent coated on the outer surface of the container 12 releases an absorbent substance containing water vapor or carbon dioxide, the container 12 is cooled by an endothermic action that absorbs heat at the time of release. Thereby, similarly to the above, warming of the battery 10 under a low temperature environment and overheating of the battery 10 under a high temperature environment can be prevented.

  Examples of the absorbent of the present embodiment include alkali metal oxides such as lithium oxide, sodium oxide, and potassium oxide, and alkaline earth metal oxides such as magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, and strontium oxide. Of these, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, and the like are preferable because they have a large absorption capacity and a large calorific value when absorbing water vapor and carbon dioxide. These oxides may be used alone or as a mixture as required, but among the above metal oxides, magnesium oxide and calcium oxide are particularly preferable because they are easy to handle as a single substance.

  In the absorbent according to the present embodiment, the size (average particle size) of the absorbent particles is preferably in the range of 0.1 to 600 μm from the viewpoint of increasing the diffusibility of water vapor and carbon dioxide in the individual particles of the absorbent. A range of 1 to 10 μm is more preferable.

  The coating thickness of the adsorbent and absorbent coated on the container 12 is preferably within 1 mm from the viewpoint of heat transfer to the container 12, water vapor, and carbon dioxide diffusivity.

  In this embodiment, it is preferable that the temperature of the adsorbing material and the absorbing material containing water vapor or carbon dioxide is −30 ° C. or higher. Thereby, the battery 10 can be warmed up using the heat energy and kinetic energy of the adsorbent, the absorbent, in addition to the heat generated during the adsorption of the adsorbent and the heat generated during the absorption of the absorbent. Further, it is preferable to use exhaust gas of an engine as an adsorbing substance or an absorbing substance containing water vapor or carbon dioxide. Since the engine exhaust gas contains a large amount of water vapor or carbon dioxide, the heat generation action of the adsorbent can be promoted. Moreover, since engine exhaust gas is high temperature, the battery 10 can be heated with the thermal energy of exhaust gas, the kinetic energy of water vapor | steam, and a carbon dioxide.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of the battery system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the battery system 18 includes a battery 10, an exhaust gas supply pipe 20 as a supply unit that supplies engine 10 with exhaust gas from the engine, and a control unit 22. The exhaust gas supply pipe 20 is connected to an exhaust pipe 24 for exhaust gas discharged from the engine. The exhaust gas supply pipe 20 is provided with a valve 26. The valve 26 provided in the exhaust gas supply pipe 20 is electrically connected to the control unit 22, and the opening of the valve 26 is controlled by the control unit 22. The battery 10 shown in FIG. 2 has the same configuration as the battery 10 shown in FIG. 1, and the container is coated with the adsorbent and absorbent described above.

  In the present embodiment, for example, when the battery 10 needs to be warmed up when the battery 10 is started at a low temperature, first, an opening instruction for the valve 26 is sent from the control unit 22 and the valve 26 is opened. When the valve 26 is opened, the exhaust gas passing through the exhaust pipe 24 flows through the exhaust gas supply pipe 20 and is supplied to the battery 10. Then, water vapor and carbon dioxide in the exhaust gas are adsorbed (absorbed) by the adsorbent (or absorbent), and the battery 10 is heated by the exothermic action during the adsorption. As a result, the performance of the battery 10 can be sufficiently exhibited even at a low temperature start. In the present embodiment, control may be performed so that an instruction to open the valve 26 of the exhaust gas supply pipe 20 is sent from the control unit 22 whenever the battery 10 is started. For example, a temperature sensor is installed in the battery 10. In addition, when the temperature of the battery 10 detected by the temperature sensor is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature when the battery 10 is started, the control unit 22 may be controlled to send an instruction to open the valve 26.

  In the present embodiment, exhaust gas from the engine is used as the adsorbing substance and the absorbing substance, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a carbon dioxide cylinder and a steam generator may be installed in the exhaust pipe 24, and when the battery 10 is started (low temperature), they may be operated to supply carbon dioxide and steam to the battery 10.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of the configuration of the battery system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the battery system 28 includes a battery 10, an exhaust gas supply pipe 20 as supply means for supplying exhaust gas of the engine to the battery 10, an air pump 30 and an air supply pipe for supplying air to the battery 10. 32, a temperature sensor 34 that detects the temperature of the battery 10, and a control unit 36. In the battery system 28 shown in FIG. 3, the same components as those of the battery system 18 shown in FIG.

  The valves 26 and 38 provided in the exhaust gas supply pipe 20 and the air supply pipe 32 are electrically connected to the control unit 36, and the control unit 36 controls the opening and closing of both valves 26 and 38. The temperature sensor 34 is also electrically connected to the control unit 36, and the temperature data of the battery 10 detected by the temperature sensor 34 is transmitted to the control unit 36. Then, the control unit 36 determines whether to supply exhaust gas or air to the battery 10 based on the temperature of the battery 10.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the battery system according to the present embodiment. First, in step S <b> 10, the temperature of the battery 10 is detected by the temperature sensor 34. It is determined whether or not the detected temperature of the battery 10 is lower than a predetermined value preset in the control unit 36. When it is determined that the temperature of the battery 10 is lower than the predetermined value, in step S12, the valve 26 of the exhaust gas supply pipe 20 is opened by the control unit 36, and the exhaust gas is supplied from the exhaust gas supply pipe 20 to the battery 10. As described above, since the engine exhaust gas contains a large amount of water vapor or carbon dioxide, the adsorbent (absorbent) adsorbs them, and the battery 10 can be heated by the heat generated during the adsorption. . Further, as described above, since the engine exhaust gas is at a high temperature, the battery 10 can be heated by the thermal energy of the exhaust gas, the steam, and the kinetic energy of carbon dioxide.

  Conventionally, when exhaust gas is supplied to warm the battery 10, the container of the battery 10 is not coated with the adsorbent or the absorbent as in the present embodiment. Therefore, condensation occurs in the container at a low temperature, and the battery 10. May be short-circuited. However, in this embodiment, due to the adsorbent or storage agent coated on the container, even if exhaust gas is supplied, condensation is unlikely to occur and the battery 10 will not be short-circuited.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the detected battery temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, in step S14, the valve 38 of the air supply pipe 32 is opened by the control unit 36, and air is supplied from the air supply pipe 32 to the battery 10. Supplied. Since the amount of water vapor and carbon dioxide in the air is small, when air with little water vapor and carbon dioxide is supplied to the adsorbent, the water vapor and carbon dioxide adsorbed (absorbed) by the adsorbent (absorbent) are removed. The adsorbing material (absorbing material) contained is desorbed (released) from the adsorbing agent (absorbing agent). Then, since the adsorbent (absorbent) absorbs heat at the time of desorption (release), the battery 10 can be cooled.

  The operation of the battery system 28 of the present embodiment is not limited to this. For example, when a predetermined value on the low temperature side and a predetermined value on the high temperature side are set and the temperature of the battery 10 is lower than the predetermined value on the low temperature side, the valve 26 of the exhaust gas supply pipe 20 is opened to supply the exhaust gas to the battery 10. The battery 10 is heated by the heat generated by the adsorbent. When the temperature of the battery 10 is equal to or higher than the predetermined value on the high temperature side, the valve 38 of the air supply pipe 32 is opened to supply air to the battery 10 and the battery 10 is cooled by the endothermic action of the adsorbent. Then, when the temperature of the battery 10 is equal to or higher than the predetermined value on the low temperature side and lower than the predetermined value on the high temperature side, control may be performed so as not to supply exhaust gas and air.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Battery, 12 Housing, 14 Positive terminal, 16 Negative terminal, 18, 28 Battery system, 20 Exhaust gas supply pipe, 22, 36 Control unit, 24 Exhaust pipe, 26, 38 Valve, 30 Air pump, 32 Air supply pipe, 34 Temperature sensor.

Claims (8)

A container for housing a power generation element,
The container is coated with an adsorbent that adsorbs and desorbs an adsorbent containing water vapor or carbon dioxide on the outer surface of the container. A container for housing a power generation element,
The container, wherein the outer surface of the container is coated with an absorbent that absorbs and releases an absorbing substance containing water vapor or carbon dioxide.   2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the adsorbent is selected from at least one of silica gel, zeolite, and activated carbon.   The container according to claim 2, wherein the absorbent is selected from at least one of calcium oxide and magnesium oxide.   3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the adsorbing substance or the absorbing substance is at −30 ° C. or higher.   The container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the adsorbing substance or the absorbing substance is engine exhaust gas.   A battery comprising the container according to claim 1 and a power generation element housed in the container.   A battery system comprising: the battery according to claim 7; and a supply unit that supplies the adsorbing substance or the absorbing substance to the container.

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