JP2013025948A - Battery module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery module in which the number of components can be decreased while saving the space, in a configuration housing a plurality of batteries in a plurality of places.SOLUTION: The battery module 10 comprises a plurality of battery housing ducts 11, secondary batteries 13 housed in the battery housing ducts 11, and a duct 12 for temperature control of thermoelectric conversion element provided contiguously to the battery housing ducts 11 while being sandwiched by two battery housing ducts 11. A thermoelectric conversion element 15 is provided on the partition 14 of the battery housing duct 11 and the duct 12 for temperature control of thermoelectric conversion element. The thermoelectric conversion element 15 has a first face 15a and a second face 15b performing actions contrary to each other, i.e., heat dissipation and heat suction, depending on the polarity of electrification. The first face 15a is provided so as to correspond with the battery housing duct 11, and the second face 15b is provided so as to correspond with the duct 12 for temperature control of thermoelectric conversion element.

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery module, and more particularly to a battery module capable of adjusting the temperature of a plurality of batteries.

  In recent years, charging and discharging of a secondary battery with a large current and an increase in capacity of the secondary battery have been required. However, charging and discharging with a large current is accompanied by a large amount of heat generated in the secondary battery, and the secondary battery temperature rises because a large number of secondary batteries are accommodated in a limited space. There is a problem of promoting the deterioration of. In addition, depending on the secondary battery, the discharge performance deteriorates when the environmental temperature is low. Therefore, in a low temperature environment such as winter, it is necessary to warm the secondary battery particularly at the time of startup.

  Conventionally, a Peltier element is attached in close contact with the battery, and a heat radiating fin is attached to the outside of the Peltier element. When the battery needs to be cooled, the side that comes into close contact with the battery absorbs heat, and when the battery needs to be heated, it adheres closely to the battery There has been proposed a temperature control device provided with a current direction switching means for supplying a current in a direction in which the side generates heat (see Patent Document 1). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, batteries 42 are stored and supported in the battery storage portion 41, and Peltier element heat transfer plates 43 are attached to the bottom surfaces of the batteries 42. A duct portion 44 for circulating cooling air is formed in the lower portion of the battery storage portion 41, and a cooling fan 45 is installed at the entrance thereof. The Peltier element heat transfer plate 43 is attached so that the inner side is in close contact with the bottom of the battery 42, and the radiating fins 46 are attached to the outer side. Then, the temperature of the battery 42 is measured by the temperature measuring means, and in a high temperature state where the battery temperature exceeds the appropriate temperature range, a current is passed in the direction in which the inside of the Peltier element heat transfer plate 43 absorbs heat, and the battery temperature is set to the appropriate temperature. In a low temperature state that does not reach the belt, the current direction switching means is controlled so that the current flows in the direction in which the inside of the Peltier element heat transfer plate 43 generates heat.

JP-A-8-148189

  Depending on the layout, there may be cases where it is desired to accommodate a plurality of batteries separately in a plurality of locations instead of a single location. However, providing a duct portion for the distribution of cooling air in each accommodation location increases the number of parts and increases the number of parts. The space occupied by the element temperature control duct also increases. The temperature control device of Patent Document 1 does not give consideration to such a case.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a battery module that can reduce the number of parts and save space in a configuration in which a plurality of batteries are accommodated in a plurality of locations. It is in.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 includes a plurality of battery temperature adjustment ducts, a battery whose temperature is adjusted by a heat medium flowing through the battery temperature adjustment duct, and the battery temperature adjustment duct. Adjacent and provided at the boundary between the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct provided between the two battery temperature adjustment ducts, the battery temperature adjustment duct and the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct, The first surface corresponds to the battery temperature adjustment duct, and the second surface is the second surface. The first surface and the second surface perform opposite actions of heat dissipation and heat absorption according to the polarity of energization. And a thermoelectric conversion element provided so as to correspond to the thermoelectric conversion element temperature control duct. Here, the “heat medium” means a fluid that transfers heat. In addition, “the duct corresponds to the surface” means a state where the surface is in contact with the boundary wall of the duct or a state where the surface is located in the duct.

  The battery module of the present invention is used with a thermoelectric conversion element connected to a DC power source. When the usage environment does not require heating of the battery module, the thermoelectric conversion element is used connected to a DC power source so that the first surface is on the heat absorption side, and the heat medium flowing through the battery temperature adjustment duct is cooled. The battery is cooled. When the usage environment changes between a state that requires cooling of the battery module and a state that requires heating, the direction of direct current supplied to the thermoelectric conversion element is switched according to the environment, so that the thermoelectric conversion element The first surface is switched to an endothermic state or a heat dissipation (heat generation) state. When the first surface is in an endothermic state, the heat medium flowing through the battery temperature adjusting duct is cooled to cool the battery. When the first surface is in a heat dissipation state, the heat medium flowing through the battery temperature adjusting duct is heated to heat the battery.

  When the first surface of the thermoelectric conversion element is in a heat dissipation state, the second surface is cooled to efficiently dissipate heat on the first surface, and when the first surface of the thermoelectric conversion element is in an endothermic state The heat absorption on the first surface is efficiently performed by promoting the heat radiation on the second surface. Cooling and heat dissipation of the second surface of the thermoelectric conversion element is performed by flowing a heat medium through the duct for adjusting the temperature of the thermoelectric conversion element. When multiple battery temperature control ducts are provided, providing a thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct for each battery temperature adjustment duct increases the number of thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment ducts, and the space occupied by the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct increases. Thus, the space required for installing the battery module is increased, and the number of parts constituting the battery module is increased. However, according to the present invention, the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct is provided adjacent to the battery temperature adjustment and sandwiched between the two battery temperature adjustment ducts. Common to two battery temperature control ducts. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and save space in a configuration in which a plurality of batteries are accommodated in a plurality of locations.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the battery is accommodated in the battery temperature adjusting duct. When the battery is cooled or heated, it is preferable that the entire battery is cooled or heated via a heat medium rather than the battery being cooled or heated only from the surface where the thermoelectric conversion element is attached as in Patent Document 1. In the present invention, the battery is almost entirely in contact with the heat medium, and the temperature can be adjusted efficiently.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the plurality of battery temperature adjusting ducts are provided such that a heat medium can be circulated through the communication duct, and the communication duct is provided with heat. A medium driving unit is provided.

  The heat medium used for cooling or heating the battery in the battery temperature adjusting duct may be circulated or discarded. When it is discarded, it is necessary to introduce the outside air of the use environment as a new heat medium into the battery temperature adjustment duct, and the temperature of the battery is easily affected by the outside air temperature. In addition, a waste duct that leads to a place where there is no problem even if the heat medium is discarded is required. In this invention, since the heat medium is circulated and used, the temperature of the battery is hardly affected by the outside air temperature, and the duct for introducing the outside air and the duct for discarding the heat medium are not necessary.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the thermoelectric conversion element is a Peltier element. Peltier elements are generally used as thermoelectric conversion elements, and it is easy to obtain thermoelectric conversion elements with desired performance.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the battery module which can aim at reduction of a number of parts and space saving in the structure which accommodated the several battery in multiple places can be provided.

(A) is a schematic top view of the battery module which abbreviate | omitted the cover body, (b) is a schematic perspective view of the battery module which abbreviate | omitted the edge part etc. of the cover part, the communication duct, and the thermoelectric conversion element temperature control duct. 1A is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1A (with a lid), FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 1A, and FIG. Sectional drawing (with a cover part) cut | disconnected by CC line of a), (d) is the D arrow line view (with a cover part) of Fig.1 (a). The schematic plan view corresponding to Drawing 1 (a) of another embodiment. The schematic plan view corresponding to Drawing 1 (a) of another embodiment. The schematic plan view corresponding to Drawing 1 (a) of another embodiment. The schematic plan view corresponding to Drawing 1 (a) of another embodiment. (A), (b) is a schematic cross section corresponding to Drawing 2 (a) of another embodiment, respectively. The schematic top view of a prior art.

Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the battery module 10 includes a battery housing duct 11 as a battery temperature adjusting duct provided in parallel (two in this embodiment), and a battery housing duct 11. The thermoelectric conversion element temperature control duct 12 is provided adjacently and sandwiched between two battery housing ducts 11. A plurality of secondary batteries 13 as batteries are housed in each battery housing duct 11. A square battery is used as the secondary battery 13. The secondary battery 13 is arranged so that its thickness direction is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the thermoelectric conversion element temperature control duct 12 (vertical direction in FIG. 1A).

  As shown in FIGS. 1B and 2A, the battery housing duct 11 includes a main body 11a formed in a substantially U shape, and a lid portion 11b (shown in FIG. 2) covering the open side of the main body 11a. And have. A thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct 12 is provided at the center of the main body 11a, and the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct 12 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a rectangular cross section. A partition wall 14 as a boundary between each battery housing duct 11 and thermoelectric conversion element temperature control duct 12 forms one side wall of each battery housing duct (battery temperature control duct) 11 and thermoelectric conversion element temperature control duct 12. . The lid portion 11b is fixed to the main body 11a in a state where a plurality of secondary batteries 13 are supported in parallel at a predetermined interval. In this embodiment, the lid portion 11b is formed in common to the two battery housing ducts 11, and the lid portion 11b is in contact with the upper surface of the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct 12, and is fixed to the main body 11a by screws (not shown). Yes.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), a convex portion sandwiching one end of the secondary battery 13 (the upper end in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b)) on the back surface (inner surface) of the lid portion 11b. A plurality of 11c are formed in parallel at intervals of the thickness of the secondary battery 13, and the secondary batteries 13 are arranged with a predetermined interval (the thickness of the substantially convex portion 11c). The main body 11a, the lid 11b, and the thermoelectric conversion element temperature control duct 12 of the battery housing duct 11 are integrally formed of a heat insulating material, for example, a resin.

  A plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements 15 are provided on the partition wall 14 which is a boundary portion between the battery housing duct 11 and the thermoelectric conversion element temperature control duct 12. The thermoelectric conversion element 15 has a first surface 15 a and a second surface 15 b that perform opposite actions of heat dissipation (heat generation) and heat absorption according to the polarity of energization, and the first surface 15 a is connected to the battery housing duct 11. Correspondingly, the second surface 15 b is provided so as to correspond to the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct 12. In this embodiment, the thermoelectric conversion element 15 and the battery accommodation duct 11 and the second surface 15b are located in the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct 12 so that the first surface 15a is located in the battery accommodation duct 11. The thermoelectric conversion element temperature control duct 12 is provided in a state where the airtightness of the portion penetrating the partition wall 14 and the thermoelectric conversion element 15 penetrating the partition wall 14 is maintained. Fins 16 are attached to the first surface 15a and the second surface 15b. The fins 16 are formed in a size that does not contact the secondary battery 13.

  A Peltier element is used as the thermoelectric conversion element 15. The Peltier element is, for example, between an electrically insulating heat transfer plate made of ceramics in a state in which a plurality of P-type semiconductors and a plurality of N-type semiconductors are electrically connected in series and arranged in parallel. It is disposed and integrated by sealing with a resin sealing material or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the plurality of battery housing ducts 11 are provided through a communication duct 17 so that the heat medium can be circulated. A gas (for example, air) is used as the heat medium. Two communication ducts 17 are provided, and one communication duct 17 is provided with a fan driven by a motor (not shown) as the heat medium driving unit 18. The communication duct 17 is also formed integrally with the main body 11a of the battery housing duct 11 with resin.

  As shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D, the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct 12 is formed in a state where both ends thereof are bent in order to avoid interference with the communication duct 17. The thermoelectric conversion element temperature control duct 12 is formed so that the cross-sectional area of both ends thereof is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the portion adjacent to the battery housing duct 11.

  When assembling and manufacturing the battery module 10 configured as described above, the thermoelectric conversion element 15 is first separated from the battery housing duct 11 and the partition wall 14 of the thermoelectric conversion element temperature control duct 12 before the lid portion 11b is attached. The first surface 15a is fixed to the battery housing duct 11 side and the second surface 15b is fixed to the thermoelectric conversion element temperature control duct 12 side with an adhesive in a state of passing through the hole formed in . Next, the lid portion 11b to which the secondary battery 13 is fixed at a predetermined interval is fixed to the main body 11a so as to cover the opening of the main body 11a.

Next, the operation of the battery module 10 configured as described above will be described.
In the battery module 10, the thermoelectric conversion element 15 is connected to a DC power source via a wiring and a changeover switch (not shown). Further, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1A, an outside air introduction duct 19a for introducing outside air as a heat medium is connected to one end side of the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjusting duct 12, and the other end side is connected to the thermoelectric conversion element. A waste duct 19b for discarding the heat medium that has passed through the temperature control duct 12 is used in a connected state. The changeover switch and the heat medium driving unit 18 are controlled by a control device. The control device determines whether the inside of the battery housing duct 11 should be heated or cooled based on the detection signal of a sensor (not shown) that detects the temperature inside the battery housing duct 11 and controls the changeover switch. Moreover, the battery module 10 supplies electric power to the electrical equipment to which electric power is to be supplied, though not shown.

  When the battery module 10 is used, the secondary battery 13 generates a large amount of heat during rapid charging or rapid discharging. Therefore, the changeover switch has the first surface 15a of the thermoelectric conversion element 15 on the heat absorption side, except when the environmental temperature is low enough to hinder the driving of the secondary battery 13 such as in cold regions or at low temperatures in winter. The state is switched to a state connected to a DC power source. When the temperature of the heat medium in the battery accommodating duct 11 is so low as to hinder the driving of the secondary battery 13 and the secondary battery 13 needs to be heated, the changeover switch is provided with the first switch of the thermoelectric conversion element 15. Is switched to a state of being connected to a DC power source so that the surface 15a of the surface 15a is on the heat radiation side (heat generation side).

  When the first surface 15a is in an endothermic state, the heat medium flowing through the battery housing duct 11 is cooled, and the secondary battery 13 in the battery housing duct 11 is cooled. When the first surface 15a is in a heat dissipation state, the heat medium flowing through the battery housing duct 11 is heated, and the secondary battery 13 in the battery housing duct 11 is heated.

  When the first surface 15a of the thermoelectric conversion element is in an endothermic state, heat absorption at the first surface 15a is efficiently performed by promoting heat dissipation of the second surface 15b, and the first surface of the thermoelectric conversion element 15 is performed. When 15a is in a heat radiating state, the second surface 15b is cooled to efficiently dissipate heat on the first surface 15a. Heat dissipation and cooling of the second surface 15b of the thermoelectric conversion element 15 are performed by flowing a heat medium through the duct 12 for temperature adjustment of the thermoelectric conversion element. Since new outside air is introduced into the thermoelectric conversion element temperature control duct 12, the heat radiation and cooling of the second surface 15 b are efficiently performed, and the temperature of the heat medium in the battery housing duct 11 is changed to that of the secondary battery 13. It is adjusted to a temperature suitable for discharging and charging.

  When a plurality of battery housing ducts 11 are provided, if the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct 12 is provided for each battery accommodation duct 11, the number of thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment ducts 12 is increased, and the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct 12 occupies. The space is increased, the space required for installing the battery module 10 is increased, and the number of parts constituting the battery module 10 is increased. However, the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct 12 is provided adjacent to the battery accommodating duct 11 and sandwiched between the two battery accommodating ducts 11, and one thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjusting duct 12 accommodates two batteries. Since it is shared by the duct 11, space saving can be achieved.

  In the configuration in which the heat medium used for cooling or heating the secondary battery 13 is discarded, it is necessary to introduce outside air in the use environment into the battery housing duct 11 as a new heat medium. When the outside air is introduced into the battery housing duct 11, the temperature of the secondary battery 13 is easily affected by the outside air temperature. In addition, a duct for introducing outside air and a duct for disposal leading to a place where there is no problem even if the heat medium is discarded are necessary. In the battery module 10 of this embodiment, since the heat medium used for cooling or heating the secondary battery 13 is circulated, the temperature of the secondary battery 13 is not easily affected by the outside air temperature, and the outside air introduction duct. And no waste duct.

According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The battery module 10 includes a plurality of battery housing ducts 11 as battery temperature control ducts, a secondary battery 13 housed in the battery housing duct 11, adjacent to the battery housing duct 11, and two And a thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct 12 provided in a state of being sandwiched between battery accommodating ducts 11. A thermoelectric conversion element 15 having a first surface 15a and a second surface 15b that act on the partition wall 14 of the battery housing duct 11 and the thermoelectric conversion element temperature control duct 12 in a manner opposite to heat dissipation and heat absorption according to the polarity of energization. However, the first surface 15 a corresponds to the battery housing duct 11, and the second surface 15 b corresponds to the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct 12. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and save space in a configuration in which a plurality of secondary batteries 13 are accommodated in a plurality of locations.

  (2) The secondary battery 13 is accommodated in a battery accommodating duct 11 as a battery temperature adjusting duct. If a part of each secondary battery 13 faces the battery temperature adjustment duct, the temperature is adjusted by the heat medium flowing through the battery temperature adjustment duct. In this embodiment, the secondary battery 13 is almost entirely heated. Temperature adjustment can be performed more efficiently than a configuration in which the medium comes into contact with the medium and a part of the medium faces the battery temperature adjustment duct.

  (3) The plurality of battery housing ducts 11 are provided so that the heat medium can circulate through the communication duct 17, and the heat medium driving unit 18 is provided in the communication duct 17. Therefore, the temperature of the secondary battery 13 is hardly affected by the outside air temperature, and the outside air introduction duct and the disposal duct are not necessary.

(4) A Peltier element is used as the thermoelectric conversion element. Peltier elements are generally used as thermoelectric conversion elements, and it is easy to obtain thermoelectric conversion elements with desired performance.
(5) The battery housing duct 11, the thermoelectric conversion element temperature control duct 12, and the communication duct 17 are formed of a heat insulating material, for example, a resin. Therefore, compared to the case where they are made of metal having low heat insulation properties, the heat medium cooled by the thermoelectric conversion element 15 is heated by external heat, or the heat of the heat medium heated by the thermoelectric conversion element 15 is Escape to the outside through the wall is suppressed, and the secondary battery 13 is cooled or heated efficiently.

  (6) The battery accommodating duct 11 includes a main body 11a and a lid portion 11b, and the secondary battery 13 is accommodated in the battery accommodating duct 11 while being supported by a convex portion 11c formed on the lid portion 11b. Therefore, the assembling work for accommodating the secondary battery 13 in the battery accommodating duct 11 at a predetermined interval is facilitated.

The embodiment is not limited to the above, and may be embodied as follows, for example.
(Circle) not only two but the battery accommodating duct 11 may be three or more. For example, when there are three battery accommodating ducts 11, there are two thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment ducts 12 as shown in FIG. In addition, when there are four battery housing ducts 11, there are two thermoelectric conversion element temperature control ducts 12.

  A configuration may be adopted in which the heat medium flowing through the battery housing duct 11 is discarded without being circulated. In this case, the communication duct 17 becomes unnecessary. In addition, in order to avoid interference between the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct 12 and the communication duct 17, it is not necessary to bend both ends of the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct 12. When using the battery module 10, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, an outside air introduction duct 20 a for introducing outside air as a heat medium is connected to one end side of each battery housing duct 11, and each battery housing duct is connected. A waste duct 20 b that discards the heat medium that has passed through 11 is connected to one end side of each battery housing duct 11.

  O You may make it the structure which circulates and uses the thermal medium which flows through the duct 12 for thermoelectric conversion element temperature control. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct 12 is formed to form a closed loop, and the heat medium driving unit 21 and the radiator 22 are disposed at a location not adjacent to the battery housing duct 11 of the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct 12. Is provided.

  The thermoelectric conversion element 15 should just be provided in the boundary part (partition 14) of the battery accommodation duct 11 and the thermoelectric conversion element temperature control duct 12, and only the location facing the secondary battery 13 of each battery accommodation duct 11. It is not restricted to the structure provided in. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a part of the plurality of secondary batteries 13 does not face the thermoelectric conversion elements 15, and a part of the thermoelectric conversion elements 15 is provided in a place not facing the secondary batteries 13. May be. Moreover, in addition to the location facing the secondary battery 13 in the battery housing duct 11, the thermoelectric conversion element 15 may be provided at a location not facing the secondary battery 13.

(Circle) the thermoelectric conversion element 15 may be set as the structure provided only in the location which does not oppose the secondary battery 13 of the battery accommodating duct 11. FIG.
O The thermoelectric conversion element 15 may be configured to be provided in each battery housing duct 11 instead of a plurality.

  ○ The heat medium is not limited to air but may be other gas or liquid. When a liquid is used as the heat medium flowing through the battery housing duct 11, it is necessary to use a non-conductive liquid in order to prevent the terminals and wirings of the secondary battery 13 from being short-circuited.

  When the thermoelectric conversion element 15 cools the heat medium in the battery housing duct 11, as a method for cooling the second surface 15 b, a liquid having a low boiling point is used as the heat medium flowing through the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct 12, You may make it cool the 2nd surface 15b by the phase change of a medium, ie, the latent heat when the liquid which contacted the 2nd surface 15b vaporizes.

  When the liquid is used as the heat medium, the liquid has a higher heat transfer coefficient than the gas, so that the heat medium can be efficiently cooled and heated by the thermoelectric conversion element 15 even if the fins 16 are omitted. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced by omitting the fins 16.

  When the fin 16 is omitted, the thermoelectric conversion element 15 is fixed to the partition wall 14 with either the first surface 15a or the second surface 15b in close contact with the partition wall 14, and the partition wall 14 It is good also as a structure by which the metal plate was insert-molded in the part to which it is attached.

  The arrangement of the secondary battery 13 in the battery housing duct 11 is not limited to a state in which the thickness direction extends in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct 12. For example, it arrange | positions so that one surface of the thickness direction of the secondary battery 13 may oppose the cover part 11b of the battery accommodating duct 11, or one surface of the thickness direction of the secondary battery 13 is for thermoelectric conversion element temperature control. You may arrange | position so that the duct 12 may be opposed.

  The battery module 10 is not limited to the configuration in which the secondary battery 13 is accommodated in the battery temperature adjustment duct, but a state in which a part of the secondary battery 13 faces the battery temperature adjustment duct (battery accommodation duct 11), For example, as shown in FIG. 7 (a), the battery temperature adjustment duct includes a partition wall 14, a bottom wall extending from the partition wall 14 toward the secondary battery 13 and close to the secondary battery 13, and a part of the lid portion 11b. You may comprise. Of course, the position of the communication duct 17 is also changed.

  The battery module 10 has a configuration in which the entire secondary battery 13 is provided outside the battery temperature adjustment duct, for example, a thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct of a battery temperature adjustment duct provided with the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct 12 interposed therebetween. You may provide in the state in which a part of secondary battery 13 contacts the outer surface of the wall on the opposite side to 12. In this case, in the battery temperature adjusting duct, a portion where the secondary battery 13 contacts is made of a material having high thermal conductivity, for example, metal.

  As shown in FIG. 7B, the battery housing duct 11 of the battery module 10 is parallel to the partition wall 14, a part of the lid portion 11 b, and the lid portion 11 b from the partition wall 14 toward the secondary battery 13. The extending bottom wall may be formed in a U-shaped cross section. Also in this case, the position of the communication duct 17 is changed.

The battery module 10 may have a configuration in which a part of the secondary battery 13 is accommodated in a battery temperature adjustment duct, or a configuration in which openings are formed in the side wall or bottom wall of the battery temperature adjustment duct.
The battery module 10 has a configuration in which all the secondary batteries 13 accommodated in the battery accommodating duct 11 are connected in parallel and connected to a common plus terminal and a minus terminal, and all the secondary batteries 13 are connected in series. The configuration may be either a configuration in which a set of a plurality of secondary batteries 13 connected in series is connected in parallel.

The shapes of the battery housing duct 11, the thermoelectric conversion element temperature control duct 12, and the communication duct 17 are not limited to a rectangular cross section.
The secondary battery 13 is not limited to a square battery, and may be a cylindrical battery or a laminate battery.

The battery is not limited to the secondary battery 13 and may be applied to a fuel cell.
The battery accommodating duct 11 or the battery temperature adjusting duct and the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjusting duct 12 are not limited to being integrally formed, but each battery accommodating duct 11 or the battery temperature adjusting duct, the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjusting duct 12 and Then, the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct 12 may be bonded or fixed so as to sandwich the battery accommodation duct 11 or the battery temperature adjustment duct.

  O Instead of fixing the lid 11b to the main body 11a with screws, it may be fixed with an adhesive. However, in the configuration in which the lid portion 11b is fixed with a screw, it becomes easy to remove the lid portion 11b and perform maintenance and inspection of the secondary battery 13.

The following technical idea (invention) can be understood from the embodiment.
(1) In the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the battery temperature adjustment duct includes a main body and a lid portion, and the battery is supported by a convex portion formed in the lid portion. It is provided in the state that was done.

  (2) In the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and the technical idea (1), the battery temperature adjustment duct and the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct are made of a material having heat insulation properties. Is formed.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Battery accommodation duct as battery temperature control duct, 12 ... Thermoelectric conversion element temperature control duct, 13 ... Secondary battery as battery, 14 ... Partition as boundary part, 15 ... Thermoelectric conversion element, 15a ... 1st surface 15b ... 2nd surface, 17 ... Communication duct, 18, 21 ... Heat-medium drive part.

Claims (4)

A plurality of battery temperature control ducts,
A battery whose temperature is adjusted by a heat medium flowing through the battery temperature adjusting duct;
A thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct provided adjacent to the battery temperature adjustment duct and sandwiched between the two battery temperature adjustment ducts;
Provided at a boundary portion between the battery temperature adjustment duct and the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct, and has a first surface and a second surface that perform opposite actions of heat dissipation and heat absorption according to the polarity of energization, A battery module comprising: a thermoelectric conversion element provided so that a first surface corresponds to the battery temperature adjustment duct and the second surface corresponds to the thermoelectric conversion element temperature adjustment duct. .   The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the battery is accommodated in the battery temperature adjusting duct.   The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery temperature control ducts are provided so that a heat medium can be circulated through the communication ducts, and a heat medium driving unit is provided in the communication ducts.   The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric conversion element is a Peltier element.

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