JP2013037919A - Battery temperature adjustment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery temperature adjustment device capable of simplifying and miniaturizing the configuration while reducing cost.SOLUTION: A battery temperature adjustment device comprises: a heat generation source 1 that requires discharging heat; batteries 4 arranged with a predetermined space from the heat generation source; a first heat dissipation member 2 connected and fixed to the battery 4 side surface of the heat generation source 1, and provided for dissipating heat generated at the heat generation source to exterior; a second heat dissipation member 5 connected and fixed to the heat generation source 1 side surface of the batteries 4, and provided for dissipating heat generated at the battery 4 to exterior; a contact plate 7 that can contact with the first heat dissipation member 2; and a bimetal 6 whose one end is connected and fixed to the heat generation source 1 side surface of the second heat dissipation member 5 and whose other end is connected and fixed to the battery 4 side surface of the contact plate 7, and acting to bring the contact plate 7 into contact with the first heat dissipation member 2 when a temperature becomes low, and acting to make the contact plate 7 separate from the first heat dissipation member 2 when the temperature becomes high.

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery temperature adjusting device that adjusts the temperature of a battery, and more particularly, to a battery temperature adjusting device that adjusts the temperature of a battery using exhaust heat from a heat generation source.

  A vehicle (electric vehicle, hybrid vehicle, etc.) equipped with a motor as a power source is equipped with a high-voltage battery consisting of a lithium ion type secondary battery, and the battery is discharged by regenerative power at the time of deceleration or at the time of deceleration. Or charging. The charge / discharge performance of such a battery greatly depends on the temperature, and if the battery temperature is high, it tends to generate heat and become hotter, so it is necessary to cool the battery, and conversely, if the battery temperature is low Since the output voltage decreases, it is necessary to warm up the battery. Therefore, a technique for adjusting the temperature of the battery has been proposed.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a battery temperature control device for an electric vehicle that can effectively cool and heat the battery with a small current by switching control of the Peltier element. Patent Document 2 discloses a battery temperature control system capable of heating a battery by sending warm-up air to a battery through a heat transfer pipe by air compression by an air pump.

JP-A-8-148189 JP 2010-225485 A

  The following analysis is given by the inventor.

  In the case of using a Peltier element as in Patent Document 1, not only heating and cooling are low efficiency, but also the element itself is expensive because it uses rare metals (Co, Sb, Bi, Te, Ce, etc.). It is. Moreover, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, temperature sensing and control of the current direction of the Peltier element are required, and the configuration of the apparatus is complicated. Moreover, in the thing using an air pump like patent document 2, several piping, several opening-closing valve, and several shut-off valve are needed, and a structure becomes complicated. Moreover, in the technique of patent document 2, it is a structure heated through piping, and a structure becomes large sized.

  The main subject of this invention is providing the battery temperature control apparatus which can simplify a structure and reduce in size, reducing cost.

  In one aspect of the present invention, in a battery temperature adjusting device, a heat source that requires exhaust heat, a battery that is disposed at a predetermined interval from the heat source, and a connection-fixed to the surface of the heat source on the battery side In addition, the first heat radiating member for radiating the heat generated in the heat source to the outside and the surface of the battery on the heat source side are connected and fixed, and the heat generated in the battery is radiated to the outside. A second heat dissipating member, a contact plate that can contact the first heat dissipating member, one end of which is connected and fixed to the surface of the second heat dissipating member on the heat source side, and the other end of the contact plate It is connected and fixed to the surface on the battery side, and acts to bring the contact plate into contact with the first heat radiating member when the temperature is low, and so that the contact plate is separated from the first heat radiating member when the temperature is high. Acting Characterized in that it comprises a metal, a.

  In the battery temperature adjusting device of the present invention, it is preferable that the bimetal has a spring structure.

  In the battery temperature adjusting device of the present invention, it is preferable that the first heat radiating member has a guide portion that regulates movement of the contact plate in a direction parallel to the contact surface of the contact plate.

  In the battery temperature adjusting device according to the present invention, the battery temperature adjusting device is arranged between the contact plate and the second heat radiating member, heat transfer between the contact plate and the battery heat radiating member is possible, and It is preferable to provide a slide mechanism that allows the contact plate to be slidably supported by the second heat radiating member.

  In the battery temperature adjusting device of the present invention, the battery temperature adjusting device is disposed between the contact plate and the second heat radiating member, one end is connected and fixed to the second heat radiating member, and the other end is connected and fixed to the contact plate. It is preferable to provide a flexible heat transfer member having flexibility and capable of transferring heat between the contact plate and the battery heat dissipation member.

  According to the present invention, since the battery can be warmed up using the exhaust heat of the heat source when the temperature of the battery is low, the configuration of the heat source for battery warming becomes unnecessary, and the system efficiency as a vehicle is improved. Can be improved. In addition, by automatically turning on and off heat transfer using bimetal, expensive Peltier elements and complicated electrical control are not required, and the cost of the apparatus can be reduced. In addition, by automatically turning on and off heat transfer using bimetal, a piping configuration requiring a space becomes unnecessary, and thus the capacity of the apparatus can be reduced.

It is the figure which showed typically the structure and operation | movement of the battery temperature control apparatus which concern on Example 1 of this invention, (A) The figure at the time of battery temperature appropriate temperature, (B) The figure at the time of battery temperature fall. It is the figure which showed typically the structure of the battery temperature control apparatus which concerns on Example 2 of this invention. It is the figure which showed typically the structure of the battery temperature control apparatus which concerns on Example 3 of this invention.

  In the battery temperature control apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, a heat source that requires exhaust heat (1 in FIG. 1), a battery (4 in FIG. 1) disposed at a predetermined interval from the heat source, A first heat dissipating member (2 in FIG. 1) that is connected and fixed to the surface of the heat generating source on the battery side, and dissipates heat generated by the heat generating source to the outside, and a surface of the battery on the heat generating source side And a second heat radiating member (5 in FIG. 1) for radiating the heat generated in the battery to the outside, and a contact plate (7 in FIG. 1) that can contact the first heat radiating member. The one end is connected and fixed to the surface of the second heat radiating member on the heat source side, and the other end is connected and fixed to the surface of the contact plate on the battery side. Acts so as to come into contact with the heat dissipation member, and before the temperature rises It comprises a bimetal acting (6 in FIG. 1) so as to leave the contact plate from the first heat radiating member.

  Note that, in the present application, where reference numerals are attached to the drawings, these are only for the purpose of helping understanding, and are not intended to be limited to the illustrated embodiments.

  A battery temperature adjusting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1A and 1B are diagrams schematically illustrating the configuration and operation of a battery temperature adjusting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 1A is a diagram when the battery temperature is appropriate, and FIG. 1B is a diagram when the battery temperature is low. is there.

  The battery temperature adjusting device 10 is a device that adjusts the temperature of the battery 4. The battery temperature adjusting device 10 adjusts the temperature of the battery 4 using the exhaust heat of the heat generation source (here, the engine 1). The battery temperature adjusting device 10 includes an engine 1, an engine heat radiating member 2, a guide part 3, a battery 4, a battery heat radiating member 5, a bimetal 6, and a contact plate 7 as main components.

  The engine 1 is an internal combustion engine that outputs rotational power by, for example, combustion of fuel (for example, hydrocarbons such as gasoline and light oil). The engine 1 may be other than the engine 1 as long as it becomes a heat generation source, and an appliance, an engine, an apparatus, or the like that requires exhaust heat can be used. The engine heat dissipation member 2 is connected and fixed to the surface of the engine 1 on the battery 4 side. The heat generated in the engine 1 is radiated to the outside mainly through the engine heat radiating member 2.

  The engine heat radiating member 2 is a member for radiating heat generated in the engine 1 serving as a heat source to the outside. The engine heat radiating member 2 is made of metal. The engine heat radiating member 2 may be integrated with the engine 1. The engine heat radiating member 2 is connected and fixed to the surface of the engine 1 on the battery 4 side. The engine heat dissipating member 2 has a contact surface that contacts and separates from the contact plate 7 on the surface on the battery 4 side. When the engine heat dissipation member 2 and the contact plate 7 come into contact, heat from the engine 1 can be transferred to the battery 4 through the engine heat dissipation member 2, the contact plate 7, the bimetal 6, and the battery heat dissipation member 5. The engine heat radiating member 2 has a guide portion 3 that restricts the movement of the contact plate 7 in a direction parallel to the contact surface. The guide part 3 is a protrusion part arranged on the surface of the engine heat radiating member 2 on the battery 4 side. The guide portion 3 is not always in contact with the contact plate 7, but is normally separated from the contact plate 7, and when the contact plate 7 moves in a direction parallel to the contact surface due to vibration or the like. It is set to contact temporarily.

  The battery 4 is a chargeable / dischargeable secondary battery. The battery 4 may be a lithium ion type high voltage secondary battery. A plurality (or even one) of the batteries 4 are arranged at positions away from the engine 1. A battery heat dissipation member 5 is connected and fixed to the battery 4 on the surface on the engine 1 side. The heat generated in the battery 4 is radiated to the outside mainly through the battery heat radiating member 5. When the battery 4 is cooled, the engine heat radiating member 2 and the contact plate 7 come into contact with each other, so that the heat from the engine 1 passes through the engine heat radiating member 2, the contact plate 7, the bimetal 6, and the battery heat radiating member 5. Heat transfer is possible. When the battery 4 is hot, the heat radiating member 2 and the contact plate 7 are separated from each other, so that heat from the engine 1 is not transferred but is radiated to the outside through the battery radiating member 5.

  The battery heat radiating member 5 is a member for radiating the heat generated in the battery 4 to the outside. The battery heat dissipation member 5 is made of metal. The battery heat radiating member 5 is connected and fixed to the surface of the battery 4 on the engine 1 side. The battery heat dissipating member 5 is connected and fixed to a region facing the engine heat dissipating member 2 on the surface on the engine 1 side so that one end of a plurality (or one) of bimetals 6 can transfer heat. The battery heat dissipation member 5 supports the contact plate 7 through the bimetal 6 so as to be movable in the direction from the battery 4 toward the engine 1.

  The bimetal 6 is a member obtained by bonding two metal plates having different thermal expansion coefficients. The bimetal 6 has one end connected and fixed to the battery heat radiating member 5 and the other end connected and fixed to the contact plate 7. The bimetal 6 has a spring structure (coil spring structure, leaf spring structure). Thereby, it can be set as the structure which cannot transmit the vibration of the engine 1 to the battery 4 easily. When the temperature of the bimetal 6 increases, the contact plate 7 moves away from the engine heat radiating member 2 by acting so that the contact plate 7 approaches the battery heat radiating member 5, and contacts the battery heat radiating member 5 when the temperature of the bimetal 6 decreases. The contact plate 7 is set to come into contact with the engine heat radiating member 2 by acting so that the plate 7 is separated. The bimetal 6 serves as a heat transfer path between the battery heat radiating member 5 and the contact plate 7.

  The contact plate 7 is a plate-like member that can be brought into and out of contact with the engine heat radiating member 2. The contact plate 7 is made of metal. The contact plate 7 is connected and fixed to the other end of the bimetal 6 so that heat can be transferred. The contact plate 7 is supported by the battery heat dissipation member 5 via the bimetal 6 so as to be movable in the direction from the battery 4 toward the engine 1.

  Next, operation | movement of the battery temperature control apparatus which concerns on Example 1 of this invention is demonstrated.

(A) When the battery temperature is at an appropriate temperature When the temperature of the battery 4 is at the appropriate temperature, there is no need to heat the battery 4, so that the contact plate 7 is separated from the engine heat radiating member 2 as shown in FIG. Is not transferred to the battery 4. At this time, the heat of the engine 1 is radiated from the engine heat radiating member 2 to the outside. The heat of the battery 4 is radiated to the outside from the battery heat radiating member 5, the bimetal 6, and the contact plate 7. Thereby, the engine 1 and the battery 4 are cooled.

(B) When the battery temperature decreases When the temperature of the battery 4 decreases, it is necessary to heat the battery 4, so that the contact plate 7 comes into contact with the engine heat radiating member 2 as shown in FIG. Is transferred to the battery 4 through the engine heat radiating member 2, the contact plate 7, the bimetal 6, and the battery heat radiating member 5. Thereby, the battery 4 can be warmed up using the exhaust heat of the engine 1.

  According to the first embodiment, when the temperature of the battery 4 is low, the battery 4 can be warmed up using the exhaust heat of the engine 1, so that the heat source configuration for warming up the battery becomes unnecessary, and the vehicle System efficiency can be improved. In addition, by automatically turning on and off heat transfer using bimetal, expensive Peltier elements and complicated electrical control are not required, and the cost of the apparatus can be reduced. In addition, by automatically turning on and off heat transfer using bimetal, a piping configuration requiring a space becomes unnecessary, and thus the capacity of the apparatus can be reduced.

  A battery temperature adjusting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of the battery temperature adjusting device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The second embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment and supports not only the bimetal 6 but also the contact plate 7 slidably on the battery heat radiating member 5 as a heat transfer path between the battery heat radiating member 5 and the contact plate 7. It uses a heat transferable slide mechanism. The slide mechanism is such that the protrusion 7a is slidably supported by the guide portion 5a. The protrusion 7 a is fixed to the surface of the contact plate 7 on the battery 4 side. The guide portion 5a is fixed to the surface of the battery heat radiating member 5 on the engine 1 side. The guide portion 5a is formed so as to surround the protrusion portion 7a, is slidably in contact with the protrusion portion 7a, and is set so that the protrusion portion 7a does not fall out even when the contact plate 7 contacts the engine heat dissipation member 2. ing. The protrusion part 7a and the guide part 5a are made of metal. In addition, the relationship between the protrusion 7a and the guide 5a in the slide mechanism may be reversed. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  According to the second embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the slide mechanism (protrusion portion 7a and guide portion 5a) is added as a heat transfer path to warm up the battery 4 when the battery temperature decreases. It can be done quickly.

  A battery temperature adjusting apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of the battery temperature adjusting device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  The third embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment, in which not only the bimetal 6 but also the flexible heat transfer member 8 is provided as a heat transfer path between the battery heat dissipation member 5 and the contact plate 7. . The flexible heat transfer member 8 is a heat transfer member having flexibility. For example, a metal fiber mesh cloth, a metal thin plate metal coil wire, or the like can be used. One end of the flexible heat transfer member 8 is connected and fixed to the battery heat radiating member 5, and the other end is connected and fixed to the contact plate 7. The flexible heat transfer member 8 is set so as not to be stretched even when the contact plate 7 contacts the engine heat radiating member 2. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  According to the third embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the flexible heat transfer member 8 can be added as a heat transfer path so that the battery 4 can be quickly warmed up when the battery temperature is lowered. Become.

  It should be noted that the embodiments and examples may be changed and adjusted within the scope of the entire disclosure (including claims and drawings) of the present invention and based on the basic technical concept. Various combinations and selections of various disclosed elements are possible within the scope of the claims of the present invention. That is, the present invention naturally includes various variations and modifications that could be made by those skilled in the art according to the entire disclosure including the claims and the drawings, and the technical idea.

1 Engine (heat source)
2 Engine heat dissipation member (first heat dissipation member)
3 Guide unit 4 Battery 5 Battery heat dissipation member (second heat dissipation member)
5a Guide part 6 Bimetal 7 Contact plate 7a Protrusion part 8 Flexible heat transfer member 10, 20, 30 Battery temperature adjusting device

Claims (5)

A heat source that requires exhaust heat,
A battery disposed at a predetermined interval from the heat source;
A first heat dissipating member that is connected and fixed to the surface of the heat generating source on the battery side and dissipates heat generated by the heat generating source to the outside;
A second heat radiating member that is connected and fixed to the surface of the battery on the side of the heat source, and radiates heat generated in the battery to the outside;
A contact plate capable of contacting the first heat dissipation member;
One end is connected and fixed to the surface of the second heat radiating member on the side of the heat source, and the other end is connected and fixed to the surface of the contact plate on the battery side. A bimetal that acts to contact a member and acts to move the contact plate away from the first heat dissipation member when the temperature is high;
A battery temperature adjusting device comprising:   The battery temperature adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the bimetal has a spring structure.   The battery temperature adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the first heat radiating member has a guide portion that regulates movement of the contact plate in a direction parallel to a contact surface of the contact plate.   While being arranged between the contact plate and the second heat radiating member, heat transfer between the contact plate and the battery heat radiating member is possible, and the second heat radiation is slidable with the contact plate. The battery temperature adjusting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a slide mechanism that is supported by the member.   While being arranged between the contact plate and the second heat radiating member, one end is connected and fixed to the second heat radiating member, the other end is connected and fixed to the contact plate, has flexibility, and 4. The battery temperature adjustment device according to claim 1, further comprising a flexible heat transfer member capable of transferring heat between the contact plate and the battery heat dissipation member. 5.

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