JP2013120691A - Battery module and vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restrain battery output from being limited after quick charging of the battery.SOLUTION: A vehicle has a battery module 1 mounted therein. Also, the vehicle incorporates a battery pack 20 which constitutes part of the battery module 1 and which is the power source for a motor (not shown) which is the prime mover for the vehicle. The battery pack 20 is composed of a plurality of batteries 22 which are housed in a case 21. On side faces of the case 21 are formed an inflow port 21a which circulates inside the case 21 a heat medium whose temperature is adjusted by a battery temperature adjustment mechanism and an outflow port 21b which drains the heat medium out of the case 21 into which it flowed. Furthermore, on a face other than those of the case 21 where the inflow port 21a and the outflow port 21b are formed, a supply port 23 is formed which supplies a coolant fed from a supply source other than the battery temperature adjustment mechanism to the inside of the case 21. The supply port 23 has a coolant supply part 13 connected thereto.

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery module and a vehicle including a battery pack that houses a battery in a case, and a battery temperature adjustment mechanism that adjusts the temperature of the battery.

When the secondary battery reaches a certain temperature or higher, the battery output is limited. Therefore, the battery is cooled when the battery is discharged (for example, Patent Document 1).
In Patent Document 1, a case in which a battery is accommodated is formed with an intake port for taking air into the case. A first flow path and a second flow path through which air flowing in from the intake port flows are formed in the case. The air flowing through the first flow path is discharged to the outside through the battery. On the other hand, the air flowing through the second flow path is discharged outside without passing through the battery. And at the time of discharge of a secondary battery, a battery is cooled with the air which distribute | circulates a 1st flow path.

JP 2009-110829 A

  By the way, in patent document 1, the battery is not cooled at the time of charge of a secondary battery. After the battery is charged, the temperature of the secondary battery rises. In particular, the temperature of the secondary battery rapidly increases during rapid charging in which a large current is passed through the battery in order to charge the battery in a short time. For this reason, after the secondary battery is rapidly charged, the battery output may be limited.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a battery module and a vehicle that can prevent the battery output from being restricted after rapid charging. .

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a battery module comprising a battery pack in which a battery is accommodated in a case, and a battery temperature adjusting mechanism for adjusting the temperature of the battery. The present invention includes an external refrigerant supply unit that introduces a refrigerant supplied from a refrigerant supply mechanism other than the battery temperature adjustment mechanism into the case when the battery is rapidly charged.

  According to this, at the time of quick charge, the battery in the case is cooled by the refrigerant supplied by the refrigerant supply mechanism. For this reason, it is suppressed that the temperature of a battery rises rapidly at the time of quick charge. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the battery output from being restricted after the quick charge.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the battery module according to the first aspect of the present invention, the battery module according to the first aspect further includes a heat medium supply unit that introduces a heat medium supplied from the battery temperature adjusting mechanism into the case, Switching means is provided for switching between a refrigerant non-introduction state in which the refrigerant supplied from the refrigerant supply mechanism is not introduced into the case and a refrigerant introduction state in which the refrigerant supplied from the refrigerant supply mechanism is introduced into the case. This is the gist.

  According to this, the external refrigerant supply unit and the heat medium supply unit are provided separately. Moreover, the refrigerant non-introduction state and the refrigerant introduction state of the external refrigerant supply unit can be switched. For this reason, the refrigerant non-introduction state and the refrigerant introduction state of the external refrigerant supply unit can be switched, and the battery temperature can be adjusted appropriately according to the situation.

  Invention of Claim 3 is a vehicle carrying the battery module of Claim 1 or Claim 2, Comprising: The said external refrigerant | coolant supply part is a flow path which introduce | transduces a refrigerant | coolant into the said case. The gist.

  According to this, the battery module mounted on the vehicle is restrained from being output limited to the battery after rapid charging. For this reason, it is suppressed that the running performance of a vehicle falls after quick charge. Further, since the external refrigerant supply unit is a flow path for introducing the refrigerant into the case, the refrigerant supplied to the flow path is appropriately supplied to the case by flowing through the flow path. For this reason, since a refrigerant | coolant can be supplied to a case by distribute | circulating a flow path irrespective of the mounting location of a battery module, the mounting freedom degree of a battery module is improved.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it can suppress that a battery output is restrict | limited after rapid charge of a battery.

The block diagram which shows the vehicle and charging stand in embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the battery module in embodiment. The effect | action figure which shows the battery module in embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, a battery module 1 is mounted on a vehicle 10 such as an EV (Electric Vehicle) or a PHV (Plug in Hybrid Vehicle). The vehicle 10 includes a battery pack 20 that constitutes a part of the battery module 1 and that serves as a power source for a motor (not shown) that serves as a prime mover of the vehicle 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the battery pack 20 is configured by housing a plurality of batteries 22 in a case 21.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the battery pack 20 is provided with a battery temperature adjustment mechanism 11 that adjusts the temperature of the battery 22 when the vehicle 10 travels (when the battery 22 is driven). The battery temperature adjustment mechanism 11 includes a Peltier element (not shown) and a blower, and circulates a heat medium heated or cooled by the Peltier element in the case 21 so that the temperature of the battery 22 can be adjusted (heating or cooling). It is configured.

  The vehicle 10 is provided with a rapid charging power supply unit 12 to which electric power is supplied from the outside when the battery 22 is rapidly charged. The rapid charging power supply unit 12 is electrically connected to the battery pack 20, and the power supplied to the rapid charging power supply unit 12 is supplied to each battery 22 constituting the battery pack 20. Charging is performed.

  Further, the vehicle 10 is provided with a normal charging power supply unit 14 to which power is supplied from the outside during normal charging. The normal charging power supply unit 14 is electrically connected to the battery pack 20, and the power supplied to the normal charging power supply unit 14 is supplied to each battery 22 constituting the battery pack 20. Charging is performed.

  Note that the rapid charging is a charging method performed by passing a large current through the battery 22 for the purpose of charging the battery 22 in a short time. In the rapid charging, the battery 22 can be charged in a short time, but Joule heat generated by flowing a large current is large, and the temperature of the battery 22 rapidly increases. On the other hand, normal charging is a charging method performed for the purpose of preventing the temperature of the battery 22 from rising as much as possible. Since normal charging is performed while preventing the temperature of the battery 22 from rising as much as possible, it takes a long time to complete charging.

  As shown in FIG. 2, on the side surface of the case 21, the heat medium whose temperature is adjusted by the battery temperature adjusting mechanism 11 flows into the case 21 and an inlet 21 a serving as a heat medium supply unit that introduces the heat medium into the case 21. An outlet 21 b is provided for allowing the heat medium to flow out of the case 21. A flow path (not shown) is formed in the case 21, and the heat medium flowing in from the inflow port 21a flows through the flow path.

  Moreover, the refrigerant | coolant supplied from supply sources other than the battery temperature control mechanism 11 is supplied in the case 21 to one side surface different from the side surface in which the inflow port 21a and the outflow port 21b were provided among the side surfaces of the case 21. A supply port 23 is formed. The supply port 23 is connected to a refrigerant supply unit 13 through which refrigerant supplied at the time of rapid charging flows. The refrigerant supply unit 13 functions as a flow path for introducing the refrigerant into the supply port 23 of the case 21, the refrigerant outlet 13 a is connected to the supply port 23, and the refrigerant inlet 13 b is outside the vehicle 10. Is exposed. The supply port 23 and the refrigerant supply unit 13 form a flow path for introducing the refrigerant into the case 21. Therefore, in this embodiment, the external refrigerant supply unit is formed by the refrigerant supply unit 13 and the supply port 23. Further, the supply port 23 communicates with a flow path through which the heat medium whose temperature is adjusted by the battery temperature adjusting mechanism 11 flows. Therefore, the heat medium whose temperature is adjusted by the battery temperature adjusting mechanism 11 and the refrigerant flowing from the supply port 23 are configured to flow through the same flow path.

  The refrigerant supply unit 13 is provided with a switching valve 24 as switching means. The switching valve 24 has an open state in which the refrigerant supplied from the inlet 13b is introduced into the case 21 of the battery pack 20, and a closed state in which the refrigerant supplied from the inlet 13b is not introduced into the case 21 of the battery pack 20. Switch to. That is, the open state is a refrigerant introduction state, and the closed state is a refrigerant non-introduction state.

  Next, the charging stand 30 that functions as a charging device that supplies a large current to the battery 22 when rapidly charging the battery 22 will be described. The charging stand 30 is provided with a rapid charging plug 31 that is connected to the rapid charging power supply unit 12 and that allows a large current to flow through the rapid charging power supply unit 12. The quick charging plug 31 has a sensing function for measuring the temperature of the battery pack 20, and can measure the temperature of the battery pack 20. In addition, the charging stand 30 is connected to a refrigerant supply plug 32 that is connected to the refrigerant supply unit 13 during rapid charging and supplies the refrigerant to the battery pack 20 via the refrigerant supply unit 13. A compressor 33 mounted on the charging stand 30 is connected to the refrigerant supply plug 32, and the refrigerant is released from the refrigerant supply plug 32 by driving the compressor 33. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the charging stand 30 includes a refrigerant supply unit that supplies a refrigerant to the case 21, and the refrigerant supply mechanism other than the battery temperature adjustment mechanism 11 is the charging stand 30. Note that the refrigerant supplied from the charging stand 30 to the battery pack 20 is a refrigerant having higher cooling efficiency for the battery 22 than the heat medium circulated in the case 21 by the battery temperature adjusting mechanism 11.

Next, the operation of the battery module 1 in the present embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, when rapidly charging the battery 22, the quick charging plug 31 is inserted into the rapid charging power supply unit 12 and the refrigerant supply plug 32 is inserted into the refrigerant supply unit 13. When the refrigerant supply plug 32 is inserted, the switching valve 24 is pressed by the refrigerant supply plug 32 to open the refrigerant supply unit 13. The charging stand 30 performs rapid charging of the battery 22 while measuring the temperature of the battery 22 by a sensing function provided in the quick charging plug 31. When the temperature of the battery 22 reaches a predetermined temperature, the charging stand 30 drives the compressor 33 and discharges the refrigerant from the refrigerant supply plug 32. The refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant supply plug 32 is supplied into the case 21 and flows through the flow path formed in the case 21 to cool the battery 22.

  When the battery 22 is normally charged, a normal charging plug (not shown) is inserted into the normal charging power supply unit 14. During normal charging, since the refrigerant supply plug 32 is not inserted into the refrigerant supply unit 13, the refrigerant supply unit 13 is in a closed state. During normal charging, the battery 22 is charged over a long period of time while suppressing the temperature rise of the battery 22 as much as possible.

  When cooling with the refrigerant supplied from the charging stand 30 is not required, for example, when the vehicle 10 is running (when driving power is discharged from the battery 22), the battery temperature control mechanism 11 is used. The temperature of the battery 22 is adjusted. When the vehicle 10 is traveling, unlike the rapid charging, the temperature of the battery 22 does not rise rapidly, so that the battery temperature adjustment mechanism 11 performs appropriate temperature adjustment. Since the refrigerant supply unit 13 is in a closed state, the temperature of the battery 22 is appropriately adjusted without discharging the heat-controlled heat medium to the outside.

Therefore, according to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) A supply port 23 is formed in the case 21 of the battery pack 20 so that the refrigerant supplied from the charging stand 30 can be supplied into the case 21, and the refrigerant supply unit 13 is connected to the supply port 23. ing. For this reason, at the time of quick charge, the battery 22 can be cooled by the refrigerant supplied from the charging stand 30. When the temperature of the battery 22 reaches a predetermined temperature, the charging station 30 supplies the refrigerant, whereby the battery 22 is appropriately cooled. Therefore, a rapid rise in the temperature of the battery 22 is suppressed, and a restriction on the battery output after the rapid charging is suppressed.

  (2) Further, since the refrigerant supply source (charging station 30) supplied at the time of rapid charging of the battery 22 is provided outside the vehicle 10, there is no need to provide the refrigerant supply source in the vehicle 10, and the vehicle A reduction in size and weight of 10 can be measured.

  (3) As the switching valve 24, a switching valve capable of switching between an open state and a closed state of the refrigerant supply unit 13 depending on whether or not the refrigerant supply plug 32 is pressed is used. For this reason, compared with the case where the switch valve which operates electrically is used, there is little power consumption, and it contributes to shortening of the charge time of the battery 22, and the long time drive of the battery 22. FIG.

  (4) When the vehicle 10 travels (when the battery 22 is discharged), the battery temperature adjustment mechanism 11 adjusts the temperature of the battery 22. When the battery 22 is driven, since the temperature rise of the battery 22 is smaller than that at the time of rapid charging, the temperature of the battery 22 can be appropriately adjusted by the battery temperature adjusting mechanism 11. Therefore, the life of the battery 22 is extended.

  (5) Moreover, since the refrigerant | coolant supply part 13 is made into a closed state by the switching valve 24 at the time of driving | running | working, the heat medium by which temperature control was carried out does not flow out of the battery pack 20, but can perform temperature control appropriately.

  (6) At the time of rapid charging, the refrigerant is supplied from the charging stand 30 to cool the battery 22. On the other hand, when the vehicle 10 is traveling, the temperature adjustment suitable for the situation of the battery 22 can be performed by adjusting the temperature of the battery 22 by the battery temperature adjustment mechanism 11.

  (7) When the heat medium supplied from the battery temperature adjusting mechanism 11 and the refrigerant supplied from the charging stand 30 flow into the case 21, they flow through the same flow path. For this reason, it is not necessary to form separate flow paths, and the number of parts can be reduced and the space in the case 21 can be saved.

(8) Since the battery output is restrained from being restricted after the quick charge, a decrease in the running performance of the vehicle 10 after the quick charge is suppressed.
(9) Supply unit (supply port 23 and refrigerant supply unit 13) for introducing the heat medium supplied from the battery temperature control mechanism 11 into the case 21, and supply for introducing the refrigerant supplied from the charging stand 30 into the case 21 The parts (inlet 21a) are provided separately. The refrigerant supply unit 13 is provided with a switching valve 24. When the cooling valve 24 does not require cooling by the refrigerant supplied from the charging stand 30, the switching valve 24 switches the refrigerant supply unit 13 to the refrigerant non-introduced state, but requires cooling by the refrigerant supplied from the charging stand 30. The refrigerant supply unit 13 is switched to the refrigerant introduction state. For this reason, the temperature adjustment of the battery 22 can be appropriately performed according to the situation.

  (10) Further, the supply unit that introduces the heat medium supplied from the battery temperature control mechanism 11 into the case 21 and the supply unit that introduces the refrigerant supplied from the charging stand 30 into the case 21 are used as a common supply unit. In this case, when the temperature of the battery 22 is adjusted only by the heat medium supplied from the battery temperature adjustment mechanism 11, the supply unit cannot be switched to the refrigerant non-introduction state. Like this embodiment, the supply part (supply port 23 and the refrigerant | coolant supply part 13) which introduces into the case 21 the heat carrier supplied from the battery temperature control mechanism 11, and the refrigerant | coolant supplied from the charging stand 30 are made into the case 21. By separately providing the supply section (inlet 21a) to be introduced into the refrigerant, the refrigerant non-introduction state and the refrigerant introduction state can be appropriately switched.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
In the embodiment, the switching valve 24 that opens and closes by electrical control may be used as the switching means. In this case, electric power for controlling the switching valve 24 may be supplied from the charging stand 30.

  In the embodiment, the refrigerant may be supplied from other than the charging station 30. For example, any coolant may be supplied from the outside of the case 21, and a coolant supply source may be provided in the vehicle 10 so that the coolant is supplied to the case 21 from the coolant supply source in the vehicle 10.

  In the embodiment, the refrigerant supply plug 32 may be directly inserted into the supply port 23 formed in the battery pack 20. In this case, the switching valve 24 is provided in the case 21. Moreover, since the supply port 23 becomes an external refrigerant supply part, the number of parts is reduced.

In the embodiment, the refrigerant may be supplied by something other than the compressor 33. For example, a fan such as a fan or a blower may be used.
In the embodiment, the switching valve 24 may be provided in the case 21.

In the embodiment, as the battery temperature adjusting mechanism 11, for example, a device that cools the heat medium with a compressor or a device that heats the heat medium with a heater may be used.
In the embodiment, the supply port 23 may be provided in the inflow port 21a, and the refrigerant may be circulated into the case 21 from the inflow port 21a.

In the embodiment, the charging station 30 may determine whether or not to supply the refrigerant by measuring a temperature increase rate per unit time or the like.
In the embodiment, the refrigerant may be supplied from the charging station 30 during normal charging in addition to rapid charging.

  In the embodiment, a plurality of battery packs 20 may be mounted on the vehicle 10. In this case, a supply port 23 may be provided in the case 21 of each battery pack 20 so that the refrigerant is supplied to each battery pack 20. Further, the cases 21 of the battery packs 20 may be communicated with each other through a flow path so that the refrigerant flows through the cases 21 of the battery packs 20.

  In embodiment, the refrigerant | coolant supplied from the charging stand 30 may not be a refrigerant | coolant with high cooling efficiency compared with the heat medium supplied from the temperature control mechanism 11 for batteries. In this case, it is preferable to improve the cooling efficiency by increasing the amount of refrigerant supplied from the charging stand 30 as compared with the heat medium supplied from the battery temperature adjusting mechanism 11.

In the embodiment, a liquid heat medium may be used as the heat medium supplied from the battery temperature adjusting mechanism 11. In this case, the insulation of each battery 22 needs to be ensured.
In the embodiment, the inflow port 21 a may also serve as the refrigerant supply unit 13.

  In the embodiment, the switching valve 24 may not be provided. For example, in the embodiment, the heat medium supplied to the case 21 circulates in the case 21 by connecting the inflow port 21a and the outflow port 21b, but does not connect the inflow port 21a and the outflow port 21b. You may enable it to supply a refrigerant | coolant directly to the inflow port 21a. When the refrigerant supply plug 32 is inserted into the vehicle, the refrigerant supplied from the refrigerant supply plug 32 may flow directly into the inlet 21a, and the refrigerant may flow into the case 21 from the inlet 21a.

  In the embodiment, when the battery 22 is rapidly charged, both the refrigerant supplied from the charging stand 30 and the heat medium whose temperature is adjusted by the battery temperature adjusting mechanism 11 are supplied to the case 21 to cool the battery 22. You may go.

Next, the technical idea that can be grasped from the above embodiment and other examples will be described below.
(A) A charging device for charging a battery accommodated in a case, comprising a refrigerant supply means for supplying a refrigerant into the case when the battery is charged.

  (B) The charging device according to the technical concept (a), wherein the refrigerant supply unit supplies the refrigerant when the battery is rapidly charged.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Battery module, 10 ... Vehicle, 11 ... Battery temperature control mechanism, 13 ... Refrigerant supply part, 20 ... Battery pack, 21 ... Case, 22 ... Battery, 23 ... Supply port, 24 ... Switching valve.

Claims (3)

A battery module comprising: a battery pack containing a battery in a case; and a battery temperature adjusting mechanism for adjusting the temperature of the battery,
A battery module, comprising: an external refrigerant supply unit that introduces a refrigerant supplied by a refrigerant supply mechanism other than the battery temperature adjustment mechanism into the case when the battery is rapidly charged. A heat medium supply unit for introducing a heat medium supplied from the battery temperature control mechanism into the case;
The external refrigerant supply unit includes a refrigerant non-introduction state in which the refrigerant supplied from the refrigerant supply mechanism is not introduced into the case, and a refrigerant introduction state in which the refrigerant supplied from the refrigerant supply mechanism is introduced into the case. The battery module according to claim 1, further comprising switching means for switching.   The vehicle on which the battery module according to claim 1 or 2 is mounted, wherein the external refrigerant supply unit is a flow path for introducing a refrigerant into the case.