JP2013149459A - Power storage module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact power storage module such that a gas absorption cartridge can be easily attached or detached.SOLUTION: A power storage module 30 includes a power storage device group 55 formed by arranging a plurality of power storage devices 1, each having an electrolyte charged inside, side by side, and a gas absorption cartridge 10 which is connected to the power storage device group and has a gas absorber 13 incorporated. The power storage devices each have a pressure release valve 3 which is opened with predetermined pressure to discharge gas, and the gas absorption cartridge 10 has one or a plurality of gas intakes 11 for making gas flow in. The power storage device group and the gas absorption cartridge are detachably connected to each other by a connection member 20, which forms a sealed space S for connecting the pressure release valve and the gas intakes to each other between the power storage device group and the gas absorption cartridge.

Description

  The present invention relates to a power storage module having a function of preventing ejection of an electrolyte or gas generated inside when an abnormality occurs.

  In an electricity storage device such as a secondary battery or a capacitor, the internal temperature rises and a large amount of gas is generated when an abnormality such as overcharge or short circuit occurs, and the internal pressure also rises. Therefore, in order to safely discharge the electrolyte and gas from the inside of the container when a predetermined pressure is exceeded, an electricity storage device including a safety valve has been proposed (Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  On the other hand, since electrolytes and gases include flammable and harmful ones, there is a need for a mechanism that does not allow them to be discharged into the external environment as they are. Patent Document 3 includes a plurality of element containers, a buffer container containing a gas adsorbent therein, one main conduit, and a plurality of conduits, and gas generated in each element container is buffered by the main conduit and the conduit. A set cell power supply that can be housed in a container is disclosed.

JP 2010-1113888 A JP 2009-266614 A JP 11-317334 A

  However, when the gas generated inside each element container of the assembled cell power source is accommodated in the buffer container as described above, a conduit for sending the electrolyte and gas to the buffer container and a space for installing the buffer container are required. Therefore, it was difficult to reduce the size as a whole.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the above, and makes it a main technical subject to comprise the electrical storage module provided with the gas absorption function smaller than before.

  An electricity storage module according to the present invention includes an electricity storage device group in which a plurality of electricity storage devices each enclosing an electrolyte is juxtaposed, and a gas absorption cartridge that is attached to the electricity storage device group and contains a gas absorbent. Each of the power storage devices has a pressure release valve that releases gas at a predetermined pressure to release gas, and the gas absorption cartridge has one or more gas inlets that allow gas to flow into the interior. The storage device group and the gas absorption cartridge are detachably connected by a connecting member, and the connection member provides a sealed space for connecting the pressure release valve and the gas inlet between the storage device group and the gas absorption cartridge. It is characterized by forming. The gas inlet of the power storage module is preferably a gas inlet valve that opens at a predetermined pressure.

  According to said structure, piping etc. which connect the pressure release valve of each electrical storage device and the gas inflow port of a gas absorption cartridge are unnecessary, and the miniaturization as the whole electrical storage module is attained. Moreover, since the gas absorption device is attached to the outside of the power storage device group, it can be easily attached and detached.

  In the power storage module according to the present invention, the connecting member may include a guide rail portion, the gas absorption cartridge may include an engaging portion, and the engaging portion may be fitted to the guide rail portion to form a sealed space. . According to such a configuration, the gas absorption cartridge can be easily attached to or detached from the connecting member.

  In the electricity storage module according to the present invention, any electricity storage device may have a square shape, and any pressure release valve may be provided on one surface of the electricity storage device. According to such a configuration, since the gas inlet of the gas absorption cartridge can be provided on the same surface, only one gas absorption cartridge needs to be provided on one side of the power storage device group. As a result, it is possible to reduce the size of the power storage module as compared with the case where each power storage module includes gas absorbing means. Note that the “rectangular electricity storage device” in this specification does not have to be a strict rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is understood in a broad sense. For example, the corners and sides may be rounded, and of course, as long as it has only one flat surface for attaching the cartridge, it may have a curved surface.

  In the electricity storage module according to the present invention, the electricity storage device has a positive electrode terminal at one end of the upper surface and a negative electrode terminal at the other end, and the pressure release valve is one of the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal. It may be provided on the side surface. Providing a pressure release valve on either one of them is advantageous in terms of cost because only one type of power storage device is manufactured.

  In the power storage module according to the present invention, the power storage device refers to a device that stores electricity, and in particular, a device that releases a gas or an electrolyte when an abnormality such as a short circuit occurs. Such a power storage device includes, for example, a secondary battery and a capacitor. When the electricity storage device is a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery containing lithium iron phosphate as the positive electrode active material may be used. This is because the behavior when releasing the electrolyte and gas is gentle compared to a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery containing a layered oxide in the positive electrode active material, so that the power storage module can be further downsized. Because.

  According to the present invention, the gas absorption cartridge can be easily attached to or detached from the power storage device group by the connecting member. In addition, a sealed space is formed between the pressure release valve and the gas inlet of each power storage device, and communication between the power storage device and the cartridge eliminates the need to separately provide piping or the like, and is released from the pressure release valve. The electrolytic solution and gas can be sent to the gas inlet through the sealed space, and the entire power storage module can be made compact.

The perspective view which shows the electrical storage module of 1st Embodiment The perspective view which shows an electrical storage device group The perspective view which shows a connection member The perspective view which shows the state which attached the connection member to the electrical storage device group. Perspective view showing a gas absorption cartridge It is a figure explaining a guide rail part, Comprising: (a) is a side view of a connection member, (b) is sectional drawing of a gas absorption cartridge. The perspective view which shows the other example of a gas absorption cartridge The perspective view which shows the electrical storage module of 2nd Embodiment

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, each embodiment is an exemplification, and does not give a limited interpretation of the present invention. In each embodiment, the same code | symbol may be used for the same or the same kind of member.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 shows a power storage module according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the power storage module 30 includes a power storage device group 5 in which a plurality of power storage devices 1 are juxtaposed, one gas absorption cartridge 10 containing a gas absorbent, and a connecting member 20.

  The electricity storage device 1 includes a rectangular container 1a, a positive electrode terminal 2a, a negative electrode terminal 2b, and a pressure release valve 3 that is opened at a predetermined pressure. In this electricity storage device 1, an electricity storage element composed of an electrolyte and positive and negative electrode bodies is enclosed in a container 1a, and when gas is generated inside the container 1a in the event of an abnormality such as overcharge or short circuit, The release valve 3 is opened to release the electrolyte and gas.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the electricity storage device group 5 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the power storage device group 5 is juxtaposed with the pressure release valves 3 of the plurality of power storage devices 1 aligned on one side. In the present embodiment, as shown in this figure, the electricity storage device group 5 is arranged so that the directions of the positive electrode and the negative electrode are opposite to each other between adjacent electricity storage devices, and connects the adjacent positive electrode and negative electrode. It is connected in series. When arranged in this manner, the adjacent power storage devices are connected to each other at the shortest distance, so that the electrical resistance due to the wiring connecting the power storage devices can be reduced, and the weight of the entire power storage module can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, one pressure release valve 3 is provided on each of the flat short side surfaces of the rectangular container 1a, and is alternately arranged on each of the positive side and the negative side of the short side of the container 1a. Is done. Therefore, all the pressure release valves 3 are formed on one side surface of the electricity storage device group 5. As a result, the gas absorption cartridge 10 can be connected only to one side of the electricity storage device group 5.

  In such a configuration, since the pressure release valve 3 needs to be provided on either the right side or the left side of the positive electrode terminal 2a or the negative electrode terminal 2b, it is necessary to manufacture two types of power storage devices 1. However, if the storage devices are connected in parallel and used due to special circumstances, the shape of the container may be one type.

  A gas absorbing material 13 is sealed in the gas absorbing cartridge 10 and a gas inlet 11 is provided for allowing the gas to flow inside. The same number of gas inlets 11 are provided opposite to the pressure release valve 3 of each power storage device, and a connecting member 20 is provided between the power storage device group 5 and the gas absorption cartridge 10. The connecting member 20 forms a sealed space S while maintaining airtightness between the electricity storage device group 5 and the gas absorption cartridge 10.

  If it does in this way, the electrical storage module 30 can send the electrolyte solution and gas discharge | released from the pressure release valve 3 to the gas inflow port 11 via the sealed space S. FIG. Therefore, piping parts or the like are not required between the pressure release valve 3 and the gas inlet 11, and the power storage module 30 can be downsized as a whole.

  In the first embodiment, since the sealed space S is formed for each pressure release valve 3, it is not affected by the electrolyte or gas discharged from the other power storage device 1. Even when the gas is ejected violently from the pressure release valve 3, it is surely sent to the gas absorption cartridge 10.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the connecting member 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the connecting member 20 includes a window frame portion 21, a guide rail portion 22, and a spacer portion 23. When the power storage device group 5 and the gas absorption cartridge 10 are connected via the connecting member, the window frame portion 21 surrounds the pressure release valve 3 of the power storage device 1 without a gap at one opening, and the gas at the other opening. It arrange | positions so that the gas inflow port 11 of the absorption cartridge 10 may be enclosed without gap. At this time, airtightness may be improved by using an O-ring or the like. The guide rail portion 22 is a portion into which the engaging portion 12 of the gas absorption cartridge 10 is fitted, and in the example of this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of this portion is substantially T-shaped. The spacer portion 23 has an R shape that is in close contact with the R portion of the container of the electricity storage device 1 and holds the electricity storage devices 1 at predetermined intervals.

  In addition, the shape of the window frame part 21 can consider various shapes, such as circular, and is not restricted to what was illustrated. Further, the cross-sectional shape of the guide rail portion 22 is not limited to the T shape, and may be a shape that can be fitted to the engaging portion of the gas absorption cartridge 10. The spacer portion 23 preferably has a shape that is in close contact with the container of the power storage device 1, but may be any shape that can hold each power storage device 1 at a predetermined interval. Further, when there is no need to increase the interval between the power storage devices 1 or when a separate spacer is prepared, the spacer portion 23 may not be provided.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the connecting member is attached to the power storage device group. As shown in FIG. 4, the connecting member 20 is provided at a predetermined position of the power storage device group 5.

  The gas absorption cartridge 10 needs to be fixed so that the electrolyte and gas released from the electricity storage device when the pressure release valve 3 is opened are not leaked, but the means is not particularly limited. For example, both ends of the power storage module may be held between end plates or the like, or after the gas absorption cartridge is slid and attached by a slide mechanism or the like, it may be fixed so as not to move by a fixing member such as a stopper.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the gas absorption cartridge. FIG. 5 shows a part of the gas absorption cartridge. As shown in FIG. 5, the gas absorption cartridge 10 is provided with a gas inlet 11 in a container 10 a provided with an engaging portion 12. In the present embodiment, the same number of gas inlets 11 as the number of power storage devices 1 are provided. And after attaching the gas absorption cartridge 10 to the electrical storage device group 5, it is preferable to arrange | position in a line at equal intervals so that the gas inflow port 11 and the pressure release valve 3 of each electrical storage device 1 may oppose.

  The gas inlet 11 may be configured by an inflow valve that opens at a predetermined pressure, but is not limited to this type of pressure valve, and may be configured by a filter member such as filter paper, non-woven cloth, or mesh, for example. Good. However, when the gas inlet 11 is constituted by a filter member instead of the pressure valve, the air flows into the cartridge, and the gas absorbent in the cartridge is likely to deteriorate. Therefore, in the case of using a gas absorbing material that deteriorates when exposed to the atmosphere, it is preferable that the gas absorbing material is constituted by an “inflow valve” that opens at a predetermined pressure rather than the filter member. The valve opening pressure of the inflow valve is preferably less than the valve opening pressure of the pressure release valve. This is because the inflow valve is opened in conjunction with the opening of the pressure release valve by setting the opening pressure of the inflow valve of the gas absorption cartridge below the pressure release valve pressure. This is because the gas can be smoothly guided into the gas absorption cartridge, and the gas absorption efficiency can be improved.

  Alternatively, the gas absorption cartridge 10 may be divided into at least two chambers of an electrolyte solution absorption layer and a gas absorption layer. In this case, it is preferable because the absorption efficiency of the gas discharged from the electricity storage device can be increased by adopting the configuration in which the electrolyte absorption layer is provided on the side closer to the safety valve of the electricity storage device and the gas absorption layer is provided on the far side. .

  As shown in FIG. 5, the engagement portion 12 has a cross-sectional shape of, for example, a substantially T shape, and the engagement portion 12 sandwiches the gas inlet 11 on the same surface as the gas inlet 11. It may be arranged in two rows.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the guide rail portion. 6 (a) is a side view of the connecting member viewed in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 (b) is fitted to the guide rail portion viewed in the direction of arrow BB in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the gas absorption cartridge to do. As shown in FIG. 6A, in the connecting member 20, the guide rail portion 22 has a substantially T-shaped cross section, and the engaging portion 12 of the gas absorbing cartridge 10 is fitted therein. As shown in FIG. 6B, the gas absorption cartridge 10 is provided with a gas outflow valve 14 that opens at a predetermined pressure in a container 10a, and encloses a gas absorption material 13 therein. The role of the gas outflow valve 14 is to lower the pressure by opening the valve when the internal pressure of the gas absorption cartridge 10 exceeds a predetermined value. Therefore, the valve opening pressure of the gas outflow valve 14 is preferably smaller than the valve opening pressure of the pressure release valve 3 and larger than the valve opening pressure of the gas inlet valve of the gas absorption cartridge. On both sides of the gas inlet port 11, engaging portions 12 having a substantially T-shaped cross section are arranged. As the gas absorbing material 13, a general material such as activated carbon, zeolite, or porous material can be used.

  The internal structure of the container of the gas absorption cartridge 10 may be configured so as to lengthen the flow path of the electrolytic solution or gas by a partition or the like. For example, if a flow path is formed such that the electrolytic solution or gas is repeatedly moved up and down or left and right by the partition plate, and the gas absorbent 13 is disposed on the flow path, the contact between the electrolytic solution or gas and the gas absorbent 13 The time can be lengthened, the contact area can be increased, and the absorption rate of the electrolyte and gas is improved. Further, the internal structure of the container of the gas absorption cartridge 10 may constitute a plurality of layers or regions, and a gas absorbing material 13 corresponding to the electrolyte solution or gas component to be absorbed is arranged for each layer or region. Also good. Note that a mesh, a filter paper, a net, a filter, a plate having a through-hole, or the like may be used for the boundary portion of each layer or region. In addition, the gas absorption cartridge 10 may include a catalyst, a heat absorption material, and the like in addition to the gas absorption material 13 inside the container in order to improve the absorption rate of the electrolytic solution and the gas.

  By sliding the engaging portion 12 of the gas absorbing cartridge 10 from one end of the guide rail portion 22 of the connecting member 20, the gas absorbing cartridge 10 can be easily attached to the power storage device group 5 provided with the connecting member 20. Can be attached or removed.

  The power storage module 30 of the first embodiment can easily attach or remove the gas absorption cartridge 10. In addition, a sealed space S is formed between each power storage device 1 and the gas absorption cartridge 10, and the electrolyte or gas released from the pressure release valve 3 can be sent to the gas inlet 11 through the sealed space S. it can. According to such a configuration, piping or the like for communicating with the pressure release valve 3 and the gas inflow port 11 is not necessary, so that the power storage module 30 can be configured to be space-saving and small. Further, even if the electrolyte or gas is violently discharged without being affected by the electrolyte or gas discharged from the other power storage device 1, it can be reliably sent from the pressure release valve 3 to the gas inlet 11. .

  In the power storage module according to the first embodiment, the example in which the pressure release valve 3 and the connection member 20 are provided on one short side surface of the power storage device 1 is shown. It may be provided on the part or other surface.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another example of the gas absorption cartridge. FIG. 7 shows a part of the gas absorption cartridge. As shown in FIG. 7, the gas absorption cartridge 40 includes a container 40 a provided with an engaging portion 42, one gas inlet 41, and a common flow passage 45. The gas absorption cartridge 40 and the gas absorption cartridge 10 of FIG. 5 are different in the number of gas inlets and the presence / absence of the common flow passage 45, and the other configurations are the same. Such a gas absorption cartridge 40 can be easily attached to or detached from the power storage device group 5 provided with the connecting member 20. Further, when this gas absorption cartridge 40 is used, when electrolyte solution or gas is released from the pressure release valve 3 of each power storage device 1, the electrolyte solution or gas is commonly circulated through each window frame portion 22 of the connecting member 20. It can be collected in the passage 45 and sent to the gas inlet 41. The common flow passage 45 may be provided on the connecting member 20 side.

  As described above, the configuration of the gas absorption cartridge can be simplified by making the gas inlet of the gas absorption cartridge common to a plurality of power storage devices.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a power storage module according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the power storage module 50 includes a power storage device group 55 formed by juxtaposing a plurality of power storage devices 51, a gas absorption cartridge 10 containing a gas absorbent, and a connecting member 20. The power storage module 50 and the power storage module 30 of FIG. 1 are different in the arrangement direction of the power storage device, the location of the pressure release valve 53 in the power storage device, and the wiring of the bus bar (current line) 54, and other configurations are the same. It is. Therefore, detailed description of the same configuration is omitted.

  The electricity storage device 51 includes a rectangular container 51a, a positive electrode terminal 52a, a negative electrode terminal 52b, and a pressure release valve 53 that is opened at a predetermined pressure. The positive terminal 52a is provided at one end of the upper surface of the container, and the negative terminal 52b is provided at the other end of the upper surface.

  In the power storage device group 55, a plurality of power storage devices 51 are juxtaposed in the same direction, and the pressure release valves 53 of the respective power storage devices 51 are arranged in one side. The positive electrode terminal 52a and the negative electrode terminal 52b are each arranged in a line, and all the pressure release valves are arranged only on the positive electrode terminal side of the electricity storage device.

  The positive electrode terminal 52a of the power storage device 51 and the negative electrode terminal 52b of another power storage device 51 adjacent to each other are connected obliquely by a bus bar 54, and the power storage devices 51 as a whole are connected in series.

  One of the advantages of such an embodiment is that the pressure relief valve can be collected on the side where the amount of gas generation is large. In the above example, an example in which the pressure release valves 53 are arranged on the positive electrode side is shown. Which side of the positive electrode or negative electrode should be aligned depends on the type of electrolyte, active material, etc. enclosed in the electricity storage device. The power storage device shown in this embodiment is particularly advantageous in terms of manufacturing cost in that only one type of power storage device is manufactured.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Power storage device 2 Terminal 3 Pressure release valve 5 Power storage device group 10 Gas absorption cartridge 11 Gas inflow port 12 Engagement part 13 Gas absorption material 14 Gas outflow valve 20 Connecting member 21 Window frame part 22 Guide rail part 23 Spacer parts 30 and 50 Power storage module 51 Power storage device 52a Negative terminal 52b Positive terminal 53 Pressure release valve 54 Busbar

Claims (8)

A power storage device group in which a plurality of power storage devices enclosing an electrolyte solution are juxtaposed;
A power storage module including a gas absorption cartridge that is attached to the power storage device group and contains a gas absorbing material,
Each of the power storage devices has a pressure release valve that releases gas by opening at a predetermined pressure,
The gas absorption cartridge has one or a plurality of gas inlets that allow gas to flow into the interior,
The power storage device group and the gas absorption cartridge are detachably connected by a connecting member,
The power storage module, wherein the connecting member forms a sealed space for connecting the pressure release valve and the gas inlet between the power storage device group and the gas absorption cartridge.   The power storage module according to claim 1, wherein the gas inlet is a gas inlet valve that opens at a predetermined pressure. The connecting member has a guide rail portion,
The gas absorption cartridge has an engaging portion;
The power storage module according to claim 1, wherein a sealed space is formed by fitting the engaging portion to the guide rail portion. Each of the electricity storage devices has a square shape,
Each of the pressure release valves is provided on one surface of the electricity storage device,
The power storage module according to claim 3, wherein the power storage device group has the pressure release valves arranged on one side. The electricity storage device has a positive terminal at one end of the upper surface and a negative terminal at the other end,
The power storage module according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the pressure release valve is provided on one side surface of the positive electrode terminal or the negative electrode terminal.   The power storage module according to claim 5, wherein the power storage device is a secondary battery.   The power storage module according to claim 6, wherein the secondary battery contains lithium iron phosphate as a positive electrode active material.   The power storage module according to claim 5, wherein the power storage device is a power storage device.

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