JP2013175296A - Temperature adjustment mechanism for battery - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a temperature adjustment mechanism for a battery which reduces a temperature difference between batteries.SOLUTION: First to fourth secondary batteries 31 to 34 are disposed in a case 10. A circulation passage 14, in which a heat medium circulates, is formed in the case 10. Further, an air blower 15 enabling forward and reverse rotations is disposed in the case 10. An air blowing direction of the air blower 15 may be changed by changing a rotation direction. Further, a circulation direction of the heat medium may be switched by changing the rotation direction of the air blower 15. Further, a heat exchanger 17 conducting heat exchange with the heat medium may be disposed in the case 10.

Description

  According to the present invention, a plurality of batteries are juxtaposed along a circulation direction of the heat medium on the circulation channel inside the case in which a circulation channel for circulating the heat medium is formed. The present invention relates to a battery temperature adjustment mechanism for adjusting the temperature of a battery.

  In recent years, charging and discharging of a secondary battery (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 accompany large heat generation inside the secondary battery, so that the temperature of the secondary battery rises and promotes deterioration of the performance of the secondary battery. In addition, depending on the secondary battery, the discharge performance deteriorates when the environmental temperature is low. For this reason, it is necessary to adjust the temperature of the secondary battery to a specified temperature. As what controls the temperature of a secondary battery, the temperature control apparatus of patent document 1 is mentioned, for example.

  In Patent Document 1, a secondary battery module is formed by housing a plurality of secondary batteries arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals in a case. One end of a pair of cooling passages is connected to the case, and a heat radiating portion is connected to the other ends of both cooling passages. And the cooling fluid cooled by the thermal radiation part distribute | circulates the inside of a case via one cooling channel, and a secondary battery is cooled. The coolant after cooling the secondary battery is supplied to the heat radiating part via the other cooling passage and cooled by the heat radiating part.

JP 2011-159601 A

  By the way, the cooling liquid supplied in the case in Patent Document 1 is gradually heated by heat exchange with the secondary battery as it goes from the upstream side to the downstream side in the case. The temperature difference from the secondary battery becomes smaller. Therefore, in the temperature control apparatus of Patent Document 1, the cooling efficiency of the secondary battery located on the downstream side decreases, and the secondary battery located on the upstream side and the secondary battery located on the downstream side are between. A temperature difference will occur.

  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 temperature adjusting mechanism capable of reducing a temperature difference between batteries.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to a case in which a circulation channel for circulating a heat medium is formed, and a plurality of batteries are placed on the circulation channel along the circulation direction of the heat medium. A temperature control mechanism for a battery that adjusts the temperature of the battery by a heat medium that circulates through the circulation flow path, and a heat exchanger that exchanges heat with the heat medium; A circulation mechanism that circulates the heat medium and a switching unit that switches a circulation direction of the heat medium are disposed inside the case, and the heat exchanger immediately after the heat exchange is performed among the plurality of batteries. The gist is to adjust the temperature in order from the battery disposed upstream in the circulation direction of the heat medium.

  According to this, by switching the circulation direction of the heat medium in the case, it is possible to reverse the order of the batteries to be heat exchanged with the heat medium immediately after heat exchange with the heat exchanger. For example, a battery that was initially heat exchanged with a heat medium is finally heat exchanged. Therefore, by adjusting the battery temperature while switching the circulation direction of the heat medium by the switching means, the difference in the temperature adjustment efficiency among the plurality of batteries is reduced. Therefore, the temperature difference between the batteries can be reduced.

A plurality of the heat exchangers may be provided.
According to this, for example, when one and a plurality of heat exchangers have the same heat exchange efficiency, the plurality of heat exchangers can more efficiently exchange heat with the heat medium. Moreover, the temperature difference between each heat exchanger becomes small by adjusting the temperature of the battery while switching the circulation direction of the heat medium by the switching means.

  In addition, a battery in which the heat medium immediately after heat exchange with the heat exchanger performs heat exchange first and a battery in which heat exchange is performed last are provided with a battery temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the battery, When the temperature difference between the temperature of the battery that exchanges heat first with the heat exchanger and the temperature of the battery that exchanges heat lastly exceeds a threshold, The circulation direction of the heat medium may be switched.

  According to this, the circulation direction of the heat medium is switched based on the temperature difference between the two batteries having the largest temperature difference. The threshold value is set to a value slightly lower than the temperature difference within a range where the battery can be suitably discharged. Therefore, when the temperature difference of the battery is higher than the temperature difference within a range where the battery can be suitably discharged, the order of the battery exchanged with the heat medium immediately after the heat exchange with the heat exchanger is reversed. As a result, the temperature difference of the battery is maintained within a range where the battery can be suitably discharged, and the battery can be suitably discharged.

  According to the present invention, the temperature difference between batteries can be reduced.

The schematic diagram which shows the temperature control mechanism for batteries in 1st Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the process which the control apparatus in 1st Embodiment performs. The schematic diagram which shows the temperature control mechanism for batteries in 2nd Embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the temperature control mechanism for batteries in 2nd Embodiment.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the case 10 includes a bottom plate 10a having a rectangular shape in plan view, side walls 10b and 10c erected from the short side of the four sides of the bottom plate 10a, and side walls 10d and 10e erected from the long side. And a top plate (not shown). Inside the case 10, a first battery pack 21, a second battery pack 22, a third battery pack 23, and a fourth battery pack 24 are arranged side by side along the inner surface of the side wall 10d. Each of the battery packs 21 to 24 is formed by arranging a plurality of secondary batteries 31 to 34 as batteries in parallel along a direction from the side wall 10d toward the side wall 10e with a predetermined interval. The battery temperature adjustment mechanism 1 according to the present embodiment circulates a gaseous heat medium (for example, air) inside the case 10, so that the temperature of the secondary batteries 31 to 34 disposed inside the case 10. This is a temperature control mechanism for a battery that performs adjustment. In the following description, the secondary battery 31 forming the first battery pack 21 is the first secondary battery 31, and the secondary battery 32 forming the second battery pack 22 is the second secondary battery 32, the third battery. The secondary battery 33 forming the pack 23 will be described as the third secondary battery 33, and the secondary battery 34 forming the fourth battery pack 24 will be described as the fourth secondary battery 34.

  On the bottom plate 10a of the case 10, a rectangular plate-like partition plate 11 is erected so as to face the side wall 10e and extend in parallel. And inside the case 10, the 1st flow path 12 through which a heat medium distribute | circulates between the partition plate 11 and the side wall 10d is divided, and the 2nd heat medium distribute | circulates between the partition plate 11 and the side wall 10e. A flow path 13 is defined. The first flow path 12 has a larger flow path area through which the heat medium flows than the second flow path 13. The first flow path 12 and the second flow path 13 include a gap 61 between the one end 11a of the partition plate 11 and the side wall 10b facing the one end 11a, the other end 11b of the partition plate 11, and the other end 11b. And a side wall 10c facing each other through a gap 62. The first flow path 12, the gap 61, the second flow path 13, and the gap 62 form a circulation flow path 14 in which the heat medium circulates in the case 10. The first battery pack 21 to the fourth battery pack 24 are disposed in the first flow path 12 and are arranged in parallel on the circulation flow path 14. Accordingly, the first secondary battery 31 to the fourth secondary battery 34 are also arranged in parallel along the circulation direction of the heat medium on the circulation flow path 14.

  Inside the case 10, a blower 15 is disposed between the inner surface of the side wall 10 b and the first battery pack 21 as a circulation mechanism that circulates the heat medium in the circulation flow path 14. The blower 15 includes a first blower port 15a that opens toward the first battery pack 21, and a second blower port 15b that extends in the opposite direction to the first blower port 15a and opens toward the side wall 10e. . The blower 15 is a blower 15 that can rotate forward and backward, and can change the blowing direction by changing the rotation direction. When the blower 15 of the present embodiment rotates in the forward direction, as shown by the arrow Y1, the blower 15 blows air from the first blower port 15a toward the first flow path 12, and when rotated in the reverse direction, the arrow As indicated by Y2, air is blown from the second air blowing port 15b toward the second flow path 13. That is, when the blower 15 rotates in the forward direction, the heat medium circulates in the circulation flow path 14 in the order of the first flow path 12 → the gap 62 → the second flow path 13 → the gap 61, and the blower 15 is moved in the reverse direction. When rotating, the heat medium circulates in the circulation channel 14 in the order of the gap 61 → the second channel 13 → the gap 62 → the first channel 12. Therefore, in this embodiment, the blower 15 functions as a switching unit that switches the circulation direction of the heat medium that circulates in the circulation flow path 14.

  In addition, a plurality (two in this embodiment) of thermoelectric conversion elements 16 are disposed on the side wall 10c. More specifically, the side wall 10c has two fitting holes 10f into which the thermoelectric conversion elements 16 are fitted, and the thermoelectric conversion elements 16 are fitted into the respective fitting holes 10f. The thermoelectric conversion element 16 constitutes a part of the side wall 10c.

  The thermoelectric conversion element 16 has a first surface 16a and a second surface 16b that perform opposite actions of heat absorption and heat dissipation according to the polarity of energization, and heat exchange is performed on the first surface 16a and the second surface 16b. Containers 17 and 18 are joined. The heat exchanger 17 joined to the first surface 16 a is exposed inside the case 10 and can exchange heat with the heat medium circulating in the circulation flow path 14. The first surface 16a can heat or cool the heat exchanger 17 by performing heat absorption and heat dissipation. Therefore, the thermoelectric conversion element 16 functions as a temperature adjusting device that adjusts the temperature of the heat medium inside the case 10 via the heat exchanger 17.

  The first secondary battery 31 and the fourth secondary battery 34 are provided with battery temperature sensors 41 and 42 that measure the temperatures of the first secondary battery 31 and the fourth secondary battery 34. When the heat medium circulates in the circulation flow path 14 in the order of the first flow path 12 → the gap 62 → the second flow path 13 → the gap 61, immediately after the first secondary battery 31 is heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger 17. The heat medium becomes a battery that performs heat exchange first, and the fourth secondary battery 34 becomes a battery that finally performs heat exchange. That is, temperature adjustment is performed in order from the first secondary battery 31 that is a battery disposed on the upstream side in the circulation direction of the heat medium immediately after heat exchange with the heat exchanger 17. The “heat medium immediately after being heat exchanged with the heat exchanger 17” here refers to the heat medium after heat exchange with the heat exchanger 17 is performed with any of the secondary batteries 31 to 34. The heat medium in a state where no heating is performed is shown. On the other hand, when the heat medium circulates in the circulation flow path 14 in the order of the gap 61 → the second flow path 13 → the gap 62 → the first flow path 12, the first secondary battery 31 is heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger 17. The immediately following heat medium becomes the battery that performs heat exchange last, and the fourth secondary battery 34 becomes the battery that performs heat exchange first. That is, the temperature adjustment is performed in order from the fourth secondary battery 34 that is a battery disposed on the upstream side in the circulation direction of the heat medium immediately after heat exchange with the heat exchanger 17. Therefore, regardless of the circulation direction of the heat medium, the battery that performs heat exchange first and the battery that performs heat exchange immediately after heat exchange with the heat exchanger 17 are the first secondary battery 31 and the first battery. 4 secondary battery 34 is obtained. The battery temperature adjustment mechanism 1 according to the present embodiment includes a circulation flow path 14, a blower 15, a heat exchanger 17, and battery temperature sensors 41 and 42 disposed inside the case 10.

  The battery temperature sensors 41 and 42, the thermoelectric conversion element 16, and the blower 15 are connected to the control device 43. And the control apparatus 43 controls the thermoelectric conversion element 16 and the air blower 15 based on the temperature of the 1st secondary battery 31 and the 4th secondary battery 34 measured by each battery temperature sensor 41,42.

Next, the operation of the battery temperature adjustment mechanism 1 in this embodiment will be described.
In the state where the secondary batteries 31 to 34 are charged and discharged, temperature information of the first secondary battery 31 and the fourth secondary battery 34 is input to the control device 43. And the control apparatus 43 adjusts the temperature of the secondary batteries 31-34 as shown in FIG.

  Whether the control device 43 needs to adjust the temperature of the secondary batteries 31 to 34 based on the temperature information of the first secondary battery 31 and the fourth secondary battery 34 output from the battery temperature sensors 41 and 42 to the control device 43. Is determined (step S10). Specifically, the control device 43 determines whether or not the temperatures of the first secondary battery 31 and the fourth secondary battery 34 measured by the battery temperature sensors 41 and 42 are within a predetermined range. If it is determined that the temperature is within a certain range, it is determined that temperature adjustment is not necessary. The temperature in the certain range is a temperature range in which the secondary batteries 31 to 34 can be appropriately charged and discharged, and the temperature of at least one of the first secondary battery 31 and the fourth secondary battery 34 is If it is higher than the upper limit, it is determined that the secondary batteries 31 to 34 need to be cooled. If the temperature of at least one of the first secondary battery 31 and the fourth secondary battery 34 is lower than the lower limit, it is determined that the secondary batteries 31 to 34 need to be heated. If the determination result of step S10 is affirmative, the control device 43 proceeds to step S20.

  In step S20, the control device 43 determines whether or not the thermoelectric conversion element 16 and the blower 15 are driven, that is, whether or not the temperature adjustment of the secondary batteries 31 to 34 has already been performed. When the determination result of step S20 is negative, the control device 43 proceeds to step S30. On the other hand, when the determination result of step S20 is affirmative, the control device 43 proceeds to step S40.

  In step S <b> 30, the control device 43 drives the thermoelectric conversion element 16 and the blower 15. Specifically, when it is determined in step S10 that the secondary batteries 31 to 34 need to be heated, the first surface 16a of the thermoelectric conversion element 16 dissipates heat and the second surface 16b absorbs heat. The thermoelectric conversion element 16 is controlled. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S10 that the secondary batteries 31 to 34 need to be cooled, the first surface 16a of the thermoelectric conversion element 16 absorbs heat and the second surface 16b dissipates heat. 16 is controlled.

  Further, the control device 43 compares the temperature of the first secondary battery 31 with the temperature of the fourth secondary battery 34 to determine the rotation direction of the blower 15. When the secondary battery 31 to 34 needs to be heated, the control device 43 compares the temperature of the first secondary battery 31 and the temperature of the fourth secondary battery 34 to determine whether the secondary batteries 31 and 34 having a lower temperature are present. Then, the blower 15 is driven so as to be the secondary batteries 31 and 34 in which heat exchange is first performed by the heat medium immediately after heat exchange with the heat exchanger 17. Further, when the secondary battery 31 to 34 needs to be cooled, the control device 43 compares the temperature of the first secondary battery 31 with the temperature of the fourth secondary battery 34, and the secondary battery 31 having a high temperature. The blower 15 is driven so that the heat medium immediately after the heat exchange of the heat exchanger 34 with the heat exchanger 17 becomes the secondary batteries 31 and 34 that perform heat exchange first.

  And the heat medium circulates through the circulation flow path 14 by driving the blower 15. When the blower 15 is driven to rotate in the forward direction, the heat medium exchanges heat with the heat exchanger 17 joined to the first surface 16 a of the thermoelectric conversion element 16 after flowing through the first flow path 12. Do. The heat medium is cooled when the first surface 16a of the thermoelectric conversion element 16 absorbs heat, and heated when it dissipates heat. Accordingly, the heat medium that has been subjected to heat exchange with the secondary batteries 31 to 34 to reduce the temperature adjustment efficiency for the secondary batteries 31 to 34 performs heat exchange with the heat exchanger 17, thereby improving the temperature adjustment efficiency. Then, the heat medium immediately after being heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger 17 circulates in the circulation channel 14 by flowing through the second channel 13 and again through the first channel 12. When the blower 15 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction, the heat medium exchanges heat with the heat exchanger 17 joined to the first surface 16a of the thermoelectric conversion element 16 after flowing through the second flow path 13. Do. The heat medium is heated or cooled by heat exchange with the heat exchanger 17. The heat medium immediately after being heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger 17 circulates in the circulation flow path 14 by flowing through the first flow path 12 and again through the second flow path 13. And the control apparatus 43 transfers to step S40.

  In step S40, the control device 43 determines whether or not the temperature difference between the first secondary battery 31 and the fourth secondary battery 34 is equal to or greater than a threshold value. In addition, a threshold value is set to a value a little lower than the temperature difference of the range which can charge / discharge suitably the secondary batteries 31-34. When the heat medium is circulated by blowing air from the blower 15, the heat medium exchanged by the heat exchanger 17 is heat-exchanged with the secondary batteries 31 to 34 as it circulates through the circulation channel 14. For this reason, the temperature difference between the heat medium exchanged by the heat exchanger 17 and the secondary battery 31 to 34 to be heat-exchanged later becomes smaller, and with time, the heat exchanger 17 A temperature difference is generated between the secondary batteries 31 and 34 in which the heat medium immediately after the heat exchange performs heat exchange first and the secondary batteries 31 and 34 in which heat exchange is performed last.

  Specifically, when the heat medium is circulated in the circulation flow path 14 by rotating the blower 15 in the forward direction, the first secondary battery 31 is immediately after the heat exchange by the heat exchanger 17. Since the heat medium becomes the secondary battery 31 that performs heat exchange first, the temperature is adjusted most efficiently. Then, the temperature regulation efficiency decreases in the order of the first secondary battery 31 → the second secondary battery 32 → the third secondary battery 33 → the fourth secondary battery 34. For this reason, the temperature difference between the first secondary battery 31 and the fourth secondary battery 34 is the largest.

  When the heat medium is circulated in the circulation flow path 14 by rotating the blower 15 in the reverse direction, the heat medium immediately after the heat exchange of the fourth secondary battery 34 by the heat exchanger 17 is first performed. The secondary battery 31 is replaced, and the temperature regulation efficiency decreases in the order of the fourth secondary battery 34 → the third secondary battery 33 → the second secondary battery 32 → the first secondary battery 31. For this reason, the temperature difference of the 1st secondary battery 31 and the 4th secondary battery 34 becomes the largest similarly to the case where the air blower 15 is rotated in the forward direction. When the determination result of step S40 is affirmative, the control device 43 proceeds to step S50. On the other hand, when the determination result of step S40 is negative, the control device 43 ends the process.

  In step S50, the control device 43 changes the blowing direction by changing the rotation direction of the blower 15. By changing the air blowing direction, the circulation direction of the heat medium is switched. Specifically, when the heat medium circulates in the circulation flow path 14 in the order of the first flow path 12 → the second flow path 13, the heat medium moves from the second flow path 13 → the first flow path 12. The circulation channel 14 is circulated in order. When the heat medium circulates in the circulation channel 14 in the order of the second channel 13 → the first channel 12, the heat medium circulates in the order of the first channel 12 → the second channel 13. 14 will be circulated. That is, the order of the secondary batteries 31 to 34 performing heat exchange with the heat medium immediately after heat exchange with the heat exchanger 17 is reversed. Therefore, the temperature adjustment efficiency for the first secondary battery 31 and the temperature adjustment efficiency for the fourth secondary battery 34 are switched. Similarly, the temperature control efficiency for the second secondary battery 32 and the third secondary battery 33 is switched.

When the determination result of step S10 is affirmative, the control device 43 proceeds to step S60.
In step S60, the control device 43 determines whether or not the thermoelectric conversion element 16 and the blower 15 are driven. If the determination result of step S60 is negative, the control device 43 ends the process. On the other hand, when the determination result of step S60 is positive, the control device 43 proceeds to step S70. In step S70, the control apparatus 43 stops the thermoelectric conversion element 16 and the air blower 15, and complete | finishes a process.

Therefore, according to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) A circulation channel 14 for circulating the heat medium is formed inside the case 10, and a plurality of secondary batteries 31 to 34 are arranged in parallel along the circulation direction of the heat medium in the circulation channel 14. Yes. And the ventilation direction of the air blower 15 arrange | positioned inside the case 10 is changed by changing a rotation direction. By changing the blowing direction of the blower 15, the circulation direction of the heat medium in the case 10 can be switched, and the secondary batteries 31 to 31 are heat-exchanged by the heat medium immediately after heat exchange with the heat exchanger 17. The order of 34 can be reversed. Therefore, by adjusting the temperature of the secondary batteries 31 to 34 while switching the circulation direction of the heat medium, the difference in temperature adjustment efficiency with respect to each of the secondary batteries 31 to 34 is reduced. For this reason, the temperature difference between the secondary batteries 31-34 can be made small.

  (2) A plurality (two) of heat exchangers 17 are arranged. Therefore, the heat medium is efficiently heat-exchanged by the plurality of heat exchangers 17. In addition, by adjusting the temperature of the secondary batteries 31 to 34 while changing the direction of circulation of the heat medium by changing the blowing direction of the blower 15, the temperature difference between the heat exchangers 17 is also reduced as a result. Therefore, the efficiency of heat exchange with the heat medium is improved.

  (3) The battery temperature sensors 41 and 42 are provided in the first secondary battery 31 and the fourth secondary battery 34. And if the control apparatus 43 judges that the temperature difference of the 1st secondary battery 31 and the 4th secondary battery 34 became more than a threshold value based on the detection result of the battery temperature sensors 41 and 42, the ventilation direction of the air blower 15 will be set. By changing, the circulation direction of the heat medium is changed. The circulation direction of the heat medium is switched based on the temperature difference between the first secondary battery 31 and the fourth secondary battery 34 where the temperature difference becomes the largest. The threshold value is set to a value slightly lower than the temperature difference within a range where the secondary batteries 31 to 34 can be charged / discharged suitably. Therefore, if the temperature difference between the first secondary battery 31 and the fourth secondary battery 34 is to be higher than the temperature difference within a range in which the secondary batteries 31 to 34 can be charged / discharged suitably, the heat exchanger 17 and the heat exchanger 17 are heated. The order of the secondary batteries 31 and 34 to be heat exchanged with the heat medium immediately after the exchange is reversed. As a result, the temperature difference between the secondary batteries 31 to 34 is maintained within a range where the secondary batteries 31 to 34 can be charged / discharged suitably, and the secondary batteries 31 to 34 can be charged / discharged appropriately.

(4) The blower 15, the heat exchanger 17, and the secondary batteries 31 to 34 are accommodated in the case 10. Therefore, these can be combined into one unit.
(5) The first surface 16a of the thermoelectric conversion element 16 is joined to the heat exchanger 17, and the first surface 16a absorbs heat or dissipates heat so that the heat medium can be heated or cooled via the heat exchanger 17. I have to. For this reason, a heat carrier can be heated or cooled, and the temperature control efficiency with respect to the secondary batteries 31-34 is improved.

  (6) Further, by using the thermoelectric conversion element 16, it is possible to cool and heat the heat medium instead of either heating or cooling. Therefore, the secondary batteries 31 to 34 can be heated and cooled.

(Second Embodiment)
In the following, a second embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the embodiment described below, the same components as those in the embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof is omitted or simplified.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first flow path 12 and the second flow path 13 of the present embodiment have the same flow path area through which the heat medium flows. A first battery pack 21 and a second battery pack 22 are disposed in the first flow path 12, and a third battery pack 23 and a fourth battery pack 24 are disposed in the second flow path 13. Yes.

  Between the inner surface of the side wall 10b and the first battery pack 21, a first guide member 51 is provided as a switching means. Further, a second guide member 52 serving as a switching unit is provided between the inner surface of the side wall 10 b and the fourth battery pack 24. Each guide member 51, 52 has a plate shape, and drive portions 51a, 52a are provided at the base ends of the respective guide members 51, 52. When the drive unit 51a is driven, the first guide member 51 is rotatable between a position where the tip of the first guide member 51 abuts on the side wall 10d and a position where the first guide member 51 abuts on the partition plate 11. Further, when the driving unit 52a is driven, the second guide member 52 is rotatable between a position where the tip of the second guide member 52 is in contact with the side wall 10e and a position in which the second guide member 52 is in contact with the partition plate 11. The drive part 51a of the first guide member 51 and the drive part 52a of the second guide member 52 are driven in conjunction with each other. The blower 15 is disposed between the first guide member 51 and the second guide member 52 so that air can be blown.

  When the blower 15 blows air with the tip of the first guide member 51 in contact with the side wall 10d and the tip of the second guide member 52 in contact with the partition plate 11, the second guide member 52 causes the second flow path to flow. The flow of the heat medium to 13 is hindered, and the heat medium flows through the first flow path 12 as indicated by an arrow Y3. Accordingly, the heat medium circulates in the circulation flow path 14 in the order of the first flow path 12 → the gap 62 → the second flow path 13 → the gap 61.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the blower 15 blows air with the front end of the first guide member 51 in contact with the partition plate 11 and the front end of the second guide member 52 in contact with the side wall 10 e, the first guide The flow of the heat medium to the first flow path 12 is inhibited by the member 51, and the heat medium flows to the second flow path 13 as indicated by an arrow Y4. Accordingly, the heat medium circulates in the circulation flow path 14 in the order of the second flow path 13 → the gap 62 → the first flow path 12 → the gap 61.

  In the present embodiment, the battery that first performs heat exchange with the heat medium immediately after heat exchange with the heat exchanger 17 and the battery that performs heat exchange last are the second secondary battery 32 and the third secondary battery 33. Become. Therefore, the second secondary battery 32 and the third secondary battery 33 are provided with battery temperature sensors 41 and 42. The battery temperature adjustment mechanism 2 according to the present embodiment includes a circulation flow path 14, a blower 15, a heat exchanger 17, battery temperature sensors 41 and 42, and guide members 51 and 52 disposed inside the case 10. ing.

  And the control apparatus 43 of this embodiment performs control similar to 1st Embodiment. That is, when the difference between the temperature of the second secondary battery 32 and the temperature of the third secondary battery 33 exceeds a threshold value, the guide members 51 and 52 are driven to switch the circulation direction of the heat medium.

Therefore, according to the said embodiment, in addition to the effect (2)-(6) of 1st Embodiment, the following effects can be acquired.
(7) By driving the first guide member 51 and the second guide member 52, the circulation direction of the heat medium can be switched, and heat exchange is performed with the heat medium immediately after heat exchange with the heat exchanger 17. The order of the secondary batteries 31 to 34 can be reversed. Therefore, by adjusting the temperature of the secondary batteries 31 to 34 while switching the circulation direction of the heat medium, the difference in temperature adjustment efficiency with respect to each of the secondary batteries 31 to 34 is reduced. For this reason, the temperature difference between the secondary batteries 31-34 can be made small.

  (8) It is possible to change the circulation direction of the heat medium without changing the rotation direction of the blower 15. Therefore, the circulation direction of the heat medium can be changed with the blower 15 having a simple configuration.

In addition, you may change embodiment as follows.
In each embodiment, the thermoelectric conversion element 16 is used as the temperature adjusting device, but other devices such as a heater and a cooling device may be used. Further, when the temperature of the secondary batteries 31 to 34 can be sufficiently adjusted without using the temperature adjusting device, the temperature adjusting device may not be used.

  In each embodiment, the battery temperature sensors 41 and 42 are provided only in the first secondary battery 31 and the fourth secondary battery 34 or the second secondary battery 32 and the third secondary battery 33. The battery 31 to the fourth secondary battery 34 may be provided with a battery temperature sensor. In this case, the blowing direction of the blower 15 is switched based on the temperatures of the first secondary battery 31 to the fourth secondary battery 34.

  In each embodiment, the battery temperature sensors 41 and 42 are provided in the secondary batteries 31 and 34, but the battery temperature sensors 41 and 42 are provided in the two heat exchangers 17 and based on the temperature difference of the heat exchanger 17. Thus, the circulation direction of the heat medium may be switched. In each embodiment, the number of heat exchangers 17 may be increased. In this case, battery temperature sensors 41 and 42 are provided in the heat exchanger 17 that first performs heat exchange with the heat medium immediately after heat exchange with the secondary batteries 31 and 34 and finally in the heat exchanger 17 that performs heat exchange. May be. In this case, the control device 43 sets the temperature of the heat exchanger 17 that performs heat exchange with the heat medium that exchanges heat with the secondary batteries 31 to 34 and the temperature of the heat exchanger 17 that performs heat exchange at the end. When the temperature difference is equal to or greater than the threshold, the heat medium circulation direction is switched. According to this, the dispersion | variation in the temperature difference between the heat exchangers 17 becomes small.

In each embodiment, each battery pack 21-24 is formed from four secondary batteries 31-34, but the number of secondary batteries 31-34 may be changed.
In each embodiment, the four battery packs 21 to 24 are arranged in parallel inside the case 10, but the number of battery packs may be changed.

In each embodiment, two thermoelectric conversion elements 16 are provided, but the number of thermoelectric conversion elements 16 may be changed.
In each embodiment, the flow channel areas of the first flow channel 12 and the second flow channel 13 may be changed. That is, the flow path areas of the first flow path 12 and the second flow path 13 may be the same or different.

In each embodiment, the secondary batteries 31 to 34 are used as the batteries, but a primary battery may be used.
In each embodiment, the temperature of the secondary batteries 31 to 34 is adjusted using a gaseous heat medium, but a liquid heat medium (for example, cooling water) may be used. In this case, a pump is used as the circulation mechanism.

  In each embodiment, the partition plate 11 is erected so as to extend in parallel with the side wall 10e. However, if the first flow path and the second flow path can be partitioned in the case 10, the partition plate 11 is erected in parallel with the side wall 10e. It does not have to be.

  In the first embodiment, the circulation direction of the thermal refrigerant is changed by changing the rotation direction of the blower 15, but the blower 15 that blows air to the first flow path 12 and the blower that blows air to the second flow path 13. 15 may be provided separately, and the circulation direction of the heat medium may be changed by switching between stopping and driving of each blower 15.

  In the first embodiment, the heat medium circulation direction is changed by changing the rotation direction of the blower 15, but the heat medium circulation is changed by changing the direction of the blower 15 without changing the rotation direction of the blower 15. The direction may be changed.

  In each embodiment, although the blowing direction by the blower 15 was changed based on the temperature of the first secondary battery 31 and the fourth secondary battery 34 measured by the battery temperature sensors 41 and 42, the battery temperature sensor 41, 42 may not be provided, and the air blowing direction by the air blower 15 may be changed at regular intervals. Even in this case, the temperature difference between the secondary batteries 31 to 34 can be reduced.

  In the second embodiment, the drive parts 51a and 52a are provided on the guide members 51 and 52. However, the guide members 51 and 52 are mechanically connected so that the first guide member 51 and the second guide member 52 are interlocked. If connected, the driving unit may be provided only on one of the guide members.

In each embodiment, the heat exchanger 17 may be moved inside the case 10 by providing the heat exchanger 17 with a drive unit and driving the drive unit.
In the first embodiment, the battery temperature sensors 41 and 42 are provided in the first secondary battery 31 and the fourth secondary battery 34, and the heat medium is based on the temperatures of the first secondary battery 31 and the fourth secondary battery 34. Although the circulation direction is switched, it is not limited to this. For example, a temperature sensor is provided in the case 10 at a location close to the first secondary battery 31 and a location close to the fourth secondary battery 34, and the temperature of the heat medium around the first secondary battery 31 and the fourth secondary battery 31. The circulation direction of the heat medium may be switched when the temperature difference between the temperatures of the heat medium around the secondary battery 34 is equal to or greater than a threshold value. Similarly, in the second embodiment, the temperature sensor is provided in the case 10 at a location close to the second secondary battery 32 and a location close to the third secondary battery 33, and a heat medium around the second secondary battery 32. The circulation direction of the heat medium may be switched when the temperature difference between this temperature and the temperature of the heat medium around the third secondary battery 33 exceeds a threshold value. That is, not only the temperature of the secondary batteries 31 to 34 is directly measured, but the temperature of the secondary batteries 31 to 34 may be indirectly measured to switch the circulation direction of the heat medium.

Next, the technical idea that can be grasped from the above embodiment and other examples will be described below.
(B) A temperature adjusting mechanism for a battery according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a temperature adjusting device is joined to the heat exchanger.

  (B) The temperature at which the temperature of the heat exchanger is measured for the heat medium immediately after heat exchange with the secondary battery and the heat exchanger that performs heat exchange first and the heat exchanger that performs heat exchange last. The temperature difference between the temperature of the heat exchanger that is provided with the sensor and the heat medium immediately after heat exchange with the secondary battery and the heat exchanger that first performs heat exchange and the temperature of the heat exchanger that performs heat exchange is equal to or greater than a threshold value. The temperature adjusting mechanism for a battery according to claim 2, wherein the switching means switches the circulation direction of the heat medium when the temperature reaches the upper limit.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 ... Battery temperature control mechanism, 10 ... Case, 14 ... Circulation flow path, 15 ... Blower as circulation mechanism and switching means, 17 ... Heat exchanger, 41, 42 ... Battery temperature sensor, 51 ... As switching means 1st guide member, 52 ... 2nd guide member as a switching means.

Claims (3)

Inside the case in which a circulation channel for circulating the heat medium is formed, a plurality of batteries are juxtaposed along the circulation direction of the heat medium on the circulation channel, and the heat medium circulating through the circulation channel A battery temperature adjustment mechanism for adjusting the temperature of the battery,
A heat exchanger for exchanging heat with the heat medium;
A circulation mechanism for circulating the heat medium in the circulation channel;
Switching means for switching the circulation direction of the heat medium, and disposed inside the case,
Among the plurality of batteries, the temperature adjustment mechanism for the battery performs temperature adjustment in order from the batteries arranged on the upstream side in the circulation direction of the heat medium immediately after the heat exchange by the heat exchanger. .   The battery temperature control mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the heat exchangers are arranged. A battery temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the battery is provided in a battery in which the heat medium immediately after heat exchange with the heat exchanger performs heat exchange first and a battery in which heat exchange is performed last,
When the temperature difference between the temperature of the battery that first performs heat exchange with the heat exchanger immediately after heat exchange with the heat exchanger and the temperature of the battery that finally performs heat exchange is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the switching means The temperature adjustment mechanism for a battery according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the circulation direction of the heat medium is switched.