JP2014026851A - Battery module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance temperature adjustment efficiency by increasing the flow rate of a heating medium being supplied to a temperature control channel.SOLUTION: The battery module includes a plurality of square batteries 21 arranged in parallel, a temperature control channel 25 adjoining the square batteries 21, and a temperature control duct 30 for supplying a heating medium to the temperature control channel 25. The temperature control duct 30 includes an inlet 35 through which the heating medium supplied from a fan flows into the temperature control duct 30, and an outlet 37 through which the heating medium supplied into the temperature control duct 30 flows out toward the temperature control channel 25. Opening area of the outlet 37 is set smaller than that of the inlet 35.

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery module including a plurality of secondary batteries arranged side by side, a temperature control channel adjacent to the secondary battery, and a temperature control duct for supplying a heat medium to the temperature control channel.

A secondary battery has a long life by being maintained at a specified temperature. For this reason, in Patent Document 1, the temperature of the secondary battery (battery module) is adjusted.
A plurality of battery modules are arranged in parallel inside the case of the assembled battery described in Patent Document 1, and each battery module is held by a battery holder in a state where the interval is maintained constant. A partition plate is disposed between adjacent battery modules, and a flow path is partitioned adjacent to each battery module. An inlet for introducing air for cooling the battery modules is formed at one end of the battery holders in the direction in which the battery modules are arranged side by side. An introduction cooling passage for introducing external air into the battery holder is connected to the introduction port.

  And while being supplied in a battery holder from an introductory cooling channel | path, the battery module is cooled with the air which flowed into each flow path.

JP 2010-244802 A

Incidentally, it is desired to improve the temperature adjustment efficiency for the battery module.
An object of the present invention is to provide a battery module capable of improving the temperature regulation efficiency by increasing the flow rate of the heat medium supplied to the temperature control flow path.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1 includes a plurality of secondary batteries arranged in parallel, a temperature control channel adjacent to the secondary battery, a heat medium supply source, and the temperature control channel. And a temperature control duct disposed on the flow path of the heat medium between the temperature control and the temperature adjustment of the secondary battery by the gaseous heat medium supplied from the temperature control duct to the temperature control flow path. The temperature control duct includes an inlet for allowing a heat medium supplied from a heat medium supply source to flow into the temperature adjustment duct, and a heat medium supplied from the inlet to the temperature adjustment duct. Is provided with an outlet that flows out of the temperature adjustment duct toward the temperature adjustment flow path, and the opening area of the inlet and the opening area of the outlet are in a relationship of generating a negative pressure in the vicinity of the outlet. It is a summary.

  According to this, when the heat medium supplied to the temperature control duct flows out from the outlet, a negative pressure is generated in the vicinity of the outlet. By generating the negative pressure, at least the heat medium near the outflow port is drawn toward the outflow port. Then, the heat medium flowing out from the outlet toward the temperature adjustment flow path flows toward the temperature adjustment flow path together with the heat medium drawn by the negative pressure. Therefore, the flow rate of the heat medium supplied to the temperature adjustment flow path is increased, and the temperature adjustment efficiency for the secondary battery is improved.

  The temperature adjusting duct is disposed on the inlet side of the temperature adjusting flow path, and the temperature adjusting duct is located at a position farther from the inlet of the temperature adjusting flow path than the inlet and the outlet. A folded portion may be formed that changes the flow direction of the heat medium that has flowed into the outlet toward the outlet.

  According to this, the heat medium that has flowed into the temperature adjusting duct from the inlet flows in a direction away from the inlet of the temperature adjusting flow path, and is then folded back to the outlet by the folding portion. Therefore, for example, compared with the case where the heat medium flowing into the temperature control duct from the inlet flows toward the outlet without turning back, the heat medium flows out without impairing the flow velocity at the flow path and the outlet. And the negative pressure generation effect can be enhanced.

  According to the present invention, the temperature control efficiency can be improved by increasing the flow rate of the heat medium supplied to the temperature adjusting flow path.

The perspective view which shows the battery pack in embodiment. The 2-2 sectional view taken on the line of FIG. 1 which shows the battery pack in embodiment. The 3-3 sectional view taken on the line of FIG. 1 which shows the battery pack in embodiment. The bottom view which shows the battery module in embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the duct for temperature control in embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the battery module of another example. Sectional drawing which shows the battery module of another example. Sectional drawing which shows the battery module of another example.

Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the battery pack 10 is configured by housing a battery module 20 in a rectangular box-like case 11.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the case 11 includes a bottom plate 12, a side wall 13 erected from the bottom plate 12, and a top plate 14. Inside the case 11, there is disposed a mounting plate 15 that faces the bottom plate 12 of the case 11 and on which the battery module 20 is mounted. The mounting plate 15 is formed with a through hole 15a penetrating in the thickness direction. Between the bottom plate 12 and the mounting plate 15, a flowable region 16 through which the heat medium can flow is formed, and the flowable region 16 is formed outside the case 11 through an opening 13 a provided on the side surface of the side wall 13. Is open. A blower 17 serving as a heat medium supply source for supplying a gaseous heat medium to the flowable region 16 is disposed at a position facing the opening 13 a outside the case 11.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the battery module 20 includes a plurality of prismatic batteries 21 as secondary batteries, and a spacer 22 disposed between the adjacent prismatic batteries 21. The square batteries 21 are arranged in parallel in the thickness direction. The spacer 22 includes a rectangular flat plate-shaped base portion 23 and a plurality of flow path partition portions 24 extending in the longitudinal direction of the base portion 23, and a convex portion protruding from the base portion 23. The plurality of flow path partition portions 24 are formed at regular intervals in the short direction of the base portion 23.

  The spacer 22 is provided so that the base 23 is in contact with the first surface 21a in the thickness direction of the prismatic battery 21 (the direction in which the prismatic batteries 21 are arranged), and the tip of each flow path partition 24 is adjacent to the prismatic battery. 21 in contact with the second surface 21b in the thickness direction. And the space | interval of the square battery 21 adjacent by the spacer 22 is maintained. Between the adjacent square batteries 21, a plurality of temperature control flow paths 25 surrounded by a base 23, a plurality of flow path partition parts 24, and a thickness direction second surface 21 b of the square battery 21 are partitioned.

  In addition, the battery module 20 includes a rectangular battery 21 located at one end of the plurality of prismatic batteries 21 in the juxtaposed direction of the prismatic batteries 21 (located at the end of the juxtaposed direction of the prismatic batteries 21). An end plate 26 is provided so as to be adjacent to the second surface 21b in the thickness direction. The end plate 26 has the same shape as the spacer 22, and has a base portion 27 and a plurality of flow path partition portions 28. And the temperature control flow path 25 enclosed by the base 27, the some flow-path division part 28, and the thickness direction 2nd surface 21b of the square battery 21 is divided. Thereby, the temperature control flow path 25 is formed so as to be adjacent to all the plurality of prismatic batteries 21 arranged in parallel.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a heat medium that has circulated through the flowable region 16 on the first surface 21 c in the width direction of the square battery 21 (direction perpendicular to the thickness direction and the height direction of the square battery 21). The temperature adjusting duct 30 to which is supplied is attached. The temperature adjustment duct 30 is closed at one end side in the axial direction (height direction) of the cylindrical main body 31 by the top plate 32 and closed at the other end side in the axial direction (height direction) by the bottom plate 33.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the bottom plate 33 of the temperature adjustment duct 30 is formed with an inflow port 35 penetrating in the thickness direction of the bottom plate 33. The battery module 20 is mounted on the mounting plate 15 in such a manner that the through hole 15a formed in the mounting plate 15 of the case 11 and the inlet 35 formed in the bottom plate 33 of the temperature adjusting duct 30 overlap each other. Yes. Since the inflow port 35 and the through hole 15a overlap each other, the inside of the temperature adjustment duct 30 and the flowable region 16 communicate with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the main body 31 is formed by bending a single rectangular plate. In the main body 31, a rectangular portion that is in surface contact with the first surface 21 c in the width direction of the square battery 21 (direction orthogonal to the thickness direction and the height direction of the square battery 21) is defined as a base 41. A portion that is bent from the first end portion 41 a in the hand direction is referred to as a first bent portion 42, and a portion that is bent from the second end portion 41 b in the short direction of the base portion 41 is referred to as a second bent portion 46. The second bent portion 46 is longer in the longitudinal direction than the first bent portion 42.

  The first bent portion 42 includes a first vertical portion 43 that extends perpendicularly to the base portion 41, is continuous with the first vertical portion 43, and gradually moves toward the second bent portion 46 as the distance from the base portion 41 increases. And a first folded portion 45 that is curved so as to be folded back toward the base portion 41. Accordingly, the first folded portion 45 and the second folded portion 49 are formed in a substantially rectangular shape.

  The second bent portion 46 includes a second vertical portion 47 that extends perpendicularly to the base portion 41, is continuous with the second vertical portion 47, and gradually moves toward the first bent portion 42 as the distance from the base portion 41 increases. And a second folded portion 49 that is curved so as to be folded back toward the base portion 41.

  The second folded portion 49 of the second folded portion 46 covers the first folded portion 45 of the first folded portion 42. Specifically, the second folded portion 49 approaches the first folded portion 45 as it approaches the tip. A folded flow path 36 is formed between the outer surface of the first folded portion 45 and the inner surface of the second folded portion 49, extending in a direction away from the base portion 41 and extending in a direction approaching the base portion 41. Further, an outlet 37 that opens to the outside of the temperature adjustment duct 30 is formed between the tip of the second folded portion 49 and the first bent portion 42. The outlet 37 communicates with the folded channel 36. Further, in the temperature adjustment duct 30, the inflow port 35, the folded flow path 36, and the outflow port 37 are all connected. The folded flow path 36 is abruptly narrowed from the internal space of the temperature adjustment duct 30.

  As described above, the temperature adjustment duct 30 is attached in a state where the base portion 41 is in surface contact with the first surface 21 c in the width direction of the rectangular battery 21. Further, since the heat medium flowing through the temperature adjustment channel 25 is supplied from the temperature adjustment duct 30, the inlet side of the temperature adjustment channel 25 is the side where the temperature adjustment duct 30 is provided. Then, at a position farther from the temperature adjustment flow path 25 than the inlet 35 and the outlet 37, a turn is made to change the flow direction of the heat medium flowing into the temperature adjustment duct 30 from the inlet 35 to the direction toward the outlet 37. Portions 45 and 49 are formed.

  The opening area of the inflow port 35 and the opening area of the outflow port 37 are set so as to generate a negative pressure near the outflow port 37 when the heat medium is discharged from the outflow port 37. The conditions for generating a negative pressure in the vicinity of the outlet 37 are determined by the speed of the heat medium flowing out from the outlet 37, the opening area of the outlet 37, and the like. For example, in the present embodiment, by reducing the opening area of the outlet 37 relative to the opening area of the inlet 35, the speed of the heat medium flowing out from the outlet 37 is improved so that negative pressure is likely to be generated. I have to.

Next, the operation of the battery module 20 of this embodiment will be described.
When the temperature of the prismatic battery 21 is adjusted, the heat medium is supplied to the flowable region 16 by driving the blower 17. The heat medium supplied to the flowable region 16 flows through the through hole 15 a formed in the mounting plate 15 and the inlet 35 formed in the bottom plate 12 of the temperature adjustment duct 30 and flows into the temperature adjustment duct 30. To do. The heat medium that has flowed into the temperature adjustment duct 30 flows through the temperature adjustment duct 30 in a direction away from the temperature adjustment flow path 25 and flows into the return flow path 36. The heat medium flowing into the folded flow path 36 is folded back toward the temperature adjustment flow path 25 and flows out from the outlet 37 toward the temperature adjustment flow path 25.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the heat medium flows out from the outlet 37, for example, a negative pressure is generated in a region A near the outlet 37. When negative pressure is generated in the vicinity area A, the heat medium (heat medium around the battery module 20) existing in the vicinity of the outlet 37 is drawn toward the vicinity area A as indicated by an arrow Y1. The heat medium flowing out from the outflow port 37 is supplied toward the temperature adjustment flow path 25 as indicated by an arrow Y2 along with the heat medium drawn to the vicinity region A.

Therefore, according to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In the temperature adjustment duct 30 in which the inlet 35 and the outlet 37 are formed, the opening area of the outlet 37 is made smaller than the opening area of the inlet 35. Therefore, when the heat medium supplied to the temperature adjustment duct 30 flows out from the outlet 37, a negative pressure is generated in the vicinity of the outlet 37. By generating the negative pressure, at least the heat medium near the outflow port 37 is drawn toward the outflow port 37. Then, the heat medium flowing out from the outlet 37 toward the temperature adjustment flow path 25 flows toward the temperature adjustment flow path 25 together with the heat medium attracted by the negative pressure. Therefore, the flow rate of the heat medium supplied to the temperature adjustment flow path 25 is increased, and the temperature adjustment efficiency for the prismatic battery 21 is improved.

  (2) A folding portion that folds the heat medium flowing into the temperature adjustment duct 30 from the inlet 35 toward the outlet 37 at a position farther from the temperature adjustment flow path 25 than the inlet 35 and the outlet 37. 45 and 49 are formed. Therefore, the heat medium that has flowed into the temperature adjustment duct 30 from the inlet 35 flows in a direction away from the inlet of the temperature adjustment flow path 25, and is then folded back to the outlet 37 by the folding portions 45 and 49. Therefore, for example, compared with the case where the heat medium flowing into the temperature adjustment duct 30 from the inlet 35 flows toward the outlet 37 without turning back, the flow of the heat medium between the blower 17 and the temperature adjustment flow path 25. The heat medium can be discharged without impairing the flow velocity at the passage and the outlet 37, and the negative pressure generation effect can be enhanced.

  (3) The folded flow path 36 is formed narrower than the space in the temperature adjustment duct 30. Therefore, the folded flow path 36 functions as a throttle, and the heat medium flowing into the temperature adjusting duct 30 improves the flow velocity when it flows through the folded flow path 36 and generates a negative pressure near the outlet 37. Easy to make.

  (4) The first folded portion 45 and the second folded portion 49 of the main body 31 are curved. For this reason, in the folding | returning flow path 36, a heat medium distribute | circulates smoothly and there is little fall of the speed | rate of the heat medium by the heat medium folding the inside of the temperature control duct 30.

  (5) A folded channel 36 is formed in the temperature adjustment duct 30. Therefore, the distance from the inflow port 35 to the outflow port 37 can be increased using the space in which the temperature adjustment duct 30 is provided. For this reason, compared with the case where the distance from the inflow port 35 to the outflow port 37 is increased without forming the folded flow path 36, the temperature adjustment duct 30 can be downsized.

In addition, you may change embodiment as follows.
As shown in FIG. 6, two outlets 37 may be formed in the temperature adjustment duct 30 so that the heat medium is supplied to both of the adjacent temperature adjustment flow paths 25. The main body 51 of the temperature adjusting duct 30 is formed in a cylindrical shape. A plate-like folded flow path forming member 52 is provided so as to cover the main body 51. A folded channel 53 is formed between the main body 51 and the folded channel forming member 52. Outflow ports 37 are formed at both ends of the folded flow path 53. A communication hole 51 a that communicates with the folded channel 53 is formed in the main body 51. According to this, the heat medium can be supplied to both of the adjacent temperature adjustment flow paths 25 by the single temperature adjustment duct 30. Therefore, it is only necessary to provide one temperature adjustment duct 30 for the two prismatic batteries 21, and the number of parts can be reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the shape of the temperature adjustment duct 30 may be changed. In the embodiment, in the main body 31, the folded channel 36 is formed by the folded portions 45 and 49, but the folded channel 45 may be formed by vertically folding the folded portions 45 and 49.

  As shown in FIG. 8, a temperature adjustment duct 60 in which the folded flow path 36 is not formed may be used as the temperature adjustment duct. The temperature adjusting duct 60 has a cylindrical shape. The outlet 37 of the temperature adjustment duct 60 is formed closer to the inlet of the temperature adjustment flow path 25 than the inlet 35. The heat medium flowing in from the inflow port 35 flows through the inside of the temperature adjusting duct 30 and flows out from the outflow port 37.

  In the embodiment, a temperature control device (such as a Peltier element, a heater, or a cooling device) that can heat or cool the heat medium may be provided to heat or cool the heat medium. According to this, the temperature of the prismatic battery 21 can be adjusted efficiently.

  In embodiment, although the air blower 17 was arrange | positioned outside the case 11, it is not restricted to this. For example, it may be arranged inside the case 11 such as the flowable region 16 or inside the temperature adjustment duct 30.

In embodiment, the inflow port 35 may be formed in the top plate 32 or the main-body part 31. FIG.
In the embodiment, the battery module 20 may not be accommodated in the case 11.

  In the embodiment, a cylindrical battery or a laminated battery may be adopted as the secondary battery.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 17 ... Blower as a heat carrier supply source, 20 ... Battery module, 21 ... Square-shaped battery as a secondary battery, 25 ... Temperature control flow path, 30, 60 ... Temperature control duct, 35 ... Inlet, 37 ... Outlet , 45, 49 ... folded portion.

Claims (2)

A plurality of secondary batteries arranged side by side, a temperature control flow path adjacent to the secondary battery, and a heat control flow path disposed on the flow path of the heat medium between the heat medium supply source and the temperature control flow path A battery module, wherein the temperature of the secondary battery is adjusted by a gaseous heat medium supplied from the temperature adjustment duct to the temperature adjustment flow path,
The temperature adjustment duct includes an inlet for allowing a heat medium supplied from a heat medium supply source to flow into the temperature adjustment duct, and a heat medium supplied from the inlet to the temperature adjustment duct as the temperature adjustment flow path. An outlet for flowing out of the temperature control duct toward the
The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the opening area of the inlet and the opening area of the outlet are in a relationship of generating a negative pressure in the vicinity of the outlet. The temperature adjustment duct is disposed on the inlet side of the temperature adjustment flow path,
At a position farther from the inlet of the temperature adjustment flow path than the inlet and the outlet, a turn-back portion that changes the flow direction of the heat medium flowing into the temperature adjustment duct from the inlet into a direction toward the outlet. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the battery module is formed.