JP2015037019A - Heating element housing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heating element housing device which allows reduction of temperature variation between an air supply port at a body lower portion and an air exhaust port at a body upper portion.SOLUTION: A heating element housing device comprises a first dividing plate, a second dividing plate, heating modules, an air exhaust fan, and an air exhaust guide member. The heating modules are arranged at predetermined intervals in the height direction between the first dividing plate and the second dividing plate, and they are fixed in such a manner that they define an air supply passage from one end of the module to a first lateral face as well as an air exhaust passage from the other end of the module to a second lateral face. The air exhaust fan is arranged at a location above the second dividing plate spaced apart from the air exhaust port farther than the width of the air exhaust passage so that its air blowing direction faces toward the air exhaust port. The air exhaust guide member is arranged between the air exhaust fan and the air exhaust port so that air from the air exhaust passage creates a first flow to blow around into the air exhaust fan side and a second flow to blow directly at the air exhaust port.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a heating element housing device.

  For example, a power storage device such as a battery is a heating element, and the amount of heat generation increases with an increase in the storage capacity. Therefore, it is desired to improve the cooling efficiency of the heating element storage device that stores the heating element.

  Generally, the housing of a heating element housing device that houses a heating element has an air supply port at the bottom, an exhaust port at the top, and a multi-layered storage module between the air supply port and the exhaust port. The cooling structure is taken.

  Moreover, in the heat generating body accommodation device having the cooling structure as described above, there is an apparatus in which an exhaust fan is provided at the exhaust port so that the exhaust fan forcibly ejects hot air in the casing in order to further improve the cooling performance.

  In general, such a heating element housing device controls the operation of the fan such that when the temperature of the heating element is low, such as after the start of operation, the exhaust fan is stopped by natural air cooling to save energy, and when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, the exhaust fan is driven. It is carried out.

JP 2012-84486 A

However, in the case of a conventional heating element housing device in which an exhaust fan is provided at the exhaust port, the temperature of the cooling air flowing through the housing becomes higher as it approaches the exhaust port. Therefore, with the structure and control as described above, the exhaust fan continues to be exposed to high temperature exhaust when it is stopped.
In such a high temperature environment, there is a problem that the lubricating grease sealed in the exhaust fan bearing deteriorates with time and the lubrication performance decreases, and the life of the bearing and further the exhaust fan is shortened.

  A problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a heating element housing device capable of extending the life of an exhaust fan in an air cooling structure in which an air supply port is provided in a lower portion of a casing and an upper exhaust port and an exhaust fan are provided. There is.

  The heating element accommodation device of the embodiment includes a first side surface, a second side surface, a first partition plate, a second partition plate, a heating module, an exhaust fan, and an exhaust guide member. An air supply port is provided in the lower part of the first side surface. The second side surface is disposed to face the first side surface, and an exhaust port is provided at the top. The first partition plate is provided on the air supply port and has an opening for sending the air sucked from the air supply port upward. The second partition plate is provided under the exhaust port and has an opening for sending air to the exhaust port. The heat generating module is disposed at a predetermined interval in the height direction between the first partition plate and the second partition plate, and an air supply channel from one end of the module to the first side surface and from the other end of the module to the second side surface. The exhaust passage is fixed. The exhaust fan is disposed at a position above the second partition plate that is more than the width of the exhaust passage from the exhaust port with the air blowing direction directed toward the exhaust port. The exhaust guide member is arranged between the exhaust fan and the exhaust port so that air from the exhaust flow path creates a first flow that goes around the exhaust fan and a second flow that goes directly to the exhaust port. Yes.

(A) is front sectional drawing which shows the structure of the electrical storage apparatus of 1st Embodiment. FIG. 2B is a side cross-sectional view of the power storage device of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the temperature variation in an electrical storage apparatus. (A) is front sectional drawing which shows the structure of the electrical storage apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 4B is a side cross-sectional view of the power storage device of FIG. (A) is front sectional drawing which shows the structure of the electrical storage apparatus of 3rd Embodiment. FIG. 5B is a side cross-sectional view of the power storage device of FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the power storage device according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the power storage device of this embodiment is configured such that a module case 2 as a heating module in which a battery group as a heating element group is housed (stored), and a plurality of module cases 2 are arranged in multiple stages. A support member 11 such as a stay to be supported (fixed), an upper guide plate 12 as a first partition plate, a lower guide plate 13 as a second partition plate, a central guide plate 8, and a blower device such as an exhaust fan 7. And a partition plate 9 as an exhaust guide member, and a housing 1 for housing these devices and members. That is, this power storage device is a heating element housing device that houses a heating element.

  A fixed interval is provided between the individual (upper and lower) module cases 2 so as to allow ventilation. The lowermost module case 2 is called the lowermost module case 2a, and the uppermost module case 2 is called the uppermost module case 2z.

  A plurality of batteries 3 are arranged in the thickness direction in the module case 2 to form a battery group 4. The battery 3 is a heating element having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. When the battery group 4 is used as described above, the temperature of the battery 3 is higher during heat generation than in a single state. That is, the module case 2 needs to be cooled from the outside because the battery group 4 is heated due to heat generation.

  The housing 1 includes an upper surface 1a, a bottom surface 1b facing the upper surface 1a, a side surface 1c connecting the edges of the upper surface 1a and the bottom surface 1b, a front side surface 1d as a first side surface, and a rear side surface 1e as a second side surface. Has been. The front side surface 1d is disposed to face the rear side surface 1e.

  An air supply port 5 is provided at the lower portion of the housing 1, more specifically at the bottom of the front side surface 1d. An exhaust port 6 is provided in the upper portion of the housing 1, more specifically, in the upper portion of the rear side surface 1 e.

  The lower guide plate 13 is provided on the air supply port 5. The lower guide plate 13 has an opening 13a for sending the air supplied from the air supply port 5 upward. The opening 13a is provided on the side close to the front side surface 1d.

  The upper guide plate 12 is provided below the exhaust port 6. The upper guide plate 12 has an opening 12 a for sending air from below to the exhaust port 6. The opening 12a is provided on the side close to the rear side surface 1e.

  The support member 11 is disposed (fixed) between the upper guide plate 12 and the lower guide plate 13 on the side surface 1c at a predetermined interval in the height direction.

  The central guide plate 8 is disposed between the module cases 2a and 2b and between the module cases 2b and 2z. The central guide plate 8 is partitioned so that the air heated by the heat radiation from the upper surface of the lower module case, for example, the module case 2a and the air that cools the lower surface of the upper module case 2b are not mixed. This is for dividing the flow path into an upper flow path and a lower flow path.

  The module case 2 has an exhaust passage width (second) from the module rear surface (other end) to the rear side 1e rather than an air supply passage width (first width) W1 (distance) from the module front (one end) to the front side 1d. The width W2 (distance) is widened and fixed to the support member 11 at each stage.

  In other words, the module case 2 is arranged at a predetermined interval in the height direction between the upper guide plate 12 and the lower guide plate 13 by the support member 11, and the air supply flow path from the one end of the module to the front side surface 1d and the module And an exhaust passage from the other end to the rear side 1e.

  The exhaust fan 7 is arranged at a position above the upper guide plate 12 that is separated from the exhaust port 6 of the rear side 1e by an exhaust passage width W2 or more with the air blowing direction toward the exhaust port 6. The exhaust fan 7 is operated according to the temperature inside the housing 1 or is stopped (not operated). The exhaust fan 7 is operated when the temperature inside the housing 1 exceeds a certain value, and the exhaust fan 7 is stopped when the temperature falls below a certain value.

  The partition plate 9 is a plate-like member, and guides the exhaust to the exhaust fan 7 or the exhaust port 6. When the exhaust fan is stopped, the partition plate 9 has a first flow between the exhaust fan 7 and the exhaust port 6 so that the air flowing from the exhaust passage W2 through the opening 12a to the exhaust fan 7 side (broken arrow in FIG. 1). ) Hardly occurs, and the second flow (solid arrow in FIG. 1) heading directly toward the exhaust port 6 is inclined and arranged.

  One end of the partition plate 9 is in contact with the exhaust fan 7 and the other end is arranged so as to divide the exhaust port 6 into two. The partition plate 9 is provided to be inclined so as to become higher toward the exhaust port 6 side.

The operation of the power storage device of the first embodiment will be described.
In the first embodiment, the air supply port 5 is disposed at the lower part of the housing 1, and the exhaust port 6 is disposed on the rear side 1 e opposite to the air supply port 5 at the upper part of the housing 1. An upper guide plate 12 opened on the exhaust port 6 side is provided above the case 2z, and a lower guide plate 13 opened on the air supply port 5 side is provided below the lowermost module case 2a. An exhaust passage width W2 that is a distance from the rear side 1e of the body 1 on the exhaust port 6 side is defined as an intake passage that is a distance between the front surface of the module case 2 and the front side 1d of the housing 1 on the air supply port 5 side. It is wider than the width W1.

  For this reason, the ventilation resistance of the vertical flow path on the exhaust port 6 side is smaller than that of the vertical flow path on the air supply port 5 side.

(Air flow)
Air supplied into the housing 1 from the air supply port 5 at the lower part of the front side surface 1d of the housing 1 passes through the opening 13a, and the vertical flow path and the lowermost module on the front side surface 1d (the air supply port 5 side). It branches into a horizontal flow path sandwiched between the bottom surface of the case 2a and the lower guide plate 13, and flows upward and backward. When air passes through the horizontal flow path, the bottom surface of the lowermost module case 2a is cooled.

  After that, the air escapes to the rear side 1e side (exhaust port 6 side), reaches the upward opening 12a through the exhaust channel which is the rear vertical channel, and is exhausted from the exhaust port 6.

  In addition, the air passing through the vertical flow path on the front side surface 1d (air supply port 5 side) flows to the horizontal flow path, which is the flow path between the module case 2 and the module case 2 at the upper position. Divide into things. Air passing through the horizontal flow path flows backward.

  Then, when the air exits the exhaust flow path which is the vertical flow path on the exhaust port 6 side, it rises along the flow path, passes through the opening 12a, and is exhausted from the exhaust port 6 in the same manner as described above.

  When the temperature of the air increases due to heat radiation from the module case 2 at each stage, the chimney effect of the vertical flow path on the exhaust port 6 side increases, and the air passes through the horizontal flow path between the module cases 2 and the rear side surface. 1e side, it rises along the rear vertical flow path, and flows smoothly to the exhaust port 6.

  Since the upstream side and the downstream side of the vertical flow path on the air supply port 5 side have almost the same temperature as the supply air, there is almost no temperature difference between the module cases 2 in the air flowing into the horizontal flow path.

Accordingly, the module case 2 at each stage is cooled by almost isothermal air (air), and the module case 2 at the upper stage is cooled by air at a higher temperature than the module case 2 at the upper stage. Due to this, the temperature variation becomes smaller than the conventional one.
(Effect of partition plate 9)

  The air that has passed through the opening 12a is sucked by the exhaust fan 7 when the exhaust fan 7 is operating (exhaust fan operation state). Therefore, most of the air is exhausted even though the partition plate 9 is inclined. It goes around the fan 7 and is exhausted from the exhaust port 6 through the exhaust fan 7.

  On the other hand, in a state where the exhaust fan 7 is not operating (in a state where the exhaust fan is not operating and is naturally air-cooled), as described above, most of the air (warm exhaust) that has passed through the opening 12a follows the inclination of the partition plate 9. Since being guided to the exhaust port 6 and exhausted directly from the exhaust port 6, the air does not flow into the exhaust fan 7 side, and the exhaust fan 7 that has stopped operating may continue to be exposed to high-temperature exhaust. Disappear.

  FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the exhaust passage width and the temperature rise of the module case 2 (the heating element group 4 inside the case) (the intake passage width W1 is fixed to 50 mm and the exhaust passage width W2 is changed to 50 mm, 70 mm, and 140 mm). In the case of

  As shown in FIG. 2, as the exhaust passage width W2 is increased with respect to the fixed intake passage width W1, both the maximum rise temperature of the module case 2 and the temperature variation depending on the height position tend to decrease. I understand.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the air-cooling structure in which the air supply port 5 is provided in the lower portion of the casing 1 and the exhaust port 6 and the exhaust fan 7 are provided in the upper portion is provided. The exhaust passage width W2 from the rear surface of the module case 2 (the other end of the module case 2) to the rear side surface 1e is wider than the intake passage width W1 from the one end of the case 2 to the front side surface 1d. The module case 2 is arranged, the exhaust fan 7 is arranged in the middle of the upper part of the housing 1, and the direction of the air flow is changed by the partition plate 9 according to the operation state of the exhaust fan. Sometimes air circulates to the exhaust fan 7 side and is exhausted from the exhaust port 6 through the exhaust fan 7, while air is exhausted directly from the exhaust port 6 without circulating to the exhaust fan 7 side when the exhaust fan 7 is not operating. Since Uninaru, thereby preventing the exhaust fan 7 stops operating is continuously exposed to high temperature exhaust.

  As a result, the air supplied into the housing 1 from the air supply port 5 is effectively applied to the module case 2 to cool the module case 2 substantially uniformly, and the module cases 2 at each stage in the housing 1 are cooled. The lifetime of the exhaust fan 7 can be extended while reducing the temperature difference (temperature variation).

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the power storage device of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same structure as the said 1st Embodiment (structure shown in FIG. 1), and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the power storage device of the second embodiment, the partition plate 9 of the first embodiment is a movable partition plate 9 a that is rotatable about a shaft 15, and the operating state of the exhaust fan 7. Accordingly, the position of the partition plate 9a is rotated in the direction of the arrow S to switch the exhaust passage. The shaft 15 is fixed to the lower end of the exhaust fan 7.

  More specifically, the movable partition plate 9a is in contact with the exhaust fan 7 at one end, is rotatable about the contact portion, and guides the wind from the exhaust fan 7 to the exhaust port 6 at the other end. Switching between the first position and the second position where the air from the exhaust passage directly passes through the exhaust port 6 is possible.

  As a specific means for realizing the movable partition plate 9a, for example, with the partition plate 9a suspended by a biasing member such as a spring, one end thereof is brought into contact with the upper end 6a of the exhaust port 6, and the exhaust fan 7 The partition plate 9a is pushed down to the position of the lower end 6b of the exhaust port 6 by the blowing force when the is operated. This eliminates the need for a device such as a motor for rotating the partition plate and the power for operating the device.

  In the second embodiment, for example, when the exhaust fan 7 is not in operation, the partition plate 9a is rotated so as to close the exhaust outlet flow path through the exhaust fan 7, and the tip of the partition plate 9a is the part of the upper end 6a of the exhaust port 6. (9a: solid line).

  On the other hand, when the exhaust fan 7 is operated, the partition plate 9 is rotated so that the front end of the partition plate 9 is positioned at the lower end 6b of the exhaust port 6 (9a: broken line).

  In the structure of the first embodiment, it is possible that a part of the warm exhaust gas passes through the vicinity of the exhaust fan 7 when the exhaust fan 7 is not operating, such as when the inclination angle of the partition plate 9 is not so large. In the structure of the second embodiment, the movable partition plate 9a eliminates part of the hot exhaust air in the vicinity of the fan 7.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the lubricating grease sealed in the bearing of the exhaust fan 7 does not become high temperature, and the lubricating performance does not deteriorate depending on the temperature. Therefore, the serviceability of the bearing and the exhaust fan 7 can be made longer than in the first embodiment, and the maintenance performance can be further improved, for example, the fan replacement interval can be extended.
Therefore, temperature variations due to the height positions of the module cases 2a, 2b, and 2z can be made smaller than those in the first embodiment.

  The width of the central guide plate 8 is set to the width of the module cases 2a and 2b so that the air heated by heat radiation from the upper surface of the lower module case 2a and the air that cools the lower surface of the upper module case 2b are not mixed. On the other hand, it is better to make it wide so that it protrudes to the supply side and the exhaust side.

(Third embodiment)
Next, the power storage device of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same structure as the said 2nd Embodiment (structure shown in FIG. 3), and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the power storage device of the third embodiment is obtained by adding (adding) an air supply fan 10 to the configuration of the second embodiment (FIG. 3). A partition plate 14 is provided at the end of the opening 13a of the lower guide plate 13 toward the bottom surface 1b. The partition plate 14 restricts air from flowing upward. The air supply fan 10 is provided between the partition plate 14 and the front side surface 1d. That is, the air supply fan 10 is arranged at the position of the opening 13 a so as to supply air in a direction (vertical direction) orthogonal to the opening direction of the air supply port 5.

  By providing the air supply fan 10 in this way, the flow rate of air flowing into the upper flow path and the lower flow path of each module case 2a, 2b, 2z is increased, and the heat transfer coefficient can be increased. The temperature rise of the cases 2a, 2b, 2z can be greatly reduced as a whole.

  In this case, the exhaust port 6 is not limited to the upper portion of the housing 1, but is formed on the substantially entire rear surface 1 e facing the front side surface 1 d provided with the air supply port 5 or on the top (corner portion) of the housing 1. It may be provided.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, by adding (adding) the air supply fan 10 to the configuration of the second embodiment, the upper flow path and the lower flow path of each module case 2a, 2b, 2z. As a result, the flow velocity of the air flowing into the air-conditioner is remarkably increased, and the temperature rise of the module cases 2a, 2b, 2z can be reduced as a whole. That is, the air flow rate is increased as compared with the second embodiment, and the temperature of the warm exhaust near the exhaust fan 7 can be lowered.

  Moreover, the temperature variation by the height position of module case 2a, 2b, 2z (heat generating body group 4) can be made still smaller than 2nd Embodiment.

As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, these embodiments are presented as examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.
In the above embodiment, an example in which the module case has three stages has been described, but the number of module case stages is not limited to three, and may be five stages, eight stages, ten stages, or more.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Housing, 1a ... Upper surface, 1b ... Bottom surface, 1c ... Side surface, 1d ... Front side surface, 1e ... Rear side surface, 2, 2a, 2b, 2z ... Module case, 3 ... Battery, 4 ... Battery group, 5 ... Supply Vent, 6 ... exhaust port, 7 ... exhaust fan, 8 ... central guide plate, 9, 9a ... partition plate, 10 ... intake fan, 12 ... upper guide plate, 13 ... lower guide plate, 14 ... partition plate, 15 …axis.

Claims (5)

A first side surface provided with an air inlet at the bottom;
A second side surface disposed opposite the first side surface and provided with an exhaust port at the top;
A first partition plate that is provided on the air supply port and has an opening for sending the air sucked from the air supply port upward;
A second partition plate provided below the exhaust port and having an opening for sending the air to the exhaust port;
Between the first partition plate and the second partition plate are arranged at a predetermined interval in the height direction, and from the one end of the module to the first side surface and from the other end of the module to the second side surface A heating module fixed to provide an exhaust flow path;
An exhaust fan disposed at a position above the second partition plate away from the exhaust port by a width equal to or greater than the width of the exhaust flow channel with a blowing direction directed toward the exhaust port;
Between the exhaust fan and the exhaust port, air from the exhaust flow path is arranged to create a first flow that goes around to the exhaust fan side and a second flow that goes directly to the exhaust port. A heating element housing device comprising an exhaust guide member.   2. The heating element housing device according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust guide member is disposed such that one end abuts the exhaust fan and the other end bisects the exhaust port.   The exhaust guide member has a first position where one end abuts the exhaust fan and is rotatable about the contact portion, and the other end guides air from the exhaust fan to the exhaust port; The heating element housing device according to claim 1, wherein the heating element housing device is switchable to a second position through which air from the exhaust passage passes through the exhaust port.   The heating element accommodation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heating module is arranged so that a width of the exhaust passage is wider than a width of the supply passage.   The heating element accommodation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an air supply fan disposed in the air supply port.

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