JP2015125930A - Battery pack module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery pack module capable of promptly falling the temperature of a secondary battery in a high temperature state to a desired proper operation temperature and also capable of promptly rising the temperature of a secondary battery in a low temperature state to a temperature at which desired output characteristics can be obtained.SOLUTION: A battery pack module of an embodiment includes a housing, a plurality of secondary batteries and a heat dissipation member. The housing receives the plurality of secondary batteries. The heat dissipation member is in contact with a surface of each of the plurality of secondary batteries in a predetermined high temperature region and apart from a surface of each of the plurality of secondary batteries in a predetermined low temperature region.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an assembled battery module.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an assembled battery module in which a plurality of secondary batteries are housed in a casing, it has been desired to increase heat dissipation performance in order to suppress an excessive temperature increase due to heat generation of the secondary battery. Moreover, in an assembled battery module, it is desired to increase the temperature raising performance in order to quickly raise the temperature of a secondary battery in a low temperature state and to secure desired output characteristics at an early stage.
However, in the assembled battery module, if priority is given to increasing the heat dissipation performance, there arises a problem that it is difficult to quickly raise the temperature of the secondary battery in a low temperature state. On the other hand, if priority is given to increasing the temperature raising performance, there arises a problem that when the secondary battery is in a high temperature state, it is difficult to quickly lower the temperature to a desired appropriate operating temperature.

JP 2005-285456 A Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-71784

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that a secondary battery in a high temperature state can be quickly lowered to a desired proper operating temperature, and a secondary battery in a low temperature state can be rapidly increased until a desired output characteristic is obtained. It is providing the assembled battery module which can be warmed.

  The assembled battery module of the embodiment includes a housing, a plurality of secondary batteries, and a heat dissipation member. The housing accommodates a plurality of secondary batteries. The heat dissipation member is in contact with the surface of each of the plurality of secondary batteries in a predetermined high temperature region, and is separated from the surface of each of the plurality of secondary batteries in a predetermined low temperature region.

It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the assembled battery module of 1st Embodiment typically, and is a figure which shows the shape of the thermal radiation member in the temperature range below 1st predetermined temperature. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the assembled battery module of 1st Embodiment typically, and is a figure which shows the shape of the heat radiating member in the temperature range more than 2nd predetermined temperature. It is sectional drawing which shows typically the structure of the assembled battery module of 2nd Embodiment, and is a figure which shows the position of the heat radiating member in the temperature range below 1st predetermined temperature. It is sectional drawing which shows typically the structure of the assembled battery module of 2nd Embodiment, and is a figure which shows the position of the heat radiating member in the temperature range more than 2nd predetermined temperature.

  Hereinafter, an assembled battery module according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 1, the assembled battery module 10 according to the first embodiment includes an electrically insulating casing 11 made of a resin and the like, and a plurality of secondary batteries 12 housed inside the casing 11. And a heat dissipating member 13 supported by the casing 11.
The housing 11 includes a wall portion 22 that forms the opening 21, and a support portion 23 that supports the heat dissipation member 13 that covers the opening 21. The opening 21 is formed by cutting out at least a part of the wall 22 facing the surface (for example, a side surface) 12A of each of the plurality of secondary batteries 12, and penetrates the wall 22 in the thickness direction. Thus, each of the plurality of secondary batteries 12 faces a surface (for example, a side surface) 12A. The support portion 23 is provided integrally with the wall portion 22 that forms the opening portion 21, and fixes the peripheral edge portion 13 a of the heat dissipation member 13.
In addition, the support part 23 may be arrange | positioned so that the peripheral part 13a of the heat radiating member 13 may be fixed over a perimeter, or a part (for example, vertical) of the perimeter of the peripheral part 13a of the heat radiating member 13 It may be arranged to fix only the upper and lower directions).

Each of the plurality of secondary batteries 12 is, for example, a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery, and a flat, substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer container 31 formed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and an outer container 31 And an electrode body (not shown) housed together with the non-aqueous electrolyte.
Each secondary battery 12 has a positive electrode terminal (not shown) connected to the positive electrode of the electrode body and a negative electrode terminal (not shown) connected to the negative electrode, for example, a gasket (not shown) made of an insulator such as synthetic resin or glass. ) Are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction on a terminal surface (for example, an upper end surface in the vertical direction) provided on the surface of the outer casing 31. In the secondary batteries 12 adjacent to each other, the secondary batteries 12 are electrically connected to each other by a connection bus bar (not shown) made of a metal such as conductive aluminum.
Each of the plurality of secondary batteries 12 may be joined with an adhesive in the housing 11 or may be held and fixed by an appropriate fixing member in order to ensure desired rigidity.

The heat radiating member 13 is formed of a bimetal in which a plurality of types of metal plates having different thermal expansion coefficients are bonded, and is curved and deformed according to temperature. For example, in a temperature region (low temperature region) equal to or lower than a first predetermined temperature (for example, 0 °), the heat dissipating member 13 is separated from the surface 12A of each of the plurality of secondary batteries 12 as illustrated in FIG. Further, in a temperature region (high temperature region) equal to or higher than a second predetermined temperature (for example, 40 ° C.) higher than the first predetermined temperature, as shown in FIG. 2, the surface 12A of each of the secondary batteries 12 is contacted. To do.
The heat radiating member 13 includes a flat portion 41 provided in the center portion, and a deforming portion 42 provided between the flat portion 41 and the peripheral edge portion 13a. The flat portion 41 is a portion that is in contact with the surface 12A of each of the plurality of secondary batteries 12 in a high temperature region, and the flatness does not change according to the temperature. The deforming portion 42 is a portion that bends and deforms according to temperature, and separates the flat portion 41 from each surface 12A of the plurality of secondary batteries 12 in the low temperature region, and the flat portion 41 in the high temperature region. 12 surfaces 12A are contacted.

  Of the peripheral edge portion 13 a, the flat surface portion 41, and the deformable portion 42 constituting the heat radiating member 13, at least the surface 13 </ b> A covering the flat surface portion 41 and the deformable portion 42 is exposed to the outside of the housing 11. Thereby, the heat radiating member 13 cools the back surface 13B side by radiating heat from the front surface 13A to the outside of the housing 11. That is, in the state where at least the back surface 13B (that is, the heat conducting surface) of the flat surface portion 41 is in contact with the front surfaces 12A of the plurality of secondary batteries 12, the heat dissipation member 13 is radiated from the surface 13A. Each surface 12A is cooled. On the other hand, in the state where the back surface 13B is separated from the front surfaces 12A of the plurality of secondary batteries 12, the heat radiating member 13 has a heat-insulating air layer (that is, the interior of the casing 11) between the back surface 13B and the front surfaces 12A. ), The cooling of the surface 12A of each of the secondary batteries 12 is suppressed. Thus, the heat dissipating member 13 can quickly raise the temperature of each secondary battery 12 in a low temperature state by contacting each secondary battery 12 in a low temperature region until a desired output characteristic is obtained. By separating from each secondary battery 12, each secondary battery 12 in a high temperature state can be quickly cooled to a desired appropriate operating temperature.

  According to the first embodiment described above, by having the heat radiating member 13, whether or not the heat radiating member 13 is in contact with each surface 12A of the plurality of secondary batteries 12 by self-deformation of the heat radiating member 13 according to temperature is determined. It can be switched automatically. Thereby, the heat dissipation member 13 can come into contact with the secondary battery 12 in a high temperature state and the secondary battery 12 can be quickly cooled, and the heat dissipation member 13 is separated in a low temperature state to quickly raise the temperature of each secondary battery 12. Can do.

Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, by having the heat radiating member 13 exposed to the outside of the housing 11, the exposed portion of the heat radiating member 13 (for example, the surface 13 </ b> A extending over the flat portion 41 and the deforming portion 42) Heat can be radiated to the outside of the body 11. Thereby, each secondary battery 12 which contacted the heat radiating member 13 inside the housing | casing 11 can be cooled rapidly.
Further, according to the first embodiment, the heat radiating member 13 has the flat surface portion 41 that contacts each surface 12A of the plurality of secondary batteries 12 so that the heat conduction from each secondary battery 12 to the heat radiating member 13 is achieved. The area contributing to the can be increased. Thereby, the heat conduction from each secondary battery 12 to the heat radiating member 13 can be promoted, and each secondary battery 12 can be quickly cooled.
Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, by having the heat radiating member 13 that is self-deformable according to the temperature, heat is radiated to the surface 12A of each secondary battery 12 without requiring an actuator such as a motor that is energized. Switching between the presence and absence of contact of the member 13 can be automated, and the configuration can be prevented from becoming complicated.

(Second Embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 3, the assembled battery module 50 according to the second embodiment includes an electrically insulating casing 51 made of resin and the like, and a plurality of secondary batteries 12 housed in the casing 51. The heat radiation member 53 accommodated in the housing 51 and the displacement member 54 that displaces the heat radiation member 53 are provided.
The housing 51 includes a wall portion 62 that forms an opening 61. The opening 61 is formed by cutting out at least a part of the wall 62 facing each surface (for example, a side surface) 12A of the plurality of secondary batteries 12 and penetrates the wall 62 in the thickness direction. Thus, each of the plurality of secondary batteries 12 faces a surface (for example, a side surface) 12A.

Each of the plurality of secondary batteries 12 is, for example, a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery, and a flat, substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer container 31 formed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and an outer container 31 And an electrode body (not shown) housed together with the non-aqueous electrolyte.
Each secondary battery 12 has a positive electrode terminal (not shown) connected to the positive electrode of the electrode body and a negative electrode terminal (not shown) connected to the negative electrode, for example, a gasket (not shown) made of an insulator such as synthetic resin or glass. ) Are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction on a terminal surface (for example, an upper end surface in the vertical direction) provided on the surface of the outer casing 31. In the secondary batteries 12 adjacent to each other, the secondary batteries 12 are electrically connected to each other by a connection bus bar (not shown) made of a metal such as conductive aluminum.
Each of the plurality of secondary batteries 12 may be joined with an adhesive in the housing 11 or may be held and fixed by an appropriate fixing member in order to ensure desired rigidity.

  The heat radiating member 53 is a cooling plate formed in a plate shape, for example, and includes a plurality of heat radiating fins 71 protruding from the surface 53A. The heat dissipating member 53 is supported by the displacement member 54 so that the peripheral edge 53 a is displaceable inside the housing 51. The heat radiating member 53 has the back surface 53 </ b> B opposed to the front surface 12 </ b> A of each of the plurality of secondary batteries 12 inside the housing 51, and at least a part of the front surface 53 </ b> A and the plurality of heat radiating fins 71 are connected to Exposed outside.

The displacement member 54 includes an expansion / contraction member 81 that expands and contracts according to temperature and an elastic member 82 that elastically deforms. The expansion / contraction member 81 is formed of a bimetal in which a plurality of types of metal plates having different thermal expansion coefficients are bonded, and expands and contracts according to temperature. The expansion / contraction member 81 is disposed between the surface 53A of the peripheral portion 53a of the heat dissipation member 53 and the inner surface 62A of the wall portion 62 of the housing 51, and expands and contracts between the surface 53A and the inner surface 62A. The elastic member 82 is a spring or the like and elastically expands and contracts. The elastic member 82 is disposed between the back surface 53B and the front surface 12A of each of the secondary batteries 12 at the peripheral edge 53a of the heat dissipation member 53, and elastically expands and contracts between the back surface 53B and each front surface 12A. That is, the expansion / contraction member 81 and the elastic member 82 are disposed so as to sandwich the peripheral portion 53a of the heat dissipation member 53 from both sides in the thickness direction.
The displacement member 54 may be arranged over the entire circumference of the peripheral edge 53a of the heat radiating member 53, or a part of the entire circumference of the peripheral edge 53a of the heat radiating member 53 (for example, an upper portion in the vertical direction and It may be arranged only in the lower part.

The elastic member 81 contracts between the surface 53A and the inner surface 62A as shown in FIG. 3, for example, in a temperature region (low temperature region) equal to or lower than a first predetermined temperature (for example, 0 °). Further, in a temperature region (high temperature region) equal to or higher than a second predetermined temperature (for example, 40 ° C.) higher than the first predetermined temperature, as shown in FIG. 4, the surface extends between the surface 53A and the inner surface 62A. Thereby, in the high temperature region, the heat dissipation member 53 is displaced in the proximity direction until the back surface 53B is brought into contact with the front surface 12A of each of the plurality of secondary batteries 12 by the elastic member 82 being elastically compressed along with the expansion of the expansion / contraction member 81. To do. On the other hand, in the low temperature region, the heat dissipating member 53 is displaced in a separating direction that separates the back surface 53B from the front surfaces 12A of the plurality of secondary batteries 12 by elastically extending the elastic member 82 as the elastic member 81 contracts. .
In addition, in the peripheral part 53a of the heat radiating member 53, the back surface 53B is recessed by one step so as to accommodate the elastic member 82 in an elastically compressed state in a state where the back surface 53B is in contact with the front surfaces 12A of the plurality of secondary batteries 12. An elastic member accommodating portion 53b is provided.

  In the state where the back surface 13 </ b> B (that is, the heat conducting surface) is in contact with the front surfaces 12 </ b> A of the plurality of secondary batteries 12, the heat dissipating member 53 has a plurality of two Each surface 12A of the secondary battery 12 is cooled. On the other hand, in the state where the back surface 13B is separated from the front surfaces 12A of the plurality of secondary batteries 12, the heat radiating member 53 has a heat insulating air layer (that is, the interior of the casing 11) between the back surface 13B and the front surfaces 12A. ), The cooling of the surface 12A of each of the secondary batteries 12 is suppressed. Thereby, the heat dissipation member 53 can quickly raise the temperature of each secondary battery 12 in a low temperature state by contacting each secondary battery 12 in a low temperature region until a desired output characteristic is obtained. By separating from each secondary battery 12, each secondary battery 12 in a high temperature state can be quickly cooled to a desired appropriate operating temperature.

  According to the second embodiment described above, by having the heat radiating member 53 and the displacement member 54, each of the plurality of secondary batteries 12 is caused by the displacement of the heat radiating member 53 due to the self-deformation of the displacement member 54 according to the temperature. Whether or not the heat dissipation member 53 is in contact with the surface 12A can be automatically switched. Thereby, the heat dissipation member 53 can come into contact with the secondary battery 12 in a high temperature state to quickly lower the temperature of each secondary battery 12, and in the low temperature state, the heat dissipation member 53 can be separated to quickly raise the temperature of each secondary battery 12. Can do.

Furthermore, according to the second embodiment, by having the heat radiation member 53 exposed to the outside of the housing 11, the exposed portion of the heat radiation member 53 (for example, at least a part of the surface 53 </ b> A and the plurality of heat radiation fins 71). Heat can be radiated to the outside of the housing 11. Thereby, each secondary battery 12 which contacted the heat radiating member 53 inside the housing | casing 11 can be cooled rapidly.
Furthermore, according to the second embodiment, the heat radiation performance of the heat radiation member 53 can be improved by having the plurality of heat radiation fins 71.
Further, according to the second embodiment, the heat radiation member 13 has the back surface 13B that contacts the front surface 12A of each of the plurality of secondary batteries 12, so that heat conduction from each secondary battery 12 to the heat radiation member 53 can be achieved. The contributing area can be increased. Thereby, heat conduction from each secondary battery 12 to the heat radiating member 53 can be promoted, and each secondary battery 12 can be quickly cooled.
Furthermore, according to the second embodiment, by having the displacement member 54 that self-deforms according to the temperature, the heat dissipation to the surface 12A of each secondary battery 12 without requiring an actuator such as a motor that is energized and controlled. Switching between the presence and absence of contact of the member 53 can be automated, and the configuration can be prevented from becoming complicated.

  According to at least one embodiment described above, by having a heat radiating member (heat radiating member 13 or heat radiating member 53) in which the presence or absence of contact with each surface 12A of the plurality of secondary batteries 12 is automatically switched according to temperature. The secondary battery 12 can be quickly cooled to a desired proper operating temperature in a high temperature state, and can be rapidly heated until a desired output characteristic is obtained in a low temperature state of each secondary battery 12. .

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the first modification will be described.
In the first embodiment described above, the heat radiating member 13 is formed of bimetal. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be formed of other materials that self-deform according to temperature.

The configuration of the second modification will be described below.
In the above-described second embodiment, the displacement member 54 includes the elastic member 81 formed of bimetal and the elastic member 82 formed of a spring, but is not limited thereto.
For example, instead of the elastic member 82, a second expansion / contraction member that expands / contracts depending on the temperature with a temperature characteristic opposite to that of the displacement member 54 may be provided.
Further, for example, the elastic member 82 may be omitted and the elastic member 81 and the heat radiating member 53 may be integrally connected.
Further, for example, the elastic member 81 is omitted, and instead of the elastic member 82, a second elastic member that expands and contracts according to temperature with a temperature characteristic opposite to that of the displacement member 54 is provided. The member 53 may be integrally connected.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Assembly battery module 11 Case 12 Secondary battery 13 Heat radiation member 50 Battery assembly module 51 Case 53 Heat radiation member 54 Displacement member 71 Radiation fin 81 Elastic member 82 Elastic member

Claims (7)

A plurality of secondary batteries;
A housing for housing the plurality of secondary batteries;
A heat dissipating member that contacts each of the surfaces of the plurality of secondary batteries in a predetermined high temperature region and is spaced apart from each surface of the plurality of secondary batteries in a predetermined low temperature region;
Comprising
Battery module. The heat dissipation member includes an exposed portion that is exposed to the outside of the housing.
The assembled battery module according to claim 1. The heat radiating member includes a flat portion that contacts the surface of each of the plurality of secondary batteries in the predetermined high temperature region.
The assembled battery module according to claim 1 or 2. The heat dissipating member is changed according to temperature to switch contact and separation with respect to each surface of the plurality of secondary batteries.
The assembled battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The heat dissipation member is formed of bimetal,
The assembled battery module according to claim 4. A displacement member that switches contact and separation of the heat dissipation member with respect to each surface of the plurality of secondary batteries by displacing the heat dissipation member according to temperature;
The assembled battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The heat dissipating member includes heat dissipating fins.
The assembled battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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