JP2015158979A - On-vehicle battery - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure simplification of a structure and improve an output performance of battery cells at a low temperature without steep rise in cost of manufacture.SOLUTION: An on-vehicle battery comprises: a battery module 3 having a plurality of battery cells 12 arranged in a predetermined state and a cell cover 11 in which the plurality of battery cells are arranged, and a part of an inner space of the cell cover being formed as a chamber 21 into which cooling air is fed; a housing case 2 for housing the battery module; a suction duct 33 feeding the cooling air into the battery module; and an exhaustion duct 36 exhausting the cooling air fed into the battery module. A heater 22 for heating the plurality of battery cells is arranged in the chamber.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technical field relating to an in-vehicle battery that is mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile and can be used even in a cold region.

JP 2013-218792 A JP 2010-140802 A

  Various types of vehicles such as automobiles are equipped with in-vehicle batteries for supplying electric power to motors and various electrical components.

  In recent years, vehicles such as EVs (Electric Vehicles), HEVs (Hybrid Electric Vehicles), and PHEVs (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles) are becoming popular. In a vehicle powered by electricity, an in-vehicle battery having a high power storage function is mounted.

  The in-vehicle battery is composed of a plurality of battery modules. The battery module is, for example, a plurality of battery cells (secondary batteries) such as nickel metal hydride batteries and lithium ion batteries, and between each battery cell in order to secure a cooling passage. A battery stack in which separators are alternately stacked, a fixing member that fastens the battery stack in the stacking direction, a bus bar module that electrically connects battery cells, and a chamber that sends cooling air between the battery cells It consists of and.

  The output performance of the battery cell used in such an in-vehicle battery varies depending on the temperature, and the output performance of the battery cell decreases at low temperatures. Therefore, regarding a vehicle-mounted battery used in a cold region, there is a possibility that sufficient power is not supplied from the vehicle-mounted battery to the motor or the like at a low temperature such as winter, and a necessary output cannot be obtained in the motor or the like.

  In view of this, in-vehicle batteries used in such cold regions are provided with a heater, and the battery cell is heated by the heater at a low temperature to enhance the output performance of the battery cell (for example, Patent Documents). 1 and Patent Document 2).

  In the in-vehicle battery described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of battery cells are arranged inside the case, heat exchange members are attached to both sides of the case, and the ducts are arranged on both sides of the case. Each is provided with a temperature control device, and a thermoelectric conversion element is disposed between the heat exchange member and the temperature control device. At low temperatures, each thermoelectric conversion element is energized to heat the heat medium, and the plurality of battery cells disposed inside the case are heated by the heat medium.

  In the vehicle-mounted battery described in Patent Document 2, each battery cover is held inside each cell cover, and a large number of heater wires are embedded in each cell cover on the outer peripheral side of each battery cell. Has been placed. When the temperature is low, each heater wire is energized to heat the battery cell held inside the cell cover.

  However, in the vehicle-mounted battery described in Patent Document 1, as means for heating the battery cell at a low temperature, a heat exchange member, a temperature control device, and a thermoelectric conversion element respectively disposed on both sides of the battery cell are provided. Since it is provided, there is a problem that the structure is complicated and the manufacturing cost is reduced.

  Moreover, in the vehicle-mounted battery described in Patent Document 2, since the battery cover is arranged with a large number of heater wires embedded in the cell cover on the outer periphery side of the battery cell, the number of battery cells increases. The number of covers and heater wires increases, which also hinders manufacturing cost reduction.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to overcome the above-described problems, to ensure the simplification of the structure, and to improve the output performance of the battery cell at a low temperature without causing an increase in manufacturing cost.

  First, an in-vehicle battery according to the present invention includes a plurality of battery cells arranged in a predetermined state and a cell cover in which the plurality of battery cells are arranged. A battery module formed as a chamber into which cooling air is sent, a storage case that houses the battery module, an intake duct that sends the cooling air into the battery module, and a battery module that is sent into the battery module And an exhaust duct for discharging the cooling air, and a heater for heating the plurality of battery cells is disposed in the chamber.

  Thereby, the air which exists in the internal space of a battery module is warmed by the heater arrange | positioned in a chamber, and a several battery cell is heated.

  Secondly, in the above-described vehicle-mounted battery according to the present invention, it is preferable that a cooling fan for allowing the cooling air to flow is provided, and the driving of the cooling fan is stopped when the heater is driven.

  Thereby, the flow in the inside of a battery module of the air heated by a heater and heating a battery cell is suppressed.

  3rdly, in the vehicle-mounted battery which concerns on above-mentioned this invention, it is desirable that a heat insulating material is attached to the outer side of the said chamber in the outer surface of the said battery module.

  Thereby, the discharge | release of the heat from the heater to the exterior of a battery module is suppressed.

  Fourthly, in the above-described vehicle-mounted battery according to the present invention, it is desirable that the intake duct or the exhaust duct is provided with an openable / closable shutter for controlling a flow state of air.

  As a result, the shutter is closed when the heater is driven, so that the flow of air inside the battery module is suppressed, and the release of the air heated by the heater to the outside of the battery module is suppressed.

  Fifth, in the above-described vehicle-mounted battery according to the present invention, the two battery modules are arranged adjacent to each other, and the chamber of one of the adjacent battery modules communicates with the chamber of the other battery module. The heater is preferably disposed at a boundary between the chamber of the one battery module and the chamber of the other battery module.

  Thereby, one heater is shared by the two battery modules, and the battery cells arranged inside the two battery modules are heated by one heater.

  Sixth, in the on-vehicle battery according to the present invention described above, the storage case has a hollow cross section, a plurality of hollow portions are formed in the storage case, and a heater wire for supplying current to the heater is provided. It is desirable to arrange in the cavity.

  Thereby, a cavity part is used as the arrangement | positioning space of the electric wire for heaters, and it is not necessary to form the arrangement | positioning space of the electric wire for heaters separately in the inside of a storage case.

  According to the present invention, since the air present in the internal space of the battery module is heated by the heater arranged in the chamber and the plurality of battery cells are heated, the simplification of the structure can be ensured and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. The output performance of the battery cell at low temperatures can be improved without causing a surge.

2 to 10 show an embodiment of an in-vehicle battery according to the present invention, and this figure is a schematic exploded perspective view of the in-vehicle battery. It is a perspective view of a vehicle-mounted battery. It is a perspective view which shows a part of storage case. It is a perspective view of a battery module. It is sectional drawing which shows the state by which the battery module is arrange | positioned at the bottom wall. It is a conceptual diagram which shows a battery module with a duct in the state which removed the top | upper surface part. It is sectional drawing which shows the example in which the heat insulating material was attached to the outer surface of a chamber formation part. It is sectional drawing which shows the example arrange | positioned in the state which two battery modules contact | connected, and the common heater is arrange | positioned. FIG. 10 shows an example in which a shutter is provided together with FIG. 10, and this diagram is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which a flow path is opened by the shutter. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the state by which the flow path is obstruct | occluded with the shutter.

  EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, the form for implementing this vehicle-mounted battery of this invention is demonstrated with reference to an accompanying drawing.

  The in-vehicle battery 1 has a storage case 2 and battery modules 3, 3,... (See FIGS. 1 and 2). The in-vehicle battery 1 is disposed, for example, above a vehicle body floor such as a luggage compartment behind a rear seat of the vehicle.

  The storage case 2 has a storage portion 4 that opens upward and a flat lid portion 5 that closes the opening of the storage portion 4 from above.

  The storage unit 4 includes a front wall 6 facing in the front-rear direction, a rear wall 7 positioned on the rear side of the front wall 6, a side wall 8, 8 positioned left and right and a bottom wall 9 facing in the up-down direction. And have. The front wall 6, the rear wall 7, the side walls 8, 8 and the bottom wall 9 are all formed by, for example, extrusion molding of aluminum or the like and have a hollow cross section.

  The front wall 6 is formed with cavities 6a, 6a, 6a extending in the left and right directions, and the rear wall 7 is formed with cavities 7a, 7a, 7a extending in the left and right directions. Cavities 8a, 8a,... Are formed in the side walls 8 and 8 so as to extend in the front-rear direction and to be aligned vertically. Duct insertion holes 6b, 6b, 6b are formed in the front wall 6 so as to be separated from each other in the left-right direction. Cable insertion holes 6c, 6c are formed in the front wall 6 at one end in the left-right direction. Duct insertion holes 7b, 7b are formed in the rear wall 7 so as to be separated from each other in the left-right direction.

  The bottom wall 9 is formed with hollow portions 9a, 9a,.

  On the upper surface side of the bottom wall 9, partition projections 10, 10,. The partition protrusions 10, 10,... Protrude upward.

  For example, four battery modules 3, 3,... Are stored in the storage case 2 side by side (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

  The battery module 3 includes a cell cover 11 and a plurality of battery cells 12, 12,... Arranged side by side in the cell cover 11.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cell cover 11 is positioned on the rear side of the front surface portion 13 facing the front-rear direction and the rear surface portion 14 facing the front-rear direction and is separated from the left and right sides. 15 and 15, a top surface portion 16 facing in the vertical direction, and chamber forming portions 17 and 17 attached to the side surface portions 15 and 15, respectively.

  The side surfaces 15, 15 are the mounting surface portions 18, 18 facing in the left-right direction and the upper projecting surface portions 19, 19 projecting in a direction approaching each other in the left-right direction from the upper edge of the mounting surface portions 18, 18 The lower projecting surface portions 20 and 20 are projected in a direction approaching each other in the left-right direction. The attachment surface portion 18 is formed with an opening 18a penetrating left and right in a portion excluding the outer peripheral portion.

  The chamber forming portion 17 is formed in a box shape opened to the side and one of the front and rear sides, and an opening edge portion in the left-right direction is attached to the outer peripheral portion of the attachment surface portion 18. By attaching the chamber forming portions 17 and 17 to the outer peripheral portions of the attachment surface portions 18 and 18, respectively, spaces are formed on both the left and right sides inside the cell cover 11, and these spaces are formed as chambers 21 and 21, respectively. . One opening before and after the chamber forming portion 17 is formed as a connection opening 17a.

  The top surface portion 16 is formed with insertion holes 16a, 16a penetrating vertically in both front and rear ends.

  A heater 22 is attached to the inner surface of one chamber forming portion 17, and the heater 22 is disposed in the chamber 21. The heater 22 is formed in a flat plate shape that faces in the left-right direction and extends back and forth. For example, the heater 22 is formed by embedding a heating wire in a resin base.

  As the heater 22, for example, a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater that controls the amount of heat release by self-detecting the ambient temperature can be used.

  Also, heater wires (not shown) for supplying current to the heater 22 are, for example, in the cavity portions 8a, 8a,... Of the side walls 8, 8, or the cavity portions 9a, 9a,. It is possible to arrange.

  By arranging the heater wire in the cavity portion 8a or the cavity portion 9a, the cavity portions 8a and 9a are used as the heater wire placement space, and the heater wire placement space needs to be separately formed inside the storage case 2. Therefore, the vehicle-mounted battery 1 can be reduced in size by effectively utilizing the space.

The battery cells 12, 12,... Are placed on the lower projecting surface portions 20, 20 of the left and right side portions 15, 15 and held by the cell cover 11, with small gaps in the front and rear, etc. They are arranged side by side at intervals (see FIG. 6). The battery cell 12 is provided with a positive electrode side terminal 12 a and a negative electrode side terminal 12 b that protrude upward, respectively, spaced apart from each other on the left and right. The battery cells 12, 12,... Are connected to the positive and negative terminals 12a, 12a,... And the negative terminals 12b, 12b,. Are connected in series.
On the upper surface of the battery cells 12, 12,..., A pressing plate 24 is attached below the top surface portion 16 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The holding plate 24 is formed with arrangement holes 24a, 24a,. In the arrangement hole 24a, the positive electrode side terminal 12a and the negative electrode side terminal 12b of the battery cells 12 and 12 positioned adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction and a connection plate 23 for connecting the two are arranged.

  In the storage case 2, a plug sensor box 25 and a junction box 26 are stored at both left and right ends (see FIGS. 1 and 2). A battery control unit (not shown) that controls the entire vehicle battery 1 is arranged inside the storage case 2.

  The plug sensor box 25 is provided with predetermined connection plugs, sensors, and the like.

  The junction box 26 includes a casing 27 formed in a vertically long shape and control components 28, 28,... That are arranged in the casing 27 and control current and the like. As the control components 28, 28,..., For example, relays, fuses, connector terminals, and the like are provided. One end portions of cables 29 and 29 inserted through the cable insertion holes 6c and 6c of the front wall 6 are connected to the junction box 26, and the junction box 26 is mounted on the vehicle floor by a cable 29 and 29 (not shown). (Inverter) is connected.

  The battery modules 3, 3,... Are inserted between the plug sensor box 25 and the junction box 26 and stored in the storage case 2. The battery modules 3, 3,... Are arranged in a state where they are placed on the upper surface of the bottom wall 9 at positions partitioned by partition projections 10, 10,. (See FIG. 5).

  As described above, when the battery modules 3, 3,..., The plug sensor box 25, and the junction box 26 are stored in the storage case 2, the battery cell of the battery module 3 positioned adjacent to the plug sensor box 25. 12 and the plug sensor box 25 are connected by a first connection bus bar 30, and the battery cell 12 of the battery module 3 positioned adjacent to the junction box 26 and the junction box 26 are connected by a second connection bus bar 31. The One end portion of the first connection bus bar 30 and one end portion of the second connection bus bar 31 are inserted into insertion holes 16a and 16a formed in the top surface portions 16 and 16 of the battery modules 3 and 3, respectively. 12 and 12 are connected to the positive terminal 12a or the negative terminal 12b.

  Further, the battery cells 12, 12,... Of the adjacent battery modules 3, 3,... Are connected by the DC connection bus bars 32, 32,. The direct current connection bus bars 32, 32,... Are inserted into insertion holes 16a, 16a,... Formed in the top surface portions 16, 16,. Are connected to the positive terminals 12a, 12a,..., Or the negative terminals 12b, 12b,.

  The plug sensor box 25 and the junction box 26 are connected to predetermined parts such as a battery control unit by electric wires or bus bars.

  Intake ducts 33, 33 are provided side by side on the front side of the battery modules 3, 3,. The intake duct 33 has an intake portion 34 that extends to the left and right and connecting portions 35, 35 that protrude rearward from the intake portion 34. An intake opening 34a is formed on the outer end face of the intake section 34, and inflow openings (not shown) are formed on the rear end faces of the connecting sections 35 and 35, respectively.

  The intake ducts 33, 33 have the intake portions 34, 34 positioned on the front side of the front wall 6 in the storage case 2, and the connecting portions 35, 35,... Formed in the front wall 6 respectively. , 6b, and the rear ends of the connecting portions 35, 35,... Are connected to the front ends of the chamber forming portions 17, 17,. 6). Therefore, the inflow opening of the connecting portions 35, 35,... And the connecting openings 17a, 17a,... Of the chamber forming portions 17, 17,. The cooling air taken in is sent to the chambers 20, 20,... Formed inside the battery modules 3, 3,. The cooling air sent to the chambers 20, 20,... Flows from the gaps between the battery cells 12, 12,.

  Exhaust ducts 36, 36 are provided on the rear side of the battery modules 3, 3... Spaced apart from each other (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The exhaust duct 36 has a fan arrangement part 37 having a substantially circular outer shape, a connecting protrusion 38 protruding forward from the fan arrangement part 37, and an exhaust part 39 protruding sideways from the fan arrangement part 37. Yes. The front end of the connecting projection 38 is bifurcated in the left-right direction, and the outflow openings 38a, 38a are formed on the front end surface so as to be aligned on the left and right. An exhaust opening (not shown) is formed in the distal end surface of the exhaust part 39.

  A cooling fan 40 is rotatably arranged inside the fan arrangement portion 37. The cooling fan 40 has a function of causing the cooling air to flow from the connection protrusion 38 side to the exhaust part 39 side by rotating.

  Exhaust ducts 36 and 36 are ducts in which fan arrangement portions 37 and 37 and exhaust portions 39 and 39 are located on the rear side of the rear wall 7 in the storage case 2, and connecting projections 38 and 38 are formed on the rear wall 7, respectively. .. Are inserted through the insertion holes 7b, 7b, and the front ends of the connecting projections 38, 38 are connected to the rear ends of the chamber forming portions 17, 17,... In the battery modules 3, 3,. 6). Therefore, the outflow openings 38a, 38a,... Of the connection protrusions 38, 38 and the connection openings 17a, 17a,. , 12,... Are discharged from the chambers 20, 20,... Through the exhaust ducts 36, 36 through the exhaust openings.

  The flow of the cooling air in the intake ducts 33, 33, the battery modules 3, 3,... And the exhaust ducts 36, 36 is forcibly performed by the cooling fans 40, 40, and the battery cells 12, 12,. Are efficiently cooled.

  In the in-vehicle battery 1 configured as described above, current is supplied to the heater 22 via the heater wire at a low temperature, the heating wire is heated, the air inside the battery module 3 is warmed, and the side of the heater 22 is heated. The battery cells 12, 12,. At this time, the cooling fans 40, 40 are not rotated, and the battery cells 12, 12,... Are controlled not to be cooled.

  Since the cooling fans 40 are not rotated when the heater 22 is driven, the flow of air heated by the heater 22 to heat the battery cells 12, 12,... Is suppressed in the battery module 3. Therefore, the heating efficiency of the battery cells 12, 12,... By the heater 22 can be improved.

  The battery cells 12, 12,... Heated by the heater 22 are increased in temperature and output performance is improved, and a high power storage function is ensured.

  As described above, in the vehicle battery 1, the heater 22 for heating the plurality of battery cells 12, 12,... Is disposed in the chamber 21 formed as a part of the internal space of the battery module 3. ing.

  Therefore, since the air existing in the internal space of the battery module 3 is warmed by the heater 22 disposed in the chamber 21 and the plurality of battery cells 12, 12,. Can be simplified and downsized, and the output performance of the battery cells 12, 12,... At low temperatures can be improved without causing an increase in manufacturing cost.

  Further, since air exists between the battery cells 12, 12,... And the heater 22, a local temperature rise of the battery cells 12, 12,. 12,... Can be heated as a whole.

  In addition, the heat insulating material 41 may be attached to the outer side of the chamber 21 in the outer surface of the battery module 3, for example, the outer surface of the chamber formation part 17 (refer FIG. 7).

  Since the heat insulating material 41 is attached to the outside of the chamber 21, the release of heat from the heater 22 to the outside of the battery module 3 is suppressed, and the heating efficiency of the battery cells 12, 12,. Can be planned.

  Moreover, in the vehicle-mounted battery 1, as shown in FIG. 8, the chamber forming portions 17 and 17 are brought into contact with each other in a state where the battery modules 3 and 3 are arranged side by side. In addition, communication holes 17b and 17b communicating with the chambers 21 and 21, respectively, may be formed, and a heater 22 may be disposed at the boundary between the chambers 21 and 21.

  As described above, the heater 22 is arranged at the boundary between the chambers 21, 21, so that one heater 22 is shared by the two battery modules 3, 3, and the battery is arranged inside the two battery modules 3, 3. Since the cells 12, 12,... Are heated by one heater 22, the number of parts can be reduced and the size can be reduced.

  In the above, an example in which the cooling fans 40 and 40 are controlled not to rotate when the heater 22 is driven is shown. For example, a shutter that can be opened and closed to the intake ducts 33 and 33 or the exhaust ducts 36 and 36. 42 may be provided so that the air flow state is controlled by the shutter 42 (see FIGS. 9 and 10).

  The shutter 42 is movable in and out of the flow path 43 that is the internal space of the intake duct 33 or the exhaust duct 36, one end is connected to the biasing spring 44, and the other end is connected to the actuator 45. Yes.

  The biasing spring 44 is, for example, a tension coil spring, and the shutter 42 is biased by the biasing spring 44 in the direction of closing the flow path 43. The actuator 45 has a drive part 45a and an arm part 45b rotated by the drive part 45a, and the other end part of the shutter 42 is connected to the tip part of the arm part 45b.

  When the arm portion 45b is rotated to one side by the driving force of the actuator 45, the shutter 42 is moved against the biasing force of the biasing spring 44 and the flow path 43 is opened (see FIG. 9). Accordingly, air flows in the flow path 43 and also flows in the battery module 3.

  On the other hand, when the arm portion 45b is rotated to the other side by the driving force of the actuator 45, the shutter 42 is moved by the biasing force of the biasing spring 44 and the flow path 43 is closed (see FIG. 10). Therefore, the flow of air in the flow path 43 is suppressed, and the flow of air is also suppressed in the battery module 3.

  In the case where such a shutter 42 is provided, an air battery heated by the heater 22 by closing the flow path 43 by the shutter 42 when the heater 22 is driven and suppressing the flow of air inside the battery module 3. Since the release of the module 3 to the outside is suppressed, the heating efficiency of the battery cells 12, 12,... By the heater 22 can be improved.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle battery, 2 ... Storage case, 3 ... Battery module, 8a ... Hollow part, 9a ... Hollow part, 11 ... Cell cover, 12 ... Battery cell, 21 ... Chamber, 22 ... Heater, 33 ... Intake duct, 36 ... exhaust duct, 40 ... cooling fan, 41 ... heat insulating material, 42 ... shutter

Claims (6)

A battery that has a plurality of battery cells arranged in a predetermined state and a cell cover in which the plurality of battery cells are arranged, and a part of the internal space of the cell cover is formed as a chamber into which cooling air is sent. Module,
A storage case for storing the battery module;
An intake duct for sending the cooling air into the battery module;
An exhaust duct for discharging the cooling air sent into the battery module;
A vehicle-mounted battery in which a heater for heating the plurality of battery cells is disposed in the chamber. A cooling fan for flowing the cooling air is provided;
The in-vehicle battery according to claim 1, wherein driving of the cooling fan is stopped when the heater is driven. The vehicle-mounted battery according to claim 1, wherein a heat insulating material is attached to the outside of the chamber on the outer surface of the battery module. The in-vehicle battery according to claim 1, wherein the intake duct or the exhaust duct is provided with an openable / closable shutter for controlling a flow state of air. Two battery modules are arranged adjacent to each other;
The chamber of one of the adjacent battery modules and the chamber of the other battery module communicate with each other,
The in-vehicle battery according to claim 1, wherein the heater is disposed at a boundary portion between the chamber of the one battery module and the chamber of the other battery module. The storage case has a hollow cross section, a plurality of cavities are formed in the storage case,
The in-vehicle battery according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein a heater electric wire for supplying a current to the heater is disposed in the hollow portion.

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