JP2016009630A - Air battery unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air battery unit by which a discharge time can be shortened.SOLUTION: An air battery unit A comprises: at least one air battery A having a structure in which an electrolyte-enclosing part 1 is sandwiched between a positive electrode layer 2 and a negative electrode layer 3; an air circulation space 4 for circulating air along a surface of each of the positive electrode layer 2 and the negative electrode layer 3; and air-regulating means (5, 10a-10e) for uniformizing a temperature distribution in the negative electrode layer 3 by regulating air circulated in the air circulation space 4. Selectively cooling a high-temperature region of the negative electrode layer 3, the gradient of the temperature of a negative electrode is eliminated, and the dissolution of metal of the negative electrode is uniformized. Thus, the shortening of a discharge time is realized.

Description

  The present invention relates to an air battery unit including an air battery that uses oxygen as a positive electrode active material.

  As this type of air battery unit, for example, there is one described in Patent Document 1 under the name of a spare battery. The air battery unit described in Patent Document 1 is used in an electrochemical battery system, and includes a housing in which dry components including a positive electrode and a negative electrode are stacked and accommodated, and positive air (oxygen) is contained in the housing. ).

JP 2005-527069 A

  By the way, in recent years, research and development of air batteries used for emergency charging power supplies of electric vehicles have been promoted, and as a measure to shorten the charging time from the air battery to the secondary battery, the discharge time of the air battery is shortened. And improvement of the reaction rate of the negative electrode are being studied.

  Here, in order to shorten the discharge time of the air battery, it is important to achieve uniformity of dissolution of the negative electrode metal constituting the negative electrode. However, when a temperature gradient occurs in the negative electrode, the reaction rate of the negative electrode metal increases at a relatively high temperature portion (is easily dissolved). For this reason, in the conventional air battery unit, the discharge time has to be determined at a portion where the reaction rate of the negative electrode metal is slow, and measures for eliminating the temperature gradient of the negative electrode have not been taken, so the discharge time is shortened. There was room for improvement in achieving this.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional situation, and provides an air battery unit capable of eliminating the temperature gradient of the negative electrode, achieving uniformity of dissolution of the negative electrode metal, and shortening the discharge time. It is intended to provide.

  An air battery unit according to the present invention includes at least one air battery having a structure in which an electrolyte container is sandwiched between a positive electrode layer and a negative electrode layer, and an air circulation space through which air flows along the respective surfaces of the positive electrode layer and the negative electrode layer. And air adjusting means for making the temperature distribution of the negative electrode layer uniform by adjusting the air flowing through the air circulation space. In the air battery unit, as a more preferred embodiment, the air adjusting means is formed between the air introduction part and the air discharge part with respect to the air circulation space, and the relatively high temperature region of the negative electrode layer is set as the upstream side. The air flow path having a relatively low temperature region on the downstream side is provided, and the above structure is used as means for solving the conventional problems.

  Since the air battery unit according to the present invention employs the above-described configuration, the temperature gradient of the negative electrode can be eliminated, the uniformity of the dissolution of the negative electrode metal can be achieved, and the discharge time can be shortened.

It is sectional drawing (A) of the air battery explaining 1st Embodiment of the air battery unit concerning this invention, the side view (B), and horizontal sectional view (C) of an air battery unit. It is a perspective view explaining 1st Embodiment of an air battery unit. It is a perspective view explaining 2nd Embodiment of the air battery unit concerning this invention. It is a perspective view explaining 3rd Embodiment of the air battery unit concerning this invention. It is a perspective view explaining 4th Embodiment of the air battery unit concerning this invention.

<First Embodiment>
The air battery unit U shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes at least one air battery A having a structure in which the electrolyte container 1 is sandwiched between the positive electrode layer 2 and the negative electrode layer 3, and the respective surfaces of the positive electrode layer 2 and the negative electrode layer 3. And an air circulation space 4 through which air is circulated. The air battery unit U includes air adjusting means for making the temperature distribution of the negative electrode layer 3 uniform by adjusting the air flowing through the air circulation space 4.

  The air adjusting means in this embodiment is formed between the air introduction part 4A and the air discharge part 4B with respect to the air circulation space 4, with the relatively high temperature region of the negative electrode layer 3 being the upstream side and the relatively low temperature. The air flow path (10a-10e) which makes an area | region a downstream is provided. More specifically, the air adjusting means includes at least one partition plate 5 that partitions the air circulation space 4 to form air flow paths (10a to 10e).

  Here, in the air battery unit U, the air battery A is arranged in a vertically arranged state in which the electrolyte container 1, the positive electrode layer 2, and the negative electrode layer 3 are arranged in the horizontal direction. In this case, when the air battery A is activated, the temperature of the upper region becomes relatively high due to the convection of the electrolytic solution. Therefore, in the negative electrode layer 3, the upper region is a relatively high temperature region and the lower region is a relatively low temperature region.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the air battery A has a configuration in which the electrolyte container 1 is sandwiched between the positive electrode layer 2 and the negative electrode layer 3 and the outer periphery thereof is held by the outer frame member 6. The electrolyte storage unit 1 is a space for storing an electrolyte solution (not shown), and may be configured to be filled with the electrolyte solution in advance, or may be configured to inject the electrolyte solution at the time of start-up as a liquid injection type air battery. The electrolyte to be used is not necessarily liquid but may be solid or gelled.

  The positive electrode layer 2 has a structure in which a positive electrode member 2A and a liquid-tight ventilation member 2B are laminated from the electrolyte container 1 side. On the other hand, the negative electrode layer 3 has a structure in which a negative electrode metal layer 3A and a negative electrode current collecting layer 3B are laminated from the electrolyte container 1 side.

  The air battery unit U includes a case C that forms an appearance. The case C has a first flow path part C2 and a second flow path part C3 with the battery housing part C1 in between. In the battery housing portion C1, a plurality of air batteries A having the same positive and negative directions are housed at a predetermined interval, and between the adjacent air batteries A or between the air battery A at the end and the inner surface of the case C. An air circulation space 4 is formed between the two.

  The air circulation space 4 between the air cells A is a space for supplying air (oxygen) to the positive electrode layer 2 of one air cell A, as shown in FIG. It is also a space for circulating air for cooling the negative electrode layer 3 of A. The air circulation space 4 between the positive electrode layer 2 of the air battery A and the inner surface of the case C is a space for supplying air (oxygen) to the positive electrode layer 2, and further, the negative electrode layer 3 of the air battery A. And the air circulation space 4 between the inner surface of the case C is a space through which air for cooling the negative electrode layer 3 is circulated.

  The first flow path part C2 and the second flow path part C3 are tubular bodies communicating with each other in the vertical direction, and are communicated with the battery housing part C1 on the side surfaces thereof. Moreover, the 1st flow-path part C2 is provided with the opening-and-closing valve 7 and 8 which opens and closes each path | route on the upper side and the lower side.

  The air battery unit U includes a partition plate 5 that vertically divides the first flow path part C2 and the battery housing part C1 (air circulation space 4) in the case C as air adjusting means. Thereby, in the air battery unit U, as shown in FIG. 1B, the upper end portion of the first flow path portion C2 becomes the air introduction portion 4A for the air circulation space 4, and the lower end portion of the first flow path portion C2 is It becomes the air discharge part 4B with respect to the air circulation space 4. FIG.

  Then, the air battery unit U has an upper region (arrow 10a) of the first flow path part C2 and an upper region (arrow) of the air flow space 4 between the air introduction part 4A and the air discharge part 4B with respect to the air circulation space 4. 10b), the entire area of the second flow path section C (arrow 10c), the lower area of the air circulation space 4 (arrow 10d), and the lower flow area of the first flow path section C2 (arrow 10e). Air channels (10a to 10e) as means are formed. As described above, since the upper region of the negative electrode layer 3 becomes a relatively high temperature region due to the vertical placement of the air battery A, this air flow path (10a to 10e) is the upper side where the negative electrode layer 3 becomes relatively high in temperature. The region is the upstream side, and the lower region where the temperature is relatively low is the downstream side.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 (C) and 2, the air battery unit U described above connects the units via the partition wall B, and electrically connects the units to form an air battery system. To do. Although not shown, such an air battery system includes a supply source of an electrolyte and air, various devices such as a pump and a valve constituting a flow path, and means for controlling these devices.

  The air battery unit U having the above configuration introduces air from the air introduction part 4A to each air circulation space 4 and supplies air (oxygen) to the positive electrode layer 2 of each air battery A, thereby each air battery. Start A. At this time, since the air battery unit U has the air battery A placed vertically, the temperature of the upper part of the air battery A becomes relatively high due to the convection of the electrolytic solution. When such a temperature gradient occurs in the air battery A, the reaction of the negative electrode metal layer 3A proceeds in the upper region of the negative electrode layer 3, the uniformity of dissolution of the negative electrode metal layer 3A is impaired, and the discharge time becomes longer.

  On the other hand, the air battery unit U adjusts the air flowing through the air circulation space 4 to make the temperature distribution of the negative electrode layer 3 uniform, more specifically, the air to the air circulation space 4. Formed between the introduction portion 4A and the air discharge portion 4B, the relatively high temperature region (upper region) of the negative electrode layer 3 is the upstream side, and the relatively low temperature region (lower region) is the downstream side. Air flow paths 10a to 10e are provided.

  Thereby, the air battery unit U introduces air into the upper region of the negative electrode layer 3 first, thereby cooling the upper region with priority. And the air battery unit U heats the lower area | region by supplying the air which absorbed the reaction heat in the upper area | region to the lower area | region of the negative electrode layer 3 which is relatively low temperature. In this way, the air battery unit U can reduce or eliminate the temperature gradient of the negative electrode layer 3, uniformize the progress of dissolution of the negative electrode metal layer 3 </ b> A, and reduce the discharge time.

  Further, the air battery unit U has a relatively simple structure because the air adjusting means includes one partition plate 5 that partitions the air circulation space 4 to form the air flow paths 10a to 10e. Thus, uniform dissolution of the negative electrode metal layer 3A and shortening of the discharge time can be realized.

  3-5 is a figure explaining the 2nd-4th embodiment of the air battery unit concerning this invention. In the following embodiments, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

Second Embodiment
The air battery unit U shown in FIG. 3 is formed from the air introduction part 4A to the air discharge part 4B with respect to the air circulation space 4, with the relatively high temperature region of the negative electrode layer 3 being the upstream side and relatively low temperature. The air flow path (10a-10i) which makes this area | region the downstream is provided. More specifically, the air adjusting means includes three partition plates 5A to 5C that divide the air circulation space 4 to form air flow paths (10a to 10i).

  The partition plate is an upper partition plate 5A that vertically partitions the first flow path portion C2 and the battery housing portion C1 (air circulation space 4), and an intermediate partition that partitions the battery housing portion C1 and the second flow path portion C3 vertically. It is a lower partition plate 5A that divides the plate 5B, the first flow path portion C2, and the battery housing portion C1 into upper and lower portions.

  As a result, the air battery unit U has an upper area (arrow 10a) of the first flow path section C2 and an upper area of the air circulation space 4 (from the air introduction section 4A to the air discharge section 4B with respect to the air circulation space 4 ( Arrow 10b), upper region of second flow path part C (arrow 10c), intermediate region of air circulation space 4 (arrow 10d), intermediate region of first flow channel part C2 (arrow 10e), middle of air circulation space 4 Of the region (arrow 10f), the lower region (arrow 10g) of the second flow passage C, the lower region (arrow 10h) of the air circulation space 4, and the lower region (arrow 10i) of the first flow passage C2. Air passages 10a to 10i are formed as air adjusting means in the path.

  As in the previous embodiment, the air battery unit U supplies air (oxygen) to the positive electrode layer 2 of each air battery A to start each air battery A, while the upper region of the negative electrode layer 3. By introducing air into the upper region, the upper region is intensively cooled. And the air battery unit U heats the lower area | region by supplying the air which absorbed the reaction heat in the upper area | region to the lower area | region of the negative electrode layer 3 which is relatively low temperature, and, thereby, a negative electrode The temperature gradient of the layer 3 is reduced or eliminated, the progress of dissolution of the negative electrode metal layer 3A is made uniform, and the discharge time is shortened.

<Third Embodiment>
The air battery unit U shown in FIG. 4 includes at least one partition plate 5 that divides the air circulation space and forms the air flow paths 10a to 10e as air adjusting means. The air battery unit U is configured such that the partition plate 5 is movable in the direction in which the volume of the partitioned space is changed in inverse proportion, that is, in the vertical direction in the illustrated example.

  As in the previous embodiment, the air battery unit U introduces air into the upper region of the negative electrode layer 3 to intensively cool the upper region, and relatively absorbs air that has absorbed reaction heat in the upper region. Thus, the lower region is heated by supplying the lower region of the negative electrode layer 3 having a low temperature. Thereby, the air battery unit U reduces or eliminates the temperature gradient of the negative electrode layer 3, uniformizes the progress of dissolution of the negative electrode metal layer 3A, and realizes shortening of the discharge time.

  Further, in the air battery unit U of this embodiment, since the partition plate 5 is movable in the vertical direction, the partition plate 5 is moved in an appropriate direction in accordance with the increase or decrease in the amount of heat generated in the negative electrode layer 3, and the upper region The balance between cooling and heating of the lower region can be adjusted.

  At this time, the air battery unit U operates, for example, a drive mechanism that moves the partition plate 5 up and down, a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the upper region and the lower region of the negative electrode layer 3, and the drive mechanism based on the measured value of the temperature sensor. An automatic control system can be configured by the control means to be operated. In the case of configuring this type of system, the opening / closing valves 7 and 8 are also required as constituent elements, and the amount of introduced air and the amount of discharged air are increased / decreased by adjusting the opening thereof, thereby adjusting the temperature of the negative electrode layer 3 and adjusting the temperature. Uniformity can also be achieved.

<Fourth embodiment>
The air battery unit U shown in FIG. 5 is a relatively high temperature region of the negative electrode layer 3 as an air adjusting means for adjusting the temperature of the negative electrode layer 3 by adjusting the air flowing through the air circulation space 4, that is, A heat dissipating fin 11 is provided in the upper region.

  In the air battery unit U of this embodiment, the lower end portion of the first flow path portion C2 is an air introduction portion 4A for the air flow space 4, and the lower end portion of the second flow path portion C3 is an air flow space. 4 is an air discharge portion 4B. For this reason, the air battery unit U is provided with opening and closing valves 7 and 8 below the first flow path portion C2 and the second flow path portion C3, respectively.

  The air battery unit U is provided with the heat dissipation fins 11 disposed in the upper region which is a relatively high temperature region in the negative electrode layer 3 to cool the upper region intensively without hindering the flow of the introduced air. The temperature gradient is reduced or eliminated to make the progress of the dissolution of the negative electrode metal layer 3A uniform, and the discharge time is shortened.

  In addition, the air battery unit U can achieve the cooling effect of the negative electrode layer 3 and thus the uniform dissolution of the negative electrode metal layer 3A only by the heat radiating fins 11, but in the first to third embodiments. By combining with the air conditioning means described, that is, the air flow paths (10a to 10i) and the partition plates (5, 5A to 5C) that form the air flow paths, the dissolution of the negative electrode metal layer 3A is made uniform and the discharge time is shortened. The effect will be further improved.

  The configuration of the air battery unit according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the details of the configuration may be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention, or the configuration described in each embodiment. Can be combined.

  In the air battery unit, the air flow path is formed by the air flow space 4 and the first flow path part C2 and the second flow path part C3 of the case C. As described in the above embodiments, the air flow path Depending on how the space 4 is partitioned, the shape is different. The illustrated arrow symbols 10a to 10i indicate the flow of air, not the flow path space itself. However, in each of the above-described embodiments, the air flow direction is represented by the arrow symbols 10a to 10i, and for convenience, the air flow direction is indicated by the arrow symbols 10a to 10i.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the configuration in which the air battery A is placed in the vertical state and the air adjusting means is disposed in the upper region of the negative electrode layer that is relatively high temperature has been described. However, in the air battery unit according to the present invention, the attitude of the air battery is not particularly limited. If a temperature gradient occurs in the negative electrode layer due to the form of the air battery or the configuration of peripheral devices, the temperature gradient is reduced. Correspondingly, it is possible to arrange the air conditioning means.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS A Air battery U Air battery unit 1 Electrolyte accommodating part 2 Positive electrode layer 3 Negative electrode layer 4 Air distribution space 4A Air introduction part 4B Air discharge part 5 Partition plate 5A Upper partition plate 5B Middle partition plate 5C Lower partition plate 10a-10i Air flow path 11 Radiation fin

Claims (6)

At least one air battery having a structure in which an electrolyte container is sandwiched between a positive electrode layer and a negative electrode layer;
An air circulation space for circulating air along the respective surfaces of the positive electrode layer and the negative electrode layer;
An air battery unit, comprising: air adjusting means for adjusting the temperature of the negative electrode layer by adjusting the air flowing through the air circulation space.   An air flow is formed between the air introduction portion and the air discharge portion with respect to the air circulation space, and the air flow having the relatively high temperature region of the negative electrode layer as the upstream side and the relatively low temperature region as the downstream side. The air battery unit according to claim 1, further comprising a path.   3. The air battery unit according to claim 2, wherein the air adjusting means includes at least one partition plate that partitions the air circulation space to form an air flow path.   The air battery unit according to claim 3, wherein the partition plate is movable in a direction in which the volume of the partitioned space is changed in inverse proportion.   The air battery unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the air adjusting means includes a heat radiating fin disposed in a relatively high temperature region of the negative electrode layer. The air battery is arranged in a state in which the electrolyte container, the positive electrode layer, and the negative electrode layer are arranged in a horizontal direction,
The air battery unit according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the region of the negative electrode layer that is relatively hot is the upper region.

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