JP2018014270A - Regenerator of nickel-metal hydride storage battery and regeneration method of nickel-metal hydride storage battery - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a regenerator of a nickel-metal hydride storage battery and a regeneration method of a nickel-metal hydride storage battery capable of regenerating multiple batteries at once, while keeping the temperature of the battery in suitable state.SOLUTION: A regenerator 40 of a nickel-metal hydride storage battery regenerates nickel-metal hydride storage batteries provided, above a battery case 10, with a safety valve opening when the internal pressure of the battery case 10 goes above the valve opening pressure, by overcharging. The regenerator 40 of a nickel-metal hydride storage battery includes heat slingers 41 sandwiched, respectively, between multiple nickel-metal hydride storage batteries arranged so that wide faces 41b of the battery cases 10 face each other, and a charger 42 performing overcharge for regenerating the multiple nickel-metal hydride storage batteries thus arranged simultaneously. The heat slingers 41 are provided while being displaced to positions on the upper side of the battery cases 10. Upper ends 41a of the heat slingers 41 are located above an upper end 10a of the battery cases 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a nickel-metal hydride storage battery regeneration device and a nickel-metal hydride storage battery regeneration method.

  It is known that nickel-metal hydride storage batteries have a decrease in battery capacity due to a decrease in hydrogen stored in the negative electrode over time. Therefore, a method of regenerating the battery by recovering the discharge capacity of the negative electrode for such a battery has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In the regeneration method of the nickel metal hydride storage battery of Patent Document 1, the safety valve is opened in advance, and the battery is overcharged, so that oxygen generated from the positive electrode is discharged out of the battery system through the safety valve, Hydrogen is absorbed by the negative electrode to increase the amount of hydrogen in the negative electrode and restore the battery capacity.

JP 2008-235036 A

  By the way, when reproducing | regenerating a nickel hydride storage battery as mentioned above, if a battery is reproduced | regenerated one by one, since there are few batteries which can be reproduce | regenerated per time, efficiency will be bad and cost will start. For this reason, when regenerating a nickel metal hydride storage battery, it is desirable to regenerate a plurality of batteries at once. Further, when the battery is regenerated, the temperature inside the battery increases due to heat generation, and a larger temperature gradient than usual occurs inside the battery. Further, when a plurality of batteries are reproduced side by side, the heat of adjacent batteries promotes such a temperature gradient.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a nickel-metal hydride storage battery regenerator and a nickel regenerator capable of regenerating a plurality of batteries at a time while suppressing the occurrence of temperature gradient inside the battery. It is in providing the regeneration method of a hydrogen storage battery.

  A regenerating apparatus for a nickel metal hydride storage battery that solves the above-described problems is regenerated by overcharging a nickel metal hydride storage battery that is provided with a safety valve that opens when the internal pressure of the battery case exceeds a predetermined pressure. A regenerating apparatus for a nickel metal hydride storage battery, wherein the battery case is sandwiched between a plurality of nickel metal hydride batteries arranged so that wide surfaces of the battery case face each other, and the plurality of arranged A rechargeable overcharger for the nickel metal hydride storage battery at the same time, and the radiator plate is provided at a position offset on the upper side of the battery case, and the upper end of the radiator plate is It is located above the upper end of the battery case.

  A method for regenerating a nickel-metal hydride storage battery that solves the above-described problem is a method for regenerating a nickel-metal hydride storage battery having a safety valve that opens when the internal pressure of the battery case is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure. Overcharging for regeneration is simultaneously performed on the plurality of arranged nickel-metal hydride batteries by a charging device while a heat sink is sandwiched between the plurality of nickel-metal hydride batteries arranged so that the wide surfaces of the case face each other. The position where the heat sink is shifted to the position on the upper side of the battery case and the upper end of the heat sink are positioned above the upper end of the battery case.

  During normal use of a nickel metal hydride storage battery, the temperature at the center of the battery case increases, but if the nickel metal hydride storage battery is overcharged, the temperature increases toward the upper side of the battery case as the gas moves in the battery case. The inventor has discovered that a temperature gradient is generated in which the temperature increases. Therefore, according to the above configuration or method, the upper end portion of the heat sink protrudes from the upper end portion of the battery case, shifts to the position on the upper side of the battery case, and the heat sink is sandwiched between the battery cases. . For this reason, heat can be released by the upper end portion of the heat radiating plate protruding from the upper end portion of the battery case from the upper side where the temperature is relatively high in the battery being overcharged for regeneration. Moreover, an excessive temperature rise on the upper side of the battery can be suppressed, and an increase in temperature difference in the battery can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to regenerate a plurality of batteries at a time while keeping the battery temperature in a suitable state.

About the reproducing | regenerating apparatus of the said nickel-metal hydride storage battery, it is preferable to provide the spacer which consists of a member whose heat conductivity is lower than the said heat sink at the lower part of the said heat sink.
According to the said structure, it can suppress with a spacer that a battery case expand | swells excessively by providing a spacer in the space under a heat sink and between battery cases. Moreover, the heat dissipation different from air can be given with the material of a spacer.

About the reproducing | regenerating apparatus of the said nickel hydride storage battery, it is preferable to provide the supporting member which can change the space | interval of the said heat sink in the direction where the said battery case is located in a line.
According to the above configuration, since the distance between the heat sinks supported by the support member can be changed, the distance between the heat sink and the nickel metal hydride storage battery can be easily reduced after the nickel metal hydride storage battery is installed between the heat sinks. It becomes like this.

  About the reproducing | regenerating apparatus of the said nickel hydride storage battery, it is preferable to provide the press member which changes the space | interval of the said heat sinks by pressing the said heat sink supported by the said support member in the sequence direction of the said heat sink.

  According to the said structure, since the space | interval of the heat sinks supported by the support member can be changed with a press member, after installing a nickel metal hydride storage battery between heat sinks, the space | interval of a heat sink and a nickel metal hydride storage battery is made easy. Can be stuffed.

About the reproducing | regenerating apparatus of the said nickel metal hydride storage battery, it is preferable that the said supporting member changes the deviation | shift amount to the up-down direction of the said heat sink.
The method of heat generation of the nickel-metal hydride storage battery varies depending on the value of the current flowing for the regeneration of the nickel-metal hydride storage battery, the time, and the like. Therefore, according to the above configuration, by changing the vertical position of the support member, the amount of deviation of the heat sink in the vertical direction with respect to the battery case can be easily changed, so that the battery temperature is in a suitable state. Will be able to.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to regenerate a plurality of batteries at a time while suppressing the occurrence of a temperature gradient inside the battery.

The fragmentary sectional view which shows schematic structure of a nickel hydride storage battery. (A) is a figure which shows schematic structure in one Embodiment of the regeneration method of a nickel hydride storage battery, (b) is a graph which shows the temperature gradient of a nickel hydride storage battery. The perspective view which shows the structure of the reproducing | regenerating apparatus of the nickel hydride storage battery of the embodiment. The front view which shows the state which mounted | wore the nickel hydride storage battery with the reproduction | regeneration apparatus of the nickel hydride storage battery of the embodiment.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1-4, one Embodiment of the reproducing | regenerating apparatus of a nickel hydride storage battery and the reproduction | regenerating method of a nickel hydride storage battery is described. In the present embodiment, a battery to which a regeneration method and a regeneration apparatus are applied will be described as an example of a battery module in which a plurality of single cells are integrated in a battery case. A plurality of battery modules are combined to form an assembled battery. The assembled battery is used as a power source for electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a battery module 11 that is a nickel-metal hydride storage battery includes a battery case 10 including an integrated battery case 16 and a lid body 17 that seals an upper opening of the integrated battery case 16. The inside of the integrated battery case 16 is partitioned into a plurality of spaces by a partition wall 18. A plurality of battery cases 15 are formed by the integrated battery case 16 and the lid body 17.

  Inside the battery case 15, an electrode plate group 20 in which a plurality of positive electrode plates 21 and a plurality of negative electrode plates 22 are laminated via separators 23 is accommodated together with an electrolytic solution (not shown). The positive electrode plate 21, the negative electrode plate 22, the separator 23, and the electrolyte constitute a power generation element. In the battery case 15, current collecting plates 24 and 25 to which the positive electrode plate 21 and the negative electrode plate 22 are respectively joined are accommodated. The power generation elements and current collecting plates 24 and 25 constitute a unit cell 30. The unit cells 30 are electrically connected in series by the current collector plates 24 and 25 arranged along the partition walls 18 being connected through the through holes of the partition walls 18. The electric power of the battery module 11 is taken out by a positive connection terminal 29 and a negative connection terminal (not shown) provided in the integrated battery case 16. Moreover, each of the battery case 15 is connected by the communication hole 32 provided in the partition 18, and the gas in the battery case 15 can flow.

  The lid body 17 is provided with a safety valve 33 that opens when the internal pressure of the battery case 10 is equal to or higher than a predetermined valve opening pressure. That is, the safety valve 33 is provided in the upper part of the battery case 10. One safety valve 33 is provided for the battery module 11. The safety valve 33 is closed when the internal pressure of the battery case 10 is less than the normal pressure, that is, the valve opening pressure. For example, when the internal pressure of the battery case 10 becomes equal to or higher than the valve opening pressure due to generation of gas in the battery case 15, the safety valve 33 is opened and the gas is discharged to the outside.

  The positive electrode mixture provided on the positive electrode plate 21 contains nickel hydroxide as a positive electrode active material. Moreover, the negative electrode mixture provided in the negative electrode plate 22 contains a hydrogen storage alloy (M) as a negative electrode active material. The hydrogen storage alloy becomes a metal hydride (MH) by storing hydrogen. The electrolytic solution is an alkaline aqueous solution such as an aqueous potassium hydroxide solution.

  Next, the battery capacity of the nickel metal hydride storage battery will be described. The unit cell 30 has positive electrode regulation in which the capacity of the negative electrode is larger than the capacity of the positive electrode. In the initial state in which the unit cell 30 is not used, the negative electrode capacity includes a charge reserve that is the remaining charge capacity when the positive electrode is fully charged and a state of charge (SOC) state of charge. The discharge reserve, which is the remaining discharge capacity when reaching 0%, is secured. Here, the “full charge” of the positive electrode herein means a state in which the uncharged portion of the active material of the positive electrode is eliminated in each unit cell 30, that is, a state where the SOC is 100%. Further, the state where the SOC of the positive electrode reaches 0% means a state where there is no charged part of the active material of the positive electrode. In addition, in the positive electrode regulation, a state where the SOC of the positive electrode is 100% is referred to as a fully charged state of the nickel metal hydride storage battery.

  By the way, it is generally known that some nickel-metal hydride storage batteries continue to leak to the outside through a small amount of hydrogen that passes through the integrated battery case 16 and the lid 17 of the battery case 10. This phenomenon is particularly likely to occur in the case of the battery case 10 made of resin. As described above, when hydrogen leaks to the outside, hydrogen is released from the metal hydride (MH) of the negative electrode in accordance with the amount of hydrogen leakage in order to maintain the equilibrium of the hydrogen partial pressure in the battery case 10. When hydrogen is discharged to the outside of the battery module 11 in this manner, the negative electrode reserve is reduced.

  Further, after the discharge reserve is extinguished, when the SOC of the negative electrode becomes 0%, that is, when there is no charged part of the negative electrode, and the SOC of the positive electrode is not 0%, the capacity of the negative electrode Becomes the negative electrode regulation that regulates the battery capacity. As a result, the battery capacity is reduced by the negative electrode regulation.

  In order to increase the discharge reserve, the battery module 11 is overcharged. In overcharging, since charging is continued even after the uncharged portion of the positive electrode disappears, as shown in the following half reaction formula (1), the hydroxyl group of the electrolytic solution is decomposed to generate oxygen. In the negative electrode, as shown in the following half-reaction formula (2), a reaction in which hydrogen is occluded proceeds in an uncharged portion of the negative electrode active material, that is, a hydrogen storage alloy. Further, as shown in the following half reaction formula (3), simultaneously with the reaction of storing hydrogen in the hydrogen storage alloy, the charged portion, that is, the hydrogen storage alloy (metal hydride) storing hydrogen reacts with oxygen. A reaction occurs in which water is produced. At this time, the metal hydride (MH) returns to the hydrogen storage alloy (M). That is, when the safety valve 33 is not open at the time of overcharge, a reaction in which the uncharged portion is charged and a reaction in which the charged portion returns to the uncharged portion occur simultaneously at the negative electrode.

(Positive electrode) OH ⁻ → 1/4 O ₂ + 1 / 2H ₂ O + e ⁻ (1)
(Negative electrode) M + H ₂ O + e ⁻ → MH + OH ⁻ (2)
MH + 1 / 4O ₂ → M + 1 / 2H ₂ O (3)
On the other hand, when oxygen is generated from the positive electrode and the internal pressure rises and the internal pressure becomes equal to or higher than the valve opening pressure, the safety valve 33 is opened and oxygen gas is discharged to the outside. When oxygen gas is discharged, the reaction shown in the semi-reaction equation (3), that is, the reaction in which the charged portion returns to the uncharged portion is suppressed. Therefore, the hydrogen occlusion alloy that occludes hydrogen is maintained in the occluded state of hydrogen, and when there is an uncharged portion of the negative electrode, the reaction shown in the semi-reaction equation (2) proceeds to ensure discharge reserve. .

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2, a regenerating apparatus for a nickel metal hydride storage battery that recovers the discharge capacity of the negative electrode of the nickel metal hydride storage battery will be described. The regeneration of the nickel metal hydride storage battery is performed by overcharging the nickel metal hydride storage battery.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (a), a regenerating apparatus 40 for a nickel metal hydride storage battery includes a plurality of heat sinks 41 for cooling the nickel metal hydride storage battery, and a charging apparatus 42 for simultaneously overcharging the plurality of nickel hydride storage batteries for regeneration. It has. The charging device 42 performs a constant current charging by supplying a constant current.

  The heat radiating plate 41 is made of a metal material, and includes an upper end portion 41a positioned at an upper portion in the vertical direction and a wide surface 41b having a larger area than other surfaces. In addition, you may employ | adopt aluminum, copper, etc. as a metal material.

  Here, when a plurality of battery modules 11 are laminated and used, the nickel-metal hydride storage battery is less likely to be cooled (heat is accumulated) at the center portion than the other portions. Therefore, the temperature of the center part of the battery case 10 becomes high. As shown in FIG. 2B, when the nickel hydride storage battery is overcharged, gas is generated in the battery case 10. Since the gas generated by overcharging is high temperature and the gas moves upward, a temperature gradient is generated in which the temperature T increases toward the upper side in the height H direction of the battery case 10. In addition, although nickel hydride storage battery produces | generates gas also by normal use (charging / discharging), since the quantity is small and it will be absorbed by a chemical reaction, the temperature of an upper part does not become high.

  Therefore, the regeneration device 40 performs regeneration by performing overcharging while cooling the upper side of the lower part of the battery case 10 in a state where a plurality of nickel metal hydride storage batteries are arranged. That is, the heat sink 41 is sandwiched between a plurality of nickel metal hydride storage batteries arranged so that the wide surfaces 41b of the battery case 10 face each other. The heat radiating plate 41 is provided in a deviated position on the upper side of the battery case 10. For example, the heat radiating plate 41 is displaced so as to be in contact with two-thirds of the position on the upper side of the battery case 10 and is also provided in the vicinity of the central portion where heat is likely to be trapped. The upper end portion 41 a of the heat radiating plate 41 is located above the upper end portion 10 a of the battery case 10. That is, the upper end portion 41 a of the heat radiating plate 41 protrudes from the upper end portion 10 a of the battery case 10.

  Next, a specific configuration of the playback apparatus 40 shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, illustration of the charging device 42 is omitted. FIG. 3 shows a state in which no nickel metal hydride storage battery is installed in the regenerator 40. FIG. 4 shows a state in which a nickel hydride storage battery is installed in the regeneration device 40.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the playback device 40 includes a support member 43 that can change the interval between the heat sinks 41 in the direction in which the battery cases 10 are arranged. A pair of support members 43 are provided so as to extend in the direction in which the heat sinks 41 are arranged and to sandwich the heat sink 41. The support member 43 is provided with a support hole 43 a that extends in the direction in which the heat radiating plates 41 are arranged and supports the heat radiating plates 41 so as to be movable in the arrangement direction of the heat radiating plates 41.

  The heat radiating plate 41 is provided with support rods 41 c fitted in the support holes 43 a of the respective support members 43 so as to protrude in the longitudinal direction of the heat radiating plate 41. The heat radiating plate 41 is supported by the support rod 41 c being fitted into the support holes 43 a of the pair of support members 43.

  A spacer 45 made of a member having a lower thermal conductivity than the heat radiating plate 41 is provided below the heat radiating plate 41. The spacer 45 is made of a resin material. Polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), or the like may be employed as the resin material. Therefore, the lower side of the battery case 10 is filled with the spacer 45, and cooling by the spacer 45 is suppressed more than cooling by the heat radiating plate 41.

  The reproducing device 40 includes a pair of holding members 44 that hold the support member 43 at the end of the heat sink 41 in the arrangement direction. The holding member 44 moves in the arrangement direction of the heat sink 41 with respect to the support member 43. Is possible. For this reason, by pressing the holding member 44 from both sides, the battery case 10 sandwiched between the pair of holding members 44 and the heat radiation plate 41 supported by the support member 43 are pressed to change the distance between the heat radiation plates 41. To do. The holding member 44 functions as a pressing member.

  The holding member 44 can be moved in the vertical direction by a driving member (not shown). For this reason, the support member 43 can be moved in the vertical direction together with the holding member 44, and the vertical position of the support member 43 can be changed. Therefore, the holding member 44 changes the contact range between the heat sink 41 and the battery case 10 in the vertical direction by moving in the vertical direction. For example, a nickel metal hydride storage battery mounted on the regeneration device 40 is placed on the bottom plate 46 so that the lower position is defined. Therefore, in the state where the nickel metal hydride storage battery is placed on the bottom plate 46, the position of the heat radiating plate 41 with respect to the nickel metal hydride storage battery is set by the holding member 44.

Next, with reference to FIG.3 and FIG.4, the effect | action of the reproducing | regenerating apparatus of the nickel hydride storage battery comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated.
As shown in FIG. 3, the interval between the heat radiation plates 41 is wider than the thickness of the battery case 10 before the nickel hydride storage battery to be regenerated is attached to the regenerator 40.

First, the nickel metal hydride storage battery to be regenerated is inserted between the heat radiation plates 41 of the regenerator 40. The nickel metal hydride storage battery is placed on the upper surface of the bottom plate 46.
And as shown in FIG. 4, the space | interval of the heat sinks 41 supported by the support member 43 is narrowly changed by pressing the holding member 44 from both sides. Then, the heat sink 41 is located on both sides of each nickel metal hydride storage battery, and the battery case 10 and the heat sink 41 are in contact with each other, that is, sandwiched. At this time, the heat radiating plate 41 is deviated to a position on the upper side of the battery case 10, for example, is positioned so as to be in contact with two-thirds of the position on the upper side of the battery case 10, and heat tends to be trapped. It is also provided near the center. In addition, although nickel hydride storage battery produces | generates gas also in normal charging / discharging, since the quantity is small and will be absorbed by a chemical reaction, the temperature of an upper part does not become high. However, if the nickel hydride storage battery is overcharged, gas is generated in the battery case 10. Since the gas generated by overcharging is high temperature and the gas moves upward, a temperature gradient is generated in which the temperature T increases toward the upper side in the height H direction of the battery case 10.

  Therefore, as described above, by cooling the upper side having a relatively high temperature by the heat radiating plate 41, the temperature in the battery case 10 of the nickel-metal hydride storage battery being regenerated can be equalized, and the regeneration efficiency is reduced. Can be suppressed.

  Further, the upper end portion 41 a of the heat sink 41 is located above the upper end portion 10 a of the battery case 10. That is, the upper end portion 41 a of the heat radiating plate 41 protrudes from the upper end portion 10 a of the battery case 10. For this reason, heat radiation can be promoted by the protruding portion of the heat radiating plate 41.

  Thus, in the regeneration device 40 provided with the heat radiating plate 41, the regeneration process accompanied by overcharging is performed by the charging device 42, whereby the discharge reserve of the negative electrode of the nickel hydride storage battery is recovered and the nickel hydride storage battery is regenerated. The

As described above, according to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) At the time of normal use of the nickel metal hydride storage battery, the temperature of the central portion of the battery case 10 increases. However, when the nickel hydride storage battery is overcharged, the battery moves along with the movement of gas in the battery case 10. The temperature increases as the upper side of the case 10 increases. Therefore, the charging device 42 is in a state in which the upper end portion 41 a of the heat radiating plate 41 protrudes from the upper end portion 10 a of the battery case 10, and shifts to a position on the upper side of the battery case 10, so It is sandwiched. For this reason, heat can be released by the upper end portion of the heat radiating plate 41 protruding from the upper end portion 10a of the battery case 10 from the upper side where the temperature is relatively high in the rechargeable nickel-hydrogen storage battery. Moreover, the excessive temperature rise of the upper part side of a nickel hydride storage battery can be suppressed, and the expansion of the temperature difference in a nickel hydride storage battery can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to regenerate a plurality of nickel hydride storage batteries at a time while keeping the temperature of the nickel hydride storage battery in a suitable state.

  (2) By providing the spacer 45 below the heat radiating plate 41 and in the space between the battery cases 10, the spacer 45 can suppress the battery case 10 from being excessively expanded. Further, the material of the spacer 45 can provide heat dissipation different from air.

  (3) Since the interval between the heat radiation plates 41 supported by the support member 43 can be changed, the interval between the heat radiation plate 41 and the nickel metal hydride storage battery can be easily reduced after the nickel hydride storage battery is installed between the heat radiation plates 41. Will be able to.

  (4) Since the interval between the heat sinks 41 supported by the support member 43 can be changed by the holding member 44, after installing the nickel metal hydride storage battery between the heat sinks 41, the heat sink 41 and the nickel metal hydride storage battery The interval can be easily packed.

  (5) By changing the position of the support member 43 in the vertical direction, the amount of deviation of the heat sink 41 in the vertical direction with respect to the battery case 10 can be easily changed, so that the battery temperature can be in a suitable state. It becomes like this.

In addition, the said embodiment can also be implemented with the following forms which changed this suitably.
In the above-described embodiment, the upper portion of the heat sink 41 may have a shape in which it is widened in at least one of the arrangement direction of the heat sink 41 and the longitudinal direction of the heat sink 41.

  -In the said embodiment, as long as the shape of the wide surface 41b of the heat sink 41 is a shape which can be pinched | interposed between battery cases 10, you may employ | adopt another shape. For example, the wide surface 41b of the heat radiating plate 41 may be provided with irregularities or holes.

  In the above embodiment, the holding member 44 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction. However, if it is not necessary to change the contact range (deviation) in the vertical direction with respect to the battery case 10, a configuration in which the holding member 44 can be moved in the vertical direction may be omitted.

  In the above embodiment, the heat radiation plate 41 supported by the support member 43 by the holding member 44 is pressed. However, the configuration in which the holding member 44 generates a pressing force to press the heat radiating plate 41 supported by the support member 43 may be omitted. In this case, the holding member 44 and the heat radiating plate 41 are pressed with a hand or another member to bring the heat radiating plate 41 into contact with the battery case 10 of the nickel metal hydride storage battery.

  In the above embodiment, the support member 43 that changes the interval between the heat sinks 41 in the direction in which the battery cases 10 are arranged is provided. However, if the distance between the heat radiating plates 41 is substantially the same as the thickness of the battery case 10 and can contact, the support holes 43a of the support member 43 are omitted, and the heat radiating plate 41 is fixed to the support member 43. May be.

  In the above embodiment, the spacer 45 made of a resin material is provided below the heat radiating plate 41. However, if the thermal conductivity is lower than that of the heat radiating plate 41, a spacer 45 made of a metal material may be employed.

  In the above embodiment, the spacer 45 is provided below the heat radiating plate 41. However, there may be a space below the battery case 10. The configuration of the spacer 45 may be omitted if the nickel-metal hydride storage battery is less expanded at the lower part of the battery case 10.

  -In the said embodiment, the heat sink 41 was made to contact 2/3 of the upper part side of the battery case 10 of a nickel metal hydride storage battery. However, it can be changed to one half or one third on the upper side of the battery case 10 in accordance with the temperature gradient of the battery case 10 at the time of reproduction. In short, if the heat radiating plate 41 is deviated to a position on the upper side of the battery case 10, the temperature difference in the battery case 10 can be suppressed and the battery temperature can be set to a suitable state.

  In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the communication hole 32 is provided in the partition wall 18 enables gas to flow between the battery cases 15 of the same battery module 11, and one safety valve 33 is provided for the battery module 11. In addition to this aspect, each of the single cells housed in the battery module 11 may have a configuration in which each battery case 15 includes a safety valve 33 as an independent battery case 15, and these single cells are connected in series. .

  -In above-mentioned embodiment, although constant current charge was performed with respect to the battery module 11 connected in parallel, the aspect which performs charge other than constant current charge may be sufficient. For example, it may be constant voltage charging or charging that changes a current value or the like. In addition, constant current charge and constant voltage charge that combine constant current charge and constant voltage charge, such as constant current charge after reaching a predetermined voltage by constant current charge, or by periodically disconnecting the charging device from the battery terminal, While monitoring the open circuit voltage of the module 11, pulse charging may be performed in which charging is performed with a DC pulse current.

In the above embodiment, one safety valve 33 is provided for the battery module 11, but a plurality of safety valves 33 may be provided for the battery module 11.
In each of the above embodiments, the nickel hydrogen storage battery regeneration method and regeneration device are applied to the battery module 11 used as a power source of an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. However, the method is applied to the battery module 11 used as a power source for other devices. May be.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Battery case, 10a ... Upper end part, 11 ... Battery module, 15 ... Battery case, 16 ... Integrated battery case, 17 ... Lid body, 18 ... Partition, 20 ... Electrode plate group, 21 ... Positive electrode plate, 22 ... Negative electrode plate , 23 ... separator, 24 ... current collector plate, 25 ... current collector plate, 29 ... connection terminal, 30 ... single cell, 32 ... communication hole, 33 ... safety valve, 40 ... regenerator, 41 ... heat sink, 41a ... upper end , 41b ... surface, 41c ... support rod, 42 ... charging device, 43 ... support member, 43a ... support hole, 44 ... holding member, 45 ... spacer, 46 ... bottom plate.

Claims (6)

A regeneration device for a nickel metal hydride storage battery that regenerates by overcharging a nickel metal hydride storage battery that has a safety valve that opens when the internal pressure of the battery case is equal to or greater than a predetermined pressure,
A heat sink sandwiched between a plurality of nickel metal hydride storage batteries arranged so that the wide surfaces of the battery case face each other;
A charging device that simultaneously performs overcharging for regeneration on the plurality of arranged nickel-metal hydride batteries,
The heat sink is provided in a deviated position on the upper side of the battery case,
The regenerator of a nickel metal hydride storage battery, wherein an upper end portion of the heat radiating plate is positioned above an upper end portion of the battery case. The regeneration device for a nickel-metal hydride storage battery according to claim 1, further comprising a spacer made of a member having a lower thermal conductivity than the heat radiating plate at a lower portion of the heat radiating plate. The regeneration device for a nickel-metal hydride storage battery according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a support member capable of changing an interval between the heat sinks in a direction in which the battery cases are arranged. The regeneration device for a nickel-metal hydride storage battery according to claim 3, further comprising a pressing member that changes an interval between the heat radiating plates by pressing the heat radiating plates supported by the support member in an arrangement direction of the heat radiating plates. The regeneration device for a nickel-metal hydride storage battery according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the support member changes an amount of vertical displacement of the heat radiating plate. A method for regenerating a nickel-metal hydride storage battery comprising a safety valve at the top of the battery case that opens when the internal pressure of the battery case is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure,
In a state where a heat dissipation plate is sandwiched between a plurality of nickel metal hydride storage batteries arranged so that the wide surfaces of the battery case face each other, a recharging device simultaneously reproduces the plurality of nickel hydride storage batteries arranged by the charging device. Overcharge,
A method for regenerating a nickel metal hydride storage battery, wherein the heat radiating plate is shifted to a position on the upper side of the battery case, and an upper end portion of the heat radiating plate is positioned higher than an upper end portion of the battery case.