JP2020136077A - Battery module - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a battery module capable of housing multiple battery cells properly by simple configuration.SOLUTION: A battery module comprises a first cooler 20 having a first housing chamber 200 capable of housing battery cells, and a second cooler 30 having a second housing chamber 300 capable of housing battery cells. The first cooler and the second cooler are connected to each other and separable. The first cooler has a first enclosure surrounding the first housing chamber, a first fluid passage placed in the first enclosure, and two first gates 261, 262 interconnecting the first fluid passage and the outside, the second cooler has a second enclosure surrounding the second housing chamber, a second fluid passage placed in the second enclosure, and two second gates interconnecting the second fluid passage and the outside, one first gate is a first end connection 261 for connection with the second fluid passage, and one second gate is a second end connection 361 for connection with the first fluid passage, where the first and second end connections are connected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a battery module that houses a plurality of battery cells inside.

In recent years, an increasing number of vehicles have a large capacity battery, such as a battery-powered electric vehicle that uses the power charged in a secondary battery as a drive source and a hybrid car that uses an internal combustion engine and a secondary battery together.

A secondary battery (storage battery) capable of charging and discharging electric power, a DC-DC converter used together with the secondary battery, and the like generate heat during use, and therefore need to be cooled in order to prevent overheating. A conventional battery cooling device is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-163741.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-163741 discloses a configuration in which a cooler is adjacent to the lower surface of a battery case accommodating a battery module to cool the battery module.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-163741

Battery modules used to drive battery-powered electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles include a large number of battery cells. If various mechanisms such as a cooling mechanism are provided for each of such battery cells, there is a problem that the wiring and piping thereof become complicated.

An object of the present invention is to provide a battery module capable of appropriately accommodating a plurality of battery cells by a simple configuration.

The first invention of the present application is a battery module that internally accommodates a plurality of battery cells, a first cooler having a first accommodation chamber capable of accommodating the battery cells, and a second capable of accommodating the battery cells. A second cooler having a storage chamber, the first cooler and the second cooler are coupled to each other and separable, and the first cooler is the first cooler. It has a first housing that surrounds the accommodation chamber, a first fluid flow path arranged inside the first housing, and two first outflow ports that communicate the first fluid flow path and the outside. Then, the second cooler has a second housing surrounding the second storage chamber, a second fluid flow path arranged inside the second housing, and the second fluid flow path and the outside. It has two second outflow ports that communicate with each other, one of the first outflow ports is a first connection port that connects to the second fluid flow path, and one of the second outflow ports is the first. It is a second connection port that connects to one fluid flow path, and the first connection port and the second connection port are connected to each other.

According to the first invention of the present application, in a battery module having a plurality of coolers, the inflow port and the outflow port of the cooling fluid can be provided at one place by connecting the outflow ports. As a result, the piping of the cooling fluid can be simplified for a plurality of coolers.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the battery module according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first cooler and the second cooler according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the first cooler and the second cooler according to the first embodiment when used. FIG. 5 is a top view of the lower heat insulating portion, the first lower cooling portion, and the second lower cooling portion of the battery module according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the upper heat insulating portion, the first upper cooling portion, and the second upper cooling portion of the battery module according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of fluid flow in the first cooler and the second cooler according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a top view of the battery module according to the second embodiment excluding the upper heat insulating portion. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the battery module according to the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module according to the third embodiment. FIG. 12 is a top view of the battery module according to the third embodiment excluding the upper heat insulating portion. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the battery module according to a modified example. FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the dent module according to another modified example.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the vertical direction is shown with the lid side as the upper side with respect to the bottom of the heat insulating tank. However, the vertical direction is irrelevant to the direction of gravity. The temperature control device according to the present invention may be used in any orientation.

<1. First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the battery module 1.

The battery module 1 is a device that accommodates a plurality of battery cells 9 inside. The battery cell 9 includes, for example, a battery such as a secondary battery. As shown in FIG. 1, the battery module 1 of the present embodiment includes a heat insulating tank 10, a first cooler 20, and a second cooler 30.

The heat insulating tank 10 is a container that houses the first cooler 20 and the second cooler 30 and keeps the first cooler 20 and the second cooler 30 warm. In the present embodiment, the number of coolers 20 and 30 housed in the heat insulating tank 10 is two. However, the number of coolers housed in the heat insulating tank 10 may be one or three or more.

The heat insulating tank 10 has a flat bottomed tubular lower heat insulating portion 11 and a plate-shaped upper heat insulating portion 12. The lower heat insulating portion 11 has a bottom portion 111 on which the first cooler 20 and the second cooler 30 are placed, and a side wall portion 112 extending upward from the bottom portion 111. The upper heat insulating portion 12 has a lid portion 113 that covers the upper opening of the lower heat insulating portion 11.

The heat insulating tank 10 is formed of, for example, a resin. As shown in FIG. 2, the heat insulating tank 10 has a heat insulating chamber 13 inside each of the bottom portion 111, the side wall portion 112, and the lid portion 113. Gas is housed inside the storage greenhouse 13. As a result, the heat retaining effect on the bottom portion 111, the side wall portion 112, and the lid portion 113 having the greenhouse 13 is improved.

The greenhouse 13 may communicate with the external space through a slight opening. By doing so, even if the volume of the gas in the greenhouse 13 increases or decreases with the change in the temperature in the greenhouse 13, the change in the pressure in the greenhouse 13 is suppressed. The area of the opening is preferably as small as possible.

In the heat insulating tank 10 of the present embodiment, the entire inside of the heat insulating chamber 13 is filled with gas, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the inside of the greenhouse 13 may be filled with gas and may accommodate an electric circuit electrically connected to the battery cell 9. Examples of the electric circuit include, for example, a BMS (Battery Management System) for discharging and charging the battery cell 9, a DC-DC converter, and the like. Further, for example, the inside of the greenhouse 13 may be filled with gas and an electric wiring electrically connected to the battery cell 9 may be arranged. By arranging the electric circuit and the electric wiring in the greenhouse 13 in this way, space can be saved.

A heat insulating member having a lower thermal conductivity than the member surrounding the heat insulating greenhouse 13 may be housed inside the heat insulating greenhouse 13. Further, in the present embodiment, the greenhouse 13 is provided on all of the bottom portion 111, the side wall portion 112, and the lid portion 113, but the present invention is not limited to this. The greenhouse 13 may be provided only on a part of the bottom 111, the side wall 112, and the lid 113, or the greenhouse 13 may not be provided on all of the bottom 111, the side wall 112, and the lid 113. ..

The first cooler 20 and the second cooler 30 are devices for accommodating the battery cells 9 and cooling the battery cells 9, respectively. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first cooler 20 and the second cooler 30. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the first cooler 20 and the second cooler 30 when used.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first cooler 20 can accommodate a plurality of battery cells 9 inside the first accommodation chamber 200, which is an internal space thereof. Further, the second cooler 30 can accommodate a plurality of battery cells 9 inside the second accommodating chamber 300, which is an internal space thereof. In the present embodiment, the first cooler 20 and the second cooler 30 can each accommodate four battery cells 9.

The first cooler 20 has a first lower cooling unit 21 and a first upper cooling unit 22. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first lower cooling unit 21 and the first upper cooling unit 22 are coupled to each other. The first lower cooling unit 21 and the first upper cooling unit 22 form a first housing 23 that internally accommodates a plurality of battery cells 9 at the time of coupling. Further, the first lower cooling unit 21 and the first upper cooling unit 22 are separable as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Further, the first storage chamber 200, which is the internal space of the first cooler 20, has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. That is, the first housing 23 has six inner surfaces 24 arranged in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. A heat transfer plate 240 is arranged on each of the six inner surfaces 24.

The first cooler 20 has a first housing 23, a first fluid flow path 25, and two first outflow ports 261,262. The first housing 23 is an exterior member that surrounds the first storage chamber 200.

The first housing 23 includes a first lower member 231 which is an exterior member of the first lower cooling unit 21, and a first upper member 232 which is an exterior member of the first upper cooling unit 22. The first lower member 231 and the first upper member 232 are formed of, for example, resin. On the other hand, the heat transfer plate 240 is formed of a material having higher thermal conductivity than the first lower member 231 and the first upper member 232. For example, metal is used as the material of the heat transfer plate 240.

The first lower member 231 and the first upper member 232 and the heat transfer plate 240 are joined by a so-called resin metal joining in which a resin is bonded to a metal surface on which fine irregularities are formed. The first lower member 231 and the first upper member 232 and the heat transfer plate 240 may be connected by a conventional connection technique such as adhesion and fastening.

The first lower member 231 includes the bottom of the first housing 23. The first upper member 232 includes a lid portion of the first housing 23. In the present embodiment, the first lower member 231 has four inner surfaces 24, including a bottom surface and three side surfaces, out of the six inner surfaces 24. Further, the first upper member 232 has two inner surfaces 24, including a top surface and one side surface, out of the six inner surfaces 24.

The first fluid flow path 25 is arranged inside the first housing 23. The first fluid flow path 25 includes a first lower fluid flow path 251 arranged in the first lower cooling unit 21 and a first upper fluid flow path 252 arranged in the first upper cooling unit 22. Including. The first fluid flow path 25 is filled with a fluid serving as a heat exchange medium. For the fluid serving as the heat exchange medium, for example, water, oil, antifreeze or the like is used. In this embodiment, all heat transfer plates 240 are in contact with the first fluid flow path 25. As a result, the inside of the first accommodation chamber 200 and the fluid in the first fluid flow path 25 can efficiently exchange heat via the heat transfer plate 240.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the lower heat insulating portion 11, the first lower cooling portion 21, and the second lower cooling portion 31 of the battery module 1. FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the upper heat insulating portion 12, the first upper cooling portion 22, and the second upper cooling portion 32 of the battery module 1. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the first lower cooling unit 21 includes two first outflow ports 261,262 that communicate with the first lower fluid flow path 251 and the outside of the first cooler 20. It has two first lower communication ports 253 and 254 that communicate with the first lower fluid flow path 251 and the first upper fluid flow path 252. The first upper cooling unit 22 has two first upper communication ports 255 and 256 that communicate the first upper fluid flow path 252 and the first lower fluid flow path 251.

The first lower communication port 253 and the first upper communication port 255 are fitted to each other and connected to each other. Further, the first lower communication port 254 and the first upper communication port 256 are fitted and connected to each other. As a result, the fluid flows between the first lower fluid flow path 251 and the first upper fluid flow path 252 via the first lower communication port 253, 254 and the first upper communication port 255, 256.

The second cooler 30 has a second lower cooling unit 31 and a second upper cooling unit 32. As shown in FIG. 2, the second lower cooling unit 31 and the second upper cooling unit 32 are coupled to each other. The second lower cooling unit 31 and the second upper cooling unit 32 form a second housing 33 that internally accommodates a plurality of battery cells 9 at the time of coupling. Further, the second lower cooling unit 31 and the second upper cooling unit 32 are separable as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The second storage chamber 300, which is the internal space of the second cooler 30, has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. That is, the second housing 33 has six inner surfaces 34 arranged in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. A heat transfer plate 340 is arranged on each of the six inner surfaces 34.

The second cooler 30 has a second housing 33, a second fluid flow path 35, and two second outflow ports 361 and 362. The second housing 33 is an exterior member that surrounds the second storage chamber 300.

The second housing 33 includes a second lower member 331 which is an exterior member of the second lower cooling unit 31, and a second upper member 332 which is an exterior member of the second upper cooling unit 32. The second lower member 331 and the second upper member 332 are formed of, for example, resin. On the other hand, the heat transfer plate 340 is formed of a material having higher thermal conductivity than the second lower member 331 and the second upper member 332. For example, metal is used as the material of the heat transfer plate 340. The second lower member 331 and the second upper member 332 and the heat transfer plate 340 are joined by a so-called resin metal joining in which a resin is bonded to a metal surface on which fine irregularities are formed. The second lower member 331 and the second upper member 332 and the heat transfer plate 340 may be connected by a conventional connection technique such as adhesion and fastening.

The second lower member 331 includes the bottom of the second housing 33. The second upper member 332 includes a lid portion of the second housing 33. In the present embodiment, the second lower member 331 has four inner surfaces 34, including a bottom surface and three side surfaces, out of the six inner surfaces 34. Further, the second upper member 332 has two inner surfaces 34, the top surface and one side surface, out of the six inner surfaces 34.

The second fluid flow path 35 is arranged inside the second housing 33. The second fluid flow path 35 includes a second lower fluid flow path 351 arranged in the second lower cooling unit 31 and a second upper fluid flow path 352 arranged in the second upper cooling unit 32. Including. The second fluid flow path 35 is filled with a fluid serving as a heat exchange medium. The fluid used as the heat exchange medium is the same as the fluid used in the first cooler 20. In this embodiment, all heat transfer plates 340 are in contact with the second fluid flow path 35. As a result, the inside of the second accommodating chamber 300 and the fluid in the second fluid flow path 35 can efficiently exchange heat via the heat transfer plate 340.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the second lower cooling unit 31 includes two second outflow ports 361 and 362 that communicate the second lower fluid flow path 351 and the outside of the second cooler 30. It has two second lower communication ports 353 and 354 that communicate the second lower fluid flow path 351 and the second upper fluid flow path 352. The second upper cooling unit 32 has two second upper communication ports 355 and 356 that communicate the second upper fluid flow path 352 and the second lower fluid flow path 351.

The second lower communication port 353 and the second upper communication port 355 are fitted and connected to each other. Further, the second lower communication port 354 and the second upper communication port 356 are fitted and connected to each other. As a result, the fluid flows between the second lower fluid flow path 351 and the second upper fluid flow path 352 via the lower 2 lower communication port 353, 354 and the second upper communication port 355, 356.

As shown in FIG. 5, one of the first outflow ports 261,262 of the first cooler 20 is connected to one of the second outflow ports 361 and 362 of the second cooler 30. Here, the first outflow port 261 connected to the second outflow port 361 is referred to as a "first connection port 261", and the other first outflow port 262 is referred to as a "first external communication port 262". Further, the second outflow port 361 connected to the first outflow port 261 is referred to as a "second connection port 361", and the other second outflow port 362 is referred to as a "second external communication port 362".

The first external communication port 262 is connected to an external fluid supply source through an opening provided in the side wall portion 112 of the heat insulating tank 10. The second external communication port 362 is connected to an external fluid recovery mechanism via an opening provided in the side wall portion 112 of the heat insulating tank 10. As a result, the fluid is supplied to the first cooler 20 and the second cooler 30 from the first external communication port 262, and the fluid is discharged from the second external communication port 362.

By connecting the first fluid flow path 25 of the first cooler 20 and the second fluid flow path 35 of the second cooler 30 in this way, the two coolers 20 and 30 can be connected to the heat exchange medium. There can be one inlet and one outlet for the fluid. That is, when a plurality of coolers are used, the inflow port and the outflow port of the fluid for the plurality of coolers can be provided at one place by connecting the outflow ports of the fluid flow paths of the respective coolers. As a result, fluid piping can be simplified for a plurality of coolers.

In the present embodiment, the coolers 20 and 30 each have one connection port 261 and 361, but the present invention is not limited to this. Each of the coolers 20 and 30 may have a plurality of connection ports, and the fluid flow paths 25 and 35 may communicate with each other at a plurality of locations via the plurality of continuous ports. Further, when three or more coolers are connected, the first cooler has a connection port for communicating with the fluid flow path of the second cooler, and the fluid flow path of the third cooler. It may have a connection port for communication. In these cases, each cooler has a plurality of connection ports. That is, in these cases, each cooler has three or more outflow ports.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the fluid flow in the first cooler 20 and the second cooler 30. In the example of FIG. 7, a case where the fluid flows in from the first external communication port 262 and flows out from the second external communication port 362 is shown. The first fluid flow path 25 is branched into a plurality of branch flow paths between the first external communication port 262 into which the fluid flows in and the first connection port 261 in which the fluid flows out. Similarly, the second fluid flow path 35 is branched into a plurality of branch flow paths between the second connection port 361 in which the fluid flows in and the second external communication port 362 in which the fluid flows out. In FIG. 7, a state in which the first fluid flow path 25 and the second fluid flow path 35 branch into a plurality of branch flow paths is shown by broken line arrows.

In the present embodiment, the first connection port 261 and the second connection port 361 have shapes that can be fitted to each other. Specifically, the first connection port 261 is a convex outflow port that projects outward. The second connection port 361 is a concave outflow port that is recessed inward. Then, the first connection port 261 is fitted into the second connection port 361. When the first connection port 261 and the second connection port 361 are fitted, the first cooler 20 and the second cooler 30 are fixed to each other. As a result, the fluid channels 25 and 35 can be connected to each other and the coolers 20 and 30 can be fixed to each other at the same time.

In this embodiment, the number of coolers 20 and 30 to which the internal fluid channels 25 and 35 are connected is two. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The number of coolers to which the internal fluid flow paths are connected may be three or more. When the number of coolers is three, for example, the first cooler has an external communication port for connecting to the outside and a connection port for connecting to the second cooler. The second cooler has a connection port that connects to the first cooler and a connection port that connects to the third cooler. Further, the third cooler has a connection port for connecting to the second cooler and an external communication port for connecting to the outside. In this way, the three coolers in which the internal fluid flow paths are connected to each other may have two external communication ports as a whole.

Further, in the present embodiment, the first cooler 20 and the second cooler 30 to which the internal fluid flow paths 25 and 35 are connected are arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the first connection port 261 and the second connection port 361 that communicate the first fluid flow path 25 and the second fluid flow path 35 are provided on the side portions of the first cooler 20 and the second cooler 30, respectively. Was done. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Two or more coolers to which the internal fluid flow path is connected may be arranged adjacent to each other in the direction of gravity. That is, the second cooler may be arranged vertically above the first cooler. In that case, the first connection port and the second connection port that communicate the first fluid flow path in the first cooler and the second fluid flow path in the second cooler are the upper part of the first cooler, respectively. , Provided below the second cooling unit. When the fluid flow paths of three or more coolers are connected, the first cooler and the second cooler are connected in the horizontal direction, and the second cooler and the third cooler are connected. May be connected in the direction of gravity. In this way, the arrangement of the connected coolers can be freely set.

By accommodating the plurality of coolers 20 and 30 inside one heat insulating tank 10 as in the battery module 1, the plurality of coolers 20 and 30 can be collectively kept warm. As a result, it is not easily affected by the outside air temperature during the non-operating period of the cooler. That is, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise and temperature decrease of the battery cell 9 when it is not in operation. For example, when the battery module 1 is mounted on an automobile, the outside air temperature of the automobile may be lower than the endurance temperature of the battery cell 9 in winter. In such a case, by keeping the heat in the heat insulating tank 10, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the battery cell 9 from dropping beyond the endurance temperature.

<2. Second Embodiment>
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module 1A according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a top view of the battery module 1A excluding the upper heat insulating portion 12A. FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the battery module 1A. In addition, in FIGS. 8 and 10, the fluid supply pipe 81A and the fluid recovery pipe 82A are not shown.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the battery module 1A includes a heat insulating tank 10A, a plurality of cooler sets 80A, a fluid supply pipe 81A, and a fluid recovery pipe 82A. The number of cooler sets 80A is six. The number of cooler sets 80A is not limited to six. The number of cooler sets 80A may be 1 to 5, or 7 or more. The heat insulating tank 10A has a lower heat insulating portion 11A having a bottom portion 111A and a side wall portion 112A, and an upper heat insulating portion 12A having a lid portion 113A covering the upper opening of the lower heat insulating portion 11A.

Each cooler set 80A is a combination of a first cooler 20A and a second cooler 30A. In this cooler set 80A, the first cooler 20A and the second cooler 30A are connected in the horizontal direction. Battery cells are housed inside the coolers 20A and 30A. The first fluid flow path inside the first cooler 20A and the second fluid flow path inside the second cooler 30 are communicated with each other. Therefore, the cooler assembly 80A as a whole has two outflow ports 801A and 802A for the inflow and outflow of the fluid which is the heat exchange medium.

The cooler sets 80A are arranged at intervals in the horizontal direction from each other. Further, the cooler set 80A and the side wall portion 112A of the heat insulating tank 10A are arranged at intervals in the horizontal direction. As a result, the air layer 83A is formed in the space between the cooler sets 80A and between the cooler sets 80A and the side wall portion 112A. The air layer 83A improves the heat retaining effect on the side of the heat insulating tank 10A.

Further, the fluid supply pipe 81A and the fluid recovery pipe 82A are arranged between the cooler sets 80A or between the cooler set 80A and the side wall portion 112A. Therefore, the space plays a role of both a heat retaining effect and a space for arranging the pipes.

The fluid supply pipe 81A is a pipe for supplying the fluid supplied from the outside of the battery module 1A to each cooler set 80A. The upstream end of the fluid supply pipe 81A penetrates the side wall of the heat insulating tank 10A and is exposed to the outside of the heat insulating tank 10A. The upstream end of the fluid supply pipe 81A is connected to the fluid supply source. On the other hand, the downstream side of the fluid supply pipe 81A is branched into six, and the ends thereof are connected to the outflow port 801A of each cooler set 80A.

The fluid recovery pipe 82A is a pipe for recovering the fluid after circulating in each fluid flow path of each cooler set 80A. The upstream side of the fluid recovery pipe 82A is branched into six, and the ends thereof are connected to the outflow port 802A of each cooler set 80A. On the other hand, the downstream end of the fluid recovery pipe 82A penetrates the side wall of the heat insulating tank 10A and is exposed to the outside of the heat insulating tank 10A. The downstream end of the fluid recovery pipe 82A is connected to the fluid recovery means.

Further, the heat insulating tank 10A has a heat insulating greenhouse 13A inside each of the bottom portion 111A, the side wall portion 112A, and the lid portion 113A. Inside the heat insulating greenhouse 13A, a gas or a heat insulating member having a lower thermal conductivity than the member surrounding the heat insulating greenhouse 13A is housed. As a result, the heat retaining effect on the bottom portion 111A, the side wall portion 112A, and the lid portion 113A having the greenhouse 13A is improved.

Here, in FIG. 9, the position of the greenhouse 13A in the bottom 111A is indicated by a broken line. As shown in FIG. 9, the greenhouse 13A is arranged at a position facing the cooler set 80A. As a result, the heat retention effect of the battery cells in the coolers 20A and 30A is further improved. The position of the greenhouse 13A does not necessarily have to be the position facing the cooler set 80A.

Further, as described above, in the battery module 1A, the heat retaining effect in the heat insulating tank 10A is improved by the air layer 83A. In this battery module 1A, since the air layer 83A is also arranged between each cooler set 80A and the side wall portion 112A, the greenhouse 13A in the side wall portion 112A may be omitted.

<3. Third Embodiment>
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module 1B according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a top view of the battery module 1B excluding the upper heat insulating portion 12B. In FIG. 11, the fluid supply pipe 81B and the fluid recovery pipe 82B are not shown.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the battery module 1B includes a heat insulating tank 10B, a plurality of cooler sets 80B, a fluid supply pipe 81B, and a fluid recovery pipe 82B. The number of cooler sets 80B is four. The number of cooler sets 80B is not limited to four. The number of the cooler set 80B may be 1 to 3 or 5 or more. Further, the cooler sets 80B are arranged at intervals in the horizontal direction from each other. The heat insulating tank 10B has a lower heat insulating portion 11B having a bottom portion 111B and a side wall portion 112B, and an upper heat insulating portion 12B having a lid portion 113B covering the upper opening of the lower heat insulating portion 11B.

Each cooler set 80B has a first cooler 41B, a second cooler 42B, a third cooler 43B, a fourth cooler 44B, a fifth cooler 45B, and a sixth cooler 46B. Battery cells are housed inside each of the coolers 41B to 46B. The first cooler 41B, the second cooler 42B, and the third cooler 43B are arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction. Further, the fourth cooler 44B, the fifth cooler 45B, and the sixth cooler 46B are placed horizontally adjacent to each other on the upper surfaces of the first cooler 41B, the second cooler 42B, and the third cooler 43B. Will be done.

The first cooler 41B, the second cooler 42B, the third cooler 43B, the fourth cooler 44B, the fifth cooler 45B, and the sixth cooler 46B each have a fluid flow path inside. The fluid channels of the six coolers 41B to 46B are all connected in communication. Therefore, the cooler assembly 80B as a whole has two outflow ports 801B and 802B for flowing in and out of the fluid which is a heat exchange medium.

The fluid supply pipe 81B is a pipe for supplying the fluid supplied from the outside of the battery module 1B to each cooler set 80B. The upstream end of the fluid supply pipe 81B is connected to the fluid supply source. On the other hand, the downstream side of the fluid supply pipe 81A is branched into four, and the ends thereof are connected to the outflow port 801B of each cooler set 80B.

The fluid recovery pipe 82B is a pipe for recovering the fluid after circulating in each fluid flow path of each cooler set 80B. The upstream side of the fluid recovery pipe 82B is branched into six, and the ends thereof are connected to the outflow port 802B of each cooler set 80B. On the other hand, the downstream end of the fluid recovery pipe 82B is connected to the fluid recovery means.

In the battery module 1B of the present embodiment, the number of coolers 41B to 46B included in the cooler set 80B and the fluid flow paths are connected to each other is six. Further, the coolers 41B to 46B included in the cooler set 80B are arranged adjacent to each other in two directions, a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. As described above, the direction in which the plurality of coolers in which the fluid flow paths are connected to each other are arranged may be one direction or two directions. Further, a plurality of coolers in which the fluid flow paths are connected to each other may be arranged three-dimensionally.

<4. Modification example>
Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the battery module 1C according to a modified example. The battery module 1C has a heat insulating tank 10C and a plurality of cooler sets 80C. Each cooler set 80C includes a plurality of coolers including a first cooler 20C and a second cooler 30C. The fluid flow paths inside the plurality of coolers included in each cooler set 80C are connected to each other. In addition, in FIG. 13, the illustration of the piping for supplying the fluid to each cooler set 80C and recovering the fluid from each cooler set 80C is omitted.

In the battery module 1C, an air layer 83C is formed between the side surface of the cooler assembly 80C and the side wall portion 112C of the heat insulating tank 10C. Further, an air layer 83C is also formed between the upper surface of the cooler assembly 80C and the lid portion 113C of the heat insulating tank 10C. Therefore, the heat retaining effect on the side and the upper part of the heat insulating tank 10C is improved.

Further, the upper surface of the bottom portion 111C of the heat insulating tank 10C has a recess 100C that is recessed downward. The opening of the recess 100C is covered by the bottom surface of at least one of the first cooler 20C and the second cooler 30C. In the example of FIG. 13, the opening of the recess 100C is covered by the bottom surfaces of both the first cooler 20C and the second cooler 30C. As a result, the space inside the recess 100C serves as a heat insulating greenhouse 13C, and exhibits a heat retaining effect. As a result, the heat retention effect at the bottom of the heat retention tank 10C is improved.

According to the example of FIG. 13, the heat retention effect can be improved without providing a greenhouse inside the plate-shaped portion of the heat retention tank 10C.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module 1D according to another modified example. The battery module 1D includes a heat insulating tank 10D, four low-stage cooler sets 71D, and two high-stage cooler sets 72D. Each low-stage cooler set 71D has two coolers 40D connected in the horizontal direction. Further, the high-stage cooler set 72D has four coolers 40D connected in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, respectively. The height of the high-stage cooler set 72D is higher than that of the low-stage cooler set 71D.

The shape of the heat insulating tank 10D is also bent according to the arrangement of the cooler 40D. The height of the lid portion 113D at the portion where the low-stage cooler assembly 71D is arranged is lower than the height of the lid portion 113D at the portion where the high-stage cooler assembly 72D is arranged.

As in the example of FIG. 14, the height, size, and the like of each cooler set may be different. In this way, by freely arranging the plurality of coolers in three dimensions, it is possible to freely design the target on which the battery module is mounted. For example, when the battery module is arranged at the bottom of the automobile, the lower part of the battery module 1D may be arranged under the foot of the rear seat, and the upper part of the battery module 1D may be arranged directly under the seat of the rear seat. .. In this way, the space inside the automobile can be effectively utilized.

Further, in the first embodiment described above, the detailed configurations of the coolers 20 and 30 are shown, but the configuration of the cooler of the present invention is not limited to this. The plurality of coolers included in the battery module of the present invention may be different from the above-described first embodiment in other configurations as long as they are coolers having a fluid flow path inside.

Further, in the above-described embodiment and modified example, the battery module has a heat insulating tank and a plurality of coolers, but the present invention is not limited to this. When the cooler is used in an environment where the temperature change is small, or when the cooler also has a heat retention function, the battery module does not necessarily have to have a heat retention tank.

Further, the detailed shape of the battery module may be different from the shape shown in each figure of the present application. In addition, each element appearing in the above-described embodiment or modification may be appropriately combined as long as there is no contradiction.

The present invention can be used for battery modules.

1,1A, 1B, 1C, 1D Battery module 9 Battery cell 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D Heat insulation tank 11, 11A, 11B Lower heat insulation part 12, 12A, 12B Upper heat insulation part 13, 13A, 13C Insulation chamber 20 , 20A, 20C 1st cooler 21 1st lower cooling part 22 1st upper cooling part 23 1st housing 25 1st fluid flow path 26 1st outflow port 30, 30A, 30C 2nd cooler 31 2nd lower Side cooling unit 32 Second upper cooling unit 33 Second housing 34 Inner surface 41B, 42B, 43B, 44B, 45B, 46B, 40D Cooler 100C recess

Claims (11)

A battery module that houses multiple battery cells inside.
A first cooler having a first storage chamber capable of accommodating the battery cell,
A second cooler having a second storage chamber capable of accommodating the battery cell,
Have,
The first cooler and the second cooler are coupled to each other and separable.
The first cooler
The first housing surrounding the first storage chamber and
The first fluid flow path arranged inside the first housing and
Two first outflow ports communicating with the first fluid flow path and the outside,
Have,
The second cooler
A second housing surrounding the second storage chamber and
A second fluid flow path arranged inside the second housing and
Two second outflow ports that communicate the second fluid flow path and the outside,
Have,
One of the first outflow ports is a first connection port connected to the second fluid flow path.
One of the second outflow ports is a second connection port connected to the first fluid flow path.
A battery module in which the first connection port and the second connection port are connected. The battery module according to claim 1.
The first connection port and the second connection port have a shape that allows them to be fitted to each other.
A battery module in which the first cooler and the second cooler are fixed to each other when the first connection port and the second connection port are fitted to each other. The battery module according to claim 2.
One of the first connection port and the second connection port is a concave outflow port that is recessed inward.
The other of the first connection port and the second connection port is a convex outflow port protruding outward.
A battery module in which the convex outflow port is fitted to the concave outflow port. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
A battery module in which the first cooler and the second cooler are arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The second cooler is a battery module arranged on the upper side in the vertical direction of the first cooler. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
The first cooler
A lower cooling unit including the bottom of the first housing and
The upper cooling part including the lid part of the first housing and the upper cooling part
Have,
The lower cooling unit and the upper cooling unit are coupled to each other and are separable.
The first fluid flow path is
The lower fluid flow path arranged inside the lower cooling unit and
The upper fluid flow path arranged inside the upper cooling unit and
Including
A battery module in which the lower fluid flow path and the upper fluid flow path communicate with each other. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
A battery module further comprising a heat insulating tank accommodating the first cooler and the second cooler. The battery module according to claim 7.
The heat insulation tank
The bottom on which the first cooler and the second cooler are placed,
A side wall extending upward from the bottom and
Have,
At least one of the bottom and the side wall has a greenhouse inside it.
A battery module in which a gas or a heat insulating member having a lower thermal conductivity than a member surrounding the greenhouse is housed inside the heat insulating chamber. The battery module according to claim 8.
A battery module in which a gas is filled inside the greenhouse and an electric circuit electrically connected to the battery cell is arranged. The battery module according to claim 8.
A battery module in which a gas is filled inside the greenhouse and an electric wiring electrically connected to the battery cell is arranged. The battery module according to claim 7.
The heat insulation tank
It has a bottom on which the first cooler and the second cooler are placed.
The upper surface of the bottom has a recess that is recessed downward.
A battery module in which the opening of the recess is covered by the bottom surface of at least one of the first cooler and the second cooler.

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