JP2022129711A - Temperature adjustment device of vehicle battery unit and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

To make the temperature control of a battery cells highly efficient in a vehicle battery unit having a plurality of battery cells.SOLUTION: A temperature adjustment device 100 for a battery unit 1 having a plurality of battery cells 11 having a pair of first surface portions 12 facing each other in a first direction, includes: a cooler 110 arranged on one side in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; a heater 120 arranged on the other side in the second direction; a plurality of cooling thermally conductive materials 113 arranged respectively across the cooler 110 and the first surface portion 12; a plurality of heating thermally conductive materials 121 arranged across the heater 120 and the first surface portion 12; and heat insulating materials 30 arranged between the cooling thermally conductive material 113 and the heating thermally conductive material 121 adjacent to each other in the first direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The technology disclosed herein belongs to a technical field related to a temperature adjustment device for a vehicle battery unit and a control method thereof.

In recent years, many on-vehicle devices have been electrified, and the number of vehicles equipped with large-capacity batteries is increasing. The life of a battery is greatly affected by the temperature of the battery, and it is important to appropriately control the temperature of the battery in order to prolong the life of the battery.

For example, Patent Document 1 describes a heater (warmer) that heats a unit power storage unit (battery cell) and a cooler (cooler) that cools the unit power storage unit. A power storage device is disclosed that adjusts the temperature of a unit power storage unit using both of and . In the power storage device described in Patent Document 1, the heat of the heater and the cooler are each configured to be transferred to portions other than the maximum area portion of the unit power storage unit.

Further, in Patent Document 2, a heat transfer plate is arranged between each of the stacked battery cells to transfer heat from the maximum area of the battery cells to the cooler, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the battery cells. is disclosed.

JP 2018-106958 A WO2013/061869

In order to maintain the temperature of the battery cells at an appropriate temperature, it is preferable to have both a heater and a cooler as in Patent Document 1. In addition, in order to improve the efficiency of temperature adjustment of the battery cells, as in Patent Document 2, the maximum area of the battery cells and a heat transfer plate are brought into contact to transfer the heat of the heater to the battery cells. It is preferred to transfer the temperature of the cell to a cooler.

However, if these are simply combined, the heat from the heater will flow to the cooler, and there is a risk that the efficiency of temperature control of the battery cells will rather decrease.

The technology disclosed herein has been made in view of the above points, and its purpose is to improve the efficiency of temperature control of a vehicle battery unit having a plurality of battery cells. be.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the technology disclosed herein provides a plurality of rectangular parallelepipeds having a pair of first surface portions that are flat in a first direction, face each other in the first direction, and are the largest area portions. A cooler arranged on one side in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the second A heater that is arranged on the other side of the direction and can be turned on and off, and a plurality of cooling thermal conductive materials that are respectively arranged so as to straddle between the cooler and one of the pair of first surface portions. and a plurality of heating thermally conductive materials arranged straddling between the heater and the other of the pair of first surface portions, respectively, and at positions between the plurality of battery cells and the and a heat insulating mechanism arranged at a position between the cooling thermally conductive material and the warming thermally conductive material adjacent to each other in the first direction.

According to this configuration, the heat of the battery cells can be transferred from the first surface portion, which is the largest area portion, to the cooler via the heat conductive material for cooling. Heat can be transferred from the first surface portion to the battery cell via the heat conductive material. In addition, since a heat insulating mechanism is provided between the cooling thermally conductive material and the warming thermally conductive material, it is possible to suppress the flow of heat from the heater to the cooler. Therefore, the temperature control of the battery unit can be made highly efficient.

In one embodiment of the temperature adjustment device for a vehicle battery unit, the cooler is a cooling jacket through which coolant flows, and the cooler and each battery cell are in a heat transfer state and an adiabatic state. It further comprises a switching mechanism capable of switching to .

That is, when the cooler is composed of a cooling jacket, the cooling performance can be increased or decreased by adjusting the flow rate of the cooling liquid, but it is difficult to turn off the cooling performance. In the above-described configuration, the switching mechanism enables the heat insulation between the cooler and each battery cell, so that the heat of the battery cells can be suppressed from flowing to the cooler. As a result, when the battery cells are heated by the heater, the battery cells can be efficiently heated by establishing a heat insulating state between the cooler and each battery cell. As a result, the temperature control of the battery unit can be made more efficient.

In the one embodiment, the switching mechanism may be configured to switch between the heat transfer state and the heat insulation state between the cooler and each of the cooling heat conductive materials.

With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the battery unit from increasing in size in the first direction.

In the one embodiment, the switching mechanism switches between a heat transfer state and an adiabatic state between each of the cooling thermally conductive materials and each of the first surface portions adjacent to the cooling thermally conductive materials. The configuration may be such that it is configured to

According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the battery unit from increasing in size in the second direction. In addition, when a battery cell catches fire, by switching the switching mechanism to the heat insulation state, the heat insulation performance between the battery cells can be improved, and the spread of fire can be suppressed.

In another aspect of the technology disclosed herein, a plurality of battery cells each having a rectangular parallelepiped shape flattened in a first direction and having a pair of first surface portions that are opposed to each other in the first direction and are the largest area portions, A cooler arranged on one side in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and a cooler arranged on the other side in the second direction for the temperature adjustment device of the vehicle battery units arranged side by side in the first direction. a plurality of thermally conductive materials capable of thermally connecting both the cooler and the warmer to the first surface; the cooler and each and a switching mechanism provided between the cooling device and the heat conducting material and capable of switching between the heat conducting state and the heat insulating state between the cooler and each of the heat conducting members.

According to this configuration, if the heater is turned off and the switching mechanism is in the heat transfer state, the battery cells can be efficiently cooled. Battery cells can be efficiently heated. Therefore, the temperature control of the battery unit can be made highly efficient. Further, by using a common heat transfer plate for the cooler and the heater, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the battery unit in the first direction.

The technology disclosed herein also targets a method of controlling a temperature adjustment device for a vehicle battery unit. Specifically, a temperature acquisition step of acquiring the temperature of the battery unit, and an absolute value of the difference between the temperature acquired in the temperature acquisition step and a target temperature are targeted to a control method of a temperature adjustment device having a switching mechanism. and a temperature adjusting step of adjusting the temperature of the battery cell when is greater than a predetermined value, wherein the temperature adjusting step includes turning off the heater when cooling the battery cell, and switching While the mechanism is switched to the heat transfer state, when heating the battery cell, the switching mechanism is switched to the adiabatic state with the heater turned on.

According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent heat from the heater from flowing to the cooler, and to prevent the battery cell from being heated by the heater when the battery cell is cooled. Therefore, the temperature control of the battery unit can be made highly efficient.

As described above, according to the technology disclosed herein, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the temperature adjustment of the battery unit.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a temperature control device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing part of the battery unit. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the temperature adjustment device for the battery unit. FIG. 4 is a graph showing deterioration characteristics of the battery unit. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the processing operation of temperature adjustment by the temperature adjustment device. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a switching heat conductive material of the temperature control device according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing the operation of the switching mechanism of the temperature control device according to Embodiment 2, where (a) shows the heat insulation state and (b) shows the heat transfer state. FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a temperature adjustment processing operation by the temperature adjustment device according to the second embodiment. 9A and 9B are diagrams showing the operation of the switching mechanism of the temperature control device according to Embodiment 3, where (a) shows the heat insulation state and (b) shows the heat transfer state. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a temperature control device according to Embodiment 4. FIG. 11A and 11B are diagrams showing the operation of the switching mechanism of the temperature adjustment device according to Embodiment 4, in which (a) shows the adiabatic state, (b) shows the heating state, and (c) shows the cooling state. . FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing temperature adjustment processing operations by the temperature adjustment device according to the fourth embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction are specified for convenience in order to simplify the description, and do not limit the actual usage conditions.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 schematically shows a temperature adjustment device 100 of a battery unit 1. As shown in FIG. The battery unit 1 is a vehicle battery unit. It has a plurality of (here, three) battery modules 10 . Each battery module 10 has four battery cells 11 (see FIG. 2, etc.). Each battery cell 11 is composed of, for example, a 12V lithium ion battery, and is configured to be capable of supplying power of 48V at maximum.

A temperature control device 100 is provided in each battery module 10 . The temperature adjustment device 100 has a cooler 110 that cools each battery module 10 and a heater 120 that heats each battery module 10 . The cooler 110 is a cooling jacket, and a flow path is formed in the cooler 110 through which the coolant flows. The coolers 110 are each connected to a pump 111 that supplies coolant to the coolers 110 . The coolant discharged from the pump 111 passes through the cooler 111 and then returns to the pump 111 through the radiator 112 . The heater 120 is a heater that can be turned on/off. The heater 120 is configured so that the temperature can be adjusted. The temperature control system has a cooling fan 130 in addition to the cooler 110 . The fan 130 cools each battery module 10 by supplying vehicle running wind to the battery unit 1 .

The temperature adjustment device 100 has a control unit 140 that controls the pump 111, the heater 120, and the fan 130, respectively. The control unit 140 acquires information about the temperature of the battery module 10 measured by a temperature sensor (not shown) provided in each battery module 10 . Control unit 140 controls the rotation speed of pump 111 according to the temperature of battery module 10 to adjust the amount of coolant supplied to cooler 110 . The control unit 140 supplies electric power corresponding to the set temperature to the heater 120 according to the temperature of the battery module 10 . The control unit 140 controls the number of rotations of the fan 130 according to the temperature of the battery module 10 to adjust the amount of vehicle airflow supplied to the battery unit 1 .

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each battery cell 11 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape flattened in the front-rear direction (first direction). Each battery cell 11 has a pair of first surface portions 12 facing each other in the front-rear direction. The pair of first surface portions 12 has the maximum area. Each battery cell 11 has a pair of second surface portions 13 facing each other in the left-right direction (second direction) perpendicular to the front-rear direction. Each battery cell 11 also has a pair of third surface portions 14 facing each other in the vertical direction perpendicular to both the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. Two terminals 15 are provided on each of the upper third surface portions 14 .

Each battery cell 11 constituting the battery module 10 is arranged side by side in the front-rear direction. Each battery cell 11 is housed in a housing 20 and supported by the housing 20 . The housing 20 has a pair of first side walls 21 facing in the front-rear direction and a pair of second side walls 22 facing in the second direction.

Cooler 110 is provided on the right side (one side in the second direction) of battery module 10 . Heater 120 is provided on the left side of battery module 10 (the other side in the second direction). Cooler 110 and each battery cell 11 are thermally connected by a plurality of thermally conductive materials 113 for cooling. The heater 120 and each battery cell 11 are thermally connected by a plurality of heating thermally conductive materials 121 . The cooling and heating thermal conductive materials 113 and 121 are made of a material with high thermal conductivity such as copper or aluminum.

Each of the cooling thermally conductive materials 113 is arranged across the cooler 110 and the first surface portion 12 on the front side. Specifically, each cooling heat transfer material 113 includes a cooling contact surface portion 113a that is in close contact with the first surface portion 12 on the front side, and a cooling heat transfer surface portion 113b that is provided at the left end portion and is in close contact with the cooler 110. and respectively. The cooling contact surface portion 113 a passes through the second side wall 22 and enters the housing 20 . The right side surface of the cooling heat transfer surface portion 113 b is in close contact with the cooler 110 . The left side surface of the cooling heat transfer surface portion 113 b may be in contact with the second side wall 22 of the housing 20 or may be spaced apart from the second side wall 22 .

Each heating heat-conducting material 121 is arranged so as to straddle between the heater 120 and the left first surface portion 12 . Specifically, each heating thermally conductive material 121 includes a heating contact surface 121 a that is in close contact with the first surface portion 12 on the rear side, and a heating conductive surface 121 a that is provided at the right end and is in close contact with the heater 120 . and a heat surface 121b. The heating contact surface 121 a passes through the second side wall 22 and enters the housing 20 . The left side surface of the heating heat transfer surface portion 121b is in close contact with the heater 120 . The right side surface of the heating heat transfer surface portion 121 b may be in contact with the second side wall 22 of the housing 20 or may be spaced apart from the second side wall 22 .

By arranging the cooling thermally conductive material 113 and the heating thermally conductive material 121 in this manner, the cooling thermally conductive material 113 and the heating thermally conductive material 121 are provided for each of the battery cells 11 . will be placed.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, heat insulating materials 30 are arranged between the cooling thermally conductive material 113 and the warming thermally conductive material 121 in the front-rear direction. Further, the heat insulating material 30 is arranged between the cooling heat conductive material 113 and the first side wall 21 at the front end of the battery module 10 , and the heating heat conductive material 121 at the rear end of the battery module 10 . and the first side wall 21 . The heat insulating material 30 provides a space between the cooling heat conductive material 113 and the heating heat conductive material 121, between the first side wall 21 and the cooling heat conductive material 113, and between the first side wall 21 and the heating heat conductive material. Heat exchange with the heat conductive material 121 becomes difficult. As a result, the heat of each battery cell 11 is easily transferred to the cooler 110 via each cooling heat conductive material 113, while the heat of the heater 120 is transferred to each battery cell via each heating heat conductive material 121. Easier to move to 11. The heat insulating material 30 is made of, for example, expanded polystyrene or wood.

Here, in order to prolong the life of the battery unit 1, temperature control of the battery cells 11 is generally important. In particular, when a lithium-ion battery is used as the battery cell 11 as in the first embodiment, deterioration may accelerate both at high temperatures and at low temperatures, as shown in FIG. Specifically, there are high-rate deterioration and temperature deterioration as indexes of deterioration of the lithium-ion battery. When the temperature of the battery cell 11 is low, the reaction speed at the negative electrode decreases. Therefore, rapid charging (high-rate charging) tends to cause electrodeposition. Therefore, high-rate degradation is more likely to occur. On the other hand, if the reaction rate at the negative electrode decreases, the capacity of the negative electrode that can be used for the reaction is ensured, so temperature deterioration is less likely to occur. When the temperature of the battery cell 11 is high, the reaction speed at the negative electrode increases. As a result, high-rate degradation is less likely to occur. On the other hand, if the reaction rate at the negative electrode is increased, the capacity of the negative electrode that can be used for the reaction is rapidly decreased, so temperature deterioration is likely to occur. Moreover, when the temperature of the battery cell 11 is high, the metal resistance in the vicinity of the terminal increases, which also facilitates deterioration.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the battery cell 11 according to Embodiment 1 has an appropriate temperature range. The temperature adjustment device 100 according to the first embodiment controls the cooler 110, the heater 120, and the fan 130 so that the temperature of each battery cell 11 falls within the target temperature range, with this appropriate temperature range as the target temperature range. I made it The target temperature range is, for example, 43.degree. C. to 47.degree.

Temperature adjustment control by the temperature adjustment device 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This flowchart is repeatedly executed at predetermined time intervals.

First, in step S<b>101 , the temperature adjustment device 100 acquires the temperature Tm of the battery module 10 .

Next, in step S102, the temperature adjustment device 100 calculates the absolute value of the difference between the temperature Tm and the target temperature, and determines whether or not the absolute value of the difference is greater than a predetermined value α. When the absolute value of the difference is larger than the predetermined value α (YES), the temperature adjustment device 100 proceeds to step S103. On the other hand, when the absolute value of the difference is equal to or less than the predetermined value α, the temperature adjustment device 100 returns to step S101. The target temperature is, for example, the median value of the target temperature range shown in FIG. 4, which is about 45.degree. Also, the predetermined value α is, for example, 2°C.

In step S103, the temperature adjustment device 100 determines whether or not cooling is required. The temperature adjustment device 100 determines that cooling is necessary when the temperature Tm is higher than the target temperature. When the determination is YES that cooling is required, the temperature adjustment device 100 proceeds to step S104. On the other hand, the temperature adjustment device 100 proceeds to step S106 when the answer is NO indicating that heating is required instead of cooling.

At step S<b>104 , the temperature adjustment device 100 turns off the heater 120 .

In the next step S<b>105 , the temperature adjustment device 100 sets the rotation speeds of the fan 130 and the pump 111 . The temperature adjustment device 100 sets the rotation speeds of the fan 130 and the pump 111 according to the difference between the temperature Tm and the target temperature. The temperature adjustment device 100 operates the fan 130 and the pump 111 at the rotation speed set here. The number of rotations of the fan 130 and the number of rotations of the pump 111 may be the same or different.

On the other hand, in step S<b>106 , the temperature adjustment device 100 turns on the heater 120 or raises the set temperature of the heater 120 . The temperature adjustment device 100 turns the heater 120 on when the heater 120 is off. On the other hand, temperature adjustment device 100 increases the set temperature of heater 120 when heater 120 is already on. The temperature adjustment device 100 sets the temperature of the heater 120 according to the difference between the temperature Tm and the target temperature.

In step S107 following steps S105 and S106, the temperature adjustment device 100 determines whether or not the temperature Tm has become equal to the target temperature. For example, if the temperature Tm is within ±1° C. of the target temperature, the temperature adjustment device 100 determines that the temperature Tm is equal to the target temperature. When the temperature Tm is equal to the target temperature (YES), the temperature adjustment device 100 proceeds to step S108. The operation of 111 or the operation of the heater 120 at the set temperature set in S105 is continued.

In step S<b>108 , the temperature adjustment device 100 reduces the rotational speeds of the fan 130 and the pump 111 , turns off the heater 120 , or lowers the set temperature of the heater 120 . The temperature adjustment device 100 reduces the rotation speeds of the fan 130 and the pump 111 when the rotation speeds of the fan 130 and the pump 111 are set in step 105 . On the other hand, the temperature adjustment device 100 turns off the heater 120 or lowers the set temperature of the heater 120 when the heater 120 is turned on in step 106 . Note that the temperature adjustment device 100 may set whether to turn off the heater 120 or reduce the set temperature of the heater 120, for example, according to the outside air temperature. That is, the heater 120 may be turned off when the outside air temperature is relatively high, and the set temperature of the heater 120 may be reduced only when the outside air temperature is relatively low. The temperature adjustment device 100 returns after step S108.

As described above, the temperature adjustment device 100 maintains the temperature of the battery modules 10 (strictly speaking, the battery cells 11) within an appropriate range. In the first embodiment, the heat insulating materials 30 are arranged between the cooling heat conductive material 113 and the heating heat conductive material 121 adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction. 11 to the heat conductive material 113 for cooling can be suppressed. Thereby, cooling and heating of the battery cell 11 can be performed efficiently. Therefore, the temperature control of the battery unit 1 can be made highly efficient.

In addition, in the first embodiment, between the cooling thermally conductive material 113 positioned at the end in the front-rear direction and the first side wall 21 of the housing 20 , and between the heating thermally conductive material 121 and the first side wall of the housing 20 . A heat insulating material 30 is also arranged between the side wall 21 of the . As a result, heat exchange between the cooler 110 and the housing 20 and heat exchange between the heater 120 and the housing 20 are suppressed, so that temperature control of the battery unit 1 can be made highly efficient.

(Embodiment 2)
Hereinafter, Embodiment 2 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same parts as in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Embodiment 2 differs from Embodiment 1 in the configuration of the cooler 110 side. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, between the cooler 110 and each cooling heat conductive material 113, a flat auxiliary heat conductive material 214 and a corrugated plate-shaped switching heat conductive material are provided. 215 are arranged. Also, the cooler 110 is housed in the housing 220 . An electromagnetic solenoid 216 is provided between the cooler 110 and the second side wall 222 in the housing 220 to move the cooler 110 toward the battery module 10 . Each cooling heat transfer surface portion 113b is separated from the second surface portion 13 on the right side of each battery cell 11 in the left-right direction.

The auxiliary thermally conductive material 214 is made of the same material as the cooling thermally conductive material 113 . The auxiliary heat transfer material 214 is arranged across all the cooling heat transfer surface portions 113b and is in close contact with each cooling heat transfer surface portion 113b.

The switching heat conductive material 215 is made of the same material as the cooling heat conductive material 113 . As shown in FIG. 6, the switching heat-conducting material 215 has a heat insulating material 215a arranged at each wave crest. The heat insulating material 215a may be provided only on one side, or may be provided on both sides. Switching heat-conducting material 215 assumes a corrugated plate shape when it receives an external force in the direction normal to its surface, that is, when it receives force from electromagnetic solenoid 216 that presses cooler 110 toward battery module 10 . It is configured so that it can be deformed from the flat plate shape.

As shown in FIG. 7A, when the electromagnetic solenoid 216 is controlled in the pulling direction (OFF state) and the switching heat-conducting material 215 is corrugated, the cooler 110 and the auxiliary heat-conducting material 214 An air layer is formed between them. Further, the heat insulating material 215a provides heat insulation between the switching heat conductive material 215 and the auxiliary heat conductive material 214 . As a result, the cooler 110 and the auxiliary heat conductive material 214 are in a heat-insulating state, and between the cooler 110 and each cooling heat conductive material 113, and further between the cooler 110 and each battery cell 11 becomes adiabatic. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7(b), when the electromagnetic solenoid 216 is controlled in the extension direction (on state) and the switching heat conductive material 215 is deformed into a flat plate shape, the switching heat conductive material 215 In intimate contact with both cooler 110 and supplemental heat transfer material 214 . As a result, the cooler 110 and the auxiliary heat conductor 214 are in a state of heat transfer, and the cooler 110 and each battery cell 11 are in a state of heat transfer. From this, the switching heat-conducting material 215 and the electromagnetic solenoid 216 conduct heat between the cooler 110 and each cooling heat-conducting material 113, and further between the cooler 110 and each battery cell 10. A switching mechanism capable of switching between the state and the adiabatic state is constructed.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing temperature adjustment control by the temperature adjustment device 200 according to the second embodiment. This flowchart is executed at predetermined time intervals.

First, in step S<b>201 , the temperature adjustment device 200 acquires the temperature Tm of the battery module 10 .

Next, in step S202, the temperature adjustment device 200 calculates the absolute value of the difference between the temperature Tm and the target temperature, and determines whether or not the absolute value of the difference is greater than a predetermined value α. When the absolute value of the difference is larger than the predetermined value α (YES), the temperature adjustment device 200 proceeds to step S203. On the other hand, when the absolute value of the difference is equal to or less than the predetermined value α, the temperature adjustment device 200 returns to step S201. Note that the target temperature is about 45° C. as in the first embodiment, and the predetermined value α is also 2° C. as in the first embodiment.

In step S203, the temperature adjustment device 200 determines whether or not cooling is required. The temperature adjustment device 200 determines that cooling is necessary when the temperature Tm is higher than the target temperature. When the determination is YES that cooling is required, the temperature adjustment device 200 proceeds to step S204. On the other hand, the temperature adjustment device 200 proceeds to step S207 when the answer is NO indicating that heating is required instead of cooling.

At step S<b>204 , the temperature adjustment device 200 turns off the heater 120 .

In the next step S205, the temperature adjustment device 200 sets the rotation speeds of the fan 130 and the pump 111. FIG. The temperature adjustment device 200 sets the rotation speeds of the fan 130 and the pump 111 according to the difference between the temperature Tm and the target temperature. The temperature adjustment device 200 operates the fan 130 and the pump 111 at the rotation speed set here. The number of rotations of the fan 130 and the number of rotations of the pump 111 may be the same or different.

Next, in step S206, the temperature adjustment device 200 turns on the electromagnetic solenoid 216 to switch the switching mechanism to the heat transfer state.

On the other hand, in step S<b>207 , the temperature adjustment device 200 turns on the heater 120 or raises the set temperature of the heater 120 . The temperature adjustment device 200 turns the heater 120 on when the heater 120 is off. On the other hand, the temperature adjustment device 200 increases the set temperature of the heater 120 when the heater 120 is already on. The temperature adjustment device 200 sets the temperature of the heater 120 according to the difference between the temperature Tm and the target temperature.

In the next step S208, the temperature adjustment device 200 turns off the electromagnetic solenoid 216 to switch the switching mechanism to the adiabatic state.

In step S209 following steps S206 and S208, the temperature adjustment device 200 determines whether or not the temperature Tm has become equal to the target temperature. For example, if the temperature Tm is within ±1° C. of the target temperature, the temperature adjustment device 200 determines that the temperature Tm is equal to the target temperature. When the temperature Tm is equal to the target temperature (YES), the temperature adjustment device 200 proceeds to step S208. The operation of 111 or the operation of the heater 120 at the set temperature set in S205 is continued.

In step S<b>210 , the temperature adjustment device 200 reduces the rotational speeds of the fan 130 and the pump 111 , turns off the heater 120 , or lowers the set temperature of the heater 120 . The temperature adjustment device 120 reduces the rotation speeds of the fan 130 and the pump 111 when the rotation speeds of the fan 130 and the pump 111 are set in step 205 . On the other hand, the temperature adjustment device 200 turns off the heater 120 or lowers the set temperature of the heater 120 when the heater 120 is turned on in step 207 . Note that the temperature adjustment device 200 may set whether to turn off the heater 120 or reduce the set temperature of the heater 120, for example, according to the outside air temperature. That is, the heater 120 may be turned off when the outside air temperature is relatively high, and the set temperature of the heater 120 may be reduced only when the outside air temperature is relatively low. The temperature adjustment device 200 returns after step S210.

When the cooler 110 is composed of a cooling jacket as in the second embodiment, the cooling performance can be increased or decreased by adjusting the flow rate of the coolant, but it is difficult to turn off. In the second embodiment, the switching mechanism enables the heat insulation between the cooler 110 and each battery cell 11, so that the heat of the battery cell 11 can be effectively suppressed from flowing to the cooler 110. . As a result, when the heater 120 heats the battery cells 11 , the battery cells 11 can be efficiently heated by insulating the space between the cooler 110 and each battery cell 11 . As a result, the temperature control of the battery unit 1 can be made more efficient.

Further, by using the flat-plate-shaped auxiliary heat-conducting material 214, when the electromagnetic solenoid 216 is turned on, the force is easily input to the switching heat-conducting material 215 evenly. As a result, it is possible to smoothly transform the switching heat conductive material 215 from the corrugated plate shape to the flat plate shape.

(Embodiment 3)
Hereinafter, Embodiment 3 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the parts common to those of the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Embodiment 3 differs from Embodiments 1 and 2 in the configuration between the battery cells 11 . Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, between each cooling heat conducting material 113 and the first surface portion 12 of each battery cell 11, a corrugated plate-shaped switching heat conducting material 315 is arranged. ing. Also, in the housing 320, an electromagnetic solenoid 316 that presses each battery cell 11 forward is arranged in the rear portion. A heat insulating material 30 is arranged between the electromagnetic solenoid 316 and the heating thermally conductive material 121 .

Each of the switching heat-conducting members 315 has a heat insulating material (not shown) arranged at the crest portion that contacts the battery cells 11 . When the switching heat conductive material 315 receives an external force in the direction normal to its surface, that is, when it receives a force directed from the rear side to the front side by the electromagnetic solenoid 316, it deforms from a corrugated plate shape to a flat plate shape. configured as possible.

As shown in FIG. 9(a), when the electromagnetic solenoid 316 is controlled in the pulling direction (off state) and each of the switching heat-conducting materials 315 is corrugated, each cooling heat-conducting material 113 and each battery An air layer is formed between the cells 11 . Insulation is provided between each switching heat-conducting material 315 and each battery cell 11 by a heat insulating material. As a result, each cooling heat conductive material 113 and each battery cell 11 are in a heat insulating state, and the cooler 110 and each battery cell 11 are in a heat insulating state. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9(b), when the electromagnetic solenoid 316 is controlled in the extension direction (on state) and the switching heat conductive material 315 is deformed into a flat plate shape, the switching heat conductive material 315 It is in close contact with both the cooling thermally conductive material 113 and the battery cell 11 . As a result, each switching heat-conducting material 315 and each battery cell 11 are in a heat transfer state, and the cooler 110 and each battery cell 11 are in a heat transfer state. As a result, the switching heat conductive material 315 and the electromagnetic solenoid 316 can conduct heat between each cooling heat conductive material 113 and each battery cell 11, and further between the cooler 110 and each battery cell 10. A switching mechanism capable of switching between a thermal state and an adiabatic state is provided.

When the switching mechanism switches from the adiabatic state to the heat-transfer state, the cooling heat-conducting material 113 and the warming heat-conducting material 121 also move in the front-rear direction. Although not shown, the second side wall 322 of the housing 320 is provided with slide holes for sliding the heat conductive members 113 and 121 in the front-rear direction. Although not shown, the battery cells 11 are electrically connected to each other by busbar springs. By expanding and contracting the busbar spring, the battery cells 11 are electrically connected to each other regardless of whether the switching mechanism switches between the heat transfer state and the heat insulation state.

Even with such a configuration, the switching mechanism allows the heat insulation between the cooler 110 and each battery cell 11, so that the heat of the battery cell 11 is effectively suppressed from flowing to the cooler 110. be able to. As a result, when the heater 120 heats the battery cells 11 , the battery cells 11 can be efficiently heated by insulating the space between the cooler 110 and each battery cell 11 . As a result, the temperature control of the battery unit 1 can be made more efficient.

Further, when the battery cell 11 catches fire, by switching the switching mechanism to the heat insulation state, the heat insulation performance between the battery cells 11 can be improved, and the spread of fire can be suppressed.

For the temperature adjustment control of this temperature adjustment device 300, the flow chart shown in the second embodiment can be adopted.

(Embodiment 4)
Hereinafter, Embodiment 4 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the parts common to those of the first to third embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 11, the temperature adjustment device 400 according to the fourth embodiment has both the cooler 110 and the heater 120 housed in a housing 420, unlike the first to third embodiments. In the temperature adjustment device 400 , both the cooler 110 and the heater 120 can be thermally connected to the battery cell 11 via a common heat conducting member 410 . The heat-conducting material 410 includes a main surface portion 411 facing the first surface portion 12 of the battery cell 11 in the front-rear direction, a cooling side surface portion 412 extending in the front-rear direction from the right end of the main surface portion 411, and the main surface portion 411. and a heating side portion 413 extending in the front-rear direction from the left end. Between each main surface portion 411 and the first surface portion 12 of each battery cell 11, a corrugated plate-shaped first switching heat conductive material 415 is arranged. The cooling sides 412 are each in contact with a supplemental thermal conductor 414 . A second switching heat conductor 416 is arranged between the cooler 110 and the auxiliary heat conductor 414 . The heating side portions 413 are in contact with the heaters 120 respectively. Each cooling side portion 412 and each heating side portion 413 and the second surface portion 13 of each battery cell 11 are separated from each other in the left-right direction.

A first electromagnetic solenoid 417 that presses each battery cell 11 forward is arranged in the rear portion of the housing 420 . A second electromagnetic solenoid 418 is provided between the cooler 110 and the second side wall 422 in the housing 420 to move the cooler 110 toward the battery module 10 .

The configuration of the first switching heat conductive material 415 is the same as that of the switching heat conductive material in the third embodiment. When the first switching heat conductive material 415 receives an external force in the direction normal to its surface, that is, when it receives a force directed from the rear side to the front side by the first electromagnetic solenoid 417, the first switching heat conductive material 415 changes from the corrugated plate shape. It is configured to be deformable into a flat plate shape.

The configuration of the second switching heat conductive material 416 is the same as the switching heat conductive material in the second embodiment. When the second switching heat conductive material 416 receives an external force in the direction normal to its surface, that is, when the second electromagnetic solenoid 418 receives a force that presses the cooler 110 toward the battery module 10 side, the second switching heat conductive material 416 , is configured to be deformable from a corrugated plate shape to a flat plate shape.

The configuration of the auxiliary heat conductor 414 is the same as that of the auxiliary heat conductor in the second embodiment. The auxiliary heat conducting material 214 is arranged across all the cooling side portions 412 .

The temperature adjustment device 400 according to the fourth embodiment has two states: an adiabatic state in which the battery cell 11 is not thermally connected to both the cooler 110 and the heater 120, and a heating state in which the battery cell 11 is thermally connected to the heater 120. , and a cooling state in which battery cell 11 is thermally connected to cooler 110 . Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11A, both the first electromagnetic solenoid 417 and the second electromagnetic solenoid 418 are controlled in the pulling direction (OFF state), and the first switching heat conductive material 415 and When the second switching heat-conducting material 416 is corrugated, an air layer is formed between each heat-conducting material 410 and each battery cell 11 and between the auxiliary heat-conducting material 414 and the cooler 110 . be. Also, between each first switching heat conductive material 415 and each battery cell 11 and between the second switching heat conductive material heat insulating material 416 and the auxiliary heat conductive material 414, the first and second switching heat Heat insulation is provided by the heat insulating material provided on the conductive materials 415 and 416 . As a result, heat insulation is established between each thermally conductive material 410 and each battery cell 11 and between each thermally conductive material 410 and cooler 111 . becomes adiabatic. As shown in FIG. 11(b), when the first electromagnetic solenoid 417 is controlled in the extension direction (on state) and the first switching heat conductive material 415 is deformed into a flat plate shape, the first switching heat conductive material 415 are in intimate contact with both the thermally conductive material 410 and the battery cell 11 . Thereby, each battery cell 11 is thermally connected to the heater 120 . On the other hand, since the second electromagnetic solenoid 418 is controlled in the pulling direction, the second switching heat-conducting material 416 remains corrugated, and the heat-insulating state between each heat-conducting material 410 and the cooler 111 is maintained. It has become. Therefore, in this state, only heating is possible. As shown in FIG. 11(c), when both the first electromagnetic solenoid 417 and the second electromagnetic solenoid 418 are controlled in the extension direction, the first switching heat conductive material 415 and the second switching heat conductive material 416 are Both deform into a flat plate shape. At this time, the first switching heat-conducting material 415 is in close contact with both the heat-conducting material 410 and the battery cell 11 , and the second switching heat-conducting material 416 is in close contact with both the cooler 110 and the auxiliary heat-conducting material 414 . do. Thereby, the cooler 110 and each battery cell 11 are thermally connected. Cooling is possible in this state. Therefore, the first switching heat conductive material 415 , the second switching heat conductive material 416 , the first electromagnetic solenoid 417 , and the second electromagnetic solenoid 416 are configured to conduct heat transfer between the cooler 110 and each battery cell 10 . A switching mechanism capable of switching between a thermal state and an adiabatic state is provided. In particular, in Embodiment 4, the switching mechanism can switch between the adiabatic state, the heating state, and the cooling state.

When the switching mechanism switches from the adiabatic state to the heating state or the cooling state, the heat conductive material 410 also moves in the front-rear direction. Although not shown, the housing 420 is provided with slide holes for sliding the heat conductive members 410 in the front-rear direction. Although not shown, the battery cells 11 are electrically connected to each other by busbar springs. By expanding and contracting the busbar spring, the battery cells 11 are electrically connected to each other regardless of whether the switching mechanism switches between the heat transfer state and the heat insulation state.

Next, temperature adjustment control by the temperature adjustment device 400 according to the fourth embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 12 .

First, in step S<b>401 , temperature adjustment device 400 acquires temperature Tm of battery module 10 .

Next, in step S402, the temperature adjustment device 400 calculates the absolute value of the difference between the temperature Tm and the target temperature, and determines whether or not the absolute value of the difference is greater than a predetermined value α. When the absolute value of the difference is larger than the predetermined value α (YES), the temperature adjustment device 400 proceeds to step S404. On the other hand, when the absolute value of the difference is equal to or less than the predetermined value α, the temperature adjustment device 400 proceeds to step S403. Note that the target temperature is about 45° C. as in the first embodiment, and the predetermined value α is also 2° C. as in the first embodiment.

In step S403, the temperature adjustment device 400 turns off both the first electromagnetic solenoid 417 and the second electromagnetic solenoid 418 to switch to the adiabatic state. As a result, the battery cell 11 is neither cooled by the cooler 110 nor heated by the heater 120, and an appropriate temperature can be maintained.

On the other hand, in step S404, the temperature adjustment device 400 determines whether or not cooling is required. The temperature adjustment device 400 determines that cooling is necessary when the temperature Tm is higher than the target temperature. When the determination is YES that cooling is required, the temperature adjustment device 400 proceeds to step S405. On the other hand, the temperature adjustment device 400 advances to step S408 when the answer is NO indicating that heating rather than cooling is required.

At step S405, the temperature adjustment device 400 turns the heater 120 off.

In the next step S406, the temperature adjustment device 400 sets the rotation speeds of the fan 130 and the pump 111. FIG. The temperature adjustment device 400 sets the rotation speeds of the fan 130 and the pump 111 according to the difference between the temperature Tm and the target temperature. The temperature adjustment device 400 operates the fan 130 and the pump 111 at the rotation speed set here. The number of rotations of the fan 130 and the number of rotations of the pump 111 may be the same or different.

Next, in step S407, the temperature adjustment device 400 turns on both the first electromagnetic solenoid 417 and the second electromagnetic solenoid 418 to switch to the cooling state.

On the other hand, in step S<b>408 , the temperature adjustment device 400 turns on the heater 120 or raises the set temperature of the heater 120 . Temperature adjustment device 400 turns heater 120 on when heater 120 is off. On the other hand, temperature adjustment device 400 increases the set temperature of heater 120 when heater 120 is already in the ON state. Temperature adjustment device 400 sets the temperature of heater 120 according to the difference between temperature Tm and the target temperature.

In the next step S409, the temperature adjustment device 400 turns off the first electromagnetic solenoid 417 and turns off the second electromagnetic solenoid 418 to switch to the heating state.

In step S410 following steps S407 and S409, the temperature adjustment device 400 determines whether or not the temperature Tm has become equal to the target temperature. For example, if the temperature Tm is within ±1° C. of the target temperature, the temperature adjustment device 400 determines that the temperature Tm is equal to the target temperature. When the temperature Tm is equal to the target temperature (YES), the temperature adjustment device 400 proceeds to step S411. The operation of 111 or the operation of the heater 120 at the set temperature set in S408 is continued.

In step S<b>411 , the temperature adjustment device 400 reduces the rotational speeds of the fan 130 and the pump 111 , turns off the heater 120 , or lowers the set temperature of the heater 120 . The temperature adjustment device 120 reduces the rotation speeds of the fan 130 and the pump 111 when the rotation speeds of the fan 130 and the pump 111 are set in step 406 . On the other hand, the temperature adjustment device 400 turns off the heater 120 or lowers the set temperature of the heater 120 when the heater 120 is turned on in step 408 . Note that the temperature adjustment device 400 may set, for example, whether to turn off the heater 120 or reduce the set temperature of the heater 120 according to the outside air temperature. That is, the heater 120 may be turned off when the outside air temperature is relatively high, and the set temperature of the heater 120 may be reduced only when the outside air temperature is relatively low. The temperature adjustment device 400 returns after step S410.

In the fourth embodiment, the switching mechanism enables the heat insulation between the cooler 110 and each battery cell 11, so that the heat of the battery cell 11 can be effectively suppressed from flowing to the cooler 110. . As a result, when the heater 120 heats the battery cells 11 , the battery cells 11 can be efficiently heated by insulating the space between the cooler 110 and each battery cell 11 . As a result, the temperature control of the battery unit 1 can be made more efficient.

Moreover, the switching mechanism allows each battery cell 11 to be insulated from both the cooler 110 and the heater 120 . Therefore, when each battery cell 11 is at an appropriate temperature, each battery cell 11 is insulated from both the cooler 110 and the heater 120, thereby making it easier to maintain each battery cell 11 at an appropriate temperature.

Furthermore, when the battery cell 11 catches fire, by switching the switching mechanism to the heat insulation state, the heat insulation performance between the battery cells 11 can be improved, and the spread of fire can be suppressed.

(Other embodiments)
The technology disclosed herein is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and substitutions are possible without departing from the scope of the claims.

For example, in the fourth embodiment described above, the first switching heat conductive material 415 is arranged between each heat conductive material 410 and each battery cell 11 . Alternatively, the first switching heat conductive material 415 and the first electromagnetic solenoid 417 may be omitted. In this case, each heat conductive material 410 and the first surface portion 12 of each battery cell 11 are brought into close contact with each other.

The above-described embodiments are merely examples, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims, and all modifications and changes within the equivalent range of the claims are within the scope of the present disclosure.

The technology disclosed herein has a pair of first surface portions that are rectangular parallelepipeds flattened in a first direction, face each other in the first direction and have the largest area, and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. A plurality of battery cells having a pair of second surface portions facing each other is useful as a temperature control device for vehicle battery units arranged side by side in the first direction.

1 battery unit 11 battery cell 12 first surface portion 13 second surface portion 30 heat insulating material (heat insulating mechanism)
100 Temperature adjusting device 110 Cooler 113 Thermal conductive material for cooling 120 Heater (warmer)
121 heating thermal conductive material 215 switching thermal conductive material (switching mechanism)
216 electromagnetic solenoid (switching mechanism)
315 Heat transfer material for switching (switching mechanism)
316 electromagnetic solenoid (switching mechanism)
410 Thermal conductive material 415 First switching thermal conductive material (switching mechanism)
416 Second Switching Thermal Conductive Material (Switching Mechanism)
417 first electromagnetic solenoid (switching mechanism)
418 second electromagnetic solenoid (switching mechanism)

Claims (6)

For a vehicle in which a plurality of battery cells each having a rectangular parallelepiped shape flattened in a first direction and having a pair of first surface portions that face each other in the first direction and are the largest area portions are arranged side by side in the first direction A temperature adjustment device for a battery unit,
a cooler arranged on one side in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction;
a heater disposed on the other side in the second direction and capable of being turned on and off;
a plurality of cooling thermally conductive materials respectively arranged to straddle between the cooler and one of the pair of first surface portions;
a plurality of heating thermally conductive materials respectively arranged to straddle between the heater and the other of the pair of first surface portions;
a heat insulating mechanism arranged at a position between the plurality of battery cells and between the cooling thermally conductive material and the heating thermally conductive material adjacent to each other in the first direction. A temperature adjustment device for a vehicle battery unit. In the vehicle battery unit temperature adjustment device according to claim 1,
The cooler is a cooling jacket through which a coolant flows,
A temperature control device for a vehicle battery unit, further comprising a switching mechanism capable of switching between a heat transfer state and a heat insulation state between the cooler and each battery cell. In the vehicle battery unit temperature adjustment device according to claim 2,
A temperature control device for a vehicle battery unit, wherein the switching mechanism is configured to switch between a heat transfer state and an adiabatic state between the cooler and each of the cooling heat conductive materials. In the vehicle battery unit temperature adjustment device according to claim 2 or 3,
The switching mechanism is configured to switch between a heat transfer state and an adiabatic state between each of the cooling heat conductive materials and each of the first surface portions adjacent to the cooling heat conductive materials. A temperature adjustment device for a vehicle battery unit, characterized by: For a vehicle in which a plurality of battery cells each having a rectangular parallelepiped shape flattened in a first direction and having a pair of first surface portions that face each other in the first direction and are the largest area portions are arranged side by side in the first direction A temperature adjustment device for a battery unit,
a cooler arranged on one side in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction;
a heater disposed on the other side in the second direction and capable of being turned on and off;
a plurality of thermally conductive materials capable of thermally connecting both the cooler and the warmer to the first surface;
a switching mechanism provided between the cooler and each of the thermally conductive materials and capable of switching between a heat transfer state and an adiabatic state between the cooler and each of the thermally conductive materials. A temperature adjustment device for a vehicle battery unit. A control method for a temperature adjustment device for a vehicle battery unit according to any one of claims 2 to 5,
a temperature acquiring step of acquiring the temperature of the battery unit;
a temperature adjustment step of adjusting the temperature of the battery cell when the absolute value of the difference between the temperature obtained in the temperature obtaining step and the target temperature is greater than a predetermined value;
In the temperature adjustment step, when cooling the battery cell, the heater is turned off and the switching mechanism is switched to a heat transfer state, and when the battery cell is heated, the heater is turned off. A control method characterized by a step of switching the switching mechanism to an adiabatic state in an ON state.

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