JP4136269B2 - Power supply - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention mainly relates to a high-current power supply device used for powering a motor that drives a vehicle such as a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A high-current power supply device used as a power supply for driving a motor for driving an automobile further increases the output voltage by further connecting power supply modules in which a plurality of batteries are connected in series. This is to increase the output of the drive motor. A very large current flows in a power supply device used for this type of application. For example, in a hybrid vehicle or the like, when starting or accelerating, the vehicle is accelerated by the output of the battery, so a very large current flows. Furthermore, a large current flows even when rapid charging is performed in a short time.
[0003]
It is necessary to forcibly cool a power supply device used by passing a large current when the temperature of the battery rises. In a power supply apparatus in which a plurality of power supply modules are arranged side by side in a plurality of rows and placed in a holder case, it is important to cool each power supply module equally. This is because if the temperature of the battery to be cooled becomes uneven, the performance of the battery that increases in temperature tends to deteriorate.
[0004]
A structure in which a plurality of power supply modules are accommodated in a holder case and each power supply module is cooled more uniformly is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-270095. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1, the power supply device described in this publication has a lower part of the holder case 22 as an air inlet 23 and an upper part as an outlet 24, and an upper outlet 24 from the lower inlet 23. Then, air is allowed to flow to cool the power supply module 21 housed therein. Inside the holder case 22, cooling adjustment fins 25 for adjusting the flow velocity of air flowing on the surface of the power supply module 21 are disposed.
[0005]
In the holder case 22 having this structure, the flow velocity of the air flowing on the surface of the power supply module 21 disposed in the upper portion is made faster than the flow velocity of the air flowing on the surface of the lower power supply module 21. If the flow velocity of air flowing on the surface of the upper and lower power supply modules 21 is the same, the temperature of the air passing through the surface of the lower power supply module 21 is lower, so that the lower power supply module 21 is cooled more effectively than the upper portion. This is because there is a temperature difference in the power supply module 21 between the upper part and the lower part.
[0006]
The cooling adjustment fin 25 gradually narrows the air flow gap between the cooling adjustment fin 25 and the power supply module 21 upward in order to make the air flow rate on the surface of the upper power supply module 21 faster than the lower part. is doing. This is because as the flow gap becomes narrower, the flow velocity of air becomes faster.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The power supply device having this structure cools the lower power supply module with cold air, cools the upper power supply module at a high flow rate, and cools the upper and lower power supply modules in a more uniform environment. However, with this structure, it is extremely difficult to cool the upper and lower power supply modules under uniform conditions. This is because the air temperature for cooling the lower power supply module is low and the air temperature for cooling the upper power supply module is high. The upper power supply module that is cooled by high-temperature air is difficult to cool as efficiently as the lower power supply module even if the flow velocity of the air flowing on the surface is increased. For this reason, the power supply module arranged in the vicinity of the air inlet is efficiently cooled, but it is difficult to efficiently cool the power supply module arranged in the vicinity of the air outlet, and is stored in the holder case. There is a drawback that the temperature difference can occur in the power module. A power supply module that is in the vicinity of the discharge port and is extremely difficult to cool efficiently has a problem of being easily deteriorated at a high temperature.
[0008]
The present invention was developed for the purpose of solving the disadvantages of the conventional power supply apparatus. An important object of the present invention is to provide a power supply apparatus that can more uniformly cool the entire power supply module housed in a holder case and effectively prevent a decrease in battery performance due to a temperature difference.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The power supply device of the present invention includes a plurality of power supply modules 1 in which a plurality of secondary batteries are connected in a straight line, and the power supply modules 1 are arranged in parallel in a plurality of rows, and the inside A holder case 2 that cools the power supply module 1 housed in the passing air and a fan 9 that blows air by forcibly supplying or sucking cooling air to the holder case 2 are provided. The holder case 2 faces the first surface plate 2a and the second surface plate 2b, and is parallel to the first surface plate 2a and the second surface plate 2b between the first surface plate 2a and the second surface plate 2b. Further, the power source modules 1 are box-shaped and arranged in a plurality of rows.
In addition, the holder case 2 is formed into a groove shape that has a surface plate along the surface of the power supply module 1, and the bottom portion of the groove shape and the middle of the groove shape are opened in a slit shape to serve as an inlet 13 and an outlet 14. Yes.
Further, the first surface plate 2a opens an inlet 13 for allowing air to flow into the holder case 2, and the second surface plate 2b is an exhaust port for discharging the air flowing from the inlet 13 to the outside. 14 is opened. Furthermore, the inflow port 13 and the exhaust port 14 are slits that allow the cooling air to flow along the surface of the power supply module 1, and are slits that open between the bottom of the groove shape of the surface plate and the groove shape. The power supply module 1 is not symmetrically disposed.
[0010]
In the power supply device of the present invention, the air inflow duct 15 can be provided on the surface of the first surface plate 2a. This power supply device can allow air to flow into the compartment 4 by allowing air to pass from the inflow duct 15 to the inlet 13. Furthermore, the inflow port 13 opened to the first surface plate 2a preferably makes the upstream side of the inflow duct 15 smaller than the downstream side. The apparatus having this structure can supply cooling air to all the compartments 4 uniformly.
[0011]
Further, in the power supply device of the present invention, an air discharge duct 16 can be provided on the surface of the second surface plate 2b. This power supply apparatus exhausts the air that passes through the respective compartments 4 and is exhausted from the exhaust port 14 together through the exhaust duct 16. Further, the exhaust port 14 opened in the second surface plate 2b preferably makes the upstream side of the discharge duct 16 larger than the downstream side. The apparatus having this structure can supply cooling air to all the compartments 4 uniformly.
[0012]
Furthermore, in the power supply device of the present invention, preferably, the inlet 13 and the outlet 14 are slits extending in the vertical direction of the power supply module 1.
[0013]
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below exemplify a power supply device for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention does not specify the power supply device as follows .
[0015]
Further, in this specification, in order to facilitate understanding of the scope of claims, the numbers corresponding to the members shown in the examples are referred to as “the scope of claims” and “the means for solving the problems”. It is added to the member shown by. However, the members shown in the claims are not limited to the members in the embodiments.
[0016]
The power supply device shown in FIG. 2 includes a plurality of power supply modules 1, a holder case 2 containing the power supply module 1, and a fan 9 that cools the power supply module 1 of the holder case 2. An external perspective view of the holder case 2 is shown in FIG. 3, and a perspective view in which a part of the holder case 2 is cut is shown in FIG. As shown in these drawings, the holder case 2 accommodates the power supply modules 1 in a plurality of rows in parallel with each other, and cools the power supply modules 1 with air passing through the inside.
[0017]
The power supply module 1 has a plurality of secondary batteries connected in a straight line. The power supply module 1 has, for example, six secondary batteries 6 connected in a straight line in series. However, the power supply module can also be composed of one secondary battery. In the power supply module 1 shown in FIG. 5, a cylindrical secondary battery 6 is linearly connected by a dish-like connecting body 7. Electrode terminals 5 composed of a positive electrode terminal 5A and a negative electrode terminal 5B are connected to both ends of the power supply module 1.
[0018]
5 and 6 show a structure in which the dish-like connecting body 7 connects the secondary batteries 6 in a straight line. In the power supply module 1 having this structure, the disk portion 7A of the dish-like connecting body 7 is connected to the positive electrode of the cylindrical secondary battery 6 by welding. The disc portion 7 </ b> A of the dish-like connection body 7 is provided with a projection 7 a that is welded to the positive electrode of the secondary battery 6. When the projection 7a of the dish-like connecting body 7 is welded to the positive electrode, the welding electrode rod is pressed against the upper surface of the projection 7a. In order to prevent a short circuit between the dish-like connecting body 7 and the secondary battery 6, an insulator 8 is sandwiched between the dish-like connecting body 7 and the secondary battery 6 in a ring shape.
[0019]
Further, the dish-like connecting body 7 inserts the secondary battery 6 inside the flange portion 7 </ b> B and welds the flange portion 7 </ b> B to the outer can 6 </ b> A that is the negative electrode of the secondary battery 6. Similarly to the disc portion 7A, the flange portion 7B also welds the projection 7a provided on the inner surface to the outer can 6A. At this time, the welding electrode rod is pressed against the outside of the projection 7a by the flange portion 7B.
[0020]
Although the secondary batteries connected in series are not shown, the opposing surfaces of the U-curved lead plates can be connected to each other without using a dish-like connecting body. In this power supply module, a large current is pulsed in the direction in which the secondary battery is discharged, and the opposing surfaces of the U-curved lead plate are welded. Further, the power supply module performs a high-current pulse energization process in a direction in which the secondary battery is discharged in a state where the metal plate is sandwiched between the + and-electrodes of the secondary battery, and the metal plate is attached to the secondary battery. It can also be welded to the electrode.
[0021]
Furthermore, the +-electrode of the secondary battery can be directly welded without sandwiching the metal plate between the secondary batteries. In this secondary battery, a conical protrusion is provided on the upper surface of the sealing plate which is a positive electrode terminal, and this protrusion is welded by applying a large current pulse to the negative electrode terminal of the adjacent secondary battery.
[0022]
In the power supply module 1 in which a plurality of secondary batteries 6 are connected in series with each other, a positive electrode terminal 5A is connected to the positive electrode side of the secondary battery 6 and a negative electrode terminal 5B is connected to the negative electrode side.
[0023]
The secondary battery 6 of the power supply module 1 is a nickel-hydrogen battery. However, the secondary battery 6 of the power supply module 1 can use a nickel-cadmium battery, a lithium ion secondary battery, or the like.
[0024]
Although not shown, the power supply module has a temperature sensor fixed to the surface of each secondary battery. The temperature sensor is an element that can detect the battery temperature. For this temperature sensor, PTC is preferably used so that the electrical resistance changes with battery temperature. The temperature sensor fixed to the surface of each secondary battery is linearly connected in series via the sensor lead, and is extended and fixed to the surface of the power supply module in the vertical direction. The temperature sensor and the sensor lead are fixed to the surface of the secondary battery with a heat shrinkable tube or the like covering the surface.
[0025]
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the holder case 2 has a box shape having a first surface plate 2a and a second surface plate 2b facing both surfaces, and includes a first surface plate 2a and a second surface plate 2b. The power supply modules 1 are arranged side by side in a plurality of rows in a parallel plane. The holder case 2 shown in the figure houses the power supply modules 1 in two rows and 10 rows.
[0026]
The holder case 2 includes upper and lower lid cases 2A and an intermediate case 2B disposed between the lid cases 2A. The lid case 2A includes a first lid case in which the first surface plate 2a is integrally molded and a second lid case in which the second surface plate 2b is integrally molded. The lid case 2 </ b> A and the intermediate case 2 </ b> B are entirely made of plastic, and these are assembled into a holder case 2.
[0027]
Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the holder case 2 is provided with a partition wall 3 between the power supply modules 1 housed side by side. The partition wall 3 extends to the first surface plate 2a and the second surface plate 2b, and divides the inside into a plurality of compartments 4. In the holder case 2 shown in the figure, the partition wall 3 is divided into three regions, that is, both side portions 3A integrally formed with the lid case 2A and a central portion 3B integrally formed with the intermediate case 2B, and the boundary is defined as a gap. It is in contact. The partition 3 having this structure has a structure in which both side portions 3A are connected to the first surface plate 2a and the second surface plate 2b. However, although not shown, the entire partition wall can be integrally formed with the lid case, or can be integrally formed with the intermediate case. The partition wall, which is integrally formed with the intermediate case, extends to both sides of the first surface plate and the second surface plate so as not to leak air. Adhere to the plate.
[0028]
Each compartment 4 is provided with a power supply module 1. The holder case 2 shown in the figure stores the power supply modules 1 in two compartments and two rows in each compartment 4. In order to arrange the power supply module 1 at a fixed position in the compartment 4, as shown in FIG. 4, the holding rib 10 is integrally formed so as to protrude from the inner surface of the compartment 4. The holding rib 10 is provided integrally with the lid case 2A and the intermediate case 2B. The power supply module 1 is sandwiched between the holding ribs 10 of the lid case 2A and the intermediate case 2B and held in place. The power supply module 1 is held by the holding rib 10 so that there is a gap through which air can pass between the inner surface of the compartment 4. The holding rib 10 is provided so as to extend laterally with respect to the power supply module 1.
[0029]
In order to uniformly cool the four power supply modules 1 arranged in each compartment 4, the compartment 4 is provided with a diffusion plate 11 located at the center of the power supply module 1. The diffusion plate 11 has a cross-shaped cross section and is extended in the vertical direction of the power supply module 1. The diffusion plate 11 is provided integrally with the intermediate case 2B. The diffusion plate 11 is connected to the intermediate case 2B via a plurality of holding ribs 10 provided at regular intervals. The diffusion plate 11 has a cross shape extending toward the gap between the four power supply modules 1 and diffuses the cooling air passing through the compartment 4 as indicated by an arrow to uniformly cool the entire power supply module 1. To do. Accordingly, the cross-shaped diffusion plate 11 is provided with a gap through which air can pass between the surface of the power supply module 1.
[0030]
Furthermore, the holder case 2 shown in the figure has flow dividing ribs 12 on both sides of the partition wall 3. The diversion ribs 12 are provided integrally with the intermediate case 2B. The diversion ribs 12 are provided between the power supply modules 1 arranged in two stages and extended in a direction parallel to the surface plate. The diverter ribs 12 further divert the cooling air diverted by the diffusion plate 11 as indicated by arrows in the figure, and cool the entire surface of the power supply module 1 uniformly.
[0031]
[0032]
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7 , the holder case 2 can store the power supply module 1 in one stage. The holder case 2 is composed of upper and lower lid cases 2A, omitting the intermediate case. The upper and lower lid cases 2 </ b> A are formed by integrally molding a partition wall 3 between the power supply modules 1, and the interior is partitioned into a plurality of partition chambers 4 by these partition walls 3. In the holder case 2 shown in the drawing, the power supply modules 1 are arranged in two rows in each compartment 4, and the power supply modules 1 are arranged in one row in the rightmost compartment 4 in the drawing. However, in the holder case, the power supply modules can be arranged in one row in each compartment, or the power supply modules can be arranged in three or more rows.
[0033]
The holder case 2 allows the divided cooling air to pass through each compartment 4. In order to realize this, through the first surface plate 2a, opening the inlet 13 through which the respective compartments 4 are divided and into which air flows in, through the second surface plate 2b, An exhaust port 14 for discharging the air in each compartment 4 to the outside is opened.
[0034]
The holder case 2 is formed in a groove shape between the power supply modules 1 arranged adjacent to each other. The groove shape is a valley portion of the power supply module 1 and is a shape that allows the surface plate to run along the surface of the power supply module 1. The holder case 2 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 has an air inlet 13 formed in a slit shape at the bottom portion formed in a groove shape, and a slit-shaped exhaust port 14 formed in the middle of the groove shape. Is open. The holder case 2 shown in FIG. 7 has an air inflow port 13 and an exhaust port 14 opened in the form of slits in the vicinity of the bottom portion formed into a groove shape. Furthermore, the exhaust port 14 of FIG. 7 is not disposed at a symmetrical position with respect to the bottom of the groove shape, and is slightly unevenly opened. Further, in the holder case 2 of FIG. 8, an air exhaust port 14 is opened in a slit shape at the bottom portion formed in a groove shape, and a slit-shaped inlet port 13 is formed in the middle of the groove shape. It is open. The slit-shaped inlet 13 and the exhaust port 14 are extended and opened in the longitudinal direction of the power supply module 1. The holder case 2 having this shape has a feature that cooling air can be quickly flowed along the surface of the power supply module 1 to efficiently cool the case.
[0035]
The power supply device of FIG. 2 is provided with an air inflow duct 15 on the surface of the first surface plate 2a. The inflow duct 15 is connected to the fan 9, and the fan 9 forcibly supplies cooling air to the inflow duct 15. The cooling air in the inflow duct 15 is divided into the respective inlets 13 and flows into the respective compartments 4. In the illustrated apparatus, the upstream inlet 13 of the inflow duct 15 is made smaller than the downstream inlet 13 in order to allow the cooling air to uniformly pass through all the compartments 4. Since the pressure of the cooling air supplied from the fan 9 is high on the upstream side of the inflow duct 15, a large amount of air is supplied from the small inlet 13. On the downstream side of the inflow duct 15, the pressure of the cooling air is lowered, so that the inlet 13 is enlarged to increase the amount of air supplied to the compartment 4. Therefore, the apparatus of this structure can supply cooling air to all the compartments 4 uniformly.
[0036]
Furthermore, the power supply device shown in FIGS . 7 and 8 is provided with an air discharge duct 16 on the surface of the second surface plate 2b. The discharge duct 16 is connected to the fan 9, and the fan 9 forcibly sucks and exhausts the cooling air of the discharge duct 16. The exhaust duct 16 exhausts the air exhausted from each compartment 4 together. In order to allow the cooling air to uniformly pass through the respective compartments 4, the apparatus shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 has the outlet 14 on the upstream side of the outlet duct 16 larger than the outlet 14 on the downstream side. Since the cooling air is efficiently sucked by the fan 9 on the downstream side of the discharge duct 16, a large amount of air is discharged from the small discharge port 14. Therefore, the apparatus having this structure can pass the cooling air uniformly to all the compartments 4.
[0037]
In particular, in the power supply device shown in FIG. 7 , the inlet 13 that faces the upstream outlet 14 of the outlet duct 16 is made smaller than the inlet 13 that faces the downstream outlet 14. The inflow port 13 is gradually reduced from the right side to the left side in the figure. This power supply device can make the flow velocity of air flowing in from the narrow inlet 13 faster than air flowing in from the wide inlet 13. For this reason, even the power supply module 1 located away from the fan 9 can be efficiently cooled. In the power supply device shown in the figure, cooling air is forcibly sucked by the fan 9 and is blown to the holder case 2, but the cooling air is forcibly supplied to the holder case by the fan to cool the power supply module. You can also.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
The power supply apparatus according to the present invention has an advantage that the entire power supply module housed in the holder case can be cooled more uniformly, and deterioration of battery performance due to a temperature difference can be effectively prevented. In particular, the power supply device according to the present invention includes a plurality of power supply devices in a plane parallel to the first surface plate and the second surface plate in a box-shaped holder case having a first surface plate and a second surface plate facing both surfaces. A plurality of power supply modules are housed in a row, and the holder case is divided into a plurality of compartments by a partition wall, and the power supply modules are arranged in each compartment. The holder case passes through the first surface plate, opens an inlet for diverting the air into each compartment and allowing air to flow in, and penetrates the second surface plate so that the air in each compartment is exposed to the outside. An exhaust port for discharging is opened. Since the power supply device can discharge air from the inlet of the first surface plate into the compartment and exhaust the air in the compartment from the exhaust port of the second surface plate with the fan, the power module of the compartment can be efficiently used. Can be cooled.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional power supply apparatus. FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a power supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a holder case of the power supply apparatus shown in FIG. partially sectional perspective view of the holder case shown in FIG. 5 is a side view of a power supply module incorporated in the power supply device shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6 is an exploded sectional view of the power module shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 of the present invention Horizontal sectional view of a power supply apparatus according to another embodiment [ FIG. 8 ] Horizontal sectional view of a power supply apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Power supply module 2 ... Holder case 2A ... Lid case 2B ... Intermediate case
2a ... 1st surface plate 2b ... 2nd surface plate 3 ... Partition 3A ... Both sides 3B ... Central part 4 ... Partition 5 ... Electrode terminal 5A ... Positive electrode terminal 5B ... Negative electrode terminal 6 ... Secondary battery 6A ... Outer can 7 ... Plate-like connector 7A ... Disc part 7B ... Flange part
7a ... Projection 8 ... Insulator 9 ... Fan 10 ... Holding rib 11 ... Diffusion plate 12 ... Diverting rib 13 ... Inlet 14 ... Exhaust port 15 ... Inlet duct 16 ... Exhaust duct 21 ... Power supply module 22 ... Holder case 23 ... Inlet 24 ... Discharge port 25 ... Cooling adjustment fin

Claims (5)

A plurality of power supply modules (1) in which a plurality of secondary batteries (6) are connected in a straight line, and the power supply module (1) are housed inside and housed with air passing through the inside. A holder case (2) for cooling the power supply module (1) and a fan (9) for forcibly supplying or sucking cooling air to the holder case (2) and blowing air.
The holder case (2) has a first surface plate (2a) and a second surface plate (2b) facing each other, and the first surface plate (2a) and the second surface plate (2b) are arranged between the first surface plate (2a) and the second surface plate (2b). A box shape in which the power supply modules (1) are arranged in a plurality of rows in parallel with the plate (2a) and the second surface plate (2b),
The holder case (2) is formed into a groove shape along the surface plate of the surface of the power supply module (1) , and the inlet (13) is formed by opening the bottom of the groove shape and the middle of the groove shape in a slit shape. And exhaust port (14) ,
Furthermore, the first surface plate (2a) has an inlet (13) that allows air to flow into the holder case (2), and the second surface plate (2b) flows from the inlet (13). Open the exhaust port (14) to exhaust the discharged air to the outside,
The inflow port (13) and the exhaust port (14) are slit-shaped for allowing cooling air to flow along the surface of the power supply module (1), and open between the groove-shaped bottom portion of the surface plate and the groove shape. A power supply device that is disposed at a position that is not symmetrical with respect to the power supply module (1) with the slit .   The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein an air inflow duct (15) is provided on a surface of the first surface plate (2a).   The power supply device according to claim 2, wherein the inflow opening (13) opened in the first surface plate (2a) makes the upstream side of the inflow duct (15) smaller than the downstream side.   The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein an air discharge duct (16) is provided on a surface of the second surface plate (2b).   The power supply device according to claim 4, wherein the exhaust port (14) opened in the second surface plate (2b) makes the upstream side of the discharge duct (16) larger than the downstream side.

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