JP5029980B2 - Battery cooling system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Technical field to which the invention belongs]
The present invention relates to a battery cooling device that cools a battery using a refrigerant flowing through a refrigeration cycle of an air conditioner in a vehicle equipped with a large-capacity battery, for example, a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Since the life of a battery depends on its storage temperature and deteriorates significantly at high temperatures, it is desirable to cool it efficiently. For this reason, for example, a vehicular battery cooling device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-232007 includes a first cooling means for communicating between the periphery of the battery and the outside of the vehicle for natural air cooling, and an outside air blower. The second cooling means for blowing air, the third cooling means for blowing the cold air of the air conditioner, the temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the battery, the temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the outside air, and the temperature in the passenger compartment. It has temperature sensors to detect, and control means for operating the first, second and third cooling means based on output signals from these temperature sensors. This effectively attempts to cool the battery.
[0003]
In addition, an air conditioner disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-40088 includes an indoor duct that guides air into the room, a battery duct that branches from the indoor duct and reaches a battery frame that houses a battery, and an indoor duct. And a battery door provided so as to be switchable and adjustable at a branch point between the battery duct and the battery duct. Thus, in this air conditioner, the air whose temperature has been adjusted in the air conditioner is selected by the battery door as necessary, and blown to the battery duct side to cool the battery.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-mentioned reference, since the battery cooling device itself does not have an independent cooling mechanism, when it is desired to cool the battery forcibly, it is necessary to cope with the outside air introduction mode or to execute special air conditioning control. For this reason, the air-conditioning control mode is complicated, and the battery cannot be sufficiently cooled.
[0005]
Therefore, the present invention provides a battery cooling device capable of effectively cooling a battery against heat generation during charging / discharging of the battery that depends on the driving state of the vehicle, temperature changes due to environmental changes due to outside air temperature, and the like. It is to provide.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, the present invention provides a case that defines a circulatory cooling passage, a battery that is partially or entirely exposed in the cooling passage, an evaporator disposed in the cooling passage, and a refrigeration of an air conditioner. It is connected to a compressor and a condenser of the cycle, and includes a refrigerant bypass passage configured at least from expansion means and the evaporator, and a blower disposed in the cooling passage.
[0007]
Therefore, according to the present invention, an evaporator cooled by the refrigerant supplied from the air conditioner via the refrigerant bypass passage is disposed in the cooling passage where a part or all of the battery is exposed, and the air in the cooling passage is blown by the blower. Since the battery can be circulated, the battery can be effectively cooled, and the above-described problems can be achieved.
[0008]
Further, in this invention, the case is provided with an inlet / outlet portion extending perpendicularly to the ventilation direction of the cooling passage, and the inlet / outlet portion communicates with the cooling passage when the inlet / outlet portion is closed, When shutting down the cooling passage, it is desirable to provide a flap door that divides the inlet / outlet portion into an inlet portion and an outlet portion and uses the inlet portion and the outlet portion as respective end portions of the cooling passage.
[0009]
Thus, when closing the entrance / exit part by the flap door, the cooling passage is shut off from the outside, so that the inside air circulation mode is set.When the flap door opens the entrance / exit part and shuts off the cooling passage, the entrance / exit part becomes the entrance part. In addition to being divided into outlet portions, the inlet portion and the outlet portion become the respective end portions of the cooling passage, so that an outside air introduction mode is set.
[0010]
Furthermore, in this invention, it is desirable that the cooling passage is arranged in order of the blower, the battery, and the evaporator from the inlet portion to the outlet portion. Thus, in the case of the inside air circulation mode, the air circulated by the evaporator can be cooled, and in the case of the outside air introduction mode, the outside air is sucked in by the blower to cool the battery and then exhausted from the outlet portion. It is something that can be done. In this configuration, in the outside air introduction mode, it is necessary to stop the driving of the evaporator, but this configuration may be optimal depending on the arrangement when mounted on the vehicle.
[0011]
Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable that an evaporator, a battery, and a blower are arranged in this order from the inlet to the outlet in the cooling passage. In this configuration, in the inside air circulation mode, the air circulated by the evaporator can be cooled, and also in the outside air introduction mode, the introduced air can be cooled. Three modes of the introduction mode and the outside air introduction cooling mode can be obtained. Further, since the blower is located in the vicinity of the outlet portion, the pressure in the cooling passage can be reduced with respect to the external pressure.
[0012]
In the present invention, it is preferable that the cooling passage is arranged in the order of a blower, an evaporator, and a battery from the inlet to the outlet. In this configuration, in the inside air circulation mode, the air circulated by the evaporator can be cooled, and also in the outside air introduction mode, the introduced air can be cooled. Three modes of the introduction mode and the outside air introduction cooling mode can be obtained. Further, since the blower is located in the vicinity of the inlet, the pressure in the cooling passage can be increased with respect to the external pressure.
[0013]
Furthermore, it is desirable that a filter is disposed on the downstream side of the inlet portion. Thereby, clogging of the blower and the evaporator can be prevented.
[0014]
Furthermore, other electrical components that generate heat during operation may be disposed in the cooling passage. As a result, for example, it is possible to simultaneously cool electrical components that generate heat, such as a heat sink for heat dissipation of the switching element for driving the motor.
[0015]
The blower is a sirocco fan, and the rotation direction of the fan may be substantially parallel to or substantially perpendicular to the ventilation direction of the cooling passage. Thus, the position and orientation of the blower can be changed in accordance with the layout depending on the mounting position of the battery cooling device on the vehicle.
[0016]
Furthermore, it is desirable that the refrigerant bypass passage includes a first opening / closing means for opening / closing the refrigeration bypass passage, and in the refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant flow to the expansion means and the evaporator of the refrigeration cycle is turned on / off. It is desirable that second opening / closing means be provided. Thus, the refrigeration cycle can be controlled independently, and the refrigerant bypass passage can also be controlled independently, so that the battery refrigeration apparatus can be controlled effectively.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 1, the battery cooling device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a cooling passage 3 in which a part or all of the battery 2 is exposed, a case 4 that defines the cooling passage 3, and a case 4. The inlet / outlet part 5 provided, the blower 6 arranged on the cooling passage 3, the evaporator 7 for cooling the air passing through the cooling passage 3, the filter 8 arranged on the upstream side of the evaporator 7, and the inlet / outlet part 5 and a flap door 9 arranged on 5.
[0019]
The evaporator 7 is connected to a refrigeration cycle 10 of a vehicle air conditioner via a refrigerant bypass passage 11, and an expansion device (for example, a mechanical expansion valve, an external device) is disposed upstream of the evaporator 7 in the refrigerant bypass passage 11. An electric expansion valve (or an orifice tube) 12 whose valve opening is variable according to a signal is provided. The refrigeration cycle 10 includes a compressor 14 connected to a driving engine (not shown) via an electromagnetic clutch 13, a condenser 15 that condenses the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 4, and a refrigerant condensed by the condenser 15. An air conditioning expansion device (for example, a mechanical expansion valve, an electric expansion valve whose orifice opening is variable by an external signal, an orifice tube, or the like) The refrigerant is evaporated, and the air conditioning evaporator 17 that cools the air that passes through the air conditioning duct 18 flows out of the air conditioning evaporator 17 to perform gas-liquid separation of the refrigerant and adjust the amount of refrigerant flowing through the refrigeration cycle 10. The refrigerant bypass passage 11 is at least constituted by the accumulator 19 and the empty passage. It is connected in parallel to use the expansion device 16 and the air-conditioning evaporator 17.
[0020]
Further, a first on-off valve 20 that opens and closes the refrigerant bypass passage 11 is provided on the refrigerant bypass passage 11. A second on-off valve 21 is provided between the branch point of the air conditioning expansion device 16 and the refrigerant bypass passage 11 to turn on and off the refrigerant flow toward the air conditioning expansion device 16. Accordingly, when only the air conditioner is to be operated, the first on-off valve 20 is closed and the second on-off valve 21 is opened to operate the compressor 14, and the evaporator 7 is to be operated when the air conditioner is in operation. In this case, the first on-off valve 20 is opened. When only the evaporator 7 is to be operated, the compressor 14 is operated with the first on-off valve 20 open and the second on-off valve 21 closed.
[0021]
Further, when the flap door 9 closes the opening 22 of the entrance / exit portion 5, the cooling passage 3 communicates with the circulation passage 3 so that an inside air circulation mode is obtained, and the flap door 9 opens the entrance / exit portion 5. In this case, the cooling passage 3 is blocked and the opening 22 of the entrance / exit part 5 is divided into an entrance side opening 22A and an exit side opening 22B. After the sucked air cools the battery 2, the outside air introduction mode is obtained in which it passes through the filter 8 and the evaporator 7 and is discharged from the outlet side opening 22B. As described above, the opening 22 is divided into the inlet side opening 22A and the outlet side opening 22B by the flap door 9, and the longest cooling passage 3 is formed in the same plane (volume) by arranging the inlet / outlet part next to each other. It can be done.
[0022]
The first specific arrangement shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is substantially the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 1. From the inlet side opening 22 </ b> A of the opening 22, the blower 6, the battery 2 as the object to be cooled, and the evaporator 7. And the outlet side opening 22B. Further, in the battery cooling device 1 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the case 4 is formed in a circular shape, and the entrance / exit part 5 is formed so as to protrude in the radial direction of the case 4 so that the battery cooling device 1 can be mounted at the installation location of the spare tire. ing. Further, a sirocco fan is used as the blower 6, and the rotation direction of the blower 6 is set parallel to the ventilation direction of the cooling passage 3. Thereby, the dimension of the vertical direction of the air blower 6 can be reduced.
[0023]
FIG. 2 shows that the flap door 9 of the battery cooling device 1 closes the opening 22 of the inlet / outlet portion 5, and the cooling passage 22 communicates in a circulatory manner so that an inside air circulation mode is configured. As a result, the inside air is circulated by the operation of the blower 6, and the air cooled by passing through the evaporator 7 cools the battery 2 and the electronic control unit (ECU) 30. In addition, 31 is a drain hole for drain water dripped from the evaporator.
[0024]
FIG. 3 shows that the flap door 9 of the battery cooling device 1 blocks the cooling passage 3 and divides the opening 22 of the inlet / outlet part 5 into an inlet side opening 22A and an outlet side opening 22B. Is configured. Thereby, the air sucked from the inlet side opening 22A by the operation of the blower 6 cools the ECU 30 and the battery 2, passes through the evaporator 7, and is discharged to the outside from the outlet side opening 22B. In this configuration, the operation of the evaporator 7 is stopped in the outside air introduction mode.
[0025]
4 (a), 4 (b), and 4 (c) show schematic configuration diagrams of modified examples of the first specific arrangement, and the entrance / exit portion 5 projects in the axial direction of the case 4 formed in a circle. Is different from the above-described configuration in that the rotation direction of the blower 6 is arranged to be perpendicular to the ventilation direction of the cooling passage 3. In this modification, the filter 8 is arranged on the upstream side of the blower 6. Further, in this modified example, at the end of the entrance / exit part 5, there is a separation plate 5A arranged on the extension line when the flap door 9 separates the entrance / exit part 22 into the entrance side opening 22A and the exit side opening 22B. Is provided. FIG. 4 (b) shows the inside air circulation mode in this arrangement, and FIG. 4 (c) shows the outside air introduction mode in this arrangement, and has the same effects as described above.
[0026]
The second specific arrangement shown in FIGS. 5 and 6A, 6B, and 6C is on the cooling passage 3 from the inlet side opening 22A to the outlet side opening 22B. The evaporator 7, the battery 2 as the object to be cooled, and the blower 6 are arranged in this order. FIG. 6B shows a state where the flap door 9 closes the opening 2 of the inlet / outlet portion 5 and allows the cooling passage 3 to be circulated so that the inside air circulation mode is set. In this inside air circulation mode, the inside air sucked and discharged by the blower 6 is cooled by passing through the evaporator 7, the battery 2 is cooled by the cooled air, and is sucked into the blower 6 again. As a result, the same effects as the specific arrangement described above are obtained.
[0027]
6C, the cooling passage 7 is blocked by the flap door 9, and the opening 22 of the inlet / outlet portion 5 is divided into an inlet-side opening 22A and an outlet-side opening 22B. This shows a state in which an outside air introduction mode in which the portions communicate with the inlet side opening 22A and the outlet side opening 22B is set. Thus, the outside air introduced from the inlet side opening 22A by the suction force of the blower 6 passes through the filter 8 and the evaporator 7, cools the battery 2, is sucked into the blower 6, and is discharged from the outlet side opening 22B. Is. In the second specific arrangement, it is possible to set an outside air introduction cooling mode in which the evaporator 7 is operated in the outside air introduction mode. Further, in this second specific arrangement, the cooling passage 7 between the evaporator 7 and the suction side of the blower 6 has a negative pressure with respect to the outside air pressure, so that the battery cooling device 1 is moved to the vehicle interior side. This arrangement is desirable when it is desired to prevent air leakage.
[0028]
A third specific arrangement shown in FIGS. 7 and 8A, 8B, and 8C is on the cooling passage 3 from the inlet side opening 22A to the outlet side opening 22B. , Filter 8, evaporator 7, and battery 2 as an object to be cooled. Further, there is a design difference in the position and arrangement of the battery 2 between the one shown in FIG. 7 and the one shown in FIG. 8, but since the basic configuration is the same, FIG. A specific arrangement of the lever will be described.
[0029]
FIG. 8B shows a state where the flap door 9 closes the opening 2 of the inlet / outlet portion 5 and allows the cooling passage 3 to be circulated so that the inside air circulation mode is set. In this inside air circulation mode, the inside air sucked and discharged by the blower 6 is cooled by passing through the filter 8 and the evaporator 7, the battery 2 is cooled by the cooled air, and is sucked into the blower 6 again. As a result, the same effects as the specific arrangement described above are obtained.
[0030]
8C, the cooling passage 7 is blocked by the flap door 9, and the opening 22 of the inlet / outlet portion 5 is divided into an inlet-side opening 22A and an outlet-side opening 22B. This shows a state in which an outside air introduction mode in which the portions communicate with the inlet side opening 22A and the outlet side opening 22B is set. Thus, the outside air sucked and discharged from the inlet side opening 22A by the blower 6 passes through the filter 8 and the evaporator 7, cools the battery 2, and is discharged from the outlet side opening 22B. In the third specific arrangement, similarly to the second specific arrangement, the outside air introduction cooling mode in which the evaporator 7 is operated in the outside air introduction mode can be set. In the third specific arrangement, the cooling passage 7 is positive with respect to the external air pressure on the downstream side of the blower 6 from the evaporator 7, so that air flows into the battery cooling device 1 from the vehicle interior side. It is desirable to use this arrangement when it is desired to prevent this.
[0031]
【Effect of the invention】
As described above, according to the present invention, by providing the evaporator capable of independently cooling the air that cools the battery, the cooling control of the battery cooling device can be finely controlled, and the battery can be efficiently processed. Since it can cool, the reliability of a battery can be improved and the lifetime can be extended.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a battery cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an inside air circulation mode in the first specific arrangement of the battery cooling device of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an outside air circulation mode in the first specific arrangement of the battery cooling device of the present invention.
4A is a schematic plan view showing another embodiment of the first specific arrangement of the battery cooling device of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a schematic side view showing the internal air circulation mode. (C) is a schematic side view showing the outside air introduction mode.
FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing a second specific arrangement;
6A is a schematic plan view showing another embodiment of the second specific arrangement of the battery cooling device of the present invention, and FIG. 6B is a schematic side view showing the internal air circulation mode. (C) is a schematic side view showing the outside air introduction mode.
FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view showing a third specific arrangement.
FIG. 8A is a schematic plan view showing another embodiment of the third specific arrangement of the battery cooling device of the present invention, and FIG. 8B is a schematic side view showing its internal air circulation mode. (C) is a schematic side view showing the outside air introduction mode.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Battery cooling device 2 Battery 3 Cooling passage 4 Case 5 Entrance / exit part 6 Blower 7 Evaporator 8 Filter 9 Flap door 10 Refrigerating cycle 11 Refrigerant bypass passage 12 Expansion device 14 Compressor 15 Capacitor 16 Air conditioning expansion device 17 Air conditioning evaporator 18 Air conditioning duct 19 Accumulator 20 First on-off valve 21 Second on-off valve 22 Opening 22A Inlet side opening 22B Outlet side opening

Claims (11)

A case defining a cooling passage capable of circulating the air in the cooling passage;
A battery that is partially or wholly exposed in the cooling passage;
An evaporator disposed in the cooling passage;
A refrigerant bypass passage connected to a compressor and a condenser of a refrigeration cycle of an air conditioner, and comprising at least expansion means and the evaporator;
A battery cooling device comprising: a blower arranged in the cooling passage and configured to circulate the air in the cooling passage . The case is provided with an inlet / outlet portion extending perpendicularly to the ventilation direction of the cooling passage, and the inlet / outlet portion is communicated with the cooling passage when the inlet / outlet portion is closed, and when the cooling passage is shut off. 2. The battery cooling device according to claim 1, further comprising a flap door that divides the inlet / outlet portion into an inlet portion and an outlet portion and uses the inlet portion and the outlet portion as respective end portions of the cooling passage. . 3. The battery cooling device according to claim 2, wherein a blower, a battery, and an evaporator are arranged in the cooling passage from the inlet to the outlet. The battery cooling device according to claim 2, wherein an evaporator, a battery, and a blower are disposed in the cooling passage in order from an inlet portion to an outlet portion. The battery cooling device according to claim 3, wherein the cooling passage is arranged in order of an air blower, an evaporator, and a battery from an inlet portion to an outlet portion. The battery cooling device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein a filter is disposed downstream of the inlet portion. The battery cooling device according to claim 1, wherein another electrical component that generates heat during operation is disposed in the cooling passage. The battery cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the blower is a sirocco fan, and a rotation direction of the fan is substantially parallel to a ventilation direction of the cooling passage. The battery cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the blower is a sirocco fan, and a rotation direction of the fan is substantially perpendicular to a ventilation direction of the cooling passage. The battery cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the refrigerant bypass passage includes first opening / closing means for opening and closing the refrigeration bypass passage. 11. The battery cooling device according to claim 10, wherein the refrigeration cycle is provided with second opening / closing means for turning on and off the refrigerant flow to the expansion means and the evaporator of the refrigeration cycle.

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