JP5181549B2 - Cover member and power supply device including the cover member - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cover member applied to a power supply device disposed in a vehicle, and a power supply device including the cover member.

  Conventionally, there are hybrid vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, electric vehicles, and the like that travel by driving force from an electric motor, and a secondary battery or a capacitor (capacitor) that stores electric power supplied to the electric motor, a power supply device such as a fuel cell is used. (Patent Document 1 etc.).

  These power supply devices are disposed, for example, under a seat in a vehicle interior and discharge heat (exhaust heat) from an internal power supply body that generates heat during charging / discharging directly into the vehicle, or connect an exhaust duct. Through the car. Patent Document 2 discloses a power supply device that forcibly discharges cooling air in a battery box containing a battery module to the outside of the vehicle.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-199497 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-320794 (FIG. 1, FIG. 2, etc.)

  However, as in Patent Document 2, when cooling air is discharged outside the vehicle, the apparatus becomes large, such as the installation of a discharge duct. The space for arranging the ducts must be secured, and the efficiency of the space for placement cannot be achieved. Furthermore, since an exhaust duct and an exhaust port to the outside of the vehicle are required, there is a problem in terms of cost. For this reason, usually, when the power supply device is arranged in the vehicle such as under the seat, the power supply device containing the power supply body is arranged in the case as it is.

  In this way, when the power supply device is arranged as it is in the interior of the vehicle such as under the seat, for example, the passenger can directly touch the power supply device (case), so that the case warmed by the heat from the power supply body is touched directly. This is not desirable because of the opportunity to occur.

  In addition, the exhaust heat from the power supply unit is exhausted indoors, so the exhaust heat from the power supply unit tends to stay below the seat, reducing the cooling efficiency of the power supply device, and the exhaust heat from below the seat directly hits the passenger. This is not preferable because it causes discomfort mainly in the lower half of the occupant.

  Accordingly, a main object of the present invention is to provide a cover member capable of suitably discharging heat from a power supply body while preventing contact with a power supply device disposed in a vehicle interior, and a power supply including the cover member To provide an apparatus.

A first invention of the present application is a cover member that is provided in a power supply device that includes a power supply unit including a plurality of power supply elements and a case that houses the power supply unit in a state of being immersed in a coolant, and covers an outer periphery of the case. is there. The cover member has a plurality of openings for introducing air that flows in from an inlet provided in the cover member and that is heated by heat exchange with the case to the outside of the cover member. And at least 1 or more opening is each provided in the position corresponding to each side surface of the power supply device in a cover member, and the 1st opening is a 1st surface of the cover member in which an inflow port is provided among several openings. The second opening is provided on each of the third surface and the fourth surface adjacent to the second surface, and the second opening is the second surface on which the first opening is provided. It is characterized by being provided in the vicinity .

A second invention of the present application is a cover member that is provided in a power supply device that includes a power supply unit including a plurality of power supply elements and a case that accommodates the power supply unit in a state of being immersed in a coolant, and covers an outer periphery of the case. is there. The cover member has a plurality of openings for introducing air that flows in from an inlet provided in the cover member and that is heated by heat exchange with the case to the outside of the cover member. And at least 1 or more opening is provided in the position corresponding to each side surface of the power supply device in a cover member, respectively, and 3rd adjacent to the 2nd surface facing the 1st surface of the cover member in which an inflow port is provided. A second distance in which at least two or more openings are provided on a surface, and an opening area of the first opening located at a first distance from the inflow port in the third surface is longer than the first distance from the inflow port; It is characterized by being smaller than the opening area of the 2nd opening located in this.

In addition, a cooling duct through which cooling air flows can be connected to the inlet .

  Further, the cover member can be formed of a heat insulating material, and the cover member can be formed of a hollow member having a predetermined thickness.

  According to the present invention, heat from the case housing the power supply body can be dispersed from the plurality of openings and discharged into the vehicle.

  That is, the cover member can prevent direct contact with the case of the power supply device, and air warmed by the power supply device is dispersed from a plurality of openings and exhausted into the vehicle, so that the seated occupant Therefore, it is possible to exhaust the vehicle suitably without causing discomfort.

Examples of the present invention will be described below.
Example 1

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a power supply device including a cover member according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a state in which the power supply device is disposed under a seat in a vehicle interior. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration when a cover member is attached to the power supply device of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the power supply device 1 of the present embodiment is fixed to the body floor F, and a cover member 10 covering the case 2 constituting the power supply device 1 is disposed on the power supply device 1. The

  As shown in FIG. 1, the power supply device 1 of the present embodiment is disposed between mounts M1 and M2 formed on a body floor (vehicle body) F under a seat in a vehicle together with a cover member 10, and the body floor It is fixed with respect to F. The mounts M1 and M2 are slide rails R1 and R2 installed on the body floor F side constituting the seat slide mechanism, and the mounts M1 and M2 are formed as installation portions of the slide rails R1 and R2. . Therefore, the power supply device 1 of the present embodiment is disposed between the slide rails R1 and R2 of the slide mechanism under the seat.

The power supply device 1 is composed of a case 2 and a battery unit (not shown) accommodated in the case 2, and holds an assembled battery (power supply body) composed of a plurality of single cells from both ends. And a sandwiching member (end plate). The single cells constituting the assembled battery are electrically connected in series or in parallel by a bus bar. Note that positive and negative wirings (not shown) are connected to the assembled battery, and these wirings are connected to an electronic device (for example, a motor) disposed outside through the case 2. ing.

  Note that a cylindrical secondary battery can be used as the single battery, and examples of the secondary battery include a nickel-hydrogen battery and a lithium ion battery. The shape of the unit cell is not limited to the cylindrical shape, and may be other shapes such as a square shape. Moreover, an electric double layer capacitor (capacitor) or a fuel cell may be used.

  Further, the case 2 is filled with a cooling liquid, and the battery unit is accommodated in the case 2 in a state where the battery unit is immersed in the cooling liquid 4. The heat generated in the battery unit 2 during charging / discharging is transmitted to the coolant, and further, the heat is transmitted from the coolant to the case 2 and radiated to the outside of the case 2. While performing heat exchange with the battery unit and the case 2, the cooling liquid naturally cools the inside of the case 2 and cools the battery unit while transferring the heat of the battery unit 2 to the outside.

  Here, the case 2 can be formed of a material having excellent heat transfer properties, corrosion resistance, and the like, for example, a material having a heat transfer rate equal to or higher than the heat transfer rate of the coolant. Specifically, these cases can be formed of metal (copper, iron, aluminum metal, etc.). Further, as the cooling liquid, insulating oil or inert liquid can be used. Silicon oil is used as the insulating oil. As the inert liquid, fluorinate, Novec HFE (hydrofluoroether), and Novec 1230 (manufactured by 3M), which are fluorine-based inert liquids, can be used.

  In addition, a plurality of heat radiation fins 3 protruding from the outer peripheral surface are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the case 2.

  The cover member 10 of the present embodiment is formed in the same shape as the case 2 of the power supply device 1. In the present embodiment, since the power supply device 1 is rectangular, when the power supply device 1 is attached to the power supply device 1, 1 is configured as a U-shaped cover member having a rectangular internal space S that can accommodate 1 inside. The inner space S is formed in such a size that the inner surface thereof does not come into contact with the power supply device 1, and when the cover member 10 is attached to the power supply device 1, the power supply device 1 and the inner surface of the cover member 10 contact each other. Instead, a predetermined space is formed between the power supply device 1 and the cover member 10 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

  In addition, a plurality of openings 11 are formed in the side surfaces 13b, 13c, and 13d of the cover member 10. In this embodiment, the cover member 10 is located at positions corresponding to the side surfaces other than the upper surface and the lower surface of the power supply device 1. A plurality of openings 11 are formed.

  More specifically, if each opening 11 is arranged on the upper surface of the power supply device 1 so that the opening surface faces the lower portion of the seat, the exhaust heat from the power supply device 1 stays under the seat. It will be. For this reason, the opening 11 of the present embodiment is formed so that the opening surface thereof faces the side surface direction (horizontal direction) of the power supply device 1. For example, it is possible to form the opening 11 at the boundary portion located between the upper surface and the side surface of the cover member 10, and the vertical direction of the power supply device 1 and the opening surface are substantially vertical. In order to avoid this, it is preferable that the perpendicular to the opening surface of the opening 11 is formed so as to have at least a component in the side surface direction (horizontal direction).

  The plurality of openings 11 formed in the cover member 10 serve as a heat exhaust port that discharges heat from the power supply device 1 (power supply body) to the outside of the power supply device 1 (outside of the cover member 10).

  The cover member 10 is configured to have at least one or more openings on the side surfaces 13a, 13b, and 13c of the cover member 10, and in this embodiment, the side surfaces 13b, 13c of the cover member 10 are configured. And 13d are provided with three openings 11 respectively. In addition, the number of the openings 11 can be arbitrarily provided, and the shape of the openings is also arbitrary.

  In addition, an air inlet 12 (inflow port) through which air in the vehicle interior of the vehicle flows into the cover member 10 is formed in the side surface 13a of the cover member 10 with respect to the opening 11 as a heat exhaust port. Therefore, the air flowing in from the air inlet 12 flows through the space between the cover member 10 and the outer peripheral surface of the case 2 of the power supply device 1 and is exhausted from each opening 11 while exchanging heat with the power supply device 1. Will be. Further, the air flowing in from the intake port 12 flows through the space between the plurality of heat radiation fins 2 a provided on the outer peripheral surface of the case 2 and is exhausted from each opening 11.

  As described above, the cover member 10 of the present embodiment configured as described above is disposed so as to cover the power supply device 1, exhausts heat from the plurality of openings 11, and directly covers the power supply device 1. Also serves as a protective cover to prevent general contact. In addition, from the viewpoint of preventing direct contact with the battery device 1, the size of the opening 11 is preferably formed so that a passenger's finger cannot enter, and a protective fence is provided to prevent the intrusion from entering the opening 11. Can be provided to prevent direct contact with the power supply device 1.

  That is, since the power supply device 1 accommodates a power supply body that generates heat during charging / discharging, the power supply device 1 is in a relatively high temperature state of 60 ° C. or higher during driving, although it depends on the environmental temperature. For this reason, the cover member 10 can avoid contact between the power supply device 1 in a high temperature state and the occupant. In addition, it is preferable that the cover member 10 of a present Example is formed with the material which does not overheat itself from a viewpoint of avoiding a contact with the power supply device 1 and passenger | crew of a high temperature state. For example, it can be formed of a heat insulating material such as styrene foam or phenol resin having high heat insulating properties. In addition, the cover member 10 may be configured by a hollow member having a predetermined thickness in which a hollow space is formed. In this case, the hollow space functions as a heat insulating layer, and the cover member 10 Can be ensured without depending on the material.

  Next, heat dissipation (exhaust heat) of the power supply device 1 including the cover member 10 in this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which heat from the power supply device 1 of the present embodiment is exhausted through the opening 11 of the cover member 10, and FIG. 4 is a cover of the power supply device 1 including the cover member 10. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the flow of air in the member 10. In this embodiment, the case where the air flows into the cover member 10 from the suction port 12 by natural convection is described as an example.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the air that has flowed into the cover member 10 from the suction port 12 is exhausted from the plurality of openings 11 while performing heat exchange while being in contact with the case 2 (or the heat radiation fin 3) of the power supply device 1. The In this embodiment, heat is exhausted from each of the three openings 11 formed on the side surfaces 13b, 13c and 13d.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the indoor air flowing in from the suction port 12 circulates in the space between the cover member 10 and the case 2 (including the space between the plurality of heat radiation fins 3). For example, the side surface 13d is discharged from each of the opening 11a having the shortest distance from the suction port 12, the opening 11b having the second closest distance, and the opening 11c having the longest distance from the suction port 12. The liquid is discharged from an opening 11d (an opening located at the farthest distance from the suction port 12 on each side surface) formed on the side surface 13c facing the provided side surface 13a.

  In the present embodiment, the inlet 12 is provided below the cover member 10 close to the body floor F, and the plurality of openings 11 are provided above the cover member 10 corresponding to the upper part of the power supply device 1. This is because indoor air is caused to flow into the cover member 10 from the suction port 12 by natural convection, and is caused by the warmed air moving upward. Further, only one suction port 12 of the present embodiment is provided for the cover member 10, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a suction port may be provided below the side surfaces 13b, 13c, 13d. Good.

  Thus, since the cover member 10 of the present embodiment has a plurality of openings 11, the exhaust heat from the power supply device 1 (power supply body) is distributed in a plurality of directions without staying below the seat. Discharged. For this reason, the cover member 10 can prevent the occupant from coming into direct contact with the case 2 of the power supply device 1 and give discomfort to the occupant seated in the seat where the power supply device is disposed below. Therefore, it is possible to suitably exhaust the vehicle interior.

  Moreover, from the viewpoint of the cooling efficiency of the power supply device 1, a plurality of openings 11 can be arranged in the cover member 10 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 (first and second modified examples).

  That is, when the length of the air flowing into the cover member 10 from the suction port 12 is short in the cover member 10, for example, when a lot of air flowing from the openings 11a and 11b in FIG. Heat exchange with the power supply device 1 in the vicinity of the opening 11c having a long distance from the mouth 12 is not sufficiently performed, and there is a possibility that the heat distribution in the entire power supply device 1 varies.

  Therefore, as a first modification of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the air flowing into the cover member 10 from the suction port 12 flows through the entire power supply device 1 and is discharged from the opening 11. Only the opening 11a (first opening) is provided in the side surface 13c that opposes the side surface 13a of the cover member 10 in which the suction port 12 is provided, and at a position close to the opening 11a in each of the side surfaces 13b and 13d adjacent to the side surface 13c, Only the openings 11b and 11c are provided. Since these three openings 11a, 11b, and 11c are formed at positions farthest from the suction port 12 (positions having the longest distance from the suction port 12) on the side surfaces 13b, 13c, and 13d, the suction port 12 The air that has flowed in from the air flows through the entire power supply device 1 and is discharged from the cover member 10.

  Therefore, since heat exchange with the power supply device 1 can be sufficiently performed, variation in the heat radiation distribution (temperature distribution) in the entire power supply device 1 can be suppressed.

  Further, FIG. 6 is a modification of FIG. 5 in which the opening area of the opening 11 is changed to prevent variation in the heat radiation distribution in the entire power supply device 1 without sufficient heat exchange with the power supply device 1. It is a figure which shows an example.

  That is, as a second modification, as shown in FIG. 6, the opening area of the opening 11 is changed according to the distance from the suction port 12, and the amount of air discharged into the cover member 10 from the opening 11 is changed. It is adjusted. In this second modification, the opening area of the opening 11a on the side surface 13b that is short from the suction port 12 is formed smaller than each opening 11c that is long from the suction port 12, and the openings 11a and 11c And the opening area of the opening 11b that is longer than the opening 11a and shorter than the opening 11c is larger than the opening 11a and smaller than the opening 11c, and the openings 11a, 11b, and 11c The distance is increased in proportion to the length of the distance from the inlet 12. The same applies to the openings 11d, 11e, and 11f on the side surface 13d.

Thus, in the second modification, the opening area of the opening located at a short distance (first distance) from the suction port 12 is set to be larger than the opening area of the opening located at a long distance (second distance) from the suction port 12. , smaller, with less emissions of air from the opening positioned a short distance from the suction inlet 12 (first distance), it is possible to increase the length of the air circulation of the cover member 10.

  For this reason, since the heat exchange with the power supply device 1 can be sufficiently performed as in the first modification, variation in the heat dissipation distribution in the entire power supply device 1 can be suppressed.

(Example 2)
7 and 8 are diagrams illustrating a cover member according to a second embodiment of the present invention and a power supply device including the cover member. In the present embodiment, a duct 20 through which air such as cooling air flows is connected to the inlet 12 of the first embodiment. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the suction port 12 of the cover member 10 of the present embodiment is connected to a cooling duct 20 through which cooling air from an air conditioner provided as an indoor air conditioner provided in the vehicle flows. Cooling air is introduced.

  Therefore, for example, when the environmental temperature rises, the temperature inside the vehicle is high, and the cooling efficiency of the power supply device 1 is reduced, the cooling efficiency of the power supply device 1 is preferably improved by taking in the cooling air from the air conditioner of the cooling duct 20. Can be maintained. Moreover, it becomes possible to perform suitable cooling also with respect to the high temperature state of the power supply device 1 at the time of the continuous drive of the power supply device 1 or high output.

  It is also possible to provide a blower fan in the cooling duct so as to forcibly send air into the inlet 12, and the cooling duct 20 is provided with a first duct through which cooling air from the air conditioner circulates and the room. It is also possible to configure the second duct through which the air flows and switch the air flowing in accordance with the temperature of the power supply device 1 so as to send the air into the suction port 12.

  In addition, even when the cooling duct 20 is connected to the suction port 12 of the cover member 10 as in the first embodiment, air is taken in from the suction port 12 by natural convection without using a blower fan or the like. Is also possible.

  Further, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the cover member 10 and the power supply device 1 are not in contact with each other so that a predetermined space is formed, but between the cover member 10 and the power supply device 1. However, it is preferable to configure the cover member 10 so that it does not become too large.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the air that has flowed into the cover member 10 from the suction port 12 extends along the inner wall surface of the cover member 10 and the outer peripheral surface of the power supply device 1 (including the radiation fins 3). 10, but when the gap between the inner wall surface of the cover member 10 and the outer peripheral surface of the power supply device 1 increases, the main flow of air flowing through the cover member 10 flows along the inner wall surface of the cover member 10. There is a possibility that the fluidity of the air on the outer peripheral surface side of the power supply device 1 is lowered. For this reason, the cooling efficiency (heat dissipation efficiency) of the power supply device 1 decreases.

  Therefore, the cover member 10 of the present invention has a predetermined space between the cover member 10 and the power supply device 1 so that the air inside the cover member 10 flows along the outer peripheral surface of the power supply device 1. Further, it is preferable to configure.

  Moreover, although the said Example 1 and Example 2 demonstrated the case where the power supply device 1 is arrange | positioned under a seat, even when the power supply device 1 is arrange | positioned in vehicles other than seats, such as a trunk room, for example The cover member 10 of the present invention can be applied. That is, the vehicle interior in the first embodiment and the second embodiment is not limited to a space in which an occupant gets in, but is a vehicle interior space including a space in which luggage or other equipment mounted on the vehicle is arranged. The cover member 10 of the invention is applied to the power supply device 1 disposed in the vehicle, can prevent direct contact with the case of the power supply device 1, and a plurality of air heated by the power supply device 1 is provided. It is possible to exhaust the air in the vehicle suitably.

It is a structure perspective view which shows the power supply device provided with the cover member in Example 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view of a cover member and a power supply device in Example 1 of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the exhaust heat from the cover member in Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the flow of the air in the cover member of a power supply device provided with the cover member in Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the 1st modification about several opening of the cover member in Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the 2nd modification about several opening of the cover member in Example 1 of this invention. It is a structure perspective view which shows the power supply device provided with the cover member in Example 2 of this invention. It is a perspective view of the cover member and power supply device in Example 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Power supply device 2 Case 10 Cover member 11 Opening (heat exhaust port)
12 Inlet (inlet)
20 Cooling duct

Claims (6)

A power supply unit comprising a power supply unit composed of a plurality of power supply elements and a case that accommodates the power supply unit in a state of being immersed in a coolant , a cover member that covers the outer periphery of the case ,
The cover member has a plurality of openings for introducing air that flows in from an inlet provided in the cover member and guides the air heated by heat exchange with the case to the outside of the cover member ;
At least one or more openings are provided at positions corresponding to the side surfaces of the power supply device in the cover member, respectively.
A first opening of the plurality of openings is provided on a second surface facing the first surface of the cover member provided with the inflow port, and the second opening is a third adjacent to the second surface. The cover member is provided on each of the surface and the fourth surface, and the second opening is provided close to the second surface on which the first opening is provided . A power supply unit comprising a power supply unit composed of a plurality of power supply elements and a case that accommodates the power supply unit in a state of being immersed in a coolant, a cover member that covers the outer periphery of the case,
The cover member has a plurality of openings for introducing air that flows in from an inlet provided in the cover member and guides the air heated by heat exchange with the case to the outside of the cover member;
At least one or more openings are provided at positions corresponding to the respective side surfaces of the power supply device in the cover member, and adjacent to the second surface facing the first surface of the cover member provided with the inflow port. At least two or more openings are provided on the third surface,
The opening area of the first opening located at the first distance from the inlet on the third surface is the opening area of the second opening located at the second distance that is longer than the first distance from the inlet. A cover member characterized by being smaller than . Wherein the inlet, the cover member according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cooling duct through which cooling air flows is connected. The said cover member is formed with the heat insulating material, The cover member as described in any one of Claim 1 to 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The cover member according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the cover member is formed of a hollow member. A power supply apparatus comprising the cover member according to any one of claims 1 to 5 .

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