JP5357987B2 - Battery fire protection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery fire prevention device.

  As the battery, there are a primary battery that performs only discharging and a secondary battery that performs charging and discharging. In recent years, lithium secondary batteries having features such as high energy density, high output, and long life have attracted attention as secondary batteries. In general, a lithium secondary battery has a structure in which an electrode plate, that is, a laminated electrode body in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate are laminated via a separator, is sealed in a battery container together with an electrolytic solution and the like.

  In a battery such as a lithium secondary battery, for example, when an abnormality such as a short circuit or overcharge occurs, a large amount of high-temperature gas is generated in the battery container due to factors such as rapid evaporation of the electrolyte. There is a risk that the battery container body may burst due to a sudden rise in pressure. Therefore, in general, the battery container is provided with a safety valve for releasing the gas in the battery container to the outside when the internal pressure of the battery container becomes a predetermined value or more, thereby preventing the battery container from bursting.

  Here, for example, when a plurality of batteries are housed in a single casing and used as a large-capacity power source, if the casing itself has a sealing property, the gas is trapped inside the casing and the gas is It will be in a full state and the risk of the housing itself bursting will increase.

  Therefore, in Patent Document 1, by providing a gas flow passage to the outside such as an exhaust duct and an opening in a case housing the battery, and discharging the gas generated from the safety valve of the battery through the gas flow passage to the outside of the case. A technique for improving the safety of the housing is disclosed.

JP 2011-70871 A

  However, the gas released from the safety valve of the battery may be accompanied by ignition. In this case, the gas flow path from the exhaust duct to the opening is formed linearly as in the technique described in Patent Document 1. In such a case, fire is easily ejected from the opening through the exhaust duct, and there is a problem that a fire such as an object disposed around the casing may occur.

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention can remove this gas from the space where the battery is arranged even if the battery becomes abnormal and gas is generated from the safety valve of the battery. It is an object of the present invention to provide a new battery fire prevention device capable of confining fire in a space where a battery is disposed and preventing an object surrounding the battery from being fired.

The battery fire prevention device according to the present invention includes a battery including a valve that discharges gas inside the battery container to the outside of the battery container when the internal pressure of the battery container reaches a predetermined value or more, and at least in a gas discharge direction. A fire prevention plate disposed on the fire prevention plate, and a communication portion that communicates the first space with the second space on the opposite side of the fire prevention plate. The communicating portion protrudes from the fire prevention plate into at least one of the first space and the second space, and includes a columnar portion having a through-hole that connects the first space and the second space, while having a predetermined gap Ri Do from the through hole of the protruding side of the columnar portion and the covering portion covering up to the outer peripheral surface of the columnar portion, covering portion releases the gas from the first space to the second space wherein the openings that have been formed.

  Such a battery fire prevention device has a structure in which the flow path from the first space to the second space of the gas released from the safety valve of the battery has a step structure, so that the gas should be generated with ignition. However, it is possible to prevent the fire from being ejected to the outside, and as a result, it is possible to confine the fire in the space where the battery is arranged, and to prevent the fire of objects around the battery.

  According to the battery fire prevention device of the present invention configured as described above, even if the battery becomes abnormal and gas is generated from the safety valve of the battery, this gas can be removed from the space where the battery is disposed, and First, even when gas is generated with ignition, the fire can be confined in the space where the battery is arranged, and fires of objects around the battery can be prevented.

1 is a schematic perspective view of a battery fire protection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. The schematic perspective view of the battery in 1st Embodiment of this invention is shown. The schematic block diagram of the communication part which is a part of battery fire prevention apparatus of 1st Embodiment of this invention is shown, Fig.3 (a) is sectional drawing of the gravity direction (Z-axis direction) of a cover part. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ of FIG. It is a figure which shows the mode of fire prevention in the fire prevention apparatus for batteries of 1st Embodiment of this invention. The schematic perspective view of the fire prevention apparatus for batteries of 2nd Embodiment of this invention is shown. The schematic block diagram of the communication part which is a part of battery fire prevention apparatus of 2nd Embodiment of this invention is shown, Fig.6 (a) is sectional drawing of the gravity direction (Z-axis direction) of a cover part. FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB ′ of FIG. It is a modification of this invention, Comprising: The schematic perspective view at the time of comprising the battery fire prevention apparatus as a shelf is shown.

  Hereinafter, each preferred embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a battery fire prevention device as a housing, FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a battery 3, and FIG. 3 shows a communication part of the battery fire prevention device. The schematic block diagram of the part 20 is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is provided on a fire prevention plate 10 that houses a plurality of batteries 3 and covers and surrounds the batteries 3. The communication unit 20 communicates the space in the housing 1 and the space outside the housing 1. The battery fire prevention device of the present embodiment is formed including the fire prevention plate 10 and the communication portion 20.

  Hereinafter, first, the battery 3 will be briefly described, and then the battery fire prevention device of the present embodiment will be described.

  The battery 3 is, for example, a lithium secondary battery, and includes a container body 31, two electrode terminals 32 (a positive terminal 32A and a negative terminal 32B), and a safety valve 33, as shown in FIG. The

  The container main body 31 is a container that encloses an electrode plate, that is, a laminated electrode body (not shown) in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate are laminated via a separator together with a nonaqueous electrolytic solution, for example, an aluminum alloy. Formed of a metal material. A positive electrode tab is formed at one end of the positive electrode plate, the positive electrode tab and the positive electrode terminal 32A are electrically connected by a positive electrode lead, and a negative electrode tab is formed at one end of the negative electrode plate. The tab and the negative terminal 32B are electrically connected by a negative lead. With the above configuration, current can be extracted from the positive terminal 32A and the negative terminal 32B.

  The positive electrode terminal 32A and the negative electrode terminal 32B are exposed to the outside through a through hole formed in the lid portion of the container main body 31, and electrically insulate the positive electrode terminal 32A and the negative electrode terminal 32B from the container main body 31, and The container body 31 is integrally bonded with an insulating resin for sealing 31.

  When an abnormality such as a short circuit or overcharge occurs in the battery 3, the safety valve 33 generates a large amount of high-temperature gas inside the container body 31 due to factors such as rapid evaporation of the electrolyte, and the internal pressure rapidly increases. This is a valve for preventing the container main body 31 from bursting, and is opened when the internal pressure of the container main body 31 becomes a predetermined value or more, and releases the gas in the battery container to the outside. In addition, about the structure and shape of the safety valve 33, it can be made the same as that of the various safety valves provided in the conventional battery.

  Next, the housing 1 will be described. As described above, the housing 1 includes the fire prevention plate 10 and the communication portion 20.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the fire protection plate 10 is used as a top plate 10a, four side plates 10b, and a bottom plate 10c of a housing (storage box) 1 that stores a plurality of batteries 3. In the unlikely event that the safety valve 33 of the battery 3 is opened and a gas accompanied by ignition is generated, the fire protection plate 10 traps this fire inside the casing 1 and prevents the fire from being ejected outside the casing 1. It is a board to prevent. The fire prevention plate 10 can be a steel plate having a thickness of 1.6 mm or more, for example, but the thickness and material are not limited to this, and when a gas accompanied by ignition is generated from the safety valve, What is necessary is just to select the thickness and material which have fireproof performance suitably.

  In the following description, an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system is used as appropriate. In the housing 1, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the perpendicular direction (gravity direction) from the bottom plate 10 c of the housing 1 to the top plate 10 a of the housing 1 is defined as the + Z direction of the Z-axis direction. A direction orthogonal to the direction and in which the plurality of batteries 3 are regularly arranged is defined as a Y-axis direction, and a direction orthogonal to the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction is defined as an X-axis direction. Moreover, the internal space (space where a battery is arranged) of the housing | casing 1 is made into 1st space, and the external space (space on the other side on the boundary of 1st space and the fire prevention board 10) of 2nd housing | casing 1 is made into 2nd. Space.

  The communication part 20 is provided at a predetermined position of the top plate 10a, and is composed of a columnar part 21 and a cover part 22, as shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the predetermined position of the top plate 10 a is an area of the fire protection plate 10 a located in the discharge direction (here, the + Z direction) of the gas released when the safety valve 33 of the battery 3 is opened. It is assumed that the position is a predetermined distance d or more away from (the region located in the + Z direction) from the safety valve 33. In this case, even when a gas accompanied by ignition is generated from the safety valve 33, the plane portion of the fire protection plate 10a is positioned with respect to the direction in which the gas is released, and the outflow of fire to the outside can be more reliably prevented. This is desirable because it can be done.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the columnar portion 21 protrudes toward the second space side (+ Z direction) at the predetermined position of the top plate 10a, and includes an end surface 21a on the first space side and an end surface 21b on the second space side. It is a hollow columnar part which penetrated. That is, the columnar part 21 includes a through hole that connects the first space and the second space. In FIG. 3, the columnar portion 21 has a columnar shape, but is not limited thereto, and may be a triangular column shape or a quadrangular column shape. Moreover, the outer peripheral surface of the columnar part 21 is provided with a joint part 211 for joining with a joint part 222 of the cover part 22 to be described later. The joint part 211 is, for example, a male screw formed on the outer peripheral surface. . The columnar portion 21 can be formed, for example, by providing a through hole in the top plate 10a and attaching a hollow columnar member to the periphery of the through hole. The columnar portion 21 is formed of, for example, a steel plate, and the thickness from the inner peripheral surface to the outer peripheral surface can be 1.6 mm or more. However, the thickness and material are not limited to this, and the safety valve 33 is ignited. In the case where a gas is generated, a thickness and a material having fire resistance against the fire may be appropriately selected.

  The cover part 22 is a part that covers the columnar part 21 from the end surface 21b on the second space side to the outer peripheral surface of the columnar part 21 while having a predetermined gap with the columnar part 21. Note that covering up to the outer peripheral surface of the columnar portion 21 means that, for example, when the columnar portion 21 protrudes toward the second space (+ Z direction), a lower end portion of the cover portion 22 (an opening 223 described later is provided). The lower portion of the cover portion 22 may be in contact with the top plate 10a so as to cover the entire outer peripheral surface of the columnar portion 21 as long as it is positioned in the −Z direction from the end space 21b on the second space side of the columnar portion 21. And the lower end part of the cover part 22 may be non-contact | abutting with the top plate 10a covering the middle of an outer peripheral surface in the -Z direction from the end surface 21b. FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the communicating portion 20 in the gravitational direction (Z-axis direction), and the covering portion 22 covers from the end surface 21b to the middle of the outer peripheral surface of the columnar portion 21 in the −Z direction. An example in which the lower end portion of 22 is not in contact with the top plate 10a is shown.

  The cover part 22 guides the gas discharged from the safety valve 33 of the battery 3 and passed through the inside of the columnar part 21 from the first space along the outer peripheral surface of the columnar part 21, and should be ignited from the safety valve 33 by any chance. Even so, the main portion 221 for preventing the fire from being ejected to the outside and the joint portion 222 for joining with the joint portion 211 of the columnar portion 21 are configured. The shape of the inner wall of the main portion 221 (the surface facing the outer peripheral surface of the columnar portion 21) is such that the gas that has passed through the inside of the columnar portion 21 from the first space can be guided along the outer peripheral surface of the columnar portion 21. For example, it can be formed in a dome shape. The main portion 221 of the cover portion 22 is formed of, for example, a steel plate, and the thickness from the inner wall surface to the outer wall surface (second space side surface) can be 1.6 mm or more. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when a gas accompanied by ignition is generated from the safety valve 33, a thickness and a material that have fire resistance performance against this fire may be appropriately selected. On the other hand, the joint portion 222 is a female screw that is screwed into the male screw if the joint portion 211 is a male screw. In addition, the joining part 211 of the columnar part 21 and the joining part 222 of the cover part 22 are not limited to joining with a male screw and a female screw, and other joining methods may be used, for example, welding joining. Also good.

  The cover 22 further passes gas guided from the first space through the gap between the inside of the columnar part 21 and the inner wall of the cover 22 and the outer peripheral surface of the columnar part 21 to the second space. An opening 223 for discharging is provided. Specifically, the opening 223 is provided at a position in the −Z direction (a position lower in the gravitational direction than the end face 21 b) from the end face 21 b of the columnar part 21 (hereinafter referred to as “step structure”). For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the lower end portion of the cover portion 22 covers the columnar portion 21 and is arranged so as not to contact the surface of the top plate 11, the opening 223 is formed as shown in FIG. As shown in the cross-sectional view of the XY plane, an opening is formed in the Z-axis direction along the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the columnar portion 21 excluding the portion connecting the main portion 221 and the joint portion 222. Although illustration is omitted, when the cover portion 22 is arranged so as to contact the surface of the top plate 11 while covering the outer peripheral surface of the columnar portion 21, the opening 223 is located in the vicinity of the top plate 10 a side of the cover portion 22. , And opened in the XY plane direction.

  The width of the gap between the cover portion 22 and the columnar portion 21 and the opening area of the opening portion 223 should be set as appropriate in consideration of the size of the housing 1 and the amount of gas generated from the safety valve 33 of the battery 3. However, for example, the opening area may be set larger than that of the conducting wire in consideration of the size of the conducting wire connected to the electrode terminal 32 of the battery 3. In this case, there is a merit such as a manufacturing cost in that it is not necessary to separately provide a hole in the housing 1 for taking out the conducting wire to the outside of the housing 1.

  As described above, according to the battery fire prevention device of the present embodiment that the housing 1 has, the flow path of the gas released from the safety valve 33 of the battery 3 passes through the inside of the columnar portion 21 from the first space and forms a columnar shape. Since it has a step structure that is guided along the outer peripheral surface of the portion 21 and discharged into the second space, even if the battery 3 becomes abnormal and gas is generated from the safety valve 33 of the battery 3, this gas is discharged to the battery. 3 can be removed from the first space where the gas is disposed, and even if gas is generated with ignition, the cover 22 emits fire to the outside as shown in FIG. It is possible to prevent a fire around an object around the battery 3.

Second Embodiment
Next, the battery fire protection device according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. In the case 1 of the first embodiment, the communication portion 20 is provided on the top plate 10a. However, in the case 1 ′ of the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. One feature is that a communication portion 20 ′ having basically the same structure as that of the communication portion 20 is provided. In the following, the description of the configuration common to the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate.

  The communication portion 20 'is provided in the vicinity of the top plate 10a of the side plate 10b. By providing the communication portion 20 ′ in the vicinity of the top plate 10a, the top plate 10a reliably prevents the release of gas from the safety valve 33 of the battery 3, and the gas that can accumulate in the upper part of the housing 1 to the outside. Easy to release. The position of the side plate 10b where the communication portion 20 'is provided may be changed as appropriate according to the specific gravity of the gas that can be generated.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the columnar portion 21 ′ of the communication portion 20 ′ protrudes toward the second space side (+ X direction) in the vicinity of the top plate 10a of the side plate 10b, and the end surface 21a on the first space side. And a second space-side end face 21b are hollow cylindrical portions penetrating in the X-axis direction. The shape of the columnar portion 21 ′ can be the same as that of the columnar portion 21 described in the first embodiment.

  The cover portion 22 ′ of the communication portion 20 ′ is a portion that covers the outer peripheral surface of the columnar portion 21 ′ from the end surface 21b on the second space side of the columnar portion 21 ′ while having a predetermined gap with the columnar portion 21 ′. is there. The cover 22 ′ can be basically the same as the shape of the cover 22 described in the first embodiment, but passes through the inside of the columnar part 21 ′ from the first space of the cover 22 ′. Then, as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), an opening 223 ′ that discharges the gas guided along the outer peripheral surface of the columnar portion 21 ′ to the second space is covered. It can also be provided only below (in the direction of gravity) below the position of the columnar portion 21 ′. Specifically, the opening 223 'is provided at a position in the -Z direction from the end surface 21b of the columnar portion 21' (a position lower in the gravitational direction than the end surface 21b). For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the cover 22 ′ is arranged so as to cover the columnar part 21 ′ and not to come into contact with the surface of the side plate 10 b, the opening 223 ′ is formed as shown in FIG. As shown in the cross-sectional view of the YZ plane, the columnar portion 21 is located below the position of the columnar portion 21 ′ (downward in the gravitational direction (−Z direction)) of the connecting portion between the main portion 221 and the joint portion 222. An opening is made in the X-axis direction along the shape of the outer peripheral surface. Since the opening 223 ′ is provided only below the position of the columnar portion 21 ′, even if the fire released from the safety valve 33 of the battery 3 passes through the through hole of the columnar portion 21 ′, the fire proceeds upward. Even if it is going to be blocked by the cover 22 and cannot proceed, gas such as gas is useful in that it can be discharged into the second space through the opening 223 ′.

  As described above, according to the battery fire prevention device of the present embodiment, the communication portion 20 ′ is provided in the vicinity of the top plate 10 a on the side plate 10 b, which contributes to the effect of the battery fire prevention device of the first embodiment described above. In addition, even if gas is generated with ignition, the top plate 10a of the cover 22 can surely prevent fire from being ejected to the outside, and tentatively along the plane of the top plate 10a. Even if the fire spreads in the direction of the side plate 10b, the communication portion 20 ′ provided in the side plate 10b can prevent the fire from being blown out to the outside by the cover portion 22. This can be prevented more reliably.

  Further, by providing the communication portion 20 ′ in the vicinity of the top plate 10a on the side plate 10b, it becomes a structure that is easy to release to the outside even if gas is generated, and the opening 223 ′ is located below the covering portion 22 ′ in the direction of gravity. By providing in, it can prevent more reliably the jet of the fire which spread also in the direction of the side plate 10b.

<Modification>
As described above, the preferred embodiments of the battery fire protection device of the present invention have been described. However, the present invention should not be limited to the above-described embodiments, and the idea and scope expressed in the claims. Various modifications, additions, and omissions can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention.

  For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the battery fire prevention device as the casing 1 or 1 ′ for storing the battery 3 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a battery fire protection device may be used as a shelf. Specifically, when the battery 3 is placed on a shelf (lower shelf), and there is a shelf (upper shelf) on the battery 3, and the battery 3 and other objects are also placed on the upper shelf, the upper shelf is A fire prevention plate may be provided, and the communication portion 20 may be provided on the fire prevention plate. As a result, even if gas is generated with ignition from the safety valve 33 of the battery 3, it is possible to prevent fire from being ejected into the upper space with the fire plate and the communication portion as a boundary. Fires from batteries and other objects placed on the top shelf can be suppressed.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, a fire prevention plate 10d is provided as a middle shelf separately between the lower shelf 40a on which the battery 3 is arranged and the upper shelf 40b on which the battery and other objects are arranged. A gas flow path may be provided between the plate 10d and the upper shelf 40b. In this case, the high temperature gas is not released into the space where the battery 3 and other objects of the upper shelf 40b are disposed, and even if a gas accompanied by ignition is generated from the safety valve 33 of the battery 3, the battery 3 or other Since the upper shelf 40b on which the object is placed is not directly fired, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the space on the upper shelf 40b in which the battery and other objects are placed. As a result, it is possible to avoid the possibility of inducing an abnormal chain in which the battery 3 arranged on the upper shelf 40b is heated, the internal pressure rises, and the safety valve 33 is opened.

  In each of the above embodiments, the case where the columnar portions 21 and 21 ′ of the communication portions 20 and 20 ′ protrude toward the second space has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the communication portion 20 is not limited thereto. , 20 ′ may protrude from the first space side. In this case, the cover portions 22, 22 ′ cover the column 21 from the first space-side end surface 21 a to the outer peripheral surface of the columnar portion 21 while having a predetermined gap with the columnar portion 21. The gas released from the first space 33 and passing through the openings 223 and 223 ′ and guided along the inner wall of the cover portion 22 passes through the columnar portion 21 and is discharged into the second space. It becomes. Further, the columnar portions 21 and 21 ′ of the communication portions 20 and 20 ′ may protrude to both the first space side and the second space side, respectively. The cover portions 22 and 22 ′ may be provided, or the cover portions 22 and 22 ′ may be provided on both protruding sides.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the communication unit 20 has been described by taking as an example a case where the communication unit 20 is provided at a position separated from the area of the fire protection plate 10a located in the gas discharge direction by a predetermined distance. For example, the protruding length of the columnar portion 21 (the length in the Z-axis direction) has a sufficient length, and the cover portion 22 sufficiently covers the outer peripheral surface of the columnar portion 21. For example, it may be provided in the discharge direction.

  Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, the lithium secondary battery has been described as an example of the battery. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to other batteries as long as the battery is provided with a safety valve. .

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,1 '... Case, 3 ... Battery, 10 ... Fire plate, 10a ... Top plate, 10b ... Side plate, 10c ... Bottom plate, 20,20' ... Communication part, 21,21 '... Columnar part, 22,22' DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Cover part, 31 ... Container body, 32 ... Electrode terminal, 32A ... Positive electrode terminal, 32B ... Negative electrode terminal, 33 ... Safety valve.

Claims (6)

A battery comprising a valve for releasing the gas inside the battery container to the outside of the battery container when the internal pressure of the battery container becomes a predetermined value or more;
A fire prevention plate disposed at least in the gas discharge direction;
A communication portion that is provided on the fire prevention plate and communicates with the first space where the battery is disposed and the second space on the opposite side from the first space with the fire prevention plate as a boundary;
The communication portion protrudes from the fire prevention plate into at least one of the first space and the second space, and has a columnar portion including a through hole that connects the first space and the second space; , Ri Do from said columnar portion and a predetermined covering portion covering up to the outer peripheral surface of the columnar portion from the protruding side the through hole of the columnar portion while having a gap,
The covering portion is, battery fire and wherein that you have been opening formed for discharging the gas in the second space from the first space.   2. The fire protection device for a battery according to claim 1, wherein the communication portion is disposed at a predetermined distance from a region of the fire protection plate located in the gas discharge direction. The fire prevention plate is used as a top plate and a side plate constituting a housing for storing the battery,
The battery fire prevention device according to claim 1, wherein the communication portion is provided in the vicinity of the top plate on the side plate.   The battery fire prevention device according to claim 3, wherein the opening is provided below the cover in the direction of gravity.   The said fire prevention board, the side part of the said columnar part, and the said cover part are steel plates, respectively, and have predetermined thickness, The said any one of Claim 1 thru | or 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. The fire prevention apparatus for batteries as described.   The space between the columnar part and the cover part in the communication part is not less than a size capable of passing through a conducting wire electrically connected to an electrode terminal of the battery. The battery fire prevention device according to any one of 5.

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