JP6110268B2 - Battery temperature control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery temperature control device.

  Various electric vehicles have been developed to reduce exhaust gas discharged to the environment. Since an electric vehicle obtains power by driving a motor, it is equipped with a vehicle battery (battery cell) serving as a power source. In an electric vehicle, since it is necessary to mount many battery cells in a limited space, a plurality of battery cells are stacked to form a battery pack, and the battery pack is stored below the floor.

  A vehicle battery mounted on an electric vehicle is cooled by a temperature control device because its temperature rises due to repeated charge and discharge as it travels. As a temperature control device for cooling a vehicle battery, a water-cooled temperature control device with high cooling efficiency has been conventionally used (for example, Patent Document 1).

  In a vehicle battery equipped with a water-cooling temperature control device, cooling pipes are arranged at appropriate locations inside the battery pack, and cooling water is circulated through the cooling pipes to cool the vehicle battery. The cooling water is cooled by an external heat exchanger (for example, an evaporator), and the cooling water functioning as a refrigerant is circulated.

  Since the vehicle battery has a high-voltage electric circuit, it is necessary to take measures against water leakage when using a water-cooled temperature control device. For example, a detection device for detecting water leakage is provided, and water leakage of the battery pack is detected by the detection device. For this reason, components for measures against water leakage and control for detection are required, and the cost of the temperature control device increases.

  Although it is conceivable that the cooling pipe is shielded by a metal plate or the like so that water does not enter the vehicle battery side even if water leaks, a member will be interposed between the cooling pipe and the vehicle battery. The cooling performance may not be maintained.

  The present condition is that not only the vehicle battery but also various battery devices (emergency power supply etc.) have a problem with respect to the temperature control device.

JP 2009-134901 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a battery temperature control device that maintains cooling efficiency and eliminates the entry of a cooling medium into the battery.

In order to achieve the above object, a temperature control device for a battery according to the present invention according to claim 1 is formed of a battery, an inner wall and an outer wall, and a working fluid enclosure space for a heat pipe is provided between the inner wall and the outer wall. A heat pipe structure having a peripheral wall portion provided, and a cooling pipe through which a cooling medium flows, and the heat pipe structure forms a closed cross-sectional space inside the inner wall forming the peripheral wall portion; The battery is disposed in surface contact with the outer surface of the outer wall forming the peripheral wall portion, the cooling pipe is disposed in the closed section space, and the inner side surface of the inner wall forming the closed section space is the cooling section. It has a shape that is in surface contact with the outer peripheral surface of the tube, extends from one end side of the heat pipe structure to the other end side opposite to the one end side, is folded at the other end side, and extends to the one end side. Features.

In the present invention according to claim 1, the vehicle battery is cooled by the cooling medium flowing through the cooling pipe disposed in the closed cross-sectional space of the heat pipe structure. By arranging the cooling pipe in the closed cross-sectional space, even if the cooling medium leaks from the cooling pipe, it is prevented from leaking outside from the cross-sectional space. At the same time, the heat pipe working liquid enclosed in the peripheral wall portion forming the closed cross-sectional space evaporates, thereby absorbing the latent heat and cooling the cooling medium and the battery flowing through the cooling pipe.
And since the battery is in surface contact with the outer surface of the outer wall of the peripheral wall portion of the heat pipe structure and the outer surface of the cooling pipe is in surface contact with the inner surface of the inner wall forming the closed section space, it absorbs latent heat efficiently. Thus, the cooling medium and the battery can be cooled.
For example, by forming the closed cross-section space of the heat pipe structure in a rectangular state, the outer surface of the outer wall of the peripheral wall portion of the heat pipe structure can be brought into surface contact with the flat portion of the vehicle battery, and the cooling pipe is a rectangular pipe By forming (flat tube), the rectangular surface (flat surface) of the cooling tube can be brought into surface contact with the inner surface of the inner wall forming the rectangular closed cross-sectional space of the heat pipe structure.

  For this reason, it becomes possible to maintain (increase) the cooling efficiency and eliminate the penetration of the cooling medium into the battery.

  Incidentally, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-243358 discloses a battery pack provided with a heat transport member having a heat pipe structure excellent in thermal conductivity between stacked battery cells. This technology transports the heat of the battery pack to the outside by a heat pipe structure, and ensures the cooling performance of the battery pack without increasing the size of the device. In other words, it is a technology that enables the battery pack to be cooled even if the cooling tube is omitted without cooling tubes, and unlike the technology that cools by circulating a cooling medium, the cooling efficiency This is different from the present invention for maintaining the above and eliminating the problem of cooling medium leakage.

A battery temperature control apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the battery temperature control apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the cooling pipe is provided with an inlet portion into which a cooling medium is introduced and a cooling medium. An outlet portion, and the inlet portion and the outlet portion are provided on one end side of the heat pipe structure .

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the battery temperature control apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the battery includes a plurality of battery cells, and the heat pipe structure. The body is arranged between the battery cells.

  The present invention according to claim 3 can be applied to cooling a battery constituted by a plurality of battery cells.

  A battery temperature control apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the battery temperature control apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the battery and the cooling pipe are arranged. The heat pipe structure is provided with a case, and the cooling pipe is connected to a cooling medium circulation path outside the case.

  In the present invention according to claim 4, since the cooling pipe is connected to the circulation path of the cooling medium outside the case, even if the cooling medium leaks from the connection section between the circulation path of the cooling medium and the cooling pipe, Since the cooling medium circulation path is connected to the outside of the case, the cooling medium does not enter the case. That is, in the unlikely event that water leaks at the connection portion between the cooling pipe and the circulation path where water leakage may occur, the cooling medium does not enter the case.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the battery temperature control apparatus according to the fourth aspect, wherein the battery is a vehicle battery mounted on a vehicle, and the case includes: An outside air introduction path for guiding outside air is formed in a portion of the heat pipe structure, and the outside air introduction port of the outside air introduction path is opened when the outside air temperature becomes a predetermined temperature or lower.

  In the present invention according to claim 5, when the outside air temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, for example, a temperature range suitable for the operation of the vehicle battery, the outside air introduction port of the outside air introduction path is opened, and the outside air introduction (running wind) ) To assist cooling.

  The battery temperature control device of the present invention can maintain cooling efficiency and eliminate the infiltration of the cooling medium into the battery.

1 is an external view of an electric vehicle including a battery temperature control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of a battery pack. It is an external view of a heat pipe structure. FIG. 4 is an exploded state diagram of FIG. 3. It is a VV line arrow directional view in FIG. FIG. 6 is a view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 2.

  An electric vehicle equipped with a battery temperature control device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an external appearance of an electric vehicle containing a vehicle battery as a battery, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a battery pack.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a battery pack 2 is attached to a frame (not shown) of an electric vehicle 1 as a vehicle. The battery pack 2 has a configuration in which a large number of battery cells are fixed inside a battery case 3 as a case, and the battery cells are cooled by a temperature control device.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a large number of battery cells 4 are stacked and accommodated inside the battery case 3, and a high voltage that serves as a power source for driving and driving is connected to the large number of battery cells 4. A circuit is formed. A heat pipe structure 5 is disposed between the stacked rows of the battery cells 4. The heat pipe structure 5 is provided with a cooling pipe (specifically described later) in which cooling water as a cooling medium is circulated.

  A pipe flange 6 is attached to an end portion of the heat pipe structure 5 outside the battery case 3, and a circulation pipe 7 (pipe connected to a circulation path described later) connected to the cooling pipe is provided on the pipe flange 6. It has been. Cooling water is sent to the cooling pipe of the heat pipe structure 5 through the circulation pipe 7.

  The working fluid is sealed in the heat pipe structure 5, and the latent heat is absorbed by the evaporation of the working fluid, that is, the heat of the battery cell 4 is absorbed by the evaporation of the working fluid. And the heat | fever which absorbed heat | fever is discharge | released to the cooling pipe | tube with which cooling water distribute | circulates by condensation of hydraulic fluid. Thereby, cooling of the battery cell 4 is implemented.

  The heat pipe structure 5 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.

  3 shows the appearance of the heat pipe structure 5, FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the components of the heat pipe structure 5, and FIG. 5 shows the longitudinal direction of the heat pipe structure 5 (battery cells 4 The cross-sectional state in the direction orthogonal to the (stacking direction) (VV arrow in FIG. 2), FIG. 6 shows the heat pipe in the direction along the longitudinal direction of the heat pipe structure 5 (stacking direction of the battery cells 4). The cross-sectional state of the structure 5 (viewed along the line VI-VI in FIG. 2) is shown.

  As shown in the figure, the heat pipe structure 5 includes a sealed space 11 of a hollow vacuum space, and a working fluid 10 of the heat pipe is sealed in the sealed space 11. The enclosed space 11 is arranged in a rectangular continuous state to form a peripheral wall portion 12 (see FIG. 5), and a rectangular closed cross-sectional space 13 exists inside the peripheral wall portion 12. That is, the peripheral wall portion 12 is formed by the inner wall 16 and the outer wall 17, and a sealed space 11 for the working fluid 10 of the heat pipe is provided between the inner wall 16 and the outer wall 17.

  The battery cell 4 comes into surface contact with the outer side surface 12 a of the outer wall 17 of the peripheral wall portion 12, and the battery cell 4 is cooled by latent heat of evaporation of the working fluid 10 transmitted through the peripheral wall portion 12.

  In the rectangular closed cross-section space 13 of the heat pipe structure 5, a cooling pipe 15 through which cooling water flows is arranged. The cooling pipe 15 has a rectangular cross section, and the rectangular surface of the cooling pipe 15 is in surface contact with the inner side surface 12 b of the inner wall 16 of the peripheral wall portion 12. Thereby, the cooling water of the cooling pipe 15 is cooled by the latent heat of vaporization of the working fluid 10 transmitted through the peripheral wall portion 12, and the cooling effect is efficiently maintained.

  Since the battery cell 4 is in surface contact with the outer surface 12a of the outer wall 17 of the peripheral wall portion 12 of the heat pipe structure 5, and the rectangular surface of the cooling pipe 15 is in surface contact with the inner surface 12b of the inner wall 16 of the peripheral wall portion 12, It is possible to efficiently absorb the latent heat and cool the cooling water and the battery cell 4 efficiently.

  The cooling pipe 15 extends from the opening at the end of the heat pipe structure 5 to the other end on the back, and is folded back at the other end to extend to the opening at the end. That is, the inlet and outlet portions of the cooling pipe 15 face the opening at the end of the heat pipe structure 5.

  The circulation pipe 7 of the pipe flange 6 is connected to the inlet and outlet of the cooling pipe 15, and cooling water is sent to the cooling pipe 15 through the circulation pipe 7. A cooling pipe 15 is connected to a cooling water circulation pipe 7 at a wall surface portion outside the battery case 3. That is, the cooling pipe 15 is connected to the circulation path of the cooling water (cooling medium) outside the battery case 3 case.

  The connection between the cooling pipe 15 and the cooling water circulation pipe 7 is not limited to the wall surface as long as it is outside the battery case 3.

  Since the cooling pipe 15 is arranged in the closed cross-sectional space 13 formed by the peripheral wall portion 12 of the heat pipe structure 5, even if the cooling water leaks from the cooling pipe 15, the cooling water flows from the closed cross-sectional space 13. There is no leakage to the battery cell 4 side. In addition, since the circulation pipe 7 and the cooling pipe 15 in the path through which the cooling water is circulated are connected outside the battery case 3, even if water leaks at the connection part, Will not invade.

  Therefore, even if the cooling water leaks from the cooling pipe 15, the cooling water is prevented from leaking to the battery cell 4 side, and is further circulated outside the battery case 3 with the cooling pipe 15 that may cause water leakage. Since the pipe 7 is connected, the cooling water does not enter the battery case 3.

  And even if cooling water should leak from the cooling pipe 15, since the cooling water is prevented from leaking to the battery cell 4 side, the connection site | part of the cooling pipe 15 and circulation piping 7 with a possibility of water leakage Is not required to be separated from the battery case 3, and even if the cooling pipe 15 and the circulation pipe 7 are connected at the wall surface of the battery case 3, the leakage of water does not reach the battery cell 4.

  For this reason, it is not necessary to extend the cooling pipe 15 from the battery case 3 in order to prevent cooling water leakage, and the space of the battery case 3 becomes compact. Therefore, when the battery case 3 (battery cell 4) is mounted. The workability is not hindered, and the workability is not lowered when the battery pack 2 is removed for maintenance or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a circulation path 21 provided outside the battery case 3 is connected to the circulation pipe 7. The circulation path 21 is provided with a heat exchanger (for example, an evaporator) 23 for cooling the cooling water after cooling the battery pack 2. The cooling water cooled by the heat exchanger 23 is pumped to the circulation pipe 7 through the circulation path 21 by the feed water pump 24 and sent to the cooling pipe 15.

  That is, the cooling water cooled by the heat exchanger 23 is sent to the cooling pipe 15 by the feed water pump 24, circulates in the closed cross-sectional space 13 of the heat pipe structure 5, and the cooling water after cooling the battery cell 4 is heated. A cooling system that is circulated through the exchanger 23 is constructed.

  On the other hand, the battery case 3 hermetically houses the heat pipe structure 5 in which the battery cell 4 and the cooling pipe 15 are arranged. On the bottom surface side of the battery case 3, an outside air introduction path 18 is formed along the longitudinal direction of the heat pipe structure 5 (along the traveling direction of the electric vehicle 1).

  An opening / closing member (not shown) is provided at the outside air introduction port of the outside air introduction path 18, and the opening / closing member is opened when the outside air temperature becomes a predetermined temperature or less, and the outside air is introduced into the outside air introduction path 18. When the opening / closing member is opened, as the electric vehicle 1 travels, outside air is introduced into the outside air introduction path 18 so that traveling air flows, and the heat pipe structure 5 is cooled by air.

  In the above-described temperature control device for a vehicle battery, as the heat pipe structure 5, the peripheral wall portion 12 is configured by the enclosed space 11 in which the hydraulic fluid 10 of the heat pipe is enclosed, and the latent heat of evaporation of the hydraulic fluid 10 at the peripheral wall portion 12. Thus, the battery cell 4 and the cooling water are cooled.

  Since the cooling pipe 15 through which the cooling water flows is arranged in the closed cross-sectional space 13 of the heat pipe structure 5, even if the cooling water leaks from the cooling pipe 15 (connection portion with the circulation pipe 7), it is closed. Cooling water does not leak out of the cross-sectional space 13, and the battery cell 4 is not affected by water leakage.

  Further, the battery cell 4 is in surface contact with the outer surface 12 a of the outer wall 17 of the peripheral wall portion 12 of the heat pipe structure 5, and the rectangular surface of the cooling pipe 15 is in surface contact with the inner surface 12 b of the inner wall 16 of the peripheral wall portion 12. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently absorb the latent heat of vaporization of the hydraulic fluid 10 and cool the cooling water and the battery cells 4 efficiently.

  For this reason, it becomes possible to maintain the cooling efficiency (to increase it) and eliminate the intrusion of the cooling water into the battery cell 4.

  In the above-described embodiment, the cooling of the battery cell 4 has been described as an example. However, the battery cell 4 may be applied to a battery temperature control device that heats the battery cell 4. In this case, the cooling water circulated through the cooling pipe 15 is warm water. Then, the heat of the hot water is absorbed by the evaporation of the hydraulic fluid. Further, the heat absorbed is dissipated to the battery cell 4 by condensation of the hydraulic fluid. Thereby, heating of the battery cell 4 is implemented.

  In the above-described embodiments, a battery pack for a vehicle is described as an example of the battery. However, the battery pack may be applied to a temperature control device for a battery of another device such as a battery used for a stationary emergency power source. Is possible.

  The present invention can be used in the industrial field of battery temperature control devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric vehicle 2 Battery pack 3 Battery case 4 Battery cell 5 Heat pipe structure 6 Piping flange 7 Circulating piping 10 Hydraulic fluid 11 Enclosed space 12 Peripheral wall part 13 Closed cross-section space 15 Cooling pipe 16 Inner wall 17 Outer wall 18 Outside air introduction path 21 Circulating path 23 Heat exchanger 24 Water supply pump

Claims (5)

Battery,
A heat pipe structure having a peripheral wall portion formed of an inner wall and an outer wall, and provided with a working fluid enclosure space of the heat pipe between the inner wall and the outer wall;
A cooling pipe through which a cooling medium flows,
The heat pipe structure is
A closed cross-section space is formed inside the inner wall forming the peripheral wall portion, and the battery is arranged in surface contact with an outer surface of the outer wall forming the peripheral wall portion,
The cooling pipe is
An inner surface of the inner wall that is disposed in the closed cross-sectional space and that forms the closed cross-sectional space is in surface contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cooling pipe, and the other side opposite to the one end side from the one end side of the heat pipe structure. A temperature control device for a battery, characterized in that it has a shape extending to an end side, folded back at the other end side, and extending to the one end side . The battery temperature control device according to claim 1,
The cooling pipe is
A battery having an inlet portion into which a cooling medium is introduced and an outlet portion from which the cooling medium is led out, wherein the inlet portion and the outlet portion are provided on one end side of the heat pipe structure . Temperature control device. The temperature control device for a battery according to claim 1 or 2,
The battery is composed of a plurality of battery cells,
The said heat pipe structure is distribute | arranged between the said battery cells. The temperature control apparatus of the battery characterized by the above-mentioned. In the temperature control apparatus of the battery as described in any one of Claims 1-3,
A case for accommodating the heat pipe structure in which the battery and the cooling pipe are arranged;
The temperature control device for a battery, wherein the cooling pipe is connected to a cooling medium circulation path outside the case. The temperature control device for a battery according to claim 4,
The battery is a vehicle battery mounted on a vehicle,
In the case, an outside air introduction path that guides outside air to a portion of the heat pipe structure is formed,
An outside air introduction port of the outside air introduction path is opened when an outside air temperature becomes a predetermined temperature or less.

Images