JP7127504B2 - battery pack - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to battery packs.

Conventionally, this type of technology includes: a battery pack that houses a plurality of battery modules arranged in a predetermined direction; an air intake duct that is connected to the battery pack and introduces cooling air into the battery pack; A battery pack cooling structure has been proposed that includes a cooling fan that blows cooling air into the battery pack through a duct (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2016-135621 A

In the battery pack cooling structure described above, the bus bar that electrically connects two adjacent battery modules may not be sufficiently cooled. Therefore, when the busbar and the duct are arranged close to each other, the heat generated by the busbar may increase the temperature of the air in the duct.

A main object of the battery pack of the present invention is to further cool the busbars in a battery pack in which a plurality of battery stacks are electrically connected by the busbars.

The battery pack of the present invention employs the following means in order to achieve the above main object.

The battery pack of the present invention is
A battery pack mounted on a vehicle,
A plurality of battery stacks each having a plurality of battery cells, a plurality of bus bars electrically connecting two adjacent battery stacks, and first and second ducts for blowing cooling air to the plurality of battery stacks. and
The plurality of battery stacks are arranged so as to be spaced apart in a first direction in the horizontal direction,
The first and second ducts include first and second main ducts extending in the first direction on both sides of the plurality of battery stacks in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in a horizontal direction; 1, a side wall portion extending from one of the second main ducts and extending toward the other side while approaching the side surface of the corresponding battery stack, and the corresponding portion from the upper and lower portions of the side wall portion; first and second sub ducts having an upper wall portion and a lower wall portion extending toward the battery stack;
the plurality of busbars are arranged adjacent to the first main duct or the second duct, respectively;
On the sides of the side walls of the first and second sub ducts opposite to the corresponding battery stacks, there are upper rear ribs extending from the upper portions of the side walls and lower rear ribs extending from the lower portions of the side walls. at least one of which is formed,
This is the gist of it.

The battery pack of the present invention includes a plurality of battery stacks each having a plurality of battery cells, a plurality of bus bars electrically connecting two adjacent battery stacks, and a plurality of bus bars for blowing cooling air to the plurality of battery stacks. A first duct and a second duct are provided. The plurality of battery stacks are arranged so as to be spaced apart in a first direction in the horizontal direction, and the first and second ducts are arranged in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the first direction with respect to the plurality of battery stacks. First and second main ducts extending in the first direction on both sides of the two directions, and corresponding battery stacks extending from one of the first and second main ducts toward the other side. The first and second sub ducts have side walls that extend close to the side surfaces and upper and lower walls that extend from the upper and lower portions of the side walls toward the corresponding battery stack. Also, the plurality of busbars are arranged close to the first main duct or the second main duct, respectively. Furthermore, at least one of an upper rear rib extending from the upper portion of the sidewall and a lower rear rib extending from the lower portion of the sidewall is provided on the side of the sidewall of the first and second sub ducts opposite to the corresponding battery stack. one is formed. With such a configuration, cooling air is blown to each cell stack via the first and second main ducts and the first and second sub ducts. The cooling air then passes through gaps (for example, between two adjacent battery cells) in the battery stack. This cools each battery stack. The cooling air that has passed through the gaps in the respective cell stacks hits the side walls of the first and second sub ducts on the downstream side, flows along the side walls toward the busbars, and cools the busbars. The cooling air that has passed through the gaps in the battery stack tries to flow to the upper and lower sides of the first and second sub ducts on the downstream side. can be suppressed. Thereby, the busbar can be cooled more sufficiently. As a result, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise of the air in the first and second main ducts arranged close to the busbar.

1 is a top view of a battery pack 20 (with an upper cover 21b removed) as an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the AA section of FIG. 1 of the battery pack 20 (with the upper cover 21b attached). FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing how cooling air flows from blowers 26a and 26b; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing how cooling air flows from blowers 26a and 26b;

Next, a mode for carrying out the present invention will be described using examples.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a battery pack 20 (with the upper cover 21b removed) as an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the battery pack 20 (with the upper cover 21b attached) of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows AA cross section. In the following description, front, back, left, right, up and down indicate directions when mounted on a vehicle. The battery pack 20 of the embodiment is mounted on an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, and as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. It comprises blowers 26a, 26b and two ducts 30,40.

The storage case 21 has a lower case 21a and an upper cover 21b. The lower case 21a is formed in a box shape with an open top, and has a flange portion 21af. The upper cover 21b is formed in a box shape with an open bottom and has a flange portion 21bf. The lower case 21a and the upper cover 21b are fastened with bolts or the like in a state in which the openings and the flange portions 21af and 21bf are aligned with each other.

Each of the four battery stacks 22a to 22d has a plurality of battery cells (not shown) configured as, for example, lithium-ion secondary batteries or nickel-hydrogen secondary batteries, and is spaced from the vehicle front side toward the vehicle rear side. are arranged in this order. The battery stacks 22a and 22b are connected via a bus bar 24a on the right side of the vehicle of the battery stacks 22a and 22b, and the battery stacks 22b and 22c are connected to the left side of the vehicle by the bus bar 24b. The battery stack 22c and the battery stack 22d are connected via a bus bar 24c on the vehicle right side of the battery stacks 22c and 22d. The busbars 24 a and 24 c are arranged close to the main duct 41 of the duct 40 , and the bus bar 24 b is arranged close to the main duct 31 of the duct 30 . The battery stacks 22a-22d generate heat as they are charged and discharged, and the bus bars 24a-24c generate heat as current flows.

Blowers 26a and 26b are arranged on the left and right sides of the vehicle on the front side of the vehicle with respect to the battery stacks 22a to 22d, respectively. do.

The duct 30 has a main duct 31 and sub-ducts 32 and 33 , and the duct 40 has a main duct 41 and sub-ducts 42 and 43 . The main duct 31 is arranged on the left side of the vehicle with respect to the battery stacks 22a to 22d, is connected to the blower 26a, and extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The main duct 41 is arranged on the right side of the vehicle with respect to the battery stacks 22a to 22d, is connected to the blower 26b, and extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

The sub-ducts 32 and 33 extend from the main duct 31 and extend toward the main duct 41, and are composed of side wall portions 32a and 33a, upper wall portions 32b and 33b, lower wall portions 32c and 33c, and upper wall portions 32c and 33c. It has rear ribs 32d, 33d and lower rear ribs 32e, 33e. The side walls 32a, 33a extend toward the main duct 41 while approaching the corresponding battery stacks 22a, 22c. The upper wall portions 32b and 33b extend from the upper portions of the side wall portions 32a and 33a toward the battery stacks 22a and 22c (vehicle front side), and the tip portions (free ends) of the upper wall portions 32b and 33b extend toward the vehicle rear side surfaces of the battery stacks 22a and 22c. Fixed. The lower wall portions 32c and 33c extend from the lower portions of the side wall portions 32a and 33a toward the battery stacks 22a and 22c (vehicle front side), and the tip portions (free ends) of the lower wall portions 32a and 33c extend toward the vehicle rear side surfaces of the battery stacks 22a and 22c. Fixed. The upper and rear ribs 32d and 33d extend rearward of the vehicle from the upper portions of the side wall portions 32a and 33a on the side opposite to the battery stacks 22a and 22c. The lower rear ribs 32e, 33e extend rearward of the vehicle from lower portions of the side wall portions 32a, 33a on the side opposite to the battery stacks 22a, 22c.

The sub-ducts 42 and 43 extend from the main duct 41 and extend toward the main duct 31, and are composed of side wall portions 42a and 43a, upper wall portions 42b and 43b, lower wall portions 42c and 43c, and upper wall portions 42c and 43c. It has rear ribs 42d, 43d and lower rear ribs 42e, 43e. The side wall portions 42a and 43a extend toward the main duct 31 while approaching the corresponding battery stacks 22b and 22d. The upper wall portions 42b and 43b extend from the upper portions of the side wall portions 42a and 43a toward the battery stacks 22b and 22d (vehicle front side), and the tip portions (free ends) of the upper wall portions 42b and 43b extend toward the vehicle rear side surfaces of the battery stacks 22b and 22d. Fixed. The lower wall portions 42c and 43c extend from the lower portions of the side wall portions 42a and 43a toward the battery stacks 22b and 22d (vehicle front side), and the tip portions (free end portions) of the lower wall portions 42c and 43c extend toward the vehicle rear side surfaces of the battery stacks 22b and 22d. Fixed. The upper and rear ribs 42d and 43d extend rearward of the vehicle from upper portions of the side wall portions 42a and 43a on the side opposite to the battery stacks 22b and 22d. The lower rear ribs 42e, 43e extend rearward of the vehicle from lower portions of the side wall portions 42a, 43a on the side opposite to the battery stacks 22b, 22d.

3 and 4 are explanatory diagrams showing how the cooling air flows from the fans 26a and 26b. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the dashed lines indicate the flow of the cooling air. As shown in FIG. 3, the cooling air from the blower 26a is blown to the battery stacks 22a and 22c via the main duct 31 and the sub-ducts 32 and 33 of the duct 30, and the cooling air from the blower 26b is supplied to the duct 40. Air is sent to the battery stacks 22b and 22d via the main duct 41 and the sub-ducts 42 and 43. Then, the cooling air blown to the battery stacks 22a-22d passes through gaps (for example, between two adjacent battery cells) in the battery stacks 22a-22d, as shown in FIGS. This cools the battery stacks 22a-22d. As shown in FIG. 3, the cooling air that has passed through the gaps in the battery stacks 22b to 22d is directed to the vehicle rear side of the side walls 32a, 42a, and 33a of the secondary ducts 32, 42, and 33 on the downstream side (vehicle front side). , to cool the busbars 24a, 24b, 24c. The cooling air that has passed through the gaps in the battery stacks 22b to 22d tries to flow above and below the side walls 32a, 42a, and 33a of the secondary ducts 32, 42, and 33 on the downstream side (vehicle front side). As shown in FIG. 4, this can be suppressed by forming upper rear ribs 32d, 42d, 33d and lower rear ribs 32e, 42e, 33e. As a result, the amount of cooling air flowing toward the busbars 24a, 24b, 24c can be increased, and the busbars 24a, 24b, 24c can be cooled more sufficiently. As a result, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise of the air in the main ducts 31, 41 arranged close to the busbars 24a, 24b, 24c. In other words, the following can be said. When the upper rear ribs 32d, 42d, 33d and the lower rear ribs 32e, 42e, 33e are not formed, less cooling air flows through the bus bars 24a to 24c, so that parts around the bus bars 24a to 24c, such as the main ducts 31, 41, are more efficient. It is necessary to use an expensive material (for example, foamed fiber) or attach a heat insulating sheet, which increases the cost. On the other hand, in the embodiment, the upper rear ribs 32d, 42d, 33d and the lower rear ribs 32e, 42e, 33e are formed, so that the busbars 24a to 24c can be sufficiently cooled. The busbars 24a to 24c peripheral parts such as 31 and 41 can be made of inexpensive materials, and the attachment of heat insulating sheets can be omitted, thereby reducing costs.

Further, the sub ducts 32, 33, 42, 43 are provided with upper rear ribs 32d, 33d, 42d, 43d and lower rear ribs 32e, 33e, 42e, 43e, so that the rigidity of the side walls 32a, 33a, 42a, 43a is increased. can be higher. As a result, the leading end sides of the side wall portions 32a and 33a (main duct 41 side) and the leading end sides of the side wall portions 42a and 43a (main duct 31 side) are warped away from the battery stacks 22a, 22c, 22b and 22d. can be suppressed.

In the battery pack 20 of the embodiment described above, the side walls 32a, 33a, 42a, and 43a of the sub-ducts 32, 33, 42, and 43 of the ducts 30 and 40 are opposite to the battery stacks 22a, 22c, 22b, and 22d. are formed with upper rear ribs 32d, 33d, 42d, 43d and lower rear ribs 32e, 33e, 42e, 43e. Thereby, bus bars 24a, 24b, and 24c can be cooled more sufficiently. As a result, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise of the air in the main ducts 31, 41 arranged close to the busbars 24a, 24b, 24c.

In the battery pack 20 of the embodiment, the sub ducts 32, 33, 42, 43 are provided with the upper rear ribs 32d, 33d, 42d, 43d and the lower rear ribs 32e, 33e, 42e, 43e. Only one of 32d, 33d, 42d, 43d and lower rear ribs 32e, 33e, 42e, 43e may be provided.

Although the battery pack 20 of the embodiment is arranged in the orientation shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is arranged in an orientation rotated horizontally by 90 degrees, 180 degrees, or 270 degrees with respect to this orientation. It can be a thing.

Although the battery pack 20 of the embodiment has four battery stacks 22a to 22d, the number of battery stacks is not limited to four, and may be three, five, six, or eight. and so on. In this case, the number of busbars and the number of sub-ducts of the ducts 30 and 40 correspond to the number of battery stacks.

The correspondence relationship between the main elements of the embodiments and the main elements of the invention described in the column of Means for Solving the Problems will be described. In the embodiment, the four battery stacks 22a-22d correspond to "a plurality of battery stacks", the duct 30 having the main duct 31 and the sub-ducts 32 and 33 corresponds to the "first duct", the main duct 41 and The duct 40 having the sub-ducts 42 and 43 corresponds to the "second duct", and the busbars 24a to 24c correspond to the "busbar".

Note that the correspondence relationship between the main elements of the examples and the main elements of the invention described in the column of Means for Solving the Problems is the Since it is an example for specifically explaining the mode for solving the problem, it does not limit the elements of the invention described in the column of the means for solving the problem. That is, the interpretation of the invention described in the column of Means to Solve the Problem should be made based on the description in that column, and the Examples are based on the description of the invention described in the column of Means to Solve the Problem. This is only a specific example.

Although the embodiments for carrying out the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments at all, and can be modified in various forms without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course, it can be implemented.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is applicable to the battery pack manufacturing industry and the like.

20 battery pack, 21 storage case, 21a lower case, 21af, 21bf flange portion, 21b upper cover, 22a to 22d battery stack, 24a to 24c bus bar, 26a, 26b fan, 30, 40 duct, 31, 41 main duct, 32, 33, 42, 43 Sub-duct 32a, 33a, 42a, 43a Side wall 32b, 33b, 42b, 43b Upper wall 32c, 33c, 42c, 43c Lower wall 32d, 33d, 42d, 43d Upper and rear ribs , 32e, 33e, 42e, 43e Lower back ribs.

Claims (1)

A battery pack mounted on a vehicle,
A plurality of battery stacks each having a plurality of battery cells, a plurality of bus bars electrically connecting two adjacent battery stacks, and first and second ducts for blowing cooling air to the plurality of battery stacks. and
The plurality of battery stacks are arranged so as to be spaced apart in a first direction in the horizontal direction,
The first and second ducts include first and second main ducts extending in the first direction on both sides of the plurality of battery stacks in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in a horizontal direction; 1, a side wall portion extending from one of the second main ducts and extending toward the other side while approaching the side surface of the corresponding battery stack, and the corresponding portion from the upper and lower portions of the side wall portion; first and second sub ducts having an upper wall portion and a lower wall portion extending toward the battery stack;
the plurality of busbars are arranged close to the first main duct or the second main duct, respectively;
On the sides of the side walls of the first and second sub ducts opposite to the corresponding battery stacks, there are upper rear ribs extending from the upper portions of the side walls and lower rear ribs extending from the lower portions of the side walls. at least one of which is formed,
battery pack.

Images