JP7230789B2 - battery cooler - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a battery cooling device.

Patent Document 1 discloses a battery row in which a plurality of rectangular parallelepiped batteries are arranged in a row in a first direction, and a restraint that restrains the battery row by applying a compressive load to the battery row in the first direction. A battery comprising an aging step of placing a battery stack having a jig in a temperature environment higher than room temperature for a certain period of time, and a cooling step of cooling the battery stack after the aging step using a cooling device. A method of manufacture is disclosed.

JP 2013-118048 A

By the way, if a plurality of battery stacks (batteries contained therein) are cooled simultaneously, the batteries can be cooled more efficiently than when the battery stacks are cooled one by one. Therefore, a method of arranging a plurality (three or more) of battery stacks that have undergone the aging process in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and cooling the plurality of battery stacks at the same time is conceivable. However, when a plurality (three or more) of battery stacks are simultaneously cooled in this manner, it is possible to uniformly cool a plurality of (three or more) battery stacks (batteries included therein) arranged in the second direction. Sometimes I can't. For example, among the batteries included in a plurality (three or more) of battery stacks arranged in the second direction, the batteries included in the battery stack closer to the center in the second direction may be more difficult to cool (the temperature is less likely to decrease). .

For this reason, there has been a large variation in battery temperature among a plurality of battery stacks that have completed the cooling process. For example, among the batteries included in a plurality (three or more) of battery stacks that have undergone the cooling step, the temperature of the battery included in the battery stack closer to the center in the second direction may be higher. If there is a large variation in battery temperature among a plurality of battery stacks that have undergone the cooling process, for example, there is a risk that subsequent processes (for example, the self-discharge inspection process) cannot be performed appropriately.

The present invention has been made in view of the current situation, and provides a battery cooling device for simultaneously cooling a plurality (three or more) of battery stacks (batteries included in these), wherein the battery between the plurality of battery stacks is cooled. An object of the present invention is to provide a battery cooling device capable of reducing temperature variations.

One aspect of the present invention is a battery row in which a plurality of rectangular parallelepiped batteries are arranged in a row in a first direction, and a compressive load is applied to the battery row in the first direction to the battery row. A battery stack having a restraining jig for restraining a plurality of three or more of the battery stacks that have undergone an aging process of being placed in a temperature environment higher than normal temperature for a certain period of time, and are perpendicular to the first direction. The battery cooling device cools the batteries arranged in a row in a second direction at the same time, wherein the restraining jig has a battery row housing portion for housing the battery row, and the battery row housing portion includes the restraining jig. The battery cooling device has a lower opening that opens downward to expose the lower surfaces of the plurality of batteries constituting the battery row, and the battery cooling device includes a plurality of batteries included in the plurality of battery stacks. and a cooling unit that is the same in number as the plurality of battery stacks simultaneously cooled by the battery cooling device, and each cooling unit is provided with below the battery stack and at a contact position contacting the lower surface of each of the restraining jigs, wherein the battery cooling device includes a plurality of the chambers arranged in a row in the second direction a hood disposed below the chamber group so as to cover the lower surface of the chamber group consisting of and a connecting pipe connecting the cooling air outlet of the cooling air generator and the cooling air inlet of the hood, wherein the cooling air is generated by the cooling air generator. a connecting pipe for circulating cooling air from the cooling air outlet to the cooling air inlet through the connecting pipe; A cooling air inlet for introducing the cooling air into the chamber, the cooling air inlet provided at the bottom of the chamber, and a cooling air inlet located at the ceiling of the chamber, with the chamber arranged at the contact position. A cooling air outlet disposed at a position facing the lower surface of the battery array through the lower opening of the battery array accommodating portion, wherein the cooling air is introduced into the chamber through the cooling air inlet. a cooling air outlet for discharging air toward the lower surface of the battery array through the lower opening of the battery array housing section, wherein the hood includes A partition plate is positioned between the cooling air inlet of the bar and the cooling air inlet of the hood, and divides the inner space of the hood into upper and lower inner spaces. The partition plate is formed at a position facing the cooling air inlet of each of the chambers in the vertical direction, and provides a plurality of communication channels for communicating the upper internal space and the lower internal space of the hood. a hole for directing the cooling air flowing upward in the lower internal space through the communication hole toward the cooling air introduction port facing in the vertical direction, and directing the cooling air to the upper internal space By adjusting the opening area of each of the communication holes, the battery cooling device can flow from the lower internal space to the upper internal space through each of the communication holes. The battery cooling device is provided with an adjusting device for adjusting the flow rate of the circulating cooling air.

The battery cooling device described above is a device that simultaneously cools a plurality of (three or more) battery stacks that have undergone an aging process in which they are placed in a temperature environment higher than room temperature for a certain period of time. The battery stack includes a battery row in which a plurality of rectangular parallelepiped batteries are arranged in a row in a first direction, and a compressive load applied to the battery row in the first direction to constrain the battery row. It has a restraining jig that The battery cooling device described above simultaneously cools a plurality (three or more) of battery stacks that have undergone the aging process while arranging them in a line in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Therefore, the battery cooling device described above cools the batteries included in the plurality of battery stacks that have undergone the aging process, while they are still in the state of the battery stacks.

The battery stack constraining jig has a battery row accommodating portion that accommodates the battery row. The battery row accommodating portion has a lower opening that opens downward from the restraining jig and exposes the lower surfaces of the plurality of batteries forming the battery row.

The battery cooling device described above includes a cooling wind generator (for example, an air processor) that generates cooling wind for cooling a plurality of batteries included in a plurality of battery stacks, and a plurality of batteries simultaneously cooled by the battery cooling device. It has the same number of cooling units as there are stacks. That is, the battery cooling device described above includes cooling units arranged one-to-one for each battery stack. Each cooling unit includes a chamber arranged at a contact position below the battery stack and in contact with the lower surface of the restraining jig.

Further, the battery cooling device described above includes a hood disposed below the chamber group so as to cover the lower surface of the chamber group composed of a plurality of chambers arranged in a line in the second direction, and a cooling air outlet of the cooling air generator. and a connecting pipe connecting the cooling air inlet of the hood. The hood has a cooling air inlet positioned at the bottom of the hood for allowing the cooling air generated by the cooling air generator to flow into the hood. The connecting pipe allows the cooling air generated by the cooling air generating device to flow from the cooling air outlet of the cooling air generating device to the cooling air inlet of the hood through the connecting pipe.

Each chamber has a cooling air inlet and a cooling air outlet. Among these, the cooling air inlet is a cooling air inlet for introducing the cooling air flowing upward in the hood into the chamber, and is a cooling air inlet provided in the lower part of the chamber. be. In addition, the cooling air outlet is located in the ceiling of the chamber, and in a state where the chamber is arranged at the contact position, the cooling air is arranged at a position facing the lower surface of the battery row through the lower opening of the battery row housing part. It is the outlet. The cooling air outlet discharges the cooling air introduced into the chamber through the cooling air inlet toward the lower surface of the battery array through the lower opening of the battery array accommodating section.

Furthermore, in the battery cooling device described above, the hood has a partition positioned between the cooling air inlet of the chamber and the cooling air inlet of the hood. The partition plate vertically partitions the internal space of the hood to divide the internal space of the hood into an upper internal space and a lower internal space. The partition plate has a plurality of communication holes formed at positions facing the cooling air inlets of the respective chambers in the vertical direction, and communicates the upper internal space and the lower internal space of the hood. have. Each of the plurality of communication holes vertically opposes the communication hole through the communication hole (located directly above the communication hole), through which the cooling air flowing upward in the lower internal space is directed. The cooling air is circulated in the upper internal space toward the cooling air inlet. Therefore, the cooling air that has passed through each of the communication holes flows upward in the upper internal space toward the cooling air inlet that vertically faces the communication hole that it has passed through (located directly above the communication hole that it has passed through). distributed to

Furthermore, in the battery cooling device described above, by adjusting (changing) the opening area of each communication hole, the flow rate of the cooling air flowing through each communication hole from the lower internal space of the hood to the upper internal space. is provided with an adjustment device for adjusting the By adjusting the flow rate of the cooling air that flows from the lower internal space of the hood to the upper internal space of the hood through each communication hole, the adjusting device adjusts the flow rate of the cooling air that is introduced into each chamber. be able to. As a result, for each of the plurality of battery stacks to be cooled simultaneously, the flow rate of the cooling air discharged from the cooling air outlet of each chamber toward the lower surface of the battery array through the lower opening of the battery array accommodating portion is adjusted. (eg, different flow rates than other cell stacks).

Therefore, in the battery cooling device described above, for example, among a plurality of battery stacks to be cooled at the same time, the flow rate of the cooling air discharged toward the lower surface of the battery stack increases as the battery stack is arranged in a position that is relatively difficult to cool. The opening area of each communication hole is adjusted by the adjusting device so as to increase the flow rate of the cooling air flowing from the lower internal space of the hood to the upper internal space through each communication hole. .

Specifically, the communication hole at the position (directly below) vertically facing the cooling air inlet of the chamber arranged at the contact position below the battery stack arranged at a relatively hard-to-cool position is controlled by the adjusting device. , the opening area of the opening of the communicating hole is increased. As a result, it is possible to increase the flow rate of the cooling air directed through the communication hole to the cooling air inlet facing the communication hole in the vertical direction (positioned directly above the communication hole), so that cooling is relatively difficult. The closer the battery stack is arranged, the greater the flow rate of the cooling air discharged toward the lower surface of the battery row. As a result, the flow rate of the cooling air that cools the battery stacks that are more difficult to cool (the temperature of which is less likely to decrease) can be increased, so that variations in battery temperature among a plurality of battery stacks can be reduced.

For example, among batteries included in a plurality (three or more) of battery stacks arranged in the second direction, batteries included in a battery stack closer to the center in the second direction are more difficult to cool (the temperature is less likely to decrease). In the second direction, the closer the battery stack is to the center, the greater the flow rate of the cooling air discharged from the chamber toward the lower surface of the battery array. Adjust the flow rate of the cooling air that flows into the upper internal space. Specifically, the adjustment device increases the opening area of the opening of the communication hole closer to the center in the second direction. It is possible to increase the flow rate of the cooling air directed to the cooling air inlet facing the communicating hole in the vertical direction (located directly above the communicating hole). As a result, the closer the battery stack is to the center in the second direction, the greater the flow rate of the cooling air discharged from the chamber toward the lower surface of the battery row.

As a result, the flow rate of the cooling air that cools the battery stack closer to the center in the second direction, that is, the cooling air that cools the battery stack that is more difficult to cool (the temperature of which is less likely to decrease) can be increased. In this way, by varying the flow rate of the cooling air according to the difficulty of cooling the battery stack (difficulty in lowering the temperature), there is variation in battery temperature among a plurality of (three or more) battery stacks cooled at the same time. can be reduced.

As described above, the above-described battery cooling device is a battery cooling device that simultaneously cools a plurality (three or more) of battery stacks (batteries included in these), and the battery temperature variation among the plurality of battery stacks is minimized. It is a battery cooling device that can reduce the

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an aging process according to Embodiments 1 and 2; 1 is a diagram illustrating a battery cooling device according to Embodiment 1; FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the B section in FIG. 2 and an enlarged view of the C section in FIG. 8; FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE of FIG. 2; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. 2; 1 is a schematic diagram of a battery cooling device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a battery cooling device according to Embodiment 2; It is a figure explaining the cooling process using the same battery cooling device.

<Embodiment 1>
Next, a method for manufacturing a battery and a battery cooling device 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the aging process according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the battery cooling device 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the B portion of FIG. 2, and is a diagram for explaining the cooling unit 50 that constitutes the battery cooling device 1. As shown in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE of FIG. 2, and is a plan view of the fan 70 attached to the cooling air inlets 81 of the plurality of chambers 80 constituting the battery cooling device 1. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. 2, and is a plan view of the partition plate 92 of the hood 90 that constitutes the battery cooling device 1. FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the battery cooling device 1 according to the first embodiment.

First, in the assembly process, a plurality of rectangular parallelepiped batteries 100 (see FIG. 1) are assembled. In addition, in Embodiment 1, a lithium ion secondary battery is manufactured as the battery 100 . After that, each battery 100 is subjected to initial charging and the like. Next, the plurality of batteries 100 are bound by the binding jig 20 to form the battery stack 10 (see FIG. 1). The battery stack 10 includes a battery row 30 in which a plurality of batteries 100 are arranged in a line in a first direction D1 (the direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG. 1, the vertical direction in FIGS. 4 and 5), and the battery row 30 The restraint jig 20 restrains the battery array 30 by applying a compressive load to the battery array 30 in the first direction D1.

The battery row 30 is composed of a plurality of batteries 100 and has an upper surface 35, a lower surface 36 and four side surfaces. The four side surfaces of the battery row 30 are a first side surface 31 that faces one side (the front side in FIG. 1) in a first direction D1 (a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 1) and a first side surface 31 that faces the other side in the first direction D1 (the 1), and a third side surface (not shown) extending in the first direction D1 (the direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG. 1) between the first side surface 31 and the second side surface (not shown). The side surface 33 is positioned opposite to the third side surface 33 (on the left side in FIG. 1) in the width direction DW of the battery 100 (the direction orthogonal to the first direction D1 and the vertical direction DH, the left-right direction in FIG. 1). and a fourth side surface 34 extending in the first direction D1 between the side surface 31 and the second side surface (not shown). A resin spacer (not shown) is interposed between the batteries 100 adjacent in the first direction D1 (see FIG. 1).

The restraining jig 20 is a known restraining jig, and has a battery row housing portion 20 b that houses the battery row 30 . The battery row housing portion 20b includes a first side wall portion (not shown) that presses the first side surface 31 of the battery row 30 toward the other side (back side of the paper surface) in the first direction D1 (the direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG. 1). , a second side wall portion (not shown) that presses the second side surface (not shown) of the battery row 30 to one side (the front side of the paper surface) in the first direction D1, and the battery in the width direction DW (left and right direction in FIG. 1). It has a third side wall portion 23 facing the third side surface 33 of the row 30 , a fourth side wall portion 24 facing the fourth side surface 34 of the battery row 30 in the width direction DW, and bottoms 25 and 26 . The third side wall portion 23 and the fourth side wall portion 24 are side wall portions that extend from the position of the first side wall portion (not shown) to the position of the second side wall portion (not shown) in the first direction D1 (see FIG. 1). reference).

Further, the battery row housing portion 20b has an upper opening portion 27 that opens above the restraining jig 20. As shown in FIG. Upper surface 35 of battery row 30 (upper surface 105 of each battery 100 constituting battery row 30 ) is exposed above restraint jig 20 through upper opening 27 . Further, the battery row housing portion 20b has a lower opening portion 28 that opens below the restraining jig 20. As shown in FIG. This lower opening 28 is the opening located between the bottoms 25 and 26 . The lower surface 36 of the battery row 30 (the lower surface 106 of each battery 100 forming the battery row 30) is exposed below the restraint jig 20 through the lower opening 28 (see FIG. 1).

In this battery stack 10, the third side surface 33 of the battery row 30 (the third surface 103 of each battery 100 constituting the battery row 30) and the third side wall portion 23 of the restraining jig 20 are aligned in the width direction DW (Fig. 1 in the horizontal direction, the direction perpendicular to the first direction D1 and the vertical direction DH), and the fourth side surface 34 of the battery row 30 (the fourth surface 104 of each battery 100 constituting the battery row 30) ) and the fourth side wall portion 24 of the restraining jig 20 are spaced apart in the width direction DW. Furthermore, in the battery stack 10, the lower surface 36 of the battery row 30 (the lower surface 106 of each battery 100 forming the battery row 30) and the bottoms 25 and 26 of the restraining jig 20 are separated in the vertical direction DH. (See Figure 1).

Therefore, in this battery stack 10 , between the lower surface 36 of the battery row 30 (the lower surface 106 of each battery 100 constituting the battery row 30 ) and the bottoms 25 and 26 of the restraint jig 20 , the third side surface of the battery row 30 33 (the third surface 103 of each battery 100 constituting the battery row 30) and the third side wall portion 23 of the restraint jig 20, and the fourth side surface 34 of the battery row 30 (the battery row 30 constituting the battery row 30). A cooling air CA, which will be described later, can flow between the fourth surface 104 of each battery 100 and the fourth side wall portion 24 of the restraining jig 20 (see FIGS. 1 and 3).

Next, in the aging step, the plurality of battery stacks 10 are placed in a temperature environment higher than room temperature (for example, 60° C.) for a certain period of time. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of battery stacks 10 are placed in a high-temperature aging chamber 40 whose room temperature is maintained at a constant temperature (for example, 60° C.) higher than room temperature for a certain period of time. Each battery 100 is aged. Although only one battery stack 10 is shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of battery stacks 10 are aged at once in the aging process of the first embodiment.

After that, in the cooling step, the plurality of battery stacks 10 (the respective batteries 100 included therein) that have undergone the aging step are cooled for a predetermined period of time using the battery cooling device 1 (see FIG. 2). Specifically, a plurality of battery stacks 10 that have undergone the aging process are arranged in a line in a second direction D2 (horizontal direction in FIG. 2, a direction that coincides with the width direction DW) orthogonal to the first direction D1, and the battery is cooled. The device 1 is used to simultaneously cool a plurality of battery stacks 10 (batteries 100 contained therein). Therefore, the batteries 100 included in the plurality of battery stacks 10 that have undergone the aging process are cooled in the state of the battery stacks 10 .

The battery cooling device 1 includes a cooling air generation device 130 that generates cooling air CA for cooling the plurality of batteries 100 included in the plurality of battery stacks 10, and a plurality of batteries that are simultaneously cooled by the battery cooling device 1 in a cooling process. and the same number of cooling units 50 as the stacks 10 . That is, the battery cooling device 1 includes cooling units 50 that are arranged one-to-one with respect to each battery stack 10 . In the battery cooling device 1 of Embodiment 1, six battery stacks 10 (batteries 100 included therein) are cooled simultaneously. Accordingly, the battery cooling device 1 includes six cooling units 50 arranged in a row in the second direction D2 (see FIG. 2).

In addition, the battery cooling device 1 is arranged on the upper surface 20c (upper end of the upper opening 27) of the restraining jig 20 included in the six battery stacks 10 arranged in the second direction D2, and the six battery arrays are arranged. A lid member 60 is provided to cover the upper opening 27 of the housing portion 20b. The lid member 60 has a seal rubber 65 provided on the lower surface 61 of the lid member 60 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The lid member 60 is arranged on the upper surfaces 20c of the six restraining jigs 20 in such a manner that the seal rubber 65 is in close contact with the upper surfaces 20c of the six restraining jigs 20 (upper ends of the upper openings 27). The upper opening 27 of the battery row accommodating portion 20b is covered (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each cooling unit 50 is arranged at a contact position (position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) below the battery stack 10 and in contact with the lower surface 20d of the restraint jig 20. A chamber 80 is provided. The chamber 80 has a cooling air inlet 81 for introducing the cooling air CA into the chamber 80, as shown in FIG. The cooling air inlet 81 is provided at a portion (specifically, a bottom portion 86 ) positioned on the lower side (lower side) of the chamber 80 . In the first embodiment, each chamber 80 is provided with two cooling air inlets 81 arranged side by side in the first direction D1 (see FIG. 4).

Furthermore, each cooling unit 50 has a fan 70 provided at each cooling air inlet 81 of the chamber 80 (see FIGS. 2 to 4). The fan 70 supplies cooling air CA flowing inside the hood 90 to be described later into the chamber 80 through the cooling air inlet 81 of the chamber 80 .

Furthermore, the battery cooling device 1 includes a hood 90 arranged below the chamber group 80G so as to cover the lower surface of the chamber group 80G, which is composed of six chambers 80 arranged in a row in the second direction D2, and a cooling air generator. 130 and a connecting pipe 120 that connects the cooling air outlet 131 of the hood 90 and the cooling air inlet 95 of the hood 90 (see FIGS. 2 and 6). The upper surface of the hood 90 is fixed to the lower surfaces of the six chambers 80 (chamber group 80G) aligned in the second direction D2. Thereby, the six cooling units 50 and the chamber 80 are integrated.

The hood 90 has a cooling air inlet 95 located at the lower portion (bottom) of the hood 90 and allowing the cooling air CA generated by the cooling air generator 130 to flow into the hood 90 . The connecting pipe 120 circulates the cooling air CA generated by the cooling air generating device 130 from the cooling air outlet 131 of the cooling air generating device 130 to the cooling air inlet 95 of the hood 90 through the connecting pipe 120 (FIG. 6). reference).

In the first embodiment, the cooling air generator 130 generates cooling air CA having a temperature lower than room temperature (for example, 17° C.). The cooling air generator 130 is configured by, for example, a known air processor. The cooling air CA generated by the cooling air generator 130 is introduced into the internal space IS of the hood 90 from the cooling air inlet 95 of the hood 90 through the connecting pipe 120 (see FIGS. 2 and 6). The cooling air CA introduced into the internal space IS of the hood 90 flows upward through the internal space IS of the hood 90 and is supplied inside each chamber 80 through the fan 70 .

Furthermore, the chamber 80 has a cooling air outlet 82 provided in a ceiling portion 83 (upper wall portion) of the chamber 80, as shown in FIG. The cooling air outlet 82 extends through the lower surface 36 of the battery row 30 through the lower opening 28 of the battery row housing portion 20b in a state where the chamber 80 is arranged at the above-described contact position (the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3). The cooling air CA introduced into the chamber 80 through the cooling air introduction port 81 is disposed at a position facing the lower surface 106 of each battery 100 constituting the battery row 30, and is introduced into the lower opening of the battery row housing portion 20b. It is an opening that discharges through the portion 28 toward the lower surface 36 of the battery row 30 (the lower surface 106 of each battery 100 forming the battery row 30) (see FIG. 2).

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the cooling air CA introduced into the chamber 80 through the cooling air inlet 81 flows upward through the chamber 80 and flows through the cooling air provided in the ceiling 83. The air is discharged to the outside of the chamber 80 through the wind discharge port 82 . The released cooling air CA is introduced into the battery stack 10 through the lower opening 28 of the battery row housing portion 20b, and is applied to the lower surface 36 of the battery row 30 (the lower surface 106 of each battery 100 forming the battery row 30). ). The internal dimensions of the chamber 80 are such that the cooling air CA introduced into the chamber 80 through the cooling air inlet 81 is rectified and discharged to the outside of the chamber 80 through the cooling air outlet 82 provided in the ceiling 83. It is sometimes dimensioned for laminar flow from bottom to top.

Further, the chamber 80 has an annular seal rubber 85 provided on the upper surface 84 of the chamber 80 (the outer surface of the ceiling portion 83) (see FIG. 3). For this reason, the chamber 80 is arranged such that the seal rubber 85 is in close contact with the lower surface 20d of the restraining jig 20 (the outer surfaces of the bottom portions 25 and 26) at the contact position (below the battery stack 10 and at the lower surface 20d of the restraining jig 20). contact position). As a result, the cooling air discharge port 82 of the chamber 80 and the lower opening 28 of the battery row housing portion 20b are airtightly communicated (see FIG. 3).

In the battery stack 10, the cooling air CA introduced into the inside of the battery stack 10 through the lower opening 28 of the battery row accommodating portion 20b flows below the battery row 30 to the third side wall portion 23 of the battery row accommodating portion 20b. After flowing toward (to the right in FIG. 3), it flows upward in the space (referred to as first space S1) between the third side wall portion 23 and the third side surface 33 of the battery row 30, and the battery After flowing below the row 30 toward the fourth side wall portion 24 of the battery row accommodating portion 20b (to the left in FIG. 3), the space between the fourth side wall portion 24 and the fourth side surface 34 of the battery row 30 (the fourth 2 space S2) is configured to flow upward (see FIG. 3).

In the cooling process of Embodiment 1, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the six battery stacks 10 are arranged in the second direction D2, and the chambers 80 of the respective cooling units 50 are placed at the contact positions (FIGS. 2 and 6). 3), and the lid member 60 covers the upper opening 27 of the battery row accommodating portion 20b (the upper opening 27 is closed). After that, the cooling air generator 130 is turned on to generate the cooling air CA, and the fan 70 is turned on to operate.

Thereby, the cooling air CA generated by the cooling air generating device 130 is introduced into the internal space IS of the hood 90 from the cooling air inlet 95 of the hood 90 through the connecting pipe 120 (see FIGS. 2 and 6). Further, the cooling air CA introduced into the internal space IS of the hood 90 flows upward through the internal space IS of the hood 90 and is driven by the fans 70 to the cooling air inlets 81 of the chambers 80. is supplied to the inside of each chamber 80 through. Thereby, for each battery 100 included in the six battery stacks 10, the lower surface 106, the third surface 103 (the surface constituting the third side surface 33 of the battery row 30), and the fourth surface 104 (the surface of the battery row 30) The surface forming the fourth side surface 34 ) and the upper surface 105 can be brought into contact with the cooling air CA to cool each battery 100 .

Specifically, after the cooling air CA is introduced into the chamber 80 through the cooling air inlet 81 , it flows upward through the chamber 80 and reaches the cooling air outlet provided in the ceiling portion 83 . is discharged to the outside of the chamber 80 through . The discharged cooling air CA is introduced into the battery stack 10 through the lower opening 28 of the battery row housing portion 20b and hits the lower surface 106 of each battery 100 forming the battery row 30 (see FIG. 3). As a result, the cooling air CA is brought into contact with the lower surface 106 of each battery 100 to remove heat from the lower surface 106 of each battery 100 .

Further, the cooling air CA that hits the lower surface 106 of each battery 100 flows below the battery row 30 toward the third side wall portion 23 of the battery row housing portion 20b, and then flows toward the third side wall portion 23 and the battery row 30. While flowing upward in the first space S1 between the third side surface 33 of the battery row 30, after flowing toward the fourth side wall portion 24 of the battery row housing portion 20b under the battery row 30, the fourth It flows upward in the second space S2 between the side wall portion 24 and the fourth side surface 34 of the battery row 30 (see FIG. 3). When the cooling air CA flows upward in the first space S1, the cooling air CA comes into contact with the third surface 103 of each battery 100, so that the third surface 103 of each battery 100 can take heat. Further, when the cooling air CA flows upward in the second space S2, the cooling air CA comes into contact with the fourth surface 104 of each battery 100, thereby Heat can be taken from 104 .

After that, the cooling air CA collides with the cover member 60 arranged on the upper surface 20 c of the restraint jig 20 , is repelled, travels downward, and contacts the upper surface 105 of each battery 100 . Thereby, heat can be taken from the upper surface 105 of each battery 100 by the cooling air CA. After that, the cooling air CA is blown out of the battery stack 10 from outlets (not shown) located at both ends of the battery stack 10 in the first direction D1 (the end on the back side and the end on the front side of the paper surface in FIG. 2). It is discharged outside. Although not shown in FIG. 6, in the battery cooling device 1 of Embodiment 1, the cooling air CA discharged to the outside of the battery stack 10 is configured to return to the cooling air generator 130. ing.

As described above, the lower surface 106, the third surface 103, the fourth surface 104, and the upper surface 105 of each battery 100 constituting the battery row 30 of the six battery stacks 10 are brought into contact with the cooling air CA. , by drawing heat from these four surfaces (lower surface 106, third surface 103, fourth surface 104, and upper surface 105), each cell 100 can be cooled.

The seal rubber 85 allows airtight communication between the cooling air outlet 82 of the chamber 80 and the lower opening 28 of the battery row housing portion 20b. internal pressure rises. Therefore, the temperature inside the chamber 80 rises due to the adiabatic compression effect, and the temperature inside the chamber 80 (therefore, the temperature of the cooling air CA circulating inside the chamber 80) changes to the temperature inside the hood 90 (therefore, the inside of the hood 90 temperature of the circulating cooling air CA). Specifically, in the battery cooling device 1 of Embodiment 1, the temperature inside the chamber 80 is about 3° C. higher than the temperature inside the hood 90 . Therefore, the temperature of the cooling air CA when it reaches the battery stack 10 is about 3° C. higher than the temperature of the cooling air CA when it is sent from the cooling air generator 130 .

Therefore, in the battery cooling device 1 of Embodiment 1, when it is desired to lower the temperature of the batteries 100 of each battery stack 10 to a predetermined target temperature, the temperature of the cooling air CA generated by the cooling air generation device 130 is set to Set the temperature to 3°C lower than the target temperature. For example, when the temperature of the batteries 100 of each battery stack 10 is to be lowered to 20°C (this is the target temperature), the temperature of the cooling air CA generated by the cooling air generator 130 is set to 17°C.

Furthermore, in the battery cooling device 1 of Embodiment 1, the hood 90 has a partition plate 92 positioned between the cooling air inlet 81 of the chamber 80 and the cooling air inlet 95 of the hood 90 (see FIG. 2). . The partition plate 92 vertically partitions the internal space IS formed by the body portion 91 of the hood 90 to divide the internal space IS of the hood 90 into an upper internal space IS1 and a lower internal space IS2. The partition plate 92 has a plurality of communication holes 93 formed at positions vertically facing the cooling air inlets 81 of the respective chambers 80 (and the fans 70 attached to the respective cooling air inlets 81). (see FIGS. 2 and 5). The communication hole 93 communicates the upper internal space IS1 and the lower internal space IS2 of the hood 90 .

Each of the communication holes 93 vertically opposes the communication hole 93 through the communication hole 93 (directly above the communication hole). located) and flow into the upper internal space IS1. Therefore, the cooling air CA that has passed through each communication hole 93 flows upward in the upper internal space IS1 toward the cooling air introduction port 81 that vertically faces the communication hole 93 that has passed through. In addition, in the battery cooling device 1 of Embodiment 1, the fan 70 is attached to the cooling air inlet 81 of each chamber 80, so that the cooling air CA passing through each communication hole 93 It flows upward in the upper internal space IS1 toward the fan 70 attached to the introduction port 81 .

Furthermore, the battery cooling device 1 of Embodiment 1 includes an adjustment device 110 (see FIGS. 2 and 5). The adjustment device 110 adjusts (changes) the opening area of the opening 94 (upper opening) of each of the communication holes 93 of the partition plate 92, so that the opening 94 (upper opening) of each of the communication holes 93 of the partition plate 92 can move from the lower internal space IS2 of the hood 90 to the upper side. The flow rate of the cooling air CA flowing into the internal space IS1 is adjusted. The adjustment device 110 includes flat plate-like slide members 111 and 112 that slide in the second direction D2 (horizontal direction in FIGS. 2 and 5) to open and close the openings 94 of the communication holes 93, and the slide members 111 and 112. in the second direction D2 to adjust (change) the opening area of the opening 94 of each communication hole 93 (not shown).

The slide members 111 and 112 (a pair of slide members 111 and 112) are symmetrical in the second direction D2 about the center of each communication hole 93 with respect to each communication hole 93 on the upper surface of the partition plate 92 (Figs. symmetrical in FIG. 5). The slide members 111 and 112 (a pair of slide members 111 and 112) are synchronously slid in opposite directions to each other in the second direction D2 under position adjustment control by a controller (not shown) to open the respective communication holes 93. 94 is adjusted (changed). Specifically, the slide members 111 and 112 (a pair of slide members 111 and 112) are controlled by a controller (not shown) to completely open the opening 94 of each communication hole 93 from the completely open position. The position can be adjusted to any position within the range up to the closing position.

The adjustment device 110 adjusts the flow rate of the cooling air CA that flows from the lower internal space IS2 of the hood 90 to the upper internal space IS1 through the communication holes 93, so that the cooling air is introduced into each chamber 80. The flow rate of the cooling air CA can be adjusted. As a result, for each of the plurality (six in this embodiment) of the battery stacks 10 to be cooled simultaneously, the cooling air outlet 82 of each chamber 80 passes through the lower opening 28 of the battery row accommodating portion 20b to the battery row 30. The flow rate of the cooling air CA (see FIG. 3) discharged toward the lower surface 36 can be adjusted (for example, the flow rate can be different from that of other battery stacks 10).

In the battery cooling device 1 of this embodiment, among a plurality of (six in this embodiment) battery stacks 10 to be cooled at the same time, the lower surface 36 of the battery row 30 is applied to the battery stack 10 arranged at a position that is relatively difficult to cool. The adjustment device 110 adjusts (changes) the opening area of the opening 94 of each communication hole 93 of the partition plate 92 so that the flow rate of the cooling air CA discharged toward the adjusts the flow rate of the cooling air CA that flows from the lower internal space IS2 of the hood 90 to the upper internal space IS1.

Specifically, the adjustment device 110 (slide members 111 and 112) allows the cooling air inlet 81 of the chamber 80 arranged at the contact position below the battery stack 10 which is arranged at a relatively hard-to-cool position to move vertically. The opening area of the opening 94 of the communicating hole 93 is increased in the communicating hole 93 located at a position (directly below) facing the . As a result, the flow rate of the cooling air CA directed through the communication hole 93 to the cooling air introduction port 81 vertically opposed to the communication hole 93 (located directly above the communication hole 93) can be increased. The flow rate of the cooling air CA discharged toward the lower surface 36 of the battery row 30 increases for the battery stack 10 arranged at a relatively difficult position to cool. As a result, the flow rate of the cooling air CA that cools the battery stacks 10 that are more difficult to cool (the temperature of which is less likely to decrease) can be increased. becomes.

In the battery cooling device 1 of the present embodiment, among the six battery stacks 10 (batteries 100 included therein) arranged in the second direction D2, the battery stack 10 closer to the center in the second direction D2 is harder to cool (temperature is difficult to decrease). Therefore, in the battery cooling device 1 of the present embodiment, the closer the battery stack 10 is to the center in the second direction D2, the greater the flow rate of the cooling air CA discharged from the chamber 80 toward the lower surface 36 of the battery row 30. , the adjusting device 110 adjusts the flow rate of the cooling air CA that flows from the lower internal space IS2 of the hood 90 to the upper internal space IS1 through each of the communication holes 93 .

Specifically, the adjustment device 110 increases the distance between the slide members 111 and 112 in the second direction D2 for the communication hole 93 closer to the center in the second direction D2. The opening area of the opening 94 is increased. As a result, the communication hole 93 closer to the center in the second direction D2 faces the communication hole 93 in the vertical direction through the communication hole 93 (located directly above the communication hole 93). The flow rate of the cooling air CA directed to the fan 70 provided at the air inlet 81 can be increased. Thereby, the flow rate of the cooling air CA discharged from the chamber 80 toward the lower surface 36 of the battery row 30 can be increased in the battery stack 10 closer to the center in the second direction D2.

Specifically, among the six battery stacks 10 arranged in the second direction D2, the battery stacks 10 closest to the center in the second direction D2 (cell stacks 10C and 10D; see FIG. 2) are the most difficult to cool (temperature is difficult to decrease), and the battery stacks 10 located at both ends in the second direction D2 (cell stacks 10A and 10F) tend to cool the most (easily decrease in temperature). Among the six battery stacks 10 arranged in the second direction D2, the battery stack 10 positioned between the battery stacks 10A and 10C is referred to as the battery stack 10B, and the battery stack positioned between the battery stacks 10F and 10D. 10 is a battery stack 10E.

Further, the chamber 80 arranged below the battery stack 10A is called a chamber 80A, the chamber 80 arranged below the battery stack 10B is called a chamber 80B, the chamber 80 arranged below the battery stack 10C is called a chamber 80C, The chamber 80 arranged below the battery stack 10D is called a chamber 80D, the chamber 80 arranged below the battery stack 10E is called a chamber 80E, and the chamber 80 arranged below the battery stack 10F is called a chamber 80F (Fig. 2).

The cooling air inlet 81 of the chamber 80A is a cooling air inlet 81A, the cooling air inlet 81 of the chamber 80B is a cooling air inlet 81B, the cooling air inlet 81 of the chamber 80C is a cooling air inlet 81C, The cooling air inlet 81 of the chamber 80D is a cooling air inlet 81D, the cooling air inlet 81 of the chamber 80E is a cooling air inlet 81E, and the cooling air inlet 81 of the chamber 80F is a cooling air inlet 81F (Fig. 4).

Further, the communication hole 93 facing the cooling air inlet 81A in the vertical direction DH is referred to as a communication hole 93A, the communication hole 93 facing the cooling air inlet 81B in the vertical direction DH is referred to as a communication hole 93B, and the cooling airflow is provided in the vertical direction DH. The communication hole 93 facing the inlet 81C is referred to as a communication hole 93C, the communication hole 93 facing the cooling air inlet 81D in the vertical direction DH is referred to as a communication hole 93D, and the communication hole facing the cooling air inlet 81E in the vertical direction DH. 93 is a communication hole 93E, and the communication hole 93 facing the cooling air inlet 81F in the vertical direction DH is a communication hole 93F (see FIGS. 2 and 5).

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the size relationship of the opening area of the opening 94 of the communicating hole 93 is (opening area of the opening 94A, which is the opening 94 of the communicating hole 93A)=(communicating hole Opening area of opening 94F that is opening 94 of communicating hole 93F)<(opening area of opening 94B that is opening 94 of communicating hole 93B)=(opening area of opening 94E that is opening 94 of communicating hole 93E)<(opening area of communicating hole 93C) The controller (not shown) of the adjusting device 110 controls the opening 94 of each communicating hole 93 so as to satisfy the following equation: opening area of the opening 94C that is the opening 94)=(opening area of the opening 94D that is the opening 94 of the communicating hole 93D). to adjust the positions of the slide members 111 and 112 with respect to . However, in order to shorten the cooling time, the openings 94C and 94D, which have the largest opening areas among all the openings 94, are preferably fully opened (100% open).

By doing so, the chambers 80 arranged below the battery stack 10 closer to the center in the second direction D2 are supplied to the cooling air inlet 81 (the fan 70 provided in the cooling air inlet 81). The flow rate of the cooling air CA can be increased. As a result, the flow rate of the cooling air CA that cools the battery stack 10 closer to the center in the second direction D2, that is, the cooling air CA that cools the battery stack 10 that is difficult to cool (hardly decreases in temperature), is increased in flow rate. can be done. In this way, by varying the flow rate of the cooling air CA according to how difficult it is to cool the battery stack 10 (how difficult it is to lower the temperature), a plurality of (six in this embodiment) cooled simultaneously by the battery cooling device 1 It is possible to reduce variations in battery temperature between the battery stacks 10 of the above.

As described above, the battery cooling device 1 of Embodiment 1 is a battery cooling device 1 that simultaneously cools a plurality (three or more) of battery stacks 10 (batteries 100 included therein). The battery cooling device 1 is capable of reducing variations in battery temperature between stacks 10 .

The specific opening areas of the openings 94A to 94F of the communication holes 93A to 93F (in other words, the specific positions of the slide members 111 and 112) are determined, for example, based on the results of a cooling test conducted in advance. good. Specifically, for example, using the battery cooling device 1, the opening areas of the openings 94A to 94F of the communication holes 93A to 93F are variously varied, and six battery stacks 10 (these While the temperature of the included battery 100) is being measured, a number of cooling steps are performed for a predetermined period of time on a trial basis. Then, the opening area of each of the openings 94A to 94F of the communication holes 93A to 93F (in other words, , the position of each of the pair of slide members 111 and 112) is defined as the opening area of each of the openings 94A to 94F of the communication holes 93A to 93F in the first embodiment (in other words, each of the pair of slide members 111 and 112 position).

In the first embodiment, the specific positions of the slide members 111 and 112 with respect to the openings 94A to 94F of the communication holes 93A to 93F (the battery temperature between the six battery stacks 10) are determined based on the results of the cooling test performed in advance. position where the variation is minimized). Then, in the battery cooling device 1, the respective slide members 111 and 112 are slid and arranged by the controller (not shown) of the adjustment device 110 at the determined positions, and the openings 94A to 94F of the communication holes 93A to 93F are opened. adjusting the area. The cooling process is performed using the battery cooling device 1 thus constructed.

After the cooling process, the batteries 100 included in each battery stack 10 are subjected to a predetermined process (such as a self-discharge inspection process) to complete each battery 100 . Note that if there is a large variation in battery temperature among the plurality of battery stacks 10 that have undergone the cooling process, the subsequent self-discharge inspection process may not be performed appropriately. In contrast, in Embodiment 1, it is possible to reduce variations in battery temperature among a plurality of (six in this embodiment) battery stacks 10 that are simultaneously cooled in the cooling step. It becomes possible to perform the inspection process with high accuracy. Specifically, it is possible to reduce variations in the amount of self-discharge caused by variations in battery temperature.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, a battery manufacturing method and a battery cooling device 201 according to the second embodiment will be described. Here, points different from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and descriptions of similar points will be omitted or simplified. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a battery cooling device 201 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the cooling process using the battery cooling device 201 according to the second embodiment. The second embodiment is a specific example in which the cooling process of the first embodiment is incorporated into a battery manufacturing line.

First, as in the first embodiment, in the assembly process, a plurality of rectangular parallelepiped batteries 100 are assembled. After that, each battery 100 is subjected to initial charging and the like. Next, as in the first embodiment, the plurality of batteries 100 are bound by the binding jig 20 to form the battery stack 10 (see FIG. 1). Next, as in the first embodiment, in the aging step, the plurality of battery stacks 10 are placed in a temperature environment higher than room temperature (for example, 60° C.) for a certain period of time to age each battery 100 (FIG. 1).

The plurality of battery stacks 10 that have undergone the aging process are then conveyed in the conveying direction DC (rightward in FIG. 7) by the chain conveyor 240 toward the cooling booth 210 (see FIG. 7) of the battery cooling device 201. . In the second embodiment, the six battery stacks 10 are arranged in a line in the transport direction DC, and are moved by the chain conveyor 240 to a cooling position in the cooling booth 210 (the position where the cooling process is performed, the position shown in FIG. 7). transported to

A battery cooling device 201 of Embodiment 2 accommodates six cooling units 50 similar to Embodiment 1, a hood 90 similar to Embodiment 1, a lid member 60 similar to Embodiment 1, and these. Cooling booth 210, cooling air generator 230, connecting pipe 220 connecting cooling air outlet 231 of cooling air generator 230 and cooling air inlet 95 of hood 90, air outlet 210c of cooling booth 210 and cooling and a connecting pipe 250 that connects with the air inlet 232 of the wind generator 230 . The air outlet 210c of the cooling booth 210 is provided on the ceiling of the cooling booth 210 (see FIG. 7).

A chain conveyor 240 that conveys the battery stacks 10 in the conveying direction DC passes through the cooling booth 210 in the conveying direction DC. The cooling booth 210 includes an upstream opening 213 for carrying the battery stack 10 conveyed by the chain conveyor 240 into the cooling booth 210 from the outside, and an upstream shutter 211 for opening and closing the upstream opening 213 (FIG. 7). Furthermore, the cooling booth 210 includes a downstream opening 214 for carrying out the battery stack 10 conveyed by the chain conveyor 240 from the inside of the cooling booth 210 to the outside, and a downstream shutter 212 for opening and closing the downstream opening 214. . An upstream opening 213 of the cooling booth 210 is normally closed by an upstream shutter 211 . A downstream opening 214 of the cooling booth 210 is also normally closed by a downstream shutter 212 .

The lid member 60 of the battery cooling device 201 is positioned inside the cooling booth 210 at a fixed position (the position shown in FIG. 7) above the chain conveyor 240 (above the upper surface 20c of the restraint jig 20 in the vertical direction DH). Fixed. Also, the six cooling units 50 (fans 70 and chambers 80) and the hood 90 are on standby at the standby position (the position shown in FIG. 7) below the chain conveyor 240 inside the cooling booth 210. As shown in FIG. The six cooling units 50 and the hood 90 are integrated and are movable in the vertical direction DH by an actuator (not shown).

In Embodiment 2, the six battery stacks 10 conveyed in the conveying direction DC by the chain conveyor 240 are subjected to the cooling step, so that the upstream opening 213 of the cooling booth 210 (closed by the upstream shutter 211). approaching the upstream opening 213), the upstream shutter 211 opens and the upstream opening 213 is opened. As a result, the six battery stacks 10 are sequentially carried into the cooling booth 210 through the upstream opening 213 by the chain conveyor 240 . When the six battery stacks 10 are carried into the cooling booth 210 and placed at the cooling position (the position where the cooling process is performed, the position shown in FIG. 7), the upstream shutter 211 is closed and the upstream opening 213 is opened. blocked. After that, the cooling process is started.

Specifically, when the six battery stacks 10 entering the cooling booth 210 reach the cooling position (the position shown in FIG. 7), the transport of the battery stacks 10 by the chain conveyor 240 is temporarily stopped. Thereby, the six cell stacks 10 are arranged at the cooling position. As shown in FIG. 7 , each cooling unit 50 is such that when the six battery stacks 10 are arranged at the cooling position, the cooling air outlet 82 of the chamber 80 for each battery stack 10 is restrained. It is arranged so as to be located directly below the lower opening 28 of the jig 20 . Further, the lid member 60 is arranged so as to be positioned right above the upper openings 27 of the six restraining jigs 20 when the six battery stacks 10 are arranged at the cooling position.

Next, in the cooling process, the six cooling units 50 and the hood 90 are moved upward by an actuator (not shown), and the seal rubber 85 of each chamber 80 is moved to the lower surface 20d (bottom portion 25, 26) (see FIG. 8). After that, by further moving the six cooling units 50 upward, the six battery stacks 10 are moved upward together with the six cooling units 50 and the hoods 90, and the upper surfaces of the restraining jigs 20 are moved upward. 20c (upper end of upper opening 27) is brought into close contact with sealing rubber 65 of lid member 60 (see FIG. 8). When the upper surface 20c of each restraining jig 20 is in close contact with the seal rubber 65 of the lid member 60, the actuator (not shown) is stopped.

As a result, the lid members 60 are arranged on the upper surfaces 20c of the six restraining jigs 20 in such a manner that the sealing rubber 65 is in close contact with the upper surface 20c of the restraining jig 20 (upper end of the upper opening 27). , the upper openings 27 of the six battery row accommodating portions 20b are covered (the upper openings 27 are closed, see FIG. 8). Furthermore, in each cooling unit 50, the chamber 80 is positioned at the contact position (below the battery stack 10 and below the restraint jig) in such a manner that the seal rubber 85 is in close contact with the lower surface 20d of the restraint jig 20 (the outer surfaces of the bottom portions 25 and 26). 20 at a position in contact with the lower surface 20d of 20). As a result, the cooling air discharge port 82 of the chamber 80 and the lower opening 28 of the battery row housing portion 20b are airtightly communicated (see FIG. 3). 3 is an enlarged view of the C portion of FIG. 8. FIG.

In this state, the cooling air generator 230 is turned on to generate the cooling air CA, and the fan 70 is turned on to operate. Thereby, the cooling air CA generated by the cooling air generating device 230 is introduced into the internal space IS of the hood 90 from the cooling air inlet 95 of the hood 90 through the connecting pipe 220 (see FIG. 8). Furthermore, the cooling air CA introduced into the internal space IS of the hood 90 flows upward through the internal space IS of the hood 90 from below, as in the cooling process of the first embodiment. The cooling air is supplied to the inside of each chamber 80 through the cooling air inlet 81 of each chamber 80 .

As a result, similarly to the cooling process of the first embodiment, each of the batteries 100 included in the six battery stacks 10 has its lower surface 106 and third surface 103 (surface constituting the third side surface 33 of the battery row 30). , the fourth surface 104 (the surface forming the fourth side surface 34 of the battery row 30 ), and the upper surface 105 are brought into contact with the cooling air CA to cool each battery 100 . After cooling the batteries 100 of the battery stack 10, the cooling air CA discharged to the outside of the battery stack 10 is discharged from the air outlet 210c of the cooling booth 210 toward the cooling air generator 230 through the connecting pipe 250. and returns to the cooling wind generator 130 through the air introduction port 232 of the cooling wind generator 230 (see FIG. 8).

In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the size relationship of the opening area of the opening 94 of the communicating hole 93 is (opening area of the opening 94A, which is the opening 94 of the communicating hole 93A)=(opening 94 of the communicating hole 93F). opening area of the opening 94F)<(opening area of the opening 94B that is the opening 94 of the communicating hole 93B)=(opening area of the opening 94E that is the opening 94 of the communicating hole 93E)<(opening 94 of the communicating hole 93C The controller (not shown) of the adjusting device 110 controls the slide member 111 to the opening 94 of each communicating hole 93 so as to satisfy the opening area of the opening 94C)=(opening area of the opening 94D that is the opening 94 of the communicating hole 93D). , 112 are adjusted.

By doing so, the chambers 80 arranged below the battery stack 10 closer to the center in the second direction D2 are supplied to the cooling air inlet 81 (the fan 70 provided in the cooling air inlet 81). The flow rate of the cooling air CA can be increased. As a result, the flow rate of the cooling air CA that cools the battery stack 10 closer to the center in the second direction D2, that is, the cooling air CA that cools the battery stack 10 that is difficult to cool (hardly decreases in temperature), is increased in flow rate. can be done. In this way, by varying the flow rate of the cooling air CA according to how difficult it is to cool the battery stack 10 (how difficult it is to lower the temperature), a plurality of (six in this embodiment) cooled simultaneously by the battery cooling device 201 It is possible to reduce variations in battery temperature between the battery stacks 10 of the above.

Also in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the slide members 111 and 112 for adjusting the opening areas of the openings 94A to 94F of the communication holes 93A to 93F are based on the results of the cooling test performed in advance. position (the position where variation in battery temperature among the six battery stacks 10 is minimized) is determined. Then, in the battery cooling device 201, the controller (not shown) of the adjusting device 110 slides the slide members 111 and 112 to the determined positions to adjust the opening areas of the openings 94A to 94F. there is The cooling process is performed using the battery cooling device 201 thus constructed.

After a predetermined period of time has passed since the cooling wind generator 230 and the fan 70 were turned on, the cooling wind generator 230 and the fan 70 are turned off to stop the generation of the cooling wind CA. After that, the six cooling units 50 and the hoods 90 are moved downward by actuators (not shown), thereby moving the six battery stacks 10 downward together with the six cooling units 50 and the hoods 90 . are placed on the chain conveyor 240 . Subsequently, the six cooling units 50 and the hoods 90 are moved further downward to arrange the six cooling units 50 and the hoods 90 at the waiting position (the position shown in FIG. 7) below the chain conveyor 240 . This completes the cooling process of the second embodiment.

After the cooling process is finished, the downstream shutter 212 of the cooling booth 210 is opened and the downstream opening 214 of the cooling booth 210 is opened. As a result, the six battery stacks 10 are carried out of the cooling booth 210 through the downstream opening 214 by the chain conveyor 240 . The battery stack 10 carried out of the cooling booth 210 is conveyed by the chain conveyor 240 toward the next process. After that, the batteries 100 included in each battery stack 10 are subjected to a predetermined process (self-discharge inspection process, etc.) to complete each battery 100 .

In the above, the present invention has been described in accordance with Embodiments 1 and 2, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be appropriately modified and applied without departing from the gist thereof. Nor.

For example, in Embodiments 1 and 2, the battery cooling devices 1 and 201 in which the fan 70 is attached to the cooling air inlet 81 of the chamber 80 are exemplified. However, if the static pressure of the cooling air generators 130, 230 is sufficiently large relative to the flow resistance of the cooling air CA (particularly, the flow resistance in the battery row housing portion 20b of the restraint jig 20), the chamber The fan 70 does not have to be attached to the cooling air inlet 81 of 80 . In other words, the battery cooling device 1, 201 may be a battery cooling device in which the fan 70 is excluded.

1, 201 Battery Cooling Device 10 Battery Stack 20 Restraining Jig 20b Battery Row Housing 20c Upper Surface 20d Lower Surface 27 Upper Opening 28 Lower Opening 30 Battery Row 35 Upper Surface 36 Lower Surface 40 High Temperature Aging Chamber 50 Cooling Unit 60 Lid Member 70 Fan 80 Chamber 80G Chamber group 81 Cooling air inlet 82 Cooling air outlet 83 Ceiling 90 Hood 92 Partition plate 93 Communication hole 94 Opening 95 Cooling air inlet 100 Battery 105 Upper surface 106 Lower surface 110 Adjusting devices 111, 112 Slide members 120, 220 Connecting pipe 130, 230 Cooling air generators 131, 231 Cooling air outlet CA Cooling air D1 First direction D2 Second direction DC Conveying direction IS Internal space IS1 Upper internal space IS2 Lower internal space

Claims (1)

A battery row in which a plurality of rectangular parallelepiped batteries are arranged in a row in a first direction, and a restraining jig that applies a compressive load to the battery row in the first direction to restrain the battery row. wherein a plurality of three or more of the battery stacks that have undergone an aging process of being placed in a temperature environment higher than room temperature for a certain period of time are arranged in a line in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction A battery cooling device that cools at the same time in a state of
The restraining jig has a battery row housing portion for housing the battery row,
The battery row housing part has a lower opening that opens downward from the restraining jig, and has a lower opening that exposes the lower surfaces of the plurality of batteries constituting the battery row,
The battery cooling device
a cooling wind generator for generating cooling wind for cooling the plurality of batteries included in the plurality of battery stacks;
the same number of cooling units as the plurality of battery stacks simultaneously cooled by the battery cooling device;
each of the cooling units includes a chamber disposed at a contact position below each of the battery stacks and in contact with the lower surface of each of the restraint jigs;
The battery cooling device
A hood arranged below the group of chambers so as to cover the lower surface of the group of chambers composed of the plurality of chambers arranged in a line in the second direction, wherein the cooling air generating device is positioned below the hood. a hood having a cooling air inlet for allowing the cooling air generated by the above to flow into the hood;
A connecting pipe connecting a cooling air outlet of the cooling air generating device and the cooling air inlet of the hood, wherein the cooling air generated by the cooling air generating device is passed through the connecting pipe. a connecting pipe for circulating from the outlet to the cooling air inlet,
each said chamber comprising:
a cooling air inlet provided at the bottom of the chamber for introducing the cooling air flowing upward through the hood into the interior of the chamber;
A cooling air outlet located on the ceiling of the chamber and arranged at a position facing the lower surface of the battery array through the lower opening of the battery array housing section in a state where the chamber is arranged at the contact position. a cooling air outlet for discharging the cooling air introduced into the chamber through the cooling air inlet toward the lower surface of the battery array through the lower opening of the battery array housing section; have
The hood is positioned between the cooling air inlet of the chamber and the cooling air inlet of the hood, and vertically partitions the internal space of the hood into an upper internal space and a lower internal space. having a partition plate that
The partition plate is formed at a position facing the cooling air inlet of each of the chambers in the vertical direction, and has a plurality of communication holes that communicate the upper internal space and the lower internal space of the hood. The cooling air flowing upward in the lower internal space is directed through the communication hole toward the cooling air inlet facing in the vertical direction and into the upper internal space. Having a communication hole for circulating,
The battery cooling device
A battery cooling device comprising an adjusting device that adjusts the flow rate of the cooling air that flows from the lower internal space to the upper internal space through each of the communication holes by adjusting the opening area of each of the communication holes. Device.

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