JPH02256174A - Storage container for high temperature type unit cell - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operation characteristic and durability of unit cells by bringing multiple storage cases having storage holes into face contact with each other, and integrally connecting them. CONSTITUTION:Multiple storage cases 1 made of a heat conductor such as aluminum or copper and having storage holes 1a are integrally molded to constitute a storage container 2. Since many storage cases 1 stored in a heat insulating container are brought into contact with each other, heat conduction is uniformly performed via face contact sections when the inside of the heat insulating container is heated or cooled, and the temperature distribution of unit cells 3 is quickly unified. When local abnormal heating occurs due to the failure of a unit cell 3, a local temperature rise is suppressed because of good heat diffusion, and adjacent normal unit cells 3 are prevented from being damaged by heat. The operation characteristic and durability of cells 3 can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a storage container for accommodating high-temperature cells such as sodium-sulfur batteries.

[Prior Art] A large number of sodium-sulfur cells are usually housed inside an insulated container, and the internal temperature of this insulated container is raised and maintained at about 350°C to be used as a power source for electric vehicles or as a high-temperature battery for storing electricity at night. used as.

To store the cells in the heat insulating container, as shown in FIG. 14, a large number of single cylindrical metal tubes 15 for storing each cell 3 are brought into line contact with each other and fixed together in a honeycomb shape by spot welding. and each cylindrical metal tube 1
A structure in which the cell 3 is housed in the cell 5 is utilized.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the above-mentioned conventional example focuses on mechanical support, and heat conduction between the cells is mainly performed through the wire contact portions between the cylindrical tubes 15. There was a problem in that it took time for the temperature distribution to become constant when the temperature was raised or lowered, and there was a large temperature difference between the cells.

Further, when there is localized abnormal heat generation due to a failure of the unit cell 3, etc., there is a problem in that the local temperature rises due to poor heat diffusion, which tends to damage adjacent normal unit cells.

The first object of this invention is to provide a high-temperature battery that can improve the thermal conductivity inside the cell storage container, make the temperature distribution inside the container uniform, and improve the durability of the cell. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a battery storage container.

In addition to the first object, the second object of the present invention is to improve safety by suppressing the leakage of the active material inside the storage container in the event that the high-temperature cell is damaged and the active material inside leaks. An object of the present invention is to provide a storage container for high-temperature single cells that can be improved.

In addition to the first object, a third object of the present invention is to provide a storage container for high-temperature single cells that can rapidly raise and lower the temperature of high-temperature single cells.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned first object, the invention according to claim 1 includes a plurality of storage cases each having a storage hole for storing a high-temperature cell in surface contact with each other. We have adopted a method of integrally connecting them.

Further, in order to achieve the second object, the invention as set forth in claim 2 adopts a means in which the storage case is formed of foundry sand.

In order to achieve the third object, the invention as set forth in claim 3 adopts a method of forming the storage hole in a cylindrical shape and forming an air ventilation groove on the inner peripheral surface of the storage hole.

[Function] In the invention as claimed in claim 1, since a large number of storage cases housed in a heat insulating container are in surface contact with each other, when heating or cooling the inside of the heat insulating container, heat conduction is prevented from occurring on the surface. This is done uniformly across the contact area, quickly making the temperature distribution of the cell uniform. Furthermore, if there is localized abnormal heat generation due to a cell failure, etc., the good heat diffusion suppresses the local temperature rise and prevents adjacent normal cells from being damaged by the heat. These factors improve the operating characteristics and durability of the battery.

Furthermore, in the invention as claimed in claim 2, in the event that a high-temperature cell is damaged and the active material inside leaks, the active material is absorbed into the molding sand, so that it will not leak out to the outside of the storage container. suppressed and safety improved.

Furthermore, in the invention as claimed in claim 3, since the air heated by the heating device comes into contact with the high-temperature cell through the ventilation groove,
The temperature is raised and lowered rapidly.

[Example] Hereinafter, a first example embodying the present invention will be described based on FIG. 1.

In this embodiment, a storage container 2 is constructed by integrally molding a plurality of storage cases 1 each having storage holes 1a made of a heat transfer material such as aluminum or copper. The storage hole 1a
A sodium-sulfur cell 3 is housed in the unit. This unit cell 3 is insulated from the storage case 1 by wrapping an insulating sheet 4 such as crow cloth around its outer peripheral surface. The storage container 2
is molded by injecting an aluminum solution into a mold (not shown) in which a large number of cores (not shown) for molding the housing holes 1a of the cells 3 are arranged.

The storage container 2 is housed in a heat insulating container (not shown) and heated by a heating means, but since the heat transfer material forming the storage container 2 uniformly transfers heat, the single cells 3 are heated evenly. be done. Therefore, the time required to raise the unit cell 3 to the operating temperature is shortened, and the temperature difference between the unit cells is also reduced. Therefore, work efficiency is improved and the operating characteristics of the battery are stabilized.

Furthermore, since the cell 3 is not locally abnormally heated, its durability is improved.

Furthermore, as shown by the silver line in FIG. 1, when the air introduction water 1b is provided at the inner center of the four adjacent storage holes 1a, the time required for heating and cooling is further shortened.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIG. The storage container 2 is constructed by integrally molding each other with a heat transfer body. In this embodiment, a slight gap is formed between the battery cells 3 and the outer peripheral surface thereof, or the storage cases 1 are integrally molded with each other, so that the temperature of the battery cells 3 is increased almost uniformly.

The storage case 1 of this second embodiment may be formed to have a hexagonal cylindrical cross section, and the cases 1 may be welded and fixed in a state in which they are in surface contact with each other.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 3 and 4.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 or 4, two or three divided case pieces 5 or 6 are brought into contact with each other and welded, so that the outer surface has a regular hexagonal shape and the inner peripheral surface has a circular shape. A storage case 1 is formed, and these storage cases 1 are connected and fixed while making surface contact with each other. In this embodiment, the entire outer peripheral surface of the cell 3 contacts the inner peripheral surface of the case 1, so the temperature distribution inside the storage hole 1a is controlled by the second
It is possible to achieve more uniformity than in the example.

Next, a fourth real square color example of the present invention will be explained based on FIG.

In this embodiment, a flat steel plate is press-molded to form a case plate 7, and then the case plates 7 are brought into contact with each other and welded to form a hexagonal cylindrical storage case 1.

This embodiment uses a press-molded case plate 7, making it easy to manufacture.Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, square cylindrical storage cases 1 are brought into surface contact with each other. Since this embodiment uses a regular square cylindrical storage case 1 that is easily available at low cost, manufacturing is easy and costs can be reduced.

Next, a sixth embodiment that embodies the invention described in claims 2 and 3 will be described based on FIG. 7.

In this embodiment, the entire storage container 2 is integrally formed from molding sand in the same way as the storage container 2 shown in FIG. is forming.

Therefore, in this embodiment, in the event that the battery 3 is damaged and the active material such as sulfur or sodium leaks out, the active material will be absorbed into the foundry sand and solidified.
Outflow to the outside of the storage container 2 is suppressed and safety is improved.

Further, since the air heated by the heating device passes through the ventilation groove 1c and comes into contact with the battery 3, the temperature of the battery can be quickly raised and lowered.

Note that this invention can also be embodied as follows.

(1) As shown in FIG. 8, the storage hole 1a of the storage case 1
The shape of is made into an equilateral triangle, or although not shown in the figure,
Forming into a polygonal shape such as a square, pentagon, or heptagon.

(2) As shown in FIG. 9 or 10, the end 9 of the case piece 9° 10 has three ends 9a, 10a at equal intervals.
A, 10a are welded together to form a storage case 1 having a circular storage hole 1a.

Also, form the case piece 9 as shown by the chain line in FIG.

(3) As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, a ventilation groove 1c is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical storage hole 1a.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, the invention according to claim 1 can improve the heat conduction characteristics within the cell storage container, make the temperature distribution inside the container uniform, and improve the thermal conductivity of the cell storage container. It has the effect of improving the durability of.

Furthermore, in the case where the high-temperature cell is damaged and the active material inside leaks, the invention as claimed in claim 2 absorbs the active material into the molding sand and prevents the active material from leaking to the outside of the storage container. This has the effect of improving safety.

Furthermore, in the invention as claimed in claim 3, since the air heated by the heating device comes into contact with the high-temperature cell through the ventilation groove,
There is an effect that the temperature can be raised and lowered quickly.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a storage container for accommodating a high-temperature cell embodying the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 4 is a sectional view of the main part showing the third embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional views of the main part showing the fourth and fifth embodiment of the invention, respectively, and FIG. The figure is a perspective view showing a sixth embodiment embodying the invention as claimed in claims 1 and 2, Figs. 8 to 13 are sectional views showing the side tilting of the present invention, and Fig. 14 shows a conventional example. FIG. 1... Storage case, 1a... Storage hole, IC... Ventilation groove. 2... Storage container, 3... Sodium-sulfur cell as a high-temperature cell, 5, 6, 9.10... Case piece, 7... Case plate, 8... Regular square Cylindrical body. Patent applicant Nippon Insulator Co., Ltd. Agent Patent attorney On 1) Hironobu (and 1 other person)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of storage cases (1) each having a storage hole (1a) for storing a high-temperature cell (3) are integrally connected in surface contact with each other. A storage container for high-temperature single batteries. 2. The high-temperature cell storage container according to claim 1, wherein the storage hole (1a) is formed of foundry sand. 3. The storage container for high-temperature single cells according to claim 1, wherein the storage hole (1a) is formed in a cylindrical shape, and an air ventilation groove is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the storage hole (1a).