JPH09326264A - Heat radiator for electric power storing battery - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To omit an opening-closing valve and a control apparatus or the like accompanied by this by arranging a heat pipe in which fluid and noncondensing gas are sealed in a heat radiating device installed in an electric power storing battery module. SOLUTION: Sodium-sulfur cells 2 are erected and housed in a plurality in a module case 1 formed of a heat insulating material. A soaking plate 3 excellent in heat conductivity is installed in the bottom part of this module case 1, and an evaporating part 22 of a heat pipe 20 is extendedly arranged in the lengthwise direction of this soaking plate 3. When this heat pipe 20 is actuated, noncondensing gas is pushed in the gas reservoir 25 side by a vapor flow in the pipe, and a condensing part 24 is substantially gradually expanded according to a temperature rise. Therefore, a heat radiating quantity analogically increases, and when it reaches the highest holding temperature, the noncondensing gas is housed in a gas reservoir 25 on the end of the condensing part 24. In this way, in this heat radiating device, a battery temperature can be controlled only by the heat pipe 20.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heat dissipation device for a power storage battery such as a sodium-sulfur battery (NaS battery), and in particular, a heat pipe containing a non-condensable gas having a continuously variable heat dissipation capability is used. The present invention relates to a heat dissipation device for an electric power storage battery.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Since the amount of electricity used varies greatly depending on the time of day or night and the season, it has been attempted to store electric power by using a sodium-sulfur battery or the like in order to level this load fluctuation. . This type of sodium-sulfur battery is used as a battery module by assembling NaS cells in an adiabatic container and used as a battery module. However, since it is a high-temperature battery that utilizes a chemical reaction, it is heated to a temperature of 300 ° C. or higher. Is needed. On the other hand, the higher the temperature, the greater the deterioration of the battery and the inability to maintain the original amount of electricity stored in a short time.
It is preferable to suppress the temperature to 350 ° C. or lower at the highest. That is, it is preferable that the temperature is kept at 300 to 330 ° C. before use.

Conventionally, in order to maintain the temperature of such a battery for storing electric power, heating using a heater or the like and heat dissipation (cooling) using a heat pipe have been used together.
It was adjusted to the range of 00 to 330 ° C. In a conventional battery for storing electric power, a heater is used to heat the battery to start it up to 300 ° C. or higher, and at the time of operation, the temperature of the battery is suppressed to 350 ° C. or lower by using a heat pipe. However, the conventional heat pipe does not have a function of adjusting the amount of heat radiation, and since the heat pipe carries a large amount of heat even with a small temperature difference, it may cause excessive heat radiation, and even during operation (during storage and discharge). It was necessary to activate the heater. For this reason, there has been proposed a heat pipe provided with an opening / closing valve, and the opening / closing valve is opened / closed to adjust the effective area of the radiation fins stepwise (for example, JP-A-63-175,355). (See the official gazette).

[0004]

However, the adjustment of the amount of heat radiation by the on-off valve requires an on-off valve in the first place, and requires a control device or the like in addition to this, which causes a problem of cost increase. In addition, when the amount of heat released is adjusted by the on-off valve, a part of the heat pipe becomes inoperable, which may cause temperature distribution in the battery module. Further, since the valve opening / closing control is performed, the control is stepwise (digital), and it is difficult to perform analog fine adjustment, and the valve may be opened / closed frequently to cause a so-called hunting phenomenon.

On the other hand, the power storage battery is used by arranging or stacking a number of battery modules in parallel, and its power storage capacity is evaluated per unit volume. Therefore, the volume occupied by the heat dissipation device is extremely important. It's a problem. The present invention has been made in view of such problems,
An object of the present invention is to provide a heat dissipation device for a power storage battery, which can continuously control the amount of heat dissipation without using a control device and can reduce the volume occupied by the battery module.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a heat dissipation device for a power storage battery according to the present invention is a heat dissipation device attached to a power storage battery module, which is a working fluid and a non-condensable gas. Is included in the heat pipe.

In the heat dissipation device for the power storage battery of the present invention,
Since the heat pipe includes the heat pipe in which the working fluid and the noncondensable gas are sealed, the noncondensable gas is pushed into the end of the condensing section by the vapor flow in the pipe when the heat pipe operates.
Here, the non-condensable gas is governed by the ambient temperature, and the pressure also rises in proportion to the rise in temperature, but the temperature dependence of the saturation pressure of the working fluid is significantly larger than that of the non-condensable gas. As the temperature rises, the interface between the working fluid and the non-condensable gas moves to the condensation section side, although strictly speaking, there is some diffusion effect. Therefore, the position of this interface should be set at the minimum holding temperature (about 30% for sodium-sulfur batteries).
When the non-condensable gas is enclosed near the maximum holding temperature (330 to 350 ° C. for a sodium-sulfur battery) near the maximum holding temperature (330 ° C. to 350 ° C.) on the condenser side of the evaporator near 0 ° C., The function as a heat pipe is suppressed at temperatures up to the minimum holding temperature. On the other hand, if the temperature exceeds this, the working fluid region moves to the condensation unit side,
The condensation part is substantially expanded, and the amount of heat radiation is increased. Then, when the maximum holding temperature is reached, the non-condensable gas is stored in the gas reservoir at the end of the condensing portion, so that the greatest heat dissipation effect is exhibited.

As described above, in the heat dissipation device for the electric power storage battery of the present invention, the substantial existence region of the working fluid can be made variable according to the battery temperature without providing a device such as an on-off valve. Not only the on-off valve but also the control device associated therewith can be omitted. Further, since the amount of heat radiation is automatically controlled according to the battery temperature, an electronic device such as a temperature sensor becomes unnecessary. Therefore, the heat radiation amount can be finely adjusted without the control becoming stepwise and without causing the hunting phenomenon. As a result, after being heated to a certain temperature or higher, the battery temperature can be controlled only by the heat pipe, and the running cost and the control equipment can be reduced. At the same time, since a control device or the like is unnecessary, the volume occupied by the battery module can be substantially reduced.

In the heat dissipating device for a power storage battery of the present invention, the installation position of the evaporation part of the heat pipe is not particularly limited, but it is more preferably laid on the bottom part of the battery module. Since a battery for power storage is generally provided by arranging a cylindrical single cell upright, it is possible to uniformly recover heat by laying the evaporating portion of the heat pipe on the bottom of the battery module. is there. Further, if the evaporation part of the heat pipe is laid on the bottom part of the battery module, the complicated work of inserting the heat pipe into the gap of the unit cell is unnecessary.

In the heat dissipation device for the power storage battery of the present invention, the installation position of the condensing part of the heat pipe is not particularly limited, but it is more preferably installed on the side surface of the battery module. When the condensing part of the heat pipe is attached to the upper surface of the battery module, it is difficult to stack the battery modules. However, when the condensing part of the heat pipe is installed on the side surface of the battery module, the stacking of the battery modules is possible. Therefore, the arrangement area of the battery module can be reduced.

In the heat dissipation device for a battery for electric power storage of the present invention, it is more preferable that the effective area of the condenser is smaller than the effective area of the evaporator. As described above, in the heat pipe filled with the non-condensable gas, the substantial condensing part changes depending on the temperature, but the temperature at which the condensing part region is the minimum and the temperature at which the condensing part region is the maximum. It can be said that the smaller the difference from the heat pipe, the better the controllability of the heat pipe.

Here, in the heat pipe in which the working fluid and the non-condensable gas are enclosed, the volume of the gas reservoir is V
g, the volume of the condenser is Vc, the lower limit temperature is the saturation pressure P1,
If the saturation pressure at the upper limit temperature is P2, Vg / Vc = P1
Since the relationship of / (P2-P1) is established, the value on the left side, that is, Vg / Vc, increases when the controllability is enhanced by reducing the difference in saturation pressure between the upper limit and the lower limit. This means that the volume Vg of the gas reservoir increases, but it is equivalent to decreasing the volume of the condensing unit.

Therefore, in the present invention, the volume of the condensing section is reduced instead of increasing the volume of the gas reservoir section. However, since the surface area of the condensing part affects the heat dissipation ability, the effective sectional area of the condensing part is reduced.
As a result, the left side of the above equation is increased to improve the controllability of the heat pipe, and at the same time, since the surface area is not changed, the heat radiation performance is not affected.

In the heat dissipating device for a battery for electric power storage of the present invention, the means for reducing the effective sectional area of the condensing part to be smaller than the effective sectional area of the evaporating part is not particularly limited. More preferably, a spacer is provided in the portion to reduce the effective area.
By doing so, the controllability is improved without reducing the volume of the condenser and increasing the volume of the gas reservoir, and at the same time, the surface area of the condenser does not change, so that the heat dissipation capability can be maintained as it is.

In the heat dissipation device for the electric power storage battery of the present invention, the means for forming the width of the gas storage part to be substantially equal to the width of the condensation part is not particularly limited, but the gas storage part forms a pipe forming the condensation part. More preferably, it is formed of a pipe having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter, and is provided in a T shape at the end of the condensing portion.

In addition to this, the gas reservoir is
The above object can also be achieved by being formed of a plurality of pipes having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the pipe forming the condensing part and being arranged at the end of the condensing part substantially parallel to the axial direction of the condensing part. . Further, the gas reservoir portion is formed of a plurality of pipes having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the pipe forming the condensing portion, and is arranged in parallel at the end of the condensing portion substantially parallel to the axial direction of the condensing portion. It is possible to achieve the above-mentioned purpose also by being present.

In the heat dissipating device for a power storage battery of the present invention, it is preferable that the evaporating portion of the heat pipe has a flat cross section. By making the evaporation section of the heat pipe into a flat tube shape, without making the flow passage cross-sectional area of the tube extremely small, and yet with a necessary and sufficient heat transfer area secured,
It is possible to reduce the thickness of the heat equalizing plate to which the evaporation portion of the heat pipe is attached. As a result, the volume and weight of the battery module can be reduced. At the same time, the number of heat pipes can be reduced, which is advantageous in terms of workability and manufacturing cost.

In order to achieve the above object, the heat dissipation device for a power storage battery according to the present invention is a heat dissipation device attached to a power storage battery module, in which a working fluid provided on a heat equalizing plate of the battery module is used. It is characterized by having a first heat pipe sealed therein and a second heat pipe thermally connected to an end of the heat equalizing plate and sealed with a working fluid and a non-condensable gas.

In the heat dissipation device for the power storage battery of the present invention,
Since the heat pipe is provided on the soaking plate of the battery module, the temperature gradient of the soaking plate is eliminated, and the temperature is made uniform until the end portion to which the second heat pipe is connected.
In addition to this, since the present invention has the second heat pipe in which the working fluid and the non-condensable gas are enclosed, when the second heat pipe operates, the non-condensable gas is generated by the vapor flow in the pipe. Is pushed into the end of the condenser. Here, the non-condensable gas is controlled by the ambient temperature, but the temperature dependence of the saturation pressure of the working fluid is significantly larger than that of the non-condensable gas. Strictly speaking, the interface with the gas has some diffusion effect, but moves to the condensation section side. Therefore, the position of this interface should be set at the minimum holding temperature (about 30% for sodium-sulfur batteries).
When the non-condensable gas is enclosed near the maximum holding temperature (330 to 350 ° C. for a sodium-sulfur battery) near the maximum holding temperature (330 ° C. to 350 ° C.) on the condenser side of the evaporator near 0 ° C., The function as a heat pipe is suppressed at temperatures up to the minimum holding temperature. On the other hand, if the temperature exceeds this, the working fluid region moves to the condensation unit side,
The condensation part is substantially expanded, and the amount of heat radiation is increased. Then, when the maximum holding temperature is reached, the non-condensable gas is stored in the gas reservoir at the end of the condensing portion, so that the greatest heat dissipation effect is exhibited.

As described above, in the heat dissipation device for the power storage battery of the present invention, it is possible to change the substantial existence region of the working fluid in accordance with the battery temperature without providing a device such as an on-off valve. Not only the on-off valve but also the control device associated therewith can be omitted. Therefore, the heat radiation amount can be finely adjusted without the control becoming stepwise and without causing the hunting phenomenon. as a result,
After being heated to a certain temperature or higher, the battery temperature can be controlled only by the heat pipe, and the running cost and the control equipment can be reduced.

In addition to this, according to the heat dissipation device for the battery for storing electric power of the present invention, the first heat pipe provided on the heat equalizing plate and the second heat pipe provided on the end portion of the heat equalizing plate. Since the heat dissipation function can be exerted by the pipe, it is not necessary to provide a heat dissipation device having a complicated structure in the battery module, and as a result, it is possible to suppress downsizing of the battery module, that is, an increase in substantially occupied volume.

In the heat dissipation device of the power storage battery of the present invention, the installation position of the heat equalizing plate is not particularly limited, but it is more preferable that it is laid on the bottom of the battery module. This is because a battery for storing electric power is generally provided by arranging a cylindrical single cell in an upright manner, so that the heat can be evenly recovered by laying a soaking plate on the bottom of the battery module. Further, if the soaking plate is laid on the bottom of the battery module and the first heat pipe is provided here, the complicated work of inserting the heat pipe into the gap of the unit cell is unnecessary.

In the heat dissipation device for the power storage battery of the present invention, the installation position of the evaporation portion of the second heat pipe is not particularly limited, but it is provided at the end of the heat equalizing plate along the surface of the heat equalizing plate. More preferably, it is bent and inserted. By doing so, the area of the heat equalizing plate can be made equal to the area of the battery module body, and the floor-occupying area can be minimized. In addition, it is possible to sufficiently secure the heat transfer area of the evaporation portion of the second heat pipe as necessary. Alternatively, the evaporation portion of the second heat pipe may be inserted into the end of the heat equalizing plate substantially perpendicular to the surface of the heat equalizing plate. If the end portion of the heat equalizing plate is made thick and the evaporating portion of the second heat pipe is inserted therein, the second heat pipe can be formed in a straight tube shape, so that the manufacturing cost becomes low. In these cases, the installation position of the condensing part of the second heat pipe is not particularly limited, but it is more preferable that it is erected on the side surface of the battery module. This is because when the condenser of the second heat pipe is installed on the side surface of the battery module, the battery modules can be stacked and the volume occupied by the battery module can be reduced.

In the heat dissipating device for a battery for electric power storage of the present invention, the first heat pipe having the working fluid sealed in the pipe may be embedded in the heat equalizing plate. The heat pipe may be formed of a hole formed in the plate and a plug that closes the opening of the hole, and the heat pipe may be formed through the deaeration of the hole, the injection of the working fluid, and the sealing process. By integrally forming the first heat pipe on the heat equalizing plate, the material cost of the pipe and the work cost for inserting the heat pipe can be reduced.

In the heat dissipation device of the power storage battery of the present invention, it is preferable that the evaporating portion of the second heat pipe has a flat cross section. Also, the first placed on the heat equalizing plate
It is preferable that the cross section of the heat pipe is also in the shape of a flat tube. By using a flat tube shape, the thickness of the heat equalizing plate, etc. to which the evaporation part of the heat pipe is attached, without making the cross-sectional area of the flow path of the tube extremely small, and while ensuring the necessary and sufficient heat transfer area. Can be thinned. As a result, the volume and weight of the battery module can be reduced. At the same time, the number of heat pipes can be reduced, which is advantageous in terms of workability and manufacturing cost.

[0026]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First Embodiment FIG. 1 (A) shows a first embodiment of a heat dissipation device for a battery for electric power storage of the present invention.
FIG. 1 (B) is a front cross-sectional view showing an embodiment, and FIG. 1 (B) is a plan transverse cross-sectional view. A plurality of cylindrical sodium-sulfur cells 2 are erected and stored in a module case 1 formed of a heat insulating material. Has been done. In the present embodiment, 25 unit cells and 12 unit cells 2 are stored, but the present invention is not particularly limited.

At the bottom of the heat insulating module case 1,
A heat equalizing plate 3 having excellent thermal conductivity is attached, and an evaporating portion 22 of the heat pipe 20 extends along the longitudinal direction of the heat equalizing plate 3. The heat pipe 20 of the present embodiment is a vacuum tube in which a working fluid and a non-condensable gas are enclosed, and the working fluid is not particularly limited.
Depending on the temperature range to be controlled, water, aromatics such as naphthalene and biphenyl, and THERMS (trade name, manufactured by Nippon Steel Chemical Co., Ltd.) can be exemplified. The non-condensable gas is not particularly limited, but is preferably a gas having excellent stability and being hardly dissolved in the working fluid, and examples thereof include argon, xenon, and nitrogen.

The evaporating section 22 of the heat pipe 20 is embedded in the heat equalizing plate 3 as described above, but the other end side rises on the side surface of the module case 1 and the condensing section 24 is located there. The fins 26 formed of copper or aluminum having excellent thermal conductivity are provided in the condensing portion 24 to radiate heat by natural air cooling. Further, a gas reservoir 25 for accumulating the non-condensable gas is formed at the end of the condensing portion 24 of the heat pipe 20.

When enclosing the working fluid and the non-condensable gas in the heat pipe 20, note the following points. That is, although details will be described later, in the present embodiment, the evaporation unit 2
By utilizing the fact that the interface between the working fluid and the non-condensable gas moves in accordance with the temperature of 2, the substantial length of the condensing part 24 is made variable, so that the position of this interface is the minimum holding temperature ( In the case of a sodium-sulfur battery, it is about 300 ° C.
Of the maximum holding temperature (sodium-
In the case of the sulfur battery, the non-condensable gas is sealed so that it is located at the boundary position between the condenser 24 and the gas reservoir 25 near 330 to 350 ° C.

The heat pipe 20 described above is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, three sets are provided in one module case 1. Next, the operation will be described. The heat radiating device for a power storage battery according to the present embodiment includes a heat pipe 20 in which a working fluid and a non-condensable gas are sealed. Therefore, when the heat pipe 20 is operated, the non-condensable gas is pushed into the end of the condensing section 24, that is, the gas reservoir 25 side by the steam flow in the pipe.

Here, the non-condensable gas is governed by the environmental temperature, but since the temperature dependence of the saturation pressure of the working fluid is significantly larger than that of the non-condensable gas, when the temperature rises,
Strictly speaking, the interface between the working fluid and the non-condensable gas moves to the condenser section 24 side, although there is a slight diffusion effect.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the position of this interface is near the lowest holding temperature of the sodium-sulfur battery, ie, 300 ° C., at the position A on the condenser 24 side of the evaporator 22 at the highest holding temperature. The non-condensable gas is enclosed at a boundary position B between the condensing part 24 and the gas reservoir 25 at around 330 to 350 ° C. As a result, at a temperature up to the minimum holding temperature of 300 ° C., the working fluid is pushed by the pressure of the non-condensable gas, and the soaking plate 3 of the module case 1 is pushed.
Since it exists only in the part, the heat pipe 20
Function is suppressed, but soaking effect is obtained. On the other hand, when the temperature becomes higher than this, the pressure of the working fluid overcomes the pressure of the non-condensable gas, and the interface between the working fluid and the non-condensable gas moves to the condensation section 24 side, so that the condensation section 24 is substantially formed. Is gradually expanded as the temperature rises. As a result, the amount of heat dissipation increases in an analog manner, and the maximum holding temperature 33
When the temperature reaches 0 to 350 ° C., the non-condensable gas is stored in the gas reservoir 25 at the end of the condensing section 24, so that the greatest heat radiation effect is exhibited.

As described above, in the heat dissipation device for the power storage battery of the present embodiment, the amount of heat dissipation can be continuously varied, and therefore the control does not become stepwise and the hunting phenomenon does not occur. It is possible to finely adjust the heat radiation amount. As a result, after the battery is heated to a certain temperature or higher, the battery temperature can be controlled only by the heat pipe 20, so that the running cost and the number of control devices can be reduced.

Further, since the working fluid and the non-condensable gas itself sense the temperature of the battery and the amount of heat radiation is automatically controlled according to the battery temperature, electronic equipment such as a temperature sensor becomes unnecessary. Further, in the heat dissipation device for the power storage battery of the present embodiment, the substantial region of the working fluid can be made variable according to the battery temperature without providing a device such as an on-off valve. Therefore, it is possible to omit the control device and the like accompanying this.

Further, since the power storage battery is generally provided by arranging the cylindrical unit cells 2 upright, like the heat dissipation device of the power storage battery of the present embodiment, the evaporation portion 22 of the heat pipe 20. By installing at the bottom of the module case 1,
The heat can be recovered evenly. Further, since the evaporation portion 22 of the heat pipe 20 is laid on the bottom portion of the module case 1, the complicated work of inserting the heat pipe 20 into the gap between the unit cells 2 can be avoided.

Further, when the condenser section 24 of the heat pipe 20 is attached to the upper surface of the module case 1, it is difficult to stack the module cases 1. However, as in the present embodiment, the condenser section 24 of the heat pipe 20 is arranged in the module case. By installing the module case 1 on the side surface thereof, the module cases 1 can be stacked, and the arrangement area of the module case 1 can be reduced. Second Embodiment The present embodiment can be modified in various ways. For example, FIG. 3 is a front vertical cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the heat dissipation device for the power storage battery of the present invention, in which the evaporation part 22 of the heat pipe 20 is provided at the end of the heat equalizing plate 3. The condensing unit 24 is different from the above embodiment in that forced cooling is performed, and other configurations are the same. Even in this case, similar to the above-described embodiment, continuous control of the heat radiation amount can be realized without providing a control device such as a ball valve or a temperature sensor, and the module cases 1 can be stacked. It is possible and has a large space effect. The device of the present embodiment is particularly effective when the amount of heat generation does not fluctuate significantly. Third Embodiment The heat dissipation device of the power storage battery of the present invention can be further modified. FIG. 4 is a front vertical cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of the heat dissipation device for a power storage battery of the present invention. In the heat pipe 20 in which the working fluid and the non-condensable gas are enclosed, the diameter of the condensing portion 24 is It is different from the first embodiment in that it is formed smaller than the diameter of the evaporation portion 22, and the other configurations are the same. For example, the inner diameter of the condenser section 24 is 10.7 mm while the inner diameter of the evaporator section 22 is 16.7 mm. Further, the height and diameter of the gas reservoir 25 are taken into consideration so as not to protrude from the battery module 1 as much as possible.

As described above, when the diameter of the condenser 24 is reduced, the capacity of the condenser 24 is reduced as described above. Therefore, if the size of the gas reservoir 25 is left unchanged, the controllability of the heat pipe 20 is improved. Remarkably improved. On the contrary, if the controllability of the heat pipe 20 is maintained as it is, the gas reservoir 2
The volume of 5 can be reduced by the reduction ratio of the condenser.

In the trial calculation of the present embodiment, since the cross-sectional area of the condenser section 24 is reduced to 1 / 2.4 times, the volume of the gas reservoir section 25 is also increased to 1.2.4 times, and the evaporation section 22 and the condensation section are reduced. The gas reservoir 25, which had to have a height of 170 mm when the diameter was the same as that of 24, could be reduced to 70 mm in this embodiment. Fourth Embodiment FIG. 5 is a front vertical cross-sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the heat dissipation device of the power storage battery of the present invention. If the diameter of the condenser 24 is smaller than that of the evaporator 22 as in the third embodiment described above, the controllability of the heat pipe 20 can be improved or the volume of the gas reservoir 25 can be reduced. However, since the surface area (heat transfer area) of the condensing portion 24 becomes small, the heat radiation performance may be affected.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the heat pipe 20 is formed of a pipe having the same diameter, and the columnar or tubular spacer 27 is filled in the condensing part 24 to evaporate the effective cross-sectional area of the condensing part 24. It is smaller than that of the part 22. Even with such a configuration, the volume of the condensing portion 24 becomes small, so that the controllability of the heat pipe 20 is remarkably improved if the size of the gas reservoir 25 is left unchanged. On the contrary, if the controllability of the heat pipe 20 is maintained as it is, the volume of the gas reservoir 25 can be reduced by the reduction ratio of the condenser. In addition to this, since the surface area of the condenser 24 does not change, the heat radiation performance from the fins 26 can be maintained. Fifth Embodiment FIG. 6 (A) shows a fifth embodiment of a heat dissipation device for a battery for electric power storage of the present invention.
FIG. 6 (B) is a side view showing a front longitudinal sectional view showing the embodiment. As in the third and fourth embodiments described above, the controllability of the heat pipe 20 can be enhanced by making the effective cross-sectional area of the condensing part 22 smaller than that of the evaporating part 22. By arranging the volume of the reservoir portion 25 large and effectively, the controllability of the heat pipe 20 is enhanced and the volume occupied by the battery module is reduced.

That is, the gas reservoir 25 is formed at the end of the condensing portion 24 of the heat pipe 20 in which the working fluid and the non-condensable gas are sealed. The gas reservoir 25 is the same as the heat pipe 20. It is configured by connecting pipes in a T shape. Normally, the heat pipe 20 provided in the battery module 1 has an extra space in the width direction in the side view shown in FIG. 6B. Therefore, in the heat dissipation device of the present embodiment, this dead space is effectively used. The gas reservoir 25 is arranged.

According to the heat dissipating device for a battery for electric power storage constructed as described above, the volume of the gas reservoir 25 can be made sufficiently large, so that the controllability of the heat pipe 20 is improved without reducing the diameter of the condenser 24. be able to. Further, since the same material as the heat pipe 20 can be used, there is a merit in cost. Moreover, since the volume occupied by the battery module 1 does not increase, it is particularly advantageous for a power storage battery in which the amount of stored electricity per unit volume is a problem. Sixth Embodiment FIG. 7 (A) shows a sixth embodiment of a heat dissipation device for a power storage battery of the present invention.
FIG. 7 (B) is a side view showing a front vertical sectional view showing the embodiment. Similar to the fifth embodiment described above, the present embodiment has a large volume of the gas reservoir 25 and is arranged effectively so as to enhance the controllability of the heat pipe 20 and reduce the exclusive volume of the battery module. Yes, heat pipe 2
A pipe having the same diameter as that of the 0 pipe is vertically arranged side by side, and the pipes 29 are made to communicate with each other to form the gas reservoir 25.

According to the heat dissipating device for the electric power storage battery configured as described above, the volume of the gas reservoir 25 can be made larger than that of the fifth embodiment, so that the heat pipe can be used without reducing the diameter of the condenser 24. The controllability of 20 can be further improved. Further, since the same material as the heat pipe 20 can be used, there is a merit in cost. Moreover, since the volume occupied by the battery module 1 does not increase, it is particularly advantageous for a power storage battery in which power per unit volume is a problem. Seventh Embodiment FIG. 8 (A) shows a seventh embodiment of a heat dissipation device for a power storage battery of the present invention.
FIG. 8 (B) is a side view showing a front vertical cross-sectional view showing the embodiment. In the present embodiment, as in the above-described sixth embodiment, the volume of the gas reservoir 25 is larger and the gas pipe 25 is effectively arranged to improve the controllability of the heat pipe 20 and reduce the volume occupied by the battery module. A pipe having the same diameter as that of the heat pipe 20 is arranged side by side on the left and right, and the pipes 29 communicate with each other to form the gas reservoir 25.

According to the heat dissipating device for the electric power storage battery configured as described above, the volume of the gas reservoir 25 can be made larger than that of the fifth embodiment, so that the heat pipe can be used without reducing the diameter of the condenser 24. The controllability of 20 can be further improved. Further, since the same material as the heat pipe 20 can be used, there is a merit in cost. Moreover, since the volume occupied by the battery module 1 does not increase, it is particularly advantageous for a power storage battery in which power per unit volume is a problem. Eighth Embodiment FIG. 9 (A) shows an eighth embodiment of the heat dissipation device for the electric power storage battery of the present invention.
A front vertical cross-sectional view showing an embodiment, and FIG. 9B is a horizontal cross-section. The heat pipe 20 in which the working fluid and the non-condensable gas of the present invention are sealed is preferably provided at a position where the evaporation portion 22 thereof can sufficiently absorb the temperature of the battery, and in that sense, in the first to seventh embodiments. As shown, it is preferable to extend along the soaking plate 3. However, the heat dissipation device of the power storage battery of the present invention is not limited to this, and may be provided at the end of the heat equalizing plate 3.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 9 (A), a plurality of first heat pipes 30 containing a working fluid are arranged in parallel in the heat equalizing plate 3, whereby the temperature of the heat equalizing plate 3 is made uniform. To do.
Then, an end portion of the heat equalizing plate 3 is partially formed thick, and the evaporation portion 22 of the second heat pipe 20 in which the working fluid and the non-condensable gas are enclosed is inserted therein.

Even with such a construction, the heat equalizing plate 3 has a uniform temperature on the entire surface by the first heat pipe 30, so that the heat equalizing plate 3 is connected to the evaporation portion 22 of the second heat pipe 20 inserted at the end thereof. Will transmit enough heat. Further, as a result, the second heat pipe 20 has a simple straight tube structure, which is advantageous in terms of cost and the volume occupied by the battery module 1. Ninth Embodiment FIG. 10 is a front vertical cross-sectional view showing a ninth embodiment of a heat dissipation device for a battery for storing electric power of the present invention. Like the above-described eighth embodiment, the soaking plate 3 contains a working fluid. The enclosed first heat pipe 30 is provided, but in the second heat pipe 20 in which the working fluid and the non-condensable gas are enclosed, the evaporation portion 22 of the second heat pipe 20 is bent, and It is inserted at the end. Even in this case, since the area of the heat equalizing plate 3 is reduced, the weight occupied by the battery module 1 can be made lighter than that of the device of the eighth embodiment, although the volume occupied by the battery module 1 does not change so much. Tenth Embodiment FIG. 11 (A) is a front vertical cross-sectional view showing a tenth embodiment of a heat dissipation device for a power storage battery of the present invention, and FIG. 11 (B) is a horizontal cross-sectional view. Similar to the eighth and ninth embodiments described above, the heat equalizing plate 3 is provided with the first heat pipe 30 in which the working fluid is sealed, and the end portion of the heat equalizing plate 3 is non-condensable with the working fluid. The second heat pipe 20 in which gas is enclosed is inserted, but these heat pipes 20 and 30 are arranged as shown in FIG. .

With this structure, more heat is transmitted to the evaporation portion 22 of the second heat pipe 20, and the heat radiation performance is further improved. Eleventh Embodiment FIG. 12 is a front vertical cross-sectional view showing an eleventh embodiment of a heat dissipation device for a power storage battery of the present invention. 8th-10th mentioned above
In the first heat pipe 30 of the embodiment, a pipe containing a working fluid is embedded in the heat equalizing plate 3, but in the present embodiment,
A hole 40 is drilled from the end of the soaking plate 3 and the hole 40 is
It is used as the heat pipe 30 of. That is, the hole 40
After deaeration, the working fluid is injected and the hole 40 is sealed with the plug 42, whereby the first heat pipe 30 is formed.

As a result, in addition to the effects of the eighth to tenth embodiments, the material cost of the pipe and the work cost for inserting the heat pipe 30 can be reduced. Twelfth Embodiment In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the evaporation unit 22 of the heat pipe 20 in the embodiment shown in FIGS.
It has a flat tube shape. Evaporator 22 of heat pipe 20
The other portions may or may not have a flat tube shape. As shown in FIG. 13, the ratio b / a of the minor axis b to the major axis a of the tube showing the degree of flatness is preferably about 0.5 to 0.3. If this ratio is too small, the flow path resistance becomes too large, which is not preferable. If this ratio is too large (approaching 1), the flow is not flattened, and the effect of flattening is reduced.

In this embodiment, the battery module case 1
The evaporating part 22 of the heat pipe 20, which is a part to which heat from the heat is transmitted, has a flat tube shape, so that the necessary and sufficient heat transfer area is secured without extremely reducing the cross-sectional area of the flow path of the pipe. In this state, the thickness of the heat equalizing plate 3 to which the evaporator 22 of the heat pipe 20 is attached can be reduced.
As a result, the volume and weight of the battery module case 1 can be reduced. At the same time, heat pipe 20
Can be reduced, which is advantageous in terms of workability and manufacturing cost.

13th Embodiment In this embodiment, the second embodiment is different from the embodiment shown in FIG.
The evaporating portion 22 of the heat pipe 20 and the first heat pipe 30 have a flat cross section as shown in FIG. The portion of the second heat pipe 20 other than the evaporation portion 22 may or may not have a flat tube shape. The cross section of the first heat pipe 30 is preferably flat over the entire longitudinal direction.

As shown in FIG. 13, the ratio b / a of the minor axis b to the major axis a of the tube showing the degree of flatness is the same as in the twelfth embodiment. In this embodiment, the cross section of the first heat pipe 30 and the evaporating portion 2 of the second heat pipe 20.
By making the cross section of 2 a flat tube shape, the thickness of the heat equalizing plate 3 is reduced without extremely reducing the flow path cross-sectional area of the tube and while ensuring a necessary and sufficient heat transfer area. be able to. As a result, the volume and weight of the battery module case 1 can be reduced. At the same time, the number of heat pipes 20 can be reduced, which is advantageous in terms of workability and manufacturing cost.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can be variously modified within the scope of the present invention.

[0052]

As described above, according to the heat dissipation device for the electric power storage battery of the present invention, the heat dissipation amount can be continuously varied by the heat pipe in which the working fluid and the noncondensable gas are enclosed. Since it is possible to change the substantial existence region of the working fluid according to the battery temperature without providing a device such as an on-off valve, not only the on-off valve but also the control device accompanying it can be used. It can be omitted. Further, since the amount of heat radiation is automatically controlled according to the battery temperature, an electronic device such as a temperature sensor becomes unnecessary. At the same time, since a control device and the like are unnecessary, the volume occupied by the battery module can be substantially reduced.

Further, by laying the evaporating portion of the heat pipe on the bottom of the battery module, heat can be recovered evenly, and the complicated work of inserting the heat pipe into the gap between the unit cells is required. It becomes unnecessary. Further, by installing the condensing part of the heat pipe on the side surface of the battery module, the battery modules can be stacked, and the arrangement area of the battery modules can be reduced.

Further, in the present invention, if the effective area of the condensing part is made smaller than the effective area of the evaporating part, the controllability of the heat pipe is improved and, at the same time, the surface area (heat transfer area) is not changed, so that the heat dissipation performance is improved. There is no impact. Further, in the present invention, if the condensing part of the heat pipe is erected along the side surface of the battery module and the width of the gas reservoir formed at the end of the condensing part is formed to be substantially equal to the width of the condensing part,
The controllability of the heat pipe can be enhanced without increasing the volume occupied by the battery module.

On the other hand, according to the heat dissipation device of the battery for storing electric power of the present invention, since the heat pipe is provided on the heat equalizing plate of the battery module, the temperature gradient of the heat equalizing plate is eliminated, and the second
The temperature is evened out to the end where the heat pipe is connected. In addition to this, since the present invention has the second heat pipe in which the working fluid and the non-condensable gas are sealed, the working fluid substantially exists in the area where the on-off valve and the like are not provided. Can be made variable according to the battery temperature, and it is possible to omit not only the on-off valve but also the control device associated therewith. In addition to this, according to the heat dissipation device of the power storage battery of the present invention, the first heat pipe provided on the soaking plate and the second heat pipe provided at the end of the soaking plate are used. Since the heat dissipation function can be exerted, it is not necessary to provide a heat dissipation device having a complicated structure in the battery module, and as a result, it is possible to suppress downsizing of the battery module, that is, an increase in the substantially occupied volume.

In the present invention, the first heat pipe is
The heat pipe is composed of a hole formed in the soaking plate and a plug that closes the opening of the hole, and is made into a heat pipe through the steps of degassing the hole, injecting a working fluid, and sealing the first heat pipe. By integrally forming the heat equalizing plate, the material cost of the pipe and the work cost of inserting the heat pipe can be reduced. In the present invention, the evaporating portion of the heat pipe, the evaporating portion of the second heat pipe, or the first heat pipe has a flat cross-sectional shape without making the cross-sectional area of the pipe extremely small. In addition, with the necessary and sufficient heat transfer area secured,
It is possible to reduce the thickness of the heat equalizing plate to which the evaporation portion of the heat pipe is attached. As a result, the volume and weight of the battery module can be reduced. At the same time, the number of heat pipes can be reduced, which is advantageous in terms of workability and manufacturing cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front vertical cross-sectional view and a horizontal cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of a heat dissipation device for a power storage battery of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front vertical cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front vertical cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the heat dissipation device of the power storage battery of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front vertical cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of the heat dissipation device of the power storage battery of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front vertical cross-sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of a heat dissipation device for a power storage battery of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front vertical cross-sectional view and a side view showing a fifth embodiment of a heat dissipation device for an electric power storage battery of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front vertical cross-sectional view and a side view showing a sixth embodiment of the heat dissipation device of the power storage battery of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front vertical cross-sectional view and a side view showing a seventh embodiment of a heat dissipation device for an electric power storage battery of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front vertical cross-sectional view and a horizontal cross-sectional view showing an eighth embodiment of a heat dissipation device for a power storage battery of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front vertical cross-sectional view showing a ninth embodiment of the heat dissipation device of the power storage battery of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a front vertical cross-sectional view showing a tenth embodiment of a heat dissipation device for a power storage battery of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a front vertical cross-sectional view and a horizontal cross-sectional view showing an eleventh embodiment of a heat dissipation device for a power storage battery of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a heat pipe showing another embodiment of the heat dissipation device of the power storage battery of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Module case 2 ... Single cell 3 ... Soaking plate 20 ... Noncondensable gas-containing heat pipe (second heat pipe) 22 ... Evaporating part 24 ... Condensing part 25 ... Gas reservoir 26 ... Fin 27 ... Spacer 29 ... Communication Tube 30 ... First heat pipe 40 ... Hole 42 ... Plug

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Yuichi Kimura 2-6-1, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Jun Sakaigawa 2-6-1, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kenji Watanabe 4-1 Egasaki-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Tokoku Electric Power Co., Inc. Energy and Environmental Research Laboratory

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A heat dissipation device for a power storage battery, comprising a heat pipe in which a working fluid and a noncondensable gas are sealed, the heat dissipation device being attached to the power storage battery module. 2. The heat dissipating device for a power storage battery according to claim 1, wherein the evaporating portion of the heat pipe is laid on the bottom of the battery module. 3. The heat dissipating device for a power storage battery according to claim 1, wherein the condensing part of the heat pipe is installed on a side surface of the battery module. 4. The heat dissipation of the power storage battery according to claim 1, wherein the effective cross-sectional area of the condensing part of the heat pipe is smaller than the effective cross-sectional area of the evaporating part of the heat pipe. apparatus. 5. The heat dissipating device for a power storage battery according to claim 4, wherein the heat pipes are formed to have the same inner diameter, and spacers for reducing an effective area are provided in the condensing portion. 6. The gas reservoir part is formed of a pipe having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the pipe forming the condensing part, and is provided in a T shape at the end of the condensing part.
A heat dissipation device for the battery for electric power storage described. 7. The gas reservoir is formed of a plurality of pipes having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the pipe forming the condensing part, and is arranged in parallel at the end of the condensing part substantially at right angles to the axial direction of the condensing part. The heat dissipation device for a power storage battery according to claim 3, wherein 8. The gas reservoir portion is formed of a plurality of pipes having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the pipe forming the condensing portion, and arranged in parallel at the end of the condensing portion substantially parallel to the axial direction of the condensing portion. The heat dissipation device for a power storage battery according to claim 3, wherein 9. A heat dissipation device attached to a power storage battery module, comprising: a first heat pipe provided on a heat equalizing plate of the battery module and containing a working fluid.
A heat dissipation device for a power storage battery, comprising a second heat pipe thermally connected to an end of the heat equalizing plate and having a working fluid and a non-condensable gas sealed therein. 10. The heat dissipation device for a power storage battery according to claim 9, wherein the heat equalizing plate is provided on a bottom portion of the battery module. 11. The evaporation section of the second heat pipe comprises:
The heat dissipation device for a battery for electric power storage according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that it is bent and inserted along an end of the heat equalizing plate along a surface of the heat equalizing plate. 12. The evaporation section of the second heat pipe comprises:
The heat dissipation device for a battery for electric power storage according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the heat dissipation plate is inserted into a thick portion of an end portion of the heat equalizing plate. 13. The first heat pipe comprises a hole formed in the heat equalizing plate and a plug that closes the opening of the hole, and a working fluid is enclosed therein. Item 13. A heat dissipation device for a power storage battery according to any one of items 9 to 12. 14. The heat dissipating device for a power storage battery according to claim 1, wherein the evaporating portion of the heat pipe has a flat cross section. 15. The heat dissipation device for a power storage battery according to claim 9, wherein a cross section of the evaporation portion of the second heat pipe has a flat tube shape. 16. The heat dissipation device for a power storage battery according to claim 9, wherein a cross section of the first heat pipe has a flat tube shape.