KR101535975B1 - Secondary battery and power storage apparatus including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a secondary battery having a completely different form from a conventional lithium secondary battery and a power storage device including the same. A secondary battery according to the present invention includes: an electrode including at least one anode and at least one cathode; An insulating container which is made of an insulating material and accommodates the electrode and the electrolyte solution, and has an electrolyte discharge port and an electrolyte inlet port; And an electrolyte flow path connected to the electrolyte solution outlet and the electrolyte solution inlet to provide a path through which the electrolyte solution can flow.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a secondary battery and a power storage device including the secondary battery,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a secondary battery, and more particularly, to a lithium secondary battery improved in structure, which is suitable for use in a large capacity, .

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a secondary battery is a battery capable of being charged and discharged unlike a primary battery which can not be charged, and is widely used in electronic devices such as mobile phones, notebook computers, camcorders, and electric vehicles.

Particularly, the lithium secondary battery has an operating voltage of about 3.6 V, has a capacity about three times that of a nickel-cadmium battery or a nickel-hydrogen battery widely used as a power source for electronic equipment, and has a high energy density per unit weight. Is rapidly increasing.

These lithium secondary batteries mainly use a lithium-based oxide and a carbonaceous material as a cathode active material and an anode active material, respectively. The lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate each coated with such a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material are disposed with a separator interposed therebetween, and a casing member sealingly accommodates the electrode assembly together with the electrolyte solution.

A conventional lithium secondary battery can be classified into a can type secondary battery in which an electrode assembly is embedded in a metal can, and a pouch type secondary battery in which an electrode assembly is embedded in a pouch of an aluminum laminate sheet, depending on the shape of the battery case. The can-type secondary battery can be classified into a cylindrical battery and a prismatic battery depending on the shape of the metal can.

However, the secondary battery of this type is mainly used for portable devices and electric vehicles, and is characterized by portability or mobility. Thus, the secondary battery has a compact structure without a large capacity and power output. Also, the size of the battery case is generally normalized. Therefore, in order to increase capacity and output as a conventional secondary battery, a method in which a plurality of secondary batteries are connected in series or in parallel is widely used.

However, such a conventional secondary battery is not suitable for use in a power storage device. The electric power storage device is a device used in a facility for handling a very large amount of electric power such as a smart grid system or an electric vehicle charging station and has a power capacity and an output that can not be compared with a portable device or an electric vehicle, Lt; / RTI > Therefore, the capacity, output, and size of the secondary battery used in such a power storage device should be different from those of the conventional secondary battery. For example, the Smart Grid system is an intelligent grid system that aims to increase the efficiency of power utilization through interaction of power supply and consumption by combining information and communication technology in the production, transportation and consumption process of electric power. Can be constructed. More specifically, for example, a smart grid system stores power in a power storage device when power consumption is low in a certain city, and supplies power stored in the power storage device to a consumer along with production power when power consumption is high Lt; / RTI > Therefore, the capacity, output and size of the secondary battery used in the power storage device can be much larger than those of the conventional secondary battery.

In this situation, it is not suitable to use a lithium secondary battery of the conventional type as it is in a power storage device of an energy storage system such as a smart grid system or an electric vehicle charging station. In addition, when the conventional lithium secondary batteries are connected in series and parallel to be included in the power storage device, the number of connections is too large, so that the failure rate is high in the connection portion and the unit secondary battery, It is very difficult to find, replace or repair.

In addition, when the lithium secondary battery is enlarged for use in a power storage device, the conventional secondary battery structure has a problem in that temperature control is not easy. For example, in the case of a large-sized secondary battery for a power storage device, the distance between the center of the secondary battery and the outside increases, which makes it difficult to effectively transmit heat. As a result, the temperature of the secondary battery is significantly increased, This can not be done properly.

In order to solve such a problem, there has been proposed a configuration in which the temperature is controlled by supplying air or liquid heated or cooled from the outside of the secondary battery. However, in this case, the temperature control efficiency is not good. For example, the secondary battery located on the inner side is inevitably harder to heat or cool than the secondary battery located on the outer side. Further, in the case of such a temperature control system, there is a problem that it is expensive and bulky because it requires air or a configuration for circulating the liquid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a secondary battery and a power storage device including the secondary battery, which are completely different from conventional lithium secondary batteries, .

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited thereto. It will also be readily apparent that the objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a secondary battery including: an electrode including at least one anode and at least one cathode; An insulating container which is made of an insulating material and accommodates the electrode and the electrolyte solution, and has an electrolyte discharge port and an electrolyte inlet port; And an electrolyte flow path connected to the electrolyte solution outlet and the electrolyte solution inlet to provide a path through which the electrolyte solution can flow.

Preferably, the secondary battery further includes a temperature regulator for regulating the temperature of the electrolyte flowing through the electrolyte flow path.

Preferably, the secondary battery further includes a flow rate regulator for regulating a flow rate of the electrolytic solution flowing through the electrolyte flow path.

Further, preferably, the secondary battery further includes a gas discharging portion for discharging the gas generated inside the insulating container to the outside of the insulating container.

Preferably, the secondary battery further includes an electrolyte replenishing portion for further injecting an electrolyte into the insulating container when the amount of the electrolyte contained in the insulating container is less than a predetermined amount.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a secondary battery comprising: an electrode including at least one anode and at least one cathode; A plurality of insulating containers formed of an insulating material and accommodating the electrodes and the electrolyte solution, and having an electrolyte discharge port and an electrolyte inlet port; And a plurality of electrolyte flow paths connected to an electrolyte inlet formed in one insulating container and an electrolyte inlet formed in another insulating container to provide a path through which the electrolyte can flow.

Preferably, the secondary battery further includes a temperature regulator provided in at least one of the plurality of electrolyte flow paths, the temperature regulator controlling the temperature of the electrolyte flowing through the electrolyte flow path.

Preferably, the secondary battery further includes a flow rate adjusting unit, which is provided in at least one of the plurality of electrolyte flow channels and adjusts a flow rate of the electrolyte flowing through the electrolyte flow channels.

Further, preferably, the secondary battery further includes a gas discharging portion for discharging the gas generated inside the insulating container to the outside of the insulating container.

Preferably, the secondary battery further includes an electrolyte replenishing portion for further injecting an electrolyte into the insulating container when the amount of the electrolyte contained in the insulating container is less than a predetermined amount.

Preferably, the plurality of insulating containers and the plurality of electrolyte flow paths are accommodated in a non-insulating container.

According to the present invention, a novel type lithium secondary battery having a structure in which an electrolyte is circulated is provided. In addition, the secondary battery according to the present invention can be suitably used for a power storage device of an energy storage system requiring a large power capacity, such as a smart grid system or an electric vehicle charging station.

Further, according to the present invention, since the electrolyte itself, which is not air or liquid, is used as a refrigerant or a heat to circulate the interior of the secondary battery, the temperature control efficiency is extremely excellent. Therefore, the temperature-sensitive lithium secondary battery can be prevented from deteriorating due to the high temperature or the low temperature, so that the optimal performance can be obtained. Since the secondary battery is not heated or cooled using a separate air or liquid, it is not necessary to provide such a structure for circulating air or liquid, and the cost is reduced, and the volume of the power storage device itself is reduced .

In addition, according to the present invention, various sizes of the insulating container can be used, and electrodes of the same size can be used. Therefore, various battery models can be produced in one manufacturing line, As shown in FIG.

In addition, since the secondary battery according to the present invention contains a larger amount of electrolyte than the conventional secondary battery, deterioration of the battery performance due to depletion of the electrolyte can be prevented and battery life can be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and, together with the description of the invention given below, serve to further the understanding of the technical idea of the invention, And should not be construed as limiting.
1 is a view schematically showing a configuration of a secondary battery according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a top cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a configuration in which an electrode is fixed in a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a perspective view schematically showing a configuration of a secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention.
4 is an upper sectional view taken along the line AA 'in Fig.
5 is a view schematically showing a configuration of a secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a perspective view schematically showing a configuration in which a plurality of insulating containers and a plurality of electrolyte flow paths are housed in a non-insulating container in a secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, terms and words used in the present specification and claims should not be construed as limited to ordinary or dictionary terms, and the inventor should appropriately interpret the concepts of the terms appropriately It should be interpreted in accordance with the meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention based on the principle that it can be defined.

Therefore, the embodiments described in the present specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all the technical ideas of the present invention. Therefore, It is to be understood that equivalents and modifications are possible.

1 is a view schematically showing a configuration of a secondary battery according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 1, the arrow indicates the direction in which the electrolyte flows.

Referring to FIG. 1, a secondary battery according to the present invention includes an electrode 100, an insulating container 200, and an electrolyte flow path 300.

The electrode 100 includes at least one anode 110 and at least one cathode 120. The anode 110 and the cathode 120 are coated with a cathode active material and a cathode active material. In the case of the lithium secondary battery, the lithium-based oxide and the carbon material can be used as the cathode active material and the anode active material, but the present invention is not limited by the specific kind of the cathode active material and the anode active material.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electrode 100 may be implemented in the form of a plate. However, the present invention is not limited to the case where the electrode 100 is formed in a plate form, and the electrode 100 may be realized in a form other than a plate form.

If the electrode 100 is formed in a plate shape, it is preferable that the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate are formed in a shape facing each other, that is, facing each other. This is because the ion exchange between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate can be made easier.

Preferably, in the electrode 100, a separator may be interposed between the anode 110 and the cathode 120. The separator is disposed between the positive electrode 110 and the negative electrode 120 to insulate the positive electrode 110 from the negative electrode 120 so that the active material ions can be exchanged between the positive electrode 110 and the negative electrode 120.

However, the present invention is not limited to the structure in which the separator is included in the electrode 100 as described above. That is, when the structure in which the anode 110 and the cathode 120 are not in contact with each other is provided, a separator may not be interposed between the anode 110 and the cathode 120. For example, the insulating container 200 is formed with grooves into which the anode 110 and the cathode 120 can be inserted. The anode 110 and the cathode 120 are inserted into the grooves, The separator does not need to be interposed between the anode 110 and the cathode 120.

2 is an upper cross-sectional view showing an example of a configuration in which the electrode 100 is fixed in a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, only one anode 110 and one cathode 120 are shown for convenience of explanation.

Referring to FIG. 2, in the secondary battery according to the present invention, the insulating container 200 has an electrode insertion groove 230 on its inner surface. The anode 110 and the cathode 120 may be inserted into the electrode insertion groove 230, and the electrode insertion slots 230 may be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. Therefore, since the anode 110 and the cathode 120 can be inserted and fixed in the electrode insertion groove 230, respectively, and a gap exists between the electrode insertion slots 230, And the cathode 120 can be prevented from contacting each other. Therefore, with this electrode fixing structure, a separator may not be provided between the anode 110 and the cathode 120. [

2, the electrode insertion groove 230 is formed on the inner side surface of the insulating container 200. However, the shape of the electrode insertion groove 230 is merely an example. May be configured in various ways. For example, the electrode insertion groove 230 may be formed on the inner bottom surface of the insulating container 200.

1, when a plurality of the positive electrodes 110 and the plurality of negative electrodes 120 are provided in the electrode 100, the plurality of positive electrodes 110 and the negative electrodes 120 are connected to each other by a connecting member such as a bus bar The anode tab 121 and the anode tab 121 may be connected to each other in series or in parallel. The positive electrode bus bar 131 and the negative electrode bus bar 141 connected to the positive electrode tab 111 and the negative electrode tab 121 are connected to the negative electrode terminal 221 and the negative electrode terminal 121 provided in the insulating container 200, 222, respectively.

1, the electrode 100 includes a plurality of anodes 110 and a plurality of cathodes 120, and the anodes 110 and the cathodes 120 are alternately stacked on each other . At this time, the stacking of the anode 110 and the cathode 120 may be performed in the horizontal direction or in the vertical direction as shown in the figure.

Further, preferably, when the electrode 100 is in the form of a plate, the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate may be formed by being wound by being disposed with a separator interposed therebetween. Thus, when the electrode 100 is formed in the form of a jelly roll, it is possible to prevent the active material coated on the electrode 100 from being easily separated from the electrode 100 due to a large amount of electrolytic solution.

The insulating container 200 is a container made of an insulating material and accommodates the electrode 100 and the electrolytic solution. Typical examples of such an insulating material include plastic. The plastic can be used as the material of the insulating container 200 of the present invention because it is excellent in insulation, easy to fuse, and can be manufactured in various forms. In addition, it goes without saying that various insulating materials can be used as the material of the insulating container 200.

The insulating container 200 may be entirely made of an insulating material, but a part of the insulating container 200 may be made of an insulating material. In particular, the insulative container 200 may be configured such that an insulative material is coated on the inner surface of the non-insulative container. For example, the insulating container 200 may be configured such that an insulating material such as a plastic layer is coated on the inner surface of the non-insulating container.

The insulating container 200 can be housed in a non-insulating container. Here, the non-insulating container may be a container made of a metal material. In this way, when the outer surface of the insulating container 200 is covered with a non-insulating container such as a metal container, the structural stability of the secondary battery is improved, and penetration of external moisture and air and electrolyte leakage can be more effectively prevented .

In addition, in the insulating container 200, a moisture barrier agent may be coated on the outer surface. In this case, moisture penetration from the outside to the secondary battery can be effectively blocked.

In the secondary battery according to the present invention, the insulating container 200 has at least one electrolyte outlet 211 and an electrolyte inlet 212 formed therein. The electrolyte solution inlet 211 discharges the electrolyte inside the insulative container 200 to the outside of the insulative container 200. The electrolyte solution inlet 212 introduces the electrolyte solution outside the insulative container 200 into the insulative container 200 . The electrolyte solution stored in the insulating container 200 is discharged to the outside of the insulating container 200 through the electrolyte outlet 211 and may be introduced into the insulating container 200 through the electrolyte inlet 212.

Here, the electrolyte outlet 211 and the electrolyte inlet 212 are preferably formed on the opposite side of the insulating container 200. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when the electrolyte outlet 211 is provided on the left side of the insulating container 200, the electrolyte inlet 212 may be provided on the right side of the insulating container 200. When the electrolyte outlet 211 and the electrolyte inlet 212 are formed on the opposite side of the insulating container 200, the electrolyte is easily circulated, and the portion where the electrolyte can not circulate within the insulating container 200 Can be prevented.

However, the present invention is not limited by the specific positions of the electrolyte outlet 211 and the electrolyte inlet 212. For example, based on FIG. 1, the electrolyte outlet 211 and the electrolyte inlet 212 may be formed on the front and back sides of the insulating container 200, respectively, or may be formed on the top and bottom, respectively.

1, one electrolyte solution outlet 211 and one electrolyte solution inlet 212 are formed in one insulating container 200. However, this is only an example, and the electrolyte solution outlet 211 and the electrolyte solution inlet 212 May be formed in a plurality of the insulating containers 200.

The shapes of the lower storage part 210 and the upper lid 220 of the insulating container 200 are merely examples and the shapes of the lower storage part 210 and the upper lid 220 may be variously implemented . For example, the lower housing part 210 and the upper lid 220 may be formed in a cylindrical shape, and the upper lid 220 may be formed in a plate shape. Meanwhile, the upper cover 220 may be covered with the open portion of the lower housing 210 to seal and seal. Various fusing methods known at the time of filing of the present invention may be used.

One end of the electrolyte channel 300 is connected to the electrolyte outlet 211 of the insulating container 200 and the other end is connected to the electrolyte inlet 212 of the insulating container 200. By allowing the electrolytic solution to flow through the inner space, a path through which the electrolytic solution flows can be provided. That is, the electrolyte contained in the insulating container 200 is discharged from the insulating container 200 through the electrolyte outlet 211, flows through the electrolyte flow path 300, and then flows into the insulating container 200 through the electrolyte inlet 212 Can be introduced.

Preferably, as shown in FIG. 1, the secondary battery according to the present invention may further include a temperature controller 400.

The temperature regulator 400 regulates the temperature of the electrolyte flowing through the electrolyte flow path 300. Accordingly, the temperature regulating unit 400 may be provided on the electrolyte flow path 300, as shown in the figure.

More preferably, the temperature regulator 400 can increase or decrease the temperature of the electrolyte. Accordingly, the temperature regulator 400 may include a temperature gauge, a heat exchanger, a cooler, and / or a heater.

According to the embodiment, the temperature regulator 400 measures the temperature of the electrolytic solution using a temperature meter. At this time, the temperature measuring device may be provided in the insulating container 200 or may be provided in the electrolyte flow path 300.

If the temperature of the electrolytic solution is below a predetermined temperature, the temperature regulating unit 400 can heat the electrolytic solution using a heat exchanger and / or a heater. The lithium secondary battery may fail to exhibit its performance in a low temperature state such as in a cold winter. According to the embodiment, the temperature regulating unit 400 supplies heat to the electrolyte flowing through the electrolyte flow path 300 And the heated electrolytic solution enters the inside of the insulating container 200 through the electrolyte flow path 300 again. Accordingly, heat can be supplied to the entire electrolyte of the secondary battery, thereby preventing deterioration of performance of the secondary battery due to low temperature, and allowing the electrolyte to have an optimal temperature.

Further, when the temperature of the electrolytic solution is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, the temperature regulating unit 400 can cool the electrolytic solution using a heat exchanger and / or a cooler. If the temperature rises above a certain level, the performance of the lithium secondary battery deteriorates, and there is a risk of ignition or explosion. Particularly, in the case of a secondary battery used for a power storage device, since the output and the capacity are very large, the secondary battery used for a portable device or a portable device has a large heat generation and a high risk of ignition or explosion. However, according to the embodiment, since the temperature regulating unit 400 cools the electrolyte itself flowing through the electrolyte flow path 300, the entire secondary battery can be efficiently cooled.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, since the electrolytic solution is circulated through the electrolytic solution flow path 300 and the temperature of the electrolytic solution is directly controlled by the temperature regulating part 400, a separate heat or refrigerant such as air or liquid Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a facility or a device for circulating these.

Also, preferably, as shown in FIG. 1, the secondary battery according to the present invention may further include a flow rate controller 500. The flow rate regulator (500) regulates the flow rate of the electrolyte flowing through the electrolyte flow path (300). The flow rate regulator 500 may include a flow rate regulator or the like, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Also, preferably, as shown in FIG. 1, the secondary battery according to the present invention may further include a gas discharge part 600.

In the case of a secondary battery such as a lithium secondary battery, gas may be generated from the electrode 100 and the electrolyte contained in the insulating container 200 during charging and discharging. If such gas is not appropriately discharged to the outside, the insulating container 200 may be damaged due to the gas pressure, and in the worst case, the secondary battery may explode. However, when the gas discharging unit 600 is provided as in the above embodiment, even if gas is generated in the insulating container 200, such gas can be discharged to the outside of the secondary battery, . The gas discharging part 600 may be realized by forming holes in the insulating container 200 as shown in the figure, or may be implemented in various other ways.

The gas discharging unit 600 may be operated when the pressure difference between the inside of the insulating container 200 and the outside of the insulating container 200 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. That is, when the pressure difference between the inside of the insulating container 200 and the outside of the insulating container 200 is not so large, the gas discharging unit 600 is not operated. When the pressure difference becomes a certain level or more, The gas inside the insulating container 200 can be discharged to the outside. This is because the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the insulative container 200 is not so large, so that it is not necessary to discharge the gas when the insulative container 200 can sufficiently withstand the difference.

Although not shown in the drawing, the secondary battery according to the present invention may further include an electrolyte replenishing portion. The electrolyte replenishing unit further injects an electrolyte into the insulating container 200 when the amount of the electrolyte contained in the insulating container 200 is less than a predetermined amount. According to this embodiment, when the electrolyte of the secondary battery is insufficient, the secondary battery can be replenished at any time, so that deterioration of the performance or life of the battery due to depletion of the electrolyte can be improved.

In FIG. 1, the electrolyte flow path 300 is shown as a pipe. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific configuration of the electrolyte flow path 300.

In FIG. 1, the temperature regulator 400 is illustrated as being separated from the insulative container 200, but such configuration is only one example. For example, the temperature regulating unit 400 may be integrally formed with the insulating container 200.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a configuration of a secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a top cross-sectional view taken along line A-A 'of FIG. In Figs. 3 and 4, the arrow indicates the direction in which the electrolyte flows.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the temperature regulating unit 400 is not separated from the insulating container 200 as shown in FIG. 1 but is attached to the insulating container 200 so as to be integrated with the insulating container 200 . The electrolyte flow path 300 is formed such that the electrolyte flowing out of the electrolyte outlet 211 of the insulating container 200 flows to the electrolyte inlet 212 of the insulating container 200 through the temperature regulating part 400. In addition, the temperature regulator 400 may be provided in various forms in the secondary battery.

1 through 4 illustrate that the electrolyte flow path 300 is formed on the outside of the insulating container 200. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto, and the electrolyte flow path 300 may be formed in the insulating container 200, Or may be integrated with the insulating container 200.

5 is a view schematically showing a configuration of a secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 5, arrows indicate the direction in which the electrolyte flows. However, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, a detailed description of parts that can be equally applied to the embodiment of FIG. 1 will be omitted, and only the characteristic parts will be described in more detail.

Referring to FIG. 5, the secondary battery according to the present invention includes a plurality of insulating containers 200. The plurality of insulating containers 200 are made of an insulating material. At this time, the insulating container 200 may be formed entirely of an insulating material, or may have an insulating material coated on the inner surface of the non-insulating material. In each of the plurality of insulating containers 200, an electrolyte outlet 211 and an electrolyte inlet 212 are formed. 5, the electrolyte outlet 211 and the electrolyte inlet 212 are formed for each insulating container 200. However, the electrolyte outlet 211 and / or the electrolyte outlet 211 may be provided for each of the insulating containers 200, Or two or more electrolyte inlets 212 may be formed.

In FIG. 5, three secondary batteries 200 are illustrated as being provided in the secondary battery. However, this is for convenience of description, and the number of the secondary batteries 200 may be varied. It is obvious to those skilled in the art.

The electrode 100 and the electrolytic solution may be accommodated in the insulating container 200. The electrode 100 includes at least one anode 110 and at least one cathode 120. At this time, a separator may be interposed between the anode 110 and the cathode 120. However, if the insulating container 200 is provided with fixing means such as the electrode insertion groove 230 so that the anode 110 and the cathode 120 can be separated from each other, the separator need not be interposed. The electrode 100 may be formed by alternately laminating the anode 110 and the cathode 120 or may be formed by winding the anode 110 and the cathode 120 between the separators .

Further, in the embodiment of Fig. 5, the secondary battery includes a plurality of electrolyte flow paths 300. The electrolyte channel 300 is connected between an electrolyte outlet 211 formed in one insulating container 200 and an electrolyte inlet 212 formed in another insulating container 200 to provide a path through which the electrolyte can flow. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, if the secondary battery includes three insulating containers 200 and these are represented by the first insulating container to the third insulating containers 201 to 203, ) May be provided in at least three or more. 5, the electrolyte flow path 300 includes a first electrolyte flow path 301 connected between the first insulating container 201 and the second insulating container 202, a second insulating container 202, A second electrolyte flow path 302 connected between the third insulating container 203 and a third electrolyte flow path 303 connected between the third insulating container 203 and the first insulating container 201 .

When a plurality of insulative containers 200 are provided in the secondary battery and a plurality of the electrolyte passages 300 are provided between the insulative containers 200 as described above, the electrolyte circulation is performed between the plurality of insulative containers 200 .

In addition, the secondary battery according to this embodiment may include a temperature regulator 400, as shown in FIG. Here, the temperature regulating unit 400 regulates the temperature of the electrolytic solution flowing through the electrolytic solution flow path 300, as in the embodiment of FIG. The temperature regulator 400 may include a heat exchanger, a cooler, and / or a heater to increase or decrease the temperature of the electrolyte.

5, the temperature regulating unit 400 may be formed in one of the plurality of electrolyte flow channels 300, but this is merely an example. That is, the temperature regulating unit 400 may be formed on the plurality of electrolyte flow channels 300, or may be provided in all the electrolyte flow channels 300. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the temperature regulating unit 400 may be provided in each of the first to third electrolyte flow paths 301 to 303. In this case, the temperature control effect on the electrolyte solution of the secondary battery can be further confirmed.

5, the secondary battery including a plurality of insulating containers 200 and a plurality of electrolyte flow channels 300 may include a flow rate adjusting unit 300 for adjusting the flow rate of the electrolyte flowing through the electrolyte flow channels 300, (500). Also, the flow rate regulator 500 may be formed more than once on the plurality of electrolyte flow paths 300, like the temperature regulator 400.

5, the secondary battery including the plurality of insulating containers 200 and the plurality of electrolyte flow paths 300 discharges the gas generated in the insulating container 200 to the outside of the insulating container 200 (Not shown). When the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the insulating container 200 is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the gas inside the insulating container 200 can be discharged to the outside of the insulating container 200.

The secondary battery including the plurality of insulating containers 200 and the plurality of electrolyte flow paths 300 may be configured such that when the amount of the electrolyte contained in the insulating container 200 is equal to or less than a certain level, And may further include an electrolyte replenishing portion for injecting.

The secondary battery including the plurality of insulating containers 200 and the plurality of electrolyte flow paths 300 preferably has a shape in which a plurality of insulating containers 200 and a plurality of electrolyte flow paths 300 are accommodated in a non- . ≪ / RTI > This will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

6 is a perspective view schematically showing a configuration in which a plurality of insulating containers 200 and a plurality of electrolyte flow paths 300 are accommodated in a non-insulating container 600 in a secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, in the secondary battery according to the present invention, a plurality of insulating containers 200 can be accommodated in one non-insulating container (tank) 600. An electrolyte flow path 300 is provided between the plurality of insulating vessels 200 so that an electrolyte solution flows between the plurality of insulating vessels 200. At this time, the non-insulating container 600 surrounding the plurality of insulating containers 200 may be made of a metal or the like. The non-insulating container 600 made of a metal or the like is excellent in water penetration inhibiting ability and prevents moisture and the like from entering the insulating container 200 and protects the insulating container 200 and the electrolyte flow path 300 from external impact Thereby contributing to improvement in the structural stability of the secondary battery.

6 shows the configuration of the plurality of insulating containers 200 and the electrolyte flow path 300 included in the non-insulating container 600, although the non-insulating container 600 is shown as being transparent.

In addition, the number of the non-insulating container 600 and the insulating container 200 included in the secondary battery of the present invention can be variously configured. For example, two or more non-insulating containers 600 may be provided, and each of the non-insulating containers 600 may include one or more insulating containers 200.

The power storage device according to the present invention includes the above-described secondary battery.

For example, a power storage device according to the present invention includes an electrode 100 including at least one anode 110 and at least one cathode 120, an insulating material, and the electrode 100 and the electrolyte, An electrolytic solution flow path 300 connected to the electrolyte discharge port 211 and the electrolyte solution inlet 212 to provide a path through which the electrolytic solution can flow, an insulating container 200 having an outlet 211 and an electrolyte inlet 212, And a secondary battery including the secondary battery.

The power storage device according to the present invention includes an electrode 100 including one or more anodes 110 and one or more cathodes 120 and an electrode 100 formed of an insulating material to receive the electrode 100 and the electrolyte, A plurality of insulative containers 200 having an electrolyte inlet 211 and an electrolyte inlet 212 and an electrolyte inlet 211 formed in one insulative container 200 and an electrolyte inlet 212 formed in another insulative container 200 And a plurality of electrolyte flow channels 300 that provide a path through which the electrolyte flows.

In particular, the power storage device according to the present invention can be effectively used for storing electric power in an energy storage system that handles a large amount of electric power such as a smart grid system or an electric vehicle charging station.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. It will be understood that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In the present specification, the term 'part' is used, such as 'temperature control part', 'flow control part', 'gas discharge part', 'electrolyte replenishment part' It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to these components.

100: electrode
110: anode
120: cathode
200: insulating container
300: Electrolyte fluid channel
400: Temperature control unit
500:
600: gas discharge portion

Claims (26)

An electrode including a plurality of anodes and a plurality of cathodes;
An insulating container which is made of an insulating material and accommodates the electrode and the electrolyte solution, and has an electrolyte discharge port and an electrolyte inlet port;
An electrolyte solution flow path connected to the electrolyte solution outlet and the electrolyte solution inlet to provide a path through which the electrolyte solution can flow; And
A temperature regulating unit for regulating a temperature of the electrolytic solution flowing through the electrolytic solution flow path,
Including,
The electrolyte is discharged to the outside of the insulating container through the electrolyte discharge port, and then the temperature is controlled by the temperature controller to flow into the insulating container through the electrolyte inlet,
Wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode are inserted and fixed in the electrode insertion groove and the positive electrode tab and the negative electrode tab of the negative electrode are formed in the insulating container, Are connected to each other in series or in parallel through a positive bus bar and a negative bus bar, and the positive bus bar and the negative bus bar are connected to an external positive electrode terminal and an external negative electrode terminal provided in the insulating container, respectively. battery. delete The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the temperature regulator increases or decreases the temperature of the electrolyte. The method according to claim 1,
And a flow rate controller for controlling a flow rate of the electrolytic solution flowing through the electrolytic solution flow path. The method according to claim 1,
And a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. delete delete delete The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the insulating container is formed by coating an inner surface with an insulating material. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the insulating container is housed in a non-insulating container. 11. The method of claim 10,
Wherein the non-insulating container is made of a metal material. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the insulating container is coated with a moisture barrier agent that blocks moisture from flowing into the outer surface. The method according to claim 1,
And a gas discharging unit discharging gas generated in the insulating container to the outside of the insulating container. 14. The method of claim 13,
Wherein the gas discharging portion discharges the gas inside the insulating container to the outside of the insulating container when the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the insulating container is a predetermined value or more. The method according to claim 1,
And the electrolyte solution inlet and the electrolyte solution inlet are formed on the opposite surface of the insulating container, respectively. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising an electrolyte replenishing section for further injecting an electrolyte into the insulating container when the amount of the electrolyte contained in the insulating container is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. An electrode including a plurality of anodes and a plurality of cathodes;
A plurality of insulating containers formed of an insulating material and accommodating the electrodes and the electrolyte solution, and having an electrolyte discharge port and an electrolyte inlet port;
A plurality of electrolyte flow paths connected to an electrolyte inlet formed in one insulating container and an electrolyte inlet formed in another insulating container to provide a path through which the electrolyte flows; And
And a temperature regulator provided in at least one of the plurality of electrolyte flow paths to regulate the temperature of the electrolyte flowing through the electrolyte flow path,
The electrolyte is discharged to the outside of the insulating container through the electrolyte discharge port, and then the temperature is controlled by the temperature regulator to flow into the other insulating container through the electrolyte inlet,
Wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode are inserted and fixed in the electrode insertion groove and the positive electrode tab and the negative electrode tab of the negative electrode are formed in the insulating container, Are connected to each other in series or in parallel through a positive bus bar and a negative bus bar, and the positive bus bar and the negative bus bar are connected to an external positive electrode terminal and an external negative electrode terminal provided in the insulating container, respectively. battery. delete 18. The method of claim 17,
Wherein the temperature regulator increases or decreases the temperature of the electrolyte. 18. The method of claim 17,
Further comprising a flow rate regulator provided in at least one of the plurality of electrolyte flow paths to regulate the flow rate of the electrolyte flowing through the electrolyte flow path. 18. The method of claim 17,
Wherein the plurality of insulating containers and the plurality of electrolyte flow paths are housed in a non-insulating container. 22. The method of claim 21,
Wherein the non-insulating container is made of a metal material. 18. The method of claim 17,
And a gas discharging unit discharging gas generated in the insulating container to the outside of the insulating container. 24. The method of claim 23,
Wherein the gas discharging portion discharges the gas inside the insulating container to the outside of the insulating container when the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the insulating container is a predetermined value or more. 18. The method of claim 17,
Further comprising an electrolyte replenishing section for further injecting an electrolyte into the insulating container when the amount of the electrolyte contained in the insulating container is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. A power storage device comprising a secondary battery according to any one of claims 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,

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