WO2014048628A1

WO2014048628A1 - System for degassing accumulators

Info

Publication number: WO2014048628A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/066634
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lutz Mueller
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 2012-09-26
Filing date: 2013-08-08
Publication date: 2014-04-03
Also published as: DE102012217383A1

Abstract

System (2) for degassing accumulators, having at least one accumulator unit (4), having a leak-tight housing (6) comprising at least one accumulator element, characterized in that the system further has a conduction element (8) and a receiving element (12), wherein the conduction element (8) can be connected to the accumulator unit (4) and the receiving element (12), wherein the conduction element (8) is designed to discharge accumulator material of the at least one accumulator unit (4) from the housing (6) to the receiving element (12) in the event of a fault.

Description

Description title

System for degassing of accumulators

The present invention relates to battery technology in vehicles or stationary or mobile devices. In particular, the present invention relates to a system for degassing of batteries and a vehicle, in particular electric or hybrid vehicle with a system according to the invention.

State of the art

Electric or hybrid vehicles have accumulators for energy storage

different technology. For example, such vehicles

Have lithium ion batteries, which type are characterized by a high energy density, high thermal stability and a negligible memory effect.

Accumulators for use in vehicles regularly have one

Accumulator with a sealed housing, in which housing the actual accumulator elements are arranged.

In such a housing of a rechargeable battery unit, however, a pressure may build up in the case of internal faults or even incorrect wiring, which pressure can lead to bursting of the housing or of the outer sheath of the rechargeable battery unit. In such a bursting process usually occurs accumulator material, for example, electrolyte, and contaminates the environment of the accumulator. The accumulator material may contain solvents, for example diethyl carbonate and / or conductive salts, for example LiPF6. The solvents may be flammable and in particular explosive

Solvent vapor-air mixtures produce, while conductive salts can split off highly aggressive hydrofluoric acid (hydrogen fluoride - HF), in particular by reaction with moisture.

These and other accumulator materials can contaminate the environment of a battery unit in the event of a fault when the housing bursts and, in the worst case, impair the function of further accumulator units or adjacent control units. The risk of bursting of the housing of an accumulator unit can be reduced by providing a rupture disk in the housing; an accumulator unit which is under excessive internal pressure thereby blows off at a predetermined point.

It is regularly a variety of individual accumulator units too

Accumulator banks combined and a variety of Akkumulatorbänken in larger applications turn to accumulator cabinets. Usually, an accumulator cabinet or the accumulator bank is detected when blowing off a

Battery unit completely switched off, whereby a vehicle can not be moved in extreme cases.

Accumulator units and in particular lithium ion batteries are used in various types of vehicles on the road, rail, in the water or in the air and in stationary or mobile devices.

Disclosure of the invention

An aspect of the present invention can thus be seen in that individual accumulator units, in particular a battery bank or a

Accumulator cabinet can safely blow off while the remaining

Accumulator at least limited further can be used.

Accordingly, a system for degassing of batteries and a vehicle, in particular an automobile, more particularly an electric or hybrid vehicle according to the independent claims is displayed. Preferred embodiments will be apparent from the dependent claims.

According to the invention, such a system provides a possibility from a

Accumulator unit to discharge emerging accumulator material or promote and bring in suitable collecting containers, thereby avoiding that the

Environment of a battery unit or a battery bank or a

Accumulator cabinet is contaminated by accumulator material.

In this case, at least one accumulator or alternatively a plurality of

Accumulator with a receiving element or reservoir for collecting the Accumulator material connected. For this purpose, guide elements or tubes or a hose system can be provided, which connects a battery unit suitable with the receiving element. On the one hand, the accumulator material can be solid or (tough) liquid and, on the other hand, gaseous. The receptacle may be configured to receive and securely bind at least one type, but preferably all types or types of accumulator material. In the case of leaking electrolyte, a receiving element may further provide suitable absorbent material, for example gelling agent, which securely binds outgoing electrolyte.

In addition, absorption material for gaseous accumulator material can also be provided. This further absorption material can either be in the same receiving element or in a downstream receiving element or

Be provided absorber element. Also, the system may include a vent to relieve pressure from the system, but without allowing accumulator material to escape. In the event that a significant pressure is built up in the degassing, this may also have a pressure element, such as a bursting foil.

The guide elements or the tube system may / may preferably be designed to be transparent, so that accumulator material residues located in the guide element can be detected by a signal, for example an optical signal, by viewing the

Have the hose system detected. Furthermore, indicator elements for

Accumulator be provided, for example, responsive to electrolyte, solvent and / or gaseous accumulator material.

The inventive system for degassing of accumulators, the atmosphere around a defective accumulator remains respirable, is not explosive and does not have a corrosive effect on electronics and structural components. Also, non-damaged accumulator units may continue to be used until repaired, that is, a system is stabilized until repair or replacement of a defective accumulator unit, and remains at least partially operational, such that a vehicle, for example, in an emergency, up to one Workshop can continue. By electrolyte-contaminated vanes or absorbers can, in particular due to provided indicator elements, can be easily recognized by eye and are therefore safely exchangeable.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the following drawings and explained in more detail in the following description.

It shows

Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a system for degassing of batteries according to the present invention.

Embodiments of the invention

1 shows a system 2 for degassing of accumulators with exemplary 3 accumulator 4. Each accumulator unit 4 has a sealed housing 6, in which the accumulator elements of the respective accumulator unit are housed. Each accumulator unit 4 may have a valve element or pressure relief valve, for example a bursting disk element 10. Furthermore, each accumulator unit 4 is connected to a receiving element 12 using a guide element 8, for example a suitable tube. The receiving element 12 or reservoir is to receive from the

Accumulator 4 set exiting accumulator material. The

Accumulator material may be gaseous and / or solid-liquid. Valve elements 10, such as rupture disc elements or Berstfolienelemente, on

Receiving element 12 may be provided and in particular decouple individual guide elements 8 relative to the receiving element 12.

In the case of a defect of a battery unit 4 is by the exiting

Accumulator material or the resulting increase in pressure a to the respective guide element 8 associated valve member 10 is opened, so that the exiting

Accumulator material can first propagate in the associated guide element 8 and then in the receiving element 12. The receiving element 12 has, for example, absorber material 14a, which can receive and bind the emerging accumulator material. The absorber material 14a may in particular be designed for solid or liquid or viscous accumulator material, while gaseous accumulator material can be forwarded.

For example, a further absorber element 18 may be connected to the receiving element 12 using a further guide element 8. The arrangement of absorber element 18 and receiving element 12 may in this case be designed such that occurring gaseous accumulator material from the receiving element 12 in the

Absorber element 18 can be flowed. In the absorber element 18 can in the following

Absorber 14b be arranged to receive and bind, at least the aggressive components, the gaseous accumulator material.

To deliver a pressure building up in the system, in the absorber element 18 a valve element 10, e.g. a Berstfolienelement be provided, which opens the entire system to the atmosphere, so that thereby a pressure in the system is degradable. Both the receiving element 12 and the absorber element 18 can have an indicator element 16a, b for indicating to what extent accumulator material has penetrated into the receiving element 12 or the absorber element 18 and has been bonded there.

The individual accumulator units 4 can have, in addition to or on the valve elements, adapters to which the conductor elements 8 can be coupled. Adapters and guide elements 8 or hoses can be made, for example, from transparent polyethylene (PE) or polypropene (PP). It is also conceivable embodiment of higher temperature resistant transparent fluoropolymers such as Teflon, Teflon FEP or PFA. By such a transparent configuration can be realized in a simple manner, a guide element which is inexpensive, solvent and hydrogen fluoride resistant, which is visible through the transparency in the guide element penetrated accumulator material.

The guide elements 8 may be provided on the accumulator 4 with an adapter which engages in a counter element on the accumulator 4, is inserted into this, for example. This adapter may for example be formed of aluminum and mounted on the housing 6 of the accumulator 4, in particular with this be welded. The guide element connection can in turn be reversibly and tightly brought into engagement with the connection element on the accumulator unit 4.

If a valve element or a rupture disk is provided on an accumulator unit 4, this can be integrated in particular in the connection of the guide element 8. Alternatively, a further valve element in the housing of the accumulator 4 may be provided, which, however, at a significantly higher, especially catastrophic

Pressure buildup responds, which pressure build-up by the system according to the invention for degassing a battery unit may not be degradable.

At the transition from the guide element 8 in the receiving element 12 and the reservoir valve elements 10 and Berstfolienelemente may also be provided which burst at an overpressure in the guide element 8 and thus allow emptying of accumulator material or electrolyte of a defective cell in the reservoir. The remaining, undamaged accumulator units, however, are protected by their valve elements 10 from contamination by leaking accumulator material of the defective accumulator unit and remain usable.

Guide elements 8 can be designed as smooth tubes or corrugated tubes. In a smooth hose accumulator material accumulations are better visible, while corrugated hoses are better protected against kinking.

According to the inventive concept, a plurality of accumulator units 4 (for example 2, 3 up to 100 or more) can be connectable to a receiving element 12 using a plurality of guide elements 8, in particular in that the probability of the defect of an accumulator unit is low.

Receiving element 12 may also be made of a transparent material, for example PE, PP or fluoropolymers. Possible production methods are blow molding or injection blow molding, injection molding or welding.

Guide elements 8 can be plugged or welded. The receiving element 12 preferably has such a volume that at least the accumulator material content of an accumulator unit 4 can be collected. More preferably, the content a plurality (for example 2, 3 or 4) of accumulator units 4 are received.

The design principle of the receiving element 12 is comparable to a wash bottle. A guide element 8 leads in the interior of the receiving element 12 to shortly before or above the absorber material 14a, while on the upper side of the receiving element 12, an exhaust port is provided in particular with a valve element 10 and a Berstfolienelement. The receiving element 12 may preferably be filled with an absorbent material 14a or a gelling agent for solvents. This absorber material e.g. swells through

Solvent residues in the accumulator material or electrolyte, whereby the

Electrolyte evaporation and thus the risk of explosion may be reduced. In the case of gelling agent this forms a no longer flowable gel. Suitable gelling agents are, for example, cotton wool or polyester (PET) or pelleted waxes.

An indicator element 16, for example a color indicator for solvents, can be used in the

Receiving element 12 may be provided. For example, powder of a

solvent-soluble dye may be provided in a granule, for example

Rhodamine 6G or the solvatochrome dye MOED, which, for example, turns red in solvent or dissolves. This makes it easy to see visually to what extent the receiving element 12 has accumulator material or solvent. Also

possibly emerging conductive salt is first bound generally with the resulting gel or in the absorber material 14a and thus reacts more slowly with

diffusing humidity.

The exhaust gas of the receiving element 12 can be relaxed via an absorber element 18, for example a hydrogen fluoride absorber, to the ambient atmosphere, whereby the escape of HF is prevented. The housing of the absorber element 16 may be constructed, for example, tubular and have a connection for a guide element 8. As absorber material 14b, for example soda-lime granules or

Limestone granules (CaC03) may be provided. As a result, hydrogen fluoride is absorbed before it exits into the atmosphere. As the last layer before the atmosphere can be provided in the absorber element 18, a layer of activated carbon, which remaining Solvent or hydrogen fluoride absorbed. Before passing to the slide can

Absorber element 18 have a further valve element 10 or a Berstfolienelement.

The valve elements 10 or Berstfolienelemente can be performed for example as a thin PE film or fluoropolymer film, which breaks at a defined pressure. The valve element 10 may be attached to one end of a guide element 8, for example, be welded, or the guide element 8 itself is welded shut and defined thinned so that it opens at a defined pressure. About the thickness of the film or a suitably embossed notch in the guide element 8, the opening pressure or Zerknalldruck can be adjusted.

When providing a plurality of valve elements 10 whose bursting pressure can be adjusted in particular as follows. The bursting pressure of a valve element 10 of an accumulator unit 4 may be greater, in particular much greater than that of a valve element 10 of the receiving element 12, which in turn is greater than that of one

Valve element 10 of the guide element of a cell and this in turn greater than the bursting pressure of the valve element 10 of the absorber element 18th

As indicator elements, those may be provided for acid and for hydrogen fluoride. As acid indicators or pH indicators, for example, thymol blue or

Methyl orange be provided, which both stain red with acid. Also conceivable is bromothymol blue, which is colored green in the neutral state but is colorless on contact with acid. As an indicator element for hydrogen fluoride, for example, red iron rhodanide, which is decolorized by fluoride. The indicators can be embodied as paper, as a thin layer or in granules as a powder or as a coating of the absorber granules. The indicators can either be in the

Guide elements 8 or be housed in the absorber granules 14a, b or at both points. An outlet can also be detected by an electrical conductivity probe, this 2 metallic electrodes are housed in the receiving element 12 and monitored their resistance, trapped electrolyte changes the resistance. In the simplest case, a smooth-cut coaxial cable serves as the electrode in tank 12. Any other level sensor is also suitable. A defective case arises here as follows. A defective accumulator unit 4 internally builds up pressure and opens a first valve element 10, which may be provided in the transition between accumulator unit 4 and guide element 8. Accumulator material or electrolyte flows under pressure into the guide element 8, discolored an indicator element possibly arranged there and reaches a valve element 10 before

Receiving element 12. With a suitable pressure, the respective valve element 10 opens, whereby accumulator material flows into the receiving element 12 and in particular is bound there by absorber material 14a, for example gelled with gelling agent. An indicator element provided in the receiving element 12 may become discolored.

Hydrogen fluoride exhaust gas possibly arising leaves the receiving element 12 via the further guide element 8, enters the absorber element 18 and is bound there by the absorber material 14b. Any remaining vapors are bound in any activated carbon. A residual gas pressure can in turn open valve element 10 on the absorber element 18, whereby the overpressure can ultimately be delivered to the atmosphere. The remaining, functional

Accumulator 4 and the atmosphere in the environment of

Accumulator units are not deteriorated and remain usable.

In the case of repair, the areas contaminated by the accumulator material are separated in a region which is not yet contaminated and removed without

Accumulator material emerges. In other words, a defective accumulator unit, a contaminated receiving element 12, becomes a possibly contaminated one

Absorber element 18 and all guide elements 8 removed, which have come into contact with accumulator material or lead to the filled receiving element. Depending on the design of the guide element 8, these can be partially reused, for example, clean hoses are cut off. Spare parts can subsequently be mounted in a clean atmosphere, which restores the operational readiness of the entire accumulator system.

Claims

Claims 1. System (2) for degassing of accumulators, comprising

at least one accumulator unit (4), comprising a sealed housing (6) with at least one accumulator element;

characterized in that the system further comprises

a guide element (8), and

a receiving element (12);

wherein the guide element (8) is connectable to the accumulator unit (4) and the receiving element (12);

wherein the guide element (8) is adapted, in the event of a fault, to discharge accumulator material of the at least one accumulator unit (4) from the housing (6) to the receiving element (12).

2. System according to the preceding claim, wherein the accumulator unit (4), the guide element (8) and / or the receiving element (12) has at least one valve element (10) which directs accumulator material in the direction of

Receiving element (12) allows and which prevents conduction of accumulator material in the direction of the accumulator unit (4); wherein the valve element (10) is designed in particular as a bursting foil element.

3. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one accumulator element is formed as a Li-ion accumulator element.

A system according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of accumulator units (4) using a plurality of

Guide elements (8) can be connected to a receiving element (12).

5. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the Leitelelement (8) and / or the receiving element (12) at least partially transparent or

is translucent.

6. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving element (12) comprises an absorber material (14a), in particular for receiving by means of the guide element (8) discharged accumulator material.

7. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the

Receiving element (12) further comprises a first indicator element (16a) for providing a signal in the case of receiving accumulator material.

8. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an absorber element (18) for receiving gaseous accumulator material, wherein the

Absorber element (18) with the at least one accumulator unit (4) and / or the receiving element (12) is connected;

the absorber element (18) in particular further comprising a second

Indicator element (16b) for providing a signal in the case of receiving gaseous accumulator material.

9. System according to one of the preceding claims, for use in a stationary and / or mobile device or application.

10. Vehicle, in particular automobile, aircraft, rail vehicle or

A watercraft, more particularly an electric or hybrid vehicle, comprising a system (2) according to one of the preceding claims.