WO2014129136A1

WO2014129136A1 - Cell stack

Info

Publication number: WO2014129136A1
Application number: PCT/JP2014/000622
Authority: WO
Inventors: 安井　俊介; 智彦横山; 慎也本川; 裕史高崎
Original assignee: 三洋電機株式会社
Priority date: 2013-02-19
Filing date: 2014-02-06
Publication date: 2014-08-28
Also published as: JP2016085784A

Abstract

A cell stack (1) is equipped with a plurality of cell blocks (2) and a holding part (3) for holding the plurality of cell blocks in a prescribed positional relationship. The plurality of cell blocks (2) include: a plurality of cells each having a safety valve, and with the sides having the safety valves as the safety-valve sides, positioned in a manner such that the safety-valve sides are aligned in a row on one side in the lengthwise direction of the cells; a duct cover for covering the safety-valve sides of the plurality of cells, and forming a duct chamber for discharging exhaust gas emitted from the safety valves; and an insulating case for housing the plurality of cells and the duct cover in the interior thereof. Furthermore, the holding part holds the plurality of cell blocks by imparting a pressing force in the direction which applies pressure to the duct cover.

Description

Battery stack

The present invention relates to a battery stack configured by connecting a plurality of battery blocks configured by connecting a plurality of batteries to each other.

In order to obtain a desired voltage and current, a battery block configured by connecting a plurality of batteries is used, a battery module configured by connecting a plurality of battery blocks is used, and a plurality of battery modules are connected. A battery stack configured as described above is used. A user-specific battery pack is formed by using a plurality of battery stacks.

Patent Document 1 describes that two battery blocks, which are connected bodies in which a plurality of lithium ion battery cells are electrically connected in series, are electrically connected in series to form a battery module.

In Patent Document 2, as a power supply device, a plurality of batteries having safety valves are housed in a case, a battery chamber is provided on the upper side of the case, an exhaust chamber is provided on the lower side, and the safety valve is provided at the lower end of the battery. An example in which the battery chamber is provided on the lower side in the case, the exhaust chamber is provided on the upper side, and the safety valve is provided on the upper end of the battery is described.

JP 2012-221844 A JP 2012-15121 A

It is desirable to be able to configure a battery stack with battery blocks without going through battery modules.

A battery stack according to the present invention includes a plurality of battery blocks and a holding unit that holds the plurality of battery blocks in a predetermined arrangement relationship, and the plurality of battery blocks are a plurality of batteries having a safety valve. A duct chamber for exhausting exhaust gas discharged from the safety valve, covering the safety valve side of the plurality of batteries, with the safety valve side as the safety valve side and the safety valve side aligned and arranged on one side along the longitudinal direction of the battery And a insulating case that accommodates the plurality of batteries and the duct cover therein, and the holding portion holds the plurality of battery blocks by applying a pressing force in a direction of pressing the duct cover.

According to the present invention, the battery stack can be configured by the battery block without going through the battery module.

It is a perspective view which shows the battery stack of an example of embodiment which concerns on this invention. FIGS. 2A and 2B are views showing an example of a battery block according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 2A is an external view, and FIG. It is sectional drawing of the battery block of an example of embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows a holding | maintenance part in the battery stack of an example of embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the battery pack in which the battery stack of an example of embodiment which concerns on this invention is used.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The materials, dimensions, shapes, the number of batteries, the number of battery blocks, and the like described below are examples for explanation, and can be appropriately changed according to the specifications of the battery block, the battery stack, and the battery pack. In the following, corresponding elements in all drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the battery stack 1. The battery stack 1 includes a plurality of battery blocks 2 and a holding unit 3 that holds the plurality of battery blocks 2 in a predetermined arrangement relationship. The battery block 2 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with a lengthwise dimension L, a longitudinal dimension H, and a widthwise dimension W. L, H, and W were set in descending order of dimensions. As an example of dimensions, L = 281 mm, H = 84.5 mm, and W = 58 mm.

In FIG. 1, a battery stack 1 is composed of 20 battery blocks 2. Of these, 18 are arranged in a horizontal orientation in which the H direction which is the vertical direction is parallel to the arrangement plane, and 2 are arranged in the H direction. Arranged in a vertical position perpendicular to the plane. Twenty pieces are arranged in this way when the specifications of the space in which the battery stack 1 is arranged are flat left and right and the center ceiling is high.

The holding unit 3 holds the arrangement of the 20 battery blocks 2 so as to maintain the form of the battery stack 1. In particular, the battery block 2 is fastened so as to regulate the vertical dimension H thereof. That is, in the horizontal cell block arrangement 2, the spacing between the ends of nine transverse arrangement is restricted so as not to spread than the set distance A ₀ when the initial arrangement. In the battery block 2 placed upright, longitudinal dimension H is regulated so as not to spread than a set height B ₀ when the initial arrangement. Its significance will be described later.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the battery block 2, FIG. 2 (a) is an external view, and FIG. 2 (b) is a partially cutaway view. The battery block 2 includes a plurality of batteries 5 accommodated in the alignment container 4, a duct cover 6, and an insulating case 7 therein. Although only a part is shown in FIG. 2B, the alignment container 4 accommodates a total of 41 batteries. Forty-one batteries 5 are connected in parallel inside the battery block 2, and the capacity is 41 times the capacity of one battery 5. That is, the battery block 2 is an assembled battery having a capacity 41 times that of one battery.

The alignment container 4 is a holding container that holds and arranges the batteries 5 in a predetermined arrangement relationship. The alignment container 4 is a frame provided with 41 battery accommodating portions that open at both ends in the height direction. Each battery 5 is housed and disposed in one of the battery housing portions. The arrangement of the battery accommodating portions is a staggered arrangement relationship that minimizes the gap between the adjacent batteries 5. As this alignment container 4, what shape | molded the predetermined shape from the plastics can be used. Alternatively, for example, aluminum as a main material having a predetermined shape by extrusion molding or die casting can be used.

The battery 5 is a chargeable / dischargeable secondary battery. A lithium ion battery is used as the secondary battery. In addition, a nickel metal hydride battery, an alkaline battery, or the like may be used. The battery 5 has a cylindrical outer shape. Of the both ends of the cylindrical shape, one end is used as a positive terminal and the other end is used as a negative terminal. An example of the battery 5 is a lithium ion battery having a diameter of 18 mm, a height of 65 mm, a voltage between terminals of 3.6 V, and a capacity of 2.5 Ah. This is an illustrative example, and other shapes, dimensions, and characteristic values may be used. For example, a square battery may be used.

The battery 5 has a safety valve 8. The safety valve 8 is a mechanism that releases the exhaust gas from the inside of the battery to the outside when the pressure of the gas generated by the electrochemical reaction performed inside the battery 5 exceeds a predetermined threshold pressure. The safety valve 8 is disposed on the positive electrode side of the battery 5. The safety valve 8 is provided in each of 41 batteries.

The battery 5 is arranged with the safety valve side aligned on one side along the longitudinal direction of the battery 5 with the side having the safety valve 8 as the safety valve side. One side is a direction in which the duct cover 6 of the battery block 2 is provided.

Thus, the safety valve side is aligned with the side where the duct cover 6 is provided. When exhaust gas is discharged from the safety valve 8, the exhaust gas is discharged outside the battery block 2 through the duct space 9 formed by the duct cover 6. It is to do. In this case, since the safety valve 8 is provided on the positive electrode side of the battery 5, the positive electrode side of the battery 5 is aligned with one side that is the direction in which the duct cover 6 is provided. Temporarily, in the case of a battery in which a safety valve is provided on the negative electrode side, the negative electrode side of the battery 5 is aligned with one side in which the duct cover 6 is arranged.

The duct cover 6 covers the safety valve side of the battery block 2 and is airtightly joined to the side surface of the alignment container 4 to form a duct space 9 through which exhaust gas can flow along the end of the battery block 2 on the positive electrode side. It is a part. By using the duct space 9, the exhaust gas discharged from the safety valve 8 can be discharged outside the battery block 2 from the predetermined exhaust port through the duct space 9 without leaking to the other. As this duct cover 6, what was processed into the predetermined shape using the material which has predetermined heat resistance and intensity | strength is used.

The insulating case 7 is an insulating container that houses 41 batteries 5 and a duct cover 6 therein. The insulating case 7 is used in addition to the alignment container 4 in order to integrate the battery block 2 including the duct cover 6 and to electrically isolate the live part of the battery 5 from the outside. As the insulating case 7, a plastic material having heat resistance and electrical insulation molded into a predetermined shape can be used. As the plastic material, polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyetherimide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether ether ketone, polycarbonate, modified polyphenylene ether, polybutylene terephthalate, or the like can be used.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the battery block 2 cut along a plane perpendicular to the length direction. The cross section perpendicular to the length direction is a cross section defined by the vertical direction and the width direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the battery block 2 includes a plurality of batteries 5 arranged in an alignment container 4, the positive electrode side on which the safety valve 8 is provided is aligned on one side, and the positive electrode side is covered with a duct cover 6. The space 9 is formed in the insulating case 7 and integrated.

FIG. 3 shows two batteries 5 appearing in a cross section perpendicular to the length direction in the case of the staggered arrangement type. In the battery 5, the positive electrode side current collector 14 is disposed on the positive electrode side having the positive electrode terminal 13, and the negative electrode side current collector 15 is disposed on the negative electrode side.

Although not shown in FIG. 3, the positive electrode side current collector 14 is a laminate of a positive electrode side insulating plate, a positive electrode current collector, and a positive electrode plate. The positive electrode side insulating plate separates the 41 positive electrode terminals 13 from each other, and the positive electrode current collector makes electrical contact with each of the 41 positive electrode terminals 13 independently. Connected in parallel. Similarly, the negative electrode side current collector 15 is a laminate of a negative electrode side insulating plate, a negative electrode current collector, and a negative electrode plate. The negative electrode terminals of the 41 batteries 5 are separated from each other by the negative electrode-side insulating plate, and each of the 41 negative electrode terminals is electrically contacted independently by the negative electrode current collector. Are connected in parallel. In this way, 41 batteries 5 are connected in parallel to each other.

The insulating case 7 is composed of a lower case 10 that holds the battery 5 side and an upper case 11 that holds the duct cover 6 side. Thus, the airtightness of the insulating case 7 is maintained. The combination unit 12 is a buffer for preventing the lower case 10 and the upper case 11 from being broken by the pressing pressure applied to the lower case 10 and the upper case 11 when the plurality of battery blocks 2 are fastened by the holding unit 3. Also functions as a material.

The duct cover 6 is airtightly joined to the side surface of the alignment container 4 so that when the exhaust gas flows into the duct space 9, it does not leak to others. When exhaust gas is discharged from the safety valve 8, the duct cover 6 receives a force F due to the ejection of the exhaust gas. Due to this force F, the duct cover 6 moves in the H direction, which is the vertical direction, and in some cases, the combination part 12 of the insulating case 7 may be destroyed and jump out of the battery block 2. In order to prevent this, it is necessary to prevent the dimension H in the height direction from expanding from the initial setting.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing details of the holding unit 3. The battery stack 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a battery block 2 arranged in a standing position on a battery block 2 arranged in a horizontal position. For this reason, the holding unit 3 in FIG. 1 is arranged in consideration of the battery block 2 placed upright. However, in order to simplify the explanation in FIG. 4, the battery block 2 placed upright is omitted. The case of nine battery blocks 2 arranged horizontally in one row will be described.

The holding unit 3 has an upper surface intermediate member 20 disposed on the upper surface of the battery block 2 disposed horizontally, and side surface intermediate members 21 a and 21 b disposed on both side surfaces of the battery block 2. These are provided integrally with bolt portions 25 as fastening members at both ends. Moreover, the holding | maintenance part 3 is arrange | positioned at the both ends of the upper surface intermediate member 20, and has the upper end

part holding members

22a and 22b bent by the L shape. Furthermore, it has lower

end holding members

23a and 23b which are also bent into an L shape. These are respectively provided with elongated holes 24 through which the bolt portions 25 pass at both ends bent into an L shape.

Of the both ends of the upper

end holding members

22a and 22b bent in an L shape, the long holes 24 provided at the ends bent along the upper surface side of the battery block 2 are formed at both ends of the upper surface intermediate member 20. The provided bolt part 25 is passed. Of the both ends of the upper

end holding members

22a and 22b bent into an L-shape, the long holes 24 provided at the ends bent along the side surface of the battery block 2 are two of the side intermediate members 21a and 21b. Among the two bolt parts 25, the bolt part 25 arranged on the upper surface side is passed. Similarly, the long hole 24 provided in the end part bent along the side surface side of the battery block 2 among the both end parts of the lower

end holding members

23a, 23b bent into the L-shape is formed on the side surface intermediate member 21a, Of the two bolt parts 25 of 21b, the bolt part 25 arranged on the lower surface side is passed. In addition, the long hole 24 provided in the edge part bent along the lower surface side of the battery block 2 among the both ends of the lower end

part holding members

23a and 23b is a board | substrate attachment member (FIG. 1) which is not illustrated in FIG. The bolt part provided in the reference) is passed. Nuts 26 that are fastening members are respectively attached to the bolts 25 that are passed through the long holes 24.

In this way, the lower end holding member 23a, the side surface intermediate member 21a, the upper end portion holding member 22a, the upper surface intermediate member 20, the upper end portion holding member 22b, and the side surface intermediate through the bolt portion 25, the long hole 24, and the nut portion 26. The members 21b and the lower end holding members 23b are arranged along the side surface and the upper surface of the battery blocks 2 arranged horizontally in a row to form the holding unit 3.

When the plurality of battery blocks 2 are initially arranged in the arrangement of FIG. 1 to form the battery stack 1, the vertical dimension H of the battery block 2 has a tolerance. When nine of them are arranged side by side, the arrangement length needs to take into account a tolerance of nine. The fastening positions of the upper

end holding members

22a and 22b with respect to the upper surface intermediate member 20 are determined using the long holes 24 so as to absorb the variation in the arrangement length. At that time, an appropriate pressing pressure is applied so that the nine battery blocks 2 are not strongly pressed against each other by the L-shaped upper

end holding members

22a and 22b, and the upper surface intermediate member 20 and the upper end holding member 22a are applied. , 22b is determined. The pressing pressure may be about several N. In this way, the initial arrangement of the nine battery blocks 2 placed horizontally is performed. Interval is set intervals A ₀ between nine both ends of the battery blocks 2 at that time.

Here, in the nine battery blocks 2, when exhaust gas is discharged from any of the safety valves 8, the force F described in FIG. 3 hangs on the duct cover 6 due to the ejection of the exhaust gas, and finally the holding portion. 3 hangs on the L-shaped upper

end holding members

22a and 22b. Even when a force F is applied to the duct cover 6, the holding part 3 prevents the duct cover 6 from being separated from the alignment container 4, and the duct is also affected by the pressure received from the battery block before and after being fastened by the holding part 3. The cover 6 is prevented from separating from the alignment container 4. That is, the force F hung on the duct cover 6 is received at the fastening position of the holding portion 3. Further, since the L-shaped upper

end holding members

22 a and 22 b have the long holes 24, the elastic force resulting from the long holes 24 is given to the battery block 2 as a pressing force for pressing the duct cover 6.

Thereby, even if exhaust gas is ejected from the safety valve 8, the duct cover 6 does not move in the H direction, which is the vertical direction, and the combination part 12 of the insulating case 7 is not destroyed.
Therefore, even if exhaust gas is ejected from the safety valve 8 of the battery 5, it can be discharged to the outside through the duct space 9, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a chain accident of the battery 5 caused by the exhaust gas leaking. Thereby, the reliability of the battery block 2 and the battery stack 1 is improved.

In the above description, the setting interval A ₀ for the horizontal placement has been described. However, in the case where the set height B ₀ for the vertical placement is maintained, the holding unit 3 that holds the battery block 2 that is placed vertically is also used. This can be done in the same manner using a long hole.

In FIG. 1, the specification of the space in which the battery stack 1 is arranged is effectively used for one battery stack 1 by using 19 horizontally arranged battery blocks 2 and two vertically arranged battery blocks 2. I explained what I can do.

FIG. 5 shows that in the battery pack 30, when the dispositionable space 32 on the substrate 31 of the battery pack 30 is complicated, a plurality of battery stacks are used, and the configuration of each battery stack is optimized. It is a figure which shows the example which makes it satisfy | fill a specification. Here, for each battery stack, the number of battery blocks 2 arranged horizontally and the number of battery blocks 2 arranged vertically are optimized.

As a result, the four types of

battery stacks

33, 34, 35, and 36 are arranged in consideration of the height and width of the ceiling of the space 32 that can be arranged. For each of the battery stacks 33, 34, 35, 36, the number of battery blocks 2 to be placed in a standing manner, the number of them, and the battery blocks to be placed horizontally according to the height and width of the ceiling of the arrangeable space 32. The number of stages of 2 and the number of each were obtained.

The results are as follows. In the battery stack 33, nine battery blocks 2 to be placed horizontally are stacked in two, and two battery blocks 2 to be placed standing on the battery stack 2 are arranged. This example is the same as the configuration described in FIG. Since the ceiling of the battery stack 34 is slightly lower than the place where the battery stack 33 is arranged, 14 battery blocks 2 to be placed upright are arranged in one stage, and 2 battery blocks 2 to be placed upright on the battery stack 2 are arranged in two stages. Arranged. The battery stack 35 has a ceiling that is slightly wider than where the battery stack 34 is disposed. Therefore, the battery blocks 2 to be placed vertically are arranged in a single stage, and the battery blocks 2 to be placed standing thereon are arranged. Four were arranged. Since the battery stack 36 has a sufficiently high ceiling and the high ceiling is sufficiently wide, 14 battery blocks 2 arranged in a standing manner have three stages.

In this way, by using the battery block 2 having the plurality of batteries 5 and the duct cover 6 and the holding portion 3, the specifications of the battery stack and the battery pack are satisfied without using a battery module in which a large number of fixtures are arranged. Can do. Further, by effectively utilizing the difference between the vertical dimension H and the width dimension W of the battery block 2, a method for arranging a plurality of battery stacks according to the height and width of the ceiling of the arrangeable space 32 is provided. The degree of freedom can be increased.

1 battery stack, 2 battery block, 3 holding part, 4 alignment container, 5 battery, 6 duct cover, 7 insulating case, 8 safety valve, 9 duct space, 10 lower case, 11 upper case, 12 combination part, 13 positive terminal , 14 Positive current collector, 15 Negative current collector, 20 Upper surface intermediate member, 21a, 21b Side surface intermediate member, 22a, 22b Upper end holding member, 23a, 23b Lower end holding member, 24 oblong hole, 25 bolt portion , 26 nut part, 30 battery pack, 31 substrate, 32 possible space, 33, 34, 35, 36 battery stack.

Claims

A plurality of battery blocks;
A holding unit for holding the plurality of battery blocks in a predetermined arrangement relationship;
With
The plurality of battery blocks are
A plurality of batteries having a safety valve, the side having the safety valve as a safety valve side, a plurality of batteries aligned and arranged with the safety valve side aligned with one side along the longitudinal direction of the battery,
A duct cover that forms a duct chamber that covers the safety valve side of the plurality of batteries and exhausts exhaust gas discharged from the safety valve;
An insulating case that houses the plurality of batteries and the duct cover;
Including
The holding part is
A battery stack that holds the plurality of battery blocks by applying a pressing force in a direction of pressing the duct cover.
The battery stack according to claim 1,
The insulating case is
A lower case for holding the battery side;
An upper case for holding the duct cover side;
Having a battery stack.
The battery stack according to claim 1,
The holding part is
Including a holding member having a long hole for fastening along the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery blocks,
When the plurality of battery blocks are initially arranged, a fastening position of the holding member is determined and fastened using the elongated holes so as to absorb variation in arrangement length, and the exhaust gas is discharged from the safety valve. A battery stack that receives a force applied to a duct cover at the fastening position.
The battery stack according to claim 1,
The battery block has different vertical dimensions and width dimensions,
The holding part is
A width-direction arrangement method in which the plurality of battery blocks are arranged with the direction perpendicular to the arrangement surface as the width direction, and a vertical arrangement in which the plurality of battery blocks are arranged with the direction perpendicular to the arrangement surface as the vertical direction A battery stack in which the plurality of battery blocks are arranged and held by selecting a method according to a restriction of a disposition space on the disposition surface.