JP4415570B2 - Battery - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to an assembled battery in which a plurality of prismatic batteries are combined.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, in general, a plurality of secondary battery modules such as a nickel metal hydride battery and a lithium battery are provided in a power source for driving a hybrid vehicle (HEV) and an electric vehicle (PEV) in order to ensure necessary voltage and battery capacity. An assembled battery combined in series or in parallel is used. In this type of assembled battery, in order to save space in consideration of in-vehicle performance, a battery in which a plurality of rectangular batteries having a substantially rectangular flat plate shape are stacked is desired. Moreover, in order to suppress the temperature rise by the heat_generation | fever at the time of charging / discharging, it is necessary to ensure sufficient heat dissipation.
[0003]
Therefore, conventionally, for example, in Patent Document 1, a plurality of prismatic secondary batteries are stacked, and a gap is formed between each battery by interposing a thin spacer made of an insulator such as rubber, plastic, etc. An assembled battery is described which enhances.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-126585
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the case of an assembled battery, in the unlikely event that some batteries abnormally generate heat due to a short circuit or the like, it is necessary to prevent a situation in which adjacent batteries are abnormally heated to cause a short circuit and the abnormality expands in a chained manner. There is. For this reason, in an assembled battery, it is necessary to ensure the heat dissipation of each battery and to ensure the heat insulation between adjacent batteries.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an assembled battery that ensures heat dissipation of individual batteries and enhances heat insulation between the batteries.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is an assembled battery in which a plurality of prismatic batteries are stacked and integrated, and an end face of the prismatic battery is substantially between adjacent square batteries. A heat insulating member having a heat insulating layer covering the entire surface is interposed, high heat conductive members that contact the square battery are disposed on both sides of the heat insulating member, and a cooling medium is interposed between the heat insulating layer and the square battery. It is characterized in that a passage for distribution is provided.
With this configuration, the heat transfer between the adjacent rectangular batteries is blocked by the heat insulating layer of the heat insulating member, and the heat of the rectangular batteries is radiated through the high heat conductive member, and the air flowing through the passages. The prismatic battery is cooled by a cooling medium such as.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the assembled battery according to the first aspect, wherein the passage is formed by a groove provided on at least one end face of the high heat conductive member and the square battery or the heat insulating layer. It is characterized by that.
The assembled battery according to a third aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in the configuration of the first or second aspect, the heat insulating member is polypropylene or polyurethane.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the assembled battery 1 according to this embodiment includes a plurality of rectangular flat plate-like (six in the illustrated example) square batteries 2 arranged in a row, and a heat insulating member between adjacent batteries. 3 are stacked, and a frame body 4 is fitted around these and bound together to be integrated.
[0008]
As the square battery 2, for example, a secondary battery such as a nickel battery used as a power source for a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, or the like is assumed. However, a primary battery may be used. The terminals 5 of the plurality of prismatic batteries 2 are connected in series or in parallel, and are connected to a control circuit. The control circuit measures the voltage, current, temperature, etc. of each battery, and the battery capacity and required charge / discharge. The amount and the like are determined, and charging and discharging are controlled.
[0009]
The frame 4 only needs to be able to bind the stacked prismatic battery 2 and the heat insulating member 3 together so that, for example, plates that contact the end faces of the prismatic battery 2 disposed at both ends are tension rods. Alternatively, the prismatic battery 2 and the heat insulating member 3 may be sandwiched between two plates by being coupled with a band or the like.
[0010]
The heat insulating member 3 is sized to cover substantially the entire end face of the square battery 2, and a plurality of rectangular grooves 6 are formed along the horizontal direction on both end faces in contact with the square battery 2. A large number of passages are formed by the groove 6 and the end face of the prismatic battery 2 in contact with the heat insulating member 3. The heat insulating member 3 is made of a heat-resistant material having a sufficiently low thermal conductivity (desirably 0.5 W / m or less), and for example, a synthetic resin such as polypropylene or polyurethane can be used.
[0011]
In addition to the above, the groove 6 of the heat insulating member 3 can be provided along the vertical direction, for example, and can be combined in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. Other shapes may be used as long as the passage can be formed. Moreover, the cross-sectional shape of the groove | channel 6 can also be made into shapes other than a rectangle.
[0012]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.
Since the heat insulating member 3 forms a heat insulating layer between the adjacent square batteries 2 and heat transfer between these batteries is interrupted, some batteries may generate abnormal heat due to an abnormality such as a short circuit. Even in the case where the heat is generated, the heat can be prevented from being transmitted to the adjacent battery, and the abnormalities due to overheating can be prevented from expanding in a chain. At this time, since the heat insulating member 3 is sized to cover substantially the entire end face of the prismatic battery 2, heat transfer between adjacent batteries can be reliably blocked, and high heat insulating properties can be obtained. it can.
[0013]
In addition, since a large number of passages are formed between the groove 6 of the heat insulating member 3 and the prismatic battery 2, a cooling medium such as air flows through the passage to ensure heat dissipation, and the prismatic battery. 2 can be suppressed. In this case, the cooling of the prismatic battery 2 can be promoted by providing a cooling fan or the like and forcing the cooling air to flow through the passage formed by the groove 6.
[0014]
Next, the heat insulation member used for the assembled battery according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
As shown in FIG. 3, the heat insulating member 7 used in the second embodiment is the same size as the heat insulating member 3 of the first embodiment, and covers two substantially adjacent corners of the square battery 2. High heat conductive members 8 are disposed on both sides of the battery 2 in contact with each other, and a heat insulating layer 9 is interposed therebetween.
[0015]
The high thermal conductive member 8 is made of a metal having a high thermal conductivity such as aluminum or copper, and a groove 10 having the same shape as the groove 6 of the heat insulating member 3 is formed on the end surface in contact with the rectangular battery 2. Yes. The heat insulation layer 9 is made of a heat-resistant material having a sufficiently low thermal conductivity (preferably 0.5 W / m or less) as in the heat insulation member 3 described above, and can be made of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene or polyurethane, for example. .
[0016]
With this configuration, in addition to the operation and effect of the first embodiment, the high heat conduction member 8 efficiently receives heat from the prismatic battery 2 and increases the heat dissipation area to increase heat dissipation. The cooling of the prismatic battery 2 can be promoted. Moreover, the heat transfer between the adjacent rectangular batteries 2 can be reliably blocked by the heat insulating layer 9.
[0017]
As a modification of the heat insulating member of the second embodiment, a heat insulating member 12 shown in FIG. 4 can also be used. The heat insulating member 12 has a structure in which the high heat conductive member 8 is inverted with respect to the heat insulating member 7 so that the groove 10 faces the heat insulating layer 9 side. Thereby, the passage 11 of the cooling medium is formed between the groove 10 of the high thermal conductive member 8 and the heat insulating layer 9, and the same operation and effect as shown in FIG. 3 can be achieved.
[0018]
In addition, in the said 2nd Embodiment, combining the thing shown in FIG.3 and FIG.4, the groove | channel 10 was provided in both surfaces of the high heat conductive member 8, and these groove | channels 10, the end surface of the square battery 2, and the heat insulation layer You may form the channel | path for distribute | circulating a cooling medium with 9 end surfaces. In addition, instead of the groove 10, a hole that forms a passage for the cooling medium can be formed in the high heat conductive member 8.
[0019]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the assembled battery according to the present invention, heat transfer between adjacent square batteries can be blocked by the heat insulating layer of the heat insulating member, and damage due to abnormal overheating of some batteries can be prevented. Chain expansion can be prevented. Further, the heat of the square battery is dissipated through the high thermal conductive member, and the square battery can be cooled by a cooling medium such as air flowing through a passage provided between the heat insulating layer and the square battery. An increase in the temperature of the battery can be suppressed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a prismatic battery and a heat insulating member used in an assembled battery according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the assembled battery according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a heat insulating member used in an assembled battery according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a modified example of a heat insulating member used in the assembled battery according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 battery assembly 2 prismatic battery 3 heat insulating member 6 groove

Claims (3)

In an assembled battery in which a plurality of prismatic batteries are stacked and integrated, a heat insulating member having a heat insulating layer covering substantially the entire end face of the square battery is interposed between the adjacent square batteries, and the heat insulating member A battery assembly comprising: a high heat conductive member that contacts the square battery on both sides of the battery; and a passage for circulating a cooling medium between the heat insulating layer and the square battery. 2. The assembled battery according to claim 1 , wherein the passage is formed by a groove provided on at least one end face of the high thermal conductive member and the square battery or the heat insulating layer. The assembled battery according to claim 1, wherein the heat insulating member is polypropylene or polyurethane.

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