Calorimetric device

Abstract

The present application provides a kind of high accuracy thermal measurement device of determination.The thermal measurement device has: high heat part (200), it is arranged on the first end of the power storage device (100);Low heat part (400), it is arranged on the second end of the power storage device (100);First temperature sensor (510), it is set on the first end of the power storage device (100);Second temperature sensor (520), it is set on the second end of the power storage device (100);And cover member (600), it is set in the manner of covering at least a part of the side of the power storage device (100) between the first end and the second end, and maintains the power storage device (100).Cover member (600) includes: the inner surface opposite to the side of the power storage device (100) and the rib (610) protruding from the inner surface and abutting with the side of the power storage device (100).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present technology relates to a thermal measurement device. BACKGROUND

[0002] As a conventional thermal measurement device, for example, a thermal measurement device described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-102420 (JP 2015-102420 A) can be cited.

[0003] In a case where thermal conductivity of an entire battery or the like as an electric power storage device is measured, from the viewpoint of improving measurement accuracy, it is necessary to hold the cell or the like while suppressing inclination thereof. From the above viewpoint, the conventional thermal measurement device does not necessarily have a sufficient structure. SUMMARY

[0004] An object of the present technology is to provide a thermal measurement device with high measurement accuracy.

[0005] The thermal measurement device of the present technology is a thermal measurement device that measures thermal conductivity of an electric power storage device, and includes: a high-heat portion disposed on a first end portion of the electric power storage device; a low-heat portion disposed on a second end portion of the electric power storage device on a side opposite to the first end portion; a first temperature sensor provided on the first end portion of the electric power storage device; a second temperature sensor provided on the second end portion of the electric power storage device; and a cover member provided so as to cover at least a part of a side surface of the electric power storage device between the first end portion and the second end portion, and holding the electric power storage device. The cover member includes an inner surface facing the side surface of the electric power storage device, and a rib protruding from the inner surface and abutting against the side surface of the electric power storage device.

[0006] The above and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present application will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present application taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although the drawings are only several embodiments thereof but not limiting the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 is a view showing a battery cell.

[0008] Figure 2 is a view showing a structure of a thermal measurement device.

[0009] Figure 3 is a view showing a structure of a thermal measurement device. Figure 2 III-III sectional view of the thermal measurement device shown in FIG. 1.

[0010] Figure 4 is a view showing a thermal measurement device of a comparative example.

[0011] Figure 5 is a view showing a use state of the thermal measurement device shown in FIG. 1. Figure 4 ​

[0012] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing an example of a cover member.

[0013] Figure 7 is Figure 6 is a front view of the cover member shown in

[0014] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a modified example of a cover member.

[0015] Figure 9 is a front view of the cover member shown in Figure 8

[0016] Figure 10 is Figure 8 , Figure 9 is an enlarged view of a part of the cover member shown in

[0017] Figure 11 is a perspective view showing another modified example of a cover member.

[0018] Figure 12 is a front view of the cover member shown in Figure 11

[0019] Figure 13 is an enlarged view of a part of the cover member shown in Figure 11 , Figure 12 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present technology will be described. Furthermore, the same reference numerals are sometimes attached to the same or equivalent portions, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0021] Furthermore, in the embodiment described below, unless otherwise noted, the range of the present technology is not necessarily limited to the number, the amount, and the like. In addition, in the embodiment below, each of the constituent elements is not necessarily essential to the present technology, unless otherwise noted. In addition, the present technology is not necessarily limited to all of the effects mentioned in the present embodiment.

[0022] Note that in the present specification, the description of "comprise" and "include" and "have" is in an open form. That is, in the case of including a certain structure, it can include other structures other than the structure, or it can not include.

[0023] ​​​In addition, in the present specification, in the case where a sentence using geometry and a sentence indicating a positional relationship, a direction relationship, or the like, such as "parallel", "orthogonal", "inclined by 45°", "coaxial", "along", and the like is used, these sentences allow manufacturing errors or slight variations. In the present specification, in the case where a sentence indicating a relative positional relationship, such as "upper side", "lower side", and the like is used, these sentences are used as sentences indicating a relative positional relationship in one state, and the relative positional relationship can be reversed or rotated by any angle by the setting direction of each mechanism (for example, reversing the entire mechanism upside down, or the like).

[0024] In the present specification, "battery" is not limited to a lithium-ion battery, and can include other batteries such as a nickel-hydrogen battery. In the present specification, a positive electrode and a negative electrode can be collectively referred to as an "electrode". In addition, a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate can be collectively referred to as an "electrode plate".

[0025] In the present specification, in the case where the terms "power storage device", "power storage unit", "power storage module", and "power storage group" are used, "power storage device", "power storage unit", "power storage module", and "power storage group" are not limited to a battery, a battery unit, a battery module, and a battery group, and can include a capacitor or the like.

[0026] Figure 1 is a view showing a battery unit 100 as a "power storage device". As shown in Figure 1 , the battery unit 100 is formed in a flat-surface rectangular parallelepiped shape. An electrode terminal 110 includes a positive electrode terminal 111 and a negative electrode terminal 112. The electrode terminal 110 is formed on a square-shaped frame 120. The frame 120 includes an upper surface on which the electrode terminal 110 is formed, a bottom surface facing the upper surface, a long side surface extending in the X-Z plane direction, and a short side surface extending in the Y-Z plane direction. An electrode body and an electrolyte solution are accommodated in the frame 120. A battery group is formed by stacking the battery units 100 in the Y-axis direction.

[0027] Figure 2 is a view showing the structure of a thermal measurement device. Figure 3 is a III-III sectional view of the thermal measurement device shown in Figure 2 . The thermal measurement device is a thermal measurement device that measures the thermal conductivity of the battery unit 100, and as shown in Figure 2 , Figure 3 , includes a heating heater 200 (high-heat portion) provided on the upper surface (first end portion) of the battery unit 100, a cooling plate 400 (low-heat portion) provided on the bottom surface (second end portion) of the battery unit 100 via a thermal conduction sheet 300, a temperature sensor 500 provided on the upper surface and the bottom surface of the battery unit 100, and a unit cover 600 (cover member) provided so as to cover the side surface of the battery unit 100.

[0028] The temperature sensor 500 includes a first sensor 510 (first temperature sensor) disposed on the upper surface of the battery cell 100 and a second sensor 520 (second temperature sensor) disposed on the bottom surface of the battery cell 100. The cell cover 600 holds the battery cell 100, stabilizing the position and orientation of the battery cell 100.

[0029] In evaluating the thermal conduction property of the battery cell 100, the thermal conductivity as a whole of the battery cell 100 is measured. The result of the measurement is used in analysis and the like for evaluating the heat dissipation property of a battery module including the battery cell 100. In order to perform the analysis, measured values of the thermal conductivities in three directions (X-axis direction, Y-axis direction, and Z-axis direction) are required.

[0030] Therefore, as shown in Figure 2 , Figure 3 , it is necessary to measure the thermal conductivity in the Z-axis direction in a state in which the battery cell 100 is erected. The heating heater 200 is fixed by being fastened with a pressing block (not shown) disposed above the heating heater 200. In measuring the thermal conductivity in the Z-axis direction, a predetermined load is applied downward (in the direction toward the cooling plate 400) from above the heating heater 200 via the pressing block. The magnitude of the load is managed using a load cell (not shown).

[0031] As shown in Figure 3 , a rib 610 protruding from the inner surface of the cell cover 600 is provided, and the rib 610 abuts against the battery cell 100. The heating heater 200 is separated from the cell cover 600 by an amount equivalent to the height of the rib 610. In this way, the heating heater 200 is separated from the cell cover 600, and the two are thermally insulated by air, whereby heat escape from the heating heater 200 to the cell cover 600 can be suppressed.

[0032] Figure 4 is a view showing a thermal measurement device of a comparative example. Figure 5 is a view illustrating a use state of the thermal measurement device shown in Figure 4 . As shown in Figure 4 , Figure 5 , in the thermal measurement device of the comparative example, the cell cover 600 is not provided. Therefore, when a load is applied from above the heating heater 200, as shown in Figure 5 , the battery cell 100 can sometimes tilt with respect to the Z-axis direction. Due to this, the heat flow through the battery cell 100 as the measurement target becomes non-uniform, and it can become impossible to accurately perform measurement of the thermal conductivity.

[0033] In contrast, in the thermal measurement apparatus of this embodiment, thermal conductivity can be measured while the battery cell 100 is held upright (parallel to the Z-axis) using the cell cover 600. As a result, the heat flow through the battery cell 100, which is the object being measured, becomes more uniform. Furthermore, by providing the cell cover 600, heat from the heating heater 200 is easily transferred to the battery cell 100. Therefore, accurate measurement of thermal conductivity is possible.

[0034] The unit cover 600 is preferably made of polycarbonate, and more specifically, of a resin such as glass fiber reinforced polycarbonate, but the material of the unit cover 600 is not limited to this. In addition, the thermal conductivity of the unit cover 600 is preferably about 0.4 W / mK or less, more preferably about 0.2 W / mK or less, but the thermal conductivity of the unit cover 600 is not limited to the above range.

[0035] By setting the thermal conductivity of the cell cover 600 within a predetermined range, heat dissipation from the side of the battery cell 100 during thermal conductivity measurement can be suppressed, enabling more accurate thermal conductivity measurement.

[0036] Alternatively, a heat insulation component with a lower thermal conductivity than air can be provided between the inner surface of the battery cell 100 and the cell cover 600.

[0037] like Figure 3 As shown, the cell cover 600 is preferably configured to extend from the upper surface of the battery cell 100 to the bottom surface along the Z-axis direction, but the cell cover 600 may also be configured on a portion of the Z-axis direction of the battery cell 100.

[0038] Figure 6 This is a perspective view showing the unit cover 600A as an example. Figure 7 This is a front view of the unit cover 600A. By combining two unit covers 600A, the entire circumference of the side of the battery unit 100 can be covered.

[0039] like Figure 6 , Figure 7 As shown, the unit cover 600A includes ribs 610A and 620A that protrude from the inner surface facing the side of the battery unit 100 and abut against the side of the battery unit 100. Rib 610A abuts against the long side of the battery unit 100 along the Z-axis direction. Rib 620A abuts against the short side of the battery unit 100 along the Y-axis direction. The arrangement and number of ribs 610A and 620A can be appropriately changed.

[0040] Ribs 610A and 620A are formed in the form of strips or lines. By providing such ribs 610A and 620A, the contact area between the cell cover 600A and the battery cell 100 can be reduced, and the tilting of the battery cell 100 can be suppressed. As a result, heat dissipation from the battery cell 100 through the cell cover 600A can be suppressed, and more accurate measurements of thermal conductivity can be performed.

[0041] Figure 8 This is a perspective view showing the unit cover 600B as a modified example. Figure 9 This is a front view of the unit cover 600B. The unit cover 600B includes ribs 610B and 620B that abut against the side of the battery unit 100. The configuration and number of ribs 610B and 620B can be appropriately changed.

[0042] Figure 10 This is a magnified view of a portion of the area surrounding rib 610B. For example... Figure 10 As shown, rib 610B is formed in a circular shape. Even with this shape, rib 610B can reduce the contact area between the cell cover 600A and the battery cell 100, and suppress the tilting of the battery cell 100. In addition, by making rib 610B circular and providing a hole in its central part, heat insulation can be further improved.

[0043] Figure 11 This is a perspective view showing the unit cover 600C as another variation. Figure 12 This is a front view of the unit cover 600C. The unit cover 600C includes ribs 610C and 620C that abut against the side of the battery unit 100. The configuration and number of ribs 610C and 620C can be appropriately changed.

[0044] Figure 13 This is a magnified view of a portion of the area surrounding rib 610C. For example... Figure 13 As shown, the rib 610C is formed as a curved protrusion. By using such a rib 610C, the contact between the cell cover 600C and the battery cell 100 can be made as a point contact, thereby reducing the contact area between the cell cover 600C and the battery cell 100 and suppressing the tilting of the battery cell 100.

[0045] In the example above, the unit cover 600 covering the entire circumference of the side of the battery unit 100 is formed by combining the two divided components. However, the unit cover 600 can also be divided into more than three parts, or it can be composed of a single component.

[0046] Embodiments of the present invention have been described, but should be considered illustrative rather than limiting in all respects. The scope of the invention is set forth in the claims and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

Claims

1. A thermal measurement device that measures thermal conductivity of an electrical storage device, wherein, The thermal measurement device includes: a high-heat portion disposed on a first end portion of the electrical storage device; a low-heat portion disposed on a second end portion of the electrical storage device on a side opposite the first end portion; a first temperature sensor disposed on the first end portion of the electrical storage device; a second temperature sensor disposed on the second end portion of the electrical storage device; and a cover member disposed so as to cover at least a portion of a side surface of the electrical storage device between the first end portion and the second end portion and hold the electrical storage device, the cover member includes an inner surface facing the side surface of the electrical storage device and a rib protruding from the inner surface and abutting against the side surface of the electrical storage device, the electrical storage device has a square frame, the frame has an upper surface on the first end portion and a bottom surface on the second end portion facing the upper surface, the high-heat portion and the first temperature sensor are disposed on the upper surface of the frame, the low-heat portion and the second temperature sensor are disposed on the bottom surface of the frame.

2. The thermal measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the cover member is composed of resin.

3. The thermal measurement device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the side surface of the electrical storage device includes a short side surface in a short side direction and a long side surface in a long side direction, the rib has a portion abutting against the long side surface in a direction intersecting the long side direction.

4. The thermal measurement device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the side surface of the electrical storage device includes a short side surface in a short side direction and a long side surface in a long side direction, the rib has a portion abutting against the short side surface in the short side direction.

5. The thermal measurement device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cover member extends from the first end portion to the second end portion of the electrical storage device.

6. The thermal measurement device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cover member covers an entire circumference of the side surface of the electrical storage device.

7. The thermal measurement device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cover member includes a plurality of members divided in a circumferential direction of the electrical storage device.

8. The thermal measurement device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thermal measurement device further includes a thermal insulating member disposed between the electrical storage device and the inner surface of the cover member.

9. The thermal measurement device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a thermal conductivity of the cover member is 0.4 W / mK or less. ​

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