Battery cooling structure and temperature regulator

Abstract

To provide a battery cooling structure capable of cooling a battery.SOLUTION: A battery cooling structure capable of cooling a battery 10 including a battery module having a plurality of cells arranged along a first direction and a case body 9 that houses the battery module includes a cooling plate 20 that is provided between side surfaces of two adjacent cells 3 along the first direction, extends along a second direction, and has a flow path 21 therein through which a coolant flows, and a heat dissipation member 5 that is provided at an end of the cooling plate 20 in a third direction and transfers heat generated in the cooling plate 20 to the case body 9 along the third direction, and the end of the cooling plate 20 that is on one side in the third direction protrudes toward a top surface 9A of the case body 9 farther than the upper end of the cells 3 in the third direction, and is in contact with the top surface 9A via the heat dissipation member 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery cooling structure capable of cooling a battery, and a temperature regulator used in such a battery cooling structure. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, automobiles equipped with a motor as a driving source (such as hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs)) have become widespread. These automobiles (hereinafter collectively referred to as "electric vehicles") are equipped with a battery (hereinafter simply referred to as a battery) for driving the motor. An example of technology relating to such batteries is described in Patent Document 1, the source of which is shown below.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a battery. This battery has a plurality of cells and a case that houses the cells. The cells housed in the case are fixed to a cover that covers the opening of the case. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2023 / 044634 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Generally, batteries mounted on electric vehicles are configured by housing a battery module in which multiple battery cells are arranged in parallel in a case, such as the battery described in Patent Document 1. Therefore, when the battery is in use, heat is generated by the cells, and heat is trapped inside the case, causing the battery to become hot. As a battery deteriorates when it becomes hot, there is room for improvement in the battery described in Patent Document 1.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need for a battery cooling structure capable of cooling the cells, and a temperature regulator for use in such a battery cooling structure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A characteristic configuration of the battery cooling structure of the present invention is a battery cooling structure capable of cooling a battery including a battery module having a plurality of cells arranged along a first direction and a case body that houses the battery module, the battery cooling structure comprising: a cooling plate that is provided between side surfaces of two adjacent cells along the first direction, extends along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and has a flow path therein through which a coolant flows; and a heat dissipation member that is provided at an end of the cooling plate in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, and transfers heat generated in the cooling plate to the case body along the third direction, wherein the end of the cooling plate that is on one side of the third direction protrudes toward the top surface of the case body further than an upper end of the cells in the third direction, and is in contact with the top surface via the heat dissipation member.

[0008] With this characteristic configuration, a cooling plate is provided in the heat transfer path through the top surface of the case body that spans two adjacent cells. This allows the temperature of heat transferred from one of the two adjacent cells to the top surface of the case body to be reduced by the cooling plate before it is transferred to the top surface. Also, the temperature of heat transferred from the top surface of the case body to the cooling plate can be reduced by the cooling plate before it is transferred to the other of the two adjacent cells. In other words, the heat transfer path between the two adjacent cells is not only the cooling plate, but also a long path through the top surface of the case body, so that the amount of heat transferred from a high-temperature cell to another cell is reduced. Therefore, according to this battery cooling structure, the temperature of the heat transferred can be lowered before it is transferred from one of the two adjacent cells to the other, so that the cells can be cooled. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. [Diagram 2] 1 is a diagram showing a battery cooling structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating heat transfer to adjacent cells. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating heat transfer to adjacent cells in a conventional battery cooling structure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] The battery cooling structure according to the present invention is capable of cooling a battery having a plurality of cells. The battery cooling structure according to the present embodiment will be described below. However, the battery cooling structure is not limited to the following embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a plan view of a battery 10 cooled by a battery cooling structure. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the battery 10 has a plurality of battery modules 2, and each of the battery modules 2 has a plurality of cells 3 sandwiched between them by a cooling plate 20.

[0012] In the following description, the direction parallel to the direction in which the cells 3 and the cooling plate 20 face each other in a plan view of the battery module 2 is defined as the X direction (corresponding to the "first direction"), and the direction perpendicular to the X direction in a plan view of the battery module 2 is defined as the Y direction (corresponding to the "second direction"). Also, the direction perpendicular to both the X direction and the Y direction is defined as the Z direction (corresponding to the "third direction"). Furthermore, one side in the X direction is defined as the X1 side, and the other side in the X direction is defined as the X2 side.

[0013] 1, a plurality of battery modules 2 (two in this embodiment) are arranged side by side along the Y direction. In the following, when it is necessary to distinguish between the two battery modules 2, one will be described as a battery module 2A and the other as a battery module 2B.

[0014] 1 and 2, a battery 10 includes a battery module 2 and a case body 9. The battery cooling structure is capable of cooling such a battery 10 and includes a temperature regulator 1. In this embodiment, the temperature regulator 1 includes a cooling plate 20, a heat transfer sheet 4, and a heat dissipation member 5.

[0015] The battery module 2 has a plurality of cells 3 arranged along the X direction. In this embodiment, a plurality of cells 3 (three in this embodiment) are arranged along the X direction. In the following, when the three cells 3 are to be distinguished from one another, they will be described as cell 3A, cell 3B, and cell 3C. The cell 3 is formed in a quadrangular prism shape, and has a positive electrode 11A and a negative electrode 11B at the top. Although not shown in the figure, the plurality of cells 3 are connected in series or in parallel to one another.

[0016] The case body 9 houses such a battery module 2. Therefore, the case body 9 houses a plurality of cells 3 arranged along the X direction.

[0017] The cooling plate 20 is provided between the side surfaces of two cells 3 adjacent to each other along the X direction. The two cells 3 adjacent to each other along the X direction correspond to the cells 3A and 3B, and the cells 3B and 3C. The side surface of the cell 3 corresponds to a surface perpendicular to the X direction, that is, a surface parallel to the YZ plane, among the surfaces of the cell 3 formed in a rectangular prism shape. In this embodiment, the cooling plate 20 is provided between the side surface of the cell 3A and the side surface of the cell 3B, and between the side surface of the cell 3B and the side surface of the cell 3C. In this embodiment, the cooling plate 20 is also provided on the side surface of the cell 3A opposite to the cell 3B, and the cooling plate 20 is also provided on the side surface of the cell 3C opposite to the cell 3B.

[0018] In this embodiment, the cooling plate 20 extends along the Y direction. Therefore, a single cooling plate 20 is provided between the side of the cell 3A and the side of the cell 3B of the battery module 2A and between the side of the cell 3A and the side of the cell 3B of the battery module 2B, and a single cooling plate 20 is provided between the side of the cell 3B and the side of the cell 3C of the battery module 2A and between the side of the cell 3B and the side of the cell 3C of the battery module 2B. Also, a single cooling plate 20 is provided along the side of the cell 3A opposite to the cell 3B, and a single cooling plate 20 is provided along the side of the cell 3C opposite to the cell 3B. When distinguishing between these four cooling plates 20, the cooling plate 20 provided along the side of cell 3A opposite cell 3B will be referred to as cooling plate 20A, the cooling plate 20 provided between the side of cell 3A and the side of cell 3B will be referred to as cooling plate 20B, the cooling plate 20 provided between the side of cell 3B and the side of cell 3C will be referred to as cooling plate 20C, and the cooling plate 20 provided along the side of cell 3C opposite cell 3B will be referred to as cooling plate 20D.

[0019] The cooling plate 20 has a flow path 21 (see FIG. 2) through which an insulating coolant flows. As described above, in this embodiment, the cooling plate 20 is provided extending along the Y direction. Therefore, the flow path 21 also extends along the Y direction, and the coolant flows along the Y direction. The insulating coolant is a coolant having a resistance value of, for example, several megaohms to several tens of megaohms or more. The coolant is configured to circulate between the heat exchanger and the coolant by a pump (not shown). This cools the battery module 2. The coolant is composed of an antifreeze liquid mainly composed of ethylene glycol, long life coolant (LLC), a fluorine-based inert liquid, or the like.

[0020] The heat transfer sheet 4 is provided between the side of the cell 3 and the cooling plate 20. That is, the heat transfer sheet 4 is provided between the side of the cell 3 and the cooling plate 20 adjacent to each other in a state where the heat transfer sheet 4 is sandwiched between the side of the cell 3 and the cooling plate 20 from both outer sides in the X direction. The heat transfer sheet 4 is made of a material having high thermal conductivity or adhesion, such as rubber or gel. When the heat transfer sheet 4 is made of a material having high adhesion, the heat transfer sheet 4 can be made using an elastic member. By bringing such a heat transfer sheet 4 into close contact with each of the cells 3 and the cooling plate 20, the heat generated in the cells 3 is efficiently transferred to the cooling plate 20 via the heat transfer sheet 4. Therefore, it is possible to cool a plurality of cells 3 included in the battery module 2. The cells 3 and the cooling plate 20 that are in close contact with each other via such a heat transfer sheet 4 are restrained by a band member (not shown) and are sandwiched by a pair of plate members 7 from both outer sides in the X direction. The pair of plate members 7 is fastened and fixed by a bolt 8A and a nut 8B.

[0021] 2, the heat dissipation member 5 is provided at the ends in the Z direction of the cooling plate 20. In this embodiment, the heat dissipation member 5 is provided at an upper end 20V and a lower end 20W along the Z direction of the cooling plate 20. The heat dissipation member 5 is made of a material with low thermal resistance.

[0022] The heat dissipation member 5 transfers heat generated in the cooling plate 20 to the case body 9 along the Z direction. The heat generated in the cooling plate 20 is heat transferred from the cells 3 to the cooling plate 20 via the heat transfer sheet 4. The cooling plate 20 is cooled by the flow of the coolant through the flow paths 21 provided therein as described above, and the heat transferred to the cooling plate 20 is further transferred to the case body 9 via the heat dissipation member 5.

[0023] In order to transmit the heat transmitted to the cooling plate 20 to the case body 9 via the heat dissipation member 5, the cooling plate 20 has an end portion on one side in the Z direction that protrudes toward the top surface 9A of the case body 9 beyond the upper end portion of the cell 3 in the Z direction and is in contact with the top surface 9A of the case body 9 via the heat dissipation member 5. The end portion on one side in the Z direction of the cooling plate 20 corresponds to the upper end portion 20V of the cooling plate 20 along the Z direction. The upper end portion of the cell 3 in the Z direction corresponds to the end portion on the Z1 side of the cell 3. In this embodiment, this corresponds to the upper end portions 3V of the positive electrode 11A and the negative electrode 11B of the cell 3 (however, in FIG. 2, the positive electrode 11A is omitted from the illustration). The top surface 9A of the case body 9 corresponds to the surface of the case body 9 where the positive electrode 11A and the negative electrode 11B of the cell 3 face each other along the Z direction in the storage space in which the cell 3 is stored. Therefore, the cooling plate 20 is configured such that the upper end 20V of the cooling plate 20 along the Z direction protrudes from the upper end 3V of the positive electrode 11A and the negative electrode 11B of the cell 3 along the Z direction in the storage space of the case body 9 in which the cell 3 is stored, toward the surface where the positive electrode 11A and the negative electrode 11B of the cell 3 face each other, and contacts the facing surface via the heat dissipation member 5. The protrusion amount of this cooling plate 20 only needs to protrude toward the top surface 9A from the positive electrode 11A and the negative electrode 11B of the cell 3, and is configured to be, for example, one-third or more of the height of the cell 3 along the Z direction. This makes it possible to prevent the heat generated in the cell 3 from being directly transferred to the top surface 9A. Therefore, the heat generated in the cooling plate 20 is transferred to the case body 9 via the heat dissipation member 5, and can be dissipated in the case body 9.

[0024] In the present embodiment, the cooling plate 20 has an end portion on the other side in the Z direction in contact with the bottom surface 9B of the case body 9 via the heat dissipation member 5. The end portion on the other side in the Z direction in the cooling plate 20 corresponds to a lower end portion 20W of the cooling plate 20 along the Z direction. The bottom surface 9B of the case body 9 corresponds to a surface of the case body 9 opposite to a surface where the positive electrode 11A and the negative electrode 11B of the cell 3 face each other along the Z direction in the storage space where the cell 3 is stored. Therefore, the cooling plate 20 is configured such that the lower end portion 20W of the cooling plate 20 along the Z direction in contact with a surface of the case body 9 opposite to a surface where the positive electrode 11A and the negative electrode 11B of the cell 3 face each other along the Z direction via the heat dissipation member 5. This allows the heat generated in the cooling plate 20 to be transferred to the case body 9 via the heat dissipation member 5 and the bottom surface 9B, and dissipated in the case body 9.

[0025] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cell 3 is housed in the case body 9 with a gap G between the other face of the cell 3 in the Z direction and the bottom face 9B. The other face of the cell 3 in the Z direction is the face 3D of the cell 3 on the Z2 side. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 2, the cell 3 has a gap G between the face 3D of the cell 3 and the bottom face 9B. This makes it possible to prevent heat generated in the cell 3 from being directly transferred to the bottom face 9B.

[0026] Here, if any abnormality occurs in the cell 3, the temperature of the cell 3 may rise, leading to thermal runaway. In the battery cooling structure of this embodiment, by being configured as described above, it is possible to suppress heat transfer from the cell 3 that has reached thermal runaway to the cell 3 adjacent to the cell 3. Hereinafter, heat transfer to the adjacent cell 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

[0027] Here, an example will be described in which heat is transferred to cells 3A and 3C adjacent to cell 3B when cell 3B experiences thermal runaway. The amount of heat generated by cell 3B when cell 3B experiences thermal runaway is designated as Q. In this case, the heat generated in cell 3B is transferred from cell 3B to cooling plate 20B and cooling plate 20C via heat transfer sheet 4. In this case, the amount of heat transferred from cell 3B to cooling plate 20B and cooling plate 20C is designated as Q1.

[0028] The heat transferred to cooling plate 20B is reduced in temperature at cooling plate 20B, but is transferred to cell 3A via heat transfer sheet 4. The heat transferred to cooling plate 20C is reduced in temperature at cooling plate 20C, but is transferred to cell 3C via heat transfer sheet 4. The amount of heat transferred in this manner via heat transfer sheet 4 is denoted as q1.

[0029] Moreover, the heat transferred to cooling plate 20B is transferred via heat dissipation member 5 to case body 9 (hereinafter referred to as "upper case 9V") having top surface 9A, where it is dissipated in upper case 9V, and then transferred to cooling plate 20A via heat dissipation member 5. Similarly, heat transferred to cooling plate 20C is transferred via heat dissipation member 5 to upper case 9V, where it is dissipated in upper case 9V, and then transferred to cooling plate 20D via heat dissipation member 5. The amount of heat transferred via upper case 9V is denoted as q2 (however, the amount of heat dissipated in upper case 9V is ignored).

[0030] Moreover, the heat transferred to cooling plate 20B is transferred via heat dissipation member 5 to case body 9 (hereinafter referred to as "lower case 9W") having a bottom surface 9B, where it is dissipated, but is transferred to cooling plate 20A via heat dissipation member 5. Similarly, heat transferred to cooling plate 20C is transferred via heat dissipation member 5 to lower case 9W, where it is dissipated, but is transferred to cooling plate 20D via heat dissipation member 5. The amount of heat transferred via lower case 9W is denoted as q3 (however, the amount of heat dissipated in lower case 9W is ignored).

[0031] The heat transferred to the cooling plate 20A is dissipated at the cooling plate 20A, but is transferred to the cell 3A via the heat transfer sheet 4. Similarly, the heat transferred to the cooling plate 20D is dissipated at the cooling plate 20D, but is transferred to the cell 3C via the heat transfer sheet 4. In this way, the amount of heat transferred via the heat transfer sheet 4 is q2+q3.

[0032] Therefore, the amount of heat Q2 transferred from cell 3B to each of cell 3A and cell 3C is q1+q2+q3.

[0033] On the other hand, Fig. 4 shows an example in which the battery cooling structure of the present embodiment is not used. Note that the same components as those in the example of Fig. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0034] Here again, the amount of heat generated by cell 3B when cell 3B experiences thermal runaway is designated as Q. In this case, the heat generated in cell 3B is transferred from cell 3B to each of cooling plate 20B and cooling plate 20C via heat transfer sheet 4. At this time, the amount of heat transferred to cooling plate 20B and cooling plate 20C is designated as Q1.

[0035] The heat transferred to cooling plate 20B is reduced in temperature at cooling plate 20B, but is transferred to cell 3A via heat transfer sheet 4. The heat transferred to cooling plate 20C is reduced in temperature at cooling plate 20C, but is transferred to cell 3C via heat transfer sheet 4. The amount of heat transferred in this manner via heat transfer sheet 4 is denoted as q1.

[0036] Moreover, the heat generated in cell 3B is transferred to the upper case 9V via the terminals (positive electrode 11A and negative electrode 11B). At this time, the amount of heat transferred to the upper case 9V is Q2. The heat related to this amount of heat Q2 is dissipated in the upper case 9V, but is transferred to cell 3A via the terminals (positive electrode 11A and negative electrode 11B) of the adjacent cell 3A (however, the positive electrode 11A is not shown). Also, the heat is transferred to cell 3C via the terminals (positive electrode 11A and negative electrode 11B) of the adjacent cell 3C (however, the positive electrode 11A is not shown).

[0037] Furthermore, the heat generated in cell 3B is transferred to the lower case 9W via the heat transfer sheet 4. At this time, the amount of heat transferred to the lower case 9W is Q3. The heat related to this amount of heat Q3 is dissipated in the lower case 9W, but is transferred to cell 3A via the heat transfer sheet 4. Similarly, it is transferred to cell 3C via the heat transfer sheet 4.

[0038] Therefore, the amount of heat Q2 transferred from cell 3B to each of cell 3A and cell 3C is q1+Q2+Q3.

[0039] Here, q1 in Fig. 3 has a smaller value than q1 in Fig. 4. This is because the cooling plate 20 in Fig. 3 has a larger surface area and is superior in heat dissipation than the cooling plate 20 in Fig. 4.

[0040] On the other hand, q2 in Fig. 3 is a smaller value than Q2 in Fig. 4. In the example of Fig. 3, the temperature of the heat related to q2 is reduced in the cooling plate 20, but in the example of Fig. 4, the heat related to Q2 is transferred to the adjacent cell 3 without passing through the cooling plate 20, and the temperature is not reduced by the cooling plate 20.

[0041] Also, q3 in Fig. 3 is a smaller value than Q3 in Fig. 4. In the example of Fig. 3, the temperature of the heat related to q3 is reduced in the cooling plate 20, but in the example of Fig. 4, the heat related to Q3 is transferred to the adjacent cell 3 without passing through the cooling plate 20, and the temperature is not reduced by the cooling plate 20.

[0042] Therefore, the amount of heat Q2=q1+q2+q3 in the example of Fig. 3 is smaller than the amount of heat Q2=q1+Q2+Q3 in the example of Fig. 4. In this way, according to this battery cooling structure, it is possible to reduce the amount of heat transferred from the adjacent cells 3.

[0043] As described above, according to the battery cooling structure described above, it is possible to reduce the amount of heat transferred from a cell 3 to an adjacent cell 3 and cool the cell 3 more effectively than the conventional battery cooling structure shown in FIG. 4.

[0044] Other embodiments Next, other embodiments of the battery cooling structure will be described.

[0045] In the above embodiment, the cooling plate 20 has been described as having an upper end 20V that protrudes toward the top surface 9A of the upper case 9V beyond the upper ends 3V of the positive electrode 11A and negative electrode 11B of the cell 3, and is in contact with the top surface 9A via the heat dissipation member 5. In a case where the positive electrode 11A and negative electrode 11B of the cell 3 are not provided on the upper end side of the cell 3 (for example, when they are provided on the lower end side of the cell 3), it is preferable that the upper end 20V of the cooling plate 20 protrudes toward the top surface 9A of the upper case 9V beyond the end of the cell 3 on the Z1 side, and is in contact with the top surface 9A via the heat dissipation member 5.

[0046] In the above embodiment, the cooling plate 20 has been described as having an end portion on the other side in the Z direction in contact with the bottom surface 9B of the case body 9 via the heat dissipation member 5. However, the cooling plate 20 may have an end portion on the other side in the Z direction in contact with the bottom surface 9B of the case body 9 via the heat dissipation member 5, or the cooling plate 20 may be in direct contact with the bottom surface 9B of the case body 9 without the heat dissipation member 5 therebetween.

[0047] In the above embodiment, the cell 3 has been described as being housed in the case body 9 with the gap G between the other face of the cell 3 in the Z direction and the bottom surface 9B. However, the cell 3 may be housed in the case body 9 with a heat insulating material between the other face of the cell 3 in the Z direction and the bottom surface 9B.

[0048] In the above embodiment, the temperature regulator 1 has been described as including the cooling plate 20, the heat transfer sheet 4, and the heat dissipation member 5. However, it is sufficient that the temperature regulator 1 includes at least the cooling plate 20. That is, the temperature regulator 1 may be configured to include only the cooling plate 20, or may be configured to include the cooling plate 20 and the heat transfer sheet 4, or may be configured to include the cooling plate 20 and the heat dissipation member 5.

[0049] In the above embodiment, the cooling plate 20 has been described as having the flow paths 21 through which an insulating cooling liquid flows. However, the cooling liquid flowing through the flow paths 21 may be conductive instead of insulating.

[0050] [Summary of the above embodiment] The battery cooling structure described above will now be outlined.

[0051] (1) The battery cooling structure is capable of cooling a battery 10 including a battery module 2 having a plurality of cells 3 arranged along an X direction (first direction) and a case body 9 accommodating the battery module 2, and includes a cooling plate 20 provided between side surfaces of two adjacent cells 3 along the X direction, extending along a Y direction (second direction) perpendicular to the X direction, and having a flow path 21 therein through which an insulating cooling liquid flows, a heat transfer sheet 4 provided between the side surface of the cell 3 and the cooling plate 20, and a heat dissipation member 5 provided at an end of the cooling plate 20 in a Z direction (third direction) perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction, and transferring heat generated in the cooling plate 20 to the case body 9 along the Z direction, and an end of the cooling plate 20 on one side in the Z direction protrudes toward a top surface 9A of the case body 9 beyond an upper end of the cells 3 in the Z direction, and is in contact with the top surface 9A via the heat dissipation member 5.

[0052] According to this configuration, the cooling plate 20 can be provided in the heat transfer path through the side of the top surface 9A of the case body 9 across two adjacent cells 3. This allows the temperature of heat transferred from one of the two adjacent cells 3 to the top surface 9A of the case body 9 to be reduced by the cooling plate 20 before being transferred to the top surface 9A. In addition, the temperature of heat transferred from the top surface 9A of the case body 9 to the cooling plate 20 can be reduced by the cooling plate 20 before being transferred to the other of the two adjacent cells 3. Therefore, according to this battery cooling structure, the temperature of the transferred heat can be lowered before being transferred from one of the two adjacent cells 3 to the other, so that the cells 3 can be cooled.

[0053] (2) In the battery cooling structure described in (1), it is preferable that the end of the cooling plate 20 on the other side in the Z direction of the cooling plate 20 contacts the bottom surface 9B of the case body 9 via the heat dissipation member 5.

[0054] According to this configuration, the other end of the cooling plate 20 in the Z direction (third direction) is in contact with the case body 9 via the heat dissipation member 5, so that the heat of the cooling plate 20 is transferred to the case body 9, improving the cooling performance of the cooling plate 20. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a temperature rise of the cells 3 in contact with the cooling plate 20 and cool the cells 3.

[0055] (3) In the battery cooling structure described in (2), it is preferable that the cell 3 is accommodated in the case body 9 with a gap G between the other surface of the cell 3 in the Z direction and the bottom surface 9B.

[0056] According to this configuration, there is no path for heat to be directly transferred from the other end of the cell 3 in the Z direction to the case body 9, and the heat is transferred to the bottom surface 9B of the case body 9 via the cooling plate 20. In this case, heat whose temperature has been reduced by the cooling plate 20 is transferred to the bottom surface 9B of the case body 9. Therefore, the amount of heat transferred to the adjacent cell 3 via the bottom surface 9B of the case body 9 is reduced, and it becomes possible to cool the cell 3.

[0057] (4) The temperature regulator 1 preferably includes a cooling plate 20 used in the battery cooling structure described in (1) to (3).

[0058] According to this configuration, the temperature of the cells 3 can be adjusted by the cooling plate 20 capable of cooling the cells 3 as described above. [Industrial Applicability]

[0059] The technology disclosed herein can be utilized in a battery cooling structure capable of cooling a battery, and in a temperature regulator used in such a battery cooling structure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1: temperature regulator, 2: battery module, 3: cell, 5: heat dissipation member, 9: case body, 9A: top surface, 9B: bottom surface, 10: battery, 20: cooling plate, 21: flow path, G: gap

Claims

1. A battery cooling structure capable of cooling a battery including a battery module having a plurality of cells arranged along a first direction and a case body that houses the battery module, a cooling plate provided between side surfaces of two of the cells adjacent to each other along the first direction, extending along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and having a flow path therein through which a coolant flows; a heat dissipation member provided at an end of the cooling plate in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, the heat dissipation member transmitting heat generated in the cooling plate to the case body along the third direction, A battery cooling structure in which the end of the cooling plate, which is on one side of the third direction, protrudes toward the top surface of the case body further than the upper end of the cell in the third direction, and is in contact with the top surface via the heat dissipation member.

2. The battery cooling structure according to claim 1 , wherein the end of the cooling plate on the other side in the third direction is in contact with a bottom surface of the case body via the heat dissipation member.

3. The battery cooling structure according to claim 2 , wherein the cell is accommodated in the case body with a gap between the bottom surface and the surface of the cell on the other side in the third direction.

4. A temperature regulator comprising the cooling plate used in the battery cooling structure according to claim 1 .

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