Power storage device

Abstract

To suppress temperature variations in a power storage module in the direction of cooling air flow.SOLUTION: A power storage device 10 includes a storage module 22 and a cooling member 30 stacked on the storage module 22 and provided with a flow path 32 formed in a tapered shape whose width in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the cooling air as viewed from the stacking direction becomes wider from a cooling air inlet 32A toward a cooling air outlet 32B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a power storage device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a refrigerant flow path is formed in a tapered shape that narrows from one end in the first direction of a flow path member toward the other end, and the flow path member is configured such that the pressure loss gradually decreases toward the other end in the second direction of the flow path member according to the reduction rate of the refrigerant flow path.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in a power storage device, it is preferable to suppress the temperature variation of a power storage module in the flow direction of cooling air.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to suppress the temperature variation of a power storage module in the flow direction of cooling air.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The power storage device according to claim 1 includes a power storage module and a cooling member provided with a flow path formed in a tapered shape that widens from the inlet of the cooling air toward the outlet of the cooling air, the width of the flow path in a direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the cooling air as viewed from the stacking direction being laminated on the power storage module.

[0007] In the power storage device according to claim 1, a cooling member is provided with a flow path formed in a tapered shape that widens as it goes from the inlet of the cooling air to the outlet of the cooling air in a direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the cooling air as viewed in the stacking direction. As a result, the projected area of the flow path on the power storage module on the outlet side of the cooling air is made larger than the projected area of the flow path on the power storage module on the inlet side of the cooling air. That is, the projected area of the flow path on the power storage module increases from the inlet of the cooling air to the outlet of the cooling air. Therefore, the cooling capacity on the inlet side of the cooling air is suppressed, and the cooling capacity on the outlet side of the cooling air is improved. As a result, the temperature variation of the power storage module in the flow direction of the cooling air can be suppressed.

Effect of the Invention

[0008] As described above, according to the power storage device of the present invention, the temperature variation of the power storage module in the flow direction of the cooling air can be suppressed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, a power storage device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment, the power storage device is a bipolar secondary battery in which a plurality of power storage modules are stacked, and is used, for example, as an in-vehicle power source for an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. In each figure, the arrow UP indicates the upper side in the vertical direction of the power storage device, the arrow FR indicates the front side in the front-rear direction of the power storage device, and the arrow LH indicates the left side in the left-right direction of the power storage device.

[0011] [Configuration of Power Storage Device 10] As shown in FIG. 1, the power storage device 10 includes a case 12 and a laminate 20 housed in the case 12.

[0012] <Laminate 20> As shown in FIG. 2, the laminate 20 has a plurality (three in this embodiment) of power storage modules 22 and a plurality (four in this embodiment) of cooling members 30. The laminate 20 is formed by alternately arranging the power storage modules 22 and the cooling members 30 in the vertical direction. Note that the power storage device 10 may include at least one power storage module 22 and at least one cooling member 30.

[0013] (Power Storage Module 22) The power storage module 22 is formed in a rectangular plate shape with the vertical direction as the plate thickness direction. The power storage module 22 is, for example, a secondary battery such as a nickel-metal hydride secondary battery or a lithium-ion secondary battery. An electrode body (not shown) is housed inside the battery case of the power storage module 22. The electrode body may be a laminated type in which electrode sheets are laminated or a wound type in which electrode sheets are wound.

[0014] (Cooling Member 30) The cooling member 30 is formed of a conductive material such as metal and has conductivity. The cooling member 30 is electrically connected to the power storage modules 22 adjacent in the vertical direction, and the plurality of power storage modules 22 are connected in series via the cooling member 30. Then, charging and discharging of the plurality of power storage modules 22 are performed via an external terminal (not shown).

[0015] <Case 12> The case 12 includes a pair of upper and lower end plates 14. The pair of upper and lower end plates 14 are arranged so as to sandwich the laminate 20. Bolts 18 and nuts 19 as restraining members are attached to the pair of upper and lower end plates 14, whereby the laminate 20 is compressed in the vertical direction (lamination direction).

[0016] In other words, in case 12, the laminate 20 is accommodated in a vertically compressed state.

[0017] On the inner surfaces in the vertical direction of the pair of end plates 14, a film 24 having electrical insulation is disposed, and insulation is provided between the case 12 and the power storage module 22.

[0018] [Detailed Configuration of Cooling Member 30] The cooling member 30 is stacked vertically with respect to the power storage module 22 and is disposed so as to contact the wide surface 22A of the power storage module 22.

[0019] The area of the cooling member 30 can be formed smaller than the area of the power storage module 22 when viewed from the stacking direction. Note that the area of the cooling member 30 may be the same as the area of the power storage module 22 when viewed from the stacking direction, or may be larger than the area of the power storage module 22.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 3, the cooling member 30 has a plurality (seven in the embodiment) of flow paths 32 arranged at a predetermined interval in the left-right direction. The flow paths 32 are formed in a rectangular cross-section and extend in the front-rear direction. The flow paths 32 are formed from the rear end 30A to the front end 30B in the front-rear direction of the cooling member 30.

[0021] The flow paths 32 are formed such that the width in the left-right direction becomes wider from the rear end side toward the front end side. In other words, the flow paths 32 are formed in a tapered shape in which the width in the direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the cooling air when viewed from the vertical direction (stacking direction) becomes wider from the cooling air inlet 32A toward the cooling air outlet 32B.

[0022] The height in the vertical direction of the flow paths 32 can be made constant from the rear end side to the front end side. Note that the height in the vertical direction of the flow paths 32 may be formed to increase or decrease from the rear end side toward the front end side.

[0023] [Cooling Operation] A blower device (not shown) is disposed on the rear end side in the front-rear direction of the cooling member 30. When the blower device is driven, cooling air flows into the flow path 32 from the inlet 32A, passes through the flow path 32, and flows out to the outside from the outlet 32B. As a result, the heat generated in the power storage module 22 and conducted to the cooling member 30 is released to the outside, and the power storage module 22 is cooled.

[0024] [Function] By the way, when the power storage module 22 is cooled by the cooling air at the inlet side of the flow path, the temperature of the cooling air rises. Therefore, at the outlet side of the flow path, the power storage module 22 is cooled by the cooling air whose temperature has risen. Then, there is a variation in the cooling performance of the power storage module 22 by the cooling air between the inlet side and the outlet side of the flow path. As a result, there is a problem that temperature variation occurs in the power storage module 22.

[0025] The power storage device 10 of the embodiment includes a power storage module 22 and a cooling member 30 laminated on the power storage module 22 and having a flow path 32 through which cooling air flows. The flow path 32 is formed in a tapered shape that widens as it goes from the inlet 32A of the cooling air to the outlet 32B of the cooling air in the direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the cooling air as viewed from the stacking direction (see FIG. 3).

[0026] Since the width of the flow path 32 in the direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the cooling air as viewed from the stacking direction is formed in a tapered shape that widens as it goes from the inlet 32A of the cooling air to the outlet 32B of the cooling air, the projected area of the flow path 32 on the power storage module 22 on the outlet side of the cooling air is made larger than the projected area of the flow path 32 on the power storage module 22 on the inlet side of the cooling air. That is, the projected area of the flow path 32 on the power storage module 22 is made larger from the inlet 32A of the cooling air to the outlet 32B of the cooling air. Therefore, the cooling capacity on the inlet side of the cooling air is suppressed, and the cooling capacity on the outlet side of the cooling air is improved. As a result, it is possible to suppress the temperature variation of the power storage module 22 in the flow direction of the cooling air.

[0027] The power storage device according to the embodiment has been described based on the embodiment. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and design changes and the like are allowed as long as the gist of the invention according to each claim of the claims is not deviated from.

[0028] In the embodiment, an example is shown in which all the flow paths 32 are formed such that the width in the left - right direction increases as going from the rear - end side to the front - end side. However, at least one flow path may be formed such that the width in the left - right direction increases as going from the rear - end side to the front - end side.

[0029] In the embodiment, an example is shown in which the power storage device is a bipolar - type secondary battery. However, the power storage device is not limited to this aspect and may be a monopolar - type secondary battery.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0030] 10 Power storage device 22 Power storage module 30 Cooling member 32 Flow path 32A Inlet 32B Outlet

Claims

[Claim 1] A storage module; a cooling member that is stacked on the power storage module and has a flow path that is tapered so that the width of the flow path in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the cooling air as viewed from the stacking direction becomes wider from an inlet for the cooling air toward an outlet for the cooling air; A power storage device comprising:

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