Hybrid vehicle

Abstract

To provide a hybrid vehicle which suppresses generation of an offensive odor in a cabin.SOLUTION: A hybrid vehicle comprises: an engine and a motor which work as a travel power source; a battery pack which accommodates a sulfide-based all-solid-state battery cell to supply the motor with electric power; a first passage through which the batter pack communicates with an exhaust passage of the engine; a second passage through which the batter pack communicates with an outer air; a first and a second opening / closing mechanism which opens / closes the first and the second passages; and a controller which opens the first and the second passages through the first and the second opening / closing mechanism to discharge hydrogen sulfide gas in the battery pack to the exhaust passage.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hybrid vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] There is a battery pack that houses a sulfide all-solid-state battery cell (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] It is conceivable to adopt such a battery pack in a hybrid vehicle. For example, when hydrogen sulfide gas generated in a sulfide all-solid-state battery cell leaks from the battery pack, there is a risk that the hydrogen sulfide gas will flow into the passenger compartment and cause an unpleasant odor.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a hybrid vehicle that suppresses the generation of an unpleasant odor in the passenger compartment.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The above object can be achieved by a hybrid vehicle including an engine and a motor as driving power sources, a battery pack that houses a sulfide all-solid-state battery cell and supplies power to the motor, a first passage that communicates between the inside of the battery pack and an exhaust passage of the engine, a second passage that communicates between the inside of the battery pack and outside air, first and second opening and closing mechanisms that open and close the first and second passages respectively, and a control device that opens the first and second passages by the first and second opening and closing mechanisms so that hydrogen sulfide gas in the battery pack is discharged into the exhaust passage.

[0007] An exhaust gas purification catalyst is provided in the exhaust passage. The first passage communicates with the downstream side of the exhaust gas purification catalyst in the exhaust passage. The control device includes an acquisition unit that acquires the ammonia concentration of the exhaust gas that has passed through the exhaust gas purification catalyst, and when the ammonia concentration is less than a threshold value at which hydrogen sulfide gas can be neutralized, the first and second opening and closing mechanisms close the first and second passages, and when the ammonia concentration is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the first and second opening and closing mechanisms open the first and second passages.

[0008] A blower fan is provided to introduce air from the second passage into the battery pack to promote the discharge of the gas in the battery pack to the first passage. The control unit may stop the blower fan when the ammonia concentration is less than the threshold value, and drive the blower fan when the ammonia concentration is equal to or greater than the threshold value.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] It is possible to provide a hybrid vehicle that suppresses the generation of strange odors in the vehicle interior.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] [Schematic Configuration of Hybrid Vehicle] Figure 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a hybrid vehicle 1. In the hybrid vehicle 1, a clutch 30, a motor 40, and a transmission 50 are sequentially provided in the power transmission path from the engine 10 to the drive wheels 70. The engine 10 and the motor 40 are mounted as driving sources for the running of the hybrid vehicle 1. The engine 10 may be, for example, a gasoline engine or a diesel engine. The transmission 50 and the left and right drive wheels 70 are connected via a differential gear 60. The transmission 50 includes a torque converter and an automatic transmission.

[0012] The clutch 30 is provided between the engine 10 and the motor 40 on the same power transmission path. The clutch 30 receives hydraulic pressure supply from the released state and becomes engaged to connect the power transmission between the engine 10 and the motor 40. The clutch 30 becomes released in response to the stop of the hydraulic pressure supply to cut off the power transmission between the engine 10 and the motor 40.

[0013] The motor 40 is connected to the battery pack 90 via the PCU 80. The motor 40 functions as a driving power source for the running of the hybrid vehicle 1 in response to the power supply from the battery pack 90. Further, the motor 40 also functions as a generator that charges the battery pack 90 in response to the power transmission from the engine 10 or the drive wheels 70.

[0014] The PCU 80 is controlled by the ECU 100 described later. In the case of the power running operation in which the motor 40 outputs torque, the PCU 80 converts the DC voltage of the battery pack 90 into an AC voltage and adjusts the power supplied to the motor 40. In the case of the regenerative operation in which the motor 40 generates electricity, the PCU 80 converts the AC voltage from the motor 40 into a DC voltage and adjusts the regenerative power supplied to the battery pack 90.

[0015] The hybrid vehicle 1 is provided with an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 100 as a control device for the vehicle. The ECU 100 is an electronic control unit including an arithmetic processing circuit that performs various arithmetic processes related to the running control of the vehicle, and a memory that stores control programs and data. The ECU 100 is an example of a control device for the hybrid vehicle 1, and functionally realizes an acquisition unit and a control unit, which will be described in detail later.

[0016] The ECU 100 runs the hybrid vehicle in either a motor running mode or a hybrid running mode. In the motor running mode, the ECU 100 stops the engine 10, releases the clutch 30, and runs by the power of the motor 40. In the hybrid running mode, the clutch 30 is engaged and the vehicle runs by at least the power of the engine 10. Also, in the hybrid running mode, the output of the motor 40 can assist the driving of the engine 10.

[0017] [Schematic Configuration of Engine] FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the engine 10 and the battery pack 90. The engine 10 has an engine body 11, an intake passage 20, and an exhaust passage 24. The engine body 11 is a multi-cylinder engine having a plurality of cylinders. An in-cylinder injection valve 12 and a spark plug 14 are provided in the engine body 11. The in-cylinder injection valve 12 directly injects fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine 10. Note that, instead of the in-cylinder injection valve 12, or in addition to the in-cylinder injection valve, a port injection valve may be provided. The spark plug 14 ignites the air-fuel mixture. A throttle valve 22 is provided in the intake passage 20. The throttle valve 22 is driven by, for example, an actuator (not shown) to adjust the intake air amount.

[0018] An exhaust purification catalyst 26 is provided in the exhaust passage 24. When the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the exhaust purification catalyst 26 is within a narrow range near stoichiometry, the exhaust purification catalyst 26 purifies harmful components in the exhaust gas. An ammonia concentration sensor 28 is provided downstream of the exhaust purification catalyst 26. Exhaust gas containing HC, CO, and water flows into the exhaust purification catalyst 26. Hydrogen is generated in the exhaust purification catalyst 26 by the catalytic action. Here, when NOx and hydrogen contained in the exhaust gas react, ammonia is generated. As a result, the ammonia concentration in the exhaust gas passing through the exhaust purification catalyst 26 may increase.

[0019] The battery pack 90 includes a cell stack 91 and a case 92. The cell stack 91 is housed in the case 92. The cell stack 91 is formed by stacking a plurality of sulfide all-solid-state battery cells. The case 92 has a case shape. The inside of the case 92 and the downstream side of the exhaust purification catalyst 26 in the exhaust passage 24 communicate with each other through a first passage 101. A first valve 102 is provided in the first passage 101. The first valve 102 is an example of a first opening / closing mechanism. A second passage 103 communicating with the outside air is connected to the case 92. A second valve 104 is provided in the second passage 103. The second valve 104 is an example of a second opening / closing mechanism. In addition, a blower fan 105 is provided near the second passage 103. The blower fan 105 can blow air toward the second passage 103. The first valve 102, the second valve 104, and the blower fan 105 are controlled by the ECU 100.

[0020] During normal operation, the ECU 100 closes the first valve 102 and the second valve 104 and stops the blower fan 105. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, the ECU 100 opens the first valve 102 and the second valve 104 and drives the blower fan 105. As a result, hydrogen sulfide gas generated from the cell stack 91 is discharged from the inside of the case 92 to the exhaust passage 24. In this way, the flow of hydrogen sulfide gas into the vehicle interior is suppressed. In addition, the long-term retention of hydrogen sulfide gas inside the case 92 is suppressed. Therefore, the failure of electronic components and the corrosion of metal components inside the case 92 due to hydrogen sulfide gas are also suppressed.

[0021] When the first valve 102 is opened while the second valve 104 is closed, the inside of the case 92 also becomes negative pressure due to the influence of the negative pressure in the exhaust passage 24. This may affect the cell stack 91. Therefore, when the first valve 102 is opened, by opening the second valve 104, it is possible to suppress the inside of the case 92 from becoming negative pressure.

[0022] [Hydrogen Sulfide Gas Emission Control] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating hydrogen sulfide gas emission control. The ECU 100 acquires the ammonia concentration of the exhaust gas by the ammonia concentration sensor 28 (step S1). Note that the ammonia concentration is not limited to acquisition by a sensor and may be calculated by an arithmetic expression. For example, the ammonia concentration may be calculated based on the in-cylinder temperature or the air-fuel ratio, or the ammonia concentration may be calculated based on the temperature of the exhaust purification catalyst 26. Step S1 is an example of the process executed by the acquisition unit.

[0023] Next, the ECU 100 determines whether the ammonia concentration is equal to or higher than a threshold value (step S2). The threshold value is set to the ammonia concentration capable of neutralizing hydrogen sulfide gas. If the result in step S2 is No, the ECU 100 closes the first valve 102 and the second valve 104 and stops the blower fan 105 (step S3).

[0024] If the result in step S2 is Yes, the ECU 100 opens the first valve 102 and the second valve 104 and drives the blower fan 105 (step S4). As a result, air is introduced into the case 92 by the blower fan 105 via the second passage 103. The hydrogen sulfide gas in the case 92 is discharged to the downstream side of the exhaust purification catalyst 26 in the exhaust passage 24 via the first passage 101. Step S4 is an example of the process executed by the control unit.

[0025] Ammonia in the exhaust gas that has passed through the exhaust purification catalyst 26 and hydrogen sulfide gas discharged from the case 92 react in a neutralization reaction as follows to produce ammonium sulfide. 2NH3 + H2S → (NH4)2S In this way, it is possible to suppress the direct discharge of hydrogen sulfide gas to the outside air.

[0026] In the above embodiment, the first valve 102 is provided in the first passage 101, but the first valve 102 is not limited to being provided in the first passage 101. For example, the first valve 102 may be provided in the case 92 so as to open and close the connection portion between the case 92 and the first passage 101. Similarly, the second valve 104 may be provided in the case 92 so as to open and close the connection portion between the second passage 103 and the second valve 104. Further, instead of the first valve 102 and the second valve 104, a shutter mechanism may be used. The blower fan 105 is disposed outside the case 92, but may be provided in the first passage 101, in the first valve 102, or in the case 92.

[0027] In the above embodiment, as an example of a hybrid vehicle, one equipped with the engine 10 and the motor 40 as driving power sources is illustrated, but it is not limited thereto. For example, a hybrid vehicle equipped with an engine and first and second motors as driving power sources, and further including a planetary gear mechanism including a sun gear connected to the first motor, a drive wheel, a ring gear connected to the second motor, and a carrier connected to the engine may be used.

[0028] As described above in detail with respect to the embodiments of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0029] 1 Hybrid vehicle 90 Battery pack 91 Cell stack (sulfide all-solid-state battery cell) 92 Case 100 ECU (control device, acquisition unit, control unit) 101 First passage 102 First valve (first opening / closing mechanism) 103 Second passage 104 Second valve (second opening / closing mechanism) 105 Blower fan

Claims

1. An engine and a motor as driving power sources, A battery pack that houses a sulfide all-solid-state battery cell and supplies power to the motor, A first passage that communicates between the inside of the battery pack and the exhaust passage of the engine, A second passage that communicates between the inside of the battery pack and the outside air, First and second opening / closing mechanisms that open and close the first and second passages respectively, A control device that opens the first and second passages by the first and second opening / closing mechanisms so that hydrogen sulfide gas in the battery pack is discharged into the exhaust passage. A hybrid vehicle comprising the same.

2. An exhaust purification catalyst is provided on the exhaust passage, The first passage communicates with the downstream side of the exhaust purification catalyst in the exhaust passage, The control device, An acquisition unit that acquires the ammonia concentration of the exhaust gas that has passed through the exhaust purification catalyst, When the ammonia concentration is less than a threshold value at which hydrogen sulfide gas can be neutralized, the first and second opening / closing mechanisms close the first and second passages, and when the ammonia concentration is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the first and second opening / closing mechanisms open the first and second passages. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, comprising a control unit.

3. It is provided with a blower fan that introduces air into the battery pack from the second passage to promote the discharge of the gas in the battery pack to the first passage, The control unit stops the blower fan when the ammonia concentration is less than the threshold value, and drives the blower fan when the ammonia concentration is equal to or greater than the threshold value. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 2.

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