Temperature control device

Abstract

To provide a temperature control device capable of adjusting a temperature of a battery.SOLUTION: A temperature control device 30 comprises: a first flat-plan part 37 and a second flat-plan part 38 that are opposite to each other along a first direction X; a division wall 60 that divides a region nipped by the first flat-plan part 37 and the second flat-plan part 38; and a lid member 50 that closes an open part 49 in a state of being fitted to the open part 49 of an end part along a second direction Y in both of the first flat-plan part 37 and the second flat-plan part 38. The division wall 60 has: a first retirement part 81 that is formed so as to be retired to a center side of the second direction Y from an end surface 42 in the second direction Y of the first flat-plan part 37 and the second flat-plan part 38; and a second retirement part 82 that is further retired to the center side of the second direction Y from the first retirement part 81. The lid member 50 has a welding part 52 that is welded to the first flat-plan part 37, the second flat-plan part 38, and the division wall 60 in a state of being mounted to the first retirement part 81.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a temperature regulator for regulating the temperature of a battery including a battery module having a plurality of cells.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, automobiles equipped with a motor as a driving power source (hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), battery electric vehicles (BEV), fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV), etc.) have become widespread. These automobiles (hereinafter collectively referred to as "electric vehicles") are equipped with a battery (hereinafter also simply referred to as a "battery") for driving the motor.

[0003] Generally, a battery mounted on an electric vehicle is configured by housing a battery module in which a plurality of cells are arranged in parallel in a container. Therefore, when the battery is used, heat accumulates inside the container due to heat generation and the temperature becomes high. When the battery becomes hot, it is likely to deteriorate. Thus, techniques for cooling the battery have been studied (for example, see Patent Document 1).

[0004] The cooling device described in Patent Document 1 includes a flat plate-shaped first part and a flat plate-shaped second part that faces the first part with a distance of a predetermined distance or more and forms a flow path through which a fluid flows between the first part and the second part. The first part and the second part are pressed against each other to crush the ends to form a flat part, and the flat part is irradiated with laser light and fixed by laser welding.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] In the cooling device described in Patent Document 1, as described above, flat portions are formed at the ends of the first part and the second part, and these flat portions are fixed by laser welding. Therefore, a flow path cannot be formed at the end portion. For this reason, even if a battery is brought into contact with such an end portion, the battery cannot be efficiently cooled. In the cooling device described in Patent Document 1, the area (contact area) of the flow path that can be in contact with the battery is reduced, and the cooling performance is deteriorated. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the cooling device described in Patent Document 1.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need for a temperature regulator that can prevent a decrease in the contact area between the cooling device and the battery and can adjust the temperature of the battery.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] A characteristic configuration of the temperature regulator according to the present invention is a temperature regulator that adjusts the temperature of a battery including a battery module having a plurality of cells arranged along a first direction, the temperature regulator including a first flat plate portion and a second flat plate portion that face each other along the first direction, a partition wall that partitions a region sandwiched between the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion, and a lid member that closes the opening portion at an end along a second direction intersecting the first direction in the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion. The partition wall has a first recessed portion formed by retreating toward the central side in the second direction from the end surfaces of the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion in the second direction, and a second recessed portion that further retreats toward the central side in the second direction than the first recessed portion. The lid member is welded to the first flat plate portion, the second flat plate portion, and the partition wall while being placed on the first recessed portion.

[0009] With such a characteristic configuration, since the lid member is placed and welded on the first recessed portion formed at the end of the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion in the second direction, fluid can flow between the lid member and the second recessed portion. Therefore, the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion can be brought into contact with the battery module over the entire region along the second direction, so that the contact area with the battery module does not decrease and there is no need to reduce the size of the battery. Accordingly, it is possible to configure a temperature regulator that prevents a decrease in the contact area between the cooling device and the battery and adjusts the temperature of the battery.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the temperature regulator according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are examples for explaining the present invention, and the present invention is not limited only to these embodiments. Therefore, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist thereof.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the battery 1 using the temperature controller 30 according to the present embodiment includes a battery module 10 having a plurality (24 in the present embodiment) of rectangular parallelepiped cells 12 arranged along the first direction X, and a plurality (4 in the present embodiment) of battery modules 10 are adjacently arranged along the second direction Y intersecting (orthogonal) the first direction X. The temperature controller 30 adjusts the temperature of such a battery 1. Adjusting the temperature of the battery 1 means maintaining the temperature of the battery 1 at a predetermined temperature (maintaining it to be included in a predetermined temperature range), and includes cooling of the battery 1 when the temperature of the battery 1 is higher than the predetermined temperature, and warming of the battery 1 when the temperature of the battery 1 is lower than the predetermined temperature.

[0013] Here, the first direction X is the vehicle longitudinal direction, X1 is the vehicle front direction, and X2 is the vehicle rear direction. Also, the second direction Y is the vehicle lateral direction, and the third direction Z is the vehicle vertical direction. Hereinafter, a case where a cooling circuit (not shown) including a radiator is arranged in front of the vehicle and the battery 1 is housed in a battery housing space at the bottom of the vehicle center will be described as an example.

[0014] The battery 1 is housed in a battery housing space at the bottom of the vehicle in a state of being restrained by a restraining member K made of a metal or the like. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the battery 1 has a sheet-like heat transfer sheet 20 having one surface that contacts the ventral surfaces (the side surfaces along the second direction Y) of all the cells 12 of the battery module 10, and a temperature controller 30 that is in close contact with the other surface of the heat transfer sheet 20 and is adjacent to the side surfaces of all the cells 12 of the battery module 10. The temperature controller 30 is made of a metal material such as aluminum or iron. Note that the illustration of the heat transfer sheet 20 is omitted in FIG. 1.

[0015] A plurality of cells 12 are arranged side by side while being electrically connected to each other. The battery 1 is used, for example, in an automobile (such as a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), a battery electric vehicle (BEV), a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), etc.) equipped with a motor as a driving power source. Note that the heat transfer sheet 20 and the temperature regulator 30 do not have to be adjacent to all the cells 12, and it is sufficient if they are adjacent to a plurality of the cells 12 among them. As described above, the temperature regulator 30 may be provided with a solid substance (such as the heat transfer sheet 20) interposed therebetween with respect to the cell 12, or may be in direct contact with the cell 12.

[0016] For example, a lithium ion battery is used for the cell 12. The battery module 10 generates a high voltage by connecting a plurality of cells 12 in series. The cell 12 generates heat as it generates electricity (discharges). When the temperature of the cell 12 rises due to heat generation, the power generation performance of the cell 12 deteriorates, so it is necessary to cool the cell 12. For this reason, in the present embodiment, the temperature regulator 30 is arranged between adjacent cells 12 to directly cool the side surfaces of the cells 12.

[0017] The heat transfer sheet 20 is made of a material with high thermal conductivity such as silicone. As shown in FIG. 3, by bringing the heat transfer sheet 20 into close contact between the cell 12 and the temperature regulator 30, the heat generated in the battery module 10 is efficiently transmitted to the temperature regulator 30 through the heat transfer sheet 20. Thereby, the temperature of a plurality of cells 12 constituting the battery module 10 can be adjusted.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1-2, the temperature regulator 30 includes a first flat plate portion 37, a second flat plate portion 38, a partition wall 60, and a lid member 50. The first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 face each other along the first direction X. Therefore, the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 are arranged to face the cell 12 along the second direction Y. Arranged to face the cell 12 along the second direction Y means facing a predetermined surface of the cell 12 and being provided to extend along the second direction Y. In the present embodiment, a set of the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 is provided between two cells 12 adjacent to each other along the first direction X.

[0019] The partition wall 60 partitions the region sandwiched between the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38. As a result, a plurality of flow paths 31 through which fluid flows are formed between the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38. A communication path 35 communicating with the plurality of flow paths 31 is provided on the side of the end portion 33 along the second direction Y in the region sandwiched between the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38. The fluid is cooling water such as long-life coolant (LLC), insulating oil such as paraffin-based, or a refrigerant such as hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) or hydrofluoroolefin (HFO). In the present embodiment, it is preferable to use a highly electrically insulating liquid such as cooling water such as long-life coolant (LLC) or insulating oil such as paraffin-based.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the flow path 31 is configured to include a first flow path 31A and a second flow path 31B. The first flow path 31A circulates the fluid introduced from the fluid introduction portion 30Ba toward both end portions 33 in the second direction Y. Three first flow paths 31A are formed along the second direction Y between the fluid introduction portion 30Ba and one side of both end portions 33 in the second direction Y.

[0021] The second flow path 31B allows fluid to flow from both end portions 33 in the second direction Y toward the fluid discharge portion 30Bb. That is, the fluid flow direction in the second flow path 31B is opposite to the fluid flow direction in the first flow path 31A. Three second flow paths 31B are formed along the second direction Y between one side of both end portions 33 in the second direction Y and the fluid discharge portion 30Bb.

[0022] The flow path 31 configured to include such a first flow path 31A and a second flow path 31B is partitioned by the above-described partition wall 60 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The partition wall 60 is provided with a uniform width along the third direction Z in the view in the second direction Y, and the portions in contact with the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 are each formed in an arc shape. Such a partition wall 60 can be formed by extrusion molding or the like together with the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38.

[0023] The communication path 35 serves as a communication space that connects the three first flow paths 31A and the three second flow paths 31B along the third direction Z at both end portions 33 in the second direction Y. That is, the flow path 31 has a folded-back structure in which the three first flow paths 31A and the three second flow paths 31B communicate with each other through the communication path 35 at both end portions 33 to change the fluid flow direction to the opposite direction. In other words, the communication path 35 connects the downstream end of the first flow path 31A and the upstream end of the second flow path 31B.

[0024] Both end portions 33 provided with the communication path 35 are located at positions facing both end portions 12A that are farthest from the central region 14 in the cells 12 of the two outer battery modules 10 among the four battery modules 10 arranged side by side along the second direction Y as shown in FIG. 1. In the present embodiment, the flow path cross-sectional areas of each of the three first flow paths 31A and the flow path cross-sectional areas of each of the three second flow paths 31B are all the same. Note that the number and shape of the first flow path 31A and the second flow path 31B can be arbitrarily changed, and for example, they may be square holes, one on each of the left and right sides.

[0025] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the temperature regulator 30 is provided between the side surfaces of two adjacent cells 12 along the first direction X. The side surfaces of two adjacent cells 12 along the first direction X correspond to the surfaces of the cell 12 formed in a quadrangular prism shape that are perpendicular to the first direction X, that is, the surfaces parallel to the YZ plane. By flowing a fluid through the flow path 31 of such a temperature regulator 30, it becomes possible to directly cool the side surface of the cell 12, and the cooling efficiency is improved.

[0026] Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, four battery modules 10 are provided along the second direction Y, and a piping member 45 is arranged in the central region 14 of the battery 1 along the second direction Y. The piping member 45 communicates with the fluid introduction portion 30Ba and allows a fluid to flow through two battery modules 10 on one side in the second direction Y and two battery modules 10 on the other side in the second direction Y, respectively. The central region 14 is the region between the two inner battery modules 10 among the four battery modules 10 arranged along the second direction Y.

[0027] The partition wall 60 has a first recessed portion 81 and a second recessed portion 82. The first recessed portion 81 is formed by recessing toward the center in the second direction Y from the end surfaces 42 in the second direction Y of the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38. The second recessed portion 82 is formed by recessing toward the center in the second direction Y on the center side along the first direction X with respect to the first recessed portion 81 in the partition wall 60. Therefore, the first flat plate portion 37, the second flat plate portion 38, and the partition wall 60 are arranged in this order from the front side of the end portion 33 as the end surfaces 42 of the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38, the first recessed portion 81, and the second recessed portion 82 at the end portion 33 in the second direction Y. The region formed by the second recessed portion 82 that recesses with respect to the first recessed portion 81 is used as the above-described communication path 35.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 5, the lid member 50 closes the opening portion 49 in a state of being fitted into the opening portion 49 at the end portion 33 along the second direction Y in the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38. The temperature regulator 30 has the communication passage 35 on the side of the end portion 33 along the second direction Y as described above, and the outside of the communication passage 35 in the second direction Y is open. The lid member 50 is provided so as to close the open opening portion 49. The lid member 50 has the same shape as the opening portion 49 and is configured with an outer shape slightly smaller than the inner shape of the opening portion 49. The lid member 50 is fitted into the opening portion 49. At this time, the lid member 50 is fitted into the opening portion 49 in a state of being placed on the first recessed portion 81. Thereby, the opening portion 49 is closed by the lid member 50.

[0029] The end faces 42 in the second direction Y of the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 are configured by planes orthogonal to the second direction Y. That is, the end faces 42 in the second direction Y of the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 are configured by planes parallel to the XZ plane. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the end face 42 in the second direction Y is formed in an annular shape. In the present embodiment, the first recessed portion 81 is formed only at the connection portions of the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 with the partition wall 60. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the first recessed portion 81 is configured to be recessed by a length t from the end face 42 in the second direction Y. Such a first recessed portion 81 may be formed together in the process of forming the partition wall 60 by extrusion molding or the like.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 6, the lid member 50 has a welded portion 52 welded to the first flat plate portion 37, the second flat plate portion 38, and the partition wall 60 in a state of being placed on the first retracted portion 81. That is, in a state where the lid member 50 is placed on the first retracted portion 81, welding is performed across the lid member 50 and each of the first flat plate portion 37, the second flat plate portion 38, and the partition walls 60 at both ends along the third direction Z. For this reason, welding can be performed from one direction side along the second direction Y. Therefore, welding can be performed simply, and the welding apparatus can be simplified. The width of the first retracted portion 81 (the length from the inner wall 44 side to the outer wall 46 side) is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to set the width u of the end face 42 (see FIG. 5) to a length that can appropriately weld the lid member 50 to the first flat plate portion 37, the second flat plate portion 38, and the partition walls 60 at both ends along the third direction Z. Such joining can utilize, for example, laser welding, brazing, or arc welding.

[0031] The welded portion 52 corresponds to the portion welded in this way. In the present embodiment, the welded portion 52 is formed only on the surface of the lid member 50. For this reason, after welding, it is possible to easily check the welded portion 52.

[0032] As described above, a fluid can be circulated inside the temperature regulator 30 from one end to the other end in the second direction Y of the temperature regulator 30. For this reason, it is possible to provide the temperature regulator 30 in contact with (opposite to) the cell 12 from one end to the other end in the second direction Y of the temperature regulator 30. Therefore, the temperature regulator 30 can be used for temperature adjustment of the battery 1 over the entire region along the second direction Y.

[0033] 〔Other Embodiments〕 Next, other embodiments of the temperature regulator 30 will be described.

[0034] In the above-described embodiment, the first recessed portion 81 is formed only at the connection portions of the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 with the partition wall 60, and the lid member 50 has been described as being welded to the first flat plate portion 37, the second flat plate portion 38, and the partition wall 60 in a state of being placed on the first recessed portion 81. However, the temperature regulator 30 may be configured to have a third recessed portion 83 that is formed in an annular and continuous manner so as to recess further toward the center side in the second direction Y than the end face 42 along the first recessed portion 81 across the first flat plate portion 37, the second flat plate portion 38, and the end face side partition wall 61 provided on the end side in the third direction Z that intersects both the first direction X and the second direction Y among the partition walls 60. An enlarged view of the opening portion 49 of such a temperature regulator 30 is shown in FIG. 7. Further, FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7. In this case, the lid member 50 can be placed not only on the first recessed portion 81 but also on the third recessed portion 83. Therefore, it becomes possible to place the lid member 50 in a continuous annular shape.

[0035] In the above-described embodiment, the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 have been described as being provided between the side surfaces of two adjacent cells 12 along the first direction X. However, the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 can also be provided only on the side surface of one cell 12 among a plurality of cells 12 provided along the first direction X.

[0036] In the above-described embodiment, the welded portion 52 has been described as being formed only on the surface of the lid member 50. However, for example, when the lid member 50 is provided without being fitted into the opening portion 49 along the second direction Y of the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38, the welded portion 52 is formed on the side surface of the lid member 50.

[0037] 〔Outline of the above-described embodiment〕 Hereinafter, the outline of the temperature regulator 30 described above will be described.

[0038] (1) The temperature regulator 30 is a temperature regulator 30 that regulates the temperature of the battery 1 including the battery module 10 having a plurality of cells 12 arranged along the first direction X. The temperature regulator 30 includes a first flat plate portion 37 and a second flat plate portion 38 facing each other along the first direction X, a partition wall 60 partitioning a region sandwiched between the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38, and a lid member 50 that closes the opening portion 49 in a state of being fitted into the opening portion 49 of the end portion 33 along the second direction Y intersecting the first direction X in the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38. The partition wall 60 has a first recessed portion 81 formed by retreating toward the center side in the second direction Y from the end surface 42 in the second direction Y of the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38, and a second recessed portion 82 that has retreated further toward the center side in the second direction Y than the first recessed portion 81. The lid member 50 has a welded portion 52 welded to the first flat plate portion 37, the second flat plate portion 38, and the partition wall 60 in a state of being placed on the first recessed portion 81.

[0039] According to this configuration, since the lid member 50 is placed and welded on the first recessed portion 81 formed at the end portion 33 in the second direction Y of the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38, fluid can flow between the lid member 50 and the second recessed portion 82. For this reason, since the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 can be brought into contact with the battery module 10 over the entire region along the second direction Y, the contact area with the battery module 10 does not decrease, and it is not necessary to reduce the size of the battery 1. Therefore, it is possible to configure a temperature regulator 30 that prevents a decrease in the contact area between the cooling device and the battery 1 and regulates the temperature of the battery 1.

[0040] (2) In the temperature regulator 30 described in (1), it is preferable that the first recessed portion 81 is formed only at the connection portion between each of the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 and the partition wall 60.

[0041] According to this configuration, when placing the lid member 50 on the end portion 33 in the second direction Y of the temperature regulator 30, the first retreat portion 81 of the partition wall 60 can be utilized. Therefore, there is no need to separately prepare a component for supporting the lid member 50, and it becomes possible to appropriately weld the lid member 50, the first flat plate portion 37, the second flat plate portion 38, and the partition wall 60.

[0042] (3) In the temperature regulator 30 described in (1) or (2), it is preferable to have a third retreat portion 83 that is formed to retreat annularly and continuously to the center side in the second direction Y from the end face 42 along the first retreat portion 81 across the first flat plate portion 37, the second flat plate portion 38, and the end side partition wall 61 provided on the end side in the third direction Z that intersects both the first direction X and the second direction Y among the partition wall 60.

[0043] According to this configuration, the lid member 50 can be welded in a state where it is placed on the continuous annular third retreat portion 83.

[0044] (4) In the temperature regulator 30 described in (1) or (2), it is preferable that the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 are provided between the side surfaces of two adjacent cells 12 along the first direction X.

[0045] According to this configuration, the cell 12 can be cooled from the side surface by the fluid flowing between the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38. Therefore, it becomes possible to appropriately cool the battery module 10.

Industrial Applicability

[0046] The technology according to the present disclosure can be used for a temperature regulator that regulates the temperature of a battery including a battery module having a plurality of cells.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0047] 1: Battery, 10: Battery module, 12: Cell, 30: Temperature regulator, 33: End, 37: First flat part, 38: Second flat part, 42: End face, 49: Opening, 50: Cover member, 52: Welded part, 60: Partition wall, 61: End-side partition wall, 81: First recessed part, 82: Second recessed part, 83: Third recessed part, X: First direction, Y: Second direction, Z: Third direction

Claims

1. A temperature regulator for regulating the temperature of a battery including a battery module having a plurality of cells arranged along a first direction, comprising: a first flat plate portion and a second flat plate portion facing each other along the first direction; a partition wall partitioning a region sandwiched between the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion; a lid member closing an opening portion at an end along a second direction intersecting the first direction in the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion, the lid member being fitted into the opening portion; and the partition wall has a first recessed portion formed by retreating toward the center side in the second direction from end faces in the second direction of the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion, and a second recessed portion further retreating toward the center side in the second direction than the first recessed portion; the lid member has a welded portion welded to the first flat plate portion, the second flat plate portion, and the partition wall while being placed on the first recessed portion, the temperature regulator.

2. The temperature regulator according to claim 1, wherein the first recessed portion is formed only at a connection portion between each of the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion and the partition wall.

3. The temperature regulator according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a third recessed portion formed by continuously retreating annularly toward the center side in the second direction from the end face along the first recessed portion across the first flat plate portion, the second flat plate portion, and an end-side partition wall provided on an end side in a third direction intersecting both the first direction and the second direction of the partition wall.

4. The temperature regulator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion are provided between side surfaces of two adjacent ones of the cells along the first direction.

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