Power storage device

Abstract

To reduce influence of heat generated by a power storage module on another power storage module.SOLUTION: A power storage device 1 based on the disclosure includes: a plurality of power storage modules 10; a housing case 20; a plate 30; a shielding plate 40; and a heat conduction member 50. The power storage modules 10 are disposed side by side along a first direction D1 orthogonal to a vertical direction. The housing case 20 includes an upper case 21 and a lower case 22, and houses the power storage modules 10. The plate 30 is disposed above the power storage modules 10 in the housing case 20. The shielding plate 40 is fixed to the plate 30 and disposed between the power storage modules 10. The heat conduction member 50 is disposed between the shielding plate 40 and the lower case 22, and has a higher thermal conductivity than that of the shielding plate 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electricity storage device. [Background technology]

[0002] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2020-155367 (Patent Document 1) discloses a conventional power storage device. This power storage device includes a plurality of power storage modules arranged side by side along a first direction perpendicular to the up-down direction, a housing case including an upper case and a lower case that houses the plurality of power storage modules, a plate that is arranged above the plurality of power storage modules and extends along the first direction, and a plurality of support members that are fixed to the lower case and support the plate. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-155367 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional energy storage devices, the energy storage modules are surrounded by a lower case, a plate, and a support member, which means that heat generated in the energy storage modules tends to be trapped inside the housing case, potentially affecting the performance of other energy storage modules.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide an electricity storage device that can reduce the influence of heat generated in an electricity storage module on other electricity storage modules. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An energy storage device according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of energy storage modules, a housing case, a plate, a shielding plate, and a heat-conducting member. The plurality of energy storage modules are arranged side by side along a first direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. The housing case includes an upper case and a lower case, and houses the plurality of energy storage modules. The plate is arranged above the plurality of energy storage modules within the housing case. The shielding plate is fixed to the plate and is arranged between the plurality of energy storage modules. The heat-conducting member is arranged between the shielding plate and the lower case, and has a higher thermal conductivity than the shielding plate.

[0007] In the energy storage device according to the present disclosure, the shielding plate prevents heat generated in the energy storage module from being directly transferred to adjacent energy storage modules. Furthermore, the heat transferred to the shielding plate is transferred to the lower case via the thermally conductive member and easily dissipated to the outside of the accommodating case. This prevents heat generated in the energy storage module from being trapped inside the accommodating case. This reduces the impact of heat generated in the energy storage module on other energy storage modules.

[0008] In the energy storage device based on the present disclosure, it is preferable that the heat conduction member has lower rigidity than the shielding plate and is arranged in a compressed state in the vertical direction, and that the portion of the shielding plate facing the heat conduction member is fixed to the lower case in the horizontal direction by a reaction force from the heat conduction member.

[0009] In the above-described energy storage device, the plate located above the energy storage module is firmly supported by the heat conduction member and the shielding plate. When vertical vibrations of the housing case (lower case) are transmitted to the shielding plate via the heat conduction member, the vibrations of the housing case are damped in the heat conduction member due to deformation of the heat conduction member, which has a relatively low rigidity. This suppresses vibrations of the shielding plate, and ultimately suppresses vibrations of the plate located above the energy storage module. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce the influence of heat generated in a power storage module on other power storage modules. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an electricity storage device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the electricity storage device of FIG. 1, as seen from the direction of the arrows along line II-II. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a portion of an electricity storage device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating curvature of a case in an electricity storage device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, a power storage device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the embodiment, the same or corresponding parts in the drawings will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will not be repeated.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an energy storage device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the energy storage device of Fig. 1 as seen from the direction of the arrows along line II-II. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, an energy storage device 1 based on the present disclosure includes a plurality of energy storage modules 10, a housing case 20, a plate 30, a shielding plate 40, and a heat conduction member 50.

[0014] The power storage device 1 can be mounted on a vehicle. The vehicle is, for example, an electric vehicle. The electric vehicle is equipped with an electric motor as a prime mover for driving the vehicle. The power storage device 1 is configured to be able to supply electric power to the electric motor when mounted on the vehicle.

[0015] The multiple energy storage modules 10 are arranged side by side along a first direction D1. The first direction D1 is a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. Specifically, each of the multiple energy storage modules 10 is a battery module. A battery module is formed by arranging multiple single cells (not shown) side by side in a second direction. The second direction D2 is a direction perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the first direction D1. When the energy storage device 1 is mounted on a vehicle, the first direction D1 is the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the second direction D2 is the width direction of the vehicle.

[0016] The unit cell is, for example, a secondary battery such as a nickel-metal hydride battery or a lithium-ion battery. The unit cell has, for example, a rectangular shape. The secondary battery may use a liquid electrolyte or a solid electrolyte.

[0017] The energy storage device 1 further includes a plurality of brackets 15. The plurality of brackets 15 are provided on both sides of each of the plurality of energy storage modules 10 in the second direction D2. The brackets 15 are provided to fix the energy storage modules 10 to the accommodating case 20.

[0018] The bracket 15 is fixed to the power storage module 10. There are no particular limitations on the method for fixing the bracket 15 to the power storage module 10, but in this embodiment, the bracket 15 is fixed to the power storage module 10 by fastening members 15f. The bracket 15 extends from the power storage module 10 toward the accommodating case 20, and more specifically, extends along the second direction D2. The bracket 15 may be fixed directly to the accommodating case 20, but in this embodiment, the bracket 15 is fixed to the accommodating case 20 via another member (details of which will be described later).

[0019] The storage case 20 accommodates a plurality of power storage modules 10. The storage case 20 includes an upper case 21 and a lower case 22.

[0020] The upper case 21 has a generally box-like shape that opens downward. The upper case 21 is made of a resin material, but may also be made of a metal material.

[0021] The lower case 22 has a generally box-like shape that opens upward. The lower case 22 is made of a metal material, but may also be made of a resin material. The lower case 22 has a bottom 221 and a peripheral wall 222 that stands up from the bottom 221.

[0022] The opening of the upper case 21 and the opening of the lower case 22 are butted against each other in the vertical direction and joined together to form an accommodation space for the accommodation case 20 .

[0023] The energy storage device 1 further includes a plurality of pedestal portions 25. The plurality of pedestal portions 25 are provided inside (on the storage space side of) the storage case 20. Each of the plurality of pedestal portions 25 is located between the energy storage module 10 and the peripheral wall portion 222 of the lower case 22 in the second direction D2. The pedestal portions 25 are fixed to the lower case 22. There are no particular limitations on the method for fixing the pedestal portions 25 to the lower case 22, but in this embodiment, the pedestal portions 25 are fixed to the lower case 22 by welding. More specifically, the pedestal portions 25 are fixed to each of the bottom portion 221 and the peripheral wall portion 222 by welding.

[0024] On both sides of the energy storage module 10 in the second direction D2, the brackets 15 are fixed to the base portions 25. There are no particular limitations on the method for fixing the brackets 15 to the base portions 25, but in this embodiment, the brackets 15 are fixed to the base portions 25 by fastening members 25f. In this way, the energy storage module 10 is fixed to the lower case 22 (housing case 20) via the brackets 15 and the base portions 25.

[0025] The plate 30 is disposed above the plurality of energy storage modules 10 within the accommodating case 20. The plate 30 is disposed so that other components can be provided above the energy storage modules 10. The plate 30 extends in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the up-down direction, and more specifically, extends in both the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. For this reason, it is preferable that the plate 30 have relatively high rigidity in order to suppress deflection and vibration in the up-down direction.

[0026] The energy storage device 1 further includes a plurality of support members 35. The plurality of support members 35 are fixed to both ends of the plate 30 in the second direction D2, respectively. The support members 35 are located on both sides of the energy storage module 10 in the second direction D2. The support members 35 extend downward from the plate 30 and support the plate 30 within the accommodating case 20. There are no particular limitations on the method for fixing the support members 35 to the plate 30, but in this embodiment, the support members 35 are fixed to the plate 30 by fastening members 35f.

[0027] The support member 35 may be fixed directly to the accommodating case 20, but in this embodiment, it is fixed to the accommodating case 20 (lower case 22) via another member. Specifically, the support member 35 is located above the base portion 25 and is fixed to the base portion 25 on the side opposite to the plate 30. More specifically, the support member 35 is arranged so as to sandwich the bracket 15 together with the base portion 25 in the vertical direction. The support member 35 is fixed to the base portion 25 together with the bracket 15 by fastening members 25f. Note that the method of fixing the support member 35 to the base portion 25 is not limited to this. The support member 35 may also be fixed directly to the base portion 25 without using the bracket 15.

[0028] 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a portion of an energy storage device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the shielding plate 40 is fixed to the plate 30. The shielding plate 40 is disposed between the plurality of energy storage modules 10.

[0029] The shielding plate 40 has a wall portion 41, a top portion 42, and a pressing portion 43. The wall portion 41 extends in the vertical direction and along the second direction D2.

[0030] The top 42 is located at the upper end of the wall 41. The top 42 extends across the entire shielding plate 40 in the second direction D2. The top 42 extends to one side from the wall 41 in the first direction D1. The top 42 is fixed to the plate 30. There are no particular limitations on the method for fixing the top 42 (shielding plate 40) to the plate 30, but in this embodiment, the top 42 is fixed to the plate 30 by fastening members 42f.

[0031] The pressing portion 43 is located at the lower end of the wall portion 41. The pressing portion 43 extends over the entire shielding plate 40 in the second direction D2. The pressing portion 43 extends to one side from the wall portion 41 in the first direction D1. When viewed from the wall portion 41, the pressing portion 43 extends in the same direction as the top portion 42, but may extend in a different direction from the top portion 42. The pressing portion 43 is spaced apart from the bottom portion 221 (lower case 22). The pressing portion 43 presses the heat conduction member 50, which will be described later, downward.

[0032] There are no particular limitations on the material that constitutes the shielding plate 40. The shielding plate 40 is preferably made of a material with relatively high thermal conductivity, such as metal, and more specifically, steel plate, in order to transfer heat to the heat conduction member 50. Furthermore, the shielding plate 40 is preferably highly rigid in order to suppress deflection of the housing case 20, which will be described later.

[0033] The heat conduction member 50 is disposed between the pressing portion 43 (shielding plate 40) and the bottom portion 221 (lower case 22). Specifically, the heat conduction member 50 is in contact with the pressing portion 43 and the bottom portion 221. The heat conduction member 50 has a higher thermal conductivity than the shielding plate 40. The heat conduction member 50 is in the form of a soft sheet, and extends along the pressing portion 43 in the second direction D2.

[0034] The heat conduction member 50 has lower rigidity than the shielding plate 40. When pressed by the pressing portion 43, the heat conduction member 50 is arranged in a state of being compressed in the vertical direction by the pressing portion 43 (shielding plate 40) and the bottom portion 221 (lower case 22). Therefore, the portion of the shielding plate 40 facing the heat conduction member is fixed to the bottom portion 221 (lower case 22) in the horizontal direction by the reaction force from the heat conduction member 50. In other words, the pressing portion 43 is fixed to the bottom portion 221 (lower case 22) in the horizontal direction by the reaction force from the heat conduction member 50.

[0035] The heat conduction member 50 is not particularly limited as long as it is made of a material with low rigidity and high thermal conductivity. The heat conduction member 50 is, for example, a soft, rubber-like flexible sheet with high thermal conductivity.

[0036] It is also preferable that at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the heat conducting member 50 is an adhesive surface, which allows the end (pressing portion 43) of the shielding plate 40 to be fixed more firmly in the horizontal direction.

[0037] The power storage device 1 further includes an electronic device 60. The electronic device 60 is located above the plate 30. The electronic device 60 is fixed to the plate 30. There is no particular limitation on the type of the electronic device 60. For example, the electronic device 60 may be an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) that monitors the power storage module 10. In this embodiment, as will be described later, even if the housing case 20 vibrates, the vibration of the plate 30 is suppressed, so that the acceleration of the vibration in the electronic device 60 can be reduced.

[0038] As described above, the energy storage device 1 of this embodiment comprises a shielding plate 40 fixed to the plate 30 and arranged between the plurality of energy storage modules 10, and a heat conduction member 50 having a higher thermal conductivity than the shielding plate 40 and arranged between the shielding plate 40 and the lower case 22.

[0039] According to the above configuration, the shielding plate 40 prevents heat generated in the energy storage module 10 from being directly transferred to other adjacent energy storage modules 10. Furthermore, the heat transferred to the shielding plate 40 is conducted to the lower case 22 via the thermally conductive member 50, and is easily dissipated to the outside of the accommodating case 20. This prevents the heat generated in the energy storage module 10 from being trapped inside the accommodating case 20. In this way, the impact of the heat generated in the energy storage module 10 on the other energy storage modules 10 can be reduced.

[0040] Furthermore, in the energy storage device 1, the heat conduction member 50 has lower rigidity than the shielding plate 40 and is arranged in a compressed state in the vertical direction, and the portion of the shielding plate 40 facing the heat conduction member is fixed to the lower case 22 in the horizontal direction by the reaction force from the heat conduction member 50.

[0041] According to the above configuration, the plate 30 located above the energy storage module 10 is firmly supported by the heat conduction member 50 and the shielding plate 40. When vertical vibrations of the accommodating case 20 (lower case 22) are transmitted to the shielding plate 40 via the heat conduction member 50, the vibrations of the accommodating case 20 are damped in the heat conduction member 50 due to deformation of the heat conduction member 50, which has a relatively low rigidity. This suppresses vibrations of the shielding plate 40, and ultimately suppresses vibrations of the plate 30 located above the energy storage module 10.

[0042] Furthermore, with the above configuration, the lower case 22 and the shielding plate 40 are firmly fixed in the second direction D2, which suppresses bending deformation of the lower case 22 (particularly the bottom portion 221) in the up-down direction. The suppression of bending deformation of the lower case 22 will be described below.

[0043] 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating bending of the case of an energy storage device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 4, for example, when an external force from outside the energy storage device 1 causes bottom 221 of lower case 22 to bend in the direction of arrow C (i.e., when bending in the vertical direction), deformation of bottom 221 is suppressed by shielding plate 40 extending in the vertical direction.

[0044] The effect of the shielding plate 40 in suppressing deformation of the bottom 221 will be described in more detail. Generally, the amount of deflection in the vertical direction of a beam-like member against a given load is approximately inversely proportional to the cube of the vertical length (thickness) of the member. In the energy storage device 1 according to this embodiment, if the thickness t of the bottom 221 is 1.2 mm and the height h of the shielding plate 40 is 100 mm (see FIG. 4), then (t+h) 3 The value of t 3 Therefore, when the shielding plate 40 is configured as described above and can be regarded as a member that is substantially integral with the bottom portion 221, it is estimated that the amount of deflection of the bottom portion 221 in the vertical direction is suppressed to approximately 1 / 600,000 compared to when the shielding plate 40 is not provided.

[0045] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1 Energy storage device, 10 Energy storage module, 15 Bracket, 20 Storage case, 21 Upper case, 22 Lower case, 221 Bottom, 222 Peripheral wall, 25 Base, 30 Plate, 35 Support member, 40 Shielding plate, 41 Wall, 42 Top, 43 Pressing portion, 50 Heat conduction member, 60 Electronic device.

Claims

1. a plurality of power storage modules arranged side by side along a first direction perpendicular to the up-down direction; a housing case including an upper case and a lower case, and housing the plurality of power storage modules; a plate disposed above the plurality of power storage modules within the housing case; a shielding plate fixed to the plate and disposed between the plurality of power storage modules; a heat conduction member disposed between the shielding plate and the lower case, The heat conducting member has lower rigidity than the shielding plate.

2. The shielding plate is fixed to the plate by a fastening member, The power storage device according to claim 1 , wherein no other components other than the fastening members are disposed at a position overlapping the shielding plate in the vertical direction and between the plate and the upper case.

3. The heat conduction member is disposed in a state compressed in the vertical direction, 3. The power storage device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of said shielding plate facing said heat conducting member is fixed to said lower case in the horizontal direction by a reaction force from said heat conducting member.

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