Temperature controller

The temperature regulator addresses misalignment issues in thermal control sheets by using a structured insulating material with protrusions, ensuring secure positioning and improved insulation and heat transfer efficiency for battery cells.

JP2025136761APending Publication Date: 2025-09-19AISIN CORP
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2024035587
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-03-08
Publication Date
2025-09-19

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing thermal control sheets for batteries in electric vehicles face issues with misalignment of heat insulating materials between plate-shaped portions, leading to reduced insulating performance between cells.

Method used

A temperature regulator with a configuration of flat plate portions, connecting walls, partition walls, and insulating material with protrusions that abut against partition walls, ensuring the insulating material is securely positioned and prevents fluid leakage, enhancing insulation between cells.

Benefits of technology

The configuration maintains effective insulation and improves heat transfer efficiency by preventing misalignment and fluid leakage, thereby enhancing the thermal management of battery cells.

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Abstract

To provide a temperature controller capable of preventing thermal insulation material displacement and enhancing thermal insulation performance between cells.SOLUTION: A temperature controller 30 includes a first flat plate portion 37 and a second flat plate portion 38 disposed facing each other along a first direction X, provided between the side surfaces of two adjacent cells 12 along the first direction X, a plurality of connecting walls 80 connecting the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38, respectively, a partition wall 60 partitioning the area sandwiched between the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 in the first direction X, and a plate-shaped insulating material 90 arranged to connect the plurality of connecting walls 80 along a second direction Y intersecting the first direction X. The insulating material 90 has a plurality of protrusions 70 protruding along the first direction X to positions capable of abutting the partition wall 60.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3
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Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a temperature regulator capable of regulating the temperature of a battery. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, automobiles equipped with motors 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 batteries (hereinafter simply referred to as batteries) for driving the motors.

[0003] Typically, batteries installed in electric vehicles are configured by housing a battery module, each of which has multiple cells arranged side by side, in a container. Therefore, when the battery is used, heat is generated and trapped inside the container, causing it to reach a high temperature. When a battery reaches a high temperature, it is more likely to deteriorate. Therefore, technologies for cooling batteries have been studied (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] Patent Document 1 describes a thermal control sheet for a battery assembly. This thermal control sheet for a battery assembly is provided between cells in the battery assembly and includes a pair of plate-shaped members and a heat insulating material sandwiched between the pair of plate-shaped members. The pair of plate-shaped members have multiple protrusions formed on their surfaces facing the cells that protrude toward the cells. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-141507 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As described above, the thermal control sheet for a battery assembly described in Patent Document 1 further includes a heat insulating material sandwiched between a pair of plate-shaped portions provided between the cells. This prevents thermal runaway from occurring in one cell, thereby preventing the spread of heat to adjacent cells. For example, when regulating the temperature of a battery, a possible configuration is to provide a flow path inside the plate-shaped portion and circulate a fluid through this flow path to regulate the temperature. In such a configuration, if a heat insulating material is sandwiched between the pair of plate-shaped portions, as in the thermal control sheet for a battery assembly described in Patent Document 1, misalignment between the plate-shaped portions and the heat insulating material may occur, potentially reducing the insulating performance between the cells. Therefore, the thermal control sheet for a battery assembly described in Patent Document 1 leaves room for improvement.

[0007] Therefore, there is a demand for a temperature regulator that can prevent the heat insulating material from shifting position and improve the heat insulating performance between cells. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A characteristic configuration of the temperature regulator of the present invention is a temperature regulator that regulates the temperature of a battery having a battery module having a plurality of cells arranged along a first direction, and includes: a first flat plate portion and a second flat plate portion that are provided between side surfaces of two adjacent cells along the first direction and face each other along the first direction; a plurality of connecting walls that connect the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion; a partition wall that partitions the area sandwiched between the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion in the first direction; and a plate-shaped insulating material arranged to connect the plurality of connecting walls along a second direction that intersects the first direction, and the insulating material has a plurality of protrusions that protrude along the first direction at positions that can abut against the partition walls.

[0009] With this characteristic configuration, the insulating material is arranged to connect the multiple connecting walls along the second direction, so the area sandwiched between the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion can be isolated from the outside of the temperature regulator. Therefore, for example, when a fluid is circulated through the area sandwiched between the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion, leakage of the fluid to the outside can be prevented, and the insulating material can improve the insulating performance between the cells. Furthermore, the protruding portion abuts against the partition wall, preventing the insulating material from shifting in position along the second direction. Therefore, with a temperature regulator of this configuration, it is possible to prevent the insulating material from shifting in position and improve the insulating performance between the cells. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a battery using a temperature regulator. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the temperature controller taken along a first direction. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a fluid flow. [Figure 6] 10 is a cross-sectional view of a temperature regulator according to another embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is a cross-sectional view of a temperature regulator according to another embodiment. [Figure 8] 10 is a cross-sectional view of a temperature regulator according to another embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is a cross-sectional view of a temperature regulator according to another embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 is a cross-sectional view of a temperature regulator according to another embodiment. [Figure 11] 10 is a cross-sectional view of a temperature regulator according to another embodiment. [Figure 12] 10 is a cross-sectional view of a temperature regulator according to another embodiment. [Figure 13] 10 is a cross-sectional view of a temperature regulator according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of a temperature controller according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are merely examples for explaining the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Therefore, the present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a battery 1 using a temperature regulator 30 according to this embodiment includes a battery module 10 having a plurality of (24 in this embodiment) rectangular parallelepiped cells 12 arranged along a first direction X, and the plurality of (four in this embodiment) battery modules 10 are adjacently arranged along a third direction Z that intersects (is perpendicular to) both the first direction X and a second direction Y that intersects (is perpendicular to) the first direction X. The temperature regulator 30 regulates the temperature of such a battery 1. Regulating the temperature of the battery 1 means maintaining the temperature of the battery 1 at a predetermined temperature (maintaining it within a predetermined temperature range), and includes cooling the battery 1 when the temperature of the battery 1 is higher than the predetermined temperature, and warming up the battery 1 when the temperature of the battery 1 is lower than the predetermined temperature.

[0013] Here, the first direction X is the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, with X1 being the front direction of the vehicle and X2 being the rear direction of the vehicle. The second direction Y is the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the third direction Z is the left-right direction of the vehicle. The following description will be given taking as an example a case where a cooling circuit (not shown) including a radiator is disposed at the front of the vehicle and the battery 1 is housed in a battery housing space located at the bottom center of the vehicle.

[0014] The battery 1 is housed in a battery housing space at the bottom of the vehicle while being restrained by restraining members K made of metal or the like. As shown in FIG. 3, the battery 1 has a sheet-like heat transfer sheet 20 having one surface in contact with the ventral surfaces (side surfaces along the second direction Y) of all the cells 12 of the battery module 10, and a temperature regulator 30 that is in close contact with the other surface of the heat transfer sheet 20 and adjacent to the side surfaces of all the cells 12 of the battery module 10. The temperature regulator 30 is made of a metal material such as aluminum or iron. Note that the heat transfer sheet 20 is not shown in FIG. 1.

[0015] The plurality of cells 12 are arranged in parallel and electrically connected to one another. The battery 1 is used, for example, in an electric vehicle equipped with a motor as a driving source. The heat transfer sheet 20 and the temperature regulator 30 do not have to be adjacent to all of the cells 12, as long as they are adjacent to a plurality of the cells 12. As described above, the temperature regulator 30 may be provided with a solid object (such as the heat transfer sheet 20) interposed between the cells 12 and the temperature regulator 30, or may be in direct contact with the cells 12.

[0016] For example, a lithium ion battery is used for the cells 12. The battery module 10 generates a high voltage by connecting a plurality of cells 12 in series. The cells 12 generate heat as they generate power (discharge). If the temperature of the cells 12 rises due to heat generation, the power generation performance of the cells 12 will decrease, so the cells 12 need to be cooled. For this reason, in this embodiment, a temperature regulator 30 is disposed 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 closely contacting the heat transfer sheet 20 between the cells 12 and the temperature regulator 30, heat generated in the battery module 10 is efficiently transferred to the temperature regulator 30 via the heat transfer sheet 20. This allows the temperature of the multiple cells 12 that make up the battery module 10 to be regulated.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the temperature controller 30 includes a first flat plate portion 37, a second flat plate portion 38, a connecting wall 80, a partition wall 60, a cover member 50, and a heat insulating material 90. 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 face predetermined faces of the cells 12 and are provided so as to extend along the second direction Y. In this embodiment, a pair of the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 is provided between the side surfaces of two cells 12 adjacent to each other along the first direction X.

[0019] The connecting wall 80 connects the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 to each other. In this embodiment, the connecting wall 80 connects the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 to each other in the first direction X at both ends and the center of the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 along the second direction Y. Therefore, a plurality of connecting walls 80 are provided in the temperature regulator 30. The connecting wall 80 in this embodiment has a leakage prevention function that connects the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 in a fluid-tight manner.

[0020] The partition wall 60 divides the area sandwiched between the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 in the first direction X. In this embodiment, the partition wall 60 has a through-hole formed therein through which a heat insulating material 90 can be inserted. In this embodiment, a plurality of partition walls 60 are provided in the temperature regulator 30. As a result, the partition walls 60 divide the area sandwiched between the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 into a plurality of flow path forming regions 31. A communication passage 35 communicating with the plurality of flow path forming regions 31 is provided on the side of an end portion 33 along the third direction Z in the area sandwiched between the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38. The fluid is a cooling water such as long-life coolant (LLC), insulating oil such as paraffin, or a refrigerant such as hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) or hydrofluoroolefin (HFO). In this embodiment, it is preferable to use a liquid with high electrical insulation, such as a cooling water such as long-life coolant (LLC) or insulating oil such as paraffin.

[0021] 2, a first flow path 31A and a second flow path 31B are provided between the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38. The first flow path 31A is connected to a fluid introduction portion 30Ba into which a fluid is introduced, and the fluid introduced into the fluid introduction portion 30Ba flows through the first flow path 31A. As a result, the first flow path 31A allows the fluid introduced from the fluid introduction portion 30Ba to flow toward both end portions 33 in the third direction Z. Four first flow paths 31A are formed along the second direction Y between the fluid introduction portion 30Ba and one of both end portions 33 in the third direction Z.

[0022] The second flow paths 31B are connected to a fluid discharge portion 30Bb that turns back the fluid from the first flow path 31A and discharges the fluid. As a result, the second flow paths 31B allow the fluid to flow from both end portions 33 in the third direction Z toward the fluid discharge portion 30Bb. In other words, the direction of fluid flow in the second flow paths 31B is opposite to the direction of fluid flow in the first flow paths 31A. Four second flow paths 31B are formed along the second direction Y between one of both end portions 33 in the third direction Z and the fluid discharge portion 30Bb.

[0023] 2 and 3, the flow path forming regions 31 including the first flow paths 31A and the second flow paths 31B are each partitioned by the above-mentioned partition walls 60. As shown in Fig. 3, the partition walls 60 are provided with a uniform width in the second direction Y when viewed in the third direction Z, and the portions that contact the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 are configured in an arc shape. Such partition walls 60 can be formed together with the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 by extrusion molding or the like.

[0024] The communicating passages 35 are communicating spaces that connect the four first flow paths 31A and the four second flow paths 31B along the second direction Y at both end portions 33 in the third direction Z. That is, the flow path forming region 31 has a turn-back structure in which the communicating passages 35 at both end portions 33 connect the four first flow paths 31A and the four second flow paths 31B to each other and change the fluid flow direction to the opposite direction. In other words, the communicating passages 35 are configured to turn back at the end portions 33 along the third direction Z between the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38, connecting the downstream end 31AE of the first flow path 31A opposite the fluid inlet portion 30Ba to the upstream end 31BS of the second flow path 31B opposite the fluid outlet portion 30Bb. The downstream end 31AE of the first flow path 31A corresponds to the portion of the communicating passage 35 where each of the multiple first flow paths 31A merges with the upstream flow path 35A. The upstream end 31BS of the second flow path 31B corresponds to a portion where the plurality of second flow paths 31B branch off from the downstream flow path 35B in the communicating path 35. The upstream flow path 35A in the communicating path 35 is a flow path where the plurality of first flow paths 31A in the communicating path 35 merge, and the downstream flow path 35B in the communicating path 35 is a flow path where the plurality of second flow paths 31B in the communicating path 35 branch off.

[0025] 1, the two end portions 33 provided with the communication passages 35 are located opposite the two end portions 12A of the cells 12 of the two outermost battery modules 10 of the four battery modules 10 arranged side by side in the third direction Z, the end portions 33 being the farthest from the central region 14. In this embodiment, the cross-sectional area of ​​each of the four first flow paths 31A and the cross-sectional area of ​​each of the four second flow paths 31B are all the same. The number and shape of the first flow paths 31A and the second flow paths 31B can be changed as desired, and for example, one rectangular hole may be provided on each side.

[0026] 3, in this embodiment, the temperature regulator 30 is provided between the side surfaces of two cells 12 adjacent to each other along the first direction X. The side surfaces of the two cells 12 adjacent to each other along the first direction X correspond to the surfaces of the cells 12 formed in a rectangular prism shape that are perpendicular to the first direction X, i.e., the surfaces that are parallel to the YZ plane. By circulating a fluid through the first flow path 31A and the second flow path 31B of this temperature regulator 30, it is possible to directly cool the side surfaces of the cells 12, thereby improving cooling efficiency.

[0027] 1 , in the present embodiment, four battery modules 10 are provided along the third direction Z, and a piping member 45 is arranged in a central region 14 of the battery 1 along the third direction Z. The piping member 45 communicates with the fluid introduction portion 30Ba, and allows fluid to flow between two battery modules 10 on one side of the third direction Z and two battery modules 10 on the other side of the third direction Z. The central region 14 is a region between two inner battery modules 10 of the four battery modules 10 arranged along the third direction Z.

[0028] The lid member 50 closes the opening 49 when fitted into the opening 49 of the end 33 of the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 along the third direction Z. As described above, the temperature regulator 30 has the communication passage 35 on the side of the end 33 along the third direction Z, and is open outward in the third direction Z from the communication passage 35. The lid member 50 is provided to close the open opening 49. The lid member 50 has a shape similar to that of the opening 49, but is configured with an outer shape that is slightly smaller than the inner shape of the opening 49. The lid member 50 is fitted into this opening 49. As a result, the opening 49 is closed by the lid member 50.

[0029] The cover member 50 is fitted into the opening 49 and then welded across the first flat plate portion 37, the second flat plate portion 38, and the connecting wall 80. For example, laser welding, brazing, or arc welding can be used for such joining.

[0030] The heat insulating material 90 is formed in a plate shape using a resin material and is arranged so as to connect the multiple connection walls 80 along the second direction Y. As the resin material, for example, polypropylene, polyphenylene sulfide, 66 nylon, etc. can be used. The heat insulating material 90 is arranged between the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38.

[0031] The heat insulating material 90 has a plurality of protruding portions 70 that protrude in the first direction X at positions that allow them to abut against the partition wall 60. In this embodiment, the protruding portions 70 are provided on a first surface 91 of the heat insulating material 90 that faces the first flat plate portion 37 so as to protrude toward the first flat plate portion 37, and on a second surface 92 that faces the second flat plate portion 38 so as to protrude toward the second flat plate portion 38. The protruding portions 70 are provided so as to abut against the partition wall 60, but may not abut against the first flat plate portion 37 or the second flat plate portion 38. Also, although the protruding portions 70 are spaced apart from the connecting wall 80 in FIG. 3 , they may be provided so as to abut against the connecting wall 80.

[0032] 4, in this embodiment, a plurality of protrusions 70 are provided along the second direction Y, and further a plurality of protrusions 70 are provided along the third direction Z. Each of the plurality of protrusions 70 may be formed in a hemispherical shape that is spaced apart from one another along the second direction Y and also spaced apart from one another along the third direction Z.

[0033] 4, it is preferable to insert the heat insulating material 90 between the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 along the third direction Z. At this time, it is preferable to insert the heat insulating material 90 so that the protruding portion 70 is aligned with the partition wall 60 and so that the heat insulating material 90 is sandwiched between the partition wall 60. This makes it possible to configure a temperature regulator 30 in which the heat insulating material 90 is provided between the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38.

[0034] Furthermore, by providing the heat insulating material 90 having the plurality of protrusions 70 in the flow path forming region 31 in this manner, the flow of the fluid in the flow path forming region 31 can be disturbed as shown by the arrows 75 in Fig. 5 (i.e., a state different from the state in which the fluid flows only in a direction parallel to the third direction Z between the first surface 91 and the first flat plate portion 37 and between the second surface 92 and the second flat plate portion 38). Therefore, the heat transfer coefficient increases (heat transfer efficiency can be increased), and it becomes possible to improve the cooling performance (temperature adjustment performance).

[0035] As described above, the multiple protrusions 70 are arranged in positions where they can abut against the partition wall 60, so even if an insulating material 90 is arranged between the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38, it is possible to prevent bending due to its own weight, for example, and suppress misalignment.

[0036] Other Embodiments In the above embodiment, the protrusions 70 are described as being provided on the first surface 91 and the second surface 92 of the thermal insulating material 90. However, as shown in Fig. 6, the protrusions 70 may be provided on one of the first surface 91 and the second surface 92 of the thermal insulating material 90 (the first surface 91 in the example of Fig. 6). Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 7, the protrusions 70 may be provided alternately on the first surface 91 and the second surface 92 of the thermal insulating material 90 along the second direction Y.

[0037] Also, in the above description, each of the plurality of protrusions 70 is formed in a hemispherical shape. However, as shown in Fig. 8, each of the protrusions 70 may be formed in a plate shape that protrudes from the first surface 91 of the thermal insulation material 90 toward the first flat plate portion 37, and may be formed in a plate shape that protrudes from the second surface 92 of the thermal insulation material 90 toward the second flat plate portion 38.

[0038] In the above embodiment, the plurality of protrusions 70 have been described as being formed in a hemispherical shape spaced apart from one another along the third direction Z. However, the plurality of protrusions 70 may be arranged in a single row along the second direction Y as shown in FIG. 9, rather than being aligned along the third direction Z. Also, in the above embodiment, the plurality of protrusions 70 have been described as being arranged in a single row along the second direction Y. However, as shown in FIG. 10, the plurality of protrusions 70 may be arranged in a single row along the third direction Z, rather than being aligned along the second direction Y.

[0039] Furthermore, although the protrusions 70 are shown in FIG. 4 as being provided at equal intervals in both the second direction Y and the third direction Z, they do not have to be provided at equal intervals as shown in FIG.

[0040] In the above embodiment, the heat insulating material 90 is provided separately for each of the first flow path 31A and the second flow path 31B, but as shown in Fig. 12, a single heat insulating material 90 may be provided across the first flow path 31A and the second flow path 31B. In this case, the central portion along the second direction Y may be provided with a partition wall 60 instead of the connecting wall 80.

[0041] 13, recesses 81 that sandwich the heat insulating material 90 may be provided on the inner surfaces of the plurality of connecting walls 80, and the heat insulating material 90 may be provided with one end and the other end along the second direction Y sandwiched between the recesses 81. In this case, the heat insulating material 90 is provided across the plurality of flow path forming regions 31. That is, the heat insulating material 90 is provided along the second direction Y in the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38, from the recess 81 on one end side along the second direction Y to the recess 81 on the other end side. This allows the heat insulating material 90 to be supported between the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 without bending.

[0042] [Summary of the above embodiment] The temperature regulator 30 described above will now be outlined.

[0043] (1) The temperature regulator 30 adjusts the temperature of a battery 1 including a battery module 10 having a plurality of cells 12 arranged along a first direction X. The temperature regulator 30 includes: a first flat plate portion 37 and a second flat plate portion 38 that are provided between side surfaces of two adjacent cells 12 along the first direction X and face each other along the first direction X; a plurality of connecting walls 80 that connect the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38; a partition wall 60 that partitions an area between the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 in the first direction X; and a plate-shaped insulating material 90 that is arranged to connect the plurality of connecting walls 80 along a second direction Y that intersects the first direction X. The insulating material 90 has a plurality of protrusions 70 that protrude along the first direction X at positions that can abut against the partition wall 60.

[0044] According to this configuration, the insulating material 90 is arranged to connect the multiple connecting walls 80 along the second direction Y, so that the area sandwiched between the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 can be isolated from the outside of the temperature regulator 30. Therefore, for example, when a fluid is circulated through the area sandwiched between the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38, the fluid is prevented from leaking to the outside, and the insulating material 90 can improve the insulating performance between the cells 12. Furthermore, the protruding portion 70 abuts against the partition wall 60, so that the insulating material 90 can be prevented from shifting in position along the second direction Y. Therefore, according to the temperature regulator 30 of this configuration, it is possible to prevent the insulating material 90 from shifting in position and improve the insulating performance between the cells.

[0045] (2) In the temperature controller 30 described in (1), it is preferable that a plurality of protrusions 70 are provided along a third direction Z intersecting the first direction X and the second direction Y.

[0046] According to this configuration, by providing multiple protrusions 70 along the third direction Z, even if the insulating material 90 is configured to extend along the third direction Z, positional deviation in the second direction Y can be prevented.

[0047] (3) In the temperature regulator 30 described in (2), it is preferable that the plurality of protrusions 70 are each formed in a semi-spherical shape spaced apart from each other along the third direction Z.

[0048] According to this configuration, since the protrusions 70 are spaced apart along the third direction Z, when a fluid is circulated through a region sandwiched between the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38, the flow of the fluid can be more disturbed than when the protrusions 70 are not provided. Therefore, the heat exchange efficiency between the fluid and the cells 12 can be improved.

[0049] (4) In the temperature controller 30 described in any one of (1) to (3), it is preferable that the protrusion 70 is provided on a first surface 91 facing the first flat plate portion 37 of the insulating material 90 and on a second surface 92 facing the second flat plate portion 38.

[0050] According to this configuration, the protrusions 70 are provided in contact with the partition walls 60 on the first surface 91 and second surface 92 sides, which further prevents the heat insulating material 90 from shifting position. Also, for example, when a fluid is circulated through the region sandwiched between the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38, the flow of the fluid can be further disturbed. Therefore, the heat exchange efficiency between the fluid and the cells 12 can be further improved. [Industrial Applicability]

[0051] The technology according to the present disclosure can be used in a temperature regulator that can adjust the temperature of a battery. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1: battery, 10: battery module, 12: cell, 37: first flat plate portion, 38: second flat plate portion, 60: partition wall, 70: protrusion, 80: connection wall, 90: heat insulating material, 91: first surface, 92: second surface, X: first direction, Y: second direction, Z: third direction

Claims

1. A temperature regulator for regulating a temperature of a battery including a battery module having a plurality of cells arranged along a first direction, a first flat plate portion and a second flat plate portion that are provided between side surfaces of two of the cells that are adjacent to each other along the first direction and that face each other along the first direction; a plurality of connecting walls that connect the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion, a partition wall that partitions an area sandwiched between the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion in the first direction; a plate-shaped heat insulating material arranged to connect the plurality of connecting walls along a second direction intersecting the first direction, The heat insulating material has a plurality of protrusions that protrude along the first direction at positions that allow the heat insulating material to abut against the partition wall.

2. The temperature controller according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the protrusions are provided along a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction.

3. The temperature regulator according to claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of protrusions is formed in a semi-spherical shape spaced apart from one another along the third direction.

4. The temperature controller according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusions are provided on a first surface of the heat insulating material that faces the first flat plate portion and a second surface of the heat insulating material that faces the second flat plate portion.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Thermal control sheet for battery pack, and battery pack

    JP2022141507A