Battery temperature controller

Abstract

To provide a battery temperature controller that can further improve the efficiency of heat exchange with multiple cylindrical battery cells.SOLUTION: A battery temperature controller according to the present disclosure is for adjusting the temperature of a plurality of cylindrical battery cells arranged in at least one direction such that their axes extend parallel to one another, and includes a temperature regulator body having a wavy cross-sectional shape and arranged to abut the outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of cylindrical battery cells, and a plurality of heat medium passages extending parallel to one another from one of a pair of wavy end faces of the temperature regulator body to the other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery temperature regulator for regulating the temperature of a cylindrical battery cell. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a cooling manifold assembly having a wavy cross-sectional shape is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This cooling manifold assembly includes a central portion interposed between a pair of double-layer thermal interface members and a plurality of coolant channels formed in the central portion, and is inserted between a plurality of cylindrical battery cells. Furthermore, a coolant is supplied to each coolant channel such that, for example, the flow direction of the coolant in adjacent coolant channels is opposite. Furthermore, the height of the cooling manifold assembly is at least 20-75% of the total height of the cylindrical battery cells. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 104938 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the conventional cooling manifold assembly, each coolant flow path extends from one side to the other of a pair of side surfaces having a generally rectangular, elongated cross section in the center. Therefore, even if the height of the cooling manifold assembly is made close to the height of the cylindrical battery cells, it is not possible to ensure a sufficient heat transfer area with each cylindrical battery cell, making it difficult to improve the heat exchange efficiency between the coolant and the multiple cylindrical battery cells.

[0005] Therefore, a main object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery temperature regulator that can further improve the efficiency of heat exchange with a plurality of cylindrical battery cells. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The battery temperature regulator disclosed herein is a battery temperature regulator for adjusting the temperature of a plurality of cylindrical battery cells arranged along at least one direction so that their axes extend parallel to each other, and includes a temperature regulator main body having a wavy cross-sectional shape and arranged to abut the outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of cylindrical battery cells, and a plurality of heat medium passages extending parallel to each other from one to the other of a pair of wavy end faces of the temperature regulator main body.

[0007] In the battery temperature regulator of the present disclosure, the heat medium passages are formed in the temperature regulator body so as to extend parallel to each other from one end face to the other end face of a pair of corrugated end faces of the temperature regulator body. This allows each heat medium passage to extend along the axis (longitudinal direction) of each cylindrical battery cell, thereby ensuring a sufficient heat transfer area between the battery temperature regulator and each cylindrical battery cell. As a result, the battery temperature regulator of the present disclosure can further improve the heat exchange efficiency with the multiple cylindrical battery cells. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a battery including a battery temperature regulator according to the present disclosure; [Figure 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a battery temperature regulator according to the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a battery including a battery temperature regulator according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Next, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] 1 is a perspective view showing a battery 1 including a battery temperature regulator 10 of the present disclosure. The battery 1 is mounted on an electrically powered vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, and includes, in addition to the battery temperature regulator 10, a number of cylindrical battery cells 2, such as lithium-ion secondary batteries and nickel-metal hydride secondary batteries, and a battery case (not shown). In this embodiment, each cylindrical battery cell 2 has an axial length longer than its outer diameter.

[0011] As can be seen from FIG. 1 , the multiple cylindrical battery cells 2 are arranged along the x-axis direction (one direction) and z-axis direction (up-down direction) in FIG. 1 , which extend horizontally, so that their respective axes A extend parallel to one another, and along the y-axis direction, which extends horizontally and is perpendicular to the x-axis direction. Furthermore, the front terminals of the multiple cylindrical battery cells 2 arranged along the x-axis and y-axis directions at one end of the battery 1 (the front side in FIG. 1 ) are electrically connected to the terminals of the corresponding cylindrical battery cells 2 via a bus bar (not shown). Furthermore, the rear terminals of the multiple cylindrical battery cells 2 arranged along the x-axis and y-axis directions at the other end of the battery 1 (the rear side in FIG. 1 ) are electrically connected to the terminals of the corresponding cylindrical battery cells 2 via a bus bar (not shown). Furthermore, the terminals of the multiple cylindrical battery cells 2 arranged coaxially in the y-axis direction are electrically connected in series without a bus bar.

[0012] 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the battery temperature regulators 10 are disposed below the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 2 in a first layer arranged along the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction, between the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 2 in the first layer and the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 2 in the second layer, between the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 2 in the second layer and the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 2 in the third layer, and above the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 2 in the third layer. Also, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a potting material 3 such as resin is filled in the gaps between adjacent cylindrical battery cells 2 between the upper and lower battery temperature regulators 10.

[0013] The battery temperature regulator 10 is an extrusion-molded product formed by extrusion molding (hollow extrusion molding) of a metal material such as an aluminum alloy using a container, die, ram, mandrel, and other components (not shown). As shown in FIG. 2, the battery temperature regulator 10 includes a plate-shaped temperature regulator body 11 having a corrugated cross-sectional shape with a uniform thickness and a plurality of heat medium passages 15 formed in the temperature regulator body 11. An insulating layer (not shown) made of a thermal interface material or the like is applied to the surface of the temperature regulator body 11. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the temperature regulator body 11 is formed so as to abut against the outer peripheral surfaces of a plurality of cylindrical battery cells 2 arranged along the x-axis and y-axis directions on its lower side and the outer peripheral surfaces of a plurality of cylindrical battery cells 2 arranged along the x-axis and y-axis directions on its upper side. In other words, the radii of curvature of the curved surfaces defining the upper and lower surfaces (surfaces of the insulating layer) of the temperature regulator body 11 in FIG. 2 are approximately equal to the radii of curvature of the outer peripheral surfaces of the cylindrical battery cells 2.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 3, the heat medium passages 15 open at a pair of end faces 11a, 11b formed in a wave shape of the temperature regulator main body 11 and extend parallel to each other from one of the end faces 11a, 11b to the other. Furthermore, when the battery temperature regulator 10 is assembled to the cylindrical battery cells 2, each heat medium passage 15 extends parallel to the axis A of the cylindrical battery cells 2 arranged coaxially in the y-axis direction. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the heat medium passages 15 are formed at equal intervals in the temperature regulator main body 11 so as to pass through the crests (mountains) Wc, troughs (troughs) Wt, and intermediate portions Wm between the crests Wc and troughs Wt of the waveform (center line) WF that defines the cross-sectional shape of the temperature regulator main body 11. That is, each heat medium passage 15 is a through-hole having an elongated cross-sectional shape centered on the crest Wc, trough Wt, or intermediate portion Wm of the waveform WF. However, the cross-sectional shape of each heat medium passage 15 is not limited to the elongated hole shape as shown in the figure, and may be circular or polygonal.

[0015] As shown in Fig. 3, the ends of the multiple battery temperature regulators 10 on the end face 11b side are connected to the end cover 4. The end cover 4 has a partition plate 4p with multiple openings that match the cross-sectional shape of the temperature regulator main body 11, and a cavity 4c that communicates with the multiple openings of the partition plate 4p. As shown in the figure, the end of each battery temperature regulator 10 (temperature regulator main body 11) on the end face 11b side is fitted into the corresponding opening of the partition plate 4p of the end cover 4. As a result, each heat medium passage 15 of each battery temperature regulator 10 communicates with the cavity 4c of the end cover 4.

[0016] A heat medium (refrigerant) is supplied to the opening of each heat medium passage 15 on the end face 11a side by a pump (not shown), and the heat medium flows through each heat medium passage 15 from one end face 11a to the other end face 11b of the temperature regulator main body 11. Furthermore, the heat medium flowing out of the opening of each heat medium passage 15 on the end face 11b side flows into a cavity 4c formed in the end cover 4. The heat medium flowing into the cavity 4c flows into a radiator (cooler) through openings 4h formed in the end cover 4 or piping (not shown), and is cooled by the radiator and then supplied again to each battery temperature regulator 10 by the pump. This makes it possible to appropriately adjust the temperature of each cylindrical battery cell 2 through heat exchange between the heat medium flowing through each heat medium passage 15 of each battery temperature regulator 10 functioning as a heat exchanger and the corresponding cylindrical battery cell 2.

[0017] As described above, the battery temperature regulator 10 regulates the temperature of a large number of cylindrical battery cells 2 that are arranged along the x-axis and y-axis directions in FIG. 1 and along the z-axis direction so that their axes A extend parallel to one another, and includes a temperature regulator main body 11 and a plurality of heat medium passages 15. The temperature regulator main body 11 has a wavy cross-sectional shape and is disposed so as to abut against the outer peripheral surfaces of the cylindrical battery cells 2. The plurality of heat medium passages 15 are formed (disposed) in the temperature regulator main body 11 so as to extend parallel to one another from one of a pair of wavy end faces 11a, 11b of the temperature regulator main body 11 to the other.

[0018] This allows each heat medium passage 15 to extend along the axis A, i.e., the longitudinal direction, of each cylindrical battery cell 2. Therefore, compared to when each heat medium passage 15 is formed to extend from one to the other of a pair of side surfaces having a substantially rectangular, elongated cross section of the temperature regulator main body 11, the number of heat medium passages 15 can be reduced to ensure the strength of the battery temperature regulator 10, while also ensuring a sufficient heat transfer area between the battery temperature regulator 10 and each cylindrical battery cell 2. As a result, the battery temperature regulator 10 can further improve the heat exchange efficiency with the multiple cylindrical battery cells 2.

[0019] Furthermore, in the battery temperature regulator 10, the multiple heat medium passages 15 are formed in the temperature regulator body 11 so as to pass through the crest Wc, the trough Wt, and the intermediate portion Wm between the crest Wc and the trough Wt of the waveform WF that defines the cross-sectional shape of the temperature regulator body 11. This ensures a sufficient number of heat medium passages 15 (six in the example of FIG. 2) corresponding to one cylindrical battery cell 2, making it possible to further improve the heat exchange efficiency with the multiple cylindrical battery cells 2. However, the multiple heat medium passages 15 do not necessarily have to be formed in the temperature regulator body 11 so as to pass through the trough Wt and the intermediate portion Wm between the crest Wc and the trough Wt, and the formation mode of the multiple heat medium passages 15 in the temperature regulator body 11 (battery temperature regulator 10) can be determined arbitrarily.

[0020] Furthermore, the battery temperature regulator 10 is a metal extrusion formed by extruding a metal material such as an aluminum alloy. Specifically, by extruding a metal material, the temperature regulator body 11 can be formed with multiple heat medium passages 15 extending parallel to one another from one end face 11a, 11b to the other end face 11a, 11b simultaneously with the formation of the external shape (wave-like cross section) of the temperature regulator body 11. This prevents the cross-sectional area of ​​the heat medium passages 15 from changing due to crushing of the heat medium passages 15 caused by bending, as occurs when multiple heat medium passages 15 are formed in a flat plate and then the flat plate is processed into a wave-like shape. This prevents the cross-sectional area of ​​each heat medium passage 15 from changing due to crushing of the heat medium passages 15. As a result, the battery temperature regulator 10 prevents an increase in pressure loss in some of the heat medium passages 15 and effectively uniforms the temperature of the multiple cylindrical battery cells 2. Additionally, the battery temperature regulator 10 can reduce manufacturing costs by simplifying the manufacturing process and shortening the construction period.

[0021] The plurality of cylindrical battery cells 2 are arranged along the horizontally extending x-axis and z-axis directions (up-down direction) so that their axes A extend parallel to one another, and are also arranged along the horizontally extending y-axis direction that is perpendicular to the x-axis direction. Furthermore, the battery temperature regulator 10 is formed so that its lower side abuts against the outer circumferential surfaces of the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 2 arranged along the x-axis and y-axis directions, and its upper side abuts against the outer circumferential surfaces of the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 2 arranged along the x-axis and y-axis directions. This makes it possible to reduce the height of the battery 1 including the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 2 while ensuring a good energy density, and to reduce the cost of the battery 1 by reducing the number of parts, such as bus bars that connect the terminals of the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 2.

[0022] The above-described battery 1 is used to regulate the temperature of a large number of cylindrical battery cells 2 arranged in the x-axis direction, y-axis direction, and z-axis direction in Fig. 1, but is not limited to this. That is, the battery temperature regulator 10 may be used to regulate the temperature of a plurality of cylindrical battery cells 2 arranged only in the x-axis direction in Fig. 1, or may be used to regulate the temperature of a plurality of cylindrical battery cells 2 arranged in the x-axis direction and y-axis direction in Fig. 1. Furthermore, the battery temperature regulator 10 may be used to regulate the temperature of a plurality of cylindrical battery cells 2 arranged so that their axis centers A extend in the vertical direction (z-axis direction).

[0023] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the above-described embodiment is merely a specific form of the invention described in the Summary of the Invention, and does not limit the elements of the invention described in the Summary of the Invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0024] The presently disclosed invention can be used in the battery temperature regulator manufacturing industry and the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0025] 1 battery, 2 cylindrical battery cell, 10 battery temperature regulator, 11 temperature regulator body, 11a, 11b end faces, 15 heat medium passage, A axial center, Wc wave crest, Wm middle portion, Wt wave trough, WF waveform.

Claims

1. A battery temperature regulator for adjusting the temperature of a plurality of cylindrical battery cells arranged along at least one direction so that their axes extend parallel to each other, a temperature regulator main body having a wavy cross-sectional shape and arranged to abut on outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of cylindrical battery cells; a plurality of heat medium passages extending parallel to each other from one end surface to the other end surface of the temperature regulator body, the heat medium passages being formed in a wave shape; A battery temperature regulator comprising:

2. 2. The battery temperature regulator according to claim 1, The battery temperature regulator is formed in the temperature regulator body so that the plurality of heat medium passages pass through the crests, troughs, and portions between the crests and troughs of a waveform that defines the cross-sectional shape of the temperature regulator body.

3. 3. The battery temperature regulator according to claim 1, wherein the battery temperature regulator is an extrusion molded product made of metal.

4. 3. The battery temperature regulator according to claim 1, The plurality of cylindrical battery cells are arranged along the one direction extending horizontally and the up-down direction, and are also arranged along a direction extending horizontally and perpendicular to the one direction, so that the axes extend parallel to each other; A battery temperature regulator that is formed so as to abut on the outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of cylindrical battery cells arranged in the one direction at a lower side and to abut on the outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of cylindrical battery cells arranged in the one direction at an upper side.

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