Battery pack system control device

Abstract

To provide a battery pack system control device that can improve the heating and cooling efficiency of a battery module.SOLUTION: A battery pack system control device includes a battery pack that includes a battery module and a container in which the battery module is housed, with an air layer formed between the inner and outer walls of the container, a heating and cooling device that heats or cools the battery module, a vacuum pump that creates negative pressure in the air layer, and a battery temperature sensor that measures the surface temperature of the battery module, and when the heating and cooling device is operating and the difference between the surface temperature of the battery module and a predetermined reference battery temperature is greater than a predetermined environmental determination temperature, the vacuum pump is started.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a control device for a battery pack system. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a container (battery pack) that houses a battery. The container is composed of hollow walls, and the hollows formed in each wall are interconnected. A negative pressure introduction passage that connects the hollows formed in the walls to a vacuum pump is connected to the container, and a solenoid valve is provided in the negative pressure introduction passage to open and close the negative pressure introduction passage. The container also has an air introduction passage that connects the hollows formed in the walls to the atmosphere, and a solenoid valve is provided in the air introduction passage to open and close the air introduction passage. A control device that controls the vacuum pump and these solenoid valves opens the solenoid valve to open the negative pressure introduction passage and operate the vacuum pump to introduce negative pressure into the hollows formed in the walls when increasing the insulation of the container (reducing heat dissipation), and opens the solenoid valve to open the air introduction passage and introduce air into the hollows formed in the walls when decreasing the insulation of the container (reducing heat dissipation). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-207321 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, battery pack systems are in practical use that include a heating / cooling device inside or outside the battery pack to heat or cool the battery modules housed in the battery pack.

[0005] However, the battery pack disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not include a heating / cooling device inside or outside the battery pack, and therefore the heating efficiency and cooling efficiency of the battery module cannot be improved.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a control device for a battery pack system that can improve the heating efficiency and cooling efficiency of a battery module. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] (1) A control device for a battery pack system according to at least one embodiment of the present invention includes a battery pack including a battery module and a container in which the battery module is housed, with an air layer formed between the inner and outer walls of the container, a heating and cooling device that heats or cools the battery module, a vacuum pump that creates negative pressure in the air layer, and a battery temperature sensor that measures the surface temperature of the battery module, and when the heating and cooling device is operating and the difference between the surface temperature of the battery module and a predetermined reference battery temperature is greater than a predetermined environmental judgment temperature difference, the vacuum pump is started.

[0008] According to the above configuration (1), by setting the environmental judgment temperature difference large, when the heating / cooling device is operating and the surface temperature of the battery module differs from the reference battery temperature, the vacuum pump is started, the air layer becomes negative pressure, and the inside of the container is insulated from the outside, thereby improving the heating efficiency and cooling efficiency of the battery module.

[0009] (2) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (1) above, the battery pack system includes an external temperature sensor that measures the external temperature of the container, and when the heating / cooling device is operating, even if the difference between the surface temperature of the battery module and the reference battery temperature is less than the environmental judgment temperature difference, the vacuum pump is started when the difference between the external temperature of the container and the reference battery temperature is greater than the difference between the surface temperature of the battery module and the reference battery temperature.

[0010] According to the configuration (2) above, even if the surface temperature of the battery module does not deviate from the reference battery temperature, if the heating / cooling device is operating and the difference between the external temperature of the container and the reference battery temperature is greater than the difference between the surface temperature of the battery module and the external temperature of the container, the vacuum pump is started, the air layer becomes negative pressure, and the inside of the container is insulated from the outside, thereby reducing the influence of the external temperature of the container.

[0011] (3) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (1) or (2) above, the air layer is provided in a tray on which the battery module is placed.

[0012] According to the above configuration (3), when the battery pack is installed under the floor of the vehicle, the battery module can be less affected by wind caused by running.

[0013] (4) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (1) or (2) above, the air layer is provided in a cover that covers the battery module.

[0014] According to the above configuration (4), when the battery pack is installed under the floor of the vehicle, the battery module can be less affected by the temperature inside the vehicle.

[0015] (5) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (1) or (2) above, when the battery module is being charged by an external device or the battery module is supplying power to an external device, the vacuum pump is started when the heating / cooling device is started and a predetermined time has elapsed since the heating / cooling device was started.

[0016] According to the above configuration (5), the inside of the container is insulated from the outside after the heat trapped in the container is released, thereby improving the heating efficiency and cooling efficiency of the battery module.

[0017] (6) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (1) or (2) above, when the operation of the heating and cooling device is stopped, the operation of the vacuum pump is stopped.

[0018] According to the above configuration (6), it is possible to reduce energy consumption. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, the heating efficiency and cooling efficiency of the battery module can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic mechanical configuration of a battery pack system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a control configuration of the battery pack system shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a flowchart schematically showing the operation of the battery pack system shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of the operation of the battery pack system during external charging or when the battery pack system is externally charged. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Hereinafter, several embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, etc. of components described as embodiments or shown in the drawings are merely illustrative examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0022] [Vehicles equipped with battery pack systems] Vehicles equipped with the battery pack system according to the embodiment are, for example, electric vehicles such as electric vehicles (HVs), hybrid vehicles (HVs), or fuel cell vehicles (HCVs). Hybrid vehicles include plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs, PHEVs) that can be charged (externally charged) from an external device (e.g., a rapid charger) while parked, and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) that can be charged externally while parked and can supply power (externally powered) to an external device (e.g., an ordinary household) while parked.

[0023] [Battery pack system] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic mechanical configuration of a battery pack system 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the battery pack system 1 according to the embodiment includes a battery pack 2, a heating / cooling device 3, a vacuum pump 4, a battery temperature sensor 5, an external temperature sensor 6, and a control device 7 that controls these components.

[0024] The battery pack 2 includes a battery module 21 and a container 22 that houses the battery module 21, and an air layer 23 is formed between the inner and outer walls of the container 22. The battery module 21 is a group of several battery cells (single cells), and the container 22 houses a plurality of battery modules 21. The container 22 includes, but is not limited to, a tray 24 on which the battery modules 21 are placed and a cover 25 that covers the battery modules 21 placed on the tray 24. Air layers are formed between the inner wall 24a and the outer wall 24b of the tray 24 and between the inner wall 25a and the outer wall 25b of the cover 25, but may be formed either between the inner wall 24a and the outer wall 24b of the tray 24 or between the inner wall 25a and the outer wall 25b of the cover 25. The heating / cooling device 3 is a device that heats or cools the battery module 21 housed in the container 22, and is composed of, for example, but not limited to, a heat exchanger 31 and a blower fan 32. The vacuum pump 4 is a pump that creates negative pressure in the air layer, and includes a vacuum pump (first vacuum pump) 41 that creates negative pressure in the air layer formed in the tray 24, and a vacuum pump (second vacuum pump) 42 that creates negative pressure in the air layer formed in the cover 25, but the first vacuum pump 41 and the second vacuum pump 42 may be combined into one vacuum pump.

[0025] The battery temperature sensor 5 is a temperature sensor that measures the surface temperature of the battery module 21, and is, for example, attached to the surface of the battery module 21. The external temperature sensor 6 is a temperature sensor that measures the external temperature of the container 22, and includes a temperature sensor (first temperature sensor) 61 provided on the bottom surface of the container 22 (bottom surface of the tray 24) and a temperature sensor (second temperature sensor) 62 provided on the top surface of the container 22 (top surface of the cover 25), but a single temperature sensor that measures the external temperature of the container 22 may be used without distinguishing between the bottom surface and the top surface of the container 22.

[0026] [Battery pack system control configuration] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic control configuration of the battery pack system shown in Figure 1. The control device is composed of, for example, an arithmetic unit, a processor consisting of registers for storing instructions and information, and peripheral devices, memories such as ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory), and an input interface, and as shown in Figure 2, the surface temperature of the battery module 21 measured by the battery temperature sensor 5 and the external temperature of the container 22 measured by the external temperature sensor 6 (first temperature sensor 61 and second temperature sensor 62) are input to the control device.

[0027] The control device 7 starts the vacuum pump 4 when the heating / cooling device 3 is operating and the difference between the surface temperature BST of the battery module 21 and a predetermined reference battery temperature RBT is greater than a predetermined environment determination temperature difference EJT. The reference battery temperature RBT is an ideal temperature suitable for charging and discharging the battery module 21 and is determined in advance through experiments or the like. The difference between the surface temperature BST of the battery module 21 and the reference battery temperature RBT is calculated as an absolute value. The environment determination temperature difference EJT is a temperature used to determine whether the temperature environment of the battery module 21 is in an abnormal environment, i.e., whether the battery module 21 is in an extremely cold or extremely hot climate. The environment determination temperature difference EJT is set to a positive value. The environment determination temperature difference EJT can be set arbitrarily, for example, to 20°C, but is not limited to this.

[0028] Furthermore, when the heating / cooling device 3 is operating, the control device 7 starts the vacuum pump 4 if the difference between the external temperature ETC of the container 22 and the reference battery temperature RBT is greater than the difference between the surface temperature BST of the battery module 21 and the reference battery temperature RBT, even if the difference between the surface temperature BST of the battery module 21 and the reference battery temperature RBT is equal to or less than the environment judgment temperature difference EJT. The difference between the external temperature ETC of the container 22 and the reference battery temperature RBT is calculated as an absolute value.

[0029] The external temperature ETC of the container 22 may be the temperature ETC1 measured by the first temperature sensor 61 and the temperature ETC2 measured by the second temperature sensor 62, and the first vacuum pump 41 may be started when the difference between the temperature ETC1 measured by the first temperature sensor 61 and the reference battery temperature RBT is greater than the difference between the surface temperature BST of the battery module 21 and the reference battery temperature RBT, and the second vacuum pump 42 may be started when the difference between the temperature ETC2 measured by the second temperature sensor 62 and the reference battery temperature RBT is greater than the difference between the surface temperature BST of the battery module 21 and the reference battery temperature RBT.

[0030] Furthermore, the control device 7 stops the operation of the vacuum pump 4 when the operation of the heating / cooling device 3 is stopped.

[0031] In addition, the control device 7 starts the vacuum pump 4 when the battery module 21 is externally charged or externally powered from the battery module 21, the heating and cooling device 3 is started, and a predetermined time has elapsed since the heating and cooling device 3 was started.

[0032] In addition, when the battery module 21 is externally charged or externally powered by the battery module 21, the control device 7 stops the operation of the vacuum pump 4 when the operation of the heating and cooling device 3 is stopped.

[0033] [Operation of the battery pack system control device] Fig. 3 is a flowchart schematically illustrating the operation of the battery pack system 1 shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 3, in the battery pack system 1, the surface temperature BST of the battery module 21 and the external temperature ETC of the container 22 are measured (step S11). If the heating / cooling device 3 is operating (step S12: Yes) and the difference between the surface temperature BST of the battery module 21 and the reference battery temperature RBT is greater than the environment determination temperature difference EJT (step S13: Yes), the vacuum pump is operated (step S14).

[0034] When the heating and cooling device 3 is operating (step S12: Yes) and the difference between the surface temperature BST of the battery module 21 and the reference battery temperature RBT is equal to or less than the environmental judgment temperature difference EJT (step S13: No), if the difference between the external temperature ETC of the container 22 and the reference battery temperature RBT is greater than the difference between the surface temperature BST of the battery module 21 and the reference battery temperature RBT (step S15: Yes), the vacuum pump 4 is operated (step S14).

[0035] The external temperature ETC of the container 22 may be the temperature ETC1 measured by the first temperature sensor 61 and the temperature ETC2 measured by the second temperature sensor 62, and the first vacuum pump 41 may be started when the difference between the temperature ETC1 measured by the first temperature sensor 61 and the reference battery temperature RBT is greater than the difference between the surface temperature BST of the battery module 21 and the reference battery temperature RBT, and the second vacuum pump 42 may be started when the difference between the temperature ETC2 measured by the second temperature sensor 62 and the reference battery temperature RBT is greater than the difference between the surface temperature BST of the battery module 21 and the reference battery temperature RBT.

[0036] When the vacuum pump 4 starts, the air layer 23 becomes negative pressure and the inside of the container 22 is insulated from the outside, thereby improving the heating and cooling efficiency of the battery module 21. When the battery module 21 is heated or cooled so that it is no longer necessary to heat or cool the battery module 21, the operation of the heating and cooling device 3 is stopped (step S16), and the operation of the vacuum pump 4 is also stopped (step S17).

[0037] [Operation during external charging or external power supply] 4 is a flowchart that schematically shows the operation of the battery pack system 1 during external charging or external power supply. When the charging connector is connected to a charging port provided on the vehicle, the battery module 21 is charged by an external device (external charging), or power is supplied from the battery module 21 to the external device (external power supply). As shown in FIG. 4, when the battery module 21 is being externally charged or externally powered by the battery module 21, the control device 7 starts the heating / cooling device 3 (step S21), and when a predetermined time has elapsed since the heating / cooling device 3 was started (step S22: Yes), the control device 7 starts the vacuum pump 4 (step S23).

[0038] In addition, when the battery module 21 is being externally charged or externally powered from the battery module 21 and the operation of the heating and cooling device 3 is stopped (step S24: Yes), the control device 7 stops the operation of the vacuum pump 4 (step S25).

[0039] [Effects of the battery pack system control device] According to the control device 7 of the battery pack system 1 of the embodiment, by setting the environmental judgment temperature difference EJT to a large value, when the heating / cooling device 3 is operating and the surface temperature BST of the battery module 21 differs from the reference battery temperature RBT, the vacuum pump 4 is started, the air layer 23 becomes negative pressure, and the inside of the container 22 is insulated from the outside, thereby improving the heating efficiency and cooling efficiency of the battery module 21.

[0040] Furthermore, even if the surface temperature BST of the battery module 21 does not deviate from the reference battery temperature RBT, if the heating / cooling device 3 is operating and the difference between the external temperature ETC of the container 22 and the reference battery temperature RBT is greater than the difference between the surface temperature BST of the battery module 21 and the reference battery temperature RBT, the vacuum pump 4 is started, the air layer 23 becomes negative pressure, and the inside of the container 22 is insulated from the outside, thereby reducing the effect of the external temperature on the container 22.

[0041] In addition, when the battery module 21 is externally charged or externally powered from the battery module 21, the heating / cooling device 3 is started, and a predetermined time has elapsed since the heating / cooling device 3 was started, the vacuum pump 4 is started. As a result, the heat trapped in the container 22 is released and the inside of the container 22 is insulated from the outside, thereby improving the heating efficiency and cooling efficiency of the battery module 21.

[0042] Furthermore, when the operation of the heating and cooling device 3 is stopped, the operation of the vacuum pump 4 is stopped, so that energy consumption can be reduced.

[0043] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but also includes modifications to the above-described embodiments and appropriate combinations of these modifications. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1 Battery pack system 2 battery packs 21 Battery module 22 Container 23 Air Layer 24 trays 24a Inner wall 24b Exterior wall 25 Cover 24a Inner wall 25b Exterior wall 3 Heating and cooling device 31 Heat exchanger 32 Blower fan 4. Vacuum pump 41 First vacuum pump 42 Second vacuum pump 5 Battery temperature sensor 6 External Temperature Sensor 61 First temperature sensor 62 Second temperature sensor 7 Control Device BST battery module surface temperature RBT reference battery temperature EJT environmental judgment temperature difference ETC container external temperature ETC1 Tray bottom temperature ETC2 cover top surface temperature

Claims

1. a battery pack including a battery module and a container in which the battery module is housed, wherein an air layer is formed between an inner wall and an outer wall of the container; a heating / cooling device that heats or cools the battery module; a vacuum pump that creates a negative pressure in the air layer; a battery temperature sensor that measures the surface temperature of the battery module; A control device for a battery pack system comprising: A control device for a battery pack system that starts the vacuum pump when the heating and cooling device is operating and the difference between the surface temperature of the battery module and a predetermined reference battery temperature is greater than a predetermined environmental judgment temperature difference.

2. the battery pack system includes an external temperature sensor that measures an external temperature of the container; 2. The control device for a battery pack system according to claim 1, wherein when the heating / cooling device is operating, even if the difference between the surface temperature of the battery module and the reference battery temperature is equal to or less than the environmental judgment temperature difference, the vacuum pump is started when the difference between the external temperature of the container and the reference battery temperature is greater than the difference between the surface temperature of the battery module and the reference battery temperature.

3. The control device for a battery pack system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the air layer is provided in a tray on which the battery module is placed.

4. The control device for a battery pack system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the air layer is provided in a cover that covers the battery module.

5. 3. The control device for a battery pack system according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum pump is started when the battery module is being charged by an external device or when power is being supplied from the battery module to an external device, the heating / cooling device is started, and a predetermined time has elapsed since the starting of the heating / cooling device.

6. The control device for a battery pack system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control device stops operation of the vacuum pump when operation of the heating / cooling device is stopped.

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