Temperature controller

Abstract

To provide a temperature controller capable of performing a temperature adjustment of a battery module.SOLUTION: A temperature controller 30 includes: a plurality of temperature control parts 71 each having a first flat plate part 37 and a second flat plate part 38 facing each other along a first direction X; a supply path for supplying a fluid to an introduction port of each of the temperature control parts 71; a discharge path for discharging the fluid to the outside from a discharge port of each of the temperature control parts 71; and a plurality of connection walls 74 for connecting end parts of each of the first flat plate part 37 and the second flat plate part 38 along a second direction Y intersecting the first direction X. Each of the temperature control parts 71 includes, between the first flat plate part 37 and the second flat plate part 38, a first flow path 31A that communicates with an introduction port and through which the fluid flows, and a second flow path 31B that allows the fluid from the first flow path 31A to flow back and communicates with the discharge port, and is configured such that a flow path cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B is smaller than a flow path cross-sectional area S1 of the first flow path 31A.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

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 device for cooling a battery mounted on a vehicle. This device has multiple cooling plates arranged along a battery module. Each cooling plate has an inlet port on one end and an outlet port on the other end. Fluid is introduced into each of these inlet ports from an inlet provided in the battery module. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 114665188 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the device described in Patent Document 1, the closer each of the cooling plates is to the inlet, the greater the amount of fluid that flows through it, and the farther each plate is from the inlet, the less fluid that flows through it. This causes variations in the flow rate of fluid through each of the cooling plates, making it impossible to properly regulate the temperature of the battery module.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need for a temperature regulator that can appropriately regulate the temperature of the battery module. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A characteristic configuration of a temperature regulator according to 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, the temperature regulator comprising: a plurality of temperature regulators that are provided between side surfaces of two adjacent cells along the first direction, and each having a first flat plate portion and a second flat plate portion that face each other along the first direction; a supply path that supplies fluid to an inlet of each of the temperature regulators; an outlet path that discharges the fluid from an outlet of each of the temperature regulators to the outside; and a plurality of connecting walls that connect end portions of the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion along a second direction that intersects with the first direction, the temperature regulator including, between the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion, a first flow path that is connected to the inlet and through which the fluid flows, and a second flow path that turns back the fluid from the first flow path and flows and is connected to the outlet, and a flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the second flow path is configured to be smaller than a flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the first flow path.

[0009] With this characteristic configuration, in each of the multiple temperature adjustment units, the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the second flow path can be configured smaller than the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the first flow path, thereby increasing the flow resistance of the fluid flowing through the first flow path. By increasing the flow resistance of the fluid flowing through the first flow path, the amount of fluid flowing from the supply path to the upstream battery module along the first direction is reduced, and the fluid from the supply path reaches the downstream battery module along the first direction, thereby reducing the difference in flow rate between the upstream and downstream sides of the battery module. Thus, with this configuration, the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the second flow path is configured smaller than the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the first flow path, thereby enabling equal flow distribution within the battery module. Therefore, the temperature of the battery module can be appropriately adjusted. [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] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the plate member cut along a first direction. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the flow rates of air flowing through each of a plurality of temperature control units. [Figure 5] 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the ratio of the cross-sectional area of ​​the second flow path to the cross-sectional area of ​​the first flow path and the flow rate difference. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a plate member according to another embodiment taken along the first direction. 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 (12 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 temperature control section 71, a supply path 72, a discharge path 73, a connecting wall 74, and a partition wall 60. The temperature controller 30 includes a plurality of temperature control sections 71. Each of the plurality of temperature control sections 71 has a first flat plate portion 37 and a second flat plate portion 38. 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 a predetermined surface of the cell 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 side surfaces of two adjacent cells 12 along the first direction X.

[0019] The connecting wall 74 connects the ends of the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 along the second direction Y. In the present embodiment, the connecting wall 74 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 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 74 are provided in the temperature adjustment unit 70. The connecting wall 74 in the present 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, 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, the temperature control unit 71 is configured to include a first flow path 31A and a second flow path 31B between the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38. The first flow path 31A communicates with each fluid introduction portion 30Ba (an example of an "inlet") of the plurality of temperature control units 71 to which fluid is supplied from the supply path 72, and the fluid supplied to the fluid introduction portion 30Ba flows through the first flow path 31A. As a result, the first flow path 31A allows the fluid supplied 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 turn back the fluid from the first flow paths 31A and are connected to the fluid discharge portions 30Bb (an example of an "exhaust port") of the temperature adjustment units 71, which discharge the fluid to the outside. 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 portions 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 portions 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 furthest from the central region 14 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. In this embodiment, the four first flow paths 31A have the same flow path cross-sectional area S1, and the four second flow paths 31B have the same flow path cross-sectional area S2. 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 disposed in a central region 14 of the battery 1 along 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. The piping member 45 is provided in this central region 14 and communicates with the fluid introduction portion 30Ba, allowing 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. Therefore, the supply path 72 and the discharge path 73 are provided in this piping member 45.

[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 74. For example, laser welding, brazing, or arc welding can be used for such joining.

[0030] In each of the plurality of temperature adjustment units 71, the flow path cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B is smaller than the flow path cross-sectional area S1 of the first flow path 31A. The flow path cross-sectional area S1 of the first flow path 31A is the flow path cross-sectional area S1 of each of the four first flow paths 31A in one temperature adjustment unit 71, and the flow path cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B is the flow path cross-sectional area S2 of each of the four second flow paths 31B in one temperature adjustment unit 71. Therefore, in each of the plurality of temperature adjustment units 71, the flow path cross-sectional area S1 of each of the four second flow paths 31B in one temperature adjustment unit 71 is smaller than the flow path cross-sectional area S1 of each of the four first flow paths 31A in one temperature adjustment unit 71.

[0031] 3, in this embodiment, the length of each of the first flow paths 31A along the second direction Y and the length of each of the second flow paths 31B along the second direction Y are configured to be equal to each other, and the length of each of the second flow paths 31B along the first direction X is configured to be shorter than the length of each of the first flow paths 31A along the first direction X. As a result, the flow path cross-sectional area S2 of each of the second flow paths 31B is configured to be smaller than the flow path cross-sectional area S1 of each of the first flow paths 31A. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the flow path cross-sectional areas S2 of all of the second flow paths 31B of the multiple temperature adjustment units 71 are configured to be equal to each other.

[0032] Here, a case will be described in which the temperature controller 30 includes twelve temperature adjustment units 71. The twelve temperature adjustment units 70 are, in order from the fluid introduction side (upstream side), temperature adjustment unit 71A, temperature adjustment unit 71B, temperature adjustment unit 71C, temperature adjustment unit 71D, temperature adjustment unit 71E, temperature adjustment unit 71F, temperature adjustment unit 71G, temperature adjustment unit 71H, temperature adjustment unit 71I, temperature adjustment unit 71J, temperature adjustment unit 71K, and temperature adjustment unit 71L (see FIG. 1). When the flow path cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B in each of the twelve temperature adjustment units 71A-71L is equal to the flow path cross-sectional area S1 of the first flow path 31A, the flow rate (flow rate) of the fluid decreases from the upstream side to the downstream side in each of the temperature adjustment units 71A-71L, as shown in FIG. In the example of Figure 4, there is a difference of about 40% between the flow rate of the fluid in temperature control unit 71A and the flow rate of the fluid in temperature control unit 71L (i.e., the flow rate of the fluid flowing through temperature control unit 71L is about 60% of the flow rate of the fluid flowing through temperature control unit 71A).

[0033] On the other hand, when the ratio of the flow path cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B to the flow path cross-sectional area S1 of the first flow path 31A is reduced, it becomes difficult for the fluid to be discharged from the fluid discharge portion 30Bb communicating with the second flow path 31B to the discharge path 73. This reduces the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the first flow path 31A, and as shown in Fig. 5, the difference between the flow rate of the fluid in the temperature adjustment unit 71A and the flow rate of the fluid in the temperature adjustment unit 71L is reduced. As shown in Fig. 5, when the ratio of the flow path cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B to the flow path cross-sectional area S1 of the first flow path 31A is increased from 100% to 80%, the difference between the flow rate of the fluid in the temperature adjustment unit 71A and the flow rate of the fluid in the temperature adjustment unit 71L can be reduced to 35% or less. On the other hand, if the ratio of the flow path cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B to the flow path cross-sectional area S1 of the first flow path 31A is made too small, fluid will not flow through the first flow path 31A and the second flow path 31B, so this ratio needs to be set to a predetermined value or more. In this embodiment, the flow path cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B is set to be 20% or more and 80% or less of the flow path cross-sectional area S1 of the first flow path 31A. As a result, as described above, it is possible to reduce the difference in flow rate of the fluid between the temperature adjustment unit 71A and the temperature adjustment unit 71L to 35% or less.

[0034] Furthermore, when it is desired to reduce the difference in the flow rate of the fluid in the temperature adjustment unit 71A and the flow rate of the fluid in the temperature adjustment unit 71L, it is preferable to set the flow path cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B to 45% or less of the flow path cross-sectional area S1 of the first flow path 31A. In this case, as shown in Fig. 5, it is possible to reduce the difference in the flow rate of the fluid in the temperature adjustment unit 71A and the flow rate of the fluid in the temperature adjustment unit 71L to about 12.5%.

[0035] Other Embodiments Next, other embodiments of the temperature regulator 30 will be described.

[0036] In the above embodiment, the flow path cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B is described as being 20% ​​or more and 80% or less of the flow path cross-sectional area S1 of the first flow path 31A. However, the flow path cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B may be, for example, 10% or more and 90% or less of the flow path cross-sectional area S1 of the first flow path 31A. Furthermore, as long as fluid flows through both the first flow path 31A and the second flow path 31B, the flow path cross-sectional area S2 may be less than 10%.

[0037] In the above embodiment, it has been described that the length of each of the first flow paths 31A along the second direction Y and the length of each of the second flow paths 31B along the second direction Y are equal to each other, and that the length of each of the second flow paths 31B along the first direction X is shorter than the length of each of the first flow paths 31A along the first direction X. However, it is also possible that the length of each of the first flow paths 31A along the first direction X and the length of each of the second flow paths 31B along the first direction X are equal to each other, and that the length of each of the second flow paths 31B along the second direction Y is shorter than the length of each of the first flow paths 31A along the second direction Y. Furthermore, if the flow path cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B is smaller than the flow path cross-sectional area S1 of the first flow path 31A, the length of the second flow path 31B along the first direction X may be longer than the length of the first flow path 31A along the first direction X, or the length of the second flow path 31B along the second direction Y may be longer than the length of the first flow path 31A along the second direction Y.

[0038] In the above embodiment, the second flow path 31B is shown as having a linear shape when viewed in the third direction Z in Fig. 3, but the second flow path 31B may have an arc shape when viewed in the third direction Z, as shown in Fig. 6, for example. In this case, the contact area between the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 in the second flow path 31B can be made larger than when the second flow path 31B is configured as a linear shape, thereby enabling efficient heat transfer between the fluid flowing through the second flow path 31B and the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38.

[0039] In the above embodiment, the cross-sectional areas S2 of all the second flow paths 31B of the plurality of temperature adjustment units 71 are configured to be equal to one another. However, the cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B of the most upstream temperature adjustment unit 71 among the plurality of temperature adjustment units 71 may be configured to be smaller than the cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B of the most downstream temperature adjustment unit 71 among the plurality of temperature adjustment units 71. In this case, the cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B can be configured so that the cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B decreases toward the upstream side of the plurality of temperature adjustment units 71 and increases toward the downstream side. That is, when the temperature controller 30 includes twelve temperature adjustment units 71, the twelve temperature adjustment units 70 are, in order from the fluid introduction side (upstream side), temperature adjustment unit 71A, temperature adjustment unit 71B, temperature adjustment unit 71C, temperature adjustment unit 71D, temperature adjustment unit 71E, temperature adjustment unit 71F, temperature adjustment unit 71G, temperature adjustment unit 71H, temperature adjustment unit 71I, temperature adjustment unit 71J, temperature adjustment unit 71K, and temperature adjustment unit 71L. In this case, it is preferable to configure the flow path cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B in temperature adjustment unit 71A to be the smallest, and the flow path cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B in temperature adjustment unit 71L to be the largest.

[0040] [Summary of the above embodiment] The temperature regulator 30 described above will now be outlined.

[0041] (1) The temperature regulator 30 is a temperature regulator 30 for adjusting the temperature of a battery 1 including a battery module 10 having a plurality of cells 12 arranged along a first direction X, and includes a plurality of temperature regulators 71 each having a first flat plate portion 37 and a second flat plate portion 38 that are disposed between side surfaces of two adjacent cells 12 along the first direction X and face each other along the first direction X, a supply path 72 that supplies a fluid to a fluid inlet 30Ba (inlet) of each temperature regulator 71, and a fluid outlet 30Bb (outlet) that discharges the fluid to the outside. and a plurality of connecting walls 74 connecting the ends of the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38 along a second direction Y intersecting the first direction X. The temperature adjustment portion 71 includes, between the first flat plate portion 37 and the second flat plate portion 38, a first flow path 31A that communicates with the fluid introduction portion 30Ba and through which the fluid flows, and a second flow path 31B that turns back the fluid from the first flow path 31A and flows it, and communicates with the fluid discharge portion 30Bb, and the flow path cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B is configured to be smaller than the flow path cross-sectional area S1 of the first flow path 31A.

[0042] According to this configuration, in each of the temperature adjustment units 71, the flow path cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B is configured to be smaller than the flow path cross-sectional area S1 of the first flow path 31A, thereby increasing the flow resistance of the fluid flowing through the first flow path 31A. By increasing the flow resistance of the fluid flowing through the first flow path 31A, the amount of fluid flowing from the supply path 72 to the battery module 10 located upstream along the first direction X is reduced, and the fluid from the supply path 72 reaches the battery module 10 located downstream along the first direction X. This reduces the difference in flow rate between the upstream and downstream sides of the battery module 10. Thus, according to this configuration, the flow path cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B is configured to be smaller than the flow path cross-sectional area S1 of the first flow path 31A, thereby enabling uniform flow distribution within the battery module 10. Therefore, the temperature of the battery module 10 can be appropriately adjusted.

[0043] (2) In the temperature regulator 30 described in (1), the flow path cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B is preferably 20% or more and 80% or less of the flow path cross-sectional area S1 of the first flow path 31A.

[0044] This configuration makes it possible to reduce the difference in flow rate between the upstream side and the downstream side in the battery module 10 compared to when the flow path cross-sectional area S1 of the first flow path 31A and the flow path cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B are equal to each other in each of the plurality of temperature adjustment units 71. Therefore, uniform flow distribution can be performed within the battery module 10.

[0045] (3) In the temperature regulator 30 described in (2), the flow path cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B is preferably 45% or less of the flow path cross-sectional area S1 of the first flow path 31A.

[0046] According to this configuration, in each of the multiple temperature adjustment units 71, the flow path cross-sectional area S1 of the first flow path 31A and the flow path cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B are equal to each other, making it possible to further reduce the flow rate difference between the upstream and downstream sides of the battery module 10.

[0047] (4) In the temperature controller 30 described in any one of (1) to (3), it is preferable that the flow path cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B of the most upstream temperature controller 71 among the plurality of temperature controllers 71 is configured to be smaller than the flow path cross-sectional area S2 of the second flow path 31B of the most downstream temperature controller 71 among the plurality of temperature controllers 71.

[0048] According to this configuration, the flow resistance of the second flow path 31B in the temperature adjustment unit 71 on the upstream side of the battery module 10 can be made larger than the flow resistance of the second flow path 31B in the temperature adjustment unit 71 on the downstream side of the battery module 10. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of fluid flowing to the battery module 10 on the more upstream side, making it easier for the fluid to flow to the battery module 10 on the downstream side. Therefore, it becomes possible to further reduce the difference in flow rate between the upstream side and the downstream side of the battery module 10. [Industrial Applicability]

[0049] 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]

[0050] 1: battery, 10: battery module, 12: cell, 30: temperature regulator, 30Ba: fluid inlet (inlet), 30Bb: fluid outlet (outlet), 31A: first flow path, 31B: second flow path, 37: first flat plate, 38: second flat plate, 71: temperature regulator, 72: supply path, 73: outlet, 74: connecting wall, S1: flow path cross-sectional area, S2: flow path cross-sectional area, X: first direction, Y: second 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 plurality of temperature adjustment units provided between side surfaces of two of the cells adjacent to each other along the first direction, each having a first flat plate portion and a second flat plate portion facing each other along the first direction; a supply path for supplying a fluid to the inlet of each of the temperature control units; a discharge path for discharging the fluid from the discharge port of each of the temperature adjusting units to the outside; a plurality of connecting walls connecting end portions of the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion along a second direction intersecting the first direction, the temperature adjustment unit includes, between the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion, a first flow path that communicates with the inlet and through which the fluid flows, and a second flow path that turns back the fluid from the first flow path and flows through the second flow path and communicates with the outlet, A temperature regulator in which a cross-sectional area of ​​the second flow path is smaller than a cross-sectional area of ​​the first flow path.

2. 2. The temperature regulator according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of ​​the second flow path is 20% or more and 80% or less of the cross-sectional area of ​​the first flow path.

3. 3. The temperature regulator according to claim 2, wherein the cross-sectional area of ​​the second flow path is 45% or less of the cross-sectional area of ​​the first flow path.

4. 4. The temperature controller according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of ​​the second flow path of the most upstream temperature control unit among the plurality of temperature control units is smaller than a cross-sectional area of ​​the second flow path of the most downstream temperature control unit among the plurality of temperature control units.

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