Battery containing body, battery module, and battery pack

Abstract

To prevent active gas generated inside a battery containing body from leaking to the outside, and also prevent the concentration of the active gas from increasing.SOLUTION: A battery containing body 1 includes a housing 3 that contains battery cells 2, an active gas removal portion 4 that is provided within the housing 3 and removes the active gas generated from the battery cells 2, and an air blowing portion 5 that is provided within the housing 3 and circulates the gas within the housing 3 by circulating it through the active gas removal portion 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery containing body, a battery module, and a battery pack. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, sulfide-based solid electrolytes exhibiting high ionic conductivity have been developed as solid electrolytes for use in all-solid-state batteries. However, sulfide-based solid electrolytes may react with water to generate hydrogen sulfide, and therefore, measures to deal with such hydrogen sulfide are an issue for practical use of all-solid-state batteries using sulfide-based solid electrolytes. Patent Document 1 describes a technology that prevents hydrogen sulfide generated inside a casing from leaking to the outside by providing a hydrogen sulfide removal unit at a communication port between the casing and the outside, which houses the battery cell. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-73802 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 does not take into consideration the impact of continued generation of hydrogen sulfide. Specifically, it does not consider the possibility that, if the hydrogen sulfide concentration inside the housing rises to a certain level, hydrogen sulfide as a flammable gas may react with oxygen and burn, or that hydrogen sulfide as a corrosive gas may corrode the materials of the battery cell and its accessories (such as electrode terminals and electrical circuits). These problems may also occur when other active gases besides hydrogen sulfide are generated, and may also occur when various other active gases are generated in batteries other than all-solid-state batteries containing sulfide-based solid electrolytes. Therefore, there is a need for a solution that can be applied to such a wide variety of active gases.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery container, a battery module, and a battery pack that suppress the leakage of active gas generated inside to the outside and also suppress an increase in the concentration of the active gas. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the battery containing body of the present invention has a housing that contains battery cells, an active gas removal section provided within the housing that removes active gas generated from the battery cells, and an air blowing section provided within the housing that circulates the gas within the housing while circulating it through the active gas removal section.

[0007] A battery module of the present invention includes the battery containing body and battery cells contained in the housing of the battery containing body.

[0008] A battery pack of the present invention includes the battery module and a control unit that controls the battery module.

[0009] With such a battery containing body, battery module, and battery pack, even if active gas is generated from a battery cell, the gas inside the housing containing the active gas can be forcibly introduced into the active gas removal section and circulated, thereby suppressing an increase in the concentration of the active gas inside the housing and reducing the possibility that the active gas will have an adverse effect inside the housing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent active gas generated inside the battery containing body, the battery module, and the battery pack from leaking to the outside, and it is also possible to prevent an increase in the concentration of the active gas. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a battery module according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a battery module according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a battery module according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Configurations common to each embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted as appropriate. Furthermore, as may be mentioned again below, characteristic configurations and modifications in each embodiment can also be applied to other embodiments as long as they are not mutually inconsistent.

[0013] In the following embodiments, an all-solid-state battery containing a sulfide-based solid electrolyte is exemplified as a battery cell that may generate an active gas, and flammable and corrosive hydrogen sulfide is exemplified as an active gas to be removed by the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the active gas to be removed by the present invention may be an active gas other than hydrogen sulfide generated by an all-solid-state battery containing a sulfide-based solid electrolyte. In this context, the term "active gas" broadly refers to a gas that can chemically react with other elements or compounds. Examples of such active gases include sulfur (including allotropes such as S, S2, and S8), sulfur oxides (sulfur monoxide, sulfur dioxide, sulfur trioxide, etc.), halogens (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, etc.), oxygen, and carbon dioxide. Alternatively, the active gas may be generated by other types of batteries, such as hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, ethane, ethylene, hydrogen fluoride, or carbon monoxide generated by lithium ion batteries, fluorine or hydrogen fluoride generated by fluoride batteries, hydrogen or oxygen generated by aqueous batteries such as aqueous lithium ion batteries or zinc negative electrode batteries, or sulfur dioxide generated by inorganic electrolyte batteries. On the other hand, the active gas to be removed by the present invention may be the vaporized gas of an organic solvent used in the nonaqueous electrolyte of a lithium ion battery, such as ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, fluoroethylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, ethyl methyl carbonate, γ-butyrolactone, or propyl propionate.

[0014] (First embodiment) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] The battery module 1 has a plurality of battery cells 2 and at least one pair of electrode terminals (not shown). The plurality of battery cells 2 are electrically connected to one another, and the connection configuration is not particularly limited and may be in series, parallel, or a combination of these. At least some of the plurality of battery cells 2 may be restrained by a restraining member. At least one pair of electrode terminals is electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells 2 by an electric circuit (not shown) so that power can be extracted from the plurality of battery cells 2. While FIG. 1 shows eight battery cells 2, the number of battery cells 2 included in the battery module 1 is not limited to this. A battery pack is formed by combining a plurality of battery modules 1 and housing them in a case.

[0016] The battery cell 2 is an all-solid-state battery and includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a solid electrolyte layer disposed between the positive and negative electrodes. For example, the positive electrode includes a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer, and the negative electrode includes a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer. The positive electrode current collector, positive electrode active material layer, solid electrolyte layer, negative electrode active material layer, and negative electrode current collector are stacked in this order to form a laminate, which is housed in a battery case of a laminate type, cylindrical type, square type, or the like. A reinforcing layer made of a curable resin may be provided around the laminate, if necessary.

[0017] The positive electrode current collector and the negative electrode current collector can be made of known materials commonly used in all-solid-state batteries. The positive electrode current collector can be made of metal materials such as aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium, and can be in the form of, for example, foil, film, sheet, or mesh. The negative electrode current collector can be made of metal materials such as stainless steel, nickel, and copper, and can be in the form of, for example, foil, film, or sheet.

[0018] The positive electrode active material layer contains at least a positive electrode active material, and the negative electrode active material layer contains at least a negative electrode active material. The positive electrode active material is not particularly limited as long as it is a material that absorbs and releases metal ions such as lithium ions, and examples thereof include sulfur, lithium-containing transition metal oxides, transition metal fluorides, polyanion compounds, and transition metal sulfides. The negative electrode active material is not particularly limited as long as it is a material that absorbs and releases metal ions such as lithium ions, and examples thereof include metallic lithium, metals or alloys that can be alloyed with lithium, carbon materials such as graphite and hard carbon, transition metal oxides, transition metal sulfides, and silicon. The positive electrode active material layer and the negative electrode active material layer may each contain a solid electrolyte, a binder, or the like, as appropriate.

[0019] The solid electrolyte layer contains at least a sulfide-based solid electrolyte. Examples of sulfide solid electrolytes include glasses or glass ceramics such as Li2S-SiS2, Li2S-B2S3, Li2S-P2S3, Li2S-P2S5, Li2S-GeS2, Li2S-B2S3, Li3PO4-P2S5, and Li4SiO4-Li2S-SiS2; 3.25 Ge 0.25 P 0.75 S4, Li 10 GeP2S 12 These include LiCl, LiBr, LiI, Li x MO y (wherein M is any of P, Si, Ge, B, Al, Ga, and In, and x and y are natural numbers) may be added as an additive, or may be further heat-treated. The solid electrolyte layer may contain a binder or the like as appropriate, and may contain a solid electrolyte of a type different from the sulfide-based solid electrolyte. Examples of such solid electrolytes include halide-based solid electrolytes, oxide-based solid electrolytes, polymer-based solid electrolytes, hydride-based solid electrolytes, and nitride-based solid electrolytes.

[0020] The battery module 1 also has a housing 3, a hydrogen sulfide removal section (active gas removal section), and a blower section 5, which together form a battery housing body that houses a plurality of battery cells 2.

[0021] The housing 3 is configured to hermetically house multiple battery cells 2, with at least one pair of electrode terminals (not shown) extending to the outside. Inside the housing 3, fillers such as elastic materials, heat transfer materials, and heat insulating materials may be appropriately placed in gaps between the battery cells 2 or between the battery cells 2 and the above-mentioned restraining members. Although FIG. 1 shows a simplified view, in consideration of heat dissipation from the battery cells 2, it is preferable that the multiple battery cells 2 are housed in the housing 3 with at least a portion of them in direct or indirect contact with the housing 3 (for example, via the above-mentioned restraining members). The shape of the housing 3 is not particularly limited and can be set as desired depending on the shape and arrangement of the battery cells 2 to be housed.

[0022] The hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4 is provided within the housing 3 and functions to remove hydrogen sulfide (active gas) generated when the sulfide-based solid electrolyte contained in the battery cell 2 reacts with water. The hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a cylindrical container made of a metal such as stainless steel filled with a hydrogen sulfide remover. Examples of such removers include known hydrogen sulfide removers commonly used for removing hydrogen sulfide, such as ion exchange resins, activated carbon (particularly activated carbon impregnated with a basic compound such as sodium hydroxide or potassium carbonate), activated alumina (particularly activated alumina impregnated with potassium permanganate), zeolites, basic solids such as calcium oxide or calcium carbonate, basic liquids such as aqueous sodium hydroxide or aqueous sodium carbonate, and ionic liquids having a reactive site with acids such as amino groups. Because hydrogen sulfide may reach a temperature higher than room temperature due to heat generation in the battery cell 2, a hydrogen sulfide remover that can maintain its hydrogen sulfide removal performance even at high temperatures is preferred, and a removal mechanism based on an irreversible reaction is more preferred. This makes it possible to reliably remove hydrogen sulfide even at high temperatures, and also to suppress the re-release of the removed hydrogen sulfide.

[0023] The blower 5 is provided at the inlet 4a of the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4 and has the function of circulating the air (gas) inside the housing 3 while passing it through the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4. There are no particular limitations on the type of blower 5, and for example, a fan, blower, pump, compressor, etc. can be used. In this case, the blower 5 may be configured with variable output, thereby adjusting the flow rate of air circulating inside the housing 3. Note that power may be supplied to the blower 5 from the battery cell 2 to drive the blower 5. Alternatively, a separate, independent power source may be provided, which allows the blower 5 to be reliably driven even in a situation where the output of the battery cell 2 must be limited or stopped.

[0024] With this configuration, even if hydrogen sulfide is generated from the battery cells 2, the air containing the hydrogen sulfide within the casing 3 can be forcibly introduced into the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4 and circulated, thereby preventing an increase in the hydrogen sulfide concentration within the casing 3. As a result, the possibility that hydrogen sulfide, as a flammable gas, will react with oxygen within the casing 3 and burn, or that hydrogen sulfide, as a corrosive gas, will corrode the materials of the battery cells 2, can be reduced. Furthermore, because the casing 3 is sealed, the battery cells 2 are prevented from coming into contact with outside air containing moisture, thereby reducing the possibility of generating hydrogen sulfide. In addition, even if the removal agent serving as the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4 breaks through, leakage of hydrogen sulfide to the outside can be prevented.

[0025] To prevent hydrogen sulfide generation, the casing 3 may be filled with a gas other than air, such as a non-reactive gas such as an inert gas. This reduces the moisture concentration inside the casing 3, thereby suppressing the reaction between the sulfide-based solid electrolyte contained in the battery cell 2 and moisture, thereby reducing the amount of hydrogen sulfide generated. Even if hydrogen sulfide is generated from the battery cell 2, the coexistence of hydrogen sulfide and moisture can reduce the risk of accelerated corrosion of the materials of the battery cell 2 and its accessories (such as electrode terminals and electrical circuits). Furthermore, filling the casing 3 with a non-reactive gas reduces the oxygen concentration inside the casing 3, thereby minimizing the possibility of hydrogen sulfide reacting with oxygen and resulting in combustion. The non-reactive gas used in this case is not particularly limited as long as it does not contain moisture or oxygen that could react with the materials of the battery cell 2 and its accessories or hydrogen sulfide. For example, the inert gases mentioned above (such as nitrogen, argon, and helium) can be used.

[0026] In the illustrated example, the blower 5 is provided at the inlet 4a of the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4, but it may also be provided, for example, at the outlet 4b of the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4 or inside the outlet 4b. Alternatively, the blower 5 may be provided at a position away from the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4. In other words, the position of the blower 5 is not particularly limited as long as it is located within the housing 3, including the interior of the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4, and as long as it can circulate air within the housing 3 to the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4. Furthermore, the number of hydrogen sulfide removal units 4 is not limited to one as shown in the figure, and may be multiple, and accordingly, the number of blowers 5 may also be multiple.

[0027] (Second embodiment) 2 is a schematic diagram of a battery module according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment, and differs from the first embodiment in that the operation of the air blower is controllable. The following description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment.

[0028] Air circulation within the housing 3 may be performed continuously, i.e., the blower 5 may be operating continuously, but from the viewpoint of reducing power consumption, it is preferable that the blower 5 is normally stopped. Furthermore, it is preferable that the blower 5 be operated in response to the generation of hydrogen sulfide from the battery cell 2, i.e., it is preferable that the circulation of air within the housing 3 is started. For this purpose, the battery module 1 of this embodiment has a hydrogen sulfide sensor (gas sensor) 11 and a control unit 21.

[0029] The hydrogen sulfide sensor 11 detects the presence or concentration of hydrogen sulfide within the housing 3. The type of hydrogen sulfide sensor 11 is not particularly limited, and known hydrogen sulfide sensors, such as those based on potentiostatic electrolysis, semiconductor technology, thermal conduction, and electrical resistance, can be used. The location of the hydrogen sulfide sensor 11 is not limited to the location shown in the figure, as long as it can detect the presence or concentration of hydrogen sulfide within the housing 3. In the illustrated example, only one hydrogen sulfide sensor 11 is installed in the housing 3, but multiple hydrogen sulfide sensors 11 may be installed. In this case, a hydrogen sulfide sensor 11 may be installed near each battery cell 2. One of the multiple hydrogen sulfide sensors 11 may be installed near the outlet 4b of the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4 to detect whether the removal agent has broken through. When multiple hydrogen sulfide sensors 11 are used, they may be the same type, but preferably different types. This allows the validity of the detection results of one hydrogen sulfide sensor 11 to be evaluated using other hydrogen sulfide sensors 11 of different types, and makes it possible to diagnose, for example, whether the hydrogen sulfide sensor 11 is malfunctioning due to the influence of coexisting gases.

[0030] Control unit 21 has a function of controlling blower 5 based on the detection result of hydrogen sulfide sensor 11. Specifically, when hydrogen sulfide is detected by hydrogen sulfide sensor 11, control unit 21 activates blower 5 to circulate air within housing 3 through hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4. Even if flammable hydrogen sulfide gas is generated within housing 3, combustion of hydrogen sulfide does not occur unless its concentration reaches the flammable range. Therefore, control unit 21 may control blower 5 to adjust the flow rate of air circulating within housing 3 so that the hydrogen sulfide concentration detected by hydrogen sulfide sensor 11 is below the lower flammable limit. In other words, control unit 21 may adjust the amount of gas containing hydrogen sulfide flowing into hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4. Alternatively, from the perspective of reducing power consumption of blower 5, control unit 21 may stop blower 5 when the hydrogen sulfide concentration detected by hydrogen sulfide sensor 11 falls sufficiently below the lower flammable limit. The control unit 21 also has a function of controlling the output of the battery cells 2, and can limit or stop the output of at least some of the battery cells 2 for safety reasons, for example, when hydrogen sulfide is detected by the hydrogen sulfide sensor 11. The control unit 21 may also store the detection result of the hydrogen sulfide sensor 11 for immediate or future use, or transmit it to a server or a blockchain network. If the control unit 21 detects that the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4 has broken through, as described above, it may output a notification to notify the user of this.

[0031] As described above, it is preferable to start air circulation by operating the blower 5 in conjunction with the detection of hydrogen sulfide, but this does not apply when the battery cell 2 is stopped for an extended period of time. In other words, if the air circulation by the blower 5 is stopped while the battery cell 2 is stopped for an extended period of time and the hydrogen sulfide concentration in the housing 3 increases for some reason, sparks or heat generated when the battery cell 2 is started may become an ignition source and cause the hydrogen sulfide to burn. In consideration of this possibility, it is preferable that the air circulation by the blower 5 be started at the latest before the battery cell 2 is started. From this perspective, it is also preferable to provide a separate, independent power source for driving the blower 5, as described above.

[0032] Furthermore, detection of whether or not hydrogen sulfide is being generated within the housing 3 does not have to be performed constantly, but may be performed periodically or as needed. Note that, when two or more hydrogen sulfide sensors 11 are used as described above, one hydrogen sulfide sensor 11 may perform detection constantly, and the other hydrogen sulfide sensor 11 may perform detection only when the other hydrogen sulfide sensor 11 detects hydrogen sulfide. In this way, even if the detection result of one hydrogen sulfide sensor 11 is erroneous, the correct detection result can be obtained by the other hydrogen sulfide sensor 11.

[0033] On the other hand, if suppression of corrosion due to hydrogen sulfide is a priority, air circulation by the blower 5 may be performed independently of hydrogen sulfide detection by the hydrogen sulfide sensor 11. For example, even if hydrogen sulfide is generated at a concentration of less than 1 ppm, it is difficult to detect it with an inexpensive hydrogen sulfide sensor. However, even such a low concentration of hydrogen sulfide can corrode the materials of the battery cell 2. Therefore, regardless of the detection result of the hydrogen sulfide sensor 11, the blower 5 may operate periodically or constantly to circulate the air inside the housing 3 while circulating it through the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4. This allows the hydrogen sulfide concentration inside the housing 3 to be maintained low, thereby suppressing corrosion of the materials of the battery cell 2 and its accessories.

[0034] Hydrogen sulfide is generated due to an abnormality in the battery cell 2. While the amount of hydrogen sulfide generated may be small in the early stages of the abnormality, it may increase rapidly over time. Therefore, the hydrogen sulfide generated from the early stages of the abnormality may cause the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4 to deteriorate. Even if a large amount of hydrogen sulfide is generated, it may not be possible to remove it completely, resulting in an increase in the hydrogen sulfide concentration in the housing 3. To prepare for such a situation, or simply for backup purposes, this embodiment may also include multiple hydrogen sulfide removal units 4 and multiple air blowers 4. In this case, the multiple air blowers 4 may be independently operated by the control unit 21. For example, if the hydrogen sulfide sensor 11 detects that the hydrogen sulfide concentration in the housing 3 has suddenly increased and exceeded a threshold value, the air blowers 4 to be operated can be switched to ensure hydrogen sulfide removal, thereby introducing hydrogen sulfide-containing gas into a different hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4. The number of air blowers 4 to be operated may be increased or decreased depending on the hydrogen sulfide concentration detected by the hydrogen sulfide sensor 11. On the other hand, even if hydrogen sulfide is generated due to an abnormality in the battery cell 2, the conditions inside the casing 3 (presence or absence of coexisting gases, temperature, humidity, etc.) may not always be the same. For this reason, it is preferable that the multiple hydrogen sulfide removal units 4 be of different types (i.e., characteristics), which makes it possible to select and use a hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4 with the optimum characteristics depending on the situation at the time.

[0035] The control unit 21 may be physically separated from the housing 3 as shown in the figure, or may be directly attached to the housing 3. Furthermore, when a battery pack is made up of a plurality of battery modules 1, a control unit 21 does not have to be provided for each battery module 1; for example, one control unit 21 may be provided for the plurality of battery modules 1. In other words, one control unit 21 may function as a control unit that controls the plurality of battery modules 1. In other words, a battery pack may be made up of a plurality of battery modules 1 and one control unit 21.

[0036] (Third embodiment) 3 is a schematic diagram of a battery module according to a third embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is a modification of the second embodiment, and differs from the second embodiment in that the pressure inside the housing is adjustable. The following description will focus on the differences from the second embodiment.

[0037] When the housing 3 is sealed, there is almost no possibility of the battery cells 2 coming into contact with the outside air. However, there is a concern that the internal pressure of the housing 3 may increase or decrease in some cases. An increase in internal pressure may occur, for example, when the temperature inside the housing 3 increases due to heat generation by the battery cells 2 or an increase in the outside air temperature, or when gases such as hydrogen sulfide are generated by the battery cells 2. A decrease in internal pressure may occur when the temperature inside the housing 3 decreases due to a decrease in the outside air temperature. To address such changes in internal pressure, the battery module 1 of this embodiment includes a pressure sensor 12 that detects the pressure inside the housing 3 and a pressure adjustment unit 22 that is controlled by the control unit 21 based on the detection result of the pressure sensor 12 and adjusts the pressure inside the housing 3. This prevents excessive increases or decreases in the internal pressure of the housing 3. Furthermore, the output of the battery cells 2 may be adjusted based on the detection result of the pressure sensor 12. For example, the output of at least some of the battery cells 2 may be limited or stopped when the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 12 falls outside a predetermined range.

[0038] The pressure sensor 12 is not particularly limited, and known pressure sensors such as resistive film type, capacitance type, piezoelectric element type, photoelectric type, and MEMS (MicroElectroMechanical Systems) type can be used. The position of the pressure sensor 12 is not limited to the position shown in the figure, as long as it can detect the pressure inside the housing 3. The detection result of the pressure sensor 12 may be stored in the control unit 21 for immediate or future use, or may be transmitted to a server or a blockchain network via the control unit 21.

[0039] The pressure adjustment unit 22 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include an electric valve, a solenoid valve, a relief valve, a compressor, a gas cylinder, and an accumulator. The pressure adjustment unit 22 can be classified into two types: one that releases the internal pressure of the housing 3 and one that pressurizes the housing 3. The former is suitable when gases such as hydrogen sulfide are generated from the battery cells 2 and the internal pressure of the housing 3 increases; however, there is a concern that the hydrogen sulfide in the housing 3 may leak to the outside when the pressure is released. Therefore, when using a pressure adjustment unit 22 that releases the internal pressure of the housing 3, it is preferable that a hydrogen sulfide removal unit similar to the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4 is provided at the pressure outlet. On the other hand, the pressure adjustment unit 22 that pressurizes the housing 3 is advantageous in that it not only prevents a decrease in the internal pressure of the housing 3 but also increases the pressure inside the housing 3 when hydrogen sulfide is generated from the battery cells 2, thereby reducing the amount of hydrogen sulfide released from the battery cells 2. To increase the pressure inside the housing 3, outside air may be introduced into the housing 3 via the pressure adjustment unit 22. In this case, the pressure adjusting unit 22 is preferably provided with a filtering means for removing components (e.g., moisture and oxygen) other than the non-reactive gas contained in the outside air, thereby further reducing the amount of hydrogen sulfide released from the battery cell 2. Examples of such filtering means include a moisture removal column, a moisture removal filter, a breathable waterproof sheet, an oxygen removal column, and a nitrogen permeable membrane. The pressure adjusting unit 22 may also be a combination of the two types described above (e.g., an electric valve and a compressor), or an integrated unit, thereby making it possible to adjust the pressure inside the housing 3 to an appropriate pressure depending on the situation. The number of pressure adjusting units 22 is not limited to one as shown in the figure, and may be multiple.

[0040] (Fourth embodiment) 4 is a schematic diagram of a battery module according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is a modification of the second embodiment, and differs from the second embodiment in that some additional configurations are added. The following description will focus on the differences from the second embodiment.

[0041] As described above, even if the flammable gas hydrogen sulfide is generated inside the housing 3, combustion of the hydrogen sulfide will not occur unless its concentration reaches the flammable range. On the other hand, no matter what the concentration of hydrogen sulfide is, combustion of the hydrogen sulfide will not occur unless the oxygen concentration inside the housing 3 exceeds the limit oxygen concentration of hydrogen sulfide. Therefore, in this embodiment, an oxygen remover 23 is provided at the outlet 4b of the hydrogen sulfide remover 4 to remove oxygen from the air circulating inside the housing 3 and thereby reduce the oxygen concentration inside the housing 3.

[0042] The oxygen remover 23 is not particularly limited, and a known oxygen remover commonly used for removing oxygen can be used. Examples of such removers include metal-based oxygen adsorbents containing iron, copper, nickel, and the like, and organic oxygen adsorbents containing vitamin C, and the like. The location of the oxygen remover 23 is not limited to the location shown in the figure as long as it is located within the housing 3. For example, it may be located at the inlet 4a of the hydrogen sulfide remover 4. The oxygen remover 23 may also be structurally and functionally integrated with the hydrogen sulfide remover 4, thereby reducing the number of parts and facilitating replacement due to deterioration. Alternatively, the oxygen remover 23 may be provided separately from the hydrogen sulfide remover 4. Accordingly, a blower similar to the blower 4 may be provided at any location within the housing 3, including the interior of the oxygen remover 23 (e.g., at the inlet or outlet of the oxygen remover 23). This allows only the blower 4 attached to the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4 to be operated when only hydrogen sulfide is to be removed, and only the blower 4 attached to the oxygen removal unit 23 to be operated when only oxygen is to be removed, making it possible to respond according to the state of the battery cell 2.

[0043] Furthermore, for the reasons described above, in this embodiment, it is preferable to monitor the oxygen concentration inside the housing 3. For this purpose, it is preferable that the battery module 1 has an oxygen sensor 13 that detects the oxygen concentration inside the housing 3. In this case, the control unit 21 may control the output of the blower 5 based on the detection result of the oxygen sensor 13. That is, the output of the blower 5 may be controlled to adjust the flow rate of air circulating inside the housing 3, i.e., the amount of air flowing into the oxygen remover 21, so that the oxygen concentration detected by the oxygen sensor 13 becomes less than the limit oxygen concentration of hydrogen sulfide. Furthermore, the output of the battery cells 2 may be controlled based on the detection result of the oxygen sensor 13. For example, if the oxygen concentration detected by the oxygen sensor 13 becomes equal to or greater than the limit oxygen concentration of hydrogen sulfide, or if there is a possibility that it will become equal to or greater than a predetermined value that is less than the limit oxygen concentration, the output of at least some of the battery cells 2 may be limited or stopped for safety reasons.

[0044] The oxygen sensor 13 is not particularly limited, and any known oxygen sensor such as a zirconia type, electrochemical type, magnetic type, optical type, laser spectroscopy type, or yellow phosphorus luminescence type can be used. The location of the oxygen sensor 13 is not limited to the location shown in the figure, as long as it can detect the oxygen concentration inside the housing 3. The detection result of the oxygen sensor 13 may be stored in the control unit 21 for immediate or future use, or may be transmitted to a server or a blockchain network via the control unit 21.

[0045] The problem of an increase in the concentration of hydrogen sulfide inside the housing 3 would not occur if hydrogen sulfide were not generated in the first place. To suppress this generation, it is preferable to lower the temperature inside the housing 3. However, an excessively low temperature inside the housing 3 is undesirable because it may degrade the performance of the battery cells 2. Therefore, the battery module 1 may include a temperature sensor 14 that detects the temperature inside the housing 3 and a temperature adjustment unit 24 that is controlled by the control unit 21 based on the detection result of the temperature sensor 14 and adjusts the air temperature inside the housing 3. This prevents the temperature inside the housing 3 from increasing and generating hydrogen sulfide even when the battery cells 2 generate heat, and prevents the performance of the battery cells 2 from deteriorating as the temperature inside the housing 3 decreases even when the outside air temperature decreases. Furthermore, the output of at least some of the battery cells 2 may be adjusted based on the detection result of the temperature sensor 14. For example, the output of at least some of the battery cells 2 may be limited or stopped when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 14 falls outside a predetermined range.

[0046] The temperature sensor 14 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a known temperature sensor, such as a contact or non-contact type. Examples of contact temperature sensors include a thermocouple, a resistance temperature detector, and a thermistor, while examples of non-contact temperature sensors include a radiation thermometer. The location of the temperature sensor 14 is not limited to the location shown in the figure, as long as it can detect the temperature inside the housing 3. In the example shown in the figure, only one temperature sensor 14 is installed in the housing 3, but multiple temperature sensors 14 may be installed. In that case, a temperature sensor 14 may be installed near each battery cell 2. The detection results of the temperature sensor 14 may be stored in the control unit 21 for immediate or future use, or may be transmitted to a server or a blockchain network via the control unit 21.

[0047] The temperature adjustment unit 24 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a combination of a known cooling device such as an air-cooled, water-cooled, or refrigerant-type device with a known heating device such as an electric heating or heat pump-type device. In the illustrated example, the temperature adjustment unit 24 is provided outside the housing 3 to indirectly adjust the temperature of the battery cells 2 via the housing 3, but the location of the temperature adjustment unit 24 is not limited to this and may be, for example, inside the housing 3.

[0048] It is preferable that the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4 be replaced with a new one periodically or according to usage conditions, and when a predetermined replacement time arrives or replacement is necessary, a notification to notify the user is preferably output from the control unit 21. For example, when a battery pack including the battery module 1 is used in an electric vehicle or a stationary storage battery, the notification is preferably output as a signal that appeals to the user's five senses, such as sight and hearing. Furthermore, when replacing the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4, it is preferable that an identifier 25 containing its own identification information is assigned to the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4, in order to confirm whether the new unit satisfies predetermined usage conditions, such as whether it is a genuine product and its expiration date has not passed.

[0049] The identifier 25 is not particularly limited and may be, for example, an information storage medium such as a wireless tag, or a code such as a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code. Preferably, the identifier 25 is a code, and more preferably, a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark). Accordingly, the control unit 21 is provided with a function for communicating with a reader (not shown) that reads identification information from the identifier 25 and acquiring the reading results. It is preferable that the information necessary for identifying a genuine product is recorded. Based on the acquired identification information, the control unit 21 can determine whether the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4 satisfies predetermined usage conditions. If the control unit 21 determines that the replaced hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4 does not satisfy the predetermined usage conditions, the control unit 21 notifies the user and may disable output from at least some of the battery cells 2. The control unit 21 may transmit the acquired identification information of the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4, the determination result, the usage status of the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4, and the like, to a server or a blockchain network. In addition, the reading result of the identifier 25 by the reading device may be sent to a server or blockchain network rather than to the control unit 21, where the above-mentioned judgment is made and the judgment result may be sent to the control unit 21.

[0050] Preferably, the control unit 21 directly acquires the usage status (e.g., usage time) of all devices with which it communicates (e.g., the air blower 5, sensors 11, 13, and 14), and thereby indirectly acquires the usage status of devices that are not the target of communication (e.g., the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4 and the oxygen removal unit 23). Furthermore, the control unit 21 may have a function to predict the lifespan of the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4 based on the acquired usage status in order to appropriately determine when the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4 needs to be replaced (its lifespan). Alternatively, in addition to this, the control unit 21 may have a function to transmit the acquired usage status to a server or a blockchain network to enable an external management device to predict the lifespan of the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4. The acquired usage status and the lifespan prediction results are preferably notified to the user by the control unit 21 or the external management device as needed, thereby enabling planned replacement of the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4 according to the lifespan prediction. As a result, it is possible to reduce the possibility of increased maintenance costs due to unnecessary early replacement or serious malfunctions due to unnecessary failure. Furthermore, such a lifespan prediction is advantageous in that it eliminates the need to carry out inspection work to determine when to replace the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4, thereby reducing inspection costs, including labor costs. A program or artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to predict the lifespan of the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4, but from the perspective of prediction accuracy, it is preferable to use AI.

[0051] The timing at which the control unit 21 acquires and transmits the usage status of each device is not particularly limited. For example, the acquisition may be periodically, automatically according to predetermined conditions, or irregularly, such as by remote control from an external device. This allows for more accurate understanding of the usage status of each device. However, if similar data transmission is also being performed from other battery packs including the battery module 1, it is preferable that the acquisition timing does not overlap with these transmissions, thereby ensuring reliable data transmission without congesting communication lines or servers. Note that the control unit 21 is preferably powered by a power source independent of the battery cells 2, so that data transmission can be reliably performed even if the output of the battery cells 2 must be stopped.

[0052] The above-described lifespan prediction enables planned replacement of the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4. However, depending on the usage environment (region) of the battery pack including the battery module 1 and the manufacturing status of the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4, new or unused hydrogen sulfide removal units 4 may not be available at the time when the end of the lifespan is predicted. That is, if demand for hydrogen sulfide removal units 4 is concentrated in a particular region and a supply shortage occurs as a result, new or unused hydrogen sulfide removal units 4 may not be available in a planned manner. To avoid this, the control unit 21 preferably has a function for acquiring location information and transmitting the location information, along with the usage status of each device, to a server or a blockchain network. This allows an external management device to predict in advance the number and timing of hydrogen sulfide removal units 4 required in each region, and based on this, it is possible to secure an optimal number of hydrogen sulfide removal units 4 in stock for each region. The external management device may also notify the user of the optimal source for purchasing hydrogen sulfide removal units 4. As a result, hydrogen sulfide removal units 4 can be obtained when and where they are needed, enabling planned replacement of hydrogen sulfide removal units 4.

[0053] The above description of the lifespan prediction for the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4 applies to all communication target devices whose usage status is directly acquired by the control unit 21, as well as other devices whose usage status is indirectly acquired (such as the oxygen removal unit 23). After replacing components, including the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4, it is preferable to collect the replaced components and analyze their deterioration status. This improves the accuracy of the lifespan prediction for each component. For example, by collecting and analyzing the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4, the amount of hydrogen sulfide generated during use can be determined. Then, by comparing the amount of hydrogen sulfide generated with previously acquired usage status, data on the conditions and frequency of abnormalities in the battery cell 2 can be obtained. Based on the obtained data, the accuracy of the lifespan prediction for the hydrogen sulfide removal unit 4 can be improved. Such data may be used to anticipate potential problems when commercializing new types of batteries.

[0054] It goes without saying that the configurations described in the third embodiment can also be applied to this embodiment. In this case, in this embodiment, when oxygen is removed from the housing 3 by the oxygen remover 23, the volume of air in the housing 3 decreases, and as a result, the pressure in the housing 3 may decrease. For this reason, it is preferable to use a type of pressure adjuster 22 that pressurizes the inside of the housing 3, thereby adjusting the pressure in the housing 3 to an appropriate pressure. That is, for example, the pressure in the housing 3 can be adjusted to an appropriate pressure by compensating for the reduced volume of air using a compressor or a gas cylinder filled with an inert gas.

[0055] In the above-described embodiment, the battery containing body of the present invention is exemplified as a battery containing battery cells to form a battery module, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a battery pack may be formed by containing a battery module (i.e., modularized battery cells) in the battery containing body of the present invention, or a battery pack may be formed by containing non-modularized battery cells. In this sense, the battery modules exemplified in this specification can also be said to be moduleless battery packs. Note that the battery module contained in the battery containing body of the present invention is not limited to a battery module in which battery cells are simply contained in a housing, but may also be a battery module in which battery cells are contained in the battery containing body of the present invention. In this case, the provision of a dual hydrogen sulfide removal section (active gas removal section) further enhances the safety of the battery pack. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1 Battery Module 2 battery cells 3. Housing 4 Hydrogen sulfide removal section (active gas removal section) 4a (Hydrogen sulfide removal section) inlet 4b (Hydrogen sulfide removal section) outlet 5. Blower 11 Hydrogen sulfide sensor (gas sensor) 12 Pressure Sensor 13 Oxygen sensor 14 Temperature Sensor 21 Control section 22 Pressure adjustment section 23 Oxygen removal section 24 Temperature adjustment section 25 Identifiers

Claims

1. a housing that houses the battery cells; an active gas removal unit provided within the housing and configured to remove active gas generated from the battery cell; a blower section provided within the housing for circulating gas within the housing while causing the gas to flow through the active gas removal section.

2. The battery containing body according to claim 1 , further comprising a control unit that controls the air blower.

3. a gas sensor for detecting the presence or concentration of the active gas in the housing; The battery containing body according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit activates the blower when the active gas is detected by the gas sensor.

4. 3. The battery containing body according to claim 2, further comprising: a pressure sensor that detects the pressure inside the housing; and a pressure adjusting unit that is controlled by the control unit based on a detection result of the pressure sensor and adjusts the pressure inside the housing.

5. The battery containing body according to claim 1 , wherein the active gas is a flammable gas.

6. a gas sensor for detecting the presence or concentration of the active gas within the housing; 6. The battery containing body according to claim 5, further comprising: a control unit that controls the blower to adjust the flow rate of the circulating gas so that the concentration of the combustible gas detected by the gas sensor is less than a lower combustion limit value.

7. The battery containing body according to claim 5 , further comprising an oxygen removing section provided in the housing and configured to remove oxygen from the circulating gas.

8. an oxygen sensor for detecting an oxygen concentration within the housing; 8. The battery containing body according to claim 7, further comprising: a control unit that controls the blower to adjust the flow rate of the circulating gas so that the oxygen concentration detected by the oxygen sensor is less than a limit oxygen concentration of the combustible gas.

9. an identifier including identification information of the active gas removal unit is assigned to the active gas removal unit; The battery containing body according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit determines whether or not the active gas removal unit satisfies a predetermined condition based on the identification information read from the identifier.

10. 3. The battery containing body according to claim 2, further comprising: a temperature sensor that detects a temperature inside the housing; and a temperature adjustment unit that is controlled by the control unit based on a detection result of the temperature sensor and adjusts the temperature inside the housing.

11. The battery containing body according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit predicts the life of the active gas removal unit based on at least a usage status of the air blower unit.

12. The battery containing body according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit acquires position information and transmits the acquired position information and at least a usage status of the blower unit to an outside.

13. The battery containing body according to any one of claims 1 to 12; a battery cell housed in the housing of the battery housing body.

14. The battery module according to claim 13; a control unit that controls the battery module.

15. the battery containing body has a gas sensor that detects the presence of the active gas in the housing, The battery pack according to claim 14 , wherein the control unit limits or stops the output of the battery cell when the active gas is detected by the gas sensor.

16. the battery containing body has at least one of a temperature sensor that detects a temperature inside the housing and an oxygen sensor that detects an oxygen concentration inside the housing, The battery pack according to claim 14 , wherein the control unit adjusts an output of the battery cell based on a detection result of at least one of the temperature sensor and the oxygen sensor.

17. an identifier including identification information of the active gas removal unit is assigned to the active gas removal unit; 15. The battery pack according to claim 14, wherein the control unit determines whether the active gas removal unit satisfies a predetermined condition based on the identification information read from the identifier, and does not output the battery cell if it determines that the active gas removal unit does not satisfy the predetermined condition.

18. the battery containing body has a pressure sensor that detects the pressure inside the housing, The battery pack according to claim 14 , wherein the control unit adjusts an output of the battery based on a detection result of the pressure sensor.

19. a housing that houses the battery module; an active gas removal unit provided in the housing and configured to remove active gas generated from the battery module; a blower section provided within the housing for circulating gas within the housing while causing the gas to flow through the active gas removal section.

20. The battery containing body according to claim 19; a battery module accommodated in the housing of the battery containing body; a control unit that controls the battery module.

21. 21. The battery pack according to claim 20, wherein the battery module is the battery module according to claim 13.

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