Power storage device

Abstract

To provide a power storage device capable of suppressing generation of dew condensation water in a case housing a cooler.SOLUTION: The power storage device 100 includes a power storage module 110, a case 140 housing the power storage module 110, a cooler 120 housed in the case 140, and a seal member 130. Cooler 120 includes an upper surface 125 in thermal contact with power storage module 110, and a lower surface 126 spaced apart from case 140. The seal member 130 is disposed at a position that prevents water vapor present in the S2 of the space inside the case 140 from coming into contact with the lower surface 126.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electricity storage device. [Background technology]

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2021-111520 (Patent Document 1) discloses a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells, a cooler for cooling the plurality of battery cells, and a partition wall sandwiched between the plurality of battery cells and the cooler. The plurality of battery cells, the cooler, and the partition wall are housed in a battery pack case. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-111520 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the battery pack (electricity storage device) described in Patent Document 1, if water vapor flows close to the cooler inside the battery pack case, the water vapor may be cooled, causing condensation to form.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide an energy storage device that can suppress the generation of condensation water inside a case that houses a cooler. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an energy storage device including an energy storage module, a case for accommodating the energy storage module, a cooler accommodated in the case, and a sealing member. The cooler includes a first surface in thermal contact with the energy storage module and a second surface disposed opposite the first surface and spaced apart from the case. The sealing member is positioned to prevent water vapor present in the interior space of the case from contacting the second surface.

[0007] In the electricity storage device according to one aspect of the present disclosure, as described above, the sealing member is disposed at a position that prevents water vapor present in the internal space of the case from contacting the second surface. This makes it possible to prevent the water vapor in the internal space of the case from being cooled by the second surface. As a result, it is possible to prevent condensation from forming inside the case that houses the cooler.

[0008] The sealing member may be disposed between the case and the power storage module and formed in a ring shape along the outer periphery of the cooler. With this configuration, the sealing member is formed in a ring shape along the outer periphery of the cooler, thereby preventing water vapor inside the case from flowing beyond the sealing member to the second surface of the cooler.

[0009] The sealing member may be a heat insulating member that contacts and covers the second surface. With this configuration, the heat insulating member can prevent water vapor near the second surface from contacting the second surface. Furthermore, the heat insulating member suppresses heat transfer from the second surface to water vapor near the second surface. As a result, water vapor near the second surface can be prevented from turning into condensed water.

[0010] The seal may be formed of a closed-cell sponge, which can prevent water vapor from passing through the seal compared to when the cells in the seal are connected.

[0011] The cooler may include a refrigerant flow path through which the refrigerant flows. The refrigerant may be insulating oil. With this configuration, even if the refrigerant leaks from the cooler, the insulation of the power storage device can be ensured (a short circuit through the refrigerant can be suppressed). [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress the generation of condensation water inside a case that houses a cooler. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the electricity storage device and a frame member according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of an electricity storage device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an electricity storage device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the vicinity of the seal member in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an electricity storage device according to a first modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an electricity storage device according to a second modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of an electricity storage device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an electricity storage device according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] The present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same or corresponding elements are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0015] [First embodiment] A power storage device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The power storage device 100 according to the first embodiment is, for example, a power storage device mounted on a vehicle. In this specification, the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction are directions that are perpendicular to one another. For example, the X direction and Y direction are the front-to-rear direction and the width direction of the vehicle when the power storage device 100 is mounted on the vehicle, respectively. The X1 direction and X2 direction are the front and rear of the vehicle, respectively. The Y1 direction and Y2 direction are the left and right sides of the vehicle, respectively. The Z direction is the up-down (vertical) direction.

[0016] 1, the power storage device 100 is attached to a frame member 900 provided at the bottom of a vehicle (not shown). Examples of vehicles in which the power storage device 100 may be installed include hybrid electric vehicles (HVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles), and battery electric vehicles (Battery Electric Vehicles).

[0017] The power storage device 100 is disposed inside (inside the frame of) the frame member 900. The power storage device 100 includes four power storage modules 110. The number of power storage modules 110 is not limited to four.

[0018] The four energy storage modules 110 are arranged side by side in the Y direction. Each energy storage module 110 includes a plurality of (for example, 50) energy storage cells 110a. The plurality of energy storage cells 110a in each energy storage module 110 are arranged in the X direction. For simplification, only some of the energy storage cells 110a are shown in FIG. 1. For simplification, the energy storage module 110 is illustrated in this specification as a rectangular parallelepiped that is long in the X direction. The configuration of the energy storage module 110 is not limited to the above example.

[0019] 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the energy storage device 100. In addition to the energy storage modules 110, the energy storage device 100 includes a cooler 120 and a sealing member 130. The cooler 120 and the sealing member 130 are each disposed below (on the Z2 side of) each energy storage module 110. Note that each of the cooler 120 and the sealing member 130 may be provided across four energy storage modules 110.

[0020] The cooler 120 is disposed above the seal member 130. In other words, the cooler 120 is disposed between the power storage module 110 and the seal member 130.

[0021] The cooler 120 includes an inlet port 121, a main body 122, and an outlet port 123. Inside the main body 122, a refrigerant flow path 124 is formed through which a refrigerant flows.

[0022] The refrigerant flows into the cooler 120 from the inlet port 121. The refrigerant that flows into the inlet port 121 flows through the refrigerant flow path 124. The refrigerant that flows through the refrigerant flow path 124 flows out of the cooler 120 from the outlet port 123. In FIG. 2, the flow of the refrigerant is indicated by dashed arrows.

[0023] In the first embodiment, the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow path 124 is insulating oil. For example, paraffin-based insulating oil may be used as the refrigerant. However, the type of insulating oil is not limited to this example.

[0024] The seal member 130 is formed in an annular shape. Specifically, the seal member 130 has a first portion 131 and a second portion 132. The seal member 130 extends circumferentially from the first portion 131 to the second portion 132. That is, the first portion 131 includes one end of the seal member 130 in the circumferential direction. The second portion includes the other end of the seal member 130 in the circumferential direction. The first portion 131 and the second portion 132 each extend in the X direction.

[0025] The first portion 131 and the second portion 132 are provided at the same position in the circumferential direction of the seal member 130. That is, the first portion 131 and the second portion 132 overlap in a direction intersecting (orthogonal to) the circumferential direction (hereinafter referred to as the intersecting direction, the Y direction in FIG. 2).

[0026] The sealing member 130 has a third portion 133 extending in the X direction and a connecting portion 134. The connecting portion 134 connects the third portion 133 and the second portion 132. The position of the third portion 133 in the Y direction is the same as the position of the first portion 131 in the Y direction. The connecting portion 134 is inclined so as to extend toward the Y1 side as it approaches the X1 side.

[0027] The first portion 131 and the second portion 132 are adjacent to each other in the Y direction. A gap C is formed between the first portion 131 and the second portion 132. This allows condensation water generated inside the seal member 130 to be discharged to the outside of the seal member 130 through the gap C.

[0028] 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the energy storage device 100 taken along the Y direction. The energy storage device 100 further includes a case 140, a thermally conductive material 150, and a plurality of cross members 160. The cross members 160 are disposed between the energy storage modules 110 adjacent to each other in the Y direction. Each cross member 160 extends in the X direction along the energy storage module 110.

[0029] Each cross member 160 has a hat shape in the cross section shown in FIG. 3. Specifically, the cross member 160 has an upper end surface portion 161, a pair of side surfaces 162, and a pair of flanges 163. The upper end surface portion 161 is perpendicular to the Z direction. One and the other of the pair of side surfaces 162 extend downward from the Y1-side end and the Y2-side end of the upper end surface portion 161, respectively. One of the pair of flanges 163 on the Y1 side extends toward the Y1 side from the lower end of the Y1-side side surface portion 162. One of the pair of flanges 163 on the Y2 side extends toward the Y2 side from the lower end of the Y2-side side surface portion 162.

[0030] Each of the pair of flange portions 163 is in contact (surface contact) with the lower case 141, which will be described later. That is, each cross member 160 is supported from below by the lower case 141. Furthermore, a portion 163a of each flange portion 163 near the end opposite the side surface portion 162 is located below the energy storage module 110. Note that the term "near the end" includes both the end and a portion near the end.

[0031] Case 140 includes lower case 141 and upper cover 142. Case 140 houses power storage module 110, cooler 120, and sealing member 130. By housing cooler 120 in case 140, power storage module 110 inside case 140 can be cooled more efficiently than when cooler 120 is disposed outside case 140.

[0032] The lower case 141 is disposed below the power storage module 110, the cooler 120, and the sealing member 130. The lower case 141 covers the power storage module 110, the cooler 120, and the sealing member 130 from below.

[0033] The upper cover 142 is disposed above the power storage module 110, the cooler 120, and the seal member 130. The upper cover 142 covers the power storage module 110, the cooler 120, and the seal member 130 from above.

[0034] Cooler 120 includes an upper surface 125 and a lower surface 126. Lower surface 126 is a surface located on the opposite side of upper surface 125. Lower surface 126 is located at a position separated from lower case 141. That is, a space S1 is formed between lower surface 126 and lower case 141. This makes it possible to suppress a decrease in the cooling efficiency of power storage module 110 by cooler 120 compared to when cooler 120 and lower case 141 are in contact with each other. Furthermore, a portion of lower surface 126 of cooler 120 is exposed. Note that upper surface 125 and lower surface 126 are examples of a "first surface" and a "second surface," respectively, in the present disclosure.

[0035] The thermally conductive material 150 is sandwiched between the power storage module 110 and the cooler 120. Specifically, the thermally conductive material 150 is in contact with the lower surface 111 of the power storage module 110 and the upper surface 125 of the cooler 120. In other words, the upper surface 125 of the cooler 120 is in thermal contact with the power storage module 110. The thermally conductive material 150 may be a thermally conductive adhesive.

[0036] In a conventional electricity storage device, if water vapor flows close to the cooler inside the case, the water vapor may be cooled, causing condensation to form.

[0037] Therefore, in the first embodiment, the sealing member 130 is disposed at a position that prevents water vapor present in the internal space of the case 140 from contacting the lower surface 126 of the cooler 120. Specifically, the sealing member 130 is disposed at a position that prevents water vapor present in a space S2 other than the space S1 in the internal space of the case 140 from contacting the lower surface 126. The space S2 is an example of the "internal space" in the present disclosure.

[0038] The sealing member 130 is disposed between the lower case 141 and the power storage module 110. The sealing member 130 is disposed between the lower case 141 and the cooler 120. The sealing member 130 is formed in an annular shape (see FIG. 2) along the outer circumferential edge 127 of the cooler 120 (main body 122).

[0039] Specifically, the seal member 130 covers the outer peripheral edge 127 of the cooler 120 from below (Z2 side). In other words, the upper surface 135 of the seal member 130 contacts the portion of the lower surface 126 of the cooler 120 that corresponds to the outer peripheral edge 127 from below.

[0040] The seal member 130 is in contact with the flange portion 163 of the cross member 160. Specifically, the lower surface 136 of the seal member 130 is in contact with the portion 163a of the flange portion 163 from above. The seal member 130 is sandwiched in the vertical direction between the outer peripheral edge 127 of the cooler 120 and the flange portion 163 (portion 163a) of the cross member 160. As a result, the seal member 130 shields (isolates) the space S1 from the space S2. The lower surface 136 of the seal member 130 may be in contact with the lower case 141.

[0041] Fig. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the vicinity of the sealing member 130 in Fig. 3. The sealing member 130 is formed of a closed-cell sponge. Specifically, the sealing member 130 includes a rubber sponge 130a. A plurality of cells 130b are formed inside the rubber sponge 130a. Adjacent cells 130b are not connected to each other. In other words, each of the plurality of cells 130b is independent of one another.

[0042] Furthermore, since the seal member 130 is made of rubber sponge 130a, it is elastically deformable. As a result, an upper surface 135 of the seal member 130 and an outer peripheral edge 127 of the cooler 120 are in close contact with each other. Furthermore, a lower surface 136 of the seal member 130 and a portion 163a of the flange portion 163 are in close contact with each other. Note that close contact means that the surfaces of the two are in contact with each other without any gaps.

[0043] This allows the seal member 130 to be elastically deformed to accommodate variations in the height position of the cooler 120 (outer peripheral edge 127) and variations in the thickness (thickness in the Z direction) of the flange portion 163. As a result, it is possible to prevent water vapor from passing between the seal member 130 and the outer peripheral edge 127 (flange portion 163).

[0044] As described above, in the first embodiment, the seal member 130 is disposed at a position that prevents water vapor present in the space S2 of the case 140 from contacting the lower surface 126 of the cooler 120. Specifically, the seal member 130 is disposed between the case 140 and the power storage module 110, and is formed in a ring shape along the outer circumferential edge 127 of the cooler 120. This causes the space S1 below the lower surface 126 of the cooler 120 to be surrounded by the seal member 130, thereby making it possible to prevent water vapor from flowing into the space S1. As a result, it is possible to prevent water vapor from contacting the lower surface 126 of the cooler 120.

[0045] [First Modification of the First Embodiment] 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a power storage device 200 according to a first modification of the first embodiment. The power storage device 200 differs from the first embodiment in that it includes a seal member 230 instead of the seal member 130 of the first embodiment.

[0046] The sealing member 230 has an upper surface 235 and a lower surface 236. The sealing member 230 is sandwiched in the vertical direction between the power storage module 110 and the lower case 141. Specifically, the upper surface 235 of the sealing member 230 contacts the lower surface 111 of the power storage module 110. The lower surface 236 of the sealing member 230 contacts the portion 163a of the flange portion 163.

[0047] The seal member 230 surrounds the cooler 120 (main body 122) from the side. In other words, the seal member 230 surrounds the cooler 120 (main body 122) when viewed from the Z2 side, for example. An inner circumferential surface 231 of the seal member 230 may be in contact with the outer circumferential surface 128 of the cooler 120 (main body 122).

[0048] [Second Modification of the First Embodiment] 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a power storage device 300 according to a second modification of the first embodiment. The power storage device 300 differs from the first embodiment in that it includes a seal member 330 instead of the seal member 130 of the first embodiment.

[0049] The seal member 330 includes an inner portion 331 and an outer portion 332. The inner portion 331 is adjacent to the outer portion 332 in the Y direction. The inner portion 331 is formed integrally with the outer portion 332. The inner portion 331 is sandwiched in the vertical direction between the outer peripheral edge 127 of the cooler 120 and the portion 163a of the flange portion 163. The outer portion 332 is sandwiched in the vertical direction between the lower surface 111 of the power storage module 110 and the portion 163a of the flange portion 163. The outer portion 332 surrounds the cooler 120 (main body portion 122) from the side. The inner circumferential surface 332a of the outer portion 332 may be in contact with the outer circumferential surface 128 of the cooler 120 (main body portion 122).

[0050] [Second embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. A power storage device 400 of the second embodiment includes a heat insulating member 430 instead of the sealing member 130 of the first embodiment. The same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and repeated description will not be provided.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 7, the power storage device 400 includes a heat insulating member 430 provided below the cooler 120 (main body 122). The heat insulating member 430 has a flat plate shape extending in a plane along the main body 122 of the cooler 120. The heat insulating member 430 may be made of, for example, foamed resin. The heat insulating member 430 may also be made of closed-cell sponge rubber, similar to the sealing member 130 of the first embodiment. The heat insulating member 430 is an example of the "sealing member" of the present disclosure.

[0052] 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the power storage device 400 taken along the Y direction. The heat insulating member 430 is in contact with the lower surface 126 of the cooler 120. The heat insulating member 430 covers the lower surface 126. Specifically, the lower surface 126 is covered by the heat insulating member 430 without leaving any exposed portions. In other words, the heat insulating member 430 covers the entire lower surface 126. The outer peripheral edge 127 of the cooler is covered from below by the outer peripheral edge 431 of the heat insulating member 430. The heat insulating member 430 may be configured to be elastically deformable.

[0053] 8, a gap is formed between the heat insulating member 430 and the lower case 141 (flange portion 163), but the heat insulating member 430 and the lower case 141 (or flange portion 163) may be in contact with each other. Note that the heat insulating member 430 may also cover the outer peripheral surface 128 of the cooler 120.

[0054] Furthermore, by insulating the lower surface 126 of the cooler 120, the power storage module 110 can be efficiently cooled by the cooler 120. As a result, melting damage to the cooler 120 during thermal runaway of the power storage module 110 can be suppressed.

[0055] The other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore will not be described repeatedly.

[0056] In the first embodiment described above, an example has been shown in which the cooler 120 is disposed below the power storage module 110 and the sealing member 130 is provided between the cooler 120 (power storage module 110) and the lower case 141, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the cooler 120 may be disposed above the power storage module 110 and the sealing member 130 may be provided between the cooler 120 (power storage module 110) and the upper cover 142. This modification may also be applied to the second embodiment described above.

[0057] In the first and second embodiments, the refrigerant of the cooler 120 is insulating oil, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the refrigerant of the cooler 120 may be water.

[0058] The configurations of the above-described embodiment and the various modified examples may be combined with each other.

[0059] It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and should not be considered limiting. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims rather than the description of the above embodiments, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 100, 200, 300, 400 Energy storage device, 110 Energy storage module, 120 Cooler, 124 Coolant flow path, 125 Upper surface (first surface), 126 Lower surface (second surface), 127 Outer periphery, 130, 230, 330 Sealing member, 130a Rubber sponge, 130b Air bubble, 140 Case, 430 Heat insulating member (sealing member), S2 Space (internal space).

Claims

1. A storage module; a case that houses the power storage module; a cooler housed in the case; a seal member, The cooler is a first surface in thermal contact with the power storage module; a second surface disposed opposite the first surface and spaced apart from the case; The sealing member is disposed at a position that prevents water vapor present in the internal space of the case from contacting the second surface.

2. The power storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is disposed between the case and the power storage module and is formed in an annular shape along an outer periphery of the cooler.

3. The power storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is a heat insulating member that contacts the second surface and covers the second surface.

4. 3. The electricity storage device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member is formed of a closed-cell sponge.

5. the cooler includes a refrigerant flow path through which a refrigerant flows, The power storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the refrigerant is insulating oil.

Images