Fire extinguishing device and battery cell

Abstract

To provide a fire extinguishing device and a battery cell which can be retrofitted to a tabbed battery cell and can contribute to suppression of thermal chain in a unit of the battery cell.SOLUTION: The fire extinguishing device includes an insulating sheet disposed on a tab connected to an electrode on an installation surface of the electrode of the battery cell, a fire extinguishing sheet disposed on the insulating sheet and made of an alkali metal, and a fixing portion that fixes the insulating sheet and the fire extinguishing sheet in a state of being electrically insulated from each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a fire extinguishing device and a battery cell. [Background technology]

[0002] In battery cells (e.g., lithium-ion battery cells), a phenomenon known as "thermal runaway" occurs when an internal or external short circuit causes heat generation, resulting in a continuous temperature rise. Furthermore, a phenomenon known as "thermal chain reaction" occurs when vent gas generated by the vaporization of electrolyte in a battery cell is released to the outside during thermal runaway, spreading the thermal runaway to surrounding battery cells.

[0003] A known prior art technique for suppressing thermal chain reactions is the Flame Arresting Vent Port, which can be attached to the electrode surface of a battery cell. However, this technique does not take into consideration the fact that battery cells are connected in series and parallel by tabs (bus bars), and therefore cannot be attached to battery cells with tabs. Furthermore, conventionally, vent ports are often provided in battery modules or battery packs (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0004] That is, conventionally, there has been no means for suppressing thermal chain reactions that can be retrofitted to tabbed battery cells. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2024-508132 [Patent Document 2] Special Publication No. 2024-525104 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] An object of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a fire extinguishing device and a battery cell that can be retrofitted to tabbed battery cells and that can contribute to suppressing thermal chain reactions on a battery cell-by-battery cell basis. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A fire extinguishing device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an insulating sheet placed on a tab connected to an electrode on the installation surface of the electrode of a battery cell, a fire extinguishing sheet placed on the insulating sheet and composed of an alkali metal, and a fixing portion that fixes the insulating sheet and the fire extinguishing sheet in a state in which they are electrically insulated from each other.

[0008] A fire extinguishing device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a fire extinguishing sheet that is placed on a tab connected to an electrode of a battery cell on the installation surface of the electrode and is made of an insulator and an alkali metal, and a fixing portion to which the fire extinguishing sheet is fixed.

[0009] A battery cell according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes any one of the fire extinguishing devices described above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present disclosure, it can be retrofitted to tabbed battery cells, and can contribute to suppressing thermal chain reactions on a battery cell-by-battery cell basis. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a state in which a fire extinguisher according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is attached to a battery cell; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a side view schematically illustrating a state in which a fire extinguisher according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is attached to a battery cell. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a top view schematically illustrating a state in which a fire extinguisher according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is attached to a battery cell; [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a side view schematically illustrating a fire extinguisher according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a state in which a fire extinguisher according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure is attached to a battery cell. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a side view schematically illustrating a state in which a fire extinguisher according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure is attached to a battery cell. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a top view schematically illustrating a state in which a fire extinguisher according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure is attached to a battery cell. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a side view schematically illustrating a fire extinguisher according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a side view schematically illustrating a state in which a fire extinguisher according to a modification of the first embodiment of the present disclosure is attached to a battery cell. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a side view schematically illustrating a state in which a fire extinguisher according to a modification of the second embodiment of the present disclosure is attached to a battery cell. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that common components in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0013] <First Embodiment> A fire extinguisher 1 and a battery cell 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which the fire extinguisher 1 of the first embodiment is attached to a battery cell 10. FIG. 2 is a side view (viewed from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1) schematically showing a state in which the fire extinguisher 1 of the first embodiment is attached to a battery cell 10. FIG. 3 is a top view (viewed from the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1) schematically showing a state in which the fire extinguisher 1 of the first embodiment is attached to a battery cell 10. FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing the fire extinguisher 1 of the first embodiment.

[0015] The battery cell 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is, for example, a lithium-ion battery cell. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the battery cell 10 has a cylindrical shape. Although not shown, an electrode (e.g., a positive electrode) is provided on the upper surface 10a of the battery cell 10. A tab 11 is connected to this electrode. Note that, for convenience, both ends of the tab 11 are shown separated in FIGS. 1 to 3, but at least one end may be extended further than shown and connected to an electrode (not shown) of another battery cell arranged adjacently.

[0016] The fire extinguisher 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is attached to a battery cell 10 and is a device for extinguishing a fire caused by vent gas in the battery cell 10.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the fire extinguisher 1 includes an insulating sheet 2, a fire extinguishing sheet 3, and a structural material 4.

[0018] The insulating sheet 2 is a rectangular sheet member and is made of a known insulator (for example, resin, etc.). As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the insulating sheet 2 is disposed on the tab 11 on the upper surface 10a of the battery cell 10 (in other words, the surface on which the electrodes are installed). Note that in FIG. 2, for ease of understanding, the tab 11 and the insulating sheet 2 are shown separated from each other, but the tab 11 and the insulating sheet 2 may be in contact with each other.

[0019] Since the insulating sheet 2 is provided to prevent the fire-extinguishing sheet 3 from contacting the tab 11, it is preferable that the area of ​​the insulating sheet 2 be larger than that of the fire-extinguishing sheet 3.

[0020] 4, both ends of the insulating sheet 2 are fixed to the inner surface 4a of the structural material 4. Therefore, when the fire extinguisher 1 is attached to the battery cell 10, both ends of the insulating sheet 2 are located between the side surface 10b of the battery cell 10 and the inner surface 4a of the structural material 4.

[0021] The fire extinguishing sheet 3 is a rectangular sheet member made of an alkali metal, which is a substance capable of extinguishing a fire caused by vent gas. Examples of alkali metals include, but are not limited to, potassium and sodium.

[0022] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the fire extinguishing sheet 3 is placed on the insulating sheet 2. As shown in Figure 4, both ends of the fire extinguishing sheet 3 are fixed to the outer surface 4b of the structural material 4. Note that in Figures 2 and 4, for ease of understanding, the fire extinguishing sheet 3 and the insulating sheet 2 are shown separated from each other, but the fire extinguishing sheet 3 and the insulating sheet 2 may also be in contact with each other.

[0023] Methods for fixing each of the insulating sheet 2 and the fire-extinguishing sheet 3 to the structural material 4 include, but are not limited to, using a known adhesive or providing adhesive strength to both ends of each of the insulating sheet 2 and the fire-extinguishing sheet 3.

[0024] The structural material 4 is a columnar member whose top and bottom surfaces are arch-shaped (shaped like a part of a ring). The structural material 4 is made of a known material (such as plastic) that is insulating and strong.

[0025] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, two structural members 4 are used. The two structural members 4 correspond to an example of a fixing portion. Furthermore, one of the two structural members 4 corresponds to an example of a first fixing portion, and the other corresponds to an example of a second fixing portion.

[0026] As described above, both ends of the insulating sheet 2 are fixed to the inner surface 4a of the structural material 4. More specifically, one end of the insulating sheet 2 is fixed to the inner surface 4a of one structural material 4, and the other end of the insulating sheet 2 is fixed to the inner surface 4a of the other structural material 4 (see FIG. 4).

[0027] As described above, both ends of the fire extinguishing sheet 3 are fixed to the outer surface 4b of the structural material 4. More specifically, one end of the fire extinguishing sheet 3 is fixed to the outer surface 4b of one structural material 4, and the other end of the fire extinguishing sheet 3 is fixed to the outer surface 4b of the other structural material 4 (see FIG. 4).

[0028] In this way, the insulating sheet 2 and the fire-extinguishing sheet 3 are fixed to the two structural materials 4, respectively, while being electrically insulated from each other (see FIG. 4).

[0029] When the fire extinguisher 1 is attached to the battery cell 10, the two structural members 4 abut against the side surface 10b of the battery cell 10 and are arranged so as to face each other with the battery cell 10 in between (see FIGS. 1 to 3).

[0030] The fire extinguisher 1 is attached to each battery cell 10, for example, when a plurality of battery cells 10 are modularized. Therefore, by previously manufacturing a plurality of fire extinguishers 1 in the state shown in FIG. 4, the work of attaching the fire extinguishers 1 to the plurality of battery cells 10 becomes easier.

[0031] As described above, the fire extinguishing device 1 of embodiment 1 is characterized by having an insulating sheet 2 placed on a tab 11 connected to the electrode on the electrode installation surface (e.g., upper surface 10a) of the battery cell 10, a fire extinguishing sheet 3 placed on the insulating sheet 2 and made of an alkali metal, and a structural material 4 to which the insulating sheet 2 and the fire extinguishing sheet 3 are fixed while being electrically insulated from each other.

[0032] Generally, when thermal runaway occurs, fire often breaks out from the installation surface of the electrode in the direction of the vent gas ejection, but the fire extinguisher 1 of the first embodiment is provided with the fire-extinguishing sheet 3 made of alkali metal on the installation surface (upper surface 10a) of the electrode, so it can suppress (extinguish) fire caused by vent gas for each tabbed battery cell, which can contribute to suppressing thermal chain reaction.

[0033] In addition, since the insulating sheet 2 and the fire-extinguishing sheet 3 are fixed to the structural material 4 in advance, the two structural materials 4 can be easily retrofitted to the tabbed battery cell 10 by inserting them along the side surface 10b of the battery cell 10.

[0034] Even when both the positive electrode and the negative electrode are provided on the upper surface 10a of the battery cell 10, the fire suppression effect can be obtained by providing the fire extinguisher 1 of this embodiment to the battery cell 10.

[0035] <Embodiment 2> The fire extinguisher 1 and the battery cell 10 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0036] Fig. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which the fire extinguisher 1 of the second embodiment is attached to a battery cell 10. Fig. 6 is a side view (viewed from the direction of arrow A in Fig. 5) schematically showing a state in which the fire extinguisher 1 of the second embodiment is attached to a battery cell 10. Fig. 7 is a top view (viewed from the direction of arrow B in Fig. 5) schematically showing a state in which the fire extinguisher 1 of the second embodiment is attached to a battery cell 10. Fig. 8 is a side view schematically showing the fire extinguisher 1 of the second embodiment.

[0037] 5 to 8, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, so the following description will omit the description of those components and focus instead on the differences from the first embodiment.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the fire extinguisher 1 of the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it does not have the insulating sheet 2.

[0039] 5 to 8 is composed of the above-mentioned alkali metal (e.g., potassium, sodium, etc.) and a known insulator (e.g., resin, etc.). Therefore, the fire extinguishing sheet 3 of this embodiment not only functions to extinguish fire caused by vent gas, but also functions to electrically insulate from electrodes (not shown).

[0040] As shown in FIG. 8, both ends of the fire extinguishing sheet 3 are fixed to the outer surface 4b of the structural material 4, but this is not limitative and they may be fixed to the inner surface 4a.

[0041] As described above, the fire extinguishing device 1 of embodiment 2 is characterized by having a fire extinguishing sheet 3 made of an insulator and an alkali metal, which is placed on a tab 11 connected to the electrode on the electrode installation surface (e.g., upper surface 10a) of the battery cell 10, and a structural material 4 to which the fire extinguishing sheet 3 is fixed.

[0042] Therefore, the fire extinguisher 1 of the second embodiment, like the first embodiment, is provided with the fire extinguishing sheet 3 made of alkali metal on the electrode installation surface (upper surface 10a), and therefore can suppress (extinguish) fire caused by vent gas for each tabbed battery cell, thereby contributing to the suppression of thermal chain reaction.

[0043] In addition, since the fire-extinguishing sheet 3 is fixed to the structural material 4 in advance, the two structural materials 4 can be easily attached to the tabbed battery cell 10 by inserting them along the side surface 10b of the battery cell 10.

[0044] Even when both the positive electrode and the negative electrode are provided on the upper surface 10a of the battery cell 10, the fire suppression effect can be obtained by providing the fire extinguisher 1 of this embodiment to the battery cell 10.

[0045] <Modification> The present disclosure is not limited to the explanations of the first and second embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0046] For example, in the fire extinguisher 1 described in the first and second embodiments, a binder may be used instead of the structural material 4. Modifications of the first and second embodiments will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0047] Fig. 9 is a side view schematically showing a state in which a fire extinguisher 1 according to a modification of embodiment 1 is attached to a battery cell 10. Fig. 10 is a side view schematically showing a state in which a fire extinguisher 1 according to a modification of embodiment 2 is attached to a battery cell 10.

[0048] The binder 5 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is composed of a substance having adhesive properties and a known insulator.

[0049] 9 and 10, two binders 5 are provided. The two binders 5 correspond to an example of a fixing section. Furthermore, one of the two binders 5 corresponds to an example of a first fixing section, and the other corresponds to an example of a second fixing section.

[0050] 9 and 10 are arranged in the same manner as the two structural materials 4 described in the first embodiment. That is, when the fire extinguisher 1 is attached to the battery cell 10, the two binders 5 are arranged so as to face each other with the battery cell 10 in between.

[0051] Now, let us consider Figure 9. As shown in Figure 9, both ends of the insulating sheet 2 and the fire-extinguishing sheet 3 are adhered and fixed to two binders 5. At this time, the insulating sheet 2 and the fire-extinguishing sheet 3 are fixed to the two binders 5 while being electrically insulated from each other.

[0052] Also, in Figure 9, methods for fixing both ends of the insulating sheet 2 (specifically, the side on which the binder 5 is not provided) to the side surface 10b of the battery cell 10 include, but are not limited to, a method using a known adhesive or a method of providing adhesive strength to both ends of the insulating sheet 2.

[0053] In the case of Figure 9, first, both ends of the insulating sheet 2 and the fire extinguishing sheet 3 are adhered to two binders 5, and then both ends of the insulating sheet 2 are adhered to the side surface 10b of the battery cell 10, thereby easily attaching the fire extinguishing device 1 to the battery cell 10.

[0054] Referring now to Figure 10, as shown in Figure 10, two binders 5 are adhered and fixed to the upper side surface 10b of the battery cell 10. In addition, both ends of the fire extinguishing sheet 3 are adhered and fixed to the two binders 5, respectively.

[0055] In the case of Figure 10, the fire extinguishing device 1 can be easily attached to the battery cell 10 by first adhering both ends of the fire extinguishing sheet 3 to two binders 5, and then adhering the two binders 5 to the side surfaces 10b of the battery cell 10.

[0056] The fire extinguisher 1 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 described above can obtain the same functions and effects as the fire extinguisher 1 of the first and second embodiments. [Industrial Applicability]

[0057] The fire suppression devices and battery cells of the present disclosure are useful in suppressing fires caused by vent gases. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1 Fire extinguishing equipment 2 Insulation sheet 3. Fire extinguishing sheet 4 Structural materials 5. Binder 10 battery cells 11 Tab (busbar)

Claims

1. an insulating sheet disposed on a tab connected to the electrode on a mounting surface of the electrode of the battery cell; a fire extinguishing sheet made of an alkali metal and disposed on the insulating sheet; A fixing portion at which the insulating sheet and the fire extinguishing sheet are fixed in a state in which they are electrically insulated from each other. Fire extinguishing equipment.

2. The fixing portion is a first fixing portion that fixes one end of each of the fire extinguishing sheet and the insulating sheet; a second fixing portion that fixes the other end of each of the fire extinguishing sheet and the insulating sheet, The first fixing portion and the second fixing portion are When the fire extinguishing devices are attached to the battery cell, the fire extinguishing devices abut against side surfaces of the battery cell and are disposed so as to face each other across the battery cell.

2. The fire extinguishing device according to claim 1.

3. the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion are a structural material or a binder; 3. The fire extinguishing device according to claim 2.

4. The alkali metal is potassium or sodium.

2. The fire extinguishing device according to claim 1.

5. a fire-extinguishing sheet that is disposed on a tab connected to an electrode of the battery cell on a mounting surface of the electrode, the fire-extinguishing sheet being made of an insulator and an alkali metal; A fixing portion to which the fire extinguishing sheet is fixed, Fire extinguishing equipment.

6. The fixing portion is A first fixing portion that fixes one end of the fire extinguishing sheet; a second fixing portion that fixes the other end of the fire extinguishing sheet, The first fixing portion and the second fixing portion are When the fire extinguishing devices are attached to the battery cell, the fire extinguishing devices abut against side surfaces of the battery cell and are disposed so as to face each other across the battery cell.

6. The fire extinguishing device according to claim 5.

7. the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion are a structural material or a binder; 7. The fire extinguishing device according to claim 6.

8. The alkali metal is potassium or sodium.

6. The fire extinguishing device according to claim 5.

9. A battery cell comprising the fire extinguishing device according to claim 1 or 5.

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