Power storage device

Abstract

To provide an electricity storage device in which the side surfaces of a battery module can be covered with an insulating sheet while suppressing deterioration of the insulating sheet. [Solution] The energy storage device 1 according to the present disclosure includes a battery module 11, an insulating sheet 13, and a flow path R. The insulating sheet 13 covers the side surface of the battery module 11. The flow path R guides airflow near the battery module 11 and extends approximately parallel to the insulating sheet 13. With this configuration, the energy storage device 1 according to the present disclosure can prevent contact between the heated air near the battery module 11 and the insulating sheet 13. As a result, the energy storage device 1 according to the present disclosure can cover the side surface of the battery module 11 with the insulating sheet 13 while preventing deterioration of the insulating sheet 13.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an electricity storage device that includes a battery module, a control unit for the battery module, a rack for arranging the battery module and the control unit, and a cover for covering the rack. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-132006 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The electricity storage device described in Patent Document 1 is configured so that, for example, when the exterior cover is removed for maintenance, the side surfaces of the battery modules are exposed. Since the battery module exchanges electric current with the outside, it is preferable that workers avoid touching the battery module as much as possible.

[0005] To prevent workers from coming into contact with the battery modules, it is conceivable to cover the sides of the battery modules with insulating sheets. However, if the insulating sheets are provided inside the energy storage device, the air heated by the battery modules may come into contact with the insulating sheets, which may cause the insulating sheets to deteriorate. The technology described in Patent Document 1 does not disclose any technology that can solve such problems.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems, and aims to provide an energy storage device in which the sides of a battery module can be covered with an insulating sheet while suppressing deterioration of the insulating sheet. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present disclosure provides an energy storage device including a battery module, an insulating sheet, and a flow path. The insulating sheet covers a side surface of the battery module. The flow path guides airflow near the battery module and extends substantially parallel to the insulating sheet. With this configuration, the energy storage device according to the present disclosure can prevent the heated air near the battery modules from coming into contact with the insulating sheet, thereby enabling the energy storage device according to the present disclosure to cover the side surfaces of the battery modules with the insulating sheet while preventing deterioration of the insulating sheet.

[0008] The power storage device according to the present disclosure may include a plurality of battery modules and a plurality of support plates that support bottom surfaces of the battery modules. The battery modules and the support plates may be arranged side by side in a vertical direction, and the flow path may be provided on a vertically lower surface of the support plate. With this configuration, the flow path can be formed without increasing the number of parts, and therefore the manufacturing costs of the electricity storage device according to the present disclosure can be reduced.

[0009] In the power storage device according to the present disclosure, the support plate may have a folded plate structure, and the flow path may be provided as part of the folded plate structure. With this configuration, the flow path can be formed through a simple manufacturing process, and therefore the manufacturing costs of the electricity storage device according to the present disclosure can be reduced.

[0010] In the energy storage device according to the present disclosure, the insulating sheets may be arranged in a banner shape to cover the side surfaces of the plurality of battery modules. With this configuration, the side surfaces of the plurality of battery modules can be covered without increasing the number of parts, and therefore the manufacturing costs of the power storage device according to the present disclosure can be reduced. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] The present disclosure makes it possible to provide an energy storage device in which the side surfaces of a battery module can be covered with an insulating sheet while suppressing deterioration of the insulating sheet. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a power storage device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a power storage device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a power storage device according to a first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] (First embodiment) <Configuration of the power storage device> Hereinafter, a first embodiment according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a power storage device according to the first embodiment. More specifically, it is a perspective view for explaining the internal structure of the power storage device 1.

[0014] It should be noted that the right-handed xyz Cartesian coordinate system shown in Fig. 1 and other drawings is a matter of convenience for explaining the positional relationship of the components. In this embodiment, the positive z-axis direction in Fig. 1 and other drawings is the vertically upward direction, and the xy plane is the horizontal plane, which is common among the drawings.

[0015] The power storage device 1 is a fixed power storage device. For example, the power storage device 1 is installed in a house or the like and is used to store power for home use, backup power for emergencies, power to sell, and the like. As shown in FIG. 1, the power storage device 1 according to this embodiment has an internal structure in which a plurality of battery modules 11 and a control unit 12 are housed in a rack 14 provided with an insulating sheet. That is, the energy storage device 1 according to this embodiment has the structure shown in FIG. 1 inside a housing (not shown), an exterior cover (not shown), or both.

[0016] The plurality of battery modules 11 included in the power storage device 1 are, for example, secondary batteries such as lithium ion batteries or nickel-metal hydride batteries. The battery module 11 operates under the control of the control unit 12. Specifically, the battery module 11 receives power from an external source and stores the power under the control of the control unit 12. Then, the battery module 11 supplies the stored power to the outside under the control of the control unit 12. In other words, the battery module 11 exchanges power with the outside under the control of the control unit 12. The battery module 11 exchanges power with the outside via wiring members not shown in FIG.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the battery modules 11 of the power storage device 1 are housed in a rack 14, lined up in the z-axis direction, that is, the vertical direction. Here, the battery module 11 is supported by a support plate 141, which will be described later, at a surface parallel to the xy plane and positioned on the negative side of the z axis, that is, at the bottom surface. Furthermore, the surface parallel to the xy plane that is located on the z-axis positive side, that is, the upper surface, is covered with a support plate 141 that is different from the support plate 141 described above. Furthermore, the battery module 11 has two side surfaces parallel to the yz plane covered by side wall plates 142, which will be described later. That is, the battery module 11 is housed in a space defined by two support plates 141 and two side wall plates 142.

[0018] Furthermore, at least one of the two surfaces of the battery module 11 parallel to the zx plane is covered with an insulating sheet 13. In other words, the battery module 11 according to this embodiment has one or more side surfaces covered with the insulating sheet 13.

[0019] The control unit 12 controls the operation of the power storage device 1. For example, the control unit 12 may control the amount of power supplied to the battery module 11 from the outside and the amount of power supplied from the battery module 11 to the outside. The control unit 12 may also monitor the temperature and voltage of the battery, calculate limit values ​​for the voltage and current to the battery, and communicate with external devices.

[0020] For example, the control unit 12 includes a calculation unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown), and a storage unit such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs, data, and the like for controlling the power storage device 1. In other words, the control unit 12 has the function of a computer, and controls the operation of the power storage device 1 based on the programs.

[0021] Therefore, the functions executed by the illustrated control unit 12 can be configured in terms of hardware using the CPU, storage unit, other circuits, etc., and can be realized in terms of software using a program stored in the storage unit for controlling the power storage device 1. That is, the control unit 12 can be realized in various forms using hardware, software, or a combination of both.

[0022] The program includes a set of instructions (or software code) that, when loaded into a computer, causes the computer to perform one or more functions described in the embodiments. The program may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium or a tangible storage medium. By way of example and not limitation, computer-readable media or tangible storage media include random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, solid-state drive (SSD) or other memory technologies, CD-ROM, digital versatile disc (DVD), Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassette, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage device. The program may also be transmitted on a transitory computer-readable medium or communication medium. By way of example and not limitation, transitory computer-readable media or communication media include electrical, optical, acoustic, or other forms of propagated signals.

[0023] The insulating sheet 13 is a sheet made mainly of an electrically insulating material, and covers the side surfaces of the battery module 11 . Materials that can be used as the main material of the insulating sheet 13 include synthetic resins such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyester, and polyamide.

[0024] The insulating sheet 13 according to this embodiment is arranged in a banner shape to cover the side surfaces of the plurality of battery modules 11 . In other words, the insulating sheet 13 in this embodiment is a substantially rectangular sheet, one side of which is fixed to the upper side of the rack 14 described later, and which extends in the negative direction of the z-axis, i.e., vertically downward, when viewed from the fixed side. The insulating sheet 13 according to this embodiment is arranged parallel to the zx plane, and is therefore arranged substantially parallel to a flow path R, which will be described later.

[0025] The rack 14 is a shelf-like structure that houses the battery modules 11 and the control unit 12. The rack 14 has rectangular parallelepiped storage spaces arranged vertically, each capable of housing the battery modules 11, with one or more battery modules 11 housed in each storage space. The control unit 12 is also installed on the top surface of the rack 14. The rack 14 is housed inside a housing or an exterior cover (not shown) of the energy storage device 1. The rack 14 is fixed to the installation surface of the energy storage device 1 directly or via the housing.

[0026] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the power storage device according to the first embodiment. More specifically, Fig. 2 is a side view of the battery module 11, the support plate 141, and the insulating sheet 13 as viewed from the positive direction of the x-axis, and shows a cross section of the support plate 141 taken along a plane parallel to the yz plane.

[0027] 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the electricity storage device according to the first embodiment. More specifically, Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a support plate 141, a side wall plate 142, and a part of the insulating sheet 13, and shows a cross section of the support plate 141 and the side wall plate 142 taken along a cutting plane parallel to the zx plane.

[0028] The rack 14 includes a plurality of support plates 141 and side wall plates 142 . The support plate 141 is a plate-like member that supports the bottom surface of the battery module. As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the rack 14 according to this embodiment has a plurality of support plates 141, each of which supports either the bottom surface of a battery module or the control unit. More specifically, the support plate 141 located at the top supports the control unit 12 , and the other support plates 141 support the battery modules 11 .

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the battery modules 11 and the support plate 141 are arranged side by side in the z-axis direction, that is, the vertical direction. With this configuration, the support plate 141 covers the upper surface of the battery module 11, i.e., the surface parallel to the xy plane that is located on the positive side of the z axis. In other words, the support plate 141 supports the battery module 11 on the positive side of the z axis, and covers the upper surface of the battery module 11 on the negative side of the z axis.

[0030] 1, 2, and 3, the support plate 141 has a folded plate structure. With this configuration, the strength of the support plate 141 according to this embodiment can be improved. As will be described in detail later, in the support plate according to this embodiment, part of the folded plate structure functions as a flow path R, which will be described later.

[0031] The side wall plates 142 are plate-like members that connect the two support plates 141, and cover the side surfaces of the battery module 11, as shown in Fig. 1. Two side wall plates 142 are arranged for each battery module 11, and each side wall plate 142 covers the positive and negative side surfaces in the x-axis direction.

[0032] The flow path R has a groove structure that guides the airflow near the battery module 11 and extends substantially parallel to the insulating sheet 13. More specifically, the flow path R has a groove structure for guiding the flow of air whose temperature has been increased by the battery modules 11 to the outside of the rack 14. Therefore, the vicinity of the battery modules 11 described above may refer to, for example, an area where the temperature of the air is increased by the battery modules 11.

[0033] Note that the flow path R does not need to serve as a flow path for all the air in the vicinity of the battery module 11. The flow path R only needs to function as a flow path for discharging at least a portion of the air in the vicinity of the battery module 11, for example, the air in the vicinity of the opposing surface, or in this embodiment, the air in the vicinity of the top surface of the battery module 11.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 3, the flow path R extends parallel to the x-axis, and as described above, extends substantially parallel to the insulating sheet 13. With this configuration, the energy storage device 1 according to this embodiment can discharge air whose temperature has been increased by the battery modules 11 to the outside of the rack 14 while preventing the air from coming into contact with the insulating sheet 13. As a result, the energy storage device 1 according to this embodiment can cover the side surfaces of the battery modules with the insulating sheet while preventing deterioration of the insulating sheet 13.

[0035] Naturally, "substantially parallel" does not mean "parallel" in the strict sense. Even if there is a deviation from the strict sense of parallel in the positional relationship between insulating sheet 13 and flow path R, as long as insulating sheet 13 is not positioned on an extension line or tangent line of flow path R, it is clear that this is within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present disclosure. In other words, "substantially parallel" as used herein means that misalignment is permitted within a range that achieves the purpose of preventing contact between the insulating sheet and the air with a raised temperature.

[0036] As described above, the flow path R is provided on the vertically lower surface of the support plate 141 as part of the folded plate structure of the support plate 141. That is, the flow path R in this embodiment is realized as one or more of the groove structures formed by bending the support plate 141 into a linear uneven shape.

[0037] As described above, an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed by providing the flow path R on the vertically lower surface of the support plate 141. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the electricity storage device 1 according to this embodiment can be suppressed. Furthermore, with the above-described configuration, the flow path R can efficiently discharge the air near the battery modules 11, which is heated by the battery modules 11 and rises vertically upward, to the outside of the rack .

[0038] Furthermore, by realizing the flow path R as the folded plate structure of the support plate 141 as described above, the flow path R can be formed through a simple manufacturing process. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the energy storage device 1 according to this embodiment can be further reduced.

[0039] As described above, the energy storage device according to this embodiment includes the insulating sheet 13 and the flow path R, which are positioned approximately parallel to each other. With this configuration, the energy storage device according to this embodiment can prevent air heated by the battery modules 11 from coming into contact with the insulating sheet 13. As a result, the energy storage device 1 according to this embodiment can cover the surfaces of the battery modules while preventing deterioration of the insulating sheet. Furthermore, in the energy storage device 1 according to this embodiment, the flow path R is provided on the back surface of the support plate 141, and further, the flow path R is configured as part of the folded plate structure of the support plate 141. With this configuration, the energy storage device 1 according to this embodiment can realize the flow path R with a simple configuration, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the energy storage device 1 according to this embodiment has a banner-shaped insulating sheet 13. With this configuration, the energy storage device 1 according to this embodiment can cover the side surfaces of multiple battery modules 11 with a single insulating sheet, thereby suppressing an increase in the number of parts.

[0040] The present invention has been described above in accordance with the above-described embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiments, and naturally includes various modifications, alterations, and combinations that can be made by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the invention claimed in the claims of this application. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1. Energy storage device 11 Battery module 12 Control Unit 13 Insulation sheet 14 racks 141 Support plate 142 Side wall panel R flow path

Claims

1. A battery module; an insulating sheet covering a side surface of the battery module; a flow path that guides an airflow near the battery module, The flow path extends substantially parallel to the insulating sheet. Energy storage device.

2. A plurality of the battery modules; a plurality of support plates for supporting the bottom surfaces of the battery modules; the battery module and the support plate are arranged side by side in the vertical direction, The flow path is provided on a vertically lower surface of the support plate. The power storage device according to claim 1 .

3. The support plate has a folded plate structure, The flow path is provided as part of the folded plate structure. The power storage device according to claim 2 .

4. the insulating sheets are arranged in a banner shape to cover the side surfaces of the plurality of battery modules; The power storage device according to claim 1 .

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