Testing device and testing system for secondary batteries

Abstract

To provide a secondary battery inspection device that can sufficiently cool secondary batteries. [Solution] The secondary battery inspection device includes a cooling device for cooling the secondary battery, the cooling device having a heat exchanger that circulates a refrigerant in an uncompressed manner through a flow path to cool the air with the refrigerant, and a fan that blows the air cooled by the heat exchanger onto the secondary battery to cool the secondary battery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an inspection apparatus for secondary batteries and an inspection system for secondary batteries.

Background Art

[0002] In an inspection process of a secondary battery such as a charge-discharge process, heat is generated by flowing a current through a plurality of batteries. Since the performance of the battery may deteriorate if the temperature of the battery rises excessively in the inspection process of the secondary battery, it is necessary to suppress the temperature rise of the battery in the inspection process. Patent Document 1 discloses a battery inspection apparatus including a temperature control system that supplies a temperature control fluid through a battery support portion to control the temperature of the battery.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] With the progress of the field of use of batteries including electric vehicles, increasing the capacity of batteries is being considered. When the capacity of the battery increases, the current flowing during the inspection of the battery becomes larger, and the generated heat also becomes larger. With conventional temperature control methods, the battery cannot be sufficiently cooled, and there is a risk that the performance of the battery will deteriorate.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an inspection apparatus for secondary batteries that can sufficiently cool secondary batteries.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An inspection apparatus for a secondary battery according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is an inspection apparatus for a secondary battery equipped with a cooling device for cooling the secondary battery, the cooling device comprising a heat exchange device that circulates a refrigerant in an uncompressed manner through a flow path to cool air with the refrigerant, and a fan that blows the air cooled by the heat exchange device onto the secondary battery to cool the secondary battery. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the secondary battery inspection apparatus of this disclosure, the secondary battery can be sufficiently cooled. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a secondary battery inspection device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the airflow in a secondary battery inspection device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the airflow in a secondary battery inspection device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram of a secondary battery inspection system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] (Inspection device for secondary batteries) The secondary battery inspection apparatus of this disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a secondary battery inspection apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 1, the inspection apparatus 1 comprises a frame 10, upper terminals 21 and lower terminals 23 connected to a secondary battery C, and a cooling device 30. Figure 1 shows a tray 100 containing a secondary battery C placed on the inspection apparatus 1, with the upper terminals 21 and lower terminals 23 connected to the secondary battery C.

[0010] The secondary battery inspection device 1 is a device used in the production process of secondary battery C to inspect secondary battery C by discharging or charging it, and is, for example, an initial charge device, a charge / discharge inspection device, a voltage inspection device, or a DC internal resistance inspection device.

[0011] The frame 10 is a component that supports each element and the tray 100 that make up the secondary battery inspection device 1. The frame 10 has a support portion 11 on which the tray 100 is placed and supported.

[0012] The upper terminal 21 and lower terminal 23 are terminals connected to the secondary battery C for charging or discharging the secondary battery C. The upper terminal 21 is provided so as to protrude downward from the upper terminal board 22. The lower terminal 23 is provided so as to protrude upward from the lower terminal board 24. The upper terminal 21 and lower terminal 23 are provided at positions corresponding to each of the secondary batteries C housed in the tray 100. The upper terminal 21 and lower terminal 23 are connected to a power supply (not shown) through the upper terminal board 22 and lower terminal board 24, respectively. Typically, in the frame 10, at least one of the upper terminal board 22 and lower terminal board 24 is movable vertically and is configured to switch between a state in which the upper terminal 21 and lower terminal 23 are in contact with the secondary battery C and a state in which they are not in contact.

[0013] The cooling device 30 is a device for cooling the secondary battery C and prevents the temperature of the battery from rising when current is passed through the secondary battery C during the charging or discharging process. The cooling device 30 comprises a heat exchanger 31 and a fan 32. The heat exchanger 31 cools the surrounding air with a refrigerant. The fan 32 is positioned to blow air in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1, that is, toward the secondary battery C, and cools the secondary battery C by blowing the air cooled by the heat exchanger 31 onto the secondary battery C. In addition, when the secondary battery C is being charged or discharged, the upper terminal 21 and lower terminal 23 also become heat sources, but the air blown from the fan 32 cools the upper terminal 21 and lower terminal 23 as well.

[0014] The heat exchanger 31 is equipped with a flow path FP through which the refrigerant circulates in an uncompressed state. The heat exchanger 31 circulates the refrigerant in an uncompressed state within the flow path FP and cools the air with the refrigerant. Specifically, the heat exchanger 31 is equipped with a first pipe 311, a heat exchange section 312, and a second pipe 313, which together form the flow path FP. The refrigerant used in the heat exchanger 31 is not particularly limited, but water can typically be used.

[0015] In the heat exchanger 31, a refrigerant is supplied from the first pipeline 311 to the heat exchange section 312. The heat exchange section 312 is configured such that the air surrounding the heat exchange section 312 is cooled by the refrigerant. The specific configuration is not particularly limited, but the heat exchange section 312 may be made of a highly thermally conductive material such as aluminum or copper, similar to known radiators, and may have a core shape with corrugated fins or plate fins to increase the surface area. The refrigerant that has been heated by receiving heat from the surrounding air in the heat exchange section 312 is discharged into the second pipeline 313. The flow path FP may be provided with, for example, a flow meter for measuring the flow rate of the refrigerant, a flow controller for controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant, a thermometer for measuring the temperature of the refrigerant, or a temperature control device for controlling the temperature of the refrigerant.

[0016] The fan 32 blows air cooled by the heat exchange section 312 of the heat exchanger 31 toward the secondary battery C. As shown in Figure 1, it is preferable that the heat exchanger 31 is located upstream of the fan 32 in the direction of airflow. If the heat exchanger 31 is located downstream in the direction of airflow, the air blown by the fan 32 will hit the heat exchanger 31 and obstruct the flow. However, if the heat exchanger 31 is located upstream in the direction of airflow, the cooled air can be blown directly toward the secondary battery C by the fan 32. Although not shown in Figure 1, the upper terminal board 22 is provided with a gap through which the air blown from the fan 32 can pass. The upper terminal board 22 may have a structure that rectifies the airflow so that the air blown from the fan 32 is blown toward each of the secondary batteries C.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, a cooler 40 is disposed in the flow path FP of the heat exchanger 31. That is, refrigerant is supplied from the cooler 40 to the first pipeline 311, and the refrigerant discharged from the heat exchange section 312 to the second pipeline 313 is returned to the cooler 40, whereby the refrigerant circulates in the heat exchanger 31. The cooler 40 includes a heat exchanger 41, a tank 42, and a pump 43.

[0018] The cooler 40 cools the refrigerant that has received heat from the air and has been warmed in the heat exchange section 312. Specifically, the warmed refrigerant discharged from the heat exchange section 312 to the second pipeline 313 is supplied to the heat exchanger 41 of the cooler 40, and the refrigerant is cooled by the heat exchanger 41. The cooling method by the heat exchanger 41 is not particularly limited. For example, the heat exchanger 41 may include a pipe through which cooling water supplied from the outside flows, and may have a configuration in which the refrigerant is cooled by contacting the pipe.

[0019] The refrigerant cooled by the heat exchanger 41 is stored in the tank 42. The refrigerant stored in the tank 42 is sent by the pump 43 to the heat exchange section 312 through the first pipeline 311 and is used for cooling the air. In this way, the air is cooled by circulating the refrigerant in the flow path FP of the heat exchanger 31.

[0020] The cooler 40 is supported by a support (not shown). The tank 42 of the cooler 40 is preferably disposed above the heat exchanger 31. When the tank 42 is disposed above the heat exchanger 31, gravity can be utilized when supplying the refrigerant from the tank 42 to the heat exchange section 312 through the first pipeline 311, and the load on the pump 43 can be reduced. When the load on the pump 43 is reduced, the heat generated by the pump 43 becomes smaller, so that the temperature rise of the refrigerant sent to the heat exchanger 31 is suppressed, and the cooling efficiency of the heat exchanger 31 is improved.

[0021] In a conventional inspection apparatus for secondary batteries, a fan was used alone as a means for air-cooling the secondary battery. However, while continuously charging and discharging the secondary battery, the temperature of the air inside the inspection apparatus rises, and there is a risk that simply blowing air onto the secondary battery may not be sufficient for cooling. If the secondary battery is not sufficiently cooled during inspection, the quality of the battery may deteriorate and desired electrical characteristics may not be obtained, or accurate inspection may not be possible. In particular, when the capacity of the battery increases and the current during charging and discharging becomes large, the problem of heat generated during inspection becomes prominent.

[0022] According to the inspection apparatus 1 for secondary batteries of the present embodiment, since the air cooled by the heat exchanger 31 is blown onto the secondary battery C, the temperature of the blown air does not excessively rise even during continuous charging and discharging, and the secondary battery C can be sufficiently cooled. That is, while suppressing the heat generation of the secondary battery C during charging and discharging, the temperature of the secondary battery can be adjusted to an appropriate temperature suitable for inspection. Further, the heat exchanger 31 used in the present embodiment circulates the refrigerant without compression. In the case of a cooling device including a compressor like an air conditioner, the cooling device becomes large and it is difficult to attach it to an inspection apparatus for individual secondary batteries, and the cost also increases. The non-compressive heat exchanger 31 as used in the present embodiment is small and relatively inexpensive, and can be attached to the inspection apparatus 1 for individual secondary batteries as shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, the air cooled by the heat exchanger 31 can be efficiently used for cooling the secondary battery C.

[0023] Further, according to the present embodiment, by changing the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the flow path FP, the temperature of the air blown onto the secondary battery C by the fan 32 can be controlled. Therefore, by controlling the temperature of the refrigerant according to the ambient temperature and adjusting the temperature of the blown air, it is possible to avoid the blown air at an excessively low temperature from being blown onto the secondary battery C and prevent condensation. For this reason, it is preferable to provide the temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the refrigerant at least in the first pipe 311. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, by providing the flow path FP with, for example, a flow meter for measuring the flow rate of the refrigerant, a flow controller for controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant, a thermometer for measuring the temperature of the refrigerant, or a temperature control device for controlling the temperature of the refrigerant, the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the flow path FP can be maintained at a desired temperature, and the temperature of the secondary battery C during charging and discharging can be adjusted to a more appropriate temperature suitable for inspection.

[0024] Next, another embodiment of the secondary battery inspection apparatus of the present disclosure will be described. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of secondary battery inspection apparatus 1A according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In the following descriptions of embodiments, components already described will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions will be omitted. In addition, the following drawings may appropriately omit the illustration of components already described.

[0025] As shown in Figure 2, the secondary battery testing device 1A is equipped with a frame 10A and can charge or discharge secondary batteries C in a tray 100 supported by the frame 10A. In addition to a cooling device 30 for cooling secondary batteries C, the testing device 1A is further equipped with a fan 51 and a cooling device 52. A power supply 60 used for charging and discharging secondary batteries C is also shown in Figure 2. The interior of the testing device 1A is divided into a first area where secondary batteries C are placed, a second area where the fan 51 and cooling device 52 are placed, and a third area where the power supply 60 is placed, each separated by partition walls.

[0026] In the secondary battery inspection device 1A, the airflow from the air drawn in by the cooling device 30 to the exhaust port 70 provided on the frame 10A is defined. In the inspection device 1A, the air flows in the order of the first region, the second region, and the third region. Figure 2 shows the airflow in the inspection device 1A with arrows. The configuration of the inspection device 1A will be explained below in accordance with the airflow indicated by the arrows.

[0027] First, within the first region, air cooled by the heat exchanger 31 of the cooling device 30 is blown onto the secondary battery C by the fan 32. The blown air absorbs heat from heat sources such as the secondary battery C, the upper terminal 21 and the lower terminal 23, and is warmed. The airflow in the first region is the same as in the first embodiment described above.

[0028] The second region is located to the side of the first region and below it. A partition wall separates the second region from the first region, and a fan 51 is provided near the support 11. The heated air is exhausted by the fan 51 from near the secondary battery C and moves from the first region to the second region. The exhausted air hits the wall inside the frame 10A, flows downwards, and is guided to the cooling device 52.

[0029] The cooling device 52 is located at the bottom of the second region and comprises a heat exchanger 53 and a fan 54. The cooling device 52 is a device that cools the air heated for the cooling of the secondary battery C, and is an example of a second cooling device in this disclosure. The heat exchanger 53 may be a device that cools the air by circulating a refrigerant in an uncompressed manner through a flow path, similar to the heat exchanger 31. The heat exchanger 53 may be connected to a cooler through a pipe. The fan 54 is located below the heat exchanger 53, and the air cooled by the heat exchanger 53 is sent by the fan 54 to the third region located at the bottom of the inspection device 1A.

[0030] The third region is the space in which the power supply 60 is housed, and also includes a connection region that guides the air flowing out from the second region to the power supply 60. In the illustrated example, the power supply 60 is located to the side of the lower terminal 23, separated by a partition wall, and the third region is located below the cooling device 52 and includes a connection region that extends laterally from the bottom of the cooling device 52 and connects to the region in which the power supply 60 is housed.

[0031] The air cooled by the cooling device 52 and sent to the connection area of ​​the third region at the bottom of the inspection device 1A is guided to the area where the power supply 60 is located. The power supply 60 is also one of the heat sources in the inspection device 1A and is preferably cooled. In this embodiment, the power supply 60 is cooled by air cooled by the heat exchange device 53. To smooth the airflow, a fan 61 may be provided on the power supply 60 to blow air toward the exhaust port 70. The air used to cool the power supply 60 is discharged outside the inspection device 1A through the exhaust port 70.

[0032] According to this embodiment, by providing a second cooling device, the cooling device 52, not only the secondary battery C but also the power supply 60 can be cooled. This makes it possible to more effectively suppress the temperature rise caused by charging and discharging. Normally, in order to avoid adverse effects on battery characteristics, the temperature inside the factory where the secondary battery inspection equipment is located is strictly controlled. By sufficiently cooling each heat source, including the power supply 60, in the inspection equipment 1A, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the secondary battery and reduce the air conditioning costs of the factory required for temperature control.

[0033] Next, yet another embodiment of the secondary battery inspection apparatus of the present disclosure will be described. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of secondary battery inspection apparatus 1B according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 3, secondary battery inspection apparatus 1B comprises a frame 10B and a fan 80. Unlike the frame 10A of secondary battery inspection apparatus 1A described above, the frame 10B does not have an exhaust port.

[0034] In inspection device 1B, the airflow from the time it is drawn in by the cooling device 30 until it cools the power supply 60 is the same as in inspection device 1A. In inspection device 1B, the air that has been heated by cooling the power supply 60 is sent again upstream of the cooling device 30 by the fan 80. The air sent upstream of the cooling device 30 is cooled again by the heat exchanger 31 and blown toward the secondary battery C by the fan 32. In other words, air circulates inside inspection device 1B, and the air that has been used to cool the secondary battery C and heated is cooled again by the cooling device 30 and used to cool the secondary battery C.

[0035] According to this embodiment, the heated air used to cool the secondary battery C and power supply 60 is not directly discharged outside the inspection device 1B, thus suppressing the rise in the ambient temperature of the inspection device 1B. Therefore, it becomes easier to maintain temperature conditions suitable for inspecting secondary batteries, preventing deterioration of the secondary batteries and reducing the air conditioning costs required for temperature control in the factory. Furthermore, since the air within the space in which the inspection device 1B is installed can be circulated and used, the inspection device 1B is suitable for applications such as being installed in a cleanroom.

[0036] (Inspection system for secondary batteries) Next, the secondary battery inspection system of this disclosure will be described. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing a secondary battery inspection system 2 according to one embodiment of this disclosure. As shown in Figure 4, the secondary battery inspection system 2 comprises a plurality of secondary battery inspection devices 1. Each secondary battery inspection device 1 is supported by a support (not shown). Figure 4 depicts a secondary battery inspection system including two stacks of five inspection devices 1 stacked vertically. For explanatory purposes, the two stacks of secondary battery inspection devices 1 will be referred to as Sa and Sb, respectively. Each secondary battery inspection device 1 may have the same configuration as the secondary battery inspection device 1 shown in Figure 1, or its configuration may be modified as appropriate.

[0037] Each secondary battery inspection device 1 is equipped with a cooling device 30, which is connected to coolers 40a and 40b via a first conduit 311 and a second conduit 313. As shown in Figure 4, cooler 40a is positioned corresponding to stack Sa, and cooler 40b is positioned corresponding to stack Sb. The first conduit 311 and the second conduit 313 of each secondary battery inspection device 1 communicate with the first conduit 311 and the second conduit 313 of the other secondary battery inspection devices 1, forming a flow path FPa where cooler 40a is located, and a flow path FPb where cooler 40b is located, respectively. Coolers 40a and 40b supply refrigerant to the cooling device 30 of the corresponding stack Sa and Sb inspection devices 1 via the first conduit 311 and receive heated refrigerant via the second conduit 313. A pump 44 is located in the second pipeline 313, and the pump 44 collectively sends the refrigerant that has been heated by the inspection device 1 of each stack Sa and Sb and discharged into the second pipeline 313 to the coolers 40a and 40b located above the inspection device 1 of the secondary battery.

[0038] As shown in Figure 4, flow paths FPa and FPb are connected via valves 91 and 93. Valve 91 connects the first conduit 311 of flow path FPa to the first conduit 311 of flow path FPb. Valve 93 connects the second conduit 313 of flow path FPa to the second conduit 313 of flow path FPb.

[0039] According to the secondary battery inspection system 2 of this embodiment, since it is equipped with multiple secondary battery inspection devices 1, and each inspection device 1 is equipped with a cooling device 30, it is possible to inspect a large number of secondary batteries C simultaneously while sufficiently cooling them. In particular, since the heat generated in each inspection device is sufficiently cooled within the inspection device, the ambient temperature does not rise easily even if multiple secondary battery inspection devices are densely arranged, and the characteristics of the batteries being inspected do not deteriorate easily. Therefore, according to the secondary battery inspection system 2 of this embodiment, secondary battery inspection devices can be densely arranged in a limited space such as a factory, and production efficiency can be improved. This effect is particularly noticeable when the inspection device 1A or inspection device 1B described above is adopted as the inspection device to be included in the secondary battery inspection system.

[0040] In the secondary battery inspection system 2 of this embodiment, valves 91 and 93 are normally closed, and the refrigerant circulates within the respective flow paths FPa and FPb, without flowing from one flow path FPa to the other flow path FPb. However, by opening valves 91 and 93, the refrigerant flowing through flow path FPa can flow into flow path FPb, or conversely, the refrigerant flowing through flow path FPb can flow into flow path FPa. Therefore, for example, if the cooler 40a becomes unusable due to a malfunction, opening valves 91 and 93 allows refrigerant to flow through both flow paths FPa and FPb using only the cooler 40b.

[0041] Specifically, the refrigerant cooled by the cooler 40b flows through the valve 91 into the first pipeline 311 of the flow path FPa and is supplied to the inspection device 1 of the stack Sa. The refrigerant heated by the inspection device 1 of the stack Sa and discharged into the second pipeline 313 flows through the valve 93 into the second pipeline 313 of the flow path FPb.

[0042] Thus, according to this embodiment, even if one cooler fails, the operation of the inspection device for the stack corresponding to the failed cooler can be continued by introducing refrigerant from the flow path of another cooler, thereby improving production efficiency.

[0043] As shown in Figure 4, when the coolers 40a and 40b are positioned above the stacks Sa and Sb, the load on the pump when supplying refrigerant from the coolers 40a and 40b to the inspection device 1 can be reduced, and the heating of the refrigerant can be suppressed, thus efficiently cooling the secondary battery C. Although the load on the pump 44 increases when returning the heated refrigerant to the coolers 40a and 40b because the liquid is being pumped against gravity, even if the refrigerant flowing through the second pipeline 313 is slightly heated, it is cooled to a predetermined temperature by the coolers 40a and 40b, so there is no disadvantage from the viewpoint of cooling efficiency.

[0044] The secondary battery inspection apparatus and secondary battery inspection system of this disclosure have been described above with reference to specific embodiments, but this disclosure is not limited to these embodiments.

[0045] The type of secondary battery to be inspected in this disclosure is not particularly limited, and may include, for example, lithium-ion batteries. The shape of the secondary battery is also not particularly limited, and may include, for example, cylindrical batteries, prismatic batteries, or pouch-type batteries. The arrangement of terminals and circuit boards, as well as the frame configuration of the secondary battery inspection device shown in each drawing, are examples and may be appropriately modified depending on the shape and orientation of the battery, the shape of the tray, etc.

[0046] The cooler 40 of the secondary battery inspection device 1 shown in Figure 1 has a configuration in which the refrigerant is cooled by a heat exchanger 41 before being stored in a tank 42, but the configuration of the cooler is not particularly limited. For example, a configuration in which a heat exchanger is provided inside the tank and the refrigerant stored in the tank is cooled by the heat exchanger may be adopted.

[0047] The airflow in the secondary battery inspection devices 1A and 1B shown in Figure 2 or Figure 3 is an example and can be modified as appropriate depending on the frame configuration, the arrangement of each component, etc.

[0048] In the secondary battery inspection system 2 shown in Figure 4, five secondary battery inspection devices 1 are stacked around one cooler, but the number of secondary battery inspection devices corresponding to one cooler is not particularly limited and may be, for example, one to fifteen. The secondary battery inspection system 2 is equipped with two coolers, but the number of coolers is not particularly limited. In an inspection system including three or more coolers, one flow path may be connected to two or more other flow paths via valves. In the secondary battery inspection system 2, one cooler is provided for one stack, but multiple coolers may be provided for one stack, or one cooler may be provided for multiple stacks. The arrangement of multiple secondary battery inspection devices 1 is not particularly limited and does not have to be a vertically stacked configuration.

[0049] This disclosure includes the following (1) to (11): (1) An inspection apparatus for a secondary battery according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is an inspection apparatus for a secondary battery equipped with a cooling device for cooling the secondary battery, the cooling device comprising a heat exchanger that circulates a refrigerant in an uncompressed manner through a flow path to cool air with the refrigerant, and a fan that blows the air cooled by the heat exchanger onto the secondary battery to cool the secondary battery.

[0050] (2) In the above (1), the heat exchanger may be located upstream of the airflow direction of the fan.

[0051] (3) In (1) or (2) above, the heat exchanger may have a first pipeline, a heat exchange section supplied with refrigerant from the first pipeline, and a second pipeline from which refrigerant is discharged from the heat exchange section, and may be configured such that the air surrounding the heat exchange section is cooled by the refrigerant.

[0052] (4) The secondary battery inspection apparatus described in (3) above is equipped with a cooler for cooling a refrigerant, the cooler comprising a heat exchanger, a tank, and a pump, wherein the heated refrigerant discharged from the second pipeline is cooled by the heat exchanger, the refrigerant cooled by the heat exchanger is stored in the tank, and the refrigerant stored in the tank is sent to the first pipeline by the pump.

[0053] (5) In the above (4), the tank may be positioned above the heat exchanger.

[0054] (6) The secondary battery inspection device described in any of (1) to (5) above may further include a second cooling device for cooling the heated air used to cool the secondary battery.

[0055] (7) In the above (6), the power supply of the secondary battery inspection device may be cooled with the air cooled by the second cooling device.

[0056] (8) In (7) above, the air used to cool the power supply and heated may be cooled again by the cooling device and used to cool the secondary battery.

[0057] (9) The secondary battery inspection device described in any of (1) to (8) above may be at least one selected from the group consisting of an initial charge device, a charge / discharge inspection device, a voltage inspection device, and a DC internal resistance inspection device.

[0058] (10) A secondary battery inspection system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a secondary battery inspection system including a plurality of secondary battery inspection devices, each of the plurality of secondary battery inspection devices being equipped with a cooling device for cooling a secondary battery, each of the cooling devices being equipped with a heat exchange device that circulates a refrigerant in an uncompressed flow path to cool air with the refrigerant, and a fan that blows the air cooled by the heat exchange device onto the secondary battery to cool the secondary battery.

[0059] (11) In (10) above, each of the flow paths may be connected to at least one of the other flow paths via a valve, and by opening the valve, the refrigerant flowing through one of the flow paths connected via the valve may be able to flow into the other flow path. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0060] 1,1A,1B Secondary Battery Testing Device 2. Inspection system for secondary batteries 10, 10A, 10B Frame 11 Support part 21 Upper terminal 22 Upper terminal board 23 Lower terminal 24 Lower terminal board 30,52 Cooling device 31,53 Heat exchange equipment 311 First pipeline 312 Heat exchange section 313 Second pipeline 32, 51, 54, 61, 80 fans 40,40a,40b Cooler 41 Heat exchanger 42 tanks 43,44 Pumps 60 power supply 70 Exhaust vent 91,93 valves 100 trays

Claims

1. A secondary battery inspection device equipped with a cooling device for cooling secondary batteries, The cooling device, A heat exchange device that circulates an uncompressed refrigerant through a flow path to cool the air with the refrigerant, A secondary battery inspection device comprising: a fan that cools the secondary battery by blowing air cooled by the heat exchanger onto the secondary battery.

2. The secondary battery inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is positioned upstream of the airflow direction of the fan.

3. The heat exchanger described above is First pipeline and A heat exchange section to which refrigerant is supplied from the first pipeline, It has a second pipeline through which the refrigerant is discharged from the heat exchange section, The air surrounding the heat exchange section is configured to be cooled by the refrigerant. A secondary battery inspection device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. Equipped with a cooler to cool the refrigerant, The cooler comprises a heat exchanger, a tank, and a pump. The heated refrigerant discharged from the second pipeline is cooled by the heat exchanger. The refrigerant cooled by the heat exchanger is stored in the tank. The secondary battery inspection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the refrigerant stored in the tank is sent to the first pipeline by the pump.

5. The secondary battery inspection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the tank is positioned above the heat exchanger.

6. The secondary battery inspection apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a second cooling device for cooling the heated air used to cool the secondary battery.

7. The secondary battery inspection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the power supply of the secondary battery inspection apparatus is cooled by air cooled by the second cooling device.

8. The secondary battery inspection apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the air heated and used to cool the power supply is cooled again by the cooling device and used to cool the secondary battery.

9. A secondary battery inspection device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the device is at least one selected from the group consisting of an initial charging device, a charge / discharge inspection device, a voltage inspection device, and a DC internal resistance inspection device.

10. A secondary battery inspection system including multiple secondary battery inspection devices, Each of the aforementioned secondary battery inspection devices is equipped with a cooling device for cooling the secondary battery. The cooling devices are, A heat exchange device that circulates an uncompressed refrigerant through a flow path to cool the air with the refrigerant, A secondary battery inspection system comprising: a fan that cools the secondary battery by blowing air cooled by the heat exchanger onto the secondary battery.

11. Each of the aforementioned flow paths is connected to at least one of the other aforementioned flow paths via a valve. The secondary battery inspection system according to claim 10, wherein by opening the valve, the refrigerant flowing through one of the flow paths connected via the valve can flow into the other flow path.

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