Energy storage device

Abstract

The present invention provides an energy storage device that can suppress damage to at least one of the piping and wiring located near the relief valve caused by the gas discharged from the relief valve. [Solution] The energy storage device comprises a battery pack equipped with a relief valve, piping connected to the battery pack through which a refrigerant for cooling the battery pack flows, wiring connected to the battery pack, and a bracket supporting at least one of the piping and wiring. The bracket is fixed to the battery pack so as to be adjacent to the relief valve, and the bracket is provided with a shielding plate located between at least one of the piping and wiring fixed to the bracket and the relief valve, which shields the gas discharged from the relief valve.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a power storage device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a stationary power storage device in which a plurality of battery packs are stacked vertically and housed in a box-shaped housing.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The inventors have developed a power storage device in which a relief valve is provided in a battery pack. Here, around the battery pack, there are provided pipes through which a refrigerant for cooling the battery pack flows and wiring connected to the battery pack. Therefore, there is a risk that the pipes and wiring located near the relief valve may be damaged by the high-temperature gas discharged from the relief valve.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a power storage device capable of suppressing damage to pipes or wiring located near a relief valve caused by gas discharged from the relief valve.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A power storage device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a battery pack provided with a relief valve, a pipe connected to the battery pack and through which a refrigerant for cooling the battery pack flows, wiring connected to the battery pack, and a bracket that supports at least one of the pipe and the wiring. The bracket is fixed to the battery pack so as to be adjacent to the relief valve. The bracket is provided with a shielding plate located between at least one of the piping and wiring fixed to the bracket and the relief valve, which shields the gas discharged from the relief valve.

[0007] In the energy storage device according to this disclosure, a bracket supporting at least one of the piping and wiring is fixed to the battery pack so as to be adjacent to the relief valve, and the bracket is provided with a shielding plate located between at least one of the piping and wiring fixed to the bracket and the relief valve, which shields against the gas discharged from the relief valve. With this configuration, damage to at least one of the piping and wiring located near the relief valve from the gas discharged from the relief valve can be suppressed.

[0008] Both the piping and the wiring are fixed to the bracket, and the shielding plate has a stepped portion that protrudes toward the relief valve, with one of the piping and the wiring positioned below the stepped portion and the other of the piping and the wiring positioned above the stepped portion.

[0009] The shielding plate may extend below the relief valve and may also have a bottom plate portion that protrudes from its lower end toward the relief valve.

[0010] The battery pack comprises a substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped battery module and a protrusion projecting upward from one end of the battery module, and a plurality of the battery packs may be stacked vertically and housed in a housing such that the protrusions are arranged alternately outward. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] This disclosure provides an energy storage device that can suppress damage to piping or wiring located near the relief valve caused by gas discharged from the relief valve. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of the energy storage device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the battery pack 20. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing the bracket 40 in the energy storage device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] This is an XY cross-sectional view of bracket 40. [Figure 5] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the VV cutting line. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] The following describes specific embodiments of this disclosure in detail with reference to the drawings. However, this disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. Also, for clarity, the following descriptions and drawings have been simplified as appropriate.

[0014] (First Embodiment) <Overall configuration of the energy storage system> First, the overall configuration of the energy storage device according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 1. Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of the energy storage device according to the first embodiment. It should be noted that the right-handed XYZ Cartesian coordinate system shown in Figure 1 is merely a convenient representation for explaining the positional relationships of the constituent elements. In Figure 1, the positive Z-axis direction is typically the vertically upward direction, and the XY plane is the horizontal plane; this is consistent across all drawings.

[0015] The energy storage device according to this embodiment is, for example, an energy storage device that can be installed outdoors. As shown in Figure 1, the energy storage device comprises a plurality of battery packs 20 inside a housing 10. Furthermore, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 1, each battery pack 20 is equipped with a controller 30 on the negative X-axis side. In this embodiment, nine battery packs 20 are housed within the housing 10, but the number of battery packs 20 is not limited in any way, as long as there are multiple packs.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 10 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, i.e., a box shape, and is composed of an upper surface portion 11, a bottom surface portion 12, a front surface portion 13, a rear surface portion 14, and a pair of side surface portions (not shown) arranged at both ends in the X-axis direction. The housing 10 is made of, for example, a metal plate such as a steel plate.

[0017] The battery pack 20 is, for example, a lithium-ion battery and is an in-vehicle battery pack. Here, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the battery pack 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the battery pack 20 includes a battery module 21, a protruding portion 22, and a relief valve 23. As shown in FIG. 2, the battery module 21 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The battery module 21 is the main body of the battery pack 20 and is composed of, for example, a plurality of cell stacks arranged side by side in the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, the protruding portion 22 is provided so as to protrude upward at one end of the battery module 21 in the Y-axis direction. Electrical devices such as a relay circuit, a fuse, and a current sensor are housed in the protruding portion 22.

[0019] Here, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of battery packs 20 are stacked in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) and housed in the housing 10 such that the protruding portions 22 are arranged alternately in the Y-axis direction. In other words, a plurality of battery packs 20 are stacked in the vertical direction such that the protruding portions 22 protrude outward alternately. Therefore, the height and the center of gravity of the power storage device are lowered, and the seismic resistance of the power storage device is improved.

[0020] The relief valve 23 discharges the gas generated inside the battery module 21 to the outside of the battery module 21 when the battery module 21 is abnormal. As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of relief valves 23 are provided at both ends in the X-axis direction on the side surface of the battery module 21 on the negative Y-axis side.

[0021] More specifically, one relief valve 23 is provided in a chamfered portion formed between the side surface of the battery module 21 on the negative Y-axis side and the side surface on the positive X-axis side. The other relief valve 23 is provided in a chamfered portion formed between the side surface of the battery module 21 on the negative Y-axis side and the side surface on the negative X-axis side. The number and installation location of the relief valves 23 are not particularly limited.

[0022] <Details of Bracket 40> Although not shown in Figures 1 and 2, the battery pack 20 is surrounded by piping through which a refrigerant that cools the battery pack 20 flows, as well as wiring connected to the battery pack 20. Therefore, there was a risk that the piping and wiring located near the relief valve 23 would be damaged by the high-temperature gas discharged from the relief valve 23.

[0023] Therefore, in the energy storage device according to this embodiment, a shielding plate is provided on the bracket that supports the piping and wiring, positioned between the piping and wiring and the relief valve 23, to block the gas discharged from the relief valve 23.

[0024] The details of the brackets supporting the piping and wiring will be described below with reference to Figures 3 to 5. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the bracket 40 in the energy storage device according to the first embodiment. Figure 4 is an XY cross-sectional view of the bracket 40. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the VV line in Figure 4. Note that Figure 4 is also a cross-sectional view taken along the IV-IV line in Figure 5.

[0025] As shown in Figure 3, the bracket 40 supports the piping 50 and wiring 60. Here, the piping 50 is connected to the battery pack 20, and a coolant that cools the battery pack 20 flows inside the piping 50. The wiring 60 is also electrical wiring connected to the battery pack 20.

[0026] The piping 50 and wiring 60 shown in Figures 3 to 5 extend in the X-axis direction along the side surface of the battery pack 20 shown in Figure 2, which is in the negative Y-axis direction. The relief valve 23 shown in Figures 3 to 5 is a relief valve provided in the chamfered portion formed between the side surface of the battery module 21 in the negative Y-axis direction and the side surface in the positive X-axis direction.

[0027] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the bracket 40 is fixed directly or indirectly to the battery pack 20 so as to be adjacent to the relief valve 23. The bracket 40 is not particularly limited, but is a plate-shaped member made of, for example, a metal plate.

[0028] As shown in Figure 3, the bracket 40 comprises a main shielding plate 41, a stepped portion 42, a side shielding plate 43, a bottom plate portion 44, and a pipe support portion 45. As shown in Figure 3, the main shielding plate 41 is a rectangular flat plate parallel to the XZ plane and is installed between the relief valve 23 and the piping 50. The piping 50 is fixed to the main shielding plate 41 via a piping support portion 45 and a piping gripping portion 45a.

[0029] As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the stepped portion 42 is an L-shaped plate member in a YZ cross-section, continuously provided from the upper end (the end on the positive Z-axis side) of the main shielding plate 41. More specifically, the stepped portion 42 includes a rectangular flat plate parallel to the XY plane extending in the positive Y-axis direction from the upper end of the main shielding plate 41, and a rectangular flat plate parallel to the XZ plane extending in the positive Z-axis direction from the Y-axis end of the flat plate. Here, as shown in Figure 3, the stepped portion 42 further extends in the positive X-axis direction from the X-axis end of the main shielding plate 41.

[0030] The wiring 60 is fixed to the stepped portion 42 via the wiring gripping portion 42a. In other words, the stepped portion 42 is a shielding plate provided between the relief valve 23 and the wiring 60. Although not particularly limited, in the stepped portion 42 shown in Figure 3, wiring gripping portions 42a for gripping the wiring 60 are provided at both ends of the stepped portion 42 in the X-axis direction.

[0031] As shown in Figure 3, the side shielding plate 43 is a rectangular flat plate parallel to the YZ plane, extending in the positive Y direction from the X-axis positive end of the main shielding plate 41, and is provided to cover the X-axis positive side of the relief valve 23. Also, as shown in Figure 4, the main shielding plate 41 and the side shielding plate 43 constitute an L-shaped plate member in XY cross-section.

[0032] Here, the side shielding plate 43 can be said to be provided between the piping 50 that protrudes from the X-axis positive end of the main shielding plate 41 and the relief valve 23, as shown in Figure 4. Also, the side shielding plate 43 can be said to be provided between the wiring 60 that protrudes from the X-axis positive end of the stepped portion 42 and the relief valve 23, as shown in Figure 3.

[0033] As shown in Figure 3, the bottom plate portion 44 is a rectangular plate member parallel to the XY plane, extending in the positive Y direction from the lower end (negative Z-axis end) of the main shielding plate 41 on the positive X-axis side. The bottom plate portion 44 can also be described as a plate member extending in the negative X-axis direction from the lower end of the side shielding plate 43.

[0034] As shown in Figure 5, the main shielding plate 41 extends below the relief valve 23, and the bottom plate portion 44 protrudes from the lower end of the main shielding plate 41 toward the relief valve 23. In other words, the bottom plate portion 44 is a shielding plate provided to cover the lower side of the relief valve 23.

[0035] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the pipe support portion 45 supports the pipe 50. The pipe support portion 45 is provided so as to protrude in the negative Y-axis direction from the main surface of the main shielding plate 41. Therefore, the pipe support portion 45 supports the pipe 50 so that it is away from the main shielding plate 41, that is, away from the relief valve 23.

[0036] The pipe support section 45 shown in Figures 3 to 5 is an L-shaped plate member in XY cross-section, comprising a rectangular flat plate parallel to the YX plane that rises vertically from the main surface of the main shielding plate 41, and a rectangular flat plate parallel to the XZ plane that extends in the positive X direction from the negative Y-axis end of the flat plate. The pipe 50 is fixed to the flat plate parallel to the XZ plane in the pipe support section 45 via a pipe gripping section 45a.

[0037] As described above, in the energy storage device according to this embodiment, the bracket 40 supporting the piping 50 and wiring 60 is provided with a shielding plate (for example, a main shielding plate 41 and a stepped portion 42) located between the piping 50 and wiring 60 and the relief valve 23, which shields against the gas discharged from the relief valve 23. With this configuration, damage to the piping 50 and wiring 60 located near the relief valve 23 from the gas discharged from the relief valve 23 can be suppressed.

[0038] Note that the bracket 40 shown in Figures 3 to 5 is merely an example, and it may have any shape as long as it is located between the piping 50 and wiring 60 and the relief valve 23 and has a shielding plate that blocks the gas discharged from the relief valve 23. Also, the bracket 40 only needs to support at least one of the piping 50 and wiring 60.

[0039] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and may be modified as appropriate without departing from its intent. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0040] 10 cabinets 11 Top part 12 Bottom part 13 Front part 14 Back section 20 battery packs 21 Battery Modules 22 Protrusion 23 Relief valve 30 controllers 40 brackets 41 Main shielding plate 42 step difference part 42a Wiring Holding Section 43 サイド shielding plate 44. Base plate section 45 Piping Support Section 45a Piping control section 50 piping 60 wiring

Claims

1. A battery pack equipped with a relief valve, A pipe connected to the aforementioned battery pack, through which a refrigerant for cooling the battery pack flows, Wiring connected to the aforementioned battery pack, A bracket supporting at least one of the aforementioned pipe and wiring, The bracket is fixed to the battery pack so as to be adjacent to the relief valve. The bracket is provided with a shielding plate located between at least one of the piping and wiring fixed to the bracket and the relief valve, which shields the gas discharged from the relief valve. Energy storage device.

2. Both the piping and the wiring are fixed to the bracket. The shielding plate has a stepped portion that protrudes toward the relief valve, One of the pipes and the wiring is located on the lower side of the stepped portion, and the other of the pipes and the wiring is located on the upper side of the stepped portion. The energy storage device according to claim 1.

3. The shielding plate extends below the relief valve and has a bottom plate portion that protrudes from its lower end toward the relief valve. The energy storage device according to claim 2.

4. The battery pack comprises a battery module that is roughly rectangular in shape, and a projection that protrudes upward from one end of the battery module. Multiple battery packs are housed in a casing, stacked vertically so that their protruding portions are arranged alternately on the outside. The energy storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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