Energy storage device
The power storage device addresses water ingress by guiding water away from electrical equipment using air flow and gravity, ensuring effective water discharge and compact design.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-19
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-01
AI Technical Summary
Existing power storage devices are susceptible to water ingress, which can adversely affect electrical equipment.
A power storage device design featuring a housing with a partitioning member and inclined support surface that guides water away from electrical equipment using air flow and gravity, with communication ports strategically positioned to facilitate efficient water discharge.
Effectively prevents water from reaching electrical components, minimizing damage and enabling a compact device design while reducing noise and maintaining efficient cooling.
Smart Images
Figure 2026108969000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a power storage device.
Background Art
[0002] The power storage device is installed, for example, in a house or a factory. The power storage device has a configuration in which electrical equipment such as a storage battery and a control device is housed in a housing, as disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] In a general power storage device, rainwater or the like may enter the inside of the power storage device, and it is desirable that the electrical equipment is configured not to be adversely affected by water.
[0005] The present disclosure realizes a power storage device capable of suppressing the adverse effects of water entering the inside of the power storage device on electrical equipment.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] A power storage device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a power storage device including electrical equipment including a storage battery and a housing that houses the electrical equipment, where the housing has a support surface that supports a temperature control device that cools a refrigerant for cooling the electrical equipment, and a wall surface that rises upward from the support surface, and a partitioning member that forms a temperature control space inside the housing, a first communication port that communicates with the temperature control space and is disposed at a portion of the housing facing the wall surface of the partitioning member, A second communication opening is located in a portion of the housing that communicates with the temperature-controlled space, faces the wall surface of the partition member, and is positioned below the first communication opening, It has, The support surface of the partition member is inclined to become lower as it approaches the second communication opening of the housing, Air and water flowing in from the first communication port come into contact with the wall surface of the partition member via the temperature control device, and the water that falls down the wall surface of the partition member is guided to the second communication port by the air returned by the wall surface of the partition member.
[0007] In the above-described energy storage device, the first communication port and the second communication port are located in the rear portion of the housing. Preferably, the housing has a third communication opening that communicates with the temperature-controlled space and is located on at least one of the left or right sides of the housing.
[0008] In the above-described energy storage device, it is preferable that the support surface of the partition member and the second communication opening of the housing are continuous.
[0009] In the above-described energy storage device, the inclination angle of the support surface of the partition member is preferably 0.5° or more and 3° or less. [Effects of the Invention]
[0010] According to this disclosure, it is possible to realize an energy storage device that can suppress adverse effects on electrical equipment caused by water entering the inside of the energy storage device. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0011] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the energy storage device of the embodiment, viewed from the X-axis + side. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the energy storage device of the embodiment, viewed from the X-axis side. [Figure 3] This is a view of the internal structure of the energy storage device according to the embodiment, seen from the Y-axis side. [Figure 4]It is an XZ cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the periphery of the second communication port of the housing in the energy storage device of the embodiment. [Figure 5] It is a diagram for explaining the flow of air in the first space in the energy storage device of the embodiment.
Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention
[0012] Hereinafter, specific embodiments to which the present disclosure is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. Also, for clarity of explanation, the following description and drawings are simplified as appropriate.
[0013] First, the configuration of the energy storage device of this embodiment will be described. Here, in the following description, for clarity of explanation, a three-dimensional (XYZ) coordinate system will be used. At this time, for example, the + side of the X-axis is the front side of the energy storage device, the - side of the X-axis is the rear side of the energy storage device, the + side of the Y-axis is the left side of the energy storage device, the - side of the Y-axis is the right side of the energy storage device, the + side of the Z-axis is the upper side of the energy storage device, and the - side of the Z-axis is the lower side of the energy storage device.
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the energy storage device of this embodiment as viewed from the + side of the X-axis. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the energy storage device of this embodiment as viewed from the - side of the X-axis. FIG. 3 is a view of the internal structure of the energy storage device of this embodiment as viewed from the - side of the Y-axis.
[0015] FIG. 4 is an XZ cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the periphery of the second communication port of the housing in the energy storage device of this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the flow of air in the first space in the energy storage device of this embodiment.
[0016] The energy storage device 1 includes, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a battery pack 2, a housing 3, and a temperature control device 4. The battery pack 2 is a storage battery and has a configuration substantially equal to, for example, a general in-vehicle battery pack.
[0017] The battery pack 2 is formed by housing a battery module inside a housing, and for example, it may be a lithium-ion battery, a nickel-metal hydride battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, or a all-solid-state battery. The battery pack 2 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, substantially rectangular when viewed from the Z-axis direction and has a flat plate shape substantially parallel to the XY plane. The battery packs 2 are stacked in the Z-axis direction.
[0018] The housing 3 is, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, box-shaped and includes a frame 5, a partitioning member 6, a roof portion 7, a floor portion 8, and side wall portions 9. The frame 5 is formed by combining, for example, hollow square bars and includes column units 5a and beam members 5b.
[0019] The column units 5a are arranged substantially parallel to the XZ plane and spaced apart in the Y-axis direction, for example, as shown in FIG. 5. In the present embodiment, for example, three column units 5a are arranged spaced apart in the Y-axis direction. The beam members 5b extend in the Y-axis direction and connect the column units 5a adjacent in the Y-axis direction.
[0020] The partitioning member 6 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a plate member bent into a substantially L-shape when viewed from the Y-axis direction and includes a support surface 6a and a wall surface 6b. The support surface 6a supports the temperature control device 4 via the jig 10, for example, as shown in FIG. 4.
[0021] The support surface 6a is an inclined surface that slopes toward the Z-axis side as it goes toward the X-axis - side, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The inclination angle of the support surface 6a is preferably, for example, 0.5° or more and 3° or less. The wall surface 6b is arranged substantially parallel to the YZ plane and rises from the end portion on the X-axis + side of the support surface 6a toward the Z-axis + side.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 3, the partitioning member 6 is arranged to span the column unit 5a on the Y-axis + side and the central column unit 5a in the frame 5, and further to span the column unit 5a on the Y-axis - side and the central column unit 5a in the frame 5.
[0023] As shown in Figure 3, the partition member 6 is positioned on the Z-axis+ side of the frame 5 and on the X-axis- side of the frame 5. In other words, when viewed from the Y-axis direction, the partition member 6 is positioned to cover the corner on the Z-axis+ side of the frame 5 and on the X-axis- side of the frame 5.
[0024] The partition member 6 is fixed to the frame 5. As a result, the interior of the housing 3 is equipped with a first space S1, a second space S2, and a third space S3, as shown in Figures 3 and 5. The first space S1 is the space inside the housing 3 that is surrounded by the partition member 6. The temperature control device 4 is located in the first space S1.
[0025] The second space S2 is, for example, the space inside the housing 3 between the Y-axis-side column unit 5a and the central column unit 5a, excluding the first space S1, as shown in Figures 3 and 5. The battery packs 2 are housed in the second space S2 in a stacked state. The battery packs 2 are fixed to the frame 5.
[0026] The third space S3 is, for example, the space inside the housing 3 between the Y-axis + side column unit 5a and the central column unit 5a, excluding the first space S1, as shown in Figure 5. The third space S3 houses control devices 11, such as power control units that control each battery pack 2. The control devices 11 are fixed to the frame 5.
[0027] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the roof section 7 covers the open portion of the frame 5 on the Z-axis+ side. The Z-axis+ end of the wall surface 6b of the partition member 6 is preferably in contact with the roof section 7. The floor section 8 covers the open portion of the frame 5 on the Z-axis- side. The side wall section 9 covers the open portion of the frame 5 on the X-axis+ side, the X-axis- side, the Y-axis+ side, and the Y-axis- side.
[0028] The side wall portion 9 on the X-axis+ side may be configured as an openable and closable door, for example, as shown in Figure 1. The side wall portion 9 on the X-axis- side has a first communication opening 9a and a second communication opening 9b formed therein, as shown in Figure 2, for connecting the X-axis-side portion of the first space S1 to the outside.
[0029] The first communication opening 9a is located, for example, between the Y-axis-side column unit 5a and the central column unit 5a of the X-axis-side side wall portion 9, and is positioned on the Z-axis+ side with respect to the support surface 6a of the partition member 6.
[0030] As shown in Figure 4, the second communication opening 9b is located between the column unit 5a on the Y-axis side and the central column unit 5a of the X-axis side wall portion 9, on the Z-axis+ side with respect to the support surface 6a of the partition member 6, and on the Z-axis- side with respect to the first communication opening 9a.
[0031] Therefore, the first communication opening 9a and the second communication opening 9b are arranged to face the wall surface 6b of the partition member 6 in the X-axis direction. In this case, it is preferable that the Z-axis side end of the second communication opening 9b and the support surface 6a of the partition member 6 are continuous.
[0032] As shown in Figure 1, a third communication opening 9c is formed in the Y-axis positive side wall portion 9 to connect the Y-axis positive portion of the first space S1 with the outside. The third communication opening 9c is, for example, located in the X-axis negative portion of the Y-axis positive side wall portion 9, and is spaced apart in the X-axis direction from the Z-axis positive portion of the Y-axis positive side wall portion 9.
[0033] As shown in Figure 2, a fourth communication opening 9d is formed in the Y-axis side wall portion 9 to connect the Y-axis side portion of the first space S1 with the outside. The fourth communication opening 9d is, for example, located in the X-axis side portion of the Y-axis side wall portion 9, and is spaced apart in the X-axis direction from the Z-axis side portion of the Y-axis side wall portion 9. Louvers 12 may be fitted into the first communication opening 9a, the third communication opening 9c, and the fourth communication opening 9d.
[0034] The temperature control device 4 cools the refrigerant circulating through the electrical equipment 13, including the battery pack 2 and the control device 11, in order to cool the electrical equipment 13. The temperature control device 4 can cool the refrigerant by, for example, bringing air (i.e., outside air) taken in by the fan 4a into contact with the refrigerant circuit through which the refrigerant circulates. Therefore, the first space S1 of the housing 3 functions as a temperature-controlled space.
[0035] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the temperature control device 4 is fixed to the X-axis side portion of the support surface 6a of the partition member 6. In this case, as shown in Figure 5, the temperature control device 4 is preferably positioned so as to overlap with the first communication opening 9a of the housing 3 when viewed from the X-axis direction.
[0036] Next, the flow of air and water taken in by the fan 4a of the temperature control device 4 in the energy storage device 1 of this embodiment will be described. Here, in Figure 3, the flow of water is indicated by arrows, and in Figure 5, the flow of air is indicated by arrows.
[0037] As shown in Figure 5, air flows into the first space S1 of the housing 3 through the first communication port 9a of the housing 3 by the fan 4a of the temperature control device 4. At this time, water such as rainwater flows into the first space S1 of the housing 3 along with the air.
[0038] As shown in Figure 5, the air and water flowing into the first space S1 are drawn in to the X-axis + side by the fan 4a, come into contact with the refrigerant circuit in the temperature control device 4 to cool the refrigerant, and then come into contact with the wall surface 6b of the partition member 6.
[0039] As a result, the air that comes into contact with the wall surface 6b of the partition member 6 is divided into the Y-axis+ side, the Y-axis- side, and the X-axis- side. As shown in Figure 5, the air guided to the Y-axis+ side is discharged from the third communication port 9c of the housing 3, while the air guided to the Y-axis- side is discharged from the fourth communication port 9d of the housing 3.
[0040] At this time, water that comes into contact with the wall surface 6b of the partition member 6 flows down the wall surface 6b and falls onto the support surface 6a of the partition member 6, as shown in Figure 3. Since the support surface 6a of the partition member 6 is inclined toward the Z-axis as it moves toward the X-axis, the water flows down the support surface 6a and is guided to the second communication opening 9b of the housing 3 and discharged from the second communication opening 9b.
[0041] Furthermore, the air that comes into contact with the wall surface 6b of the partition member 6 is returned to the X-axis side, so that the water flowing along the support surface 6a can be effectively guided to the second communication port 9b of the housing 3 by this air. As a result, the water that flows into the first space S1 can be effectively discharged to the outside of the energy storage device 1, and adverse effects on the electrical equipment 13 caused by the water that flows into the energy storage device 1 can be suppressed.
[0042] As described above, the energy storage device 1 of this embodiment is configured such that water flowing into the first space S1 comes into contact with the wall surface 6b of the partition member 6 and falls onto the support surface 6a. Along with the inclination of the support surface 6a, the air returned by the wall surface 6b guides the water to the second communication port 9b of the housing 3 for discharge. Therefore, water flowing into the first space S1 can be effectively discharged to the outside of the energy storage device 1, and adverse effects on the electrical equipment 13 caused by water flowing into the energy storage device 1 can be suppressed.
[0043] In particular, the energy storage device 1 of this embodiment is configured to guide water to the second communication port 9b of the housing 3 and discharge it using air returned by the wall surface 6b of the partition member 6. Therefore, the inclination angle of the support surface 6a of the partition member 6 can be reduced, for example, to 0.5° or more and 1° or less. This reduces the volume consumed by the support surface 6a of the partition member 6, which contributes to miniaturizing the energy storage device 1.
[0044] In the energy storage device 1 of this embodiment, when the first communication port 9a and the second communication port 9b of the housing 3 are formed in the side wall portion 9 on the X-axis-side of the housing 3, air is not discharged from the side wall portion 9 on the X-axis-side of the housing 3. For example, when the X-axis-+ side of the energy storage device 1 is facing forward, the generation of noise in front of the energy storage device 1 can be suppressed.
[0045] In the energy storage device 1 of this embodiment, when the support surface 6a of the partition member 6 and the second communication opening 9b of the housing 3 are continuous, water that flows into the first space S1 can be efficiently discharged to the outside of the energy storage device 1.
[0046] In this embodiment, the second communication port 9b is located between the Y-axis-side column unit 5a and the central column unit 5a, but it is also preferable to have one located between the Y-axis-side column unit 5a and the central column unit 5a.
[0047] The arrangement of the third communication port 9c and the fourth communication port 9d in this embodiment is illustrative, and for example, one of the communication ports may be omitted. Similarly, the configuration of the temperature control device 4 is illustrative, and any configuration that can cool the battery pack 2 and the control device 11 is acceptable.
[0048] The energy storage device 1 in this embodiment is configured with battery packs 2 stacked in the Z-axis direction, but it is sufficient to have one or more storage batteries.
[0049] In short, the energy storage device 1 of this embodiment is configured to guide water flowing into the first space S1 to the second communication port 9b of the housing 3 and discharge it, along with the inclination of the support surface 6a of the partition member 6 and the air returned by the wall surface 6b of the partition member 6.
[0050] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and may be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0051] 1. Energy storage device 2 Battery Packs 3 cabinets 4. Temperature control device, 4a. Fan 5 Frame, 5a Column unit, 5b Beam member 6 partition members, 6a support surface, 6b wall surface 7. Roof section 8 Floor 9 Side wall section, 9a First communication opening, 9b Second communication opening, 9c Third communication opening, 9d Fourth communication opening 10 jigs 11 Control device 12 Galley 13 Electrical equipment S1 First Space S2 The Second Space S3 The Third Space
Claims
1. A power storage device comprising an electrical device including a battery and a housing for housing the electrical device, The aforementioned enclosure is A partition member having a support surface for supporting a temperature control device that cools a refrigerant for cooling the aforementioned electrical equipment, and a wall surface rising upward from the support surface, forming a temperature control space inside the housing, A first communication opening is provided, which is in communication with the temperature-controlled space and is located in the part of the housing facing the wall surface of the partition member, A second communication opening is located in a portion of the housing that communicates with the temperature-controlled space, faces the wall surface of the partition member, and is positioned below the first communication opening, It has, The support surface of the partition member is inclined to become lower as it approaches the second communication opening of the housing, An energy storage device in which air and water flowing in from the first communication port come into contact with the wall surface of the partition member via the temperature control device, and the water that falls down the wall surface of the partition member is guided to the second communication port by the air returned by the wall surface of the partition member.
2. The first and second communication ports are located in the rear portion of the housing. The energy storage device according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a third communication port that communicates with the temperature-controlled space and is located on at least one of the left or right sides of the housing.
3. The energy storage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support surface of the partition member and the second communication opening of the housing are continuous.
4. The energy storage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inclination angle of the support surface of the partition member is 0.5° or more and 3° or less.