Electric storage device

Abstract

To reduce influence of heat generated by a power storage module on another power storage module.SOLUTION: A power storage device 1 based on the disclosure includes: a plurality of power storage modules 10; a housing case 20; a plate 30; a shielding plate 40; and a heat conduction member 50. The power storage modules 10 are disposed side by side along a first direction D1 orthogonal to a vertical direction. The housing case 20 includes an upper case 21 and a lower case 22, and houses the power storage modules 10. The plate 30 is disposed above the power storage modules 10 in the housing case 20. The shielding plate 40 is fixed to the plate 30 and disposed between the power storage modules 10. The heat conduction member 50 is disposed between the shielding plate 40 and the lower case 22, and has a higher thermal conductivity than that of the shielding plate 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-155367 (Patent Document 1) discloses a conventional power storage device. This power storage device includes a plurality of power storage modules arranged side by side along a first direction orthogonal to the vertical direction, an upper case and a lower case, a housing case that houses the plurality of power storage modules, a plate disposed above the plurality of power storage modules and extending along the first direction, and a plurality of support members fixed to the lower case and supporting the plate.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a conventional power storage device, since the power storage module is surrounded by the lower case, the plate, and the support members, the heat generated in the power storage module is likely to be trapped inside the housing case. For this reason, the heat generated in one power storage module may affect the performance of other power storage modules.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a power storage device capable of reducing the influence of heat generated in a power storage module on other power storage modules.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The power storage device based on the present disclosure includes a plurality of power storage modules, a housing case, a plate, a shielding plate, and a heat conductive member. The plurality of power storage modules are arranged side by side along a first direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The housing case includes an upper case and a lower case and houses the plurality of power storage modules. The plate is disposed above the plurality of power storage modules within the housing case. The shielding plate is fixed to the plate and disposed between the plurality of power storage modules. The heat conductive member is disposed between the shielding plate and the lower case and has a higher thermal conductivity than the shielding plate.

[0007] In the power storage device based on the present disclosure, the shielding plate suppresses the heat generated in the power storage module from directly transferring to another adjacent power storage module. Further, the heat transferred to the shielding plate is conducted to the lower case via the heat conductive member and easily radiated outside the housing case. Thus, the heat generated in the power storage module is prevented from accumulating within the housing case. In this way, the influence of the heat generated in the power storage module on other power storage modules can be reduced.

[0008] In the power storage device based on the present disclosure, it is preferable that the heat conductive member has a lower rigidity than the shielding plate and is disposed in a compressed state in the vertical direction, and a portion of the shielding plate facing the heat conductive member side is fixed to the lower case in the horizontal direction by the reaction force from the heat conductive member.

[0009] In the above power storage device, the plate located above the power storage module is firmly supported by the heat conductive member and the shielding plate. When the vertical vibration of the housing case (lower case) is transmitted to the shielding plate via the heat conductive member, the vibration of the housing case is attenuated in the heat conductive member due to the deformation of the heat conductive member having a relatively low rigidity. Thus, the vibration of the shielding plate is suppressed, and consequently, the vibration of the plate located above the power storage module is also suppressed.

Advantages of the Invention

[0010] According to the present disclosure, the influence of the heat generated in the power storage module on other power storage modules can be reduced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, a power storage device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the embodiments, the same or corresponding parts in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a power storage device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the power storage device in FIG. 1 viewed from the direction of the arrow II-II. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a power storage device 1 according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of power storage modules 10, a housing case 20, a plate 30, a shielding plate 40, and a heat conducting member 50.

[0014] The power storage device 1 can be mounted on a vehicle. The vehicle is, for example, an electric vehicle. The electric vehicle includes an electric motor as a prime mover for driving the vehicle. The power storage device 1 is configured to be able to supply power to the electric motor when mounted on the vehicle.

[0015] The plurality of power storage modules 10 are arranged side by side along the first direction D1. The first direction D1 is a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. Each of the plurality of power storage modules 10 is specifically a battery module. The battery module is composed of a plurality of single cells (not shown) arranged side by side in the second direction. The second direction D2 is a direction orthogonal to both the vertical direction and the first direction D1. When the power storage device 1 is mounted on a vehicle, the first direction D1 is the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the second direction D2 is the width direction of the vehicle.

[0016] The single cell is, for example, a secondary battery such as a nickel-metal hydride battery or a lithium-ion battery. The single cell has, for example, a rectangular shape. The secondary battery may use a liquid electrolyte or a solid electrolyte.

[0017] The power storage device 1 further includes a plurality of brackets 15. The plurality of brackets 15 are respectively provided on both sides of each of the plurality of power storage modules 10 in the second direction D2. The bracket 15 is provided for fixing the power storage module 10 to the housing case 20.

[0018] The bracket 15 is fixed to the power storage module 10. The method of fixing the bracket 15 to the power storage module 10 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, the bracket 15 is fixed to the power storage module 10 by a fastening member 15f. The bracket 15 extends from the power storage module 10 toward the housing case 20, specifically, extends along the second direction D2. The bracket 15 may be directly fixed to the housing case 20, but in this embodiment, it is fixed to the housing case 20 via other members (details will be described later).

[0019] The housing case 20 houses the plurality of power storage modules 10. The housing case 20 includes an upper case 21 and a lower case 22.

[0020] The upper case 21 has a substantially box-shaped configuration that opens downward. The upper case 21 is made of a resin material, but it may be made of a metal material.

[0021] The lower case 22 has a substantially box-shaped configuration that opens upward. The lower case 22 is made of a metal material, but it may be made of a resin material. The lower case 22 has a bottom portion 221 and a peripheral wall portion 222 that stands up from the bottom portion 221.

[0022] By attaching and coupling the opening of the upper case 21 and the opening of the lower case 22 to each other in the vertical direction, the accommodation space of the accommodation case 20 is formed.

[0023] The power storage device 1 further includes a plurality of pedestal portions 25. The plurality of pedestal portions 25 are provided inside the accommodation case 20 (on the accommodation space side). The plurality of pedestal portions 25 are each located between the power storage module 10 and the peripheral wall portion 222 of the lower case 22 in the second direction D2. The pedestal portion 25 is fixed to the lower case 22. The method of fixing the pedestal portion 25 to the lower case 22 is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, the pedestal portion 25 is fixed to the lower case 22 by welding. More specifically, the pedestal portion 25 is fixed to each of the bottom portion 221 and the peripheral wall portion 222 by welding.

[0024] On both sides of the power storage module 10 in the second direction D2, the brackets 15 are fixed to the pedestal portions 25. The method of fixing the brackets 15 to the pedestal portions 25 is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, the brackets 15 are fixed to the pedestal portions 25 by fastening members 25f. In this way, the power storage module 10 is fixed to the lower case 22 (accommodation case 20) via the brackets 15 and the pedestal portions 25.

[0025] The plate 30 is disposed above a plurality of power storage modules 10 within the housing case 20. The plate 30 is arranged to provide other components above the power storage modules 10. The plate 30 extends in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the vertical direction, specifically extending in both the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. For this reason, the plate 30 preferably has relatively high rigidity for suppressing deflection and vibration in the vertical direction.

[0026] The power storage device 1 further includes a plurality of support members 35. Each of the plurality of support members 35 is fixed to both end portions of the plate 30 in the second direction D2. The support members 35 are respectively positioned on both sides of the power storage modules 10 in the second direction D2. The support members 35 extend downward from the plate 30 and support the plate 30 within the housing case 20. The method of fixing the support members 35 to the plate 30 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, the support members 35 are fixed to the plate 30 by fastening members 35f.

[0027] The support members 35 may be directly fixed to the housing case 20, but in this embodiment, they are fixed to the housing case 20 (lower case 22) via other members. Specifically, the support members 35 are located above the pedestal portion 25 and are fixed to the pedestal portion 25 on the side opposite to the plate 30 side. More specifically, the support members 35 are arranged so as to sandwich the bracket 15 together with the pedestal portion 25 in the vertical direction. The support members 35 are fixed to the pedestal portion 25 by fastening members 25f together with the bracket 15. Note that the method of fixing the support members 35 to the pedestal portion 25 is not limited to this. The support members 35 may be directly fixed to the pedestal portion 25 without passing through the bracket 15.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a partial configuration of a power storage device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the shielding plate 40 is fixed to the plate 30. The shielding plate 40 is disposed between a plurality of power storage modules 10.

[0029] The shielding plate 40 has a wall portion 41, a top portion 42, and a pressing portion 43. The wall portion 41 extends along the vertical direction and the second direction D2.

[0030] The top portion 42 is located at the upper end of the wall portion 41. The top portion 42 extends across the entire shielding plate 40 in the second direction D2. The top portion 42 extends outward from the wall portion 41 on one side in the first direction D1. The top portion 42 is fixed to the plate 30. The method of fixing the top portion 42 (shielding plate 40) to the plate 30 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, the top portion 42 is fixed to the plate 30 by a fastening member 42f.

[0031] The pressing portion 43 is located at the lower end of the wall portion 41. The pressing portion 43 extends across the entire shielding plate 40 in the second direction D2. The pressing portion 43 extends outward from the wall portion 41 on one side in the first direction D1. When viewed from the wall portion 41, the pressing portion 43 extends in the same direction as the top portion 42, but it may also extend in a direction different from the top portion 42. The pressing portion 43 is spaced apart from the bottom portion 221 (lower case 22). The pressing portion 43 presses the heat conduction member 50 described later downward.

[0032] The material constituting the shielding plate 40 is not particularly limited. Since the shielding plate 40 transfers heat to the heat conduction member 50, it is preferably made of a material with relatively high heat conductivity, for example, it is made of metal, specifically, a steel plate. Also, the shielding plate 40 preferably has high rigidity from the viewpoint of suppressing the deflection of the housing case 20 described later.

[0033] The heat conduction member 50 is disposed between the pressing portion 43 (shielding plate 40) and the bottom portion 221 (lower case 22). Specifically, the heat conduction member 50 is in contact with the pressing portion 43 and the bottom portion 221. The heat conduction member 50 has a higher heat conductivity than the shielding plate 40. The heat conduction member 50 is in the form of a soft sheet and extends in the second direction D2 along the pressing portion 43.

[0034] The heat conduction member 50 has a lower rigidity than the shielding plate 40. The heat conduction member 50 is arranged in a state of being compressed in the vertical direction by the pressing portion 43 (shielding plate 40) and the bottom portion 221 (lower case 22) when being pressed by the pressing portion 43. For this reason, the portion of the shielding plate 40 facing the heat conduction member side is fixed to the bottom portion 221 (lower case 22) in the horizontal direction by the reaction force from the heat conduction member 50. That is, the pressing portion 43 is fixed to the bottom portion 221 (lower case 22) in the horizontal direction by the reaction force from the heat conduction member 50.

[0035] The heat conduction member 50 is not particularly limited as long as it is made of a material having low rigidity and high thermal conductivity. The heat conduction member 50 is, for example, a soft rubber-like soft sheet having a high thermal conductivity.

[0036] It is also preferable that at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the heat conduction member 50 is an adhesive surface. Thereby, the end portion (pressing portion 43) of the shielding plate 40 can be fixed more firmly in the horizontal direction.

[0037] The power storage device 1 further includes an electronic device 60. The electronic device 60 is located above the plate 30. The electronic device 60 is fixed to the plate 30. The type of the electronic device 60 is not particularly limited, and for example, it is an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) that monitors the power storage module 10. In the present embodiment, as will be described later, even if the housing case 20 vibrates, the vibration of the plate 30 is suppressed, so that the acceleration of vibration in the electronic device 60 can be reduced.

[0038] As described above, the power storage device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a shielding plate 40 fixed to the plate 30 and disposed between the plurality of power storage modules 10, and a heat conduction member 50 disposed between the shielding plate 40 and the lower case 22 and having a higher thermal conductivity than the shielding plate 40.

[0039] According to the above configuration, the heat generated in the power storage module 10 is suppressed from directly transferring to other adjacent power storage modules 10 by the shielding plate 40. Further, the heat transferred to the shielding plate 40 is conducted to the lower case 22 via the heat conducting member 50 and easily radiated outside the housing case 20. Therefore, the heat generated in the power storage module 10 is suppressed from accumulating inside the housing case 20. In this way, the influence of the heat generated in the power storage module 10 on other power storage modules 10 can be reduced.

[0040] Also, in the power storage device 1, the heat conducting member 50 has a lower rigidity than the shielding plate 40 and is arranged in a compressed state in the vertical direction. The portion of the shielding plate 40 facing the heat conducting member side is fixed to the lower case 22 in the horizontal direction by the reaction force from the heat conducting member 50.

[0041] According to the above configuration, the plate 30 located above the power storage module 10 is firmly supported by the heat conducting member 50 and the shielding plate 40. When the vertical vibration of the housing case 20 (lower case 22) is transmitted to the shielding plate 40 via the heat conducting member 50, the vibration of the housing case 20 is attenuated in the heat conducting member 50 due to the deformation of the heat conducting member 50 having a relatively low rigidity. Therefore, the vibration of the shielding plate 40 is suppressed, and consequently, the vibration of the plate 30 located above the power storage module 10 is also suppressed.

[0042] Furthermore, according to the above configuration, since the lower case 22 and the shielding plate 40 are firmly fixed in the second direction D2, the deflection deformation of the lower case 22 (especially the bottom portion 221) in the vertical direction is suppressed. The suppression of the deflection deformation of the lower case 22 will be described below.

[0043] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the curvature of the case with respect to the power storage device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 4, for example, when the bottom 221 of the lower case 22 is about to curve along the direction of arrow C (that is, when it is about to bend in the vertical direction) due to an external force from outside the power storage device 1, the deformation of the bottom 221 is suppressed by the shielding plate 40 extending in the vertical direction.

[0044] The effect of suppressing the deformation of the bottom 221 by the shielding plate 40 will be described in more detail. Generally, the amount of deflection in the vertical direction of a beam-like member with respect to a predetermined load is approximately inversely proportional to the cube of the vertical length (thickness) of the member. Here, in the power storage device 1 according to the present embodiment, when the thickness t of the bottom 221 is 1.2 mm and the height h of the shielding plate 40 is 100 mm (see FIG. 4), (t + h) 3 the value of is t 3 is about 600,000 times the value of. Therefore, when the shielding plate 40 is configured as described above and the shielding plate 40 can be regarded as a member substantially integral with the bottom 221, it is presumed that the amount of deflection in the vertical direction of the bottom 221 is suppressed to approximately 1 / 600,000 compared to the case where the shielding plate 40 is not provided.

[0045] The embodiments disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description but by the claims, and it is intended that all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are included.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0046] 1 Power storage device, 10 Power storage module, 15 Bracket, 20 Housing case, 21 Upper case, 22 Lower case, 221 Bottom, 222 Peripheral wall portion, 25 Pedestal portion, 30 Plate, 35 Support member, 40 Shielding plate, 41 Wall portion, 42 Top, 43 Pressing portion, 50 Heat conducting member, 60 Electronic device.

Claims

1. A plurality of power storage modules arranged side by side along a first direction orthogonal to the vertical direction; A housing case including an upper case and a lower case for housing the plurality of power storage modules; A plate disposed above the plurality of power storage modules within the housing case; A shielding plate fixed to the plate and disposed between the plurality of power storage modules with a gap interposed between each of the plurality of power storage modules; A heat conducting member disposed between the shielding plate and the lower case and having a higher thermal conductivity than the shielding plate; The heat conducting member has a lower rigidity than the shielding plate, a power storage device.

2. The shielding plate is fixed to the plate by a fastening member, At a position overlapping the shielding plate in the vertical direction and at a position between the plate and the upper case, no other component different from the fastening member is disposed. The power storage device according to claim 1.

3. The heat conducting member is disposed in a vertically compressed state, A portion of the shielding plate facing the heat conducting member side is fixed to the lower case in the horizontal direction by a reaction force from the heat conducting member. The power storage device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

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