Capacitor Module Unit

Abstract

To provide a capacitor module unit capable of improving cooling performance of a capacitor module while protecting an extraction electrode.SOLUTION: A capacitor module 11 has a first side surface 111 and a second side surface at both ends in the width direction W. A cover 20 does not cover the first side surface 111 and the second side surface. A part of the first side surface 111 is covered by a first positive electrode protection member 51, a first negative electrode protection member 52, a second positive electrode protection member 53, a second negative electrode protection member 54, a first bus bar 30, and a second bus bar 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a capacitor module unit. [Background technology]

[0002] The capacitor module unit includes a capacitor module and a cover that fixes the capacitor module. In the capacitor module, a plurality of capacitor cells are arranged in the thickness direction of the capacitor cells. The capacitor cells store the power generated by the fuel cell.

[0003] For example, the unit structure of an electric double layer capacitor described in Patent Document 1 houses a capacitor module in a housing, and the unit structure of the electric double layer capacitor fixes the capacitor module to the housing to suppress vibrations and impacts on the capacitor module.

[0004] The housing has a top plate, a bottom plate, a pair of side plates, and a back plate, all of which are integrated together. The housing is box-shaped with a front opening that opens forward. Ventilation holes are formed in the back plate. The multiple capacitor modules housed within the housing have positive and negative terminals on the front side. The multiple capacitor modules are housed in the housing with the positive and negative terminals visible from the front opening. The multiple capacitor modules are pressed against the back plate by a pair of upper and lower fixing brackets. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-189364 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In a capacitor module housed in a housing, lead electrodes such as positive and negative terminals must be protected with a protective member without being exposed. However, the protective member may make it difficult for heat generated in the capacitor cells to be released to the outside of the housing. Therefore, there is a need to improve cooling performance while protecting the lead electrodes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The capacitor module unit for solving the above problem comprises a capacitor module in which a plurality of capacitor cells for storing power generated by a fuel cell are arranged in the thickness direction of the capacitor cells, and a cover for fixing the capacitor module, wherein, when one of the directions perpendicular to the thickness direction of the capacitor cells is defined as the width direction of the capacitor module, the capacitor module has a first side surface and a second side surface at both ends in the width direction, the cover does not cover the first side surface and the second side surface, and a portion of the first side surface is covered by an extraction electrode of the capacitor module, a bus bar electrically connected to the extraction electrode, and a protective member for protecting the extraction electrode.

[0008] According to this, the cover does not cover the first and second side surfaces of the capacitor module, and a portion of the first side surface is covered by the bus bar and the protective member. Therefore, heat generated in the capacitor cells is more easily released to the outside than when the cover covers the entire first side surface and the entire second side surface, or when the bus bar and the protective member cover the entire first side surface. In addition, heat generated in the capacitor cells is also more easily released to the outside from the second side surface. Therefore, the cooling performance of the capacitor module can be improved while protecting the lead electrodes.

[0009] In the capacitor module unit, the first side surface and the second side surface may be two side surfaces with the largest areas among a plurality of side surfaces of the capacitor module.

[0010] This increases the area of ​​the first and second side surfaces exposed to the outside compared to when the first and second side surfaces are not the two largest side surfaces among the multiple side surfaces of the capacitor module, making it easier for heat generated in the capacitor cells to be released to the outside.

[0011] In the above-mentioned capacitor module unit, the protective member includes a positive electrode protective member that protects the positive electrode of the extraction electrode and a negative electrode protective member that protects the negative electrode of the extraction electrode, and the positive electrode protective member and the negative electrode protective member may be separate bodies.

[0012] This allows the portions of the protective members that do not protect the positive electrode and the negative electrode to be smaller than when the positive electrode protective member and the negative electrode protective member are integrated. This increases the area of ​​the first side surface of the capacitor module that is exposed to the outside. This further improves the cooling performance of the capacitor module.

[0013] In the above-mentioned capacitor module unit, the protective member has a main body portion that covers the extraction electrode and a fastening portion that is fastened to the cover by a fastening member, and the surface of the main body portion is coated with an insulating coating, and the surface of the fastening portion does not have to be coated with the insulating coating.

[0014] This prevents the insulating coating from making it difficult to generate torque when fastening the fastening member to the fastened part, for example, when the fastened part is covered with an insulating coating, and as a result, the fastened part can be stably fastened to the cover.

[0015] In the capacitor module unit, the bus bar may include a bent portion. In this case, since the bus bar includes a bent portion, the cross-sectional area of ​​the bus bar can be increased compared to when the bus bar extends only linearly, thereby improving the strength of the bus bar.

[0016] In the above-described capacitor module unit, the capacitor module may have a module component extending in the thickness direction so as to straddle the plurality of capacitor cells in the thickness direction, and when viewing the bus bar in the thickness direction of the bus bar, the bus bar may be positioned so that at least a portion of the bus bar overlaps with the module component in the thickness direction of the bus bar.

[0017] This configuration increases the area of ​​the first side surface of the capacitor module that is exposed to the outside compared to when the bus bar is not overlapped with the module components, when viewed in the thickness direction of the bus bar, thereby further improving the cooling performance of the capacitor module. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to this invention, the cooling performance of the capacitor module can be improved while protecting the lead electrodes. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a capacitor module unit. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the capacitor module unit. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the capacitor module unit. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] An embodiment of a capacitor module unit will now be described with reference to FIGS. <Capacitor module unit> As shown in FIG. 1, the capacitor module unit 10 includes a capacitor module 11, a cover 20 that fixes the capacitor module 11, a first bus bar 30 and a second bus bar 40 that serve as bus bars, and a protective member 50.

[0021] Assuming that the capacitor module unit 10 is placed on a horizontal plane, the direction of gravity is indicated by the Z axis, and the directions along the horizontal plane are indicated by the X and Y axes. The X, Y, and Z axes are perpendicular to one another. In the following description, the direction parallel to the Z axis is also referred to as the vertical direction Z, and the direction parallel to the X axis is also referred to as the horizontal direction X. The direction parallel to the Y axis is also referred to as the depth direction Y. Therefore, the horizontal direction X is a direction perpendicular to both the depth direction Y and the vertical direction Z.

[0022] <Capacitor module> As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the capacitor module 11 includes a first capacitor module 11a and a second capacitor module 11b.

[0023] Each of the first capacitor module 11a and the second capacitor module 11b is configured by connecting a plurality of capacitor cells 12 in series. The first capacitor module 11a and the second capacitor module 11b are connected in series. Each of the plurality of capacitor cells 12 stores power generated by a fuel cell (not shown). In FIGS. 2 and 3, the first capacitor module 11a and the second capacitor module 11b are schematically shown by dashed lines.

[0024] Each of the plurality of capacitor cells 12 has a rectangular plate shape. The thickness direction of the capacitor cell 12 is defined as thickness direction A. The plurality of capacitor cells 12 are arranged with their end faces in the thickness direction A facing each other. The thickness direction A of the capacitor cells 12 coincides with the horizontal direction X. The first capacitor module 11a and the second capacitor module 11b are arranged in the horizontal direction X. The capacitor module 11 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The longitudinal direction of the capacitor module 11 coincides with the horizontal direction X. One of the directions perpendicular to the thickness direction A is defined as width direction W of the capacitor module 11. The width direction W coincides with the depth direction Y.

[0025] Capacitor module 11 has a first side surface 111 and a second side surface 112, which are the two side surfaces with the largest areas among its multiple side surfaces, at both ends in the width direction W. The first side surface 111 is made up of a side surface 111a of first capacitor module 11a and a side surface 111b of second capacitor module 11b. The second side surface 112 is made up of a side surface 112a of first capacitor module 11a and a side surface 112b of second capacitor module 11b.

[0026] <Cover> As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the cover 20 is composed of a bottom plate 21, a top plate 22, a first side plate 23, and a second side plate 24. The bottom plate 21, the top plate 22, the first side plate 23, and the second side plate 24 are rectangular plates. The bottom plate 21 and the top plate 22 face each other in the vertical direction Z. The long edges of the bottom plate 21 and the long edges of the top plate 22 extend in the horizontal direction X. The short edges of the bottom plate 21 and the short edges of the top plate 22 extend in the depth direction Y.

[0027] The first side plate 23 and the second side plate 24 face each other in the horizontal direction X. The long edges of the first side plate 23 and the second side plate 24 extend in the vertical direction Z. The thickness directions of the first side plate 23 and the second side plate 24 coincide with the horizontal direction X. Therefore, the thickness directions of the first side plate 23 and the second side plate 24 coincide with the thickness direction A. The cover 20 does not cover the first side surface 111 and the second side surface 112.

[0028] The first side plate 23 rises vertically from a first end of the bottom plate 21 in the horizontal direction X. The second side plate 24 rises vertically from a second end of the bottom plate 21 in the horizontal direction X. The first side plate 23 and the second side plate 24 are integral with the bottom plate 21. The first side plate 23 and the second side plate 24 are separate from the top plate 22.

[0029] A plurality of mount members M are attached to the bottom plate 21. The mount members M are interposed between the capacitor module unit 10 and an object to which the capacitor module unit 10 is attached, thereby suppressing external impacts and vibrations.

[0030] The first capacitor module 11a and the second capacitor module 11b are arranged in a space defined by a bottom plate 21, a top plate 22, a first side plate 23, and a second side plate 24. The top plate 22 has fixing pieces 25 on both ends in the horizontal direction X. The top plate 22 is fixed to the first side plate 23 and the second side plate 24 by screwing fixing bolts 26 that pass through the fixing pieces 25 into the first side plate 23 and the second side plate 24.

[0031] The top plate 22 and the capacitor module 11 are connected by bolts 27. The top plate 22 is fixed to the first side plate 23 and the second side plate 24, and therefore the capacitor module 11 is fixed to the cover 20 by the bolts 27.

[0032] 2, the top plate 22 includes a first boss 22a, a second boss 22b, a third boss 22c, and a fourth boss 22d. Each of the first to fourth bosses 22a to 22d is a portion for attaching the protective member 50 to the top plate 22. Each of the first to fourth bosses 22a to 22d has an internal thread 28. The internal threads 28 open on the upper surfaces of the first to fourth bosses 22a to 22d. A fastening bolt 29 for fastening the protective member 50 to the first to fourth bosses 22a to 22d is threadedly engaged with each of the internal threads 28.

[0033] The first to fourth bosses 22a to 22d are arranged along one of a pair of long edges of the top plate 22. Of the first to fourth bosses 22a to 22d, the first boss 22a is arranged at a position closest to the first side plate 23. The second boss 22b is arranged near the center in the horizontal direction X. The first boss 22a is arranged closer to a first end in the longitudinal direction of the first capacitor module 11a, and the second boss 22b is arranged closer to a second end in the longitudinal direction of the first capacitor module 11a.

[0034] The fourth boss 22d is disposed near the center in the horizontal direction X and closer to the second side plate 24 than the second boss 22b. Of the first to fourth bosses 22a to 22d, the third boss 22c is disposed at a position closest to the second side plate 24. The fourth boss 22d is disposed closer to the first end of the second capacitor module 11b in the longitudinal direction, and the third boss 22c is disposed closer to the second end of the second capacitor module 11b in the longitudinal direction. Hereinafter, the dimension of the boss in the longitudinal direction of the top plate 22 will be simply referred to as the dimension.

[0035] The first boss 22a has the same dimension as the second boss 22b. The fourth boss 22d has a dimension longer than the first boss 22a and the second boss 22b. The third boss 22c has a dimension longer than the fourth boss 22d.

[0036] <Extraction electrode> The capacitor modules 11 have lead electrodes 13. Specifically, the first capacitor module 11a has a first positive electrode 14a and a first negative electrode 14b. The second capacitor module 11b has a second positive electrode 15a and a second negative electrode 15b. The first positive electrode 14a is disposed closer to the second longitudinal end of the first capacitor module 11a, and the first negative electrode 14b is disposed closer to the first longitudinal end of the first capacitor module 11a. The second positive electrode 15a is disposed closer to the second longitudinal end of the second capacitor module 11b, and the second negative electrode 15b is disposed closer to the first longitudinal end of the second capacitor module 11b.

[0037] The first positive electrode 14a is disposed below the second boss 22b in the vertical direction Z. The first negative electrode 14b is disposed below the first boss 22a in the vertical direction Z. The second negative electrode 15b is disposed below the fourth boss 22d in the vertical direction Z. The second positive electrode 15a is disposed below the third boss 22c in the vertical direction Z.

[0038] The second positive electrode 15a is connected to a positive electrode connecting member P. The second negative electrode 15b is connected to a negative electrode connecting member Q. The positive electrode connecting member P and the negative electrode connecting member Q are connected to a load (not shown).

[0039] The first capacitor module 11a has a first module component 16a made of resin. The second capacitor module 11b has a second module component 16b made of resin. The first module component 16a and the second module component 16b each extend in the plate thickness direction A so as to straddle the plurality of capacitor cells 12. The first module component 16a is provided to ensure insulation of the first capacitor module 11a. The second module component 16b is provided to ensure insulation of the second capacitor module 11b.

[0040] The first module component 16a covers almost the entire side surface 111a of the first capacitor module 11a in the horizontal direction X. The first module component 16a covers only the central portion of the side surface 111a of the first capacitor module 11a in the vertical direction Z. The second module component 16b covers almost the entire side surface 111b of the second capacitor module 11b in the horizontal direction X. The second module component 16b covers only the central portion of the side surface 111b of the second capacitor module 11b in the vertical direction Z. Therefore, the first module component 16a and the second module component 16b cover a portion of the first side surface 111.

[0041] <Busbar> Each of the first bus bar 30 and the second bus bar 40 is made of copper. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first bus bar 30 has a first negative electrode connection portion 31, a second negative electrode connection portion 32, and a first connection portion 33. The first negative electrode connection portion 31 is connected to the first negative electrode 14b of the first capacitor module 11a. The second negative electrode connection portion 32 is connected to the second negative electrode 15b of the second capacitor module 11b. The first connection portion 33 connects the first negative electrode connection portion 31 and the second negative electrode connection portion 32. Therefore, the first bus bar 30 electrically connects the first capacitor module 11a and the second capacitor module 11b. The first connection portion 33 is covered with an insulating layer (not shown). Neither the first negative electrode connection portion 31 nor the second negative electrode connection portion 32 is covered with an insulating layer.

[0042] The first connection portion 33 has a first horizontal portion 33a and a first bent portion 33b. The first horizontal portion 33a is a portion of the first connection portion 33 that extends horizontally from the first negative electrode connection portion 31 toward the second negative electrode connection portion 32. The first bent portion 33b is a portion of the first connection portion 33 that connects the first horizontal portion 33a and the second negative electrode connection portion 32.

[0043] The first bent portion 33b is located farther from the first side surface 111 in the depth direction Y than the first negative electrode connection portion 31, the first horizontal portion 33a, and the second negative electrode connection portion 32. The first bent portion 33b is located farther downward in the vertical direction Z than the first negative electrode connection portion 31, the first horizontal portion 33a, and the second negative electrode connection portion 32. The first bent portion 33b is bent so as to move away from the first negative electrode connection portion 31, the first horizontal portion 33a, and the second negative electrode connection portion 32 in the depth direction Y and the vertical direction Z. Therefore, the first bus bar 30 includes a bent portion.

[0044] The second bus bar 40 has a first positive electrode connection portion 41, a second positive electrode connection portion 42, and a second connection portion 43. The first positive electrode connection portion 41 is connected to the first positive electrode 14a of the first capacitor module 11a. The second positive electrode connection portion 42 is connected to the second positive electrode 15a of the second capacitor module 11b. The second connection portion 43 connects the first positive electrode connection portion 41 and the second positive electrode connection portion 42. Therefore, the second bus bar 40 electrically connects the first capacitor module 11a and the second capacitor module 11b. The second connection portion 43 is covered by an insulating layer (not shown). Neither the first positive electrode connection portion 41 nor the second positive electrode connection portion 42 is covered by an insulating layer.

[0045] The second connection portion 43 has a second horizontal portion 43a and a second bent portion 43b. The second horizontal portion 43a is a portion of the second connection portion 43 that extends horizontally from the first positive electrode connection portion 41 toward the second positive electrode connection portion 42. The second bent portion 43b is a portion of the second connection portion 43 that connects the second horizontal portion 43a and the second positive electrode connection portion 42.

[0046] The second bent portion 43b is located further from the first side surface 111 in the depth direction Y than the first positive electrode connection portion 41, the second horizontal portion 43a, and the second positive electrode connection portion 42. The second bent portion 43b is located further downward in the vertical direction Z than the first positive electrode connection portion 41, the second horizontal portion 43a, and the second positive electrode connection portion 42. The second bent portion 43b is bent so as to move away from the first positive electrode connection portion 41, the second horizontal portion 43a, and the second positive electrode connection portion 42 in the depth direction Y and the vertical direction Z. Therefore, the second bus bar 40 includes a bent portion.

[0047] When the first bus bar 30 is viewed in the thickness direction of the first bus bar 30, the first connection portion 33 of the first bus bar 30 and the second connection portion 43 of the second bus bar 40 intersect with each other. The first connecting portion 33 and the second connecting portion 43 are arranged in positions where a portion of the first connecting portion 33 and a portion of the second connecting portion 43 overlap in the depth direction Y. Therefore, the first bus bar 30 and the second bus bar 40 intersect three-dimensionally.

[0048] When viewed in the thickness direction of the first bus bar 30, the first bus bar 30 is disposed in a position where a portion of the first bus bar 30 overlaps with a portion of the first module component 16a and a portion of the second module component 16b. When viewed in the thickness direction of the second bus bar 40, the second bus bar 40 is disposed in a position where a portion of the second bus bar 40 overlaps with a portion of the second module component 16b.

[0049] The first bus bar 30 covers a part of the side surface 111a of the first capacitor module 11a and a part of the side surface 111b of the second capacitor module 11b. The second bus bar 40 covers a part of the side surface 111b of the second capacitor module 11b and a part of the side surface 111a of the first capacitor module 11a.

[0050] As described above, a portion of the first bus bar 30 overlaps a portion of the first module component 16a, a portion of the second module component 16b, and a portion of the second bus bar 40. A portion of the second bus bar 40 overlaps a portion of the second module component 16b and a portion of the first bus bar 30. Therefore, the components arranged on the first side surface 111 of the capacitor module 11 are arranged to overlap as much as possible in the depth direction Y.

[0051] <Protective materials> The capacitor module 11 has a protection member 50. The protection member 50 includes a first positive electrode protection member 51, a first negative electrode protection member 52, a second positive electrode protection member 53, and a second negative electrode protection member .

[0052] The first positive electrode protection member 51 covers and protects the first positive electrode 14a and a portion of the first positive electrode connection portion 41. The first negative electrode protection member 52 covers and protects the first negative electrode 14b and a portion of the first negative electrode connection portion 31. The second positive electrode protection member 53 covers and protects the second positive electrode 15a, the second positive electrode connection portion 42, and a portion of the positive electrode connection member P. The second negative electrode protection member 54 covers and protects the second negative electrode 15b, the second negative electrode connection portion 32, and a portion of the negative electrode connection member Q. The first positive electrode protection member 51 and the first negative electrode protection member 52 are separate bodies. The second positive electrode protection member 53 and the second negative electrode protection member 54 are separate bodies.

[0053] The first positive electrode protection member 51, the first negative electrode protection member 52, the second positive electrode protection member 53, and the second negative electrode protection member 54 are different in size but have a common configuration. For this reason, the configurations of the first positive electrode protection member 51, the first negative electrode protection member 52, the second positive electrode protection member 53, and the second negative electrode protection member 54 will be described as the configuration of the protection member 50. Furthermore, the common configurations among the first positive electrode protection member 51, the first negative electrode protection member 52, the second positive electrode protection member 53, and the second negative electrode protection member 54 will be described with the same component numbers assigned.

[0054] 1 and 4, the protective member 50 has a main body portion 60 and a fastened portion 70. The protective member 50 also has an insulating coating 80. The protective member 50 is made of metal except for the insulating coating 80.

[0055] <Main body> The main body 60 has a rectangular box shape and includes an upper plate 61, a protective plate 62, a first cover plate 63, and a second cover plate 64.

[0056] The protective plate 62 has a rectangular shape and includes an upper edge 62a, a first side edge 62b extending from a first end of the upper edge 62a, a second side edge 62c extending from a second end of the upper edge 62a, and a lower edge 62d.

[0057] The upper plate 61 extends from an upper edge 62a of the protective plate 62. The upper plate 61 is a rectangular plate. The first cover plate 63 extends from a first side edge 62b of the protective plate 62. The second cover plate 64 extends from a second side edge 62c of the protective plate 62. The first cover plate 63 and the second cover plate 64 face each other. The facing direction in which the first cover plate 63 and the second cover plate 64 face each other coincides with the horizontal direction X.

[0058] The upper plate 61, the first cover plate 63, and the second cover plate 64 each extend in the same direction from the protective plate 62. The upper plate 61, the protective plate 62, the first cover plate 63, and the second cover plate 64 define the internal space S of the main body 60. The direction in which the upper plate 61, the first cover plate 63, and the second cover plate 64 extend from the protective plate 62 is defined as the extension direction. This extension direction coincides with the depth direction Y. The dimension of the upper plate 61 in the extension direction is greater than the dimensions of the first cover plate 63 and the second cover plate 64 in the extension direction.

[0059] <Connected part> The fastened portion 70 is provided at the tip of the upper plate 61 in the extension direction. A through hole 71 is provided in the fastened portion 70. The through hole 71 penetrates the upper plate 61 in the plate thickness direction. A fastening bolt 29 serving as a fastening member that is threaded into the female threads 28 of the first to fourth bosses 22a to 22d is inserted into the through hole 71. As a result, the fastened portion 70 is fastened to the cover 20 by the fastening bolt 29.

[0060] The fastened portion 70 is a portion sandwiched between the head 29a of the fastening bolt 29 and the first to fourth bosses 22a to 22d. The fastened portion 70 is also a portion that comes into contact with the head 29a of the fastening bolt 29. The dimension of the fastened portion 70 in the extension direction is slightly larger than the dimension of the head 29a of the fastening bolt 29.

[0061] <Insulating coating> The insulating coating 80 is provided only on the surface of the main body 60 of the protective member 50. Therefore, the surface of the main body 60 is covered with the insulating coating 80. Furthermore, the surface of the fastened portion 70 is not covered with the insulating coating 80. The insulating coating 80 is formed, for example, from polyethylene.

[0062] The dimension of the protective member 50 in the opposing direction will be described below. The dimension of the protective member 50 in the opposing direction will be simply referred to as the width dimension of the protective member 50. As shown in Fig. 2, the width of the first positive electrode protection member 51 is approximately the same as the width of the first boss 22a. The width of the first negative electrode protection member 52 is approximately the same as the width of the second boss 22b. The width of the second positive electrode protection member 53 is approximately the same as the width of the third boss 22c. The width of the second negative electrode protection member 54 is approximately the same as the width of the fourth boss 22d.

[0063] The first positive electrode protection member 51 covers the first positive electrode 14a and a portion of the first positive electrode connection portion 41. Therefore, the width dimension of the first positive electrode protection member 51 is set to a size sufficient to cover the first positive electrode 14a and a portion of the first positive electrode connection portion 41. Furthermore, the first negative electrode protection member 52 protects the first negative electrode 14b and a portion of the first negative electrode connection portion 31. Therefore, the width dimension of the first negative electrode protection member 52 is set to a size sufficient to cover the first negative electrode 14b and a portion of the first negative electrode connection portion 31.

[0064] The second positive electrode protection member 53 covers the second positive electrode 15a, the second positive electrode connection portion 42, and a portion of the positive electrode connection member P. Therefore, the width dimension of the second positive electrode protection member 53 is set to a size sufficient to cover the second positive electrode 15a, the second positive electrode connection portion 42, and a portion of the positive electrode connection member P.

[0065] The second negative electrode protection member 54 covers the second negative electrode 15b, the second negative electrode connection portion 32, and part of the negative electrode connection member Q. Therefore, the second negative electrode protection member 54 is set to a size sufficient to cover the second negative electrode 15b, the second negative electrode connection portion 32, and part of the negative electrode connection member Q.

[0066] The second positive electrode protection member 53 covers a portion of the positive electrode connection member P. This positive electrode connection member P protrudes beyond the second positive electrode 15a in the horizontal direction X and the vertical direction Z. In addition, the second negative electrode protection member 54 covers a portion of the negative electrode connection member Q. This negative electrode connection member Q protrudes beyond the second negative electrode 15b in the horizontal direction X. Therefore, the width dimensions of the second positive electrode protection member 53 and the second negative electrode protection member 54 are greater than the width dimensions of the first positive electrode protection member 51 and the first negative electrode protection member 52, which do not cover the positive electrode connection member P and the negative electrode connection member Q.

[0067] Furthermore, the dimension of the positive electrode connecting member P in the horizontal direction X is larger than the dimension of the negative electrode connecting member Q in the horizontal direction X. Therefore, the width dimension of the second positive electrode protecting member 53 covering the positive electrode connecting member P is larger than the width dimension of the second negative electrode protecting member 54.

[0068] <Operation of the embodiment> Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When the capacitor module 11 is driven, heat is generated in each capacitor cell 12. The heat generated in the capacitor cell 12 is released to the outside through most of the first side surface 111 and the entire surface of the second side surface 112.

[0069] <Effects of the embodiment> The above embodiment can provide the following effects. (1) The cover 20 does not cover the first side surface 111 and the second side surface 112 of the capacitor module 11, and a portion of the first side surface 111 is covered by the first bus bar 30, the second bus bar 40, the first positive electrode protection member 51, the first negative electrode protection member 52, the second positive electrode protection member 53, and the second negative electrode protection member 54. Therefore, heat generated in the capacitor cells 12 is more easily released to the outside than when the cover 20 covers the entire first side surface 111 and the entire second side surface 112, or when the first bus bar 30, the second bus bar 40, and the protection member 50 cover the entire first side surface 111. In addition, heat generated in the capacitor cells 12 is also more easily released to the outside from the entire second side surface 112. Therefore, the first positive electrode 14a, the first negative electrode 14b, the second positive electrode 15a, and the second negative electrode 15b can be protected by the protective member 50, while the cooling performance of the capacitor module 11 can be improved.

[0070] (2) The first side surface 111 and the second side surface 112 are the two side surfaces with the largest areas among the multiple side surfaces of the capacitor module 11. As a result, the area of ​​the capacitor module 11 exposed to the outside is larger than when the side surfaces other than the two side surfaces with the largest areas among the multiple side surfaces of the capacitor module 11 are not covered by the cover 20. This makes it easier for heat generated in the capacitor cells 12 to be released to the outside. This further improves the cooling performance of the capacitor module 11.

[0071] (3) The first positive electrode protection member 51 and the first negative electrode protection member 52 are separate bodies, and the second positive electrode protection member 53 and the second negative electrode protection member 54 are separate bodies. This allows the portions of the protection member 50 that do not protect the first positive electrode 14a, the first negative electrode 14b, the second positive electrode 15a, and the second negative electrode 15b to be smaller than when the first positive electrode protection member 51 and the first negative electrode protection member 52 are integrated and the second positive electrode protection member 53 and the second negative electrode protection member 54 are integrated. This increases the area of ​​the first side surface 111 of the capacitor module 11 that is exposed to the outside. This further improves the cooling performance of the capacitor module 11.

[0072] (4) The surface of the main body 60 is coated with the insulating coating 80, while the surface of the fastened portion 70 is not coated with the insulating coating 80. This prevents the insulating coating 80 from making it difficult to generate torque when fastening the fastening bolt 29 to the fastened portion 70, as would be the case if the fastened portion 70 were coated with the insulating coating 80. As a result, the fastened portion 70 can be stably fastened to the cover 20.

[0073] (5) The first bus bar 30 includes a first bent portion 33b, and the second bus bar 40 includes a second bent portion 43b. This allows the cross-sectional area of ​​the first bus bar 30 and the cross-sectional area of ​​the second bus bar 40 to be larger than when the first bus bar 30 and the second bus bar 40 extend only linearly. This allows the strength of the first bus bar 30 and the second bus bar 40 to be improved.

[0074] (6) The first bus bar 30 and the second bus bar 40 are disposed in positions where they partially overlap the first module component 16a and the second module component 16b in the depth direction Y. As a result, when looking at the first bus bar 30 and the second bus bar 40 in the depth direction Y, the area of ​​the first side surface 111 of the capacitor module 11 exposed to the outside is larger than when the first bus bar 30 does not overlap the first module component 16a and when the second bus bar 40 does not overlap the second module component 16b. This further improves the cooling performance of the capacitor module 11.

[0075] (7) The cover 20 does not cover the entire first side surface 111 or the entire second side surface 112. This simplifies the configuration of the cover 20 compared to when the cover 20 covers only a portion of the first side surface 111 or a portion of the second side surface 112. This allows for cost reduction compared to when, for example, cooling performance is improved by providing a cooling fan.

[0076] (8) The first bus bar 30 and the second bus bar 40 intersect three-dimensionally. This allows a portion of the first bus bar 30 and a portion of the second bus bar 40 to be positioned so as to overlap in the depth direction Y. This increases the area of ​​the first side surface 111 that is exposed to the outside. This further improves the cooling performance of the capacitor module 11.

[0077] <Example of change> The above embodiment can be modified as follows: The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0078] The capacitor module 11 does not have to include the first module component 16a and the second module component 16b. The capacitor module 11 may include other module components arranged in the vertical direction Z in addition to the first module component 16a and the second module component 16b.

[0079] When looking at the first bus bar 30 and the second bus bar 40 in the depth direction Y, the first bus bar 30 does not have to overlap with the first module component 16a, and the second bus bar 40 does not have to overlap with the second module component 16b.

[0080] The first bus bar 30 may extend only linearly without including the first bent portion 33b, and the second bus bar 40 may extend only linearly without including the second bent portion 43b. When looking at the first bus bar 30 and the second bus bar 40 in the depth direction Y, the entire first bus bar 30 may overlap with the first module component 16a, and the entire second bus bar 40 may overlap with the second module component 16b.

[0081] The first bus bar 30 and the second bus bar 40 do not have to intersect three-dimensionally. The surface of the fastened portion 70 may be covered with an insulating coating 80 . The protective member 50 does not have to have the insulating coating 80 .

[0082] The first positive electrodes 14a and the first negative electrodes 14b in the first capacitor module 11a may be arranged in any order in the horizontal direction X. The second positive electrodes 15a and the second negative electrodes 15b in the second capacitor module 11b may be arranged in any order in the horizontal direction X. In this case, the first positive electrode protection member 51 and the first negative electrode protection member 52 may be arranged in any order in the horizontal direction X, and the second positive electrode protection member 53 and the second negative electrode protection member 54 may be arranged in any order in the horizontal direction X.

[0083] Although the first positive electrode protection member 51, the first negative electrode protection member 52, the second positive electrode protection member 53, and the second negative electrode protection member 54 are each fastened to the top plate 22, this is not limitative. The first positive electrode protection member 51 and the first negative electrode protection member 52 may be integrated together. Also, the second positive electrode protection member 53 and the second negative electrode protection member 54 may be integrated together.

[0084] The first side plate 23 and the second side plate 24 may be separate from the bottom plate 21 . The cover 20 may be made up of, for example, only the bottom plate 21. Alternatively, the cover 20 may be made up of, for example, the bottom plate 21, the first side plate 23, and the second side plate 24.

[0085] The first side surface 111 and the second side surface 112 do not have to be the side surfaces with the largest area as long as they are side surfaces located at both ends in the width direction W of the capacitor module 11. The shapes of the first bus bar 30 and the second bus bar 40 are not particularly limited.

[0086] The number of capacitor cells 12 constituting the first capacitor module 11a is not particularly limited, and the number of capacitor cells 12 constituting the second capacitor module 11b is not particularly limited.

[0087] The capacitor module 11 is not limited to having the first capacitor module 11a and the second capacitor module 11b. For example, the capacitor module 11 may be made up of three or more capacitor modules.

[0088] The capacitor module 11 may be composed of only the first capacitor module 11a. [Explanation of symbols]

[0089] 10...capacitor module unit, 11...capacitor module, 12...capacitor cell, 13...drawout electrode, 20...cover, 29...fastening bolt as fastening member, 30...first bus bar as bus bar, 40...second bus bar as bus bar, 50...protective member, 51...first positive electrode protective member, 52...first negative electrode protective member, 53...second positive electrode protective member, 54...second negative electrode protective member, 60...main body portion, 70...fastened portion, 80...insulating coating, 111...first side surface, 112...second side surface, A...plate thickness direction, W...width direction.

Claims

1. a capacitor module in which a plurality of capacitor cells for storing the power generated by the fuel cell are arranged in the thickness direction of the capacitor cells; a cover for fixing the capacitor module, When one of the directions orthogonal to the plate thickness direction of the capacitor cell is defined as the width direction of the capacitor module, the capacitor module has a first side surface and a second side surface at both ends in the width direction; the cover does not cover the first side surface and the second side surface, A portion of the first side surface is an extraction electrode of the capacitor module; a bus bar electrically connected to the extraction electrode; a protective member that protects the extraction electrode, The protective member is a positive electrode protection member for protecting the positive electrode of the extraction electrode; a negative electrode protection member for protecting the negative electrode of the extraction electrode, The positive electrode protection member and the negative electrode protection member are separate from each other in the capacitor module unit.

2. The capacitor module unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first side surface and the second side surface are the two side surfaces with the largest areas among a plurality of side surfaces of the capacitor module.

3. The protective member is a main body portion covering the extraction electrode; a fastening portion that is fastened to the cover by a fastening member, The surface of the main body is covered with an insulating coating, 3. The capacitor module unit according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the fastened portion is not covered with the insulating coating.

4. 4. The capacitor module unit according to claim 1, wherein the bus bar includes a bent portion.

5. the capacitor module includes a module component extending in the thickness direction so as to straddle the plurality of capacitor cells in the thickness direction, The capacitor module unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, when viewing the bus bar in the thickness direction of the bus bar, at least a portion of the bus bar is arranged in a position where it overlaps with the module component in the thickness direction of the bus bar.

Images