Battery module

Abstract

To provide a battery module that can improve the cooling efficiency between a battery cell and a cooler while ensuring insulation between the battery cell and the cooler.SOLUTION: A battery module 10 according to the present disclosure includes a battery cell 1, a cooler 2 that cools the battery cell 1, an insulator 3 provided between the battery cell 1 and the cooler 2, and a thermal conductor 4 provided between the battery cell 1 and the cooler 2. The insulator 3 has a perforated portion 3a, and the thermal conductor 4 fills the perforated portion 3a and has insulating properties.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery module. [Background technology]

[0002] The battery module disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a battery cell, an insulating layer, a thermally conductive sheet, and a cooling unit. The insulating layer is provided over the entire bottom surface of the battery cell. The thermally conductive sheet is in contact with the underside of the insulating layer. The cooling unit cools the entire bottom surface of the battery cell via the insulating layer and the thermally conductive sheet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2020 / 066060 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The inventors of the present application have discovered the following problems. In such a battery module, heat is transferred from the battery cells to the entire main surface of the thermally conductive sheet via the insulating layer. The insulating layer electrically insulates the battery cells from the thermally conductive sheet. In many cases, the insulating layer has poorer thermal conductivity than the thermally conductive sheet. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the cooling efficiency between the cooling unit and the battery cells. In other words, it is desirable to improve the cooling efficiency between the cooler and the battery cells while ensuring insulation between the battery cells and the thermally conductive sheet.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and provides a battery module that can improve the cooling efficiency between the battery cells and the cooler while ensuring insulation between the battery cells and the cooler. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The battery module according to the present disclosure includes: Battery cells and a cooler that cools the battery cells; an insulator provided between the battery cell and the cooler; a heat conductor provided between the battery cell and the cooler, The insulator has a perforated portion, The thermal conductor fills the perforated portion, The heat conductor has insulating properties.

[0007] In the battery module described above, the cooler has a shape extending in the longitudinal direction, The piercing portions are arranged at intervals in a lateral direction intersecting the longitudinal direction, and have a shape extending in the longitudinal direction, The interval between the perforated portions aligned in the short-side direction near the center in the short-side direction may be smaller than the interval between the perforated portions aligned in the short-side direction at the ends in the short-side direction.

[0008] In the battery module described above, the cooler has a shape extending in the longitudinal direction, The piercing portions are arranged at intervals in a lateral direction intersecting the longitudinal direction, and have a shape extending in the longitudinal direction, The area of ​​the perforation portion arranged at the center in the short-side direction may be larger than the area of ​​the perforation portion arranged at the end in the short-side direction.

[0009] In the battery module described above, the cooler has a shape extending in the longitudinal direction, The piercing portions are arranged in the longitudinal direction at intervals from one another and have a shape extending in a lateral direction intersecting the longitudinal direction, In the vicinity of the center in the longitudinal direction long The intervals between the perforated portions arranged in the longitudinal direction are long The distance may be smaller than the distance between the perforated portions arranged in the hand direction.

[0010] In the battery module described above, the cooler has a shape extending in the longitudinal direction, The piercing portions are arranged in the longitudinal direction at intervals from one another and have a shape extending in a lateral direction intersecting the longitudinal direction, The area of ​​the perforation portion arranged at the center in the longitudinal direction may be larger than the area of ​​the perforation portion arranged at the end portion in the longitudinal direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to improve the cooling efficiency between the battery cell and the cooler while ensuring insulation between the battery cell and the cooler. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a battery module according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 2 is a view of a main part of the battery module according to the first embodiment as seen from the direction of arrow II. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the battery module taken along line III-III. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a first modified example of an insulator. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a second modified example of the insulator. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a third modified example of the insulator. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a fourth modified example of the insulator. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a fifth modified example of the insulator. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. In addition, the following description and drawings have been simplified as appropriate for clarity of explanation.

[0014] <First Embodiment> A first embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the front of a battery module according to the first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a view of a main part of the battery module shown in Fig. 1 as seen from the arrow II. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the cross section of the battery module taken along the cutting line III-III shown in Fig. 1.

[0015] Naturally, the right-handed XYZ coordinate system shown in Figure 1 and other drawings is for the convenience of explaining the positional relationships of the components. Normally, the positive Z axis is vertically upward, and the XY plane is the horizontal plane, which is common among the drawings.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, a battery module 10 includes a battery cell 1, a cooler 2, an insulator 3, and a thermal conductor 4.

[0017] The battery cell 1 is, for example, a lithium ion secondary battery, and specifically may be an all-solid-state lithium ion secondary battery. The battery module 10 may include one or more battery cells 1.

[0018] The cooler 2 cools the battery cells 1. One example of the cooler 2 shown in FIG. 1 is a box-shaped body. The box-shaped body is made of a metal material and has a flow path 2a inside it through which a cooling medium can flow. The cooler 2 may have a shape that extends in the longitudinal direction (here, the X-axis direction). The cooler 2 may be supplied with a cooling medium as needed. The cooler 2 may have an opposing surface 2b that faces one surface 1a of the battery cells 1 with an insulator 3 and a thermal conductor 4 interposed therebetween.

[0019] The insulator 3 is provided between the battery cell 1 and the cooler 2. The insulator 3 may be in close contact with the cooler 2. The insulator 3 is made of an insulating material that has electrical insulation properties. Examples of insulating materials include polyethylene terephthalate and rubber. An example of the insulator 3 shown in Figures 1 to 3 extends in the form of a film or sheet on the opposing surface 2b of the cooler 2. The insulator 3 may cover substantially the entire opposing surface 2b of the cooler 2. The insulator 3 may be formed by applying an insulating material. As shown in Figure 2, the insulator 3 has perforated portions 3a, 3b, and 3c. The perforated portions 3a, 3b, and 3c have a shape that extends in the longitudinal direction of the cooler 2 (here, the X-axis direction), for example, a substantially rectangular shape. The perforated portions 3a, 3b, and 3c are arranged at intervals from each other in the lateral direction (here, the Y-axis direction) that intersects the longitudinal direction. The perforations 3a, 3b, and 3c preferably penetrate the insulator 3. In other words, the perforations 3a, 3b, and 3c preferably penetrate from the surface of the insulator 3 on the cooler 2 side to the surface on the battery cell 1 side.

[0020] The thermal conductor 4 fills the perforated portions 3a, 3b, and 3c of the insulator 3. The thermal conductor 4 is provided between the battery cell 1 and the cooler 2. The thermal conductor 4 may be in close contact with the insulator 3 and one surface 1a of the battery cell 1. An example of the thermal conductor 4 shown in FIG. 3 includes protrusions 4a, 4b, and 4c that fill the perforated portions 3a, 3b, and 3c, respectively. The protrusions 4a, 4b, and 4c protrude toward the cooler 2 (here, in the negative Z-axis direction) and contact or are in close contact with the cooler 2. The thermal conductor 4 and the insulator 3 may be compressed by the battery cell 1 and the cooler 2. The thermal conductor 4 may thermally couple the battery cell 1 and the cooler 2. The thermal conductor 4 has insulating properties. The thermal conductor 4 may be made of, for example, a material that is electrically insulating and thermally conductive. Examples of such materials include silicone, acrylic, and ceramic. The thermal conductor 4 may be formed by applying such a material to the insulator 3. The thermal conductor 4 may have, for example, a sheet shape.

[0021] As described above, according to the configuration of the battery module 10, the insulators 3 and thermal conductors 4 are provided between the battery cells 1 and the cooler 2. The insulators 3 and thermal conductors 4 have insulating properties. These ensure insulation between the battery cells 1 and the cooler 2. The thermal conductors 4 also fill the perforated portions 3a, 3b, and 3c of the insulator 3 and come into contact with the cooler 2. This increases the thermal conductivity between the battery cells 1 and the cooler 2. This improves the cooling efficiency between the battery cells 1 and the cooler 2.

[0022] Next, various modifications of the battery module 10 will be described with reference to Figs. 4 to 8. Each modification of the battery module 10 has the same configuration as the battery module 10 shown in Fig. 1, except for the insulator. Figs. 4 to 8 each show various modifications of the insulator 3 shown in Fig. 2. The thermal conductor 4 of each modification of the battery module 10 has a shape corresponding to the insulator.

[0023] <First Modification> A first modified example of the battery module 10 includes an insulator 13 shown in FIG. 4. The insulator 13 has perforated portions 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, and 13e. The perforated portions 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, and 13e are arranged at intervals from one another in a short direction (here, the Y-axis direction) that intersects with the longitudinal direction of the cooler 2. The perforated portions 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, and 13e have a shape that extends in the longitudinal direction, for example, a substantially rectangular shape. It is preferable that the perforated portions 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, and 13e have substantially the same width and area.

[0024] Punching portions 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, and 13e are arranged in this order in the short-side direction. Punching portion 13c is arranged in the center in the short-side direction. Punching portions 13a and 13e are arranged at the ends in the short-side direction. Punching portions 13b, 13c, and 13d are arranged near the center in the short-side direction. Punching portions 13a and 13b are arranged at the ends in the short-side direction. Punching portions 13d and 13e are arranged at the ends in the short-side direction.

[0025] The distance between the perforated portions 13b, 13c, and 13d lined up near the center in the short side direction is smaller than the distance between the perforated portions 13a, 13b, 13d, and 13e lined up at the ends in the short side direction. Specifically, the distance S1b between the perforated portions 13b and 13c is smaller than the distance S1a between the perforated portions 13a and 13b. The distance S1c between the perforated portions 13c and 13d is smaller than the distance S1d between the perforated portions 13d and 13e. The distance S1b is smaller than the distance S1d. The distance S1c is smaller than the distance S1a.

[0026] As described above, according to the configuration of the first modified example of the battery module 10, the spacing between the perforated portions 13b, 13c, and 13d aligned near the center in the short side direction is smaller than the spacing between the perforated portions 13a, 13b, 13d, and 13e aligned at the ends in the short side direction. Therefore, the concentration of perforated portions is higher near the center in the short side direction of the insulator 13 than at the ends in the short side direction. Furthermore, the thermal conductor 4 (not shown) fills the perforated portions 13a to 13e of the insulator 13 and contacts the cooler 2. Therefore, the cooling efficiency can be further improved near the center in the short side direction. The center of one surface 1a of the battery module 10 shown in FIG. 1 tends to be more prone to heat concentration compared to the ends, and therefore can be more effectively cooled.

[0027] <Second Modification> A second modified example of the battery module 10 includes an insulator 23 shown in FIG. 5. The insulator 23 has perforated portions 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, and 23e. The perforated portions 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, and 23e are arranged at intervals in a short-side direction (here, the Y-axis direction) that intersects with the longitudinal direction of the cooler 2. The intervals between the perforated portions 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, and 23e are preferably substantially the same. The perforated portions 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, and 23e have a shape that extends in the longitudinal direction, for example, a substantially rectangular shape.

[0028] The perforated portions 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, and 23e are arranged in this order in the short-side direction. The perforated portion 23c is located in the center in the short-side direction. The perforated portions 23a and 23e are located at the ends in the short-side direction.

[0029] The area of ​​the perforated portion 23c located at the center in the short-side direction is larger than the areas of the perforated portions 23a and 23e located at the ends in the short-side direction. Furthermore, the areas of the perforated portions 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, and 23e should increase in order from the center to the ends in the short-side direction. Specifically, the areas of the perforated portions 23c, 23b, and 23a should increase in this order. The areas of the perforated portions 23c, 23d, and 23e should increase in this order.

[0030] As described above, according to the configuration of the second modified example of the battery module 10, the area of ​​the perforated portion 23c located at the center in the short-side direction of the insulator 13 is larger than the areas of the perforated portions 23a and 23e located at the ends in the short-side direction. Furthermore, the thermal conductor 4 (not shown) fills the perforated portions 23a to 23e of the insulator 23 and comes into contact with the cooler 2. This further improves the cooling efficiency near the center in the short-side direction. The area near the center of one surface 1a of the battery module 10 shown in FIG. 1 tends to have heat concentrated there compared to the ends, and therefore can be cooled more effectively.

[0031] <Third Modification> The third modified battery module 10 has the same configuration as the first modified battery module 10, except for the direction in which the perforated portions extend and the direction in which the perforated portions are arranged. The third modified battery module 10 has an insulator 33 shown in FIG. 6. The insulator 33 has perforated portions 33a, 33b, 33c, 33d, 33e, 33f, 33g, 33h, and 33i. The perforated portions 33a to 33i are arranged at intervals from one another in the longitudinal direction of the cooler 2 (here, the X-axis direction). The perforated portions 33a to 33i are short The perforated portions 33a to 33i have a shape extending in the hand direction, for example, a substantially rectangular shape. It is preferable that the width and area of ​​the perforated portions 33a to 33i are substantially the same.

[0032] The perforated portions 33a to 33i are arranged in this order in the longitudinal direction. The perforated portion 33e is arranged in the center in the longitudinal direction. The perforated portions 33a and 33i are arranged at the ends in the longitudinal direction. The perforated portions 33d, 33e, and 33f are arranged near the center in the longitudinal direction. The perforated portions 33a and 33b are arranged at the ends in the longitudinal direction. The perforated portions 33h and 33i are arranged at the ends in the longitudinal direction.

[0033] The distance between the perforated portions 33d, 33e, and 33f that are lined up near the center in the longitudinal direction is smaller than the distance between the perforated portions 33a, 33b, 33h, and 33i that are lined up at the ends in the longitudinal direction. Specifically, the distance S3d between the perforated portion 33d and the perforated portion 33e is smaller than the distance S3a between the perforated portion 33a and the perforated portion 33b. The distance S3e between the perforated portion 33e and the perforated portion 33f is smaller than the distance S3h between the perforated portion 33h and the perforated portion 33i. The distance S3d is smaller than the distance S3h. The distance S3e is smaller than the distance S3a.

[0034] The spacing between the perforated portions 33a-33i should increase in order from the end to the center in the longitudinal direction. Specifically, the spacing S3a, the spacing S3b between the perforated portions 33b and 33c, the spacing S3c between the perforated portions 33c and 33d, and the spacing S3d should increase in this order. The spacing S3h, the spacing S3g between the perforated portions 33g and 33h, the spacing S3f between the perforated portions 33f and 33g, and the spacing S3e should increase in this order.

[0035] As described above, according to the configuration of the third modified example of the battery module 10, the spacing between the perforated portions 33d, 33e, and 33f aligned near the longitudinal center is smaller than the spacing between the perforated portions 33a, 33b, 33h, and 33i aligned at the longitudinal ends. Therefore, the concentration of perforated portions is higher near the longitudinal center of the insulator 33 than at the longitudinal ends. Furthermore, the thermal conductor 4 (not shown) fills the perforated portions 33a to 33i of the insulator 33 and contacts the cooler 2. Therefore, cooling efficiency can be further improved near the longitudinal center. Because heat tends to concentrate more easily near the center of one surface 1a of the battery module 10 compared to the ends, cooling can be performed more effectively.

[0036] <Fourth Modification> The fourth modified battery module 10 has the same configuration as the second modified battery module 10, except for the direction in which the perforated portions extend and the direction in which the perforated portions are arranged. The fourth modified battery module 10 includes an insulator 43 shown in FIG. 7. The insulator 43 has perforated portions 43a, 43b, 43c, 43d, 43e, 43f, 43g, 43h, and 43i. The perforated portions 43a to 43i are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the cooler 2 (here, the X-axis direction). The intervals between the perforated portions 43a to 43i may be approximately the same. The perforated portions 43a to 43i have a shape extending in the short-side direction, for example, a substantially rectangular shape.

[0037] The perforated portions 43a to 43i are arranged in this order in the longitudinal direction. The perforated portion 43e is located in the center in the longitudinal direction. The perforated portions 43a and 43i are located at the ends in the longitudinal direction.

[0038] The area of ​​the perforated portion 43e located in the longitudinal center is larger than the areas of the perforated portions 43a and 43i located at the longitudinal end portions. The areas of the perforated portions 43a to 43i may increase in order from the longitudinal center to the longitudinal end portions. Specifically, the areas of the perforated portions 43e, 43d, 43c, 43b, and 43a increase in this order. The areas of the perforated portions 43e, 43f, 43g, 43h, and 43i increase in this order.

[0039] As described above, according to the configuration of the fourth modified example of the battery module 10, the area of ​​the perforated portion 43e arranged in the longitudinal center of the insulator 43 is larger than the area of ​​the perforated portions 43a, 43i arranged at the longitudinal end portions. In addition, the thermal conductor 4 (not shown) fills the perforated portions 43a to 43i of the insulator 43 and comes into contact with the cooler 2. This further improves the cooling efficiency near the longitudinal center. Since heat tends to concentrate more easily near the center of one surface 1a of the battery module 10 compared to the end portions, the area can be cooled more effectively.

[0040] <Fifth Modification> A fifth modification of the battery module 10 includes an insulator 53 shown in FIG. 8. The insulator 53 has perforated portions 3ab and 3bc. The perforated portions 3a, 3b, 3c, 3ab, and 3bc are continuous and extend along a single line. The perforated portion 3ab connects the perforated portion 3a to the perforated portion 3b. The perforated portion 3bc connects the perforated portion 3b to the perforated portion 3c.

[0041] Specifically, perforated portion 3ab extends from one end of perforated portion 3a to one end of perforated portion 3b, connecting one end of perforated portion 3a to one end of perforated portion 3b. Perforated portion 3ab extends from one end of perforated portion 3a in the widthwise direction of cooler 2 (here, the Y-axis direction). Perforated portion 3bc extends from the other end of perforated portion 3b to the other end of perforated portion 3c, connecting the other end of perforated portion 3b to the other end of perforated portion 3c. Perforated portion 3bc extends from the other end of perforated portion 3b in the widthwise direction of cooler 2.

[0042] As described above, in the fifth modified example of the battery module 10 described above, similar to the battery module 10 shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to improve the cooling efficiency between the battery cells 1 and the cooler 2 while ensuring insulation between the battery cells 1 and the cooler 2.

[0043] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and modifications can be made as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention may be embodied by appropriately combining the above-described embodiment and examples thereof. For example, the thermal conductor 4, the insulator 3, and the cooler 2 may be disposed on a surface other than the surface 1a of the battery cell 1. In other words, the battery module 10 may have multiple surfaces on which the thermal conductor 4, the insulator 3, and the cooler 2 are disposed. The number of perforations is not limited, and may be one or more. In other words, the battery module 10 has perforations 3a, 3b, and 3c, but it is preferable that it has at least one perforation. Similarly, each of the modified examples of the battery module 10 may also have at least one perforation. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] Battery Module 10 Battery cell 1 cooler 2 Channel 2a Opposite surface 2b Insulators 3, 13, 23, 33, 43, 53 Hole holes 3a~3c, 3ab, 3bc, 13a~13e, 23a~23e, 33a~33i, 43a~43i, Thermal conductors 4, 4a, 4b, 4c Intervals S1a~S1d, S3a~S3h

Claims

[Claim 1] A battery cell; a cooler that cools the battery cells; an insulator provided between the battery cell and the cooler; a heat conductor provided between the battery cell and the cooler, The insulator has a perforated portion, The thermal conductor fills the perforated portion, The thermal conductor has insulating properties, The cooler has a shape that extends in a longitudinal direction, The piercing portions are arranged at intervals in a lateral direction intersecting the longitudinal direction, and have a shape extending in the longitudinal direction, a distance between the perforation portions aligned in the short-side direction near the center in the short-side direction is smaller than a distance between the perforation portions aligned in the short-side direction at an end in the short-side direction; Battery module.

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