All-solid-state battery system and method for controlling pressure on battery module of all-solid-state battery system

Abstract

The present invention is an all-solid-state battery system provided with battery modules composed of a plurality of all-solid-type cells. The system comprises a pressing mechanism that presses a predetermined surface of the battery modules with a predetermined pressure, an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality of any of the plurality of cells, and a pressing control unit that controls the pressing mechanism. The pressing mechanism includes a plurality of pressing parts that respectively press predetermined regions on the predetermined surface of the battery modules with partial pressures. On the basis of a signal indicating that an abnormality has been detected from the abnormality detection unit, the pressing control unit controls each of the plurality of pressing parts so that a different partial pressure is applied to the predetermined surface of the battery module including the cell in which the abnormality has been detected.

Description

All-solid-state battery system and method for controlling pressure on battery module of all-solid-state battery system

[0001] The present invention relates to an all-solid-state battery system and a method for controlling pressure on a battery module in the all-solid-state battery system.

[0002] Lithium-ion secondary batteries (sometimes simply called "lithium batteries"), which use lithium metal compounds for the electrodes, are used in the onboard battery systems of electric vehicles. Depending on the usage conditions, some abnormality may occur in the cells of such lithium-ion secondary batteries, generating high-temperature gas inside them. Therefore, a mechanism for venting the gas is provided.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 listed below discloses a battery system that can control the direction in which high-temperature gas generated inside the cell is released.

[0004] JP 2013-259287 A

[0005] In recent years, the use of battery systems using all-solid-state batteries made of solid electrolytes has been proposed as on-board battery systems for electric vehicles, replacing battery systems using conventional lithium-ion secondary batteries containing electrolytes. In all-solid-state battery systems, a certain amount of pressure must be applied to the cells to ensure tight adhesion between the interfaces of the components that make up the cells (all-solid-state cells). In such all-solid-state battery systems, the expansion and contraction that accompany the charging and discharging of the cells have a significant effect, making it inconvenient to apply the technology described in Patent Document 1.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to propose a technique that can efficiently and safely discharge gas generated inside a cell in an all-solid-state battery system.

[0007] According to one aspect, the present invention provides an all-solid-state battery system including a battery module composed of a plurality of all-solid-state cells. The solid-state battery system includes a pressurizing mechanism that applies a predetermined pressure to a predetermined surface of the battery module, an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality in any of the plurality of cells, and a pressurizing control unit that controls the pressurizing mechanism. The pressurizing mechanism includes a plurality of pressurizing units that apply partial pressure to predetermined regions on the predetermined surface of the battery module. Furthermore, the pressurizing control unit controls each of the plurality of pressurizing units based on a signal indicating that an abnormality has been detected by the abnormality detection unit so that different partial pressures are applied to the predetermined regions on the predetermined surface of the battery module including the cell in which the abnormality has been detected.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is a method for controlling pressure on a battery module composed of a plurality of all-solid-state cells in an all-solid-state battery system. The control method includes controlling a pressurizing mechanism including a plurality of pressurizing units so as to pressurize a predetermined surface of the battery module with a predetermined pressure, determining whether an abnormality has occurred in any of the plurality of cells based on a measurement signal output from a sensor, and outputting a signal indicating that the abnormality has been detected if it is determined that the abnormality has occurred. Controlling the pressurizing mechanism includes controlling each of the plurality of pressurizing units based on the signal indicating the abnormality so as to apply different partial pressures to predetermined regions on the predetermined surface of the battery module including the cell in which the abnormality has been detected.

[0009] In this specification, the term "means" does not simply mean physical means, but also includes cases where the functions of the means are realized by software. Furthermore, the functions of one means may be realized by two or more physical means, or the functions of two or more means may be realized by one physical means. Furthermore, the term "system" refers to a logical collection of multiple devices (or functional modules that realize specific functions), regardless of whether each device or functional module is contained within a single housing.

[0010] According to the present invention, gas generated inside the cells of an all-solid-state battery system can be efficiently discharged to the outside.

[0011] Other technical features, objects, and operational effects or advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The effects described in this specification are merely examples and are not intended to be limiting, and other effects may also be present.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of an all-solid-state battery system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of a schematic configuration of an all-solid-state battery pack of an all-solid-state battery system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an external configuration of a cell constituting a battery module in an all-solid-state battery system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an arrangement of a pressurizing unit in a battery module in an all-solid-state battery system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of a functional model of a control device for an all-solid-state battery system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6A is a diagram for explaining an example of a pressurizing control process for a battery module of an all-solid-state battery system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6B is a diagram for explaining an example of a pressurizing control process for a battery module of an all-solid-state battery system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of a schematic configuration of an all-solid-state battery pack of an all-solid-state battery system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of a schematic configuration of an all-solid-state battery pack of an all-solid-state battery system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an example of a schematic configuration of an all-solid-state battery pack of an all-solid-state battery system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are merely examples, and are not intended to exclude various modifications or applications of techniques not explicitly described below. The present invention can be implemented in various modifications (e.g., by combining the various embodiments) without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, in the following description of the drawings, identical or similar parts are denoted by identical or similar reference numerals. The drawings are schematic and do not necessarily correspond to actual dimensions, ratios, etc. Parts in the drawings may have different dimensional relationships or ratios.

[0014] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of an all-solid-state battery system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the all-solid-state battery system 1 includes, for example, a battery pack 10, a load 20, and a control device 30. Such an all-solid-state battery system 1 can be mounted on a vehicle and used as a driving power source for the vehicle, etc.

[0015] The battery pack 10 is composed of a plurality of battery modules 11 electrically connected in series and / or parallel. As will be described later, each battery module 11 is composed of a plurality of stacked cells 110 (see FIG. 2). Each cell 110 is a solid-state cell in which components such as a positive electrode, a solid electrolyte, and a negative electrode are tightly bonded together.

[0016] The battery pack 10 also includes various sensors 12. The sensors 12 include, for example, a temperature sensor 12a, a voltage sensor 12b, and a current sensor 12c. The temperature sensor 12a measures the temperature of one or several cells 110 or battery modules 11 and outputs a signal (temperature measurement signal) corresponding to the measured value to the control device 30. The voltage sensor 12b is provided, for example, for each cell 110, and measures the voltage (e.g., operating voltage or closed circuit voltage) of each cell 110 and outputs a signal (voltage measurement signal) corresponding to the measured value to the control device 30. The current sensor 12c measures the value of the current output from the battery pack 10 (or the current input to the battery pack 10) and outputs a signal (current measurement signal) corresponding to the measured value to the control device 30.

[0017] The battery pack 10 also includes a pressurizing mechanism 130 for applying a predetermined pressure to each battery module 11 (see FIG. 2). As will be described in other embodiments, the battery pack 10 may further include a fire extinguishing device 140 and a fire-resistant member 150 (see FIG. 7).

[0018] The load 20 is a high-voltage device that consumes power supplied (output) from the battery pack 10. Typically, the load 20 is a motor for driving the wheels of a vehicle. The load 20 may also function as a power generation device or a power supply device. In other words, the battery pack 10 is configured to be chargeable by power supplied from the load 20 that functions as a power generation device or a power supply device.

[0019] The control device 30 is a battery management system (BMS) configured to include a CPU, a memory, and various computer hardware elements, and controls the current or power of the battery pack 10 in the all-solid-state battery system 1. Specifically, the control device 30 can control the output current from the battery pack 10 to be optimal based on measurement signals output from the sensors 12 of the battery pack 10. In the present disclosure, when the control device 30 detects an abnormality in a battery module 11 (or a cell 110) constituting the battery pack 10 based on various measurement signals output from the various sensors 12, the control device 30 controls the pressurizing mechanism 130 so that pressure with a different surface pressure distribution is applied to the battery module 11.

[0020] 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of a schematic configuration of an all-solid-state battery pack of an all-solid-state battery system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The diagram schematically shows one of a plurality of battery modules 11 that make up the battery pack 10. As shown in the diagram, the battery module 11 is configured to include a cell 110, a holding plate 120, and a pressure mechanism 130.

[0021] As described above, the battery module 11 is configured by stacking a plurality of cells 110. The cells 110 are solid-state cells in which components such as a positive electrode, a solid electrolyte, and a negative electrode are tightly bonded together. The battery module 11 made up of such solid-state cells is typically pressurized with a predetermined pressure so that the interfaces of the components of the cells 110 are tightly bonded together.

[0022] 3A and 3B are diagrams showing an example of the external configuration of a cell 110 constituting the battery module 11. Specifically, FIG. 3A shows a side view of the cell 110, and FIG. 3B shows a plan view.

[0023] As shown in the figure, the cell 110 includes a covering 111 that completely covers each component (cell body) to protect it. The covering 111 is, for example, a composite laminate film made of a metal foil and a resin layer. In this example, the covering 111 is bonded to an outer peripheral edge 111' formed around the periphery of the cell body, thereby tightly sealing the cell body. Furthermore, the adhesive strength of one end 111'a of the outer peripheral edge 111' is lower than the adhesive strength of the other end 111'b, forming a rupture guide. As a result, when gas is generated inside the cell 110 and the gas pressure exceeds a certain value, the gas ruptures the end 111a of the covering 111, which has low adhesive strength, and is released to the outside.

[0024] 2 , a pair of holding plates 120 are disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the battery module 11 and sandwich and hold the battery module 11. That is, the holding plates 120 are composed of a holding plate 120 that abuts against the cell 110 located in the bottom layer among the stacked cells 110 of the battery module 11, and a holding plate 120 that abuts against the cell 110 located in the top layer. The holding plates 120 are, for example, rigid metal plates.

[0025] The pressure mechanism 130 applies a predetermined pressure to the battery module 11 via the holding plate 120 under the control of the control device 30. For example, the pressure mechanism 130 includes a plurality of pressure units 131, a pantograph jack 132, and a motor 133 that drives the pantograph jack 132 via a drive gear (not shown). In this example, the plurality of pressure units 131 include a first pressure unit 131(1) and a second pressure unit 131(2). Furthermore, the pressure mechanism 130 is illustrated as a jack-type pressure mechanism driven by the motor 133, but is not limited to this. For example, the pressure mechanism 130 may be configured as a hydraulic jack.

[0026] In the present disclosure, the pressurizing mechanism 130 can apply different partial pressures (i.e., different surface pressure distributions) to a predetermined surface of the battery module 11 by independently controlling the multiple pressurizing units 131 under the control of the control device 30. For example, when an abnormality is detected in a cell 110 of the battery module 11, under the control of the control device 30, the first pressurizing unit 131(1) pressurizes a first region on the predetermined surface of the battery module 11 with a first partial pressure, while the second pressurizing unit 131(2) pressurizes a second region on the predetermined surface of the battery module 11 with a second partial pressure lower than the first partial pressure (see FIG. 3(b)). As a result, gas generated inside the cell 110 is pushed toward the side where the lower partial pressure is applied, rupturing the covering unit 111 and being discharged to the outside.

[0027] The partial pressure applied by each of the multiple pressure applying units 131 may depend on the layout of the battery module 11 and its surroundings. For example, if the adhesive strength of one end 111'a, which is a short side of the outer peripheral edge 111' of the cell 110 (covering 111), is designed to be lower than the adhesive strength of the remaining other end 111'b, the first partial pressure is applied to a first region located on the other end 111'b side where the adhesive strength is higher, and the second partial pressure is applied to a second region located on the one end 111'a side where the adhesive strength is lower. Therefore, because the second partial pressure applied to the second region is lower than the first partial pressure applied to the first region, gas generated inside the cell 110 due to an abnormality is pushed toward the side where the second partial pressure is applied, rupturing the one end 111'a of the covering 111, which has weak adhesive strength, and is discharged to the outside.

[0028] Furthermore, when the fire-fighting device 140 and / or the fire-resistant member 150 are disposed adjacent to the battery module 11, the first partial pressure is applied to a first region located distal to the fire-fighting device 140 or the fire-resistant member 150 on a predetermined surface of the battery module 11, and the second partial pressure is applied to a second region located proximal to the fire-fighting device 140 or the fire-resistant member 150. Therefore, since the second partial pressure applied to the second region is lower than the first partial pressure applied to the first region, gas generated inside the cell 110 due to an abnormality is pushed toward the location of the fire-fighting device 140 or the fire-resistant member 150, resulting in cleavage of the one end 111'a, which has weak adhesive strength.

[0029] In the above example, the rectangular battery module 11 has two pressurizing units 131 arranged side by side along the long side in a plan view. However, this is not limiting. For example, as shown in FIG. 4( a), the battery module 11 may have two pressurizing units 131 arranged side by side along the short side in a plan view. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4( b), the battery module 11 may have four pressurizing units 131 arranged in a 2x2 array. By arranging the pressurizing units 131 in this manner, the control device 30 can control the direction in which gas generated inside the cells 110 is pushed out.

[0030] 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of a functional model of a control device of an all-solid-state battery system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the functional model of the control device 30 includes, for example, an abnormality detection unit 31 and a pressurization control unit 32.

[0031] The abnormality detection unit 31 detects an abnormality in the battery module 11 (and / or the cell 110) based on measurement signals output from the various sensors 12. For example, the abnormality detection unit 31 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the cell 110 based on a temperature measurement signal output from the temperature sensor 12a. Furthermore, the abnormality detection unit 31 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the cell 110 when, for example, it determines that the operating voltage of the cell 110 has dropped sharply by more than a predetermined threshold per unit time based on a voltage measurement signal output from the voltage sensor 12b. When the abnormality detection unit 31 detects an abnormality in the cell 110, it notifies the pressurization control unit 32 of an abnormality detection signal. Furthermore, when the abnormality detection unit 31 determines that high-temperature gas generated by the abnormality in the cell 110 has been released and that this release has ceased, it may notify the pressurization control unit 32 of a release completion signal.

[0032] The pressure control unit 32 controls the pressure mechanism 130 to apply a predetermined pressure to a predetermined surface of the battery module 11. The predetermined pressure applied to the predetermined surface is, for example, several kPa to several MPa, but is not limited thereto and depends on the specifications of the battery module 11. In the present disclosure, the pressure control unit 32 can control each of the multiple pressure units 131 of the pressure mechanism 130 based on various signals (e.g., a temperature measurement signal, a voltage measurement signal, etc.) output from the abnormality detection unit 31. That is, in a normal state (a state in which no abnormality is detected), the pressure control unit 32 controls the multiple pressure units 131 to apply uniform pressure to the entire predetermined surface of the battery module 11. In contrast, when some abnormality is detected in a cell 110, the pressure control unit 32 controls the first pressure unit 131(1) to apply a first partial pressure to a first region of the predetermined surface of the battery module 11 including the cell 110, and controls the second pressure unit 131(2) to apply a second partial pressure to a second region of the predetermined surface of the battery module 11 including the cell 110.

[0033] (Example of pressurization control process) Next, a description will be given of a pressurization control process in the all-solid-state battery system 1 configured as described above. Figures 6A and 6B are diagrams for explaining an example of a pressurization control process for a battery module of an all-solid-state battery system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] As shown in Figure A(a), for example, suppose that when the first pressure applying section 131(1) and the second pressure applying section 131(2) of the pressure applying mechanism 130 are each applying pressure to a predetermined surface of the battery module 11 with the same partial pressure P_ini, an abnormality occurs in a certain cell 110(x), causing high-temperature gas to be generated.

[0035] As a result, the abnormality detection unit 31 detects that an abnormality has occurred in a cell 110 of the battery module 11, for example, based on a temperature measurement signal from the temperature sensor 12a, and notifies the pressurization control unit 32. In response to this, the pressurization control unit 32 controls the first pressurization unit 131(1) to pressurize the battery module 11 including the cell 110 in which the abnormality has been detected at a first partial pressure P1, as shown in FIG. 1A(b), and controls the second pressurization unit 131(2) to pressurize the battery module 11 including the cell 110 in which the abnormality has been detected at a second partial pressure P2 (P2<P1) that is lower than the first partial pressure P1. Typically, the first partial pressure P1 and the second partial pressure P2 are higher than the initial partial pressure P_ini (P1, P2>P_ini), but this is not limited thereto. For example, only the first partial pressure P1 may be higher than P_ini, while the second partial pressure P2 remains unchanged.

[0036] When different partial pressures P1 and P2 are applied to the battery module 11 by the first pressurizing unit 131(1) and the second pressurizing unit 131(b), respectively, the gas accumulated inside the cell 110(x) ruptures the end 111'a, which has lower adhesive strength, of the covering unit 111 of the cell 110(x) located on the side pressurized by the second pressurizing unit 131, and releases high-temperature gas, as shown in FIG. 1B(c). That is, the gas generated inside the cell 110 is pushed toward the second region where the pressure is lower due to the pressure difference between the first partial pressure and the second partial pressure. Furthermore, because the adhesive strength of the end 111'a of the outer periphery of the covering unit 111 that contacts the second region is lower than that of the remaining end 111'b, the pushed-out gas ruptures the end 111'a of the covering unit 111 and is ejected to the outside when the pressure exceeds a predetermined design limit pressure.

[0037] Subsequently, when the abnormality detection unit 31 detects that the gas release has ended, it notifies the pressurization control unit 32. In response to this, the pressurization control unit 32 controls the first pressurization unit 131(1) and the second pressurization unit 131(2) so that uniform pressure is applied to a predetermined surface of the battery module 11, as shown in B(d) of the same figure. At this time, the pressurization control unit 32 controls the first pressurization unit 131(1) and the second pressurization unit 131(2) so that pressure is applied at a partial pressure P_after (P_after<P_ini) that is lower than the partial pressure P_ini before the abnormality occurred.

[0038] In this way, if an abnormality occurs in the cell 110(x) of the battery module 11 and the gas pressure exceeds a certain value, the generated gas cleaves one end (crack induction portion) of the covering portion 111, which has low adhesive strength, and the gas generated inside the cell 110 can be efficiently discharged to the outside. This makes it possible to avoid unintended operation of the battery module 11 that would occur if the cell 110 were used while an abnormality still exists.

[0039] Furthermore, after the gas release is completed, the battery module 11 including the cell 110 in which an abnormality was detected is evenly pressurized at a pressure lower than the initial pressure, making it less likely that heat will be conducted to other cells 110 adjacent to the cell 110 in which an abnormality was detected, thereby making it possible to suppress chain reactions of heat conduction between cells 110 within the battery module 11.

[0040] Furthermore, when the abnormality detection unit 31 detects an abnormality in a cell 110, the pressurization control unit 32 may control the pressurization mechanism 130 to apply a pressure lower than a predetermined pressure to battery modules 11 other than the battery module 11 including the cell 110 in which the abnormality has been detected. This increases the internal resistance of the cells 110 in the other battery modules 11, making it possible to prevent the operation from becoming unstable even if the temperature of the other battery modules 11 increases due to the effect of the discharged high-temperature gas.

[0041] Second Embodiment This embodiment is a modification of the above-described embodiment, and is characterized in that the all-solid-state battery system 1 includes a fire-fighting device and / or a fire-resistant member.

[0042] 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of a schematic configuration of an all-solid-state battery pack of an all-solid-state battery system according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the all-solid-state battery system 1 includes a fire-fighting device 140 and a fire-resistant member 150 provided adjacent to a battery module 11.

[0043] The firefighting device 140 prevents or extinguishes a fire caused by the ejection of high-temperature gas generated inside the cell 110. For example, when the firefighting device 140 detects the ejection of gas, it injects a fire extinguishing agent such as an inert gas or carbon dioxide gas toward the ejecting high-temperature gas flow. The firefighting device 140 is disposed so as to inject the fire extinguishing agent in a direction in which the gas generated inside the cell 110 is pushed out by the difference between the first partial pressure and the second partial pressure. In the present disclosure, the firefighting device 140 is disposed near the one end 111'a of the covering portion 111 of the cell 110, where the adhesive strength is low, that is, on the second region side where the second partial pressure is applied.

[0044] As described above, when an abnormality occurs in a cell 110, the battery module 11 is pressurized at different partial pressures, and when the gas generated inside exceeds a predetermined design limit pressure, the portion of the covering 111 covering the cell 110 with low adhesive strength ruptures and is ejected to the outside. Therefore, the fire extinguishing device 140 injects a fire extinguishing agent toward the gas ejected from one end 111'a of the covering 111. This cools the high-temperature gas ejected from inside the cell 110 and blocks oxygen, preventing the outbreak of a fire and extinguishing any fire that does occur.

[0045] The fire-resistant member blocks the emission of high-temperature gas generated inside the cell 110, preventing the fire from spreading to the surrounding area. The fire-resistant member 150 is made of, for example, a ceramic board. The fire-resistant member 150 is also arranged to face the direction in which the gas generated inside the cell 110 is emitted. This prevents the high-temperature gas emitted from inside the cell 110 from diffusing to the surrounding area, thereby preventing the fire from spreading.

[0046] Third Embodiment This embodiment is a modification of the above-described embodiment, and is characterized in that a pressure mechanism 130 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the battery modules 11 of the battery pack 10 .

[0047] 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of a schematic configuration of an all-solid-state battery pack of an all-solid-state battery system according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, battery modules 11 are arranged so as to be stacked one on top of the other, and a pressure mechanism 130 is arranged so as to be sandwiched between the vertically stacked battery modules 11. The pressure mechanism applies a predetermined pressure to the upper and lower battery modules under the control of a control device 30 (pressure control unit 32).

[0048] As described above, according to the present embodiment, the pressing mechanism 130 is disposed between the battery modules 11, and therefore one pressing mechanism 130 can apply pressure between the battery modules 11 on both sides. Therefore, the all-solid-state battery pack can be made smaller and lighter, and the range of application to limited spaces such as in vehicles can be expanded.

[0049] In this example, the battery module 11 is shown configured to be arranged vertically so that the surfaces of the cells 110 are horizontal, but this is not limited to this, and the battery module 11 may also be configured to be arranged so that the surfaces of the cells 110 are vertical.

[0050] <Fourth embodiment> This embodiment is a modification of the above embodiment, and is characterized in that in a battery pack 10 including a plurality of battery modules 11, different partial pressures are applied to the battery modules 11 so that high-temperature gas ejected from a cell 110 in which an abnormality has been detected does not directly impinge on other battery modules 11 adjacent to the battery module 11 including the cell 110.

[0051] 9 is a diagram for explaining an example of a schematic configuration of an all-solid-state battery pack of an all-solid-state battery system according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, two battery modules 11(1) and 11(2) are arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction.

[0052] In the battery module 11(1), one end 111'a of the covering portion 111 of the cell 110 is formed on the distal side relative to the adjacent battery module 11(2), while in the battery module 11(2), one end 111'a of the covering portion 111 of the cell 110 is formed on the distal side relative to the adjacent battery module 11(1). Furthermore, under normal circumstances, each of the battery modules 11(1) and 11(2) is pressurized at a predetermined pressure by the first pressurizing portion 131(1) and the second pressurizing portion 131(2) of the pressurizing mechanism 130.

[0053] Now, suppose that an abnormality occurs in a cell 110(x) of a battery module 11(2). When the abnormality detection unit 31 detects an abnormality in the cell 110(x) of the battery module 1111(2), it notifies the pressurization control unit 32. In response to this, the pressurization control unit 32 controls the pressurization unit 131(1) of the battery module 1111(2) to pressurize the battery module 1111(2) at a first partial pressure, and controls the pressurization unit 131(2) to pressurize the battery module 1111(2) at a second partial pressure that is lower than the first partial pressure. In other words, when an abnormality is detected in a cell 110 of a battery module 11, the second region to which the second pressure is applied to the battery module 11 is located on the opposite side from the adjacent battery module 11.

[0054] As described above, according to this embodiment, when an abnormality is detected in any of the cells 110 of a plurality of battery modules 11, and the battery module 11 including the cell 110 in which the abnormality has been detected is pressurized at partial pressure, the pressurizing mechanism 130 is controlled so that the side closer to the adjacent battery module 11 is pressurized at a first partial pressure and the side farther from the adjacent battery module 11 is pressurized at a second partial pressure. This prevents the high-temperature gas ejected from the cell 110 in which the abnormality has been detected from directly hitting the adjacent battery module 11, and protects the battery module 11 from the high-temperature gas.

[0055] The above-described embodiments are merely examples for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention to these embodiments. The present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0056] For example, in the methods disclosed herein, steps, operations, or functions may be performed in parallel or in a different order unless the results are inconsistent. The steps, operations, and functions described are provided merely as examples, and some of the steps, operations, and functions may be omitted or combined into one, or other steps, operations, or functions may be added, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0057] Furthermore, although various embodiments are disclosed in this specification, specific features (technical matters) in one embodiment can be added to or substituted for specific features in other embodiments, with appropriate modifications, and such forms are also included in the spirit of the present invention.

[0058] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...All-solid-state battery system 10...Battery pack 11...Battery module 110...Cell 111...Covering portion 111'...Outer peripheral edge portion, 111'a...One end portion 120...Holding plate 130...Pressing mechanism 131...Pressing portion 132...Pantograph jack 133...Motor 140...Fire-fighting device 150...Fire-resistant member 12...Sensor 12a...Temperature sensor 12b...Voltage sensor 12c...Current sensor 20...Load 30...Control device 31...Abnormality detection unit 32...Pressure control unit

Claims

1. An all-solid-state battery system having a battery module composed of a plurality of all-solid-state cells, comprising: a pressurizing mechanism which pressurizes a predetermined surface of the battery module at a predetermined pressure; an abnormality detection unit which detects an abnormality in any of the plurality of cells; and a pressurizing control unit which controls the pressurizing mechanism, wherein the pressurizing mechanism includes a plurality of pressurizing units which pressurize predetermined regions on the predetermined surface of the battery module with partial pressures, and the pressurizing control unit controls each of the plurality of pressurizing units based on a signal indicating that an abnormality has been detected by the abnormality detection unit so that different partial pressures are applied to the predetermined regions on the predetermined surface of the battery module including the cell in which the abnormality has been detected.

2. The all-solid-state battery system according to claim 1, wherein the pressure control unit controls a first pressure unit among the plurality of pressure units to apply a first partial pressure to a first region on the specified surface, and controls a second pressure unit among the plurality of pressure units to apply a second partial pressure to a second region on the specified surface, the second partial pressure being lower than the first partial pressure.

3. The all-solid-state battery system according to claim 2, further comprising a fire extinguishing device that injects a fire extinguishing agent, the fire extinguishing device being positioned to inject the fire extinguishing agent in the vicinity of the second region to which the second partial pressure is applied.

4. The all-solid-state battery system according to claim 2, further comprising a refractory member, the refractory member being disposed in the vicinity of the second region to which the second partial pressure is applied.

5. The all-solid-state battery system according to claim 1, wherein the pressurizing control unit controls the pressurizing mechanism so that the predetermined pressure on the predetermined surface of the battery module is lowered after pressurizing the plurality of pressurizing units with the different partial pressures.

6. The all-solid-state battery system according to claim 2, comprising a plurality of the battery modules arranged adjacent to each other, wherein the pressurizing control unit controls the first pressurizing unit and the second pressurizing unit so that the first region on the specified surface of the first battery module is closer to the second battery module than the second region.

7. The all-solid-state battery system according to claim 6, wherein the pressurizing control unit controls the pressurizing mechanism so as to apply a pressure lower than the predetermined pressure to the battery modules other than the battery module including the cell in which the abnormality has been detected.

8. The all-solid-state battery system according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of cells includes a covering portion covering the cell, and an adhesive strength of one end of the covering portion located on the side of the second region on the specified surface of the cell is lower than an adhesive strength of the other end of the covering portion located on the side of the first region on the specified surface.

9. A method for controlling pressure on a battery module composed of a plurality of all-solid-state cells in an all-solid-state battery system, comprising: controlling a pressurizing mechanism including a plurality of pressurizing units so as to pressurize a predetermined surface of the battery module with a predetermined pressure; determining whether or not an abnormality has occurred in any of the plurality of cells based on a measurement signal output from a sensor, and outputting a signal indicating that the abnormality has been detected when it is determined that the abnormality has occurred; and controlling the pressurizing mechanism includes controlling each of the plurality of pressurizing units based on the signal indicating that the abnormality has been detected so as to apply a different partial pressure to each predetermined area on the predetermined surface of the battery module including the cell in which the abnormality has been detected.

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