JP4691999B2 - vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle in which a battery pack is mounted in a vehicle compartment .

  In recent years, an electric vehicle using an electric motor as a drive source and a so-called hybrid electric vehicle combining an electric motor as a drive source and another drive source have been put into practical use. In such a vehicle, a battery for supplying electricity as energy to the electric motor is mounted. As this battery, for example, a secondary battery represented by a nickel-cadmium battery, a nickel-hydrogen battery, a lithium ion battery, or the like that can be repeatedly charged and discharged is used.

  The secondary battery is configured by a battery module in which battery cells are stacked, and the battery module is mounted on a vehicle in a state where the battery module is housed in a battery case. A battery pack including the battery case, the battery module housed in the battery case, and other internal components is referred to as a battery pack.

  Each battery cell or battery module generates heat due to an internal electrochemical reaction, and its temperature rises. Since the power generation efficiency of the battery cell or the battery module decreases when the temperature becomes high, for example, a coolant such as cooling air is introduced into the battery case from the outside of the battery case to cool the battery module.

  The cooling structure of the battery pack using this cooling air is shown in FIG. In the battery pack 200, the battery module 211 is disposed inside the battery case 210. The internal space of the battery case 210 is partitioned by the battery module 211 disposed inside the battery case 210, and an upper space is formed between the upper surface of the battery module 211 and the battery case 210, and the upper space is formed by the upper space. A refrigerant flow path 210b is defined. Further, a lower space is formed between the lower surface of the battery module 211 and the battery case 210, and a lower refrigerant flow path 210a is defined by the lower section.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the battery module 211 is configured by stacking a plurality of battery cells 212. As the battery cell 212, for example, a secondary battery such as a nickel-cadmium battery, a nickel-hydrogen battery, or a lithium ion battery can be used. The battery cell 212 has a so-called square plate-like outer shape.

  Protruding portions 211 a are provided on the side surfaces of the individual battery cells 212, and the protruding portions 211 a constitute ridge portions that extend to the side surfaces of the battery module 210 after being stacked. End plates 215 for maintaining the stacked state of the battery modules 210 are arranged at both ends in the stacking direction of the battery modules 210, and the pair of end plates 215 are formed on the side surfaces of the battery module 210 described above. It is connected by a bracket 214 that engages with the protrusion.

  In addition, an intake chamber 212 having an opening 212b communicating with the lower refrigerant flow path 210a is disposed on one side of the battery module 211. An exhaust chamber 213 having 213b communicating with the upper refrigerant flow path 210b is disposed on the other side.

  With reference to FIG. 7, a device box 214 is disposed on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the battery module 211, and an intake duct 220 is connected to a connection port 212 a of the intake chamber 212 on both sides of the device box 214, An exhaust duct 230 is connected to the connection port 213 a of the exhaust chamber 213. The exhaust duct 230 is connected to a blower 241 for causing a refrigerant flow. Thus, a so-called upflow type heat insulating structure is configured.

  A convex portion is provided on the main surface of each battery cell 212, and a part of the ventilation path for circulating the cooling air, which is a refrigerant, is formed between the battery cells 212 stacked by the convex portion. . Further, the battery module 211 is disposed to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the bottom surface of the battery case 210. This is because the cooling air discharged from the opening 210 b of the intake chamber 212 flows uniformly on the lower surface side of the battery cell 212. An intake duct 220 and an exhaust duct 230 are connected to the connection port 212a of the intake chamber 212 and the connection port 213a of the exhaust chamber 213 of the battery pack 200 in empty spaces formed on both sides of the device box 214, respectively. The exhaust duct 230 includes a main exhaust duct 231 and a branch exhaust duct 232, and a blower 241 is connected to the branch exhaust duct 232.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an automobile 300 using a battery system including the battery pack 200 shown in FIG. The automobile 300 to which the battery system including the battery pack 200 is applied includes a control unit 301, a battery unit 302 including the battery pack 200, and a drive unit 303. The control unit 301 is installed in a device box 214 arranged inside the battery pack 200 and controls the battery unit 302 and the drive unit 303. The drive unit 303 may include an internal combustion engine such as a gasoline engine or a diesel engine in addition to an electric motor such as a motor driven by a current supplied from the battery unit 302. That is, the vehicle 300 includes not only an electric vehicle that uses only an electric motor such as a motor driven by a current supplied from the battery unit 302 as a driving source, but also a driving means other than an electric motor such as a gasoline engine as a driving source. So-called hybrid cars are also included.

  Here, when the battery pack 200 is disposed between the center console box provided between the driver seat side and the passenger seat side of the vehicle and the vehicle floor, the battery pack 200 is removed from the battery module housed therein. Since heat is released, although it has the above-described cooling structure, the temperature becomes higher than the vehicle interior temperature by use, and the center console box is warmed. As a result, the warmness of the center console box during traveling in summer or the like may cause discomfort to the passengers of the vehicle. In addition, the floor temperature in summer may become high due to the reflection of solar radiation from the exhaust pipe and the road surface arranged below the floor. At this time, the heat of the floor increases the temperature of the battery module.

  On the other hand, when the vehicle in winter (especially in a cold region) is cold, the battery cells constituting the battery module are also cold, so that the performance of the battery cells is reduced. In particular, the vehicle floor surface is easily affected by the outside air temperature under the floor, and the battery cells in the battery pack installed on the vehicle floor surface are also easily affected by the outside air temperature under the floor via the vehicle floor surface.

Therefore, when the battery pack is disposed between the center console box provided between the driver's seat side and the passenger's seat side of the vehicle and the vehicle floor, the battery pack has an influence on the vehicle interior and an influence from the outside air temperature under the floor. Need to be considered. Here, Patent Document 1 below discloses a structure in which a battery is disposed between the driver's seat side and the passenger seat side, and Patent Document 2 below discloses a structure in which a battery is disposed between the seat and the vehicle floor. Patent Document 3 below discloses a structure in which air from an air conditioner for vehicle room air conditioning can be directly introduced into the battery pack. Patent Document 4 below discloses an air-cooled inverter in the center console. A mounting structure is disclosed. However, none of the documents discloses the influence of the battery on the vehicle compartment and the influence of the outside air temperature under the floor.
JP 2001-105893 A JP 2004-237803 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-040088 JP 2004-268779 A

The problem of the present invention is that the battery pack affects the vehicle interior from the battery pack when the battery pack is disposed between the center console box provided between the driver seat side and the passenger seat side of the vehicle and the vehicle floor. It is necessary to consider the effect of the pack on the outside air temperature under the floor. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems, and the battery pack is provided even when the battery pack is disposed between the driver's seat side and the passenger seat side of the vehicle. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle having a heat insulating structure for a battery pack that can reduce the influence on the vehicle interior from the vehicle interior and can be made less affected by the outside air temperature under the floor of the battery pack.

In the vehicle based on the present invention, there is provided a vehicle in which the battery pack is mounted on the vehicle, air conditioning ducts for vehicles interior air conditioning is disposed along the longitudinal direction between the driver seat and the passenger seat, the The battery pack is installed on a vehicle floor between the driver seat and the passenger seat. The battery pack includes a battery case and a battery module disposed in the battery case. The battery case is arranged along the outer peripheral surface of the battery case.

According to the vehicle based on this invention, the air layer in an air-conditioner duct can be used as a heat insulation layer by arrange | positioning the air-conditioner duct along the outer peripheral surface of a battery case. As a result, it is possible to reduce the influence (heat transfer) exerted from the battery pack into the vehicle compartment, and to make it difficult to receive the influence from the outside air temperature under the floor of the battery pack (heat radiation to the bottom).

  For example, even when the temperature of the battery module in the battery pack rises, heat transfer into the vehicle compartment can be blocked by the air conditioner duct. In addition, by passing the cool air from the air conditioner through the air conditioner duct, it is possible to more effectively block the heat transfer to the vehicle interior and to expect a cooling effect on the battery pack.

  In addition, by arranging the air-conditioning duct along the side of the battery case or between the battery case and the vehicle floor, the heat-insulating effect of the air-conditioning duct makes it less likely to be affected by the outside air temperature under the battery pack floor. Is possible. Further, by passing warm air from the air conditioner through the air conditioner duct, it is possible to reheat the battery pack, and it is possible to quickly increase the performance of the battery pack.

  Embodiments of a heat insulating structure for a battery pack according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, since the structure of the battery module adopted in the following embodiments and the control method thereof are the same as the background art described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the same reference numerals are used in the following description. In addition, redundant description will not be repeated.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, the heat insulating structure of the battery pack according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing the heat insulation structure of the battery pack in the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the vehicle showing the heat insulation structure of the battery pack in the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 1 and 3, the center console is not shown for convenience of explanation.

  First, with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, installation of the battery pack in the present embodiment will be described. The battery pack 100 according to the present embodiment is below the center console box 300 (see FIG. 2) so as to extend from the lower center of the instrument panel 500 toward the rear of the vehicle between the driver's seat and the passenger seat of the vehicle. It is arranged. The battery pack 100 includes a battery case 110, and a battery module 211 is disposed in the battery case 110 so as to constitute an upflow type heat insulating structure.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the internal space of the battery case 110 is partitioned by a battery module 211 disposed inside the battery case 110, and an upper space is formed between the upper surface of the battery module 211 and the battery case 110. The upper refrigerant flow path 110b is defined by the upper space. Further, a lower space is formed between the lower surface of the battery module 211 and the battery case 110, and a lower refrigerant flow path 110a is defined by the lower section.

  A lower refrigerant opening region 122a extending along the stacking direction of the battery cells (X direction in the drawing) is formed in a region near the lower portion of the battery case 110 in the lower refrigerant channel 110a. Further, a first chamber 120 for sending the refrigerant into the lower refrigerant flow path 110a via the lower refrigerant opening area 122a is attached to the lower refrigerant opening area 122a. The first chamber 120 communicates with the lower refrigerant opening region 122a, communicates with the side chamber 122 on the side surface side of the battery case 110 and extends above the battery case 110, and communicates with the side chamber 122 on the upper surface of the battery case 110. And an intake chamber 121 disposed along the stacking direction of battery cells (X direction in the figure).

  On the other hand, an upper refrigerant opening area 122b extending along the stacking direction of battery cells (X direction in the figure) is formed in the upper refrigerant flow area 110b near the upper part of the battery case 110. In addition, a second chamber 130 for discharging the refrigerant that has passed through the battery module 211 to the outside is attached to the upper refrigerant opening area 122b via the lower refrigerant opening area 122a. The second chamber 130 communicates with the upper refrigerant opening region 122b, and is disposed on the upper surface of the battery case 110 along the battery cell stacking direction (X direction in the drawing). There are two branched exhaust chambers 132 and 133 that branch off. Exhaust blowers 141 and 142 for generating a refrigerant flow in the battery case 110 are attached to the branch exhaust chambers 132 and 133, respectively.

  In the battery pack 100 having the above configuration, after the refrigerant is taken into the intake chamber 121 of the first chamber 120, the refrigerant passes through the side chamber 122 and the lower refrigerant opening region 122a, and the refrigerant flows into the lower refrigerant channel 110a. It is sent. The refrigerant that has passed between the battery modules 211 from the lower side to the upper side is discharged from the branch exhaust chambers 132 and 133 to the outside from the upper refrigerant channel 110b through the upper refrigerant opening region 122b and the exhaust chamber 131. Configure the flow path.

  Furthermore, in the battery pack in the present embodiment, an air conditioner duct for vehicle room air conditioning is arranged along the outer peripheral surface of battery case 110 as a heat insulating structure of the battery pack. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a rear face duct 150 as an air conditioner duct and two rear heater ducts 160 and 170 are operated from an air conditioner unit 400 provided in an instrument panel 500 of the vehicle 1. The rear face duct 150 is disposed along the upper surface of the battery case 110 between the seat side and the passenger seat side, and the two rear heater ducts 160 and 170 are Each is disposed along the side surface of the battery case 110.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the rear face duct 150 located on the upper surface of the battery case 110 is provided between the driver seat side and the passenger seat side (specifically, the driver seat rail 600D). Between the exhaust chamber 131 and the intake chamber 121 provided on the upper surface of the battery case 110 below the center console box 300 provided between the front seat rail 600P and the passenger seat rail 600P. Thus, the upper surface space of the battery case 110 is effectively used.

  As described above, according to the heat insulating structure of the battery pack having the above-described configuration, the rear face duct 150 and the two rear heater ducts 160 and 170 constituting the air conditioner duct are disposed along the outer peripheral surface of the battery case 110. Thereby, the air layer in an air-conditioner duct can be used as a heat insulation layer. As a result, even when the temperature of the battery module 211 in the battery pack 100 rises, the rear face duct 150 and the two rear heater ducts 160 and 170 can block heat transfer to the vehicle interior. It becomes. Further, by allowing the cool air from the air conditioner unit 400 to pass through the rear face duct 150, it is possible to more effectively cut off the heat transfer into the vehicle compartment and to expect a cooling effect on the battery pack 100. .

  Also, by arranging the two rear heater ducts 160 and 170 along the side surface of the battery case 100, the heat insulation effect of the rear heater ducts 160 and 170 is affected by the outside air temperature under the floor of the battery pack 100. It becomes possible to make it difficult. Furthermore, by allowing the warm air from the air conditioner unit 400 to pass through the rear heater ducts 160 and 170, the battery pack 100 can be preheated, and the performance of the battery pack 100 can be quickly increased.

(Embodiment 2)
Hereinafter, the heat insulating structure of the battery pack according to Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the heat insulation structure of the battery pack in the present embodiment, and corresponds to a cross section taken along line III-III in FIG. In FIG. 5, the center console is not shown for convenience of explanation.

  The feature of the heat insulating structure of the battery pack in the present embodiment is that the arrangement positions of the rear heater ducts 160 and 170 are different from those in the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, rear heater ducts 160 and 170 are disposed between battery case 110 and the vehicle floor. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  Thus, the effect similar to the case of the said Embodiment 1 can be acquired also by the heat insulation structure of the battery pack which consists of the said structure. Further, by arranging the rear heater ducts 160 and 170 between the battery case 110 and the vehicle floor, the heat insulation effect of the rear heater ducts 160 and 170 prevents the outside air temperature from directly below the floor of the battery pack 100. It becomes possible to make it difficult to be affected. Furthermore, as in the case of the first embodiment, by passing warm air from the air conditioner unit 400 through the rear heater ducts 160 and 170, the battery pack 100 can be preheated, and the performance of the battery pack 100 can be quickly improved. It is possible to raise it.

(Embodiment 3)
Hereinafter, the heat insulating structure of the battery pack according to Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the heat insulation structure of the battery pack in the present embodiment, and corresponds to a cross section taken along line IV-IV in FIG.

  The heat insulating structure of the battery pack in the present embodiment is characterized in that the rear heater ducts 160 and 170 can be disposed both on the side surface of the battery case 110 and between the battery case 110 and the vehicle floor. The cross-sectional shapes of 160 and 170 are formed in a “<” shape.

  Also by the heat insulating structure of the battery pack having such a configuration, the same operation and effect as in the case of the first embodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, by adopting the structure of the rear heater ducts 160 and 170 described above, the heat insulation effect of the rear heater ducts 160 and 170 can be sufficiently obtained, and as a result, the influence of the battery pack 100 on the vehicle compartment more effectively ( Heat transmission) and the influence of the outside temperature of the battery pack 100 under the vehicle floor (heat radiation to the floor below) can be made difficult to receive.

  In addition, although the case where the two branched exhaust chambers branched from the exhaust chamber 131 were provided was demonstrated, it is possible to provide one or three or more branched exhaust chambers according to the installation space.

  Further, in the battery pack 100 shown in each of the above-described embodiments, the case where air in the vehicle compartment is used as an example has been described, but it is naturally possible to use other refrigerants. . Further, the refrigerant is not necessarily limited to gas, and liquid may be used depending on circumstances.

  In addition, in the battery pack having the upflow type cooling structure, the battery module 211 is arranged to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the bottom surface of the battery case 110. Not limited to the battery pack having a side flow type cooling structure in which the down flow type cooling structure and the battery module are arranged parallel to the bottom surface of the battery case and the cooling air flows horizontally through the battery module. Thus, it is possible to apply the heat insulating structure of the present invention.

  Accordingly, the above-described embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not restrictive. The technical scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a whole perspective view which shows the heat insulation structure of the battery pack in Embodiment 1 based on this invention. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a vehicle showing a heat insulating structure for a battery pack in a first embodiment based on the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the heat insulation structure of the battery pack in Embodiment 2 based on this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the heat insulation structure of the battery pack in Embodiment 3 based on this invention. It is a whole perspective view which shows the heat insulation structure of the battery pack in background art. It is a partial exploded perspective view which shows the structure in a battery pack. It is a block diagram of the motor vehicle using the battery system containing a battery pack.

Explanation of symbols

  100 battery pack, 110 battery case, 110a lower refrigerant flow path, 110b upper refrigerant flow path, 120 first chamber, 121 intake chamber, 122 side chamber, 122a lower refrigerant opening area, 122b upper refrigerant opening area, 130 second chamber, 131 Exhaust chamber, 132, 133 Branch exhaust chamber, 141, 142 Exhaust blower, 150 Rear face duct, 160, 170 Rear heater duct, 211 Battery module, 300 Center console box, 400 Air conditioner unit, 500 Instrument panel, 600D Driver seat rail 600P Rail for passenger seat.

Claims (5)

A vehicle in which a battery pack is mounted in a vehicle compartment,
An air conditioner duct for vehicle interior air conditioning is disposed along the front-rear direction between the driver seat and the passenger seat ,
The battery pack is installed on a vehicle floor between the driver seat and the passenger seat ,
The battery pack includes a battery case and a battery module disposed in the battery case,
The vehicle , wherein the air-conditioner duct is disposed along an outer peripheral surface of the battery case. The air conditioner duct is a rear face duct,
The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the rear face duct is disposed along an upper surface of the battery case. The air conditioner duct is a rear heater duct,
The rear heater duct, characterized in that arranged along between the battery case and the vehicle floor, the vehicle according to claim 1. The air conditioner duct is a rear heater duct,
The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the rear heater duct is disposed along a side surface of the battery case. The battery pack and the air conditioning duct is provided between the center console and the vehicle floor, the vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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