SECONDARY BATTERY; SOLAR POWER GENERATION SYSTEM, WIND POWER GENERATION SYSTEM, AND VEHICLE PROVIDED THERWITH; AND METHOD FOR FABRICATION OF A SECONDARY BATTERY

• US 20110200855A1
• Filed: 02/15/2011
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sakashita, Kazuya, Watanabe, Yuki, Tsukuda, Yoshihiro, Nishimura, Naoto
• Granted Patent: US 8,652,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/80
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/11 storing electrical energy
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/255 connected to electrical distribution networks; Arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02021 for solar cells electrical connection means, e.g. junction boxes, specially adapted for structural association with photovoltaic modules H02S40/34
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0566 Liquid materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/058 Construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/103 prismatic or rectangular H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/147 Lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/682 accommodated in battery or cell casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4757 Battery or electrolytic cell replenishment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4911 including sealing

Abstract

A secondary battery with improved life characteristics is provided. The secondary battery (lithium-ion secondary battery) has: an electrode assembly including positive electrodes and negative electrodes; and a package container for housing the electrode assembly along with non-aqueous electrolyte liquid. The package container includes a package can for housing the electrode assembly and a sealing plate sealing the opening of the package can. On the sealing plate, an elevated portion is formed that projects toward the electrode assembly and has, on the side opposite from the electrode assembly, a cavity portion for storing refill non-aqueous electrolyte liquid. The elevated portion has a hole for feeding the refill non-aqueous electrolyte liquid stored in the cavity portion toward the electrode assembly. The hole is sealed with a sealing stopper formed of a resin material letting the refill non-aqueous electrolyte liquid leak toward the electrode assembly.

Claims

1. A secondary battery comprising:

an electrode assembly including a positive electrode and a negative electrode disposed to face the positive electrode;

a package container in which the electrode assembly is sealed along with electrolyte liquid; and

an elevated portion provided on the package container to project toward the electrode assembly, the elevated portion having, on the side thereof opposite from the projecting side thereof, a cavity portion in which refill electrolyte liquid is stored, wherein

the package container includes a housing container in which the electrode assembly is housed and a lid member which seals the housing container,

the elevated portion includes a leaking portion letting the refill electrolyte liquid stored in the cavity portion leak toward the electrode assembly, and

the elevated portion is formed on at least one of the lid member and the largest of the faces constituting the housing container.

2. The secondary battery according to claim 1,

wherein the lid member has a first plate member on which the elevated portion is formed and a second plate member which is fitted to the first plate member so as to cover the cavity portion.

3. The secondary battery according to claim 1,

wherein the leaking portion includes:

a hole formed in the elevated portion; and

a sealing member sealing the hole and letting the electrolyte liquid in the cavity portion leak toward the electrode assembly.

4. The secondary battery according to claim 3,

wherein the sealing member is formed of a resin material which becomes imbued with the electrolyte liquid to let, at the lapse of a predetermined time, the electrolyte liquid in the cavity portion leak toward the electrode assembly.

5. The secondary battery according to claim 4,

wherein the resin material contains at least one substance selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer, butyl rubber, silicone rubber, and rubber containing fluorine resin.

6. The secondary battery according to claim 1,

wherein the elevated portion is so shaped as to form a groove as seen from the side opposite from the electrode assembly.

7. The secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein

the face of the package container on which the elevated portion is formed has a substantially rectangular shape as seen in a plan view, and

the elevated portion extends in the longer-side direction.

8. The secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein

the face of the package container on which the elevated portion is formed has a substantially rectangular shape as seen in a plan view, and

the elevated portion extends in a direction crossing the longer-side direction.

9. The secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein

the face of the package container on which the elevated portion is formed has a substantially rectangular shape having longer and shorter sides as seen in a plan view, and

the elevated portion describes a substantially rhombic shape.

10. The secondary battery according to claim 9,

wherein the elevated portion describing a substantially rhombic shape is so disposed that the diagonal lines thereof are parallel to the longer and shorter sides, respectively, of the package container.

11. The secondary battery according to claim 1

wherein the elevated portion includes, as the leaking portion, one or more leaking portions.

12. The secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein

the elevated portion comprises a plurality of elevated portions, and

the leaking portion is formed in each of the elevated portions.

13. The secondary battery according to claim 12, wherein

the face of the package container on which the elevated portions are formed has a substantially rectangular shape as seen in a plan view, and

at least part of the elevated portions extend in the longer-side direction.

14. The secondary battery according to claim 12, wherein

the face of the package container on which the elevated portions are formed has a substantially rectangular shape as seen in a plan view, and

at least part of the elevated portions extend in a direction crossing the longer-side direction.

15. The secondary battery according to claim 12,

wherein at least part of the elevated portions describe a substantially rhombic shape as seen in a plan view.

16. The secondary battery according to claim 1,

wherein the leaking portion is so located as not to make contact with the electrode assembly.

17. The secondary battery according to claim 1,

wherein the elevated portion has a rounded or chamfered corner.

18. The secondary battery according to claim 1,

wherein the cavity portion formed by the elevated portion has a width of 5 mm or more.

19. The secondary battery according to claim 1, further comprising:

a separator disposed between the positive and negative electrodes,

wherein the positive electrode, the separator, and the negative electrode are stacked sequentially to give the electrode assembly a stacked structure.

20. The secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein

the face of the housing container with the largest area serves as the bottom face thereof, and

the positive and negative electrodes are housed inside the housing container so as to face the bottom face.

21. A solar power generating system comprising the secondary battery according to claim 1.

22. A wind power generating system comprising the secondary battery according to claim 1.

23. A vehicle comprising the secondary battery according to claim 1.

24. A secondary battery comprising:

a battery portion having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator and filled with non-aqueous electrolyte liquid;

a non-aqueous electrolyte liquid storage portion in which refill non-aqueous electrolyte liquid is stored;

a package member in which the battery portion and the non-aqueous electrolyte liquid storage portion are housed;

a partition wall disposed inside the package member, between the battery portion and the non-aqueous electrolyte liquid storage portion; and

a seeping portion provided on the partition wall and letting the refill non-aqueous electrolyte liquid seep out from the non-aqueous electrolyte liquid storage portion into the battery portion.

25. The secondary battery according to claim 24,

wherein the non-aqueous electrolyte liquid storage portion comprises a tank in which the refill non-aqueous electrolyte liquid is stored.

26. The secondary battery according to claim 24,

wherein the seeping portion includes:

an opening formed in the partition wall and having an internal thread on the inside thereof; and

an external thread meshing with the internal thread.

27. The secondary battery according to claim 26,

wherein the external thread is formed of resin.

28. The secondary battery according to claim 26,

wherein the seeping portion has an O-ring or a seal formed of resin disposed around the external thread.

29. The secondary battery according to claim 26,

wherein the external and internal threads have a gap therebetween so as to let the refill non-aqueous electrolyte liquid seep into the battery portion through the gap.

30. The secondary battery according to claim 27,

wherein the resin is a resin which deteriorates through exposure to a non-aqueous electrolyte liquid and thereby lets the refill non-aqueous electrolyte liquid seep into the battery portion.

31. The secondary battery according to claim 24,

wherein the seeping portion comprises a sealing stopper formed by drying-and-hardening or ultraviolet-curing a sealing agent.

32. The secondary battery according to claim 24,

wherein the non-aqueous electrolyte liquid storage portion is disposed over the battery portion so that, when the secondary battery is placed for use, the electrolyte liquid in the non-aqueous electrolyte liquid storage portion moves to the battery portion under gravity.

33. An electronic or electric device comprising the secondary battery according to claim 24 as an electric power source.

34. A method for fabrication of a secondary battery, comprising:

a step of welding a non-aqueous electrolyte liquid container having at least one opening to a lid portion;

a step of filling the non-aqueous electrolyte liquid container with refill non-aqueous electrolyte liquid;

a step of joining the lid portion having the opening sealed with a sealing stopper to a package member in which an electric power storage element having a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and a separator is housed;

a step of filling non-aqueous electrolyte liquid through a filling hole in the lid portion or the package member; and

a step of sealing the filling hole to achieve air-tightness.

35. A method for fabrication of a secondary battery, comprising:

a step of housing in a package member an electric power storage element having negative and positive electrodes stacked or wound with a separator therebetween;

a step of fitting inside the package member a partition wall plate having an opening previously formed therein or a partition wall plate having a cut part serving as an opening;

a step of filling non-aqueous electrolyte liquid through the opening;

a step of sealing the opening with a sealing stopper, joining the lid portion, and filling refill non-aqueous electrolyte liquid through a filling hole in the lid portion or the package member; and

a step of sealing the filling hole in the lid portion or the package member.