Storage battery temperature regulator having thermoelectric transducer, and vehicle including the storage battery temperature regulator

• US 7,061,208 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2002
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Refrigeration Company (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kido, Osao, Nishihata, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US10/477,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20040135550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,450 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/112, 320/150
• US Class Current: 320/150
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/34 Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/44 Heat storages, e.g. for cabin heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/27 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1919 characterised by the type of controller
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/615 Heating or keeping warm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6566 Means within the gas flow to guide the flow around one or more cells, e.g. manifolds, baffles or other barriers H01M10/6565 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6572 Peltier elements or thermoelectric devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/658 : by thermal insulation or shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/663 : the system being an air-conditioner or an engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A temperature regulator efficiently regulates a temperature of a storage battery. The regulator includes a thermoelectric transducer having a first face and a second face. The first face is thermally coupled with one or plural storage batteries, and the second face is thermally coupled with a thermal action accelerating medium that accelerates thermal action on the second face. The first face and the second face do two jobs contradictory to each other, i.e., heat dissipation and heat absorption, responsive to a polarity in exciting the battery. This structure allows the temperature regulator to cool down and warm up the storage battery.

Claims

1. A temperature regulator for regulating temperature of a storage battery, said temperature regulator comprising:

a thermoelectric transducer having a first face and a second face, said thermoelectric transducer being arranged to selectively provide one of heat dissipation and heat absorption via said first and second faces, respectively, and heat dissipation and heat absorption via said second and first faces, respectively;

a storage battery holding member arranged to hold the storage battery at a storage battery location; and

a thermal action accelerating fluid flow room containing a thermal action accelerating fluid thermally coupled with said second face of said thermoelectric transducer, said thermal action accelerating fluid including either of brine and water;

wherein said first face of said thermoelectric transducer is arranged relative to said storage battery holding member so as to be thermally coupled with the storage battery when the storage battery is held in the storage battery location.

2. The temperature regulator of claim 1, wherein

said temperature regulator is mounted in a vehicle.

3. The temperature regulator of claim 1, wherein

said storage battery holding member comprises a housing for covering the storage battery.

4. The temperature regulator of claim 1, wherein

said housing is made of heat insulating material.

5. The temperature regulator of claim 1, wherein

said thermoelectric transducer is arranged relative to said storage battery holding member so that the storage battery is directly contacted with said first face of said thermoelectric transducer when said storage battery is held in the storage battery location by said storage battery holding member.

6. The temperature regulator of claim 1, wherein

said thermoelectric transducer is arranged relative to said storage battery holding member so that the storage battery is thermally coupled with said first face of said thermoelectric transducer via a heat conductive member arranged to be disposed on a surface of the storage battery when the storage battery is held in the storage battery position by said storage battery holding member.

7. The temperature regulator of claim 1, wherein

said thermoelectric transducer is arranged relative to said storage battery holding member so that the storage battery is thermally coupled with said first face of said thermoelectric transducer via fluid that circulates on a surface of the storage battery when the storage battery is held in the storage battery location by said storage battery holding member.

8. The temperature regulator of claim 1, further comprising

a temperature regulating section for regulating a temperature of said thermal action accelerating fluid.

9. The temperature regulator of claim 8, further comprising

a pump for pumping said thermal action accelerating fluid through said thermal action accelerating fluid passage such that thermal action accelerating fluid circulates between said temperature regulating section and said second face of said thermoelectric transducer.

10. The temperature regulator of claim 9, wherein

said pump is disposed at a thermally-coupled section on said second face of said thermoelectric, and said pump includes a blade disposed in said thermal action accelerating fluid flow room in which said second face is exposed.

11. The temperature regulator of claim 8, wherein

said temperature regulating section is operable to effect heat-exchange between said thermal action accelerating fluid and ambient air.

12. The temperature regulator of claim 8, wherein

said thermoelectric transducer and said temperature regulating section are integrated into a temperature regulating unit.

13. The temperature regulator of claim 12, wherein

said temperature regulating unit is disposed in one of a cabin and a trunk of a vehicle.

14. The temperature regulator of claim 8, wherein

said thermoelectric transducer and said temperature regulating section are included in different units respectively.

15. The temperature regulator of claim 14, wherein

a unit including said thermoelectric transducer and another unit including said temperature regulating section are disposed in a cabin and a trunk of a vehicle respectively.

16. The temperature regulator of claim 14, wherein

a unit including said thermoelectric transducer and another unit including said temperature regulating section are disposed together in one of a cabin and a trunk of a vehicle.

17. The temperature regulator of claim 1, further comprising

the storage battery, wherein said storage battery comprises one of a lead-acid battery, a nickel cadmium battery, a nickel zinc battery, a nickel metal hydride battery, and a lithium-ion battery.

18. The temperature regulator of claim 1, further comprising

a switch operably coupled to said thermoelectric transducer for switching said thermoelectric transducer between providing heat dissipation and heat absorption via said first and second faces, respectively, sand providing heat dissipation and heat absorption via said second and first faces, respectively, by changing over an excitation polarity of said thermoelectric transducer.

19. A vehicle comprising:

a storage battery;

a motor arranged to be driven by said storage battery; and

a temperature regulator comprising a thermoelectric transducer having a first face and a second face, said thermoelectric transducer being arranged to selectively provide one of heat dissipation and heat absorption via said first and second faces, respectively, and heat dissipation and heat absorption via said second and first faces, respectively;

a storage battery holding member arranged to hold the storage battery at a storage battery location; and

a thermal action accelerating fluid flow room containing a thermal action accelerating fluid thermally coupled with said second face of said thermoelectric transducer, said thermal action accelerating fluid including either of brine and water;

wherein said first face of said thermoelectric transducer is arranged relative to said storage battery holding member so as to be thermally coupled with the storage battery when the storage battery is held in the storage battery location.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, further comprising

an engine to be used with said motor.

21. The vehicle of claim 19, further comprising

an air conditioner employing a compressor to be driven by said motor.

22. A temperature regulating arrangement comprising:

a thermoelectric transducer having a first face and a second face, said thermoelectric transducer being arranged to selectively provide one of heat dissipation and heat absorption via said first and second faces, respectively, and heat dissipation and heat absorption via said second and first faces, respectively;

a storage battery holding member;

a storage battery held by said storage battery holding member at a storage battery location;

a thermal action accelerating fluid flow room containing a thermal action accelerating fluid thermally coupled with said second face of said thermoelectric transducer, said thermal action accelerating fluid including either of brine and water;

wherein said first face of said thermoelectric transducer is arranged relative to said storage battery holding member so as to be thermally coupled with said storage battery held by said storage battery holding member.

23. The temperature regulating arrangement of claim 22, wherein

said first face of said thermoelectric transducer is directly contacted with said storage battery.

24. The temperature regulating arrangement of claim 22, wherein

said first face of said thermoelectric transducer is thermally coupled with said storage battery via a heat conductive member disposed on a surface of said storage battery.

25. The temperature regulating arrangement of claim 24, wherein

said first face of said thermoelectric transducer is thermally coupled with said storage battery via fluid circulating on a surface of said storage battery.