Battery pack apparatus

• US 20040232891A1
• Filed: 03/23/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic EV Energy Company, Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic EV Energy Company, Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Takaki, Kimoto, Shinya
• Granted Patent: US 7,230,404 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/150
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/617 for achieving uniformity or desired distribution of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6557 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6565 with recirculation or U-turn in the flow path, i.e. back and forth
• 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 10/658 by thermal insulation or shielding
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery pack apparatus includes: a battery pack composed a plurality of rechargeable batteries arranged in parallel, the rechargeable batteries having heat medium passages formed therebetween; a heat insulation cover, formed from heat insulation material, for covering the substantially entire surface of the battery pack with a supply passage and a discharge passage provided between the heat insulation cover and the battery pack, the supply passage supplying a heat medium to the heat medium passage while the discharge passage discharging the heat medium from the heat medium passage; and a supply device for supplying the heat medium to the supply passage. In this battery pack apparatus, heat exchange occurs on the substantially entire surface of each rechargeable battery by making the heat medium flow in the heat medium passages, thereby performing temperature control efficiently and uniformly. Moreover, escape of heat to the outside and effects of heat from the outside are prevented by using the heat insulation cover.

Claims

1. A battery pack apparatus comprising:

a battery pack including a plurality of rechargeable batteries arranged in parallel, the rechargeable batteries having heat medium passages formed therebetween;

a heat insulation cover formed from a heat insulation material for covering a circumferential surface of the battery pack substantially entirely with a supply passage and a discharge passage provided between the heat insulation cover and the battery pack, the supply passage supplying a heat medium to the heat medium passages while the discharge passage discharging the heat medium from the heat medium passages; and

a supply device for supplying the heat medium to the supply passage.

2. The battery pack apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

a covering layer formed by metal foil is provided on an outer surface of the heat insulation cover.

3. The battery pack apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a heating/cooling device having a heating device for heating the heat medium and a cooling device for cooling the heat medium.

4. The battery pack apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the cooling device comprises a heat exchanger for introducing a cooling medium so as to cool the heat medium.

5. The battery pack apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the heating device comprises any one of a PTC heater and a Peltier device for heating the heat medium.

6. The battery pack apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

a valve is provided at each of an entrance of the supply passage and an exit of the discharge passage, the valve being capable of opening toward a direction of the flow of the heat medium, the valve usually being forced to a closed position.

7. The battery pack apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

a gas-escape passage is provided at an upper end of a space closed by the valve within the heat insulation cover.

8. The battery pack apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

a control unit for controlling charge and discharge of the rechargeable batteries is arranged next to the battery pack and is accommodated in the heat insulation cover.

9. The battery pack apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

an expanded space is formed in a region near and above the control unit in the space within the heat insulation cover to expand upward, and has an opening for opening the upper end of the expanded space to the outside.

10. The battery pack apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the supply device and the heating/cooling device are arranged next to the battery pack and is accommodated in the heat insulation cover, and

a discharge side of the supply device is connected to the supply passage via the heating/cooling device.

11. The battery pack apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the supply device and the heating/cooling device are arranged next to the battery pack and is accommodated in the heat insulation cover, and

an intake side of the supply device is connected to the discharge passage via the heating/cooling device.

12. The battery pack apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

a drain passage for draining drops of dew formed in the cooling device to the outside of the heat insulation cover is provided.

13. The battery pack apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

a water absorbing sheet is attached to an outer surface of a duct for connecting the supply passage or the discharge passage, and the supply device.

14. The battery pack apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

a duct for connecting the supply passage or the discharge passage, and the supply device is formed from a heat insulation material.

15. The battery pack apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

a drain passage for draining drops of dew formed in the cooling device to the outside of the heat insulation cover is provided.

16. The battery pack apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

a water absorbing sheet is attached to an outer surface of a duct for connecting the supply passage or the discharge passage, and the supply device.

17. The battery pack apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

a duct for connecting the supply passage or the discharge passage, and the supply device is formed from a heat insulation material.