JP2017054604A - Battery pack - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery pack that can secure cooling performance for both of a battery stack having deteriorated battery cooling performance and other battery stacks in a housing.SOLUTION: A first circulation passage constitutes a series of paths through which air flowing out from a first air blowing device flows into a mixture passage after the air comes into contact with a first wall of a housing, heat-exchanges with a first battery stack after the air flows out from the mixture passage, and then flows into the first air blowing device. A second circulation passage constitutes a series of paths through which air flowing out from a second air blowing device flows into a mixture passage after coming into contact with a second wall of the housing, heat-exchanges with a second battery stack after flowing out from the mixture passage, and then flows into the second air blowing device. When the battery cooling performance of the first battery stack is deteriorated as compared with the second battery stack, a control device controls so that the amount of air blown by the first air blowing device corresponding to the first battery stack is larger than that of the second air blowing device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The disclosure in this specification relates to a battery pack having a plurality of battery cells housed in a housing.

  Conventionally, what was described in patent document 1 is known as a battery pack which accommodates a battery cell, for example. When the battery pack of Patent Document 1 detects the first cooling fan with abnormal rotation, the second cooling is performed so that the rotation speed of the other normal second cooling fan approaches the rotation speed of the first cooling fan. Determine the fan speed.

  Specifically, when the temperature of the first battery module cooled by the first cooling fan is higher than the temperature of the normal second battery module when the first cooling fan with abnormal rotation is detected, The number of rotations of the second cooling fan is controlled to be lower than the number of rotations of the first cooling fan. Further, when the temperature of the first battery module is lower than the normal temperature of the second battery module, control is performed so that the rotational speed of the second cooling fan is higher than the rotational speed of the first cooling fan. .

JP 2005-310596 A

  According to the battery pack of Patent Document 1, the rotational speed of the normal cooling fan is lowered to approach the abnormal rotational speed of the cooling fan so that the temperature variation of the plurality of battery modules included in the battery pack is reduced. . Therefore, it is possible to suppress variations in temperature among a plurality of batteries included in the battery pack, but since the battery cooling capacity of the normal cooling fan is reduced, the ability to cool the battery of the entire battery pack is lower than that in a normal state. May decrease significantly. For this reason, there is a problem that the necessary cooling performance cannot be ensured for both the battery stack having the lowered battery cooling performance and the other battery stacks.

  In view of such a problem, an object of the disclosure in this specification is to provide a battery pack that secures cooling performance for both a battery stack whose battery cooling performance is reduced inside the casing and other battery stacks. is there.

  A plurality of aspects disclosed in this specification adopt different technical means to achieve each purpose. Further, the reference numerals in parentheses described in the claims and in this section are examples showing the correspondence with the specific means described in the embodiments described later as one aspect, and limit the technical scope. is not.

One of the disclosed battery packs blows a first battery stack (120A) and a second battery stack (120B), each of which is an aggregate of a plurality of single cells (121), and a fluid that cools the first battery stack. The first blower (140A), the second blower (140B) that blows the fluid that cools the second battery stack, the first battery stack, the second battery stack, the first blower, and the second blower. At least the housing (110) accommodated in the interior, and a fluid circulation passage formed inside the housing, the first battery after the fluid flowing out from the first blower contacts the inner wall surface of the housing After heat exchange with the stack, a first circulation passage (130A) that forms a flow path for a series of fluids flowing into the first blower and a fluid circulation passage formed inside the casing, the second circulation passage Out of the device A second circulation passage (130B) that forms a flow path for a series of fluids flowing into the second blower after the fluid contacts the inner wall surface of the housing and then exchanges heat with the second battery stack; And a control device (100) for controlling each of the second blower devices,
The first circulation passage enters the mixing passage (133) after the fluid flowing out from the first blower comes into contact with the first wall (114) of the housing, and flows out of the mixing passage and then the first battery stack. After the heat exchange, configure a series of paths that flow into the first blower,
The second circulation passage flows into the mixing passage after the fluid flowing out from the second blower comes into contact with the second wall (113) of the housing, and exchanges heat with the second battery stack after flowing out of the mixing passage. After that, a series of paths that flow into the second blower is configured,
When the battery cooling performance of one of the first battery stack and the second battery stack is lower than that of the normal battery stack, the control device has one of the battery stacks corresponding to the other battery stack. At least one of the first blower and the second blower is controlled so that the amount of air blown becomes larger than the blower corresponding to.

  According to the disclosed battery pack, the air blower so that the air blower corresponding to the other battery stack has a larger air flow rate than the air blower corresponding to the one battery stack whose battery cooling performance is reduced. To control. As a result, the fluid blown from the other blower with the relatively large air volume can be supplied to one of the battery stacks through the mixing passage, so that the battery cooling performance of the battery stack having the lowered battery cooling performance is recovered. Can be made. For this reason, compared with the battery pack of patent document 1, the battery pack which can avoid that the ventilation air volume as the whole battery pack falls remarkably is obtained. Therefore, this battery pack can ensure the cooling performance of both the battery stack whose battery cooling performance is reduced inside the casing and the other battery stack.

It is a top view which shows the structure and fluid flow of the battery pack of 1st Embodiment. It is an arrow line view in the II-II cross section of FIG. It is an arrow line view in the III-III cross section of FIG. It is an arrow line view in the IV-IV cross section of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows an internal fin. It is a perspective view which shows an external fin. It is a perspective view which shows the fluid flow in connection with the internal fin in a housing | casing. It is a perspective view which shows the fluid flow in an external duct. It is drawing which modeled the circulation path in the battery pack of 1st Embodiment. It is drawing which showed the air volume balance and ventilation path by each air blower when the cooling performance by the side of one battery stack falls in the battery pack of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the temperature adjustment control at the time of abnormality in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the temperature adjustment control at the time of abnormality about the battery pack of 2nd Embodiment. It is drawing which showed the air volume balance and ventilation path by each air blower when abnormality generate | occur | produces in the air blower by the side of one battery stack in 3rd Embodiment. It is drawing which showed the air volume balance and ventilation path by each ventilation apparatus when the cooling performance by the side of one battery stack falls in the battery pack of 4th Embodiment. It is drawing which shows the internal structure and fluid flow of the battery pack of 5th Embodiment. It is drawing which modeled the circulation path in the battery pack of 5th Embodiment. It is drawing which showed the air volume balance and ventilation path by each air blower when the cooling performance by the side of one battery stack falls in the battery pack of 5th Embodiment. It is drawing which showed the air volume balance and ventilation path by each air blower when abnormality generate | occur | produces in the air blower by the side of one battery stack in 6th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the temperature adjustment control at the time of abnormality about the battery pack of 6th Embodiment. It is drawing which showed the air volume balance and ventilation path by each air blower when the cooling performance by the side of one battery stack falls in the battery pack of 7th Embodiment. It is drawing which showed the air volume balance and ventilation path by each air blower when abnormality generate | occur | produces in the air blower by the side of one battery stack in 8th Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a plurality of modes for carrying out the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, parts corresponding to the matters described in the preceding embodiment may be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description may be omitted. When only a part of the configuration is described in each mode, the other modes described above can be applied to the other parts of the configuration. Not only combinations of parts that clearly indicate that the combination is possible in each embodiment, but also a combination of the embodiments even if they are not clearly specified unless there is a problem with the combination. It is also possible.

(First embodiment)
The battery pack 1 of 1st Embodiment is demonstrated referring FIGS. 1-11. The battery pack 1 is used in, for example, a hybrid vehicle using a motor driven by electric power charged in a battery and an internal combustion engine as a travel drive source, an electric vehicle using a motor as a travel drive source, and the like. The plurality of single cells 121 included in the battery pack 1 are, for example, a nickel metal hydride secondary battery, a lithium ion secondary battery, an organic radical battery, or the like.

  The battery pack 1 is installed in a pack accommodation space such as a trunk room of a vehicle or a back area of the trunk room provided below the trunk room. This battery pack accommodation space may be, for example, a place where spare tires, tools, etc. can be accommodated. The battery pack 1 is installed in the battery pack housing space with the bottom wall 112 and both the bottom wall side passages 135 facing downward.

  Further, the battery pack 1 may be installed below a front seat or a rear seat provided in a vehicle interior of the vehicle. In this case, the battery pack 1 is installed below the front seat, the rear seat, and the like with the bottom wall 112 and both bottom wall side passages 135 facing downward. Further, the space where the battery pack 1 is installed below the rear seat may be communicated with the trunk room back area below the trunk room. The installation space can also be configured to communicate with the outside of the vehicle.

  In this embodiment, for example, in FIG. 1, Fr indicates the vehicle front side, Rr indicates the vehicle rear side, RH indicates the vehicle right side, and LH indicates the vehicle left side. The direction Rr and the direction Fr are battery stacking directions. When showing the direction in the battery pack 1, the direction of Fr-Rr may be called the front-back direction or a battery lamination direction. The direction of RH-LH may be referred to as the left-right direction. The direction in which gravity acts is sometimes referred to as the up-down direction.

  The battery pack 1 is electrically formed as a collection of a casing 110 that forms a sealed internal space that is isolated from the outside, and a plurality of single cells 121 that are housed in the casing 110 and connected to be energized. And at least two battery stacks 120 connected to each other. The two battery stacks 120 are a first battery stack 120A located on the side wall 114 side and a second battery stack 120B located on the side wall 113 side, which are arranged in the left-right direction of the vehicle. Hereinafter, each of or both the first battery stack 120 </ b> A and the second battery stack 120 </ b> B may be referred to as the battery stack 120.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the housing 110 accommodates two first air blowers 140 </ b> A and second air blowers 140 </ b> B arranged in the left-right direction on the vehicle rear side of the battery stacks 120 </ b> A and 120 </ b> B. 140 A of 1st air blowers blow the air which cools 120 A of 1st battery stacks inside the housing | casing 110. FIG. The second blower 140 </ b> B blows air that cools the second battery stack 120 </ b> B inside the housing 110.

  Inside the housing 110, a first circulation passage 130A configured as a circulation passage for air blown by the first blower 140A is provided. The first circulation passage 130A is a series of air that flows into the first air blower 140A after the air flowing out from the first air blower 140A contacts the side wall 114 of the housing 110 and exchanges heat with the first battery stack 120A. Is a distribution channel. Inside the housing 110, a second circulation passage 130B configured as a circulation passage for air blown by the second blower 140B is provided. The second circulation passage 130B is a series of air that flows into the second air blower 140B after the air flowing out from the second air blower 140B comes into contact with the side wall 113 of the housing 110 and exchanges heat with the second battery stack 120B. Is a distribution channel.

  The battery pack 1 is provided with a first internal fin 150A inside the side wall 114 of the housing 110 and a first internal fin 151A inside the top wall 111 on the side close to the first battery stack 120A. The battery pack 1 is provided with external fins 160 outside the side walls 114 and external fins 161 outside the top wall 111 on the side close to the first battery stack 120A. The battery pack 1 is provided with a second internal fin 150B inside the side wall 113 of the housing 110 and a second internal fin 151B inside the top wall 111 on the side close to the second battery stack 120B. The battery pack 1 is provided with external fins 160 outside the side walls 114 and external fins 161 outside the top wall 111 on the side close to the second battery stack 120B. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, an external duct 170 having a blower 172 is provided outside the external fins 160 and 161 so as to cover the external fins 160 and the external fins 161.

  The casing 110 has a box shape composed of a plurality of walls surrounding the internal space, and is formed of a molded product of an aluminum plate or an iron plate. The casing 110 is, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped flat in the vertical direction, and includes, for example, a top wall 111, a bottom wall 112, a side wall 113, a side wall 114, a side wall 115, and a side wall 116 that are six surfaces. The housing 110 includes a partition wall 117 that partitions the inside, and a first beam 3 and a second beam 4 for reinforcement on the bottom wall 112. Further, the first beam 3 and the second beam 4 are provided with a blocking wall 118 and a blocking wall 119 on their upper surfaces.

  The top wall 111 is a wall that forms the upper surface of the housing 110, and is a rectangular wall having long sides in the front-rear direction. The bottom wall 112 is a wall that forms the lower surface of the housing 110, and has the same shape as the top wall 111. The side wall 113 and the side wall 114 are walls that form the left and right surfaces of the casing 110, and are elongated rectangular walls having long sides in the front-rear direction. The side wall 113 and the side wall 114 are in a positional relationship facing each other. The side wall 115 and the side wall 116 are walls that form the front and rear surfaces of the housing 110, and are elongated rectangular walls having long sides in the left-right direction. The side wall 115 and the side wall 116 are in a positional relationship facing each other. The side walls 115 and 116 are provided so as to be orthogonal to the side walls 113 and 114.

  The housing 110 may be manufactured by forming a space in the interior by joining and assembling a plurality of case bodies instead of using the walls 111 to 116. Moreover, you may make it form a some convex part or a recessed part in the surface of a predetermined wall among the several walls which form the housing | casing 110, in order to enlarge a thermal radiation area. In the battery pack 1, the direction along the long sides of the side walls 113 and 114 corresponds to the front-rear direction, and the direction along the long sides of the side walls 115 and 116 corresponds to the left-right direction.

  The partition wall 117 is a wall that is disposed near the side wall 116 inside the housing 110, is parallel to the side wall 116, and connects the side wall 113 and the side wall 114. The partition wall 117 extends from the inner surface of the bottom wall 112 to an intermediate position in the vertical direction of the housing 110. A space 117 a is formed between the partition wall 117 and the side wall 116.

  For example, the battery management unit 100 is accommodated in the space 117a. A battery management unit 100 is configured to be able to communicate with various electronic control devices mounted on a vehicle. The battery management unit 100 is a device that manages at least the amount of electricity stored in the single battery 121, and is an example of a battery control unit that performs control related to the single battery 121. In addition, the battery management unit 100 may be a device that monitors current, voltage, temperature, and the like related to the unit cell 121 and manages an abnormal state, electric leakage, and the like of the unit cell 121.

  The battery management unit 100 receives a signal related to the current value detected by the current sensor. The battery management unit 100 includes an input circuit, a microcomputer, an output circuit, and the like, like the vehicle ECU. Battery information is stored as data in the storage means of the microcomputer. The stored battery information data includes, for example, the battery voltage, the charging current, the discharging current, and the battery temperature in the battery pack 1.

  The battery management unit 100 also functions as a control device that controls the operation of the first blower 140A, the second blower 140B, the blower 172, and the PTC heater 2. The battery management unit 100 receives temperature information detected by a temperature detector that detects the temperature of the unit cell 121. The first temperature detector 60 is provided in each unit cell 121 or a predetermined unit cell 121 in the first cell stack 120A. The second temperature detector 61 is provided in each unit cell 121 or a predetermined unit cell 121 in the second cell stack 120B. Each of the temperature detectors 60 and 61 can be configured by a temperature detection line that outputs a signal to the battery management unit 100, a temperature sensor, or the like. When a condition for performing battery cooling or battery heating according to the battery temperature detected by each of the temperature detectors 60 and 61 is satisfied, the battery management unit 100 has the first blower 140A and the second blower 140B. Each operation of the blower 172 and the PTC heater 2 is controlled.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the first beam 3 and the second beam 4 are reinforcing members for improving the strength of the housing 110, and are arranged in the left-right direction inside the bottom wall 112. There are several. In this embodiment, three beams are installed. As shown in FIG. 3, the three beams are the first beam 3 positioned near the side wall 113, the second beam 4 positioned in the middle portion between the side wall 113 and the side wall 114, and the first beam positioned near the side wall 114. One beam 3. Each of the beams 3 and 4 has a long and narrow bar shape, and is installed on the bottom wall 112 such that the longitudinal direction thereof is directed in the front-rear direction in the housing 110 and is arranged at equal intervals in the left-right direction.

  Each of the beams 3 and 4 is formed separately from the housing 110 and is, for example, a member having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-sectional shape. For example, each of the beams 3 and 4 has a U-shaped or U-shaped cross section, and is fixed to the bottom wall 112 so that the opening portion faces downward. The first battery stack 120 </ b> A and the second battery stack 120 </ b> B are placed on the upper surfaces of the beams 3 and 4. Therefore, the beams 3 and 4 support the battery stacks 120 from below on the bottom wall 112 side of the housing 110. The beams 3 and 4 are made of, for example, an aluminum material or an iron material.

  The two first beams 3 are beams located at the outermost both sides in the left-right direction, and are installed along the side wall 113 and the side wall 114. The first beam 3 is installed integrally in contact with the side wall 113 or the side wall 114 and the bottom wall 112, and functions to reinforce the side wall 113, the side wall 114, and the bottom wall 112.

  The two first beams 3 and the one second beam 4 are installed at equal intervals. The distance between the center lines of the adjacent beams is set to be equal to the horizontal dimension of the unit cell 121. The dimension between adjacent beams is set to be larger than the width dimension of one beam. The width dimension of each beam 3, 4 is the length of each beam in the direction in which two first beams 3 and one second beam 4 are arranged. The plate thickness of each beam 3, 4 is set to be thicker than the plate thickness of the bottom wall 112.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the length in the longitudinal direction of each beam 3, 4 is set to be longer than the length in the stacking direction of the unit cells 121 in the entire battery stack 120. In other words, one end portion and the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of each beam 3, 4 extend so as to protrude outward in the front-rear direction from each battery stack 120. The outermost first beams 3 and the second beam 4 at the intermediate position are extended to the side wall 115 so that one end portion in the longitudinal direction is in contact with the side wall 115. Similarly, the other end in the longitudinal direction of each beam 3, 4 extends through the partition wall 117 and extends to the side wall 116 so as to contact the side wall 116.

  The blocking wall 118 is a flat plate member, and is provided in each of the beams 3 and 4 to the outer side in the front-rear direction, that is, to a position closer to the partition wall 117 than the area where the unit cells 121 are disposed. The blocking wall 118 extends from the side wall 113 to the side wall 114 on the upper surface of each beam 3, 4 between the partition wall 117 and the battery stack 120. The space above the first beam 3 at both ends and the intermediate second beam 4 is blocked from the portion of the bottom wall 112 between the partition wall 117 and each battery stack 120 by the blocking wall 118. The blocking wall 118 is formed from an aluminum plate or an iron plate.

  The blocking wall 119 is a flat plate member similar to the blocking wall 118 and is provided in each of the beams 3 and 4 to a position reaching the side wall 115 to the outside in the front-rear direction from the region where the unit cell 121 is disposed. Yes. The blocking wall 119 extends from the side wall 113 to the side wall 114 on the upper surface of each beam 3, 4 between the side wall 115 and each battery stack 120. The space above the first beam 3 at both ends and the intermediate second beam 4 is blocked from the portion of the bottom wall 112 between the side wall 115 and each battery stack 120 by the blocking wall 119. The blocking wall 119 is formed from an aluminum plate or an iron plate. The blocking wall 119 is provided with an opening hole at a position corresponding to each suction port 143a of the first blower 140A and the second blower 140B. The two opening holes constitute two communication openings that allow the bottom wall side passages 135 and the two suction ports 143a to communicate with each other.

  The unit cell 121 has a rectangular parallelepiped whose outer case is flat in the front-rear direction, and includes electrode terminals 121a such as a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal that protrude outward from one end surface of the outer case. In each battery stack 120, a plurality of unit cells 121 are stacked, and the stacked unit cells 121 are constrained and formed integrally.

  In each battery stack 120, electrode terminals of different polarities in adjacent unit cells 121 are electrically connected by a conductive member such as a bus bar. The connection between the bus bar and the electrode terminal is performed, for example, by screwing or welding. Therefore, the total terminal portions arranged at both ends of the plurality of unit cells 121 electrically connected by a bus bar or the like are supplied with electric power from the outside or discharged toward other electric devices. Yes.

  The first battery stack 120 </ b> A and the second battery stack 120 </ b> B are installed on the upper surfaces of the first beam 3 and the second beam 4. For example, in the first battery stack 120A installed near the side wall 114, one end portion on the side wall 114 side of the lower end portion 1211 is supported from below by the first beam 3, and the other end portion of the lower end portion 1211 is the second end portion. It is supported from below by the beam 4. Further, in the second battery stack 120B installed near the side wall 113, one end of the lower end 1211 on the side of the side wall 113 is supported from below by the first beam 3, and the other end of the lower end 1211 is the second end. It is supported from below by the beam 4. Thus, each of the first battery stack 120A on the side wall 114 side and the second battery stack 120B on the side wall 113 side is supported by the first beam 3 and the second beam 4 at both ends in the left-right direction.

  Accordingly, each first beam 3 is sandwiched between the bottom wall 112 and the first battery stack 120A on the side wall 114 side or the second battery stack 120B on the side wall 113 side. By being integrated, the strength of the housing 110 is increased. The second beam 4 is integrated with the bottom wall 112 and the two battery stacks 120 while being sandwiched between the bottom wall 112 and the two battery stacks 120, thereby increasing the strength of the casing 110. Yes.

  The first circulation passage 130A forms a series of paths connecting the side wall side passage 132, the top wall side passage 133, the inter-battery passage 134 in the first battery stack 120A, the first bottom wall side passage 135A, and the first blower 140A. . The second circulation passage 130B forms a series of paths connecting the side wall-side passage 131, the top wall-side passage 133, the inter-battery passage 134, the second bottom wall-side passage 135B, and the second blower 140B in the second battery stack 120B. . The side wall-side passage 132 is a passage that is orthogonal to both the top wall 111 and the bottom wall 112, extends parallel to the side wall 114, and is formed between the first battery stack 120 </ b> A and the side wall 114. The side wall-side passage 131 is a passage formed between the second battery stack 120 </ b> B and the side wall 113, which is orthogonal to both the top wall 111 and the bottom wall 112, extends parallel to the side wall 113.

  The side wall side passage 132 and the top wall side passage 133 are connected inside the boundary portion between the top wall 111 and the side wall 114. The side wall side passage 131 and the top wall side passage 133 are connected inside the boundary portion between the top wall 111 and the side wall 113. The ceiling wall side passage 133 is a common passage included in the first circulation passage 130A and the second circulation passage 130B that is formed between the ceiling wall 111 and the battery stack 120 and extends parallel to the ceiling wall 111. . Therefore, the top wall side passage 133 is a passage connected to both the side wall side passage 131 and the side wall side passage 132, and the air flowing through the side wall side passage 132 and the air flowing through the side wall side passage 131 can be mixed. A simple mixing space. In other words, the ceiling wall side passage 133 is a mixing passage included in both the first circulation passage 130A and the second circulation passage 130B. With this configuration, the air that flows out from the first air blower 140A and the air that flows out from the second air blower 140B come into contact with the side wall 114 and the side wall 113, and then mix in the top wall side passage 133.

  The inter-battery passage 134 is a passage between the adjacent single cells 121 in each of the first battery stack 120A and the second battery stack 120B, and includes a top wall side passage 133, a first bottom wall side passage 135A, and a second bottom wall. A plurality of passages communicating with each of the side passages 135B. Therefore, the air flowing through the top wall side passage 133 is divided into the plurality of inter-cell passages 134 in each battery stack 120 and flows out from the inter-battery passages 134, and then the first bottom wall side passage 135A and the second bottom wall side They merge at each of the passages 135B.

  Further, the inflow portion of the inter-battery passage 134 is in a positional relationship facing the inflow portion of each bottom wall side passage 135 that is also the outflow portion of the inter-battery passage 134. Therefore, the air that has flowed into the inter-battery passage 134 from the top wall side passage 133 flows downward and flows into the corresponding first bottom wall side passage 135A and second bottom wall side passage 135B.

  The first bottom wall side passage 135A is a passage formed as a space surrounded by at least the bottom wall 112, the lower end portion 1211 of the first battery stack 120A, and the beams 3 and 4. The first bottom wall side passage 135A is a fluid passage that is provided downstream of the inter-battery passage 134 and extends toward the inflow portion of the first blower 140A. The second bottom wall side passage 135B is a passage formed as a space surrounded by at least the bottom wall 112, the lower end portion 1211 of the second battery stack 120B, and the beams 3 and 4. The second bottom wall side passage 135B is a fluid passage that is provided downstream of the inter-battery passage 134 and extends toward the inflow portion of the second blower 140B. Furthermore, each bottom wall side passage 135 includes a space surrounded by the bottom wall 112, the blocking wall 118 and the beams 3 and 4, and a space surrounded by the bottom wall 112, the blocking wall 119 and the beams 3 and 4. . Each bottom wall side passage 135 is a passage formed between the adjacent first beam 3 and second beam 4 below each battery stack 120. In this embodiment, the battery pack 1 is , Two bottom wall side passages 135 are arranged in the left-right direction and the passages extend in the front-rear direction or the battery stacking direction. The first bottom wall side passage 135A and the second bottom wall side passage 135B constitute mutually independent passages between which the fluid does not enter and exit.

  140 A of 1st air blowers are the fluid drive means accommodated in the inside of the housing | casing 110, and forcedly circulates the air for heat exchange in 130 A of 1st circulation paths. The second blower 140B is a fluid drive unit that is accommodated in the housing 110 and forcibly circulates heat-exchanging air through the second circulation passage 130B. The first blower 140A and the second blower 140B are arranged side by side on the blocking wall 119. Hereinafter, the two air blowers 140A and the air blower 140B may be collectively referred to as the air blower 140. As the fluid to be circulated through the first circulation passage 130A and the second circulation passage 130B, for example, fluid such as air, various gases, water, and a refrigerant can be used.

  140A of 1st air blowers and 140B of 2nd air blowers are symmetrical between the side wall 115 and each battery stack 120 in the inside of the housing | casing 110 so that it may become symmetrical with respect to the centerline which faces the front-back direction of the housing | casing 110. is set up. 140A of 1st air blowers and 140B of 2nd air blowers have the motor 141, the sirocco fan 142, and the fan casing 143, respectively. The motor 141 is an electric device that rotationally drives the sirocco fan 142, and is provided above the sirocco fan 142. The sirocco fan 142 is a centrifugal fan that sucks fluid in the direction of the rotation axis and blows out the fluid in the centrifugal direction. The sirocco fan 142 is installed such that the rotation axis is directed in the vertical direction.

  The fan casing 143 is formed so as to cover the sirocco fan 142, and serves as an air guide member that sets the suction and discharge directions of the fluid by the sirocco fan 142. The fan casing 143 includes a suction port 143a that opens below the sirocco fan 142, a blow-out duct 143b that guides the flow of the blown fluid, and a blow-out port 143c that opens at the tip of the blow-out duct 143b. As shown in FIG. 4, each blowing duct 143b extends once from the side surface of the sirocco fan 142 to the center side in the housing 110 and then makes a U-turn so as to be on the side wall side passage 131 side and the side wall side passage 132 side. Form a path to each of them.

  The suction port 143a of the first blower 140A is disposed so as to correspond to the position of the communication opening of the blocking wall 119. The suction port 143a of the second blower 140B is arranged so as to correspond to the position of the communication opening of the blocking wall 119. The suction port 143a of the first blower 140A is connected to the first bottom wall side passage 135A located on the side wall 114 side through the communication opening of the blocking wall 119. In addition, the suction port 143a of the second blower 140B is connected to the second bottom wall side passage 135B located on the side wall 113 side through the communication opening of the blocking wall 119.

  The outlet 143 c of the first blower 140 </ b> A is disposed so as to be connected to the side wall passage 132. The outlet 143c is located near the bottom wall 112 in the side wall-side passage 132, and is arranged to face the side wall 116 in the vicinity of the unit cell 121 closest to the side wall 115 among the plurality of unit cells 121 to be stacked. Has been. The outlet 143 c of the second blower 140 </ b> B is disposed so as to be connected to the side wall passage 131. The outlet 143c is located near the bottom wall 112 in the side wall passage 131, and faces the side wall 116 in the vicinity of the unit cell 121 closest to the side wall 115 among the plurality of unit cells 121 to be stacked. Has been placed.

  A heating device that heats the fluid to a predetermined temperature is provided at an intermediate position in the vertical direction in the fan casing 143. For example, a PTC heater 2 having a self-temperature control function is used as the heating device.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first internal fin 150 </ b> A is a heat exchange promotion part for promoting heat exchange that protrudes from the inner wall surface of the side wall 114 to the side wall side passage 132, and contributes to heat radiation of the housing via the side wall 114. . The second internal fin 150 </ b> B is a heat exchange promoting part for promoting heat exchange that protrudes from the inner wall surface of the side wall 113 to the side wall passage 131, and contributes to heat radiation of the casing through the side wall 113. Therefore, the side wall 113 and the side wall 114 serve as a heat radiating part that releases the heat to the outside of the housing 110 when the air flowing out from the first air blowing device 140A and the second air blowing device 140B comes into contact.

  The first internal fin 151 </ b> A is a heat exchange promoting part for promoting heat exchange that protrudes on the side wall 114 side on the inner surface of the top wall 111, and contributes to housing heat dissipation via the top wall 111. The second internal fin 151 </ b> B is a heat exchange promoting part for promoting heat exchange that protrudes on the side wall 113 side of the inner surface of the top wall 111, and contributes to housing heat dissipation via the top wall 111. Each 1st internal fin and each 2nd internal fin are formed from the aluminum material or iron material etc. which are excellent in heat conductivity.

  The first internal fins 150 </ b> A and the second internal fins 150 </ b> B are provided on the side wall 114 and the side wall 113 so as to be symmetric with respect to the center line facing the front-rear direction of the housing 110. The first internal fins 151A and the second internal fins 151B are respectively provided on the side wall 114 side and the side wall 113 side of the top wall 111 so as to be symmetrical with respect to the center line facing the front-rear direction of the housing 110. As each internal fin, for example, a straight fin that can set a flow resistance to a fluid relatively small is employed. The straight fins are fins in which a large number of thin plate-like fin portions protruding vertically from the thin plate-like substrate portion are arranged in parallel, and a fluid passage is formed between the fin portions. Moreover, as each internal fin, you may employ | adopt not only a straight fin but another corrugated fin, an offset fin, etc.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the substrate portion of the second internal fin 150B has an elongated right triangle shape connecting the corner portion A, the corner portion B, and the corner portion C, and the corner portion B has a substantially right angle. Yes. The length of the long side AB extending in the front-rear direction is set to be equal to the length of the corresponding second battery stack 120B in the stacking direction. Further, the length of the short side BC extending in the vertical direction is set to be slightly smaller than the vertical dimension of the side wall 113. The board part is arranged so that the position in the front-rear direction corresponds to the position of the second battery stack 120B. The short side BC is located on the side wall 116 side, the corner A facing the short side BC is located on the side wall 115 side, and the long side AB is arranged along the upper side of the side walls 113 and 114, and the substrate The portions are joined to the inner surfaces of the side walls 113 and 114, respectively. Therefore, the oblique side CA of the substrate portion is a side inclined downward from the side wall 115 side toward the side wall 116 side.

  The fin portion of the second internal fin 150B protrudes vertically from the substrate portion toward the plurality of unit cells 121, and the protruding tip portion has a plurality of single units so that more fluid flows through the fin portion. The battery 121 extends to a position close to the side surface. Further, the plate surface of the fin portion is set to be inclined toward the side wall 116 from the lower side to the upper side with respect to the vertical direction. Moreover, the length of the fluid passage by a fin part becomes so long that it goes to the side wall 116 side from the side wall 115 side. The shape of the second internal fin 150B described above is the same as the shape of the first internal fin 150A.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the substrate portion of the second internal fin 151 </ b> B has an elongated triangular shape connecting the corner portion D, the corner portion E, and the corner portion F. The length of the long side DE extending in the front-rear direction is set to be equal to the long side AB of the substrate portion of the second internal fin 150B. The substrate portions of the second internal fins 151B are arranged so that the position in the front-rear direction corresponds to the position of the second internal fins 150B. The short side EF is located on the side wall 115 side, the corner D facing the short side EF is located on the side wall 116 side, and the long side DE is arranged along the side of the top wall 111 in the front-rear direction. The substrate portion of the second internal fin 151B is joined to the inner surface of the top wall 111 so as to be adjacent to the fin portion of the second internal fin 150B.

  The fin portion of the second internal fin 151B protrudes vertically from the substrate portion toward the plurality of unit cells 121, and the protruding tip portion has a plurality of tips so that more fluid flows through the fin portion. It extends to a position close to the upper surface of the unit cell 121. The plate surface of the fin portion is set to be inclined toward the side wall 116 toward the center side of the housing 110 with respect to the left-right direction. The length of the fluid passage by the fin portion is shortened from the side wall 115 side toward the side wall 116 side. The fluid passage formed by the fin portion of the second internal fin 151B is connected to the fluid passage formed by the fin portion of the second internal fin 150B. The shape of the second internal fin 151B described above is the same as the shape of the first internal fin 151A.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the external fin 160 and the external fin 161 are fins for promoting heat exchange provided on the outside of the housing 110. Each of the external fins 160 and 161 is formed of an aluminum material or an iron material having excellent thermal conductivity. The external fins 160 are respectively provided on the side wall 113 side and the side wall 114 side so as to be symmetric with respect to the center line facing the front-rear direction of the housing 110. The external fins 161 are provided at two locations on the top wall 111 on the side wall 113 side and the side wall 114 side so as to be symmetrical with respect to the center line facing the front-rear direction of the housing 110.

  Here, for example, corrugated fins that can set heat transfer performance with respect to a fluid relatively large are employed as the external fins 160 and 161. The corrugated fin has a wave shape as a whole, and a large number of louvers are formed on the wavy surfaces facing each other, and a fluid passage is formed between the wavy surfaces facing each other and between the louvers. It has become a fin. Moreover, as each external fin 160,161, it can also be set as a straight fin like each internal fin, a corrugated fin without a louver, or an offset fin.

  A plurality of external fins 160, for example, two are provided as a set. The external fin 160 is located at a position corresponding to the first internal fin 150 </ b> A and the second internal fin 150 </ b> B on the side wall 114 and the side wall 113, and the wave continuation direction faces the front-rear direction and is slightly offset toward the side wall 116. Are arranged as follows. A plurality of external fins 161, for example, two are provided as a set. The external fin 161 has a wave-continuous direction in the front and rear direction at positions corresponding to the first internal fin 151A and the second internal fin 151B on the side wall 114 and side wall 113 side of the top wall 111, and more than the external fin 160. It is arranged to be somewhat on the side wall 115 side.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the external duct 170 is a duct that allows air to flow along the outer surface of the housing 110. As the air, for example, air conditioned in the passenger compartment is used. The external duct 170 has a flat cross-sectional shape and is provided on the outer surface of the housing 110, for example, the side wall 113, the side wall 114, the side wall 113 side, the side wall 114 side, and the side wall 115 of the top wall 111. The external duct 170 includes the external fin 160 and the external fin 161.

  In the external duct 170, both end portions on the side wall 116 side are suction portions that suck in the conditioned air. A wind direction device 171 for diverting the sucked conditioned air to the lower side of the external fin 160 and the central side of the casing 110 from the external fin 161 is provided on the downstream side immediately after the suction portion. An air blower 172 is provided in the center of the external duct 170 on the side wall 115 side, and the upper and lower portions of the air blower 172 serve as blow-out portions that blow out conditioned air. For the blower 172, for example, a turbo fan is used.

  The inter-battery passage 134 is a passage formed between the unit cells 121 and the unit cells 121 stacked in each of the first battery stack 120A and the second battery stack 120B, and is provided between the adjacent unit cells 121. The spacer member 5 is formed. The spacer member 5 has a partition wall portion that partitions the unit cell 121 and the unit cell 121. The spacer member 5 is formed of resin, for example. The spacer member 5 also has a function of insulating between the single cells 121 located on both sides.

  The partition wall portion has a flat plate shape and is opposed to the main surface of the unit cell 121 and has a size covering the main surface. The main surface of the unit cell 121 is the surface having the largest area in the flat unit cell 121. A plurality of grooves extending in the vertical direction are formed in the partition wall portion, each having a length equivalent to the vertical length of the main surface. The plurality of grooves are arranged in the left-right direction with a predetermined interval. Therefore, the partition wall portion has a plurality of flat portions that are elongated in the vertical direction and located between adjacent groove portions. In the battery stack 120 in which the spacer member 5 is sandwiched between the unit cell 121 and the unit cell 121, the flat portion 50 b abuts on the main surface of the unit cell 121, thereby suppressing expansion of the main surface of the unit cell 121. An elongated passage extending in the vertical direction formed between the main surface and the groove 50a constitutes an inter-battery passage 134.

  The restraining member restrains both end faces in the stacking direction of the battery stacks 120 by applying a restraining force that presses the battery stack 120 in the stacking direction. The side wall portion of the spacer member 5 covers the side surface of the unit cell 121 and restrains the plurality of unit cells 121 in a state where the battery stack 120 is formed by alternately stacking the spacer members 5 and the unit cells 121. It is a part which contacts the restraint member to perform. Therefore, the side wall portion also has a function of protecting the side surface of the unit cell 121 from the restraining member.

  Next, in the battery pack 1, control common to the first blower 140A and the second blower 140B will be described. Each unit cell 121 self-heats at the time of output from which current is extracted and at the time of input to be charged. Each unit cell 121 is affected by the temperature outside the housing 110 according to, for example, the season. The battery management unit 100 constantly monitors the temperature of the predetermined unit cell 121 using the first temperature detector 60 and the second temperature detector 61, and based on the detected temperature of the unit cell 121, the first blower 140A and the second The operation of the blower 140B, the blower 172, and the PTC heater 2 is controlled.

  The battery management unit 100 controls the duty ratio of an arbitrary value included in 0% to 100% with respect to the maximum voltage in each of the first blower 140A and the second blower 140B according to the temperature of the unit cell 121. The rotation speed of the sirocco fan 142 is varied by applying the applied voltage. Depending on the temperature of the unit cell 121, the PTC heater 2 may be operated together with the first air blowing device 140A and the second air blowing device 140B, or the air blowing device 172 may be operated together with the first air blowing device 140A and the second air blowing device 140B. .

  For example, the battery management unit 100 sets the duty ratio of the voltage applied to the first blower 140A and the second blower 140B to be relatively small when the temperature of the unit cell 121 is an intermediate temperature in spring, autumn, or the like. Set and operate the blower with low airflow. For example, the battery management unit 100 sets the duty ratio of the voltage to be applied to each of the air blowers 140A and 140B to an intermediate level when the temperature of the unit cell 121 is lower than a predetermined first predetermined temperature in winter or the like. And the air blower is operated with the medium air volume, and the PTC heater 2 is operated. For example, the battery management unit 100 determines the voltage duty ratio for the first blower 140A and the second blower 140B when the temperature of the unit cell 121 is higher than a predetermined second predetermined temperature in summer or the like. Is set relatively large. As a result, the air blower is operated with a high air volume and the air blower 172 is operated with the predetermined air volume as the upper limit.

  For example, when only the first air blower 140A and the second air blower 140B are activated in spring, autumn, etc., the air inside the housing 110 is, as shown in FIG. It circulates through each of the circulation passages 130B. At this time, the air is sucked in from the suction ports 143a of the first blower 140A and the second blower 140B, and the air blown out from the blowout port 143c through the blowout duct 143b is the side wall passage 132, the side wall, respectively. It flows into the side passage 131.

  The air flowing into each of the side wall passage 132 and the side wall passage 131 is directed from the bottom wall 112 side to the top wall 111 side along the inclined fin portions of the first inner fin 150A and the second inner fin 150B. And flows smoothly. Each of the side wall-side passage 132 and the side wall-side passage 131 is a passage having a flat cross section extending long along its long side. Each side wall side passage is smaller than the other top wall side passage 133, the inter-battery passage 134, and the bottom wall side passage 135 as an inlet cross-sectional area when air flows. For this reason, the air flow rate can be secured to some extent, and the dynamic pressure is the dominant field here. Therefore, in each of the side wall-side passage 132 and the side wall-side passage 131, the heat of the air accompanied by the flow velocity is effectively transmitted to the first inner fin 150A and the second inner fin 150B, and further via the side wall 114 and the side wall 113. Released to the outside.

  Next, the air smoothly flows to the fin portions of the first internal fins 151A and the second internal fins 151B that are continuously connected to the first internal fins 150A and the second internal fins 150B. It flows into the wall side passage 133. The inlet cross-sectional area when flowing into the top wall 111 side is much larger than the inlet cross-sectional area when flowing into each of the side wall-side passage 132 and the side wall-side passage 131, and the fluid flow velocity is small. Here, static pressure is the dominant field. Therefore, the air flowing into the top wall side passage 133 from each of the side wall side passage 132 and the side wall side passage 131 tends to reach the top wall side passage 133 equally.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the air that flows into the ceiling wall side passage 133 from the side wall side passage 132 mainly spreads above the first battery stack 120 </ b> A on the side wall 114 side. The air flowing into the top wall side passage 133 from the side wall side passage 131 mainly spreads above the second battery stack 120B on the side wall 113 side. These airs can be mixed in the ceiling wall side passage 133 which is a mixing passage. The heat of the air flowing into the ceiling wall side passage 133 is transmitted from the first internal fin 151A or the second internal fin 151B to the ceiling wall 111, or directly transmitted to the ceiling wall 111 and released to the outside. .

  Next, the air mixed in the top wall side passage 133 passes through the inter-battery passages 134 by the suction force of each blower, and reaches the first bottom wall side passage 135A and the second bottom wall side passage 135B. Here, the side wall-side passage 132, the side wall-side passage 131, and the top wall-side passage 133 become positive pressure spaces by the respective blowouts of the first blower 140A and the second blower 140B. The first bottom wall side passage 135A and the second bottom wall side passage 135B become negative pressure spaces due to the suction of the first air blower 140A and the second air blower 140B, respectively, and due to the pressure difference between them, the top wall side passage 133 side Therefore, the fluid is continuously moved from the bottom wall side passage side to the bottom wall side passage side. When air passes through the inter-battery passage 134, the heat of each unit cell 121 is transferred to the fluid.

  The air flowing into each of the first bottom wall side passage 135A and the second bottom wall side passage 135B flows along the bottom wall 112 between the beams, and the suction port 143a of the first blower 140A, It reaches the inlet 143a of the second blower 140B. The heat of the fluid flowing down each bottom wall side passage is transmitted to the bottom wall 112 and released to the outside. In this way, air circulates through each of the first circulation passage 130A and the second circulation passage 130B in the housing 110, so that the heat of the air from the side wall 113, the side wall 114, the top wall 111, and the bottom wall 112, that is, simply The heat of the battery 121 is released to the outside. At this time, in the side wall 113, the side wall 114, and the top wall 111, heat exchange is promoted by each internal fin.

  For example, when the unit cell 121 has a low temperature in winter or the like, the PTC heater 2 is operated in addition to the operations of the first blower 140A and the second blower 140B as described above. At this time, the air flowing through the blowout duct 143 b is heated by the PTC heater 2. The heated air circulates in each circulation passage in the housing 110, so that each unit cell 121 is heated to a temperature at which it can be properly operated by the heated fluid, and the performance deterioration at a low temperature is corrected. Is done.

  Further, for example, in summer, when the unit cell 121 becomes high temperature, the blower 172 is operated in addition to the operations of the first blower 140A and the second blower 140B. In this case, the conditioned air in the passenger compartment is sucked into the external duct 170 from the suction portion of the external duct 170.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the conditioned air sucked into the external duct 170 is diverted by the wind direction device 171 and is diverted toward the lower side of the external fin 160 and the center side of the casing 110 of the external fin 161. The The respective flows pass through and merge with each of the external fins 160 and 161, and are blown out from a blowing portion provided at the upper and lower portions of the blower 172.

  At this time, the heat of the fluid in the housing 110 is transmitted to the conditioned air through the internal fins, the side walls 113, the side walls 114, the top wall 111, and the external fins, and is released to the outside. Therefore, heat exchange of the heat of the fluid in the housing 110 is further promoted by each external fin in addition to each internal fin. Thereby, each cell 121 is forcibly cooled to an appropriate temperature in a short time.

  As described above, in the battery pack 1, the first battery stack 120 </ b> A, the second battery stack 120 </ b> B, the first circulation passage 130 </ b> A, the second circulation passage 130 </ b> B, the first blower 140 </ b> A, and the second blower are provided in the housing 110. 140B is provided. Further, by providing the PTC heater 2, the first internal fins 150A and 151A, and the second internal fins 150B and 151B, each unit cell 121 is not leaked into the vehicle interior without leaking the operating sound of the first blower 140A and the second blower 140B. The temperature can be adjusted and heated appropriately. Furthermore, by providing the external fins 160 and 161, the external duct 170, and the blower 172, forced cooling at high temperatures can be performed.

  According to the above configuration, the battery pack 1 includes the first circulation passage 130A and the second circulation passage 130B that can be schematically illustrated as illustrated in FIGS. With reference to FIG. 9 to FIG. 11, when the battery cooling performance of any one of the first battery stack 120 </ b> A and the second battery stack 120 </ b> B is deteriorated, the temperature control at the time of abnormality performed by the battery pack 1 is performed. Control will be described. When the battery cooling performance is reduced, as in an embodiment described later, the amount of air blown by the blower corresponding to one battery stack is unexpectedly reduced, or is supplied to one battery stack. The case where the flow resistance in the circulation passage through which the fluid circulates is increased is included. When the air flow rate blown by the air blower corresponding to one battery stack is unexpectedly reduced, the battery cooling performance is lowered even though the air flow rate is not controlled by the control device. Is the case.

  The outlets 143c of the first blower 140A and the second blower 140B are not directly connected only to the side wall passage 132 and the side wall passage 132, respectively. Therefore, FIG. 9 illustrates that the air flowing out from the first blower 140 </ b> A and the air flowing out from the second blower 140 </ b> B can be mixed with each other inside the housing 110.

  Regarding the temperature control at the time of abnormality, the processing procedure is executed according to the flowchart of FIG. The flowchart of FIG. 11 is executed by the battery management unit 100 that functions as a control device. In the following description of the flowcharts, the battery management unit 100 is expressed as a control device.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the control device determines in step 10 whether or not the difference between the temperature of the first battery stack 120A and the temperature of the second battery stack 120B is equal to or greater than a predetermined determination value. The temperature of the first battery stack 120 </ b> A is a temperature detected by the first temperature detector 60. The temperature of the second battery stack 120 </ b> B is a temperature detected by the second temperature detector 61. When the battery cooling performance of both battery stacks is functioning normally, each battery stack 120 is appropriately cooled according to the amount of heat generated by the above-described temperature adjustment control at the time of abnormality, so the temperature difference between the two is small. It is within the value. Therefore, the determination value used as the criterion of the determination process in step 10 is set to a value that can be determined that the battery cooling performance is clearly degraded as compared with the state where there is no abnormality in one battery stack.

  If it is determined in step 10 that the temperature difference between the two is less than the determination value, it is considered that the battery cooling performance is operating normally, and this flowchart is terminated. This flowchart is started at predetermined time intervals after completion.

  If it is determined in step 10 that the temperature difference between the two is greater than or equal to the determination value, the battery cooling performance of one of the battery stacks is regarded as abnormal, and the process proceeds to step 20. In step 20, it is determined whether the temperature of the first battery stack 120A is higher than the temperature of the first battery stack 120A. If it is determined that the temperature of the first battery stack 120A is higher than the temperature of the second battery stack 120B, the battery cooling performance of the first battery stack 120A is not functioning normally, and the process proceeds to step 30.

  In step 30, a process for determining that the battery cooling performance of the first battery stack 120A is in a lowered state is executed. Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, the first internal fin 150 </ b> A provided inside the side wall 114 has a large ventilation resistance due to clogging or the like and may not be able to exhibit a desired heat exchange performance. Can be assumed. That is, the battery pack 1 is in a state in which the heat dissipation capability to the outside via the side walls 114 and the internal fins of the housing 110 located on the first battery stack 120A side is lowered. In the next step 35, the control device controls the first air blower 140 </ b> A so that the air volume blown by the first air blower 140 </ b> A is smaller than that in the normal state, and ends this flowchart.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the air flow F1 blown by the first blower 140A is controlled to be smaller than the air flow F2 blown by the second blower 140B. As a result, the air volume circulating through the second circulation passage 130B indicated by the thick line in FIG. 10 is relatively larger than the air volume circulating through the first circulation path 130A indicated by the thin line in FIG. In other words, the blower device corresponding to the battery stack on the side where there is no abnormality has a relatively larger air flow rate than the blower device corresponding to the battery stack on the side where abnormality has occurred.

  According to this process, the air of the air volume F1 flowing out from the first air blower 140A cannot radiate much heat by the first internal fin 150A, but the air of the air volume F2 flowing out from the second air blower 140B is not the second internal fin 150B. Can sufficiently dissipate heat. Since the air of the air volume F1 and the air of the air volume F2 are mixed in the ceiling wall side passage 133, the temperature of the air flowing through the first circulation passage 130A can be lowered. Since the air mixed in the top wall side passage 133 exchanges heat with the unit cells 121 when flowing through the inter-battery passages 134 in each battery stack, the first battery in a state where the cooling performance of the second battery stack 120B is lowered. Both the stack 120A and the cooling can continue to be cooled. Therefore, according to the processing of Steps 10, 20, 30, and 35, the first battery can be obtained by utilizing the cooling air from the second blower 140B that is relatively low temperature by the heat radiation from the second internal fins 150B and the like. The cooling performance of the stack 120A can be ensured.

  If it is determined in step 20 that the temperature of the second battery stack 120B is higher than the temperature of the first battery stack 120A, the battery cooling performance is not functioning normally for the second battery stack 120B, and the process proceeds to step 40.

  In step 40, a process for determining that the battery cooling performance of the second battery stack 120B is in a lowered state is executed. Here, unlike the example illustrated in FIG. 10, the second internal fin 150 </ b> B provided inside the side wall 113 has a large ventilation resistance due to clogging or the like and is in a state in which a desired heat exchange performance cannot be exhibited. Can be assumed. That is, the battery pack 1 is in a state in which the heat dissipation capability to the outside through the side wall 113 of the housing 110 located on the second battery stack 120B side is reduced. In the next step 45, the control device controls the second blower 140B so that the amount of air blown by the second blower 140B is smaller than that in the normal state, and ends this flowchart.

  That is, contrary to the example illustrated in FIG. 10, the air volume F2 blown by the second blower 140B is controlled to be smaller than the airflow F1 blown by the first blower 140A. Thereby, the air volume of the air circulating through the first circulation path 130A is relatively larger than the air volume of the air circulating through the second circulation path 130B. Also in this case, the blower device corresponding to the battery stack on the side where there is no abnormality has a relatively larger air flow rate than the blower device corresponding to the battery stack on the side where abnormality has occurred.

  According to this process, the air of the air volume F2 flowing out from the second blower 140B cannot radiate much heat by the second internal fin 150B, but the air of the air volume F1 flowing out from the first air blower 140A is not the first internal fin 150A. Can sufficiently dissipate heat. And since the air of the air volume F1 and the air of the air volume F2 mix in the top wall side channel | path 133, the temperature of the air which flows through the 2nd circulation channel | path 130B can be reduced. Since the air mixed in the top wall side passage 133 exchanges heat with the unit cells 121 when flowing through the inter-battery passages 134 in each battery stack, the second battery in a state in which the cooling performance is lowered with the first battery stack 120A. Both the stack 120B can continue to be cooled. Therefore, according to the processing of Steps 10, 20, 40, and 45, the second battery is obtained by utilizing the cooling air from the first air blower 140A that is relatively low temperature by the heat radiation from the first internal fins 150A and the like. The cooling performance of the stack 120B can be ensured.

  Next, the effect which the battery pack 1 of 1st Embodiment brings is demonstrated. The battery pack 1 blows at least the first battery stack 120A and the second battery stack 120B, the first blower 140A that blows the fluid that cools the first battery stack 120A, and the fluid that cools the second battery stack 120B. A second blower 140B. The casing 110 of the battery pack 1 houses the first battery stack 120A and the second battery stack 120B, the first blower 140A and the second blower 140B inside. Inside the casing 110, a first circulation passage 130A and a second circulation passage 130B are provided. The first circulation passage 130A flows into the top wall side passage 133 after the fluid flowing out from the first blower 140A contacts the first wall (side wall 114), and flows out of the top wall side passage 133 after the first flow. After heat exchange with the battery stack 120A, a path that flows into the first blower 140A is configured. The second circulation passage 130 </ b> B flows into the top wall side passage 133 after the fluid flowing out from the second blower 140 </ b> B contacts the second wall (side wall 113), and then flows out of the top wall side passage 133. After exchanging heat with the battery stack 120B, a path that flows into the second blower 140B is configured.

  When the battery cooling performance of one battery stack is lower than normal, the control device of the battery pack 1 has a blower device corresponding to the other battery stack compared to a blower device corresponding to one battery stack. At least one of the first blower 140A and the second blower 140B is controlled so that the amount of air to be blown is increased.

  According to this control, the blower of the battery pack 1 is blown so that the blower device corresponding to the other battery stack has a larger amount of blown air than the blower device corresponding to the one battery stack whose battery cooling performance is reduced. Control the device. Thereby, the fluid blown from the other blower with the relatively large air volume can be supplied to one battery stack through the top wall side passage 133. For this reason, the battery pack 1 can recover the battery cooling performance of the battery stack whose battery cooling performance is reduced. As described above, it is possible to provide the battery pack 1 capable of avoiding a significant decrease in the amount of blown air as the whole battery pack as compared with the conventional battery pack.

  In addition, when the battery cooling performance of one battery stack is lower than that in the normal state, the control device of the battery pack 1 causes the air blower corresponding to the one battery stack to be lower than the air flow rate in the normal state. Control to do. In this case, for the air blower corresponding to one battery stack whose battery cooling performance is lower than normal, recovery of the battery cooling performance cannot be expected even if the air flow rate is controlled above the normal level, and wasteful energy consumption is expected. Become. Therefore, the air blower corresponding to the other battery stack is controlled while controlling the air blower corresponding to the battery stack whose battery cooling performance is lowered so that the air flow rate is lower than that in the normal state. However, it is possible to realize the control that relatively increases the air flow rate.

  In addition, when the battery cooling performance of one battery stack is decreased, the amount of air blown by the blower corresponding to one battery stack is unexpectedly decreased, or the fluid supplied to one battery stack is This is a case where the circulation resistance in the circulating passage is increased. According to this, when the cause of the deterioration of the battery cooling performance is due to the abnormality of the blower or due to clogging or the presence of obstacles in the circulation passage, ensuring the battery cooling performance of the entire battery pack Can be realized.

  Further, in the battery pack 1, each of the first circulation passage 130A and the second circulation passage 130B has internal fins 150A and 150B that are heat exchange promotion portions that promote heat radiation to the outside through the wall of the housing 110. , 151A, 151B are provided. When the temperature difference between the temperature of the battery stack near the one heat exchange promoting part and the temperature of the battery stack located near the other heat exchange promoting part is equal to or higher than the determination value, the control device It is determined that the battery cooling performance of the higher battery stack is lower than normal. According to this, it is possible to detect a battery stack whose battery cooling performance has deteriorated by utilizing the first temperature detector 60 and the second temperature detector 61 for detecting the battery temperature in each battery stack. The cost for the apparatus can be reduced.

  When the amount of air blown by the air blower corresponding to one battery stack is unexpectedly reduced, the rotation speed change completion time in the air blower is a predetermined change completion time in response to the speed change command given to the air blower It may be longer than that. The predetermined change completion time is not normal compared to the time until the control device outputs a signal for changing the rotational speed to the blower and the blower completes changing the rotational speed when the blower is normal after the output. Set to a long time. The battery pack 1 has a blower, a battery stack, and a circulation path in an internal space closed inside the housing 110. For this reason, according to the battery pack 1, it is possible to provide a method for easily detecting an abnormality of the air blower by utilizing the fact that noise hardly leaks to the outside even if the rotational speed of the air blower is greatly changed.

  The battery pack 1 further includes a plurality of beams 3 and 4 that are integrally provided on the bottom wall 112 of the housing 110 and support the battery stack 120 from below. Each bottom wall side passage 135 is a passage surrounded by at least the beams 3 and 4, the bottom wall 112, and the lower end portion 1211 of each battery stack 120. According to this configuration, since the plurality of beams 3 and 4 are provided on the bottom wall 112, the strength of the housing 110 can be improved by using the beams 3 and 4 as reinforcing members. Since each battery stack 120 is installed on each beam 3, 4, even if an impact is applied from the outside of the housing 110, it is possible to receive an impact by each beam 3, 4. It is possible to protect the battery from impact.

  Further, each bottom wall side passage 135 is partitioned by using the walls forming the reinforcing beams 3 and 4 and the bottom wall 112. For this reason, the beam member for reinforcement can be utilized for passage formation, the number of members can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced by utilizing a beam having a simple shape. Therefore, each bottom wall side passage 135 can be constructed without installing a separate duct inside the housing 110.

  Further, each beam 3, 4 is used as a member for forming a part of the bottom wall side passage 135, and therefore, compared with the case where the beam is provided only for reinforcing the housing 110, Increase in size can be suppressed.

  At least one of the plurality of beams 3 and 4 is provided in the housing 110 such that the end portion in the longitudinal direction is closer to the wall of the housing 110 than both the battery stacks 120. According to this configuration, the longitudinal ends of the first beam 3 and the second beam 4 are extended outward from the region where each battery stack 120 is disposed. According to this, when an impact is applied to the battery pack 1, it is possible to increase a region where the impact is absorbed by the beam, and thus it is possible to protect the battery more effectively.

  Further, at least one of the plurality of beams 3 and 4 is provided such that an end portion in the longitudinal direction is in contact with the wall of the housing 110. According to this structure, it can be set as the structure where a clearance gap is not formed between the edge part of the longitudinal direction of the 1st beam 3 or the 2nd beam 4, and the wall of the housing | casing 110. FIG. Thereby, when an impact is applied to the battery pack 1, it is possible to suppress a range in which the housing 110 is largely deformed due to the strength improvement effect provided by the beam. For example, it is possible to suppress damage to electrical components and batteries in the housing 110.

(Second Embodiment)
In the second embodiment, temperature adjustment control at the time of abnormality, which is another form of the first embodiment, will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 12, steps denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the drawing of the first embodiment are the same processing and have the same operational effects.

  As shown in FIG. 12, when the process of determining in step 30 that the battery cooling performance of the first battery stack 120A is in a degraded state is performed, the process proceeds to step 35A. In step 35A, in addition to the process of reducing the blown air volume of the first blower 140A in the previous step 35, the process of controlling the second blower 140B so as to increase the blown air volume of the second blower 140B from the normal time. To end this flowchart.

  Thereby, the difference between the air volume F2 blown by the second air blower 140B and the air flow F1 blown by the first air blower 140A is controlled to be larger than the operation of the first embodiment. Therefore, the air volume F2 circulating through the second circulation path 130B is relatively larger than the air volume F1 circulating through the first circulation path 130A compared to the operation of the first embodiment. In other words, the blowing device corresponding to the battery stack on the side where there is no abnormality is more relative to the operation of the first embodiment than the blowing device corresponding to the battery stack on which the abnormality occurs. Become bigger.

  According to the processing of Steps 10, 20, 30, and 35A, by further increasing the amount of heat released from the second internal fin 150B and the like, the cooling air from the second blower 140B that is relatively low temperature is utilized, The cooling performance of the first battery stack 120A can be efficiently ensured.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 40 that the battery cooling performance of the second battery stack 120B is in a degraded state, the process proceeds to step 45A. In step 45A, in addition to the process of reducing the blown air volume of the second blower 140B in the previous step 45, the process of controlling the first blower 140A so as to increase the blown air volume of the first blower 140A from the normal time. To end this flowchart.

  Thereby, the difference between the air volume F1 blown by the first air blower 140A and the air flow F2 blown by the second air blower 140B is controlled to be larger than the operation of the first embodiment. Therefore, the air volume F1 circulating through the first circulation path 130A is relatively larger than the air volume F2 circulating through the second circulation path 130B as compared with the operation of the first embodiment. Also in this case, the blowing device corresponding to the battery stack on the side where there is no abnormality is more relative to the operation of the first embodiment than the blowing device corresponding to the battery stack on which the abnormality occurs. Become bigger.

  According to the processing of Steps 10, 20, 40, and 45A, by further increasing the heat radiation amount from the first internal fin 150A and the like, the cooling air from the first blower 140A that is relatively low temperature is utilized, The cooling performance of the second battery stack 120B can be efficiently ensured.

(Third embodiment)
In the third embodiment, temperature adjustment control at the time of abnormality, which is another form of the first embodiment, will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 13, the constituent elements having the same reference numerals as those in the drawing of the first embodiment have the same configuration and the same operational effects.

  Referring to FIG. 13, when an abnormality occurs in the air blower corresponding to one of the first battery stack 120 </ b> A and the second battery stack 120 </ b> B and the battery cooling performance is deteriorated, the abnormality is performed. The temperature control will be described. Whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the blower can be determined, for example, by detecting power consumption, current, fan speed, and the like.

  In the case illustrated in FIG. 13, an abnormal time is assumed in which the air blowing by the first air blower 140A is impossible. At this time, the control device cannot control the first air blower 140A, but tries to ensure the battery cooling performance of the entire battery pack 1 by controlling the second air blower 140B.

  Specifically, when the control device determines that an abnormality has occurred in the first air blowing device 140A out of the first air blowing device 140A and the second air blowing device 140B, the battery cooling performance functions normally for the first battery stack 120A. Consider it not. This abnormal state means that the amount of air blown by the first air blower 140A corresponding to the first battery stack 120A, which is one battery stack, is lower than normal. The state in which the amount of blown air is lower than normal includes the case where the first blower 140A stops and cannot blow air at all.

  The control device controls the second air blower 140B so that the amount of air blown by the second air blower 140B is increased as compared with the normal time. Thereby, the flow rate of the air circulating through the second circulation passage 130B is relatively larger than the flow rate of the air passing through the inter-battery passage 134 of the first battery stack 120A.

  According to this process, the flow of air flowing from the first blower 140A to the first battery stack 120A is generated by the blown air volume F2 by the second blower 140B, and the air that has flowed out of the inter-battery passage 134 of the first battery stack 120A. Flows out to the ceiling wall side passage 133. In the ceiling wall side passage 133, the air (thick line in FIG. 13) circulating through the second circulation passage 130B is mixed, so that the air whose temperature has increased by heat exchange with the first battery stack 120A can be cooled. The air cooled in the top wall side passage 133 by mixing with the air cooled by the heat radiation at the second internal fin 150B etc. further radiates heat at the first internal fin 150A etc. and decreases in temperature. The temperature-decreased air flows into the side wall side passage 131 together with the blown air from the second blower 140B, and reaches the top wall side passage 133 via the second internal fin 150B. The air that flows into the top wall side passage 133 merges with the air that flows out through the inter-battery passage 134 of the first battery stack 120A, and part of the air flows into the side wall side passage 132 to radiate heat by the first internal fins 150A and the like. To do. The remaining part of the air absorbs heat from the unit cells 121 when passing through the inter-battery passage 134 of the second battery stack 120B, passes through the second blower 140B, and is radiated and cooled by the second internal fins 150B and the like.

  Thus, since the air flowing through the first internal fin 150A has a small flow rate, the first internal fin 150A cannot radiate much heat. However, since the temperature of the air flowing through the second internal fin 150B having a large flow rate is lowered by sufficient heat dissipation, the temperature of the air supplied to the first battery stack 120A can be lowered by mixing in the top wall side passage 133. it can. Therefore, the battery cooling performance in the first battery stack 120A can be ensured by the air blown from the second blower 140B having the temperature lowered in this way.

  On the other hand, in the case of an abnormality in which air cannot be blown by the second blower 140B, the control device cannot control the second blower 140B, but the battery pack 1 as a whole by controlling the first blower 140A. Try to ensure battery cooling performance.

  When the control device determines that an abnormality has occurred in the second blower device 140B, the control device regards that the battery cooling performance is not functioning normally for the second battery stack 120B. The control device controls the first air blower 140A so that the amount of air blown by the first air blower 140A is increased compared to the normal time. Thereby, the flow rate of air circulating through the first circulation passage 130A is relatively larger than the flow rate of air passing through the inter-battery passage 134 of the second battery stack 120B.

  According to this process, the flow of air flowing from the second blower 140B to the second battery stack 120B is generated by the blown air volume F1 by the first blower 140A, and the air that has flowed out of the inter-battery passage 134 of the second battery stack 120B. Flows out to the ceiling wall side passage 133. In the ceiling wall side passage 133, the air circulating through the first circulation passage 130A is mixed, so that the air whose temperature has risen due to heat exchange with the second battery stack 120B can be cooled. The air cooled by the ceiling wall side passage 133 by mixing with the air cooled by the heat radiation by the first internal fin 150A or the like is further radiated by the second internal fin 150B or the like and the temperature is lowered. The temperature-decreased air flows into the side wall side passage 132 together with the blown air from the first blower 140A, and reaches the top wall side passage 133 via the first internal fin 150A. The air that has flowed into the top wall side passage 133 merges with the air that has flowed out through the inter-battery passage 134 of the second battery stack 120B, and part of the air flows into the side wall side passage 131 to radiate heat through the second internal fins 150B or the like. To do. The remaining part of the air absorbs heat from the unit cells 121 when passing through the inter-battery passage 134 of the first battery stack 120A, passes through the first blower 140A, and is radiated and cooled by the first internal fins 150A and the like.

  Thus, since the air flowing through the second internal fin 150B has a small flow rate, the second internal fin 150B cannot radiate much heat. However, since the temperature of the air flowing through the first internal fin 150A having a large flow rate is lowered by sufficient heat dissipation, the temperature of the air supplied to the second battery stack 120B can be lowered by mixing in the top wall side passage 133. it can. Therefore, the battery cooling performance in the second battery stack 120B can be ensured by the air blown from the first blower 140A having the temperature lowered in this way.

  Moreover, when the air flow rate which the air blower corresponding to one battery stack blows unexpectedly falls, the actual rotational speed of an air blower is lower than the predetermined rotational speed equivalent to a stop of an air blower. It may be a case. According to this determination method, it is possible to provide the battery pack 1 that can reliably detect the abnormal state in which the blower is stopped.

  According to the battery pack 1 of 3rd Embodiment, when the air blower corresponding to one battery stack 120 stops, the control device changes the air blower corresponding to the other battery stack 120 when the air flow rate is normal. Control to increase more than the air volume. By this control, air that has flowed out from the blower corresponding to the other battery stack 120 is supplied to each of the first battery stack 120A and the second battery stack 120B. According to this battery pack 1, both the first battery stack 120A and the second battery stack 120B can be cooled by utilizing the cooling performance of the normal blower. Thereby, the cooling performance of the battery stack in which an abnormality has occurred is not significantly reduced, and it is also possible to avoid the occurrence of large variations in battery temperature throughout the battery pack.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the fourth embodiment, temperature adjustment control at the time of abnormality, which is another form of the first embodiment, will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 14, components denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the drawing of the first embodiment have the same configuration and the same operational effects. Here, only differences from the first embodiment will be described below.

  The first circulation passage 130 </ b> A and the second circulation passage 130 </ b> B formed inside the housing 110 illustrated in FIG. 14 are configured to communicate with each other only through the top wall side passage 133. That is, in the battery pack of the fourth embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the outlets 143c of the first air blower 140A and the second air blower 140B are directly connected only to the side wall side passage 132 and the side wall side passage 132, respectively. It is the composition which is.

  In the battery pack of the fourth embodiment, the same control as the temperature adjustment control at the time of abnormality described in the first embodiment with reference to FIG. 11 is performed. In the temperature control at the time of abnormality, as shown in FIG. 14, the air circulating through the first circulation passage 130A of the air volume F1 flowing out of the first blower 140A and the second of the air volume F2 flowing out of the second fan 140B. The air circulating in the circulation passage 130B is mixed only in the ceiling wall side passage 133.

(Fifth embodiment)
In the fifth embodiment, a battery pack 101 which is another form of the battery pack 1 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 17. In each figure, the component which attached | subjected the same code | symbol as drawing of 1st Embodiment is a similar component, and there exists the same effect. Hereinafter, content different from the first embodiment will be described.

  The battery pack 101 has a communication passage 8 in which the first bottom wall side passage 135 </ b> A and the second bottom wall side passage 135 </ b> B corresponding to each of the two battery stacks arranged in the left-right direction communicate with the battery pack 1. The point to prepare is different. The battery pack 101 is different in the processing procedure of the temperature adjustment control at the time of abnormality and the air flow path inside the housing 110 due to the difference in configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the inner space surrounded by the inner surface of the second beam 104 and the bottom wall 112 is on the first bottom wall side passage 135A on the right side of the vehicle on one side and on the left side of the vehicle on the other side. A communication passage 8 is formed to communicate with the second bottom wall side passage 135B. As shown in FIG. 15, the second beam 104 includes the second beam 104 facing the first bottom wall side passage 135 </ b> A and the second bottom wall side passage 135 </ b> B located on both sides of the second beam 104. A through hole 104a penetrating each of the side walls is provided. The aforementioned inner space constitutes the communication passage 8 by being connected to the first bottom wall side passage 135A and the second bottom wall side passage 135B by the respective through holes 104a. Accordingly, the communication passage 8 functions as a part of the two bottom wall side passages 135 located below the battery stack.

  By providing this communication passage 8, the two bottom wall side passages 135 arranged on the left and right sides of the vehicle can communicate with each other, so that the cross-sectional area of the bottom wall side passage 135 positioned downstream of the inter-battery passage 134 is provided. The flow resistance can be reduced.

  Further, between each first beam 3 and the lower end portion 1211 of each battery stack 120, an elastically deformable belt-like seal member 7 provided over the entire length of the battery stack 120 in the battery stacking direction is provided. One strip-shaped seal member 7 is also provided between the second beam 4 and the lower end portion 1211 of each battery stack 120. Each seal member 7 is elastically deformed, thereby improving adhesion to the battery stack 120 and the beams 3 and 4 and contributing to separating the side wall side passage and the bottom wall side passage so that fluid does not enter and exit. The seal member 7 can be formed of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, various packing materials, or the like.

  As described above, the battery pack 101 includes the seal member 7 that prevents the fluid from flowing between the first beam 3 and the second beam 4 and each battery stack 120. The seal member 7 interposed between the first beam 3 and the battery stack 120 allows fluid to flow from the side wall side passage 132 or the side wall side passage 131 to the first bottom wall side passage 135A or the second bottom wall side passage 135B. To prevent. According to this configuration, the flow of fluid between each of the side wall-side passage 132 and the side wall-side passage 131 and the first bottom wall-side passage 135A and the second bottom wall-side passage 135B is reliably blocked. Air can be prevented from leaking from the side passages to the bottom wall side passages. Therefore, since it is possible to suppress the air flowing through each circulation passage 130 from being shunted to an extra place and increasing the flow resistance, it is possible to suppress the decrease in the flow velocity of the air and to increase the efficiency of heat dissipation from the casing.

  According to the above configuration, the battery pack 101 includes the first circulation passage 130A, the second circulation passage 130B, and the communication passage 8 that can be schematically illustrated as illustrated in FIGS. With reference to FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, when the battery cooling performance of any one of the first battery stack 120A and the second battery stack 120B is deteriorated, the temperature control at the time of abnormality performed by the battery pack 101 is performed. Control will be described.

  Similarly to the description with reference to FIG. 10 in the first embodiment, when the battery cooling performance of the first battery stack 120A is in a lowered state, the control device determines that the air volume F1 blown by the first blower 140A is normal. 140 A of 1st air blowers is controlled so that it may also decrease. As a result, the air volume circulating through the second circulation passage 130B indicated by the thick line in FIG. 17 is relatively larger than the air volume circulating through the first circulation path 130A indicated by the thin line in FIG. In addition to this control, it is preferable that the control device controls the second blower 140B so that the air volume F2 blown by the second blower 140B is increased as compared with the normal time.

  According to this process, the air that has flowed out of the second blower 140B flows through two circulating paths. One is a path that flows to the second internal fin 150B, the top wall side passage 133, the second battery stack 120B, and the second blower 140B. The other is a path that flows from the top wall side path 133 to the first battery stack 120A, the first bottom wall side path 135A, the communication path 8, the second bottom wall side path 135B, and the second blower 140B. Since such a path can be formed, it is possible to supply an increased amount of blown air from the second blower 140B to both battery stacks. That is, the air that has cooled the first battery stack 120A in a state where the battery cooling performance is lowered can be sufficiently dissipated by the second internal fins 150B. Therefore, the cooling of the first battery stack 120A is continuously performed by supplying the cooling air from the second air blowing device 140B having a relatively low temperature to both battery stacks by the heat radiation from the second internal fins 150B and the like. It becomes possible to do.

  On the other hand, when the battery cooling performance of the second battery stack 120B is in a lowered state due to clogging of the second internal fins 150B, etc., the control device reduces the air volume F2 blown by the second blower 140B from the normal time. The second air blower 140B is controlled to do so. Thereby, the air volume of the air circulating through the first circulation path 130A is relatively larger than the air volume of the air circulating through the second circulation path 130B. In addition to this control, it is preferable that the control device controls the first air blower 140A so that the air volume F1 blown by the first air blower 140A is increased as compared with the normal time.

  According to this process, the air that has flowed out of the first blower 140A flows through two circulating paths. One is a path that flows to the first internal fin 150A, the top wall side passage 133, the first battery stack 120A, and the first blower 140A. The other is a route that flows from the top wall side passage 133 to the second battery stack 120B, the second bottom wall side passage 135B, the communication passage 8, the first bottom wall side passage 135A, and the first blower 140A. Since such a path can be formed, it is possible to supply the blast air of the increased air volume from the first blower 140A to both battery stacks. That is, the air that has cooled the second battery stack 120B in a state where the battery cooling performance is lowered can be sufficiently dissipated by the first internal fins 150A. Therefore, the cooling of the second battery stack 120B is continuously performed by supplying the cooling air from the first blower 140A having a relatively low temperature to both battery stacks by the heat radiation from the first internal fins 150A and the like. It becomes possible to do.

  The communication passage 8 includes a passage through which air flows in the first circulation passage 130A until the air flows into the first air blower 140A after heat exchange with the first battery stack 120A, and air passes through the second battery stack 120B in the second circulation passage 130B. After the heat exchange, the passage that flows until it flows into the second blower 140B is communicated. According to the battery pack 101, it is possible to cause the air blower controlled so as to have a relatively large air flow to suck air after cooling all the battery stacks in the housing 110 through the communication passage 8. Become. Therefore, the battery pack 101 can ensure the battery cooling performance of the entire battery pack even if the battery cooling performance of the specific battery stack is lowered.

(Sixth embodiment)
In the sixth embodiment, temperature adjustment control at the time of abnormality, which is another form with respect to the fifth embodiment, will be described with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19. In FIG. 18 and FIG. 19, the components and steps denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the drawings of the above-described embodiment are the same configurations and processes, and have the same operational effects.

  Referring to FIG. 18 and FIG. 19, it is performed when an abnormality occurs in the air blower corresponding to one of the first battery stack 120 </ b> A and the second battery stack 120 </ b> B and the battery cooling performance is deteriorated. The temperature control at the time of abnormality will be described.

  In the case illustrated in FIG. 18, an abnormal time is assumed in which the air blowing by the first air blower 140A is impossible. In this case, the control device cannot control the first blower 140A, but tries to ensure the battery cooling performance of the entire battery pack 1 by controlling the second blower 140B.

  Regarding the temperature control at the time of abnormality, the processing procedure is executed according to the flowchart of FIG. As shown in FIG. 19, the control device determines in step 100 whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the first air blower 140A. In Step 100 and Step 120, whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the blower is, for example, detected power consumption, current, fan speed, etc., and the detected value is far from the normal value. It is determined that an abnormality has occurred.

  If it is determined in step 100 that an abnormality has occurred in the first blower 140A, then in step 110, the control device causes the second blower so that the amount of air blown by the second blower 140B increases from the normal time. The apparatus 140B is controlled and this flowchart is complete | finished.

  Thereby, the flow rate of the air circulating through the second circulation passage 130B becomes relatively larger than the flow rate of the air passing through the first internal fin 150A. According to this process, a plurality of circulation paths can be formed by the increased blowing air amount F2 by the second blowing device 140B. The first is a path that returns to the second blower 140B through the second blower 140B, the second internal fin 150B, the ceiling wall side passage 133, and the second battery stack 120B in order. The second is a path that branches from the first path in the ceiling wall side passage 133 and returns to the second blower 140B through the first battery stack 120A and the communication path 8 in order. 3rd is a path | route which returns to the 2nd air blower 140B through the 2nd air blower 140B, the 1st air blower 140A, and the communicating path 8 in order. The fourth is a path that returns to the second blower 140B through the second blower 140B, the first internal fin 150A, the top wall side passage 133, the first battery stack 120A, and the communication passage 8 in this order.

  The air that has flowed out of the first battery stack 120A and the second battery stack 120B in this manner is sucked into the second blower 140B, part of which is radiated by the first internal fins 150A, and most of the air is discharged by the second internal fins 150B. Since it dissipates heat, it is sufficiently cooled.

  In the ceiling wall side passage 133, the air circulating through the second circulation passage 130B (thick line in FIG. 18) and the air that has passed through the first internal fin 150A are mixed, so the air after passing through the first internal fin 150A. Can be cooled. Since the air flowing through the first internal fins 150A has a small flow rate, the first internal fins 150A cannot radiate much heat, but the air flowing through the second internal fins 150B having a large flow rate decreases in temperature due to sufficient heat dissipation. For this reason, the temperature of the air supplied to the first battery stack 120 </ b> A can be lowered by mixing in the top wall side passage 133. In this way, by forming a flow in which the air that has flowed out of the second air blower 140B gathers in the second air blower 140B via each internal fin and each battery stack, the battery cooling performance in the first battery stack 120A is improved. It can be secured continuously.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 100 that no abnormality has occurred in the first blower 140A, it is next determined in step 120 whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the second blower 140B.

  If it is determined in step 120 that an abnormality has occurred in the second air blower 140B, then in step 125, the control device causes the first air blow so that the amount of air blown by the first air blower 140A increases from the normal time. The apparatus 140A is controlled, and this flowchart ends.

  Thereby, the flow rate of the air circulating through the first circulation passage 130A is relatively larger than the flow rate of the air passing through the second internal fin 150B. According to this process, a plurality of circulation paths can be formed by the increased air flow F1 from the first air blower 140A. The first is a path that returns to the first air blower 140A through the first air blower 140A, the first internal fin 150A, the top wall side passage 133, and the first battery stack 120A in this order. The second is a path that branches from the first path in the ceiling wall side passage 133 and returns to the first air blower 140A through the second battery stack 120B and the communication path 8 in order. 3rd is a path | route which returns to 140 A of 1st air blowers through the 1st air blower 140A, the 2nd air blower 140B, and the communicating path 8 in order. The fourth is a path that returns to the first air blower 140A through the first air blower 140A, the second internal fin 150B, the top wall side passage 133, the second battery stack 120B, and the communication passage 8 in this order.

  Thus, the air that has flowed out of the first battery stack 120A and the second battery stack 120B is sucked into the first blower 140A, part of it is radiated by the second internal fins 150B, and most of the air is discharged by the first internal fins 150A. Since it dissipates heat, it is sufficiently cooled.

  In the ceiling wall side passage 133, the air circulating through the first circulation passage 130A and the air passing through the second internal fin 150B are mixed, so that the air after passing through the second internal fin 150B can be cooled. Since the air flowing through the second internal fin 150B has a small flow rate, the second internal fin 150B cannot radiate much heat, but the temperature of the air flowing through the first internal fin 150A having a large flow rate is lowered by sufficient heat dissipation. For this reason, the temperature of the air supplied to the 2nd battery stack 120B can be reduced by the mixing in the ceiling wall side channel | path 133. FIG. In this way, by forming a flow in which the air that has flowed out of the first air blower 140A gathers in the first air blower 140A via each internal fin and each battery stack, the battery cooling performance in the second battery stack 120B is improved. It can be secured continuously.

  According to the battery pack of the sixth embodiment, when the air blower corresponding to one battery stack 120 stops, the control device changes the air blower corresponding to the other battery stack 120 to the air flow when the air flow rate is normal. Control to increase more. By this control, the air that has flowed out from the blower corresponding to the other battery stack 120 can be supplied to each of the first battery stack 120A and the second battery stack 120B via the communication passage 8. Therefore, according to the sixth embodiment, the cooling performance of the battery stack in which an abnormality has occurred is not significantly reduced, and it is also possible to avoid the occurrence of large variations in battery temperature throughout the battery pack.

(Seventh embodiment)
In the seventh embodiment, temperature adjustment control at the time of abnormality, which is another form of the fifth embodiment, will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 20, the component which attached | subjected the same code | symbol as drawing of 5th Embodiment has the same structure, and there exists the same effect. Here, only differences from the fifth embodiment will be described below.

  The first circulation passage 130 </ b> A and the second circulation passage 130 </ b> B formed inside the housing 110 illustrated in FIG. 20 are configured to communicate with each other only through the top wall side passage 133 and the communication passage 8. That is, in the battery pack of the seventh embodiment, unlike the fifth embodiment, the outlets 143c of the first blower 140A and the second blower 140B are directly connected only to the side wall side passage 132 and the side wall side passage 132, respectively. It is the composition which is.

  In the battery pack of the seventh embodiment, the same control as the temperature adjustment control at the time of abnormality described in the fifth embodiment with reference to FIG. 17 is performed. In the temperature adjustment control at the time of abnormality, the air circulating through the first circulation passage 130A of the air volume F1 flowing out of the first blower 140A and the air circulating through the second circulation passage 130B of the air volume F2 flowing out of the second air blowing device 140B. Is mixed only in the ceiling wall side passage 133 and the communication passage 8.

(Eighth embodiment)
In the eighth embodiment, in the passage configuration inside the housing 110 disclosed in the seventh embodiment, an abnormality that is performed when an abnormality occurs in the air blower corresponding to any of the battery stacks and the battery cooling performance is deteriorated. The temperature control at the time will be described.

  In the case illustrated in FIG. 21, an abnormal time is assumed in which the air blowing by the first air blower 140A is impossible. In this case, the control device cannot control the first blower 140A, but ensures the battery cooling performance of the entire battery pack 1 by controlling the second blower 140B.

  If it determines with abnormality having generate | occur | produced in 1st air blower 140A, a control apparatus will control 2nd air blower 140B so that the air volume ventilated by 2nd air blower 140B may increase rather than the normal time. Thereby, a plurality of circulation paths can be formed by the increased air flow F2 by the second blower 140B. The first is a path according to a normal second circulation passage 130B that returns to the second blower 140B through the second blower 140B, the second internal fin 150B, the top wall side passage 133, and the second battery stack 120B in order. is there. The second is a path that branches from the first path in the midway ceiling wall path 133 and returns to the second blower 140B through the first battery stack 120A and the communication path 8 in order.

  That is, the top wall side passage 133 communicates with both the inter-battery passage 134 of the first battery stack 120A and the inter-battery passage 134 of the second battery stack 120B. For this reason, the air that flows out of the first battery stack 120A and the second battery stack 120B is both sucked into the second blower 140B, and is all radiated and cooled by the second internal fins 150B. As described above, all the air having a large flow rate passes through the second internal fins 150 </ b> B, so that sufficient heat dissipation is promoted, and the entire battery pack can be efficiently and continuously cooled.

  On the other hand, when the control device determines that an abnormality has occurred in the second air blower 140B, the control device controls the first air blower 140A so that the amount of air blown by the first air blower 140A is increased compared to the normal time. Thereby, a plurality of circulation paths can be formed by the increased air flow F1 by the first air blower 140A. The first is a path according to a normal first circulation passage 130A that returns to the first blower 140A through the first blower 140A, the first internal fins 150A, the ceiling wall side passage 133, and the first battery stack 120A in this order. is there. The second is a path that branches off from the first path at the midway ceiling wall path 133 and returns to the first blower 140A via the second battery stack 120B and the communication path 8 in order.

  Also in this case, the top wall side passage 133 communicates with both the inter-battery passage 134 of the first battery stack 120A and the inter-battery passage 134 of the second battery stack 120B. For this reason, the air that has flowed out of the first battery stack 120A and the second battery stack 120B is both sucked into the first blower 140A, and is all radiated and cooled by the first internal fins 150A. Thus, all the air with a large flow rate passes through the first internal fins 150A, so that sufficient heat dissipation can be promoted to cool the entire battery pack efficiently and continuously.

(Other embodiments)
The disclosure of this specification is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. The disclosure encompasses the illustrated embodiments and variations by those skilled in the art based thereon. For example, the disclosure is not limited to the combination of components and elements shown in the embodiments, and various modifications can be made. The disclosure can be implemented in various combinations. The disclosure may have additional parts that can be added to the embodiments. The disclosure includes those in which the components and elements of the embodiment are omitted. The disclosure encompasses parts, element replacements, or combinations between one embodiment and another. The technical scope disclosed is not limited to the description of the embodiments. The technical scope disclosed is indicated by the description of the claims, and should be understood to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the description of the claims.

  In the above-described embodiment, there are two battery stacks included in the battery pack, but the number is not limited to this. That is, the battery stack included in the battery pack includes at least the first battery stack 120A and the second battery stack 120B inside the housing 110.

  In the above-described embodiment, the housing 110 forms a hexahedron and a rectangular parallelepiped, but the housing included in the embodiment of this specification is not limited to this shape. For example, the casing 110 may be a polyhedron having more than six surfaces, or at least one surface may include a curved surface. Moreover, the housing | casing 110 may be formed in the dome shape in which a top wall contains a curved surface, and the longitudinal cross-sectional shape of a housing | casing may exhibit trapezoid shape. Further, in the case 110, the top wall is a wall having a positional relationship facing the bottom wall, and the shape thereof may include either a flat surface or a curved surface. Further, in the case 110, the side wall may be a wall extending from the bottom wall in a direction intersecting the bottom wall, or may be a wall extending from the top wall in a direction intersecting the top wall. The boundary between the top wall and the side wall of the housing 110 may form a corner or a curved surface. The boundary between the bottom wall and the side wall in the housing 110 may form a corner or a curved surface.

  In the above-described embodiment, three beams are used. However, two beams or four or more beams may be used depending on the number of battery stacks.

  In the above-described embodiment, each of the beams 3 and 4 may be a hollow member or a solid member. In addition, each beam 3, 4 may be formed integrally by fixing a member different from the bottom wall to the bottom wall or side wall, or by forming a convex portion that projects the bottom wall into the housing. 3 and 4 may be formed.

  In addition to a sirocco fan, an axial flow fan, a turbo fan, or the like can be used as the fan of each blower provided in the battery pack.

  The inner fin and the outer fin in the above-described embodiment may be those in which fins that are separate parts are fixed to the wall of the housing 110, or a part of the wall of the housing 110 is formed in a fin shape. It may be a fin.

100: Battery management unit (control device)
110: Housing, 113: Side wall (second wall), 114: Side wall (second wall)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 120A ... 1st battery stack, 120B ... 2nd battery stack 121 ... Single cell 130A ... 1st circulation path, 130B ... 2nd circulation path 133 ... Top wall side path (mixing path)
140A ... 1st air blower, 140B ... 2nd air blower

Claims (9)

A first battery stack (120A) and a second battery stack (120B), each of which is an aggregate of a plurality of single cells (121);
A first blower (140A) for blowing a fluid for cooling the first battery stack;
A second blower (140B) for blowing a fluid for cooling the second battery stack;
A housing (110) that houses at least the first battery stack, the second battery stack, the first blower, and the second blower;
A fluid circulation path formed inside the housing, wherein the fluid that has flowed out of the first air blower contacts the inner wall surface of the housing and then exchanges heat with the first battery stack. A first circulation passage (130A) forming a flow path for a series of fluids flowing into the first blower;
A fluid circulation passage formed inside the housing, and after the fluid flowing out of the second blower device contacts the inner wall surface of the housing and exchanges heat with the second battery stack, A second circulation passage (130B) that forms a flow path for a series of fluids flowing into the second blower;
A control device (100) for controlling each of the first blower and the second blower;
With
The first circulation passage flows into the mixing passage (133) after the fluid flowing out from the first blower contacts the first wall (114) of the housing, and flows out of the mixing passage after the fluid flows out of the mixing passage. After exchanging heat with the first battery stack, configure a series of paths that flow into the first blower,
The second circulation passage enters the mixing passage after the fluid flowing out from the second blower comes into contact with the second wall (113) of the housing, and flows out from the mixing passage before the second circulation passage. After exchanging heat with the battery stack, configure a series of paths that flow into the second blower,
When the battery cooling performance of one of the first battery stack and the second battery stack is lower than that of the normal battery stack, the control device has the air blower corresponding to the other battery stack. A battery pack that controls at least one of the first blower and the second blower so that the amount of air blown is larger than that of a blower corresponding to one battery stack.   When the battery cooling performance of the one battery stack is lower than that in the normal state, the control device causes the air blower corresponding to the one battery stack to be lower than the air flow rate in the normal state. The battery pack according to claim 1 to be controlled.   3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein the control device further controls the air blower corresponding to the other battery stack so that the air flow rate is larger than a normal air flow rate.   The case where the battery cooling performance of the one battery stack is lower than normal means that the amount of air blown by the blower corresponding to the one battery stack is unexpectedly reduced, or the one battery stack The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the flow resistance in the circulation passage through which the fluid supplied to the battery increases is increased. Each of the first circulation passage and the second circulation passage is provided with a heat exchange promoting portion (150A, 150B, 151A, 151B) that promotes heat radiation to the outside through the wall of the housing.
In the control device, a temperature difference between the temperature of the battery stack located near one of the heat exchange promoting portions and the temperature of the battery stack located near the other heat exchange promoting portion is equal to or greater than a predetermined determination value. 5, the battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the battery cooling performance of the battery stack having a higher temperature is determined to be lower than normal.   The case where the amount of blown air blown by the blower corresponding to the one battery stack is unintentionally reduced means that the rotational speed change completion time in the blower is in response to the rotational speed change command given to the blower The battery pack according to claim 4, wherein is longer than a predetermined change completion time.   When the amount of air blown by the air blower corresponding to the one battery stack is unexpectedly reduced, the actual rotational speed of the air blower is higher than a predetermined rotational speed corresponding to the stop of the air blower. The battery pack according to claim 4, wherein the battery pack is low.   When the air blower corresponding to the one battery stack of the first battery stack and the second battery stack is stopped, the control device causes the air blower corresponding to the other battery stack to The control according to claim 1, wherein the fluid flowing out from the blower device corresponding to the other battery stack is supplied to each of the first battery stack and the second battery stack by controlling so as to increase the air volume at a normal time. The battery pack described.   After the fluid exchanges heat with the first battery stack in the first circulation passage, the fluid exchanges heat with the second battery stack in the second circulation passage until the fluid flows into the first blower. The battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a communication passage (8) that communicates with a passage that flows until the air flows into the second blower afterwards.

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