KR20130012407A - Secondary battery and power storage apparatus including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A lithium secondary battery is provided to have excellent temperature control efficiency, to prevent battery performance loss due to electrolyte depletion, and to improve battery lifetime. CONSTITUTION: A lithium secondary battery comprises: an electrode(100) which comprises one or more positive electrodes(110) and one or more negative electrodes(120); an insulating container(200) which is formed of an insulating material, accepts the electrodes and liquid electrolyte, and has an electrolyte outlet(211) and an electrolyte inlet(212); an electrolyte flow channel(300) which is connected to the outlet and the inlet, and enables the liquid electrolyte to flow through; and a temperature control part(400) controlling the temperature of the liquid electrolyte which flows through the electrolyte flow channel. [Reference numerals] (400) Temperature control part; (500) Flux control part

Description

Secondary battery and power storage device including same {Secondary battery and power storage apparatus including the same}

The present invention relates to a secondary battery, and more particularly, a lithium secondary battery and a power storage device including a lithium secondary battery having an improved structure having a form different from that of a conventional secondary battery, which is suitable for use in a large capacity, in particular, for power storage. It is about.

In general, a secondary battery, unlike a primary battery that cannot be charged, means a battery that can be charged and discharged, and is widely used in electronic devices such as mobile phones, notebook computers, camcorders, and electric vehicles.

In particular, the lithium secondary battery has an operating voltage of about 3.6V, and has about three times the capacity of a nickel-cadmium battery or a nickel-hydrogen battery, which is widely used as a power source for electronic equipment, and has a high energy density per unit weight. The degree is increasing rapidly.

Such lithium secondary batteries mainly use lithium-based oxides and carbon materials as positive electrode active materials and negative electrode active materials, respectively. The lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate coated with such a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material are disposed with a separator interposed therebetween, and a packaging material for sealingly storing the electrode assembly together with the electrolyte solution.

According to the shape of a battery case, a conventional lithium secondary battery may be classified into a can type secondary battery having an electrode assembly embedded in a metal can and a pouch type secondary battery having an electrode assembly embedded in a pouch of an aluminum laminate sheet. The can-type secondary battery may be further classified into a cylindrical battery and a square battery according to the shape of the metal can.

However, this type of secondary battery is mainly used for a portable device, an electric vehicle, etc., and is an important feature of portability or mobility, and has a compact structure without a large capacity and output. In addition, the size of a battery case is generally standardized. Therefore, in order to increase the capacity and output as a conventional secondary battery, many methods of connecting a plurality of secondary batteries in series or in parallel are used.

However, such a conventional secondary battery is not suitable for use in power storage devices. A power storage device is a device used in a facility that handles a very large amount of power, such as a smart grid system or an electric vehicle charging station, and has a power capacity and output that cannot be compared with a portable device or an electric vehicle mainly using a conventional secondary battery. Can have Therefore, the secondary battery used in such a power storage device must also be configured in a completely different capacity, output, size than the conventional secondary battery. For example, the smart grid system is an intelligent grid system that seeks to increase the efficiency of power utilization through the interaction of power supply and consumption by integrating information and communication technology in the process of producing, transporting and consuming power. Can be built. More specifically, for example, a smart grid system stores power in a power storage device when power consumption is low in a city, and supplies power stored in the power storage device to a consumer together with production power when the power consumption is high. Can be driven. Therefore, the secondary battery used in the power storage device can be configured to be much larger than the conventional secondary battery capacity, output, size.

In such a situation, it is not suitable to use a conventional lithium secondary battery as it is for power storage devices of energy storage systems such as smart grid systems or electric vehicle charging stations. Furthermore, when the lithium secondary batteries of the conventional type are included in a power storage device by connecting them in series and in parallel, the number of connections is too large, resulting in a high failure rate at the connection portion, as well as a unit secondary battery in which a failure occurs or a deterioration in performance. It is very difficult to find and replace or repair.

In addition, when the lithium secondary battery is enlarged for use in a power storage device, there is a problem in that temperature control is not easy with a conventional secondary battery structure. For example, a secondary battery that is enlarged for power storage devices has a large distance from its center to the outside, making it difficult to transfer heat efficiently, resulting in a high temperature of the secondary battery or a failure to heat it on time at low temperatures. This cannot be exercised properly.

Conventionally, in order to solve this problem, a configuration for controlling temperature by supplying air or liquid heated or cooled outside of a secondary battery has been proposed, but in this case, the temperature control efficiency is not good. For example, the secondary battery located on the inner side is more difficult to heat or cool than the secondary battery located on the outside side. In addition, in the case of such a temperature control system, since a configuration for circulating air or liquid is required, there is a problem that the cost is high and the volume is large.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, to provide a secondary battery having a completely different form from the conventional lithium secondary battery, and a power storage device including the same to be suitable for use in the power storage device. It aims to do it.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention can be understood by the following description, and will be more clearly understood by the embodiments of the present invention. It will also be readily apparent that the objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A secondary battery according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the electrode comprising one or more positive electrodes and one or more negative electrodes; An insulating container made of an insulating material and containing the electrode and the electrolyte, and formed with an electrolyte outlet and an electrolyte inlet; And an electrolyte flow passage connected to the electrolyte outlet and the electrolyte inlet to provide a path through which the electrolyte flows.

Preferably, the secondary battery further includes a temperature controller for controlling the temperature of the electrolyte flowing through the electrolyte flow path.

Also preferably, the secondary battery further includes a flow rate controller for controlling a flow rate of the electrolyte flowing through the electrolyte flow path.

Also preferably, the secondary battery further includes a gas discharge unit configured to discharge the gas generated in the insulating container to the outside of the insulating container.

Also preferably, the secondary battery further includes an electrolyte replenishment unit for additionally injecting an electrolyte into the insulating container when the amount of the electrolyte contained in the insulating container is less than or equal to a predetermined amount.

In addition, a secondary battery according to the present invention for achieving the above object, an electrode comprising one or more positive electrodes and one or more negative electrodes; A plurality of insulating containers made of an insulating material and containing the electrodes and the electrolyte, and formed with an electrolyte outlet and an electrolyte inlet; And a plurality of electrolyte flow paths connected to an electrolyte outlet formed in one insulating container and an electrolyte inlet formed in another insulating container to provide a path through which the electrolyte flows.

Preferably, the secondary battery further includes a temperature controller provided in at least one of the plurality of electrolyte flow passages, and controlling a temperature of the electrolyte flowing through the electrolyte flow passages.

Also preferably, the secondary battery further includes a flow rate adjusting unit which is provided in at least one of the plurality of electrolyte flow passages, and controls a flow rate of the electrolyte flowing through the electrolyte flow passage.

Also preferably, the secondary battery further includes a gas discharge unit configured to discharge the gas generated in the insulating container to the outside of the insulating container.

Also preferably, the secondary battery further includes an electrolyte replenishment unit for additionally injecting an electrolyte into the insulating container when the amount of the electrolyte contained in the insulating container is less than or equal to a predetermined amount.

Also preferably, the plurality of insulating containers and the plurality of electrolyte flow paths are housed in a non-insulating container.

According to this invention, the lithium secondary battery of the new form of the structure which electrolyte solution circulates is provided. Furthermore, in the case of the secondary battery according to the present invention, it can be used more suitably for the power storage device of the energy storage system that requires a large power capacity, such as smart grid system or electric vehicle charging station.

In addition, according to the present invention, since the inside of the secondary battery is circulated using the electrolyte solution itself rather than the air or liquid as the refrigerant or the fruit, the temperature control efficiency is very excellent. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the temperature-sensitive lithium secondary battery from deteriorating performance due to high temperature or low temperature and to achieve optimal performance. In addition, since the secondary battery is not heated or cooled by using a separate air or liquid, it is not necessary to provide a structure for circulating the air or liquid, thereby reducing the cost and reducing the volume of the power storage device itself. You can.

In addition, according to the present invention, since only the size of the insulated container is different, and the electrodes can use the same size of electrodes, various battery models can be produced in one manufacturing line, thereby lowering the cost of the customer's capacity change request. You can respond quickly.

In addition, in the secondary battery according to the present invention, since much electrolyte solution is accommodated therein compared with the conventional secondary battery, it is possible to prevent battery performance deterioration due to electrolyte exhaustion and to improve battery life.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and, together with the description of the invention given below, serve to further the understanding of the technical idea of the invention, And should not be construed as limiting.
1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a secondary battery according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a top cross-sectional view showing an example of a configuration in which an electrode is fixed in a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of a secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a top cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ of FIG. 3.
5 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a secondary battery according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration in which a plurality of insulating containers and a plurality of electrolyte flow paths are accommodated in a non-insulating container in a secondary battery according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, terms or words used in the specification and claims should not be construed as having a conventional or dictionary meaning, and the inventors should properly explain the concept of terms in order to best explain their own invention. Based on the principle that can be defined, it should be interpreted as meaning and concept corresponding to the technical idea of the present invention.

Therefore, the embodiments described in the present specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all the technical ideas of the present invention. Therefore, It is to be understood that equivalents and modifications are possible.

1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a secondary battery according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 1, the arrow indicates the direction in which the electrolyte flows.

Referring to FIG. 1, a secondary battery according to the present invention includes an electrode 100, an insulating container 200, and an electrolyte flow path 300.

The electrode 100 includes at least one positive electrode 110 and at least one negative electrode 120, and a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material are coated on the positive electrode 110 and the negative electrode 120. In the case of a lithium secondary battery, a lithium oxide and a carbon material may be used as the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material, but the present invention is not limited to the specific types of the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electrode 100 may be implemented in the form of a plate. However, the present invention is not limited to that in which the electrode 100 is configured in the form of a plate, and the electrode 100 may be implemented in a form other than a plate.

If the electrode 100 is formed in a plate shape, the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate may be implemented to face each other, that is, to face each other. This is because ion exchange between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate can be made easier.

Preferably, in the electrode 100, a separator may be interposed between the anode 110 and the cathode 120. The separator is disposed between the positive electrode 110 and the negative electrode 120 to insulate between the positive electrode 110 and the negative electrode 120, so that the active material ions can be exchanged between the positive electrode 110 and the negative electrode 120.

However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the structure in which the separator is included in the electrode 100 as described above. That is, when a structure is provided such that the positive electrode 110 and the negative electrode 120 do not contact each other, a separator may not be interposed between the positive electrode 110 and the negative electrode 120. For example, a groove in which the positive electrode 110 and the negative electrode 120 can be inserted is formed in the insulating container 200, and the positive electrode 110 and the negative electrode 120 are inserted into the groove to stabilize a predetermined distance from each other. If it can be maintained as, the separator may not be interposed between the anode 110 and the cathode 120.

2 is a top cross-sectional view showing an example of a configuration in which the electrode 100 is fixed in a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, only one anode 110 and one cathode 120 are illustrated for convenience of description.

2, in the secondary battery according to the present invention, the insulating container 200 is provided with an electrode insertion groove 230 on its inner surface. In addition, the electrode insertion groove 230 may be inserted into the anode 110 and the cathode 120, respectively, each electrode insertion groove 230 is spaced a predetermined distance. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the positive electrode 110 and the negative electrode 120 may be respectively inserted into the electrode insertion groove 230 and fixed, and because there is a gap between the electrode insertion groove 230, the positive electrode 110 Contact between the cathode 120 and the cathode 120 may be prevented. Therefore, with this electrode fixing configuration, a separator may not be provided between the anode 110 and the cathode 120.

However, in the embodiment of Figure 2, the electrode insertion groove 230 is shown as being formed on the inner side of the insulating container 200, this form is only an example, the shape or arrangement of the electrode insertion groove 230, etc. May be configured in various ways. For example, the electrode insertion groove 230 may be formed on the inner bottom surface of the insulating container 200.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 1, when a plurality of anodes 110 and cathodes 120 are provided in the electrode 100, the plurality of anodes 110 and cathodes 120 may be connected to a connection member such as a bus bar. By connecting the positive electrode tab 111 and the negative electrode tab 121 can be connected in series or in parallel with each other. In this way, the positive electrode bus bar 131 and the negative electrode bus bar 141 connected to the positive electrode tab 111 and the negative electrode tab 121 may have an external positive terminal 221 and an external negative electrode terminal (221) provided in the insulating container 200. 222).

Preferably, as shown in FIG. 1, the electrode 100 includes a plurality of anodes 110 and a cathode 120, and the anode 110 and the cathode 120 are alternately stacked with each other. Can be formed. At this time, the stacking of the anode 110 and the cathode 120 may be made in the horizontal direction, as shown in the figure may be made in the vertical direction.

Also preferably, when the electrode 100 is formed in a plate shape, the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate may be formed by being wound with a separator interposed therebetween. As such, when the electrode 100 is configured in the form of a jelly roll, it is possible to prevent the active material applied to the electrode 100 from being easily separated from the electrode 100 due to a large amount of electrolyte.

The insulating container 200 is a container made of an insulating material, and accommodates the electrode 100 and the electrolyte solution. Representative examples of such insulating materials include plastics and the like. Plastic may be used as a material of the insulating container 200 of the present invention because it is excellent in insulation, easy to fusion, and can be manufactured in various forms. In addition, various insulating materials may be used as the material of the insulating container 200, of course.

The insulating container 200 may be made entirely of an insulating material, but only part of the insulating container 200 may be made of an insulating material. In particular, the insulating container 200 may be configured in a form in which an insulating material is coated on the inner surface of the non-insulating container. For example, the insulated container 200 may be configured in a form in which an insulating material, such as a plastic layer, is coated on an inner surface of the non-insulated container.

The insulating container 200 may be accommodated in a non-insulating container. Here, the non-insulating container may be a container made of a metal material. As such, when the outside of the insulating container 200 is wrapped by a non-insulating container such as a metal container, not only the structural stability of the secondary battery may be improved, but also the penetration of external moisture, air, and electrolyte leakage may be more effectively prevented. .

In addition, the insulating container 200, the moisture barrier may be coated on the outer surface. In this case, penetration of moisture from the outside with respect to the secondary battery can be effectively blocked.

In addition, in the secondary battery according to the present invention, the insulating container 200 has at least one electrolyte outlet 211 and the electrolyte inlet 212 is formed. The electrolyte outlet 211 discharges the electrolyte in the insulating container 200 to the outside of the insulating container 200, and the electrolyte inlet 212 draws the electrolyte from the outside of the insulating container 200 into the insulating container 200. It is a structure to let. Accordingly, the electrolyte solution contained in the insulating container 200 may be discharged to the outside of the insulating container 200 through the electrolyte discharge port 211, and may flow into the insulating container 200 through the electrolyte inlet 212.

Here, the electrolyte outlet 211 and the electrolyte inlet 212 may be formed on the opposite side of the insulating container 200. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when the electrolyte outlet 211 is provided on the left side of the insulated container 200, the electrolyte inlet 212 may be provided on the right side of the insulated container 200. As such, when the electrolyte outlet 211 and the electrolyte inlet 212 are formed on the opposite side of the insulative container 200, the electrolyte is easily circulated, and the portion in which the electrolyte is not circulated inside the insulative container 200 is formed. It can be prevented from occurring.

However, the present invention is not limited by the specific positions of the electrolyte outlet 211 and the electrolyte inlet 212. For example, based on FIG. 1, the electrolyte outlet 211 and the electrolyte inlet 212 may be formed at the front and the rear of the insulating container 200, respectively, or may be formed at the top and the bottom thereof, respectively.

Meanwhile, in FIG. 1, although one electrolyte outlet 211 and one electrolyte inlet 212 are formed in one insulating container 200, the electrolyte outlet 211 and the electrolyte inlet 212 are just examples. ) May be formed in a single insulated container (200).

In addition, the shape of the lower housing 210 and the upper cover 220 of the insulating container 200 in FIG. 1 is just an example, and the shape of the lower housing 210 and the upper cover 220 is variously implemented. Can be. For example, the lower accommodating portion 210 and the upper cover 220 may be implemented in a cylindrical form, the upper cover 220 may be implemented in a plate form. On the other hand, the upper cover 220 is covered with an open portion of the lower housing 210 may be sealed and sealed, and at this time, various fusion methods known at the time of the present application may be used.

One end of the electrolyte flow path 300 is connected to the electrolyte outlet 211 of the insulating container 200, and the other end thereof is connected to the electrolyte inlet 212 of the insulating container 200. In addition, the electrolyte may flow through the internal space, thereby providing a path through which the electrolyte may flow. That is, the electrolyte solution contained in the insulating container 200 is discharged from the insulating container 200 through the electrolyte outlet 211 and flows through the electrolyte passage 300, and then into the insulating container 200 through the electrolyte inlet 212. Can be introduced.

Preferably, as shown in FIG. 1, the secondary battery according to the present invention may further include a temperature controller 400.

The temperature controller 400 adjusts the temperature of the electrolyte flowing through the electrolyte flow path 300. Therefore, the temperature controller 400 may be provided on the electrolyte flow path 300, as shown in the drawing.

More preferably, the temperature control unit 400 may increase or decrease the temperature of the electrolyte. Therefore, the temperature controller 400 may be configured to include a temperature measuring device, a heat exchanger, a cooler and / or a heater.

According to the embodiment, the temperature controller 400 measures the temperature of the electrolyte using a temperature measuring device. In this case, the temperature measuring device may be provided in the insulating container 200 or may be provided in the electrolyte passage 300.

If the temperature of the electrolyte is less than or equal to a predetermined temperature, the temperature controller 400 may heat the electrolyte using a heat exchanger and / or a heater. In a situation where the temperature is low, such as in a cold winter, the lithium secondary battery may not properly exhibit its performance. According to the embodiment, the temperature controller 400 supplies heat to the electrolyte flowing through the electrolyte flow path 300. In addition, the heated electrolyte flows back into the insulating container 200 through the electrolyte flow path 300. Therefore, heat can be supplied to the entire electrolyte solution of the secondary battery, so that the performance of the secondary battery can be prevented from being lowered due to the low temperature, and the electrolyte solution can be maintained at the optimum temperature.

In addition, when the temperature of the electrolyte is more than a predetermined temperature, the temperature control unit 400 may cool the electrolyte using a heat exchanger and / or a cooler. When the temperature rises above a certain level, there is a risk of fire or explosion as well as deterioration of the lithium secondary battery. In particular, in the case of the secondary battery used in the power storage device, since the output and capacity is very large, compared with the secondary battery used in portable devices or mobile equipment, the degree of heat generation is large, the risk of fire or explosion is also very large. However, according to the above embodiment, since the temperature controller 400 cools the electrolyte flowing through the electrolyte flow path 300, the secondary battery as a whole may be efficiently cooled.

According to the above embodiment of the present invention, since the electrolyte is circulated through the electrolyte passage 300 and the temperature of the electrolyte is directly controlled by the temperature controller 400, a separate fruit or refrigerant such as air or liquid is There is no need, and therefore, there is no need to provide equipment or devices for circulating them.

Also preferably, as shown in FIG. 1, the secondary battery according to the present invention may further include a flow rate controller 500. The flow rate adjusting unit 500 adjusts the flow rate of the electrolyte flowing through the electrolyte flow path 300. The flow control unit 500 may include a flow control valve, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this form.

Also preferably, as shown in FIG. 1, the secondary battery according to the present invention may further include a gas discharge unit 600.

In the case of a secondary battery such as a lithium secondary battery, gas may be generated from an electrode 100 and an electrolyte solution accommodated in the insulating container 200 during charging and discharging. If the gas is not properly discharged to the outside, the insulating container 200 may be damaged due to the gas internal pressure, and, in severe cases, the secondary battery may explode. However, when the gas discharge unit 600 is provided as in the above embodiment, even if gas is generated inside the insulating container 200, the gas may be discharged to the outside of the secondary battery, thereby preventing damage or explosion of the secondary battery. Can be. As shown in the figure, the gas discharge part 600 may be implemented by forming a hole in the insulating container 200, or may be implemented in various ways.

Preferably, the gas discharge part 600 may be operated when the pressure difference between the inside of the insulated container 200 and the outside of the insulated container 200 is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. That is, when the pressure difference between the inside of the insulated container 200 and the outside of the insulated container 200 is not very large, the gas discharge unit 600 is not operated, and only when the pressure difference is greater than or equal to a predetermined level. May operate to discharge the gas inside the insulating container 200 to the outside. This is because, when the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the insulated container 200 is not large, the insulated container 200 can withstand this sufficiently, so it is not necessary to exhaust the gas.

Although not shown in the drawings, the secondary battery according to the present invention may further include an electrolyte replenishment unit. When the amount of the electrolyte contained in the insulating container 200 is less than or equal to a predetermined amount, the electrolyte replenishing part additionally injects an electrolyte into the insulating container 200. According to this embodiment, when the electrolyte solution of the secondary battery is insufficient, it can be replenished at any time, it is possible to improve that the performance or life of the battery is reduced due to exhaustion of the electrolyte.

Meanwhile, in FIG. 1, the electrolyte flow path 300 is illustrated as being configured in the form of a pipe, but this is only an example, and the present invention is not limited to the specific shape of the electrolyte flow path 300.

In addition, in FIG. 1, the temperature controller 400 is illustrated as being separated from the insulating container 200, but such a configuration is merely an example. For example, the temperature controller 400 may be integrally formed with the insulating container 200.

3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of a rechargeable battery according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a top cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ of FIG. 3. 3 and 4, the arrow indicates the direction in which the electrolyte flows.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, as shown in FIG. 1, the temperature controller 400 is not separated from the insulated container 200, but is attached to the insulated container 200 and is integrally formed. . The electrolyte flow path 300 is formed such that the electrolyte flowing out of the electrolyte outlet 211 of the insulating container 200 flows to the electrolyte inlet 212 side of the insulating container 200 through the temperature control unit 400. In addition, the temperature controller 400 may be provided in the secondary battery in various forms.

Meanwhile, although the electrolyte flow path 300 is illustrated as being formed outside the insulating container 200 in FIGS. 1 to 4, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this embodiment, and the electrolyte flow path 300 is the insulating container 200. It may be formed in the interior or may be implemented in an integrated form with the insulating container 200.

5 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a secondary battery according to still another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the arrow indicates the direction in which the electrolyte flows. However, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, detailed descriptions of parts to which the description of the embodiment of FIG. 1 may be equally omitted will be omitted, and only characteristic parts will be described in more detail.

Referring to FIG. 5, a secondary battery according to the present invention includes a plurality of insulating containers 200. The plurality of insulating containers 200 are made of an insulating material. In this case, the insulating container 200 may be configured in the form of an insulating material as a whole, or may be configured in the form of an insulating material coated on the inner surface of the non-insulating material. In addition, an electrolyte outlet 211 and an electrolyte inlet 212 are formed in each of the plurality of insulating containers 200. However, in FIG. 5, the electrolyte outlet 211 and the electrolyte inlet 212 are illustrated as one formed for each insulating container 200, but this is merely an example, and each of the insulating container 200 includes an electrolyte outlet 211 and / or Alternatively, two or more electrolyte inlets 212 may be formed.

Meanwhile, in FIG. 5, three secondary containers 200 are provided in the secondary battery, but only for convenience of description, the number of the insulating containers 200 may be variously configured. It is obvious to those skilled in the art.

The electrode 100 and the electrolyte may be accommodated in the insulating container 200. In addition, the electrode 100 includes one or more anodes 110 and one or more cathodes 120. In this case, a separator may be interposed between the anode 110 and the cathode 120. However, if a fixing means such as an electrode insertion groove 230 or the like is provided in the insulating container 200 so that the positive electrode 110 and the negative electrode 120 are separated from each other, the separator may not be interposed. In addition, the electrode 100 may be configured in a form in which the anode 110 and the cathode 120 are alternately stacked, or in a form in which the anode 110 and the cathode 120 are disposed between the separators and wound. .

In addition, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the secondary battery includes a plurality of electrolyte flow paths 300. The electrolyte flow path 300 is connected between an electrolyte outlet 211 formed in one insulating container 200 and an electrolyte inlet 212 formed in another insulating container 200 to provide a path through which electrolyte flows. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, if the secondary battery includes three insulating containers 200, and these are represented by the first to third insulating containers 201 to 203, the electrolyte flow path 300 is provided. ) May be provided with at least three. That is, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the electrolyte flow path 300 may include a first electrolyte flow path 301 and a second insulating container 202 connected between the first insulating container 201 and the second insulating container 202. It may include a second electrolyte flow passage 302 connected between the third insulating container 203 and a third electrolyte flow passage 303 connected between the third insulating container 203 and the first insulating container 201. .

As described above, when a plurality of insulating containers 200 are provided in the secondary battery and a plurality of electrolyte flow paths 300 are provided between the insulating containers 200, electrolyte circulation may be performed between the plurality of insulating containers 200. Can be.

In addition, the secondary battery according to this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, may include a temperature control unit 400. Here, the temperature controller 400 adjusts the temperature of the electrolyte flowing through the electrolyte flow path 300 as in the embodiment of FIG. 1. The temperature controller 400 may include a heat exchanger, a cooler, and / or a heater to increase or decrease the temperature of the electrolyte.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the temperature controller 400 may be formed in one of the plurality of electrolyte flow paths 300, but this is only an example. That is, two or more temperature controllers 400 may be formed on the plurality of electrolyte flow paths 300, and may be provided in all of the electrolyte flow paths 300. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the temperature controller 400 may be provided in each of the first to third electrolyte flow paths 301 to 303. In this case, the temperature control effect on the electrolyte solution of the secondary battery can be more sure.

In addition, as in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the secondary battery including the plurality of insulating containers 200 and the plurality of electrolyte flow paths 300 includes a flow rate adjusting unit for controlling the flow rate of the electrolyte flowing through the electrolyte flow path 300. 500 may be included. Also, like the temperature controller 400, two or more of the flow rate controller 500 may be formed on the plurality of electrolyte flow paths 300.

In addition, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the secondary battery including the plurality of insulating containers 200 and the plurality of electrolyte flow paths 300 discharges gas generated in the insulating container 200 to the outside of the insulating container 200. The gas discharge unit 600 may be further included. When the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the insulated container 200 is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the gas discharge part 600 may discharge the gas in the insulated container 200 to the outside of the insulated container 200.

In addition, in the secondary battery including the plurality of insulating containers 200 and the plurality of electrolyte flow paths 300, when the amount of the electrolyte solution contained in the insulating container 200 is equal to or less than a predetermined level, the electrolyte is further added to the insulating container 200. It may further include an electrolyte replenishment to inject.

Also preferably, in the secondary battery including the plurality of insulating containers 200 and the plurality of electrolyte flow paths 300, the plurality of insulating containers 200 and the plurality of electrolyte flow paths 300 are housed in a non-insulating container. It can be implemented as. This will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration in which a plurality of insulating containers 200 and a plurality of electrolyte flow paths 300 are accommodated in a non-insulating container 600 in a secondary battery according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, in the secondary battery according to the present invention, a plurality of insulating containers 200 may be stored in one non-insulating container (tank) 600. In addition, an electrolyte passage 300 is provided between the plurality of insulating containers 200 to allow the electrolyte to flow therebetween. In this case, the non-insulating container 600 surrounding the plurality of insulating containers 200 may be made of a material such as metal. The non-insulating container 600 made of a material such as metal is excellent in preventing moisture penetration and prevents water from entering the insulating container 200, and protects the insulating container 200, the electrolyte flow path 300, and the like from external impact. It can contribute to the structural stability improvement of a secondary battery.

Meanwhile, in FIG. 6, the non-insulating container 600 is shown transparently, but this is for illustrating the structure of the plurality of insulating containers 200 and the electrolyte flow path 300 included in the non-insulating container 600.

In addition, in the present invention, the number of non-insulating container 600 or insulating container 200 included in the secondary battery may be variously configured. For example, two or more non-insulating containers 600 may be provided so that each non-insulating container 600 includes one or more insulating containers 200.

The power storage device according to the present invention includes the above-described secondary battery.

For example, the power storage device according to the present invention includes an electrode 100 including one or more anodes 110 and one or more cathodes 120 and an insulating material to accommodate the electrode 100 and the electrolyte, and to receive the electrolyte. An electrolyte container 200 having an outlet 211 and an electrolyte inlet 212, and an electrolyte passage 300 connected to the electrolyte outlet 211 and the electrolyte inlet 212 to provide a path through which the electrolyte can flow. It may be configured to include a secondary battery including a.

In addition, the power storage device according to the present invention, the electrode 100 including one or more anodes 110 and one or more cathodes 120, an insulating material to accommodate the electrode 100 and the electrolyte solution and the electrolyte outlet ( 211) and a plurality of insulating containers 200 formed with an electrolyte inlet 212, and an electrolyte outlet 211 formed in one insulating container 200 and an electrolyte inlet 212 formed in another insulating container 200. It may be configured to include a secondary battery including a plurality of electrolyte flow path 300 for providing a path through which the electrolyte flows.

In particular, the power storage device according to the present invention can be effectively used to store power in an energy storage system that handles a large amount of power, such as a smart grid system or an electric vehicle charging station.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. It will be understood that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In the present specification, the term 'part' is used, such as 'temperature controller', 'flow controller', 'gas discharge unit', 'electrolyte replenishment unit', etc., but this refers to a logical structural unit, and must be physically It is apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention does not represent components that can be separated.

100: electrode
110: anode
120: cathode
200: insulated container
300: electrolyte flow path
400: temperature control unit
500: flow control unit
600: gas outlet

Claims (26)

An electrode comprising at least one anode and at least one cathode;
An insulating container made of an insulating material and containing the electrode and the electrolyte, and formed with an electrolyte outlet and an electrolyte inlet; And
An electrolyte passage connected to the electrolyte outlet and the electrolyte inlet to provide a path through which the electrolyte flows
Secondary battery comprising a. The method of claim 1,
The secondary battery further comprises a temperature controller for controlling the temperature of the electrolyte flowing through the electrolyte flow path. The method of claim 2,
The temperature controller is a secondary battery, characterized in that to increase or decrease the temperature of the electrolyte. The method of claim 1,
The secondary battery further comprises a flow rate adjusting unit for adjusting the flow rate of the electrolyte flowing through the electrolyte flow path. The method of claim 1,
The secondary battery further comprises a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The method of claim 1,
The electrode is a secondary battery, characterized in that formed in the form of a plurality of positive electrode and a plurality of negative electrode alternately stacked. The method of claim 1,
The electrode is a secondary battery, characterized in that the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate is formed with the separator disposed therebetween. The method of claim 1,
The insulating container is formed with an electrode insertion groove for fixing the positive electrode and the negative electrode spaced apart a predetermined distance, wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode is inserted into the electrode insertion groove is fixed. The method of claim 1,
The insulating container is a secondary battery, characterized in that the inner surface is formed by coating an insulating material. The method of claim 1,
The insulating container is a secondary battery, characterized in that stored in the non-insulating container. The method of claim 10,
The non-insulating container is a secondary battery, characterized in that made of a metal material. The method of claim 1,
The insulating container is a secondary battery, characterized in that the coating of a moisture blocker to block the inflow of moisture to the outer surface. The method of claim 1,
The secondary battery further comprises a gas discharge unit for discharging the gas generated in the insulating container to the outside of the insulating container. The method of claim 13,
And the gas discharge part discharges the gas inside the insulating container to the outside of the insulating container when the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the insulating container is a predetermined value or more. The method of claim 1,
And the electrolyte outlet and the electrolyte inlet are respectively formed on opposite surfaces of the insulating container. The method of claim 1,
When the amount of the electrolyte contained in the insulating container is less than a predetermined amount, the secondary battery further comprises an electrolyte replenishment for injecting the electrolyte into the insulating container. An electrode comprising at least one anode and at least one cathode;
A plurality of insulating containers made of an insulating material and containing the electrodes and the electrolyte, and formed with an electrolyte outlet and an electrolyte inlet; And
A plurality of electrolyte flow paths connected to an electrolyte outlet formed in one insulating container and an electrolyte inlet formed in another insulating container to provide a path through which the electrolyte flows;
Secondary battery comprising a. 18. The method of claim 17,
The secondary battery is provided in at least one of the plurality of electrolyte flow paths, further comprising a temperature controller for controlling the temperature of the electrolyte flowing through the electrolyte flow path. 19. The method of claim 18,
The temperature controller is a secondary battery, characterized in that to increase or decrease the temperature of the electrolyte. 18. The method of claim 17,
And a flow rate adjusting unit provided in at least one of the plurality of electrolyte flow passages to adjust a flow rate of the electrolyte flowing through the electrolyte flow passage. 18. The method of claim 17,
And the plurality of insulating containers and the plurality of electrolyte flow paths are housed in a non-insulating container. The method of claim 21,
The non-insulating container is a secondary battery, characterized in that made of a metal material. 18. The method of claim 17,
The secondary battery further comprises a gas discharge unit for discharging the gas generated in the insulating container to the outside of the insulating container. 24. The method of claim 23,
And the gas discharge part discharges the gas inside the insulating container to the outside of the insulating container when the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the insulating container is a predetermined value or more. 18. The method of claim 17,
When the amount of the electrolyte contained in the insulating container is less than a predetermined amount, the secondary battery further comprises an electrolyte replenishment for injecting the electrolyte into the insulating container. 26. A power storage device comprising the secondary battery of any one of claims 1-25.

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