JP2020140795A - Battery system for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a battery system for a vehicle that can be expected to have a sufficient cooling effect with a minimum space.SOLUTION: A battery system 10 for a vehicle includes a battery 20, a battery accommodating portion 30, a circulation flow forming portion 40, and a heat medium temperature adjusting portion 50, and is adaptable to perform heat exchange between the heat medium and the battery 20 by covering the heat medium on the battery 20 from above in the middle of the circulation flow formed by the circulation flow forming unit 40, and adjust the temperature of the heat medium heat-exchanged with the battery 20 by the heat medium temperature adjusting portion 50. The circulation flow forming portion 40 has a heat medium outflow portion 42, a heat medium receiving portion 44, and a heat medium pump-up portion 46, and the heat medium receiving portion 44 has a slope portion 44a which is downward sloped to the heat medium pump-up portion 46.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle battery system mounted on a vehicle that travels by transmitting rotational power generated by electric power to drive wheels.

Conventionally, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, vehicles such as electric vehicles and hybrid cars that travel by transmitting rotational power generated by electric power to drive wheels have been provided. In such a vehicle, for example, a lithium ion secondary battery and a secondary battery such as a nickel / hydrogen secondary battery are mounted.

In a vehicle equipped with a battery as described above, the battery may generate heat and become hot. If the temperature of the battery becomes excessively high, there are concerns about problems such as deterioration and deterioration of battery performance. Therefore, in the battery mounted on the vehicle of the prior art, a battery system having a configuration capable of cooling the battery by a method such as air cooling or water cooling is adopted.

JP-A-2018-114786

However, the battery system used in the electric vehicle of the prior art has a problem that the cooling effect of the battery is insufficient and a large space is required to obtain a sufficient cooling effect. Specifically, when the air cooling method is adopted, there is a problem that it is difficult to obtain a sufficient cooling effect because the heat transfer coefficient of air is low. In addition, when the water cooling method is adopted, there is a problem that a large space is required because it is necessary to provide a water channel between the batteries and take measures against leakage of cooling water in order to secure a heat dissipation area. ..

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle battery system that can be expected to have a sufficient cooling effect in a minimum space.

(1) The vehicle battery system of the present invention provided to solve the above-mentioned problems is mounted on a vehicle that travels by transmitting rotational power generated by electric power to drive wheels, and is mounted on a battery. A battery accommodating portion in which the battery is accommodated, a circulating flow forming portion forming a circulating flow by a heat medium made of an electrically insulating liquid, and a heat medium temperature adjusting unit for adjusting the temperature of the heat medium forming the circulating flow. In the middle of the circulating flow formed by the circulating flow forming portion, the heat medium is hung on the battery from above to exchange heat between the heat medium and the battery. The temperature of the heat medium after heat exchange with the battery can be adjusted by the heat medium temperature control section, and the circulation flow forming section causes the heat medium to flow out from above with respect to the battery. A heat medium receiving portion that receives the heat medium hung from above on the battery below the battery, and a heat medium pump that pumps the heat medium from the heat medium receiving portion toward the heat medium outflow portion. It has an upper portion, and the heat medium receiving portion has an inclined portion inclined so as to have a downward slope toward the upper portion of the heat medium pump.

The vehicle battery system of the present invention includes a circulation flow forming section and a heat medium temperature controlling section. In the vehicle battery system of the present invention, the temperature of the heat medium forming the circulating flow is optimized by the heat medium temperature control section, and the heat medium is applied to the battery from above in the middle of the circulating flow forming section to exchange heat. Allows the battery temperature to be optimized. Further, the circulation flow forming portion receives the heat medium hung from above with respect to the battery in the heat medium receiving portion, and directs the heat medium pumping portion for pumping the heat medium by the inclined portion provided in the heat medium receiving portion. Can be flushed. Therefore, in the vehicle battery system of the present invention, the heat medium is smoothly circulated by the circulation flow forming portion, and the battery temperature can be optimized efficiently. Further, in the present invention, a liquid having electrical insulation is used as a heat medium. Therefore, in the vehicle battery system of the present invention, the battery temperature can be optimized more efficiently than in the case of air cooling, and it is not necessary to take measures against leakage of cooling water as in the case of water cooling. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle battery system that can be expected to have a sufficient cooling effect in a minimum space.

(2) In the vehicle battery system of the present invention described above, it is preferable that the batteries are arranged in a posture extending in the vertical direction.

According to such a configuration, the temperature of the battery can be optimized by hanging the heat medium on the battery and allowing it to fall freely. Further, since the vehicle battery system of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle, by arranging it in a posture extending in the vertical direction, for example, the heat medium adhering to the battery surface can be dropped by vibration or the like accompanying traveling. Can be done. As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in heat exchange efficiency due to adhesion of the heat medium to the battery.

(3) In the vehicle battery system of the present invention described above, it is preferable that the heat medium temperature control unit constitutes the heat medium receiving unit.

According to such a configuration, the heat medium that has fallen due to heat exchange in the battery can be heat-exchanged in the heat medium temperature control section that constitutes the heat medium receiving section. As a result, the device configuration of the vehicle battery system can be made even more compact and simple.

(4) In the vehicle battery system of the present invention described above, it is preferable that the heat medium pumping portion described above is provided on the front side of the vehicle.

In the vehicle battery system of the present invention, the heat medium pumping portion is provided on the front side of the vehicle. Further, as described above, in the vehicle battery system of the present invention, the heat medium receiving portion is inclined so as to have a downward slope toward the upper part of the heat medium pump. Therefore, in the vehicle battery system of the present invention, the heat medium tends to collect on the front side of the vehicle, and the heat medium pumping portion is provided at the place where the heat medium tends to collect. Therefore, even when an external force such as the heat medium moving to the rear side of the vehicle acts due to, for example, acceleration of the vehicle, it is unlikely that the heat medium is poorly pumped at the upper part of the heat medium. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle battery system capable of optimizing the battery temperature by stably circulating the heat medium without causing a failure in pumping the heat medium by the upper part of the heat medium.

(5) In the vehicle battery system of the present invention described above, the heat medium temperature control unit adjusts the temperature of the heat medium by utilizing the temperature control capability of the air conditioner mounted on the vehicle. preferable.

According to such a configuration, the air conditioner mounted on the vehicle can also be utilized for temperature control of the heat medium, and the vehicle configuration can be made even simpler.

(6) In the vehicle battery system of the present invention described above, there is a reservoir for storing the heat medium on the front side of the vehicle of the heat medium receiving portion, and the upper part of the heat medium pumping portion can pump the heat medium from the reservoir. Is preferable.

In the vehicle battery system of the present invention, the heat medium receiving portion is not only inclined so as to have a downward slope toward the upper part of the heat medium pump provided on the front side of the vehicle, but is also provided on the front side of the vehicle. The upper part of the heat medium pumped from the reservoir is configured to be able to pump the heat medium. Therefore, even in a situation where an external force such that the heat medium moves to the rear side of the vehicle due to acceleration of the vehicle or the like acts, it is extremely unlikely that the heat medium is poorly pumped at the upper part of the heat medium. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle battery system capable of optimizing the battery temperature by circulating the heat medium more stably without causing a failure of pumping the heat medium by the upper part of the heat medium.

(7) In the vehicle battery system of the present invention described above, the heat medium receiving portion is formed of the bottom surface of the battery accommodating portion or a plate-shaped member arranged along the bottom surface, and the battery accommodating portion. However, it is preferable that the bottom surface of the battery accommodating portion is exposed to the outside of the vehicle.

By exposing the bottom surface of the battery housing portion to the outside of the vehicle as in the present invention, the cooling effect of the bottom surface of the battery housing portion forming the heat medium receiving portion or the plate-shaped member arranged along the bottom surface is enhanced. Can be done. As a result, the cooling efficiency of the heat medium flowing through the heat medium receiving portion can be improved.

(8) In the vehicle battery system of the present invention described above, at least the bottom surface of the battery accommodating portion is exposed to the outside of the vehicle, and the bottom surface of the battery accommodating portion has a downward slope toward the front side of the vehicle. It is preferable that they are arranged so as to be.

According to such a configuration, the bottom surface of the battery accommodating portion can be utilized for improving the aerodynamic performance of the vehicle, and can contribute to the improvement of energy efficiency in the vehicle.

(9) In the vehicle battery system of the present invention described above, the batteries are arranged in a plurality of rows in the battery accommodating portion, and an obstacle plate is arranged between the batteries adjacent to each other. It is preferable to have.

According to such a configuration, the heat exchange efficiency between the battery and the heat medium can be improved, and the battery temperature can be further optimized.

Here, considering that the heat medium is applied to the battery from above, in order to minimize the variation in the heat exchange efficiency with the heat medium in each part in the vertical direction of the battery, it is lower than the upper side of the battery. It is preferable to configure the structure so that the heat exchange efficiency is high on the side.

(10) Based on such findings, it is preferable that the vehicle battery system of the present invention described above is formed so that the baffle plate is larger on the lower side than the upper side of the battery.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to minimize the variation in heat exchange efficiency with the heat medium in each part of the battery in the vertical direction.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle battery system that can be expected to have a sufficient cooling effect in a minimum space.

It is a side view which shows an example of the vehicle which carries the vehicle battery system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the vehicle battery system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the relationship between the heat medium flow path for temperature control which constitutes the vehicle battery system of FIG. 1 and the air conditioner mounted on a vehicle. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of the relationship between the heat medium flow path for temperature control shown in FIG. 3 and the air conditioner mounted on a vehicle. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of the vehicle battery system shown in FIG. (A) and (b) are explanatory views exemplifying the attachment state of the baffle plate to the battery in the modified example of the vehicle battery system shown in FIG. 1, respectively.

Hereinafter, the vehicle battery system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle battery system 10 is mounted on a vehicle 1 that travels by transmitting rotational power generated by electric power to drive wheels 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle battery system 10 includes a battery 20, a battery accommodating portion 30, a circulation flow forming portion 40, and a heat medium temperature controlling portion 50.

The battery 20 is composed of, for example, a lithium ion secondary battery, a secondary battery such as a nickel / hydrogen secondary battery, or the like. The battery 20 is composed of a plurality of single batteries.

The battery accommodating portion 30 forms a space for accommodating the battery 20. The battery accommodating portion 30 can be installed in a plurality of rows in a posture in which the batteries 20 extend in the vertical direction. The battery accommodating portion 30 has a front surface 30a facing the front side of the vehicle 1, a rear surface 30b facing the rear side, side surfaces 30c and 30c facing the side side, a top surface 30d facing the upper side, and a bottom surface 30e facing the lower side. .. The front surface 30a, the rear surface 30b, the side surfaces 30c, and 30c are surfaces that are erected substantially vertically, and the top surface 30d is a surface that is substantially horizontal. On the other hand, the bottom surface 30e is a surface inclined so as to have a downward slope from the rear surface 30b side toward the front surface 30a side (vehicle front side).

The battery accommodating portion 30 is arranged at the bottom 4 of the vehicle 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the battery accommodating portion 30 is arranged so that at least the bottom surface 30e is exposed to the outside of the vehicle 1. In the present embodiment, the front surface 30a protrudes downward from the rear surface 30b and is exposed to the outside, and the portion of the side surfaces 30c and 30c on the bottom surface 30e side is exposed to the outside.

The circulation flow forming unit 40 forms a circulation flow of a heat medium (hereinafter, also referred to as “battery cooling heat medium”) used for cooling the battery 20 in the battery housing unit 30. The heat medium for cooling the battery is, for example, a liquid having electrical insulation in order to prevent electric leakage or failure of the battery 20. In this embodiment, oil is used as a heat medium for cooling the battery. The circulation flow forming portion 40 includes a heat medium outflow portion 42, a heat medium receiving portion 44, and a heat medium pumping upper portion 46.

The heat medium outflow section 42 is for hanging the battery cooling heat medium on the battery 20 arranged in the battery housing 30 by causing the battery cooling heat medium to flow out from above with respect to the battery 20. The heat medium outflow portion 42 can be configured by, for example, a pipe arranged above the battery 20. The heat medium outflow section 42 has a plurality of outlets 42a. Each outlet 42a is provided at a position corresponding to each battery 20. Therefore, the battery cooling heat medium is supplied to the heat medium outflow section 42, and the battery cooling heat medium is discharged from each outlet 42a, so that the battery cooling heat medium is surely hung on each battery 20. Can be done.

The heat medium receiving unit 44 receives the battery cooling heat medium hung from above on the battery 20 by the heat medium outflow unit 42 below the battery. The heat medium receiving portion 44 has an inclined portion 44a. The inclined portion 44a is composed of a plate-shaped member extending along the bottom surface 30e of the battery accommodating portion 30.

The inclined portion 44a is inclined so as to be along the bottom surface 30e of the battery accommodating portion 30. That is, the inclined portion 44a has a downward slope from the rear surface 30b side to the front surface 30a side (vehicle front side) in the battery accommodating portion 30 and below the portion where the battery 20 is arranged. It is tilted. As will be described in detail later, in the battery housing portion 30, the heat medium pumping upper portion 46 is provided on the front surface 30a side of the battery 20. Therefore, the inclined portion 44a is inclined so as to have a downward slope toward the upper portion 46 of the heat medium.

The heat medium pumping upper portion 46 pumps the battery cooling heat medium from the heat medium receiving section 44 toward the heat medium outflow section 42. The heat medium pumping upper portion 46 includes a pumping pipe 46a, a strainer 46b, and a pump 46c. The pumping pipe 46a is composed of a pipe that rises from the heat medium receiving portion 44 toward the heat medium outflow portion 42 in the battery accommodating portion 30. The pumping pipe 46a is arranged on the front surface 30a side of the battery accommodating portion 30 more than the battery 20 arranged on the front surface 30a side. The pumping pipe 46a is connected to the heat medium outflow portion 42 on the upper end side. Further, the pumping pipe 46a is connected to the strainer 46b at the lower end (the end on the heat medium receiving portion 44 side). Further, the pump 46c is provided in the middle of the pumping pipe 46a.

Since the circulation flow forming portion 40 has the above-described configuration, the circulation flow of the heat medium for cooling the battery can be formed inside the battery housing portion 30 by operating the pump 46c. That is, by operating the pump 46c, the circulation flow forming unit 40 can pump up the battery cooling heat medium through the strainer 46b on the front surface 30a side of the heat medium receiving unit 44 and supply it to the heat medium outflow unit 42. Further, the battery cooling heat medium supplied to the heat medium outflow section 42 is hung on each battery 20 via the outlet 42a and falls toward the heat medium receiving section 44. The battery cooling heat medium that has fallen on the heat medium receiving portion 44 gathers on the heat medium pumping upper portion 46 side along the inclination of the inclined portion 44a. In this way, the circulating flow forming unit 40 can form a circulating flow of the battery cooling heat medium inside the battery accommodating unit 30.

The heat medium temperature control unit 50 is arranged in the middle of the circulation path of the battery cooling heat medium formed by the circulation flow forming unit 40 described above, and is for adjusting the temperature of the battery cooling heat medium. The heat medium temperature control unit 50 is provided at any position in the middle of the circulation path of the battery cooling heat medium as long as the temperature of the battery cooling heat medium after heat exchange in the battery 20 can be adjusted. Is also good. In the present embodiment, the heat medium temperature control unit 50 is provided in the heat medium receiving unit 44 which forms a part of the circulation path of the battery cooling heat medium. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the heat medium temperature control unit 50 and the heat medium receiving unit 44 are composed of one member.

More specifically, the heat medium temperature control section 50 has a temperature control heat medium flow path 54 formed inside a plate-shaped portion (plate section 52) forming the inclined portion 44a in the heat medium receiving section 44. Has been done. A heat medium (hereinafter, also referred to as “heat control heat medium”) flows through the temperature control heat medium flow path 54.

The temperature control heat medium flow path 54 includes an outgoing flow path portion 54a through which the temperature control heat medium flows from the front surface 30a side to the rear surface 30b side of the battery housing portion 30, and the temperature control heat medium flow path 54 from the rear surface 30b side to the front surface 30a side. It is formed so as to be continuous with the return flow path portion 54b through which the medium flows. The heat medium flow path 54 for temperature control may have the forward flow path portion 54a and the return flow path portion 54b arranged in any manner, but the cooling of the battery cooling heat medium that has fallen into the heat medium receiving portion 44 is cooled. From the viewpoint of improving efficiency, the forward flow path portion 54a is arranged on the front surface side (battery 20 side) of the plate portion 52, and the return flow path portion 54b is on the back surface side (bottom surface 30e side) of the plate portion 52 as shown in the illustrated example. ) Should be provided so that it faces.

The forward side connection portion 54c is provided at the end of the heat medium flow path 54 for temperature control on the forward flow path portion 54a side, and the return side connection portion 54d is provided at the end portion on the return flow path portion 54b side. .. The forward side connection portion 54c and the return side connection portion 54d are connected to the heat medium cycle 5x of the air conditioner 5 provided in the vehicle 1.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the heat medium cycle 5x of the air conditioner 5 mounted on the vehicle 1 has a compressor 5a (compressor), a condenser 5b (condenser), and an expansion valve as shown in FIG. It is assumed that the 5c, the evaporator 5d, etc. are connected by pipes. In the air conditioner 5, the temperature of the heat medium changes in the process of circulating the heat medium cycle 5x according to the following principle.

The compressor 5a compresses the heat medium in the vaporized state into a high temperature and high pressure state. The heat medium compressed in the compressor 5a is sent to the condenser 5b. The condenser 5b is forced from a heat medium sent from the compressor 5a in a high temperature, high pressure and vaporized state by, for example, a running wind flowing from the front of the vehicle 1 as the vehicle travels or a cooling air received from a cooling fan (not shown). Can take away the heat. As a result, the heat medium is in a liquefied state at low temperature and high pressure. When a heat medium in a low temperature, high pressure and liquefied state is supplied to the expansion valve 5c in the condenser 5b, the heat medium rapidly expands and becomes a low temperature, low pressure and atomized state. The atomized heat medium is vaporized in the evaporator 5d. When the heat medium is vaporized in the evaporator 5d, a large amount of heat of vaporization is taken from the surroundings. As a result, the heat medium that has become low temperature and low pressure is returned to the compressor 5a.

In the present embodiment, the temperature control heat medium flow path 54 is provided for the heat medium cycle 5x so that the heat medium flowing through the heat medium cycle 5x becomes the temperature control heat medium flowing through the temperature control heat medium flow path 54. ing. That is, the heat medium flow path 54 for temperature control is formed so as to form a portion of the above-mentioned heat medium cycle 5x that returns from the evaporator 5d to the compressor 5a.

More specifically, in the heat medium cycle 5x, a pipe forming a portion on the downstream side of the heat medium (heat medium for temperature control) in the flow direction with respect to the evaporator 5d is connected to the outgoing side connecting portion 54c. Further, a pipe for returning the heat medium (heat medium for temperature control) to the compressor 5a in the heat medium cycle 5x is connected to the return side connection portion 54d. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the heat medium (heat medium for temperature control) is in the order of compressor 5a → condenser 5b → expansion valve 5c → evaporator 5d → heat medium flow path 54 for temperature control (heat medium temperature control section 50) → compressor 5a. The heat medium temperature control unit 50 is connected to the air conditioner 5 so as to circulate. In other words, the heat medium temperature control unit 50 is connected by piping between the evaporator 5d and the compressor 5a in the heat medium cycle 5x of the air conditioner 5 so as to bypass the heat medium flow path 54 for temperature control.

As described above, the heat medium temperature control unit 50 is provided with a temperature control heat medium flow path 54 in a portion (plate portion 52) forming the inclined portion 44a in the heat medium receiving portion 44. Therefore, the battery cooling heat medium whose temperature has risen due to heat exchange with the battery 20 falls on the heat medium receiving portion 44, and while flowing through the inclined portion 44a, the temperature of the battery cooling heat medium becomes low. In the vehicle battery system 10, the heat medium for cooling the battery, which has become cold in this way, is pumped up by the heat medium pumping upper portion 46 and hung from above on the battery 20 from the heat medium outflow portion 42, so that the battery 20 Can be kept at a low temperature.

As described above, in the vehicle battery system 10 of the present embodiment, the temperature of the heat medium forming the circulating flow is optimized by the heat medium temperature controlling section 50, and the temperature is upward with respect to the battery 20 in the middle of the circulating flow forming section 40. The temperature of the battery 20 can be optimized by applying a heat medium to exchange heat. Further, the circulation flow forming unit 40 receives the heat medium hung from above on the battery 20 at the heat medium receiving unit 44, and can flow the heat medium toward the heat medium pumping upper portion 46 by the inclined portion 44a. Therefore, in the vehicle battery system 10, the heat medium is smoothly circulated by the circulation flow forming unit 40, and the temperature of the battery 20 can be optimized efficiently.

Further, in the vehicle battery system 10 of the present embodiment, a liquid having electrical insulation is used as a heat medium. Therefore, in the vehicle battery system 10, the temperature of the battery 20 can be optimized more efficiently than in the case of air cooling, and it is not necessary to take measures against leakage of cooling water as in the case of water cooling. Therefore, according to the vehicle battery system 10 of the present embodiment, the battery 20 can be sufficiently cooled in the minimum space.

Further, as described above, in the vehicle battery system 10 of the present embodiment, the batteries 20 are arranged in a posture extending in the vertical direction. Therefore, the temperature of the battery 20 can be optimized by hanging the heat medium on the battery 20 and allowing it to fall freely. Further, the vehicle battery system 10 of the present embodiment is mounted on the vehicle 1. Therefore, by arranging the battery 20 in a posture extending in the vertical direction as described above, it is possible to drop the heat medium adhering to the surface of the battery 20 due to, for example, vibration accompanying traveling. As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in heat exchange efficiency due to adhesion of the heat medium to the battery 20.

In the present embodiment, an example in which the battery 20 is arranged so as to extend in the vertical direction is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the battery 20 may be arranged so as to extend in the horizontal direction. good.

As described above, in the vehicle battery system 10 of the present embodiment, the heat medium temperature control unit 50 constitutes the inclined portion 44a of the heat medium receiving unit 44. Therefore, in the vehicle battery system 10, the heat medium for cooling the battery, which has fallen through the heat exchange with the battery 20, can be heat-exchanged in the heat medium temperature control unit 50 constituting the heat medium receiving unit 44. Therefore, the vehicle battery system 10 has a compact and simple device configuration.

In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the heat medium temperature control portion 50 forms the inclined portion 44a of the heat medium receiving portion 44 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. Specifically, in addition to the one corresponding to the inclined portion 44a, for example, a heat medium temperature controlling portion 50 for adjusting the temperature of the battery cooling heat medium is separately provided at a position on the downstream side of the inclined portion 44a. Is also good.

Further, in the vehicle battery system 10 of the present embodiment described above, the heat medium temperature control unit 50 adjusts the temperature of the battery cooling heat medium by utilizing the temperature adjustment ability of the air conditioner 5 mounted on the vehicle 1. It is said that. Specifically, the heat medium temperature control unit 50 is connected to the heat medium cycle 5x by pipe so that the heat medium for temperature control flowing through the heat medium cycle 5x of the air conditioner 5 can be directly supplied to the heat medium temperature control unit 50. It is said that. Therefore, the air conditioner 5 mounted on the vehicle 1 can also be used for adjusting the temperature of the heat medium, and the configuration of the vehicle 1 can be made even simpler.

In the present embodiment, the temperature control heat medium flowing through the heat medium cycle 5x of the air conditioner 5 is directly supplied to the heat medium temperature control section 50 to adjust the temperature of the battery cooling heat medium in the heat medium temperature control section 50. Although an example of enabling this is shown, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the temperature control heat medium flow path 54 is connected by a pipe so that the temperature control heat medium circulates, a pump 54p is provided in the middle thereof, and the temperature control heat medium flow path 54 and the heat medium are provided. In the cycle 5x, the pipes of the portions connecting the evaporator 5d and the compressor 5a may be connected so that heat can be exchanged via the heat exchanger 54y. With such a configuration, heat can be exchanged between the heat medium for temperature control circulating in the heat medium flow path 54 for temperature control and the heat medium circulating in the heat medium cycle 5x by the operation of the pump 54p.

As described above, in the vehicle battery system 10 of the present embodiment, the heat medium pumping upper portion 46 is provided on the front side of the vehicle 1. Further, in the vehicle battery system 10, the heat medium receiving portion 44 is inclined so as to have a downward slope toward the heat medium pumping upper portion 46. Therefore, in the vehicle battery system 10, the heat medium tends to collect on the front side of the vehicle 1, and the heat medium pumping upper portion 46 is provided at a place where the heat medium tends to collect. Therefore, in the vehicle battery system 10, even when an external force such that the heat medium moves to the rear side of the vehicle 1 acts due to acceleration of the vehicle 1, for example, the heat medium is applied to the heat medium pumping upper portion 46. It is unlikely that poor pumping will occur. Therefore, according to the vehicle battery system 10 of the present embodiment, poor pumping of the heat medium by the heat medium pumping upper portion 46 is unlikely to occur, and the heat medium for cooling the battery is stably circulated to optimize the temperature of the battery 20. it can. Further, when the vehicle 1 accelerates, a large amount of electric power is consumed, and the battery 20 may become hot. Even in such a situation, the heat medium for cooling the battery can be stably hung on the battery 20 to suppress the temperature rise of the battery 20.

As described above, in the vehicle battery system 10 of the present embodiment, the heat medium receiving portion 44 is formed by the bottom surface 30e of the battery accommodating portion 30 or the plate portion 52 arranged along the bottom surface 30e. Further, the battery accommodating portion 30 is arranged at the bottom portion 4 of the vehicle 1, and at least the bottom surface 30e is exposed to the outside of the vehicle 1. Therefore, in the vehicle battery system 10, the temperature of the battery accommodating portion 30 itself and the cooling effect of the heat medium receiving portion 44 (plate portion 52) arranged along the bottom surface 30e can be expected. This can be expected to improve the cooling efficiency of the heat medium flowing through the heat medium receiving unit 44.

Further, as described above, in the vehicle battery system 10 of the present embodiment, at least the bottom surface 30e of the battery accommodating portion 30 is exposed to the outside of the vehicle 1 and has a downward slope toward the front side of the vehicle 1. Have been placed. Therefore, the vehicle battery system 10 can utilize the bottom surface 30e of the battery accommodating portion 30 for improving the aerodynamic performance of the vehicle 1, and may contribute to the improvement of energy efficiency in the vehicle 1.

In the present embodiment, the battery accommodating portion 30 is arranged at the bottom 4 of the vehicle 1 so that at least the bottom surface 30e is exposed to the outside of the vehicle 1, or the bottom surface 30e faces the front side of the vehicle 1. Although an example in which the battery accommodating portion 30 is arranged so as to have a downward slope is shown, the present invention is not limited to this, and the design can be changed as appropriate.

The vehicle battery system 10 is not limited to the above-described configuration, and the configuration may be appropriately changed as long as the gist of the present invention is not deviated. For example, in the vehicle battery system 10, as shown in FIG. 5, a reservoir 60 for storing the heat medium is provided on the front side of the vehicle 1 of the heat medium receiving section 44, and the heat medium pumping upper portion 46 is moved from the reservoir 60. The heat medium for cooling the battery may be pumped up.

When the vehicle battery system 10 has such a configuration, the heat medium receiving portion 44 is only inclined so as to have a downward slope toward the heat medium pumping upper portion 46 provided on the front side of the vehicle 1. Instead, the heat medium pumping upper portion 46 can pump the heat medium from the reservoir provided on the front side of the vehicle 1. For example, even in a situation where an external force acts such that the heat medium for cooling the battery moves to the rear side of the vehicle 1 due to acceleration of the vehicle 1, the heat medium for cooling the battery is poorly pumped at the heat medium pumping upper portion 46. The possibility of occurrence can be further reduced. Therefore, if the reservoir 60 as described above is provided, it is possible to more reliably prevent the occurrence of poor pumping of the battery cooling heat medium by the heat medium pumping upper portion 46.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the vehicle battery system 10 described above may have a baffle plate 70 arranged between the batteries 20 arranged in a plurality of rows in the battery accommodating portion 30. With such a configuration, the heat exchange efficiency between the battery 20 and the heat medium can be improved, and the temperature of the battery 20 can be further optimized. Further, when arranging the baffle plate 70, it is preferable to optimize the shape of the baffle plate 70 in consideration of minimizing the variation in the heat exchange efficiency with the heat medium in each part of the battery 20 in the vertical direction. .. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6B, it is preferable that the portion to be cooled is larger on the lower side than the upper side of the battery 20. With such a configuration, it is possible to minimize the variation in heat exchange efficiency with the heat medium in each part of the battery 20 in the vertical direction.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be suitably used in a general vehicle battery system mounted on a traveling vehicle by transmitting rotational power generated by electric power to drive wheels.

1: Vehicle 3: Drive wheel 4: Bottom 5: Air conditioner 10: Vehicle battery system 20: Battery 30: Battery housing 30e: Bottom 40: Circulation flow forming part 42: Heat medium outflow part 44: Heat medium receiving part 44a: Inclined part 46: Heat medium pumping top 50: Heat medium temperature control part 52: Plate part 60: Reservoir 70: Baffle plate

Claims (4)

It is a vehicle battery system installed in a vehicle that travels by transmitting the rotational power generated by electric power to the drive wheels.
Batteries and
A battery housing unit in which the battery is housed and
A circulation flow forming part that forms a circulation flow by a heat medium made of an electrically insulating liquid,
It has a heat medium temperature control unit that adjusts the temperature of the heat medium that forms the circulating flow.
In the middle of the circulating flow formed by the circulating flow forming portion,
By hanging the heat medium on the battery from above, heat is exchanged between the heat medium and the battery, and the temperature of the heat medium after heat exchange with the battery is adjusted by the heat medium temperature control section. It is possible and
The circulation flow forming part
A heat medium outflow portion that allows the heat medium to flow out from above with respect to the battery,
A heat medium receiving portion that receives the heat medium hung from above on the battery below the battery.
It has a heat medium pumping upper portion that pumps the heat medium from the heat medium receiving portion toward the heat medium outflow portion.
A vehicle battery system, wherein the heat medium receiving portion has an inclined portion inclined so as to have a downward slope toward the upper portion of the heat medium pump. The vehicle battery system according to claim 1, wherein the batteries are arranged in a vertically extending posture. The vehicle battery system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heat medium temperature control unit constitutes the heat medium receiving unit. The vehicle battery system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heat medium pumping portion is provided on the front side of the vehicle.

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