JP3328868B2 - High temperature battery module and battery system using the same - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a high-temperature battery module excellent in reliability and safety and a battery system using the same, and in particular, as a power storage device, an electric vehicle, an emergency power source, an uninterruptible power source, and the like. Peak cut device for power system,
The present invention relates to a module and a system used for a frequency / voltage stabilizing device and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art High-temperature batteries using sodium for the negative electrode and sulfur, selenium, tellurium, metal halide, etc. for the positive electrode have attracted attention because of their high efficiency and energy density, and have been used in power storage devices and electric vehicles. The use of is expected. These batteries use battery 1 to maintain their temperature.
The module is operated as a module in which one or a plurality of modules are housed in a heat insulating container.

An example of this type of module is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 57766, a plurality of high-temperature batteries are housed in a heat-insulating container to form a module.
The temperature is controlled by heating by a heater and cooling by a fan. According to this method, although the temperature control of the battery is easy and the accuracy is high, when the active material leaks from the battery, short-circuiting between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is apt to occur, and the reliability in an emergency is low.

Another example is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-283272.
As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication, a plurality of high-temperature batteries are housed in a heat insulating container, and an insulating material such as dry sand is filled between the batteries to constitute a module. According to this method, even if the active material leaks from the battery, it is blocked by the filled insulating material, so that a short circuit between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is less likely to occur and the reliability in an emergency is high. Have poor heat radiation, difficult temperature control, and low reliability during operation. This problem can be caused by running the battery at high power or operating mode.
This is a major problem when the battery is dynamically changed, causing the battery temperature to deviate from the appropriate range, the temperature distribution between the batteries to increase, causing imbalance in the battery characteristics in the module, and shortening the battery life. And other reliability problems.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-283270 discloses a method in which a storage container for an inert agent such as dry sand is provided outside, and a valve is opened when an abnormality occurs to discharge the inert agent into the heat insulating container. However, this method has problems that the device is complicated and large, and that the reliability of opening and closing the valve limits the reliability of the entire device, so that it is difficult to sufficiently increase the reliability. Was.

As described above, it has been difficult for the conventional high-temperature battery module to simultaneously satisfy the reliability during battery operation and the reliability during emergency.

[0007]

One object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art described above, except that even when the output is changed, the temperature distribution between the batteries in the module is small, and the battery characteristics are unbalanced. And the positive electrode /
An object of the present invention is to provide a high-temperature battery module in which a short circuit between the negative electrodes does not easily occur and which has high reliability in both operation and emergency.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a power storage device using the high-temperature battery module, an electric vehicle, an emergency power supply,
An object of the present invention is to provide a battery system such as an uninterruptible power supply, a power system peak cut device, and a frequency / voltage stabilizing device.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a first high-temperature battery module of the present invention is a module in which a plurality of high-temperature batteries such as a sodium-sulfur battery are housed in a heat insulating container. The high-temperature battery is arranged in a plane, with the respective terminals of the positive electrode and the negative electrode both positioned above or below the battery, and the heat insulating container is divided into two upper and lower spaces by a partition provided therein, One space accommodates the portion of the battery including the positive and negative terminals, and the other space accommodates the battery body that supports the positive and negative terminals and contains the active material of the battery. Features.

Preferably, the partition is made of an insulating material. As the insulating material constituting the partition, a plate made of calcium silicate or mica, a plate in which silica fiber, alumina fiber, potassium titanate fiber, or the like is solidified can be used. In addition, it is more preferable to provide a fan that blows air into a space in which all or a part of the high-temperature battery main body is housed, and a wind entrance and exit.

A second high-temperature battery module according to the present invention is a module in which the positive and negative terminals of the first high-temperature battery module are positioned above the battery.
The upper space in which each terminal of the negative electrode is housed is additionally filled with an insulating material such as dry sand.

The high-temperature battery module is preferably configured such that when the high-temperature battery is severely damaged, the partition wall is torn and the insulating material such as dry sand falls to the battery body in the space below. Note that it is preferable that the insulating material such as dry sand be filled in an amount sufficient to extinguish the active material contained in the plurality of high-temperature batteries. Ceramics powder such as alumina, sand, glass, zeolite, shirasu, expanded vermiculite,
Granular or powdery substances such as expanded pearlite, glass fiber, ceramic fiber, and the like can be used. Further, it is preferable to provide a fan and an air inlet / outlet like the first high-temperature battery module.

A third high-temperature cell module of the present invention, a plurality of high temperature batteries, such as sodium-sulfur battery in the heat insulating container
In the high-temperature battery modules housed in placed, the insulating container is divided into upper and lower two spaces by a partition wall provided inside, the space above an insulating material such as dry sand is filled,
When the high temperature battery is severely damaged, the partition wall is torn, and the insulating material is dropped into the space below, and the space below the heat insulating container is
A fan for introducing wind and an entrance and exit for the wind are provided in an insulated container.
It is characterized by having been done. In this high-temperature battery module, the positions of the positive and negative terminals of each high-temperature battery are not specified.

The fourth high-temperature battery module of the present invention comprises a
Multiple high-temperature batteries such as thorium sulfur batteries in an insulated container
In the high-temperature battery module placed and stored,
The heat container is divided into two upper and lower spaces by a partition provided inside.
The above space is filled with insulating material such as dry sand.
When the high-temperature battery is severely damaged, the partition wall is torn and the insulating
While the material is configured to fall into the space below,
The insulating material extinguishes the active material contained in the plurality of high-temperature batteries.
To be insulated enough to
The fan that blows air into the space below and the entrance and exit of the wind
It is characterized by being provided in a heat vessel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the above-described first to fourth aspects.
Battery system, such as a power storage device, an electric vehicle, an emergency power supply, an uninterruptible power supply, a power system peak-cut device, or a power system frequency / voltage stabilization device, using any of the high-temperature battery module assemblies Achieved by

[0016]

In the high-temperature battery module of the present invention, the inside of the heat insulating container is divided into two parts by the partition walls, and the terminals of the positive electrode and the negative electrode are arranged in one space different from at least a part of the battery body. Even if the active material leaks from the battery body, there is no danger of a short circuit between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and the reliability in an emergency is improved. Of course, the reliability increases as the number of the battery main bodies arranged in the other space increases. Therefore, it is preferable that substantially all of the battery main bodies be separated from the positive and negative electrode terminals. Note that the battery body refers to a portion where an electrochemical reaction substantially proceeds.

The insulating material such as dry sand filled in the space above the terminals of the positive electrode and the negative electrode blocks the active material leaked from the battery, so that the possibility of a short circuit between the positive electrode and the negative electrode is further reduced. And reliability is greatly improved. On the other hand, since the space containing all or a part of the battery body is not filled with the insulating material, the heat radiation of the battery body portion is good, heat is transferred between the batteries by convection or the like, and the temperature distribution in the heat insulating container is uniform. it can. As a result, reliability during battery operation is improved.
Also in this case, the temperature control is facilitated by separating substantially all of the battery body. Since the battery generates heat mainly due to the current flowing between the positive electrode and the negative electrode through the electrolyte, improving the heat dissipation of the battery body is important not only in the module but also in the battery to maintain an appropriate temperature distribution. is there. In particular, by blowing air to the space below the battery housing with a fan, etc., the heat dissipation of the battery and the heat transfer between the batteries are further improved, and the battery is operated at a high output to facilitate temperature control. In addition, the battery temperature can be kept in an appropriate range and the temperature distribution between batteries can be reduced even when the operation mode is changed dynamically. As a result, the balance of the battery characteristics in the module is maintained and the battery life is ensured, which is extremely effective in terms of reliability.

If the insulating material such as dry sand filled in the upper space is made to break the partition walls due to heat or the like at the time of a battery wreck, the insulating material such as dry sand falls onto the high-temperature battery,
This is extremely effective for safety because the fire can be extinguished automatically. If a plate made of calcium silicate, mica, or the like, or a plate obtained by solidifying silica fiber, alumina fiber, potassium titanate fiber, or the like is used as the partition wall, the heat resistance of these materials is 1000 to 12
Since the temperature is relatively low at about 00 ° C. or less, it is advantageous for this purpose. On the other hand, dry sand is a common fire extinguisher for sodium and sulfur. According to the regulations related to dangerous goods, 50 liters per 50 kg of sodium or 500 kg of sulfur is required for fire extinguishing. As described above, the safety of the high-temperature battery module can be particularly enhanced by storing in the upper part of the heat-insulating container at least the amount of dry sand necessary for extinguishing the amount of active material in the high-temperature battery in the heat-insulating container. Further, also in this case, high-precision temperature control can be easily performed by blowing air to the lower space of the heat insulating container with a fan.

Further, by using a battery system using the high temperature battery module assembly of the present invention, a highly reliable and safe power storage device, an electric vehicle, an emergency power supply, an uninterruptible power supply, and a power system Cut-off devices, frequency / voltage stabilizing devices, etc. are realized.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a high-temperature battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The high-temperature battery module of this embodiment generally includes a heat-insulating container 1, a lid 2 provided on a side of the heat-insulating container 1, a plurality of high-temperature batteries 3... A bus bar 6, which is connected to the positive terminal 4 and the negative terminal 5 of each high-temperature battery 3,
6. Insulating plate 7 laid on the inner bottom of insulating container 1, insulating container 1
And the like. As the heat insulating container 1 for storing the high temperature battery 3, a vacuum heat insulating container is usually used because of its excellent heat insulating performance. Although not shown, a heating heater can be attached inside. The high-temperature battery 3 is, for example, a battery such as a sodium-sulfur battery, and bus bars 6, 6 for connecting the positive terminal 4 and the negative terminal 5, respectively, are drawn out of the heat insulating container 1. The insulating plate 7 includes the high temperature battery 3 and the heat insulating container 1
In the example of this figure, a concave portion is provided in the insulating plate 7 to fix the high-temperature battery to improve the earthquake resistance.
In the example of FIG. 1, the partition wall 8 is provided so as to house the positive electrode terminal 4 and the negative electrode terminal 5 in the upper space, and to house the battery body (the part where the active material of the battery undergoes an electrochemical reaction) in the lower space.
The high-temperature battery 3 can be turned upside down. Reference numeral 9 denotes a support member provided on the high-temperature battery 1, and the partition wall 8 is fixed by this.

As described above, since the terminals 4 and 5 of the high-temperature battery 3 and the main body are arranged in separate spaces separated by the partition walls, even if the active material leaks from the main body of the battery, it is thereby prevented. There is no danger of a short circuit between the positive electrode 4 and the negative electrode 5. Also,
The battery body is dissipated and conducted heat by convection and the like, and temperature control is easy. Furthermore, since the battery is fixed by the partition wall 8, there is an advantage that the earthquake resistance is improved.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a high-temperature battery module according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and the components denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 have the same contents. The high-temperature battery module of this embodiment is obtained by adding a new function to the module of the first embodiment. That is, of the space in the heat insulating container 1, the upper space divided by the partition 8 is filled with the insulating material 11 such as dry sand. Therefore, the insulating material 11 is provided on the inner surface of the heat insulating container 1.
Is provided. The frame 10 also serves as a member for fixing the partition 8 in place of the support member 9 shown in FIG. Note that a structure in which the lid 2 is provided on the heat insulating container 1 can also be adopted. In this case, the frame 8 for holding the insulating material 11 is used.
Can be omitted. In this embodiment, the temperature controllability of the module is enhanced by providing a fan 12 and introducing a gas such as air into the lower space of the heat insulating container 1. Numerals 13 and 14 are an inlet and an outlet for gas, respectively.

As described above, since the terminal portions 4 and 5 of the high-temperature battery 3 are arranged in a space isolated from the battery main body and are filled with the insulating material 11, the gap between the positive electrode 4 and the negative electrode 5 when the active material leaks is obtained. Can be further reduced.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the structure of a high-temperature battery. In general, this high-temperature battery has a negative electrode active material 16 disposed inside a solid electrolyte tube 15 and a negative electrode container 21 provided with a hole at the bottom, and a positive electrode active material 17 disposed outside the solid electrolyte tube 15. The positive electrode material is contained in the positive electrode container 19.
In the case of a sodium-sulfur battery, the solid electrolyte tube 15 is sodium ion-conductive, and is usually a β ″ alumina sintered body. Sodium is used as the negative electrode active material 16 and sulfur or sodium polysulfide is used as the positive electrode active material 17. The battery is normally operated at a temperature of 300 to 400 ° C. As the positive electrode active material 17, sulfur or sodium polysulfide is used in a sodium-sulfur battery, but other high-temperature In the sodium battery, selenium, tellurium, or a halide of a metal element may be used, and the negative electrode container 18 and the positive electrode container 19 may be made of aluminum, iron, stainless steel (SUS), or chromium or molybdenum on their surfaces. A material provided with a corrosion-resistant layer mainly composed of, for example, titanium is used. , And the negative electrode container 18 is thermally pressed with an aluminum alloy and the positive electrode container 19.
Further, in the example of this figure, both the negative electrode terminal 5 and the positive electrode terminal 4 are arranged at the upper part of the battery, but a structure in which both terminals 4, 5 are arranged at the lower part of the battery is also possible. In this figure, the battery body portion is a portion of the solid electrolyte tube 15 in contact with both the negative electrode active material 16 and the positive electrode active material 17 and a portion of the corresponding positive electrode container 19, and the electrochemical reaction is not performed. Refers to a part that substantially proceeds.

As a specific example, the capacity per one piece: about 36
0 Wh, rated output: about 45 W, using a sodium-sulfur battery of about 36 cm in height, about 280 pieces about 170 c in height
m, about 110 cm in width and about 60 cm in height were placed in a vacuum insulated container to prepare a 12.5 kW high temperature battery module. As shown in FIG. 2, the inside of the heat insulating container 1 was separated by a partition 8 made of calcium silicate, and a dry sand 11 was filled in a 6 cm deep space in which the terminals 4 and 5 of the battery 3 were stored. The volume of the dry sand 11 was about 85 liters, the amount of sodium in the entire insulated container 1 was about 60 kg, and the amount of sulfur was about 130 kg. The amount of the dry sand 11 is equal to or greater than the required amount defined in the rules relating to dangerous goods. The rules related to dangerous goods here are:
No. 30 of the Regulations on the Regulation of Dangerous Goods (Prime Minister Ordinance No. 55)
Article 2 of the Regulations (Related to Article 31), and Appendix 3 of the Government Decree on Regulations on Dangerous Goods (Cabinet Order No. 306)
Article 11).

In this high-temperature battery module, as a result of a test in which the battery main body was forcibly destroyed, the partition walls 8 were damaged by the scattered high-temperature active materials 16 and 17, and the dry sand 11 dropped to automatically extinguish the fire. It turned out to be.

Air was blown into the space containing the battery body by the cooling fan 12 to control the temperature inside the module in combination with heating by an electric heater (not shown) installed in the heat insulating container 1. As a result, the battery temperature during charge / discharge operation at the rated output was controlled to 330 ± 10 ° C. On the other hand, when the cooling fan 12 was stopped and the temperature was controlled only by the heating heater in this structure, the battery temperature variation was ± 20 ° C. As a comparative example, when the battery main body was also filled with dry sand, the variation in the battery temperature was as large as ± 35 ° C.

Further, using the high-reliability and high-safety high-temperature battery module as described above, a high-reliability and high-security power storage device, an electric vehicle, an emergency power supply, an uninterruptible power supply, and a power system It has been found that a battery system such as a peak cut device and a frequency / voltage stabilizing device can be realized.

[0029]

According to the present invention, in a high-temperature battery module in which a plurality of high-temperature batteries such as a sodium-sulfur battery are stored in a heat-insulating container in a planar manner, a partition is provided in the heat-insulating container to reduce the internal space. The battery is divided into upper and lower parts, and the positive electrode terminal and negative electrode terminal of the battery are arranged in one space, and the battery body is arranged in the other space. There is no danger of short-circuiting, and the reliability in an emergency is improved.

In the above high-temperature battery module, the positive and negative terminals are arranged in the space above the heat insulating container, and if these terminals are filled with an insulating material such as dry sand, the active material leaked from the battery can be removed from the insulating material. , The reliability is further improved.

On the other hand, since the insulating material is not substantially filled in the space accommodating the battery main body, the heat radiation of the battery main body portion is good, and the temperature distribution in the heat insulating container can be made uniform by convection or the like. Time reliability is improved. Also,
If air is blown by a fan or the like into the space accommodating the battery body portion, the temperature control becomes easier.

Further, when an insulating material such as dry sand is filled in the space above the heat insulating container, the partition walls are broken by heat or the like at the time of the battery wreck, and the insulating material such as dry sand falls onto the high temperature battery body. Because the fire can be extinguished automatically, safety is improved.

As a result, the high-temperature battery module assembly of the present invention provides a highly reliable and safe power storage device,
Electric vehicles, emergency power supplies, uninterruptible power supplies, power system peaks
A battery system such as a cut-cut device and a frequency / voltage stabilizing device is realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing the structure of a high-temperature battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a structure of a high-temperature battery module according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a high-temperature battery.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Insulated container 2 Lid 3 High temperature battery 4 Positive electrode terminal 5 Negative electrode terminal 6 Bus bar 7 Insulating plate 8 Partition 11 Insulating material 12 Fan

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page Examiner Hitoshi Amano (56) References JP-A-7-272751 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01M 10/39 H01M 10 / 50 H01M 2/10 H01M 2/34

Claims (12)

(57) [Claims] 1. A high-temperature battery module in which a plurality of high-temperature batteries such as a sodium-sulfur battery are housed in an insulated container, wherein the plurality of high-temperature batteries have their positive and negative terminals both above or below the battery. Side by side,
Arranged in a plane, the heat insulating container is divided into upper and lower two spaces by a partition provided therein, and one of the spaces accommodates a portion of the high-temperature battery including terminals of a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and A high-temperature battery module, wherein the space supports the respective terminals of the positive electrode and the negative electrode and accommodates a battery body portion containing an active material of a battery. 2. The high temperature battery module according to claim 1, wherein said partition is made of an insulating material. 3. The fan according to claim 1, further comprising a fan for blowing air into a space in the heat insulating container in which all or a part of the high-temperature battery main body is housed, and an inlet / outlet for the wind. High temperature battery module. 4. A high-temperature battery module in which a plurality of high-temperature batteries such as a sodium-sulfur battery are housed in a heat-insulating container, wherein the plurality of high-temperature batteries have their positive and negative terminals positioned above the batteries. The heat insulating container is divided into two upper and lower spaces by a partition provided therein, and the upper space accommodates a portion of the high-temperature battery including terminals of a positive electrode and a negative electrode. Together with an insulating material such as dry sand, and the lower space supports the respective terminals of the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the battery and houses a battery body portion containing an active material of the battery. High temperature battery module. 5. The high-temperature battery module according to claim 4, wherein said partition is made of an insulating material. 6. The high-temperature battery according to claim 4, wherein the partition wall is broken when the high-temperature battery is severely damaged, and the insulating material such as the dry sand falls into the battery body in the space below the high-temperature battery. Battery module. 7. An insulating material, such as the dry sand, in an amount sufficient to extinguish an active material contained in the plurality of high-temperature batteries,
The high temperature battery module according to claim 6, wherein the module is filled. 8. The high-temperature battery module according to claim 4, wherein a fan for blowing air into a space below the heat-insulating container and an inlet / outlet for the wind are provided in the heat-insulating container. 9. A power storage device, an electric vehicle, an emergency power source, an uninterruptible power source, and a power system peak, wherein the assembly of the high-temperature battery modules according to claim 1 is used. Battery systems such as power cut devices or frequency and voltage stabilizers for power systems. 10. A sodium sulfur hot cell module housed in placed in an insulated vessel plurality of high temperature batteries, such as batteries, said heat insulating container is divided into upper and lower two spaces by a partition wall provided inside, the upper of the space an insulating material such as dry sand is filled, the partition wall is broken at the time of the high temperature battery wreck, a configuration in which the insulating material is dropped into the space under the
And a fan that blows air into the space below the heat-insulating container
A high-temperature battery module, wherein a fan and an inlet / outlet of the wind are provided in the heat insulating container . 11. A plurality of high temperatures, such as a sodium sulfur battery.
High-temperature battery module with batteries placed in an insulated container
The said heat-insulating container is provided by a partition provided inside.
It is divided into two upper and lower spaces, and the upper space is made of dry sand
Which insulating material is filled, the high temperature battery wreck and the bulkhead
Is torn, and the insulating material falls into the space below.
And the insulating material is included in the plurality of high-temperature batteries.
Is filled in sufficient quantity to extinguish the
A fan for blowing air into a space below the heat insulating container;
A high-temperature battery module, wherein a wind inlet / outlet is provided in the heat insulating container . 12. A power storage device, an electric vehicle, an emergency power source, an uninterruptible power source, a peak cut device of a power system, or a power storage device, wherein the high temperature battery module assembly according to claim 10 or 11 is used. Battery systems such as frequency and voltage stabilizers for power systems.