JP2003272973A - Electric double layer capacitor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric double layer capacitor for ensuring cooling characteristics of a capacitor unit including a control board and the like. <P>SOLUTION: The electric double layer capacitor includes a capacitor cell 1 in which a plurality of positive and negative electrodes and separators are stored along with an electrolytic solution in a bag-shaped soft case, a capacitor module 20 in which the plurality of capacitor cells 1 arranged in a heat-radiating hard case 21 are stored, and a control box in which a control board 42 for charging or discharging each capacitor cell 1 is stored. The heat-radiating hard case 21 is projected under the control box 41 so that the heat-radiating hard case 21 is exposed to the outside air. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an improvement of an electric double layer capacitor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, electric double layer capacitors, which can be charged rapidly and have a long charge / discharge cycle life, have been attracting attention as power storage devices used in, for example, hybrid vehicles and wind power generation facilities.

As an electric double layer capacitor of this type, there has been provided a capacitor module in which a plurality of capacitor cells are arranged and housed in a hard case, and this capacitor module is used together with a substrate of a control circuit as a unit.

As a conventional capacitor cell, there is one in which a laminated body in which a plurality of positive electrode bodies and a negative electrode body and a separator interposed therebetween are laminated together in an bag-like soft case together with an electrolytic solution ( JP-A-3-203311,
reference).

[0005]

However, since it is difficult for the capacitor module to secure the heat dissipation of the capacitor cell housed in the hard case, for example, a refrigerant is circulated around the capacitor module via an electric fan or the like. A cooling device is required, which makes the device complicated,
There was a problem that it caused an increase in size.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electric double layer capacitor capable of ensuring the cooling performance of a capacitor unit including a control board and the like.

[0007]

A first aspect of the present invention provides a capacitor cell in which a laminate of a plurality of positive electrodes, negative electrodes, and separators is housed together with an electrolytic solution in a bag-shaped soft case, and a plurality of capacitor cells. It is equipped with a capacitor module installed side by side in a heat dissipation hard case, and a control box that houses a control board that charges or discharges each capacitor cell. It was set to hit.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the first aspect, a plurality of capacitor modules are provided side by side with respect to the control box.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the heat dissipating hard case is projected below the control box so that the heat dissipating hard case is exposed to the outside air, each capacitor cell is sufficiently cooled. A cooling device that circulates the refrigerant around the module is not required, and the structure can be simplified.

In the second aspect of the present invention, by providing a plurality of capacitor modules side by side in the control box, it is possible to ensure both the cooling performance of each capacitor module and the miniaturization of the device.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 (a) and 2 (b), a plurality of electric double layer capacitor cells 1 are housed in a line in a heat dissipating hard case 21, and one capacitor module is formed by these. 20 is formed.

The soft case 5 is formed by combining two flexible laminated sheets 6 and 7 into a bag shape.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the soft case 5, the radiating fins 5a in the shape of a quadrangle band are formed by welding the flange portions 6a and 7a. The radiating fin 5a is formed to have a width larger than that required for welding the flange portions 6a and 7a, and serves to release heat generated in the laminated body of the capacitor cells 1.

As shown in FIG. 4, a heat transfer frame 15 for sandwiching the heat radiation fins 5a of the soft case 5 is provided as a heat conductor. The heat transfer frame 15 has a U-shape extending along the three sides of the heat dissipation fin 5a.

The capacitor cells 1 are housed side by side in the heat dissipation hard case 21 via the heat transfer frame 15. The heat transfer frame 15 is made of a composite material in which a metal powder such as aluminum is mixed with an elastic resin material such as silicon. The heat transfer frame 15 has a function of transmitting the heat generated in the laminated body of the capacitor cells 1 from the heat dissipation fins 5a to the heat dissipation hard case 21, and It functions to elastically support the capacitor cell 1 with respect to the hard case 21 and to insulate the capacitor cell 1 from the heat dissipation hard case 21.

The heat transfer frame 15 includes a slit 15a for holding the heat radiation fin 5a, a pair of flange portions 15b joined to the side portions of the soft case 5, a pair of holding portions 15c for compressing the slit 15a, and a heat radiation hard case. There is a support portion 15d supported by 21, and these are formed by integral molding. Note that a plurality of heat transfer frames may be integrally formed.

The heat transfer frames 15 are compressed and elastically deformed by the adjacent heat transfer frames 15 so that the flange portions 15b and the slits 15a closely contact the side portions of the soft case 5 and the heat radiation fins 5a without any gap. The supporting portion 15d is in close contact with the heat dissipation hard case 21 without any gap.

The sectional shape of the heat transfer frame is not limited to this.
For example, it may be formed in a substantially rectangular shape having a slit opened inside thereof.

Further, the heat transfer frame is not limited to the U-shape extending along the three sides of the heat radiating fin, but may be formed in a rectangular frame shape extending along the four sides of the heat radiating fin. Further, the heat transfer frame may be formed by being divided into four sides of the radiation fin.

The heat dissipating hard case 21 is made of, for example, a metal having a high heat conductivity such as an aluminum material, and has a function of releasing the heat of each capacitor cell 1 to the outside air.

A pressure mechanism 30 is provided at the center of the capacitor module 20. The pressing mechanism 30 presses the respective capacitor cells 1 against each other to increase the density of the activated carbon layers forming the positive electrode body 2 and the negative electrode body 3 to improve the charge / discharge efficiency, and to keep the capacitor cells 1 in a hard case without gaps. 21 and is compressed and held so that the capacitor cell 1 is not displaced by vibration or shock.

The pressurizing mechanism 30 includes a plurality of capacitor cells 1
Are provided at equal positions to pressurize the plurality of capacitor cells 1 with one end of the heat dissipation hard case 21 and pressurize the plurality of capacitor cells 1 with the other end of the heat dissipation hard case 21. It is like this. With the configuration in which one pressurizing mechanism 30 pressurizes two groups of capacitor cells 1 as described above, it becomes possible to pressurize many capacitor cells 1 by one pressurizing mechanism 30, and pressurizing provided in the capacitor module 20. The number of mechanisms 30 can be reduced.

The pressurizing mechanism is not limited to the position where the capacitor cells are equally divided, but may be provided at a position where the capacitor cells are divided at a predetermined ratio as needed.

The pressing mechanism 30 includes a stopper plate 31 fixed to the upper portion of the heat dissipating hard case 21, and the stopper plate 31.
And push plates 32 and 33 which are surrounded by the heat dissipating hard case 21 and are slidable in the column direction of the capacitor cells 1, and a disc spring 34 which urges the push plates 32 and 33 away from each other.
A set bolt 35 for supporting the disc spring 34 is provided.

A resin guide member 35 is attached to the end of each push plate 32, 33. The guide member 35 is brought into sliding contact with the stopper plate 31 and the heat dissipation hard case 21 so that the push plates 32 and 33 slide smoothly.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the capacitor unit 40. The capacitor unit 40 includes upper and lower control boxes 41 in which a control board 42 is housed, and six capacitor modules 20 suspended in each control box 41, and the heat dissipation hard case 2 of each capacitor module 20.
1 is provided so as to be exposed to the outside air.

As shown in FIG. 6, the control box 41 is formed in a box shape by the base plate 43, the cover 44 and the like. The control board 42 is connected to the base plate 4 via the insulating support material 45.
Supported by 3.

Below one control box 41, three capacitor modules 20 are arranged side by side. Four base plates 43 are arranged between the three heat radiation hard cases 21 and at the ends. Six rods 47 that penetrate each base plate 43 and the heat dissipation hard case 21 and fasten them are provided. Each heat dissipating hard case 21 is suspended from the control box 41 via each base plate 43. An underguard 47 is provided around each heat dissipating hard case 21 arranged in the lower stage to protect them.

The heat dissipating hard cases 21 are arranged in parallel with a predetermined spacing. When the capacitor unit 40 is mounted on a vehicle, each heat dissipation hard case 21
Are arranged so as to extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the traveling wind (outside air) uniformly hits each heat dissipation hard case 21.

A plurality of bus bars 51 are provided side by side between the three capacitor modules 20 and the control board 42. The terminal plates 9 and 10 of the capacitor cell 1 that can be accommodated in the three capacitor modules 20 are connected to the bus bars 51, the three capacitor cells 1 are connected in parallel over the capacitor modules 20, and the capacitor modules 20 A plurality of capacitor cells 1 that fit inside are coupled in series.

The heat generated in the capacitor cell 1 as it is charged and discharged is the heat radiation fin 5 of the soft case 5.
It is transmitted from a to the heat dissipation hard case 21 through the heat transfer frame 15, and is released from the heat dissipation hard case 21 to the outside air.

The heat dissipating hard case 21 is attached to the control box 41.
Since the heat dissipation hard case 21 is exposed to the outside air, the capacitor cells 1 are sufficiently cooled, so that a cooling device that circulates a refrigerant around the capacitor module via an electric fan or the like is provided. It becomes unnecessary and simplifies the structure.

By providing the three capacitor modules 20 side by side in the control box 41, it is possible to ensure both the cooling performance of each capacitor module 20 and the miniaturization of the capacitor unit 40.

It is possible to provide four or more capacitor modules 20 side by side with respect to the control box 41.

It is obvious that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea thereof.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a capacitor module showing an embodiment of the present invention.

2A is a plan view of the capacitor module, and FIG. 2B is a side view of the capacitor module.

[FIG. 3] Similarly, a) is an exploded perspective view of a capacitor cell,
(B) is a perspective view of a capacitor cell.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the heat transfer frame.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a capacitor unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Capacitor cell 5 soft cases 15 heat transfer frame 20 Capacitor module 21 Heat dissipation hard case 41 control box 42 Control board

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A capacitor cell in which a laminate of a plurality of positive and negative electrodes and a separator is housed together with an electrolytic solution in a bag-shaped soft case, and a plurality of capacitor cells are arranged side by side in a heat dissipation hard case. A capacitor module and a control box that accommodates a control board that charges or discharges each capacitor cell are provided. The heat dissipation hard case is projected below the control box, and the heat dissipation hard case is exposed to the outside air. Electric double layer capacitor. 2. A plurality of capacitor modules are arranged side by side with respect to the control box.
The electric double layer capacitor described in.