JP-7854829-B2 - Method and system for utilizing hydrogen gas generated by lithium-ion batteries

Inventors

• 船倉 將吾
• 立本 和也

Assignees

• 株式会社SUBARU

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20220329

Claims (6)

1. A hydrogen gas supply process for sending hydrogen gas generated in each cell constituting the lithium-ion battery to the gasoline particulate filter side while a hybrid vehicle equipped with a lithium-ion battery is in operation, The hydrogen gas supplied is injected into the gasoline particulate filter and burned together with the exhaust gas of the hybrid vehicle in a hydrogen gas supply and combustion process, It has, The generated hydrogen gas supply process includes a generated hydrogen gas storage operation in which the hydrogen gas generated in each cell is drawn in and stored in a predetermined location. In the hydrogen gas storage operation, intake is performed for each cell when the amount of hydrogen gas generated in each cell exceeds a predetermined value. A method for utilizing hydrogen gas generated by a lithium-ion battery, characterized in that the injection supply of hydrogen gas in the generated hydrogen gas supply step is performed by supplying the stored hydrogen gas .
2. The determination of the amount of hydrogen gas generated in each of the aforementioned cells is as follows: Operation information acquisition operation, which acquires operational information including the current value, voltage value, and temperature value of each cell while the vehicle is running, A method for utilizing hydrogen gas generated by a lithium-ion battery according to claim 1, characterized in that it is performed based on a calculation and estimation operation of the amount of hydrogen gas generated in each cell, which is performed based on the aforementioned operating information.
3. The clogged state of the gasoline particulate filter includes a clogging determination step that determines that the filter is clogged when the pressure loss is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, based on the pressure loss data of the gasoline particulate filter. The aforementioned hydrogen gas supply and combustion process is performed as follows: A method for utilizing hydrogen gas generated by a lithium-ion battery according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is performed when it is determined that the aforementioned clogging condition has occurred.
4. A lithium-ion battery generated hydrogen gas utilization system for carrying out the lithium-ion battery generated hydrogen gas utilization method described in any one of claims 1 to 3 , An operation information acquisition unit acquires operation information including the current value, voltage value, and temperature value of each cell of the lithium-ion battery while the vehicle is running. A unit for calculating and estimating the amount of hydrogen gas generated in each cell based on the aforementioned operating information, A hydrogen gas storage unit that takes in hydrogen gas generated in each of the aforementioned cells and stores it in a predetermined location, The generated hydrogen gas supply and combustion unit includes an injection means for injecting the stored hydrogen gas into the gasoline particulate filter, and burns the hydrogen gas together with the exhaust gas of the hybrid vehicle by the injection supply, In each of the aforementioned cells, when the amount of hydrogen gas generated calculated by the calculation and estimation unit exceeds a predetermined value, a control unit is provided to inject and supply the hydrogen gas from the generated hydrogen gas storage unit into the gasoline particulate filter, It is characterized by having the following features.
5. A hydrogen gas supply process for sending hydrogen gas generated in each cell constituting the lithium-ion battery to the gasoline particulate filter side while a hybrid vehicle equipped with a lithium-ion battery is in operation, The hydrogen gas supplied is injected into the gasoline particulate filter and burned together with the exhaust gas of the hybrid vehicle in a hydrogen gas supply and combustion process, It has, The hydrogen gas supply process includes a hydrogen gas storage operation in which the hydrogen gas generated in each cell is stored in a storage tank. A method for utilizing hydrogen gas generated by a lithium-ion battery, characterized in that, in the hydrogen gas supply and combustion process described above, when the amount of hydrogen gas stored in the storage tank exceeds a preset injection permit amount, the stored hydrogen gas is injected into the gasoline particulate filter .
6. A hydrogen gas supply process for sending hydrogen gas generated in each cell constituting the lithium-ion battery to the gasoline particulate filter side while a hybrid vehicle equipped with a lithium-ion battery is in operation, The hydrogen gas supplied is injected into the gasoline particulate filter and burned together with the exhaust gas of the hybrid vehicle in a hydrogen gas supply and combustion process, It has, Each of the aforementioned cells is provided with an on/off valve. The hydrogen gas supply process includes a hydrogen gas storage operation in which, while the hybrid vehicle is stopped, the on/off valve is opened from a closed state to an open state, and the hydrogen gas generated in the cell is drawn in and stored in a storage tank. A method for utilizing hydrogen gas generated by a lithium-ion battery, characterized in that , in the hydrogen gas supply and combustion process described above, hydrogen gas stored in the storage tank is injected into the gasoline particulate filter at a predetermined timing .

Description

This invention relates to a method and system for utilizing hydrogen gas generated by lithium-ion batteries, and more particularly, to a method and system for utilizing hydrogen gas generated from lithium-ion batteries in hybrid vehicles. Lithium-ion batteries used to power hybrid vehicles have the characteristic of generating gases due to high temperatures, overcharging, and degradation over time. These gases are primarily hydrogen, but also contain other gases toxic to humans. Lithium-ion batteries are sealed within a can, with each of their constituent cells being individually enclosed. However, depending on the amount of gas generated, the internal pressure inside the can may increase, potentially causing various problems, including deformation of the can. Patent Document 1 discloses a battery pack consisting of multiple unit batteries, each unit battery being equipped with a safety valve that opens to relieve the internal pressure increase caused by hydrogen gas generation when the internal pressure reaches a predetermined pressure. Furthermore, the discharge ports of these safety valves are connected to exhaust gas tubes connected to an external exhaust section. Furthermore, the connections between each safety valve outlet of the exhaust gas tube are constructed with a bellows structure. Even if the unit cell expands and deforms due to internal pressure, this bellows structure absorbs the deformation, maintaining a good connection between each safety valve outlet and the exhaust gas tube. This ensures that the generated hydrogen gas is reliably released outside the vehicle without leaking into the vehicle. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-110377 This is a schematic diagram of the lithium-ion battery hydrogen gas utilization system of the present invention.This is a flowchart of the lithium-ion battery hydrogen gas utilization method of the present invention. In particular, it shows the control flow (first half) of the hydrogen gas generation unit.This is a flowchart of the lithium-ion battery hydrogen gas utilization method of the present invention. In particular, it shows the control flow (second half) of the hydrogen gas generation unit.This is a flowchart of the lithium-ion battery hydrogen gas utilization method of the present invention. In particular, it is a control flow for the generated hydrogen gas storage unit.This is a flowchart of the lithium-ion battery hydrogen gas utilization method of the present invention. In particular, it shows the control flow for the hydrogen gas supply and combustion section. The present invention's method for utilizing hydrogen gas generated by a lithium-ion battery and its system will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the lithium-ion battery consists of four cells, and the method of utilizing hydrogen gas involves injecting the generated hydrogen gas into a gasoline particulate filter (GPF) and burning it together with the exhaust gas of the hybrid vehicle. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the lithium-ion battery hydrogen gas utilization system in this embodiment. The lithium-ion battery hydrogen gas utilization system 10 includes a hydrogen gas calculation unit 12 for calculating and estimating the amount of hydrogen gas generated, a hydrogen gas storage unit 30 for carrying out the hydrogen gas storage process, and a hydrogen gas supply/combustion unit 40 for supplying the generated hydrogen gas into a particulate filter 46 and burning it. The generated hydrogen gas supply process is the process of supplying hydrogen gas generated in each cell 14-1 to 14-4 constituting the lithium-ion battery 14 during the operation of the hybrid vehicle to the gasoline particulate filter 46. In this embodiment, however, it refers to the process from the hydrogen gas generated in the cells whose generation is estimated by the generated hydrogen gas calculation unit 12, to the intake device 32 of the generated hydrogen gas storage unit 30, to the storage tank 34, and finally to the injection of the hydrogen gas stored in the storage tank 34 into the gasoline particulate filter 46 by the hydrogen gas injection device 42 of the generated hydrogen gas supply/combustion unit 40. The hydrogen gas generation calculation unit 12 comprises a lithium-ion battery 14 composed of four cells 14-1 to 14-4, an operation information acquisition unit 22 that acquires operation information including current, voltage, and temperature values for each cell during vehicle operation, an estimation unit 24 that calculates the amount of hydrogen gas generated by each cell based on this operation information, and a cell information recording unit 26 that records information for each cell. The generated hydrogen gas storage unit 30 includes a hydrogen gas storage tank 34 for storing hydrogen gas, an intake device 32 for drawing in hydrogen gas generated in each cell 14-1 to 14-4, and a storage tank information recording unit 36 for recording informati