Prime Planet Energy & Solutions Patente

A battery cell (10, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F) that forms a secondary battery (ND) includes an electrode body (2), and a battery can (1, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F) made of metal and having an extruded can (11, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11E, 11F) in the form of a quadrangular tube which contains the electrode body (2) and is open at opposite ends in an axial direction (Z), and lids (12) that seal the opposite ends of the extruded can (11, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11E, 11F). The extruded can (11, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11E, 11F) includes a pair of long side portions (111) extending in the axial direction, and an upper short side portion (112a) and a lower short side portion (112b) perpendicular to the long side portions (111). The lower short side portion (112b) has a larger thickness than the upper short side portion (112a).

A method for sequentially deciding allowable power or allowable current for charging or discharging of a system (10) including parallel-connected electric storage devices (100) includes: determining allowable power or allowable current for each of the electric storage devices (100) at a present time; estimating a power ratio or current ratio between the electric storage devices (100) at a future time within a predetermined time; and deciding, in accordance with the estimated future power ratio or current ratio, allowable power or allowable current for the system (10) valid until after lapse of the predetermined time such that power or current of each of the electric storage devices (100) is within the allowable power or allowable current for each of the electric storage devices (100) at the present time.

A method of manufacturing a battery case includes: forming a first thin portion (12A) and a second thin portion (12B) in a metal plate (10); cutting the metal plate (10) into a substantially rectangular shape having a pair of first end sides (21A, 21B) and a pair of second end sides (22A, 22B), wherein one of the pair of first end sides (21A, 21B) is formed by cutting the first thin portion (12A), and the other of the pair of first end sides (21A, 21B) is formed by cutting the second thin portion (12B); after the cutting the metal plate (10), bending the metal plate (10) into a tubular shape; and joining one of the pair of second end sides (22A, 22B) and the other of the pair of second end sides (22A, 22B) after the bending the metal plate (10) into the tubular shape.

A herein disclosed battery system 1 includes two kinds of contactors, i.e., a first contactor 40 and a second contactor 50. The first contactor 40 includes a first positive electrode terminal 42 connected to a positive electrode 11Ap of a battery unit 10, and includes a first negative electrode terminal 44 connected via a positive electrode output terminal 20 to an external load 100. In addition, the second contactor 50 includes a second positive electrode terminal 52 connected to a negative electrode 11Nn of the battery unit 10, and includes a second negative electrode terminal 54 connected via a negative electrode output terminal 30 to the external load 100. Then, the herein disclosed battery system 1 is configured to preferentially turn OFF the contactor, in which a forward electric current flows,during both of an electrical charge and an electrical discharge. Accordingly, the electric current can be safely and promptly interrupted, and thus it is possible to inhibit an malfunction due to welding of the contactor.

The battery system 1 includes plural battery modules 10 connected to a load 100 and includes a control device 60. The battery module 10 includes a pre-charge unit 40 having a pre-resistance 41. The control device 60 includes a pre-charge process executing part 67 that executes a pre-charge process on each one battery module 10 of the plural battery modules 10 one by one. The control device 60 further includes a time obtaining part 64 that obtains a cooling time T<C> being an elapsed time since a previous pre-charge process is performed on a previous hierarchy No. 1 battery module on which the pre-charge process is firstly executed when the previous connection to the load 100 is performed, and includes an order deciding part 65 that decides the order to inhibit the pre-charge process from being executed firstly on the previous hierarchy No. 1 battery module when the cooling time T<C> is equal to or less than a reference time T<D>. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress a deviation of the deteriorations of the pre-resistances.

A battery case for a secondary battery having a gas discharge valve provided on one flat surface, wherein the gas discharge valve comprises a first thin portion having a thickness smaller than that of the flat surface and a second thin portion formed on a surface of the first thin portion, and having a thickness even smaller than that of the first thin portion, and a residual stress at the first thin portion is greater than that at the second thin portion.

A laser welding method includes a preparation step and a welding step. A first member and a second member prepared in the preparation step have end faces that are adjusted to the same level in height in a state that the first and second members are stacked with each other. The first member has a stepped face lower than its end face at a position away from a boundary between the stacked first and second members. The second member has a stepped face lower than or higher than its end face at a position away from the boundary between the stacked first and second members. In the welding step, the boundary between the end faces of the first and second members is irradiated with a laser beam in a state that hoods are placed on the stepped faces of the first and second members, respectively.

A laser welding method includes a preparation step and a welding step. A first member and a second member prepared in the preparation step have end faces that are adjusted to the same level in height when stacked with each other. Each of the first member and the second member has a stepped face higher than the end face at a position away from a boundary between the stacked first and second members. In the welding step, the boundary between the end faces of the first member and the second member is irradiated with a laser beam in a state that hoods are placed on the stepped faces of the first member and the second member, respectively.

An electrode plate (5P) includes a current collecting foil (SPF), a conductive bonding layer (5PY) provided on the electrode foil (5PF), an active material layer (SPA) provided on the bonding layer (5PY) and bonded to the bonding layer (5PY), and an insulating protective layer (SPX) provided along the bonding layer (5PY) and the active material layer (5PA) and between an electrode foil exposed portion (5PC) of the electrode foil (SPF), where the electrode foil (5PF) is exposed, and the bonding layer (5PY). The insulating protective layer (SPX) is thinner than the bonding layer (SPY).

An electricity storage device disclosed herein includes an electrode assembly including a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The negative electrode includes a negative electrode composite material layer containing a graphite-based negative electrode active material particle. A mean circularity of the graphite-based negative electrode active material particle is equal to or more than 0.8. With respect to a particle size distribution on a volume basis of the graphite-based negative electrode active material particle that is obtained by a laser diffraction scattering method, all of following conditions are satisfied when a particle diameter whose cumulative frequency from a small particle side is 10% is treated as d10, a particle diameter whose cumulative frequency is 50% is treated as d50, and a particle diameter whose cumulative frequency is 90% is treated as d90: (1) d90/d10 is equal to or more than 5; and (2) d90/d50 is equal to or less than 2.

A herein disclosed manufacturing method of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery is a manufacturing method of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery that includes an electrode assembly having a positive electrode and a negative electrode and that includes a nonaqueous electrolyte, the manufacturing method including: an assembly body preparing step for preparing an assembly body in which the electrode assembly and the nonaqueous electrolyte are accommodated by a battery case; an initial electrically charging step for electrically charging the assembly body until having a predetermined voltage V0; an aging step for holding the assembly body at 45°C or more for 3 hours or more after the initial electrically charging step; a voltage adjusting step for adjusting the assembly body to have a voltage V1 being less than 3.585 V after the aging step; a temperature history adjusting step for treating a temperature of the assembly body at a temperature decrease starting time to be T1 after the voltage adjusting step, for cooling down the assembly body until having a temperature T2 being lower than the T1, and for heating up the assembly body until having a temperature T3 being higher than the T2; and a self electrical discharge inspecting step for performing a self electrical discharge inspection at a temperature T4 being higher than the T2 after the temperature history adjusting step.

In power management device, a power consumption predictor creates a predicted consumption time zone in which a predicted power consumption amount of a load for every future elapsed time is predicted. A first calculator calculates a system conversion efficiency of a system power supply for every future elapsed time, and a second calculator calculates a specific conversion efficiency of a specific power supply for the every future elapsed time. A specifier specifies, as a specific time zone, a time zone in which the specific conversion efficiency is greater than or equal to the system conversion efficiency in the predicted consumption time zone. A planner makes a supply plan such that electric power is supplied from the specific power supply to the load for every future elapsed time in the specific time zone.

A controller of a power supply system includes a first acquirer that acquires a required charge amount of each of secondary batteries of vehicles connected to power supply cables, a second acquirer that acquires a parking time zone of each of the vehicles, a predictor that calculates a predicted renewable energy power amount associated with an elapsed time by a renewable energy power supply, a planner that makes a charging plan in which each vehicle is charged with the required charge amount of power in the parking time zone and a first charging mode or a second charging mode is set such that, based on the predicted renewable energy power amount associated with the elapsed time, a renewable energy ratio is maximized, and a charging controller that controls opening and closing a switch such that the vehicles are charged in accordance with the charging plan.

A method for manufacturing an electricity storage device includes a case body preparing step, a closing plate preparing step, and a welding step. The closing plate prepared in the step of preparing the closing plate includes: a closing portion that covers the opening of the case body, while overlapping an edge of the opening; and an insertion portion inserted into the opening along an inner side of the case body with the closing plate closing the opening. In the step of laser-welding the case body and the closing plate, an area located on the closing portion side relative to a boundary between the edge of the opening and the closing portion is irradiated with laser light, thereby welding the edge of the opening and the closing portion at their boundary.

In a method of manufacturing a secondary battery, inserting an electrode assembly (200) into an exterior container (100) includes a first stage of inserting, into the exterior container (100), a portion of the electrode assembly (200) corresponding to a length of 2/3 or more of a main body portion (2000) of the electrode assembly (200) in a direction of a long side (2100) while grasping the electrode assembly (200), and a second stage of inserting, into the exterior container (100), a remainder of the electrode assembly (200) in the direction of the long side (2100) after the first stage, and at least in the second stage, the exterior container (100) and the electrode assembly (200) are disposed such that the direction of the long side (2100) is oriented in a vertical direction and the electrode assembly is inserted vertically downward.

The positive electrode active material disclosed herein contains a first positive electrode active material particle and a second positive electrode active material particle. An average particle diameter d<1> of the first positive electrode active material particle is equal to or more than 3 µm and not more than 5 µm, and an average particle diameter d<2> of the second positive electrode active material particle is equal to or more than 0.1 µm and not more than 0.5 µm. Then, when a sum of the first positive electrode active material particle and the second positive electrode active material particle is treated as 100 wt%, a weight ratio A of the second positive electrode active material particle is equal to or more than 2 wt% and not more than 35 wt% and the average particle diameter d<2> and the weight ratio A satisfy a following relationship: A ≦ -25d<2> + 37.5.

A method of manufacturing a secondary battery (1) includes: preparing an exterior container (100) having a prismatic shape and provided with a first opening (113); and preparing an electrode assembly (200) including a positive electrode (240) and a negative electrode (210) stacked in a first direction, the electrode assembly (200) having a main body portion (2000) having a substantially rectangular shape including a long side (2100) and a short side when viewed in the first direction; and inserting a portion of the electrode assembly (200) into the exterior container (100) through the first opening (113) along a direction of the long side (2100) while grasping the electrode assembly (200), wherein in the inserting the portion of the electrode assembly (200) into the exterior container (100), control of a position or direction of the electrode assembly (200) based on a magnitude of reaction to the electrode assembly (200) is performed.

A method of producing a negative electrode slurry comprises:a first kneading step to knead a negative electrode active material containing carbon particles, a water-soluble polymer, and water at a kneading load (1a) of 2.2 Wh/kg or less, and then knead at a kneading load (1b), wherein the kneading load (1b) is more than the kneading load (1a) and within a range of 2.0 to 11.6 Wh/kg; anda second kneading step to knead a kneaded product obtained in the first kneading step, a binder other than the water-soluble polymer, and water at a kneading load (2) of 0.5 Wh/kg or less.

In a charging/discharging management device, a reservation manager manages a discharging recommendation time zone when a user makes a reservation for a reservation time zone in which a vehicle is charged from a discharging recommendation time zone in which a facility charging/discharging device in a charging/discharging facility recommends discharging. A charging/discharging manager makes a charging/discharging plan such that a remaining battery level of the vehicle approaches a departure charging amount based on a required charging amount of the vehicle required for the vehicle traveling from an owned facility to a charging/discharging facility, at a departure time at an end of a stay time zone in which the user stays in the owned facility.

The present disclosure provides a positive plate, and a method for collecting positive electrode materials included in the positive plate. The positive plate disclosed herein includes an electrode sheet and a positive electrode mixture layer containing a positive electrode active material, in which a water-soluble adhesive layer containing a water-soluble binder and a conductive material is interposed between the electrode sheet and the positive electrode mixture layer.

A power storage device (3) includes a first electrode assembly (81), a second electrode assembly (91), and a housing case (20). The housing case (20) includes a first end plate (22a) and a second end plate (21aa) on which an exhaust valve (21ab) is formed, The first electrode assembly (81) and the second electrode assembly (91) are disposed such that a first winding axis (α1) and a second winding axis (α2) pass through the first end plate (22a) and the second end plate (21aa). The first electrode assembly (81) has a first hollow portion (S1) formed therein. The second electrode assembly (91) has a second hollow portion (S2). When the exhaust valve (21ab) is viewed in plan view from an axial direction, the exhaust valve (21ab) is disposed so as to be away from at least one of a first hollow portion (S1) and a second hollow portion (S2).

The present disclosure provides a method for producing a precursor of a positive electrode active material that makes it possible to decrease waste generation. The method for producing a precursor of a positive electrode active material according to the present disclosure, includes: a step of bringing a raw material containing Ni and Co into contact with an aqueous phase containing ammonia and ammonium sulfate to leach Ni and Co into the aqueous phase; a step of removing and recovering ammonia from the aqueous phase; a step of dissolving a manganese salt in the aqueous phase from which ammonia has been removed; and a step of obtaining a carbonate salt containing Ni, Co, and Mn by crystallization with ammonium bicarbonate from the aqueous phase in which the manganese salt has been dissolved.

A method of estimating a salt concentration in an electrolyte solution of a secondary battery (1) includes: a capacity acquiring step S1 of acquiring a capacity of a secondary battery (1) that is to be an estimation object; a discharging time acquiring step S2 of acquiring a discharging time when the secondary battery (1) is discharged under a predetermined condition; and a salt concentration estimating step S3 of estimating the salt concentration in the electrolyte solution of the secondary battery (1) based on the acquired capacity of the secondary battery (1), the acquired discharging time, and a table recording a relationship between the capacity, the discharging time, and the salt concentration in the electrolyte solution of the secondary battery (1), related to the secondary battery (1) that is to be the estimation object.

The present invention provides a novel method capable of recovering Ni and Co as well as Cu from a battery waste containing Ni, Co, and Cu with a high recovery ratio, in which a leaching agent is suitable for reuse. The method for reproducing valuable metals according to the present disclosure includes: a Cu leaching step of leaching Cu, using an ammonia water, from battery waste containing Ni, Co, and Cu into the ammonia water; and an Ni and Co leaching step of leaching Ni and Co, using an ammonia aqueous solution containing ammonia and at least one inorganic ammonium salt selected from a group consisting of ammonium sulfate and ammonium carbonate, from a solid residue obtained in the Cu leaching step into the ammonia aqueous solution.

The power storage device (2A) includes an electrode assembly (101), a housing case (20) that houses the electrode assembly (101), and an exhaust valve (21ab) formed on the housing case (20). The housing case (20) includes a first end plate (22), a second end plate (21a), and a peripheral wall (21b) provided between the first end plate (22) and the second end plate (21a). A portion of the peripheral wall (21b) on the side of the second end plate (21a) is thinner than a portion thereof on the side of the first end plate (22). The exhaust valve (21ab) is formed on the second end plate (21a).

The present invention provides a novel method capable of recovering Ni and Co from a battery waste containing Ni and Co while adjusting an Ni/Co ratio. The method for reproducing the positive electrode material according to the present disclosure includes a step of leaching Ni and Co, using an ammonia aqueous solution containing ammonia and ammonium sulfate, from a battery waste containing Ni and Co into the ammonia aqueous solution. Herein, oxygen is fed to the ammonia aqueous solution in the leaching.

The present invention provides a novel method that makes it possible to efficiently separate Cu from battery waste containing Ni, Co, and Cu. A method for reproducing valuable metals according to the present disclosure includes: a step of roasting waste of a lithium ion secondary battery to obtain a roasted product; and a step of leaching Cu from the roasted product using an ammonia water. The waste contains Ni, Co, and Cu. The roasting is performed such that the roasted product contains Ni and Co in an oxide form and Cu in a metal form.

A method for manufacturing an electricity storage device includes a case body preparing step, a closing plate preparing step, and a welding step. A closing plate prepared in the closing plate preparing step has a closing portion and a protruding portion. The closing portion covers an opening of the case body and overlaps an outside of the opening. The protruding portion protrudes outward beyond an outer edge of the opening continuously in a circumferential direction of the opening, with the closing portion closing the opening. In the welding step, a boundary between the case body and the closing plate is welded by irradiating the protruding portion of the closing plate with laser light, with the closing plate mounted on the case body so as to close the opening, to melt the protruding portion.

A power storage device includes: an electrode assembly (200) including a first electrode (240), a second electrode (210) having a polarity different from a polarity of the first electrode (240), and a first electrode tab group (250, 280) electrically connected to the first electrode (240); a case (100) that accommodates the electrode assembly (200); a first conductive member (420) connected to the first electrode tab group (250, 280); a second conductive member (440) connected to the first conductive member (420); and an insulating member (460) disposed between the first conductive member (420) and the second conductive member (440), wherein the first electrode tab group (250, 280) is located at one end portion of the electrode assembly (200), and the insulating member (460) is connected to the first conductive member (420).

A method of manufacturing a power storage device includes: after producing an electrode assembly (200), joining a first electrode tab group (250, 280) to a first conductive member (420), and attaching an insulating member (460) to the first conductive member (420); after attaching the insulating member (460) to the first conductive member (420), inserting the electrode assembly (200) into a case main body (110) from a first end portion side of the electrode assembly (200) through a second opening (113); after inserting the electrode assembly (200) into the case main body (110), electrically connecting a first electrode terminal (302) provided on a first sealing plate (130), and the first conductive member (420); and after electrically connecting the first electrode terminal (302) and the first conductive member (420), sealing a first opening (114) by the first sealing plate (130).

In forming a joining portion, vibration is applied in a state in which a first protuberance (11) and a first region (21) face each other with a first electrode tab group (220) being interposed between the first protuberance (11) and the first region (21), the first protuberance (11) is in abutment with the first outer surface of the first electrode tab group (220), and the first region (21) and the plurality of second protuberances are in abutment with the second outer surface of the first electrode tab group (220).

A method of manufacturing a power storage device includes: producing an electrode assembly (200) having a first electrode tab group (220); and forming a joining portion at which first electrode tabs (230) in the first electrode tab group (220) are joined together by applying vibration to the first electrode tab group (220) by a horn (10) in a state in which the first electrode tab group (220) is sandwiched between the horn (10) and an anvil (20) in a stacking direction of the first electrode tabs (230), wherein a line-shaped protuberance (11) is provided in a surface of one of the horn (10) and the anvil (20), the surface being to be in abutment with a first outer surface of the first electrode tab group (220), and in the forming the joining portion, the vibration is applied in a state in which the line-shaped protuberance (11) is in abutment with the first outer surface of the first electrode tab group (220).

In an injecting step, a preset amount of an electrolytic solution is injected by multiple separate steps while first processing of injecting the electrolytic solution up to a position higher than a reference height set to be equal to or higher than an upper end of an electrode body at inside of the case in a state where the battery assembly is disposed with the injection port facing up, second processing of depressing the case by reducing a pressure in the case and maintaining a liquid surface level of the electrolytic solution injected in the first processing at a position equal to or higher than the reference height, and third processing of, after the pressure in the case is reduced to a preset pressure, releasing the inside of the case are repeated.

An aspect of a fabrication method disclosed here includes a preparation step S1 of preparing a battery assembly (2) and an injection step S2 of injecting an electrolyte (E) into the battery assembly (2). In the injection step S2, the electrolyte (E) is injected from a liquid inlet (120A) inserted into an injection hole (22) in a state where the battery assembly (2) is placed with a sealing plate (20A) having the injection hole (22) facing upward.

An aspect of a fabrication method disclosed here includes a preparation step S1 of preparing a battery assembly (2) and an injection step S2 of injecting an electrolyte (E) into the battery assembly (2). In the injection step S2, the electrolyte (E) is injected from a liquid inlet (120A) inserted into an injection hole (22) in a state where the battery assembly (2) is placed with a sealing plate (20A) having the injection hole (22) facing upward.

The present method of manufacturing a power storage device includes: producing an electrode assembly (200) having a first tab (220) and a second tab (270); after the producing the electrode assembly (200), accommodating the first tab (220) and the second tab (270) in a tab accommodation space (670) through a communication space (600) using the spacer (600), the spacer (600) having the communication space (680), the communication space (680) connecting the tab accommodation space (670) and a space external to the spacer (600); and after the accommodating the first tab (220) and the second tab (270), curving the first tab (220) and the second tab (270) in a state in which a first guide portion (G1) faces a main outer surface of the first tab (220) and a second guide portion (G2) faces a main outer surface of the second tab (270).

In a power storage device, a welding portion (800) at which a first conductive member (420) and a second conductive member (440) are welded is formed, an outer peripheral edge of a base portion (470A) includes a first portion (471) located in a vicinity of the welding portion (800) and a second portion (472) other than the first portion (471), and the outer peripheral wall is not formed in the first portion (471), or a maximum value of a height of the outer peripheral wall in the first portion (471) is lower than a maximum value of a height of an outer peripheral wall (472A, 473B) in the second portion (472).

A method of manufacturing a power storage device includes: inserting an electrode assembly (200) into a case main body (110); and after inserting the electrode assembly (200) into the case main body (110), joining a first conductive member (420) and a second conductive member (440), the first conductive member (420) being electrically connected to a first electrode (240) through a first electrode tab, wherein at least before joining the first conductive member (420) and the second conductive member (440), at least one of the first conductive member (420) and the second conductive member (440) has a projection (420A, 440A), and the joining the first conductive member (420) and the second conductive member (440) includes applying an energy ray (2) to the projection (420A, 440A) so as to join the first conductive member (420) and the second conductive member (440).

Provided is a technique for suppressing a surface pressure of an electrode assembly from becoming non-uniform. A herein disclosed electricity storage device includes an electrode assembly, a case, and a spacer. An outer surface of the electrode assembly includes a first surface on one of end parts in a laminate direction, a second surface on the other end part in the direction, and a third surface between the first surface and the second surface. The first surface, the second surface, and the third surface are configured by the separator. A first end part in a longitudinal direction of the separator is arranged on the third surface. The separator includes a first area containing the first end part and arranged on the third surface. The first area is configured to cover a part of the spacer, and a joint part where the first area is joined to the spacer.

An electrode sheet manufacturing device includes a conveyance device, a first press device, a second press device, and a stepped roll pressing device. The first press device is a device that roll-presses a non-formed portion of an electrode sheet by a pair of rubber rolls. At least one of the pair of rubber rolls includes a shaft and an elastic body. A diameter of the shaft in a portion thereof that presses a boundary portion between the non-formed portion and the electrode active material layer is larger than a diameter of the shaft in a portion thereof that presses a more outer side than the boundary portion. A thickness of the elastic body in the portion thereof that presses the boundary portion is smaller than a thickness of the elastic body in the portion thereof that presses the more outer side than the boundary portion.