CA3150318C

CA3150318C - Lic module

Info

Publication number: CA3150318C
Application number: CA3150318A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Tatsuya Ohno; Tatsuya ONODERA; Takenori HINO; Yasunori KUJIME; Yoshiteru Harada; Hideaki Ezaki; Masato Hayashi; Issac TANG; Antoine LAMINETTE; Jeremy Lindstrom
Original assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo KK
Current assignee: Kawasaki Motors Ltd
Priority date: 2019-09-17
Filing date: 2019-09-17
Publication date: 2024-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 2039-09-17
Also published as: CA3150318A1; WO2021053718A1; NO20220438A1; JPWO2021053718A1; JP7248808B2

Abstract

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an LiC module capable of effectively cooling LiC cells. An LiC module (100) according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: carriers (10) holding LiC cells (11) and stacked in a predetermined direction; and cold plates (30) each of which is inserted between the carriers (10) adjacent to each other. Each cold plate (30) includes an internal coolant path (31) through which a liquid coolant flows.

Description

DESCRIPTION
Title: LiC MODULE
Technical Field [0001] The present disclosure relates to a lithium-ion capacitor (LiC) module.
Background Art

[0002] An LiC module is made up of LiC cells connected together into a modular form. The LiC is an electricity storage device combining a negative electrode of a lithium-ion secondary battery and a positive electrode of an electrical double layer capacitor and is characterized by a considerably high power density.
Citation List Patent Literature

[0003] PTL 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2017-Summary

[0004] The present inventors have found that adequate cooling of an LiC
module, which is superior in power density and exhibits this characteristic to a maximum extent, can prevent an extreme increase in temperature of LiC cells and allow for high-rate electric discharge (electric discharge with a high current value) under a given temperature condition. It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide an LiC module capable of effectively cooling LiC cells.

[0005] An LiC module according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes:
carriers holding LiC cells and stacked in a predetermined direction; and cold plates each of which is inserted between the carriers adjacent to each other, wherein each cold plate includes an internal coolant path through which a liquid coolant flows.

[0006] With this configuration, the LiC cells disposed in the interior of the LiC
module can be cooled by the cold plates located in the vicinity of the LiC
cells. As such, the LiC cells can be cooled effectively.

[0007] The LiC module may further include: tubular supply-side pipe segments each of which is secured to a corresponding one of the cold plates and communicates with an inlet of the coolant path of the corresponding one of the cold plates; and tubular supply-Date Recue/Date Received 2023-07-18 side pipe joints each of which couples the supply-side pipe segments secured respectively to the cold plates adjacent to each other, and the supply-side pipe segments and the supply-side pipe joints may be serially connected to form a supply pipe through which the liquid coolant is supplied to the coolant paths.

[0008] With this configuration, the supply pipe through which the liquid coolant is supplied to the coolant paths can be formed easily.

[0009] In the LiC module, each carrier may include a supply-side through hole through which the supply pipe extends, the supply-side through holes may be serially connected to form a supply-side outer pipe enclosing the supply pipe, and the LiC module may further include a supply-side leakage detector that detects the presence or absence of the liquid coolant having leaked from the supply pipe to the supply-side outer pipe.

[0010] With this configuration, for example, in the event that the liquid coolant leaks from the junction between the supply-side pipe segment and the supply-side pipe joint, the leakage can be detected reliably

[0011] The LiC module may further include: tubular discharge-side pipe segments each of which is secured to a corresponding one of the cold plates and communicates with an outlet of the coolant path of the corresponding one of the cold plates; and tubular discharge-side pipe joints each of which couples the discharge-side pipe segments secured respectively to the cold plates adjacent to each other, and the discharge-side pipe segments and the discharge-side pipe joints may be serially connected to form a discharge pipe through which the liquid coolant having passed through the coolant paths is discharged.

[0012] With this configuration, the discharge pipe through which the liquid coolant having passed through the coolant paths is discharged can be formed easily.

[0013] In the LiC module, each carrier may include a discharge-side through hole through which the discharge pipe extends, the discharge-side through holes may be serially connected to form a discharge-side outer pipe enclosing the discharge pipe, and the LiC module may further include a discharge-side leakage detector that detects the presence or absence of the liquid coolant having leaked from the discharge pipe to the discharge-side outer pipe.

[0014] With this configuration, for example, in the event that the liquid coolant leaks from the junction between the discharge-side pipe segment and the discharge-side pipe joint, the leakage can be detected reliably.

Date Recue/Date Received 2023-07-18 [0014a] Select embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an LiC
module comprising: carriers holding LiC cells and stacked in a predetermined direction; cold plates each of which is inserted between the carriers adjacent to each other, each cold plate including an internal coolant path through which a liquid coolant flows;
tubular supply-side pipe segments each of which is secured to a corresponding one of the cold plates and communicates with an inlet of the coolant path of the corresponding one of the cold plates;
and tubular supply-side pipe joints each of which couples the supply-side pipe segments secured respectively to the cold plates adjacent to each other, wherein: the supply-side pipe segments and the supply-side pipe joints are serially connected to form a supply pipe through which the liquid coolant is supplied to the coolant paths, each carrier includes a supply-side through hole through which the supply pipe extends, a supply-side communication groove extending in the predetermined direction is located at a lower end portion of the supply-side through hole, the supply-side through holes are serially connected to form a supply-side outer pipe enclosing the supply pipe, the supply-side communication grooves are serially connected to form a supply-side guide groove, a supply-side trap hole extending downward is located in the supply-side guide groove, and wherein the LiC module comprises a supply-side leakage detector that is located in the supply-side trap hole and that detects the presence or absence of the liquid coolant having leaked from the supply pipe to the supply-side outer pipe.
[0014b] Further embodiments are directed to a LiC module comprising:
carriers holding LiC cells and stacked in a predetermined direction; cold plates each of which is inserted between the carriers adjacent to each other, each cold plate including an internal coolant path through which a liquid coolant flows; tubular discharge-side pipe segments each of which is secured to a corresponding one of the cold plates and communicates with an outlet of the coolant path of the corresponding one of the cold plates; and tubular discharge-side pipe joints each of which couples the discharge-side pipe segments secured respectively to the cold plates adjacent to each other, wherein: the discharge-side pipe segments and the discharge-side pipe joints are serially connected to form a discharge pipe through which the liquid coolant having passed through the coolant paths is discharged, each carrier includes a discharge-side through hole through which the discharge pipe Date Recue/Date Received 2023-07-18 extends, a discharge-side communication groove extending in the predetermined direction is located at a lower end portion of the discharge-side through hole, the discharge-side through holes are serially connected to folin a discharge-side outer pipe enclosing the discharge pipe, the discharge-side communication grooves are serially connected to form a discharge-side guide groove, a discharge-side trap hole extending downward is located in the discharge-side guide groove, and wherein the LiC module comprises a discharge-side leakage detector that detects the presence or absence of the liquid coolant having leaked from the discharge pipe to the discharge-side outer pipe.
Advantageous Effects

[0015] The configuration as described above makes it possible to provide an LiC
module capable of effectively cooling LiC cells.
Brief Description of Drawings

[0016] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an LiC module.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of supply-side pipe segments of the LiC module.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of discharge-side pipe segments of the LiC module.
Description of Embodiments

[0017] <Overall configuration>
The following will describe an LiC module 100 according to one aspect of the present disclosure. The overall configuration of the LiC module 100 will be described first. FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the LiC module 100 and shows a part of the LiC
module 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the LiC module 100 includes carriers 10 and cold plates 30.

[0018] The carriers 10 serve to hold LiC cells 11. The carriers 10 of the present embodiment are plate-shaped. In the following description, the width direction of the carriers 10 (lower right-upper left direction in the plane of FIG. 1) will be simply referred to as "width direction", the thickness direction of the carriers 10 (lower left-upper right direction in the plane of FIG. 1) will be referred to as "thickness direction"
or "stacking Date Recue/Date Received 2023-07-18 direction", and the height direction of the carriers 10 (up-down direction in the plane of FIG. 1) will be referred to as "up-down direction". Regarding the width direction, the lower right side (near side) in FIG. 1 will be referred to as "front" side, and the upper left side (far side) in FIG. 1 will be referred to as "back" side. Regarding the stacking direction, the lower left side in FIG. 1 will be referred to as "distal" side, and the upper right side in FIG. 1 will be referred to as "proximal" side.

[0019] Each carrier 10 of the present embodiment holds three LiC cells 11 aligned in the width direction. The carriers 10 are stacked in a predetermined direction (thickness direction). The number of the stacked carriers 10 is not limited to a particular number.
For example, one LiC module 100 includes a stack of 40 carriers 10. In this case, one LiC module 100 includes 120 LiC cells 11. At both ends of the LiC module 100 in the stacking direction, end plates 12 (see FIG. 2) are stacked on the endmost carriers 10.

[0020] Each carrier 10 includes recesses 13 located at both end surfaces in the thickness direction to receive the cold plates 30. Each recess 13 is recessed inward in the thickness direction of the carrier 10 and shaped to conform to the cold plate 30. Each carrier 10 includes a supply-side through hole 14 located toward the front surface of the carrier 10 and a discharge-side through hole 15 located toward the back surface of the carrier 10.

[0021] The supply-side through hole 14 is located in the recess 13 and has a central axis extending in the stacking direction. At the lower end portion of the supply-side through hole 14 is located a supply-side communication groove 16 extending in the stacking direction. Likewise, the discharge-side through hole 15 is located in the recess 13 and has a central axis extending in the stacking direction. At the lower end portion of the discharge-side through hole 15 is located a discharge-side communication groove 17 extending in the stacking direction.

[0022] Supply-side and discharge-side gaskets 18 and 19 are located in the recess 13 of the carrier 10 and mounted around the supply-side and discharge-side through holes 14 and 15, respectively. Each of the gaskets 18 and 19 is made of an elastic material. The supply-side gasket 18 is shaped to confoiin to the cross-section of the supply-side through hole 14, and the discharge-side gasket 19 is shaped to conform to the cross-section of the discharge-side through hole 15.

[0023] The cold plates 30 serve to cool the LiC cells 11. Each cold plate 30 is Date Recue/Date Received 2023-07-18 inserted between the carriers 10 adjacent to each other and is positioned perpendicular to the stacking direction. Each cold plate 30 is fitted in the recess 13 of a corresponding one of the carriers 10. In the present embodiment, the cold plates 30 are located between every two adjacent carriers 10, namely on both sides of every carrier 10 in the stacking direction. The cold plates 30 are not limited to being arranged in this manner. For example, the cold plate 30 may be located on one side of each carrier 10 in the stacking direction. That is, the cold plates 30 need not be inserted between every two adjacent carriers 10.

[0024] Each cold plate 30, which is plate-shaped, includes an internal coolant path 31 that is a labyrinthine path through which a liquid coolant flows. For example, pure water or ethylene glycol can be used as the liquid coolant. The cold plate 30 can be formed by joining two plate materials in face-to-face contact. In this case, the two plate materials may have grooves which are plane-symmetric, and the coolant path 31 may be formed by the combined grooves. The cold plate 30 may be placed in direct contact with the LiC
cells 11 to exchange heat with the LiC cells 11 or may be placed to exchange heat with the LiC cells 11 through the intervention of a non-illustrated therinally-conductive sheet.

[0025] As described above, the LiC module 100 according to the present embodiment includes the cold plates 30 each of which is inserted between the carriers 10 adjacent to each other. Each cold plate 30 includes the internal coolant path 31 through which the liquid coolant flows. Thus, the LiC cells 11 disposed in the interior of the LiC module 100 can be cooled by the cold plates 30 located in the vicinity of the LiC
cells 11. As such, in the present embodiment, the LiC cells 11 can be cooled effectively, and this allows for high-rate electric discharge of the LiC module 100.

[0026] <Supply pipe>
The following will describe a supply pipe 46 through which the liquid coolant is supplied to the cold plates 30. As shown in FIG. 1, the LiC module 100 includes supply-side pipe segments 40 and supply-side pipe joints 41. The supply-side pipe segments 40 and supply-side pipe joints 41 are serially connected to form the supply pipe 46.

[0027] Each supply-side pipe segment 40 is secured to a corresponding one of the cold plates 30 and located in the vicinity of a first end of the cold plate 30 in the width direction (front end of the cold plate 30). Each supply-side pipe segment 40 has a tubular Date Recue/Date Received 2023-07-18 shape with a central axis extending in the stacking direction. That is, each supply-side pipe segment 40 is secured to the corresponding one of the cold plates 30 in such a manner that the central axis of the supply-side pipe segment 40 is perpendicular to the cold plate 30. Additionally, each supply-side pipe segment 40 communicates with the inlet of the coolant path 31 of the corresponding one of the cold plates 30.

[0028] In the present embodiment, the supply-side pipe segments 40 are secured to both sides of each cold plate 30 in the stacking direction. That is, two supply-side pipe segments 40 are secured to one cold plate 30. The two supply-side pipe segments 40 may be integral with each other. That is, one supply-side pipe segment 40 may be secured to one cold plate 30 in such a manner as to extend through the thickness of the cold plate 30. In this case, the central portion of the supply-side pipe segment 40 in the stacking direction communicates with the inlet of the coolant path 31.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the LiC module 100 as viewed from the front of the supply-side pipe segments 40. The up-down direction in the plane of FIG. 2, the left-right direction in the plane of FIG. 2, and the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 2 are the "up-down direction", "thickness direction (stacking direction)", and "width direction", respectively. The left and right sides in the plane of FIG.
2 are the "distal" and "proximal" sides, respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, each supply-side pipe segment 40 includes an internal stopper 44. The stopper 44 of the present embodiment is located toward the cold plate 30 and has a smaller inner diameter than the rest of the supply-side pipe segment 40 which is farther from the cold plate 30.

[0030] Each supply-side pipe joint 41 is located radially inward of the supply-side through hole 14 of a corresponding one of the carriers 10 and couples the supply-side pipe segments 40 secured respectively to the cold plates 30 facing each other across the carrier 10. As shown in FIG. 1, each supply-side pipe joint 41 has a tubular shape with a central axis extending in the stacking direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the outer diameter of the supply-side pipe joints 41 is smaller than the inner diameter of the supply-side pipe segments 40 (exclusive of the stoppers 44), and the supply-side pipe joints 41 are inserted into the supply-side pipe segments 40.

[0031] 0-rings 45 are located between the outer circumferential surfaces of the supply-side pipe joints 41 and the inner circumferential surfaces of the supply-side pipe segments 40 to seal the gaps between the supply-side pipe joints 41 and the supply-side Date Recue/Date Received 2023-07-18 pipe segments 40. The supply-side pipe joints 41 are restricted from moving in the stacking direction by the above-described stoppers 44 of the supply-side pipe segments 40.

[0032] As described above, the supply-side pipe segments 40 and the supply-side pipe joints 41 are serially connected to form the supply pipe 46. The liquid coolant is delivered to the supply pipe 46 from outside the proximal end of the LiC
module 100 (see the black arrow of FIG. 2). Thus, the liquid coolant flows from the proximal end toward the distal end and is supplied to the inlets of the coolant paths 31 of the cold plates 30 through the supply-side pipe segments 40. As shown in FIG. 2, a supply-side end pipe 47 is connected to the distal end of the supply pipe 46. The supply-side end pipe 47 has a tubular shape with a closed end surface, and is located radially inward of the distal one of the supply-side pipe segments 40 with the 0-ring 45 inserted between the supply-side end pipe 47 and the supply-side pipe segment 40.

[0033] Since the supply pipe 46 of the present embodiment is constructed as described above, the supply pipe 46, through which the liquid coolant is supplied to the coolant paths 31 of the cold plates 30, can be formed by stacking the carriers 10 with the cold plates 30 inserted between the stacked carriers 10. Additionally, since the supply-side pipe joints 41 include the stoppers 44, the supply-side pipe joints 41 can be properly positioned in the stacking direction during assembly of the module. As such, in the present embodiment, the supply pipe 46 can be formed easily.

[0034] <Leakage detection structure for supply pipe>
The LiC module 100 according to the present embodiment includes a structure for detecting leakage of the liquid coolant from the supply pipe 46 in the event that such leakage occurs due to, for example, deterioration of the 0-rings 45.
Hereinafter, the leakage detection structure for the supply pipe 46 will be described.

[0035] As shown FIG. 2, the supply-side through holes 14 of the stacked carriers 10 are serially connected to form a supply-side outer pipe 50. The supply pipe 46 is located radially inward of the supply-side outer pipe 50. That is, the supply-side outer pipe 50 encloses the supply pipe 46. In this manner, the supply pipe 46 and the supply-side outer pipe 50 form a double pipe.

[0036] The supply-side communication grooves 16 of the supply-side through holes 14 are serially connected in the stacking direction to form a supply-side guide groove 51.
A supply-side trap hole 52 extending downward is located in the component (end plate 12) Date Recue/Date Received 2023-07-18 that is next to the distal end of the supply-side guide groove 51 in the stacking direction.
In case that the liquid coolant leaks from the supply pipe 46, the leaking liquid coolant is guided to the supply-side trap hole 52 through the supply-side guide groove 51 of the supply-side outer pipe 50.

[0037] The LiC module 100 further includes a supply-side leakage detector located in the vicinity of the bottom of the supply-side trap hole 52. The supply-side leakage detector 53 is capable of detecting the presence or absence of the liquid coolant, and any known detector capable of detecting the presence or absence of liquids can be used as the supply-side leakage detector 53. The supply-side leakage detector 53 is not limited to being disposed at the location mentioned above. The supply-side leakage detector 53 may be disposed at any location where the supply-side leakage detector 53 can detect the liquid coolant having leaked from the supply pipe 46 to the supply-side outer pipe 50.

[0038] The LiC module 100 according to the present embodiment includes the above-described leakage detection structure for the supply pipe 46. Thus, for example, in the event that the liquid coolant leaks from the junction between the supply-side pipe segment 40 and the supply-side pipe joint 41, the leakage can be detected reliably In case that the supply-side leakage detector 53 detects the leakage of the liquid coolant from the supply pipe 46, the supply-side leakage detector 53 sends a detection signal to a non-illustrated controller. Upon receiving the detection signal, the controller performs suitable control such as stoppage of supply of the liquid coolant to the LiC module 100.

[0039] <Discharge pipe>
The following will describe a discharge pipe 48 through which the liquid coolant having passed through the cold plates 30 is discharged. As shown in FIG. 1, the LiC module 100 includes discharge-side pipe segments 42 and discharge-side pipe joints 43. The discharge-side pipe segments 42 and the discharge-side pipe joints 43 are serially connected to Timm the discharge pipe 48.

[0040] Each discharge-side pipe segment 42 is secured to a corresponding one of the cold plates 30 and located in the vicinity of a second end of the cold plate 30 in the width direction (back end of the cold plate 30). Each discharge-side pipe segment 42 has a tubular shape with a central axis extending in the stacking direction. That is, each discharge-side pipe segment 42 is secured to the corresponding one of the cold plates 30 in Date Recue/Date Received 2023-07-18 such a manner that the central axis of the discharge-side pipe segment 42 is perpendicular to the cold plate 30. Additionally, each discharge-side pipe segment 42 communicates with the outlet of the coolant path 31 of the corresponding one of the cold plates 30.

[0041] In the present embodiment, the discharge-side pipe segments 42 are secured to both sides of each cold plate 30. That is, two discharge-side pipe segments 42 are secured to one cold plate 30. The two discharge-side pipe segments 42 may be integral with each other. That is, one discharge-side pipe segment 42 may be secured to one cold plate 30 in such a manner as to extend through the thickness of the cold plate 30. In this case, the central portion of the discharge-side pipe segment 42 in the stacking direction communicates with the outlet of the coolant path 31.

[0042] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the LiC module 100 as viewed from the back of the supply-side pipe segments 40. The up-down direction in the plane of FIG. 3, the left-right direction in the plane of FIG. 3, and the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 3 are the "up-down direction", "thickness direction (stacking direction)", and "width direction", respectively. The left and right sides in the plane of FIG.
3 are the "proximal" and "distal" sides, respectively. As shown in FIG. 3, each discharge-side pipe segment 42 includes an internal stopper 44. The stopper 44 of the present embodiment is located toward the cold plate 30 and has a smaller inner diameter than the rest of the discharge-side pipe segment 42 which is farther from the cold plate 30.

[0043] Each discharge-side pipe joint 43 is located radially inward of the discharge-side through hole 15 of a corresponding one of the carriers 10 and couples the discharge-side pipe segments 42 secured respectively to the cold plates 30 facing each other across the carrier 10. As shown in FIG. 1, each discharge-side pipe joint 43 has a tubular shape with a central axis extending in the stacking direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the outer diameter of the discharge-side pipe joints 43 is smaller than the inner diameter of the discharge-side pipe segments 42 (exclusive of the stoppers 44), and the discharge-side pipe joints 43 are inserted into the discharge-side pipe segments 42.

[0044] 0-rings 45 are located between the outer circumferential surfaces of the discharge-side pipe joints 43 and the inner circumferential surfaces of the discharge-side pipe segments 42 to seal the gaps between the discharge-side pipe joints 43 and the discharge-side pipe segments 42. The discharge-side pipe joints 43 are restricted from moving in the stacking direction by the above-described stoppers 44 of the discharge-side Date Recue/Date Received 2023-07-18 pipe segments 42.

[0045] As described above, the discharge-side pipe segments 42 and the discharge-side pipe joints 43 are serially connected to form the discharge pipe 48. The liquid coolant flowing out of the outlets of the coolant paths 31 of the cold plates 30 flows from the distal end to the proximal end of the discharge pipe 48 (see the black arrow of FIG. 3) and is then discharged outside the proximal end of the LiC module 100. As shown in FIG. 3, a discharge-side end pipe 49 is connected to the distal end of the discharge pipe 48.
The discharge-side end pipe 49 has a tubular shape with a closed end surface, and is located radially inward of the distal one of the discharge-side pipe segments 42 with the 0-ring 45 inserted between the discharge-side end pipe 49 and the discharge-side pipe segment 42.

[0046] Since the discharge pipe 48 of the present embodiment is constructed as described above, the discharge pipe 48, through which the liquid coolant having passed through the coolant paths 31 of the cold plates 30 is discharged, can be foimed by stacking the carriers 10 with the cold plates 30 inserted between the stacked carriers 10.
Additionally, since the discharge-side pipe joints 43 include the stoppers 44, the discharge-side pipe joints 43 can be properly positioned in the stacking direction during assembly of the module. As such, in the present embodiment, the discharge pipe 48 can be formed easily.

[0047] <Leakage detection structure for discharge pipe>
The LiC module 100 according to the present embodiment includes a structure for detecting leakage of the liquid coolant from the discharge pipe 48 in the event that such leakage occurs due to, for example, deterioration of the 0-rings 45.
Hereinafter, the leakage detection structure for the discharge pipe 48 will be described.

[0048] As shown FIG. 2, the discharge-side through holes 15 of the stacked carriers are serially connected to form a discharge-side outer pipe 54. The discharge pipe 48 is located radially inward of the discharge-side outer pipe 54. That is, the discharge-side outer pipe 54 encloses the discharge pipe 48. In this manner, the discharge pipe 48 and the discharge-side outer pipe 54 form a double pipe.

[0049] The discharge-side communication grooves 17 of the discharge-side through holes 15 are serially connected in the stacking direction to form a discharge-side guide groove 55. A discharge-side trap hole 56 extending downward is located in the Date Recue/Date Received 2023-07-18 component (end plate 12) that is next to the distal end of the discharge-side guide groove 55 in the stacking direction. In case that the liquid coolant leaks from the discharge pipe 48, the leaking liquid coolant is guided to the discharge-side trap hole 56 through the discharge-side guide groove 55 of the discharge-side outer pipe 54.

[0050] The LiC module 100 further includes a discharge-side leakage detector 57 located in the vicinity of the bottom of the discharge-side trap hole 56. The discharge-side leakage detector 57 is capable of detecting the presence or absence of the liquid coolant, and any known detector capable of detecting the presence or absence of liquids can be used as the discharge-side leakage detector 57. The discharge-side leakage detector 57 is not limited to being disposed at the location mentioned above.
The discharge-side leakage detector 57 may be disposed at any location where the discharge-side leakage detector 57 can detect the liquid coolant having leaked from the discharge pipe 48 to the discharge-side outer pipe 54.

[0051] The LiC module 100 according to the present embodiment includes the above-described leakage detection structure for the discharge pipe 48. Thus, for example, in the event that the liquid coolant leaks from the junction between the discharge-side pipe segment 42 and the discharge-side pipe joint 43, the leakage can be detected reliably In case that the discharge-side leakage detector 57 detects the leakage of the liquid coolant from the discharge pipe 48, the discharge-side leakage detector 57 sends a detection signal to a non-illustrated controller. Upon receiving the detection signal, the controller performs suitable control such as stoppage of supply of the liquid coolant to the LiC
module 100.

[0052] <Modifications>
Although the supply-side pipe joints 41 are located radially inward of the supply-side pipe segments 40 in the above embodiment, the supply-side pipe joints 41 may be located radially outward of the supply-side pipe segments 40. Likewise, the discharge-side pipe joints 43 may be located radially outward of the discharge-side pipe segments 42. Although the supply-side pipe joints 41 and the discharge-side pipe joints 43 include the stoppers 44 in the above embodiment, the supply-side pipe segments 40 and the discharge-side pipe segments 42 may include the stoppers 44.

[0053] Although in the above embodiment the supply pipe 46 is located toward the front surface of the LiC module 100 and the discharge pipe 48 is located toward the back Date Recue/Date Received 2023-07-18 surface of the LiC module 100, both the supply pipe 46 and the discharge pipe 48 may be located toward the front or back surface of the LiC module 100. That is, the supply pipe 46 may be located in the vicinity of the discharge pipe 48. For example, in the case where both the supply pipe 46 and the discharge pipe 48 are located toward the front surface of the LiC module 100, the supply-side outer pipe 50 may enclose both the supply pipe 46 and the discharge pipe 48. This eliminates the need for components such as the discharge-side outer pipe 54.
Reference Signs List

[0054] 10 carrier 11 LiC cells 14 supply-side through hole 15 discharge-side through hole 30 cold plate 31 coolant path 40 supply-side pipe segment 41 supply-side pipe joint 42 discharge-side pipe segment 43 discharge-side pipe joint 46 supply pipe 48 discharge pipe 50 supply-side outer pipe 53 supply-side leakage detector 54 discharge-side outer pipe 57 discharge-side leakage detector 100 LiC module Date Recue/Date Received 2023-07-18

Claims

1. A lithium ion capacitor (LiC) module, the LiC module comprising:
carriers holding LiC cells and stacked in a predetermined direction;
cold plates each of which is inserted between the carriers adjacent to each other, each cold plate including an internal coolant path through which a liquid coolant flows;
tubular supply-side pipe segments each of which is secured to a corresponding one of the cold plates and communicates with an inlet of the coolant path of the corresponding one of the cold plates; and tubular supply-side pipe joints each of which couples the supply-side pipe segments secured respectively to the cold plates adjacent to each other, wherein:
the supply-side pipe segments and the supply-side pipe joints are serially connected to form a supply pipe through which the liquid coolant is supplied to the coolant paths, each carrier includes a supply-side through hole through which the supply pipe extends, a supply-side communication groove extending in the predetermined direction is located at a lower end portion of the supply-side through hole, the supply-side through holes are serially connected to form a supply-side outer pipe enclosing the supply pipe, the supply-side communication grooves are serially connected to form a supply-side guide groove, a supply-side trap hole extending downward is located in the supply-side guide groove, and wherein the LiC module comprises a supply-side leakage detector that is located in the supply-side trap hole and that detects the presence or absence of the liquid coolant having leaked from the supply pipe to the supply-side outer pipe.

Date Recue/Date Received 2023-07-18

2. A lithium ion capacitor (LiC) module, the LiC module comprising:
carriers holding LiC cells and stacked in a predetermined direction;
cold plates each of which is inserted between the carriers adjacent to each other, each cold plate including an internal coolant path through which a liquid coolant flows;
tubular discharge-side pipe segments each of which is secured to a corresponding one of the cold plates and communicates with an outlet of the coolant path of the corresponding one of the cold plates; and tubular discharge-side pipe joints each of which couples the discharge-side pipe segments secured respectively to the cold plates adjacent to each other, wherein:
the discharge-side pipe segments and the discharge-side pipe joints are serially connected to form a discharge pipe through which the liquid coolant having passed through the coolant paths is discharged, each carrier includes a discharge-side through hole through which the discharge pipe extends, a discharge-side communication groove extending in the predetermined direction is located at a lower end portion of the discharge-side through hole, the discharge-side through holes are serially connected to form a discharge-side outer pipe enclosing the discharge pipe, the discharge-side communication grooves are serially connected to form a discharge-side guide groove, a discharge-side trap hole extending downward is located in the discharge-side guide groove, and wherein the LiC module comprises a discharge-side leakage detector that is located in the discharge-side trap hole and that detects the presence or absence of the liquid coolant having leaked from the discharge pipe to the discharge-side outer pipe.
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-07-18