Battery and battery system

Abstract

A battery includes an outer packaging and a power generating element that contains a sulfur-based material and is included in the outer packaging and disposed in the inside of the outer packaging. The outer packaging includes a communicating port, a hydrogen sulfide eliminator, and an exhausting unit. The communicating port communicates between the inside and the outside of the outer packaging. The hydrogen sulfide eliminator and the exhausting unit are disposed in the communicating port. The exhausting unit introduces hydrogen sulfide generated caused by the sulfur-based material to the communicating port. The hydrogen sulfide eliminator eliminates the hydrogen sulfide introduced by the exhausting unit to the communicating port.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A battery comprising:
 an outer packaging; and   a power generating element that contains a sulfur-based material and is included in the outer packaging and disposed in the inside of the outer packaging, wherein   the outer packaging includes a communicating port, a hydrogen sulfide eliminator, and an exhausting unit;   the communicating port communicates between the inside and the outside of the outer packaging;   the hydrogen sulfide eliminator and the exhausting unit are disposed in the communicating port;   the exhausting unit introduces hydrogen sulfide generated caused by the sulfur-based material to the communicating port; and   the hydrogen sulfide eliminator eliminates the hydrogen sulfide introduced to the communicating port by the exhausting unit.   
     
     
         2 . The battery according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the communicating port includes an inside opening located in the inside of the outer packaging and an outside opening located in the outside of the outer packaging;   the exhausting unit is disposed in the outside opening; and   the hydrogen sulfide eliminator is disposed on the inside opening side than the exhausting unit.   
     
     
         3 . The battery according to  claim 1  further comprising a housing, wherein
 the power generating element is sealed and included in the housing; and 
 the housing is included in the outer packaging. 
 
     
     
         4 . The battery according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the power generating element includes a first power generating element containing the sulfur-based material and a second power generating element containing the sulfur-based material; and   the first power generating element and the second power generating element are included in the outer packaging.   
     
     
         5 . The battery according to  claim 4  further comprising:
 a first housing; and 
 a second housing, wherein 
 the first power generating element is sealed and included in the first housing; 
 the second power generating element is sealed and included in the second housing; and 
 the first housing and the second housing are included in the outer packaging. 
 
     
     
         6 . The battery according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the communicating port further includes a check valve; and   the check valve is opened when the generation of hydrogen sulfide increases the internal pressure in the inside of the outer packaging.   
     
     
         7 . The battery according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the communicating port includes an inside opening located in the inside of the outer packaging and an outside opening located in the outside of the outer packaging;   the check valve is disposed on the inside opening side; and   the hydrogen sulfide eliminator is disposed on the outside opening side.   
     
     
         8 . The battery according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the communicating port includes an inside opening located in the inside of the outer packaging and an outside opening located in the outside of the outer packaging;   the check valve is disposed on the outside opening side; and   the hydrogen sulfide eliminator is disposed on the inside opening side.   
     
     
         9 . A battery system comprising:
 a battery according to  claim 1 ;   a first hydrogen sulfide detector that detects the presence of hydrogen sulfide; and   a controller that controls the exhausting unit, wherein   the first hydrogen sulfide detector detects the presence of hydrogen sulfide in the inside of the outer packaging;   the first hydrogen sulfide detector generates a first detection signal when hydrogen sulfide is present in the inside of the outer packaging;   the first detection signal is input into the controller; and   the controller controls the exhausting unit according to the first detection signal.   
     
     
         10 . The battery system according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the controller operates the exhausting unit during the first detection signal is being input; and   the controller stops the exhausting unit during the first detection signal is not being input.   
     
     
         11 . A battery system comprising:
 a battery according to  claim 6 ;   a second hydrogen sulfide detector that detects hydrogen sulfide; and   a controller that controls the exhausting unit, wherein   the communicating port includes an inside opening located in the inside of the outer packaging and an outside opening located in the outside of the outer packaging;   the second hydrogen sulfide detector detects the presence of hydrogen sulfide on the outside opening side than the check valve in the communicating port;   the second hydrogen sulfide detector generates a second detection signal when hydrogen sulfide is present on the outside opening side than the check valve in the communicating port;   the second detection signal is input into the controller; and   the controller controls the exhausting unit according to the second detection signal.   
     
     
         12 . The battery system according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the controller operates the exhausting unit during the second detection signal is being input; and   the controller stops the exhausting unit during the second detection signal is not being input.   
     
     
         13 . A battery system comprising:
 a battery according to  claim 6 ;   an open/closed state detector detecting an open or closed state of the check valve; and   a controller controlling the exhausting unit, wherein   the open/closed state detector generates a third detection signal when the check valve is in an open state;   the third detection signal is input into the controller; and   the controller drives the exhausting unit when the third detection signal is input.   
     
     
         14 . A battery system comprising:
 a first battery being the battery according to  claim 1 ; and   a second battery including a second power generating element, wherein   the exhausting unit and the second power generating element are electrically connected to each other; and   power necessary for driving the exhausting unit is supplied from the second power generating element to the exhausting unit.   
     
     
         15 . The battery system according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a first detector detecting hydrogen sulfide in the first battery; and   a first controller controlling the exhausting unit, wherein   the first detector generates a first signal when hydrogen sulfide is present in the first battery;   the first signal is input into the first controller;   the first controller controls the exhausting unit according to the first signal;   the first detector and the second power generating element are electrically connected to each other; and   power necessary for detecting hydrogen sulfide by the first detector is supplied from the second power generating element to the first detector.   
     
     
         16 . The battery system according to  claim 15 , wherein
 the first controller and the second power generating element are electrically connected to each other; and   power necessary for controlling the exhausting unit by the first controller is supplied from the second power generating element to the first controller.   
     
     
         17 . The battery system according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the second battery further includes a second outer packaging;   the second power generating element contains a sulfur-based material and is included in the second outer packaging and disposed in the inside of the second outer packaging;   the second outer packaging includes a second communicating port, a second hydrogen sulfide eliminator, and a second exhausting unit;   the second communicating port communicates between the inside and the outside of the second outer packaging;   the second hydrogen sulfide eliminator and the second exhausting unit are disposed in the second communicating port;   the second exhausting unit introduces hydrogen sulfide generated caused by the sulfur-based material contained in the second power generating element to the second communicating port;   the second hydrogen sulfide eliminator eliminates hydrogen sulfide introduced to the second communicating port by the second exhausting unit;   the second exhausting unit and the power generating element of the first battery are electrically connected to each other; and   power necessary for driving the second exhausting unit is supplied from the power generating element of the first battery to the second exhausting unit.   
     
     
         18 . The battery system according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a second detector detecting hydrogen sulfide in the second battery; and   a second controller controlling the second exhausting unit, wherein   the second detector generates a second signal when hydrogen sulfide is present in the second battery;   the second signal is input into the second controller;   the second controller controls the second exhausting unit according to the second signal;   the second detector and the power generating element of the first battery are electrically connected to each other; and   power necessary for detecting the hydrogen sulfide by the second detector is supplied from the power generating element of the first battery to the second detector.   
     
     
         19 . The battery system according to  claim 18 , wherein
 the second controller and the power generating element of the first battery are electrically connected to each other; and   power necessary for controlling the second exhausting unit by the second controller is supplied from the power generating element of the first battery to the second controller.