WO2025184771A1 - Energy storage system - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed in the present invention is an energy storage system, comprising at least one energy storage device, wherein each energy storage device comprises an energy storage case and a heat exchange member arranged in the energy storage case, at least one battery is stored in the energy storage case, and the heat exchange member is used for exchanging heat with the battery; and a heat exchange device, comprising a first heat exchange assembly and a second heat exchange assembly, wherein the first heat exchange assembly comprises a first circulation loop, the second heat exchange assembly is communicated with heat exchange members to form a second circulation loop, and the second circulation loop exchanges heat with the first circulation loop.

Description

Energy Storage System Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of new energy technologies, and in particular to energy storage systems.

Background Art

With the rapid development of new energy technologies, energy storage devices have become one of the more important research directions in the field of new energy. Typically, energy storage devices are equipped with heat exchangers for heat exchange. Currently, higher requirements are placed on the heat exchange efficiency of heat exchangers.

Summary of the Invention

In order to solve the above technical problems, the present disclosure provides an energy storage system with high heat exchange efficiency.

The present disclosure is achieved through the following technical solutions.

The present disclosure provides an energy storage system, comprising: at least one energy storage device, each of the energy storage devices comprising an energy storage box and a heat exchange element disposed in the energy storage box, the energy storage box accommodating at least one battery, the heat exchange element being used to exchange heat with the battery; a heat exchange device, the heat exchange device comprising a first heat exchange component and a second heat exchange component, the first heat exchange component comprising a first circulation loop, the second heat exchange component being connected to the heat exchange element and forming at least one second circulation loop, the second circulation loop exchanging heat with the first circulation loop.

By exchanging heat with the battery through the second circulation loop and with the first circulation loop, the heat exchange medium in the second circulation loop can be cooled or heated in a timely manner, so that the heat exchange medium in the second circulation loop can efficiently exchange heat with the battery at a basically unchanged temperature, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency.

In some embodiments, the second circulation loop and the first circulation loop are arranged close to each other for heat exchange.

The first circulation loop and the second circulation loop are close to each other, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency between them.

In some embodiments, the second heat exchange component includes: a circulation pump and a liquid pipeline, and the circulation pump is connected to the heat exchange element through the liquid pipeline.

A second circulation loop can be formed by a circulation pump, liquid pipelines and heat exchange elements. The heat exchange medium circulates in the second circulation loop, taking away the heat of the battery and exchanging heat with the first circulation loop in a timely manner, thereby continuously and efficiently exchanging heat for the battery and improving the heat exchange efficiency.

In some embodiments, the first heat exchange component includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and a second heat exchanger that are sequentially connected through a refrigerant circulation pipeline.

The first circulation loop can not only realize timely cooling of the second circulation loop, but also timely heating, thereby realizing Efficiently cool and heat the battery, improve heat exchange efficiency, simplify the structure of the heat exchange device, and reduce costs.

In some embodiments, the heat exchange element of each energy storage device is connected to a plurality of heat exchange plates, the heat exchange plates are connected in parallel, and each heat exchange plate exchanges heat with its own battery respectively.

Multiple heat exchange plates connected in parallel can reduce the mutual influence of the temperatures between the heat exchange plates and improve the heat exchange efficiency.

In some embodiments, the first heat exchanger includes a first flow channel and a second flow channel. The first heat exchanger is connected to the refrigerant circulation circuit through the first flow channel, and the second flow channel is connected to the liquid pipeline.

Heat exchange between the two circulation loops is achieved by using the first heat exchanger having two flow channels. The two circulation loops are closer to each other, the heat exchange efficiency is higher, and the structure can be simplified.

In some embodiments, a plurality of energy storage devices are provided, and the heat exchange device is located outside the energy storage box.

By placing the heat exchanger outside the energy storage box, it does not occupy the internal space of the energy storage box, allowing more batteries to be placed in each energy storage box, thereby increasing the energy density of each energy storage device. Through two circulation loops (the first circulation loop and the second circulation loop), a single heat exchanger can simultaneously and efficiently exchange heat for multiple energy storage devices. This simplifies the overall structure, reduces costs, and improves the efficiency of energy storage system grouping. Furthermore, the heat exchanger located outside the energy storage device is more convenient for maintenance and replacement.

In some embodiments, the liquid pipeline includes a main pipeline and a plurality of branches connected to the main pipeline, and the heat exchange elements of each of the energy storage devices are connected in parallel through the branches.

The heat exchange elements of each energy storage device are connected in parallel through branches, which can reduce the adverse effects of the heat exchange elements on the heat exchange temperature of the battery and improve the heat exchange efficiency.

In some embodiments, each of the heat exchange components includes a supply pipeline and a return pipeline, the supply pipeline includes a liquid supply port and a first port connected to each of the heat exchange plates, the return pipeline includes a liquid return port and a second port connected to each of the heat exchange plates, and each of the energy storage boxes is provided with a liquid inlet joint and a liquid return joint, the liquid inlet joint is connected to the liquid supply port, and the liquid return joint is connected to the liquid return port.

In some embodiments, the branch includes a liquid inlet branch and a liquid return branch, the liquid inlet branch is detachably connected to the liquid inlet joint, and the liquid return branch is detachably connected to the liquid return joint.

A liquid inlet connector and a liquid return connector are provided on the outside of the energy storage box, and are detachably connected to each branch, making installation and maintenance convenient and improving assembly efficiency.

In some embodiments, the liquid inlet connector is connected to the liquid inlet branch by means of snap-fitting, hot-melting or threads; and/or, the liquid return connector is connected to the liquid return branch by means of snap-fitting, hot-melting or threads.

The detachable connection in the above manner facilitates disassembly and assembly, thereby improving assembly efficiency.

In some embodiments, the heat exchange device is disposed on the top of the energy storage box of at least one of the energy storage devices.

The heat exchange device can be installed on the top of the energy storage box to reduce the floor space and improve land utilization. More energy storage devices will increase the energy density of the energy storage system.

In some embodiments, a plurality of the energy storage devices are arranged around the heat exchange device with the heat exchange device as the center.

In this way, the length of each branch connecting the heat exchange device and each energy storage device can be reduced, and the length of each branch is roughly the same, thereby shortening the circulation time of the heat exchange medium in the second circulation loop and improving the heat exchange efficiency and heat exchange uniformity.

In some embodiments, a plurality of the energy storage devices are arranged along a first direction to form an energy storage device row.

Along a direction intersecting the first direction, the heat exchange device is located on one side of the energy storage device row; or, the heat exchange device is located between any two energy storage devices along the first direction.

In some embodiments, a plurality of the energy storage devices are arranged along a first direction to form an energy storage device row, and a plurality of energy storage device rows are arranged along a second direction intersecting the first direction, and the heat exchange device is located on one side of the energy storage device along any one of the first direction and the second direction.

In some embodiments, the energy storage device includes an energy storage container and/or an energy storage cabinet.

Beneficial effects of the embodiments of the present disclosure:

Through the present disclosure, an energy storage system with high heat exchange efficiency is provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiment below. The accompanying drawings are for illustration purposes only and are not to be considered as limiting the present disclosure. The same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to denote the same components. In the drawings:

FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of an energy storage device provided in some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG2 is an exploded schematic diagram of a battery pack provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of a battery module provided in some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of an energy storage system provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG5 is a top view of an energy storage system provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG6 is a simplified structural diagram of an energy storage system provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG7 is a schematic structural diagram of an energy storage system provided by other embodiments of the present disclosure;

8-10 are schematic diagrams of different arrangements of the energy storage device and the heat exchange device of the energy storage system provided in some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Description of Reference Numerals
1-battery cell; 2-bottom plate; 3-vertical plate; 4-cover;
100 - energy storage device; 110 - energy storage box; 120 - battery; 121 - heat exchange plate; 130 - communication interface; 140 - power transmission interface; 150 - heat exchange element; 161 - liquid inlet connector; 162 - liquid return connector;
200 - heat exchange device; 210a - first circulation loop; 211 - compressor; 212 - first heat exchanger; 212a - first flow channel;
212b - second flow channel; 213 - expansion valve; 214 - second heat exchanger; 215 - four-way valve; 220a - second circulation loop; 221 - circulation pump; 222 - liquid pipeline; 2221 - main pipeline; 2222 - branch pipeline.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following embodiments of the technical solution of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present disclosure and are therefore only examples and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs; the terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure; the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof in the specification of the present disclosure and the above-mentioned drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions.

In the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, technical terms such as "first" and "second" are used solely to distinguish between different objects and should not be understood to indicate or imply relative importance or to implicitly specify the quantity, specific order, or primary and secondary relationship of the technical features indicated. In the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, "plurality" means more than two, unless otherwise specifically defined.

References herein to "embodiments" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it constitute an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive of other embodiments. It is understood, both explicitly and implicitly, by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

In the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the term "and/or" is simply a description of the association relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and/or B can represent three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character "/" in this document generally indicates that the associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

In the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the orientations or positional relationships indicated by technical terms such as "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", and "circumferential" are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present disclosure and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed, operated or used in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be understood as limiting the embodiments of the present disclosure.

In the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, technical terms such as "installed,""connected,""connect," and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integration; mechanical connections or electrical connections; direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and can refer to internal connectivity between two components or interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of the present disclosure based on specific circumstances.

In the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the technical term "contact" should be understood in a broad sense, and can be direct contact, contact through an intermediate medium layer, contact with essentially no interaction force between the two contacting parties, or contact with interaction force between the two contacting parties.

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in detail.

With the rapid development of new energy technologies, energy storage devices have become one of the more important research areas in the new energy field. Typically, each energy storage device is equipped with a heat exchanger inside the housing. This heat exchanger exchanges heat with the batteries inside the housing through a liquid circulation system, thereby providing thermal management for the batteries. The temperature of the liquid in the liquid circulation system fluctuates during the heat exchange process with the batteries. If the heat exchanger's efficiency is insufficient, it will not be able to effectively reduce the temperature in a timely manner, which is detrimental to battery cooling.

In addition, since the heat exchange device is arranged inside the box, it occupies a large amount of battery storage space, which is not conducive to improving the energy density of the energy storage device. It also increases the volume and weight of the energy storage device, which is not conducive to the transportation of the integrated energy storage device. Since one heat exchange device can only perform thermal management on one energy storage device, it increases energy consumption and is costly.

In this regard, the present disclosure designs an energy storage system, including: at least one energy storage device, each energy storage device includes an energy storage box and a heat exchange element arranged in the energy storage box, the energy storage box accommodates at least one battery, and the heat exchange element is used to exchange heat with the battery; the heat exchange device includes a first heat exchange component and a second heat exchange component, the first heat exchange component includes a first circulation loop, the second heat exchange component is connected to each heat exchange component and forms a second circulation loop, and the second circulation loop exchanges heat with the first circulation loop.

By exchanging heat with the battery through the second circulation loop, and the heat exchange between the second circulation loop and the first circulation loop, the first circulation loop can timely cool down or heat up the first circulation loop, so that the heat exchange medium in the second circulation loop can efficiently exchange heat with the battery at a basically unchanged temperature, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency.

The energy storage system disclosed herein can be applied to renewable energy energy storage fields such as electric power storage, photovoltaic energy storage, and wind power storage, and can also be applied to fields such as electric vehicle charging.

1 , an energy storage device 100 may include an energy storage housing 110 and at least one battery 120 housed within the energy storage housing 110. The energy storage device 100 may also include a communication interface 130 and a power transmission interface 140 disposed within the energy storage housing 110. In some embodiments, the interior of the energy storage housing may be divided into a battery compartment and an electrical compartment. The battery 120 is typically placed within the battery compartment, while the electronic control device, communication device, etc. are typically disposed within the electrical compartment. The communication interface 130 and power transmission interface 140 may be electrically connected to the electronic control device, communication device, etc. within the electrical compartment.

2 and 3 , the battery 120 mentioned in the embodiment of the present disclosure may be a battery cell 1 .

The battery cell 1 may be a secondary battery. A secondary battery refers to a battery cell that can be continuously used by activating active materials by charging after the battery cell is discharged.

The battery cell 1 can be a lithium ion battery, a sodium ion battery, a sodium lithium ion battery, a lithium metal battery, a sodium metal battery, a lithium sulfur battery, a magnesium ion battery, a nickel metal hydride battery, a nickel cadmium battery, a lead storage battery, etc., which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

The battery cell 1 generally includes an electrode assembly. The electrode assembly includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator. During the electrical process, active ions (such as lithium ions) are inserted and removed back and forth between the positive and negative electrodes. The separator is placed between the positive and negative electrodes to prevent the positive and negative electrodes from short-circuiting while allowing the active ions to pass through.

In some embodiments, the positive electrode may be a positive electrode sheet, which may include a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material disposed on at least one surface of the positive electrode current collector.

As an example, the positive electrode current collector has two surfaces facing each other in its thickness direction, and the positive electrode active material is provided on either or both of the two facing surfaces of the positive electrode current collector.

As an example, the positive electrode current collector may be a metal foil or a composite current collector. For example, as the metal foil, aluminum or stainless steel with a silver surface treatment, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, nickel, carbon electrode, carbon, nickel or titanium, etc. may be used. The composite current collector may include a polymer material base layer and a metal layer. The composite current collector may be formed by forming a metal material (aluminum, aluminum alloy, nickel, nickel alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, silver and silver alloy, etc.) on a polymer material substrate (such as a substrate of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyethylene, etc.).

As an example, the positive electrode active material may include at least one of the following materials: lithium-containing phosphates, lithium transition metal oxides, and their respective modified compounds. However, the present disclosure is not limited to these materials, and other traditional materials that can be used as battery positive electrode active materials may also be used. These positive electrode active materials may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Examples of lithium-containing phosphates may include, but are not limited to, at least one of lithium iron phosphate (such as LiFePO ₄ (also referred to as LFP)), a composite material of lithium iron phosphate and carbon, lithium manganese phosphate (such as LiMnPO ₄ ), a composite material of lithium manganese phosphate and carbon, lithium iron manganese phosphate, and a composite material of lithium iron manganese phosphate and carbon.

In some embodiments, a positive electrode may be a metal foam. The metal foam may be nickel foam, copper foam, aluminum foam, alloy foam, or carbon foam, among others. When a metal foam is used as the positive electrode, the surface of the metal foam may or may not be provided with a positive electrode active material. For example, a lithium source material, potassium metal, or sodium metal may be filled and/or deposited within the metal foam, where the lithium source material is lithium metal and/or a lithium-rich material.

In some embodiments, the negative electrode may be a negative electrode sheet, and the negative electrode sheet may include a negative electrode current collector.

As an example, the negative electrode current collector may be a metal foil, a metal foam, or a composite current collector. For example, as the metal foil, aluminum or stainless steel treated with silver, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, nickel, carbon electrode, carbon, nickel, or titanium, etc. may be used. The composite current collector may include a polymer material base layer and a metal layer. The metal foam may be nickel foam, copper foam, aluminum foam, alloy foam, or carbon foam, etc. The composite current collector may be formed by forming a metal material (copper, copper alloy, nickel, nickel alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, silver, and silver alloy, etc.) on a polymer material substrate (such as a substrate of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyethylene, etc.). In some embodiments, the material of the positive electrode current collector may be aluminum, and the material of the negative electrode current collector may be copper.

In some embodiments, the electrode assembly further includes a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

In some embodiments, the isolating member is an isolating membrane. The present disclosure has no particular restrictions on the type of isolating membrane, and can be selected from Any known porous structure separator with good chemical and mechanical stability.

As an example, the main material of the isolation membrane can be selected from at least one of glass fiber, non-woven fabric, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, and ceramics.

In some embodiments, the separator is a solid electrolyte, which is disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode and serves to transport ions and isolate the positive and negative electrodes.

In some embodiments, the battery cell 1 further includes an electrolyte, which acts as a conductor of ions between the positive and negative electrodes. The present disclosure does not specifically limit the type of electrolyte, and the electrolyte may be selected based on needs. The electrolyte may be liquid, gel, or solid.

In some embodiments, the electrode assembly is a wound structure, wherein the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet are wound into the wound structure.

In some embodiments, the electrode assembly is a laminate structure.

As an example, multiple positive electrode sheets and multiple negative electrode sheets can be provided respectively, and the multiple positive electrode sheets and the multiple negative electrode sheets can be alternately stacked.

As an example, a plurality of positive electrode sheets may be provided, and the negative electrode sheet may be folded to form a plurality of stacked folded segments, with a positive electrode sheet being sandwiched between adjacent folded segments.

As an example, both the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet are folded to form a plurality of stacked folded segments.

As an example, a plurality of separators may be provided, each of which is disposed between any adjacent positive electrode sheets or negative electrode sheets.

As an example, the separator may be provided continuously, and may be provided between any adjacent positive electrode sheets or negative electrode sheets by folding or winding.

In some embodiments, the shape of the electrode assembly can be cylindrical, flat, or polygonal.

In some embodiments, the electrode assembly is provided with tabs that can conduct current from the electrode assembly. The tabs include a positive tab and a negative tab.

In some embodiments, the battery cell 1 may include a battery housing. The battery housing is used to encapsulate components such as the electrode assembly and electrolyte. The battery housing may be a steel housing, an aluminum housing, a plastic housing (e.g., polypropylene), a composite metal housing (e.g., a copper-aluminum composite housing), or an aluminum-plastic film.

As an example, the battery cell 1 can be a cylindrical battery cell, a prismatic battery cell, a soft-pack battery cell or a battery cell of other shapes. The prismatic battery cell includes a square-shell battery cell, a blade-shaped battery cell, a polygonal battery, and a polygonal battery such as a hexagonal battery, etc. There is no special limitation in the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, the battery housing includes an end cap and a battery casing. The battery casing has an opening, and the end cap seals the opening to form a sealed space for accommodating materials such as the electrode assembly and electrolyte. The battery casing may have one or more openings. One or more end caps may also be provided.

In some embodiments, the battery housing is provided with at least one electrode terminal, which is electrically connected to the tab. The electrode terminal can be directly connected to the tab or indirectly connected to the tab via a transition component. The electrode terminal can be provided on the end cap. It can also be set on the battery housing.

In some embodiments, a pressure relief mechanism is provided on the battery housing to release the internal pressure of the battery cell.

Referring to Figure 3 , the battery described in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be a battery module. A battery module is a single physical module comprising one or more battery cells 1 to provide higher voltage and capacity. When there are multiple battery cells 1, they are connected in series, parallel, or in series combination via a busbar. Multiple battery cells 1 are arranged and fixed to form a battery module.

2 , the battery 120 mentioned in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be a battery pack, which includes a battery case and at least one battery cell 1, with the battery cell 1 housed within the battery case. The battery case may include a bottom plate 2, a vertical plate 3, and a cover 4, which is disposed over the bottom plate 1 and vertical plate 3, thereby forming a storage space for the battery cell 1.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 10 .

The present disclosure provides an energy storage system, comprising at least one energy storage device 100 and a heat exchange device 200. The heat exchange device 200 may also be sometimes referred to as a heat exchange unit.

Each energy storage device 100 includes an energy storage box 110 and a heat exchange element 150 (see Figure 6) arranged in the energy storage box 110. The energy storage box 110 accommodates at least one battery 120, and the heat exchange element 150 is used to exchange heat with the battery 120; the heat exchange device 200 includes a first heat exchange component and a second heat exchange component. The first heat exchange component includes a first circulation loop 210a, and the second heat exchange component is connected to each heat exchange element 120 and forms a second circulation loop 220a. The second circulation loop 220a exchanges heat with the first circulation loop 210a.

Each energy storage device 100 includes an energy storage box 110 having a receiving space for accommodating at least one battery 120 .

The heat exchange element 150 is used to exchange heat with the battery 120 within the energy storage box 110. The heat exchange element 150 can cool or heat the battery 120, thereby achieving thermal management of the battery 120. The heat exchange medium can circulate in the second circulation loop formed by the heat exchange element 150 and the second heat exchange assembly 220, thereby removing heat generated by the battery 120 or heating the battery.

The heat exchanger 150 may be a component having a cavity, such as a heat exchange tube, etc. The heat exchanger 150 may be made of a metal or metal alloy with a certain thermal conductivity, such as copper, aluminum, steel, aluminum alloy, etc.

The first circulation loop 210a and the second circulation loop 220a are two independent circulation loops. The first heat exchange medium in the first circulation loop 210a circulates within the first circulation loop 210a, and the second heat exchange medium in the second circulation loop 220a circulates within the second circulation loop 220a. The first heat exchange medium and the second heat exchange medium can be the same or different and can be a gas, a liquid, or a medium that undergoes gas-liquid phase transfer. In some specific examples, the first heat exchange medium is a refrigerant, such as Freon, and the second heat exchange medium is a coolant, such as ethylene glycol or water.

The first circulation loop 210a and the second circulation loop 220a exchange heat, and the first heat exchange medium in the first circulation loop 210a may cool or heat the second heat exchange medium in the second circulation loop 220a.

Taking the second circulation loop 220a as an example to cool down the battery 120 and the second heat exchange medium being liquid, the circulating liquid in the second circulation loop 220a takes away the heat generated by the battery 120. At this time, the temperature of the liquid in the second circulation loop 220a is The temperature will rise. Since the first circulation loop 210a can cool the second circulation loop 220a in time, the liquid in the second circulation loop 220a can basically maintain a low temperature to exchange heat with the battery 120, thereby continuously and efficiently cooling the battery 120 in the energy storage device 100.

By exchanging heat between the second circulation loop 220a and the battery 120, and between the second circulation loop 220a and the first circulation loop 210a, the liquid in the second circulation loop 220a can be cooled or heated in a timely manner, and the liquid in the second circulation loop 220a can efficiently exchange heat with the battery 120 at a substantially constant temperature, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency.

In some embodiments, the first circulation loop 210a and the second circulation loop 220a are disposed close to each other.

The proximity arrangement may be such that the first circulation loop 210a and the second circulation loop 220a are in contact with each other for heat exchange, and the contact heat exchange may be direct or indirect. Alternatively, the first circulation loop 210a and the second circulation loop 220a may not be in contact with each other but may be spatially close to each other to the extent that heat exchange can occur between them.

The first circulation loop 210a and the second circulation loop 220a are close to each other, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency between them.

In some embodiments, the second heat exchange assembly includes a circulation pump 221 and a liquid pipeline 222 , and the circulation pump 221 is connected to the heat exchange element 150 of the energy storage device 100 through the liquid pipeline 222 .

The circulation pump 221 is used to circulate the second heat exchange medium in the second circulation loop 220 a through the liquid pipeline 222 , the heat exchange element 150 , and the heat exchange plate 121 (described later).

A second circulation loop 220a can be formed by the circulation pump 221, the liquid pipeline 222 and the heat exchange element 150 (including each heat exchange plate 121 when the heat exchange element 150 is connected to multiple heat exchange plates 121). The liquid circulates in the second circulation loop 220a, taking away the heat of the battery and exchanging heat with the first circulation loop 210a in a timely manner, thereby continuously and efficiently exchanging heat for the battery and improving the heat exchange efficiency.

In some embodiments, referring to FIG6 , the first heat exchange assembly includes a compressor 211, a first heat exchanger 212, an expansion valve 213, and a second heat exchanger 214, which are sequentially connected via a refrigerant circulation pipeline. The refrigerant circulation pipeline, the compressor 211, the first heat exchanger 212, the expansion valve 213, and the second heat exchanger 214 constitute a first circulation loop 210a. Here, the refrigerant serves as the first heat exchange medium.

The first heat exchanger 212 may be an evaporator, and the second heat exchanger 214 may be a condenser. Alternatively, the first heat exchanger 212 may be a condenser, and the second heat exchanger 214 may be an evaporator. The refrigerant in the first circulation loop 210a may be, for example, Freon.

The heat exchange device 200 can function as a cooling unit to cool the energy storage device 100. Specifically, the second circulation loop 220a exchanges heat with the evaporator via the liquid line 222, thereby continuously cooling the second heat exchange medium within the second circulation loop 220a through the evaporator. This, in turn, efficiently cools the batteries within the energy storage device 100 through the second circulation loop 220a.

The heat exchange device 200 can be used as a heating unit to heat the energy storage device 100. Specifically, the second circulation loop 220a can exchange heat with the condenser through the liquid pipeline 222, thereby continuously supplying the second circulation loop 220a with the condenser. The second heat exchange medium in the energy storage device 100 is heated, and then the battery in the energy storage device 100 is efficiently heated and heated through the second circulation loop 220a.

The first heat exchanger 212 may be an evaporator at some times and a condenser at other times, and the second heat exchanger 214 may be a condenser at some times and an evaporator at other times, depending on the flow state of the refrigerant in the first circulation loop 210a.

In other words, the heat exchange device 200 can switch between a cooling unit and a heating unit, that is, the heat exchange device 200 can function as a cooling unit to cool the energy storage device 100, and can also function as a heating unit to heat the energy storage device 100. Specifically, the second circulation loop 220a can exchange heat with the first heat exchanger 212 via the liquid pipeline 222. The four-way valve 215 changes the flow direction of the refrigerant in the first circulation loop 210a, thereby making the first heat exchanger 212 an evaporator and the second heat exchanger 213 a condenser, or the first heat exchanger 212 a condenser and the second heat exchanger 214 an evaporator. When the first heat exchanger 212 is an evaporator and the second heat exchanger 214 is a condenser, the second circulation loop 220a can exchange heat with the evaporator through the liquid pipeline 222, and the second heat exchange medium in the second circulation loop 220a is timely cooled by the evaporator, and the batteries in the energy storage device 100 are efficiently cooled by the second circulation loop 220a; when the first heat exchanger 212 is a condenser and the second heat exchanger 214 is an evaporator, the second circulation loop 220a exchanges heat with the condenser, and the second heat exchange medium in the second circulation loop 220a is timely heated by the condenser, and the batteries in the energy storage device 100 are continuously and efficiently heated by the second circulation loop 220a.

The first circulation loop 210a can be used to timely cool and heat the second circulation loop 220a, thereby continuously and efficiently cooling and heating the batteries in the energy storage device 100, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency while simplifying the structure and reducing costs.

In some embodiments, the first heat exchanger 212 includes a first flow channel 212 a and a second flow channel 212 b . The first heat exchanger 212 is in communication with the first circulation loop 210 a through the first flow channel 212 a , and the second flow channel 212 b is in communication with the liquid pipeline 222 .

The first heat exchanger 212 can be a plate heat exchanger, which is a stacked body composed of multiple layers of plates with two flow channels. The first flow channel 212a is used to circulate refrigerant as part of the first circulation loop 210a, and the second flow channel 212b is used to circulate the second heat exchange medium as part of the second circulation loop. The second heat exchange medium exchanges heat with the first heat exchanger 212 when passing through the second flow channel 212b.

The first heat exchanger 212 having two flow channels realizes heat exchange in two circulation loops, reduces heat loss, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency and simplifying the structure.

In some embodiments, multiple energy storage devices 100 are provided, and the heat exchange device 200 is located outside the energy storage box 110 .

The multiple energy storage devices 100 may include energy storage containers and/or energy storage cabinets. For example, all of the multiple energy storage devices 100 may be energy storage containers. Alternatively, all of the multiple energy storage devices 100 may be energy storage cabinets. Alternatively, a portion of the multiple energy storage devices 100 may be energy storage containers, while another portion may be energy storage cabinets.

The heat exchange device 200 is located outside the energy storage box 110. The heat exchange device 200 and the energy storage box 110 are two independent The heat exchange device 200 does not occupy the internal space of the energy storage box 110, so more batteries can be placed inside the energy storage box 110, thereby improving the energy density of the energy storage device 100.

The heat exchange elements 150 of each energy storage device 100 may be connected in series or in parallel.

Taking the second circulation loop 220a cooling the battery 120 as an example, the second heat exchange medium in the second circulation loop 220a takes away the heat generated by the battery 120, and at the same time the temperature of the second heat exchange medium in the second circulation loop 220a will rise. Since the first circulation loop 210a can cool the second circulation loop 220a, the second heat exchange medium in the second circulation loop 22a can be cooled in time and maintain a low temperature, so that the batteries in each energy storage device 100 can be continuously and efficiently cooled, and the temperature flowing through each heat exchange component 150 is relatively balanced. There is no need to set too many monitoring elements (such as temperature sensors, pressure sensors, etc.) and control elements (such as flow controllers, etc.) on each heat exchange component 150, thereby simplifying the structure and reducing costs.

By placing the heat exchanger 200 outside the energy storage box 110, it does not occupy the internal space of the energy storage box 110. Each energy storage box 110 can accommodate more batteries 120, thereby increasing the energy density of each energy storage device. By using two circulation loops (first circulation loop 210a and second circulation loop 220a), a single heat exchanger 200 can simultaneously and efficiently exchange heat for multiple energy storage devices. This simplifies the overall structure, reduces costs, and improves the efficiency of energy storage system grouping. Furthermore, the heat exchanger located outside the energy storage device 100 is more convenient for maintenance and replacement.

In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 6 , the liquid pipeline 222 may include a main pipeline 2221 and a plurality of branch pipelines 2222 communicating with the main pipeline 2221 , and the heat exchange elements 150 of each energy storage device 100 are connected in parallel via the branch pipelines 2222 .

The circulation pump 221 is provided on the main line 2221 , and the main line 2221 is in communication with the second flow channel 212 b of the first heat exchanger 212 .

The heat exchange elements 150 of each energy storage device 100 are connected in parallel via branches, which can reduce the adverse effect on the heat exchange temperature of the battery and improve the heat exchange efficiency.

In some embodiments, the heat exchange element 150 of each energy storage device 100 is connected to multiple heat exchange plates 121. Each heat exchange plate 121 is connected in parallel and exchanges heat with its own battery. Each heat exchange plate 121 can be installed inside the battery pack as part of the battery pack. The heat exchange plate 121 can be in contact with or close to each battery cell in the battery pack to exchange heat with the battery cells. Each battery pack can be provided with one heat exchange plate 121 or multiple heat exchange plates 121.

The energy storage box 110 can accommodate multiple batteries 120 , and a heat exchange plate 121 can be provided for each battery 120 . The heat exchange plates 121 are connected in parallel, thereby forming multiple parallel circulation loops in one energy storage device 100 .

The heat exchange element 150 is connected to a plurality of parallel heat exchange plates 121, which can reduce the adverse effects on the heat exchange temperature of the battery and improve the heat exchange efficiency.

In some embodiments, each heat exchange element 150 includes a supply pipeline and a return pipeline. The supply pipeline includes a liquid supply port and a first port communicating with each heat exchange plate 121. The return pipeline includes a liquid return port and a second port communicating with each heat exchange plate 121. The energy box 110 is provided with a liquid inlet joint 161 and a liquid return joint 162. The liquid inlet joint 161 is connected to the liquid supply port, and the liquid return joint 162 is connected to the liquid return port. Thus, each heat exchange plate 121 is connected in parallel with each other.

In some embodiments, the branch 2222 includes a liquid inlet branch and a liquid return branch. The liquid inlet branch is detachably connected to the liquid inlet connector 161 , and the liquid return branch is detachably connected to the liquid return connector 162 .

A liquid inlet connector 161 and a liquid return connector 162 are provided on the outside of the energy storage box 110 and are detachably connected to each branch, so that installation and maintenance are convenient and assembly efficiency is improved.

In some embodiments, the liquid inlet connector 161 is connected to the liquid inlet branch by means of snap connection, hot melt connection or thread connection; and/or, the liquid return connector 162 is connected to the liquid return branch by means of snap connection, hot melt connection or thread connection.

In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 7 , the heat exchange device 200 is disposed on top of the energy storage box 110 of at least one energy storage device 100 .

The heat exchange device 200 may be disposed on the top of one energy storage box 110 ; or on the top of multiple energy storage boxes 110 , that is, multiple energy storage boxes 110 jointly support the heat exchange device 200 .

The heat exchange device 200 can be set on the top of the energy storage box 110, which reduces the occupied area and improves land utilization. More energy storage devices can be arranged, thereby improving the energy density of the energy storage system.

In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 , a plurality of energy storage devices 100 are arranged around the heat exchange device 200 with the heat exchange device 200 as the center.

The center here is not necessarily a geometric center in a strict sense, and includes the situation where the energy storage devices 100 are arranged around the heat exchange device 200 at a certain interval.

In this way, the lengths of the branches connecting the heat exchange device 200 and the energy storage devices 100 can be reduced, and the lengths of the branches are substantially the same, thereby shortening the circulation time of the second heat exchange medium in the second circulation loop 220a and improving the heat exchange efficiency and heat exchange uniformity.

In some embodiments, referring to FIG8 , multiple energy storage devices 100 are arranged along a first direction to form an energy storage device row, and along a second direction intersecting the first direction, a heat exchange device 200 is located on one side of the energy storage device row. Alternatively, referring to FIG10 , a heat exchange device 200 is located between any two energy storage devices along the first direction.

In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 9 , a plurality of energy storage devices 100 are arranged along a first direction to form an energy storage device row, and a plurality of the energy storage device rows are arranged along a second direction intersecting the first direction, and the heat exchange device 200 is located on one side of the energy storage device 100 along either the first direction or the second direction.

Next, a specific example of the present disclosure will be described.

4 to 6 , an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an energy storage system, including a plurality of energy storage devices 100 and a heat exchange device 200 .

Each energy storage device 100 includes an energy storage box 110 and a heat exchange element 150 (see FIG6 ) disposed in the energy storage box 110 . The heat exchange elements 150 are connected in parallel with each other. The energy storage box 110 accommodates the battery 120 , and the heat exchange elements 150 are used to exchange heat with the battery 120 .

The heat exchange device 200 is located outside the energy storage tank 110 and includes a first heat exchange assembly and a second heat exchange assembly. The second heat exchange assembly includes a liquid pipeline 222 and a circulation pump 221. The liquid pipeline 222, the circulation pump 221, and the heat exchange elements 150 form multiple parallel second circulation loops 220a. Specifically, the liquid pipeline 222 includes a main pipeline 2221 and multiple branches 2222. The heat exchange elements 150 are connected in parallel with the main pipeline 2221 via multiple branches 2222. Specifically, each energy storage box 110 is provided with a liquid inlet joint 161 and a liquid return joint 162, and the liquid inlet joint 161 and the liquid return joint 162 are respectively connected to the inlet and outlet of the heat exchange element 150; a circulation pump 221 is provided on the main line 2221, and the liquid outlet of the main line 2221 is respectively connected to the liquid inlet joint 161 of each energy storage box 110 through each branch line 2222, and the liquid return port of the main line 2221 is respectively connected to the liquid outlet interface 162 of each energy storage box 110 through each branch line 2222, so that the liquid pipeline 222, the circulation pump 221 and each heat exchange element 150 constitute a plurality of second circulation loops 220a connected in parallel with each other.

The first heat exchange assembly includes a compressor 211, a first heat exchanger 212, an expansion valve 213, and a second heat exchanger 214, which are sequentially connected via a refrigerant circulation pipeline. The refrigerant circulation pipeline, the compressor 211, the first heat exchanger 212, the expansion valve 213, and the second heat exchanger 214 constitute a first circulation loop 210a. The liquid pipeline 222 and the first heat exchanger 212 are disposed adjacent to each other, so that the second circulation loop 220a exchanges heat with the first heat exchanger 212 via the liquid pipeline 222. The refrigerant in the first circulation loop 210a may be, for example, Freon.

The heat exchange device 200 can function as both a cooling unit to cool down each energy storage device 100 and a heating unit to heat up each energy storage device 100. Specifically, the second circulation loop 220a can exchange heat with the evaporator via the liquid pipeline 222. The four-way valve 215 changes the flow direction of the refrigerant in the first circulation loop 210a, thereby making the first heat exchanger 212 an evaporator and the second heat exchanger 214 a condenser, or the first heat exchanger 212 a condenser and the second heat exchanger 214 an evaporator. When the first heat exchanger 212 is an evaporator and the second heat exchanger 214 is a condenser, the second circulation loop 220a exchanges heat with the evaporator through the liquid pipeline 222, and the liquid in the second circulation loop 220a is timely cooled by the evaporator, and the batteries in each energy storage device 100 are efficiently cooled by the heat exchange element 150 of the second circulation loop 220a; when the first heat exchanger 212 is a condenser and the second heat exchanger 214 is an evaporator, the second circulation loop 220a exchanges heat with the condenser through the liquid pipeline 222, so that the liquid in the second circulation loop 220a is timely heated by the condenser, and the batteries in each energy storage device 100 are continuously and efficiently heated by the heat exchange element 150 of the second circulation loop 220a.

Thus, by placing the heat exchange device 200 outside the energy storage box 110, it does not occupy the internal space of the energy storage box 110, and more batteries 120 can be placed in each energy storage box 110, thereby improving the energy density of each energy storage device; through two sets of circulation loops (the first circulation loop 210a and the second circulation loop 220a), one heat exchange device 200 can simultaneously and efficiently exchange heat for multiple energy storage devices, thereby simplifying the overall structure, reducing costs, and improving the grouping efficiency of the energy storage system. At the same time, the heat exchange device located outside the energy storage device 100 is more convenient to maintain and replace.

The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present disclosure, rather than to limit them. Although the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and they should all be included in the scope of the claims and description of the present disclosure. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in the various embodiments can be combined in any way. The present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions that fall within the scope of the claims.

Industrial Applicability

Through the present disclosure, an energy storage system with high heat exchange efficiency is provided.

Claims (15)

An energy storage system, comprising: At least one energy storage device, each of the energy storage devices comprising an energy storage box and a heat exchange element disposed in the energy storage box, the energy storage box accommodating at least one battery, and the heat exchange element being used to exchange heat with the battery; A heat exchange device, comprising a first heat exchange component and a second heat exchange component, wherein the first heat exchange component comprises a first circulation loop, the second heat exchange component is connected to the heat exchange element and constitutes at least one second circulation loop, and the second circulation loop exchanges heat with the first circulation loop. The energy storage system according to claim 1, wherein: The second circulation loop and the first circulation loop are arranged close to each other. The energy storage system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The second heat exchange component includes a circulation pump and a liquid pipeline, and the circulation pump is connected to the heat exchange element through the liquid pipeline. The energy storage system according to claim 3, wherein: The first heat exchange component includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and a second heat exchanger which are sequentially connected through a refrigerant circulation pipeline. The energy storage system according to claim 4, wherein: The first heat exchanger includes a first flow channel and a second flow channel, the first flow channel is connected to the refrigerant circulation pipeline, and the second flow channel is connected to the liquid pipeline. The energy storage system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: There are multiple energy storage devices, and the heat exchange device is located outside the energy storage box. The energy storage system according to claim 6, wherein: The liquid pipeline includes a main pipeline and a plurality of branches communicating with the main pipeline, and the heat exchange elements of each energy storage device are connected in parallel through the branches. The energy storage system according to claim 7, wherein: The heat exchange element of each energy storage device is connected to a plurality of heat exchange plates, and the heat exchange plates are connected in parallel, and each heat exchange plate exchanges heat with its own battery respectively. The energy storage system according to claim 8, wherein: Each heat exchange element includes a supply pipeline and a return pipeline. The supply pipeline includes a liquid supply port and a first port communicating with each heat exchange plate. The return pipeline includes a liquid return port and a second port communicating with each heat exchange plate. Each of the energy storage boxes is provided with a liquid inlet joint and a liquid return joint, wherein the liquid inlet joint is connected to the liquid supply port, and the liquid return joint is connected to the liquid return port. The energy storage system according to claim 9, wherein: The branch comprises a liquid inlet branch and a liquid return branch, the liquid inlet branch is detachably connected to the liquid inlet joint, and the liquid return branch is detachably connected to the liquid return joint. The energy storage system according to claim 10, wherein: The liquid inlet connector is connected to the liquid inlet branch by means of snap connection, hot melt or thread connection; and/or, The liquid return joint is connected to the liquid return branch by means of snap connection, hot melting or threading. The energy storage system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein: The heat exchange device is arranged on the top of the energy storage box of at least one of the energy storage devices; or, The plurality of energy storage devices surround the heat exchange device with the heat exchange device as the center. The energy storage system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein: A plurality of the energy storage devices are arranged along a first direction to form an energy storage device row, Along a second direction intersecting the first direction, the heat exchange device is located on one side of the energy storage device row; or, the heat exchange device is located between any two energy storage devices along the first direction. The energy storage system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a plurality of the energy storage devices are arranged along a first direction to form an energy storage device row, and a plurality of the energy storage device rows are arranged along a second direction intersecting the first direction. The heat exchange device is located on one side of the energy storage device along either the first direction or the second direction. The energy storage system according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein: The energy storage device includes an energy storage container and/or an energy storage cabinet.