Battery pack cooling system, charging box, battery swap station and energy storage station

Abstract

The present invention discloses a battery pack cooling system, a charging box, a battery swap station and an energy storage station. The battery pack cooling system is used to cool down the battery pack during the charging process in the battery swap station or the energy storage station. The battery pack cooling system includes: a fluid circulation unit, which is arranged corresponding to the battery pack and is used to perform heat exchange with the battery pack; a fluid supply unit, which is connected to the fluid circulation unit and is used to provide fluid to the fluid circulation unit; and a refrigeration unit, which is arranged between the fluid circulation unit and the fluid supply unit and is used to cool the fluid flowing through the cooling unit. The fluid provided by the fluid supply unit circulates in the fluid circulation unit and performs heat exchange with the battery pack, that is, the battery pack is cooled so that the temperature of the battery pack is maintained within an appropriate range, thereby ensuring that the performance of the battery pack is in an optimal state. The charging box, the battery swap station and the energy storage station have the same effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of battery replacement for electric vehicles, and in particular to a battery pack cooling system, a charging box, a battery replacement station and an energy storage station. Background Art

[0002] At present, automobile exhaust emissions are still an important factor in environmental pollution. In order to control automobile exhaust, people have developed natural cars, hydrogen fuel cars, solar cars and electric cars to replace fuel-powered cars. Among them, electric cars have the most promising application prospects. At present, electric cars mainly include direct charging and quick-change types.

[0003] Due to the limitations of charging time and location, many new energy electric vehicles are gradually adopting quick-swap mode (i.e., rapid battery replacement mode) for energy replenishment.

[0004] A battery swap station is a place for quick-swap electric vehicles to replace batteries. The depleted batteries replaced from electric vehicles need to be charged in a battery swap station or energy storage station. The battery pack is placed on the charging rack in the station for charging. In order to maintain the performance of the battery pack at its best, the temperature of the battery pack needs to be maintained within an appropriate range, generally 10-30 degrees Celsius. If the battery pack temperature is too high or too low, the performance of the battery pack will be reduced.

[0005] Factors that affect the battery pack temperature include: ambient temperature and the temperature rise of the battery pack itself due to heat generation during charging. If the ambient temperature is high, coupled with the heat generated by the battery pack itself during charging, if necessary cooling measures are not taken, the battery pack temperature will continue to rise and exceed 30 degrees Celsius, and even the local temperature may reach over 100 degrees Celsius, posing the risk of fire and explosion. Summary of the invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to eliminate the above risks and provide a battery pack cooling system, a charging box, a battery swap station and an energy storage station.

[0007] The present invention solves the above technical problems through the following technical solutions:

[0008] A battery pack cooling system is used to cool a battery pack during charging in a battery swap station or an energy storage station, and the battery pack cooling system comprises:

[0009] a fluid circulation unit, the fluid circulation unit being arranged corresponding to the battery pack and being used for performing heat exchange with the battery pack;

[0010] a fluid supply unit, the fluid supply unit being in communication with the fluid circulation unit and configured to provide fluid to the fluid circulation unit; and

[0011] A refrigeration unit is provided between the fluid circulation unit and the fluid supply unit and is used for cooling the fluid flowing through the fluid circulation unit.

[0012] Preferably, the battery swap station or the energy storage station has a plurality of charging compartments for charging the battery packs, and the fluid circulation unit is disposed at a corresponding position of the battery packs in the charging compartments.

[0013] Preferably, the fluid circulation unit is arranged on the upper surface or the lower surface of the battery pack in the charging compartment.

[0014] Preferably, the fluid circulation unit comprises a circulation pipeline matching the size of the battery pack.

[0015] Preferably, the charging bin has a bracket for carrying the battery pack, and the circulation pipeline is arranged on the bracket, so that when the battery pack is placed on the bracket, the circulation pipeline contacts the lower surface of the battery pack.

[0016] Preferably, the fluid circulation unit is arranged above the battery pack in the charging compartment.

[0017] The charging compartment is also provided with a moving unit, which is used to move the fluid circulation unit in the up and down directions so that the fluid circulation unit is close to the upper surface of the battery pack.

[0018] In this solution, in the initial state, the fluid circulation unit is not in contact with the battery pack and is in a distant state, which will not hinder the placement or removal of the battery pack or natural heat dissipation. Only when the battery pack needs to be cooled, the fluid circulation unit can be moved by a mobile device to be close to the upper surface of the battery pack, which is easy to adjust and control.

[0019] Preferably, the charging compartment is also provided with a fluid internal circulation plug-in interface, and the fluid internal circulation plug-in interface is used to connect with the battery pack liquid cooling interface.

[0020] Preferably, the fluid supply unit comprises a liquid storage device and a conveying device, and the conveying device is used to convey the fluid in the liquid storage device to the fluid circulation unit.

[0021] Preferably, the battery pack cooling system further includes: a heat dissipation fan arranged close to the battery pack.

[0022] In this solution, a cooling fan is used to better dissipate heat from the battery pack.

[0023] Preferably, each charging compartment is provided with a charging unit, and the charging unit is used to provide direct current to the battery pack.

[0024] In this solution, the charging units and the battery packs are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence, which is more conducive to sufficient heat dissipation of the battery packs and the charging units compared to the arrangement in which the charging units centrally charge multiple battery packs.

[0025] A charging box comprises the battery pack cooling system as described above.

[0026] A battery swap station comprises the battery pack cooling system as described above.

[0027] An energy storage station comprises the battery pack cooling system as described above.

[0028] The positive and progressive effect of the present invention is that the battery pack cooling system utilizes the circulation of fluid in the fluid circulation unit to exchange heat with the battery pack, thereby cooling the battery pack so that the temperature of the battery pack is maintained within the normal operating temperature range, ensuring that the performance of the battery pack is in the best state. Similarly, the charging box, battery swap station and energy storage station including the battery pack cooling system have the same effect as above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Figure 1 The figure is a schematic diagram of the plan structure of a battery swap station according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure of a charging stand according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the module structure of a battery pack cooling system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure of a battery compartment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 5 It is a schematic structural diagram of a charging bin according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 6 It is a schematic structural diagram of a charging bin according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 7 FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a connecting socket according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Description of reference numerals:

[0037] Battery swap station 100

[0038] Fully functional container 110

[0039] Charging room 111

[0040] Battery swap platform 112

[0041] Monitoring Room 113

[0042] Charging container 120

[0043] Battery swap car 130

[0044] Palletizer 140

[0045] Track 150

[0046] Charging stand 160

[0047] Battery compartment 161

[0048] Charging module 162

[0049] Battery pack cooling system 200

[0050] Fluid circulation unit 210

[0051] Fluid supply unit 220

[0052] Liquid storage device 221

[0053] Conveying device 222

[0054] Refrigeration unit 230

[0055] Mobile unit 240

[0056] Connection socket 260

[0057] Fluid internal circulation plug-in interface 262

[0058] Battery Pack 300 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] The present invention is further described below by way of embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the scope of the following embodiments.

[0060] Figure 1 According to an embodiment of the present invention, a battery swap station 100 is shown.

[0061] The battery swap station 100 is a container-type battery swap station 100. The battery swap station 100 includes: a full-function container 110 and a charging container 120 (charging box).

[0062] The full-function container 110 includes a charging room 111, a battery exchange platform 112, and a monitoring room 113. The charging container 120 is vertically connected to the full-function container 110 and communicates with the charging room 111 of the full-function container 110.

[0063] The charging room 111 of the full-function container 110 and the charging container 120 are provided with a charging rack 160. The monitoring room 113 is used to monitor the operation of the entire battery swap station. The battery swap platform 112 is used to swap batteries for vehicles.

[0064] The battery swap station 100 is also provided with a battery swap cart 130 and a palletizer 140. The battery swap cart 130 can move between the battery swap platform 112 and the charging chamber 111, and the movement is generally linear, and the movement direction is generally perpendicular to the movement direction of the palletizer 140. The palletizer 140 can move back and forth in the charging chamber 111 and the charging container 120 along the track 150 to be able to contact each charging rack 160.

[0065] The vehicle is docked on the battery exchange platform 112, and the battery exchange cart 130 moves between the battery exchange platform 112 and the charging chamber 111 in a direction perpendicular to the track 150 to remove the battery 300 to be charged from the vehicle and transport it to the palletizer 140, or receive the fully charged battery 300 from the palletizer 140 and transport and install it on the vehicle.

[0066] The palletizer 140 moves along the track 150 to move the batteries 300 to be charged to the various charging racks 160 in the charging chamber 111 for charging, or takes out fully charged batteries 300 from the various charging racks 160 in the charging chamber 111 and transfers them to the battery replacement cart 130.

[0067] The vehicle may be, for example, an SUV, a sedan, an off-road vehicle, a truck, a bus, or any other quick-change electric or hybrid vehicle.

[0068] Of course, the battery swap station 100 of the present invention may also be of other types and forms.

[0069] like Figure 2 As shown, the charging rack 160 includes a plurality of battery compartments 161 , and the battery compartments 161 are used to place the battery packs 300 and charge the battery packs 300 as needed.

[0070] A battery pack cooling system 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to the charging room 111 and the charging container 120 of the battery swap station 100 .

[0071] The battery pack cooling system 200 is used to cool the battery pack 300 during the charging process in the battery swap station 100.

[0072] like Figure 3As shown, the battery pack cooling system 200 includes: a fluid circulation unit 210, which is arranged corresponding to the battery pack and is used to exchange heat with the battery pack; a fluid supply unit 220, which is connected to the fluid circulation unit 210 and is used to provide fluid to the fluid circulation unit 210; and a refrigeration unit 230, which is arranged between the fluid circulation unit 210 and the fluid supply unit and is used to cool the fluid flowing through the fluid circulation unit.

[0073] The fluid circulates in the fluid circulation unit 210 to perform heat exchange with the battery pack 300 , thereby cooling the battery pack 300 so that the temperature of the battery pack 300 is maintained within a normal operating temperature range.

[0074] The battery swap station has multiple charging compartments for charging the battery packs, and the fluid circulation unit 210 is arranged at a position corresponding to the battery pack in each charging compartment 161.

[0075] like Figure 4 and 5 As shown, the fluid circulation unit 210 is disposed on the upper surface or the lower surface of the battery pack in the charging compartment.

[0076] Figure 4 An example in which the fluid circulation unit 210 is disposed on the upper surface of the battery pack is shown. Figure 5 An example in which the fluid circulation unit 210 is disposed on the lower surface of the battery pack is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the fluid circulation unit 210 may also be disposed on the upper surface or the lower surface of the battery pack in other ways.

[0077] The fluid circulation unit 210 is disposed on the surface of the battery pack and is in direct contact with the surface of the battery pack 300 , so as to cool the battery pack more effectively.

[0078] The fluid circulation unit 210 includes a circulation pipeline that matches the size of the battery pack.

[0079] In this way, the circulation pipeline covers the entire upper surface or lower surface of the battery pack, increasing the contact area and enabling more effective heat exchange with the battery pack.

[0080] The charging compartment has a bracket for carrying the battery pack. When the fluid circulation unit 210 is disposed on the lower surface of the battery pack, the circulation pipeline can be disposed on the bracket so that the battery pack directly contacts the lower surface of the battery pack when placed on the bracket. Of course, the fluid circulation unit 210 can also be a component disposed on the lower surface of the battery pack 300.

[0081] The circulation pipeline is directly installed on the bracket, which does not take up additional space and saves internal space of the charging compartment.

[0082] Figure 6 According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, an example in which the fluid circulation unit 210 is disposed above the battery pack is illustrated.

[0083] like Figure 6 As shown, the fluid circulation unit 210 is arranged above the battery pack in the charging compartment, and the charging compartment is also provided with a moving unit 240, and the moving unit 240 is used to move the fluid circulation unit 210 in the up and down directions so that the fluid circulation unit 210 is close to the upper surface of the battery pack.

[0084] The moving unit 240 may be a device having a retractable arm or a wall that can move up and down, driven by one or more of a linear motor, a hydraulic motor, a rotary motor, etc. Of course, the moving unit 240 may also be in other forms, optionally.

[0085] In the initial state, the fluid circulation unit 210 is located above and does not contact the battery pack 300. When the battery pack needs to be cooled, the fluid circulation unit 210 is moved to the upper surface of the battery pack 300 by the moving device; when the battery pack does not need to be cooled, the fluid circulation unit 210 is moved back to the initial state by the moving device, that is, away from the battery pack, so as not to hinder the insertion and removal of the battery pack or the natural heat dissipation.

[0086] The charging compartment is also provided with a fluid internal circulation plug-in interface 262, and the fluid internal circulation plug-in interface 262 is used to connect to the built-in liquid cooling interface in the battery pack 300, and is suitable for battery packs with built-in liquid cooling circuits.

[0087] In this embodiment, if Figure 7 As shown, the fluid internal circulation plug-in interface 262 is provided on the connection socket 260 and is integrated with the circuit connector. Alternatively, a separate fluid internal circulation plug-in interface 262 may also be provided in the battery compartment.

[0088] The fluid supply unit 220 includes a liquid storage device 221 and a delivery device 222 . The delivery device 222 is used to deliver the fluid in the liquid storage device 221 to the fluid circulation unit 210 .

[0089] The conveying device 222 can be a water pump such as a piston pump, a gear pump, a vane pump, a centrifugal pump, or an axial flow pump.

[0090] The fluid in the liquid storage device 221 is generally a coolant such as ethylene glycol, which has a good cooling effect. However, the fluid is not limited to liquid, and it can also be a fluid such as air as needed.

[0091] In one embodiment, the refrigeration unit 230 includes a radiator and a fan. The radiator includes a cooling pipe and fins sleeved on the cooling pipe. The fan faces the radiator. The radiator is cooled by air. The air cooling consumes less energy and simplifies the device.

[0092] In another embodiment, the refrigeration unit 230 includes an air-conditioning refrigerator, a cooling water tank, and a cooling pipe placed in the cooling water tank. The air-conditioning refrigerator provides cooling water to the cooling water tank, and the cooling fluid flows through the cooling pipe.

[0093] This type of refrigeration unit 230 has a high refrigeration efficiency, but may consume a lot of energy, and is suitable for areas with high ambient temperatures such as the south.

[0094] In another embodiment, the refrigeration unit 230 includes an air conditioning refrigerator and a radiator. The air conditioning refrigerator provides cold air to the radiator. The radiator includes a cooling pipe and fins sleeved on the cooling pipe. The cooling fluid flows through the cooling pipe.

[0095] Such a refrigeration unit 230 takes into account both refrigeration efficiency and energy consumption.

[0096] The refrigeration unit 230 can be installed inside or outside the battery swap station. The installation location is not limited and can be installed as needed.

[0097] The battery pack cooling system 200 further includes: a heat dissipation fan disposed close to the battery pack.

[0098] The heat dissipation fan can be directly arranged in the charging compartment 161, or can be arranged next to the battery rack.

[0099] The heat dissipation fan can be used to better dissipate heat from the battery pack 300.

[0100] A charging unit 162 is provided in each of the charging compartments, and the charging unit 162 is used to provide the direct current required for charging the battery pack.

[0101] This arrangement is more conducive to heat dissipation of the battery packs 300 and the charging unit 162 than an arrangement in which the charging unit 162 centrally charges a plurality of battery packs 300 .

[0102] The charging unit 162 includes a converter that converts external power into direct current. The charging unit 162 may also include other components such as a step-down device, a step-up device, and a cable.

[0103] The present invention further provides an energy storage station, which also includes a battery pack cooling system. The battery pack cooling system has the same structure as the battery pack cooling system 200 described in the above embodiment, and will not be described again here.

[0104] The battery pack cooling system 200 uses the cooling fluid provided by the refrigeration unit 230 to remove the heat in the fluid circulation unit 210, so that the battery pack 300 can be charged at a normal operating temperature. The charging container 120, the battery swap station 100, and the energy storage station have the same effects as above.

[0105] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating directions or positional relationships, are based on the placement of the device or element when it is normally used, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction at all times, unless otherwise specified herein.

[0106] Although the specific embodiments of the present invention are described above, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that this is only for illustration and the protection scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. Those skilled in the art may make various changes or modifications to these embodiments without departing from the principles and essence of the present invention, but these changes and modifications all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A battery pack cooling system, used to cool down a battery pack during charging in a battery swap station or energy storage station, characterized in that: The battery pack cooling system comprises: a fluid circulation unit, the fluid circulation unit being arranged corresponding to the battery pack and being used for performing heat exchange with the battery pack; a fluid supply unit, the fluid supply unit being in communication with the fluid circulation unit and configured to provide fluid to the fluid circulation unit; and a refrigeration unit, the refrigeration unit being disposed between the fluid circulation unit and the fluid supply unit and being used for cooling the fluid flowing through the fluid circulation unit; The battery swap station or the energy storage station has a plurality of charging compartments for charging the battery packs, and the fluid circulation unit is arranged at a corresponding position of the battery packs in the charging compartments; Each of the charging compartments is provided with a charging unit, and the charging unit is used to provide direct current to the battery pack; The fluid circulation unit is arranged between the upper surface of the battery pack in the charging compartment and the charging unit.

2. The battery pack cooling system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fluid circulation unit includes a circulation pipeline matched with the size of the battery pack.

3. The battery pack cooling system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fluid circulation unit is arranged above the battery pack in the charging compartment. The charging compartment is also provided with a moving unit, which is used to move the fluid circulation unit in the up and down directions so that the fluid circulation unit is close to the upper surface of the battery pack.

4. The battery pack cooling system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The charging compartment is also provided with a fluid internal circulation plug-in interface, and the fluid internal circulation plug-in interface is used to connect with the battery pack liquid cooling interface.

5. The battery pack cooling system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fluid supply unit comprises a liquid storage device and a conveying device, wherein the conveying device is used to convey the fluid in the liquid storage device to the fluid circulation unit.

6. The battery pack cooling system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The battery pack cooling system also includes: a heat dissipation fan arranged close to the battery pack.

7. A charging box, characterized in that: It includes a battery pack cooling system as described in any one of claims 1-6.

8. A battery swap station, characterized in that: It includes a battery pack cooling system as described in any one of claims 1-6.

9. An energy storage station, characterized in that: It includes a battery pack cooling system as described in any one of claims 1-6.

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