Plug-in energy storage system

Abstract

An insert type energy storage system is proposed. The system includes a plurality of battery racks configured to store electric power, and a panel configured to control charging or discharging of the plurality of battery racks, wherein each battery rack includes a plurality of battery modules configured to store electric power, a control module connected to each battery module and the panel to control charging or discharging of each battery module according to a control signal received from the panel, a conversion module connected to the control module to convert a waveform of electric power into direct current or alternating current according to a control signal received from the control module, and a housing configured to accommodate each battery module, the conversion module, and the control module. Furthermore, the plurality of battery modules and a battery power management unit are integrally configured for each battery rack.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0000936, filed on January 5, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Technical Field

[0003] This disclosure relates to a plug-in energy storage system. Background Technology

[0004] The power grid, which supplies electricity generated by power plants, does not perform the function of storing electricity. Recently, with the increase in renewable energy generation, there is a need to develop energy storage systems constructed to store electricity. Energy storage systems can store electrical energy generated from renewable energy sources and supply it to the power grid when needed. Energy storage systems can operate by charging and discharging batteries. Each battery, composed of rechargeable secondary batteries, deteriorates with repeated charging and discharging, thus its performance deteriorates, and the power converters used to control the power of each battery also suffer from failure due to charging and discharging. Therefore, it is necessary to replace the batteries and power converters included in the energy storage system.

[0005] Literature in related fields

[0006] (Patent Document 1) KR10-1634012B1. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The object of an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is to provide a plug-in energy storage system comprising a plurality of battery racks and a battery power control unit for each battery rack, such that each battery rack can be charged or discharged independently.

[0008] Furthermore, another object of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure is to provide a plug-in energy storage system in which a plurality of battery modules constituting each battery rack and a battery power control unit for controlling each battery module are integrally formed, so as to allow easy replacement of the plurality of battery modules and the battery power control unit by a plug-in method.

[0009] An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a plug-in energy storage system comprising: one or more battery racks configured to store electrical energy; and a panel configured to control the charging or discharging of each battery rack, wherein each battery rack may include: one or more battery modules configured to store electrical energy; a control module connected to each battery module and the panel to control the charging or discharging of each battery module according to a control signal received from the panel; and a conversion module connected to the control module to convert the waveform of the electrical energy into direct current or alternating current according to a control signal received from the control module.

[0010] Furthermore, the plug-in energy storage system according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may also include a housing configured to accommodate each battery module, conversion module, and control module.

[0011] Furthermore, within the battery rack, each battery module, conversion module, and control module can be housed within a housing to form a single package, thereby allowing for module replacement on a rack-by-rack basis.

[0012] In addition, the control module may include one or more of the following components: an AC connector configured to send power to and receive power from the panel; a DC connector configured to send power to and receive power from each battery module; a communication connector configured to send data to and receive data from the panel or each battery module; an AC protection unit connected to the conversion module and the AC connector to prevent the propagation of accidents; a DC protection unit connected to the conversion module and each battery module to prevent the propagation of accidents; and a rack control unit connected to the communication connector to collect the status of each battery module and control the conversion module based on control signals received from the panel.

[0013] In addition, the conversion module may include one or more of the following components: a low-pass filter connected to the AC protection unit to remove harmonics of the AC power; a DC link capacitor connected to the DC protection unit to equalize the voltage of the DC power; and a power converter connected to the low-pass filter and the DC link capacitor, and configured to change the waveform of the power to AC or DC according to a control signal received from the rack control unit.

[0014] In addition, the rack control unit may include: a battery management system configured to monitor the status of each battery module and control charging or discharging; and a power controller configured to control the power converter when the battery management system controls charging or discharging.

[0015] In addition, multiple battery modules can be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the vertical or horizontal direction inside the housing, and control modules and conversion modules can be arranged to be spaced apart from each battery module in the vertical or horizontal direction inside the housing. The housing can exhaust air introduced from the gaps between each battery module, control module and conversion module to the outside of the housing, and the housing may also include a fan formed on one side of the housing.

[0016] In addition, an AC connector, a DC connector, and a communication connector may be arranged on one surface of the control module, and a DC connector of the control module or a DC line connected to other battery modules may be connected to one surface of each battery module.

[0017] In addition, the control module and the conversion module may each have vents formed therein, so that air introduced from the front surface of the control module passes through the control module and the conversion module and is discharged to the upper surface of the conversion module, and each vent formed on the upper surface of the conversion module may be formed at a position corresponding to the fan of the housing.

[0018] In addition, the panel may include: an energy management system configured to generate control signals for controlling the charging or discharging of multiple battery racks and to provide the control signals to each of the multiple battery racks; and an AC bus connected to the multiple battery racks to share the power of the multiple battery racks.

[0019] Furthermore, in a plurality of battery racks, at least one battery rack may include battery cells of a different type than those of another battery rack, or at least one battery rack may include reusable battery cells, and the energy storage system may be configured to simultaneously control at least one battery rack to be charged and at least another battery rack to be discharged, depending on the type or state of charge of each of the plurality of battery racks, or to control the electrical forces to be charged to at least one battery rack and at least another battery rack to be different from each other, or to control the electrical forces to be discharged from at least one battery rack and at least another battery rack to be different from each other.

[0020] Furthermore, when any of the multiple battery racks is replaced or a new battery rack is connected, the energy management system can receive information about the status of each battery rack from the rack control unit and automatically perform control according to the type or charging status of each battery cell in each rack.

[0021] In addition, in order to replace each battery module, control module, or conversion module, the housing can be configured such that each battery module, control module, and conversion module is both attachable and removable.

[0022] In addition, multiple battery racks can be connected to the panel in a predetermined number to form a group, and the energy storage system can be controlled on a group basis.

[0023] The features and advantages of this disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0024] Prior to this, the terms or words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as having their conventional and dictionary meanings, but rather based on the principle that the inventor is able to adequately define the concept of each term to best describe his or her invention, and should be interpreted as having meanings and concepts consistent with the technical spirit of this disclosure.

[0025] According to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, multiple battery modules and a battery power management unit are integrally configured in each battery rack, so that when the battery is replaced, the battery can be replaced integrally on a rack-by-rack basis.

[0026] Furthermore, according to exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, since each of the plurality of battery racks is provided with a battery power control unit to perform charging or discharging on a rack-by-rack basis, the battery rack constituting an energy storage system may be composed of heterogeneous batteries or reusable batteries. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 This is a view illustrating a plug-in energy storage system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] Figure 2 This is a view showing the battery rack and panel of a plug-in energy storage system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] Figure 3 This is a view showing the structure of the battery rack of a plug-in energy storage system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] Figure 4 It is along Figure 3 The side view is taken by line A-A'.

[0031] Figure 5 This is a view illustrating a combination of a control module and a conversion module of a plug-in energy storage system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The purposes, advantages, and features of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. When adding reference numerals to components in each drawing, it should be noted that the same reference numerals are used as much as possible to denote the same components, even when shown in different drawings. Furthermore, terms such as "one surface," "another surface," "first," "second," etc., are used to distinguish one component from another, and the component is not limited by the terminology. Moreover, it should be understood that even when components are referred to in the singular, there may be multiple corresponding components. In the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, detailed descriptions of relevant known technologies that may unnecessarily obscure the essence of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be omitted.

[0033] In the following, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] Figure 1 This is a view illustrating a plug-in energy storage system 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 This is a view showing the battery rack 100 and panel 200 of a plug-in energy storage system 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In this specification, "plug-in energy storage system 10" may be briefly described as "plug-in ESS 10".

[0035] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a plug-in energy storage system 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include: one or more battery racks 100 configured to store electrical energy; and a panel 200 configured to control the charging or discharging of each battery rack 100. Furthermore, each battery rack 100 may include: one or more battery modules 110 configured to store electrical energy; a control module 120 connected to each battery module 110 and the panel 200 to control the charging or discharging of each battery module 110 according to control signals received from the panel 200; and a conversion module 130 connected to the control module 120 to convert the waveform of the electrical energy into direct current or alternating current according to control signals received from the control module 120. Additionally, the plug-in ESS 10 may also include a housing 140 configured to accommodate each battery module 110, the conversion module 130, and the control module 120.

[0036] The plug-in ESS 10 can be connected to the power grid G. Power grid G ​​is a commercial power network. Power plants, various load devices, different energy storage systems, renewable energy production devices, etc., can all be connected to power grid G. Renewable energy production devices can include various power generation methods used by wind turbines, solar cells, tidal generators, etc. The plug-in ESS 10 can be connected to power grid G ​​to charge from or discharge to power grid G. Power grid G ​​can be connected to the plug-in ESS 10 via a circuit breaker CB and a transformer TR. The circuit breaker CB prevents fault currents generated in power grid G ​​from being transmitted to the plug-in ESS 10, and vice versa. The transformer TR can convert the voltage of power grid G ​​and the voltage of the plug-in ESS 10.

[0037] In the plug-in ESS 10, multiple battery racks 100 are connected to a panel 200 in a predetermined number to form a group 300, and the energy storage system can be controlled in units of group 300. Group 300 is a unit in which multiple battery racks 100 are connected to a panel 200. The plug-in ESS 10 can consist of multiple groups 300. Multiple battery racks 100 included in a group 300 can be charged or discharged through a panel 200. As an example, Figure 1 and Figure 2 A group 300 is shown, comprising six battery holders 100.

[0038] The plug-in ESS 10 may include a panel 200 and battery racks 100. The panel 200 may include: an energy management system 220 configured to generate control signals for controlling the charging or discharging of the plurality of battery racks 100 and to provide control signals to the plurality of battery racks 100 respectively; and an AC bus 210 connected to the plurality of battery racks 100 and configured to share the power of the plurality of battery racks 100.

[0039] The energy management system 220 controls the charging and discharging of the battery rack 100 connected to the panel 200. The energy management system 220 obtains information about the battery rack 100 from the battery rack 100, including the current state of charge (SOC), state of health (SOH), voltage, current, type, and whether the corresponding battery is reusable for each battery cell included in the battery rack 100. The energy management system 220 controls the discharging of the battery rack 100 according to the power required by the power grid (G) or the load.

[0040] AC bus 210 can be connected to multiple battery racks 100. Circuit breaker CB can be connected between AC bus 210 and each battery rack 100. AC bus 210 transmits power from the multiple battery racks 100 that are charging or discharging. AC waveform power flows in AC bus 210.

[0041] Each battery rack 100 may include each battery module 110, a control module 120, and a conversion module 130.

[0042] Each battery module 110 may include multiple battery cells. The battery cells may be connected in series or in parallel. Each battery cell is a rechargeable or dischargeable secondary battery. Each battery cell may be a secondary battery of various types made of lithium-ion, lithium polymer, iron phosphate, etc.

[0043] The control module 120 can control the charging or discharging of each battery rack 100. The control module 120 may include one or more of the following components: an AC connector 123AC configured to send power to and receive power from the panel 200; a DC connector 123DC configured to send power to and receive power from each battery module 110; a communication connector 124 configured to send data to and receive data from the panel 200 or each battery module 110; an AC protection unit 122AC connected to the conversion module 130 and the AC connector 123AC to prevent the propagation of accidents; a DC protection unit 122DC connected to the conversion module 130 and each battery module 110 to prevent the propagation of accidents; and a rack control unit 121 connected to the communication connector 124 to collect the status of each battery module 110 and control the conversion module 130 based on control signals received from the panel 200.

[0044] AC connector 123AC connects to AC line 230, and AC line 230 connects to AC bus 210 of panel 200 to send and receive AC waveform power. DC connector 123DC connects to DC line 150, and DC line 150 connects to each battery module 110 to send and receive DC waveform power. Communication connector 124 connects to communication line 240, and communication line 240 connects to energy management system 220 of panel 200 to send and receive control signals or data. AC protection unit 122AC may be connected between AC connector 123AC and low-pass filter 132 of conversion module 130. AC protection unit 122AC can block fault current transmitted from conversion module 130 or AC connector 123AC to prevent the propagation of accidents. AC protection unit 122AC may include an AC relay for performing switching functions to connect or disconnect power. AC protection unit 122AC may include an AC fuse for blocking overcurrent. DC protection unit 122DC can be connected between DC connector 123DC and DC link capacitor 133 of conversion module 130. DC protection unit 122DC can block fault current transmitted from conversion module 130 or DC connector 123DC to prevent the propagation of accidents. DC protection unit 122DC may include a DC relay for performing switching functions to connect or disconnect power. DC protection unit 122DC may include a DC fuse for blocking overcurrent. Fault current includes overcurrent caused by short circuits, damage, etc.

[0045] The rack control unit 121 is connectable to the communication connector 124 to receive the status of each battery module 110 and can receive control signals from the energy management system 220. The rack control unit 121 can control the conversion module 130 based on the control signals received from the energy management system 220. The rack control unit 121 may include: a battery management system 121a configured to monitor the status of each battery module 110 and control the charging or discharging of each battery module 110; and a power controller 121b configured to control the power converter 131 when the battery management system 121a controls charging or discharging.

[0046] The battery management system (BMS) 121a can identify the state of each battery module 110. The BMS 121a can calculate the state of charge, degradation state, internal resistance, etc., of each battery module 110 based on data such as voltage, current, and temperature received from the communication connector 124. Each battery module 110 may also include a module BMS, and the module BMS can provide information about the state of each battery rack 100 to the BMS 121a of the control module 120. The BMS 121a can control the charging or discharging of each battery module 110 via a power controller 121b. The power controller 121b can control the power converter 131 of the conversion module 130 to charge or discharge each battery module 110 based on control signals generated by the BMS 121a.

[0047] The conversion module 130 can convert power waveforms into AC and DC. The conversion module 130 may include one or more of the following components: a low-pass filter 132 connected to the AC protection unit 122AC to remove harmonics of AC power; a DC link capacitor 133 connected to the DC protection unit 122DC to equalize the voltage of DC power; and a power converter 131 connected to the low-pass filter 132 and the DC link capacitor 133, and configured to change the waveform of the power to AC or DC according to a control signal received from the rack control unit 121.

[0048] A low-pass filter 132 can be connected between the power converter 131 and the AC protection unit 122AC to remove harmonics from the AC waveform output from the power converter 131. A DC link capacitor 133 can be connected between the power converter 131 and the DC protection unit 122DC to equalize the voltage of the DC power output from the power converter 131. The power converter 131 can convert the waveform of the power from AC to DC or from DC to AC according to the control signal received from the power controller 121b of the slave control unit 121. The power converter 131 converts AC to DC during charging and converts DC to AC during discharging.

[0049] Traditional energy storage systems have a six-layer structure, sequentially from the grid (G), to the transformer (TR), to the panel, to the power conversion system (PCS), to the battery control panel (BCP), and finally to the battery rack. This structure, with its multiple layers constituting an energy storage system, is disadvantageous in terms of price and space optimization. Furthermore, AC and DC conversion is performed within a single PCS, and multiple battery racks are connected in parallel to the DC bus of the battery control panel for simultaneous charging and discharging. In this structure, each battery rack shares the DC bus. Multiple battery racks connected to the same DC bus should operate at the same voltage and SOC. Due to differences in contact resistance of the battery racks or resistance of the battery cells, this structure is likely to cause impedance imbalances, potentially leading to unbalanced charging and discharging between battery racks. This structure may not be able to resolve battery rack imbalances, resulting in difficult system maintenance and low reliability. In this structure, because different types of battery racks or reusable battery racks cannot be mixed, and the condition of in-use battery racks differs from that of new battery racks, it is difficult to connect them to the same DC bus, thus hindering battery rack expansion.

[0050] Conversely, the plug-in ESS 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure can independently perform charging and discharging for each battery rack 100. The plug-in ESS 10 is provided with a conversion module 130 that converts DC and AC for each battery rack 100. Multiple battery racks 100 are connected in parallel to the AC bus 210 of the panel 200 to transmit AC power. Each of the multiple battery racks 100 connected in parallel to the AC bus 210 can perform charging or discharging independently. Therefore, among the multiple battery racks 100, the energy management system 220 can control the charging of any one of the battery racks 100 while discharging the others. That is, each battery rack 100 can be controlled individually. Furthermore, the plug-in ESS 10 has a four-layer structure, sequentially from the power grid G, to the transformer TR, to the panel 200, and finally to the battery rack 100, thus this structure is advantageous in terms of optimizing system price and space. Furthermore, since the DC power flow in the plug-in ESS 10 exists only inside each battery holder 100, and since the wires used to connect the panel 200 and the battery holder 100 to each other, as well as the wires used to connect the panel 200 and the transformer TR to each other, exist only where the AC power flows, wiring can be simplified.

[0051] Furthermore, among the plurality of battery racks 100, at least one battery rack 100 may include battery cells of a different type than those of the other battery racks 100, or at least one battery rack 100 may include reusable battery cells. In this case, depending on the type or state of charge of each of the plurality of battery racks 100, the energy management system 220 may control the charging of at least one battery rack 100 while discharging of at least one other battery rack 100, or control the electrical forces to be charged to at least one battery rack and at least one other battery rack to be different from each other, or control the electrical forces to be discharged from at least one battery rack and at least one other battery rack to be different from each other.

[0052] When the type of battery rack 100 is different, the capacity, rated voltage, rated current, state of charge, degradation state, internal resistance, etc. of the battery rack 100 may be different. Even if the battery rack 100 is of the same type, reusable battery racks 100 may have different capacities, rated voltages, rated currents, states of charge, degradation states, internal resistance, etc.

[0053] In traditional energy storage systems, when different types of battery racks are connected in parallel to a DC bus, there is an imbalance in charging and discharging, so other types of battery racks cannot be used.

[0054] Conversely, since the plug-in ESS 10 according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure has a conversion module 130 in each battery rack 100 and the battery racks are connected in parallel to an AC bus 210, each battery rack 100 can be controlled individually, so different types of battery racks 100 or reusable battery racks 100 can be used.

[0055] For example, at least some of the multiple battery racks 100 may include battery racks 100 comprising first-type battery cells, some other battery racks 100 may include battery racks 100 comprising second-type battery cells, and still some other battery racks 100 may include battery racks 100 comprising first-type reusable battery cells. Since the first-type battery racks 100, the second-type battery racks 100, and the first-type reusable battery racks 100 have different battery cell characteristics, their charging and discharging amounts may differ. Therefore, depending on the characteristics and state of each battery, the plug-in ESS 10 can control at least one of the multiple battery racks 100 to perform charging and can simultaneously control the remaining battery racks 100 to perform discharging.

[0056] The energy management system 220 individually controls the charging or discharging of each of the plurality of battery racks 100 based on the state of the battery racks 100, and can control the electrical force to be charged or discharged to be different for each battery rack 100. For example, the energy management system 220 can control any one of the battery racks 100 to perform charging with a first electrical force, control another battery rack 100 to perform discharging with a second electrical force, and control yet another battery rack 100 to perform charging with a third electrical force.

[0057] The energy management system 220 determines the state of the battery racks 100 and generates control signals to be sent to each battery rack 100 based on power demand commands received from the outside. The energy management system 220 calculates the chargeable or dischargeable power per battery rack based on the state of charge, degradation state, and number of charge / discharge cycles, and can send a control signal to each battery rack 100 to obtain the power at which the power converter 131 of each battery rack 100 can operate with maximum efficiency. In this process, by using the power demanded from the outside, the battery state of each battery rack 100, and the maximum power efficiency point of the power converter 131, it is determined which battery racks 100 will be operated, or how many battery racks 100 will be operated.

[0058] Figure 3 This is a view showing the structure of the battery rack 100 of a plug-in energy storage system 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4 It is along Figure 3 The side view is taken by line A-A'. Figure 5 This is a view showing a combination of a control module 120 and a conversion module 130 of a plug-in energy storage system 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0059] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, in each battery rack 100 of the plug-in ESS 10, each battery module 110, conversion module 130 and control module 120 are housed in a housing 140 to form a package, thereby allowing module replacement on a battery rack basis.

[0060] A battery rack 100 may include a plurality of battery modules 110, a control module 120, and a conversion module 130. Each of the plurality of battery modules 110 may be individually packaged and housed in a housing 140. Each battery module 110, control module 120, and conversion module 130 may be individually packaged and housed in a housing 140. The control module 120 and conversion module 130 may be constructed as a single unit or they may be manufactured separately and then assembled together.

[0061] Traditionally, in energy storage systems, because the battery racks 100 are connected in parallel to the DC bus, the characteristics of the battery racks 100 differ when some are replaced, making battery rack replacement difficult. Furthermore, conventional energy storage systems have a structure where it is difficult to replace only the battery racks 100, as the battery racks 100, DC bus, and other components are constructed as a single unit. Additionally, the initial installation of conventional energy storage systems is cumbersome, as each component must be transported and assembled separately at a local location.

[0062] Conversely, the plug-in ESS 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure has a convenient structure for replacing battery racks 100 individually, since each battery rack 100 is independently packaged. Furthermore, since the battery racks 100 are connected to the AC bus 210 and each battery rack 100 includes a conversion module 130, the battery racks 100 can be replaced without stopping the entire plug-in ESS 10. Moreover, since each battery rack 100 is independently packaged, it facilitates transportation and allows for operation to be performed individually, even during initial battery installation or replacement.

[0063] The plug-in ESS 10 can be arranged by distributing the battery rack 100. Since the battery rack 100 does not need to be densely arranged in a space, the plug-in ESS 10 can be installed in a space-efficient manner. Since the battery rack 100 connected to a panel 200 is controlled by the energy management system 220 of the panel 200, the installation position of the battery rack 100 is sufficient as long as the location can ensure connection with the panel 200.

[0064] like Figures 3 to 5 As shown, a plurality of battery modules 110 are arranged within a housing 140 to be spaced apart from each other in the vertical or horizontal direction. A control module 120 and a conversion module 130 are arranged within a housing 140 to be spaced apart from each other in the vertical or horizontal direction. The housing 140 may also include a fan 141 formed on one side of the housing 140, and the fan 141 is configured to exhaust air introduced from the gaps between the battery modules 110, the control module 120 and the conversion module 130 to the outside of the housing 140.

[0065] Housing 140 houses battery module 110, control module 120, and conversion module 130 for encapsulation in units of battery rack 100. Control module 120 and conversion module 130 are arranged on the upper portion of housing 140, and multiple battery modules 110 may be arranged on the remaining portion of housing 140. Housing 140 may be formed as a box in which the front surface 140a is open, and the opposing side surfaces 140c, rear surface 140d, upper surface 140b, and lower surface 140e are closed. For replacement of battery module 110, control module 120, or conversion module 130, housing 140 may be configured such that battery module 110, control module 120, and conversion module 130 are respectively attachable and detachable. When the battery module 110, control module 120, and conversion module 130 are configured to be slidably attachable to and detachable from the front surface 140a of the housing 140, each component can be easily replaced. For example... Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the housing 140 may arrange the battery module 110, control module 120, and conversion module 130 in a vertical direction, or, although not shown, in a left-right direction. The shape of the housing 140 and the arrangement of the battery module 110, control module 120, and conversion module 130 can be changed in various ways, and various methods can be used for attachment and disassembly.

[0066] Housing 140 accommodates a plurality of battery modules 110 spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. Air can flow through the gaps spaced between the plurality of battery modules 110. The rear surface 140d of housing 140 and each battery module 110 are accommodated spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. Housing 140 may include a fan 141 on one side thereof. The fan 141 is located at the rear of the upper surface 140b of housing 140 to operate such that air is exhausted to the upper surface 140b of housing 140, the air moving in a direction from the front surface 140a to the rear surface 140d of housing 140. Figure 3 and Figure 4 In the diagram, airflow is indicated by arrows. The control module 120 and the conversion module 130 are housed in the upper part of the housing 140 and can be arranged at a predetermined distance from the battery module 110.

[0067] The control module 120 and the conversion module 130 may each be provided with vents AH formed thereon, so that air introduced from the front surface 120a of the control module 120 passes through the control module 120 and the conversion module 130, and is discharged to the upper surface 130b of the conversion module 130. The vents AH formed in the upper surface 130b of the conversion module 130 may be formed at a position corresponding to the fan 141 of the housing 140. Vents AH may be formed in the front surface 120a and the rear surface 120b of the control module 120, respectively. The vents AH on the front surface 130a of the conversion module 130 may be formed at a position corresponding to the vents AH formed in the rear surface 120b of the control module 120, and the vents AH on the upper surface 130b of the conversion module 130 may be formed to correspond to the position of the fan 141 of the housing 140. The air introduced into the vent AH on the front surface 120a of the control module 120 can cool the interior of the control module 120, move to the vent AH on the front surface 130a of the conversion module 130, cool the interior of the conversion module 130, and then be discharged to the vent AH on the upper surface 130b of the conversion module 130.

[0068] A fan 137 may be arranged in an air hole AH formed in the front surface 130a of the conversion module 130. The fan 137 arranged on the front surface 130a of the conversion module 130 draws air from the air hole AH formed in the rear surface 120b of the control module 120 and discharges the air into the interior of the conversion module 130. A fan 137 may also be arranged in an air hole AH formed in the upper surface 130b of the conversion module 130. The fan 137 arranged on the upper surface 130b of the conversion module 130 draws air from inside the conversion module 130 and discharges the air to the outside of the conversion module 130.

[0069] Because the control module 120 includes an AC connector 123AC, a DC connector 123DC, a communication connector 124, and a rack control unit 121, it has relatively low heat compared to the conversion module 130. Because the conversion module 130 includes a power converter 131 that converts DC and AC to each other, it has relatively high heat compared to the control module 120. Both the control module 120 and the conversion module 130 can be well cooled because air is introduced into the conversion module 130 through a path passing through the control module 120. The conversion module 130 is easily cooled because of a structure in which the vents AH formed in the upper surface 130b of the conversion module 130 are positioned to correspond to the fan 141 of the housing 140, and the fan 141 of the housing 140 draws in and exhausts air exhausted from the conversion module 130.

[0070] An AC connector 123AC, a DC connector 123DC, and a communication connector 124 are arranged on one surface of the control module 120, and a DC connector 123DC of the control module 120 or a DC line 150 connected to other battery modules 110 can be connected to one surface of each battery module 110. Figure 3 An exemplary structure is shown in which an AC connector 123AC, a DC connector 123DC, and a communication connector 124 are arranged on the front surface 120a of a control module 120. The front surface 120a of each battery module 110 is connected to the DC connector 123DC of the control module 120 or to a DC line 150 of another battery module 110. The control module 120 and the battery modules 110 are arranged vertically. The control module 120 may include a first DC bus connector 126 and a first AC bus connector 127, which are connected to the conversion module 130 and positioned on a surface facing the conversion module 130 (e.g., the rear surface 120b). The conversion module 130 may include a second DC bus connector 134 and a second AC bus connector 135, which are connected to the control module 120 on a surface facing the control module 120 (e.g., the front surface 130a). The first DC bus connector 126 and the second DC bus connector 134 are connected to each other to transmit DC power, and the first AC bus connector 127 and the second AC bus connector 135 are connected to each other (see reference). Figure 5 (The dotted line in the diagram) to transmit AC power. Control module 120 may include a first control signal connector 128 on its rear surface 120b, connected to conversion module 130, and conversion module 130 may include a second control signal connector 136 on its front surface 130a, connected to control module 120. The first control signal connector 128 and the second control signal connector 136 are connected to each other (see [reference]). Figure 5 (The dotted line in the diagram) transmits control signals that allow the power controller 121b to control the power converter 131. By constructing the control module 120 and the conversion module 130 independently and forming them to be connected to each other, if a problem occurs in either the control module 120 or the conversion module 130, only the corresponding module can be replaced.

[0071] DC line 150 is connected to the front surface 110a of each battery module 110. The DC line 150 connected to the front surface of each battery module 110 is connected to the front surface 110a of each adjacent battery module 110 or to the DC connector 123DC of the control module 120. The battery modules 110 can be connected in series with each other. Because each battery module 110 is individually packaged, the battery modules 110 can be replaced on a per-module basis. Because multiple battery modules 110 are connected in series with each other, charging and discharging can be performed simultaneously even if there are characteristic differences between the battery modules 110 due to the replacement of any one of them.

[0072] Depending on the arrangement of the battery module 110, control module 120, and conversion module 130, components such as various connectors, fans, and holes formed on one surface of the battery module 110, control module 120, and conversion module 130 can be arranged on the front surface, side surface, rear surface, upper surface, and lower surface, etc.

[0073] When any of the multiple battery racks 100 is replaced or a new battery rack 100 is connected, the energy management system 220 can receive information about the status of each battery rack 100 from the rack control unit 121 and automatically perform control according to the type or charging status of each battery cell in each battery rack 100. When the battery racks 100 and the panel 200 are connected to each other via AC line 230 and communication line 240, the energy management system 220 automatically sends data to and receives data from the rack control unit 121 of each battery rack 100. Based on the algorithm used to operate other battery racks 100 in the past, the energy management system 220 can operate the new battery rack 100 in conjunction with the existing battery racks 100.

[0074] As described above, this disclosure has been described in detail through specific exemplary embodiments, which serve to illustrate this disclosure in detail, and this disclosure is not limited thereto. Furthermore, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications or improvements can be made to this disclosure within the technical spirit of this disclosure.

[0075] All simple modifications and variations thereof fall within the scope of this disclosure, and the specific scope of protection of this disclosure will be clarified by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A plug-in energy storage system, the plug-in energy storage system comprising: One or more groups, which are connected to the power grid via transformers, Each group includes: Multiple battery racks, configured to store electricity; and A panel is configured to control the charging or discharging of each battery rack, wherein a predetermined number of battery racks are connected to the panel to form a group, and the energy storage system is controlled on a group basis. Each battery holder includes: Multiple battery modules are configured to store electricity, and each battery module includes multiple battery cells; A control module, connected to each battery module and the panel, controls the charging or discharging of each battery module based on control signals received from the panel; and A conversion module, connected to the control module, converts the waveform of the power supply into direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC) based on control signals received from the control module. The panel includes: An energy management system configured to generate control signals for controlling the charging or discharging of the plurality of battery racks, and to provide the control signals to each of the plurality of battery racks; and An AC bus is connected to the transformer, wherein the plurality of battery racks are connected in parallel to the AC bus to transmit AC power, and The energy storage system is configured to simultaneously control at least one battery rack to be charged and at least another battery rack to be discharged, depending on the type or state of charge of each of the plurality of battery racks, or to control the electrical forces to be charged to the at least one battery rack and the at least another battery rack to be different from each other, or to control the electrical forces to be discharged from the at least one battery rack and the at least another battery rack to be different from each other.

2. The pluggable energy storage system as described in claim 1, further comprising: The housing is configured to house each battery module, the conversion module, and the control module.

3. The plug-in energy storage system as described in claim 2, wherein, Each battery module, the conversion module, and the control module are housed within the housing to form a single package, thereby allowing module replacement on a battery rack basis.

4. The plug-in energy storage system as described in claim 1, wherein, The control module includes one or more of the following components: An AC connector is configured to send power to and receive power from the panel; DC connectors are configured to send power to and receive power from each battery module; A communication connector configured to send data to or from the panel or each battery module; An AC protection unit, which is connected to the conversion module and the AC connector, is provided to prevent the spread of accidents. A DC protection unit, connected to the conversion module and each battery module, is provided to prevent the propagation of an accident; and A control unit is connected to the communication connector to collect the status of each battery module and to control the conversion module based on control signals received from the panel.

5. The plug-in energy storage system as described in claim 4, wherein, The conversion module includes one or more of the following components: A low-pass filter, which is connected to the AC protection unit to remove harmonics from the AC power; A DC link capacitor is connected to the DC protection unit to balance the voltage of the DC power. as well as A power converter, connected to the low-pass filter and the DC link capacitor, is configured to change the waveform of the power into AC or DC based on a control signal received from the rack control unit.

6. The plug-in energy storage system as described in claim 5, wherein, The frame control unit includes: A battery management system is configured to monitor the state of each battery module and control charging or discharging; and A power controller is configured to control the power converter when the battery management system controls charging or discharging.

7. The plug-in energy storage system as described in claim 3, wherein, The plurality of battery modules are arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the vertical or horizontal direction within the housing. The control module and the conversion module are arranged within the housing, spaced apart from each other in the vertical or lateral direction of each battery module, and The housing exhausts air introduced from the gaps between each battery module, the control module, and the conversion module to the outside of the housing, and also includes a fan formed on one side of the housing.

8. The plug-in energy storage system as described in claim 5, wherein, The AC connector, the DC connector, and the communication connector are arranged on one surface of the control module, and One surface of each battery module is connected to the DC connector of the control module or a DC line connected to other battery modules.

9. The plug-in energy storage system as described in claim 7, wherein, The control module and the conversion module each have vents formed therein, allowing air introduced from the front surface of the control module to pass through the control module and the conversion module, and then be discharged to the upper surface of the conversion module. Each vent formed on the upper surface of the conversion module is located at a position corresponding to the fan of the housing.

10. The plug-in energy storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, In the plurality of battery racks, at least one battery rack includes a type of battery cell that is different from the type of another battery rack, or at least one battery rack includes a reusable battery cell.

11. The plug-in energy storage system of claim 6, wherein, When any of the plurality of battery racks is replaced or a new battery rack is connected, the energy management system receives information about the status of each battery rack from the rack control unit and automatically performs control according to the type or charging status of each battery cell in each battery rack.

12. The plug-in energy storage system of claim 7, wherein, In order to replace each battery module, the control module, or the conversion module, the housing is configured such that each battery module, the control module, and the conversion module are both attachable and removable.

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