A safety energy storage device of a pop-up battery storage structure

Abstract

The application discloses a safe energy storage device with a pop-up battery storage structure, which comprises a cabinet, a plurality of energy storage units installed in the cabinet, an electric control unit installed on the top of the cabinet, and a liquid storage unit installed on the bottom of the cabinet. In an initial state, each energy storage unit is substantially connected with the electric control unit, and the charging and discharging are controlled through the electric control unit. The cabinet is provided with liquid flow cooling plates connected with the liquid storage unit. Each liquid flow cooling plate is in contact with one energy storage unit to realize temperature control of the energy storage unit. The liquid storage unit controlled by the electric control unit is connected with each liquid flow cooling plate through a pipeline, and the liquid storage unit is used for circulating and conveying cooling liquid to the liquid flow cooling plate. The technical scheme improves the safety and temperature control capability of the energy storage device through the safe energy storage device with the pop-up battery storage structure, and is suitable for popularization and application of factory energy storage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of energy storage, and more particularly to a safe energy storage device with a pop-up battery storage structure. Background Technology

[0002] Specifically, energy storage technologies mainly include mechanical energy storage, electrochemical energy storage, electromagnetic energy storage, and thermal energy storage. Among them, electrochemical energy storage has become a research hotspot in the field of energy storage due to its advantages such as high energy density, fast response, and long lifespan. Currently, electrochemical energy storage devices such as lithium-ion batteries, sodium-sulfur batteries, and flow batteries are widely used in electric vehicles, smart grids, and distributed energy resources. Although existing energy storage devices have played a positive role in improving energy utilization efficiency and promoting energy structure optimization, some safety issues still exist. (1) Thermal runaway: During the charging and discharging process, the battery temperature may rise sharply due to internal short circuits, overcharging or over-discharging, which may lead to thermal runaway, and then fire or even explosion.

[0003] (2) Battery aging: As the number of charge and discharge cycles increases, the active materials inside the battery may decay, leading to a decline in battery performance and thus increasing safety hazards.

[0004] (3) External damage: Energy storage devices may suffer external damage during transportation, installation and use, such as squeezing, puncture, etc., which may lead to short circuit or leakage inside the battery and cause safety accidents.

[0005] More specifically, energy storage devices have enormous potential and value in the industrial sector, particularly in factory energy storage near production facilities. However, existing energy storage devices have some safety concerns, limiting their widespread application in these areas.

[0006] Because energy storage devices contain a large number of batteries, these batteries may experience thermal runaway during charging and discharging, leading to a rapid increase in battery temperature and potentially causing fires or explosions. Furthermore, battery aging is a significant concern. With each charge-discharge cycle, the active materials inside the battery may degrade, affecting its performance and safety. Additionally, the risk of external damage in a factory environment is high, such as from crushing or puncturing, which could cause internal short circuits or leaks, increasing safety hazards.

[0007] Currently, energy storage technology is applied on the power supply side, grid side, and user side. However, safety issues remain a significant obstacle to its widespread adoption. Therefore, addressing these issues is crucial for promoting the development and application of energy storage technology. Summary of the Invention

[0008] This application aims to overcome at least one deficiency of the prior art and provide a safe energy storage device with a pop-up battery storage structure. This device has the function of intelligently managing each battery and can promptly handle the above problems when the battery is overheated or catches fire, so as to ensure the safety of the energy storage device and adjacent facilities.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, this application discloses a safe energy storage device with a pop-up battery storage structure, including a cabinet, multiple energy storage units installed in the cabinet, an electronic control unit installed at the top of the cabinet, and a liquid storage unit installed at the bottom of the cabinet. In the initial state, each energy storage unit is substantially connected to the electronic control unit, and its charging and discharging are controlled by the electronic control unit. The cabinet is provided with a liquid flow cooling plate connected to the liquid storage unit, and at least one liquid flow cooling plate is in contact with one energy storage unit to achieve temperature control of the energy storage unit. The liquid storage unit, which is controlled by the electronic control unit, is connected to each liquid flow cooling plate through a pipe, and coolant is circulated to the liquid flow cooling plate through the liquid storage unit.

[0010] Furthermore, the cabinet contains several inclined heat-insulating and flame-retardant panels at 30-45 degrees to form flame-retardant inclined installation positions. A fireproof baffle is movably installed at the bottom of each inclined installation position. A liquid cooling plate is installed on the bottom surface of the inclined installation positions. Multiple inclined installation positions are arranged vertically to form a set of installation positions. The cabinet has at least two sets of spaced installation positions, which form a vertical safety passage. The width of the safety passage is at least sufficient to ensure that the energy storage unit can slide into the safety passage without obstruction. The liquid storage unit has a safety tank opposite to the safety passage. When needed, the liquid storage unit can fill the safety tank with water.

[0011] Furthermore, the energy storage unit includes a housing, several battery cells installed inside the housing, and a BMS control board connected to each battery cell; the housing is provided with multiple parallel conductive tabs connected to the BMS control board, the length direction of the conductive tabs is consistent with the axial direction of the mounting position, the conductive tabs are spaced apart and insulating baffles are provided between the spaces; the mounting position is provided with conductive sockets that cooperate with each conductive tab and are connected to the electrical control unit, when the energy storage unit is inserted into the mounting position, the conductive tabs are inserted into the conductive sockets to achieve electrical connection.

[0012] As a further preferred embodiment, the bottom of the outer casing of the energy storage unit is coated with a sliding layer with a low coefficient of friction.

[0013] As a further preferred embodiment, the outer shell of the energy storage unit is provided with an energy-absorbing and shock-absorbing rubber layer at the end facing the safety passage to prevent further impact on the energy storage unit due to falling and collision when sliding into the safety passage.

[0014] Furthermore, the front end of the installation position is provided with an openable door, and the installation position is provided with a locking mechanism that is electrically controlled by the power control unit. Under normal conditions, the energy storage unit is locked in place by the locking mechanism to ensure that it will not slide into the safety channel.

[0015] Furthermore, the inner side of the door at the installation position is provided with an elastic pressing device. When an energy storage unit is installed in the installation position, the elastic pressing device provides a pre-pressure to the energy storage unit toward the safety passage. After the locking mechanism is released, the energy storage unit quickly slides into the safety passage under the combined action of the pre-pressure and its own gravity.

[0016] Furthermore, each mounting position is equipped with at least one temperature sensor connected to the electronic control unit.

[0017] Furthermore, the safety passage is equipped with at least one temperature sensor connected to the electronic control unit.

[0018] Furthermore, the liquid storage unit includes a liquid storage tank with a temperature sensor and a liquid level sensor, a cooling fan opposite to the liquid storage tank, and a circulation pump connected to the liquid storage tank.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, this application has at least one of the following beneficial effects: 1. Improved safety: By setting up safe passages and fireproof baffles, energy storage units can be quickly removed from the cabinet, reducing the risk of fire spreading.

[0020] 2. Temperature control: The liquid flow cooling plate can be used to control the temperature of the energy storage unit, thereby improving its operational stability and lifespan.

[0021] 3. Electrical connection: The combination of conductive plates and conductive sockets enables electrical connection between the energy storage unit and the electronic control unit, facilitating maintenance and replacement.

[0022] 4. Temperature monitoring and heat dissipation control: The temperature sensor can monitor the temperature changes of the energy storage unit and safety passage in real time, and the cooling fan and circulation pump can be used to dissipate heat and maintain the temperature and liquid level in the storage tank.

[0023] In summary, this technical solution, through a safe energy storage device with a pop-up battery storage structure, improves the safety and temperature control capabilities of energy storage equipment, which is conducive to the promotion and application of energy storage in factories.

[0024] Other features and advantages of the subject matter of this application will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent in part from the description, or may be learned by practicing the subject matter of this application. The advantages of the subject matter of this application will be realized and obtained through the structures particularly pointed out in the written description, its claims, and the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0025] A better understanding of various aspects of this disclosure will be achieved by reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The positions, dimensions, and extents of the structures shown in the drawings, etc., do not always represent actual positions, dimensions, and extents. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of one embodiment disclosed in this application.

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of one embodiment disclosed in this application from another perspective.

[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the energy storage unit in one embodiment of the present application.

[0028] Figure 4 This is a structural schematic diagram of the energy storage unit falling during one embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it should be understood that the present disclosure can be presented in many different ways and is not limited to the embodiments described below; in fact, the embodiments described below are intended to make the disclosure more complete and to fully illustrate the scope of protection of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. It should also be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein can be combined in various ways to provide further additional embodiments.

[0030] It should be understood that the same reference numerals denote the same elements in all the accompanying drawings. For clarity, the dimensions of certain features may be modified in the drawings.

[0031] It should be understood that the terminology used in this specification is for describing specific embodiments only and is not intended to limit this disclosure. All terms used in this specification (including technical and scientific terms) have the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art, unless otherwise defined. For the sake of brevity and / or clarity, techniques, methods, and apparatus known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail; however, where appropriate, such techniques, methods, and apparatus should be considered part of this specification.

[0032] Unless otherwise specified, the singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” used in this specification include the plural forms. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “containing” used in this specification indicate the presence of the claimed feature but do not exclude the presence of one or more other features. The term “and / or” used in this specification includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items. The terms “between X and Y” and “between approximately X and Y” used in this specification should be interpreted as including both X and Y. The term “between approximately X and Y” used in this specification means “between approximately X and approximately Y,” and the term “from approximately X to Y” used in this specification means “from approximately X to approximately Y.”

[0033] In the specification, when an element is described as being "on," "attached," "connected," "coupled," or "in contact" with another element, the element can be directly located on, attached to, connected to, coupled to, or in contact with the other element, or there may be intermediate elements present. Conversely, when an element is described as being "directly" located on, directly attached to, directly connected to, directly coupled to, or directly in contact with another element, no intermediate elements are present. In the specification, a feature arranged "adjacent" to another feature can mean that a feature has a portion overlapping with the adjacent feature or a portion located above or below the adjacent feature.

[0034] In the specification, spatial relation terms such as "up," "down," "left," "right," "front," "back," "high," and "low" describe the relationship between one feature and another in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that spatial relation terms include not only the orientation shown in the drawings but also the different orientations of the device during use or operation. For example, when the device in the drawings is inverted, a feature previously described as "below" other features can now be described as "above" other features. The device can also be oriented in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), in which case the relative spatial relationships will be explained accordingly. Example

[0035] Figures 1 to 4 An exemplary structure for implementing this application is disclosed. In this embodiment, a safe energy storage device with a pop-up battery storage structure is disclosed. In terms of composition, it mainly consists of several key components such as a cabinet 1, an energy storage unit 2, an electronic control unit 3, a liquid flow cooling plate 4, a heat insulation and flame retardant plate 5, a safety channel 6, a sensor, and a liquid storage unit 7.

[0036] As a further description of this embodiment, the cabinet 1 plays a crucial role in the energy storage device, and its materials, functions, and structure are carefully designed to meet the system's multiple requirements. It is typically constructed of high-strength metal alloys, such as aluminum alloys or steel-aluminum composites, to provide the necessary structural support. The cabinet 1 is designed to standard dimensions for easy installation and maintenance, and undergoes special treatment to improve corrosion resistance and weather resistance.

[0037] More specifically, in many implementations, the surface of the cabinet 1 is coated with heat-insulating and flame-retardant material to reduce the risk of fire. Inside the cabinet 1, several heat-insulating and flame-retardant panels 5 arranged at a 30-degree angle form angled mounting bays 8, which together constitute angled mounting positions. Each bay 8 is equipped with a fireproof baffle 9 at its bottom. Liquid cooling plates 4 are installed on the bottom surface of these bays 8, connected to the liquid storage unit 7, and in direct contact with the energy storage unit 2 to provide effective cooling.

[0038] It's important to understand that the multiple angled mounting positions inside rack 1 not only provide storage and protection for the energy storage units 2, but also consider safe evacuation in emergencies. These mounting positions are arranged at an angle of 30-45 degrees, staggered vertically to form multiple groups, with the intervals between each group cleverly forming a vertical safety passage 6. This design not only increases the installation density of the energy storage units 2, but also allows them to slide down the safety passage 6 quickly and unimpeded in emergencies. The width of the safety passage 6 is designed to accommodate the dimensions of the energy storage units 2, ensuring smooth descent during emergency evacuation. The liquid storage unit 7 at the bottom of rack 1 corresponds to this safety passage 6 and has a dedicated safety tank 10 for injecting water into the passage for cooling or emergency treatment when needed. This design not only optimizes space utilization but also provides an effective safe evacuation mechanism, ensuring that the energy storage units can be quickly and safely evacuated in the event of a malfunction or overheating, while maintaining the cooling and stability of the overall system.

[0039] It is also important to understand that the safety passage is designed for the rapid evacuation of energy storage units in emergency situations. Extending from the top to the bottom of the cabinet, it ensures that energy storage units 2 can be quickly moved to a safe area from any height. In some designs, in the event of overheating, electrical failure, or other emergencies, the passage may lead directly to an external safe collection area, allowing energy storage units 2 to be completely removed from the cabinet 1 in extreme cases. In this embodiment, a locking mechanism 11 is installed within the compartment 8 and cooperates with an energy storage unit 2, securing the energy storage unit 2 under normal conditions and releasing it quickly when needed. The front of the cabinet 1 has an openable door 12, and the inside of the door 12 is equipped with a resilient pressing device 13 to assist in the rapid release of the energy storage unit. Generally, for cost and structural feasibility considerations, the pressing device 13 is a combination of a top plate and a spring.

[0040] In this embodiment, the electrical control unit 3, as one of the core components of the energy storage device, is located at the top of the cabinet 1 and is responsible for monitoring and controlling the charging and discharging of the energy storage unit 2 and the operation of the entire system. Internal temperature sensors are distributed in the mounting positions and safety passages 6 to monitor the temperature in real time.

[0041] In this embodiment, the energy storage unit 2, as one of the core components of the energy storage device, and its connection design with the mounting position are crucial to ensuring its rapid release. Specifically, each energy storage unit 2 is protected by a robust outer shell and contains multiple battery cells and a battery management system (BMS) control board to monitor and manage the charging and discharging process. The outer shell of the energy storage unit 2 has multiple conductive tabs 15 that correspond to the conductive inserts 14 inside the cabinet 1, spaced apart and supplemented with insulating baffles 16 to ensure a safe and reliable electrical connection. The low-friction sliding layer at the bottom of the outer shell and the shock-absorbing rubber layer at the tail end are designed to reduce impact in emergencies and facilitate the rapid release of the energy storage unit 2. The locking mechanism 11 inside the mounting position securely fixes the energy storage unit 2 under normal conditions, but in the event of system overheating or detection of other faults, these mechanisms can be quickly released, allowing the energy storage unit 2 to slide into the safety channel 6 under the combined action of gravity and pre-compression elasticity.

[0042] More specifically, in the above structural composition, the conductive tabs 15 and conductive sockets 14 not only realize the transmission of electrical energy but also undertake the function of data communication. Among the multiple parallel metal conductive tabs 15 mounted on the outer shell of each energy storage unit 2, at least one is dedicated to data transmission, enabling the energy storage unit 2 to be substantially connected to the electronic control unit 3, responsible for transmitting key monitoring data, such as voltage, current, and internal temperature. To ensure safety, the above design allows for efficient transmission of electrical energy when the energy storage unit 2 is inserted into the cabinet 1, and also enables the transmission of critical operational data to the electronic control unit or monitoring system through this special data transmission socket.

[0043] As a necessary and mature design, the liquid flow cooling plate 4 at the bottom of each mounting position is in close contact with the energy storage unit 2, providing necessary temperature control. In this embodiment, the liquid storage unit plays a crucial role in the safe energy storage device of the pop-up battery storage structure, primarily responsible for system cooling and emergency response. It includes a liquid storage tank, a container made of high-temperature resistant and chemically stable materials, for storing coolant. The liquid storage tank is equipped with temperature and level sensors that monitor the temperature and level of the coolant, ensuring the system operates under optimal conditions. Furthermore, the liquid storage unit 7 includes a cooling fan and a circulation pump; the former helps dissipate heat from the coolant, while the latter pumps the coolant from the storage tank to the liquid flow cooling plate 4 inside the cabinet 1, achieving effective cooling of the energy storage unit 2. In emergencies, such as system overheating, the liquid storage unit 7 can quickly increase the coolant flow rate or pump the coolant directly to the safety tank 10 to rapidly cool and stabilize the system. This design not only improves the performance and lifespan of energy storage unit 2, but also enhances the system's ability to cope with high temperatures and other emergencies, making liquid storage unit 7 a key component in maintaining the safe and efficient operation of the energy storage system.

[0044] It should be noted that the specific structure and working principle of the liquid storage unit 7 and the liquid flow cooling plate 4 are existing technologies in this field, and therefore will not be described in more detail.

[0045] Furthermore, in the safe energy storage device with a pop-up battery storage structure, the electronic control unit 3 (ECU) serves as the system's brain and command center, responsible for processing and managing the entire system's operation. It has a built-in processor that continuously collects critical data, such as voltage, current, temperature, and liquid level, from the BMS control board of energy storage unit 2, sensors of liquid storage unit 7, and other system components. The ECU possesses multiple communication interfaces, allowing data exchange with external devices, and runs advanced software and algorithms for energy management, fault diagnosis, and safety monitoring. Upon detecting any anomalies, it can quickly take measures, adjusting operating parameters or initiating emergency response protocols to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the system. Additionally, the ECU 3 may include a user interface displayed on a screen, providing convenience for on-site operation while supporting remote updates and maintenance to keep the system up-to-date. Environmental adaptability is considered in the design, enabling the ECU 3 to operate stably in various environments.

[0046] While exemplary embodiments of this disclosure have been described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes and modifications can be made to the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Therefore, all changes and modifications are included within the scope of protection of this disclosure as defined by the claims. This disclosure is defined by the appended claims, and equivalents of those claims are also included.

Claims

1. A safe energy storage device with a pop-up battery storage structure, characterized in that: The system includes a cabinet, multiple energy storage units installed within the cabinet, an electronic control unit mounted on top of the cabinet, and a liquid storage unit mounted at the bottom of the cabinet. Initially, each energy storage unit is substantially connected to the electronic control unit, which controls its charging and discharging. The cabinet contains liquid cooling plates connected to the liquid storage units; at least one liquid cooling plate is in contact with one energy storage unit to control its temperature. The liquid storage units, controlled by the electronic control unit, are connected to the liquid cooling plates via pipes, circulating coolant to the liquid cooling plates through the liquid storage units. The cabinet also contains several inclined... A 30-45 degree heat-insulating and flame-retardant panel is spaced to form a flame-retardant inclined installation space. A fireproof baffle is movably installed at the bottom of each inclined installation space. A liquid cooling plate is installed on the bottom surface of the inclined installation space. Multiple inclined installation spaces are arranged vertically to form a group of installation positions. The cabinet has at least two groups of spaced installation positions, forming a vertical safety passage. The width of the safety passage is sufficient to ensure that the energy storage unit slides into the safety passage without obstruction. The liquid storage unit has a safety tank opposite the safety passage; when needed, the liquid storage unit can fill the safety tank with water. The energy storage unit includes an outer... The energy storage unit comprises a housing, several battery cells installed within the housing, and a BMS control board connected to each battery cell. The housing has multiple parallel conductive tabs protruding from it, connected to the BMS control board. The length direction of the conductive tabs is aligned with the axial direction of the mounting position. The conductive tabs are spaced apart, with insulating baffles protruding between the intervals. The mounting position has conductive sockets that mate with the conductive tabs and connect to the control unit. When the energy storage unit is inserted into the mounting position, the conductive tabs insert into the conductive sockets to achieve electrical connection. The end of the energy storage unit's housing facing the safety passage has an energy-absorbing, shock-absorbing rubber layer to prevent slippage. The energy storage unit will be further impacted by the impact of falling into the safety passage; the front end of the installation position is provided with an openable door, and the installation position is provided with a locking mechanism controlled by the power control unit. Under normal conditions, the energy storage unit is locked in place by the locking mechanism to ensure that it will not slide into the safety passage; the inner side of the door on the installation position is provided with an elastic pressing device. When the energy storage unit is installed in the installation position, the elastic pressing device provides a pre-pressure to the energy storage unit towards the safety passage. After the locking mechanism is released, the energy storage unit will quickly slide into the safety passage under the combined action of the pre-pressure and its own gravity.

2. The safe energy storage device with a pop-up battery storage structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the outer shell of the energy storage unit is coated with a sliding layer with a low coefficient of friction.

3. The safe energy storage device with a pop-up battery storage structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that: Each mounting position is equipped with at least one temperature sensor connected to the electronic control unit.

4. The safe energy storage device with a pop-up battery storage structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that: At least one temperature sensor connected to the electronic control unit is installed in the safety passage.

5. A safe energy storage device with a pop-up battery storage structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid storage unit includes a liquid storage tank with a temperature sensor and a liquid level sensor, a cooling fan opposite to the liquid storage tank, and a circulation pump connected to the liquid storage tank.

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