A side direct-cooling energy storage system
By installing cooling pipes and shunt components on the side of the battery module, the problem of low cooling efficiency in liquid cooling units is solved, achieving more efficient cooling and lower energy consumption, while also enhancing the sealing and ease of installation of the battery pack.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- 清安储能技术(重庆)有限公司
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-20
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-19
AI Technical Summary
Existing liquid cooling units have low cooling efficiency and poor cooling effect. Furthermore, the coolant is located at the bottom of the battery pack, far from the main heat-generating areas, resulting in poor heat dissipation and low energy utilization.
The system adopts a side-cooled direct energy storage system, with cooling pipes running around both sides of the battery module. The refrigerant flows into the cooling pipes through the inlet pipe and directly contacts the battery module. The cooling pipes are made of aluminum tubes, and the uniformity of refrigerant flow is ensured by the flow divider and folding structure. The adapter structure is located on the outside of the battery pack to improve sealing and ease of installation.
It improves cooling performance, reduces compressor power and energy consumption, reduces the risk of condensation, enhances the sealing and installation convenience of the battery pack, and improves the uniformity of refrigerant flow.
Smart Images

Figure CN119695338B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of energy storage equipment technology, and specifically to a side-cooled direct-cooling energy storage system. Background Technology
[0002] When the battery pack is cooled, it generally uses a liquid cooling unit and a bottom cold plate. The compressor converts the low-pressure gas (refrigerant) into a high-pressure gas and sends it to the condenser. The condenser converts the high-pressure gas into a liquid. The liquid refrigerant passes through the evaporator, which causes the refrigerant to change from liquid to gas, absorbing heat from the circulating water. The cooled circulating water flows through the pump and enters the liquid cooling plate through the liquid inlet pipe. The liquid cooling plate is located at the bottom of the battery pack. After absorbing heat from the battery pack, the circulating water in the liquid cooling plate returns to the evaporator through the liquid outlet pipe, completing the cooling cycle.
[0003] The above solution still has the following shortcomings: the internal chemical reaction of the battery cell and the current in and out of the tabs cause the upper and middle parts of the battery module (composed of multiple battery cells) to generate a lot of heat. The liquid cooling plate is located at the bottom of the battery pack, which is far from the main heat-generating area, thus affecting the heat dissipation effect. The use of refrigerant to cool the circulating water and then using the circulating water to cool the battery pack results in low energy utilization. Summary of the Invention
[0004] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, the purpose of this invention is to provide a side direct cooling energy storage system, which solves the technical problems of low refrigeration efficiency and poor refrigeration effect in existing liquid cooling units.
[0005] The technical solution adopted in this invention is as follows:
[0006] A side-cooled direct-cooling energy storage system includes a cabinet with a partition inside. Above the partition is a battery compartment, and below the partition is an electrical compartment. The system also includes a direct-cooling unit, circulation pipes, and a battery pack. The battery pack is located in the battery compartment, and the direct-cooling unit is located in the electrical compartment. The battery pack includes a base plate, a top cover, and multiple battery modules. The multiple battery modules are mounted on the base plate, and the top cover is detachably connected to the base plate.
[0007] The circulation pipeline includes an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, a cooling pipe, and a connecting structure. The cooling pipe is arranged around each battery module and contacts both sides of each battery module. The two ends of the side cooling pipe extend out of the top cover and are connected to the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe respectively through the corresponding connecting structure. The refrigerant flows into the cooling pipe through the inlet pipe, passes through the battery pack, and then flows back to the liquid cooling unit through the return pipe.
[0008] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:
[0009] 1. In the existing technology, there is a side-cooled battery pack where multiple cold plates require inlet / outlet pipes to be distributed through branch pipes and then connected to the cold plates through connectors, forming a parallel flow channel. The internal circulating water needs to be distributed, which may cause uneven flow. This cooling pipe is a single channel without branch pipes, and the internal refrigerant will not be distributed, thus avoiding the uneven flow problem of the parallel side-cooled structure in the existing technology.
[0010] 2. The cooling pipe is close to the side of the battery module, which is closer to the main heat-generating area of the battery module. Therefore, compared with the bottom cooling solution, when the battery module generates the same amount of heat, the temperature of the coolant entering the cooling pipe can be higher to achieve the same cooling effect, reducing the power of the compressor and reducing energy consumption.
[0011] 3. Since condensation is related to ambient temperature and humidity, when the refrigeration system is working, the overall temperature of the coolant in the inlet pipe, outlet pipe, and cooling pipe increases, which can reduce the risk of condensation and avoid short circuits in the battery cells and corrosion of the casing caused by condensation.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the number of battery packs is multiple, and the liquid inlet pipe includes a main pipeline, a diversion assembly, and multiple liquid inlet branch pipes. The diversion assembly diverts the refrigerant in the liquid inlet pipeline to the multiple liquid inlet branch pipes through multiple diversion ports. The multiple liquid inlet branch pipes correspond one-to-one with multiple cooling pipes, and the flow resistance in each liquid inlet branch pipe is the same.
[0013] Beneficial effects: By setting up liquid distribution components and inlet branch pipes with the same flow resistance, the refrigerant flow rate through each battery pack is the same, which effectively improves the uniformity of refrigerant flow.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the diversion assembly includes a diverter, a first connection hole is opened at the bottom of the diverter, a second connection hole is opened on the top surface of the diverter, a plurality of second connection holes are inclined outward and arranged around the first connection hole and communicate with the first connection hole, the first connection hole is connected to the main pipeline, and the plurality of second connection holes are respectively connected to the corresponding liquid inlet branch pipe.
[0015] Beneficial effects: After passing through the first connection hole, the refrigerant will flow to the surrounding second connection holes in a scattering manner. The second connection holes are arranged in a ring around the liquid inlet hole, making the flow rate into each liquid inlet branch pipe more uniform.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the inlet branch pipes has the same length and diameter.
[0017] Beneficial effects: By limiting the length and diameter of each inlet branch pipe, the internal space of the pipe from the liquid distribution point to the battery pack is equal, which makes the flow resistance in each inlet branch pipe equal, thereby improving the uniformity of refrigerant flow.
[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the liquid inlet branch pipe can be folded downward to form a folded part, and then folded laterally to connect with the corresponding adapter structure, so that the highest point of each liquid inlet branch pipe corresponds to the height of the corresponding battery pack.
[0019] Beneficial effects: Folding the pipe 180° can effectively reduce the height of each inlet branch pipe to accommodate battery packs of different heights. While pipe bending may create local resistance, the pressure within the entire circulation pipeline is high during operation of the direct cooling unit, so the flow resistance caused by bending can be ignored.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adapter structure includes a sealing plate, a connector and a connecting block. The sealing plate has a first through hole, the cooling pipe passes through the first through hole and is fixedly connected to the sealing plate, and the connector is connected to the end of the cooling pipe.
[0021] A fixing plate is fixedly connected to the side wall of the upper cover. A second through hole is provided on the fixing plate. The sealing plate is pressed against the inner side of the fixing plate. The end of the cooling pipe passes through the second through hole and is fixedly connected to the connector, so that the connector is located on the outer side of the fixing plate.
[0022] The connecting block is fixedly connected to the sealing plate and extends out of the second through hole. The connecting block has a communicating cavity, through which the cooling pipe communicates with the connector. The inner side of the connecting block is provided with an injection groove around the cooling pipe, and the injection groove is filled with sealant.
[0023] Beneficial effects:
[0024] 1. Since the connection between the connector and the cooling pipe has the highest risk of leakage (leakage point due to welding), the sealing plate is tightly attached to the fixing plate, blocking the second through hole and ensuring the airtightness inside the battery pack. Placing the connector on the outside of the sealing plate, i.e. the outside of the battery pack, reduces the risk of leakage inside the battery pack.
[0025] 2. This connecting block is used to connect the connector and the cooling pipe. Since the connecting block can pass through the second through hole, during welding installation, the welding point between the connecting block and the sealing plate is located on the outside of the sealing plate, that is, on the outside of the battery pack, which avoids leakage inside the battery pack.
[0026] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fixing plate includes a U-shaped plate and a receiving groove. The U-shaped plate is installed on the inner wall of the upper cover by screws. The receiving groove is located on the inner side of the upper cover and is pressed against the sealing plate. The receiving groove is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the U-shaped plate and connected to the sealing plate by screws. The second through hole is located on the receiving groove. The connecting block passes through the second through hole and is located in the receiving groove. The inner side of the connecting block is provided with a glue injection groove around the cooling pipe. The glue injection groove is filled with sealant.
[0027] Beneficial effects:
[0028] 1. The battery pack is stacked inside the cabinet. The space between the front of the battery pack and the cabinet door is relatively small. If the connecting block and the connector are placed directly outside the side wall of the top cover, the cabinet door will not be able to close. In this solution, the connecting block is located in the receiving groove, so that the adapter structure does not have much protrusion relative to the top cover, occupies less external space, and is more aesthetically pleasing.
[0029] 2. The cooling pipe in the design is made of aluminum, which can undergo plastic deformation under a certain external force. When the screws between the sealing plate and the receiving groove are tightened, the slight misalignment of the sealing plate and cooling pipe (due to processing errors caused by processing and extrusion) can be corrected as the screws are continuously tightened.
[0030] 3. The top cover, fixing plate, receiving groove, and sealing plate form a sealed outer shell, so that the connecting block is located on the outside of the sealed outer shell. The connecting block is welded to the sealing plate, and the joint is welded to the connecting block. Both welding points are located on the outside of the sealed outer shell, thereby reducing the risk of leakage in the battery pack.
[0031] 3. By setting up an injection groove, sealant is injected. The sealant can bond the sealing plate, connecting block and cooling pipe, making the connection more stable, and can also seal the gap between the cooling pipe and the connecting block, ensuring the airtightness.
[0032] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cooling pipe is made of aluminum square tube obtained by extrusion, and the aluminum square tube is bent multiple times to obtain the cooling pipe.
[0033] Beneficial effects:
[0034] 1. Because the cooling pipe is molded in one piece, the overall structural strength is high. The part located inside the battery pack does not need to be welded, and leakage is less likely to occur.
[0035] 2. Existing parallel side-cooling structures use a combination of side-cooling plates and plastic pipes. The plastic pipes cannot withstand the pressure of refrigerant flow. Replacing the plastic pipes directly with metal pipes to withstand greater pressure would lead to difficulties in aligning the side-cooling plates and metal pipes during installation. (The joints used for aligning the side-cooling plates are typically welded to the base plate; due to processing errors, the position of each joint cannot be guaranteed to be precise. While plastic pipes are flexible and can accommodate these errors, metal pipes cannot be adjusted for the joint positions. Furthermore, to ensure a tight seal, the metal pipes and joints need to be welded again, making the installation process more cumbersome. Welding also makes the entire structure difficult to disassemble, hindering battery module maintenance. Therefore, the cooling pipes used in this solution are suitable for direct-cooling units.)
[0036] 3. When installing the side cooling plate, multiple battery modules can be placed on the bottom plate of the battery pack, and then the cooling pipes can be placed on both sides of the multiple battery modules. The cooling pipes and multiple battery modules are then squeezed inward and shaped by the extrusion devices (hydraulic cylinders, air cylinders) on both sides. Therefore, the cooling pipes also have a certain limiting effect on the battery modules, making the overall structure more stable. Compared with the parallel side cooling structure in the existing technology, it does not require multiple welding inside the battery pack, making the installation more convenient and faster.
[0037] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, thermally conductive insulating adhesive is filled between the cooling pipe and the side wall of each battery module; the cooling pipe is provided with multiple side pipes and end pipes in an alternating manner, and the connection between the side pipes and end pipes is rounded. The side pipes correspond to the side of each battery module, and the end pipes correspond to the end of each battery module.
[0038] Beneficial effects:
[0039] 1. The end tube and side tube are provided with rounded corners to facilitate extrusion processing. During installation, when the cooling tube is subjected to extrusion, the end tube with rounded corners is less likely to deform excessively, thus preventing damage to the pipe.
[0040] 2. By setting thermally conductive insulating adhesive, the insulation performance of the battery module can be increased, and the connection between the battery module and the cooling pipe can be made more stable.
[0041] 3. During installation, thermally conductive insulating adhesive is first applied to the side wall of each battery module, and then the cooling pipe is placed. After being squeezed by the extrusion device, the cooling pipe is squeezed onto the side wall of the battery module and bonded to the thermally conductive insulating adhesive. Since the side of the battery module is not a complete plane (there are gaps between the cells), the gap between the cooling pipe and the side wall of the battery module can be filled by setting thermally conductive insulating adhesive (air in the gap will affect the heat exchange efficiency between the cell and the cooling pipe), thus ensuring the heat dissipation effect.
[0042] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the two ends of the cooling pipe are located on the same side of the top cover; wherein two adjacent side pipes are located between adjacent battery modules; and one of the end pipes bends outward at the connection between two adjacent side pipes to form a ball head or a square head.
[0043] Beneficial effects:
[0044] 1. In a parallel side-cooled structure, the liquid inlet and outlet are located on the front and rear sides of the battery pack. When the liquid inlet pipe of the liquid cooler is located on the front of the battery pack, the outlet pipe needs to be routed to the back of the battery pack to connect with the outlet, which makes the pipeline laying more complicated and increases the required length of the pipeline. During maintenance, it may also be necessary to open the back panel of the cabinet. In this solution, when the liquid inlet and outlet of the cooling pipe are on the same side, it is easier to connect to the liquid cooler / direct cooler without increasing the pipeline length, making maintenance more convenient.
[0045] 2. When two side tubes are repeatedly wound between two adjacent battery modules, if the end tube between the two side tubes has an inwardly bent rounded corner, a certain distance needs to be maintained between the two side tubes to avoid breakage due to bending. This distance should be different from the spacing of other adjacent battery modules, making installation impossible. Furthermore, when the cooling pipe is installed by compression, the two side tubes will inevitably come close together, and the inwardly bent end tube will tend to bend inward, which could lead to breakage. Therefore, in order to make the total thickness of the two side tubes thin enough, a round or square head is provided at the end of the pipe to meet the bending process. During installation, when the side tube is compressed, the outwardly bent end tube will tend to continue to bend outward, preventing the end tube from bending inward and causing breakage.
[0046] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the number of battery packs is multiple, and the liquid inlet pipe includes a main pipeline, a diversion assembly, and multiple liquid inlet branch pipes. The diversion assembly diverts the refrigerant in the liquid inlet pipeline to the multiple liquid inlet branch pipes through multiple diversion ports. The multiple liquid inlet branch pipes correspond one-to-one with multiple cooling pipes, and the flow resistance in each liquid inlet branch pipe is the same.
[0047] Beneficial effects: By setting up a flow distribution component and a liquid distribution pipe with the same flow resistance, the refrigerant flow rate through each battery pack is the same, which effectively improves the uniformity of refrigerant flow. Attached Figure Description
[0048] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the side-cooled direct-cooling energy storage system of the present invention;
[0049] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the cooling pipe structure in Embodiment 1 of the side-cooled direct-cooling energy storage system of the present invention;
[0050] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the battery pack in Embodiment 1 of the side-cooled energy storage system of the present invention;
[0051] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the battery pack structure of Embodiment 1 of the side-cooled energy storage system of the present invention;
[0052] Figure 5This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the fixing plate in Embodiment 1 of the side direct cooling energy storage system of the present invention;
[0053] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a transition structure in an embodiment of the side-cooled energy storage system of the present invention;
[0054] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the two liquid inlet pipes in an embodiment of the side-cooled energy storage system of the present invention;
[0055] Figure 8 This is a partial structural enlarged view of embodiment two of the side-cooled energy storage system of the present invention;
[0056] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the two-splitter in an embodiment of the side-cooled energy storage system of the present invention.
[0057] The attached reference numerals include: cooling pipe 1, liquid inlet 11, liquid outlet 12, ball head 13, side pipe 14, end pipe 15, housing 2, bottom plate 21, top cover 22, battery module 23, support frame 24, fixing plate 3, U-shaped plate 31, receiving groove 32, second through hole 33, sealing plate 41, first through hole 42, connecting block 43, connecting cavity 44, connector 45, glue injection groove 46, main pipeline 51, liquid inlet branch pipe 52, vertical part 521, horizontal part 522, distributor 61, first connecting hole 611, second connecting hole 612, liquid cooling unit 7, circulation pipe 8, battery pack 9. Detailed Implementation
[0058] Typical embodiments embodying the features and advantages of the present invention will be specifically described in the following description. It should be understood that the present invention can have various variations in different embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention, and the descriptions and illustrations herein are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to limit the present invention.
[0059] In the description of this application, the terms "first", "second", etc. are used only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the structure referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.
[0060] Example 1:
[0061] See Figures 1 to 4This embodiment discloses a side-cooled direct-cooling energy storage system, including a cabinet with a partition in the middle. Above the partition is a battery compartment, and below the partition is an electrical compartment. It also includes a direct-cooling unit 7, a circulation pipe 8, and multiple battery packs 9. The battery packs 9 are installed in the battery compartment, and the direct-cooling unit 7 is installed in the electrical compartment. The circulation pipe 8 includes an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, and multiple integrally formed cooling pipes 1. Each cooling pipe 1 corresponds to two transition structures and is connected to the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe through the two transition structures respectively. The battery pack 9 includes a base plate 21, a top cover 22, and multiple battery modules 23.
[0062] Among them, see Figure 3 A support frame 24 is fixedly connected to the base plate 21. The support frame 24 supports the cooling pipe 1. The same end of multiple battery modules 23 is tightly attached to the inner side of the support frame 24. The cooling pipe 1 is wound around each battery module 23 one by one and contacts both sides of each battery module 23. A strip of thermally conductive insulating adhesive is adhered to the side wall of each battery module 23. Two adapter structures are respectively installed at both ends of the cooling pipe 1 and extend out of the side wall of the upper cover 22 and are detachably connected to the upper cover 22. The two ends of the cooling pipe 1 are respectively connected to the liquid inlet pipe and liquid outlet pipe of the refrigeration equipment through the corresponding adapter structures.
[0063] Among them, see Figure 5 , Figure 6 The adapter structure includes a connecting block 43, a sealing plate 41, and a connector 45. The sealing plate 41 has a first through hole 42 through which the cooling pipe 1 passes and is fixedly connected to the sealing plate 41. The connector 45 is connected to the end of the cooling pipe 1. A fixing plate 3 is fixedly connected to the side wall of the upper cover 22. The fixing plate 3 has a second through hole 33. The sealing plate 41 is pressed against the inner side of the fixing plate 3. The connecting block 43 is welded to the sealing plate 41 and extends out of the second through hole 33. A connecting cavity 44 is provided inside the connecting block 43, through which the cooling pipe 1 is connected to the connector 45. An injection groove 46 is provided around the cooling pipe 1 on the inner side of the connecting block 43, and the injection groove 46 is filled with sealant.
[0064] Among them, see Figure 5 , Figure 6 The fixing plate 3 includes a U-shaped plate 31 and a receiving groove 32. The U-shaped plate 31 is installed on the inner wall of the upper cover 22 by screws. The receiving groove 32 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the U-shaped plate 31 and is located inside the upper cover 22. It is also connected to the sealing plate 41 by screws. The second through hole 33 is located on the receiving groove 32. The connecting block 43 passes through the second through hole 33 and is located inside the receiving groove 32.
[0065] In this embodiment, in some cabinets, the battery pack 9 is stacked inside the cabinet. The space between the front end of the battery pack 9 and the cabinet door is relatively narrow. If the connecting block 43 and the connector 45 are directly placed outside the side wall of the top cover 22, the cabinet door will not be able to close. In this solution, the connecting block 43 is located inside the receiving groove 32, so that the transition structure does not have a large protrusion relative to the top cover 22, occupies less external space, and is more aesthetically pleasing. The cooling pipe 1 in this solution is made of aluminum tube, which can undergo plastic deformation under a certain external force. When the screws between the sealing plate 41 and the receiving groove 32 are tightened, the slight offset of the sealing plate 41 and the cooling pipe 1 (due to processing errors caused by processing and extrusion) can be corrected as the screws tighten continuously. The top cover 22, the fixing plate 3, the receiving groove 32, and the sealing plate 41 form a sealed shell, so that the connecting block 43 is located on the outside of the sealed shell. The connecting block 43 is welded to the sealing plate 41, and the connector 45 is welded to the connecting block 43. Both welding points are located on the outside of the sealed shell, thereby reducing the risk of leakage inside the battery pack 9.
[0066] Among them, see Figure 2 The cooling pipe 1 is made of aluminum square tube obtained by extrusion, and the aluminum square tube is bent multiple times to obtain the cooling pipe 1; the cooling pipe 1 is provided with multiple side pipes 14 and end pipes 15 in an alternating manner, and the connection between the side pipes 14 and the end pipes 15 is rounded. The side pipes 14 correspond to the side of each battery module 23, and the end pipes 15 correspond to the end of each battery module 23.
[0067] The cooling pipe 1 has two ends located on the same side of the top cover 22; two adjacent side pipes 14 are located between adjacent battery modules 23; one of the end pipes 15 bends outward at the connection between two adjacent side pipes 14 to form a ball head 13 or a square head.
[0068] The installation method of this embodiment is as follows, including the following steps:
[0069] Positioned by the support frame 24, multiple battery modules 23 with insulating sealant are placed on the base plate 21, and the ends of the multiple battery modules 23 are pressed against the inner side of the support frame 24. The cooling pipe 1 is placed from top to bottom, so that the cooling pipe 1 is wrapped around both sides of the battery module 23.
[0070] Through two sets of extrusion mechanisms, the cooling pipe 1 and the battery module 23 are simultaneously extruded inward from both sides of the base plate 21, so that the side wall of the cooling pipe 1 contacts the side wall of the battery module 23;
[0071] The sealing plate 41, connecting block 43, and connector 45 in the transition structure have been welded before assembly. The fixing plate 3 is installed inside the upper cover 22 by screws. The cooling pipe 1 is inserted into the connecting cavity 44 through the first through hole 42. The sealing plate 41 is then welded and fixed to the cooling pipe 1, and filler glue is injected into the glue injection groove 46. The upper cover 22 is fastened onto the base plate 21, and the sealing plate 41 and fixing plate 3 are connected by screws to complete the assembly.
[0072] The upper cover 22 is equipped with a waterproof and breathable valve and an air extraction port. Air can only enter the box 2 through the waterproof and breathable valve. The air extraction port is equipped with a control valve to control the opening and closing of the air extraction port.
[0073] The drying method in this embodiment is as follows:
[0074] The vacuum pump is connected to a waterproof and breathable valve or an air extraction port;
[0075] Use a vacuum pump to extract the air from chamber 2.
[0076] The vacuum pump extracts the original air from the housing 2, creating negative pressure. This allows the waterproof and breathable valve to continuously intake air. The moisture in the newly entering air is intercepted by the waterproof and breathable valve, thus drying the inside of the battery pack 9. The humidity inside the battery pack 9 is low, the local temperature difference is small, and condensation is less likely to occur.
[0077] Example 2:
[0078] See Figure 7 As shown, there are multiple battery packs 9. The liquid inlet pipe includes a main pipeline 51, a diversion assembly, and multiple liquid inlet branch pipes 52. The diversion assembly diverts the refrigerant in the main pipeline 51 to the multiple liquid inlet branch pipes 52 through multiple diversion ports. The multiple liquid inlet branch pipes 52 correspond one-to-one with the multiple cooling pipes 1, and the flow resistance in each liquid inlet branch pipe 52 is the same.
[0079] Multiple liquid inlet branch pipes 52 correspond one-to-one with multiple battery packs 9. The refrigerant enters the main pipeline 51 through the direct cooling unit 7, and then is distributed to multiple liquid inlet branch pipes 52 through the diversion component. After passing through the corresponding battery packs 9, it flows to the return pipeline through the corresponding return branch pipe, and finally returns to the direct cooling unit 7.
[0080] Among them, see Figure 9 As shown, the diversion assembly includes a diverter 61. The lower end face of the diverter 61 is provided with a first connection hole 611 communicating with the main pipeline 51. The upper end face of the diverter 61 is provided with a plurality of second connection holes 612 communicating with the first connection hole 611 in a ring around the first connection hole 611. After the refrigerant passes through the first connection hole 611, the refrigerant will flow to the surrounding second connection holes 612 in a scattering manner. The second connection holes 612 are arranged in a ring around the first connection hole 611, so that the flow rate entering each liquid inlet branch pipe 52 is more uniform.
[0081] In this embodiment, due to the properties of the refrigerant itself, the refrigerant flows out of the direct cooling unit 7 in a two-phase state (both gaseous and liquid states exist simultaneously). In the same space within the pipe body, the gaseous refrigerant, under the influence of gravity, will mostly be distributed at the top of the space. For the horizontally arranged distributor 61, the gaseous refrigerant will be retained as much as possible at the upper distribution hole. The first connection hole 611 of the distributor 61 faces downward and the liquid outlet hole faces upward, and the whole is in a vertical state. The direction of the distribution is set around the vertical center line, so that the gaseous refrigerant is more evenly distributed in the space.
[0082] The second connecting hole 612 is a stepped hole with a larger upper part and a smaller lower part. The upper part of the stepped hole is connected to the corresponding liquid inlet branch pipe 52. By limiting the ratio of the lower part of the stepped hole to the diameter of the first connecting hole 611, the refrigerant is more evenly distributed after atomization within this ratio range.
[0083] In this embodiment, when the two-phase refrigerant is directly split, the distribution of the gaseous refrigerant in the liquid refrigerant is difficult to control. The distribution of the gaseous refrigerant will affect the local pressure, thus affecting the uniformity after splitting. The two-phase refrigerant in the main pipeline 51 enters the distributor 61 under the power of the compressor. The two-phase refrigerant is atomized, which plays a role in fully mixing the gas and liquid phases. Compared with direct splitting, the splitting of the atomized refrigerant is more uniform.
[0084] As shown in the figure, the length and diameter of each liquid inlet branch pipe 52 are equal. By limiting the length and diameter of each liquid inlet branch pipe 52, the internal space of the pipe from the liquid distribution position to the battery pack 9 is equal, so that the flow resistance in each liquid inlet branch pipe 52 is equal, thereby improving the uniformity of refrigerant flow.
[0085] Among them, see Figure 8 As shown, each of the liquid inlet branch pipes 52 includes a vertical part 521 and a horizontal part 522. The vertical part 521 of each liquid inlet branch pipe 52 is folded downward by 180° according to the height of the corresponding battery pack 9, so that the horizontal parts 522 of each liquid inlet branch pipe 52 are arranged in parallel. By folding by 180°, the height of each vertical part 521 can be effectively reduced.
[0086] The above embodiments are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention. Any non-substantial changes and substitutions made by those skilled in the art based on the present invention shall fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention.
Claims
1. A side-cooled direct-cooling energy storage system, comprising a cabinet, wherein a partition is provided inside the cabinet, a battery compartment is located above the partition, and an electrical compartment is located below the partition, characterized in that: It also includes a direct cooling unit, a circulation pipeline, and a battery pack. The battery pack is located in the battery compartment, and the direct cooling unit is located in the electrical compartment. The battery pack includes a base plate, a top cover, and multiple battery modules. The multiple battery modules are mounted on the base plate, and the top cover is detachably connected to the base plate. The circulation pipeline includes an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, a cooling pipe, and a connecting structure. The cooling pipe is arranged around each battery module and contacts both sides of each battery module. The two ends of the cooling pipe are located on the same side of the top cover. The two ends of the cooling pipe extend out of the top cover and are connected to the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe respectively through the corresponding connecting structure. The refrigerant flows into the cooling pipe through the inlet pipe, passes through the battery pack, and then flows back to the liquid cooler unit through the return pipe. The adapter structure includes a sealing plate, a connector, and a connecting block. The sealing plate has a first through hole, through which the cooling pipe passes and is fixedly connected to the sealing plate. The connector is connected to the end of the cooling pipe. A fixing plate is fixedly connected to the side wall of the upper cover. A second through hole is provided on the fixing plate. The sealing plate is pressed against the inner side of the fixing plate. The end of the cooling pipe passes through the second through hole and is fixedly connected to the connector, so that the connector is located on the outer side of the fixing plate. The connecting block is fixedly connected to the sealing plate and extends out of the second through hole. The connecting block has a communicating cavity, and the cooling pipe communicates with the connector through the communicating cavity. The fixing plate includes a U-shaped plate and a receiving groove. The U-shaped plate is installed on the inner wall of the upper cover by screws. The receiving groove is located on the inner side of the upper cover and is pressed against the sealing plate. The receiving groove is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the U-shaped plate and is connected to the sealing plate by screws. The second through hole is located on the receiving groove. The connecting block passes through the second through hole and is located in the receiving groove. The inner side of the connecting block is provided with a glue injection groove around the cooling pipe, and the glue injection groove is filled with sealant. A support frame is fixedly connected to the base plate, and the support frame supports the cooling pipe. The same end of multiple battery modules is closely attached to the inner side of the support frame.
2. The side-cooled direct-cooling energy storage system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of battery packs is multiple. The liquid inlet pipe includes a main pipeline, a diversion assembly, and multiple liquid inlet branch pipes. The diversion assembly diverts the refrigerant in the liquid inlet pipeline to the multiple liquid inlet branch pipes through multiple diversion ports. The multiple liquid inlet branch pipes correspond one-to-one with multiple cooling pipes, and the flow resistance in each liquid inlet branch pipe is the same.
3. The side-cooled direct-cooling energy storage system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The diversion assembly includes a diverter, a first connection hole is opened at the bottom of the diverter, a second connection hole is opened on the top surface of the diverter, a plurality of second connection holes are inclined outward and arranged around the first connection hole and communicate with the first connection hole, the first connection hole is connected to the main pipeline, and the plurality of second connection holes are respectively connected to the corresponding liquid inlet branch pipe.
4. The side-cooled direct-cooling energy storage system according to claim 2, characterized in that: Each of the aforementioned inlet branch pipes has the same length and diameter.
5. The side-cooled direct-cooling energy storage system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The liquid inlet branch pipe can be folded downwards to form a folded section, and then folded laterally to connect with the corresponding adapter structure, so that the highest point of each liquid inlet branch pipe corresponds to the height of the corresponding battery pack.
6. The side-cooled direct-cooling energy storage system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cooling pipe is made from an extruded aluminum square tube, which is then bent multiple times to obtain the cooling pipe.
7. The side-cooled direct-cooling energy storage system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The cooling pipe is filled with thermally conductive insulating adhesive between itself and the side wall of each battery module; the cooling pipe has multiple side pipes and end pipes arranged alternately, and the connection between the side pipes and end pipes is rounded. The side pipes correspond to the side of each battery module, and the end pipes correspond to the end of each battery module.