Energy storage cabinet and energy storage system

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of energy storage systems, in particular to an energy storage cabinet and an energy storage system.The energy storage cabinet comprises a cabinet body, an exhaust pipe and at least one battery module arranged in the cabinet body, the battery module is provided with a first pressure relief device, and the exhaust pipe is provided with at least one first connector; the first connecting port is correspondingly connected with the outlet end of the first pressure relief device in a sealed mode, the exhaust pipe is provided with a second pressure relief device, and the second pressure relief device is configured to be switched from the closed state to the open state when the first pressure relief device is started and / or the pressure intensity of fluid in the exhaust pipe is larger than the environment pressure intensity outside the cabinet body. The second pressure relief device is arranged in the exhaust pipe to discharge fluid in the exhaust pipe out of the cabinet body, so that combustible gas is directly discharged out of the cabinet body through the exhaust pipe and the second pressure relief device when a single battery cell in the battery module is in thermal runaway, the combustible gas is prevented from being in contact with other electrical parts in the cabinet body, and the safety of the energy storage cabinet is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of energy storage systems, and in particular to an energy storage cabinet and an energy storage system. Background Art

[0002] An energy storage cabinet is a device used to store and manage electrical energy, generally including a pressure relief device, wiring harness, electrical components, and multiple battery modules.

[0003] Among them, the battery module of the energy storage cabinet generally includes a battery shell and multiple single cells arranged in the battery shell. Once a single cell in the battery module has thermal runaway, a large amount of flammable gas will be released rapidly in a short time. When the flammable gas reaches a certain concentration, it will enter the energy storage cabinet through the explosion-proof valve on the battery shell. When the flammable gas in the energy storage cabinet accumulates to a certain level, it will be discharged through the pressure relief device on the energy storage cabinet.

[0004] The energy storage cabinet is not only equipped with multiple battery modules, but also contains other flammable wiring harnesses and electrical components. It takes a certain amount of time for flammable gases to accumulate in the energy storage cabinet until the cabinet discharges the flammable gases. During this period of time, the flammable gases may affect these flammable components in the energy storage cabinet, reducing the safety of the energy storage cabinet. Summary of the invention

[0005] The embodiments of the present application provide an energy storage cabinet and an energy storage system to achieve the effect of improving the safety of using the energy storage cabinet.

[0006] According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the present application, there is provided an energy storage cabinet, comprising a cabinet body, an exhaust pipe and at least one battery module arranged in the cabinet body, wherein a first pressure relief device is arranged on the battery module, and at least one first connection port is arranged on the exhaust pipe, wherein the first connection port is sealed and connected to an outlet end of the first pressure relief device, and a second pressure relief device is arranged on the exhaust pipe, wherein the second pressure relief device is configured to switch from a closed state to an open state when the first pressure relief device is opened and / or the fluid pressure in the exhaust pipe is greater than the ambient pressure outside the cabinet body, so as to discharge the fluid in the exhaust pipe to the outside of the cabinet body.

[0007] In some possible designs, the battery module includes a chassis, and at least one single battery cell and a sensor located in the chassis, and a third pressure relief device is provided on the single battery cell;

[0008] The third pressure relief device is configured to discharge the high-temperature fluid generated in the single cell into the chassis when the single cell thermally runs away;

[0009] The sensor is configured to send a thermal runaway signal to a control device when the total amount of the high-temperature fluid entering the chassis reaches a preset value;

[0010] The control device is connected to the second pressure relief device, and is configured to control the second pressure relief device to open when receiving the thermal runaway signal.

[0011] In some possible designs, the sensor includes at least one of a smoke detector or a combustible gas detector.

[0012] In some possible designs, a layer of fireproof material is provided on the inner wall of the chassis.

[0013] In some possible designs, an exhaust fan is provided at the inlet end of the second pressure relief device, and the exhaust fan is connected to the control device. The control device is configured to control the exhaust fan to turn on when receiving the thermal runaway signal, so as to drive the fluid in the exhaust pipe to flow toward the inlet end of the second pressure relief device.

[0014] In some possible designs, an air intake pipe is further included, wherein the inlet end of the air intake pipe is connected to the outside of the cabinet or to a fluid supply device, a check valve is arranged on the battery module, and at least one second connection port is arranged on the air intake pipe, and the second connection port is sealed and connected to the inlet end of the check valve, and the check valve is configured to switch from a closed state to an open state when the fluid pressure in the battery module is lower than the fluid pressure in the air intake pipe, so that the fluid in the air intake pipe enters the battery module.

[0015] In some possible designs, a control valve is provided on the air inlet pipe, and the control valve is configured to change from a closed state to an open state when the second pressure relief device is in an open state and / or the fluid pressure in the battery module is lower than the fluid pressure in the air inlet pipe, so that the gas outside the cabinet or the fluid provided by the fluid supply device connected to the inlet end of the control valve enters the air inlet pipe through the control valve.

[0016] In some possible designs, one end of the air inlet pipe provided with the control valve extends to the outside of the cabinet and is connected to the fluid supply device, and the fluid supply device is configured to deliver water into the air inlet pipe through the control valve when the control valve is in an open state.

[0017] In some possible designs, the control valve is connected to the control device, and the control device is configured to control the control valve to open when receiving the thermal runaway signal.

[0018] In some possible designs, the check valve and the first pressure relief device both include a base, a baffle and a push rod, the base is provided with an air inlet hole and a limit hole, the push rod is inserted into the limit hole and slidably connected to the limit hole, the baffle is located at the outlet end of the air inlet hole and connected to one end of the push rod;

[0019] The baffle is configured to open or close the air inlet according to a difference between a fluid pressure on a side of the baffle away from the air inlet and a fluid pressure on a side of the base away from the baffle;

[0020] Wherein, the baffle of the first pressure relief device is located outside the battery module, and the baffle of the check valve is located inside the battery module.

[0021] In some possible designs, a sealing ring surrounding the outside of the air inlet is provided on at least one of the baffle and the base, so that when the baffle closes the air inlet, the gap between the baffle and the base is sealed by the sealing ring.

[0022] In some possible designs, a limiting block is provided at one end of the push rod facing away from the baffle, the limiting block is detachably connected to the push rod, and the projection of the limiting block on the base is at least partially located outside the limiting hole.

[0023] In some possible designs, an early warning device is further included, and the early warning device is connected to the control device. The control device is configured to control the early warning device to issue an early warning when the thermal runaway signal is received.

[0024] In some possible designs, an explosion relief valve is provided at one end of the exhaust pipe extending outside the cabinet. The explosion relief valve is configured to switch from a closed state to an open state when the fluid pressure in the exhaust pipe is greater than a preset pressure, so as to discharge the fluid in the exhaust pipe outside the cabinet.

[0025] A second aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides an energy storage system, comprising at least one energy storage cabinet as described in any one of the first aspects.

[0026] In the energy storage cabinet and energy storage system provided in the embodiments of the present application, the energy storage cabinet is provided with a cabinet body, a battery module, and an exhaust pipe. A first connection port and a second pressure relief device are provided on the exhaust pipe. The first connection port is connected to the first pressure relief device of the battery module. When a single cell in the battery module has thermal runaway, the high-temperature fluid generated will increase the fluid pressure in the battery module. When the fluid pressure increases to a certain extent, the first pressure relief device will be opened to allow the high-temperature fluid in the battery module to enter the exhaust pipe through the first pressure relief device, and the second pressure relief device will be opened synchronously when the first pressure relief device is opened, or it will be automatically opened when the fluid pressure in the exhaust pipe is greater than the ambient pressure outside the cabinet, or it will be opened when both conditions are met at the same time. At this time, the high-temperature fluid entering the exhaust pipe will be directly discharged to the outside of the cabinet through the exhaust pipe and the second pressure relief device without passing through the inside of the cabinet, thereby preventing the flammable gas in the high-temperature fluid from contacting the flammable wiring harness, electrical components, etc. in the cabinet, thereby effectively improving the safety of the energy storage cabinet. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present application.

[0028] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of an existing energy storage cabinet;

[0029] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of an existing battery module;

[0030] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the internal structure of the energy storage cabinet provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0031] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the connection structure between the battery module and the exhaust pipe in the energy storage cabinet;

[0032] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of a cabinet in an energy storage cabinet provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0033] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the internal structure of a battery module in an energy storage cabinet provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the connection structure between the battery module and the air intake pipe in the energy storage cabinet provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0035] Figure 8 A perspective structural diagram of an energy storage cabinet provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0036] Fig. 9A cross-sectional view of a first pressure relief device in an energy storage cabinet provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] Fig.10 for Fig. 9 Exploded view of the first pressure relief device.

[0038] Reference numerals:

[0039] 1-exhaust valve; 2-explosion relief plate; 3-box; 4-explosion-proof valve;

[0040] 100-cabinet; 110-battery compartment; 120-air conditioning compartment; 130-electrical compartment;

[0041] 200-battery module; 210-chassis; 220-first pressure relief device; 221-base; 222-baffle; 223-push rod; 224-air inlet; 225-limiting hole; 226-sealing ring; 227-limiting block; 228-limiting bolt; 230-smoke detector; 240-combustible gas detector; 250-check valve; 260-third pressure relief device; 270-monocell; 280-fireproof material layer;

[0042] 300-exhaust pipe; 310-first connection port; 311-first sealing gasket; 312-first bolt; 320-second pressure relief device; 330-exhaust fan; 340-explosion relief valve; 350-first connecting pipe; 360-first ventilation hood;

[0043] 400 - air inlet pipe; 410 - control valve; 420 - second connection port; 421 - second sealing pad; 430 - second ventilation hood; 440 - second connecting pipe; 450 - water inlet pipe;

[0044] 500-air conditioning;

[0045] 600-high voltage box;

[0046] 700-Distribution box.

[0047] The above drawings have shown clear embodiments of the present application, which will be described in more detail later. These drawings and text descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the present application in any way, but to illustrate the concept of the present application to those skilled in the art by referring to specific embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] Exemplary embodiments will be described in detail herein, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the drawings, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements unless otherwise indicated. The implementations described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all implementations consistent with the present application. Instead, they are merely examples of devices and methods consistent with some aspects of the present application as detailed in the appended claims.

[0049] For ease of understanding, some of the terms involved in the embodiments of the present application are explained below:

[0050] Thermal runaway: The phenomenon in which the internal temperature of a single cell rises sharply or burns due to excessive external temperature or short circuit, thereby releasing high-temperature and high-pressure fluid.

[0051] Thermal diffusion: Heat transfer between battery cells or between battery cells and external contacts causes thermal runaway of surrounding objects.

[0052] The energy storage system generally contains one or more energy storage cabinets, each of which contains multiple battery modules, and each battery module is composed of multiple single cells connected in series and parallel. At present, the single cells used in the energy storage systems designed by mainstream battery manufacturers are mainly lithium iron phosphate, which is much safer than ternary lithium batteries, but there is still a risk of thermal runaway during use. If one of the single cells has thermal runaway, it will inevitably affect the adjacent single cells. When these single cells have thermal runaway, they will quickly release a large amount of flammable gas in a short period of time, so that the flammable gas fills the shell of the battery module. When the concentration of flammable gas in the shell of the battery module reaches a certain level, it will first destroy the explosion-proof valve on the shell of the battery module. The flammable gas enters the energy storage cabinet through the explosion-proof valve. As time goes by, the flammable gas in the energy storage cabinet gradually increases, and the pressure inside the cabinet increases accordingly. When the increased pressure is greater than the pressure of the gas released by the cabinet plus the sum of the maximum limit pressure that the cabinet can withstand, the energy storage cabinet will explode, seriously affecting the safety of the energy storage system. Therefore, how to quickly discharge the flammable gas generated after thermal runaway of a single battery cell has become a focus of attention in the energy storage industry.

[0053] At present, there are two main methods for energy storage cabinets to discharge combustible gases after thermal runaway of a single cell occurs, such as Figure 1As shown, one method is to discharge the combustible gas through an exhaust valve 1 set on the cabinet. A combustible gas detector and a smoke detector are installed inside the cabinet. When the combustible gas detector or the smoke detector detects combustible gas and smoke, a signal is sent through the host to open the exhaust valve to exhaust. The other method is to discharge the combustible gas through an explosion venting plate 2 set on the cabinet. When the pressure of the combustible gas inside the cabinet is greater than the opening pressure of the explosion venting plate, the explosion venting plate will burst open a gap, and the combustible gas will be discharged from the cabinet through the gap. Both methods have at least the following defects:

[0054] Battery module such as Figure 2 As shown, it includes a box body 3 and multiple single cells and an explosion-proof valve 4. When the single cell thermally runs away, the generated flammable gas will gradually enter the box body 3. As the gas continues to accumulate, the pressure inside the box body 3 will continue to increase. When the gas pressure is greater than the opening pressure of the explosion-proof valve of the battery module, the explosion-proof valve will burst open a gap, allowing the gas to enter the energy storage cabinet from the gap. There must be a time difference for the flammable gas to enter the energy storage cabinet from the battery module, and the energy storage cabinet contains multiple battery modules. If multiple battery modules thermally run away at the same time, the volume of the generated flammable gas will increase at a rate of the square of the time. At this time, the pressure in the energy storage cabinet will rise sharply in a short time until it reaches the opening pressure of the exhaust valve of the energy storage cabinet. The energy storage cabinet will then exhaust and release the pressure through the exhaust valve, which makes the emission efficiency of the flammable gas in the energy storage cabinet very low, resulting in a significant reduction in the safety performance of the energy storage cabinet.

[0055] In order to avoid the above problems, the embodiments of the present application provide an energy storage cabinet and an energy storage system. An exhaust pipe is arranged in the energy storage cabinet. When a single battery cell thermally runs away, the combustible gas discharged from the battery module can be directly discharged outside the cabinet through the exhaust pipe and a second pressure relief device arranged on the exhaust pipe. In this way, the combustible gas does not need to pass through the cabinet, and the volume of the exhaust pipe is significantly smaller than the remaining volume in the cabinet, so that the combustible gas in the exhaust pipe is discharged more quickly, which can effectively improve the safety of the energy storage cabinet.

[0056] It can be understood that the first pressure relief device and the second pressure relief device in the embodiment of the present application can both be devices that automatically release pressure or directly release pressure through electronic control when the fluid pressure exceeds a predetermined value. Their principles and structures are well known to those skilled in the art, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit them herein.

[0057] The technical solution of the present application and how the technical solution of the present application solves the above-mentioned technical problems are described in detail below with specific embodiments. The following specific embodiments can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be repeated in some embodiments. The embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0058] See also Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the energy storage cabinet includes a cabinet body 100 and at least one battery module 200 disposed in the cabinet body 100 .

[0059] See also Figure 6 As shown, the battery module 200 includes a chassis 210 and a plurality of single cells 270 disposed in the chassis 210, wherein the plurality of single cells 270 are connected in series and parallel to achieve the desired voltage and capacity, a first pressure relief device 220 is disposed on the chassis 210, and pressure is relieved through the first pressure relief device 220, and a third pressure relief device 260 is disposed on the single cell 270, and pressure is relieved through the third pressure relief device 260, wherein the third pressure relief device 260 may use a device that automatically opens when the pressure reaches a certain value, such as a common explosion-proof valve, etc. Of course, the battery module 200 may also include structures such as PCB board monitoring, which is well known to those skilled in the art, and this embodiment does not limit it here.

[0060] It is understandable that the energy storage cabinet may also include a liquid cooling system, a distribution box 700, a high-voltage box 600, a battery management system, fire-fighting devices and other structures.

[0061] For example, see Figure 5 As shown, the liquid cooling system may include structures such as an air conditioner 500, a liquid cooling pipe and a liquid cooling plate. The cabinet 100 can be divided into a battery compartment 110, an air conditioning compartment 120 and an electrical compartment 130. The battery module 200 is installed in the battery compartment 110, the air conditioning compartment 120 is provided with an air conditioning 500, and the electrical compartment 130 is provided with a high-voltage box 600 and a distribution box 700. The liquid cooling plate can be arranged at the bottom of the chassis 210, and is generally made of aluminum alloy material, which can meet the use requirements without being too heavy. The liquid cooling pipe is used to circulate the coolant to the liquid cooling plate to cool or heat the single battery cell 270. The air conditioner 500 is connected to the liquid pipe to form a loop, and the coolant is heated or cooled by the air conditioner 500. The distribution box 700 is used to control the opening and closing of the air conditioner 500, and the high-voltage box 600 supplies power to the distribution box 700.

[0062] Specifically, when the air conditioner 500 is started, the coolant flows inside the liquid cooling pipe, and the coolant can exchange heat with the single battery cell 270 through the liquid cooling plate and thermal conductive silica gel, thereby cooling or heating the single battery cell 270. The coolant after heat exchange returns to the air conditioner 500, is processed by the air conditioner 500, and then circulates, thereby changing the temperature of the single battery cell 270. At the same time, when the temperature of the single battery cell 270 rises, the temperature of the single battery cell 270 can be reduced through the air conditioner 500, the liquid cooling plate and other structures, which helps to reduce the risk of thermal runaway of the single battery cell 270.

[0063] In some embodiments, see Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the energy storage cabinet also includes an exhaust pipe 300, on which at least one first connection port 310 is provided, and the first connection port 310 is sealed and connected to the outlet end of the first pressure relief device 220, that is, the number of the first connection ports 310 is adapted to the number of battery modules 200 in the energy storage cabinet, or the total amount of the first pressure relief devices 220 in the energy storage cabinet.

[0064] Among them, for the connection between the first connecting port 310 and the first pressure relief device 220, the first connecting port 310 can be covered on the periphery of the first pressure relief device 220, and a first sealing gasket 311 is set between the first connecting port 310 and the outer wall of the chassis 210 or the first pressure relief device 220, and the first connecting port 310 is fixed to the chassis 210 or the first pressure relief device 220 by bolts, welding or clamping. At this time, the first sealing gasket 311 seals the gap between the first connecting port 310 and the chassis 210 or the first pressure relief device 220 to avoid fluid leakage between the two.

[0065] It is understandable that the connection method between the first connection port 310 and the first pressure relief device 220 and the chassis 210 is only illustrated here, and is not intended to limit it. As long as the first connection port 310 and the first pressure relief device 220 can be sealed, other connection methods can be applied in this example. Therefore, this embodiment does not limit it here.

[0066] A second pressure relief device 320 is also provided on the exhaust pipe 300. When the first pressure relief device 220 is opened and / or the fluid pressure in the exhaust pipe 300 is greater than the ambient pressure outside the cabinet 100, the second pressure relief device 320 is converted from a closed state to an open state to discharge the fluid in the exhaust pipe 300 to the outside of the cabinet 100.

[0067] The second pressure relief device 320 can be arranged outside the cabinet 100, or can be directly fixed on the cabinet 100 and sealed with the cabinet 100. Arranging the second pressure relief device 320 on the cabinet 100 can reduce the difficulty of sealing the connection with the cabinet 100, and facilitate processing, compared with extending the exhaust pipe 300 to the outside of the cabinet 100 and then connecting with the second pressure relief device 320.

[0068] Specifically, when a single cell 270 experiences thermal runaway, the combustible gas generated by the single cell 270 enters the chassis 210 through the third pressure relief device 260, and the combustible gas entering the chassis 210 can enter the exhaust pipe 300 through the first pressure relief device 220, and then be discharged to the outside of the cabinet 100 through the second pressure relief device 320 on the exhaust pipe 300. This allows the combustible gas generated by the thermal runaway of the single cell 270 to be directly and quickly released from the inside of the single battery module 200 to the outside of the cabinet 100, preventing the combustible gas from entering the inside of the cabinet 100. At the same time, any open flame that may be generated in the battery module 200 can also be blocked in the battery module 200 in the early stage, reducing the probability of the flame spreading to the inside of the cabinet 100, thereby greatly improving the safety performance of the energy storage cabinet.

[0069] In some embodiments, the battery module 200 further includes a sensor, and the second pressure relief device 320 is an electrically controlled valve.

[0070] When the total amount of high-temperature fluid entering the chassis 210 reaches a preset value, the sensor sends a thermal runaway signal to the control device, and the control device controls the second pressure relief device 320 to open when receiving the thermal runaway signal.

[0071] It is understandable that the control device here can be a separately added controller or a battery management system that comes with the energy storage system. As long as it can receive the thermal runaway signal and control the second pressure relief device 320 to open according to the thermal runaway signal, this embodiment does not limit it.

[0072] After adding the sensor, the second pressure relief device 320 can be directly controlled to open for pressure relief according to the high-temperature fluid condition in the chassis 210 without waiting for the high-temperature fluid to accumulate to a certain level in the exhaust pipe 300, thereby effectively improving the exhaust efficiency and further improving the safety of the energy storage cabinet.

[0073] Among them, the sensor may include at least one of a smoke detector 230 and a combustible gas detector 240. The preset value here may be at least one of a preset smoke concentration or a preset combustible gas concentration. The smoke detector 230 is used to detect the smoke concentration, and the combustible gas detector 240 is used to detect the combustible gas concentration. When the smoke detector 230 detects that the smoke concentration in the chassis 210 is greater than the preset smoke concentration, it will be triggered and send a thermal runaway signal to the control device. When the combustible gas detector 240 detects that the combustible gas concentration in the chassis 210 is greater than the preset combustible gas concentration, it will be triggered and send a thermal runaway signal to the control device.

[0074] Taking the example of a sensor that includes both a smoke detector 230 and a combustible gas detector 240, when a single cell 270 is in thermal runaway, the high-temperature fluid generated inside the single cell 270 causes the pressure inside the single cell 270 to rise rapidly, causing the third pressure relief device 260 to open. At this time, the high-temperature fluid will enter the chassis 210, and the smoke detector 230 and the combustible gas detector 240 monitor the conditions inside the chassis 210. When either the smoke detector 230 or the combustible gas detector 240 is triggered, a thermal runaway signal will be directly sent to the control device, so that the control device controls the second pressure relief device 320 to open, thereby improving the timeliness of the response.

[0075] It is understandable that the smoke detector 230 is a device for detecting smoke, which may be an ionization type smoke detector or a photoelectric type smoke detector, which is not limited in this embodiment. The combustible gas detector 240 is a device for detecting the concentration of combustible gas in the air, which may be a catalytic combustion type combustible gas detector, a semiconductor type combustible gas detector, an infrared type combustible gas detector, etc., which is not limited in this embodiment.

[0076] In some embodiments, a fireproof material layer 280 is disposed on the inner wall of the chassis 210 , and the fireproof material layer 280 can be made of common fireproof materials such as fireproof cotton.

[0077] Taking the use of fireproof cotton as an example, a certain thickness of fireproof cotton, for example, 30 cm thick, can be pasted on the inner wall of the chassis 210. The use of fireproof cotton of such thickness can withstand temperatures of 1000°C and fire for more than 2 hours, which can effectively prevent the open flame inside the chassis 210 from spreading to the cabinet 100.

[0078] It is understandable that the chassis 210 only needs to be made of a material with a certain strength and high temperature resistance, including but not limited to metal materials such as cold-rolled sheet, galvanized sheet, aluminum alloy, composite fiber, etc.

[0079] In some embodiments, an exhaust fan 330 is provided at the inlet end of the second pressure relief device 320, and the exhaust fan 330 is connected to the control device. The control device is configured to control the exhaust fan 330 to turn on when a thermal runaway signal is received to drive the fluid in the exhaust pipe 300 to flow toward the inlet end of the second pressure relief device 320.

[0080] Among them, the installation of the exhaust fan 330 requires a certain space. In order to facilitate the installation, a first ventilation hood 360 can be sealed and connected to the air intake pipe 400. The size of the first ventilation hood 360 is adapted to the size of the exhaust fan 330. The exhaust fan 330 can be installed in the first ventilation hood 360, and the second pressure relief device 320 can be connected to the first ventilation hood 360 accordingly.

[0081] In addition, the exhaust fan 330 can be selected with appropriate power as long as it can assist the second pressure relief device 320 in exhausting air, for example, a fan with a power of more than 800W can be selected, and this embodiment does not limit it here.

[0082] When in use, the exhaust fan and the second pressure relief device 320 are turned on synchronously, which can assist the high-temperature gas entering the exhaust fan 330 to be quickly discharged to the outside of the cabinet 100 through the second pressure relief device 320, further reducing the risk of fire and improving the safety of the energy storage cabinet.

[0083] In addition, in order to further improve the pressure relief capacity of the exhaust pipe 300, a first connecting pipe 350 can be provided on the exhaust pipe 300. One end of the first connecting pipe 350 is connected to the exhaust pipe 300, and the other end is provided with a first ventilation hood 360. The first ventilation hood 360 and the exhaust pipe 300 can be fully welded and sealed, or can be sealed and connected in other ways. One end of the exhaust pipe 300 extends to the outside of the cabinet 100. At the same time, an explosion relief valve 340 is provided at one end of the exhaust pipe 300 extending to the outside of the cabinet 100. The explosion relief valve 340 is sealed and connected to the end of the exhaust pipe 300. When the fluid pressure in the exhaust pipe 300 is greater than the preset pressure, the explosion relief valve 340 is converted from a closed state to an open state, and the fluid in the exhaust pipe 300 is discharged to the outside of the cabinet 100. Therefore, when the high-temperature fluid generated by the thermal runaway of the single battery cell 270 is large and the second pressure relief device 320 is difficult to discharge effectively, the explosion relief valve 340 is used to assist in exhaust pressure relief, thereby further reducing the risk of explosion and improving the safety of the energy storage cabinet.

[0084] It can be understood that the explosion relief valve 340 can be a common structure such as a spring type or a bursting disc type, which can be fixedly connected to the exhaust pipe 300 by screws and other components. As long as the fluid pressure does not reach the preset pressure, it can remain in a closed state. When the fluid pressure exceeds the preset pressure, it can automatically switch to an open state to release the fluid in the exhaust pipe 300. This embodiment does not limit it here.

[0085] In some embodiments, see Figure 3 and Figure 7As shown, the energy storage cabinet also includes an air intake pipe 400, the inlet end of the air intake pipe 400 is connected to the outside of the cabinet 100, or is connected to the fluid supply device, a check valve 250 is provided on the battery module 200, and at least one second connection port 420 is provided on the air intake pipe 400, and the second connection port 420 is sealed and connected to the inlet end of the check valve 250. When the fluid pressure in the battery module 200 is greater than or equal to the fluid pressure in the air intake pipe 400, the check valve 250 remains in a closed state, so that the fluid in the air intake pipe 400 cannot enter the chassis 210 through the check valve 250, and when the fluid pressure in the battery module 200 is less than the fluid pressure in the air intake pipe 400, the check valve 250 is converted from a closed state to an open state, so that the fluid in the air intake pipe 400 enters the battery module 200, balances the pressure in the battery module 200, and assists in cooling.

[0086] For the connection between the second connection port 420 and the check valve 250, the second connection port 420 can be covered on the periphery of the check valve 250, and a first sealing gasket 311 is provided between the second connection port 420 and the outer wall of the chassis 210 or between the second connection port 420 and the check valve 250, and the second connection port 420 is fixed to the chassis 210 or the check valve 250 by bolts, welding or clamping, etc. At this time, the second sealing gasket 421 seals the gap between the second connection port 420 and the chassis 210 or the check valve 250 to prevent fluid leakage between the two.

[0087] Exemplarily, the check valve 250 and the first pressure relief device 220 can be arranged on opposite sides of the chassis 210 to keep a distance between the exhaust side and the intake side of the chassis 210 to facilitate the discharge of combustible gases. Correspondingly, the intake pipe 400 and the exhaust pipe 300 are also arranged on opposite sides of the chassis 210, and the multiple battery modules 200 can be divided into multiple columns in the chassis 210, and the multiple battery modules 200 in each column are arranged in sequence along the vertical direction. Therefore, an intake pipe 400 and an exhaust pipe 300 can be arranged corresponding to each column, and the intake pipe 400 and the exhaust pipe 300 both extend in the vertical direction. At the same time, in order to facilitate exhaust and intake, the second pressure relief device 320 can be located at the upper end of the exhaust pipe 300, and the inlet end of the intake pipe 400 is also arranged at the upper end of the intake pipe 400.

[0088] Among them, the intake pipe 400 and the exhaust pipe 300 need to withstand high temperature and high pressure, and also have a certain corrosion resistance. They can be made of metal materials such as stainless steel that can meet the use requirements, and this embodiment does not limit them here.

[0089] In some embodiments, a control valve 410 is provided on the air inlet pipe 400, and the inlet end of the control valve 410 is connected to the outside of the cabinet 100, and / or the inlet end of the control valve 410 is connected to the fluid supply device, so that the gas outside the cabinet 100 or the fluid supplied by the fluid supply device can enter the air inlet pipe 400 through the control valve 410.

[0090] Specifically, a second connecting pipe 440 can be set at the upper end of the air intake pipe 400, one end of the second connecting pipe 440 is sealedly connected to the air intake pipe 400, and the other end is sealedly connected to the outlet end of the control valve 410. Of course, in order to facilitate the installation of the control valve 410, a second ventilation hood 430 that is adapted to the shape of the control valve 410 can also be seal-welded on the second connecting pipe 440, and connected to the control valve 410 through the second ventilation hood 430. The control valve 410 can be fixed on the cabinet 100. Compared with extending the air intake pipe 400 to the outside of the cabinet 100 and sealingly connecting the air intake pipe 400 to the cabinet 100, it is less difficult to seal the connection with the cabinet 100 through the control valve 410.

[0091] The control valve 410 may be an electrically controlled valve or a pressure relief valve that automatically opens when the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the exhaust pipe 300 reaches a certain value, which is not limited in this embodiment.

[0092] If the control valve 410 is a pressure relief valve, its inlet end can be directly connected to the external environment, or it can be connected to a fluid supply device. The fluid supply device can be connected to the control device. When the control device receives a thermal runaway signal or the second pressure relief device 320 is opened, the control device controls the fluid supply device to provide high-pressure fluid to the pressure relief valve, so that the pressure relief valve opens automatically, and the high-pressure gas passes through the intake pipe 400, so that the check valve 250 opens quickly, thereby accelerating the discharge of combustible gases in the battery module 200 through the gas introduced from the outside, and assisting in cooling.

[0093] If the control valve 410 is an electrically controlled valve, it can be connected to the control device, and when the second pressure relief device 320 is in the open state, the control valve 410 is controlled to open synchronously by the control device. It can also be understood that when the control device receives the thermal runaway signal, the second pressure relief device 320 and the control valve 410 are synchronously controlled to open. When the control valve 410 is opened by pressure difference control, when the fluid pressure in the battery module 200 is less than the fluid pressure in the air intake pipe 400, the control valve 410 can be automatically changed from a closed state to an open state, so that the gas outside the cabinet 100 or the fluid provided by the fluid supply device enters the air intake pipe 400 through the control valve 410. With the opening of the check valve 250, the fluid entering the air intake pipe 400 can enter the chassis 210 through the check valve 250 to balance the pressure in the chassis 210.

[0094] In some embodiments, see Figure 8 As shown, one end of the air inlet pipe 400 provided with a control valve 410 extends to the outside of the cabinet 100 and is connected to the fluid supply device. When the control valve 410 is in an open state, water is sent into the air inlet pipe 400 through the control valve 410.

[0095] Specifically, the fluid supply device may include components such as a water pump and a water inlet pipe 450, which can be connected to a town water supply network, or to a water supply source such as a lake or a water storage device. The water inlet pipe 450 is sealedly connected to the inlet end of the control valve 410. When the control valve 410 is opened, water is sent into the air inlet pipe 400 through the water inlet pipe 450, and the water in the air inlet pipe 400 can enter the interior of the chassis 210 through the check valve 250, thereby reducing the temperature inside the battery module 200 and cooling the heat source.

[0096] It is understandable that the fluid supply device can supply other fluids that can reduce temperature or extinguish fire, and this embodiment is only an example and not a limitation.

[0097] Furthermore, for ease of use, the control valve 410 and the fluid supply device can be connected to the control device. When the control device receives a thermal runaway signal, the control valve 410 is directly controlled to open, and the fluid supply device supplies fluid. As long as the check valve 250 is opened, the fluid in the exhaust can quickly enter the chassis 210.

[0098] In some embodiments, see Figure 5 , Fig. 9 and Fig.10 As shown, the check valve 250 and the first pressure relief device 220 both include a base 221, a baffle 222 and a push rod 223. The base 221 is provided with an air inlet 224 and a limit hole 225. The push rod 223 is inserted into the limit hole 225 and is slidably connected to the limit hole 225. The baffle 222 is located at the outlet end of the air inlet 224 and is connected to one end of the push rod 223. The baffle 222 can open or close the air inlet 224 according to the difference between the fluid pressure on the side of the baffle 222 away from the air inlet 224 and the fluid pressure on the side of the base 221 away from the baffle 222.

[0099] The baffle 222 and the push rod 223 may be integrally formed, or may be connected via threads or other means, which is not limited in this embodiment.

[0100] Specifically, when the fluid pressure on the side of the baffle 222 away from the base 221 is greater than or equal to the fluid pressure on the side of the base 221 away from the baffle 222, the baffle 222 is pressed against the base 221, thereby sealing the air inlet 224 through the baffle 222, so that the fluid cannot pass through the air inlet 224. When the fluid pressure on the side of the baffle 222 away from the base 221 is less than the fluid pressure on the side of the base 221 away from the baffle 222, the baffle 222 is pushed to move in a direction away from the base 221, and at this time, the push rod 223 moves along the limiting hole 225 to limit the moving path of the baffle 222. After the baffle 222 is separated from the base 221, the fluid can flow through the air inlet 224 on both sides of the check valve 250.

[0101] The baffle 222 of the first pressure relief device 220 is located outside the battery module 200 , and the baffle 222 of the check valve 250 is located inside the battery module 200 .

[0102] The base 221 of the first pressure relief device 220 is fixed to the outside of the chassis 210, and the baffle 222 is also correspondingly arranged on the outside of the chassis 210. The first connection port 310 can be connected to the base 221 by a first bolt 312, and the chassis 210 has an opening corresponding to the air inlet 224. When the pressure in the chassis 210 increases to a certain value, the baffle 222 can be pushed open so that the fluid in the chassis 210 can enter the exhaust pipe 300 through the air inlet 224. Under normal circumstances, the baffle 222 always seals the air inlet 224, so that the external fluid cannot flow back into the battery module 200, that is, when a single cell 270 in a battery module 200 in the cabinet 100 has thermal runaway, the high-temperature fluid generated by it cannot enter other normal battery modules 200 connected to the exhaust pipe 300, so that the exhaust of the battery modules 200 is independent of each other and does not interfere with each other, thereby effectively improving the safety of the battery module 200.

[0103] The base 221 and the baffle 222 of the check valve 250 can be set on the inner side of the chassis 210, and a hole is opened on the chassis 210 corresponding to the air inlet 224. When the pressure in the chassis 210 is reduced to a certain value, the baffle 222 will be pushed to move toward the chassis 210, so that the fluid in the air inlet pipe 400 can enter the interior of the chassis 210. When the battery module 200 is working normally, the external fluid cannot enter the interior of the battery module 200 through the air inlet 224, which can effectively protect the battery module 200.

[0104] Furthermore, in order to improve the sealing of the connection between the baffle 222 and the base 221, a sealing ring 226 surrounding the outside of the air inlet 224 is provided on at least one of the baffle 222 and the base 221, so that when the baffle 222 closes the air inlet 224, the gap between the baffle 222 and the base 221 is sealed by the sealing ring 226.

[0105] Specifically, a groove may be provided on the corresponding side of the baffle 222 or the base 221 , the sealing ring 226 may be placed in the groove, and a portion of the sealing ring 226 may be extended out of the groove.

[0106] For example, see Fig.10 As shown, a groove can be formed on one side where the base 221 and the baffle 222 are connected, so that the baffle 222 can be engaged in the groove, and the sealing ring 226 can be arranged at the bottom of the groove.

[0107] Among them, in order to facilitate limiting and improve strength, the limiting hole 225 can be set in the air inlet hole 224, and the two can be set coaxially, and multiple reinforcing ribs are added to the outside of the limiting hole 225 to connect with the inner wall of the air inlet hole 224. This can not only improve the strength of the base 221, but also facilitate limiting the moving trajectory of the push rod 223 and the baffle 222.

[0108] In addition, a limit block 227 can be set at the end of the push rod 223 facing away from the baffle 222, and the projection of the limit block 227 on the base 221 is at least partially located on the outside of the limit hole 225, that is, the limit block 227 can be engaged on the outside of the limit hole 225, so that the position of the push rod 223 is limited by the limit block 227 to prevent the push rod 223 from separating from the limit hole 225.

[0109] The limiting block 227 is preferably detachably connected to the push rod 223 to facilitate assembly of the check valve 250 .

[0110] For example, a through hole may be opened on the limit block 227 , a threaded hole may be opened on the push rod 223 , and then the limit bolt 228 may pass through the through hole and be threadedly connected to the threaded hole, thereby fixing the limit block 227 on the push rod 223 .

[0111] Exemplarily, the limiting block 227 and the push rod 223 may be directly threadedly connected.

[0112] Of course, this is just an example rather than a limitation. Other structures that can fix the limit block 227 and the push rod 223 can be applied, and this embodiment does not limit them.

[0113] In some embodiments, the check valve 250 and the first pressure relief device 220 may also include a limit spring, one end of the limit spring is connected to the baffle 222, and the other end is connected to the base 221. When the battery module 200 is in a normal state, the limit spring pulls the baffle 222 so that the baffle 222 is pressed against the end of the air inlet hole 224 to seal the air inlet hole 224.

[0114] It is understandable that the limit spring may not be provided. When the battery module 200 is normal, the baffle 222 may automatically close the air inlet 224 under the push of air pressure. Moreover, under normal conditions, even a small amount of air intake will not affect the use of the battery module 200.

[0115] In some embodiments, in order to ensure the life safety of workers in close proximity to the energy storage cabinet, the energy storage cabinet also includes an early warning device, which is connected to the control device. When the control device receives a thermal runaway signal, it controls the early warning device to issue an early warning, thereby notifying nearby workers to evacuate quickly and ensure the life safety of the workers.

[0116] Among them, the early warning device can be a common sound and light alarm. As long as it is activated, the staff can feel it intuitively, which is convenient for reminding the staff to evacuate quickly. This embodiment does not limit it here.

[0117] In summary, in the energy storage cabinet of this embodiment, when a single cell 270 thermally runs away and combustible gas and smoke are generated inside, the pressure inside the single cell 270 will gradually increase. When the pressure reaches the opening pressure of the third pressure relief device 260, the third pressure relief device 260 will be opened, allowing smoke and combustible gas to enter the chassis 210. When the combustible gas concentration in the chassis 210 exceeds the sensing concentration of the combustible gas detector 240, or the smoke concentration exceeds the sensing concentration of the smoke detector 230, a thermal runaway signal will be sent to the control device, and the control device will control the early warning device to issue an early warning, and control the second pressure relief device 32 0. The control valve 410 and the exhaust fan 330 are opened, and the high-temperature fluid in the chassis 210 enters the exhaust pipe 300 through the first pressure relief device 220. At this time, the exhaust fan 330 is exhausting, and the high-temperature fluid in the auxiliary chassis 210 quickly enters the exhaust pipe 300 through the first connection port 310, and then passes through the first ventilation hood 360 and the first pressure relief device 220 to be discharged to the outside of the cabinet 100. At the same time, the fluid supplied by the gas or fluid supply device outside the cabinet 100 enters the intake pipe 400 through the control valve 410, and enters the chassis 210 through the check valve 250, thereby forming an external circulation exhaust system. At the same time, if the single cell 270 thermal runaway generates an open flame, the fireproof cotton in the chassis 210 can effectively block the open flame from spreading outward, and block the open flame inside the chassis 210 until the chemical substances in the single cell 270 are burned out. This prevents combustible gas from entering the cabinet 100 , blocks the probability of combustible gas and open flame entering the cabinet 100 , and greatly improves the safety of the energy storage cabinet.

[0118] An embodiment of the present application also provides an energy storage system, which includes at least one energy storage cabinet in the above embodiment.

[0119] It can be understood that the energy storage cabinet can be connected to a power supply and can also be connected to a load that uses electrical energy. The battery module 200 can be charged by the power supply, and then the load can be powered by the battery module 200. Of course, the structure and principle of the energy storage system are well known to those skilled in the art, and will not be described in detail in this embodiment.

[0120] Finally, it should be noted that those skilled in the art will easily think of other embodiments of the present application after considering the specification and practicing the application content disclosed herein. The present application is intended to cover any modification, use or adaptation of the present application, which follows the general principles of the present application and includes common knowledge or customary technical means in the art that are not disclosed in the present application, is not limited to the precise structure described above and shown in the drawings, and can be modified and changed in various ways without departing from the scope thereof. The scope of the present application is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An energy storage cabinet, characterized in that: The invention comprises a cabinet (100), an exhaust pipe (300) and at least one battery module (200) arranged in the cabinet (100), wherein the battery module (200) is provided with a first pressure relief device (220), the exhaust pipe (300) is provided with at least one first connection port (310), the first connection port (310) is correspondingly and sealedly connected to the outlet end of the first pressure relief device (220), and the exhaust pipe (300) is provided with a second pressure relief device (320), and the second pressure relief device (320) is configured to be converted from a closed state to an open state when the first pressure relief device (220) is opened and / or the pressure of the fluid in the exhaust pipe (300) is greater than the external environmental pressure of the cabinet (100), so as to discharge the fluid in the exhaust pipe (300) to the outside of the cabinet (100).

2. The energy storage cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that: The battery module (200) comprises a chassis (210), and at least one single battery cell (270) and a sensor located in the chassis (210), wherein a third pressure relief device (260) is provided on the single battery cell (270); The third pressure relief device (260) is configured to discharge the high-temperature fluid generated in the single cell (270) into the chassis (210) when the single cell (270) is in thermal runaway; The sensor is configured to send a thermal runaway signal to a control device when the total amount of the high-temperature fluid entering the chassis (210) reaches a preset value; The control device is connected to the second pressure relief device (320), and is configured to control the second pressure relief device (320) to open when receiving the thermal runaway signal.

3. The energy storage cabinet according to claim 2, characterized in that: The sensor includes at least one of a smoke detector (230) or a combustible gas detector (240).

4. The energy storage cabinet according to claim 2, characterized in that: A fireproof material layer is provided on the inner wall of the chassis (210).

5. The energy storage cabinet according to claim 2, characterized in that: An exhaust fan (330) is provided at the inlet end of the second pressure relief device (320), and the exhaust fan (330) is connected to the control device. The control device is configured to control the exhaust fan (330) to open when receiving the thermal runaway signal, so as to drive the fluid in the exhaust pipe (300) to flow toward the inlet end of the second pressure relief device (320).

6. The energy storage cabinet according to claim 2, characterized in that: The invention also includes an air intake pipe (400), the inlet end of which is in communication with the outside of the cabinet (100) or connected to a fluid supply device for supplying fluid. The battery module (200) is provided with a check valve (250), and the air intake pipe (400) is provided with at least one second connection port (420), the second connection port (420) being sealedly connected to the inlet end of the check valve (250). The check valve (250) is configured to switch from a closed state to an open state when the fluid pressure in the battery module (200) is less than the fluid pressure in the air intake pipe (400), so that the fluid in the air intake pipe (400) enters the battery module (200).

7. The energy storage cabinet according to claim 6, characterized in that: A control valve (410) is provided on the air intake pipe (400). The control valve (410) is configured to change from a closed state to an open state when the second pressure relief device (320) is in an open state and / or the fluid pressure in the battery module (200) is lower than the fluid pressure in the air intake pipe (400), so that the gas outside the cabinet (100) or the fluid provided by the fluid supply device connected to the inlet end of the control valve (410) enters the air intake pipe (400) through the control valve (410).

8. The energy storage cabinet according to claim 7, characterized in that: One end of the air inlet pipe (400) provided with the control valve (410) extends to the outside of the cabinet (100) and is connected to the fluid supply device. The fluid supply device is configured to send water into the air inlet pipe (400) through the control valve (410) when the control valve (410) is in an open state.

9. The energy storage cabinet according to claim 7, characterized in that: The control valve (410) is connected to the control device, and the control device is configured to control the control valve (410) to open when receiving the thermal runaway signal.

10. The energy storage cabinet according to claim 6, characterized in that: The check valve (250) and the first pressure relief device (220) both comprise a base (221), a baffle (222) and a push rod (223); the base (221) is provided with an air inlet hole (224) and a limit hole (225); the push rod (223) is inserted into the limit hole (225) and is slidably connected to the limit hole (225); the baffle (222) is located at the outlet end of the air inlet hole (224) and is connected to one end of the push rod (223); The baffle (222) is configured to open or close the air inlet (224) according to the difference between the fluid pressure on the side of the baffle (222) away from the air inlet (224) and the fluid pressure on the side of the base (221) away from the baffle (222); The baffle (222) of the first pressure relief device (220) is located outside the battery module (200), and the baffle (222) of the check valve (250) is located inside the battery module (200).

11. The energy storage cabinet according to claim 10, characterized in that: A sealing ring (226) surrounding the outside of the air inlet hole (224) is provided on at least one of the baffle plate (222) and the base (221), so that when the baffle plate (222) closes the air inlet hole (224), the gap between the baffle plate (222) and the base (221) is sealed by the sealing ring (226).

12. The energy storage cabinet according to claim 10, characterized in that: A limiting block (227) is provided at one end of the push rod (223) facing away from the baffle (222); the limiting block (227) is detachably connected to the push rod (223); and a projection of the limiting block (227) on the base (221) is at least partially located outside the limiting hole (225).

13. The energy storage cabinet according to any one of claims 2 to 12, characterized in that: It also includes an early warning device, which is connected to the control device. The control device is configured to control the early warning device to issue an early warning when receiving the thermal runaway signal.

14. The energy storage cabinet according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that: An explosion relief valve (340) is provided at one end of the exhaust pipe (300) extending outside the cabinet (100). The explosion relief valve (340) is configured to switch from a closed state to an open state when the pressure of the fluid in the exhaust pipe (300) is greater than a preset pressure, so as to discharge the fluid in the exhaust pipe (300) to the outside of the cabinet (100).

15. An energy storage system, characterized in that: Comprising at least one energy storage cabinet as described in any one of claims 1-14.

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