Energy storage container

Abstract

The invention discloses an energy storage container, and relates to the technical field of energy storage containers. The energy storage container comprises a battery compartment, a collecting piece and a drainage assembly, and the battery compartment is used for containing at least one battery pack; the collecting part is at least partially located in the battery compartment and arranged below the working fluid circulating pipeline, and the working fluid circulating pipeline is used for conveying working fluid to circularly flow so as to realize heat management of at least one battery pack; the projection, on the horizontal plane, of the working fluid circulating pipeline is located in the projection, on the horizontal plane, of the collecting piece. The drainage assembly is in fluid communication with the collecting piece and used for discharging the leakage liquid collected in the collecting piece out of the energy storage container. The invention aims to solve the problem that the environment humidity in the energy storage container is increased due to leakage at the joint of the heat management assembly and the battery pack at present.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of energy storage container technology, and particularly to an energy storage container. Background Technology

[0002] In energy storage containers, the normal operation of the battery pack requires maintaining a suitable temperature range. To achieve this, a thermal management component is usually installed inside the energy storage container to maintain a constant temperature of the battery pack by circulating hot and cold liquids. However, this design brings new challenges: the working fluid circulation pipe of the thermal management component is connected to multiple branch pipes, and hot liquid is transported to the battery pack through the branch pipes. Leakage can easily occur at the connection between the branch pipes and the battery pack, causing coolant to leak into the energy storage container, which in turn increases the ambient humidity. The battery pack and internal electronic components are prone to moisture, leading to performance degradation, short circuits, or even safety hazards. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The main objective of this invention is to propose an energy storage container that aims to improve the problem of increased humidity inside the energy storage container caused by leakage at the connection between the thermal management components and the battery pack.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention proposes an energy storage container, the energy storage container comprising: A battery compartment for accommodating at least one battery pack; A collection element, at least partially located within the battery compartment and positioned below a working fluid circulation conduit for circulating working fluid to achieve thermal management of at least one of the battery packs; wherein the projection of the working fluid circulation conduit onto a horizontal plane lies within the projection of the collection element onto a horizontal plane; and A drainage assembly, which is in fluid communication with the collection unit, is used to discharge the leachate collected in the collection unit to the outside of the energy storage container.

[0005] In one embodiment, within the energy storage container, the extension trajectory of the collection element coincides with the arrangement trajectory of the working fluid circulation pipe.

[0006] In one embodiment, the drainage assembly includes: A drain pipe, which is in fluid communication with the collection element, is used to drain the leachate collected within the collection element; and A valve assembly, comprising a discharge end and a connection end, wherein the connection end is in fluid communication with the drain pipe and the discharge end is used to output the leaked liquid to discharge the leaked liquid to the outside of the energy storage container; The valve assembly can control the connection or disconnection of the discharge end and the connection end according to the volume of the leakage liquid in the drain pipe.

[0007] In one embodiment, the drain pipe includes: Manifold, wherein the manifold is in fluid communication with the connecting end; and Multiple connecting pipes are spaced apart along the extension direction of the manifold, and both ends of each connecting pipe are in fluid communication with the collecting element and the manifold, respectively.

[0008] In one embodiment, the valve assembly includes: A valve pipe, one end of which forms the connecting end, and the other end of which forms the discharging end; and A valve, wherein the valve is disposed on the valve pipe and located between the discharge end and the connection end, and the valve is communicatively connected to the controller; and A liquid level sensor is disposed between the valve and the collection component to detect the volume of leakage liquid in the drain pipe, and the liquid level sensor is communicatively connected to the controller. The controller is configured to control the opening and closing of the valve based on the detected volume of leakage liquid in the drain pipe.

[0009] In one embodiment, the valve pipe includes: A first pipe section, along its length, has at least one end extending outward from the body of the energy storage container and forming the discharge end; the valve is located on the first pipe section. The second pipe section, along its length, forms the connection end at the end opposite to the first pipe section. The liquid level sensor is located on the second pipe section, and along its height, the end of the second pipe section closer to the first pipe section is higher than the end of the first pipe section closer to the second pipe section; and The third pipe section has its two ends in fluid communication with the first pipe section and the second pipe section, respectively.

[0010] In one embodiment, the collection component includes: The first plate is located below the working fluid circulation pipe; The second plate is arranged along the periphery of the first plate, and the first plate and the second plate form a liquid storage space. The liquid storage space is used to collect the leakage liquid discharged from the working fluid circulation pipe, and the drainage component is in fluid communication with the liquid storage space.

[0011] In one embodiment, the cross-sectional dimensions of the liquid storage space gradually decrease from top to bottom in the height direction of the energy storage container.

[0012] In one embodiment, the collecting element includes a base plate; In the height direction of the energy storage container, the bottom plate is located below the working fluid circulation pipe, and a collection area is formed on the side of the bottom plate facing the working fluid circulation pipe. The collection area is used to collect the leakage liquid discharged from the working fluid circulation pipe. The drainage component is located below the bottom plate and is in fluid communication with the collection area.

[0013] In one embodiment, the base plate has a plurality of drainage outlets, each of which is in fluid communication with the drainage component.

[0014] The energy storage container of the present invention has a collection device installed inside the battery compartment, which is located below the working fluid circulation pipe, with the projection of the working fluid circulation pipe on the horizontal plane falling within the projection of the collection device on the horizontal plane. When leakage occurs at the connection between the working fluid circulation pipe and the battery pack, the leaking liquid can be collected by the collection device located below, and discharged from the energy storage container to the outside through a drainage component connected to the collection device. This ensures that the humidity inside the energy storage container is maintained within a normal range, thereby improving the reliability and safety of the energy storage system. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the energy storage container collection components and the drainage components of the present invention; Figure 2 The present invention provides an energy storage container. Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing the collection components being removed from the energy storage container. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the energy storage container collection component and the working fluid circulation pipeline of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the liquid inlet pipe, liquid outlet pipe, first branch pipe, second branch pipe, and collection component of the energy storage container of the present invention; Figure 5 The present invention provides an energy storage container. Figure 4 Mid-top view; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship of the energy storage container collection component, the inlet pipe, and the outlet pipe from another perspective. Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the energy storage container collection component and the drainage component of the present invention from another perspective; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship of the energy storage container collection component, the liquid inlet pipe, and the liquid outlet pipe from another perspective. Figure 9 The present invention provides an energy storage container. Figure 8 Enlarged schematic diagram of the structure at point A in the middle.

[0017] Explanation of icon numbers: 1. Energy storage container; 11. Battery compartment; 12. Equipment compartment; 2. Collection component; 21. First plate; 22. Second plate; 23. Liquid storage space; 3. Drainage assembly; 31. Drainage pipe; 311. Manifold; 312. Connecting pipe; 32. Valve assembly; 321. Valve pipe; 3211. First pipe section; 3212. Second pipe section; 3213. Third pipe section; 322. Valve; 323. Liquid level sensor; 4. Working fluid circulation pipeline; 41. Inlet pipe; 411. First branch pipe; 42. Outlet pipe; 421. Second branch pipe.

[0018] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0020] It should be noted that if the embodiments of the present invention involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0021] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this invention involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the use of "and / or" or "and / or" throughout the text includes three parallel solutions. For example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0022] In energy storage containers, the normal operation of the battery pack requires maintaining a suitable temperature range. To achieve this, thermal management components are usually installed inside the energy storage container to maintain a constant temperature of the battery pack by circulating hot and cold liquids. However, this design brings new challenges: the working fluid circulation pipes of the thermal management components are connected to multiple branch pipes, and hot liquids are transported to the battery packs through the branch pipes. Leaks can easily occur at the battery pack connection points, causing coolant to leak into the energy storage container, which in turn increases the ambient humidity. The battery packs and internal electronic components are prone to moisture, leading to performance degradation, short circuits, and even safety hazards.

[0023] First, it should be noted that the reference... Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the energy storage container 1 provided in this application embodiment includes a battery compartment 11 and an equipment compartment 12. The battery compartment 11 is used to accommodate at least one battery pack, while the equipment compartment 12 is used to install auxiliary equipment such as a battery management system, a temperature control system, and a fire protection system.

[0024] Meanwhile, the working fluid circulation pipeline 4 in this solution is a piping system including an inlet pipe 41 and an outlet pipe 42, used to deliver coolant to each battery pack to achieve thermal management of the battery cells, and to return the cooled fluid after heat exchange from the battery cells. The coolant can be set as a hot or cold fluid as needed: a cold fluid is used to cool the battery cells of the battery pack, while a hot fluid is used to heat the battery cells of the battery pack, thereby enabling the battery pack to maintain a specified temperature during operation.

[0025] like Figure 4 , Figure 5As shown, the working fluid circulation pipeline 4 includes an inlet pipe 41, an outlet pipe 42, and a plurality of first branch pipes 411 disposed on the inlet pipe 41 and a plurality of second branch pipes 421 disposed on the outlet pipe 42. The first branch pipes 411 are connected to the inlet pipe 41 and are used to transport hot and cold liquids to each battery pack. The second branch pipes 421 are connected to the outlet pipe 42 and are used to return the hot and cold liquids flowing through each battery pack to the outlet pipe 42.

[0026] Understandably, a thermal management system is installed in the equipment compartment 12 to control the temperature of hot and cold liquids, so that the temperature environment within the battery compartment 11 is maintained within a normal range; for example... Figure 4 As shown, the first branch pipe 411 and the second branch pipe 421 are equipped with multiple quick connectors that connect to the battery pack. This makes it easy for hot and cold liquids to leak at the quick connectors during circulation, and causes the ambient humidity inside the energy storage container 1 to increase, posing a certain safety hazard to the normal operation of the energy storage system.

[0027] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in one embodiment of this application, the energy storage container 1 includes a battery compartment 11, a collection component 2, and a drainage assembly 3. The battery compartment 11 is used to accommodate at least one battery pack. The collection component 2 is at least partially located inside the battery compartment 11 and is disposed below the working fluid circulation pipe 4. The working fluid circulation pipe 4 is used to transport working fluid in circulation to achieve thermal management of at least one battery pack. The projection of the working fluid circulation pipe 4 onto the horizontal plane is located within the projection of the collection component 2 onto the horizontal plane. The drainage assembly 3 is in fluid communication with the collection component 2 and is used to discharge the leakage liquid collected in the collection component 2 to the outside of the energy storage container 1.

[0028] It is understandable that the collector 2 is located in the battery compartment 11, or in both the battery compartment 11 and the equipment compartment 12. Since the thermal management component is used to maintain the battery pack within a normal temperature range, the working fluid circulation pipe 4 needs to be arranged in the battery compartment 11, that is, the collector 2 needs to be arranged in the battery compartment 11 at least.

[0029] When the thermal management component is also used for temperature control in other areas, the working fluid circulation pipe 4 and the collection device 2 can be arranged in those other areas. The following conditions must be met: the projection of the working fluid circulation pipe 4 onto the horizontal plane must be within the projection of the collection device 2 onto the horizontal plane. This ensures that even if leakage occurs at the connection between the working fluid circulation pipe 4 and the battery pack, the leaked fluid will fall into the collection device 2, thus collecting the leaked fluid and preventing it from falling into areas outside the collection device 2 and becoming uncollectible. The drainage component 3 is at least partially located within the battery compartment 11. It is understood that when the equipment compartment 12 has the working fluid circulation pipe 4, the collection device 2 is also located within the equipment compartment 12. The drainage component 3 and the collection device 2 are connected to discharge the leaked fluid collected by the collection device 2 outwards into the energy storage container 1, ensuring that the ambient humidity inside the energy storage container 1 remains within a normal range.

[0030] Reference Figure 4 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 , Figure 8 As shown in one embodiment of this application, inside the energy storage container 1, the extension trajectory of the collecting component 2 is consistent with the arrangement trajectory of the working fluid circulation pipe 4. At this time, the extension trajectory of the collecting component 2 is consistent with the extension trajectory of the inlet pipe 41 and the outlet pipe 42, and the projections of the first branch pipe 411 and the second branch pipe 421 on the above-mentioned projection plane are both inside the collecting component 2. This ensures that the points on the working fluid circulation pipe 4 (where the first branch pipe 411 and the second branch pipe 421 are connected to the battery pack) that are prone to leakage are all located above the collecting component 2. The collecting component 2 can be designed as a groove or a tray to ensure that the leaked coolant can flow in smoothly. When leakage occurs at the connection between the working fluid circulation pipe 4 and the battery pack, the leakage falls directly into the collecting component 2 for collection.

[0031] In this embodiment, by aligning the extension trajectory of the collector 2 with the arrangement trajectory of the working fluid circulation pipe 4, the collector 2 is only used to be placed below the working fluid circulation pipe 4, and does not have to be completely filled into the entire energy storage container 1. This simplifies the installation steps and shortens the installation time. Moreover, the reduced area and material usage of the collector 2 help to reduce material costs.

[0032] It should be noted that, in this application, the extended trajectory of the collector 2 refers to the projected outer contour line of the collector 2 on the horizontal plane, that is, the continuous path formed by the collector 2 when it is actually laid in the battery compartment 11. This path includes, but is not limited to, all changes in direction such as straight sections, bends, and curves. The arrangement trajectory of the working fluid circulation pipe 4 refers to the projected contour line of the working fluid circulation pipe 4 on the horizontal plane, that is, the continuous path formed by the overall layout of the inlet pipe 41, outlet pipe 42, and each first branch pipe 411 and second branch pipe 421 in the battery compartment 11. When the trajectories of the two are consistent, the projection of the extended trajectory of the collector 2 on the horizontal plane completely covers the projection of the arrangement trajectory of the working fluid circulation pipe 4 on the horizontal plane, and the direction of the collector 2 is basically parallel or coincident with the direction of the working fluid circulation pipe 4, thereby ensuring that all potential leakage points such as quick connectors connected to the battery pack are within the collection range of the collector 2.

[0033] Reference Figure 6 As shown, in one embodiment of this application, the drainage assembly 3 includes a drain pipe 31 and a valve assembly 32. The drain pipe 31 is in fluid communication with the collection member 2 and is used to drain the leachate collected in the collection member 1. The valve assembly 32 includes a discharge end and a connection end. The connection end is in fluid communication with the drain pipe 31, and the discharge end is used to output the leachate to discharge the leachate to the outside of the energy storage container 1. The valve assembly 32 can control the connection or disconnection of the discharge end and the connection end according to the volume of leachate in the drain pipe 31.

[0034] In this embodiment, the drain pipe 31 is at least partially located inside the battery compartment 11, and is situated below the collection component 2, with the drain pipe 31 communicating with the collection component 2. The valve assembly 32 is configured to control the discharge end and the connection end to be open when the leakage liquid in the drain pipe 31 reaches a preset amount, thereby discharging the leakage liquid in the collection component 2 to the outside of the energy storage container 1 through the drain pipe 31, ensuring that the ambient humidity inside the energy storage container 1 remains within a normal range.

[0035] Optionally, the valve assembly 32 can be located inside the equipment compartment 12, in which case at least a portion of the drain pipe 31 extends from the battery compartment 11 into the equipment compartment 12 to connect with the connection end of the valve assembly 32. When the leakage liquid in the drain pipe 31 reaches a preset amount, the leakage liquid collected through the drain pipe 31 is discharged outwards to the energy storage container 1. Alternatively, the valve assembly 32 can be located inside the battery compartment 11, in which case the drain pipe 31 does not need to extend into the equipment compartment 12 to connect with the connection end of the valve assembly 32 and is used to discharge the leakage liquid in the drain pipe 31 outwards to the energy storage container 1.

[0036] Specifically, in this solution, the valve assembly 32 is located inside the equipment compartment 12. Because the battery compartment 11 has limited space and dense equipment, if the valve assembly 32 is located inside the battery compartment 11, it is easy to make mistakes during inspection and maintenance, resulting in equipment damage or safety accidents, and causing certain inconvenience to the staff for maintenance and inspection. However, by placing the valve assembly 32 in the equipment compartment 12, the staff can simply open the panel of the equipment compartment 12 to inspect and maintain the valve assembly 32. At the same time, the equipment compartment 12 usually concentrates various control and auxiliary equipment, and placing the valve assembly 32 in the equipment compartment 12 can achieve better system integration and centralized management.

[0037] In this embodiment, when the amount of leakage liquid in the drain pipe 31 does not reach the preset value, the valve assembly 32 keeps the connection end and the discharge end in a non-conductive state, thereby keeping the drain pipe 31 in a non-conductive state, which can effectively prevent moisture from the external environment from entering the energy storage container 1 through the drain pipe 31, thereby maintaining a dry environment inside the container; only when the amount of leakage liquid in the drain pipe 31 reaches the preset value will the valve assembly 32 open to perform the drainage process; thus, the effective discharge of leakage liquid is ensured while minimizing the impact of external moisture on the internal environment of the energy storage container 1.

[0038] Furthermore, the extension trajectory of the drain pipe 31 within the battery compartment 11 can be consistent with the extension trajectory of the collection component 2. This design simplifies the installation process because the layout of the drain pipe 31 and the collection component 2 is more coordinated, thereby reducing installation complexity and cost. Alternatively, the extension trajectory of the drain pipe 31 can be different from that of the collection component 2. This design provides greater flexibility and can be optimized according to the specific layout and space constraints within the battery compartment 11 to adapt to different installation environments.

[0039] It is understandable that, regardless of the extension trajectory of the drain pipe 31, as long as the drain pipe 31 can be effectively connected to the collection component 2, the leachate collected by the collection component 2 can be discharged to the outside through the drain pipe 31 and the valve assembly 32.

[0040] Reference Figure 6 , Figure 7 As shown, in one embodiment of this application, the drain pipe 31 includes a manifold 311 and a plurality of connecting pipes 312. The manifold 311 and the connecting end are in fluid communication, and the plurality of connecting pipes 312 are spaced apart along the extension direction of the manifold 311, and both ends of each connecting pipe 312 are in fluid communication with the collecting member 2 and the manifold 311, respectively.

[0041] Understandably, by setting multiple connecting pipes 312, it can be ensured that the leachate is evenly distributed in the collection device 2, avoiding poor drainage caused by local accumulation. This ensures that the leachate can flow evenly from the collection device 2 into the manifold 311. Moreover, the setting of multiple connecting pipes 312 improves the reliability of the system. Even if one connecting pipe 312 is blocked or malfunctions, the other connecting pipes 312 can still work normally to discharge the leachate collected in the collection device 2 into the manifold 311.

[0042] Reference Figure 9 As shown, in one embodiment of this application, the valve assembly 32 includes a valve pipe 321, a valve 322, and a liquid level sensor 323. One end of the valve pipe 321 forms a connection end, and the other end forms a discharge end. The valve 322 is disposed on the valve pipe 321, located between the discharge end and the connection end, and is communicatively connected to a controller. The liquid level sensor 323 is disposed between the valve 322 and the collecting element 2, and is used to detect the volume of leakage liquid in the drain pipe 31, and is communicatively connected to the controller. The controller is configured to control the opening and closing of the valve 322 based on the detected volume of leakage liquid in the drain pipe 31.

[0043] In this embodiment, along the length of valve pipe 321, valve 322 is located between the discharge end and the connection end. The controller controls the opening and closing of valve 322, thereby realizing the connection or disconnection between the connection end and the discharge end. At the same time, liquid level sensor 323 detects the volume of leakage liquid (i.e., liquid level height) in valve pipe 321 in real time. When liquid level sensor 323 determines that the liquid level height reaches a preset threshold, the controller controls valve 322 to switch from the closed state to the open state, so that the connection end and the discharge end are connected, and the leakage liquid in drain pipe 31 is discharged from energy storage container 1 through the discharge end. At the same time, the controller triggers an alarm signal to notify the staff to carry out timely inspection and maintenance.

[0044] Optionally, valve 322 can be a solenoid valve or any other type of valve that can be controlled electromechanically.

[0045] In this embodiment, the end of the valve pipe 321 near the drain pipe 31 forms a connection end and is connected to the drain pipe 31, while the end of the valve pipe 321 away from the drain pipe 31 forms a discharge end. When the valve 322 is opened, the leaked liquid is discharged outward through the discharge end to the energy storage container 1.

[0046] Optionally, the liquid level sensor 323 can be a resistive (conductivity) leakage sensor, a capacitive leakage sensor, or other types of sensors. The resistive (conductivity) leakage sensor detects changes in conductivity between electrodes when liquid comes into contact with them. When liquid comes into contact with the two electrodes, the conductivity of the liquid decreases the resistance between the electrodes, triggering an alarm. The capacitive leakage sensor utilizes the difference in dielectric constant between the liquid and air. When liquid comes into contact with the sensor surface, the capacitance value changes, triggering the detection circuit.

[0047] In this embodiment, the liquid level sensor 323 is installed on the valve pipe 321 and its detection part (e.g., detection electrode) extends into the valve pipe 321 to detect the accumulation of leakage liquid in the valve pipe 321.

[0048] In this embodiment, the liquid level sensor 323 detects the volume (i.e., liquid level height) of the leaking liquid in the valve pipe 321 in real time. When the preset threshold is reached, the controller triggers an alarm signal. While draining the water, the system also allows staff to understand the leakage situation inside the container more promptly and quickly, which helps them to carry out timely inspection and maintenance.

[0049] Reference Figure 9 As shown, in one embodiment of this application, the valve pipe 321 includes a first pipe section 3211, a second pipe section 3212, and a third pipe section 3213. In the length direction of the first pipe section 3211, at least one end of the first pipe section 3211 extends outward from the energy storage container 1 to form a discharge end. A valve 322 is disposed on the first pipe section 3211. In the length direction of the second pipe section 3212, the end of the second pipe section 3212 opposite to the first pipe section 3211 forms the aforementioned connection end and is used to connect with the drain pipe 31. A liquid level sensor 323 is disposed on the second pipe section 3212. Along the height direction, the second pipe section 3212 is closer to one end of the first pipe section 3211 and higher than the end of the first pipe section 3211 that is closer to the second pipe section 3212. The two ends of the third pipe section 3213 are in fluid communication with the first pipe section 3211 and the second pipe section 3212, respectively.

[0050] In this embodiment, the third pipe segment 3213 is inclined along the height of the energy storage container 1, with the higher end of the third pipe segment 3213 connected to the second pipe segment 3212 and the lower end connected to the first pipe segment 3211. This results in the first pipe segment 3211 being lower than the second pipe segment 3212 along the height of the energy storage container 1. The liquid level sensor 323 is located on the higher second pipe segment 3212, and the valve 322 is located on the lower first pipe segment 3211, creating a clear step-like descent between the first and second pipe segments 3211. This arrangement ensures that when there is a small amount of leakage in the drain pipe 31, this leakage will accumulate in the lower first pipe segment 3211. The presence of this small amount of leakage in the first pipe segment 3211 has a negligible impact on the ambient humidity inside the energy storage container 1. Therefore, this solution is designed so that when there is only a small amount of leakage liquid in the drain pipe 31, the liquid level sensor 323 will not generate an alarm, which can reduce the alarm frequency of the liquid level sensor 323.

[0051] Reference Figure 6 As shown, in one embodiment of this application, the collecting component 2 includes a first plate 21 and a second plate 22; wherein the first plate 21 is disposed below the working fluid circulation pipe 4, the second plate 22 is disposed along the periphery of the first plate 21, and the first plate 21 and the second plate 22 surround to form a liquid storage space 23, the liquid storage space 23 is used to collect the leakage liquid discharged from the working fluid circulation pipe 4, and the drainage component 3 is in fluid communication with the liquid storage space 23.

[0052] Understandably, the collection device 2 at this time is similar to a tray structure, and the opening of the tray is set towards the working fluid circulation pipe 4, so that the leaked liquid will fall directly into the tray through the opening.

[0053] Optionally, the first plate 21 and the second plate 22 can be integrally molded, eliminating leakage problems caused by poor sealing at the joints since there are no connecting points. Alternatively, the first plate 21 and the second plate 22 can be separate components, allowing individual replacement of the damaged part instead of the entire structure when one plate is damaged, reducing maintenance costs and complexity. Furthermore, during the design and manufacturing process, the two plates can be optimized separately according to different needs, such as adjustments to shape, size, and structure, to better meet specific application requirements.

[0054] For example, the first plate 21 and the second plate 22 can be made of stainless steel.

[0055] In one embodiment of this application, the cross-sectional dimensions of the liquid storage space 23 gradually decrease from top to bottom along the height direction of the energy storage container 1. As a result, a larger opening is formed at the top of the liquid storage space 23 due to the larger cross-sectional dimensions. This design is beneficial for the collection of leachate because the larger opening can cover a larger area, making it easier for leachate to enter the liquid storage space 23. The bottom cross-sectional dimensions of the liquid storage space 23 are smaller, forming a narrow channel. This design helps to gather the collected leachate together, facilitating subsequent treatment or discharge.

[0056] In this embodiment, the larger opening can cover a larger area, allowing leakage from different locations to smoothly enter the storage space 23. The narrower bottom can gather the collected leakage together, facilitating subsequent treatment or discharge.

[0057] In another embodiment of this application, the energy storage container 1 includes a bottom plate. In the height direction of the energy storage container 1, the bottom plate is located below the working fluid circulation pipe 4. A collection area is formed on the side of the bottom plate facing the working fluid circulation pipe 4. The collection area is used to collect the leakage liquid discharged from the working fluid circulation pipe 4. The drainage component 3 is located below the bottom plate and is in fluid communication with the collection area.

[0058] Specifically, in the height direction of the energy storage container 1, the battery pack, inlet pipe 41, outlet pipe 42, first branch pipe 411, and second branch pipe 421 are all located above the bottom plate. When leakage occurs at the connection between the first branch pipe 411, the second branch pipe 421 and the battery pack, the leaked liquid will fall directly downwards onto the upper surface of the bottom plate. The drainage component 3 is located below the bottom plate and is in fluid communication with the collection area. When the ship sways during navigation, the leaked liquid on the bottom plate will enter the drainage component 3 due to the swaying, and the leaked liquid will be discharged outwards from the energy storage container 1. This also achieves the effect of discharging the leaked liquid outwards from the energy storage container 1.

[0059] In this embodiment, the ship will sway during navigation. This design can utilize the kinetic energy of the sway to ensure that the leaked liquid can be discharged in time, protecting the safety of the battery pack and other equipment.

[0060] In this embodiment, the base plate can be a structural component that forms the bottom wall of the battery compartment 11. In this case, it is necessary to ensure the sealing of the connection between the base plate and other side walls of the battery compartment 11 to prevent leakage liquid that falls on the base plate from leaking to the outside of the battery compartment 11.

[0061] Furthermore, multiple drain outlets can be provided on the bottom plate, each of which is in fluid communication with the drainage assembly 3. When the ship rolls during navigation, the tendency of the rolling motion will cause any leaked liquid falling onto the surface of the bottom plate to flow into the drainage assembly 3 through the drain outlets. For example, drain outlets are usually provided at the corners of the bottom surface of the equipment compartment 12 to drain water accumulated during routine maintenance or in case of accidents. When coolant leaks occur in the equipment compartment 12, the leaked liquid can be drained through these drain outlets.

[0062] It should be noted that, in addition to the collection and discharge of coolant leakage mentioned above, the exhaust duct inside the energy storage container 1 also involves liquid discharge during operation, as it primarily serves a ventilation function. When the battery pack experiences thermal runaway, the internal fire suppression system activates, filling the battery pack with fire-fighting water. This water then flows through the explosion-proof valve at the rear of the battery pack into the connected exhaust duct. This explosion-proof valve can be breached and opened after thermal runaway. The fire-fighting water can be discharged in two ways: first, directly through the exhaust duct's own drainage pipe to the outside of the energy storage container 1; second, it can drip to the bottom, be collected by the aforementioned collection device 2, and then discharged through the drainage assembly 3. The drainage method can be selected based on the actual spatial layout and system configuration requirements.

[0063] Furthermore, when there is a temperature difference between the inside and outside of the exhaust duct, water vapor in the air will condense on the outer wall of the exhaust duct, forming condensate that drips to the bottom. This condensate can also be collected by the collection device 2 to prevent humidity from rising. As for the specific structure of the collection device 2, please refer to the tray structure and the solution of setting a drain outlet on the bottom plate described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0064] The above description is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural transformations made using the contents of the present invention specification and drawings under the technical concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An energy storage container, characterized in that, The energy storage container includes: A battery compartment for accommodating at least one battery pack; A collection element, at least partially located within the battery compartment and positioned below a working fluid circulation conduit for circulating working fluid to achieve thermal management of at least one of the battery packs; wherein the projection of the working fluid circulation conduit onto a horizontal plane lies within the projection of the collection element onto a horizontal plane; and A drainage assembly, which is in fluid communication with the collection unit, is used to discharge the leachate collected in the collection unit to the outside of the energy storage container.

2. The energy storage container as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Inside the energy storage container, the extension trajectory of the collection component is consistent with the arrangement trajectory of the working fluid circulation pipeline.

3. The energy storage container as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The drainage assembly includes: A drain pipe, which is in fluid communication with the collection element, is used to drain the leachate collected within the collection element; and A valve assembly, comprising a discharge end and a connection end, wherein the connection end is in fluid communication with the drain pipe and the discharge end is used to output the leaked liquid to discharge the leaked liquid to the outside of the energy storage container; The valve assembly can control the connection or disconnection of the discharge end and the connection end according to the volume of the leakage liquid in the drain pipe.

4. The energy storage container as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The drain pipe includes: Manifold, wherein the manifold is in fluid communication with the connecting end; and Multiple connecting pipes are spaced apart along the extension direction of the manifold, and both ends of each connecting pipe are in fluid communication with the collecting element and the manifold, respectively.

5. The energy storage container as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The valve assembly includes: A valve pipe, one end of which forms the connecting end, and the other end of which forms the discharging end; and A valve, wherein the valve is disposed on the valve pipe and located between the discharge end and the connection end, and the valve is communicatively connected to the controller; and A liquid level sensor is disposed between the valve and the collection component to detect the volume of leakage liquid in the drain pipe, and the liquid level sensor is communicatively connected to the controller. The controller is configured to control the opening and closing of the valve based on the detected volume of leakage liquid in the drain pipe.

6. The energy storage container as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The valve pipe includes: A first pipe section, along its length, has at least one end extending outward from the body of the energy storage container and forming the discharge end; the valve is located on the first pipe section. The second pipe section, along its length, forms the connection end at the end opposite to the first pipe section. The liquid level sensor is located on the second pipe section, and along its height, the end of the second pipe section closer to the first pipe section is higher than the end of the first pipe section closer to the second pipe section; and The third pipe section has its two ends in fluid communication with the first pipe section and the second pipe section, respectively.

7. The energy storage container as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The collection components include: The first plate is located below the working fluid circulation pipe; The second plate is arranged along the periphery of the first plate, and the first plate and the second plate form a liquid storage space. The liquid storage space is used to collect the leakage liquid discharged from the working fluid circulation pipe, and the drainage component is in fluid communication with the liquid storage space.

8. The energy storage container as described in claim 7, characterized in that, Along the height of the energy storage container, the cross-sectional dimensions of the liquid storage space gradually decrease from top to bottom.

9. The energy storage container as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The collection component includes a base plate; In the height direction of the energy storage container, the bottom plate is located below the working fluid circulation pipe, and a collection area is formed on the side of the bottom plate facing the working fluid circulation pipe. The collection area is used to collect the leakage liquid discharged from the working fluid circulation pipe. The drainage component is located below the bottom plate and is in fluid communication with the collection area.

10. The energy storage container as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The base plate has multiple drainage outlets, and each drainage outlet is in fluid communication with the drainage component.

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