Liquid cooling energy storage cabinet with waterproof drainage structure

Abstract

The invention provides a liquid cooling energy storage cabinet with a waterproof drainage structure, the bottom of a liquid cooling machine support plate is provided with a water collection tank, the water collection tank is arranged opposite to a liquid cooling machine drainage hole in the bottom of a liquid cooling machine, the bottom of the water collection tank is provided with a first drainage port, the first drainage port is connected with a first drainage pipe, and the first drainage pipe is connected with a second drainage pipe. And the water draining device is used for draining water in the water collecting tank out of the cabinet. According to the invention, good drainage and waterproof effects can be realized, the structure is compact, the appearance is simple and beautiful, and whether the drainage waterway works normally can be conveniently identified during use or before delivery of each cabinet, so that normal operation of the cabinets is guaranteed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of liquid-cooled energy storage equipment technology, and in particular to a liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet with a waterproof and drainage structure. Background Technology

[0002] In the industrial and commercial energy storage sector, liquid cooling technology has become the mainstream thermal management solution. Liquid-cooled units typically consist of core components such as compressors, condensers, water pumps, and electronic controllers, achieving precise temperature control of battery cells through coolant circulation. Compared to traditional air-cooling solutions, liquid cooling systems can control cell temperature differences within a smaller range (e.g., within 2°C), offering significant advantages in increasing energy density, extending system lifespan, and improving charge / discharge efficiency.

[0003] However, while liquid-cooled units dissipate heat from the batteries, they also generate a significant amount of heat during operation. Since commercial and industrial energy storage systems are often deployed in harsh outdoor environments (such as high temperature, high humidity, high salt spray, and dusty environments), the heat dissipation and protection designs of liquid-cooled housings often present conflicting constraints. On the one hand, to ensure heat dissipation efficiency, the housing needs to maintain good air exchange with the outside environment; on the other hand, to ensure the reliability of internal high-power electrical components and precision controllers, the housing must have extremely high protection levels (such as IP55 and C5 corrosion resistance).

[0004] Currently, ensuring efficient heat dissipation in the nacelle while simultaneously achieving waterproofing, dustproofing, condensation prevention, and structural compactness is a key technical challenge in the thermal management design of energy storage systems. Improper heat dissipation design or inadequate protection can not only affect the cooling efficiency of the liquid cooling system but may also lead to system shutdowns or even thermal runaway, posing safety risks. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To solve at least one of the above problems, the present invention provides a liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet with a waterproof drainage structure.

[0006] This invention is implemented using the following scheme: This invention proposes a liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet with a waterproof and drainage structure, including a liquid-cooled chamber. A support assembly is provided at the bottom of the liquid-cooled chamber to support and install the liquid-cooled unit. The support assembly includes a liquid-cooled unit support plate with a U-shaped cross-section extending along the length of the liquid-cooled unit. A water collection tank is provided at the bottom of the liquid-cooled unit support plate, opposite to a drain hole at the bottom of the liquid-cooled unit. A first drain outlet is provided at the bottom of the water collection tank, connected to a first drain pipe for draining water from the water collection tank outside the cabinet.

[0007] In one embodiment, the bottom plate of the water collection tank is inclined outward to form a sloping groove structure, and the water collection tank is provided with an external drain outlet facing outward; the liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet has a rear sealing plate, and the rear sealing plate is provided with at least one rear drain outlet, which is aligned with the external drain outlet.

[0008] In one embodiment, the liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet has a rear sealing plate, the rear sealing plate is provided with a fire-fighting interface, and the first drain pipe has a first water outlet, which is connected to the inner wall of the fire-fighting interface.

[0009] In one embodiment, the liquid cooler support plate is glued around the water collection tank, or a sealing gasket is provided around the water collection tank, thereby sealing the gap between the bottom plate of the liquid cooler support plate and the bottom of the liquid cooler.

[0010] In one embodiment, the liquid cooler support plate has a height difference between its front and rear ends, which is achieved by stacking sheet metal and spot welding it in place.

[0011] In one embodiment, the front and rear ends of the liquid cooler support plate are respectively connected to a first end plate and a second end plate, the first end plate and the second end plate being U-shaped and sealed to the liquid cooler support plate.

[0012] In one embodiment, a sealing strip is provided on the inner side of the first end plate and the second end plate to seal the gap between the liquid chiller and the first end plate and the second end plate; and glue is applied between the liquid chiller, the first end plate, the second end plate and the sealing strip.

[0013] In one embodiment, the liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet further includes a power distribution compartment, which is located above the power distribution compartment. A second drain outlet is provided at the bottom of the liquid-cooled support plate, and the second drain outlet is connected to a second drain pipe, which is connected to the drain outlet of the bottom plate of the power distribution compartment.

[0014] In one embodiment, the liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet further includes a battery compartment. The power distribution compartment and the battery compartment are fully welded together and isolated from the liquid-cooled cabinet. The bottom plate of the power distribution compartment is also equipped with a floor drain.

[0015] In one embodiment, the liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet is provided with louvers at the tail air outlet position corresponding to the liquid chiller; the liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet has an electrical compartment rear sealing plate, and the louvers are provided with louver sealing strips around their perimeter to seal the gap between the louvers and the electrical compartment rear sealing plate; a drainage notch is provided at the lower part of the louver sealing strip near the lowest water outlet height of the louvers.

[0016] The technical solution provided by this invention has the following technical effects: This invention provides a liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet with a waterproof and drainage structure. A water collection tank is provided at the bottom of the liquid cooler support plate, and the water collection tank is positioned opposite to the liquid cooler's drain hole at the bottom. A first drain outlet is provided at the bottom of the water collection tank, and the first drain outlet is connected to a first drain pipe for draining water from the water collection tank outside the cabinet. This invention achieves excellent drainage and waterproofing, has a compact structure, and a simple and aesthetically pleasing appearance. It allows for easy identification of whether the drainage system is functioning properly during use or before each cabinet is shipped, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the cabinet. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet with a liquid cooler installed according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the support component according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the support component according to an embodiment of the present invention from another direction; Figure 5 This is a perspective view of the support component according to an embodiment of the present invention from another direction; Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet from another direction according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 yes Figure 6 Enlarged view of point A in the middle; Figure 8 This is a perspective view of the liquid cooler according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 This is a perspective view of the liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet with the electrical compartment concealed behind the cover plate, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 10 yes Figure 9 Enlarged view of section B in the middle. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To further illustrate the various embodiments, the present invention provides accompanying drawings. These drawings are part of the disclosure of the present invention, primarily used to illustrate the embodiments and to explain the operating principles of the embodiments in conjunction with the relevant descriptions in the specification. With reference to these drawings, those skilled in the art should be able to understand other possible implementations and the advantages of the present invention. Components in the drawings are not drawn to scale, and similar component symbols are generally used to represent similar components.

[0019] The present invention will now be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0020] Reference Figures 1-10 This embodiment provides a liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet 100, including a battery compartment 1, a liquid-cooled unit compartment 2, and a power distribution compartment 3. The battery compartment 1 is used to install the battery body and to lay liquid-cooled piping, etc., to maintain the battery body operating within its optimal temperature range. The liquid-cooled unit compartment 2 is used to install a liquid-cooled unit 40. The liquid-cooled piping is connected to the liquid-cooled unit 40. The liquid-cooled unit 40 drives the cooling medium to circulate within the liquid-cooled piping; the cooling medium exchanges heat with the battery body through the liquid-cooled piping to absorb heat, and the heat is dissipated by the liquid-cooled unit 40.

[0021] Reference Figure 1 The liquid cooling compartment 2 and the power distribution compartment 3 are located on the same side of the battery compartment 1, with the liquid cooling compartment 2 located above the power distribution compartment 3. The power distribution compartment 3 is also adjacent to both the liquid cooling compartment 2 and the battery compartment 1, which facilitates wiring and maintenance. Of course, the relative positional relationship between the battery compartment 1, the liquid cooling compartment 2, and the power distribution compartment 3 is not limited to this; other suitable relative positional relationships are also possible.

[0022] A support assembly 20 is provided at the bottom of the liquid-cooled unit compartment 2, which supports the liquid-cooled unit 40. The support assembly 20 includes a liquid-cooled unit support plate 21, which has a U-shaped cross-section and extends forward and backward along the length of the liquid-cooled unit 40. A first end plate 28 and a second end plate 22 are respectively connected to the front and rear ends of the liquid-cooled unit support plate 21. The first end plate 28 and the second end plate 22 are U-shaped and are sealed to the liquid-cooled unit support plate 21, for example, by applying glue or sealing strips, or by welding, integral molding, etc. Thus, the bottom of the liquid-cooled unit support plate 21 can be used to collect condensation or rainwater that has leaked into the liquid-cooled unit 40 and discharge it through a drainage structure, which will be described in detail below.

[0023] A water collection tank 23 is provided at the bottom of the liquid cooler support plate 21. The water collection tank 23 can collect water, and a first drain outlet 24 is provided at the bottom of the water collection tank 23, so that the water accumulated in the water collection tank 23 can be quickly drained through the first drain outlet 24. Further reference Figure 8The liquid chiller 40 has a drain hole 41 at its bottom, and a water collection tank 23 is positioned opposite the drain hole 41, allowing the water collection tank 23 to directly collect the drained water from the liquid chiller 40. Preferably, adhesive can be applied around the water collection tank 23 on the liquid chiller support plate 21 to seal the gap between the bottom plate of the liquid chiller support plate 21 and the bottom of the liquid chiller 40, preventing leakage of the drained water from the liquid chiller 40. In other embodiments, the adhesive around the water collection tank 23 can be replaced with a 1mm EPDM gasket to seal the gap between the bottom plate of the liquid chiller support plate 21 and the bottom of the liquid chiller 40. During installation, the rear sealing plate is not fully locked initially. When the liquid chiller 40 is almost fully installed and pushed into place, the rear of the liquid chiller 40 is raised, and the edge of the drain hole 41 at the bottom of the liquid chiller 40 is pressed tightly against the adhesive or the 1mm EPDM gasket to achieve a seal.

[0024] Reference Figure 3 A sealing strip 29 is provided on the lower inner side of the second end plate 22 to seal the gap between the tail of the liquid chiller 40 and the second end plate 22. A sealing strip can also be provided between the front of the liquid chiller 40 and the first end plate 28. Glue can be applied between the tail of the liquid chiller 40, the second end plate 22, and the sealing strip 29. Glue can also be applied between the front of the liquid chiller 40 and the first end plate 28 and the sealing strip to enhance the sealing and waterproofing effect.

[0025] Reference Figure 5 as well as Figure 6 The first drain outlet 24 is connected to the first drain pipe 26, which is used to drain the water in the water collection tank 23 out of the cabinet. Specifically, the first outlet 261 of the first drain pipe 26 is connected to the rear sealing plate 5. In this embodiment, the rear sealing plate 5 is provided with a fire interface 51, which is used to connect to the fire water circuit. The first outlet 261 is connected to the inner wall of the fire interface 51, so that the accumulated water is discharged to the outside of the cabinet in real time through the first outlet 261. The first outlet 261 is located on the inner wall of the fire interface 51, which makes the structure more compact and the appearance more concise and beautiful. It can also be conveniently identified whether the drainage circuit is working properly during use or before each cabinet is shipped, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the cabinet.

[0026] Reference Figure 5 as well as Figure 6 The water collection tank 23 is located at the rear of the liquid chiller support plate 21. Preferably, the liquid chiller support plate 21 is not installed horizontally, but has a certain height difference between its front and rear to facilitate drainage. Furthermore, the height difference between the front and rear of the liquid chiller support plate 21 is achieved by stacking sheet metal and spot welding it, without using a bending process. This avoids gaps between the bottom of the liquid chiller 40 and the liquid chiller support plate 21, which could lead to water leakage. This solution achieves a virtually seamless fit between the bottom of the liquid chiller 40 and the liquid chiller support plate 21.

[0027] Furthermore, a second drain outlet 25 is provided at the bottom front of the liquid cooler support plate 21. The second drain outlet 25 is connected to a second drain pipe 27. The second drain outlet 25 can further improve the drainage effect and increase drainage efficiency and reliability.

[0028] Further reference Figure 2 The second drain pipe 27 connects to the drain outlet 31 on the bottom plate of the power distribution compartment 3, allowing accumulated water to be drained outside the cabinet. The bottom plate of the power distribution compartment 3 is also equipped with a floor drain 32. This prevents water from accumulating at the bottom of the power distribution compartment 3 from leaking out if the connection between the second drain pipe 27 and the drain outlet 31 is not sealed properly. The floor drain 32 can also be used to drain rainwater that has seeped into the power distribution compartment 3. The floor drain 32 is made of stainless steel and features a gravity-operated flap to prevent small animals from entering the cabinet and causing damage.

[0029] Reference Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 The bottom plate of the water collection tank 23 slopes outward to form a sloping trough structure, and the water collection tank 23 is provided with an external drain outlet 231 facing outward. The sloping trough structure of the water collection tank 23 can guide water to the external drain outlet 231, improving drainage efficiency; further refer to Figure 6 as well as Figure 7 The rear sealing plate 5 is provided with a rear drain outlet 52. Multiple rear drain outlets 52 can be provided. The external drain outlet 231 is aligned with the rear drain outlet 52, so that the accumulated water is discharged through the external drain outlet 231 and the rear drain outlet 52, thereby further improving the drainage effect.

[0030] Furthermore, both the first drain pipe 26 and the second drain pipe 27 are stainless steel braided hoses, which are locked together with double-ended nuts. Compared with the traditional use of silicone hoses to fix them with clamps, the use of double-ended nuts in this solution can prevent the drain pipes from falling off.

[0031] Reference Figures 5-9 The liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet 100 is equipped with louvers 54 at the tail air outlet position corresponding to the liquid chiller 40. The louvers 54 can be decorative non-waterproof louvers to achieve an air permeability of approximately 90% and achieve good ventilation. The louvers 54 can also reserve installation space for filters or large-pore thin filter cotton, and in conjunction with the installation structure of the external steel mesh, it can achieve both ventilation and dust prevention.

[0032] Continue to refer to Figures 5-9The rear cover 5 includes a battery compartment rear cover 56 and an electrical compartment rear cover 53. The battery compartment rear cover 56 corresponds to the battery compartment 1, and the electrical compartment rear cover 53 corresponds to the liquid cooling compartment 2 and the power distribution compartment 3. The electrical compartment rear cover 53 adopts a separate design and is individually screwed on, which facilitates installation and maintenance. At the same time, it can make the opening of the louver 54 larger, without worrying about the welding deformation caused by the small edge distance between the opening of the louver 54 and the edge of the electrical compartment rear cover 53.

[0033] The water outlet height of the lowest outlet 42 of the tail mesh plate of the liquid cooler 40 is the same as the water outlet height of the louver 54 blades, so that during continuous heavy rain, most of the water can be directly discharged from the cabinet through the louver 54, which greatly improves the drainage efficiency.

[0034] Reference Figure 9 as well as Figure 10 The louver 54 is surrounded by a louver sealing strip 55 to seal the gap between the louver 54 and the rear sealing plate 53 of the electrical compartment. In particular, a drainage notch 551 is provided at the lower part of the louver sealing strip 55 near the lowest water outlet height of the louver 54 for easier drainage.

[0035] The power distribution compartment 3 and battery compartment 1 are fully welded and isolated from the liquid cooling compartment 2. The rear cover plate 56 of the battery compartment and the rear cover plate 53 of the electrical compartment use a screw-locking structure to prevent rusting caused by the inability to spray paint onto the welded areas, thus avoiding rust water flowing out of the cabinet during drainage and affecting the cabinet's appearance. The screw-locking structure of the rear cover plate 53 of the electrical compartment facilitates installation and caulking, and also facilitates after-sales service, inspection, and maintenance.

[0036] The outer shell of the liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet 100 is made of weather-resistant aluminum-zinc coated steel sheet with a high-quality outdoor powder coating, enabling a long service life. All welds, wiring ports, and through-panel joints of the liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet 100 are treated with professional sealant / sealing rings, which can greatly enhance the sealing performance.

[0037] Although the invention has been specifically shown and described in conjunction with preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that various changes in form and detail may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, all of which shall be within the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

1. A liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet with a waterproof and drainage structure, comprising a liquid-cooled compartment, characterized in that, The bottom of the liquid cooling unit compartment is provided with a support assembly for supporting and installing the liquid cooling unit. The support assembly includes a liquid cooling unit support plate with a U-shaped cross-section, which extends along the length of the liquid cooling unit. A water collection tank is provided at the bottom of the liquid cooling unit support plate, which is opposite to the liquid cooling unit drain hole at the bottom of the liquid cooling unit. The bottom of the water collection tank is provided with a first drain outlet, which is connected to a first drain pipe for draining the water in the water collection tank out of the compartment.

2. The liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom plate of the water collection tank is inclined outward to form a sloping groove structure, and the water collection tank is provided with an external drain outlet facing outward; the liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet has a rear sealing plate, and the rear sealing plate is provided with at least one rear drain outlet, which is aligned with the external drain outlet.

3. The liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet has a rear sealing plate, which is provided with a fire-fighting interface. The first drain pipe has a first water outlet, which is connected to the inner wall of the fire-fighting interface.

4. The liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid cooler support plate is glued around the water collection tank, or a sealing gasket is placed around the water collection tank to seal the gap between the bottom plate of the liquid cooler support plate and the bottom of the liquid cooler.

5. The liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid cooler support plate has a height difference between its front and rear ends, which is achieved by stacking sheet metal and spot welding it in place.

6. The liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front and rear ends of the liquid cooler support plate are respectively connected to a first end plate and a second end plate. The first end plate and the second end plate are U-shaped and are sealed to the liquid cooler support plate.

7. The liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet according to claim 6, characterized in that: The inner sides of the first end plate and the second end plate are provided with sealing strips to seal the gaps between the liquid chiller and the first end plate and the second end plate; and glue is applied between the liquid chiller, the first end plate, the second end plate and the sealing strip.

8. The liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet also includes a power distribution compartment, which is located above the power distribution compartment. A second drain outlet is provided at the bottom of the liquid-cooled support plate, and a second drain pipe is connected to the second drain outlet, which is connected to the drain outlet of the bottom plate of the power distribution compartment.

9. The liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet according to claim 8, characterized in that: The liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet also includes a battery compartment. The power distribution compartment and the battery compartment are fully enclosed and welded together, and are isolated from the liquid-cooled cabinet. The bottom plate of the power distribution compartment is also equipped with a floor drain.

10. The liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet is provided with louvers at the tail air outlet position corresponding to the liquid chiller; the liquid-cooled energy storage cabinet has an electrical compartment rear sealing plate, and the louvers are provided with louver sealing strips around their perimeter to seal the gap between the louvers and the electrical compartment rear sealing plate; a drainage notch is provided at the lower part of the louver sealing strip near the lowest water outlet height of the louvers.

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