Fault battery pack replacement method, air conditioning system, energy storage system and storage medium

Abstract

According to the fault battery pack replacement method, the air conditioning system, the energy storage system and the storage medium, the method is applied to the air conditioning system, the air conditioning system is used for heating or cooling a battery pack, the air conditioning system comprises a controller and a throttling valve, the battery pack comprises a battery cold plate, the battery cold plate is provided with a heat exchange pipeline, and the heat exchange pipeline is communicated with the controller. The heat exchange pipeline comprises an input port and an output port, an exhaust port of the air conditioning system is connected with the input port, an air return port of the air conditioning system is connected with the output port of the battery cold plate, and the throttle valve is arranged between the exhaust port and the input port. The opening degree of the throttling valve is adjusted to be 0, so that a refrigerant in the heat exchange pipeline flows to the air return opening; and under the condition that the pressure of the air return port is lower than the preset pressure, the air conditioning system is controlled to stop running, so that the fault battery pack is replaced. The fault maintenance efficiency of the energy storage system can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of energy storage technology utilizing air conditioning technology, and particularly to a method for replacing a faulty battery pack, an air conditioning system, an energy storage system, and a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] Temperature control of energy storage systems is a key measure to prevent capacity decay, lifespan degradation, and thermal runaway. Currently, the mainstream solutions for temperature control of energy storage batteries are liquid cooling and compression refrigeration / PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient Thermistor) heating. These solutions suffer from low efficiency and high cost due to the two heat exchange processes. As the energy / power density of energy storage batteries continues to increase, and the requirements for the size and performance of auxiliary equipment become more stringent, direct cooling technology is receiving increasing attention from the energy storage industry.

[0003] As energy storage systems become increasingly portable, the ability to quickly and conveniently repair or replace faulty components in the event of a system failure is an effective way to improve the after-sales experience. Therefore, a solution to improve the efficiency of energy storage system fault repair is urgently needed. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a method for replacing a faulty battery pack, an air conditioning system, an energy storage system, and a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium, which can improve the fault repair efficiency of the energy storage system.

[0005] This application provides a method for replacing a faulty battery pack. The method is applied to an air conditioning system, which heats or cools the battery pack. The air conditioning system includes a controller and a throttle valve. The battery pack includes a battery cooling plate with a heat exchange pipe. The heat exchange pipe includes an inlet and an outlet. The exhaust port of the air conditioning system is connected to the inlet, and the return port of the air conditioning system is connected to the outlet of the battery cooling plate. The throttle valve is located between the exhaust port and the inlet. The method includes:

[0006] Control the operation of the air conditioning system and adjust the opening of the throttle valve to 0 so that the refrigerant in the heat exchange pipe flows to the return gas port;

[0007] If the pressure at the return air port is lower than the preset pressure, the air conditioning system is controlled to stop operating in order to replace the faulty battery pack.

[0008] This application provides an air conditioning system. The air conditioning system is used to heat or dissipate heat from a battery pack. The system includes a controller and a throttle valve. The battery pack includes a battery cold plate, which is provided with a heat exchange pipe. The heat exchange pipe includes an inlet and an outlet. The exhaust port of the air conditioning system is connected to the inlet, and the return port is connected to the outlet of the battery cold plate. The throttle valve is located between the exhaust port and the inlet. The controller is used to execute the aforementioned method for replacing a faulty battery pack.

[0009] This application provides an energy storage system. The energy storage system includes the aforementioned air conditioning system and battery pack.

[0010] This application provides a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program thereon. When executed by a processor, the computer program implements the aforementioned method for replacing a faulty battery pack.

[0011] This application discloses a method, device, vehicle, and non-volatile computer-readable storage medium for replacing a faulty battery pack. The air conditioning system can heat or cool the battery pack. When a battery pack fails and needs replacement, the air conditioning system is first controlled to operate, and the opening of the throttle valve located between the air conditioning system's exhaust port and the battery cold plate's inlet is adjusted to 0. As the air conditioning operates, the refrigerant in the heat exchange pipes of the battery cold plate gradually flows from the battery cold plate's outlet to the return port, thus recovering the refrigerant from the battery pack being repaired and storing it in the portion of the refrigerant pipeline outside the heat exchange pipes. As the refrigerant in the heat exchange pipes is gradually emptied and the throttle valve closes, the pressure at the return port gradually decreases. When the pressure at the return port is less than a preset pressure (an empirical value corresponding to the return port pressure when the refrigerant is evacuated), it can be determined that the refrigerant in the heat exchange pipes has been completely recovered. After the refrigerant recovery in the heat exchange pipes is complete, the faulty battery pack can be replaced. At this point, the faulty battery pack contains virtually no refrigerant. After the new battery pack is installed, since the refrigerant has been recovered into the air conditioning system's pipes, there is no need to recharge it. Once the air conditioning system is running, the refrigerant in the air conditioning system's pipes flows into the heat exchange pipes through the air conditioning system's exhaust vents, thus quickly facilitating battery pack maintenance. By saving the time-consuming process of evacuating and recharging the refrigerant, the maintenance efficiency of the battery pack is greatly improved.

[0012] Additional aspects and advantages of the embodiments of this application will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0013] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of this application will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein:

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the energy storage system according to certain embodiments of this application;

[0015] Figure 2 This is a first flowchart illustrating a method for replacing a faulty battery pack according to certain embodiments of this application.

[0016] Figure 3 This is a second flowchart illustrating a method for replacing a faulty battery pack according to certain embodiments of this application.

[0017] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery pack according to certain embodiments of this application;

[0018] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the battery pack and the air conditioning system in some embodiments of this application;

[0019] Figure 6 This is a third flowchart illustrating a method for replacing a faulty battery pack according to certain embodiments of this application.

[0020] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a replacement device according to certain embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The embodiments of this application are described in detail below. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the embodiments of this application, and should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of this application.

[0022] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0023] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two or three, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0024] For ease of description, the application scenario of this application will be introduced first. The application scenario includes an energy storage system 1000, which includes a battery pack 201 and an air conditioning system 100 for heating or cooling the battery pack 201.

[0025] The Battery Pack 201 refers to a device that combines one or more battery cells with necessary electronic replacement equipment. It is widely used in various portable electronic products, power tools, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems. The Battery Pack 201 includes not only battery cells but also protection circuits, temperature sensors, voltage equalization circuits, and other components to ensure safe battery use and extend battery life.

[0026] Optionally, the battery pack 201 includes multiple battery packs 201, which together form a battery module 200, and the energy storage system 1000 is powered by the battery module 200.

[0027] Optionally, the battery pack 201 includes a battery cooling plate 202. The battery cooling plate 202 is a key component for battery pack thermal management, particularly in electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and energy storage systems 1000. Its main function is to effectively remove excess heat generated during battery operation through heat conduction and convection, thereby maintaining the battery pack within a suitable operating temperature range to ensure battery performance and lifespan. The battery cooling plate 202 is typically installed on the bottom or side of the battery module. Through close contact with the battery module, it utilizes its excellent thermal conductivity to facilitate heat transfer between the battery and other media, such as for heat dissipation or heating.

[0028] Optionally, the battery pack 201 includes a battery body 203, a battery cooling plate 202, and a heat exchange pipe 204. The battery body 203 is disposed on one surface of the battery cooling plate 202, and the heat exchange pipe 204 is disposed on the other surface. The battery body 203 exchanges heat with the heat exchange pipe 204 through the battery cooling plate 202.

[0029] Battery heating involves heating the battery externally to improve its performance in low-temperature environments. At low temperatures, the chemical reaction rate slows down, internal resistance increases, leading to a decrease in battery capacity and a reduction in performance. Therefore, battery heating technology is particularly important in electric vehicles, drones, portable electronic devices, and other applications that require operation in cold environments.

[0030] Battery cooling is important because overheating not only causes the battery to discharge too quickly, but also poses safety hazards when using the battery under extreme temperature conditions. For example, excessively high temperatures can cause thermal runaway in lithium batteries, also known as "thermal escape," which can lead to fires or even explosions.

[0031] Therefore, during the operation of the energy storage system 1000, the battery pack 201 must always be kept within a suitable temperature range in order to ensure the performance and safety of the battery pack 201.

[0032] Air conditioning system 100 refers to a system composed of various components used to regulate temperature. It controls the state of the air through a complex series of mechanical and electronic components to ensure that a target object to be heated or cooled (such as battery pack 201) is always maintained near a set target temperature. Air conditioning system 100 includes:

[0033] Compressor 10: This is the heart of the air conditioner, responsible for compressing the refrigerant from low-pressure gas into high-temperature, high-pressure gas.

[0034] Outdoor heat exchanger 20: In the outdoor unit, the condenser receives high-temperature, high-pressure gas from the compressor 10 and dissipates its heat to the outside air through heat sinks, cooling and liquefying the refrigerant. The outdoor heat exchanger 20 is typically equipped with a fan to promote airflow and enhance the efficiency of the heat exchange process.

[0035] Regenerator 30: Used to exchange heat between exhaust and return air, it can heat the return air back to the temperature of compressor 10, thereby improving the performance of compressor 10 and thus improving the heating and heat dissipation efficiency of air conditioning system 100.

[0036] Control system: Includes various sensors and controller 40. Controller 40 acquires different types of status information of the air conditioning system 100 based on the sensors, and then controls the air conditioning system 100 based on the status information to ensure the performance of the air conditioning system 100. For example, through thermostats and other sensors, the desired temperature is set, and the operating status of the air conditioner is automatically adjusted according to the actual situation so that the temperature is always close to the set temperature.

[0037] In some embodiments, the air conditioning system 100 further includes a four-way valve 50, which can adaptively adjust the connection relationship of the pipes based on the air conditioning's operating mode (such as cooling mode and heating mode) to achieve cooling or heating. Taking the heating or cooling battery pack 201 of the air conditioning system 100 as an example, in cooling mode, the exhaust port of the compressor 10, the outdoor heat exchanger 20, the battery pack 201, and the compressor 10 return port are connected in sequence; in heating mode, the exhaust port of the compressor 10, the heat exchange pipe 204 of the battery pack 201, the outdoor heat exchanger 20, and the compressor 10 return port are connected in sequence.

[0038] In some embodiments, the air conditioning system 100 further includes a one-way valve 60, which is disposed between the exhaust port of the compressor 10 and the four-way valve 50, so that the refrigerant discharged from the exhaust port of the compressor 10 cannot flow back to the compressor 10 through the four-way valve 50 after entering the subsequent pipeline.

[0039] In some embodiments, the air conditioning system 100 further includes a throttle valve 70, which is disposed between the exhaust port of the air conditioning system 100 and the inlet of the heat exchange pipe 204. The throttle valve 70 is used to regulate the refrigerant flow rate entering the heat exchange pipe 204. When the subcooling of the battery cold plate 202 of the battery pack 201 is too high, the subcooling of the battery cold plate 202 of the battery pack 201 is reduced by adjusting the opening of the throttle valve 70 (e.g., decreasing the opening). When the subcooling of the battery cold plate 202 of the battery pack 201 is too low, the subcooling of the battery pack 201 is increased by adjusting the opening of the throttle valve 70 (e.g., increasing the opening). This ensures that the subcooling of the battery cold plate 202 is always within a reasonable range, thereby guaranteeing the heating and heat dissipation performance of the battery pack 201.

[0040] In this system, the exhaust port of the air conditioning system 100 is connected to the inlet of the heat exchange pipe 204 of the battery pack 201, and the return port of the air conditioning system 100 is connected to the outlet of the heat exchange pipe 204 of the battery pack 201. The exhaust port and return port of the air conditioning system 100 are different in cooling and heating modes. In cooling mode, the exhaust port of the compressor 10, the outdoor heat exchanger 20, the battery pack 201, and the return port of the compressor 10 are connected sequentially, with the exhaust port of the air conditioning system 100 serving as the outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger 20, and the return port of the air conditioning system 100 serving as the return port of the compressor 10. In heating mode, the exhaust port of the compressor 10, the heat exchange pipe 204 of the battery pack 201, the outdoor heat exchanger 20, and the return port of the compressor 10 are connected sequentially, with the exhaust port of the air conditioning system 100 serving as the exhaust port of the compressor 10, and the return port of the air conditioning system 100 serving as the inlet of the outdoor heat exchanger 200.

[0041] Optionally, each throttle valve 70 corresponds one-to-one with a battery pack 201. The inlet of the throttle valve 70 is connected to the exhaust port of the air conditioning system 100, and the outlet of the throttle valve 70 is connected to the inlet of the heat exchange pipe 204 of the corresponding battery pack 201. This means each throttle valve 70 independently regulates the subcooling of its corresponding battery pack 201, ensuring the heating and heat dissipation performance of each battery pack 201. Alternatively, each throttle valve 70 can correspond to multiple battery packs 201. The inlet of the throttle valve 70 is connected to the exhaust port of the air conditioning system 100, and the outlet of the throttle valve 70 is simultaneously connected to the inlets of the heat exchange pipes 204 of multiple battery packs 201. This allows for simultaneous control of the refrigerant flow in the heat exchange pipes 204 of multiple connected battery packs 201, saving costs.

[0042] This application uses the example of prioritizing the heat dissipation performance of the energy storage system 1000 to illustrate the point, prioritizing the heat dissipation effect on the battery pack 201. In this case, the throttle valve 70 is located between the output port of the outdoor heat exchanger 20 and the inlet port of the heat exchange pipe 204.

[0043] In some embodiments, the air conditioning system 100 further includes a pressure sensor 80, which may be disposed at the return port of the compressor 10 to detect the return pressure at the return port of the compressor 10.

[0044] The air conditioning system 100 includes a compressor 10, an outdoor heat exchanger 20, and a regenerator 30. When the air conditioning system 100 is in cooling mode, the compressor 10, the outdoor heat exchanger 20, and the expansion valve 70 are connected in sequence. The regenerator 30 includes a first regenerator pipe 31 and a second regenerator pipe 32. The first regenerator pipe 31 is located between the outdoor heat exchanger 20 and the exhaust port, and the second regenerator pipe 32 is located between the return air port and the compressor 10.

[0045] In some embodiments, the air conditioning system 100 further includes a regenerator 30. When the air conditioning system 100 is in cooling mode, the compressor 10, the outdoor heat exchanger 20 and the throttle valve 70 are connected in sequence. The regenerator 30 includes a first regenerator pipe 31 and a second regenerator pipe 32. The first regenerator pipe 31 is located between the outdoor heat exchanger 20 and the exhaust port, and the second regenerator pipe 32 is located between the return air port and the compressor 10.

[0046] Thus, through the regenerator 30, heat exchange is achieved between the first regenerator pipe 31 and the second regenerator pipe 32, thereby achieving heat exchange between the exhaust pipe and the return pipe, which increases the temperature of the refrigerant returning to the compressor 10 and improves the performance of the compressor 10.

[0047] In cooling mode, since the regenerator 30 is located after the outdoor heat exchanger 20, the outdoor heat exchanger 20 will convert the high-temperature and high-pressure gas output by the compressor 10 into a saturated liquid state. Compared with the bulk refrigerant which occupies a large volume, the use of saturated liquid regeneration allows the regenerator 30 to be set to a smaller volume. The two-phase state (gas and liquid) flowing out of the heat exchange pipe 204 of the battery pack 201 is heated into superheated gas through the first regeneration pipe 31. Compared with the compressor 10 compressing the two-phase refrigerant, the compressor 10 directly compresses the high-temperature gas to obtain high-temperature and high-pressure gas, which can improve the performance of the compressor 10.

[0048] In heating mode, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas flowing out of the compressor 10 is cooled into a two-phase refrigerant by the first reheat pipe 31, thereby using the two-phase refrigerant to heat the battery pack 201, resulting in good heating uniformity and effect.

[0049] The technical background of this application will be explained below:

[0050] In the maintenance of the energy storage system 1000, battery pack 201 failure is relatively common. In cases of battery pack 201 failure, a new battery pack is usually replaced, and the faulty battery pack 201 is returned to the factory for repair. However, when replacing components involving refrigerant, the refrigerant must be released before replacement, and then the system must be vacuumed and recharged with refrigerant, making the entire maintenance process time-consuming. Therefore, when maintaining refrigerant-related components (such as battery pack 201) in the energy storage system 1000, it is crucial to address the excessively long maintenance time caused by releasing and recharging the refrigerant during after-sales service.

[0051] Please see Figure 2 The method for replacing a faulty battery pack according to the embodiments of this application is applied to an air conditioning system. The air conditioning system is used to heat or dissipate heat from the battery pack. The air conditioning system includes a controller and a throttle valve. The battery pack includes a battery cold plate, and the battery cold plate is provided with heat exchange pipes. The heat exchange pipes include an inlet and an outlet. The exhaust port of the air conditioning system is connected to the inlet, and the return port of the air conditioning system is connected to the outlet of the battery cold plate. The throttle valve is disposed between the exhaust port and the inlet. The method includes:

[0052] Step 011: Control the operation of the air conditioning system and adjust the opening of the throttle valve to 0 so that the refrigerant in the heat exchange pipe flows to the return port.

[0053] Specifically, during air conditioning system operation, refrigerant flows along the pipes. Due to the position of the expansion valve, when the expansion valve opening is adjusted to 0, the refrigerant in the pipes before the expansion valve (for example, taking the direction of refrigerant flow from the air conditioning system's outlet to the expansion valve, the outdoor heat exchanger is located before the expansion valve) cannot flow to the heat exchange pipes. The refrigerant in the heat exchange pipes, under the action of the compressor, flows out from the outlet of the heat exchange pipes and towards the air conditioning system's return port. The refrigerant in the heat exchange pipes sequentially passes through the outlet of the heat exchange pipes, the air conditioning system's return port, the compressor, and the check valve. Due to the restriction of the check valve, the refrigerant cannot flow back and is thus stored between the check valve and the expansion valve, achieving refrigerant recovery in the heat exchange pipes.

[0054] In this way, there is no need to vent the refrigerant; simply operate the air conditioning system normally while adjusting the throttle valve opening to 0. Moreover, since the refrigerant in the heat exchange pipes of the battery pack to be replaced is recovered into the air conditioning system's pipes, there is no need to recharge the refrigerant after the new battery pack is installed. This saves time on venting and recharging the refrigerant, and requires no manual operation; the refrigerant recovery can be achieved automatically through the air conditioning system's controller.

[0055] Optionally, the opening of the throttle valve corresponding to the faulty battery pack can be adjusted to 0. Taking n battery packs as an example, with each throttle valve corresponding to a faulty battery pack, during refrigerant recovery, the refrigerant in the faulty battery pack will be recovered, while the refrigerant in the other battery packs will circulate normally along the refrigerant flow path. The preset pressure used to determine whether the refrigerant in the faulty battery pack has been completely recovered can be determined based on the return gas port pressure when refrigerant is present in n-1 heat exchange pipes.

[0056] Optionally, the heat exchange pipes of each battery pack are connected in parallel between the exhaust port and the return port of the air conditioning system. If the opening of the throttle valve corresponding to the heat exchange pipe of the faulty battery pack is adjusted to 0 to recover the refrigerant from that faulty battery pack, the recovered refrigerant will flow back into the heat exchange pipes of other battery packs through other throttle valves and then back to the return port of the air conditioning system. Even if the refrigerant of the faulty battery pack has been completely recovered, the pressure difference at the return port when refrigerant is present in all n heat exchange pipes (e.g., n battery packs) and when refrigerant is present in n-1 heat exchange pipes may be small, making it difficult to accurately determine whether the refrigerant in the faulty battery pack has been completely recovered. Therefore, the opening of all throttle valves can be adjusted to 0. This allows for the recovery of refrigerant in the heat exchange pipes of all battery packs. In this case, the preset pressure used to determine whether the refrigerant in the faulty battery pack has been completely recovered can be determined based on the return port pressure when no refrigerant is present in any of the n heat exchange pipes.

[0057] Step 012: If the pressure at the return air port is lower than the preset pressure, control the air conditioning system to stop operating in order to replace the faulty battery pack.

[0058] Specifically, as the air conditioner operates, the refrigerant in the heat exchange pipes of the battery cold plate gradually flows from the output port of the battery cold plate to the return port, thereby recovering the refrigerant from the battery pack being repaired and storing it in the air conditioning system's pipes. As the refrigerant in the heat exchange pipes is gradually emptied and the throttle valve closes, the pressure at the return port gradually decreases. When the pressure at the return port is lower than the preset pressure (an empirical value corresponding to the return port pressure when the refrigerant is evacuated), it can be determined that the refrigerant in the heat exchange pipes has been completely recovered.

[0059] After the refrigerant recovery in the heat exchange pipes is complete, the faulty battery pack can be replaced. At this point, the faulty battery pack contains virtually no refrigerant. After the new battery pack is installed, since the refrigerant has been recovered into the air conditioning system's pipes, there is no need to recharge it. Once the air conditioning system is running, the refrigerant in the air conditioning system's pipes flows into the heat exchange pipes through the air conditioning system's exhaust vents, thus quickly facilitating battery pack repair and ensuring the energy storage system operates normally. This improves the efficiency of battery pack replacement.

[0060] Optionally, please refer to Figure 3The energy storage system includes battery modules, which in turn include multiple battery packs. The inlet of the heat exchange pipes corresponding to each battery pack is connected to the exhaust port, and the outlet is connected to the return gas port. Step 012: Replace the faulty battery pack, including:

[0061] Step 0121: Disassemble the faulty battery pack and install the normal battery pack; or, disassemble the faulty battery module and install the normal battery module, which consists of a normal battery pack.

[0062] Specifically, when replacing a faulty battery pack, it can be disassembled separately, replaced with a normal battery pack, and installed, resulting in lower replacement costs. Alternatively, due to the integrity of the battery module, replacing a single battery pack may cause abnormalities in the module's performance or operation; therefore, the entire module is usually replaced. Alternatively, the entire battery module containing the faulty battery pack can be replaced by disassembling the battery module and installing a normal battery module composed of normal battery packs.

[0063] Optionally, please refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 , Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the battery pack structure. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the battery pack connected to the air conditioning system. The battery pack 201 includes a first self-locking valve 205 and a second self-locking valve 206, both of which have male and female terminals. One of the male and female terminals of the first self-locking valve 205 is located at the exhaust port of the air conditioning system, and the other is located at the inlet of the heat exchange pipe of the battery pack. One of the male and female terminals of the second self-locking valve 206 is located at the return port of the air conditioning system, and the other is located at the inlet of the heat exchange pipe of the battery pack. The faulty battery pack 201 can be removed by disconnecting the connection between the male and female terminals of the first self-locking valve 205 and the second self-locking valve 206.

[0064] A self-locking valve is a specially designed valve that can remain open or closed without an external power source. For example, a self-locking valve can be a mechanical self-locking valve (relying on physical mechanisms such as spring force or gravity to achieve its self-locking function), an electromagnetic self-locking valve (using an electromagnet to generate a magnetic field to attract or repel internal components, thereby controlling the valve's position), or a pneumatic / hydraulic self-locking valve (using compressed air or liquid as the driving medium).

[0065] The self-locking valve consists of a male and a female end. The male and female ends can be screwed together, snapped together, or glued together. When the male and female ends are connected, the self-locking valve is open; when the male and female ends are disconnected, the valve self-locks and closes.

[0066] Thus, when disassembling the faulty battery pack, disconnecting the male and female terminals of the first self-locking valve 205 and the male and female terminals of the second self-locking valve 206 will allow the exhaust and return ports of the faulty battery pack and the air conditioning system to self-lock, further preventing refrigerant from flowing back into the faulty battery pack and causing insufficient refrigerant after replacing the battery pack.

[0067] Optionally, please refer to [the relevant document / reference]. Figure 4 The battery pack 201 also includes an extraction valve 207. A three-way valve can be installed at the inlet or outlet of the heat exchange pipe, which is connected to the inlet or outlet of the heat exchange pipe, the male or female end of the self-locking valve, and the extraction valve 207, respectively.

[0068] In this way, the gas in the heat exchange pipe can be extracted by the air extraction valve 207, realizing the vacuuming operation of the heat exchange pipe. This avoids the presence of air in the normal battery pack used to replace the faulty battery pack, which would mix with the refrigerant and affect the operation of the air conditioning system. This ensures that the pipes in the air conditioning system contain only refrigerant, thus guaranteeing the cooling and heating performance of the air conditioning system.

[0069] Optionally, the vacuum valve 207 can be a needle valve. A needle valve is a precision regulating valve primarily used for precise control of fluid flow. Its name comes from the slender, tapered stem used in its internal design, the tip of which resembles the tip of a needle. When fully closed, the needle valve provides a good seal, reducing the possibility of leakage. Therefore, after vacuuming, the needle valve can be completely closed to prevent air from entering the normal battery pack.

[0070] In the method for replacing a faulty battery pack according to this application, the air conditioning system can heat or dissipate heat from the battery pack. When the battery pack fails and needs to be replaced, the air conditioning system is first controlled to operate, and the opening of the throttle valve located between the exhaust port of the air conditioning system and the inlet port of the battery cold plate is adjusted to 0. As the air conditioning operates, the refrigerant in the heat exchange pipe of the battery cold plate gradually flows from the outlet port of the battery cold plate to the return port, thereby recovering the refrigerant in the battery pack being repaired and storing the refrigerant in the portion outside the heat exchange pipe in the refrigerant pipeline. As the refrigerant in the heat exchange pipe is gradually emptied and the throttle valve is closed, the pressure at the return port gradually decreases. When the pressure at the return port is less than the preset pressure (an empirical value corresponding to the return port pressure when the refrigerant is evacuated), it can be determined that the refrigerant in the heat exchange pipe has been recovered. After the refrigerant recovery in the heat exchange pipes is complete, the faulty battery pack can be replaced. At this point, the faulty battery pack contains virtually no refrigerant. After the new battery pack is installed, since the refrigerant has been recovered into the air conditioning system's pipes, there is no need to recharge it. Once the air conditioning system is running, the refrigerant in the air conditioning system's pipes flows into the heat exchange pipes through the air conditioning system's exhaust vents, thus quickly facilitating battery pack maintenance. By saving the time-consuming process of evacuating and recharging the refrigerant, the maintenance efficiency of the battery pack is greatly improved.

[0071] Please see Figure 6 The methods for replacing faulty battery packs also include:

[0072] Step 013: If the cumulative number of repairs to the energy storage system exceeds the preset number, vent the refrigerant in the air conditioning system and recharge the air conditioning system with refrigerant after replacing the faulty battery pack.

[0073] If the cumulative number of maintenance visits to the energy storage system is less than the preset number, proceed to control the operation of the air conditioning system and adjust the opening of the throttle valve to 0.

[0074] Specifically, after multiple maintenance operations, although the refrigerant in the energy storage system (which may specifically be a battery pack) is recovered, there may still be a very small amount of loss during the maintenance process. Furthermore, multiple maintenance operations indicate that the energy storage system has been used for a long time, and some refrigerant loss will also occur. The refrigerant in the system may have decreased to the point that it affects the system's cooling and heating capacity. Therefore, when the number of maintenance operations is high (e.g., the cumulative number of maintenance operations of the energy storage system exceeds the preset number (e.g., 5, 7, 8 times, etc.)), it is no longer sufficient to simply replace the battery pack. Instead, the refrigerant is fully recharged at the same time as the battery pack is replaced.

[0075] The specific procedure is as follows: First, release the refrigerant from the air conditioning system. At this point, the faulty battery pack can be directly removed, and only the refrigerant in the air conditioning system needs to be released. Then, remove the faulty battery pack, install the normal battery pack, and then recharge the air conditioning system with sufficient refrigerant (i.e., the amount of refrigerant to ensure the performance of the air conditioning system), thereby ensuring the maintenance effect of the energy storage system.

[0076] If the cumulative number of repairs to the energy storage system is less than the preset number, the refrigerant in the faulty battery pack can be recovered, and only the faulty battery pack needs to be replaced, thus ensuring the maintenance efficiency of the energy storage system.

[0077] To facilitate better implementation of the faulty battery pack replacement method of this application embodiment, this application embodiment also provides a replacement device 300. Please refer to... Figure 7 , Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the replacement device 300 provided in an embodiment of this application. The replacement device 300 may include:

[0078] The first control module 301 is used to control the operation of the air conditioning system and adjust the opening of the throttle valve to 0 so that the refrigerant in the heat exchange pipe flows to the return gas port.

[0079] The second control module 302 is used to control the air conditioning system to stop operating in order to replace the faulty battery pack when the pressure at the return air port is lower than the preset pressure.

[0080] Each module in the aforementioned replacement device can be implemented entirely or partially through software, hardware, or a combination thereof. These modules can be embedded in or independent of the processor in a computer device in hardware form, or stored in the memory of a computer device in software form, so that the processor can call and execute the operations corresponding to each module.

[0081] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program thereon. When the computer program is executed by a processor, it implements the steps of the faulty battery pack replacement method of any of the above embodiments. For the sake of brevity, these steps will not be repeated here.

[0082] It is understood that a computer program 310 includes computer program code. Computer program code can be in the form of source code, object code, executable files, or certain intermediate forms. Computer-readable storage media can include: any entity or device capable of carrying computer program code, recording media, USB flash drives, external hard drives, magnetic disks, optical disks, computer memory, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), and software distribution media, etc.

[0083] In the description of this specification, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with the described embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0084] Any process or method described in the flowchart or otherwise herein can be understood as representing a module, segment, or portion of code comprising one or more executable instructions for implementing a particular logical function or process, and the scope of the preferred embodiments of this application includes additional implementations in which functions may be performed not in the order shown or discussed, including substantially simultaneously or in reverse order depending on the function involved, as will be understood by those skilled in the art to which embodiments of this application pertain.

[0085] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting this application. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of this application.

Claims

1. A method of replacing a failed battery pack, characterized by, The application is applied to an air conditioning system for heating or cooling a battery pack, the air conditioning system comprising a controller and a throttle valve, the battery pack comprising a battery cold plate provided with a heat exchange pipeline, the heat exchange pipeline comprising an input port and an output port, an exhaust port of the air conditioning system being connected to the input port, a return port of the air conditioning system being connected to the output port of the battery cold plate, the throttle valve being arranged between the exhaust port and the input port, and the method comprising: controlling the air conditioning system to operate and adjusting the opening degree of the throttle valve to 0 so that the refrigerant in the heat exchange pipeline flows to the return port; in the case that the pressure at the return port is lower than a preset pressure, controlling the air conditioning system to stop operating so as to replace the faulty battery pack.

2. The method of replacing a failed battery pack according to claim 1, wherein, The battery pack comprises a plurality of battery packs, and the plurality of battery packs form a battery module, the input port of the heat exchange pipeline corresponding to each battery pack is connected to the exhaust port, and the output port of the heat exchange pipeline is connected to the return port, and the replacing of the faulty battery pack comprises: dismantling the faulty battery pack and installing a normal battery pack, or dismantling a faulty battery module and installing a normal battery module, the normal battery module being composed of normal battery packs.

3. The method of replacing a failed battery pack according to claim 2, wherein, The battery pack comprises a first self-locking valve and a second self-locking valve, the first self-locking valve and the second self-locking valve each comprising a male end and a female end, one of the male end and the female end of the first self-locking valve being arranged at the exhaust port, and the other being arranged at the input port, one of the male end and the female end of the second self-locking valve being arranged at the return port, and the other being arranged at the input port, and the faulty battery pack being dismantled by disconnecting the male end and the female end of the first self-locking valve and the male end and the female end of the second self-locking valve.

4. The method of replacing a failed battery pack according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The battery pack further comprises an air extraction valve, and the method further comprises: extracting the heat exchange pipeline of the normal battery pack to a vacuum state through the air extraction valve before replacing the faulty battery pack.

5. The method of replacing a failed battery pack according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, The battery pack and the throttle valve are arranged in one-to-one correspondence, and the adjusting of the opening degree of the throttle valve to 0 comprises: adjusting the opening degree of all the throttle valves to 0.

6. The method of replacing a failed battery pack of claim 1, wherein, Further comprising: in the case that the cumulative maintenance times of the battery pack are greater than a preset number of times, emptying the refrigerant in the air conditioning system and refilling the refrigerant into the air conditioning system after replacing the faulty battery pack; in the case that the cumulative maintenance times of the battery pack are less than a preset number of times, entering the step of controlling the air conditioning system to operate and adjusting the opening degree of the throttle valve to 0.

7. An air conditioning system characterized by, The application is applied to an air conditioning system for heating or cooling a battery pack, the air conditioning system comprising a controller and a throttle valve, the battery pack comprising a battery cold plate provided with a heat exchange pipeline, the heat exchange pipeline comprising an input port and an output port, an exhaust port of the air conditioning system being connected to the input port, a return port of the air conditioning system being connected to the output port of the battery cold plate, the throttle valve being arranged between the exhaust port and the input port, and the controller being used for executing the replacement method of the faulty battery pack according to any one of claims 1-6.

8. The air conditioning system of claim 7, wherein, The air conditioning system comprises a one-way valve and a compressor, the one-way valve is located between the compressor and the exhaust port, and the conducting direction of the one-way valve is from the compressor to the exhaust port.

9. The air conditioning system of claim 7, wherein, The air conditioning system further comprises a pressure sensor, and the pressure sensor is arranged at the return port.

10. The air conditioning system of claim 7, wherein, The air conditioning system comprises a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger and a regenerator, the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger and the throttling valve are sequentially connected in the case that the air conditioning system is in a refrigeration mode, the regenerator comprises a first regenerator pipeline and a second regenerator pipeline, the first regenerator pipeline is located between the outdoor heat exchanger and the exhaust port, and the second regenerator pipeline is located between the return port and the compressor.

11. An energy storage system characterized by, The battery pack comprises the air conditioning system and the battery pack according to any one of claims 7-10.

12. The energy storage system of claim 11, wherein, The battery pack comprises a first self-locking valve and a second self-locking valve, the first self-locking valve and the second self-locking valve each comprise a male end and a female end, one of the male end and the female end of the first self-locking valve is arranged at the exhaust port, and the other is arranged at the input port, one of the male end and the female end of the second self-locking valve is arranged at the return port, and the other is arranged at the input port.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium of a computer program, characterized in that, The computer program is executed by one or more processors, and the method for replacing a failed battery pack according to any one of claims 1-6 is implemented.

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