An integrated liquid cooling unit and control method

Abstract

This invention discloses an integrated liquid-cooled unit and its control method, relating to the field of battery energy storage thermal management technology. The integrated liquid-cooled unit includes: an air-cooled heat dissipation unit for heat exchange with external air; a compression refrigeration unit including an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, and an expansion valve; a switching valve group connected between the air-cooled heat dissipation unit and the compression refrigeration unit; and a control unit electrically connected to the switching valve group, configured to automatically control the switching state of the switching valve group according to different ambient temperatures, enabling the integrated liquid-cooled unit to switch between natural cooling mode, compression refrigeration mode, and low-temperature heat compensation mode, thereby saving energy and reducing consumption. The aforementioned integrated liquid-cooled unit adopts a centralized layout scheme, uniformly arranging the liquid-cooled units outside the battery compartment, freeing up space inside the battery compartment to accommodate more battery packs and improve system energy density; reducing the number of liquid-cooled units, lowering equipment procurement costs; facilitating rapid accident handling, and reducing operation and maintenance costs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of battery energy storage thermal management technology, and in particular to an integrated liquid cooling unit and control method. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of the new energy storage industry, the scale of electrochemical energy storage power stations is expanding daily. Energy storage batteries generate a large amount of heat during charging and discharging. If this heat cannot be dissipated effectively and in a timely manner, the battery temperature will continue to rise, affecting not only battery life but also potentially leading to safety accidents such as thermal runaway. Therefore, an efficient and reliable battery thermal management system is crucial for the safe and stable operation of energy storage power stations.

[0003] Current liquid cooling systems in energy storage power stations typically employ a distributed approach: each battery compartment houses an independent liquid cooling system, primarily composed of an air-source liquid cooler, battery pack liquid cooling plates, and piping. This distributed approach suffers from the following drawbacks:

[0004] First, the equipment is scattered and numerous. Each battery compartment requires an independent liquid cooling system, resulting in a large number of devices occupying a significant amount of internal space and reducing the energy density of the battery compartment.

[0005] Second, the operation and maintenance costs are high. The equipment is distributed in a decentralized manner, and operation and maintenance personnel need to inspect and maintain each system separately, which is a large workload; at the same time, the large number of devices also increases the types and quantities of spare parts.

[0006] Third, the system has low reliability. The distributed liquid cooling systems are not interconnected and operate independently. When one system fails, the other systems cannot provide backup support, resulting in the loss of cooling capacity of the corresponding battery compartment and affecting the operational safety of the entire power plant.

[0007] With increasingly stringent requirements for the comprehensive energy efficiency of new energy storage systems, relocating the liquid cooling units from individual battery compartments to establish centralized liquid cooling stations is an effective way to improve the energy density of battery compartments. Therefore, developing an integrated liquid cooling unit and control method that can achieve centralized layout, high efficiency and energy saving, and reliable operation has become an urgent technical problem to be solved in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide an integrated liquid cooling unit and control method, which solves the technical problems in the background art.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides an integrated liquid-cooled unit, comprising:

[0010] Air-cooled heat dissipation unit, used for heat exchange with outside air;

[0011] A compression refrigeration unit, including an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, and an expansion valve;

[0012] A switching valve assembly is connected between the air-cooled heat dissipation unit and the compression refrigeration unit;

[0013] The control unit is electrically connected to the switching valve group and is configured to automatically control the switching state of the switching valve group according to different ambient temperatures, so that the integrated liquid cooling unit switches between natural cooling mode, compression refrigeration mode and low temperature heat compensation mode.

[0014] In the natural cooling mode, the switching valve group connects the air-cooled heat dissipation unit in series to the cooling circuit of the battery compartment, and the cooling medium is directly supplied to the battery compartment after being cooled by the air-cooled heat dissipation unit.

[0015] In the compression refrigeration mode, the switching valve group connects the air-cooled heat dissipation unit in series to the cooling circuit of the condenser, serving as the cooling tower of the condenser. At the same time, it connects the evaporator in series to the cooling circuit of the battery compartment. The cooling medium is supplied to the battery compartment after being cooled by the evaporator.

[0016] In some technical solutions, the air-cooled heat dissipation unit includes a radiator and a fan unit for driving air to flow through the radiator; the compression refrigeration unit is a water-source chiller unit.

[0017] Some technical solutions also include a piping system, which includes:

[0018] The main water inlet pipe and the main water outlet pipe are connected to the water inlet of the radiator and the main water outlet pipe is connected to the water outlet of the radiator.

[0019] The first pipeline connects the main water inlet pipe to the cooling medium inlet of the evaporator;

[0020] The second pipeline connects the cooling medium outlet of the evaporator to the main water outlet pipe;

[0021] The third pipeline connects the cooling medium outlet of the condenser to the main water inlet pipe;

[0022] The fourth pipeline connects the main water outlet pipe to the cooling medium inlet of the condenser.

[0023] In some technical solutions, the switching valve group includes:

[0024] The first switching valve is installed on the main water inlet pipe, located between the connection between the first pipeline and the main water inlet pipe and the connection between the third pipeline and the main water inlet pipe;

[0025] The second switching valve is installed on the first pipeline and is used to control the opening and closing of the first pipeline;

[0026] The third switching valve is installed on the main outlet pipe, located between the connection between the second pipe and the main outlet pipe and the connection between the fourth pipe and the main outlet pipe;

[0027] A one-way valve is installed on the third pipeline to control the one-way flow of the third pipeline.

[0028] In some technical solutions, under the natural cooling mode, the first switching valve and the third switching valve are open, while the second switching valve and the one-way valve are closed.

[0029] In the compression refrigeration mode, the second switching valve and the one-way valve are open, while the first switching valve and the third switching valve are closed.

[0030] Some technical solutions also include:

[0031] An external circulating water pump is installed on the main outlet pipe, located between the outlet end of the main outlet pipe and the connection point between the second pipeline and the main outlet pipe;

[0032] An internal circulating water pump is installed on the fourth pipeline.

[0033] In some technical solutions, an electric heater is also included, which is disposed on the main water outlet pipe and located between the connection between the radiator and the main water outlet pipe and the connection between the fourth pipe and the main water outlet pipe.

[0034] In some technical solutions, the control unit is also configured to control the integrated liquid cooling unit to switch to a low-temperature heat compensation mode. In the low-temperature heat compensation mode, all the switching valve groups are opened, the electric heater and the compressor of the compression refrigeration unit work, and the fan unit of the air-cooled heat dissipation unit stops running.

[0035] In some technical solutions, an exhaust pipe is also included, which is connected to the top of the radiator and is used to guide the gas in the radiator to the outside of the unit when the unit is running, and to draw in air to quickly discharge the cooling medium when the unit is stopped.

[0036] The present invention also provides a control method for a skid-mounted liquid-cooled heat exchange station composed of a centralized arrangement of integrated liquid-cooled units provided by any of the above technical solutions, comprising the following steps:

[0037] S1: Start the system and monitor the ambient temperature in real time;

[0038] S2: Determine whether the ambient temperature is higher than the first summer threshold. If yes, proceed to step S3; otherwise, proceed to step S4.

[0039] S3: The liquid-cooled heat exchange station starts the compression refrigeration mode, and the air-cooled heat dissipation unit is used as the cooling tower of the condenser 2. At the same time, the evaporator 1 cools the cooling medium and supplies it to the battery compartment.

[0040] S4: Determine whether the ambient temperature is higher than the second summer threshold. If yes, proceed to step S5; otherwise, proceed to step S6.

[0041] S5: The liquid-cooled heat exchange station starts the combined operation mode of natural cooling and compression refrigeration; as the ambient temperature rises, each integrated liquid-cooled unit is switched from natural cooling mode to compression refrigeration mode in sequence;

[0042] S6: Determine whether the ambient temperature is higher than the winter threshold. If yes, proceed to step S7; otherwise, proceed to step S8.

[0043] S7: The liquid-cooled heat exchange station starts the natural cooling mode, the compression refrigeration unit does not work, and the cooling medium is directly supplied to the battery compartment after being cooled by the air-cooled heat dissipation unit.

[0044] S8: The liquid-cooled heat exchange station starts the low-temperature heat replenishment mode.

[0045] Compared to the aforementioned background technologies, the integrated liquid cooling unit provided by this invention adopts a centralized layout scheme, uniformly arranging the liquid cooling units outside the battery compartment. This frees up space inside the battery compartment, allowing for the arrangement of more battery packs, saving floor space and increasing energy density. The centralized layout reduces the number of liquid cooling units, lowering equipment procurement costs. The centralized layout also facilitates operation and maintenance, reducing operating costs. Furthermore, the centralized layout can provide cooling services to multiple battery compartments simultaneously, and when some units fail, other units can take over, resulting in high system reliability. Attached Figure Description

[0046] 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 embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without creative effort.

[0047] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the natural cooling mode of the integrated liquid cooling unit provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the compression refrigeration mode of the integrated liquid-cooled unit provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the low-temperature heat replenishment mode of the integrated liquid cooling unit provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] Figures 1 to 3 Chinese Figure Labels: 1. Evaporator; 2. Condenser; 3. Radiator; 4. Fan unit; 5. Main water inlet pipe; 6. Main water outlet pipe; 7. First pipeline; 8. Second pipeline; 9. Third pipeline; 10. Fourth pipeline; 11. First switching valve; 12. Second switching valve; 13. Third switching valve; 14. Check valve; 15. External circulating water pump; 16. Internal circulating water pump; 17. Electric heater; 18. Exhaust pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0051] 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 some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0052] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0053] Please refer to this as well. Figures 1 to 3 This invention provides an integrated liquid-cooled chiller unit. The integrated liquid-cooled chiller unit provided by this invention includes:

[0054] Air-cooled heat dissipation unit, used for heat exchange with outside air;

[0055] The compression refrigeration unit includes an evaporator 1, a condenser 2, a compressor, and an expansion valve;

[0056] The switching valve assembly is connected between the air-cooled heat dissipation unit and the compression refrigeration unit;

[0057] The control unit is electrically connected to the switching valve group and is configured to automatically control the switching state of the switching valve group according to different ambient temperatures, so that the integrated liquid chiller can switch between natural cooling mode, compression refrigeration mode and low temperature compensation mode.

[0058] In the natural cooling mode, the switching valve group connects the air-cooled heat dissipation unit in series to the cooling circuit of the battery compartment, and the cooling medium is directly supplied to the battery compartment after being cooled by the air-cooled heat dissipation unit.

[0059] In compression refrigeration mode, the switching valve group connects the air-cooled heat dissipation unit in series to the cooling circuit of condenser 2, serving as the cooling tower of condenser 2. At the same time, it connects the evaporator 1 in series to the cooling circuit of the battery compartment. The cooling medium is supplied to the battery compartment after being cooled by the evaporator 1.

[0060] The air-cooled heat dissipation unit exchanges heat with the outside air, transferring heat from the cooling medium to the air. The compression refrigeration unit includes an evaporator 1, a condenser 2, a compressor, and an expansion valve. The evaporator 1 absorbs heat from the cooling medium (chilled water) to cool it down, while the condenser 2 releases heat from the refrigerant to the cooling medium (chilled water). A switching valve assembly connects the air-cooled heat dissipation unit and the compression refrigeration unit. By combining the on / off states of the switching valve assembly, the flow path of the cooling medium can be changed. The control unit is electrically connected to the switching valve assembly and is configured to control the switching state of the switching valve assembly according to different ambient temperatures, allowing the unit to switch between natural cooling mode, compression refrigeration mode, and low-temperature supplemental heating mode.

[0061] In natural cooling mode, the switching valve assembly connects the air-cooled heat dissipation unit in series with the battery compartment's cooling circuit. The cooling medium, cooled by the air-cooled heat dissipation unit, is then directly supplied to the battery compartment to cool the batteries. In this mode, the compression refrigeration unit does not operate; cooling relies solely on natural cold sources, resulting in extremely low energy consumption.

[0062] In compression refrigeration mode, the switching valve assembly connects the air-cooled heat dissipation unit in series to the cooling circuit of condenser 2. In this mode, the air-cooled heat dissipation unit acts as a cooling tower for condenser 2, cooling the circulating water on the condenser 2 side. Simultaneously, the switching valve assembly connects the evaporator 1 in series to the cooling circuit of the battery compartment. The cooling medium (chilled water) is cooled by evaporator 1 and then supplied to the battery compartment. This mode is used when natural cooling is insufficient to meet heat dissipation requirements, providing greater cooling capacity through the compression refrigeration unit.

[0063] This configuration, employing a centralized layout, places the liquid cooling units outside the battery compartment, freeing up space inside the compartment and allowing for the placement of more battery packs. This saves floor space and increases energy density. The centralized layout also reduces the number of liquid cooling units, lowering equipment procurement costs. Furthermore, the centralized layout facilitates operation and maintenance, reducing operating costs. It can also provide cooling services to multiple battery compartments simultaneously, and if some units fail, others can take over, resulting in high system reliability.

[0064] In some embodiments, the air-cooled heat dissipation unit includes a radiator 3 and a fan unit 4 for driving air to flow through the radiator 3; the compression refrigeration unit is a water-source chiller unit.

[0065] Please refer to this as well. Figures 1 to 3The air-cooled heat dissipation unit includes a radiator 3 and a fan unit 4. The radiator 3 is the core component for heat exchange, comprising heat dissipation pipes through which the cooling medium flows, with fins on the outside of the heat dissipation pipes to increase the heat exchange area. The fan unit 4 is located on one side of the radiator 3 and drives airflow through the radiator 3, forcing the air to exchange heat with the heat dissipation pipes and fins, carrying away the heat from the cooling medium. The fan unit 4 can be frequency-controlled to adjust the airflow according to the heat dissipation requirements. It is understood that the form of the radiator 3 is not limited to a V-shaped finned tube radiator 3; other forms of air heat exchangers can also be used. The fan unit 4 is arranged in an induced draft configuration.

[0066] The refrigeration unit is a water-source chiller. A water-source chiller is a refrigeration device that uses ethylene glycol, softened water, or demineralized water as the cooling medium on both sides of the condenser. Internally, it integrates an evaporator 1, a condenser 2, a compressor, and an expansion valve. Compared to traditional air-cooled chillers, the water-source chiller uses closed-loop circulating water cooling on both sides of the condenser, resulting in a higher energy efficiency ratio for mechanical refrigeration and significantly greater energy savings.

[0067] In addition, to further enhance the heat exchange capacity of the air-cooled heat dissipation unit, especially under high temperatures or extreme operating conditions in summer, a water spraying device can be installed on the unit. The water spraying device is located above or to the side of the radiator 3, and specifically includes water distribution pipes and spray nozzles. The water distribution pipes are connected to an external water source, and the spray nozzles evenly spray water onto the fins and heat dissipation tubes of the radiator 3. In some embodiments, a piping system is also included, comprising:

[0068] Main inlet pipe 5 and main outlet pipe 6, the main inlet pipe 5 is connected to the inlet of radiator 3, and the main outlet pipe 6 is connected to the outlet of radiator 3.

[0069] The first pipe 7 connects the main water inlet pipe 5 to the cooling medium inlet of the evaporator 1;

[0070] The second pipe 8 connects the cooling medium outlet of the evaporator 1 to the main water outlet pipe 6;

[0071] The third pipe 9 connects the cooling medium outlet of the condenser 2 to the main water inlet pipe 5;

[0072] The fourth pipe 10 connects the main water outlet pipe 6 to the cooling medium inlet of the condenser 2.

[0073] Please refer to this as well. Figures 1 to 3 The pipeline system includes the main inlet pipe 5, the main outlet pipe 6, the first pipeline 7, the second pipeline 8, the third pipeline 9, and the fourth pipeline 10.

[0074] One end of the main water inlet pipe 5 ( Figures 1 to 3The left end (middle) is the inlet end, connected to the outlet end of the cooling medium in the battery compartment, for water intake; the main water inlet pipe 5 is also connected to the water inlet of the radiator 3, for introducing the cooling medium (in this embodiment, softened water or demineralized water is used as an example; for ease of description, softened water or demineralized water is simplified to water) into the radiator 3. One end of the main water outlet pipe 6 ( Figures 1 to 3 The middle (left end) is the outlet end, which is connected to the inlet end of the cooling medium in the battery compartment for water discharge. The main water outlet pipe 6 is also connected to the outlet of the radiator 3 for leading out the cooling medium after it has been cooled by the radiator 3.

[0075] The first pipe 7 connects the main water inlet pipe 5 to the cooling medium inlet of the evaporator 1. When the first pipe 7 is open, the cooling medium can be diverted from the main water inlet pipe 5 into the evaporator 1 for cooling. The second pipe 8 connects the cooling medium outlet of the evaporator 1 to the main water outlet pipe 6. The cooling medium cooled by the evaporator 1 can flow into the main water outlet pipe 6 through the second pipe 8.

[0076] The third pipe 9 connects the cooling medium outlet of condenser 2 to the main water inlet pipe 5. In compression refrigeration mode, the cooling medium heated in condenser 2 enters the main water inlet pipe 5 through the third pipe 9, and then enters the radiator 3 for cooling. The fourth pipe 10 connects the main water outlet pipe 6 to the cooling medium inlet of condenser 2. The cooling medium cooled by radiator 3 enters condenser 2 through the fourth pipe 10 to absorb the heat released by condenser 2.

[0077] With the above-mentioned pipeline arrangement, the flow path of the cooling medium can be flexibly switched according to the status of the switching valve group, realizing the conversion between natural cooling mode and compression refrigeration mode.

[0078] In some embodiments, the switching valve assembly includes:

[0079] The first switching valve 11 is installed on the main water inlet pipe 5, located between the connection between the first pipeline 7 and the main water inlet pipe 5 and the connection between the third pipeline 9 and the main water inlet pipe 5.

[0080] The second switching valve 12 is installed on the first pipeline 7 and is used to control the opening and closing of the first pipeline 7;

[0081] The third switching valve 13 is installed on the main outlet pipe 6, located between the connection between the second pipe 8 and the main outlet pipe 6 and the connection between the fourth pipe 10 and the main outlet pipe 6.

[0082] One-way valve 14 is installed on the third pipeline 9 and is used to control the one-way flow of the third pipeline 9.

[0083] Please refer to this as well. Figures 1 to 3The first switching valve 11 is installed on the main water inlet pipe 5, specifically between the connection between the first pipe 7 and the main water inlet pipe 5 and the connection between the third pipe 9 and the main water inlet pipe 5. The second switching valve 12 is installed on the first pipe 7 and is used to control the opening and closing of the first pipe 7. When the second switching valve 12 is open, the cooling medium in the main water inlet pipe 5 can be diverted into the evaporator 1; when the second switching valve 12 is closed, the cooling medium cannot enter the evaporator 1.

[0084] The third switching valve 13 is installed on the main outlet pipe 6, specifically between the connection between the second pipe 8 and the main outlet pipe 6, and between the connection between the fourth pipe 10 and the main outlet pipe 6. The one-way valve 14 is installed on the third pipe 9 to control the one-way flow of the third pipe 9. The one-way valve 14 only allows the cooling medium to flow from the cooling medium outlet of the condenser 2 to the main inlet pipe 5, preventing backflow.

[0085] Through the coordinated control of the first switching valve 11, the second switching valve 12, the third switching valve 13 and the one-way valve 14, the precise switching of the cooling medium flow path can be achieved.

[0086] In some embodiments, in natural cooling mode, the first switching valve 11 and the third switching valve 13 are open, and the second switching valve 12 and the check valve 14 are closed.

[0087] In compression refrigeration mode, the second switching valve 12 and the one-way valve 14 are open, while the first switching valve 11 and the third switching valve 13 are closed.

[0088] Please refer to this as well. Figures 1 to 3 In natural cooling mode, the first switching valve 11 and the third switching valve 13 are open, while the second switching valve 12 and the one-way valve 14 are closed. At this time, the flow path of the cooling medium is as follows: the cooling medium enters the radiator 3 through the main inlet pipe 5, exchanges heat with the air in the radiator 3 to cool down, and the cooled cooling medium is directly supplied to the battery compartment through the main outlet pipe 6. The evaporator 1 and the condenser 2 do not participate in operation.

[0089] In compression refrigeration mode, the second switching valve 12 and the one-way valve 14 are open, while the first switching valve 11 and the third switching valve 13 are closed. At this time, the cooling medium is divided into two independent circulation loops: in the primary loop, the cooling medium enters the evaporator 1 through the first pipe 7, cools down in the evaporator 1, and is then supplied to the battery compartment through the second pipe 8 and the main water outlet pipe 6; in the secondary loop, the cooling medium in the condenser 2 absorbs heat from the condenser 2 and heats up, then enters the radiator 3 through the third pipe 9 and the main water inlet pipe 5, cools down in the radiator 3, and returns to the condenser 2 through the fourth pipe 10, forming a closed loop.

[0090] Through the above switching logic, the air-cooled radiator 3 achieves functional reuse in two modes: it acts as a primary side cooler during natural cooling and as a cooling tower for the condenser 2 during compression refrigeration.

[0091] In some embodiments, it also includes:

[0092] The external circulation water pump 15 is installed on the main outlet pipe 6, located between the outlet end of the main outlet pipe 6 and the connection between the second pipeline 8 and the main outlet pipe 6.

[0093] The internal circulation water pump 16 is installed on the fourth pipeline 10.

[0094] Please refer to this as well. Figures 1 to 3 The external circulating water pump 15 is installed on the main outlet pipe 6, specifically between the outlet end of the main outlet pipe 6 and the connection point between the second pipe 8 and the main outlet pipe 6. The external circulating water pump 15 is used to drive the primary side cooling medium to circulate between the integrated liquid cooling unit and the battery compartment, ensuring that the cooling medium can be delivered to the plate heat exchanger in the battery compartment.

[0095] The internal circulating water pump 16 is installed on the fourth pipeline 10 to drive the secondary cooling medium to circulate between the condenser 2 and the radiator 3, ensuring that the heat generated by the condenser 2 can be delivered to the radiator 3 in a timely manner and discharged to the atmosphere.

[0096] Both the external circulating water pump 15 and the internal circulating water pump 16 can be controlled by frequency conversion, adjusting the speed according to the actual cooling needs to further reduce operating energy consumption.

[0097] In some embodiments, an electric heater 17 is also included, which is disposed on the main water outlet pipe 6 and located between the connection between the radiator 3 and the main water outlet pipe 6 and the connection between the fourth pipe 10 and the main water outlet pipe 6.

[0098] Please refer to this as well. Figures 1 to 3 The electric heater 17 is installed on the main water outlet pipe 6, specifically between the connection between the radiator 3 and the main water outlet pipe 6 and the connection between the fourth pipe 10 and the main water outlet pipe 6.

[0099] The electric heater 17 is a resistance heating element that generates heat when energized, heating the cooling medium flowing through it. In low-temperature winter conditions, when the battery temperature is too low and heating is required, the electric heater 17 is activated to heat the cooling medium, and then the heated cooling medium is delivered to the battery compartment to provide heat to the battery, keeping the battery within a suitable operating temperature range.

[0100] The electric heater 17 enables the unit to have a heating function, which can meet the preheating and heat preservation requirements of the battery in low-temperature environments.

[0101] In some embodiments, the control unit is also configured to control the integrated liquid cooling unit to switch to a low-temperature heating mode. In the low-temperature heating mode, all switching valve groups are opened, the electric heater 17 and the compressor of the compression refrigeration unit operate, and the fan unit 4 of the air-cooled heat dissipation unit stops operating.

[0102] Please refer to this as well. Figures 1 to 3 The integrated liquid-cooled unit also features a low-temperature heating mode. In this mode, all switching valves are open, including the first switching valve 11, the second switching valve 12, the third switching valve 13, and the check valve 14. The fan unit 4 of the air-cooled heat dissipation unit stops operating to prevent heat loss to the atmosphere through the radiator 3. Simultaneously, the control unit activates the electric heater 17 to heat the flowing cooling medium.

[0103] In addition, the control unit also controls the compressor of the water-source chiller unit to operate for heating. Specifically, the compressor consumes electricity to drive the refrigerant circulation. The heat generated by the compressor's work is added to the refrigerant, making the total heat released by the condenser 2 greater than the heat absorbed by the evaporator 1. The high-temperature water from the condenser 2 is mixed with the low-temperature water from the evaporator 1, and the compressor's work raises the overall temperature of the circulating water to achieve the purpose of heating. In the low-temperature supplemental heating mode, the compressor heating and the electric heater 17 work simultaneously.

[0104] The heating path of the cooling medium is as follows: the cooling medium enters the radiator 3 through the main water inlet pipe 5. Since the fan unit 4 is stopped, the radiator 3 hardly participates in heat dissipation. Then the cooling medium flows through the evaporator 1 and the condenser 2. Under the operation of the compressor, the overall temperature of the circulating mixed water is raised by relying on the efficient heat transfer characteristics of the chiller unit. At the same time, it is heated by the electric heater 17. Finally, it is delivered to the battery compartment by the external circulating water pump 15 to provide heat for the battery.

[0105] In this mode, since all the switching valve groups are open, the entire pipeline system forms an integrated circulation loop, which is conducive to the uniform distribution of heat throughout the system and avoids local overheating.

[0106] The low-temperature heating mode is mainly used during the charging and discharging intervals of the battery in winter. It is activated when the battery temperature is below the normal operating temperature range to preheat or keep the battery warm, ensuring that the battery is always within a suitable temperature range. Compared to the solution that only uses electric heater 17, introducing compressor heating can significantly reduce the power requirement of electric heater 17.

[0107] In some embodiments, an exhaust pipe 18 is also included, which is connected to the top of the radiator 3 and is used to guide the gas in the radiator 3 to the outside of the unit when the unit is running and to draw in air to quickly discharge water when the unit is stopped.

[0108] Please refer to this as well. Figures 1 to 3The unit also includes an exhaust pipe 18. The exhaust pipe 18 connects to the top of the radiator 3, serving two purposes: firstly, to guide accumulated gas inside the radiator 3 to the outside of the unit during operation; and secondly, to allow dissolved gases to escape from the cooling medium as the temperature changes during operation, which can accumulate on the top of the radiator 3 and reduce its heat exchange efficiency. The exhaust pipe 18 ensures that these gases are promptly discharged, guaranteeing that the radiator 3 is always filled with cooling medium and maintaining efficient heat exchange. The exhaust pipe 18 can be connected to an automatic exhaust valve on the top of the unit, or can be manually vented periodically.

[0109] On the other hand, when the unit needs to be shut down for maintenance or long-term shutdown, external air can be drawn in through the exhaust pipe 18. Specifically, when the unit is shut down and the cooling medium needs to be discharged quickly, the exhaust valve of the exhaust pipe 18 can be opened to allow air to enter the top of the heat dissipation pipe through the exhaust pipe 18, thereby accelerating the discharge of the cooling medium from the radiator 3 and the entire piping system.

[0110] In addition to the integrated liquid-cooled units disclosed in the above embodiments, the present invention also provides a control method applied to a skid-mounted liquid-cooled heat exchange station composed of a centralized arrangement of integrated liquid-cooled units provided in any of the above embodiments. The control method specifically includes the following steps:

[0111] S1: Start the system and monitor the ambient temperature in real time. Ambient temperature data can be collected in real time using an ambient temperature sensor located near the unit's air inlet.

[0112] S2: Determine whether the ambient temperature is higher than the first summer threshold (18℃). If yes, proceed to step S3; otherwise, proceed to step S4.

[0113] S3: The liquid-cooled heat exchange station starts the compression refrigeration mode, and the air-cooled heat dissipation unit is used as the cooling tower of the condenser 2. At the same time, the evaporator 1 cools the cooling medium and supplies it to the battery compartment.

[0114] S4: Determine whether the ambient temperature is higher than the second summer threshold (12℃). If yes, proceed to step S5; otherwise, proceed to step S6.

[0115] S5: The liquid-cooled heat exchange station starts the combined operation mode of natural cooling and compression refrigeration, and completes uniform mixing at the outlet of the main water outlet pipe 6; as the ambient temperature rises, each integrated liquid-cooled unit is switched from natural cooling mode to compression refrigeration mode in sequence.

[0116] S6: Determine whether the ambient temperature is higher than the winter threshold (5℃). If yes, proceed to step S7; otherwise, proceed to step S8.

[0117] S7: The liquid-cooled heat exchange station starts the natural cooling mode, the compression refrigeration unit does not work, and the cooling medium is directly supplied to the battery compartment after being cooled by the air-cooled heat dissipation unit.

[0118] S8: The liquid-cooled heat exchange station activates the low-temperature supplementary heating mode. The fan unit 4 of the air-cooled heat dissipation unit stops operating, the electric heater 17 starts working, and the compressor of the compression refrigeration unit starts heating. The low-temperature supplementary heating mode is suitable for use in winter when the battery is in the charging and discharging interval. The low-temperature supplementary heating mode can supply the cooling medium to the battery compartment after heating, preventing the battery performance from degrading or being damaged in the low-temperature environment.

[0119] In addition, the unit is configured to automatically select the optimal cooling mode according to the ambient temperature and the actual needs of the system, and to precisely adjust the speed of the fan unit 4, the compressor speed or the electric heater 17 in the selected mode, so as to achieve precise control of the outlet water temperature and reduce operating energy consumption.

[0120] For example, in natural cooling mode, when the measured outlet water temperature is higher than the set value, the control unit outputs a command to increase the speed of fan unit 4, thereby increasing the airflow to enhance the heat exchange capacity of radiator 3 and lowering the outlet water temperature; when the measured outlet water temperature is lower than the set value, the control unit outputs a command to decrease the speed of fan unit 4, thereby reducing the airflow to reduce the heat dissipation capacity and causing the outlet water temperature to rise; when the measured outlet water temperature is close to the set value and within the allowable error range, the control unit can output a command to maintain the current speed, or issue start or stop commands according to the actual situation.

[0121] This setup ensures that the outlet water temperature remains stable within the target range while avoiding energy waste caused by the unit operating at full load for extended periods.

[0122] The above control method can automatically select the optimal working mode according to the ambient temperature, and minimize operating energy consumption while ensuring that the battery temperature is always within a suitable range.

[0123] It should be noted that in this specification, relational terms such as first and second are used only to distinguish one entity from several other entities, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities.

[0124] This article uses specific examples to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of the present invention. The descriptions of the above embodiments are only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core ideas of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make several improvements and modifications to the present invention without departing from the principles of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An integrated liquid-cooled unit, characterized in that, include: Air-cooled heat dissipation unit, used for heat exchange with outside air; The compression refrigeration unit includes an evaporator (1), a condenser (2), a compressor, and an expansion valve; A switching valve assembly is connected between the air-cooled heat dissipation unit and the compression refrigeration unit; The control unit is electrically connected to the switching valve group and is configured to automatically control the switching state of the switching valve group according to different ambient temperatures, so that the integrated liquid cooling unit switches between natural cooling mode, compression refrigeration mode and low temperature heat compensation mode. In the natural cooling mode, the switching valve group connects the air-cooled heat dissipation unit in series to the cooling circuit of the battery compartment, and the cooling medium is directly supplied to the battery compartment after being cooled by the air-cooled heat dissipation unit. In the compression refrigeration mode, the switching valve group connects the air-cooled heat dissipation unit in series to the cooling circuit of the condenser (2) as a cooling tower of the condenser (2), and at the same time connects the evaporator (1) in series to the cooling circuit of the battery compartment. The cooling medium is supplied to the battery compartment after being cooled by the evaporator (1).

2. The integrated liquid-cooled unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air-cooled heat dissipation unit includes a radiator (3) and a fan unit (4) for driving air to flow through the radiator (3); the compression refrigeration unit is a water source chiller unit.

3. The integrated liquid-cooled unit according to claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a piping system, which comprises: The main water inlet pipe (5) and the main water outlet pipe (6) are connected to the water inlet of the radiator (3) and the main water outlet pipe (6) is connected to the water outlet of the radiator (3). The first pipeline (7) connects the main water inlet pipe (5) to the cooling medium inlet of the evaporator (1); The second pipe (8) connects the cooling medium outlet of the evaporator (1) to the main water outlet pipe (6); The third pipe (9) connects the cooling medium outlet of the condenser (2) to the main water inlet pipe (5); The fourth pipe (10) connects the main water outlet pipe (6) to the cooling medium inlet of the condenser (2).

4. The integrated liquid-cooled unit according to claim 3, characterized in that, The switching valve group includes: The first switching valve (11) is installed on the main water inlet pipe (5) and is located between the connection between the first pipeline (7) and the main water inlet pipe (5) and the connection between the third pipeline (9) and the main water inlet pipe (5). The second switching valve (12) is installed on the first pipeline (7) and is used to control the opening and closing of the first pipeline (7); The third switching valve (13) is installed on the main outlet pipe (6) and is located between the connection between the second pipeline (8) and the main outlet pipe (6) and the connection between the fourth pipeline (10) and the main outlet pipe (6). A one-way valve (14) is installed on the third pipeline (9) to control the one-way flow of the third pipeline (9).

5. The integrated liquid-cooled unit according to claim 4, characterized in that, In the natural cooling mode, the first switching valve (11) and the third switching valve (13) are open, and the second switching valve (12) and the one-way valve (14) are closed; In the compression refrigeration mode, the second switching valve (12) and the one-way valve (14) are open, and the first switching valve (11) and the third switching valve (13) are closed.

6. The integrated liquid-cooled unit according to claim 3, characterized in that, Also includes: An external circulating water pump (15) is installed on the main outlet pipe (6) and located between the outlet end of the main outlet pipe (6) and the connection between the second pipeline (8) and the main outlet pipe (6); An internal circulating water pump (16) is installed on the fourth pipeline (10).

7. The integrated liquid-cooled unit according to claim 3, characterized in that, It also includes an electric heater (17), which is disposed on the main water outlet pipe (6) and located between the connection between the radiator (3) and the main water outlet pipe (6) and the connection between the fourth pipe (10) and the main water outlet pipe (6).

8. The integrated liquid-cooled unit according to claim 7, characterized in that, The control unit is also configured to control the integrated liquid cooling unit to switch to a low-temperature heat replenishment mode. In the low-temperature heat replenishment mode, all the switching valve groups are opened, the electric heater (17) and the compressor of the compression refrigeration unit work, and the fan group (4) of the air-cooled heat dissipation unit stops running.

9. The integrated liquid-cooled unit according to claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes an exhaust pipe (18), which is connected to the top of the radiator (3) and is used to guide the gas in the radiator (3) to the outside of the unit when the unit is running and to draw in air to quickly discharge the cooling medium when the unit is stopped.

10. A control method, characterized in that, The application to a skid-mounted liquid-cooled heat exchange station constructed by a centralized arrangement of integrated liquid-cooled units according to any one of claims 1 to 9 includes the following steps: S1: Start the system and monitor the ambient temperature in real time; S2: Determine whether the ambient temperature is higher than the first summer threshold. If yes, proceed to step S3; otherwise, proceed to step S4. S3: The liquid-cooled heat exchange station starts the compression refrigeration mode, and the air-cooled heat dissipation unit is used as the cooling tower of the condenser (2), while the evaporator (1) cools the cooling medium and supplies it to the battery compartment. S4: Determine whether the ambient temperature is higher than the second summer threshold. If yes, proceed to step S5; otherwise, proceed to step S6. S5: The liquid-cooled heat exchange station starts the combined operation mode of natural cooling and compression refrigeration; as the ambient temperature rises, each integrated liquid-cooled unit is switched from natural cooling mode to compression refrigeration mode in sequence; S6: Determine whether the ambient temperature is higher than the winter threshold. If yes, proceed to step S7; otherwise, proceed to step S8. S7: The liquid-cooled heat exchange station starts the natural cooling mode, the compression refrigeration unit does not work, and the cooling medium is directly supplied to the battery compartment after being cooled by the air-cooled heat dissipation unit. S8: The liquid-cooled heat exchange station starts the low-temperature heat replenishment mode.

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