Charging / discharging device for secondary battery and control method thereof

Abstract

A secondary battery charging / discharging device according to an embodiment of the present application includes a cabinet, a tray placed in the cabinet and having a plurality of battery cells loaded thereon, a fan installed on a wall surface of the cabinet and configured to introduce air from the outside into the cabinet, a driving portion configured to move the fan to align the fan with the tray, and a heat exchange portion placed adjacent to the fan and configured to change a temperature of the air introduced into the cabinet by the fan.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority and benefit to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0192889, filed on December 20, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0003] This disclosure relates to a charging / discharging device for a secondary battery and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a charging / discharging device for a secondary battery including a movable fan and a heat exchange unit and a control method thereof. Background Technology

[0004] In modern society, with the increasing prevalence of portable devices such as mobile phones, laptops, portable camcorders, and digital cameras, as well as energy storage systems (ESS), technological development in related fields has been active. Furthermore, rechargeable / dischargeable secondary batteries are used as power sources for electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (P-HEVs) in an attempt to address air pollution caused by the use of fossil fuels in existing gasoline vehicles. Therefore, the demand for the development of secondary batteries is growing.

[0005] Currently, commercially available rechargeable batteries include nickel-cadmium (NiCd), nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), nickel-zinc (NiZn), and lithium-ion batteries. Among these, lithium-ion batteries have attracted considerable attention due to their advantages: free charging and discharging, very low self-discharge rate, and high energy density.

[0006] This type of lithium secondary battery mainly uses lithium-based oxide and carbon materials as positive and negative electrode active materials, respectively. The lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly and an outer casing (i.e., the battery housing). In the electrode assembly, positive and negative electrode plates, each coated with positive and negative electrode active materials, are placed with a separator inserted between the positive and negative electrode plates. The outer casing (i.e., the battery housing) seals and houses the electrode assembly together with the electrolyte.

[0007] Generally, depending on the shape of the outer casing, lithium-ion batteries can be divided into cylindrical batteries and pouch batteries. In cylindrical batteries, the electrode assembly is housed in a cylindrical metal can, while in pouch batteries, the electrode assembly is housed in a pouch made of aluminum laminates. Among these batteries, cylindrical batteries have the advantage of relatively large capacity and structural stability.

[0008] On the other hand, secondary batteries can have their performance evaluated and defects detected through a charge / discharge process after the assembly step. In this case, the charge / discharge process of the secondary battery can be performed by a charge / discharge device including probe pins to which current and voltage are applied. The charge / discharge device for the secondary battery can include a cabinet with an internal space, and the internal space of the cabinet can be configured such that trays on which multiple battery cells are stacked can be arranged in multiple layers.

[0009] During the charging / discharging process of a secondary battery, heat can be generated due to various factors, such as the contact resistance between the probe pins and the battery cells. To cool this heat, a fan can be used to circulate air over the battery cells. However, if the tray position varies depending on the height of the battery cells, the air cannot be smoothly transferred from the fan to the cells, resulting in ineffective cooling. Furthermore, temperature variations between battery cells can lead to performance degradation. Therefore, a charging / discharging structure is needed that can effectively cool the battery cells, mitigate temperature variations between cells, and prevent performance degradation. Summary of the Invention

[0010] [Technical Issues]

[0011] The purpose of this disclosure is to configure the fan included in a secondary battery charging / discharging device to be movable and to place a heat exchange unit at the outlet of the fan to effectively cool the battery cells and improve the temperature difference between the battery cells, thereby preventing the performance of the battery cells from deteriorating.

[0012] However, the technical objectives to be addressed by the embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to those described above, and various extensions can be made within the scope of the technical concepts included in this disclosure.

[0013] [Technical Solution]

[0014] In one illustrative aspect of this disclosure, a charging / discharging device for a secondary battery is provided, the device comprising: a cabinet; a tray placed inside the cabinet and on which a plurality of battery cells are loaded; a fan mounted on a wall surface of the cabinet and allowing air to flow from the outside of the cabinet to the inside of the cabinet; a drive unit that moves the fan such that the position of the tray and the position of the fan are aligned; and a heat exchange unit disposed adjacent to the fan and changing the temperature of the air flowing into the inside of the cabinet from the fan.

[0015] In this embodiment, the trays and the fans can be arranged in multiple quantities. The multiple trays can be arranged in multiple layers along the height direction of the cabinet, and the multiple fans can be installed on the side wall of the cabinet and can move along the height direction of the cabinet.

[0016] In one embodiment, each of the plurality of fans can be positioned aligned with each of the plurality of trays, based on the direction from the inlet of each of the plurality of fans to the outlet of each of the plurality of fans.

[0017] In one embodiment, the cabinet may be formed with multiple support plates arranged in multiple layers, and each of the multiple trays may be placed on each of the multiple support plates.

[0018] In one embodiment, a door may be formed on at least a portion of the sidewall of the cabinet, and the plurality of fans may be mounted on the door.

[0019] In an embodiment, the charging / discharging device for the secondary battery may further include: a position sensor that detects the position of the tray and the position of the fan; and a sensing unit that includes at least one temperature sensor that measures the temperature of air flowing into the fan from outside the cabinet.

[0020] In one embodiment, the position sensor can detect the position of the tray and the position of the fan along the height direction of the cabinet.

[0021] In an embodiment, the charging / discharging device for a secondary battery may further include a control unit, which controls at least one of the driving unit and the heat exchange unit based on information acquired by the sensing unit.

[0022] In an embodiment, when the position of the tray and the position of the fan are not aligned along the direction from the fan inlet to the fan outlet, the control unit can control the drive unit to move the fan along the height direction of the cabinet, thereby aligning the position of the tray and the position of the fan.

[0023] In one embodiment, the control unit may: compare the temperature measured by the temperature sensor with a set value; if the temperature measured by the temperature sensor is lower than the set value, control the heat exchange unit to heat the air flowing into the cabinet from the fan; and if the temperature measured by the temperature sensor is higher than the set value, control the heat exchange unit to cool the air flowing into the cabinet from the fan.

[0024] In one embodiment, the tray may include: a lower plate on which the plurality of battery cells are disposed; a side surface plate covering the side surfaces of the plurality of battery cells; and flow holes formed in the side surface plate.

[0025] In one embodiment, the drive unit can move the fan so that the fan is aligned in position with the flow hole.

[0026] In one embodiment, the heat exchange unit can be moved by the drive unit to be positioned adjacent to the outlet of the fan.

[0027] In one embodiment, the heat exchange unit may include a thermocouple.

[0028] In one embodiment, the plurality of battery cells may be formed in a cylindrical shape, and the plurality of battery cells may be loaded on the tray in a direction perpendicular to the height direction of the cabinet.

[0029] In another illustrative aspect of this disclosure, a control method for a charging / discharging device for a secondary battery is provided, the control method comprising: a loading step of loading a plurality of battery cells onto a tray placed inside a cabinet; a position detection step of detecting the position of a fan that allows air to flow from the outside of the cabinet to the inside of the cabinet and the position of the tray; a position alignment step of moving the fan to align the position of the tray and the position of the fan; a temperature measurement step of measuring the temperature of air flowing into the fan from the outside of the cabinet; and a temperature regulation step of regulating the temperature of air flowing into the inside of the cabinet from the fan by using a heat exchange unit mounted adjacent to the fan.

[0030] In one embodiment, the position detection step may be to detect the position of the tray and the position of the fan along the height direction of the cabinet, and the position alignment step may be to move the fan along the height direction of the cabinet so that the position of the tray and the position of the fan are aligned in the direction from the inlet of the fan to the outlet of the fan.

[0031] In one embodiment, the temperature adjustment step may be: if the temperature measured in the temperature measurement step is lower than a set value, then the air flowing into the cabinet from the fan is heated by using the heat exchange unit; and if the temperature measured in the temperature measurement step is higher than the set value, then the air flowing into the cabinet from the fan is cooled by using the heat exchange unit.

[0032] [Beneficial Effects]

[0033] According to specific embodiments of this disclosure, since the fan is configured to be movable and the heat exchange unit is placed at the fan outlet, the battery cells can be effectively cooled, and the temperature deviation between battery cells placed on one tray is improved, as well as the temperature deviation between battery cells placed on different layers, thereby preventing the performance of the battery cells from deteriorating.

[0034] The effects of this disclosure are not limited to those described above, and those skilled in the art will clearly understand from the description of the appended claims any additional effects not mentioned above. Attached Figure Description

[0035] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a secondary battery charging / discharging device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] Figure 2 It is along Figure 1 The cross-sectional view taken from line II-II'.

[0037] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 An enlarged view of section A.

[0038] Figure 4 This is a diagram illustrating the structure of a tray placed on a support plate of a cabinet according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] Figure 5 This is a diagram illustrating an example of a heat exchange unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] Figure 6 This is a block diagram illustrating the control structure of a secondary battery charging / discharging device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] Figure 7 This is a diagram illustrating the operating state of a secondary battery charging / discharging device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0042] Figure 8 This is a diagram showing the operating state of a secondary battery charging / discharging device according to a comparative example of the present disclosure.

[0043] Figure 9 This is a diagram showing the results of an airflow simulation when the positions of the fan and the tray are aligned according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] Figure 10 This is a graph showing the results of an airflow simulation based on a comparative example when the fan position and the tray position are not aligned.

[0045] Figure 11 This is a flowchart of a control method for a secondary battery charging / discharging device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0046] Various embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, enabling those skilled in the art to readily implement them. This disclosure can be modified in various different ways and is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0047] To clearly describe the inventive concept, components irrelevant to the description have been omitted, and the same reference numerals throughout the specification denote the same or similar elements.

[0048] Furthermore, since the dimensions and thicknesses of each element shown in the accompanying drawings are arbitrarily given for better understanding and ease of description, the inventive concept is not limited to the dimensions and thicknesses shown. In the drawings, the thicknesses of layers, regions, etc., are exaggerated for clarity. In the drawings, the thicknesses of some layers and regions are exaggerated for better understanding and ease of description.

[0049] Furthermore, it should be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or plate is referred to as being "on" or "above" another element, it can be directly on the other element, or there may be intermediate elements present. Conversely, when an element is referred to as being "directly on" another element, it means that there are no other intermediate elements present. Additionally, a specific portion located "above" or "on" a reference portion means that the specific portion is located above or below the reference portion, and does not specifically mean that the specific portion is "above" or "on" in the direction opposite to gravity.

[0050] At the same time, although terms such as up, down, left, right, forward and backward are used in this embodiment, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these terms are for ease of interpretation only and may vary depending on the position of the target object or the position of the observer.

[0051] Furthermore, throughout the specification, when a section is referred to as "comprising" or "including" a component, it means that the section may also include other components, without excluding other components, unless otherwise stated.

[0052] Furthermore, throughout the instruction manual, when referred to as a "plane," it means when viewing the target portion from above, and when referred to as a "section," it means when viewing the target portion from one side of a vertically cut section.

[0053] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a secondary battery charging / discharging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 It is along Figure 1 The cross-sectional view taken from line II-II'. Figure 3 yes Figure 2 An enlarged view of section A. Figure 4 This is a diagram showing the structure of a tray 130 placed on a support plate 125 of a cabinet 120 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 5 This is a diagram illustrating an example of a heat exchange unit 170 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 6 This is a block diagram illustrating the control structure of a secondary battery charging / discharging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0054] refer to Figures 1 to 6 The secondary battery charging / discharging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a cabinet 120, a tray 130 on which battery cells 110 are mounted, a fan 140 that allows air to flow from the outside of the cabinet 120 to the inside of the cabinet, a drive unit 150 that moves the fan 140, a sensing unit 160 including a plurality of sensors 161, 162, a heat exchange unit 170 that changes the temperature of the air flowing through the fan 140, and a control unit 180 that controls the drive unit 150 and the heat exchange unit 170.

[0055] Rack 120 may include a lower wall 122, a top wall 121, side walls 123, and a door 124. Rack 120 may have a directional orientation (e.g., Figure 1 The cabinet 120 is a cuboid shape that extends elongated along the z-axis. A door 124 may be formed on at least a portion of any of the side walls 123 of the cabinet 120. The cabinet 120 may include an internal space defined by an upper wall 121, a lower wall 122, side walls 123, and a door 124. A tray 130 containing battery cells 110 and a heat exchange unit 170 may be placed within the internal space of the cabinet 120. A support plate 125 for supporting the tray 130 may be formed inside the cabinet 120. The support plate 125 may be fixedly formed on the side wall 123 of the cabinet 120. Multiple support plates 125 may be arranged. Multiple support plates 125 may be arranged in multiple layers along the height direction of the cabinet 120. Here, the height direction of the cabinet 120 is the direction from the lower wall 122 towards the upper wall 121, which in the figures refers to the z-axis direction. The tray 130 may be placed on the support plate 125. Fan 140 can be mounted on the wall surfaces 121, 122, and 123 of rack 120. Fan 140 can also be mounted on the side wall 123 of rack 120. As described above, a door 124 can be formed on the side wall 123 of rack 120, and in this case, fan 140 can be mounted on the door 124 of rack 120. Drive unit 150 can be mounted on the wall surfaces 121, 122, and 123 of rack 120. Drive unit 150 can also be mounted on the side wall 123 of rack 120. As described above, a door 124 can be formed on the side wall 123 of rack 120, and in this case, drive unit 150 can be mounted on the door 124 of rack 120.

[0056] Tray 130 can be placed inside rack 120. Tray 130 can be placed on support plate 125 of rack 120. Tray 130 can be arranged in multiple quantities. Multiple trays 130 can be arranged in multiple layers along the height direction of rack 120. Multiple trays 130 can be placed on each of the multiple support plates 125 arranged in multiple layers along the height direction of rack 120. Battery cells 110 can be loaded on tray 130. Multiple battery cells 110 can be stacked on one tray 130. Tray 130 may include a bottom plate 131 and side surface plates 132. Battery cells 110 can be placed on the bottom plate 131 of tray 130 such that one side of battery cell 110 contacts the bottom plate 131 of tray 130. Battery cells 110 can be placed on the bottom plate 131 of tray 130 such that the lower side of battery cell 110 contacts the bottom plate 131 of tray 130. The side panel 132 of the tray 130 can cover the side surface of the battery cell 110. The lower side and side surface of the battery cell 110 can be surrounded by the lower plate 131 and the side panel 132 of the tray 130. Flow holes 133 can be formed in the side panel 132 of the tray 130. The flow holes 133 can have a configuration that extends along a direction perpendicular to the height direction of the cabinet 120 (x-axis and y-axis directions in the figure). Air flowing from the outside of the cabinet 120 to the inside of the cabinet via the fan 140 can pass through the flow holes 133 to be transmitted to the battery cell 110 mounted on the tray 130.

[0057] At the same time, refer to Figure 4 To charge and discharge the battery cell 110, the upper part of the tray 130 may include a pin plate 135 on which probe pins 134 are formed, a sealing member 136 placed on the upper part of the pin plate 135, and a printed circuit board 137 placed on the upper part of the sealing member 136. The probe pins 134 can be electrically connected to the printed circuit board 137, and the probe pins 134 can be connected to the upper side of the battery cell 110, so that the battery cell 110 can be charged and discharged.

[0058] The battery cell 110 can be formed into a cylindrical shape. Multiple battery cells 110 can be arranged. Multiple battery cells 110 can be loaded onto a tray 130. The battery cell 110 can be positioned on the lower plate 131 of the tray 130, such that one side contacts the lower plate 131. The battery cell 110 can be positioned on the lower plate 131 of the tray 130, such that its lower side contacts the lower plate 131. The side surface of the battery cell 110 positioned on the lower plate 131 of the tray 130 can be covered by the side surface plate 132 of the tray 130. Probe pins 134 can be connected to the other side of the battery cell 110. Probe pins 134 can be connected to the upper side of the battery cell 110. On a tray 130, multiple battery cells 110 can be loaded along a direction perpendicular to the height direction of the cabinet 120 (the x-axis and y-axis directions in the figure).

[0059] A fan 140 can be installed in a cabinet 120 to allow air to flow from the outside of the cabinet 120 to the inside of the cabinet. The fan 140 can be installed on at least one of the wall surfaces 121, 122, and 123 of the cabinet 120. The fan 140 can be installed on a side wall 123 of the cabinet 120. A door 124 can be formed on the side wall 123 of the cabinet 120, and in this case, as... Figures 1 to 3 As shown, fan 140 can be mounted on door 124 of rack 120. Multiple fans 140 can also be arranged. Multiple fans 140 can be arranged along the height of rack 120 on side wall 123 of rack 120. The number of fans 140 can be the same as the number of trays 130. For example, as... Figure 2 As shown, if six support plates 125 are formed in the cabinet 120 and six trays 130 are disposed on each of the support plates 125, then the number of fans 140 can be six. The fans 140 can circulate air from the outside of the cabinet 120 to the inside of the cabinet and deliver air in the direction toward the trays 130. The fans 140 can be moved by a drive unit 150. The fans 140 can move along the height of the cabinet 120 on the side wall 123 of the cabinet 120.

[0060] Fan 140 can be positioned aligned with tray 130. Fan 140 can also be positioned aligned with flow holes 133 formed in the side panel 132 of tray 130. More specifically, fan 140 can be positioned aligned with flow holes 133 along a direction from inlet to outlet (the -y-axis direction in the figure) and deliver air to flow holes 133 at the same level (height) as flow holes 133. Here, inlet and outlet of fan 140 refer to the inlet and outlet of fan 140 based on the direction from the outside of rack 120 to the inside of rack 120. That is, the inlet of fan 140 refers to the outside of rack 120 adjacent to fan 140, and the outlet of fan 140 refers to the inside of rack 120 adjacent to fan 140. Since the fan 140 is positioned aligned with the flow holes 133 of the tray 130, air is smoothly delivered to the battery cells 110 mounted on the tray 130, thereby effectively cooling the battery cells 110 and preventing performance degradation of the battery cells 110 due to temperature differences between them.

[0061] Drive unit 150 can be installed in rack 120. Drive unit 150 can be installed on wall surfaces 121, 122, and 123 of rack 120. Drive unit 150 can be installed on side wall 123 of rack 120. If a door 124 is formed on side wall 123 of rack 120, drive unit 150 can be installed on door 124 of rack 120. Drive unit 150 can be connected to fan 140 to move fan 140. Drive unit 150 can move fan 140 along the height direction of rack 120 on side wall 123 of rack 120. Drive unit 150 may include a motor that provides power and a power transmission structure, such as a shaft or belt, connected to fan 140. Drive unit 150 can be controlled by control unit 180. In addition, drive unit 150 can be connected to heat exchange unit 170 to move heat exchange unit 170. In this configuration, the drive unit 150 can move the heat exchange unit 170 such that the heat exchange unit 170 is positioned adjacent to the outlet of the fan 140.

[0062] The sensing unit 160 may include a position sensor 161 that detects the position of the tray 130 and the position of the fan 140. The sensing unit 160 may include a temperature sensor 162 that measures the temperature of air flowing into the fan 140 from outside the cabinet 120 and / or air flowing into the cabinet 120 from the fan 140. The sensing unit 160 may transmit the acquired information to the control unit 180.

[0063] Position sensors 161 can be configured in multiple quantities. Multiple position sensors 161 can be configured on tray 130 and fan 140. Position sensors 161 can detect the position of tray 130 and fan 140. Position sensors 161 can detect the position of tray 130 and fan 140 along the height direction of rack 120.

[0064] Temperature sensors 162 can be configured in multiple quantities. Multiple temperature sensors 162 can be installed adjacent to the inlet and / or outlet of fan 140. Temperature sensors 162 can measure the temperature of air flowing into fan 140 from outside cabinet 120. Temperature sensors 162 can measure the temperature of air flowing into cabinet 120 from fan 140.

[0065] The heat exchange unit 170 can be placed adjacent to the fan 140. The heat exchange unit 170 can be mounted and positioned adjacent to the outlet of the fan 140. The heat exchange unit 170 can change the temperature of the air flowing into the cabinet 120 from the fan 140. The heat exchange unit 170 may include a thermocouple 171. For example, as... Figure 5 As shown in (a), the heat exchange unit 170 may have a structure in which coolant heated or cooled by thermocouple 171 is circulated through heat exchanger 172 via pump 173. In this case, air flowing into cabinet 120 via fan 140 can be heated or cooled by passing through heat exchanger 172. Additionally, as... Figure 5 As shown in (b), the heat exchange unit 170 may have a structure in which thermocouples 171 are in direct contact with a plurality of heat exchange fins 174 to heat or cool the heat exchange fins 174. In this case, air flowing into the cabinet 120 via fan 140 can be heated or cooled by passing through the heat exchange fins 174. However, the structure of the heat exchange unit 170 is not limited to this.

[0066] Multiple heat exchange units 170 can be arranged. Multiple heat exchange units 170 can be installed adjacent to the outlet of each of multiple fans 140. Heat exchange units 170 can be moved by drive unit 150. Heat exchange units 170 can be moved by drive unit 150 to be positioned adjacent to the outlet of fan 140. Heat exchange units 170 can be moved by drive unit 150 to be positioned at the same height as fan 140 along the height direction of cabinet 120. Heat exchange units 170 can be controlled by control unit 180.

[0067] The control unit 180 can control the drive unit 150 and the heat exchange unit 170. The control unit 180 can control the drive unit 150 and the heat exchange unit 170 based on information transmitted from the sensing unit 160.

[0068] Control unit 180 can control drive unit 150 based on information transmitted from position sensor 161 to align tray 130 and fan 140. Specifically, position sensor 161 can detect the position of tray 130 and fan 140 along the height direction of rack 120. Position sensor 161 can transmit the acquired information to control unit 180. Based on the information transmitted from position sensor 161, control unit 180 can determine whether the position of tray 130 and fan 140 along the height direction of rack 120 are the same. In other words, control unit 180 can determine whether fan 140 and tray 130 are at the same horizontal level in the height direction of rack 120, and whether the positions of fan 140 and tray 130 are aligned. If it is determined that the positions of fan 140 and tray 130 are not aligned, control unit 180 can control drive unit 150 to move fan 140 to align the positions of fan 140 and tray 130. At this time, the control unit 180 can control the drive unit 150 so that the fan 140 is aligned with the flow hole 133 of the tray 130. Thus, the air flowing into the cabinet 120 through the fan 140 can pass through the flow hole 133 of the tray 130 to be smoothly delivered to the battery cell 110.

[0069] Control unit 180 can control heat exchange unit 170 based on information transmitted from temperature sensor 162. Specifically, temperature sensor 162 measures the temperature of air flowing into fan 140 from outside the cabinet 120. Temperature sensor 162 transmits the measured information to control unit 180. Control unit 180 compares the air temperature measured by temperature sensor 162 with a set value. If the air temperature measured by temperature sensor 162 is lower than the set value, control unit 180 can control heat exchange unit 170 to heat the air flowing into the cabinet 120 from fan 140. Conversely, if the air temperature measured by temperature sensor 162 is higher than the set value, control unit 180 can control heat exchange unit 170 to cool the air flowing into the cabinet 120 from fan 140. This reduces the temperature deviation of the air flowing into the interior of the cabinet 120 from each of the multiple fans 140 arranged along the height of the cabinet 120, and thus minimizes the temperature deviation between the battery cells 110 stacked on the multi-layered trays 130, thereby preventing performance degradation of the battery cells 110.

[0070] Figure 7 This is a diagram illustrating the operating state of a secondary battery charging / discharging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 8 This is a diagram showing the operating state of a secondary battery charging / discharging device 10 according to a comparative example of the present disclosure. Figure 9This is a diagram showing the results of an airflow simulation when the positions of the fan 140 and the tray 130 are aligned according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 10 This is a graph showing the results of an airflow simulation when the positions of fan 14 and tray 13 are not aligned, according to a comparative example.

[0071] Now refer to Figures 7 to 10 The operating principle and effects of a secondary battery charging / discharging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure are described.

[0072] First, refer to Figure 7 In the case of the secondary battery charging / discharging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the fan 140 can be moved by the drive unit 150 so that not only in the initial state where the position of the tray 130 and the position of the fan 140 are set to be aligned (see...). Figure 7 (a) and in cases where the position of tray 130 varies depending on the height of battery cell 110, etc. (see (a)). Figure 7 (b) is aligned with tray 130 in position.

[0073] On the other hand, reference Figure 8 According to the comparative example, the charging / discharging device 10 can also be positioned with the tray 13 and the fan 14 aligned in the initial state (see [reference]). Figure 8 (a)). However, in the comparative example charging / discharging device 10, the position of the fan 14 is fixed, therefore, if the position of the tray 13 changes due to factors such as the height of the battery cell 11 (see (a)). Figure 8 If (b) is not aligned, then tray 13 and fan 14 cannot be realigned. As a result, air flows while tray 13 and fan 14 are misaligned.

[0074] In this regard, refer to Figure 9 When the positions of the fan 140 and the tray 130 are aligned according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it can be confirmed that the air flowing into the cabinet 120 through the fan 140 flows smoothly through the tray 130.

[0075] On the other hand, reference Figure 10 As in the comparative example, if the position of tray 13 varies depending on factors such as the height of battery cell 11 and the position of tray 13 and fan 14 are not aligned, it can be confirmed that the air flowing in through fan 14 passes unevenly through tray 13 and flows relatively unstablely.

[0076] As a result, as in the comparative example, if the positions of tray 13 and fan 14 are not aligned, the air flowing in from fan 14 will not flow smoothly through tray 13. On the other hand, even if the position of tray 130 varies depending on the height of battery cell 110, as in this disclosure, if the positions of tray 130 and fan 140 are aligned, the air flowing in from fan 140 can flow smoothly through tray 130. Therefore, battery cells 110 can be effectively cooled, temperature deviations between battery cells 110 can be minimized, and performance degradation of battery cells 110 can be prevented.

[0077] Figure 11 This is a flowchart of a control method for a secondary battery charging / discharging device 100 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0078] refer to Figure 11 The battery cells 110 can be mounted on trays 130 placed inside the cabinet 120 (S1110). The cabinet 120 can be formed with multiple support plates 125 arranged in multiple layers along the height direction of the cabinet 120. The trays 130 can be placed on each support plate 125. Multiple battery cells 110 can be mounted on each tray 130.

[0079] The sensing unit 160 can detect the position of the tray 130 and the position of the fan 140 (S1120). The sensing unit 160 may include a plurality of position sensors 161. The position sensors 161 may be mounted on the tray 130 and the fan 140 to detect the position of the tray 130 and the fan 140. The position sensors 161 can detect the position of the tray 130 and the fan 140 along the height direction of the rack 120.

[0080] Control unit 180 can determine whether the positions of tray 130 and fan 140 are aligned (S1130). Based on information obtained by position sensor 161, control unit 180 can determine whether the positions of tray 130 and fan 140 are aligned. Control unit 180 can determine whether the positions of tray 130 and fan 140 are the same along the height direction of rack 120. That is, control unit 180 can determine whether tray 130 and fan 140 are located at the same level (height) along the height direction of rack 120. Control unit 180 can determine whether the position of flow hole 133 on tray 130 is aligned with the position of fan 140.

[0081] If it is determined that the positions of tray 130 and fan 140 are not aligned, control unit 180 can control drive unit 150 to move fan 140 (S1140). Control unit 180 can use drive unit 150 to move fan 140 along the height direction of rack 120. Control unit 180 can control drive unit 150 to align the positions of tray 130 and fan 140. Control unit 180 can control drive unit 150 to position tray 130 and fan 140 at the same level (height).

[0082] Sensing unit 160 can measure the temperature of the air at the inlet of fan 140 (S1150). Sensing unit 160 can also measure the temperature of air flowing into fan 140 from outside rack 120. Sensing unit 160 may include temperature sensor 162. Temperature sensor 162 may be mounted adjacent to the inlet of fan 140. Temperature sensor 162 can measure the temperature of air flowing into fan 140 from outside rack 120.

[0083] Control unit 180 can compare the air temperature at the inlet of fan 140 with a set value (S1160). Control unit 180 can compare the air temperature measured by temperature sensor 162 with a set value. Control unit 180 can compare the temperature of air flowing into fan 140 from outside cabinet 120 with a set value.

[0084] Control unit 180 can control heat exchange unit 170 to regulate the temperature of the air at the outlet of fan 140 (S1170). Control unit 180 can regulate the temperature of the air flowing into the cabinet 120 from fan 140 by using heat exchange unit 170 installed adjacent to the outlet of fan 140. Specifically, if the temperature of the air at the inlet of fan 140, as measured by temperature sensor 162, is lower than a set value, control unit 180 can control heat exchange unit 170 to heat the air at the outlet of fan 140. Conversely, if the temperature of the air at the inlet of fan 140, as measured by temperature sensor 162, is higher than the set value, control unit 180 can control heat exchange unit 170 to cool the air at the outlet of fan 140.

[0085] Although the flowcharts of this disclosure describe each step as being performed sequentially, this is merely an illustrative description of the technical concepts of some embodiments of this disclosure. In other words, those skilled in the art to which some embodiments of this disclosure pertain will understand that various modifications and variations can be made by changing the steps described in the flowcharts or by performing one or more of these steps in parallel without departing from the basic characteristics of some embodiments of this disclosure, and therefore the flowcharts are not limited to a time sequence order.

[0086] As described above, according to this disclosure, the fan 140 is configured to be movable by the drive unit 150, so that even if the position of the tray 130 changes, the position of the fan 140 and the position of the tray 130 can be aligned. Therefore, air is smoothly transferred from the fan 140 to the tray 130, thereby effectively cooling the battery cells 110 mounted on the tray 130. Furthermore, since the heat exchange unit 170 is located at the outlet of each fan 140, and thus the temperature of the air flowing into the interior of the cabinet 120 through the fans 140 can be regulated, temperature deviations between the battery cells 110 stacked on the multi-layered trays 130 can be minimized, thereby preventing performance degradation of the battery cells 110.

[0087] Although preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described above, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and those skilled in the art can make many other changes and modifications to the embodiments using the basic principles of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which also fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0088] [Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures]

[0089] 100: Secondary battery charging / discharging device

[0090] 110: Battery cell

[0091] 120: Server rack

[0092] 121, 122: Upper wall, lower wall

[0093] 123: Sidewall

[0094] 124: Door

[0095] 125: Support plate

[0096] 130: Pallet

[0097] 131, 132: Lower plate, side surface plate

[0098] 133: Flow hole

[0099] 140: Fan

[0100] 150: Drive Unit

[0101] 160: Sensing Unit

[0102] 161: Position sensor

[0103] 162: Temperature sensor

[0104] 170: Heat exchange unit

[0105] 171: Thermocouple

[0106] 180: Control Unit

Claims

1. A charging / discharging device for a secondary battery, comprising: Server rack; A tray is placed inside the cabinet, and multiple battery cells are loaded on the tray; A fan is mounted on the wall surface of the cabinet and allows air to flow from the outside of the cabinet to the inside of the cabinet; A drive unit that moves the fan so that the position of the tray and the position of the fan are aligned; as well as A heat exchange unit is placed adjacent to the fan and changes the temperature of the air flowing into the cabinet from the fan.

2. The charging / discharging device for secondary batteries according to claim 1, in, The trays and the fans are arranged in multiple quantities. The multiple trays are arranged in multiple layers along the height of the cabinet, and The plurality of fans are mounted on the side wall of the cabinet and are movable along the height of the cabinet.

3. The charging / discharging device for secondary batteries according to claim 2, in, Based on the direction from the inlet of each of the plurality of fans to the outlet of each of the fans, Each of the plurality of fans is positioned to be aligned with each of the plurality of trays.

4. The charging / discharging device for a secondary battery according to claim 3, in, The cabinet is formed by multiple support plates arranged in a multi-layered manner, and Each of the plurality of pallets is placed on each of the plurality of support plates.

5. The charging / discharging device for a secondary battery according to claim 2, in, The door is formed on at least a portion of the side wall of the cabinet, and The plurality of fans are mounted on the door.

6. The charging / discharging device for a secondary battery according to claim 1, further comprising: A position sensor detects the position of the tray and the position of the fan; as well as The sensing unit includes at least one temperature sensor that measures the temperature of air flowing into the fan from outside the cabinet.

7. The charging / discharging device for a secondary battery according to claim 6, in, The position sensor detects the position of the tray and the position of the fan along the height direction of the cabinet.

8. The charging / discharging device for a secondary battery according to claim 7, further comprising: A control unit that controls at least one of the drive unit and the heat exchange unit based on information acquired by the sensing unit.

9. The charging / discharging device for a secondary battery according to claim 8, in, When the position of the tray and the position of the fan are not aligned in the direction from the fan inlet to the fan outlet, the control unit controls the drive unit to move the fan along the height direction of the cabinet, thereby aligning the position of the tray and the position of the fan.

10. The charging / discharging device for a secondary battery according to claim 8, in, The control unit The temperature measured by the temperature sensor is compared with a set value. If the temperature measured by the temperature sensor is lower than the set value, the heat exchange unit is controlled to heat the air flowing into the cabinet from the fan. If the temperature measured by the temperature sensor is higher than the set value, the heat exchange unit is controlled to cool the air flowing into the cabinet from the fan.

11. The charging / discharging device for a secondary battery according to claim 1, in, The tray includes: The lower plate, on which the plurality of battery cells are mounted; A side surface plate, the side surface plate covering the side surfaces of the plurality of battery cells; and Flow holes are formed in the side surface plate.

12. The charging / discharging device for a secondary battery according to claim 11, in, The drive unit moves the fan so that the fan is aligned with the flow hole in position.

13. The charging / discharging device for a secondary battery according to claim 1, in, The heat exchange unit can be moved by the drive unit to be positioned adjacent to the outlet of the fan.

14. The charging / discharging device for a secondary battery according to claim 1, in, The heat exchange unit includes a thermocouple.

15. The charging / discharging device for a secondary battery according to claim 1, in, The plurality of battery cells are formed into a cylindrical shape, and The multiple battery cells are loaded on the tray in a direction perpendicular to the height of the cabinet.

16. A control method for a charging / discharging device for a secondary battery, comprising: The loading step involves loading multiple battery cells onto a tray placed inside the cabinet. The position detection step detects the position of the fan and the position of the tray, wherein the fan allows air to flow from the outside of the cabinet to the inside of the cabinet; In the positioning alignment step, the fan is moved to align the position of the tray with the position of the fan; The temperature measurement step involves measuring the temperature of the air flowing into the fan from outside the cabinet. as well as The temperature regulation step involves adjusting the temperature of the air flowing into the cabinet from the fan by using a heat exchange unit installed adjacent to the fan.

17. The control method for a charging / discharging device for a secondary battery according to claim 16, in, The position detection step involves detecting the position of the tray and the position of the fan along the height direction of the cabinet. The alignment step involves moving the fan along the height of the cabinet so that the position of the tray and the position of the fan are aligned in the direction from the fan inlet to the fan outlet.

18. The control method for a charging / discharging device for a secondary battery according to claim 16, wherein, The temperature adjustment steps are as follows: If the temperature measured in the temperature measurement step is lower than the set value, the air flowing into the cabinet from the fan is heated by using the heat exchange unit, and If the temperature measured in the temperature measurement step is higher than the set value, the air flowing into the cabinet from the fan is cooled by using the heat exchange unit.

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