Thermal management system, energy storage device and thermal management method

Abstract

The application discloses a heat management system, an energy storage device and a heat management method, and relates to the technical field of energy storage. The heat management system comprises a first temperature control pipeline, a second temperature control pipeline, and a first heat exchanger. The first temperature control pipeline comprises a first driving branch and a first refrigeration branch connected in series. The second temperature control pipeline comprises a second driving branch and a second refrigeration branch connected in series. The first heat exchanger comprises a first heat exchange branch and a second heat exchange branch. The first temperature control branch is connected in series with the first heat exchange branch and is connected in parallel with the first refrigeration branch and then connected in series on the first driving branch. The second temperature control branch is connected in series with the second heat exchange branch and is connected with the second driving branch. In the application, the heat exchange between the cooling liquid in the first temperature control branch and the second temperature control branch is realized through the first heat exchanger, so that the heat generated by the heat power device can be effectively utilized, thereby reducing the situation that the first temperature control pipeline independently heats the cooled energy storage unit, and the power consumption of the heat management system is effectively reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of energy storage technology, and more specifically, to a thermal management system, an energy storage device, and a thermal management method. Background Technology

[0002] The energy storage system mainly consists of an energy storage device composed of an energy storage container and an energy storage unit, which is used to store and release electrical energy in the energy storage system. At the same time, the energy storage container is also equipped with multiple electrical devices that are electrically connected to the energy storage unit to ensure the safety of charging and discharging the energy storage unit.

[0003] In order to ensure the operating temperature of the battery cells and multiple electrical components included in the energy storage unit, a thermal management system is usually set up to regulate the temperature of the battery cells and each electrical component, so as to ensure the charging and discharging performance of the battery cells and the safety of charging and discharging.

[0004] However, energy storage systems face a typical contradictory operating condition in practice: in low-temperature environments, individual battery cells need to be heated to improve their charging and discharging performance and safety; while electrical components (such as energy storage converters) generate a large amount of heat during high-power operation, requiring cooling. Under this condition, directly dissipating the heat generated by the electrical components into the environment through heat sinks would undoubtedly result in heat waste. Furthermore, heating individual battery cells requires additional electrical energy, significantly increasing the power consumption of the thermal management system. Summary of the Invention

[0005] A primary objective of this application is to provide a thermal management system, energy storage device, and thermal management method that can efficiently recover and utilize the waste heat of electrical components to supply the heating needs of battery cells under operating conditions where battery cells need to be heated and electrical components need to be cooled, thereby improving the effective utilization of heat and reducing power consumption.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, this application adopts the following technical solution: According to one aspect of this application, a thermal management system is provided, comprising: a first temperature control pipeline including a first drive branch and a first refrigeration branch connected together, wherein the first drive branch is used to be connected in series with a cooling component of an energy storage unit to be cooled; a second temperature control pipeline including a second drive branch and a second refrigeration branch connected together, wherein the second drive branch is used to be connected in series with a cooling component of a heat-generating power device; a first heat exchanger including a first heat exchange branch and a second heat exchange branch; a first temperature control branch connected in series with the first heat exchange branch and connected in parallel with the first refrigeration branch and then connected in series with the first drive branch; and a second temperature control branch connected in series with the second heat exchange branch and connected to the second drive branch.

[0007] In this embodiment, the temperature of the energy storage unit to be cooled and the heat-generating power device can be controlled by the first temperature control pipeline and the second temperature control pipeline, respectively. Simultaneously, for the first temperature control branch connected in series with the first drive branch and the second temperature control branch connected to the second drive branch, a first heat exchanger can be used to achieve heat exchange between the coolant in the first and second temperature control branches. This effectively utilizes the heat generated by the heat-generating power device, thereby reducing the need for the first temperature control pipeline to heat the energy storage unit to be cooled independently, thus effectively reducing the power consumption of the thermal management system. Furthermore, the first heat exchanger can effectively isolate the coolant in the first and second temperature control branches, ensuring the independence of the first and second temperature control pipelines and the reliability of heat dissipation for the energy storage unit to be cooled and the heat-generating power device.

[0008] According to one embodiment of this application, the second temperature control branch includes a first temperature control pipe section and a second temperature control pipe section; a first temperature control valve is connected in series on the second drive branch, the first temperature control valve is a three-way valve and is connected to the inlet end of the second refrigeration branch; the first temperature control pipe section is connected in series between the inlet end of the second heat exchange branch and the first temperature control valve, and the second temperature control pipe section is connected in series between the outlet end of the second heat exchange branch and the outlet end of the second refrigeration branch.

[0009] In this embodiment, a first temperature control valve installed on the second drive branch can be used to connect the second temperature control branch and the second refrigeration branch in parallel on the second drive branch. Then, by controlling the opening and closing of the first temperature control valve, the coolant can circulate in the second drive branch, the second temperature control branch, and the heating power device, or the refrigerant can circulate in the second drive branch, the second refrigeration branch, and the heating power device, or the refrigerant can circulate in the second drive branch, the second temperature control branch, the second refrigeration branch, and the heating power device.

[0010] According to one embodiment of this application, a second temperature control valve is further connected in series on the second drive branch, the second temperature control valve is connected between the first temperature control valve and the inlet end of the second refrigeration branch, and a third temperature control valve is connected in series on the second temperature control pipe section; both the second temperature control valve and the third temperature control valve are three-way valves, and the second temperature control branch also includes a third temperature control pipe section, the third temperature control pipe section being connected in series between the second temperature control valve and the third temperature control valve.

[0011] In this embodiment, the design of the third temperature control pipe section allows the coolant in the second temperature control branch to flow back to the second drive branch after heat exchange with the coolant in the first temperature control branch, and continue to flow through the second refrigeration branch for heat dissipation and cooling, so as to avoid the situation where the temperature of the coolant in the second temperature control branch is still too high after heat exchange with the coolant in the first temperature control branch.

[0012] According to one embodiment of this application, the first temperature control valve, the second temperature control valve, and the third temperature control valve are all electric regulating valves.

[0013] According to one embodiment of this application, the first temperature control branch includes a fourth temperature control pipe section and a fifth temperature control pipe section; a control valve is connected in series on the fourth temperature control pipe section and is connected in series between the inlet end of the first drive branch and the first heat exchange branch; a heater is connected in series on the fifth temperature control pipe section and is connected in series between the outlet end of the first heat exchange branch and the first drive branch.

[0014] In this embodiment, the switching between the first refrigeration branch and the first temperature control branch can be achieved through a control valve installed on the fourth temperature control pipe section. That is, when the control valve is in the open state, the coolant can circulate along the first drive branch, the first temperature control branch, and the cooling components of the energy storage unit to be cooled. When the coolant flows through the first temperature control branch, heat exchange with the second temperature control branch is achieved based on the first heat exchanger. When the control valve is in the closed state, the coolant can circulate along the first drive branch, the first refrigeration branch, and the cooling components of the energy storage unit to be cooled. When the coolant flows through the first refrigeration branch, heat dissipation and cooling of the coolant are achieved.

[0015] According to one embodiment of this application, the first refrigeration branch includes a second heat exchanger and a refrigeration pipe section; the second heat exchanger includes a first heat exchange pipe section and a second heat exchange pipe section, the first heat exchange pipe section is connected in series with the refrigeration pipe section, and the second heat exchange pipe section is connected in parallel with the first temperature control branch to the first drive branch.

[0016] In this embodiment, the refrigerant flowing through the cooling pipe section can be cooled, and the cooled refrigerant can absorb the heat of the coolant flowing through the second heat exchange pipe section when it flows through the first heat exchange pipe section, thereby achieving heat exchange with the coolant in the second heat exchange pipe section.

[0017] According to another aspect of this application, an energy storage device is provided, including an energy storage unit to be cooled, a heat-generating power device, and a thermal management system as described in the above aspect; the cooling components of the plurality of energy storage units to be cooled are all connected in series on a first drive branch, and the cooling components of the heat-generating power device are connected in series on a second drive branch.

[0018] According to another aspect of this application, a thermal management method is provided, the method being applied to the energy storage device described in the other aspect above, wherein the energy storage unit to be cooled comprises a plurality of battery cells, the method comprising: When it is determined that the battery cell needs to be heated, the first temperature of the coolant at the outlet end of the cooling component of the heating power device and the second temperature at the outlet end of the cooling component of the energy storage unit to be cooled are obtained; when the first temperature is greater than the second temperature, the first temperature control branch is connected to the first drive branch, and the second temperature control branch is connected to the second drive branch to perform heat exchange between the first temperature control branch and the second temperature control branch.

[0019] In this embodiment of the application, for the first temperature control branch connected in series with the first drive branch and the second temperature control branch connected in series with the second drive branch, the heat exchange of the coolant in the first temperature control branch and the second temperature control branch can be realized through the first heat exchanger, so as to effectively utilize the heat generated by the heat-generating power device, thereby reducing the situation where the first temperature control pipeline is heated separately for the energy storage unit to be cooled, and thus effectively reducing the power consumption of the thermal management system.

[0020] According to one embodiment of this application, the thermal management system includes a first temperature control valve, a second temperature control valve, and a third temperature control valve; Controlling the connection between the second temperature control branch and the second drive branch includes: A third temperature is obtained at the inlet end of the cooling assembly of the heating power device; when the third temperature is less than or equal to the first reference temperature, the first temperature control valve is connected to the first temperature control pipe section and disconnected from the second temperature control valve, and the third temperature control valve is connected to the outlet end of the second refrigeration branch and disconnected from the second temperature control valve; when the third temperature is greater than the first reference temperature, the first temperature control valve is connected to the first temperature control pipe section and disconnected from the second temperature control valve, and the third temperature control valve is connected to the outlet end of the second refrigeration branch and connected to the second temperature control valve, and the second temperature control valve is connected to the inlet end of the second refrigeration branch.

[0021] According to one embodiment of this application, the method further includes: When the first temperature is less than or equal to the second temperature, the first temperature control valve is connected to the first temperature control pipe section, and the third temperature control valve is connected to the outlet end of the second refrigeration branch, and disconnected from the second temperature control valve.

[0022] According to one embodiment of this application, before obtaining the first temperature of the coolant at the outlet end of the cooling assembly of the heating power device and the second temperature at the outlet end of the cooling assembly of the energy storage unit to be cooled, the method further includes: The system acquires the current ambient temperature, and when the current ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the second reference temperature and less than the third reference temperature, it controls the first temperature control valve to connect to the first temperature control pipe section, and controls the third temperature control valve to connect to the outlet end of the second refrigeration branch, and disconnects it from the second temperature control valve.

[0023] According to one embodiment of this application, before obtaining the first temperature of the coolant at the outlet end of the cooling assembly of the heating power device and the second temperature at the outlet end of the cooling assembly of the energy storage unit to be cooled, the method further includes: The current ambient temperature is obtained, and when the current ambient temperature is lower than the second reference temperature, it is determined that the battery cell needs to be heated.

[0024] According to one embodiment of this application, before obtaining the first temperature of the coolant at the outlet end of the cooling assembly of the heating power device and the second temperature at the outlet end of the cooling assembly of the energy storage unit to be cooled, the method further includes: The lowest temperature of the multiple battery cells at the current moment is obtained, and when the lowest temperature is less than the fourth reference temperature, it is determined that the battery cell needs to be heated.

[0025] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and do not limit this application. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The above and other features and advantages of this application will become more apparent from a detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an energy storage system according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0028] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a thermal management system according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0029] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another thermal management system according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0030] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of another thermal management system according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0031] Figure 5 This is a schematic flowchart illustrating a thermal management method according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0032] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating another thermal management method according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0033] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating yet another thermal management method according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0034] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating yet another thermal management method according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0035] Figure 9 This is a schematic flowchart illustrating another thermal management method according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0036] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of a power supply system according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0037] The reference numerals in the attached figures are explained as follows: 1000. Energy storage system; 100. Energy storage device; 200. First power conversion device; 300. Second power conversion device; 400. High-voltage cable; 500. Power supply system; 510. Electrical equipment; 10. Thermal management system; 20. Energy storage unit to be cooled; 30. Heat-generating power device; 40. Battery cell; 11. First temperature control pipeline; 12. Second temperature control pipeline; 13. First heat exchanger; 14. First temperature control branch; 15. Second temperature control branch; 16. Replenishment pipeline; 17. Expansion pipeline; 18. Replenishment tank; 19. Expansion tank; 111. First drive branch; 112. First refrigeration branch; 113. Second heat exchanger; 114. Refrigeration pipe section; 115. First heat exchange pipe section; 116. Second heat exchange pipe section; 121. Second drive branch; 122. Second refrigeration branch; 123. First thermostatic valve; 124. Second thermostatic valve; 131. First heat exchange branch; 132. Second heat exchange branch; 141. Fourth temperature-controlled pipe section; 142. Fifth temperature-controlled pipe section; 143. Control valve; 144. Heater; 151. First temperature control pipe section; 152. Second temperature control pipe section; 153. Third temperature control pipe section; 154. Third temperature control valve. Detailed Implementation

[0038] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, they are provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the exemplary embodiments to those skilled in the art. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar structures, and therefore their detailed description will be omitted.

[0039] Because the energy people need is highly time- and space-dependent, in order to make rational use of energy and improve energy efficiency, it is necessary to use a medium or device to store one form of energy in the same way or by converting it into another form of energy, and then release it in a specific form of energy based on future application needs.

[0040] Currently, the generation of green electricity generally relies on solar, wind, and hydropower. However, wind and solar power are generally characterized by strong intermittency and large fluctuations, which can cause grid instability, insufficient power during peak demand periods, and excessive power during off-peak periods. Unstable voltage can also damage the power grid. Therefore, insufficient electricity demand or insufficient grid capacity may lead to the problem of "wind and solar curtailment." Solving these problems requires energy storage. This involves converting electrical energy into other forms of energy through physical or chemical means and storing it. When needed, this energy can be converted back into electrical energy and released. Simply put, energy storage is like a large "power bank," storing electrical energy when solar and wind power are abundant and releasing the stored electricity when needed.

[0041] Taking electrochemical energy storage as an example, this solution provides an energy storage device for use in energy storage systems. The energy storage device is equipped with a chemical battery, which mainly uses the chemical elements in the chemical battery as the energy storage medium. The charging and discharging process is accompanied by the chemical reaction or change of the energy storage medium. Simply put, the electrical energy generated by wind and solar energy is stored in the chemical battery. When the external power consumption reaches its peak, the stored power is released for use, or transferred to places with power shortages for use.

[0042] Current energy storage applications are quite widespread, including generation-side energy storage, grid-side energy storage, and consumption-side energy storage. The corresponding types of energy storage devices include: (1) Large-scale energy storage power stations (including prefabricated energy storage modules) applied to wind power and photovoltaic power stations can help renewable energy power generation meet grid connection requirements and improve the utilization rate of renewable energy. As a high-quality active / reactive power regulation power source on the power supply side, energy storage power stations can achieve load matching of power in time and space, enhance the absorption capacity of renewable energy, reduce instantaneous power changes, reduce the impact on the power grid, improve the absorption of new energy power generation, and are of great significance in power grid system backup, alleviating peak load power supply pressure and peak regulation and frequency regulation. (2) The energy storage prefabricated cabin applied on the grid side mainly functions as peak regulation, frequency regulation and grid congestion relief. In terms of peak regulation, it can realize peak shaving and valley filling of electricity load, that is, charging the energy storage device when the electricity load is low and releasing the stored electricity during the peak period of electricity load, thereby achieving a balance between power production and consumption. (3) Small energy storage cabinets applied to the electricity consumption side mainly function as self-consumption of electricity, peak-valley price arbitrage, capacity cost management, and improvement of power supply reliability. Depending on the application scenario, electricity consumption side energy storage can be divided into industrial and commercial energy storage cabinets, household energy storage devices, energy storage charging piles, etc., which are generally used in conjunction with distributed photovoltaics. Industrial and commercial users can use energy storage for peak-valley price arbitrage and capacity cost management. In the electricity market implementing peak-valley pricing, by charging the energy storage system when the electricity price is low and discharging the energy storage system when the electricity price is high, peak-valley price arbitrage can be achieved, reducing electricity costs. In addition, industrial enterprises subject to two-part tariffs can use energy storage systems to store energy during off-peak hours and discharge during peak loads, thereby reducing peak power and the maximum demand declared, achieving the goal of reducing capacity costs. Household photovoltaics with energy storage can improve the level of self-consumption of electricity. Due to high electricity prices and poor power supply stability, the demand for household photovoltaic installations is driven. Given that photovoltaic power generation occurs during the day, while user load is generally higher at night, configuring energy storage can better utilize photovoltaic power, improve self-consumption levels, and reduce electricity costs. Furthermore, energy storage is needed in areas such as communication base stations and data centers for backup power.

[0043] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an energy storage system 1000 provided in this application is illustrated. The energy storage system 1000 is illustrated using a shared energy storage scenario on the generation / distribution side as an example. Of course, the energy storage system 1000 of this application is not limited to the shared energy storage scenario on the generation / distribution side.

[0044] like Figure 1 As shown, the energy storage system 1000 includes: an energy storage device 100, a first power conversion device 200, a second power conversion device 300, and a high-voltage cable 400.

[0045] In some embodiments of the power generation scenario, the first power conversion device 200 can be a wind power conversion device. Since the electricity generated by wind power conversion is volatile, random, and intermittent, the unstable electricity output by the wind power conversion device can be stored in an energy storage device 100 via grid connection. The energy storage device 100 is connected to the high-voltage cable 400 and outputs smooth electricity to the power consumption side, achieving peak shaving and frequency regulation, and ensuring stable grid operation. Alternatively, the wind power conversion device is always connected to the high-voltage cable 400, and under normal power generation conditions, the high-voltage cable 400... The electricity output from the wind power conversion device is supplied to the power consumption side. When the current power load is low and the wind power conversion device generates excess electricity, the excess electricity is first stored in the energy storage device 100 to improve the problem of new energy power generation and consumption. When the power load is high, the power grid issues an instruction to transmit the electricity stored in the energy storage device 100 together with the high-voltage cable 400 in grid-connected mode to supply the power consumption side. This provides the power grid with various services such as peak shaving, frequency regulation, and backup, giving full play to the peak shaving role of the power grid, promoting peak shaving and valley filling, and alleviating the power supply pressure of the power grid.

[0046] In some embodiments on the distribution network side, the second power conversion device 300 can be a photovoltaic power conversion device. The energy storage device 100 is connected to the photovoltaic power conversion device and installed downstream of the high-voltage cable 400 between the user load and the photovoltaic power conversion device. The electrical energy output by the photovoltaic power conversion device is stored in the energy storage device 100, which can respond in a timely manner to act as a backup power source when the power grid / distribution network fails. Alternatively, it can provide power supply support to alleviate line congestion when the high-voltage cable 400 transmission line is blocked, and to delay the economic pressure caused by the expansion of the power grid / distribution capacity during power grid planning and expansion.

[0047] Optionally, the first power conversion device 200 may include, but is not limited to, a wind power conversion device, and the second power conversion device 300 may include, but is not limited to, a photovoltaic panel. The first power conversion device 200 and the second power conversion device 300 can convert at least one of solar energy, light energy, wind energy, thermal energy, tidal energy, biomass energy, and mechanical energy into electrical energy.

[0048] Optionally, the energy storage device 100 can be used in, but is not limited to, energy storage power stations, hydropower / thermal / wind power generation systems, solar power generation systems, mobile power systems, smart home systems, or temporary power supply systems 500, and is also applied in multiple fields such as data centers, military equipment, aerospace, charging piles, and electric vehicles.

[0049] Optionally, the energy storage device 100 may include, but is not limited to, battery packs, battery clusters, mobile power supplies, energy storage cabinets / prefabricated energy storage compartments, and other battery integrated systems composed of individual battery cells 40. The actual application form of the energy storage device 100 provided in this application embodiment may be, but is not limited to, the listed products, and may also be other application forms. This application embodiment does not strictly limit the application form of the energy storage device 100.

[0050] Optionally, the battery cell 40 is not limited to at least one of cylindrical, prismatic, prismatic, or other shaped batteries. The battery cell 40 can be a rechargeable battery, meaning it can be reused after being discharged by recharging to activate the active materials. The battery cell 40 can be a lithium-ion battery, sodium-ion battery, sodium-lithium-ion battery, lithium metal battery, sodium metal battery, lithium-sulfur battery, magnesium-ion battery, nickel-metal hydride battery, nickel-cadmium battery, lead-acid battery, etc., and this application does not specifically limit its application in this regard.

[0051] In some embodiments, the energy storage device 100 includes an energy storage unit 20 to be cooled and a plurality of electrical components, which are electrically connected to the energy storage unit 20 to ensure the safety of charging and discharging of the energy storage unit 20.

[0052] The energy storage unit 20 to be cooled includes a liquid cooling plate (i.e., the cooling component of the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled) and multiple battery cells 40 in contact with the liquid cooling plate. The liquid cooling plate is used to exchange heat with the multiple battery cells 40. Multiple electrical components include energy storage converters, fuses, contactors, etc., and some of the electrical components are heat-generating power devices 30 with large heat generation, such as energy storage converters and fuses.

[0053] In order to ensure that the battery cell 40 and the heat-generating power device 30 operate within their optimal operating ranges, the energy storage device 100 also includes a thermal management system 10, which regulates the temperature of the battery cell 40 and the heat-generating power device 30 to ensure the charge-discharge performance, capacity retention rate and cycle life of the battery cell 40, as well as the operational reliability of the heat-generating power device 30, thereby ensuring the safety of the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled.

[0054] The energy storage unit 20 to be cooled includes a liquid cooling plate connected in series with the thermal management system 10, so that the temperature of the battery cell 40 can be regulated by the circulation of coolant between the liquid cooling plate and the thermal management system 10; in addition, the heat-generating power device 30 includes a heat dissipation pipe (i.e., the cooling component of the heat-generating power device 30), which is connected in series with the thermal management system 10, so that the temperature of the heat-generating power device 30 can be regulated by the circulation of coolant between the heat dissipation pipe and the thermal management system 10.

[0055] In some embodiments, the energy storage device 100 further includes an energy storage housing, in which a plurality of energy storage units 20 to be cooled and a plurality of electrical components are assembled.

[0056] In this way, the energy storage device 100 can be integrated through the energy storage shell, which facilitates the management of multiple energy storage units 20 to be cooled.

[0057] The energy storage housing can be a box structure, in which case the energy storage device 100 can be used as an energy storage prefabricated cabin, etc.; or the energy storage housing can be a cabinet structure, in which case the energy storage device 100 can be used as an energy storage cabinet, etc. In addition, mounting brackets are provided inside the energy storage housing to achieve the fixed assembly of multiple energy storage units 20 to be cooled inside the energy storage housing through the mounting positions formed by the mounting brackets.

[0058] In addition, the thermal management system 10 included in the energy storage device 100 can be located outside the energy storage shell, such as at the bottom of the energy storage shell; of course, the thermal management system 10 can also be located inside the energy storage shell. In this case, a partition can be installed inside the energy storage shell to divide the cavity enclosed by the energy storage shell into a battery compartment and a liquid cooling compartment, thereby realizing the partitioned assembly of the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled and the thermal management system 10 through the battery compartment and the liquid cooling compartment respectively.

[0059] In related technologies, the thermal management system 10 includes independently configured first temperature control pipe 11 and second temperature control pipe 12. The first temperature control pipe 11 is connected in series with the cooling component of the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled, and the second temperature control pipe 12 is connected in series with the cooling component of the heat-generating power device 30. In this way, the temperature of the battery cell 40 and the heat-generating power device 30 can be regulated by the first temperature control pipe 11 and the second temperature control pipe 12 respectively. However, when the battery cell 40 needs to be heated and the heat-generating power device 30 needs to be cooled, the first temperature control pipe 11 and the second temperature control pipe 12 will operate independently. This will undoubtedly waste the heat dissipated by the heat-generating power device 30 and increase the power consumption of the thermal management system 10.

[0060] Figure 2 A schematic diagram illustrating the structure of a thermal management system 10 provided in this disclosure is shown. For example... Figure 2As shown, the thermal management system 10 includes: a first temperature control pipeline 11, a second temperature control pipeline 12, a first heat exchanger 13, a first temperature control branch 14, and a second temperature control branch 15; the first temperature control pipeline 11 includes a first drive branch 111 and a first refrigeration branch 112 connected together, and the first drive branch 111 is used to be connected in series with the cooling component of the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled; the second temperature control pipeline 12 includes a second drive branch 121 and a second refrigeration branch 122 connected together, and the second drive branch 121 is used to be connected in series with the cooling component of the heating power device 30; the first heat exchanger 13 includes a first heat exchange branch 131 and a second heat exchange branch 132; the first temperature control branch 14 is connected in series with the first heat exchange branch 131, and is connected in parallel with the first refrigeration branch 112 and then connected in series with the first drive branch 111; the second temperature control branch 15 is connected in series with the second heat exchange branch 132 and connected to the second drive branch 121.

[0061] In this embodiment, the temperature of the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled and the heat-generating power device 30 can be controlled by the first temperature control pipeline 11 and the second temperature control pipeline 12, respectively. Simultaneously, for the first temperature control branch 14 connected in series with the first drive branch 111 and the second temperature control branch 15 connected with the second drive branch 121, heat exchange can be achieved between the coolant in the first temperature control branch 14 and the second temperature control branch 15 through a first heat exchanger. This effectively utilizes the heat generated by the heat-generating power device 30, thereby reducing the need for the first temperature control pipeline 11 to heat the energy storage unit 20 alone, and effectively reducing the power consumption of the thermal management system 10. Furthermore, the first heat exchanger effectively isolates the coolant in the first temperature control branch 14 and the second temperature control branch 15, ensuring the independence of the first temperature control pipeline 11 and the second temperature control pipeline 12, as well as the reliability of heat dissipation for the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled and the heat-generating power device 30.

[0062] Specifically, the heat generated by the heating power device 30 can be absorbed by the coolant in the second temperature control branch 15, and then exchanged with the coolant in the first temperature control branch 14 through the first heat exchanger. After that, the coolant can circulate in the first temperature control branch 14, the first drive branch 111 and the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled to effectively heat the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled, thereby effectively utilizing the heat generated by the heating power device 30.

[0063] The specific structure of the first heat exchanger 13 is not limited here, as long as it can achieve heat exchange between the two heat exchange pipelines. For example, the first heat exchanger 13 is always a plate heat exchanger.

[0064] The specific design of the first drive branch 111, the second drive branch 121, the first refrigeration branch 112, and the second refrigeration branch 122 is not limited here. The specific design of the first drive branch 111 and the second drive branch 121 can be the same or different, and the specific design of the first refrigeration branch 112 and the second refrigeration branch 122 can be the same or different.

[0065] In some embodiments, a first drive pump is connected in series on the first drive branch 111, and the first drive pump is connected in series at a position close to the inlet end of the first refrigeration branch 112.

[0066] Thus, for the heat dissipation of the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled, the first drive pump can cause the coolant to circulate along the first drive branch 111, the first refrigeration branch 112 and the cooling components of the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled. When the coolant flows through the first refrigeration branch 112, it dissipates heat and cools down. Then, the cooled coolant absorbs the heat generated by the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled, thereby achieving effective cooling of the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled.

[0067] In particular, the inlet and outlet ends of the first drive branch 111, which are connected in series with the cooling components of the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled, are equipped with pressure sensors and temperature sensors. The pressure sensors and temperature sensors can effectively detect the inlet temperature and inlet pressure of the coolant at the inlet end of the cooling components of the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled, as well as the outlet temperature and outlet pressure, thereby effectively monitoring the temperature control effect of the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled.

[0068] In addition, filters and control valves 143 may be installed on the first drive branch 111 to filter, conduct or shut off the coolant in the first drive branch 111.

[0069] In some implementations, such as Figure 2 or Figure 3 As shown, the first refrigeration branch 112 includes a second heat exchanger 113 and a refrigeration pipe section 114; the second heat exchanger 113 includes a first heat exchange pipe section 115 and a second heat exchange pipe section 116, the first heat exchange pipe section 115 is connected in series with the refrigeration pipe section 114, and the second heat exchange pipe section 116 is connected in parallel with the first temperature control branch 14 to the first drive branch 111.

[0070] In this way, the refrigerant flowing through the refrigeration pipe section 114 can be cooled down, and the cooled refrigerant can absorb the heat of the coolant flowing through the second heat exchange pipe section 116 when it flows through the first heat exchange pipe section 115, thus achieving heat exchange with the coolant in the second heat exchange pipe section 116.

[0071] In some embodiments, the refrigeration pipe section 114 includes a compressor, a first refrigeration branch 112 and an expansion valve connected in series, and the inlet end of the compressor is connected to the outlet end of the first heat exchange pipe section 115, and the outlet end of the expansion valve is connected to the inlet end of the first heat exchange pipe section 115.

[0072] In this way, the refrigerant in the refrigeration pipe section 114 can be compressed by the compressor to obtain a high temperature and high pressure gas. Then, the high temperature and high pressure gas can be condensed into a high temperature and high pressure liquid through the first refrigeration branch 112 (such as a condenser). Then, it can be throttled by the expansion valve to obtain a low temperature and low pressure liquid. When the low temperature and low pressure liquid flows through the first heat exchange pipe section 115, it absorbs the heat of the coolant in the second heat exchange pipe section 116, thus completing the heat exchange in the first heat exchanger.

[0073] Furthermore, pressure sensors and temperature sensors are installed at both the inlet and outlet ends of the compressor to effectively detect the compressor's outlet temperature and pressure, as well as its inlet temperature and pressure, thereby effectively monitoring the compressor's operating status.

[0074] It should be noted that the first refrigeration branch 112 can be either the liquid-cooled heat dissipation structure described above or an air-cooled heat dissipation structure. When the first refrigeration branch 112 is an air-cooled heat dissipation structure, the first refrigeration branch 112 includes a connecting pipe and an air cooler. The connecting pipe is connected in series with the first drive branch 111, and the air cooler is used to dissipate heat and cool down the coolant flowing through the connecting pipe.

[0075] In some embodiments, a second drive pump is connected in series on the second drive branch 121, and the second drive pump is connected in series at a position close to the inlet end of the second refrigeration branch 122.

[0076] Thus, for the heat dissipation of the heat-generating power device 30, the second drive pump can cause the coolant to circulate along the second drive branch 121, the second refrigeration branch 122 and the cooling components of the heat-generating power device 30. When the coolant flows through the second refrigeration branch 122, it dissipates heat and cools down. Then, the cooled coolant absorbs the heat generated by the heat-generating power device 30, thereby achieving effective cooling of the heat-generating power device 30.

[0077] In particular, the inlet and outlet ends of the second drive branch 121, which are connected in series with the cooling component of the heating power device 30, are equipped with pressure sensors and temperature sensors. The pressure sensors and temperature sensors can effectively detect the inlet temperature and inlet pressure of the coolant at the inlet end of the cooling component of the heating power device 30, as well as the outlet temperature and outlet pressure, thereby effectively monitoring the temperature control effect on the heating power device 30.

[0078] In addition, filters and control valves 143 may be installed on the second drive branch 121 to filter, conduct or shut off the coolant in the second drive branch 121.

[0079] In some implementations, such as Figure 2 or Figure 3 As shown, the first temperature control branch 14 includes a fourth temperature control pipe section 141 and a fifth temperature control pipe section 142; a control valve 143 is connected in series on the fourth temperature control pipe section 141 and is connected in series between the inlet end of the first drive branch 111 and the first heat exchange branch 131; the fifth temperature control pipe section 142 is connected in series between the outlet end of the first heat exchange branch 131 and the first drive branch 111.

[0080] Thus, the switching between the first refrigeration branch 112 and the first temperature control branch 14 can be achieved through the control valve 143 installed on the fourth temperature control pipe section 141. That is, when the control valve 143 is in the conducting state, the coolant can circulate along the first drive branch 111, the first temperature control branch 14, and the cooling components of the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled. When the coolant flows through the first temperature control branch 14, heat exchange is achieved with the second temperature control branch 15 based on the first heat exchanger. When the control valve 143 is in the open state, the coolant can circulate along the first drive branch 111, the first refrigeration branch 112, and the cooling components of the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled. When the coolant flows through the first refrigeration branch 112, heat dissipation and cooling of the coolant are achieved.

[0081] Furthermore, such as Figure 2 or Figure 3 As shown, a heater 144 is connected in series on the fifth temperature control tube section 142. In this way, the heater can be used to heat the coolant flowing through the first temperature control branch 14, avoiding the situation where the temperature of the coolant is still insufficient to heat the energy storage unit 20 after the first temperature control branch 14 and the second temperature control branch 15 have exchanged heat.

[0082] The heater 144 can be an electric heater or the like, and the heating power of the heater 144 is adjustable to avoid overheating of the coolant in the first temperature control branch 14.

[0083] Of course, in addition to being connected in series with the fifth temperature control tube section 142, the heater 144 can also be connected in series with the first drive branch 111 and located at the inlet end of the cooling component near the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled, as long as it can heat the coolant flowing through the first temperature control branch 14.

[0084] In some implementations, such as Figure 2As shown, the second temperature control branch 15 includes a first temperature control pipe section 151 and a second temperature control pipe section 152; a first temperature control valve 123 is connected in series on the second drive branch 121. The first temperature control valve 123 is a three-way valve and is connected to the inlet end of the second refrigeration branch 122; the first temperature control pipe section 151 is connected in series between the inlet end of the second heat exchange branch 132 and the first temperature control valve 123, and the second temperature control pipe section 152 is connected in series between the outlet end of the second heat exchange branch 132 and the outlet end of the second refrigeration branch 122.

[0085] Thus, the second temperature control branch 15 and the second refrigeration branch 122 can be connected in parallel to the second drive branch 121 by the first temperature control valve 123 installed on the second drive branch 121. Then, by controlling the opening and closing of the first temperature control valve 123, the coolant can circulate in the second drive branch 121, the second temperature control branch 15, and the cooling components of the heating power device 30, or the refrigerant can circulate in the second drive branch 121, the second refrigeration branch 122, and the cooling components of the heating power device 30, or the refrigerant can circulate in the second drive branch 121, the second temperature control branch 15, the second refrigeration branch 122, and the cooling components of the heating power device 30.

[0086] The second temperature control pipe section 152 and the second drive branch 121 can be connected by a three-way pipe; the first temperature control valve 123 can be an electric regulating valve, so as to adjust the flow between the second drive branch 121 and the second temperature control branch 15, and between the second drive branch 121 and the second refrigeration branch 122 by adjusting the opening of the first temperature control valve 123.

[0087] When it is necessary to heat the battery cells 40 included in the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled, the conduction state of the three ports on the first temperature control valve 123 can be determined based on the first temperature of the coolant at the outlet end of the cooling component of the heating power device 30, the second temperature at the outlet end of the cooling component of the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled, and the third temperature at the inlet end of the cooling component of the heating power device 30.

[0088] For example, when the first temperature is less than or equal to the second temperature, it indicates that the heat dissipated by the heat-generating power device 30 is insufficient to heat the battery cell 40 included in the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled. At this time, the first temperature control valve 123 can be controlled to open the connection with the second cooling branch 122 and disconnect the connection with the first temperature control pipe section 151, so as to realize the self-circulation heat dissipation of the heat-generating power device 30 by the second temperature control pipe 12, and at the same time, the battery cell 40 is heated by the heater 144 described in the above embodiment.

[0089] When the first temperature is greater than the second temperature, it indicates that the heat dissipated by the heat-generating power device 30 can heat the battery cell 40. At this time, the first temperature control valve 123 can be controlled to connect with the first temperature control tube section 151 to realize the heat exchange between the second temperature control branch 15 and the first temperature control branch 14.

[0090] Furthermore, the first reference temperature can be determined based on the highest allowable temperature at the inlet end of the cooling component of the heating power device 30. When the third temperature is less than or equal to the first reference temperature, it indicates that the coolant in the second temperature control branch 15 can flow directly through the cooling component of the heating power device 30 after heat exchange. At this time, the first temperature control valve 123 can be controlled to connect with the first temperature control pipe section 151 and disconnect from the second refrigeration branch 122. This reduces the operating time of the second refrigeration branch 122 while the second temperature control branch 15 and the first temperature control branch 14 are exchanging heat, thereby further reducing the power consumption of the thermal management system 10.

[0091] When the third temperature is greater than the first reference temperature, it indicates that the coolant in the second temperature control branch 15 is too hot after heat exchange. At this time, the first temperature control valve 123 can be connected to the first temperature control pipe section 151 and connected to the second refrigeration branch 122, so that a part of the coolant in the second drive branch 121 exchanges heat with the first temperature control branch 14 along the second temperature control branch 15, while another part of the coolant in the second drive branch 121 flows through the second refrigeration branch 122 to dissipate heat and cool down, thereby ensuring that the third temperature of the coolant at the inlet end of the cooling component of the heat-generating power device 30 is reduced to less than or equal to the first reference temperature.

[0092] In addition, the available heat provided by the coolant at the outlet of the cooling assembly of the heating power device 30 and the required heat for heating the battery cell 40 can be calculated. When the available heat is less than the required heat, it indicates that the temperature of the battery cell 40 after heating is still not within the optimal operating temperature range. At this time, additional heating is required in conjunction with the heater 144 described in the above embodiment to ensure that the temperature of the battery cell 40 after heating is within the optimal operating temperature range. When the available heat is greater than the required heat, it indicates that the temperature of the battery cell 40 after heating can reach the optimal operating temperature range. Of course, there are also cases where the temperature of the battery cell 40 after heating exceeds the maximum temperature of the optimal operating temperature range. At this time, the first temperature control valve 123 can be connected to the first temperature control pipe section 151 and connected to the second refrigeration branch 122. That is, a portion of the coolant in the second drive branch 121 exchanges heat with the first temperature control branch 14 along the second temperature control branch 15. By reducing the flow rate of the coolant in the second temperature control branch 15, the heat exchange between the second temperature control branch 15 and the first temperature control branch 14 is reduced.

[0093] In some implementations, such as Figure 3 As shown, a second temperature control valve 124 is also connected in series on the second drive branch 121. The second temperature control valve 124 is connected between the first temperature control valve 123 and the inlet end of the second refrigeration branch 122. A third temperature control valve 154 is connected in series on the second temperature control pipe section 152. Both the second temperature control valve 124 and the third temperature control valve 154 are three-way valves. The second temperature control branch 15 also includes a third temperature control pipe section 153, which is connected in series between the second temperature control valve 124 and the third temperature control valve 154.

[0094] Thus, through the design of the third temperature control pipe section 153, the coolant in the second temperature control branch 15 can still flow back to the second drive branch 121 after exchanging heat with the coolant in the first temperature control branch 14, and continue to flow through the second refrigeration branch 122 for heat dissipation and cooling, so as to avoid the situation where the temperature of the coolant in the second temperature control branch 15 is still too high after exchanging heat with the coolant in the first temperature control branch 14.

[0095] The second temperature control valve 124 and the third temperature control valve 154 can both be electrically adjustable valves, so as to adjust the opening of the third temperature control valve 154 along the third temperature control pipe section 153 and ensure that the coolant at the inlet end of the cooling component of the heat-generating power device 30 is in a low-temperature state.

[0096] The first temperature control valve 123, the second temperature control valve 124, and the third temperature control valve 154 each have three ports. When it is necessary to heat the battery cells 40 included in the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled, the conduction state of the three ports of the first temperature control valve 123, the second temperature control valve 124, and the third temperature control valve 154 can be determined based on the first temperature of the coolant at the outlet end of the cooling component of the heating power device 30, the second temperature at the outlet end of the cooling component of the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled, and the third temperature at the inlet end of the cooling component of the heating power device 30.

[0097] For example, when the first temperature is less than or equal to the second temperature, it indicates that the heat dissipated by the heat-generating power device 30 is insufficient to heat the battery cell 40 included in the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled. At this time, the first temperature control valve 123 can be connected to the second temperature control valve 124 and disconnected from the first temperature control pipe section 151, and the second temperature control valve 124 can be connected to the second cooling branch 122 and disconnected from the third temperature control pipe, so as to realize the self-circulation heat dissipation of the heat-generating power device 30 by the second temperature control pipe 12, and at the same time, the battery cell 40 is heated by the heater 144 described in the above embodiment.

[0098] When the first temperature is greater than the second temperature, it indicates that the heat dissipated by the heating power device 30 can heat the battery cell 40. At this time, the first temperature control valve 123 can be connected to the first temperature control pipe section 151, and the third temperature control valve 154 can be connected to the outlet end of the second refrigeration branch 122, and / or the third temperature control valve 154 can be connected to the second temperature control valve 124, and the second temperature control valve 124 can be connected to the inlet end of the second refrigeration branch 122, so as to realize the heat exchange between the second temperature control branch 15 and the first temperature control branch 14.

[0099] Furthermore, the first reference temperature can be determined based on the highest allowable temperature at the inlet end of the cooling component of the heating power device 30. When the third temperature is less than or equal to the first reference temperature, it indicates that the coolant in the second temperature control branch 15 can directly flow through the cooling component of the heating power device 30 after heat exchange. At this time, the first temperature control valve 123 can be connected to the first temperature control pipe section 151 and disconnected from the second temperature control valve 124. The third temperature control valve 154 can be connected to the outlet end of the second refrigeration branch 122 and disconnected from the second temperature control valve 124. This reduces the operating time of the second refrigeration branch 122 while the second temperature control branch 15 and the first temperature control branch 14 are exchanging heat, further reducing the power consumption of the thermal management system 10.

[0100] When the third temperature is greater than the first reference temperature, it indicates that the coolant in the second temperature control branch 15 is too hot after heat exchange. At this time, the first temperature control valve 123 can be connected to the first temperature control pipe section 151 and disconnected from the second temperature control valve 124. The third temperature control valve 154 can be connected to the outlet end of the second refrigeration branch 122 and connected to the second temperature control valve 124. The second temperature control valve 124 can be connected to the inlet end of the second refrigeration branch 122 so that a portion of the coolant after heat exchange between the second temperature control branch 15 and the first temperature control branch 14 flows through the second refrigeration branch 122 for heat dissipation and cooling, thereby ensuring that the third temperature of the coolant at the inlet end of the cooling component of the heat-generating power device 30 is reduced to less than or equal to the first reference temperature.

[0101] In addition, the available heat that the coolant at the outlet end of the cooling assembly of the heating power device 30 can provide, as well as the heat required for heating the battery cell 40, can be calculated. When the available heat is less than the required heat, it indicates that the temperature of the battery cell 40 after heating is still not within the optimal operating temperature range. At this time, it is necessary to use the heater 144 described in the above embodiment for additional heating to ensure that the temperature of the battery cell 40 after heating is within the optimal operating temperature range. When the available heat is greater than the required heat, it indicates that the temperature of the battery cell 40 after heating can reach the optimal operating temperature range. Of course, there is also a maximum temperature at which the temperature of the battery cell 40 after heating exceeds the optimal operating temperature range. In this case, the first temperature control valve 123 can be connected to the first temperature control pipe section 151 and connected to the second temperature control valve 124. The second temperature control valve 124 can also be connected to the inlet end of the second refrigeration branch 122. That is, a portion of the coolant in the second drive branch 121 exchanges heat with the first temperature control branch 14 along the second temperature control branch 15. This reduces the heat exchange between the second temperature control branch 15 and the first temperature control branch 14 by reducing the flow rate of the coolant in the second temperature control branch 15.

[0102] In some implementations, such as Figure 4 As shown, the thermal management system 10 also includes a replenishment pipeline 16, which is connected to the first drive branch 111 and the second drive branch 121, and is used to connect to the replenishment tank 18.

[0103] In this way, the coolant flow in the first temperature control line 11 and the second temperature control line 12 can be effectively replenished by setting up the replenishment line 16, avoiding coolant loss due to leakage or other reasons.

[0104] The replenishment pipeline 16 can be connected to the inlet end of the first drive branch 111 near the inlet end of the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled, and to the inlet end of the second drive branch 121 near the inlet end of the heat-generating power device 30, so as to reduce the replenishment pressure of the replenishment pipeline and ensure the replenishment effect.

[0105] In addition, the thermal management system 10 also includes a safety pipeline equipped with a safety valve. The safety pipeline is connected to the first drive branch 111 and the second drive branch 121, and is also used to connect to the coolant tank 18. Thus, the safety valve on the safety pipeline effectively ensures the pressure of the coolant during flow, avoiding safety risks caused by excessive coolant pressure.

[0106] The safety pipeline can be connected to the outlet end of the first drive branch 111 near the outlet end of the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled, and to the outlet end of the second drive branch 121 near the outlet end of the heat-generating power device 30, so as to effectively ensure the pressure of the coolant when flowing in the first drive branch 111 and the second drive branch 121.

[0107] In some implementations, such as Figure 4 As shown, the thermal management system 10 also includes an expansion pipe 17, which is connected to the first drive branch 111 and the second drive branch 121, and is used to connect to the expansion tank 19.

[0108] In this way, the expansion pipe 17 can effectively alleviate the pressure fluctuations caused by thermal expansion and contraction of the coolant, and ensure the safety of the thermal management system 10.

[0109] The expansion pipe 17 is equipped with ball valves that are respectively connected to the first drive branch 111 and the second drive branch 121. The expansion pipe 17 can be connected to the inlet end of the first drive branch 111 near the inlet end of the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled, and to the inlet end of the second drive branch 121 near the inlet end of the heat-generating power device 30, so as to effectively alleviate the pressure fluctuation of the coolant caused by thermal expansion and contraction.

[0110] This application also provides a thermal management method applied to the energy storage device 100 described in the above embodiments. For example... Figure 5 As shown, the method includes the following steps S110-S120.

[0111] Step S110: When it is determined that the battery cell 40 needs to be heated, the first temperature of the coolant at the outlet end of the cooling component of the heating power device 30 and the second temperature at the outlet end of the cooling component of the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled are obtained.

[0112] Step S120: When the first temperature is greater than the second temperature, control the first temperature control branch 14 to connect with the first drive branch 111, and control the second temperature control branch 15 to connect with the second drive branch 121, so as to carry out heat exchange between the first temperature control branch 14 and the second temperature control branch 15.

[0113] Thus, for the first temperature control branch 14 connected in series with the first drive branch 111 and the second temperature control branch 15 connected in series with the second drive branch 121, the heat exchange of the coolant in the first temperature control branch 14 and the second temperature control branch 15 can be realized through the first heat exchanger, so as to effectively utilize the heat generated by the heating power device 30, thereby reducing the situation where the first temperature control pipeline 11 heats the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled alone, and effectively reducing the power consumption of the thermal management system 10.

[0114] In step S110 above, the first and second temperatures of the coolant at different locations can be detected by the temperature sensors installed at the upper outlet of the cooling component of the heating power device 30 and the upper outlet of the cooling component of the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled, respectively, in the above embodiment.

[0115] In addition, the acquisition of the first and second temperatures of the coolant is performed on the premise that the battery cell 40 needs to be heated. Therefore, before step S110, it can be determined whether the battery cell 40 needs to be heated.

[0116] Specifically, it can be determined whether the battery cell 40 needs to be heated based on the current ambient temperature, or it can be determined whether the battery cell needs to be heated based on the lowest temperature of multiple battery cells 40.

[0117] Taking the current ambient temperature as an example, such as Figure 6 As shown, before step S110, there is also step S130: obtaining the current ambient temperature, and determining that the battery cell 40 needs to be heated when the current ambient temperature is lower than the second reference temperature.

[0118] The current ambient temperature can be the temperature of the environment in which the battery cell 40 is located, and the second reference temperature can also be determined based on the ambient temperature when the temperature of the battery cell 40 is lower than the minimum temperature of the optimal operating temperature range. For example, the second reference temperature can be any temperature value between 8 degrees and 12 degrees; of course, the second reference temperature can also be slightly less than 8 degrees or slightly greater than 12 degrees.

[0119] When the ambient temperature of the battery cell 40 is determined to be lower than the second reference temperature, it indicates that the temperature of the battery cell 40 is below the minimum temperature of the optimal operating temperature range. Therefore, in order to ensure the charging and discharging performance of the battery cell 40, it is necessary to heat the battery cell 40. When the ambient temperature of the battery cell 40 is determined to be greater than or equal to the second reference temperature, it indicates that the temperature of the battery cell 40 is within the optimal operating temperature range. At this time, the battery cell 40 does not need to be heated, that is, the first temperature control circuit 11 and the second temperature control circuit 12 circulate independently.

[0120] Taking the determination of the lowest temperature of multiple battery cells 40 as an example, such as Figure 7 As shown, before step S110, there is also step S140: obtaining the lowest temperature of multiple battery cells 40 at the current moment, and when the lowest temperature is less than the fourth reference temperature, determining that the battery cell 40 needs to be heated so that the temperature of the battery cell 40 is within the optimal operating temperature range.

[0121] The fourth reference temperature can be determined based on the minimum temperature of the battery cell 40 within its optimal operating temperature range. For example, the fourth reference temperature can be any temperature value between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius; of course, the third reference temperature can also be slightly less than 15 degrees Celsius or slightly greater than 20 degrees Celsius.

[0122] When the lowest temperature of multiple battery cells 40 is lower than the fourth reference temperature, it indicates that the temperature of some battery cells 40 at the current moment is lower than the minimum temperature of the optimal operating temperature range. Therefore, in order to ensure the charging and discharging performance of the battery cells 40, it is necessary to heat the battery cells 40 to bring their temperature within the optimal operating temperature range. When the lowest temperature of multiple battery cells 40 is higher than the fourth reference temperature, it indicates that the temperature of the battery cells 40 is within the optimal operating temperature range. At this time, the battery cells 40 do not need to be heated, that is, the first temperature control circuit 11 and the second temperature control circuit 12 circulate independently.

[0123] In step S120 above, for the first temperature and the second temperature of the coolant at different locations, if the first temperature is greater than the second temperature, then the temperature of the coolant in the second temperature control pipe 12 is higher than that of the coolant in the first temperature control pipe 11. At this time, the heat of the coolant in the second temperature control pipe 12 can be effectively utilized, avoiding the waste of heat caused by direct heat dissipation and cooling through the second refrigeration branch 122.

[0124] Specifically, the first temperature control branch 14 can be connected to the first drive branch 111, and the second temperature control branch 15 can be connected to the second drive branch 121, thereby realizing heat exchange between the first temperature control branch 14 and the second temperature control branch 15 through the first heat exchanger, and realizing the effective utilization of heat.

[0125] In the above embodiments, the first temperature control branch 14 includes a fourth temperature control pipe section 141 and a fifth temperature control pipe section 142. Simply opening the control valve 143 on the fourth temperature control pipe section 141 is sufficient to connect the first temperature control branch 14 to the first drive branch 111. The connection between the second temperature control branch 15 and the second drive branch 121 can be controlled based on the specific structure of the second temperature control branch 15 and its connection to the second temperature control pipe 12.

[0126] In some embodiments, considering the first temperature control pipe section 151, the second temperature control pipe section 152, and the third temperature control pipe section 153 included in the second temperature control branch 15, and the first temperature control valve 123, the second temperature control valve 124, and the third temperature control valve 154 installed when connected to the second temperature control pipe 12, the control of the second temperature control branch 15 in step S120 is connected to the second drive branch 121, such as... Figure 8 As shown, the specific steps include S121-S123.

[0127] S121. Obtain the third temperature of the coolant at the inlet end of the cooling component of the heating power device 30.

[0128] The third temperature can be obtained by using a temperature sensor installed at the inlet end of the cooling assembly of the heating power device 30 in the above embodiment. Thus, by combining the third temperature, it can be determined whether the coolant in the second temperature control pipeline 12 needs to be cooled down via the second refrigeration branch 122.

[0129] S122. When the third temperature is less than or equal to the first reference temperature, control the first temperature control valve 123 to connect to the first temperature control pipe section 151 and disconnect it from the second temperature control valve 124, and control the third temperature control valve 154 to connect to the outlet end of the second refrigeration branch 122 and disconnect it from the second temperature control valve 124.

[0130] The first reference temperature can be determined based on the highest allowable temperature of the cooling component of the heating power device 30 at the inlet end. For example, the first reference temperature can be any temperature value between 50 degrees and 70 degrees, or it can be slightly less than 50 degrees or slightly greater than 70 degrees.

[0131] Specifically, when the third temperature is less than or equal to the first reference temperature, it indicates that the coolant in the second temperature control pipe 12 can dissipate heat and cool the heat-generating power device 30 when flowing through the cooling component of the heat-generating power device 30. At this time, the first temperature control valve 123 can be controlled to open its connection with the first temperature control pipe section 151 and disconnect its connection with the second temperature control valve 124, and the third temperature control valve 154 can be controlled to open its connection with the outlet end of the second refrigeration branch 122 and disconnect its connection with the second temperature control valve 124.

[0132] In this way, the cooling fluid can be circulated through the second drive branch 121, the second temperature control branch 15 and the cooling components of the heating power device 30, so as to reduce the running time of the second cooling branch 122 while realizing heat exchange between the second temperature control branch 15 and the first temperature control branch 14, and further reduce the power consumption of the thermal management system 10.

[0133] S123. When the third temperature is greater than the first reference temperature, control the first temperature control valve 123 to connect to the first temperature control pipe section 151 and disconnect it from the second temperature control valve 124, and control the third temperature control valve 154 to connect to the outlet end of the second refrigeration branch 122 and connect it to the second temperature control valve 124, and control the second temperature control valve 124 to connect to the inlet end of the second refrigeration branch 122.

[0134] When the third temperature is greater than the first reference temperature, it indicates that the coolant temperature in the second temperature control pipe 12 is too high. Therefore, it needs to flow through the second refrigeration branch 122 for heat dissipation and cooling to reduce the temperature of the coolant at the inlet end of the cooling assembly of the heat-generating power device 30. This ensures that the coolant effectively dissipates heat from the heat-generating power device 30 as it flows through its cooling assembly. At this time, the first temperature control valve 123 can be connected to the first temperature control pipe section 151 and disconnected from the second temperature control valve 124. The third temperature control valve 154 can be connected to the outlet end of the second refrigeration branch 122 and connected to the second temperature control valve 124. Finally, the second temperature control valve 124 can be connected to the inlet end of the second refrigeration branch 122.

[0135] In this way, the heat of the coolant in the second temperature control pipe 12 can be maximized, and at the same time, a portion of the coolant after the second temperature control branch 15 and the first temperature control branch 14 exchange heat can flow through the second refrigeration branch 122 to dissipate heat and cool down, thereby ensuring that the third temperature of the coolant at the inlet end of the cooling component of the heat-generating power device 30 is reduced to less than or equal to the first reference temperature.

[0136] In some embodiments, the second temperature control branch 15 includes a first temperature control pipe section 151, a second temperature control pipe section 152, and a third temperature control pipe section 153, and a first temperature control valve 123, a second temperature control valve 124, and a third temperature control valve 154 installed when connected to the second temperature control pipe 12, such as Figure 9 As shown, the method further includes: Step S150: When the first temperature is less than or equal to the second temperature, control the first temperature control valve 123 to connect with the first temperature control pipe section 151, and control the third temperature control valve 154 to connect with the outlet end of the second refrigeration branch 122, and disconnect it from the second temperature control valve 124.

[0137] When the first temperature is lower than the second temperature, it indicates that the coolant temperature at the outlet end of the cooling component of the heating power device 30 is too low to exchange heat with the coolant in the first temperature control pipe 11. However, since the battery cell 40 still needs to be heated at this time, the first temperature control valve 123 can be connected to the first temperature control pipe section 151, and the third temperature control valve 154 can be connected to the outlet end of the second refrigeration branch 122, while disconnecting from the second temperature control valve 124.

[0138] In this way, the circulation of coolant can be achieved through the second drive branch 121, the second temperature control branch 15 and the cooling components of the heating power device 30, so that the first temperature of the coolant at the outlet of the heating power device 30 is greater than the second temperature; thereby effectively utilizing the heat generated by the heating power device 30, while reducing the operation of the second cooling branch 122 and reducing the power consumption of the thermal management system 10.

[0139] In some embodiments, in conjunction with the first temperature control pipe section 151, the second temperature control pipe section 152, and the third temperature control pipe section 153 included in the second temperature control branch 15, and the first temperature control valve 123, the second temperature control valve 124, and the third temperature control valve 154 provided when connected to the second temperature control pipe 12, before performing the above step S110, the method further includes: obtaining the current ambient temperature, and when the current ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the second reference temperature and less than the third reference temperature, controlling the first temperature control valve 123 to open the connection with the first temperature control pipe section 151, and controlling the third temperature control valve 154 to open the connection with the outlet end of the second refrigeration branch 122, and disconnecting the connection with the second temperature control valve 124.

[0140] The definitions of the current ambient temperature and the second reference temperature are as described above. The third reference temperature can be determined based on the ambient temperature at which the temperature of the battery cell 40 may be lower than the minimum temperature within the optimal operating temperature range. The third reference temperature is greater than the second reference temperature. For example, the third reference temperature can be any temperature value between 14 and 18 degrees Celsius, or it can be slightly less than 14 degrees Celsius or slightly greater than 18 degrees Celsius.

[0141] Thus, if the current ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the second reference temperature, it indicates that the battery cell 40 does not need to be heated at this time. At this time, the current ambient temperature can be compared with the third reference temperature. If the current ambient temperature is greater than the third reference temperature, it indicates that the temperature of the battery cell 40 will not be lower than the minimum temperature of the optimal operating temperature range.

[0142] If the current ambient temperature is lower than the third reference temperature, it indicates that the temperature of the battery cell 40 may be lower than the minimum temperature of the optimal operating temperature range. This allows the first temperature control valve 123 to be connected to the first temperature control pipe section 151, and the third temperature control valve 154 to be connected to the outlet end of the second cooling branch 122, while disconnecting from the second temperature control valve 124. This enables the circulation of coolant through the second drive branch 121, the second temperature control branch 15, and the cooling components of the heating power device 30, thereby raising the temperature of the coolant and ensuring the effective utilization of the heat generated by the subsequent heating power device 30.

[0143] This application also provides a power supply system 500, such as... Figure 10As shown, the power supply system 500 includes: electrical equipment 510 and the energy storage device 100 described in the above embodiments, the energy storage device 100 being used to supply power to the electrical equipment 510.

[0144] The electrical device 510 is electrically connected to the energy storage device 100. Thus, in conjunction with the above, based on the reliability and safety of the charging and discharging of the energy storage unit 20 to be cooled, the reliability of the power supply from the energy storage device 100 to the electrical device 510 is ensured.

[0145] In the embodiments of this application, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance; the term "multiple" refers to two or more unless otherwise explicitly defined. The terms "install," "connect," "link," and "fix" should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connect" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; "link" can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; "fix" can be a non-detachable fixation or a detachable fixation (such as non-destructive or destructive disassembly). Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0146] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "rear", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or unit referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of this application.

[0147] In the description of this specification, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "specific embodiment," etc., refer to a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example, which is included in at least one embodiment or example of the implementation of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0148] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the implementation methods of this application and are not intended to limit the implementation methods of this application. For those skilled in the art, various modifications and variations can be made to the implementation methods of this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the implementation methods of this application should be included within the protection scope of the implementation methods of this application.

Claims

1. A thermal management system, characterized in that, include: The first temperature control pipeline (11) includes a first drive branch (111) and a first cooling branch (112) connected together, and the first drive branch (111) is used to be connected in series to the cooling component of the energy storage unit (20) to be cooled; The second temperature control pipeline (12) includes a second drive branch (121) and a second refrigeration branch (122) connected together, and the second drive branch (121) is used to be connected in series to the cooling assembly of the heating power device (30); The first heat exchanger (13) includes a first heat exchange branch (131) and a second heat exchange branch (132). The first temperature control branch (14) is connected in series with the first heat exchange branch (131), and is connected in parallel with the first refrigeration branch (112) and then connected in series with the first drive branch (111); The second temperature control branch (15) is connected in series with the second heat exchange branch (132) and connected to the second drive branch (121).

2. The thermal management system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second temperature control branch (15) includes a first temperature control pipe section (151) and a second temperature control pipe section (152); A first temperature control valve (123) is connected in series on the second drive branch (121). The first temperature control valve (123) is a three-way valve and is connected to the inlet end of the second refrigeration branch (122). The first temperature control pipe section (151) is connected in series between the inlet end of the second heat exchange branch (132) and the first temperature control valve (123), and the second temperature control pipe section (152) is connected in series between the outlet end of the second heat exchange branch (132) and the outlet end of the second refrigeration branch (122).

3. The thermal management system as described in claim 2, characterized in that, A second temperature control valve (124) is also connected in series on the second drive branch (121). The second temperature control valve (124) is connected between the first temperature control valve (123) and the inlet end of the second refrigeration branch (122). A third temperature control valve (154) is connected in series on the second temperature control pipe section (152). The second temperature control valve (124) and the third temperature control valve (154) are both three-way valves. The second temperature control branch (15) also includes a third temperature control pipe section (153), which is connected in series between the second temperature control valve (124) and the third temperature control valve (154).

4. The thermal management system as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The first temperature control valve (123), the second temperature control valve (124) and the third temperature control valve (154) are all electric regulating valves.

5. The thermal management system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first temperature control branch (14) includes a fourth temperature control pipe section (141) and a fifth temperature control pipe section (142). A control valve (143) is connected in series on the fourth temperature control pipe section (141), and is connected in series between the inlet end of the first drive branch (111) and the first heat exchange branch (131); A heater (144) is connected in series on the fifth temperature control tube section (142), and is connected in series between the outlet end of the first heat exchange branch (131) and the first drive branch (111).

6. The thermal management system as described in any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The first refrigeration branch (112) includes a second heat exchanger (113) and a refrigeration pipe section (114). The second heat exchanger (113) includes a first heat exchange tube section (115) and a second heat exchange tube section (116). The first heat exchange tube section (115) is connected in series with the refrigeration tube section (114), and the second heat exchange tube section (116) is connected in parallel with the first temperature control branch (14) to the first drive branch (111).

7. An energy storage device, characterized in that, It includes a cooling energy storage unit (20), a heat-generating power device (30), and a thermal management system (10) as described in any one of claims 1-6. The cooling components of the multiple energy storage units (20) to be cooled are connected in series on the first drive branch (111), and the cooling components of the heat-generating power device (30) are connected in series on the second drive branch (121).

8. A thermal management method, characterized in that, The method is applied to the energy storage device (100) of claim 7, wherein the energy storage unit (20) to be cooled comprises a plurality of battery cells (40), and the method includes: When it is determined that the battery cell (40) needs to be heated, the first temperature of the coolant at the outlet end of the cooling component of the heating power device (30) and the second temperature at the outlet end of the cooling component of the energy storage unit (20) to be cooled are obtained. When the first temperature is greater than the second temperature, the first temperature control branch (14) is connected to the first drive branch (111), and the second temperature control branch (15) is connected to the second drive branch (121) to perform heat exchange between the first temperature control branch (14) and the second temperature control branch (15).

9. The method as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The thermal management system (10) includes a first temperature control valve (123), a second temperature control valve (124) and a third temperature control valve (154). Controlling the connection between the second temperature control branch (15) and the second drive branch (121) includes: The third temperature of the coolant at the inlet end of the cooling assembly of the heat-generating power device (30) is obtained; When the third temperature is less than or equal to the first reference temperature, the first temperature control valve (123) is controlled to connect to the first temperature control pipe section (151) and disconnect from the second temperature control valve (124), and the third temperature control valve (154) is controlled to connect to the outlet end of the second refrigeration branch (122) and disconnect from the second temperature control valve (124). When the third temperature is greater than the first reference temperature, the first temperature control valve (123) is connected to the first temperature control pipe section (151) and disconnected from the second temperature control valve (124). The third temperature control valve (154) is connected to the outlet end of the second refrigeration branch (122) and connected to the second temperature control valve (124). The second temperature control valve (124) is connected to the inlet end of the second refrigeration branch (122).

10. The method as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The method further includes: When the first temperature is less than or equal to the second temperature, the first temperature control valve (123) is connected to the first temperature control pipe section (151), and the third temperature control valve (154) is connected to the outlet end of the second refrigeration branch (122), and disconnected from the second temperature control valve (124).

11. The method as described in claim 9, characterized in that, Before obtaining the first temperature of the coolant at the outlet end of the cooling assembly of the heat-generating power device (30) and the second temperature at the outlet end of the cooling assembly of the energy storage unit (20) to be cooled, the method further includes: The system obtains the current ambient temperature, and when the current ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the second reference temperature and less than the third reference temperature, it controls the first temperature control valve (123) to connect to the first temperature control pipe section (151), and controls the third temperature control valve (154) to connect to the outlet end of the second refrigeration branch (122), and disconnects from the second temperature control valve (124).

12. The method as described in any one of claims 8-11, characterized in that, Before obtaining the first temperature of the coolant at the outlet end of the cooling assembly of the heat-generating power device (30) and the second temperature at the outlet end of the cooling assembly of the energy storage unit (20) to be cooled, the method further includes: The current ambient temperature is obtained, and when the current ambient temperature is less than the second reference temperature, it is determined that the battery cell (40) needs to be heated.

13. The method as described in any one of claims 8-11, characterized in that... Before obtaining the first temperature of the coolant at the outlet end of the cooling assembly of the heat-generating power device (30) and the second temperature at the outlet end of the cooling assembly of the energy storage unit (20) to be cooled, the method further includes: The lowest temperature of the multiple battery cells (40) at the current moment is obtained, and when the lowest temperature is less than the fourth reference temperature, it is determined that the battery cell (40) needs to be heated.

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