Air battery

Abstract

The utility model relates to an air battery which comprises a galvanic pile unit, a working solution tank and a cooling unit, the working solution tank is connected to the galvanic pile unit in an on-off mode through a first circulation pipeline and used for providing electrolyte for the galvanic pile unit and receiving the electrolyte from the galvanic pile unit, and the cooling unit is used for cooling the working solution tank. The cooling unit comprises a heat exchanger arranged on the first circulating pipeline and a cooler connected to the heat exchanger through a second circulating pipeline, the second circulating pipeline is used for circulating a cooling medium so as to exchange heat with the electrolyte flowing through the first circulating pipeline, and the cooler is used for cooling the cooling medium. According to the technical scheme provided by the invention, the temperature of the electrolyte flowing into the galvanic pile unit can be effectively controlled through the heat exchanger, so that the situation that the local temperature of the galvanic pile unit is too high is avoided, and higher safety and reliability are achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of air batteries, and in particular, to an air battery. Background Art

[0002] With the improvement of air batteries, in order to meet higher discharge requirements, the power density and energy density of air batteries are constantly increasing, so the heat generated during the discharge process is also increasing.

[0003] In the related art, the air battery is usually installed in a shell with a heat dissipation structure, and the heat dissipation structure in the shell is used to dissipate the heat of the air battery as a whole. However, this method has a slow cooling speed, and it is easy for one part of the air battery to overheat and another part to overcool, thereby damaging the air battery or affecting its working performance. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide an air battery capable of controlling the temperature of the electrolyte flowing into the battery stack unit, so as to at least partially solve the above technical problems.

[0005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present disclosure provides an air battery, comprising: a stack unit; a working fluid tank, which is disconnectably connected to the stack unit through a first circulation pipeline, and is used to provide electrolyte to the stack unit and receive electrolyte from the stack unit; and a cooling unit, comprising a heat exchanger arranged on the first circulation pipeline and a cooler connected to the heat exchanger through a second circulation pipeline, the second circulation pipeline is used to circulate a cooling medium to exchange heat with the electrolyte flowing through the first circulation pipeline, and the cooler is used to cool the cooling medium.

[0006] Optionally, the number of the battery stack units and the cooling units is the same and both are multiple, each of the battery stack units is connected to the working fluid tank through the first circulation pipeline, and the multiple heat exchangers of the multiple cooling units are arranged one-to-one on the multiple first circulation pipelines.

[0007] Optionally, the air battery further includes a shell, which includes a first chamber for installing the battery stack unit, a second chamber for installing the working fluid tank and the heat exchanger, and a third chamber for installing the cooler.

[0008] Optionally, the first chamber is arranged adjacent to the third chamber, and the second chamber is located at the bottom of the first chamber and the third chamber.

[0009] Optionally, a plurality of the battery stack units are arranged at intervals along a height direction of the first chamber.

[0010] Optionally, the battery stack unit includes at least two battery stacks, and the two battery stacks are arranged at intervals along the length direction of the first chamber.

[0011] Optionally, the air battery further includes an intermediate liquid tank, which is disposed in the third chamber and is connectable to the working liquid tank for replenishing electrolyte to the working liquid tank.

[0012] Optionally, a plurality of the coolers are arranged at intervals on one side of the intermediate liquid tank along a height direction of the third chamber.

[0013] Optionally, the first circulation pipeline includes a liquid inlet pipeline and a liquid outlet pipeline, the heat exchanger is arranged on the liquid inlet pipeline, the liquid inlet pipeline is used to transport electrolyte from the working liquid tank to the battery stack unit, the liquid outlet pipeline is used to transport electrolyte from the battery stack unit to the working liquid tank, and a first pump body is arranged on the liquid inlet pipeline.

[0014] Optionally, the cooler includes a shell, heat dissipation fins connected to the shell, and a fan connected to the heat dissipation fins, the second circulation pipeline passes through the shell and the heat dissipation fins, and a second pump body is arranged on the second circulation pipeline.

[0015] Through the above technical solution, a cooling unit is set to achieve temperature control of the battery stack unit, the first circulation pipeline and the second circulation pipeline are both connected to the heat exchanger, and the cooling medium in the second circulation pipeline and the electrolyte in the first circulation pipeline are heat exchanged in the heat exchanger to achieve cooling of the electrolyte, and then the cooling medium that has completed the heat exchange is cooled by the cooler to achieve circulating temperature control of the electrolyte. Therefore, the air battery provided by the present disclosure can effectively control the temperature of the electrolyte flowing into the battery stack unit through the heat exchanger to avoid the situation where the temperature of the battery stack unit is too high locally, and it is safer and more reliable.

[0016] Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be described in detail in the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The accompanying drawings are used to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure and constitute a part of the specification. Together with the following specific embodiments, they are used to explain the present disclosure but do not constitute a limitation of the present disclosure. In the accompanying drawings:

[0018] Figure 1 is a front view of the internal structure of an air battery provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] Figure 2 is a side view of the internal structure of an air battery provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0020] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a shell of an air battery provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0021] Description of Reference Numerals

[0022] 1. Battery stack unit; 100. Battery stack;

[0023] 2. First circulation pipeline; 20. Liquid inlet pipeline; 21. Liquid outlet pipeline;

[0024] 3. Heat exchanger; 4. Cooler; 5. Second circulation pipeline; 6. First pump body; 7. Second pump body; 8. Intermediate liquid tank; 9. Working liquid tank;

[0025] 10. Shell; 11. First chamber; 12. Second chamber; 13. Third chamber. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The specific implementation of the present disclosure is described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific implementation described herein is only used to illustrate and explain the present disclosure, and is not used to limit the present disclosure.

[0027] In the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, "inside" and "outside" refer to the inside and outside of the contour of the corresponding component. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" used in the present disclosure are to distinguish one element from another and have no order or importance. In addition, when the following description refers to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements.

[0028] Aluminum-air batteries are environmentally friendly batteries that release electrical energy through an oxidation reaction between high-purity aluminum and oxygen under the catalytic action of an electrolyte. During this reaction, a large amount of heat is released and the maximum temperature of the electrolyte can reach 100°C.

[0029] Therefore, according to Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the present disclosure provides an air battery, which can realize the control of electrolyte temperature to improve the safety of the equipment. The air battery may include a stack unit 1, a working fluid tank 9 and a cooling unit. The working fluid tank 9 is connected to the stack unit 1 through a first circulation pipeline 2 in a switchable manner, and is used to provide electrolyte to the stack unit 1 and receive electrolyte from the stack unit 1. The cooling unit may include a heat exchanger 3 arranged on the first circulation pipeline 2 and a cooler 4 connected to the heat exchanger 3 through a second circulation pipeline 5. The second circulation pipeline 5 is used to circulate a cooling medium to perform heat exchange with the electrolyte flowing through the first circulation pipeline 2. The cooler 4 is used to cool the cooling medium so that the cooling medium can continue to perform heat exchange with the electrolyte after cooling, so as to realize the circulation heat reduction of the electrolyte.

[0030] Through the above technical solution, a cooling unit is provided to realize temperature control of the battery stack unit 1. The first circulation pipeline 2 and the second circulation pipeline 5 are both connected to the heat exchanger 3. The cooling medium in the second circulation pipeline 5 and the electrolyte in the first circulation pipeline 2 perform heat exchange in the heat exchanger 3. The temperature of the electrolyte flowing into the battery stack unit 1 is effectively controlled by the heat exchanger 3 to avoid the situation where the temperature of the battery stack unit 1 is locally too high. The cooling medium that has completed the heat exchange is then cooled by the cooler 4 to realize circulating temperature control of the electrolyte, which is safer and more reliable.

[0031] It should be noted that the electrolyte flows from the working liquid tank 9 through the heat exchanger 3 into the fuel cell stack unit 1 through the first circulation pipeline 2. After a chemical reaction occurs in the fuel cell stack unit 1, it will flow back to the working liquid tank 9 through the first circulation pipeline 2, and circulate back and forth. The second circulation pipeline 5 connected to the heat exchanger 3 will exchange heat with the electrolyte flowing through the heat exchanger 3 each time, so as to cool the electrolyte. After the cooling medium in the second circulation pipeline 5 has completed the heat exchange with the electrolyte, it will be transported to the cooler 4 for cooling through the second circulation pipeline 5, so as to achieve the circulation cooling of the electrolyte.

[0032] The heat exchanger 3 may be any suitable heat exchanger, such as a plate heat exchanger, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0033] The air battery may be an aluminum air battery, a zinc air battery or a lithium air battery. The present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0034] In some possible implementations, for example, referring to Figure 1 As shown, the number of the stack units 1 and the cooling units can be the same and both can be multiple, each stack unit 1 is connected to the working fluid tank 9 through the first circulation pipeline 2, and the multiple heat exchangers 3 of the multiple cooling units are arranged one by one on the multiple first circulation pipelines 2. Through the above-mentioned one-to-one arrangement, it is possible to set up multiple stack units 1 and ensure sufficient power supply to achieve temperature control of the electrolyte of each stack unit 1, with stronger operability, and there will be no situation where the temperature of the stack unit 1 is too high locally; and when one of the stack units 1 or one of the first circulation pipelines 2 or one of the cooling units fails, it will not affect the continued operation of other stack units 1, and it has better reliability and stability in use.

[0035] In some possible implementations, for example, referring to Figures 1 to 3As shown, the air battery may further include a shell 10, which may include a first chamber 11 for installing the battery stack unit 1, a second chamber 12 for installing the working fluid tank 9 and the heat exchanger 3, and a third chamber 13 for installing the cooler 4. By providing the first chamber 11, the second chamber 12, and the third chamber 13, the arrangement of the battery stack unit 1, the working fluid tank 9, the heat exchanger 3, and the cooler 4 is more regular and orderly, so that the operator can perform targeted inspection and maintenance during the maintenance process, which is more convenient.

[0036] Of course, the housing 10 may also include only one chamber, for example, only the first chamber 11, and the stack unit 1, the working fluid tank 9, the heat exchanger 3 and the cooler 4 may all be disposed in the first chamber 11. The present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0037] Among them, multiple battery stack units 1 can be arranged at intervals along the height direction of the first chamber 11, and the battery stack unit 1 can also include at least two battery stacks 100. The two battery stacks 100 can be arranged at intervals along the length direction of the first chamber 11 to fully utilize the space of the first chamber 11 and further improve the power supply capacity of the air battery.

[0038] The number of the battery stacks 100 can be adaptively adjusted according to actual needs, for example, the number of the battery stacks 100 can be two or four, or eight or six. The present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0039] Optionally, in order to facilitate the input and output of the electrolyte and to facilitate the operator to repair and maintain the battery stack unit 1, the first chamber 11 and the third chamber 13 can be arranged adjacent to each other, for example, the first chamber 11 and the third chamber 13 can be arranged side by side, and the second chamber 12 can be located at the bottom of the first chamber 11 and the third chamber 13. It can be understood that the battery stack unit 1 is arranged in the first chamber 11, so that when the operator disassembles the battery stack 100, the arrangement position of the first chamber 11 can conform to the ergonomic structure, and the operator can install or disassemble the battery stack unit 1 without bending over or being in other uncomfortable postures.

[0040] The arrangement positions of the first chamber 11, the second chamber 12 and the third chamber 13 can be adaptively adjusted according to the actual needs. For example, the second chamber 12 can also be arranged adjacent to the first chamber 11 and the third chamber 13. Alternatively, the installation positions of the battery stack unit 1, the working fluid tank 9, the heat exchanger 3 and the cooler 4 can also be adaptively adjusted according to the actual situation. For example, the battery stack unit 1 can also be arranged in the third chamber 13. The present disclosure does not make specific limitations on this, and those skilled in the art can make adaptive adjustments according to the actual needs.

[0041] In some possible implementations, for example, referring to Figure 1As shown, the air battery may further include an intermediate liquid tank 8 , which is disposed in the third chamber 13 and is disconnectably connected to the working liquid tank 9 for replenishing the electrolyte to the working liquid tank 9 .

[0042] Among them, multiple coolers 4 can be arranged at intervals on one side of the intermediate liquid tank 8 along the height direction of the third chamber 13. The intermediate liquid tank 8 and the cooler 4 are arranged in the third chamber 13, which can facilitate the operator to inspect and maintain the cooler 4 and the intermediate liquid tank 8, and facilitate the operator to replenish the electrolyte in the intermediate liquid tank 8 in time.

[0043] After the electrolyte in the working liquid tank 9 reaches the service life, the electrolyte can be discharged from the working liquid tank 9, and the electrolyte in the intermediate liquid tank 8 can be used to supplement the working liquid tank 9. The electrolyte that has reached the service life can be understood as the electrolyte when the aluminum anode is oxidized and dissolved and reacts with hydroxide ions to generate tetrahydroxyaluminate ions that reach a certain concentration during the discharge reaction of the aluminum-air battery. The certain concentration can take any appropriate value according to the degree of battery performance attenuation. Before reaching the predetermined concentration, it can be regarded as not reaching the service life. Among them, when the aluminum anode is oxidized and dissolved and the tetrahydroxyaluminate ions generated by the reaction with hydroxide ions reach a certain concentration, aluminum hydroxide will precipitate. At the same time, a large amount of tetrahydroxyaluminate ions will seriously affect the viscosity and conductivity of the electrolyte, resulting in battery performance attenuation. Therefore, new electrolyte can be replenished in time through the intermediate liquid tank 8 to ensure the optimal discharge state of the aluminum-air battery.

[0044] In some possible implementations, for example, referring to Figure 1 As shown, the first circulation pipeline 2 may include an inlet pipeline 20 and an outlet pipeline 21, the heat exchanger 3 is arranged on the inlet pipeline 20, the inlet pipeline 20 is used to transport electrolyte from the working liquid tank 9 to the stack unit 1, the outlet pipeline 21 is used to transport electrolyte from the stack unit 1 to the working liquid tank 9, and a first pump body 6 is arranged on the inlet pipeline 20, the first pump body 6 is used to extract the electrolyte in the working liquid tank 9 and transport it to the stack unit 1. If a problem occurs in one of the inlet pipeline 20 and the outlet pipeline 21, the pipeline can be repaired by cutting off the delivery of electrolyte in the pipeline.

[0045] In some possible implementations, for example, referring to Figure 2 As shown, the cooler 4 includes a shell, heat dissipation fins connected to the shell and a fan connected to the heat dissipation fins. The second circulation pipeline 5 passes through the shell and the heat dissipation fins. A second pump body 7 is arranged on the second circulation pipeline 5. The second pump body 7 is used to extract the cooling medium in the second circulation pipeline 5 that has completed heat exchange with the electrolyte to the cooler 4 for cooling. The heat dissipation fins are used to dissipate the heat of the cooling medium. The fan is used to further cool the cooling medium and the heat dissipation fins.

[0046] The cooler 4 may also be a water-cooled cooler, which is not specifically limited in the present disclosure, and those skilled in the art may make adaptive adjustments according to actual needs.

[0047] The present disclosure exemplarily describes the working process of the air battery, for example: when the air battery starts to work, the electrolyte in the working liquid tank 9 is drawn by the first pump body 6 and flows through the heat exchanger 3 to be transported to the battery stack unit 1. After the battery stack unit 1 receives the electrolyte, a chemical reaction occurs inside and generates electrical energy. The electrolyte with increased temperature after the reaction is transported to the working liquid tank 9 through the liquid outlet pipeline 21, and after mixing with the electrolyte in the working liquid tank 9, it is cooled by the first pump body 6 through the heat exchanger 3 and transported to the battery stack unit 1. This reciprocating cycle is repeated. After the electrolyte in the working liquid tank 9 reaches its service life, the electrolyte can be discharged, and the working liquid tank 9 is replenished by the electrolyte in the intermediate liquid tank 8.

[0048] The preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; however, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific details in the above embodiments. Within the technical concept of the present disclosure, a variety of simple modifications can be made to the technical solution of the present disclosure, and these simple modifications all fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.

[0049] It should also be noted that the various specific technical features described in the above specific embodiments can be combined in any suitable manner without contradiction. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, the present disclosure will not further describe various possible combinations.

[0050] In addition, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be arbitrarily combined, and as long as they do not violate the concept of the present disclosure, they should also be regarded as the contents disclosed by the present disclosure.

Claims

1. An air battery, characterized in that: include: Battery stack unit; A working fluid tank, which is connected to the battery stack unit in an on-off manner through a first circulation pipeline, and is used to provide electrolyte to the battery stack unit and receive electrolyte from the battery stack unit; and The cooling unit includes a heat exchanger arranged on the first circulation pipeline and a cooler connected to the heat exchanger through a second circulation pipeline, wherein the second circulation pipeline is used to circulate a cooling medium to exchange heat with the electrolyte flowing through the first circulation pipeline, and the cooler is used to cool the cooling medium.

2. The air battery according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of the stack units and the cooling units is the same and both are multiple, each of the stack units is connected to the working fluid tank through the first circulation pipeline, and the multiple heat exchangers of the multiple cooling units are arranged on the multiple first circulation pipelines in a one-to-one correspondence.

3. The air battery according to claim 2, characterized in that: The air battery further includes a housing, which includes a first chamber for installing the battery stack unit, a second chamber for installing the working fluid tank and the heat exchanger, and a third chamber for installing the cooler.

4. The air battery according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first chamber is arranged adjacent to the third chamber, and the second chamber is located at the bottom of the first chamber and the third chamber.

5. The air battery according to claim 3, characterized in that: The plurality of battery stack units are arranged at intervals along a height direction of the first chamber.

6. The air battery according to claim 5, characterized in that: The battery stack unit includes at least two battery stacks, and the two battery stacks are arranged at intervals along the length direction of the first chamber.

7. The air battery according to claim 3, characterized in that: The air battery further includes an intermediate liquid tank, which is disposed in the third chamber and is connected to the working liquid tank in an on-off manner, and is used to replenish electrolyte to the working liquid tank.

8. The air battery according to claim 7, characterized in that: The plurality of coolers are arranged at intervals on one side of the intermediate liquid tank along a height direction of the third chamber.

9. The air battery according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first circulation pipeline includes a liquid inlet pipeline and a liquid outlet pipeline. The heat exchanger is arranged on the liquid inlet pipeline. The liquid inlet pipeline is used to transport electrolyte from the working liquid tank to the battery stack unit. The liquid outlet pipeline is used to transport electrolyte from the battery stack unit to the working liquid tank. A first pump body is arranged on the liquid inlet pipeline.

10. The air battery according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cooler comprises a shell, heat dissipation fins connected to the shell, and a fan connected to the heat dissipation fins. The second circulation pipeline passes through the shell and the heat dissipation fins. A second pump body is arranged on the second circulation pipeline.

Images