Energy storage equipment

Abstract

The utility model provides energy storage equipment, which mainly solves the problem that potential safety hazards exist in each battery module in the existing energy storage equipment. The energy storage device comprises a temperature control system and at least one battery module. The battery module comprises a shell and a plurality of single batteries arranged in the shell along the same direction; a shared chamber is arranged in the shell, and the inner cavity of the shared chamber is communicated with the inner cavities of all the single batteries; the temperature control system comprises a heat exchange unit, a heat conveying unit and a heat treatment unit; the heat exchange unit is used for realizing heat exchange with each battery module; the heat conveying unit comprises a liquid inlet pipeline assembly and a liquid return pipeline assembly and is used for conveying a heat transfer medium between the heat exchange unit and the heat treatment unit. The heat treatment unit comprises a temperature controller, a radiator and a control valve; the temperature controller is used for actively heating or cooling the heat transfer medium; the control valve is used for controlling whether the heat transfer medium enters the radiator; the radiator is used for radiating the heat transfer medium.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the field of energy storage batteries, and specifically relates to energy storage equipment. Background Art

[0002] With the development of new energy sources such as solar energy and wind energy, energy storage technology has also developed. Lithium batteries have gradually become the mainstream product for energy storage due to their advantages such as high energy, long service life, high rated voltage, high power tolerance and low self-discharge rate.

[0003] With the large-scale application of lithium battery energy storage equipment, the safe use of lithium-ion batteries has also attracted attention. Due to the high concentration of single cells in the battery module, a large amount of heat will be generated during the charging and discharging process, and this heat will gradually accumulate, causing uneven battery temperature. In severe cases, the thermal balance of the battery is destroyed, which in turn causes thermal runaway of the battery, posing certain safety hazards. Summary of the invention

[0004] In order to solve the problem of potential safety hazards in battery modules in existing energy storage devices, the utility model provides an energy storage device.

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the technical solution provided by the utility model is:

[0006] An energy storage device includes a temperature control system and at least one battery module; the battery module includes a shell and a plurality of single cells arranged in the shell in the same direction; a shared chamber is provided in the shell, and the inner cavity of the shared chamber is connected to the inner cavities of all the single cells; avoidance holes are provided on the top plate of the shell corresponding to the polarity terminals of each single cell; the polarity terminals of each single cell extend out of the avoidance holes, and the top plate area of ​​the shell corresponding to the avoidance holes is fixedly sealed with the shell of the single cell; the temperature control system includes a heat exchange unit, a heat transfer unit and a heat processing unit; the heat exchange unit is used to communicate with each battery module Realize heat exchange; the heat transfer unit includes a liquid inlet pipeline assembly and a liquid return pipeline assembly, which are used to realize the transportation of heat transfer medium between the heat exchange unit and the heat treatment unit; the heat treatment unit includes a temperature controller, a radiator and a control valve; the liquid inlet of the temperature controller is connected to the liquid return pipeline assembly, and the liquid outlet of the temperature controller is connected to the liquid inlet pipeline assembly, and the temperature controller is used to actively increase or reduce the temperature of the heat transfer medium; the control valve is used to control whether the heat transfer medium enters the radiator, and the liquid inlet and liquid outlet of the radiator are both connected to the liquid return pipeline assembly, which is used to dissipate heat from the heat transfer medium.

[0007] Furthermore, a fan is provided on the outside of the radiator, and the fan dissipates heat for the heat transfer medium flowing through the radiator.

[0008] Furthermore, the control valve comprises a three-way electric valve, a first port of the three-way electric valve is connected to the liquid inlet of the temperature controller, a second port is connected to the liquid return pipeline assembly, and a third port is connected to the liquid outlet of the radiator.

[0009] Furthermore, the liquid inlet pipeline assembly and the liquid return pipeline assembly are provided with flow regulating devices.

[0010] Furthermore, the liquid inlet pipeline assembly is provided with a water replenishing joint for replenishing heat transfer medium to the temperature control system, and the liquid return pipeline assembly is provided with an exhaust valve.

[0011] Furthermore, the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet of the temperature controller are provided with blocking joints, and the blocking joints can block the heat transfer medium in the temperature controller.

[0012] Furthermore, the heat exchange unit includes at least one heat transfer tube, and a clamping portion is provided on the polarity terminal of the battery module. Each heat transfer tube is fixed on the clamping portion of each battery module in a one-to-one correspondence, and the heat transfer tube is insulated from each battery module; the clamping portion is a through groove or through hole opened at the position where the polarity terminal of each single battery extends out of the avoidance hole.

[0013] Furthermore, the heat transfer tube is a metal tube, and the metal tube has at least one of an insulating layer and an insulating sleeve.

[0014] Furthermore, an insulating sealant layer is laid on the top plate of the shell, and the liquid inlet end and the liquid outlet end of the heat transfer tube extend out of the insulating sealant layer.

[0015] Furthermore, an insulating protective cover is provided on the top of the shell, and polarity terminals of each single battery are located inside the insulating protective cover.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of the utility model has the following advantages:

[0017] 1. In the energy storage device of the utility model, the battery module places multiple single cells in a shell with a shared chamber, and uses the shared chamber to communicate with the inner cavities of each single cell located in the shell, so that the electrolyte and gas of each single cell are shared to ensure the consistency of each single cell, reduce the difference between the electrolyte and gas of each single cell, improve the consistency between each single cell to a certain extent, and thus improve the cycle life of the battery module to a certain extent.

[0018] The temperature control system of the energy storage device controls the temperature of the battery module during operation to avoid potential safety hazards in the battery module. At the same time, the temperature control system controls the temperature of the battery module through a combination of a temperature controller and a radiator. In non-extreme temperature conditions, the radiator is used to cool the battery module using the ambient temperature. In extreme conditions, when the temperature is too high or too low, the temperature controller is started for heating or cooling. This maximizes the use of ambient temperature and reduces temperature control energy consumption. This temperature control method is low-cost and avoids wasting energy when only a temperature controller is used, and also avoids the defect that the battery module temperature cannot be controlled in time when only a radiator is used.

[0019] 2. In the energy storage device of the utility model, a fan is also arranged on the outside of the radiator, and the fan further dissipates the heat by convection of the heat transfer medium passing through the radiator, thereby further increasing the heat dissipation effect of the radiator, increasing the use time of the radiator, reducing the working time of the temperature controller, and reducing the energy consumption of the temperature control.

[0020] 3. In the energy storage device of the utility model, the control valve includes a three-way electric valve, and only a single device is needed to realize the on-off of the heat transfer medium in the temperature controller and the radiator, so that the control valve has a simple structure and is easy to install.

[0021] 4. In the distributed temperature control system of the utility model, flow regulating devices are provided on the liquid inlet pipeline assembly and the liquid return pipeline assembly, and the flow of the heat transfer medium is controlled by the flow regulating device to ensure that each battery module operates within a preferred temperature range.

[0022] 5. In the distributed temperature control system of the utility model, a water supply joint is provided on the liquid inlet pipeline assembly, which can replenish the heat transfer medium to the temperature control system. An exhaust valve is provided on the liquid return pipeline assembly, which is used to exhaust the air in the temperature control system. The water supply joint and the exhaust valve work together to enable the temperature control system to efficiently achieve temperature control of each battery module and improve the temperature control effect of the temperature control system.

[0023] 6. In the distributed temperature control system of the utility model, blocking joints are provided on the liquid inlet and outlet of the temperature controller. When the temperature controller is repaired, the blocking joints can prevent the outflow of the heat transfer medium in the temperature controller without the need for corresponding drainage operations, thereby improving the convenience and reliability of maintenance.

[0024] 7. In the energy storage device of the utility model, the heat exchange unit is a heat transfer tube, which exchanges heat with the polarity terminals of the battery module. The heat transfer tube transfers the heat of the polarity terminals where the heat in the battery module is most concentrated to the outside for processing to ensure that the battery module operates within the optimal temperature range. At the same time, the heat transfer tube is arranged in the through groove or through hole of the polarity terminal and is in direct contact with the polarity terminals of each battery module, so that the heat transfer tube and the polarity terminal have a larger contact area, further improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0025] 8. In the energy storage device of the utility model, an insulating layer and an insulating sleeve are provided on the heat transfer tube, so that when the heat transfer tube and the battery module perform heat exchange, reliable insulation performance can be maintained, thereby improving the safety of the heat transfer tube and the battery module during use.

[0026] 9. In the energy storage device of the utility model, an insulating sealant layer is laid on the top plate of the outer shell of the battery module. When condensation occurs on the surface of the heat transfer tube on the polarity terminal, the condensation cannot penetrate into the gap between the polarity terminal and the avoidance hole due to the blocking of the insulating sealant layer, thereby preventing the battery module from short-circuiting.

[0027] 10. In the energy storage device of the utility model, the battery module uses an insulating protective cover to provide insulation protection for the polarity terminals, avoiding the potential safety hazards of the polarity terminals being exposed during the operation of the battery module, and also avoiding the problem of some foreign objects in the external environment falling into the polarity terminal position causing a short circuit in the battery module, thereby improving the safety of the battery module.

[0028] Other advantages, objectives and features of the present invention will be embodied in part through the following description, and in part will be understood by those skilled in the art through research and practice of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the utility model or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the utility model. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0030] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an energy storage device in an embodiment;

[0031] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of a battery module in an embodiment;

[0032] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of a battery module (part of the housing is omitted) in an embodiment;

[0033] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of a battery module (with an insulating protective cover) in an embodiment;

[0034] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of multiple battery modules and heat transfer units in an embodiment;

[0035] Figure 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a heat transport unit in an embodiment;

[0036] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of a heat treatment unit (control valve includes a three-way electric valve) in an embodiment;

[0037] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of a heat treatment unit (the control valve includes a first electric valve and a second electric valve) in the embodiment;

[0038] Fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a heat treatment unit in an embodiment;

[0039] Fig.10 Schematic diagram of heat transfer medium flow for passive cooling in the embodiment;

[0040] Fig.11 Schematic diagram of the flow of heat transfer medium for active cooling in the embodiment;

[0041] Fig.12 Schematic diagram of the structure of the blocking joint in the embodiment.

[0042] Figure numerals: 1-battery module, 2-heat exchange unit, 3-heat transfer unit, 4-heat processing unit, 5-energy storage box, 11-housing, 12-single battery, 13-polarity terminal, 14-insulating protective cover, 15-insulating sealant layer, 16-first electrical connector, 17-second electrical connector, 131-clamping part, 111-electrolyte sharing chamber, 112-gas sharing chamber, 21-heat transfer tube, 211-first tube, 212-second tube, 213-connecting tube, 31-liquid inlet pipeline assembly, 32-liquid return pipeline assembly, 33-flow regulating device, 34-water supply joint, 35-exhaust valve, 311-first-level liquid inlet pipe, 312-second-level liquid inlet pipe, 313-third-level liquid inlet pipe, 321-first-level liquid outlet pipe, 322-second-level liquid outlet pipe, 323-third-level liquid outlet pipe, 41-temperature controller, 42-radiator, 43-control valve, 44-fan, 45-blocking joint, 431-three-way electric valve, 432-first electric valve, 433-second electric valve, 451-joint end pipe, 452-regulating valve, 453-welding chuck, 51-battery compartment, 52-equipment compartment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] In order to make the above-mentioned purposes, features and advantages of the utility model more obvious and easy to understand, the specific implementation methods of the utility model are described in detail below in conjunction with the drawings of the specification. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the utility model, but not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the utility model, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary persons in the field without creative work should fall within the scope of protection of the utility model.

[0044] The "other embodiments" that appear in different places in this specification do not all refer to the same embodiment, nor are they separate or selective embodiments that are mutually exclusive with other embodiments. In the description of this specification, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. In the description of this utility model, the meaning of "multiple" is two or more, unless otherwise clearly and specifically limited.

[0045] In the description of this specification, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the term "connection" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a direct connection, an indirect connection through an intermediate, or the internal communication of two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in this utility model can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0046] At the same time, in the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the orientations or positional relationships indicated by the terms "top, bottom, inside and outside" are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0047] like Figure 1 As shown, the energy storage device provided in this embodiment includes a temperature control system and at least one battery module 1; the number of battery modules 1 is set according to the needs of the energy storage device, and multiple battery modules 1 are connected in series and parallel to meet the charging and discharging needs. The temperature control system is mainly used to control the temperature of each battery module 1 during normal operation, so that each battery module 1 operates within a suitable temperature range, and try to avoid thermal runaway of the battery module 1 and cause safety hazards.

[0048] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the battery module 1 in this embodiment includes a housing 11 and a plurality of single cells 12, and the plurality of single cells 12 are arranged in the same direction and placed in the housing 11. The housing 11 is provided with a shared chamber, and the inner cavity of the shared chamber is connected to the inner cavities of all single cells 12. The single cells 12 in this embodiment are square shell batteries, and the number can be adjusted according to actual needs. The inner cavity of each single cell 12 includes an electrolyte area and a gas area.

[0049] The above-mentioned shared chamber may be an electrolyte shared chamber 111, the inner cavity of the electrolyte shared chamber 111 is connected to the electrolyte area of ​​the inner cavity of all the single cells 12, and the electrolyte shared chamber 111 can make each single cell 12 in a unified electrolyte environment, thereby ensuring the uniformity of the electrolyte in each single cell 12 and improving the performance and charge-discharge cycle life of the battery module 1. In this embodiment, the electrolyte shared chamber 111 is a liquid channel arranged between the bottom plate of the housing 11 and the bottom of each single cell 12.

[0050] The above-mentioned shared chamber may also be a gas shared chamber 112, the inner cavity of the gas shared chamber 112 is connected to the gas area of ​​the inner cavity of all the single cells 12, and the gas balance of each single cell 12 is achieved through the gas shared chamber 112, which can also improve the performance and charge-discharge cycle life of the battery module 1. In this embodiment, the gas shared chamber 112 is a gas channel arranged on the top plate of the shell 11. At this time, the top plate of the shell 11 is provided with a protrusion extending along the arrangement direction of the single cells 12, and a gas channel is formed at the protrusion.

[0051] The above-mentioned shared chamber can also be a gas-liquid shared chamber, the inner cavity of the gas-liquid shared chamber is connected to the electrolyte area and gas area of ​​the inner cavity of all single cells 12. Through a gas-liquid shared chamber, each single cell 12 can be placed in a unified electrolyte environment and gas environment, thereby improving the performance and charge-discharge cycle life of the battery module 1.

[0052] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, after a plurality of single cells 12 are arranged in the same direction and placed in the outer shell 11, avoidance holes are opened on the top plate of the outer shell 11 corresponding to the polarity terminals 13 of each single cell 12, and the polarity terminals 13 of each single cell 12 extend out of the corresponding avoidance holes as polarity terminals of the battery module 1 (the polarity terminals of all single cells on one side serve as the positive polarity terminals of the battery module, and the polarity terminals of all single cells on the other side serve as the negative polarity terminals of the battery module), and the top plate area of ​​the outer shell 11 corresponding to the avoidance holes is fixedly sealed with the shell of the single cell 12, so that the gap between the polarity terminal 13 and the avoidance holes is sealed.

[0053] It should be noted that the polarity terminal 13 of the single cell 12 here can be the pole of the single cell 12. In order to avoid the pole of the single cell 12 from being unable to smoothly extend out of the avoidance hole as the polarity terminal 13, a pole adapter can also be connected to the pole of the single cell 12, and the overall structure of the pole of the single cell 12 and the pole adapter can be used as the polarity terminal 13 of the single cell 12.

[0054] The temperature control system of this embodiment includes a heat exchange unit 2, a heat transfer unit 3 and a heat processing unit 4; the heat exchange unit 2 is used to perform heat exchange with each battery module 1, and the heat transfer unit 3 is used to realize the transportation of heat transfer medium between the heat exchange unit 2 and the heat processing unit 4; the heat processing unit 4 is used to increase or decrease the temperature of the heat transfer medium in the heat transfer unit 3.

[0055] like Figure 1 As shown, when the above-mentioned temperature control system is specifically installed, the energy storage box 5 of the energy storage device is divided into a battery compartment 51 and an equipment compartment 52 in this embodiment, each battery module 1 and the heat exchange unit 2 and the heat transfer unit 3 are installed in the battery compartment 51, and the heat treatment unit 4 is arranged in the equipment compartment 52. This installation method not only makes the installation of the battery module 1 and the temperature control system more convenient, but also can improve the protection level of the temperature controller 41, the radiator 42 and the control valve 43, thereby improving the service life of the entire temperature control system.

[0056] The heat exchange unit 2 is mainly used for heat exchange with each battery module 1. The heat exchange unit 2 can be a heat transfer plate or heat transfer tube 21 that contacts the polarity terminal 13 of each battery module 1 or contacts the outer shell 11. The heat transfer plate or heat transfer tube 21 is connected to the heat treatment unit 4 through the heat transfer unit 3 to control the temperature of the battery module 1.

[0057] like Figure 2 As shown, the heat exchange unit 2 in this embodiment is a heat transfer tube 21, which is used to exchange heat with the polarity terminals 13 of each battery module 1. It has been found through research that during the charging and discharging process of the battery module, the temperature at the polarity terminal 13 is the highest temperature of the battery module. By processing the heat at the polarity terminal 13, the battery module 1 can be effectively cooled, thereby achieving effective temperature control of the battery module 1.

[0058] The heat transfer tube 21 is installed on the polarity terminal 13 of the battery module 1, and is mainly used to control the temperature of the top of the battery module 1, especially the polarity terminal 13 of the battery module 1, to ensure that the battery module 1 operates within the optimal temperature range. Figure 3 As shown, a clamping portion 131 is provided on the polarity terminal 13 of the battery module 1, and the heat transfer tube 21 is fixed in the clamping portion 131, so that the heat transfer tube 21 is directly connected to the polarity terminal 13 of the battery module 1, and the heat on the polarity terminal 13 where the heat is relatively concentrated is promptly discharged, thereby improving the heat dissipation effect of the top of the battery module 1. In addition, when the temperature of the battery module 1 is lower than the set threshold, the battery module 1 is heated by passing a heat transfer medium with a higher temperature into the heat transfer tube 21; by controlling the temperature of the heat transfer medium, it can be ensured that the battery module 1 always operates at a normal operating temperature.

[0059] like Figure 2As shown, the heat transfer tube 21 is a pipe with a heat exchange function. There is no requirement for the cross-sectional shape of the heat transfer tube 21, as long as it can contact the polarity terminal 13 of the single battery 12 for heat exchange. For example, a square tube, an elliptical tube, a round tube, etc. can be used. In this embodiment, the heat transfer tube 21 is preferably a round tube, which is easy to install and can be made of an existing metal tube, and the cost is relatively low.

[0060] At the same time, the heat transfer tube 21 specifically adopts a metal tube with good thermal conductivity, such as an aluminum tube, a copper tube, etc. Preferably, the heat transfer tube 21 adopts an aluminum tube with good thermal conductivity and relatively low cost. In order to ensure the thermal conductivity, the thinner the wall thickness of the aluminum tube, the better. However, if the wall thickness of the aluminum tube is too thin, the aluminum tube is relatively soft and is easy to bend and break during installation. Therefore, in this embodiment, the wall thickness of the aluminum tube is preferably 0.5mm~1mm. The aluminum tube with this wall thickness can maintain its installation reliability while having good thermal conductivity, avoiding the risk of easy bending and damage when the wall thickness of the aluminum tube is thin. In specific use, the diameter of the aluminum tube is generally about 10mm~20mm.

[0061] The heat transfer tube 21 can be manufactured in the following manner:

[0062] First, the heat transfer tube 21 can be made of a whole tube, and the whole aluminum tube is bent into a U-shaped tube, and the two straight tubes of the U-shaped tube are respectively fixed in the through grooves or through holes on the positive terminal 13 and the negative terminal 13 of each single battery 12 in the battery module 1;

[0063] Second, in order to facilitate installation, such as Figure 2 As shown, the heat transfer tube 21 is a spliced ​​pipeline, mainly including a first tube 211, a second tube 212 and a connecting tube 213; the first tube 211 is fixed on the clamping part 131 of the positive terminal 13 of each single battery 12 in the battery module 1; the second tube 212 is fixed on the clamping part 131 of the negative terminal 13 of each single battery 12 in the battery module 1, and the two ends of the connecting tube 213 are respectively connected to the ports of the first tube 211 and the second tube 212 located on the same side.

[0064] When the heat transfer tube 21 is matched with the polarity terminal 13 of the battery module 1, in order to ensure safety, the heat transfer tube 21 and the battery module 1 need to be insulated. Specifically, the insulation treatment can be achieved in the following ways: the heat transfer tube 21 is an insulating pipe made of insulating material, such as a plastic pipe or a ceramic pipe, etc. However, the thermal conductivity of metal pipes, plastic pipes or ceramic pipes is relatively poor. Therefore, in this embodiment, an insulating layer or an insulating sleeve is provided on the metal pipe to ensure the insulation between the metal pipe and the battery module 1 when in use.

[0065] Preferably, an insulating layer and an insulating sleeve are provided on the heat transfer tube 21 to form a double insulation structure; this double insulation arrangement enables the heat transfer tube 21 to maintain reliable insulation performance with the battery module 1 when heat is exchanged with the battery module 1, even if one of the insulating layer or the insulating sleeve is damaged, thereby improving the safety of the battery module 1 during use. The specific structure of the heat transfer tube 21 with an insulating layer and an insulating sleeve is described in detail below, taking an aluminum tube as an example.

[0066] When an insulating layer is provided on an aluminum tube, the insulating layer is formed on the tube wall of the aluminum tube and is an integral structure with the aluminum tube. The insulating layer can be implemented in the following ways:

[0067] First, a ceramic coating, i.e., a high-temperature electrical insulation coating, is formed on the wall of the aluminum tube to form an insulating layer. The ceramic coating may be boron nitride, aluminum oxide, or copper fluoride coating. However, the insulating layer formed in this way is easy to fall off and the processing cost is high.

[0068] Second, a layer of insulating material (such as insulating paint, etc.) is coated on the wall surface of the aluminum tube to form an insulating layer; this method is easy to process and implement, and the processing cost is low;

[0069] Third, an enamel insulation layer is formed on the wall of the aluminum tube;

[0070] Fourth, the aluminum tube is oxidized to form an insulating layer. Oxidation is to use the chemical reaction between the metal surface and oxygen to form an oxide film to improve the insulation performance of the metal surface. For example, electrochemical oxidation method, etc. Specifically, the aluminum tube is oxidized to form a hard oxide layer. The insulating layer formed by this method is not easy to fall off, and the insulation performance is relatively good.

[0071] It should be noted that the tube wall can be the outer tube wall of the aluminum tube or the inner tube wall, preferably the outer tube wall. The thicker the hard oxide layer formed by oxidation treatment, the better the insulation, but its thermal conductivity will be reduced. In this embodiment, the thickness of the hard oxide layer is preferably 20um to 50um. The hard oxide layer of this thickness ensures the insulation performance while also making the side wall of the aluminum tube have better thermal conductivity.

[0072] The above-mentioned insulating sleeve can be specifically made of insulating materials with good thermal conductivity, so that it has excellent thermal conductivity and good insulation performance. In this embodiment, the insulating sleeve adopts a thermally conductive plastic sleeve or a thermally conductive rubber sleeve with good insulation and thermal conductivity, such as a thermally conductive silicone sleeve, etc. At the same time, the thickness of the insulating sleeve is preferably 0.1mm~1.5mm, which can ensure good thermal conductivity while ensuring excellent insulation performance. The cross-sectional shape of the insulating sleeve can be circular, U-shaped, or C-shaped, as long as it can be sleeved on the aluminum tube with an insulating layer to achieve insulation at the contact point between the aluminum tube and the polarity terminal 13 of the single battery 12. At the same time, the cross-sectional shape of the above-mentioned insulating sleeve is preferably the same as the cross-sectional shape of the aluminum tube, so that the insulating sleeve can be tightly nested on the aluminum tube to improve the thermal conductivity of the aluminum tube.

[0073] like Figure 3 As shown, when the heat transfer tube 21 is installed, a through groove or through hole is provided at the position where the polarity terminal 13 of the single battery 12 extends out of the avoidance hole, as a clamping portion 131; compared with the through hole, the through groove is more convenient for on-site installation, and the installation requirements are relatively low. The through groove is arranged in a C-shaped cross section, and the opening width of the C-shaped cross section is smaller than the widest part of the through groove. Such a design is conducive to the interference fit of the heat transfer tube 21 in the through groove. The arc formed at both ends of the C-shaped through groove has natural tension, which is conducive to the heat transfer tube 21 being tightly clamped in the through groove.

[0074] In this embodiment, the polarity terminal 13 of the single battery 12 is a cylinder. In this case, the through groove can be set on the side wall or end face of the cylinder. The through groove or through hole is set on the side wall. Compared with the through groove set on the end face, the contact area between the heat transfer tube 21 in the through groove or through hole and the inner wall of the through groove or through hole is larger, and the heat exchange efficiency is higher. In addition, when the through groove or through hole is located on the side wall, the entire area of ​​the end face can be used as an electrical connection area. In addition, two through grooves or through holes can be set on the side wall of the pole at the same time to increase the number of heat transfer tubes 21 placed and further improve the heat exchange efficiency.

[0075] During long-term use of the battery module 1, condensation will be generated on the surface due to the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the heat transfer tube 21. When the condensation accumulates to a certain amount, it will penetrate into the gap between the polarity terminal 13 of the single battery 12 and the avoidance hole, causing the polarity terminal 13 of the single battery 12 to be electrically conductive with the shell 11, which may cause a short circuit in the same single battery 12.

[0076] like Figure 4As shown, this embodiment overcomes the above problems by optimizing the top structure of the battery module 1 and laying an insulating sealant layer 15 on the top plate of the shell 11. The end face of the polarity terminal 13 of each single battery 12 extends out of the insulating sealant layer 15, which is used to connect with the first electrical connector 16 or the second electrical connector 17; the liquid inlet end and the liquid outlet end of the heat transfer tube 21 extend out of the insulating sealant layer 15, which is used to connect with the liquid inlet pipeline assembly 31 and the liquid return pipeline assembly 32. The first electrical connector 16 is a connecting device for connecting each single battery 12 in parallel, and the second electrical connector 17 is a connecting device for connecting two battery modules 1 in series, and can also be a connecting device for connecting the battery module 1 to an external load.

[0077] In this embodiment, an insulating sealant layer 15 is laid on the top plate of the shell 11, and a part of the polarity terminal 13 of each single battery 12 is covered by the insulating sealant layer 15, and the end face of the polarity terminal 13 of each single battery 12 extends out of the insulating sealant layer 15 and is connected to the first electrical connector 16 and / or the second electrical connector 17; the main part of the heat transfer tube 21 is covered by the insulating sealant layer 15, and the liquid inlet end and the liquid outlet end of the heat transfer tube 21 extend out of the insulating sealant layer 15, and are used to be connected to the liquid inlet pipeline assembly 31 and the liquid return pipeline assembly 32.

[0078] In some other embodiments, the thickness of the insulating sealant layer 15 can be smaller, lower than the main part of the heat transfer tube 21, or cover part of the main part of the heat transfer tube 21, as long as condensation cannot enter the gap between the polarity terminal 13 of the single battery 12 and the avoidance hole. The insulating sealant used in this embodiment is generally a battery potting glue commonly used in batteries, such as a silicone thermal conductive potting glue, which has good sealing, insulation, vibration resistance, heat dissipation and waterproof functions. In order to prevent the insulating sealant liquid from overflowing, during the glue injection process of this embodiment, a glue injection mold can be added to the edges of the top plate of the shell 11 to ensure that the insulating sealant liquid can be injected smoothly. After the glue injection is completed, demolding is performed.

[0079] like Figure 4As shown, on the basis of the above structure, this embodiment further provides an insulating protective cover 14 on the top of the battery module 1, thereby providing insulating protection for the polarity terminal 13, avoiding the potential safety hazards of the polarity terminal 13 being exposed during the operation of the battery module 1, and also avoiding the problem of some foreign matter in the external environment falling into the position of the polarity terminal 13 causing the battery module 1 to short-circuit, thereby improving the safety of the battery module 1. It should be noted that if the insulating protective cover 14 completely wraps the polarity terminal 13, it will make the electrical connection of such battery module 1 more difficult. Therefore, this embodiment provides a slit on the side wall of the insulating protective cover 14, through which the second electrical connector 17 can be connected to the polarity terminal 13 of the single battery 12, thereby achieving electrical connection. It should also be noted that a channel for the liquid inlet and liquid outlet of the heat transfer pipe 21 to extend out needs to be provided on the side wall of the insulating protective cover 14.

[0080] like Figure 5 As shown, the heat transfer medium is contained in the heat transfer tube 21. After heat exchange with the battery module 1, the heat transfer medium is transported to the heat treatment unit 4 through the heat transfer unit 3. The heat transfer unit 3 mainly includes a liquid inlet pipeline assembly 31 and a liquid return pipeline assembly 32. The heat transfer medium forms a circulation loop through the heat transfer tube 21, the liquid inlet pipeline assembly 31, and the liquid return pipeline assembly 32. The circulation loop is connected to the heat treatment unit 4 to control the temperature of each battery module 1.

[0081] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the above-mentioned liquid inlet pipeline assembly 31 and liquid return pipeline assembly 32 are installed and manufactured according to the number and arrangement of battery modules 1. For example, multiple battery modules 1 are arranged in sequence in the horizontal direction to form a battery module unit, and then multiple battery module units are arranged in sequence in the vertical direction to form a battery cluster. At this time, the liquid inlet pipeline assembly 31 and liquid return pipeline assembly 32 can be manufactured in the following manner:

[0082] First, the liquid inlet pipeline assembly 31, the liquid return pipeline assembly 32 and the heat transfer pipe 21 are made of an integrated pipeline, that is, the entire energy storage device includes only one pipeline for the flow of heat transfer medium, and the pipeline can be specifically made of an aluminum tube, which is bent multiple times up and down and left and right, and sequentially connected to the polarity terminals 13 on multiple battery modules 1. This installation method requires the aluminum tube to be bent many times, and has high requirements on the pipeline quality. At the same time, during installation, the entire pipeline needs to be connected to the polarity terminal 13 of each battery module 1 in turn, and the reliability and convenience of installation are relatively poor, and installation errors are prone to occur after installation.

[0083] Second, if Figure 6As shown, the liquid inlet pipeline assembly 31, the liquid return pipeline assembly 32 and the heat transfer tube 21 are manufactured and installed separately, and the liquid inlet pipeline assembly 31 and the liquid return pipeline assembly 32 are manufactured through multi-stage pipelines. The liquid inlet pipeline assembly 31 specifically includes a primary liquid inlet pipe 311, a secondary liquid inlet pipe 312 and a tertiary liquid inlet pipe 313; the liquid inlet port of the primary liquid inlet pipe 311 is used to connect to the heat treatment unit 4; multiple secondary liquid inlet pipes 312 are connected to the primary liquid inlet pipe 311, and each secondary liquid inlet pipe 312 provides heat transfer medium to each battery module unit, that is, multiple secondary liquid inlet pipes 312 divide the heat transfer medium in the primary liquid inlet pipe 311 to multiple battery module units one by one; multiple tertiary liquid inlet pipes 313 are connected to the secondary liquid inlet pipe 312, and at the same time, each tertiary liquid inlet pipe 313 is respectively connected to the liquid inlet end of the heat transfer pipe 21 of each battery module 1, and each tertiary liquid inlet pipe 313 provides heat transfer medium to each battery module 1 That is to say, multiple tertiary liquid inlet pipes 313 divert the heat transfer medium in the secondary liquid inlet pipe 312 to multiple battery modules 1; the above-mentioned return liquid pipeline assembly 32 includes a primary liquid outlet pipe 321, a secondary liquid outlet pipe 322 and a tertiary liquid outlet pipe 323; each tertiary liquid outlet pipe 323 is respectively connected to the liquid outlet end of the heat transfer pipe 21 of each battery module 1, and at the same time, multiple tertiary liquid outlet pipes 323 are all connected to the secondary liquid outlet pipe 322, and the heat transfer medium after heat exchange of multiple battery modules 1 is gathered into the secondary liquid outlet pipe 322, and each secondary liquid outlet pipe 322 is connected to the primary liquid outlet pipe 321, and the heat transfer medium after heat exchange of multiple battery module units is gathered into the primary liquid outlet pipe 321, and the primary liquid outlet pipe 321 is connected to the heat treatment unit 4.

[0084] The above-mentioned liquid inlet pipeline assembly 31 and liquid return pipeline assembly 32 are made of multi-stage pipelines, so that the heat transfer medium flowing out of the heat treatment unit 4 is divided step by step and evenly distributed to each battery module 1, and the heat transfer medium flow allocated to each battery module 1 is balanced, so that each battery module 1 in the battery cluster has a good and balanced heat dissipation effect, thereby improving the working stability and service life of the energy storage equipment.

[0085] In addition, if Figure 6 As shown, the first-level liquid inlet pipe 311, the second-level liquid inlet pipe 312, the first-level liquid outlet pipe 321, and the second-level liquid outlet pipe 322 can all be formed by splicing multiple sections of pipelines. At the same time, the third-level liquid inlet pipe 313 and the third-level liquid outlet pipe 323 are also detachably connected, making the installation, disassembly and maintenance of the entire liquid inlet pipeline assembly 31 and the liquid return pipeline assembly 32 very convenient. During subsequent maintenance, it is only necessary to remove the pipeline connector of the relevant battery module 1 without removing the entire pipeline assembly, which is convenient for disassembly and maintenance.

[0086] like Fig. 9As shown, a flow regulating device 33 may be provided on the first-level liquid inlet pipe 311 and the second-level liquid inlet pipe 312. The flow regulating device 33 may specifically adopt a flow regulating valve, etc. The flow regulating device 33 regulates the flow of the heat transfer medium in the liquid inlet pipeline assembly 31 according to the temperature of the battery module 1 in the energy storage device, so that the temperature of the battery module 1 in the energy storage device is within a preferred range.

[0087] like Figures 7 to 9 As shown, the heat treatment unit 4 in this embodiment includes a temperature controller 41, a radiator 42 and a control valve 43; the liquid inlet of the temperature controller 41 is connected to the liquid return pipeline assembly 32, and the liquid outlet of the temperature controller 41 is connected to the liquid inlet pipeline assembly 31, which is used to actively increase or decrease the temperature of the heat transfer medium; the control valve 43 is used to control whether the heat transfer medium enters the radiator 42, and the liquid inlet and liquid outlet of the radiator 42 are both connected to the liquid return pipeline assembly 32, which is used to dissipate heat from the heat transfer medium.

[0088] The heat treatment unit 4 performs combined active heat dissipation, active temperature increase and passive heat dissipation on the battery module 1 through the radiator 42 and the temperature controller 41. This method can ensure that the heat of the battery module 1 can be effectively processed, and at the same time, the temperature control cost is relatively low, which can effectively save energy, avoid wasting energy when only active temperature control is used, and avoid the defect that the temperature of the battery module 1 cannot be controlled in time when only passive temperature control is used. This setting allows the heat treatment unit 4 to fully exchange heat with the external environment and make full use of the temperature of the external environment, thereby saving the start time of active cooling and saving energy.

[0089] The temperature controller 41 actively heats or cools the heat transfer medium (specifically water, ethylene glycol / water, propylene glycol / water, methanol / water, ethanol / water, calcium formate / water, etc.). Therefore, the temperature controller 41 is a device with heating and / or cooling functions, such as a heating and cooling machine or a water cooler, etc., which is used to heat or cool the heat transfer medium transported by the heat transport unit 3.

[0090] The radiator 42 is a device for dissipating heat from the heat transfer medium, which may specifically be a heat dissipation coil, etc., to perform heat exchange with the external environment to reduce the temperature of the heat transfer medium.

[0091] The control valve 43 may be a valve with different control modes or structures, as long as it can control the on and off of the heat transfer medium. For example, a pneumatic valve, an electric valve, a hydraulic valve, etc. may be used. For the convenience of control, an electric valve is preferably used. The electric valve is easy to control, easy to operate, and convenient for on-site installation.

[0092] like Figure 7As shown, the control valve 43 in this embodiment includes a three-way electric valve 431, a first port of the three-way electric valve 431 is connected to the liquid inlet of the temperature controller 41, a second port is connected to the return liquid pipeline assembly 32, and a third port is connected to the liquid outlet of the radiator 42. When the three-way electric valve 431 is used for control, only a single device is needed to achieve control, the structure is simple, and the installation is convenient.

[0093] like Figure 8 As shown, in other embodiments, the control valve 43 specifically includes a first electric valve 432 and a second electric valve 433. The first electric valve 432 is arranged on the pipeline of the liquid outlet of the radiator 42, and the second electric valve 433 is arranged on the return liquid pipeline assembly 32. The first electric valve 432 and the second electric valve 433 are controlled by the BMS system, and the BMS system controls the working status of the first electric valve 432 and the second electric valve 433 according to the collected temperature of the battery module 1.

[0094] In this embodiment, Fig. 9 As shown, a fan 44 is further provided on the outside of the radiator 42, and the fan 44 further dissipates heat from the heat transfer medium in the radiator 42. The battery module 1 can generate a large amount of heat during the charging and discharging process. In order to dissipate the heat and make use of the ambient temperature as much as possible, a fan 44 is provided, so that even at a high temperature of 40°C, the temperature of the battery module 1 can be kept below 50°C. The control of the temperature of the battery module 1 is mainly an energy consumption issue. The use of refrigeration equipment such as air conditioners consumes a lot of energy, so the ambient temperature is used as much as possible to control the temperature of the battery module 1.

[0095] like Fig. 9 As shown, the temperature controller 41 is generally provided with a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, and the temperature controller 41 is connected to the liquid inlet pipeline assembly 31 and the liquid return pipeline assembly 32 through the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet, respectively. At this time, in order to facilitate maintenance, the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet of the temperature controller 41 are provided with a blocking joint 45, and the blocking joint 45 can block the heat transfer medium in the temperature controller 41 when the temperature controller 41 is installed and disassembled.

[0096] like Fig.12As shown, the blocking joint 45 includes a joint end pipe 451, a regulating valve 452 and two welding chucks 453; one end of the regulating valve 452 is connected to the liquid inlet pipeline assembly 31 and the liquid return pipeline assembly 32 through the welding chuck 453, and the other end is connected to the joint end pipe 451 through the welding chuck 453. The joint end pipe 451 is used to connect with the liquid inlet and liquid outlet of the temperature control machine 41. The regulating valve 452 can be specifically a butterfly valve. When the temperature control machine 41 works normally, the regulating valve 452 is in a normally open state, and the heat transfer medium in the liquid inlet pipeline assembly 31, the liquid return pipeline assembly 32 and the temperature control machine 41 is in a normal circulation state. When the temperature controller 41 needs to be disassembled and repaired, the regulating valve 452 is closed, and the blocking joint 45 blocks the inflow and outflow of the heat transfer medium in the temperature controller 41. At this time, the liquid inlet pipeline assembly 31, the liquid return pipeline assembly 32 and the heat transfer medium in the temperature controller 41 are in a disconnected state. Subsequently, the temperature controller 41 and the liquid inlet pipeline assembly 31, the liquid return pipeline assembly 32 can be directly disassembled without performing corresponding draining operations, thereby improving the convenience and reliability during maintenance.

[0097] like Fig. 9 As shown, in order to ensure that the above temperature control system can achieve temperature control of the battery module 1 during initial operation or long-term operation, a water replenishment joint 34 is provided on the liquid inlet pipeline assembly 31, and the water replenishment joint 34 can replenish the heat transfer medium to the temperature control system. At the same time, an exhaust valve 35 is provided on the liquid return pipeline assembly 32 to exhaust the air in the temperature control system. The water replenishment joint 34 and the exhaust valve 35 work together to enable the temperature control system to efficiently achieve temperature control of each battery module 1 and improve the temperature control effect of the temperature control system. The above-mentioned water replenishment joint 34 is a plug-in self-locking joint to improve the safety of the temperature control system during liquid replenishment.

[0098] The above temperature control system has the following three working modes:

[0099] The first one is the radiator cooling mode alone:

[0100] like Fig.10 As shown, when the temperature of the battery module 1 reaches the first high temperature threshold, the first port and the third port of the three-way electric valve 431 are connected, and the second port is closed, and the heat transfer medium of the heat exchange unit 2 exchanges heat with the battery module 1. Subsequently, the heat transfer medium in the heat exchange unit 2 enters the radiator 42 through the return liquid pipeline assembly 32, and the radiator 42 processes the heat in the heat transfer medium. Subsequently, the heat transfer medium with reduced temperature enters the temperature control machine 41. At this time, the temperature control machine 41 does not work, and only ensures the passage of the heat transfer medium. Subsequently, the heat transfer medium returns to the heat exchange unit 2 through the liquid inlet pipeline assembly 31, and exchanges heat with the battery module 1 again, thereby achieving passive cooling through the radiator 42.

[0101] The second type is the temperature control machine's separate cooling and heating mode:

[0102] like Fig.11 As shown, when the temperature of the battery module 1 reaches the second high temperature threshold, the first port and the second port of the three-way electric valve 431 are connected, and the third port is closed, and the heat exchange unit 2 exchanges heat with the battery module 1. Subsequently, the heat transfer medium in the heat exchange unit 2 enters the temperature controller 41 through the return liquid pipeline assembly 32. At this time, the temperature controller 41 works to actively cool the heat transfer medium. Subsequently, the cooled heat transfer medium returns to the heat exchange unit 2 through the liquid inlet pipeline assembly 31 to exchange heat with the battery module 1, thereby achieving active cooling through the temperature controller 41.

[0103] When the temperature of the battery module 1 reaches the low temperature threshold, the first port and the second port of the three-way electric valve 431 are connected, and the third port is closed. The temperature controller 41 works to increase the temperature of the heat transfer medium in the temperature control tube. The heated heat transfer medium returns to the heat exchange unit 2 through the liquid inlet pipeline assembly 31 to exchange heat with the battery module 1, thereby achieving active heating through the temperature controller 41.

[0104] The third type is the cooling mode of the radiator and the temperature controller together:

[0105] like Fig.10 As shown, when the temperature of the battery module 1 reaches the third high temperature threshold, the first port and the third port of the three-way electric valve 431 are connected, and the second port is closed, and the heat transfer medium of the heat exchange unit 2 exchanges heat with the battery module 1. Subsequently, the heat transfer medium in the heat exchange unit 2 enters the radiator 42 through the return liquid pipeline assembly 32, and the radiator 42 processes the heat in the heat transfer medium. Subsequently, the heat transfer medium with reduced temperature enters the temperature controller 41. At this time, the temperature controller is turned on to cool down the heat transfer medium. Subsequently, the heat transfer medium returns to the heat exchange unit 2 through the liquid inlet pipeline assembly 31, and exchanges heat with the battery module 1 again, thereby realizing passive cooling and active cooling through the radiator 42 and the temperature controller 41.

[0106] It should be noted that: the third high temperature threshold>the second high temperature threshold>the first high temperature threshold.

Claims

1. An energy storage device, characterized in that: including a temperature control system and at least one battery module; The battery module comprises a shell and a plurality of single cells arranged in the shell in the same direction; a shared chamber is provided in the shell, and the inner cavity of the shared chamber is connected to the inner cavities of all the single cells; avoidance holes are provided on the top plate of the shell corresponding to the polarity terminals of each single cell; the polarity terminals of each single cell extend out of the avoidance holes, and the top plate area of ​​the shell corresponding to the avoidance holes is fixedly sealed with the shell of the single cell; The temperature control system includes a heat exchange unit, a heat transfer unit and a heat processing unit; The heat exchange unit is used to achieve heat exchange with each battery module; The heat transfer unit includes a liquid inlet pipeline assembly and a liquid return pipeline assembly, which are used to realize the transfer of heat transfer medium between the heat exchange unit and the heat treatment unit; The heat treatment unit includes a temperature controller, a radiator and a control valve; the liquid inlet of the temperature controller is connected to the liquid return pipeline assembly, and the liquid outlet of the temperature controller is connected to the liquid inlet pipeline assembly. The temperature controller is used to actively increase or decrease the temperature of the heat transfer medium; the control valve is used to control whether the heat transfer medium enters the radiator. The liquid inlet and liquid outlet of the radiator are both connected to the liquid return pipeline assembly to dissipate heat from the heat transfer medium.

2. The energy storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A fan is also provided on the outside of the radiator, and the fan performs heat dissipation treatment on the heat transfer medium flowing through the radiator.

3. The energy storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control valve comprises a three-way electric valve, a first port of the three-way electric valve is connected to the liquid inlet of the temperature controller, a second port is connected to the liquid return pipeline assembly, and a third port is connected to the liquid outlet of the radiator.

4. The energy storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid inlet pipeline assembly and the liquid return pipeline assembly are provided with flow regulating devices.

5. The energy storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid inlet pipeline assembly is provided with a water replenishing joint for replenishing heat transfer medium to the temperature control system, and the liquid return pipeline assembly is provided with an exhaust valve.

6. The energy storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid inlet and the liquid outlet of the temperature controller are provided with blocking joints, and the blocking joints can block the heat transfer medium in the temperature controller.

7. The energy storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The heat exchange unit includes at least one heat transfer tube. A clamping portion is provided on the polarity terminal of the battery module. Each heat transfer tube is fixed on the clamping portion of each battery module in a one-to-one correspondence, and the heat transfer tube is insulated from each battery module. The clamping portion is a through groove or through hole provided at the position where the polarity terminal of each single battery extends out of the avoidance hole.

8. The energy storage device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The heat transfer tube is a metal tube, and the metal tube has at least one of an insulating layer and an insulating sleeve.

9. The energy storage device according to claim 8, characterized in that: An insulating sealant layer is laid on the top plate of the shell, and the liquid inlet end and the liquid outlet end of the heat transfer tube extend out of the insulating sealant layer.

10. The energy storage device according to claim 9, characterized in that: An insulating protective cover is arranged on the top of the shell, and polarity terminals of each single battery are located inside the insulating protective cover.

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