Direct cooling type heat management system and energy storage system applying same

Abstract

The utility model discloses a direct cooling type heat management system and an energy storage system using the same. The direct cooling type heat management system comprises a compressor, a condenser with a fan, a throttling device and a direct cooling heat exchanger. The compressor, the condenser, the throttling device and the direct cooling heat exchanger are connected in sequence, so that a refrigerant can circulate among the compressor, the condenser, the throttling device and the direct cooling heat exchanger; the direct cooling heat exchanger can conduct direct contact type heat exchange with at least one heating body in the energy storage system. The utility model mainly solves the problem of how to provide a heat management system which is low in refrigerating capacity loss, high in heat exchange efficiency, economical, energy-saving, easy to install and maintain and free of liquid leakage hidden danger for an energy storage system. Compared with an air-cooled thermal management system, the direct-cooling thermal management system provided by the utility model has the advantages that the environment temperature range used by the direct-cooling thermal management system is wider; the direct cooling type heat management system has the advantages of being low in refrigerating capacity loss, high in heat exchange efficiency, economical, energy-saving, easy to install and maintain and free of liquid leakage hidden danger.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of thermal management systems, and particularly to a direct-cooling type thermal management system and an energy storage system applying the same. Background Art

[0002] An energy storage system is a system for storing and releasing electric energy, which involves the conversion between electric energy and chemical energy, and also involves the conversion between electric energies. During the above processes, a large amount of heat will be generated. If the heat cannot be discharged in time, it will cause the temperature of the energy storage system to rise, bringing potential safety hazards, and further affecting the performance, life and normal operation of the energy storage system.

[0003] In order to control the temperature of the energy storage system and improve the charge-discharge efficiency of the energy storage system, it is necessary to configure a thermal management system in the energy storage system to dissipate heat for the energy storage system. Among them, the liquid-cooling heat dissipation system using the phase change refrigeration technology is the most widely used thermal management system solution.

[0004] The existing liquid-cooling heat dissipation system generally includes a refrigeration module and a liquid-cooling module; among them, the refrigeration module at least includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator, and the refrigerant circulates in the refrigeration module with the above structure, so that the evaporator can obtain a lower temperature; the liquid-cooling module at least includes a circulation pump and a heat exchanger, and the liquid-cooling medium circulates in the liquid-cooling module with the above structure. Among them, the liquid-cooling medium absorbs the heat of the energy storage system through the heat exchanger and cools down at the evaporator of the refrigeration module.

[0005] For the liquid-cooling heat dissipation system with the above structure, during the circulation of the liquid-cooling medium in the liquid-cooling module, a certain degree of refrigeration loss will occur. At the same time, the electrical appliances of the liquid-cooling module itself will also occupy a certain power consumption, thereby reducing the overall efficiency of the thermal management system and the energy storage system.

[0006] In summary, how to provide a thermal management system for the energy storage system with low refrigeration loss, high heat exchange efficiency, economy, energy saving, easy installation and maintenance, and no potential liquid leakage hazard has become one of the problems to be solved urgently. Summary of the Utility Model

[0007] The purpose of the utility model is to provide a direct-cooling type thermal management system and an energy storage system applying the same, which have the characteristics of low refrigeration loss, high heat exchange efficiency, economy, energy saving, easy installation and maintenance, and no potential liquid leakage hazard.

[0008] To achieve the above object, the present utility model provides the following technical solutions: A direct cooling type thermal management system is applied to an energy storage system; it includes a compressor, a condenser with a fan, a throttling device, and a direct cooling heat exchanger; the compressor, the condenser, the throttling device, and the direct cooling heat exchanger are connected in sequence, so that the refrigerant can circulate between the compressor, the condenser, the throttling device, and the direct cooling heat exchanger; the direct cooling heat exchanger can perform direct contact heat exchange with at least one heating element in the energy storage system.

[0009] In the above technical solution, several groups of the throttling device and the direct cooling heat exchanger are provided; after the throttling devices and the direct cooling heat exchangers in each group are respectively connected, several direct cooling branches are formed; after the outlet end of the condenser is branched, it is respectively connected to each direct cooling branch, and after each direct cooling branch converges, it is connected to the inlet end of the compressor; the direct cooling heat exchangers in each direct cooling branch can all perform direct contact heat exchange with at least one heating element in the energy storage system.

[0010] In the above technical solution, the direct cooling type thermal management system of the present utility model further includes a subcooler; one refrigerant channel of the subcooler is connected between the outlet end of the condenser and the inlet end of the throttling device, and the other refrigerant channel of the subcooler is connected between the outlet end of the direct cooling heat exchanger and the inlet end of the compressor; heat exchange can occur between the two refrigerant channels of the subcooler.

[0011] In the above technical solution, the direct cooling type thermal management system of the present utility model further includes a gas-liquid separator; the gas-liquid separator is connected between the outlet end of the direct cooling heat exchanger and the inlet end of the compressor.

[0012] In the above technical solution, the direct cooling type thermal management system of the present utility model further includes a first pressure sensor and a first temperature sensor; the first pressure sensor and the first temperature sensor are both connected to the inlet end of the compressor.

[0013] In the above technical solution, the direct cooling type thermal management system of the present utility model further includes a second pressure sensor and a second temperature sensor; the second pressure sensor and the second temperature sensor are both connected to the outlet end of the compressor.

[0014] In the above technical solution, the direct cooling type thermal management system of the present utility model further includes a third pressure sensor and a third temperature sensor; the third pressure sensor and the third temperature sensor are both connected to the outlet end of the condenser.

[0015] An energy storage system includes the above direct cooling type thermal management system.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present utility model are as follows: For the direct-cooling type thermal management system of the present utility model, its direct-cooling heat exchanger can directly contact and exchange heat with at least one heating element in the energy storage system; compared with the air-cooling type thermal management system, the direct-cooling type thermal management system of the present utility model has a wider ambient temperature range for use; compared with the liquid-cooling type thermal management system, the direct-cooling type thermal management system of the present utility model has the advantages of low refrigeration capacity loss, high heat exchange efficiency, economy, energy saving, easy installation and maintenance, and no hidden danger of liquid leakage. Description of the Drawings

[0017] Figure 1 It is one of the system structure views of the present utility model.

[0018] Figure 2 It is the second system structure view of the present utility model.

[0019] The reference numerals in the drawings are: 1, compressor; 2, condenser; 3, fan; 4, throttling device; 5, direct-cooling heat exchanger; 6, gas-liquid separator; 7, subcooler; PT1, first pressure sensor; TT1, first temperature sensor; PT2, second pressure sensor; TT2, second temperature sensor; PT3, third pressure sensor; TT3, third temperature sensor. Detailed Embodiment

[0020] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present utility model, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without making creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0021] This embodiment provides a direct-cooling type thermal management system, which is applied to an energy storage system and is used to dissipate heat from at least one heating element of the energy storage system.

[0022] It should be noted that the energy storage system generally includes components such as a battery pack, a power conversion device with power electronic devices, a control device (such as an industrial control computer, a special controller for the energy storage system, a general controller, etc.), and a transformer. The above components all have a certain amount of heat generation and can all be selected as the heating element described in this embodiment.

[0023] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the direct-cooling type thermal management system of this embodiment includes a compressor 1, a condenser 2 with a fan 3, a throttling device 4, and a direct-cooling heat exchanger 5.

[0024] Among them, the compressor 1 is a compressor for compressing refrigerant in the refrigeration system, preferably a variable-frequency compressor; the condenser 2 is a condenser in the refrigeration system, which dissipates heat through the fan 3 attached to it, and the fan 3 is preferably an electronic fan capable of precisely adjusting the speed; the throttling device 4 is a throttling device in the refrigeration system, preferably an electronic expansion valve; the direct-cooling heat exchanger 5 is a heat exchanger made of metal, which is provided with a refrigerant evaporation structure and is used as an evaporator in the refrigeration system. Moreover, the direct-cooling heat exchanger 5 can realize heat exchange between the low-temperature refrigerant and the heating body. Specifically, the direct-cooling heat exchanger 5 is attached to the surface of the heating body or buried in the heating body, so as to directly absorb heat from the heating body.

[0025] The compressor 1, the condenser 2, the throttling device 4, and the direct-cooling heat exchanger 5 are connected in sequence, so that the refrigerant can circulate between the compressor 1, the condenser 2, the throttling device 4, and the direct-cooling heat exchanger 5. With this setting, the refrigeration function of the direct-cooling type thermal management system of this embodiment can be realized.

[0026] The direct-cooling heat exchanger 5 can perform direct-contact heat exchange with at least one heating body in the energy storage system, that is, the direct-cooling heat exchanger 5 is attached / buried at the heating body, so that it can directly absorb heat from the heating body in a direct-contact manner.

[0027] Figure 1 What is shown is the basic structure of the direct-cooling type thermal management system, which is only provided with a single throttling device 4 and a single direct-cooling heat exchanger 5, and usually can only perform heat exchange with one heating body in the energy storage system.

[0028] Please refer to Figure 2 , in order to enable the direct-cooling type thermal management system of this embodiment to perform heat exchange with multiple heating bodies in the energy storage system, this embodiment also provides a distributed direct-cooling type thermal management system; specifically, several groups of throttling devices 4 and direct-cooling heat exchangers 5 are provided, that is, the number of throttling devices 4 and direct-cooling heat exchangers 5 is equal, and each direct-cooling heat exchanger 5 corresponds to a throttling device 4 to form a group; after the respective groups of throttling devices 4 and direct-cooling heat exchangers 5 are connected, several direct-cooling branches are formed; after the outlet end of the condenser 2 is branched, it is respectively connected to each direct-cooling branch, and after each direct-cooling branch converges, it is connected to the inlet end of the compressor 1; the direct-cooling heat exchangers 5 in each direct-cooling branch can all perform direct-contact heat exchange with at least one heating body in the energy storage system, that is, the direct-cooling heat exchangers 5 in each direct-cooling branch are respectively attached / buried at different heating bodies, so that they can directly absorb heat from each heating body in a direct-contact manner.

[0029] Please refer to Figure 2, Further, the direct cooling type thermal management system of this embodiment further includes a subcooler 7. Among them, the subcooler 7 is a metal component, which has at least two refrigerant channels, and heat exchange can occur between the two refrigerant channels of the subcooler 7; it has at least two refrigerant channels that can exchange heat with each other; one of the refrigerant channels of the subcooler 7 is connected between the outlet end of the condenser 2 and the inlet end of the throttling device 4. In this embodiment, this refrigerant channel serves as the main path and is directly connected between the outlet end of the condenser 2 and the inlet end of the throttling device 4. The other refrigerant channel of the subcooler 7 is connected between the outlet end of the direct cooling heat exchanger 5 and the inlet end of the compressor 1. In this embodiment, this refrigerant channel is connected between the outlet end of the direct cooling heat exchanger 5 and the inlet end of the compressor 1 in the form of a branch.

[0030] Further, the direct cooling type thermal management system of this embodiment further includes a gas-liquid separator 6. Among them, the gas-liquid separator 6 is a refrigerant gas-liquid separator 6 in the refrigeration system, which is used to separate the gas and liquid in the refrigerant to prevent liquid refrigerant from entering the compressor 1, thereby reducing the "liquid hammer" phenomenon of the compressor 1; the gas-liquid separator 6 is connected between the outlet end of the direct cooling heat exchanger 5 and the inlet end of the compressor 1.

[0031] Further, the direct cooling type thermal management system of this embodiment further includes a first pressure sensor PT1 and a first temperature sensor TT1. Among them, the first pressure sensor PT1 is a refrigerant-specific pressure sensor, and the first temperature sensor TT1 is a refrigerant-specific temperature sensor; both the first pressure sensor PT1 and the first temperature sensor TT1 are connected to the inlet end of the compressor 1 to detect the refrigerant pressure at the inlet end of the compressor 1 through the first pressure sensor PT1 and detect the refrigerant temperature at the inlet end of the compressor 1 through the first temperature sensor TT1, so as to realize the closed-loop control of the compressor 1 and / or the throttling device 4.

[0032] Further, the direct cooling type thermal management system of this embodiment further includes a second pressure sensor PT2 and a second temperature sensor TT2. Among them, the second pressure sensor PT2 is a refrigerant-specific pressure sensor, and the second temperature sensor TT2 is a refrigerant-specific temperature sensor; both the second pressure sensor PT2 and the second temperature sensor TT2 are connected to the outlet end of the compressor 1 to detect the refrigerant pressure at the outlet end of the compressor 1 through the second pressure sensor PT2 and detect the refrigerant temperature at the outlet end of the compressor 1 through the second temperature sensor TT2, so as to realize the closed-loop control of the compressor 1 and / or the throttling device 4.

[0033] Furthermore, the direct cooling type thermal management system of the present embodiment also includes a third pressure sensor PT3 and a third temperature sensor TT3, wherein the third pressure sensor PT3 is a refrigerant-specific pressure sensor, and the third temperature sensor TT3 is a refrigerant-specific temperature sensor; the third pressure sensor PT3 and the third temperature sensor TT3 are both connected to the outlet end of the condenser 2, so as to detect the refrigerant pressure at the outlet end of the condenser 2 through the third pressure sensor PT3, and detect the refrigerant temperature at the outlet end of the condenser 2 through the third temperature sensor TT3, thereby realizing closed-loop control of the compressor 1 and / or the throttling device 4.

[0034] It can be understood that the direct cooling thermal management system of this embodiment includes a host computer, which is one of an industrial control computer, a dedicated controller for a refrigeration system, and a dedicated embedded system for a refrigeration system; the host computer is respectively connected to the compressor 1 and the throttling device 4 by signal (for example, the signal connection is realized through a dedicated control line) to adjust the operating frequency of the compressor 1 and the opening of the throttling device 4, and the host computer is also respectively connected to the first pressure sensor PT1, the first temperature sensor TT1, the second pressure sensor PT2, the second temperature sensor TT2, the third pressure sensor PT3, and the third temperature sensor TT3 by signal (for example, the signal connection is realized through an analog input / output interface) to obtain The refrigerant pressure at the inlet end of compressor 1, the refrigerant temperature at the inlet end of compressor 1, the refrigerant pressure at the outlet end of compressor 1, the refrigerant temperature at the outlet end of compressor 1, the refrigerant pressure at the outlet end of condenser 2, and the refrigerant temperature at the outlet end of condenser 2 are taken, thereby realizing closed-loop control of compressor 1 and / or throttling device 4; in addition, the host computer can also selectively obtain the air temperature at the energy storage system (for example, through a temperature sensor arranged in the energy storage system room or nearby), the heater temperature of the energy storage system (for example, connected to the control device signal of the energy storage system and directly obtained from the battery management system (BMS) of the energy storage system), thereby further realizing closed-loop control of compressor 1 and / or throttling device 4.

[0035] See also Figure 1 When this form of direct cooling thermal management system is in use, the refrigerant is compressed into a high-temperature and high-pressure gas by the compressor 1; then it passes through the condenser 2 to exchange heat with the external environment (assisted by the fan 3 for heat exchange), thereby changing into a liquid state; then it is throttled by the throttling device 4, and then changed into a low-temperature and low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase state; after the refrigerant enters the direct cooling heat exchanger 5, it evaporates and absorbs heat at the direct cooling heat exchanger 5, thereby reducing the temperature of the direct cooling heat exchanger 5. The direct cooling heat exchanger 5 can directly absorb heat from the heating element by direct contact, thereby controlling the temperature of the heating element and realizing thermal management of the heating element; at this time, the refrigerant is converted into superheated gas and returns to the compressor 1, and this cycle is repeated.

[0036] See also Figure 2, when the direct cooling type thermal management system of this form is in use, the refrigerant is compressed into a high-temperature and high-pressure gas by the compressor 1; then it exchanges heat with the external environment through the condenser 2 (assisted by the fan 3 for heat exchange), and thus changes into a liquid state; after the refrigerant is divided into branches, it enters each direct cooling branch, and then throttles through the throttling device 4, and then changes into a low-temperature and low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase state; after the refrigerant enters the direct cooling heat exchanger 5, it evaporates and absorbs heat at the direct cooling heat exchanger 5, thereby reducing the temperature of the direct cooling heat exchanger 5. The direct cooling heat exchanger 5 can directly absorb heat from the heating body in a direct contact manner, thereby controlling the temperature of the heating body and realizing the thermal management of the heating body; at this time, the refrigerant changes into superheated gas, converges and then returns to the compressor 1, and circulates in this way; in the above process, a branch is separated from the converged refrigerant (superheated gas), and heat exchange occurs with the refrigerant (liquid state) after heat exchange through the condenser 2 at the subcooler 7. The purpose is to exchange heat again between the refrigerant (relatively high temperature) after heat exchange through the condenser 2 and the refrigerant (relatively low temperature) after evaporation at the direct cooling heat exchanger 5, so as to increase the subcooling degree of the refrigerant before entering the direct cooling heat exchanger 5 and optimize the superheat degree of the refrigerant before entering the compressor 1.

[0037] In the direct cooling type thermal management system of this embodiment, its direct cooling heat exchanger 5 can perform direct contact heat exchange with at least one heating body in the energy storage system; compared with the air cooling type thermal management system, the direct cooling type thermal management system of this embodiment has a wider applicable environmental temperature range; compared with the liquid cooling type thermal management system, the direct cooling type thermal management system of this embodiment has the advantages of low refrigeration capacity loss, high heat exchange efficiency, economy, energy saving, easy installation and maintenance, and no potential liquid leakage hazard.

[0038] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, for those of ordinary skill in the art, it can be understood that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principle and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A direct cooling thermal management system, used in energy storage systems; It is characterized in that It includes a compressor, a condenser with a fan, a throttling device and a direct cooling heat exchanger; The compressor, the condenser, the throttling device and the direct cooling heat exchanger are connected in sequence so that the refrigerant can circulate among the compressor, the condenser, the throttling device and the direct cooling heat exchanger; The direct cooling heat exchanger can perform direct contact heat exchange with at least one heating element in the energy storage system.

2. The direct cooling thermal management system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The throttling device and the direct cooling heat exchanger are provided in several groups; After each group of the throttling devices and the direct cooling heat exchangers are connected respectively, a plurality of direct cooling branches are formed; The outlet end of the condenser is branched and connected to each of the direct cooling branches respectively, and each of the direct cooling branches is connected to the inlet end of the compressor after merging; The direct cooling heat exchanger in each of the direct cooling branches can perform direct contact heat exchange with at least one heating element in the energy storage system.

3. The direct cooling thermal management system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Also includes a subcooler; One of the refrigerant channels of the subcooler is connected between the outlet end of the condenser and the inlet end of the throttling device, and the other refrigerant channel of the subcooler is connected between the outlet end of the direct cooling heat exchanger and the inlet end of the compressor; Heat exchange can occur between the two refrigerant channels of the subcooler.

4. The direct cooling thermal management system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Also included is a gas-liquid separator; The gas-liquid separator is connected between the outlet end of the direct cooling heat exchanger and the inlet end of the compressor.

5. The direct cooling thermal management system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Also included is a first pressure sensor and a first temperature sensor; The first pressure sensor and the first temperature sensor are both connected to the inlet end of the compressor.

6. The direct cooling thermal management system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Also including a second pressure sensor and a second temperature sensor; The second pressure sensor and the second temperature sensor are both connected to the outlet end of the compressor.

7. The direct cooling thermal management system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Also including a third pressure sensor and a third temperature sensor; The third pressure sensor and the third temperature sensor are both connected to the outlet end of the condenser.

8. An energy storage system, characterized in that: It includes the direct cooling thermal management system described in any one of claims 1-7.

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