Liquid-cooled battery box

Abstract

The utility model provides a liquid-cooled battery box. The liquid-cooled battery box comprises a plurality of battery clusters, the plurality of liquid cooling plates are used for cooling the battery clusters respectively; the pipeline assembly comprises a liquid inlet pipe and a liquid return pipe; the liquid inlet pipe comprises a first-stage liquid inlet pipe and a second-stage liquid inlet pipe; the liquid return pipe comprises a first-stage liquid return pipe and a second-stage liquid return pipe; the second-stage liquid inlet pipe conveys cooling liquid to the liquid cooling plate, and the cooling liquid cooled by the liquid cooling plate can flow back to the first-stage liquid return pipe through the second-stage liquid return pipe; a liquid cooling machine; the pipeline assembly is used for conveying and refluxing cooling liquid to the pipeline assembly; the device further comprises a bypass pipe and an electric actuator, one end of the bypass pipe is connected with the second-stage liquid inlet pipe, and the other end of the bypass pipe is connected with the second-stage liquid return pipe. The electric actuator can control connection and disconnection of the bypass pipe and the second-stage liquid return pipe. According to the liquid-cooled battery box disclosed by the utility model, the liquid cooling effect is improved, and the overall energy consumption of the liquid-cooled battery box is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of battery energy storage, in particular to a liquid-cooled battery box. Background Art

[0002] Energy storage can be divided into power-side, grid-side, and user-side energy storage according to end customers. Among them, power-side and grid-side energy storage are also called pre-metering energy storage or large-scale energy storage, and user-side energy storage is also called post-metering energy storage.

[0003] New energy storage technologies such as lithium-ion batteries, sodium-sulfur batteries, and flow batteries are driving the development of the energy storage market. Energy storage systems dynamically absorb and release energy in a timely manner, changing the patterns of electric energy production, transmission, and use, and improving power supply quality and power consumption efficiency. At present, most battery box energy storage systems on the market adopt a centralized cooling method for cooling, with low cooling efficiency. It is impossible to effectively adjust the flow rate of the coolant in the battery box according to the temperature difference of each battery cluster, resulting in inconsistent temperature differences of the battery cores in each battery cluster, thus affecting the charge and discharge performance of each battery cluster and reducing the energy storage effect and operation efficiency of the battery box. Summary of the Utility Model

[0004] In order to solve the problem of low efficiency of the existing centralized cooling method for battery boxes, the utility model provides a liquid-cooled battery box, which includes a plurality of battery clusters; a plurality of liquid-cooling plates for respectively cooling the plurality of battery clusters; a pipeline assembly including a liquid inlet pipe and a liquid return pipe; the liquid inlet pipe includes a first-stage liquid inlet pipe and a second-stage liquid inlet pipe; the liquid return pipe includes a first-stage liquid return pipe and a second-stage liquid return pipe; the second-stage liquid inlet pipe conveys coolant to the liquid-cooling plate, and the coolant cooled by the liquid-cooling plate can flow back to the first-stage liquid return pipe through the second-stage liquid return pipe;

[0005] A liquid chiller for conveying and returning coolant to the pipeline assembly; it further includes a bypass pipe and an electric actuator. One end of the bypass pipe is connected to the second-stage liquid inlet pipe, and the other end of the bypass pipe is connected to the second-stage liquid return pipe; the electric actuator can control the connection and disconnection of the bypass pipe and the second-stage liquid return pipe.

[0006] Further, a proportional valve is provided on the electric actuator, and the proportional valve can control the opening ratio of the bypass pipe and the second-stage liquid return pipe.

[0007] Further, a temperature sensor is further included, and the temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the coolant in the second-stage liquid return pipe.

[0008] Further, a flow sensor for detecting the coolant flow rate in the first-stage liquid return pipe is further included and is provided on the first-stage liquid return pipe.

[0009] Further, it also includes a controller which can set a predetermined cooling temperature. When the temperature sensor detects that the liquid temperature in the second-stage liquid return pipe is higher than the predetermined cooling temperature, the electric actuator controls the opening size of the proportional valve according to the ratio of the liquid temperature detected by the temperature sensor in the second-stage liquid return pipe to the predetermined cooling temperature.

[0010] Further, it also includes a controller which can set a predetermined cooling temperature. When the temperature sensor detects that the liquid in the second-stage liquid return pipe is lower than / higher than the predetermined cooling temperature, the electric actuator controls the proportional valve to close.

[0011] Further, the controller can adjust the operating power of the liquid cooler according to the flow rate detected by the flow sensor.

[0012] Further, the bypass pipe and the second-stage liquid return pipe are connected through a tee.

[0013] Further, the bypass pipe and the second-stage liquid inlet pipe are connected through a tee.

[0014] The battery box of the present utility model overall improves the cooling effect on the battery, while reducing the usage load of the liquid cooling equipment of the battery box, improving the energy usage efficiency of the battery box, and enhancing the operating efficiency of the battery box. Description of the Drawings

[0015] Figure 1 It is a partial schematic diagram of the liquid cooling system in the liquid-cooled battery box of the present utility model;

[0016] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a partial enlarged schematic diagram of A in Detailed Embodiments

[0017] 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 of 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 belong to the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0018] The liquid-cooled battery box of the utility model is provided with a plurality of battery clusters; each battery cluster (1001, 1002, 1003) can be connected in series or in parallel through various electrical devices to provide discharge or power supply for the battery box, and each battery cluster contains a plurality of battery cells and a liquid cooling plate (not shown), the liquid cooling plate is arranged adjacent to the battery cells, and each liquid cooling plate is made of tubular aluminum material, and a plurality of pipes are arranged inside for the circulation of coolant, so as to cool the battery cells in each battery cluster by conveying coolant to each cooling plate. In this embodiment, the cooling plate structure and shape used in each battery cluster are basically the same so as to provide installation efficiency and cooling effect of the cooling plate.

[0019] like Figure 1-2 As shown, in order to improve the liquid cooling effect and efficiency of the liquid-cooled battery box of the present invention, a pipeline assembly, a bypass pipe 40, an electric actuator 50, a temperature sensor 60, a flow sensor 70 and a controller (not shown) are provided in the liquid cooling system of the liquid-cooled battery box of the present invention.

[0020] The pipeline assembly includes a liquid inlet pipe 10 and a liquid return pipe 20. The liquid inlet pipe 10 includes a first-stage liquid inlet pipe 101 and a second-stage liquid inlet pipe 102; the liquid return pipe 20 includes a first-stage liquid return pipe 201 and a second-stage liquid return pipe 202. One end of the first-stage liquid inlet pipe 101 is connected to the liquid chiller 30 for receiving fresh coolant delivered from the liquid chiller 30. The fresh coolant can be set to a specific temperature according to factors such as the coolant material and the battery box power to facilitate cooling of each battery whose temperature has risen due to work in the battery box. In this embodiment, water is used as the coolant. Of course, alternatively, other coolants can also be used. The other end of the first-stage liquid inlet pipe 101 can be provided with a plurality of openings, and the plurality of openings are configured to be respectively connected to the second-stage liquid inlet pipe 102. The number of openings is mainly set according to the number of battery clusters in the battery box. For example, if there are three battery clusters in the battery box, the number of openings in the first-stage liquid inlet pipe is set to three; if there are six battery clusters in the battery box, the number of openings in the first-stage liquid inlet pipe 101 is set to six. The first-stage liquid inlet pipe 101 and the second-stage liquid inlet pipe 102 can be connected through a three-way valve. The diameter of the first-stage liquid inlet pipe 101 is larger than that of the second-stage liquid inlet pipe 102. In this embodiment, preferably, the diameter of the second-stage liquid inlet pipe 102 is set to 1 / 3 of the first-stage liquid inlet pipe 101. Of course, alternatively, the diameter of the first-stage liquid inlet pipe 101 and the diameter of the second-stage liquid inlet pipe 102 can also be set to other values as long as they can achieve a good coolant delivery effect. One end of the second-stage liquid inlet pipe 102 is connected to the first-stage liquid inlet pipe 101, and the other end of the second-stage liquid inlet pipe 102 is provided with a plurality of branches and corresponding openings 1022. The openings 1022 are configured to be connected to the liquid cooling plate to deliver fresh coolant to the cooling plate. The coolant cooled by the liquid cooling plate flows back to the first-stage liquid return pipe 201 through the second-stage liquid return pipe 202. In this embodiment, the structure of the second-stage liquid return pipe 202 is similar to that of the second-stage liquid inlet pipe 102, and the structure of the first-stage liquid return pipe 201 is similar to that of the first-stage liquid inlet pipe 101, which will not be elaborated here. The liquid inlet pipe 10 and the liquid return pipe 20 are preferably made of a foldable material so as to be freely folded into a required shape according to the space in the battery box for installation; the coolant after confluence through the second-stage liquid return pipe 202 and the first-stage liquid return pipe 102 is recovered by the liquid chiller 30 outside the battery box.

[0021] One end of the bypass pipe 40 is connected to the second-stage liquid inlet pipe 102, and the other end of the bypass pipe 40 is connected to the second-stage liquid return pipe 202. Specifically, the bypass pipe 40, the second-stage liquid return pipe 202, and the first-stage liquid inlet pipe 101 are respectively connected through a tee. An electric actuator 50 is provided on the second-stage liquid return pipe 202. Specifically, the electric actuator is arranged at the location of the tee joint. Specifically, the electric actuator 50 includes a proportional valve, and the proportional valve can control the connection and disconnection between the bypass pipe 40 and the second-stage liquid return pipe 202 according to the control instruction of the electric actuator. The temperature sensor 60 is used to detect the temperature of the coolant in the second-stage liquid return pipe 202, and is arranged at the lower end of the second-stage liquid return pipe 202 and at the front end of the electric actuator 50 to detect the temperature of the liquid in the second-stage liquid return pipe 202 in real time. The flow sensor 70 is arranged on the first-stage liquid return pipe 201 to detect the flow rate of the coolant in the first-stage liquid return pipe 201.

[0022] As Figure 1-2 shown, the following will describe in detail how the liquid cooling battery box of the present invention cools each battery cluster in the battery box in combination with each component in the liquid cooling battery box of the present invention.

[0023] The temperature sensor 60 located on the second-stage liquid return pipe 202 detects the temperature of the cooled coolant in the second-stage liquid return pipe 202 and transmits the detected temperature value to the controller (not shown) in the battery box. The controller compares the temperature detected by the temperature sensor with the pre-set cooling temperature of the battery cluster. When the controller determines that the temperature detected in the second-stage liquid return pipe is lower than the pre-set cooling temperature, the controller outputs a 4-20 mA signal to close the first-stage liquid return pipe 201, and the liquid cooling system of the battery box performs an internal cooling cycle. The electric actuator 50 automatically cuts off the passage of the second-stage liquid return pipe 202 flowing to the first-stage liquid return pipe 201. The coolant in the second-stage liquid return pipe 202 flows through the bypass pipe 40 to the second-stage liquid inlet pipe 101, and the coolant circulates internally for cooling, achieving the purpose of multiple uses of the coolant and improving the use efficiency of the coolant. When the temperature in the second-stage liquid return pipe of each battery cluster is higher than the pre-set cooling temperature, the controller outputs a 4-20 mA signal to open the electric actuator. The opening ratio of the electric actuator is controlled according to the ratio of the temperature detected in the second-stage liquid return pipe to the pre-set cooling temperature. The greater the temperature difference between the temperature in the second-stage liquid return pipe and the pre-set cooling temperature, the greater the opening ratio of the electric actuator until it is fully opened. The smaller the temperature difference, the smaller the opening ratio of the electric actuator until the electric actuator is closed (closing the return water pipe), and the smaller the required flow rate of the liquid cooler. In this embodiment, the opening ratio of the electric actuator is calculated according to the following formula:

[0024] Kr = (Ir - Imin) / (Imax - Imin) * (Kmax - Kmin) + Kmin

[0025] Kr: Actual opening degree of the electric actuator (%);

[0026] Tr = (Ir - Imin) / (Imax - Imin) * (Tmax - Tmin) + Tmin

[0027] Ir = Tr / (Tmax - Tmin) * (Imax - Imin) + 2 * Imin

[0028] Ir: Actual current; Imin: Minimum current value; Imax: Maximum current value;

[0029] Tr: Actual temperature; Tmin: Minimum conversion temperature of the temperature module; Tmax: Maximum conversion temperature of the temperature module;

[0030] Kmin: Actual minimum opening degree of the electric actuator (%); Kmax: Actual maximum opening degree of the electric actuator (%);

[0031] Example: The opening degree of the proportional valve of the electric actuator can be set from 0% to 100%, and the working current range is 4 mA - 20 mA. If the current fed back to the system according to the measured value of the temperature detected by the second-stage return liquid pipe is 12 mA, then the calculated opening degree of the proportional valve is 50%;

[0032] Kr(%) = (12 - 4) / (20 - 4) * (100% - 0%) + 0% = 50%

[0033] In the battery box of the present utility model, the controller sets a predetermined cooling temperature. When the temperature sensor detects that the liquid temperature in the second-stage return liquid pipe is higher than the predetermined cooling temperature, the electric actuator controls the opening size of the proportional valve according to the ratio of the liquid temperature in the second-stage return liquid pipe to the predetermined cooling temperature. When the temperature sensor detects that the liquid in the second-stage return liquid pipe is lower than (should be 'higher than' here, seems to be a typo in the original) the predetermined cooling temperature, the electric actuator controls the proportional valve to close. At the same time, the controller can adjust the operating power of the liquid cooler in real time according to the flow rate detected by the flow sensor.

[0034] Compared with the existing centralized liquid cooling method, a bypass pipe is added between the second-stage liquid return pipe and the second-stage liquid inlet pipe in the battery box of the present utility model, realizing the internal circulation of the coolant, improving the utilization efficiency of the coolant. At the same time, a thermometer for detecting the temperature of the coolant is added to the second-stage liquid return pipe, which can detect the temperature of the coolant after each battery is cooled in real time. Meanwhile, the electric actuator adjusts its own opening ratio according to the detected temperature, so as to accurately control the flow rate of the coolant in each battery cluster in the battery box, achieving the effect of accurately controlling the cooling of the battery cluster. At the same time, since a flow detector is provided on the first-stage liquid return pipe to detect the liquid return volume in real time, the controller can further adjust the frequency of the liquid chiller according to the liquid return volume, thus reducing the use load of the liquid cooling equipment and improving the energy utilization efficiency of the battery box.

[0035] The battery box of the present utility model improves the cooling effect on the battery as a whole, reduces the use load of the liquid cooling equipment of the battery box, improves the energy utilization efficiency of the battery box, and can improve the operation efficiency of the battery box.

[0036] The above embodiments of the present utility model are merely examples for clearly illustrating the present utility model, rather than limiting the implementation manners of the present utility model. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other different forms of changes or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is not necessary and impossible to list all implementation manners here. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present utility model shall be included in the protection scope of the claims of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A liquid-cooled battery box, comprising: A plurality of battery clusters; A plurality of liquid-cooling plates for cooling the plurality of battery clusters respectively; A pipeline assembly including an inlet pipe and a return pipe; the inlet pipe includes a first-stage inlet pipe and a second-stage inlet pipe; the return pipe includes a first-stage return pipe and a second-stage return pipe; the second-stage inlet pipe conveys coolant to the liquid-cooling plate, and the coolant after being cooled by the liquid-cooling plate can flow back to the first-stage return pipe through the second-stage return pipe; A liquid chiller; for conveying and returning coolant to the pipeline assembly; It is characterized in that It further includes a bypass pipe and an electric actuator, one end of the bypass pipe is connected to the second-stage inlet pipe, and the other end of the bypass pipe is connected to the second-stage return pipe; the electric actuator can control the connection and disconnection between the bypass pipe and the second-stage return pipe.

2. The liquid-cooled battery box according to claim 1, characterized in that, A proportional valve is provided on the electric actuator, and the proportional valve can control the opening ratio of the bypass pipe and the second-stage return pipe.

3. The liquid-cooled battery box according to claim 2, wherein, It further includes a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the coolant in the second-stage return pipe.

4. The liquid-cooled battery box according to claim 1, wherein It further includes a flow sensor provided on the first-stage return pipe for detecting the coolant flow rate in the first-stage return pipe.

5. The liquid-cooled battery box according to claim 3, wherein, It further includes a controller, the controller can set a predetermined cooling temperature, when the temperature sensor detects that the liquid temperature in the second-stage return pipe is higher than the predetermined cooling temperature, the electric actuator controls the opening size of the proportional valve according to the ratio of the liquid temperature detected by the temperature sensor in the second-stage return pipe to the predetermined cooling temperature.

6. The liquid-cooled battery box according to claim 2, wherein, It further includes a controller, the controller can set a predetermined cooling temperature, when the temperature sensor detects that the liquid in the second-stage return pipe is lower than (higher than is incorrect here, should be lower than) the predetermined cooling temperature, the electric actuator controls the proportional valve to close.

7. The liquid-cooled battery box according to claim 5, wherein, The controller can adjust the operating power of the liquid chiller according to the flow rate detected by the flow sensor.

8. The liquid-cooled battery box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bypass pipe and the second-stage return pipe are connected through a tee.

9. The liquid-cooled battery box according to claim 1, wherein The bypass pipe and the second-stage inlet pipe are connected through a tee.

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