Energy storage container and energy storage system capable of discharging smoke directionally

Abstract

The energy storage container comprises battery clusters, a container body and flues, the container body comprises a rear wall and a container door, the rear wall and the container door are arranged in parallel, the battery clusters and the flues are arranged in the container body, the multiple battery clusters are arranged in parallel and correspond to the flues in a one-to-one mode, and the flues are located between the battery clusters and the rear wall. The flue is provided with a plurality of smoke inlets and smoke outlets. The battery pack is provided with a boss facing the flue, the boss penetrates through the smoke inlet, and a sealing piece is arranged between the outer wall, making contact with the periphery of the smoke inlet, of the boss and the smoke inlet. The boss is of a hollow structure and is communicated with the interior of the battery pack, an opening is formed in the face, located in the flue, of the boss, and a pressure relief valve is installed at the opening. When the battery pack is subjected to thermal runaway and high-temperature flue gas is released, the pressure release valve of the battery pack is opened, the battery pack is communicated with the corresponding flue through the boss and the pressure release valve, and the high-temperature flue gas is directionally released into the flue, so that the thermal runaway is prevented from spreading to other battery packs or battery clusters and then being discharged to the outside of the box body through the smoke outlet; and directional smoke exhaust of the energy storage container is achieved.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202323427972.2, filed on December 15, 2023, entitled “A Directional Smoke Exhaust Energy Storage Container and Energy Storage System”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of energy storage safety technology, and in particular to a directional smoke exhaust energy storage container and energy storage system. Background Technology

[0003] Due to the principles and structural characteristics of batteries in electrochemical energy storage systems, significant heat is often generated during repeated use due to internal resistance. This heat gradually increases, and if the accumulated heat is not effectively dissipated, the temperature will rise further. When the temperature reaches its limit, the battery's thermal equilibrium is disrupted, triggering a series of self-heating side reactions that produce large amounts of flammable gases, leading to "thermal runaway." This can ultimately result in internal battery fire, and in severe cases, an explosion, posing a safety hazard. Since abnormal thermal runaway produces large amounts of flammable gases and high-temperature fumes, rapidly removing these gases from the energy storage system to prevent explosion is a pressing issue. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, this application proposes a directional smoke exhaust energy storage device, which directs the smoke to the flue when the battery thermally runs away and generates gas, and discharges it directly outside the cabinet through the flue, so as to avoid the smoke from accumulating inside the cabinet and causing combustion or explosion accidents.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a directional smoke exhaust energy storage container, the energy storage container including at least one battery cluster, a container body, and at least one flue. The container body includes a rear wall and a door, the rear wall and the door being arranged parallel to each other. The at least one battery cluster and the at least one flue are disposed within the container body, the plurality of battery clusters being arranged side by side, the at least one battery cluster and the at least one flue corresponding one-to-one, the at least one flue being located between the at least one battery cluster and the rear wall. Each of the at least one flue has multiple smoke inlets and smoke outlets, the smoke outlets being in communication with the external environment of the energy storage container; each of the at least one battery cluster includes multiple battery packs, the multiple battery packs being stacked, each flue extending along the stacking direction of the multiple battery packs, the outer wall of each of the multiple battery packs having a protrusion facing the flue, the protrusion passing through the smoke inlet, and a sealing element being provided between the outer wall of the protrusion contacting the periphery of the smoke inlet and the smoke inlet. The protrusion has a hollow structure and is connected to the interior of the battery pack. The side of the protrusion facing the flue has an opening, and a pressure relief valve is installed in this opening. When a battery pack in a battery cluster experiences thermal runaway, the battery pack releases high-temperature flue gas, causing a sharp increase in internal pressure. At this time, the pressure relief valve of the battery pack opens, connecting the battery pack to the corresponding flue through the protrusion and the pressure relief valve. The high-temperature flue gas is then directionally released into the flue through the pressure relief valve, preventing the thermal runaway from spreading to other battery packs or battery clusters. Finally, it is discharged to the outside of the container through the exhaust port, achieving directional exhaust of the energy storage container.

[0006] In one possible implementation, the flue is equipped with a vent that communicates with the external environment. The vent is positioned lower than the exhaust port on the flue. When the energy storage container is in normal operating mode, the vent and exhaust port serve as the flue's ventilation and exhaust outlets, allowing for gas exchange between the container and the external environment and maintaining pressure balance within the flue. When the energy storage container experiences thermal runaway, the vent can also function as the flue's exhaust outlet. When the battery pack experiences thermal runaway, it releases high-temperature flue gas. The denser flue gas can be exhausted through the lower vent, while the less dense flue gas can be exhausted through the upper exhaust port, thus diverting the flue gas and rapidly discharging it.

[0007] In one possible implementation, a first fan is provided at the exhaust port, and / or a second fan is provided at the ventilation port. This can increase the gas flow rate at the ventilation port and exhaust port, thereby accelerating gas exchange between the energy storage container and the external environment.

[0008] In one possible implementation, the flue includes sidewalls, with the plurality of smoke inlets located on the sidewalls. The sidewalls are parallel to the rear wall. The housing includes a top wall and a bottom wall, with the rear wall connecting the top and bottom walls. The two ends of the sidewalls, positioned opposite each other along the spacing direction of the top and bottom walls, are respectively connected to the top and bottom walls of the housing. This design allows the flue to reuse the rear wall of the energy storage container, eliminating the need for dedicated pipes connecting the flue's exhaust outlets to the exhaust outlets on the sidewalls of the housing. This simplifies the installation process of the energy storage container and improves the installation efficiency of the flue.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the smoke exhaust outlet is located on the rear wall, or on the top wall. The smoke exhaust outlet can be flexibly designed, improving the flexibility of the flue design.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the vent is located on the rear wall, or the vent is located on the bottom wall. The vent can be flexibly designed, improving the flexibility of the flue design.

[0011] In one possible implementation, each flue includes two sidewalls arranged in parallel. One sidewall is positioned opposite the battery cluster, and the other sidewall is located between the first sidewall and the rear wall. The first sidewall is provided with the plurality of smoke inlets. The flue and the housing are independent structures, allowing for flexible design of the flue according to the structural design of the housing, thus improving the flue's adaptability.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the other side wall is provided with the smoke exhaust port, and the rear wall of the housing is provided with an exhaust port, which communicates with the smoke exhaust port. Alternatively, the top wall of the flue is provided with the smoke exhaust port, and the top wall of the housing is provided with an exhaust port, which communicates with the smoke exhaust port. The smoke exhaust port can be flexibly designed, improving the flexibility of the flue design.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the other side wall is provided with the ventilation opening, and the rear wall of the housing is provided with an air vent, which communicates with the ventilation opening. Alternatively, the bottom wall of the flue is provided with the ventilation opening, and the bottom wall of the housing is provided with an air vent, which communicates with the ventilation opening. The ventilation opening can be flexibly designed, improving the flexibility of the flue design.

[0014] Secondly, this application provides an energy storage system, which includes the energy storage container and power converter described in the first aspect above. The power converter is used to convert AC power output from an external AC power source into DC power and output it to the energy storage container. And / or, the power converter is used to convert the DC power output from the energy storage container into AC power and output it to a load or the power grid.

[0015] Thirdly, this application provides an energy storage container, which includes at least one battery cluster, a container body, and at least one flue. The container body includes a rear wall and a door, which are arranged parallel to each other. The at least one battery cluster and the at least one flue are located within the container body. The battery clusters are arranged side by side, with each battery cluster corresponding to one of the at least one flue. The at least one flue is located between the at least one battery cluster and the rear wall. Each of the at least one flue has multiple smoke inlets and smoke outlets, and the smoke outlets are connected to the external environment of the energy storage container. Each of the multiple battery clusters includes multiple battery packs, which are stacked. Each battery pack has a pressure relief valve on its outer wall, and the pressure relief valve of each battery pack faces the flue. Each of the plurality of flues extends along the stacking direction of the plurality of battery packs. Each flue has multiple smoke inlets and exhaust outlets. The exhaust outlets are connected to the external environment of the energy storage container. Each smoke inlet corresponds one-to-one with a battery pack. A seal is provided between the pressure relief valve of each battery pack and the corresponding smoke inlet. One end of the seal covers the pressure relief valve of each battery pack, and the other end covers the corresponding smoke inlet. When a battery pack in a battery cluster experiences thermal runaway, the battery pack releases high-temperature flue gas, causing a sharp increase in internal pressure. At this time, the pressure relief valve of the battery pack opens, connecting the battery pack to the corresponding flue through the pressure relief valve. The high-temperature flue gas is then directionally released into the flue through the pressure relief valve, preventing the thermal runaway from spreading to other battery packs or battery clusters. Finally, it is discharged to the outside of the container through the exhaust outlet, achieving directional smoke exhaust of the energy storage container.

[0016] In one possible implementation, the outer wall of each battery pack is positioned opposite to the side wall of the corresponding flue. Each battery pack's outer wall has a groove, and the flue's side wall also has a groove. A sealing element is provided between the outer wall of each battery pack and the side wall of the flue. The two ends of the sealing element, along the arrangement direction of the outer wall and the side wall, are respectively located in the grooves of the outer wall of the battery pack and the side wall of the flue. Through the design of the sealing element and the grooves, a sealing structure can be formed between the outer wall of the battery pack and the first side wall. When thermal runaway occurs in the battery pack, the pressure relief valve of the battery pack opens, releasing the high-temperature flue gas inside the battery pack into the sealed space. It is then released into the flue through the inlet of the first side wall, and finally released into the external environment through the exhaust outlet of the second side wall, achieving directional exhaust of the energy storage container.

[0017] In one possible implementation, the flue has multiple sub-flues, all of which are connected to the main flue. The extension directions of the sub-flues are perpendicular to the extension direction of the main flue. Each sub-flue corresponds one-to-one with a plurality of battery packs, and each sub-flue has a smoke inlet. This design allows the pressure relief valve of the battery pack to be located on the top or bottom wall of the battery pack, providing more battery pack model options for energy storage containers and enriching the application scenarios of the flue.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the inlets of the multiple sub-flues are equipped with spring components, and each battery pack has an interface. The spring components interlock with the corresponding interfaces of the battery packs. When the battery packs are installed in the designated positions of the energy storage container, the interfaces of the battery packs and the spring components at the inlets of the sub-flues automatically interlock, forming a sealing structure and improving the installation efficiency of the battery packs. When thermal runaway occurs in the battery pack, the pressure relief valve of the battery pack opens, releasing the high-temperature flue gas inside the battery pack into the sealed space. The gas is then released through the inlets of the lower sidewall of the flue into the sub-flues, and finally through the exhaust outlets of the flues to the external environment, achieving directional exhaust of the energy storage container.

[0019] Fourthly, this application provides an energy storage system, which includes the energy storage container and power converter described in the first aspect above. The power converter is used to convert AC power output from an external AC power source into DC power and output it to the energy storage container. And / or, the power converter is used to convert the DC power output from the energy storage container into AC power and output it to a load or the power grid. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an application scenario of an energy storage container provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0021] Figure 2 A first top-view sectional view of the energy storage container provided in this application;

[0022] Figure 3 A first side view sectional view of the energy storage container provided in this application;

[0023] Figure 4 A second side view sectional diagram of the energy storage container provided in this application;

[0024] Figure 5 A third side view sectional view of the energy storage container provided in this application;

[0025] Figure 6 A fourth side view sectional view of the energy storage container provided in this application;

[0026] Figure 7A fifth side view sectional view of the energy storage container provided in this application;

[0027] Figure 8 A sixth side view sectional view of the energy storage container provided in this application;

[0028] Figure 9 A seventh side view sectional diagram of the energy storage container provided in this application;

[0029] Figure 10 The eighth side view sectional view of the energy storage container provided in this application;

[0030] Figure 11 A ninth side view sectional view of the energy storage container provided in this application;

[0031] Figure 12 A tenth side view sectional diagram of the energy storage container provided in this application;

[0032] Figure 13 This is a second top-view cross-sectional schematic diagram of the energy storage container provided in this application.

[0033] Figure label:

[0034] 100 - Energy storage container; 200 - Photovoltaic panel; 300 - DC / DC converter; 400 - Inverter; 500 - Power grid; 600 - Load;

[0035] 110 - Housing; 1101 - Exhaust port; 1102 - Vent; 112 - Rear wall; 113 - Top wall; 114 - Bottom wall

[0036] 120 - Battery pack; 121 - Battery; 122 - Pressure relief valve; 123 - Boss; 124 - First groove; 125 - Interface;

[0037] 130-Fluorite; 1301-First sidewall; 1302-Second sidewall; 131-Fluorite inlet; 131-Spring component; 132-Fluorite outlet; 133-Ventilation opening; 134-First fan; 135-Second fan; 136-Sealing element; 137-Second groove; 139-Sub-fluorite. Detailed Implementation

[0038] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the exemplary embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The same reference numerals in the figures denote the same or similar structures, and therefore repeated descriptions of them will be omitted. The terms expressing position and direction described in the embodiments of this application are illustrative based on the accompanying drawings, but changes can be made as needed, and all such changes are included within the scope of protection of this application. The accompanying drawings of the embodiments of this application are for illustrating relative positional relationships only and do not represent actual scale.

[0039] In the embodiments of this application, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature.

[0040] It should be noted that specific details are set forth in the following description to facilitate understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many ways other than those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar extensions without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0041] For ease of understanding, the terminology used in the embodiments of this application will be explained first.

[0042] And / or: This is simply a way of describing the relationship between related objects. It indicates that there can be three kinds of relationships. For example, A and / or B can represent three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone.

[0043] Multiple: refers to two or more.

[0044] Connection: refers to electrical connection. The connection between two electrical components can be a direct or indirect connection between the two components. For example, A and B can be connected directly, or they can be indirectly connected through one or more other electrical components, such as A and B being connected. Alternatively, A can be directly connected to C, and C can be directly connected to B, with A and B connected through C.

[0045] The following embodiments of this application provide an energy storage container that can be used in energy storage applications of photovoltaic power generation.

[0046] For example, Figure 1 This diagram illustrates a framework structure of a photovoltaic system, such as... Figure 1As shown, the photovoltaic system includes photovoltaic panels 200, a DC / DC converter 300, an energy storage container 100, and a DC / AC converter 400. Photovoltaic panels 200 convert solar energy into DC power. The DC / DC converter 300 converts the DC power generated by the photovoltaic panels 200 into adjustable DC power (i.e., it converts the DC power output from the photovoltaic panels 200 into adjustable DC power with adjustable voltage and current after a DC-to-DC conversion). This allows for dynamic control of the DC power generated by the photovoltaic panels 200, balancing the output power of each photovoltaic panel 200, and then outputting it to the energy storage container 100 for energy storage. The DC power output from the energy storage container 300 is converted into AC power by the DC / AC converter 400 and output to the power grid 500. The AC power output from the DC / AC converter can also be used to power a load 600. The load 600 can be electrical equipment in an industrial park.

[0047] Energy storage containers typically include multiple battery clusters, each containing multiple battery packs, and each battery pack containing multiple batteries. In practical applications, batteries may experience thermal runaway during operation due to mechanical, electrical, and thermal abuse, as well as inherent defects. During thermal runaway, batteries generate large amounts of flammable gases, posing a high risk of combustion and explosion. The shockwaves, heat radiation, and debris flying from the disintegration of the container can threaten the safety of nearby people or property. There is also a risk of valve opening during thermal runaway. When the valve opens, the released flammable gases such as H2 and CO may ignite upon contact with sparks or high-temperature surfaces in the relatively enclosed environment inside the container, potentially causing an explosion and harming the surrounding environment or people. To address the problem of thermal runaway in energy storage containers, this application provides an energy storage container 100. In the event of thermal runaway inside the energy storage container 100, the container can perform directional smoke extraction, promptly expelling high-temperature smoke and flammable gases from the container to prevent their accumulation and subsequent rapid increase in internal pressure, which could lead to an explosion.

[0048] The schematic diagram of the energy storage container 100 provided in this application embodiment can be referred to... Figure 2 and Figure 3 , Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the energy storage container 100 from a top-down perspective. Figure 3This is a cross-sectional view of the energy storage container 100 in a side view. The energy storage container 100 includes at least one battery cluster, a container body 110, and at least one flue 130. The container body 130 includes a rear wall 112 and a door (not shown in the figure). The rear wall 112 and the door are arranged opposite each other and parallel to each other. At least one battery cluster and at least one flue 130 are located inside the container body. Multiple battery clusters are arranged side by side, with at least one battery cluster and at least one flue corresponding one-to-one. At least one flue 130 is located between at least one battery cluster and the rear wall 112. Each flue 130 has multiple smoke inlets 131 and smoke outlets 132. The smoke outlets 132 are connected to the external environment of the energy storage container 100. Each battery cluster includes multiple battery packs 120, and each battery pack 120 includes multiple batteries 121. Multiple battery packs 120 are stacked from bottom to top. Each flue 130 extends along the stacking direction of the battery packs 120. The outer wall of each battery pack 120 has a protrusion 123 facing the flue 130. The protrusion 123 passes through the flue inlet 131. One end of the protrusion 123 is connected to the outer wall of the battery pack 120, and the other end of the protrusion 123 passes through the flue inlet 131 of the flue 130, so that the pressure relief valve 122 is located inside the flue 130. To ensure the sealing effect between the protrusion 123 and the flue inlet 131, a sealing element 136 is provided between the outer wall of the protrusion 123 that contacts the periphery of the flue 131 and the flue inlet. The protrusion 123 has a hollow structure and is connected to the interior of the battery pack 120. The side of the protrusion 123 located inside the flue 130 has an opening, and the pressure relief valve 122 is installed in the opening. The battery pack 120 is internally connected to the flue 130 via a boss 123 and a pressure relief valve 122. When the battery pack 120 experiences thermal runaway, the pressure relief valve 122 opens, and the high-temperature flue gas inside the battery pack 120 is first released into the hollow structure of the boss 123, and then released into the flue 130 through the pressure relief valve 122. For example, the high-temperature flue gas and combustible gas generated when the battery 1201 experiences thermal runaway are discharged into the flue 130 through the pressure relief valve 122, and then discharged into the external environment through the exhaust port 132 of the flue 130. (Gas flow direction referenced...) Figure 3 As indicated by the middle arrow, discharging the high-temperature flue gas generated by the battery pack 120 into the flue 130 can rapidly reduce the internal air pressure of the battery pack 120, preventing an explosion. Furthermore, since the battery packs 120 and flue inlets 131 are configured in a one-to-one correspondence, the high-temperature flue gas generated by thermal runaway of a particular battery pack 120 can be directed into the corresponding flue inlet 131, preventing the high-temperature flue gas released from the battery pack 120 from spreading within the same battery cluster, thereby preventing thermal runaway from spreading to other battery packs 120. Moreover, since each battery cluster corresponds to one flue 130, when a battery pack 120 within a battery cluster experiences thermal runaway, the affected battery pack 120 can rapidly discharge the high-temperature flue gas into the flue 130, preventing the thermal runaway from spreading to other battery clusters and thus preventing thermal runaway of the entire energy storage container 100, which could lead to an explosion or fire.

[0049] Generally, maintenance or installation personnel typically work in front of the door of the energy storage container 100. When the flue 130 is located on the rear wall 112 of the energy storage container 100, the exhaust port 132 can be located on the side wall opposite the rear wall 112 of the energy storage container 100. Furthermore, the rear wall 112 of the energy storage container 100 has a vent 1102 at a position corresponding to the exhaust port 132. The vent 1102 on the rear wall 112 is connected to the exhaust port 132 of the flue 130, allowing the gas inside the flue 130 to be discharged into the external environment through the exhaust port 132 and the vent 1102. Placing the vent 1102 on the rear wall 112 of the energy storage container 100 prevents the gas released from the flue 130 and the vent 1102 from impacting nearby personnel and causing safety accidents.

[0050] The energy storage container 100 has a base at its bottom, which can serve as a basic support for the energy storage container 100 and improve the overall structural stability of the energy storage container 100.

[0051] It should be noted that the shape of the flue 130 is not limited. The flue 130 can be a cylindrical tubular structure or a cuboid tubular structure.

[0052] It should be noted that the shape and number of the exhaust port 132 and the smoke inlet 131 are not limited. For example, the exhaust port 132 and the smoke inlet 131 can be of any shape, including but not limited to regular shapes such as circles or squares, and some possible irregular shapes. The number of exhaust ports 132 can be one or more. The shape of the smoke inlet 131 matches the shape of the boss 123. For example, when the smoke inlet 131 is circular, the boss 123 can be cylindrical; when the smoke inlet 131 is square, the boss 123 is cubic. The sealing member 136 can be arranged around the outer peripheral wall of the boss 123 to enhance the sealing between the boss 123 and the smoke inlet 131.

[0053] This application does not specifically limit the type of pressure relief valve 122. For example, the pressure relief valve 122 can be an explosion-proof element made of metal or plastic with scoring, which ruptures to release pressure when a certain pressure is reached. The pressure relief valve 122 can also be a waterproof and breathable pressure relief valve 122, with a waterproof and breathable membrane installed inside. When the battery pack 120 is in normal working condition, the gas inside the battery pack 120 exchanges with the outside through the pressure relief valve 122 to maintain the air pressure balance inside the battery pack 120. The waterproof and breathable membrane can prevent dust and water droplets from entering the battery pack 120. When thermal runaway occurs inside the battery pack 120, causing the air pressure inside the battery pack 120 to become too high, the pressure relief valve 122 opens, quickly expelling the gas inside the battery pack 120, thus providing an explosion-proof function. The pressure relief valve 122 can also be a spring-loaded pressure relief valve 122, which includes a valve body, an elastic component and a protective cover. When the air pressure inside the battery pack 120 rises sharply, the elastic component pushes open the protective cover, and the pressure relief valve 122 opens to achieve rapid pressure relief.

[0054] The pressure relief valve 122 has the function of positive pressure oxygen barrier. On the one hand, the pressure relief valve 122 can prevent external oxygen from entering the battery pack 120. On the other hand, the gas inside the battery pack 120 can exchange with the outside through the pressure relief valve 122.

[0055] To ensure effective smoke extraction, the combined area of ​​the smoke exhaust port 132 and the smoke inlet 131 should be greater than or equal to the area of ​​the gas that can flow after the pressure relief valve 122 of the battery pack 120 is opened, so as to prevent high-temperature smoke and combustible gases from accumulating inside the battery pack 120 or the flue 130, thereby preventing an explosion.

[0056] To prevent flue gas from harming the surrounding environment or people, a cooling device can be installed inside the flue 130 to cool and condense the high-temperature flue gas and combustible gases, thereby reducing the content and effectiveness of combustibles in the flue gas. For example, the condensation device can be a cooling mesh, cooling plate, or evaporator. The cooling device can be installed at the flue gas inlet 131 of the flue 130.

[0057] When the battery pack 120 experiences thermal runaway, the emissions contain a significant amount of liquid or solid combustible particles, such as electrolyte droplets. Therefore, a filtration device can be installed within the flue 130 to further reduce the content and effectiveness of combustibles in the flue gas. For example, the filtration device can be an adsorption cotton layer, activated carbon layer, molecular sieve, cyclone separator, etc., which can directly filter liquid or solid combustible particles in the flue gas to reduce its combustible content. This filtration device can be installed at the flue gas inlet 131 of the flue 130, or it can be installed on one side of the condenser.

[0058] Furthermore, to reduce the concentration of combustible gases such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane, and various alkanes in the high-temperature flue gas, a dilution device can be installed in the flue 130 to dilute the combustible gases. For example, the concentration of combustible gases can be diluted by injecting non-combustible gases into the flue 130, or by chemically reacting the combustible gases to convert them into clean gases, such as water vapor or carbon dioxide, thereby reducing the concentration of combustible gases. Therefore, the dilution device can be a non-combustible gas storage component, which releases non-combustible gases into the flue 130 in the event of thermal runaway inside the energy storage container 100 to rapidly dilute the concentration of combustible gases within the flue 130. In addition, the dilution device can also be a porous structure with attached oxidants and catalysts, such as metal mesh, metal wool, or foam. Similarly, the catalyst can be a precious metal catalyst, such as palladium, platinum, or rhodium, and the oxidant can be copper oxide, sodium peroxide, or potassium permanganate. A dilution device can oxidize and reduce combustibles in emissions to form non-combustible substances, such as catalytically reacting hydrogen and carbon monoxide in flue gas into non-combustible water and carbon dioxide. The dilution device can be installed at the exhaust outlet 132.

[0059] To ensure air pressure balance inside the flue 130, the flue 130 is also equipped with a vent 133. The location and structure of the vent 133 can be found in [reference needed]. Figure 3 As shown, the vent 133 is connected to the external environment of the energy storage container 100, and the location of the vent 133 on the flue 130 is lower than the location of the exhaust port 132. For example, the air inlet vent 133 and the exhaust port 132 of the flue 130 can be respectively located at both ends along the rear wall 112 of the energy storage container 100 in the height direction of the energy storage container 100, for example, the air inlet vent is located below the exhaust port 132. Due to the arrangement of the vent 133, the high-temperature gas generated by the battery pack 120 can be prevented from being discharged into the flue 130, which would cause a sharp drop in the internal air pressure of the flue 130 and lead to deformation of the flue 130. At the same time, it can quickly exhaust the high-temperature gas generated by the battery pack 120 to the external environment, reducing the risk of combustion and explosion of the battery pack 120. In addition, when the energy storage container 100 is venting smoke, the denser smoke can be discharged from the lower ventilation port 133, and the less dense smoke can be discharged from the upper exhaust port 132, thus diverting the smoke and quickly discharging the gas.

[0060] Furthermore, to improve the smoke extraction efficiency of the flue 130, a first fan 134 can be installed at the smoke exhaust port 133. Similarly, a second fan 135 can also be installed at the ventilation port 133.

[0061] When the flue 130 and the housing are independent components, the flue 130 includes a first side wall 1301, a second side wall 1302, a top wall 1303, and a bottom wall 1304. The first side wall 1301 and the second side wall 1302 are arranged opposite to each other. The first side wall 1301 is arranged opposite to the battery cluster. The second side wall 1302 is located between the first side wall 1301 and the rear wall 112. The first side wall 1301 is provided with multiple smoke inlets 131. The smoke exhaust outlet 132 is provided on the second side wall 1302. The rear wall 112 of the housing 110 is provided with an exhaust outlet 1101, which communicates with the smoke exhaust outlet 132. The structural diagram can be found by referring to [reference needed]. Figure 3 Alternatively, the top wall 1303 of the flue 130 is provided with a smoke exhaust port 132, and the top wall 113 of the housing 110 is provided with an exhaust port 1101. The exhaust port 1101 is connected to the smoke exhaust port 132. Its structure can be referred to Figure 4 or Figure 5 As shown. The exhaust port 1101 and the smoke exhaust port 132 can be directly opposite each other, or the exhaust port 1101 and the smoke exhaust port 132 can be connected through a duct pipe.

[0062] It should be understood that when the exhaust port 132 is located on the top wall of the flue 130, a rain cover can be installed at the exhaust port 132 to prevent rainwater from entering the interior of the flue 130, and thus prevent rainwater from entering the battery.

[0063] Similarly, the ventilation opening 133 can also be designed in various locations. The second side wall 1302 has a ventilation opening 133, and the rear wall 112 of the housing 110 has a vent 1102, which communicates with the ventilation opening 133. Alternatively, the ventilation opening 133 can be located on the bottom wall 1304 of the flue, and the bottom wall 114 of the housing 110 has a vent 1102, which communicates with the ventilation opening 133. The structure can be referenced. Figure 5 As shown. Vent 1102 and vent 133 can be directly opposite each other, or vent 1102 and vent 133 can be connected through a duct. When there is a gap between the bottom wall 1304 of the flue and the bottom wall of the housing 110, the vent 133 is located on the bottom wall 1304 of the flue, and the vent 1102 can be located on the rear wall 112 connecting the bottom wall 1304 of the flue and the bottom wall of the housing 110. Vent 1102 and vent 133 can be connected through a duct.

[0064] When the flue 130 reuses the rear wall 112 of the energy storage container 100, that is, when the rear wall of the energy storage container 100 and the aforementioned second side wall 1302 are combined into one, the flue 130 includes a first side wall 1301, with multiple smoke inlets 131 disposed on the first side wall 1301, which is parallel to the rear wall 112. The container body 110 includes a top wall 113 and a bottom wall 114, with the rear wall 112 connecting between the top wall 113 and the bottom wall 114. The two ends of the first side wall 1301, arranged opposite each other along the interval direction of the top wall 113 and the bottom wall 114 (i.e., the height direction of the energy storage container 100), are respectively connected to the top wall 113 and the bottom wall 114 of the container body 110. The flue 130 and the container body 110 are integrally formed, which effectively simplifies the structure of the energy storage system. The structure can be referred to as follows: Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown. In this case, the side wall of the container 110 serves as the side wall of the flue 130, and its exhaust port 132 is directly located on the side wall of the container 110. The exhaust port 132 of the flue 130 can also serve as the vent 1102 of the container 110. This design avoids the need to connect the exhaust port 132 and the vent 1102, and eliminates the need for sealing between the flue 130 and the container 110. This effectively simplifies the assembly process of the energy storage system, reduces the number of components in the energy storage container 100, and reduces the risk of flue gas overflowing into the container 110.

[0065] The locations of the exhaust port 132 and ventilation port 133 of the flue 130 in the energy storage container 100 provided in this application embodiment can be designed in various ways. The exhaust port 132 can be located on the rear wall 112 of the container body 110, and its structural diagram can be found in [reference needed]. Figure 6 Alternatively, the smoke exhaust vent 110 can also be located on the top wall 113, and its structural diagram can be found in the following figure. Figure 7 Similarly, the ventilation opening 133 can be located on the rear wall 112 of the housing 110, and its structure can be referred to Figure 3 As shown, or, the vent 133 is located on the bottom wall 114 of the housing 110, and its structure can be referred to Figure 7 .

[0066] Based on the same inventive concept, this application also provides an energy storage system, including the aforementioned energy storage container 100 and a power converter. The power converter is used to convert AC power output from an external AC power source into DC power for output to the energy storage container 100, and / or, the power converter is used to convert DC power output from the energy storage container 100 into AC power for output to a load or the power grid. The architecture of the energy storage system can be referred to... Figure 1 As shown.

[0067] This application embodiment also provides an energy storage container 100. The energy storage container 100 includes at least one battery cluster, a container body 110, and at least one flue 130. The container body 110 includes a rear wall 112 and a door, which are arranged in parallel. At least one battery cluster and at least one flue 130 are disposed within the container body 110. Multiple battery clusters are arranged side by side, with each battery cluster and each flue 130 corresponding to the other. The at least one flue 130 is located between the at least one battery cluster and the rear wall 112. Each flue 130 has multiple smoke inlets 131 and smoke outlets 132, and the smoke outlets 132 are connected to the external environment of the energy storage container 100. Each battery cluster includes multiple battery packs 120, which are stacked. Each battery pack 120 has a pressure relief valve 122 on its outer wall, and the pressure relief valve 122 of each battery pack 120 faces the flue 130. Each of the multiple flues 130 extends along the stacking direction of the multiple battery packs 120. Each flue 130 is provided with multiple smoke inlets 131 and smoke outlets 132. The smoke outlets 132 are connected to the external environment of the energy storage container 100. The multiple smoke inlets 131 correspond one-to-one with the multiple battery packs 120. A seal 136 is provided between the pressure relief valve 122 of each battery pack 120 and the corresponding smoke inlet 131. The opening at one end of the seal 136 covers the pressure relief valve 122 of each battery pack 120, and the other end of the seal 136 covers the corresponding smoke inlet 131.

[0068] Its structure can be referenced. Figure 8 As shown, the sealing element 136 is arranged around the outer periphery of each smoke inlet 131 of the flue 130. The sealing element 136 can be fixed to the first side wall 1301 of the flue 130 or to the outer wall of the battery pack 120. The sealing element 136, the first side wall 1301, and the outer wall of the battery pack 120 form a sealed space, and the pressure relief valve 122 on the outer wall of the battery pack 120 is located within this sealed space. When installing the battery pack 120 from the door into the energy storage container 100, tools are generally used to push the battery pack 120 along... Figure 3The battery pack 120 is pushed into the energy storage container 100 in the x-direction. Because the seal 136 is elastic and compressible, under the pressure of the battery pack 120, the seal 136 presses against the first side wall 1301. This compression of the seal 136 seals the connection between the battery pack 120 and the flue 130, preventing flue gas from overflowing into the container 110. With this design, when the battery pack 120 experiences thermal runaway, the pressure relief valve 122 of the battery pack 120 opens, releasing the high-temperature flue gas inside the battery pack 120 into the sealed space. The gas is then released into the flue 130 through the inlet 131 of the first side wall 1301, and finally into the external environment through the exhaust outlet 132 of the second side wall 1302, achieving directional exhaust of the energy storage container 100. The battery packs 120 and the smoke inlets 131 are configured in a one-to-one correspondence, allowing the high-temperature flue gas generated by thermal runaway of a particular battery pack 120 to be directed into the corresponding smoke inlet 131. This prevents the high-temperature flue gas released from the battery pack 120 from spreading within the same battery cluster, thereby preventing thermal runaway from spreading to other battery packs 120. Furthermore, since each battery cluster corresponds to a smoke duct 130, when a battery pack 120 within a battery cluster experiences thermal runaway, the affected battery pack 120 can quickly discharge the high-temperature flue gas into the smoke duct 130, preventing the thermal runaway from spreading to other battery clusters and thus preventing thermal runaway of the entire energy storage container 100, which could lead to an explosion or fire.

[0069] It should be understood that, in order to ensure the air pressure balance inside the flue 130, the flue 130 is also provided with a vent 133. The vent 133 is connected to the external environment of the energy storage container 100, and the location of the vent 133 on the flue 130 is lower than the location of the exhaust port 132. For example, the air inlet vent 133 and the exhaust port 132 of the flue 130 can be respectively located at both ends along the rear wall 112 of the energy storage container 100 along the height direction of the energy storage container 100, for example, the air inlet vent is located below the exhaust port 132.

[0070] Similarly, the flue 130 in this embodiment can reuse the rear wall 112 of the housing 110, and its structure can be referred to Figure 8 As shown, its smoke exhaust port 132 and ventilation port 133 can be set on the rear wall 112 of the housing 110.

[0071] The flue 130 and the housing 110 can also be independent components. The flue 130 includes a first side wall 1301, a second side wall 1302, a top wall 1303, and a bottom wall 1304. The first side wall 1301 and the second side wall 1302 are arranged opposite each other. The first side wall 1301 is arranged opposite to the battery cluster. The second side wall 1302 is located between the first side wall 1301 and the rear wall 112. The first side wall 1301 is provided with multiple smoke inlets 131. The smoke exhaust outlet 132 is provided on the second side wall 1302. The rear wall 112 of the housing 110 is provided with an exhaust outlet 1101, which communicates with the smoke exhaust outlet 132. The structural diagram can be found by referring to [reference needed]. Figure 9 Alternatively, the top wall 1303 of the flue 130 is provided with a smoke exhaust port 132, and the top wall 113 of the housing 110 is provided with an exhaust port 1101, which is connected to the smoke exhaust port 132.

[0072] Continue to refer to Figure 9 The second side wall 1302 is provided with a ventilation opening 133, and the rear wall 112 of the housing 110 is provided with a vent 1102, which communicates with the ventilation opening 133. Alternatively, the ventilation opening 133 is located on the bottom wall 1304 of the flue, and the bottom wall 114 of the housing 110 is provided with a vent 1102, which communicates with the ventilation opening 133.

[0073] It is understood that in one possible example of this application, the first seal 136 is a sealing strip, and the seal 136 can be fixed to the flue 130 by means of adhesive bonding or other methods to improve the reliability of the connection between the seal 136 and the flue 130.

[0074] Alternatively, the sealing element 136 can be fixed by providing grooves on the sidewalls 1301 of the battery pack 120 and the flue 130, and engaging both ends of the sealing element 136 in the grooves. The outer wall of each battery pack 120 is opposite to the sidewall of the corresponding flue 130, and each battery pack 120 has a groove on its outer wall, and the sidewall of the flue 130 has a groove. The two ends of the sealing element 136 are respectively located in the grooves on the outer wall of the battery pack 120 and the sidewall of the flue 130.

[0075] The structure of the energy storage container 100 can be referenced. Figure 10The energy storage container 100 is shown in a cross-sectional view in the side view direction. To ensure that the gas released by the pressure relief valve 122 is directed into the flue 130, a first groove 124 is formed on the outer wall of each battery pack 120, and a second groove 137 is formed on the first side wall 1301 of the flue 130. The first groove 124 and the second groove 137 can be arranged opposite to each other. A sealing element 136 is provided between the outer wall of each battery pack 120 and the first side wall 1301 of the flue 130. One end of the sealing element 136 is engaged with the first groove 124, and the other end of the sealing element 136 is engaged with the second groove 137. The sealing element 136, the first side wall 1301, and the outer wall of the battery pack 120 form a sealed space, and the pressure relief valve 122 is located within this sealed space. With this design, when thermal runaway occurs in the battery pack 120, the pressure relief valve 122 of the battery pack 120 opens, and the high-temperature flue gas inside the battery pack 120 is released into the sealed space. Then, it is released into the flue 130 through the smoke inlet 131 of the first side wall 1301, and then into the external environment through the smoke outlet 132 of the second side wall 1302, thus realizing the directional smoke exhaust of the energy storage container 100.

[0076] In another example, the structure of the energy storage container 100 can be referenced. Figure 11 As shown in the side view of the energy storage container 100, the flue 130 has multiple sub-flues 139, all of which are connected to the flue 130. The extension direction of the sub-flues 139 is perpendicular to the extension direction of the flue 130, and each sub-flue 139 corresponds to a battery pack 120. The pressure relief valve 122 of the battery pack 120 is located on the upper outer wall of the battery pack 120. Each sub-flue 139 includes a lower sidewall, which is opposite to the pressure relief valve 122 of the battery pack 120. The lower sidewall of each sub-flue 139 has a smoke inlet 131. When thermal runaway occurs in battery pack 120, pressure relief valve 122 opens, and the high-temperature flue gas inside battery pack 120 is first released into sub-flue 139 and then into flue 130, to prevent the flue gas from spreading between battery clusters and causing thermal runaway to spread to other battery packs 120 or other battery clusters.

[0077] Similarly, continue to refer to Figure 11A sealing element 136 is provided between the lower sidewall of the sub-flue 139 and the upper outer wall of the battery pack 120. The sealing element 136, the lower sidewall of the sub-flue 139, and the upper outer wall of the battery pack 120 form a sealed space, and the pressure relief valve 122 on the outer wall of the battery pack 120 is located within this sealed space. With this design, when the battery pack 120 experiences thermal runaway, the pressure relief valve 122 of the battery pack 120 opens, releasing the high-temperature flue gas inside the battery pack 120 into the sealed space, then through the smoke inlet 131 of the first sidewall 1301 to the flue 130, and then through the smoke outlet 132 of the second sidewall 1302 to the external environment, thus achieving directional smoke exhaust from the energy storage container 100.

[0078] In another example, the structure of the energy storage container 100 can be referenced. Figure 12 As shown in the sectional view of the energy storage container 100 in the side view, the inlets 131 of multiple sub-flues 139 are equipped with spring-loaded movable ports, and each battery pack 120 is equipped with an interface 125. The spring-loaded movable ports are interlocked with the corresponding interfaces 125 of the battery pack 120. When the battery pack 120 is installed in the corresponding position inside the energy storage container 100, the spring-loaded movable ports automatically interlock with the interfaces 125 on the outer wall of the corresponding battery pack 120, forming a sealed space between the lower side wall of the flue 130 and the outer wall of the battery pack 120. The pressure relief valve 122 on the outer wall of the battery pack 120 is located within the sealed space. When thermal runaway occurs in the battery pack 120, the pressure relief valve 122 of the battery pack 120 opens, and the high-temperature flue gas inside the battery pack 120 is released into the sealed space. Then, it is released into the sub-flue 139 through the flue inlet 131 on the lower side wall of the flue 130, and then into the external environment through the exhaust port 132 of the flue 130, thus realizing the directional exhaust of the energy storage container 100.

[0079] In another example, the structure of the energy storage container 100 can be referenced. Figure 13 As shown in the top-view cross-sectional view of the energy storage container 100, the exhaust ports 132 of the flues 130 located on the left and right sides of the energy storage container 100 can also be positioned facing the left and right side walls of the energy storage container 100, respectively. Correspondingly, the exhaust ports 1102 of the energy storage container 100 can be located on the left and right side walls of the container body 110. In other words, the smoke inlets 131 and exhaust ports 132 of the flues 130 located on the left and right sides of the container can be located on two mutually perpendicular side walls of the flues 130, respectively.

[0080] Based on the same inventive concept, this application also provides an energy storage system, including the aforementioned energy storage container 100 and a power converter. The power converter is used to convert AC power output from an external AC power source into DC power for output to the energy storage container 100, and / or, the power converter is used to convert DC power output from the energy storage container 100 into AC power for output to a load or the power grid. The architecture of the energy storage system can be referred to... Figure 1 As shown.

[0081] The above are merely specific embodiments of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A directional smoke exhaust energy storage container, characterized by, The energy storage container includes at least one battery cluster, a container body, and at least one flue. The container body includes a rear wall and a door, which are arranged in parallel. The at least one battery cluster and the at least one flue are located inside the container body, and the at least one battery cluster and the at least one flue correspond one-to-one. The at least one flue is located between the at least one battery cluster and the rear wall. Each of the at least one flue is provided with multiple smoke inlets and smoke outlets, and the smoke outlets are connected to the external environment of the energy storage container; Each of the at least one battery cluster includes multiple battery packs, which are stacked together. Each battery pack has a pressure relief valve on its outer wall, and the pressure relief valve of each battery pack is oriented toward the flue. Each of the at least one flue extends along the stacking direction of the plurality of battery packs. Each flue is provided with a plurality of smoke inlets and smoke outlets. The smoke outlets are connected to the external environment of the energy storage container. The plurality of smoke inlets correspond one-to-one with the plurality of battery packs. The outer periphery of the pressure relief valve of each battery pack is provided with a sealing element. The opening at one end of the sealing element covers the pressure relief valve of each battery pack, and the other end of the sealing element covers the corresponding smoke inlet.

2. The energy storage container of claim 1, wherein, The seal, the sidewall of the flue, and the outer wall of the battery pack form a sealed space, and the pressure relief valve of the battery pack is located within the sealed space.

3. The energy storage container of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The flue is equipped with a ventilation opening, which is connected to the external environment. The location of the ventilation opening on the flue is lower than the location of the exhaust outlet.

4. The energy storage container of claim 3, wherein, A first fan is provided at the smoke exhaust port, and / or a second fan is provided at the ventilation port.

5. The energy storage container of claim 3 or 4, wherein, The flue includes a sidewall, and the plurality of smoke inlets are disposed on the sidewall. The sidewall is arranged parallel to the rear wall. The enclosure includes a top wall and a bottom wall, the rear wall is connected between the top wall and the bottom wall, and the two ends of the side wall, which are arranged opposite to each other along the interval direction of the top wall and the bottom wall, are respectively connected to the top wall and the bottom wall of the enclosure.

6. The energy storage container of claim 5, wherein, The smoke exhaust port is located on the rear wall, or the smoke exhaust port is located on the top wall.

7. The energy storage container of claim 5 or 6, wherein, The ventilation opening is located on the rear wall, or the ventilation opening is located on the bottom wall.

8. The energy storage container of claim 3 or 4, wherein, The flue includes two parallel sidewalls, one of which is opposite to the battery cluster, and the other sidewall is located between the one sidewall and the rear wall. The one sidewall is provided with the plurality of smoke inlets.

9. The energy storage container of claim 8, wherein, The other side wall is provided with the smoke exhaust port, and the rear wall of the box is provided with an exhaust port, which is connected to the smoke exhaust port. Alternatively, the top wall of the flue is provided with the smoke exhaust port, and the top wall of the box is provided with an exhaust port, which is connected to the smoke exhaust port.

10. The energy storage container of claim 8, wherein, The other side wall is provided with the ventilation opening, and the rear wall of the box is provided with an air vent, which is connected to the ventilation opening; or, the bottom wall of the flue is provided with the ventilation opening, and the bottom wall of the box is provided with an air vent, which is connected to the ventilation opening.

11. The energy storage container of any of claims 1-10, wherein, The outer wall of each battery pack is disposed opposite to the side wall of the corresponding flue. The outer wall of each battery pack is provided with a first groove, and the side wall of the flue is provided with a second groove. The two ends of the seal are respectively located in the first groove and the second groove.

12. The energy storage container of claim 11, wherein, Each flue is provided with multiple sub-flues, all of which are connected to the flue. The extension direction of the multiple sub-flues is perpendicular to the extension direction of the flue. Each of the multiple sub-flues corresponds to one of the multiple battery packs. Each of the multiple sub-flues is provided with a smoke inlet. The pressure relief valve of each battery pack is positioned facing the smoke inlet.

13. The energy storage container according to any one of claims 1-12, characterized in that, Each flue has at least one of a built-in cooling device, a filtration device, or a dilution device.

14. An energy storage system characterized by, The energy storage system includes the energy storage container and power converter as described in any one of claims 1-13, wherein the power converter is used to convert the AC power output from the external AC power source into DC power and output it to the energy storage container, and / or, the power converter is used to convert the DC power output from the energy storage container into AC power and output it to the load or the power grid.

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