Immersed battery pack and energy storage equipment

Abstract

The utility model discloses an immersed battery pack and energy storage equipment, which comprises a box body and a plurality of groups of battery cell modules, the inner cavity of the box body is filled with cooling liquid, and the plurality of groups of battery cell modules are immersed in the cooling liquid; the device further comprises a cooling liquid circulation assembly. An inner cavity of the box body is divided into a first area and a second area, the multiple groups of battery cell modules are arranged in the first area, and the cooling liquid circulating assembly is arranged in the second area; the cooling liquid circulating assembly comprises a backflow box, a first quick-plug connector and a second quick-plug connector, the backflow box is arranged on the inner wall, in the second area, of the box body, and the first quick-plug connector and the second quick-plug connector are both arranged on the outer wall, in the second area, of the box body; the first quick-plug connector is communicated with the backflow box, and the second quick-plug connector is communicated with the interior of the box body; cooling liquid enters the inner cavity of the box body through the second quick-plug connector, passes through the backflow box and then is discharged through the first quick-plug connector. According to the utility model, the contact thermal resistance of the traditional cold plate scheme can be eliminated, and the temperature uniformity of the battery pack is stably controlled within the range of 1-2 DEG C.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of battery pack cooling technology, specifically to an immersion battery pack and energy storage device. Background Technology

[0002] Current energy storage battery packs mainly employ bottom-cooled plate cooling technology, where a cold plate is laid at the bottom of the battery pack, and the battery cells are directly mounted on the surface of the cold plate, achieving heat exchange through contact conduction. However, this method is limited by the contact thermal resistance between the battery cells and the cold plate, resulting in insufficient heat dissipation efficiency, a significant temperature gradient along the axial direction inside the battery pack, and poor temperature uniformity. Utility Model Content

[0003] This invention aims to address one of the technical problems in related technologies to a certain extent. Therefore, this invention provides an immersion battery pack and an energy storage device.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: an immersion battery pack, comprising a housing and multiple sets of battery cell modules, wherein the inner cavity of the housing is filled with coolant, and the multiple sets of battery cell modules are immersed in the coolant; it also includes a coolant circulation assembly; the inner cavity of the housing is divided into a first region and a second region, the multiple sets of battery cell modules are disposed in the first region, and the coolant circulation assembly is disposed in the second region;

[0005] The coolant circulation assembly includes a return tank, a first quick-connect fitting, and a second quick-connect fitting. The return tank is disposed on the inner wall of the housing in the second region, and both the first and second quick-connect fittings are disposed on the outer wall of the housing in the second region. The first quick-connect fitting communicates with the return tank, and the second quick-connect fitting communicates with the interior of the housing. The coolant enters the inner cavity of the housing through the second quick-connect fitting, passes through the return tank, and is discharged through the first quick-connect fitting.

[0006] The application of this application has the following beneficial effects: The internal cavity of the battery pack is divided into a first region and a second region. The first region houses the battery cell modules, and the second region houses a return tank, a first quick-connect connector, and a second quick-connect connector. The return tank, the first quick-connect connector, and the second quick-connect connector enable the circulation of coolant within the internal cavity of the battery pack (cold coolant at the bottom, hot coolant rising and overflowing). Furthermore, the battery cell modules are immersed in the coolant, which covers the exposed surfaces of the battery cell modules, eliminating the contact thermal resistance of traditional cold plate solutions and stabilizing the battery pack's temperature uniformity within the range of 1-2℃.

[0007] Optionally, the housing has a first end and a second end that are disposed opposite to each other. A support is provided at the bottom of the inner cavity of the housing, and the support is disposed near the second end of the housing. The space above the support forms the first region, and the space between the support and the first end of the housing forms the second region. A plurality of battery cell modules are disposed on the support, and the return box is disposed on the inner wall of the second end of the housing, and the top surface of the return box is higher than the top surface of the battery cell modules.

[0008] Optionally, it also includes a filter screen, wherein the interior of the return box forms a cavity with an opening, and the opening is located at the top of the return box; the filter screen is placed over the opening of the return box, and the coolant inside the box enters the cavity through the filter screen and is discharged through the first quick-connect connector.

[0009] Optionally, it also includes an information acquisition component, which is disposed on the wall of the housing in the second region; the information acquisition component includes a level gauge and a battery information acquisition module, and is used to acquire the voltage and temperature of the battery cell module, as well as the liquid level of the coolant inside the housing.

[0010] Optionally, the battery information acquisition module includes a housing and a circuit board. The housing has an installation port on its wall for mounting the housing. The housing is sealed to the installation port, and a closed space is formed inside the housing to accommodate the circuit board. The circuit board is disposed in the closed space and is located on the side closer to the battery cell module.

[0011] Optionally, the compartment body is provided with an opening and a cover, the opening is located on the side of the compartment body facing outwards from the box body, and the cover is sealed to the opening; the cover is provided with a sealing adapter plug, the sealing adapter plug having a first connector for connecting the circuit board and a second connector for connecting to an external battery management module.

[0012] Optionally, it also includes a manual maintenance switch and multiple explosion-proof valves, wherein the manual maintenance switch is disposed on the outer wall of the enclosure in the second area, and the multiple explosion-proof valves are disposed on the top of the enclosure.

[0013] Optionally, the box body includes a box shell and a box cover, wherein the box cover is sealed to the box shell and together form the inner cavity of the box body.

[0014] Optionally, the cover is a flat plate structure, and the shell includes a bottom plate and four side walls surrounding the bottom plate. The bottom plate, the four side walls, and the cover together form the shell. The four side walls include a first side wall and a second side wall that are arranged opposite each other along the length direction of the bottom plate, and a third side wall and a fourth side wall that are arranged opposite each other along the width direction of the bottom plate. The coolant circulation assembly is disposed on the outside of the first side wall, and the plurality of battery cell modules are disposed close to the second side wall.

[0015] The second aspect of this utility model provides an energy storage device, including a heat exchange system and a plurality of submersible battery packs as provided in the first aspect of this utility model, wherein the first quick-connect connector and the second quick-connect connector are respectively connected to the heat exchange system, and the heat exchange system is used to drive the coolant in the inner cavity of the housing to circulate and exchange heat with the coolant.

[0016] These features and advantages of this utility model will be disclosed in detail in the following specific embodiments and accompanying drawings. The preferred embodiments or means of this utility model will be shown in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but are not intended to limit the technical solutions of this utility model. In addition, each of these features, elements and components appearing in the following text and drawings is multiple and is labeled with different symbols or numbers for convenience, but all represent parts with the same or similar structure or function. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of this utility model from one angle.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of this utility model from another angle (with one side wall of the box removed).

[0020] Figure 3 This is a side view of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the present invention.

[0022] Among them, 10 is the housing; 11 is the shell; 12 is the cover; 20 is the cell module; 30 is the information acquisition component; 31 is the battery information acquisition module; 311 is the sealed adapter plug; 312 is the compartment cover; 32 is the level gauge; 41 is the return box; 411 is the filter screen; 42 is the first quick-connect connector; 43 is the second quick-connect connector; 50 is the bracket; 60 is the manual maintenance switch; and 70 is the explosion-proof valve. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described are intended to explain this utility model and should not be construed as limiting it.

[0024] The terms "an embodiment," "example," or "trademark" used in this specification refer to a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment itself that may be included in at least one embodiment disclosed in this patent. The phrase "in an embodiment" appearing in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

[0025] In related technologies, cold plate cooling relies on bottom contact heat conduction. Due to the limited contact thermal resistance between the cell and the cold plate and the length of the heat dissipation path, a temperature gradient of more than 5°C is easily formed inside the battery pack, affecting lifespan and performance. Traditional cold plate cooling solutions require repeated trade-offs among multiple objective parameters (cold plate weight, cooling energy consumption, cost, etc.), which can easily lead to thermal expansion deformation causing contact failure or sealing leakage risks.

[0026] In view of this, an embodiment of the present invention provides an immersion battery pack, including a housing 10 and multiple sets of battery cell modules 20. The inner cavity of the housing 10 is filled with coolant, and the multiple sets of battery cell modules 20 are immersed in the coolant. It also includes a coolant circulation assembly 40. The inner cavity of the housing 10 is divided into a first region and a second region. The multiple sets of battery cell modules 20 are disposed in the first region, and the coolant circulation assembly is disposed in the second region.

[0027] The coolant circulation assembly 40 includes a return tank 41, a first quick-connect connector 42, and a second quick-connect connector 43. The return tank 41 is disposed on the inner wall of the housing 10 in the second region, and the first quick-connect connector 42 and the second quick-connect connector 43 are both disposed on the outer wall of the housing 10 in the second region. The first quick-connect connector 42 communicates with the return tank 41, and the second quick-connect connector 43 communicates with the interior of the housing 10. The coolant enters the inner cavity of the housing 10 through the second quick-connect connector 43, passes through the return tank 41, and is discharged through the first quick-connect connector 42.

[0028] In some embodiments, the housing 10 has a first end and a second end disposed opposite to each other. A support 50 is disposed at the bottom of the inner cavity of the housing 10, and the support 50 is disposed near the second end of the housing 10. The space above the support 50 forms a first region, and the space between the support 50 and the first end of the housing 10 forms a second region. Multiple battery cell modules 20 are disposed on the support 50, and a return box 41 is disposed on the inner wall of the second end of the housing 10, with the top surface of the return box 41 higher than the top surface of the battery cell modules 20. The support 50 includes a plurality of support legs and a support frame on the top of the support legs. A second quick-connect connector 43 is connected to a liquid outlet pipe at one end of the inner cavity of the housing 10, and the liquid outlet pipe leads the coolant to the bottom of the inner cavity.

[0029] In some embodiments, a filter screen plate is also included. The reflux box 41 forms a cavity with an opening inside, and the opening is located at the top of the reflux box 41. The filter screen plate 411 covers the opening of the reflux box 41. The coolant inside the box 10 enters the cavity through the filter screen plate 411 and is discharged through the first quick connector 42.

[0030] This submersible battery pack employs a single-phase liquid-cooled thermal convection circulation mechanism. Coolant is injected through the second quick-connect connector (i.e., the inlet) to a set height (in this embodiment, the set height is 5mm above the opening at the top of the return tank) to ensure the cell modules are completely submerged. Heat generated during cell module operation is conducted directly to the coolant. The heated liquid expands due to thermal expansion, reducing its density and creating buoyancy, resulting in upward thermal convection. Driven by buoyancy, the high-temperature liquid accumulates on the surface and, after passing through the return tank, is stably discharged to the external heat exchange system via the first quick-connect connector. Simultaneously, the second quick-connect connector connects to an outlet pipe at one end of the inner cavity, guiding the coolant to the bottom of the inner cavity. The low-temperature coolant at the bottom of the inner cavity continuously replenishes the coolant, forming a pump-free, natural circulation heat dissipation path. This achieves efficient heat removal while maintaining a uniform temperature field inside the battery pack (temperature difference not exceeding 2°C).

[0031] In some embodiments, an information acquisition component 30 is also included, which is disposed on the wall of the housing 10 in the second region. The information acquisition component 30 includes a level gauge 32 and a battery information acquisition module 31. The information acquisition component is used to acquire the voltage and temperature of the battery cell module 20, as well as the liquid level information of the coolant inside the housing 10.

[0032] In some embodiments, the battery information acquisition module 31 includes a housing and a circuit board. A mounting port for installing the housing is provided on the wall of the housing 10. The housing is sealed to the mounting port, forming a closed space within the housing to accommodate the circuit board. The circuit board is disposed within the closed space and located on the side closest to the cell module 20. This invention does not involve improvements to the control method; the battery information acquisition module 31 can use a BMU (Battery Management Unit) well-known to those skilled in the art. The BMU is responsible for collecting and processing battery status data to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the battery.

[0033] In some embodiments, the compartment body has an opening and a cover 312. The opening is located on the side of the compartment body facing outwards from the housing 10, and the cover 312 is sealed to the opening. A sealed adapter plug 311 is provided on the cover 312. The sealed adapter plug 311 has a first connector for connecting a circuit board and a second connector for connecting to an external battery management module. The external battery management module uses a BMS (Battery Management System) to monitor and manage the battery status, prevent overcharging and over-discharging, extend battery life, and ensure the safe and reliable operation of the battery system.

[0034] In some embodiments, the system further includes a manual service switch 60 and multiple explosion-proof valves 70. The manual service switch 60 is disposed on the outer wall of the enclosure 10 in the second area, and the multiple explosion-proof valves 70 are disposed on the top of the enclosure 10. The manual service switch 60 can be a Manual Service Disconnect (MSD) well known to those skilled in the art. The MSD is used to disconnect the power battery from the external high-voltage circuit, making power battery maintenance more convenient. The explosion-proof valves 70 can prevent the battery pack from exploding or rupturing due to excessive internal pressure, ensuring personnel safety.

[0035] In some embodiments, the box body 10 includes a box shell 11 and a box cover 12, the box cover 12 being sealed to the box shell 11 and together forming the inner cavity of the box body 10.

[0036] In some embodiments, the cover 12 is a flat plate structure, and the shell 11 includes a bottom plate and four side walls arranged around the bottom plate. The bottom plate, the four side walls and the cover 12 together form the shell 11. The four side walls include a first side wall and a second side wall arranged opposite each other along the length direction of the bottom plate, and a third side wall and a fourth side wall arranged opposite each other along the width direction of the bottom plate. The coolant circulation assembly 40 is arranged on the outside of the first side wall, and a plurality of battery cell modules 20 are arranged close to the second side wall.

[0037] The second aspect of this utility model provides an energy storage device, including a heat exchange system and a plurality of immersion battery packs as provided in the first aspect of this utility model. A first quick-connect connector 42 and a second quick-connect connector 43 are respectively connected to the heat exchange system. The heat exchange system is used to drive the coolant circulation in the inner cavity of the housing 10 and to exchange heat with the coolant.

[0038] This invention eliminates local hot spots on the surface of the battery cell module through a fully enclosed immersion coolant design, improving the uniformity of the internal temperature distribution of the battery pack to within 1-2℃. At the same time, by utilizing the return tank and the self-circulation characteristics of the coolant (cold flow at the bottom and hot flow at the top), it ensures that the heat flow can always flow out quickly.

[0039] The above are merely specific embodiments of this utility model, but the scope of protection of this utility model is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art should understand that this utility model includes, but is not limited to, the contents described in the accompanying drawings and the specific embodiments above. Any modifications that do not depart from the functional and structural principles of this utility model will be included within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A submersible battery pack, comprising a housing (10) and multiple sets of battery cell modules (20), wherein the inner cavity of the housing (10) is filled with coolant, and the multiple sets of battery cell modules (20) are immersed in the coolant; characterized in that, It also includes a coolant circulation assembly (40); the inner cavity of the housing (10) is divided into a first region and a second region, with multiple sets of the battery cell modules (20) disposed in the first region and the coolant circulation assembly disposed in the second region; The coolant circulation assembly (40) includes a return box (41), a first quick connector (42), and a second quick connector (43). The return box (41) is disposed on the inner wall of the housing (10) in the second region. The first quick connector (42) and the second quick connector (43) are both disposed on the outer wall of the housing (10) in the second region. The first quick connector (42) communicates with the return box (41), and the second quick connector (43) communicates with the interior of the housing (10). The coolant enters the inner cavity of the housing (10) through the second quick connector (43), and after passing through the return box (41), it is discharged through the first quick connector (42).

2. The immersion battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing (10) has a first end and a second end that are arranged opposite to each other. A bracket (50) is provided at the bottom of the inner cavity of the housing (10). The bracket (50) is arranged near the second end of the housing (10). The space above the bracket (50) forms the first region, and the space between the bracket (50) and the first end of the housing (10) forms the second region. A plurality of battery cell modules (20) are arranged on the bracket (50). The return box (41) is arranged on the inner wall of the second end of the housing (10), and the top surface of the return box (41) is higher than the top surface of the battery cell module (20).

3. The immersion battery pack according to claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a filter screen plate. The reflux box (41) has an opening inside, and the opening is located on the top of the reflux box (41). The filter screen plate (411) is placed over the opening of the reflux box (41). The coolant inside the box (10) enters the cavity through the filter screen plate battery information acquisition module and is discharged through the first quick connector (42).

4. The immersion battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes an information acquisition component (30), which is disposed on the wall of the housing (10) in the second region; the information acquisition component (30) includes a level gauge (32) and a battery information acquisition module (31), which is used to acquire the voltage and temperature of the battery cell module (20) and the liquid level of the coolant inside the housing (10).

5. The immersion battery pack according to claim 4, characterized in that, The battery information acquisition module (31) includes a housing and a circuit board. The housing (10) has an installation port for installing the housing. The housing is sealed to the installation port. A closed space is formed inside the housing to accommodate the circuit board. The circuit board is located in the closed space and is located on the side close to the cell module (20).

6. The immersion battery pack according to claim 5, characterized in that, The compartment body is provided with an opening and a compartment cover (312). The opening is located on the side of the compartment body facing the outside of the box (10). The compartment cover (312) is sealed to the opening. The compartment cover (312) is provided with a sealed adapter plug (311). The sealed adapter plug (311) has a first connector for connecting the circuit board and a second connector for connecting to an external battery management module.

7. The immersion battery pack according to claim 4, characterized in that, It also includes a manual maintenance switch (60) and multiple explosion-proof valves (70), the manual maintenance switch (60) being disposed on the outer wall of the enclosure (10) in the second region, and the multiple explosion-proof valves (70) being disposed on the top of the enclosure (10).

8. The submersible battery pack according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The box body (10) includes a box shell (11) and a box cover (12), the box cover (12) being sealed to the box shell (11) and together forming the inner cavity of the box body (10).

9. The immersion battery pack according to claim 8, characterized in that, The cover (12) is a flat plate structure. The shell (11) includes a bottom plate and four side walls surrounding the bottom plate. The bottom plate, the four side walls and the cover (12) together form the shell (11). The four side walls include a first side wall and a second side wall that are arranged opposite each other along the length direction of the bottom plate, and a third side wall and a fourth side wall that are arranged opposite each other along the width direction of the bottom plate. The coolant circulation assembly (40) is arranged on the outside of the first side wall, and a plurality of battery cell modules (20) are arranged close to the second side wall.

10. An energy storage device, characterized in that, Includes a heat exchange system and multiple immersion battery packs as described in any one of claims 1-9, wherein the first quick-connect connector (42) and the second quick-connect connector (43) are respectively connected to the heat exchange system, which is used to drive the coolant circulation in the inner cavity of the housing (10) and to exchange heat with the coolant.

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