Cooling structure of liquid-cooled energy storage device

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of cooling structure of liquid-cooled energy storage device, belong to battery pack energy storage device cooling technology, including the battery pack and cooling pipeline of stacked arrangement, liquid cooling plate is equipped between the battery pack, the cooling channel of evenly distributed is equipped in the liquid cooling plate, several protrusions are equipped in the cooling channel, the cooling pipeline one end connects liquid cooling unit, another end communicates the cooling channel of the liquid cooling plate. In the scheme, liquid cooling unit can play the circulation effect to cooling liquid in pipeline, cooling liquid is transported to the liquid cooling plate between battery pack by cooling pipeline, cooling liquid carries away the heat generated by battery pack in liquid cooling plate, avoid battery pack overheating. Among them, the protrusion structure is arranged inside the cooling channel in liquid cooling plate, can improve the turbulent flow effect of cooling liquid in cooling channel, enhance fluid disturbance, to improve heat exchange efficiency, so that heat dissipation effect is greatly improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a cooling structure, and more specifically, to a cooling structure for a liquid-cooled energy storage device. Background Technology

[0002] Commercial and industrial energy storage systems are increasingly adopting liquid-cooled battery pack technology. Compared to air cooling, liquid cooling offers significantly higher heat dissipation efficiency and temperature control accuracy. Liquid's thermal conductivity is 25 times that of air, and its heat-carrying capacity is 3000 times that of the same volume of air. Therefore, it can more efficiently remove heat from the battery, ensuring uniform cell temperature and reducing battery degradation at high temperatures through precise temperature control. For high energy density and integration requirements, liquid cooling is suitable for compact deployments and better suited to the heat dissipation requirements of high-energy-density, large-capacity cells. However, the liquid-cooled structure design of liquid-cooled energy storage devices cannot improve cooling efficiency, resulting in wasted cooling resources.

[0003] For example, Chinese Patent Publication No. CN222190886U, published on December 17, 2024, discloses a utility model entitled "Liquid-Cooled Energy Storage Device." This application discloses a cooling structure for a liquid-cooled energy storage device, including multiple battery packs and a cluster-level liquid supply pipe extending along the height of the housing. The multiple battery packs are located inside the housing and stacked along the height of the housing. The cluster-level liquid supply pipe has multiple supply branches spaced apart along the height direction. Each supply branch connects the cluster-level liquid supply pipe to the liquid inlet of the liquid-cooled plate of one of the battery packs. The liquid inlet of the liquid-cooled plate is located higher than the connection point between the supply branch and the cluster-level liquid supply pipe. This solution facilitates the complete drainage of coolant from the liquid-cooled plate in the battery pack, improving the liquid exchange ratio of the liquid-cooled energy storage device. However, this solution has low heat exchange efficiency of the coolant in the liquid-cooled plate, resulting in poor cooling performance. Utility Model Content

[0004] This invention overcomes the problems of poor cooling effect and low cooling efficiency of existing liquid-cooled energy storage devices, and provides a cooling structure for liquid-cooled energy storage devices. This solution can improve the heat exchange effect of the coolant in the liquid cooling plate and ensure the working performance of the liquid-cooled energy storage device.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model adopts the following technical solution: a cooling structure for a liquid-cooled energy storage device, including stacked battery packs and cooling pipes, with a liquid-cooled plate between the battery packs. The liquid-cooled plate has uniformly distributed cooling channels, and each cooling channel has several protrusions. One end of the cooling pipe is connected to a liquid-cooling unit, and the other end is connected to the cooling channels of the liquid-cooled plate. In this solution, the liquid-cooling unit circulates the coolant in the pipes, delivering the coolant through the cooling pipes to the liquid-cooled plate between the battery packs. The coolant in the liquid-cooled plate carries away the heat generated by the battery packs, preventing overheating. The protruding structures inside the cooling channels of the liquid-cooled plate improve the turbulence of the coolant within the channels, enhancing fluid disturbance and thus improving heat exchange efficiency, resulting in a significant improvement in heat dissipation.

[0006] Preferably, the cooling pipe includes an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe. Several inlet branch pipes are connected in parallel to the inlet pipe, and these branch pipes are connected to the input end of the cooling channel. Similarly, several outlet branch pipes are connected in parallel to the outlet pipe, and these branch pipes are connected to the output end of the cooling channel. The cooling pipe forms a cooling circuit between the liquid-cooled unit and the battery pack through the inlet and outlet pipes. Multiple sets of parallel branch pipes can provide cooling for multiple battery packs.

[0007] Preferably, valves are installed on the inlet and outlet pipes. The valves can control the flow rate of the inlet and outlet pipes, thereby providing timely cooling for local hot spots in the energy storage device.

[0008] Preferably, the top of the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are equipped with vent valves. The vent valves can further remove air bubbles in the pipes in the circulation path, reduce the amount of air bubbles, prevent air resistance from causing insufficient flow or local overheating, ensure that the coolant fills the pipes, improve heat exchange efficiency, and reduce oxidation corrosion and noise in the system.

[0009] Preferably, the cooling pipeline includes several connecting pipes, adjacent connecting pipes are connected by a three-way valve, and also connected to the inlet pipe or the outlet pipe. The cooling pipeline adopts a modular splicing design, which is beneficial for assembling different pipelines according to different numbers of battery packs, and also facilitates later maintenance.

[0010] Preferably, the inlet pipe has a notch near the input end, with the notch facing upwards. The notch at the inlet pipe can initially eliminate air bubbles in the coolant in the input pipe, reducing the amount of air bubbles entering the cooling cycle.

[0011] Preferably, the cooling pipe is a transparent or semi-transparent pipe. Using a semi-transparent or transparent material to make the cooling pipe allows for observation of the coolant inside the pipe, including changes in air bubbles and liquid level, thus preventing problems such as localized overheating.

[0012] Preferably, the height of the protrusion is 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm, and the interval between the protrusions is 0.5 mm to 1 mm.

[0013] Preferably, the inner wall of the cooling pipe is also provided with an anti-fouling coating. The anti-fouling coating can reduce visual interference caused by coolant adhesion.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are: (1) This solution can greatly improve the heat dissipation effect of the cooling pipe system on the battery pack and improve the heat exchange efficiency of the coolant on the battery pack; (2) It can effectively reduce the phenomenon of local overheating and avoid overcooling loss; (3) By adopting a visual pipe, the dynamics of the coolant inside the pipe can be observed in real time, and corresponding measures can be taken in time to avoid problems such as local overheating; (4) It can reduce air bubbles in the pipe, prevent air resistance from causing insufficient flow or local overheating, ensure that the coolant fills the pipe, improve heat exchange efficiency, reduce oxidation corrosion in the system, and reduce noise. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is the front view of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the cooling pipe structure of this utility model.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the cooling pipe structure from another perspective.

[0019] In the diagram: 1. Battery pack, 2. Cooling pipe, 2.1. Liquid inlet pipe, 2.11. Liquid inlet branch pipe, 2.2. Liquid outlet pipe, 2.21. Liquid outlet branch pipe, 3. Liquid cooling plate, 4. Liquid cooling unit, 5. Exhaust valve, 6. T-connector pipe, 7. Notch. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solution of this utility model will be further described in detail below through specific embodiments and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0021] Example 1: As Figures 1 to 4The cooling structure of a liquid-cooled energy storage device shown includes multiple battery packs 1, cooling pipes 2, and a liquid cooling unit 4. The battery packs 1 are stacked vertically, and a liquid cooling plate 3 is arranged between two adjacent battery packs 1. The liquid cooling plate 3 has a cooling channel inside. The cooling pipes 2 connect the cooling channel inside the liquid cooling plate 3 to the liquid cooling unit 4. The liquid cooling unit 4 passes the coolant into the cooling pipes 2 and then into the liquid cooling plate 3 between the battery packs 1, which removes the heat generated by the battery packs 1 during operation, prevents the energy storage device from overheating, and ensures stable operation of the system.

[0022] Specifically, cooling pipe 2 includes an inlet pipe 2.1 and an outlet pipe 2.2. The liquid cooling unit 4 is equipped with a coolant outlet and an inlet. The coolant outlet of the liquid cooling unit 4 is connected to the inlet pipe 2.1, and the coolant inlet of the liquid cooling unit 4 is connected to the outlet pipe 2.2. Similarly, the liquid cooling plate 3 is also equipped with a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet. The coolant inlet of the liquid cooling plate 3 is connected to the inlet pipe 2.1, and the coolant outlet of the liquid cooling plate 3 is connected to the outlet pipe 2.2. When the liquid cooling unit 4 is working, the coolant is output from the output port of the liquid cooling unit 4 into the inlet pipe 2.1, and then output through the inlet pipe 2.1 to the coolant inlet in the liquid cooling plate 3. The coolant enters the cooling channel in the liquid cooling plate 3 to carry away the heat generated by the battery pack. Then the coolant is discharged from the coolant outlet of the liquid cooling plate 3 into the outlet pipe 2.2, and finally flows back to the liquid cooling unit 4 through the outlet pipe 2.2 to complete the cycle.

[0023] Furthermore, inlet branch pipe 2.11 and outlet branch pipe 2.21 are respectively provided on inlet pipe 2.1 and outlet pipe 2.2, such as... Figure 1 or Figure 2 As shown, battery pack 1 has five sets of inlet manifolds 2.11 and 2.21, and also five sets of outlet manifolds 2.21. Liquid cooling plates 3 are arranged between adjacent battery packs, and a set of liquid cooling plates 3 is also arranged at the bottom of the lowest battery pack 1. The five sets of inlet manifolds 2.11 are arranged in parallel on inlet pipe 2.1, and the five sets of outlet manifolds 2.21 are arranged in parallel on outlet pipe 2.2. The inlet of the inlet manifold 2.11 and the cooling channel in the liquid cooling plate 3 are connected by quick-release connectors, and the outlet of the outlet manifold 2.21 and the cooling channel in the liquid cooling plate 3 are connected by quick-release connectors. There is a sealing structure between the quick-release connector and the liquid cooling channel to prevent coolant from flowing out.

[0024] Furthermore, the cooling channels inside the liquid-cooled plate 3 are evenly distributed. Specifically, the cooling channels are arranged in an S-shape inside the liquid-cooled plate 3, ensuring that the entire liquid-cooled plate 3 is covered by cooling channels, resulting in a larger flow area for the coolant and improved heat dissipation. Raised structures are also provided inside the cooling channels, evenly distributed on the inner wall of the channels, creating an uneven internal structure. When the coolant flows inside the cooling channels, the raised structures disrupt the boundary layer of the coolant, causing turbulence and creating a vortex effect, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the coolant and enhancing the heat dissipation of the battery pack 1. Furthermore, the raised structures are circular, with a height (thickness) of 0.2 mm and a spacing of 0.5 mm between them. The cooling channels can be formed by assembling the upper and lower surfaces of the liquid-cooled plate 3. The raised structures and the surface of the liquid-cooled plate 3 are integrally molded, allowing for one-time production using a mold, reducing manufacturing difficulty.

[0025] Furthermore, valve structures are installed on the inlet manifold 2.11 and outlet manifold 2.21. These valve structures control the flow rate of the inlet and outlet manifolds. Specifically, the valves can be shape memory alloy temperature control valves, embedded inside the inlet and outlet manifolds 2.11 and 2.21. When the temperature of a corresponding battery pack 1 is detected to be too high in a localized area, the corresponding valve automatically expands its cross-sectional area, thereby increasing the flow rate of the coolant and improving the heat dissipation of the coolant to the battery pack 1. This can specifically address the battery "hot spot" problem and avoid the overcooling losses caused by traditional uniform cooling.

[0026] Furthermore, the liquid cooling unit 4 is arranged below the stacked battery pack 1. The cooling pipe 2 extends vertically from the liquid cooling unit 4. Specifically, both the inlet pipe 2.1 and the outlet pipe 2.2 are arranged vertically. The inlet end of the inlet pipe 2.1 is arranged horizontally, and a notch 7 is provided on the inlet end side of the inlet pipe 2.1. The notch 7 bends downward so that it faces upward. The notch 7 can intercept air bubbles in the circulating coolant to a certain extent, reducing the amount of air bubbles entering the circulation system. Furthermore, an exhaust valve (not shown in the figure) can be provided on the side of the notch 7 near the inlet end to manually discharge accumulated air bubbles. Furthermore, both the inlet manifold 2.11 and the outlet manifold 2.21 are arranged horizontally. An vent valve 5 is installed at the top of both the inlet manifold 2.1 and the outlet manifold 2.2. The vent valve 5 is located at the highest point of the inlet manifold 2.1 and the outlet manifold 2.2, automatically venting air from the coolant to prevent air resistance from causing insufficient flow or localized overheating. This ensures the coolant fills the pipes, improves heat exchange efficiency, reduces oxidation and corrosion within the system, and lowers noise. The vent valve 5 at the top of the inlet manifold 2.1 is a manual backup valve, allowing for manual intervention.

[0027] Example 2: Figures 1 to 4 The cooling structure of a liquid-cooled energy storage device shown includes multiple battery packs 1, cooling pipes 2, and a liquid cooling unit 4. The battery packs 1 are stacked vertically, and a liquid cooling plate 3 is arranged between two adjacent battery packs 1. The liquid cooling plate 3 has a cooling channel inside. The cooling pipes 2 connect the cooling channel inside the liquid cooling plate 3 to the liquid cooling unit 4. The liquid cooling unit 4 passes the coolant into the cooling pipes 2 and then into the liquid cooling plate 3 between the battery packs 1, which removes the heat generated by the battery packs 1 during operation, prevents the energy storage device from overheating, and ensures stable operation of the system.

[0028] Specifically, cooling pipe 2 includes an inlet pipe 2.1 and an outlet pipe 2.2. The liquid cooling unit 4 is equipped with a coolant outlet and an inlet. The coolant outlet of the liquid cooling unit 4 is connected to the inlet pipe 2.1, and the coolant inlet of the liquid cooling unit 4 is connected to the outlet pipe 2.2. Similarly, the liquid cooling plate 3 is also equipped with a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet. The coolant inlet of the liquid cooling plate 3 is connected to the inlet pipe 2.1, and the coolant outlet of the liquid cooling plate 3 is connected to the outlet pipe 2.2. When the liquid cooling unit 4 is working, the coolant is output from the output port of the liquid cooling unit 4 into the inlet pipe 2.1, and then output through the inlet pipe 2.1 to the coolant inlet in the liquid cooling plate 3. The coolant enters the cooling channel in the liquid cooling plate 3 to carry away the heat generated by the battery pack. Then the coolant is discharged from the coolant outlet of the liquid cooling plate 3 into the outlet pipe 2.2, and finally flows back to the liquid cooling unit 4 through the outlet pipe 2.2 to complete the cycle.

[0029] Furthermore, inlet branch pipe 2.11 and outlet branch pipe 2.21 are respectively provided on inlet pipe 2.1 and outlet pipe 2.2, such as... Figure 1 or Figure 2 As shown, battery pack 1 has five sets of inlet manifolds 2.11 and 2.21, and also five sets of outlet manifolds 2.21. Liquid cooling plates 3 are arranged between adjacent battery packs, and a set of liquid cooling plates 3 is also arranged at the bottom of the lowest battery pack 1. The five sets of inlet manifolds 2.11 are arranged in parallel on inlet pipe 2.1, and the five sets of outlet manifolds 2.21 are arranged in parallel on outlet pipe 2.2. The inlet of the inlet manifold 2.11 and the cooling channel in the liquid cooling plate 3 are connected by quick-release connectors, and the outlet of the outlet manifold 2.21 and the cooling channel in the liquid cooling plate 3 are connected by quick-release connectors. There is a sealing structure between the quick-release connector and the liquid cooling channel to prevent coolant from flowing out.

[0030] Furthermore, the cooling channels inside the liquid-cooled plate 3 are evenly distributed. Specifically, the cooling channels are arranged in an S-shape inside the liquid-cooled plate 3, ensuring that the entire liquid-cooled plate 3 is covered by cooling channels, resulting in a larger flow area for the coolant and improved heat dissipation. Raised structures are also provided inside the cooling channels, evenly distributed on the inner wall of the channels, creating an uneven internal structure. When the coolant flows inside the cooling channels, the raised structures disrupt the boundary layer of the coolant, causing turbulence and creating a vortex effect, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the coolant and enhancing the heat dissipation of the battery pack 1. Furthermore, the raised structures are circular, with a height (thickness) of 0.2 mm and a spacing of 0.5 mm between them. The cooling channels can be formed by assembling the upper and lower surfaces of the liquid-cooled plate 3. The raised structures and the surface of the liquid-cooled plate 3 are integrally molded, allowing for one-time production using a mold, reducing manufacturing difficulty.

[0031] Furthermore, valve structures are installed on the inlet manifold 2.11 and outlet manifold 2.21. These valve structures control the flow rate of the inlet and outlet manifolds. Specifically, the valves can be shape memory alloy temperature control valves, embedded inside the inlet and outlet manifolds 2.11 and 2.21. When the temperature of a corresponding battery pack 1 is detected to be too high in a localized area, the corresponding valve automatically expands its cross-sectional area, thereby increasing the flow rate of the coolant and improving the heat dissipation of the coolant to the battery pack 1. This can specifically address the battery "hot spot" problem and avoid the overcooling losses caused by traditional uniform cooling.

[0032] Furthermore, the liquid cooling unit 4 is arranged below the stacked battery pack 1. The cooling pipe 2 extends vertically from the liquid cooling unit 4. Specifically, both the inlet pipe 2.1 and the outlet pipe 2.2 are arranged vertically. The inlet end of the inlet pipe 2.1 is arranged horizontally, and a notch 7 is provided on the inlet end side of the inlet pipe 2.1. The notch 7 bends downward so that it faces upward. The notch 7 can intercept air bubbles in the circulating coolant to a certain extent, reducing the amount of air bubbles entering the circulation system. Furthermore, an exhaust valve (not shown in the figure) can be provided on the side of the notch 7 near the inlet end to manually discharge accumulated air bubbles. Furthermore, both the inlet manifold 2.11 and the outlet manifold 2.21 are arranged horizontally. An vent valve 5 is installed at the top of both the inlet manifold 2.1 and the outlet manifold 2.2. The vent valve 5 is located at the highest point of the inlet manifold 2.1 and the outlet manifold 2.2, automatically venting air from the coolant to prevent air resistance from causing insufficient flow or localized overheating. This ensures the coolant fills the pipes, improves heat exchange efficiency, reduces oxidation and corrosion within the system, and lowers noise. The vent valve 5 at the top of the inlet manifold 2.1 is a manual backup valve, allowing for manual intervention.

[0033] Furthermore, the inlet pipe 2.1 and outlet pipe 2.2 are composed of multiple connecting pipe sections, employing a modular design. When the number of battery packs 1 varies, a corresponding number of connecting pipes can be used to form the cooling pipe 2. A tee connector 6 is used at the junction of the two connecting pipes, with its three ports connecting to the two adjacent connecting pipes and the inlet branch pipe 2.11 (or the outlet branch pipe 2.21), respectively. This modular design facilitates pipe replacement and future maintenance.

[0034] Furthermore, the cooling pipe 2 adopts a transparent or semi-transparent pipe structure. Traditional liquid cooling systems use black pipes to avoid light and prevent aging, but this sacrifices visibility. Internal bubbles, impurities, or the flow state of the coolant are not visible, leading to the accumulation of tiny bubbles that cannot be detected in time, potentially causing localized overheating. Also, in the event of a malfunctioning vent valve, relying solely on pressure data collected by the liquid cooling unit cannot accurately determine a drop in coolant level (pressure changes are delayed). In this embodiment, the cooling pipe 2 is made of a transparent polymer (polycarbonate PC or modified PMMA) with high light transmittance and UV aging resistance, facilitating observation of the coolant state inside the cooling pipe 2. Furthermore, an anti-fouling coating is added to the inner wall of the cooling pipe 2 to reduce visual interference caused by coolant adhesion.

Claims

1. A cooling structure for a liquid-cooled energy storage device, characterized in that, It includes stacked battery packs and cooling pipes, with a liquid cooling plate between the battery packs. The liquid cooling plate has uniformly distributed cooling channels, and the cooling channels have several protrusions. One end of the cooling pipe is connected to a liquid cooling unit, and the other end is connected to the cooling channel of the liquid cooling plate.

2. The cooling structure of a liquid-cooled energy storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cooling pipe includes an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe. Several inlet branch pipes are connected in parallel to the inlet pipe. The inlet branch pipes are connected to the input end of the cooling channel. Several outlet branch pipes are connected in parallel to the outlet pipe. The outlet branch pipes are connected to the output end of the cooling channel.

3. The cooling structure of a liquid-cooled energy storage device according to claim 2, characterized in that, Valves are installed on the inlet and outlet pipes.

4. The cooling structure of a liquid-cooled energy storage device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The top of the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are equipped with vent valves.

5. The cooling structure of a liquid-cooled energy storage device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cooling pipe includes several splicing pipes, and adjacent splicing pipes are connected by a tee connector and are also connected to the liquid inlet branch pipe or the liquid outlet branch pipe.

6. The cooling structure of a liquid-cooled energy storage device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The inlet pipe has a notch near the input end, and the notch is arranged facing upwards.

7. The cooling structure of a liquid-cooled energy storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The cooling pipe is a transparent or semi-transparent pipe.

8. The cooling structure of a liquid-cooled energy storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The height of the protrusion is 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm, and the interval between the protrusions is 0.5 mm to 1 mm.

9. The cooling structure of a liquid-cooled energy storage device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The inner wall of the cooling pipe is also provided with an anti-fouling coating.

Images