Cleaning system for cleaning an electrical energy storage device, cleaning system arrangement and method for operating a cleaning system

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning system (2) for cleaning an electrical energy storage device (3), comprising a cleaning chamber (4) for receiving the energy storage device (3) to be cleaned, a cleaning nozzle (6), a jet cleaning device (5) for applying an abrasive to the energy storage device (3), and a displacement device (7) for displacing the cleaning nozzle (6) and the energy storage device (3) relative to each other. The cleaning system (2) is provided to have an electrical connection (11) for electrically connecting the energy storage device (3) to the cleaning system (2). The invention further relates to a cleaning system arrangement (1) and a method for operating a cleaning system (2).

Description

The invention relates to a cleaning system for cleaning an electrical energy store, having a cleaning booth for receiving the energy store to be cleaned, a cleaning nozzle of a jet cleaning device for applying a jet agent to the energy store, and a displacement device for displacing the cleaning nozzle and the energy store relative to one another. The invention further relates to a cleaning system arrangement and a method for operating a cleaning system.The prior art discloses, for example, the publication CN 218079426 U. This describes a battery cleaning apparatus comprising, for cleaning a surface of the battery: a rotating mechanism that clamps, places, and drives to rotate the battery to be cleaned; a dry ice cleaning mechanism comprising a dry ice cleaner and a dry ice nozzle assembly, wherein dry ice generated by the dry ice cleaner is sprayed onto the surface of the battery via the dry ice nozzle assembly to clean the battery. The rotating mechanism causes the dry ice nozzle assembly to clean the battery in all directions to reach all areas of the battery.Furthermore, the publication DE 10 2007 003 981 A1 discloses a cleaning system for welding device parts, which comprises a holder accommodated in a closed cleaning booth for the welding device part previously disassembled from the associated welding device unit and a multiaxial robot, also enclosed in the cleaning booth, including at least one dry ice cold jet nozzle guided in a robot-controlled manner along defined movement paths relative to the holder, so as to significantly reduce the risk potential caused by the dry ice cleaning without impairing the cleaning effect.It is the object of the invention to propose a cleaning system for cleaning an electrical energy store, which has advantages over known cleaning systems, in particular can be operated flexibly and independently of connection options present on site.This is achieved according to the invention with a cleaning system for cleaning an electrical energy store having the features of claim 1. It is provided here that the cleaning system has an electrical connection for electrically connecting the energy store to the cleaning system.Advantageous embodiments with expedient developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. It is pointed out that the exemplary embodiments explained in the description are not restrictive; rather, any variations of the features disclosed in the description, the claims and the figures can be realized.The cleaning system serves for cleaning the electrical energy store and is designed accordingly. The energy store has one or more battery cells, which are preferably arranged in a battery housing. The energy store is, for example, a traction battery of a vehicle. A floor conveyor device or floor conveyor vehicle is also preferably considered as a vehicle here, in particular a trackless, track-bound or track-guided floor conveyor device. The industrial truck is, for example, a forklift truck. The traction battery must be cleaned periodically, since a dust mixture deposits on it over time, as a result of which leakage currents can occur, so that a self-discharge of the traction battery occurs. The dust mixture is in particular an acid-dust mixture of dust present in an environment of the traction battery and the acid used in the traction battery.In part, the cleaning of the traction battery is effected by steam jets. In this process, the wearing of protective clothing is absolutely necessary and the waste water produced must be treated and / or disposed of in a complicated and cost-intensive manner. Since the cleaning includes, among other things, washing and suctioning of the traction battery, the time required until the traction battery is available for renewed use is also high. To collect the waste water produced during the cleaning, the cleaning is carried out in a separate space. In this, connections for operating the cleaning system are also to be provided. The cleaning of the energy store leads to a high logistic outlay in this respect and cannot be carried out flexibly.For this reason, the proposed cleaning system has the cleaning booth, the jet cleaning device and the displacement device. For cleaning the energy store, the latter is arranged in the cleaning cabin. With the aid of the cleaning nozzle, the blasting agent is discharged onto the energy store for cleaning the latter. In order to reach all the regions of the energy store to be cleaned with the aid of the jet cleaning device or the cleaning nozzle, the cleaning nozzle and energy store are displaced relative to one another with the aid of the displacement device, in particular while the blasting medium is discharged from the cleaning nozzle. The displacement of the cleaning nozzle and the energy storage device relative to each other can be effected by displacing the cleaning nozzle with respect to the energy storage device and / or by displacing the energy storage device with respect to the cleaning nozzle.The cleaning cabin enables portable use of the cleaning system. In particular, the cleaning installation can always be set up where the energy store is present. It is therefore not necessary to transport energy stores present in a decentralized manner to a central location for cleaning. Rather, the cleaning system can be brought to the energy stores. This allows a flexible use of the cleaning system, which is first made possible by the cleaning cabin. The cleaning cabin is designed in such a way that substances which accumulate during the cleaning cannot reach the outside environment.However, electrical energy is also necessary for operating the cleaning system, in particular for operating the jet cleaning device and / or the displacement device. This is not available everywhere to the necessary extent or a power network which would be available for supplying the cleaning system does not meet the necessary requirements, for example with regard to the network stability. If the cleaning system has a frequency converter, for example, its operation on a power grid with an FI circuit breaker is not permitted, so that complicated measures are necessary in order to reliably supply the cleaning system with power from the power grid.For this reason, according to the invention, provision is made for the cleaning installation to be supplied with electrical energy which is taken from the energy store to be cleaned. For this purpose, it has the electrical connection which is provided and configured for electrically connecting the energy store to the cleaning installation. The connection can thus be connected on the one hand to the energy store. On the other hand, it is preferably electrically connected to the displacement device and / or the jet cleaning device in order to supply one or more of the aforementioned devices with electrical energy taken from the energy store.For example, the energy store has a connecting cable with a plug. This connecting cable and the plug serve at least temporarily for electrically connecting the energy store to the vehicle. During the cleaning of the energy store with the aid of the cleaning system, on the other hand, the connecting cable and the plug are used to electrically connect the energy store to the cleaning system. For this purpose, the plug is connected to the electrical connection, which for this purpose is preferably present as a plug coupling or socket for the plug. The described embodiment of the cleaning system enables grid-independent operation, so that no requirements are placed on the available power grid. In addition, it is portable because of the cleaning cabin and can be set up at different locations for cleaning the energy stores present there.The blasting cleaning device is preferably a dry ice cleaning device in which dry ice is used as blasting medium. The blasting medium is basically discharged by means of a blowing agent through the cleaning nozzle in the direction of the energy store to be cleaned. The blowing agent used is in particular air or compressed air, which is preferably generated with the aid of a compressor of the cleaning system. The energy store is thus cleaned by means of dry ice blasting. This has the advantage that during the cleaning no or only small amounts of waste water are produced, which subsequently has to be treated or disposed of. Instead, the dry ice blasting essentially results in dust, which can easily be disposed of after cleaning. The cleaning booth is preferably designed in this respect such that the dust arising during the blasting of dry ice remains in the cleaning booth and can be easily removed or disposed of after the cleaning.A further development of the invention provides that the cleaning system is designed as a portal system. The cleaning nozzle is thus guided on a cross beam between two posts, between which the energy storage device is also arranged at least temporarily. By displacing the crossbar, in particular together with the two posts, the cleaning nozzle can be displaced relative to the energy storage device, so that at least one side of the energy storage device facing the cleaning nozzle can be completely cleaned. The configuration of the cleaning system as a portal system enables reliable cleaning of the energy store with little structural complexity.A further development of the invention provides that the cleaning system is transportable and has at least one interaction point for a transport means. The portability of the cleaning plant has already been pointed out. In order to make it particularly simple to transport the cleaning system, it has the interaction point at which the transport means acts at least temporarily during its transport. The cleaning system is in particular configured such that it can be raised solely at the at least one interaction point without the cleaning system being impaired and / or damaged. The interaction point is present, for example, as a lifting eye at which the cleaning installation can be lifted by means of a crane, in particular for loading onto the transport means. Preferably, there are a plurality of interaction points, for example at least two interaction points or at least four interaction points. In any case, reliable transport of the cleaning plant and consequently its flexible use is made possible.A further development of the invention provides that the jet cleaning device is designed as a dry ice cleaning device and has a compressed air compressor and / or a refrigerating machine, wherein the compressed air compressor and / or the refrigerating machine are electrically connected to the connection. The compressed air compressor serves for providing the propellant, i.e. the compressed air, by means of which the blasting medium is conveyed in the direction of the energy store. The dry ice is provided by means of the refrigerating machine. By using the dry ice cleaning device, an extremely thorough cleaning of the energy store is implemented.A further development of the invention provides that the cleaning system has a power supply unit which is electrically connected to the connection. The power supply unit serves for providing electrical energy for the cleaning system or for the components of the cleaning system.The power supply unit is preferably designed such that it can be connected to a conventional power grid, for example to an alternating current grid or a three-phase grid. The power supply unit is preferably provided and designed for connection to a CEE three-phase plug connector. In particular, a CEE plug is connected to the power supply unit via a connecting line.The power supply unit is electrically connected to the connection, so that it is supplied with electrical energy from the energy store. The cleaning system is preferably designed in such a way that it can be connected both to the conventional alternating current network or three-phase network and can be supplied with electrical energy by the energy store. In other words, the power supply unit is temporarily supplied with electrical energy from the alternating current power supply system or three-phase power supply system and temporarily from the energy store. This provides a particularly high flexibility of the cleaning system.A further development of the invention provides that the connection is part of a connection adapter which has a converter or a power converter. The connection adapter is electrically connected or at least connectable to the energy store via the connection on the one hand. On the other hand, it is electrically connected to the cleaning system, in particular to the displacement device and / or the jet cleaning device, preferably via the aforementioned power supply unit. The connection adapter serves to transform the direct current provided by the energy store into alternating current or three-phase current. For this purpose, it has the converter or the converter.The converter comprises a plurality of electric machines, one of which operates as a motor and the other as a generator. The motor of the forming is operated with the aid of the direct current of the energy store and drives the generator, which provides the alternating current or three-phase current for the cleaning installation. The converter fills the same function as the converter, but does not have any moving parts as it. The use of the connection adapter enables a reliable operation of the cleaning system using electrical energy drawn from the energy store.A further development of the invention provides that the connection adapter has means for connecting the energy store and means for connecting the power supply unit. It has already been pointed out above that the energy store has a plug and the power supply unit is likewise connected to a plug. The connection adapter now preferably has plug couplings for these plugs, so that the energy store can be connected to the connection adapter via the corresponding plug and the cleaning system or power supply unit is likewise connected to the connection adapter via the corresponding plug. This achieves the flexibility of the cleaning installation already mentioned.The invention further relates to a cleaning system arrangement having an electrical energy store and a cleaning system for cleaning the energy store, in particular a cleaning system according to the statements within the scope of this description, wherein the cleaning system has a cleaning booth for receiving the energy store to be cleaned, a cleaning nozzle of a jet cleaning device for applying a jet agent to the energy store and a displacement device for displacing the cleaning nozzle and the energy store relative to one another. It is provided here that the cleaning system has an electrical connection for electrically connecting the energy store to the cleaning system.The advantages of such a configuration of the cleaning system or of the cleaning system arrangement have already been pointed out. Both the cleaning system and the cleaning system arrangement can be further developed according to the explanations within the scope of this description, so that reference is made to these in this respect.The cleaning system arrangement comprises the cleaning system already described and additionally the energy store, which is arranged in the cleaning cabin of the cleaning system and is electrically connected to the cleaning system. As a result, the cleaning system is supplied with electric current from the energy store.The invention also relates to a method for operating a cleaning system for cleaning an electrical energy store, in particular a cleaning system according to the statements of this description, wherein the cleaning system has a cleaning booth for receiving the energy store to be cleaned, a cleaning nozzle of a jet cleaning device for applying a jet agent to the energy store and a displacement device for displacing the cleaning nozzle and the energy store relative to one another. It is provided here that the energy store is electrically connected to the cleaning installation via an electrical connection of the cleaning installation.Again, with regard to the advantages and possible advantageous developments, reference is made to the explanations in this description. This applies both to the cleaning plant and to the method for its operation.A further development of the invention provides that a traction battery is used as energy store, which is removed from a vehicle and arranged in the cleaning cabin. The traction battery is thus used temporarily to operate the motor vehicle. For this purpose, it is electrically connected to a drive device of the vehicle, which is supplied at least temporarily with electrical energy drawn from the traction battery for driving the vehicle. To clean the energy store, the latter is removed from the vehicle and arranged in the cleaning cabin. The cleaning system is subsequently operated for cleaning the energy store. After cleaning, the traction battery is removed from the cleaning cabin again and is preferably installed in the vehicle. The described procedure overall enables rapid and environmentally friendly cleaning of the energy store, as a result of which its service life is additionally extended.A further development of the invention provides that the energy store, after being arranged in the cleaning cabin, is electrically connected to the cleaning installation via the connection. For example, for this purpose, the connecting cable of the energy store is led out of the cleaning cabin and connected to the connection. The line is led out via an opening in the cleaning booth, which is preferably designed in such a way that it receives the line tightly therein in order to prevent substances from coming out of the cleaning booth during cleaning.The features and combinations of features described in the description, in particular the features and combinations of features described in the following description of the figures and / or shown in the figures, can be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations or alone without departing from the scope of the invention. Embodiments are therefore also to be considered as encompassed by the invention which are not explicitly shown or explained in the description and / or the figures, but which emerge from the explained embodiments or can be derived from them.The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, without any restriction of the invention being effected. The only one is shown here FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a cleaning system for cleaning an electrical energy store.FIG. 1 shows a cleaning system arrangement 1 which has a cleaning system 2 and an energy store 3. The cleaning system 2 has a cleaning cabin 4, in which the energy store 3 is arranged for cleaning. The energy store 3 is cleaned with the aid of a jet cleaning device 5, of which a cleaning nozzle 6 is shown here. The cleaning nozzle 6 is displaceable by means of a displacement device 7, at least in one direction, as indicated by the double arrow 8. Preferably, however, the cleaning nozzle 6 is displaceable in a plurality of mutually perpendicular directions with the aid of the displacement device 7.The jet cleaning device 5 is preferably designed as a dry ice cleaning device which delivers dry ice from the cleaning nozzle 6 and onto the energy store 3 using a propellant for cleaning the energy store 3. The cleaning system 2 is operated with electric current, which is provided to it via a connecting cable 9 having a plug 10 at its end. The connecting cable 9 can be connected via the plug 10, for example, to a conventional power network, in particular a three-phase power network. In order to make possible a particularly flexible use of the cleaning system 2, however, it is to be operated with electrical energy which is drawn from the energy store 3 itself. For this purpose, the cleaning system 2 has an electrical connection 11, to which it is electrically connected. For this purpose, the energy store 3 has a connecting line 12 which is provided on the end side with a plug 13. The plug 13 is electrically connected to the terminal 11.The connection 11 is part of a connection adapter 14, which has a further connection 15 in addition to the connection 11. The plug 10 is connected to the latter, so that the connection adapter 14 is electrically connected, on the one hand, to a power supply unit, not shown, of the cleaning system 2 and, on the other hand, to the energy store 3. The connection adapter 14 has a converter or a power converter which is provided and designed to convert the direct current provided by the energy store 3 into alternating current or three-phase current, with which the cleaning system 2 is operated.The described construction of the cleaning system 2 and its operation with the electrical energy drawn from the energy store 3 enable a particularly flexible and location-independent use. This makes it possible, for example, to configure the cleaning system 2 such that it can be used at different locations for cleaning energy stores 3.LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS:1 Cleaning system arrangement 2 Cleaning system 3 Energy store 4 Cleaning booth 5 Jet cleaning device 6 Cleaning nozzle 7 Displacement device 8 Double arrow 9 Connecting cable 10 Plug 11 Connection 12 Connecting line 13 Plug 14 Connection adapter 15 Connection

Claims

Cleaning system (2) for cleaning an electrical energy store (3), having a cleaning cabin (4) for receiving the energy store (3) to be cleaned, a cleaning nozzle (6) of a jet cleaning device (5) for applying a blasting medium to the energy store (3) and a displacement device (7) for displacing the cleaning nozzle (6) and the energy store (3) relative to one another, characterized in that the cleaning system (2) has an electrical connection (11) for electrically connecting the energy store (3) to the cleaning system (2).Cleaning system according to claim 1, characterised in that the cleaning system (2) is designed as a portal system.Cleaning system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the jet cleaning device (5) is designed as a dry ice cleaning device and has a compressed air compressor and / or a refrigerating machine, wherein the compressed air compressor and / or the refrigerating machine are electrically connected to the connection (11).Cleaning system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning system (2) has a power supply unit which is electrically connected to the connection (11).Cleaning system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection (11) is part of a connection adapter (14) which has a converter or a power converter.Cleaning system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection adapter (14) has means for connecting the energy store (2) and means for connecting the power supply unit.Cleaning system arrangement (1) having an electrical energy store (3) and a cleaning system (2) for cleaning the energy store (3), in particular a cleaning system (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning system (2) has a cleaning cabin (4) for receiving the energy store (3) to be cleaned, a cleaning nozzle (6) of a jet cleaning device (5) for applying a jet agent to the energy store (3) and a displacement device (7) for displacing the cleaning nozzle (6) and the energy store (3) relative to one another, characterized in that the cleaning system (2) has an electrical connection (11) for electrically connecting the energy store (3) to the cleaning system (2).Method for operating a cleaning system (2) for cleaning an electrical energy store (3), in particular a cleaning system (2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning system (2) has a cleaning booth (4) for receiving the energy store (3) to be cleaned, a cleaning nozzle (6) of a jet cleaning device (5) for applying a jet agent to the energy store (3) and a displacement device for displacing the cleaning nozzle (6) and the energy store (3) relative to one another, characterized in that the energy store (3) is electrically connected to the cleaning system via an electrical connection (11) of the cleaning system (11).Method according to Claim 8, characterized in that the energy store (3) used is a traction battery which is removed from a vehicle and is arranged in the cleaning cabin (4).Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the energy store (3), after being arranged in the cleaning cabin (4), is electrically connected to the cleaning installation (2) via the connection (11).

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