Energy storage in a built-in housing and a cooling air flow

Abstract

Energy storage device (1) comprising an arrangement of battery cells (70, 80, 90) in a built-in housing (2), wherein groups (I, II, III) of battery cells (70, 80, 90) follow one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis (10) of the built-in housing (2), - with at least one flow path (50, 51, 52) for cooling air formed within a group (I, II, III) of battery cells (70, 80, 90), - and with at least one supply air opening (35, 36, 46) formed in an inflow side (4) of the installation housing (2) for a cooling air flow (5, 6), - wherein the cooling air flow (5, 6) flows along the flow path (50, 51, 52) between the battery cells (70, 80, 90) and flows out via a cooling air outlet (20, 21, 23), - wherein a first flow path (50) in a first group (I) of battery cells (70) is assigned first air inlet openings (35) and a first cooling air outlet (20), and a second flow path (51) in a second group (II) of battery cells (80) is assigned second air inlet openings (36) and a second cooling air outlet (21), - and the cooling air flow (5) of the first flow path (50) is guided to the first cooling air outlet (20) separately from the cooling air flow (6) of the second flow path (51), - and the cooling air flow (6) of the second flow path (51) is guided to the second cooling air outlet (21) separately from the cooling air flow (5) of the first flow path (50), - characterized by - that a flow path (50, 51, 52) of a group (I, II, III) of battery cells (70, 80, 90) is formed by a cooling air duct (71 to 77; 81 to 87; 91 to 97), and the cooling air ducts (71 to 77; 81 to 87; 91 to 97) of the groups (I, II, III) are aligned in the longitudinal direction (100) of the installation housing (2), - wherein a flow path (50, 51) of a group (I, II) of battery cells (70, 80) is guided transversely to the longitudinal direction (100) of the installation housing (2) to a cooling air outlet (20, 21).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an energy storage device comprising an arrangement of battery cells in a mounting housing. Groups of battery cells follow one another along the longitudinal axis of the mounting housing. Within each group of battery cells, at least one flow path for cooling air is formed, which comprises at least one intake air opening for a cooling air flow formed in an inflow side of the mounting housing. The cooling air flow flows along the flow path between the battery cells through and out via a cooling air outlet.

[0002] Such energy storage devices are used, for example, as UPS (uninterruptible power supply) in electronic devices that must operate without interruption, independent of the public power grid.

[0003] The battery cells arranged in such an energy storage system release heat energy during both discharging and charging, which must be regularly dissipated by cooling air. Due to the arrangement of several groups of battery cells one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the installation housing, the battery cells directly adjacent to the air intake openings are well cooled, while the battery cells located at the end of the installation housing in the cooling air flow path are only moderately cooled due to the already warmed cooling air flow. This can lead to premature failure of the energy storage system.

[0004] US 2006 / 0 090 492 A1 discloses an energy storage device with multiple battery cells, each of which is supplied with an individual cooling air flow via separate cooling air ducts. The cooling air flows are deflected multiple times, which adversely affects the flow resistance.

[0005] US 2007 / 0 026 301 A1 proposes distributing a cooling air flow flowing through a central cooling air inlet to several battery cells by arranging intermediate plates. In US 2012 / 0 183 822 A1, the intermediate plates are arranged such that the cooling channel tapers in the direction of flow.

[0006] The invention is based on the object of designing an energy storage device comprising an arrangement of battery cells in a mounting housing in such a way that all battery cells accommodated in the mounting housing are cooled in an operationally reliable manner.

[0007] The problem is solved according to the features of claim 1.

[0008] A first cooling air outlet is assigned to a first flow path of a first group of battery cells. A second cooling air outlet is assigned to a second flow path of a second group of battery cells. The flow path of a group of battery cells is formed by at least one cooling air duct, wherein the cooling air ducts of the groups are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the installation housing. The cooling air flow of the first flow path is guided to the first cooling air outlet separately from the cooling air flow of the second flow path, while the cooling air flow of the second flow path is guided to the second cooling air outlet separately from the cooling air flow of the first flow path. The flow path of a group of battery cells is guided - in a partial section - transversely to the longitudinal direction of the installation housing to a cooling air outlet. Such a cooling air outlet can be formed, for example, in the base of the installation housing.

[0009] The first flow path is assigned air intake openings, and the second flow path is assigned – preferably separate – air intake openings. It may be expedient to assign first air intake openings to the first flow path and second air intake openings to the second flow path. Thus, each flow path is supplied with unused, fresh cooling air. Since each of the cooling air streams is discharged via an associated cooling air outlet, the waste heat from a first group of battery cells can be prevented from impairing the cooling of a second group of battery cells. Reliable cooling is ensured by several separate cooling air streams.

[0010] The flow path of the cooling air through the first group of battery cells has a first flow resistance; the flow path of the cooling air through a second group of battery cells has a second flow resistance. According to the invention, the first flow resistance is equal to the second flow resistance. This ensures that when the first cooling air outlet and the second cooling air outlet are connected to a common intake side of a cooling air fan, the air flow through the first flow path is just as high as through the second flow path.

[0011] In particular, it is intended to arrange several groups of battery cells with separate flow paths in the longitudinal direction of the installation housing and to design the flow resistances of the flow paths of all groups to be the same.

[0012] The cooling air flow is conveniently generated by a cooling air fan, with the cooling air outlets connected to the intake side of the cooling air fan. This allows the energy storage units to be mounted in a rack (e.g., a 19" rack-mounted enclosure), with the cooling air fan creating a negative pressure within the rack's enclosure space. This equal negative pressure at all cooling air outlets ensures equal cooling of all battery cell groups.

[0013] In particular, the cooling air outlet is designed as an outlet opening of the installation housing and extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the outlet slot over more than half the width of one side of the housing.

[0014] The flow path of a group is conveniently formed by several adjacent cooling air channels in this group of battery cells.

[0015] A gap is formed between each group of battery cells arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the installation housing. A bulkhead is placed between adjacent groups of battery cells to conduct cooling air. The bulkhead is designed to separate the incoming, cool air from the outgoing, heated exhaust air.

[0016] In a particular development of the invention, the flow path of a group of battery cells opens into a collecting chamber that is connected to at least one cooling air outlet. The collecting chamber is expediently delimited by the bulkhead.

[0017] In a further development of the invention, it is provided that at least the second group of battery cells is arranged with a second flow path in the longitudinal direction of the installation housing, following the first group of battery cells. An air supply duct is assigned to the second group of battery cells, with the air supply duct of the second flow path connecting the air supply opening for a cooling air flow with an air supply space located between the groups.

[0018] In a further development of the invention, at least one further group of battery cells with a further flow path is provided in the longitudinal direction of the installation housing following the second group of battery cells, wherein a further supply air duct is assigned to the further group of battery cells. The further supply air duct connects the supply air opening for a cooling air flow upstream of the further flow path with a further supply air chamber located between the groups.

[0019] It may be appropriate to design the cross-section of the supply air duct in the longitudinal direction of the installation housing so that it decreases from the supply air opening on the inflow side toward the rear wall of the installation housing. It is advantageous to design the supply air duct so that it decreases in height.

[0020] Further features of the invention will become apparent from the further claims, the description, and the drawing, which illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the invention described in detail below. The features and advantages indicated for the individual figures are given as examples; the features and advantages can be applied to all of the figures shown and / or combined with one another.

[0021] They show: Fig. 1 an isometric view of an energy storage device in a built-in housing, Fig. 2 a front view of the inflow side of the installation housing according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a top view of the installation housing, Fig. 4 a top view of the bottom of the installation housing, Fig. 5 a view of the rear wall of the installation housing after Fig. 1, Fig. 6 a horizontal section through the energy storage system Fig. 1, Fig. 7 a plan view of the section according to Fig. 6, Fig. 8 an isometric view of the energy storage device with a longitudinally sectioned installation housing, Fig. 9 a side view of the sectional view according to Fig. 8, Fig. 10 a side view of the energy storage device in a built-in housing according to Fig. 1, Fig. 11 a longitudinal section through the energy storage device arranged in a built-in housing, Fig. 12 a section through an arrangement of several energy storage devices according to Fig. 1, Fig. 13 an isometric view of the arrangement of several energy storage devices according to Fig. 1, Fig. 14 an isometric side view of the arrangement of energy storage devices according to Fig. 13, Fig. 15 a view of the rear walls of the energy storage units according to arrow XV in Fig. 13, Fig. 16 an arrangement of several energy storage devices arranged in a receiving cabinet according to Fig. 1.

[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, an energy storage device 1 is shown in a built-in housing 2. The built-in housing has a front side 3, which is designed as an inflow side 4 for cooling air flows 5, 6.

[0023] In the front page 3 are - as Fig. 2 shows - rows 15, 16, 26 of inlet openings 35, 36, 46 are provided.

[0024] The inflow openings 35 of row 15 are designed as slots 45 that extend over approximately 50% of the height H of the front side 3. A plurality of slots 45 are provided as inflow openings 35 across the width B of the front side, with adjacent slots 45 being spaced apart by a distance s.

[0025] In an upper region 13 of the front side 3, further inlet openings 36, 46 are provided, which are designed as rows of holes. The inlet openings 36, 46, designed as circular openings 34, are located closely adjacent to one another, with the rows of holes extending over approximately two-thirds of the width B of the front side 3.

[0026] The installation housing 2 has a top side 8 ( Fig. 1) and a base 9. The installation housing 2 extends in the direction of a longitudinal axis 10 of the installation housing 2 from the front side 3 to a rear wall 7 in a longitudinal direction 100.

[0027] How Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the front panel 3 protrudes laterally beyond the long sides 11, 12 of the installation housing 2. The protruding edge 14 serves for mounting the energy storage unit in a mounting cabinet, for example, a 19" rack.

[0028] How Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the top side 8 of the installation housing 2 is closed; cooling air outlets 20, 21, through which cooling air flows, are formed in the bottom side, the base 9 of the installation housing 2. The cooling air outlets 20, 21 are provided as outlet openings of the installation housing 2, preferably designed as outlet slots 22 with a length L corresponding to approximately 80% to 90% of the width EB of the installation housing 2. The width T of an outlet slot 22 corresponds to approximately 3% to 8%, in particular 6% of the length EL of the installation housing 2.

[0029] As can be seen from the presentation of the Fig. 1 and Fig. 5, the upper side 8 of the installation housing 2 slopes downwards from the front side 3 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 10 to the rear wall 7. The height drop N is approximately 15% to 20% of the height H of the installation housing 2. The height H of the installation housing 2 corresponds to the height H of the front side 3.

[0030] As the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, two battery cells 70, 80 and 90 are arranged in the installation housing. The battery cells 70 form a first group I, which - like the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 - are located directly behind the front side 3 of the installation housing 2. Between each two battery cells 70, cooling channels 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77 are provided, which are aligned in the longitudinal direction 100, i.e. in the direction of the longitudinal axis 10.

[0031] The cooling channels 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77 are preferably located congruent with the inlet openings 35 for cooling air; in Fig. 6 shows an example of how the cooling air flow 5 enters the cooling channel 74 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 10.

[0032] A second group II of battery cells 80 is located at a distance z along the longitudinal axis 10, i.e., in the longitudinal direction 100 of the installation housing 2. Cooling channels 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87 are formed between the battery cells 80—corresponding to the configuration between the battery cells 70 in group I. The cooling channels 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87 are aligned in the longitudinal direction 100 of the installation housing 2.

[0033] The second group II of battery cells 80 is followed at a distance z by a third group III of battery cells 90, between which cooling channels 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97 are formed in a corresponding manner. The cooling channels 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97 of the battery cells 90 of group III are aligned in the longitudinal direction 100 to the longitudinal axis 10 of the installation housing 2.

[0034] How Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, the cooling channels 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77 of group I are aligned in the longitudinal direction 100 with the cooling channels 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87 of group II and the cooling channels 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97 of group III. Between group I and group II, the battery cells 70 and 80 have the distance z; similarly, group II of the battery cells 80 has the distance z from the adjacent group III of the battery cells 90. The distances z provided in the longitudinal direction 100 between groups I, II and III form an intermediate space 30, 31. In the intermediate space 30, 31, a partition wall 32, 33 is provided, which divides the intermediate space 30, 31 into an exhaust air collecting space 28 and a supply air supply space 18. This is particularly evident from the illustrations of the Fig. 8, Fig. 9 and Fig. 11.

[0035] The bulkhead 32, 33 formed from a bulkhead plate separates the cooling air ducts 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77; 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87 and 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97 of Groups I, II and III from each other. Thus, the bulkhead 32 covers the end 79 of all cooling ducts 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77 of Group I, so that all duct ends 79 open into the plenum 28. The bulkhead 32 between Group I and Group II in the intermediate space 30 covers the outlet opening 20, as shown in Fig. 4. The cooling air exiting into the collecting space 28 of the intermediate space 30 can leave the installation housing 2 via the cooling air outlet 20.

[0036] As in the Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, at least one cooling air flow 5 flows through the inlet openings 35 into a cooling air channel 74 formed between the battery cells 70, flows through the channel 74 to the channel end 79 ( Fig. 9), exits into the collecting chamber 28 and flows out of the installation housing 2 via the cooling air outlet 20. The first flow path 50 is formed by the supply air opening 35, the cooling air duct 74 between the battery cells 70 of Group I, the collecting chamber 28, and the cooling air outlet 20.

[0037] A second flow path 51 is formed by an air supply opening 36 on the inflow side 4 of the installation housing 2, an air supply duct 41 which connects the air supply opening 36 with the air supply space 18 in the first intermediate space 30, the cooling duct 84 formed between the battery cells 80 of the second group II, the end 89 of which opens into the collecting space 28 of the second intermediate space 31, the collecting space 28 of the intermediate space 31 exiting via the cooling air outlet 21.

[0038] A third flow path 52 is formed by the air supply opening 46 and the air supply duct 42, which connects the air supply opening 46 to the air space 18 in the second intermediate space 31. Via the cooling air duct 94 between the battery cells 90 of Group III, the flow path 52 leads to outlet openings in the rear wall 7 of the installation housing 2. The cooling air outlet 23 is formed from a plurality of outlet slots 24, corresponding to the configuration of the air supply openings 35 in the front side 3 of the installation housing 2.

[0039] The channel end 99 of the cooling channel 94 is congruent with the outlet slot 24 of the outlet opening 23, so that a direct outflow of the cooling air along the flow path 52 is ensured.

[0040] The supply air duct 41 and the supply air duct 42 of the supply air openings 36 and 46 are separated from one another by an intermediate wall 43 adjacent to the supply air side 4. This ensures that the flow paths 51 and 52 of the cooling air can initially form without disruption. The supply air ducts 41 and 42 are expediently merged in the longitudinal direction 100 to form a common duct 40. The cross-section of the common supply air duct 40 preferably decreases in the longitudinal direction 100 of the installation housing 2 from the supply air opening 36, 46 in the inflow side 4 towards the rear wall 7 of the installation housing 2. This ensures that the cooling air flowing in the longitudinal direction 100 is displaced in the flow path 52 towards the air space 18 of the intermediate space 31, whereby the flow resistance of the flow path 52 can be adapted.

[0041] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first cooling air outlet 20 is assigned to the first flow path 50 in a first group I of battery cells 70. The second cooling air outlet 21 is assigned to the second flow path 51 of a second group II of battery cells 80. The flow paths 50, 51 are designed such that the cooling air flow 5 of the first flow path 50 is guided to the first cooling air outlet 20 separately from the cooling air flow 6 of the second flow path 51. The cooling air flow 6 of the second flow path 51 is guided to the second cooling air outlet 28 separately from the cooling air flow 5 of the first flow path 50.

[0042] The flow path 50 of the cooling air through the first group I of battery cells 70 has a first flow resistance. The flow path 51 of the cooling air through the second group II of battery cells 80 has a second flow resistance. The design of the flow paths 50, 51 is provided such that the first flow resistance of the first flow path 50 is equal to the second flow resistance of the second flow path 51. In particular, the design of the flow paths 50, 51, 52 is provided such that all groups I, II, III of battery cells 70, 80, 90 lying one behind the other in the longitudinal direction 100 of the installation housing 2 have separate flow paths 50, 51, 52 and the flow resistances of all flow paths 50, 51, 52 of all groups I, II, III are the same.

[0043] In the representations of the Fig. 8 to 11, the flow paths 50, 51, 52 are shown by way of example. The flow path 50, 51, 52 of a group I, II, III of battery cells 70, 80, 90 is formed by several adjacent cooling air ducts 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77; 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87; 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97 in the respective group I, II, III of battery cells 70, 80, 90.

[0044] The flow paths 50, 51 are designed such that the cooling air is guided transversely to the longitudinal direction 100 of the installation housing 2 to the respective cooling air outlet 20, 21 in the bottom 9 of the installation housing 2.

[0045] In the Fig. 12 to 16, two or more energy storage devices 1, 1', 1" are arranged one above the other. As in particular the Fig. 12 to 15 show, the vertically sloping top side 8 of the installation housing 2 is of particular importance. If two energy storage devices 1, 1' or 1" ( Fig.16) are arranged one above the other, an exhaust air chamber 60 is formed between the bottom 9 of the installation housing 2 of one energy storage device 1 and the top 8' of the installation housing 2' of the other energy storage device 1', which chamber expands in the flow direction of the flow paths 50, 51. The expansion corresponds to the height drop N of the top 9 of an installation housing 2, 2'.

[0046] In a special embodiment of the invention, a cooling air fan 55 is provided, which extracts the cooling air flowing via the flow paths 50, 51, 52. The incoming cooling air flows 5 and 6 on the inflow side 4 are thus generated by the cooling air fan 55, with each cooling air outlet 20, 21, 23 being connected to the intake side 56 of the cooling air fan 55. The special design of the flow paths 50, 51, 52 and the layout with approximately the same flow resistance ensure that all groups I, II, III of battery cells 70, 80, 90 are cooled evenly. The waste heat of a first group I of battery cells 70 thus does not disrupt the effective cooling of the groups II, III of battery cells 80, 90 arranged downstream in the flow direction.

[0047] The cooling air fan 55 can be provided on an equipment cabinet 65, for example, a 19" rack. The cooling air fan 55 extracts the air from the equipment cabinet so that air flows in over the front sides of the energy storage units 1, 1', 1".

Claims

[1] Energy storage device (1) comprising an arrangement of battery cells (70, 80, 90) in a housing (2), wherein groups (I, II, III) of battery cells (70, 80, 90) follow one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis (10) of the housing (2), - with at least one flow path (50, 51, 52) for cooling air formed within a group (I, II, III) of battery cells (70, 80, 90), - and with at least one air inlet opening (35, 36, 46) formed in an inlet side (4) of the installation housing (2) for a cooling air flow (5, 6), - wherein the cooling airflow (5, 6) flows along the flow path (50, 51, 52) between the battery cells (70, 80, 90) and flows out via a cooling air outlet (20, 21, 23), - wherein a first flow path (50) in a first group (I) of battery cells (70) is assigned first air inlets (35) and a first cooling air outlet (20), and a second flow path (51) in a second group (II) of battery cells (80) is assigned second air inlets (36) and a second cooling air outlet (21), - and the cooling airflow (5) of the first flow path (50) is directed separately from the cooling airflow (6) of the second flow path (51) to the first cooling air outlet (20), - and the cooling airflow (6) of the second flow path (51) is directed separately from the cooling airflow (5) of the first flow path (50) to the second cooling air outlet (21), - characterized by , - that a flow path (50, 51, 52) of a group (I, II, III) of battery cells (70, 80, 90) is formed by a cooling air duct (71 to 77; 81 to 87; 91 to 97), and the cooling air ducts (71 to 77; 81 to 87; 91 to 97) of the groups (I, II, III) are aligned in the longitudinal direction (100) of the installation housing (2), - wherein a flow path (50, 51) of a group (I, II) of battery cells (70, 80) is led transversely to the longitudinal direction (100) of the installation housing (2) to a cooling air outlet (20, 21). [2] Energy storage device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the flow path (50) of the cooling air through the first group (I) of battery cells (70) has a first flow resistance and the flow path (52) of the cooling air through a second group (II) of battery cells (80) has a second flow resistance, wherein the first flow resistance is equal to the second flow resistance. [3] Energy storage device (1) according to claim 2, characterized by, that in the longitudinal direction (100) of the installation housing (2) several groups (I, II, III) of battery cells (70, 80, 90) with separate flow paths (50, 51, 52) are arranged and the flow resistances of the flow paths (50, 51, 52) of all groups (I, II, III) are the same. [4] Energy storage device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the cooling airflow (5, 6) is generated by a cooling air blower (55), wherein the cooling air outlet (20, 21, 23) is connected to the suction side (56) of the cooling air blower (55). [5] Energy storage device (1) according to claim 4, characterized by , that the cooling air outlet (21, 22) is designed as an outlet opening of the installation housing (2) and extends transversely to the longitudinal direction (100) as an outlet slot (22) over more than half the width (EB) of the installation housing (2). [6] Energy storage device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by, that a flow path (50, 51, 52) of a group (I, II, III) is formed through several adjacent cooling air channels (71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77; 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87; 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97) in the group (I, II, III) of battery cells (70, 80, 90). [7] Energy storage device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that between adjacent groups (I, II, III) of battery cells (70, 80, 90) a space (30, 31) is formed in which a bulkhead (32, 33) leading cooling air is arranged. [8] Energy storage device (1) according to claim 7, characterized by , that the bulkhead (32, 33) separates incoming, cool supply air from outgoing, heated exhaust air. [9] Energy storage device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by , that the flow path (50, 51) of a group (I, II,) leads into a collection chamber (28) which is connected to a cooling air outlet (20, 21). [10] Energy storage device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by , that in the longitudinal direction (100) of the installation housing (2) the first group (I) of battery cells (70) with the first flow path (50) is followed at least by the second group (II) of battery cells (80) with the second flow path (51), that the second group (II) of battery cells (80) is assigned an air supply channel (40, 41), and that the air supply channel (40, 41) upstream of the second flow path (51) connects the air supply opening (36) for a cooling air flow (6) with an air supply space (18) located between the groups (I, II). [11] Energy storage device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by, that in the longitudinal direction (100) of the installation housing (2) of the second group (II) of battery cells (80) at least one further group (III) of battery cells (90) with a further flow path (52) follows, that the further group (III) of battery cells (90) is assigned an air supply channel (40, 42), and the air supply channel (40, 42) upstream of the further flow path (52) connects the air supply opening (46) for a cooling air flow (6) with a further air supply space (18) located between the groups (II, III). [12] Energy storage device (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized by , that the cross-section of the supply air duct (40) decreases in the longitudinal direction (100) of the installation housing (2) from the supply air opening (36, 46) in the supply side (4) towards a rear wall (7). [13] Energy storage device (1) according to claim 12, characterized by , that the supply air duct (40) decreases in height (N).

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