ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an energy storage device, comprising a switch cabinet housing in which a plurality of receiving locations are provided, in which at least one control device and a variable number of electrical storage blocks are exchangeably received, wherein the storage blocks can be optionally connected in series or in parallel to one another and are connected to power connections via a current controller.

[0002] Energy storage devices of the type mentioned are known, for example, from EP 2 693 514 A1. Similar energy storage devices are also disclosed in JP 2012 084 486 A, WO 2018 / 083332 A1, US 2017 / 294366 A1, and US 2015 / 343970 A1.

[0003] Such energy storage devices installed in control cabinets are already known in practice and are used for various applications, in which control cabinets are often also used for other components of the installation environment. In particular, the energy storage devices can be used for electrical drive systems that cyclically require energy during operation and then release it again in generator mode, making it sensible to temporarily store the released electrical energy. For such electrical drive systems, control cabinets are often already available. These cabinets house a system controller and control components required for grid operation, such as power electronics including frequency converters, fuses, and similar electrical and electronic components.In this respect, it is advantageous for the supporting energy storage devices to be housed in similar control cabinets in order to be able to be easily connected, for example, to the higher-level control system or the power electronics for grid operation in an adjacent control cabinet and to provide easy access to the energy storage device.

[0004] In order to save energy, more and more drives that were previously operated mechanically or hydraulically are being electrified in order to exploit the greater efficiency of electric motors. In this case, it is particularly sensible for applications with cyclically recurring acceleration and braking phases or uphill and downhill driving to integrate or connect an energy storage device into the drive system in order to provide energy during acceleration or uphill phases and to feed back the energy released during braking or downhill phases and store it in at least one storage block. Capacitors, in particular double-layer capacitors, but other battery systems or accumulators are suitable for this purpose. Depending on the drive system, considerable amounts of energy are sometimes generated that need to be provided and temporarily stored, meaning that conventional energy storage systems quickly reach their limits or become ineffective.intelligent control is required to meet the requirements.

[0005] In order to adapt the voltage provided by the at least one storage block or the output current to the respective drive system and its voltage and / or current requirements and / or conversely to adapt the current fed back by the drive system to the conditions of the internal voltage circuit of the storage block, the energy storage device can have at least one power converter module in order to adapt the provided or fed-in current with regard to characteristic parameters such as voltage and / or frequency in the required manner.

[0006] The use of a control cabinet housing with various mounting locations allows for easy adaptation of the respective energy storage device to the respective drive system. In particular, depending on the required power and voltage level, different storage blocks of different designs and numbers can be accommodated in the control cabinet. While a single storage block in the control cabinet may be sufficient for a smaller drive system, for example, two, three, or even four or five storage blocks can be accommodated in the same control cabinet for a different application. Different storage block types can also be accommodated or interchanged for different operating modes.For example, if large amounts of electricity need to be temporarily stored, for example, due to short uphill and downhill operation, capacitor cells, especially storage blocks with double-layer capacitors, can be advantageous. However, if the energy storage device is used for more consistent operation, in which an additional energy boost or even just an emergency supply is required only occasionally—for example, during start-up phases—battery cells can be advantageous as storage blocks. In yet other applications, fuel cells can also be used as storage blocks.

[0007] Even though the integration of the energy storage device into a control cabinet already allows for a certain degree of flexibility and reconfigurability, existing solutions are still only flexible to a limited extent and cannot be sufficiently adapted to the specific application. Especially when used for different drive systems that are very far apart in terms of their performance class, existing control cabinet solutions pose problems with appropriately dimensioned cooling and adequate protection with regard to electromagnetic compatibility. While the control cabinet has a cooling system that is sufficiently dimensioned for high performance classes, the cooling is excessive for applications with only one storage block and a correspondingly low power.At the same time, strong electromagnetic insulation of the control cabinet can waste unnecessary installation space and cause additional weight that is oversized for applications with smaller electromagnetic incompatibilities.

[0008] On the other hand, existing control cabinet solutions still require a relatively high level of conversion effort to adapt the control and power electronics of the energy storage device to the respective application, even if only limited variations in performance levels need to be compensated for. For example, it is still relatively complex to remove the control module from the control cabinet and replace it with another control module, which then has to be wired accordingly to the storage blocks and other components. The same applies to the power electronics, which may be combined with the control device to form a control cabinet module.

[0009] The present invention is therefore based on the object of creating an improved energy storage device of the type mentioned above that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art and advantageously develops them further. In particular, the energy storage device should be sufficiently flexibly configurable according to requirements and quickly and easily convertible if the energy storage device is required for a different application or even just a different operating mode of the connected drive or working device.

[0010] According to the invention, the stated object is achieved by an energy storage device according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0011] It is therefore initially proposed that the control device installed in the control cabinet housing and the power electronics components connected to it be designed to be reconfigurable or variable in order to enable the control and power electronics to be adapted to a different operating mode or a different application without having to replace the control and power electronics module and carry out the corresponding wiring. According to a first aspect, the energy storage device is characterized in that the at least one current controller, via which the power connections of the energy storage device are connected to the at least one storage block, is designed to be scalable and is operated in different scaling stages depending on the number of storage blocks used and their parallel and / or series connection. This makes it possible to replace or convert the control cabinet or power electronics components containing the current controller.Power electronics module can be avoided. If, for example, the power or voltage level is increased by accommodating an additional storage block in the control cabinet and / or switching from series to parallel connection, the current controller can be adapted to the higher power level to be processed by rescaling. For example, the current controller can have a scalable multi-phase design and / or comprise multiple controller elements that allow scalability through parallel connection.

[0012] In an advantageous development of the invention, the aforementioned current controller can be a DC / DC controller or DC / DC converter, via which the at least one storage block supplies electrical energy to the power terminals of the energy storage device or, conversely, when the connected drive system is operating in generator mode, energy is charged into the storage block. In particular, a bidirectional DC / DC controller can be used, via which the at least one storage block can both supply energy and be charged.Such DC / DC converters or DC / DC controllers refer to an electrical circuit that can convert a DC voltage supplied at the input into a DC voltage with a higher, lower or inverted voltage level and is able to transfer energy from the high voltage level to the low voltage level, for example to charge the energy storage block, and also to transfer it in the other direction, i.e. to store it or to transfer it from the storage block to the DC voltage circuit of the drive system.

[0013] Depending on the storage block and drive system, other power converters or controllers such as rectifiers, inverters, frequency converters or general converters can also be used, whereby such power converters can include electronic components such as diodes, transistors or thyristors, but also MOSFETs, IG-BTs or IGCTs.

[0014] In a further development of the invention, the aforementioned scalability of the at least one current controller can advantageously be automated or at least semi-automated. In particular, a detection device can be provided for detecting the current power level and / or for detecting the number of memory blocks used and / or their parallel and / or series connection, wherein a scaling device can scale said current controller depending on a signal from said detection device, for example, by connecting or disconnecting an element or a phase of said current controller.

[0015] In order to be able to use the energy storage device not only for DC voltage systems, a frequency converter that can preferably be switched on and off can be provided in addition to the aforementioned DC / DC converter, so that the energy storage device can be used equally for an AC voltage network when the frequency converter is switched on and for a DC voltage network when the frequency converter is switched off.

[0016] The frequency converter mentioned can be housed in the same control cabinet as the storage blocks and the control device or power electronics, but alternatively it can also be installed in a separate control cabinet or located externally at another location.

[0017] In order to easily adapt the control cabinet to different applications and operating modes of the connected work machine, the energy storage device can advantageously comprise differently designed storage blocks that are interchangeable and can advantageously be installed in the same receptacles. This can be achieved, for example, by the differently designed storage blocks having the same connection dimensions or compatible connection surfaces, by means of which they can be inserted into the connection locations of the control cabinet. If the connection locations are equipped with plug-in or slide-in guides, for example, the storage blocks can have slide-in guide surfaces that match the guides, regardless of their type.The storage blocks do not have to be identical to each other in their overall dimensions and external dimensions - which they can of course be - but it is sufficient if the connection dimensions relevant for insertion into the respective connection location are suitable.

[0018] However, the storage blocks can also have different connection dimensions if different mounting locations are provided for them in the control cabinet.

[0019] In particular, the various storage blocks may comprise at least two of the following three storage block types: a capacitor cell, in particular in the form of a double-layer capacitor, a battery cell and a fuel cell.

[0020] Depending on the application, storage blocks of only one type can be accommodated in the control cabinet, for example only double-layer capacitors or only batteries, whereby it is advantageously possible to replace the storage block types with one another depending on the application.

[0021] Alternatively, in an advantageous development of the invention, it is also possible to accommodate different storage block types in the same control cabinet simultaneously, for example, at least one double-layer capacitor and at least one battery cell. By arranging storage blocks in a mixed manner with regard to the storage block type, their advantages can be combined. In particular, at least one double-layer capacitor can be accommodated in the control cabinet in order to have a power storage device that can quickly absorb and release large amounts of electrical energy, and at least one battery cell can be arranged in the control cabinet as a storage block to cover basic or emergency needs.

[0022] In an advantageous development of the invention, the energy storage device comprises a cooling device for cooling the storage blocks and, if appropriate, also for cooling the control device and / or its power electronics, for example in the form of the aforementioned DC / DC converter or another current converter. Advantageously, said cooling device can be at least partially integrated into the switch cabinet housing, wherein the cooling device can be reconfigurable for use of the energy storage device in different power classes and / or different types and numbers of storage blocks, or can comprise differently designed cooling modules. Such reconfigurability of the cooling device prevents excessive cooling when the energy storage device operates only in low power classes or uses storage blocks that are not temperature-critical.At the same time, sufficient cooling is ensured for more heat-intensive applications without having to replace the entire control cabinet.

[0023] In particular, said cooling device can comprise a liquid cooling module, which can have coolant lines in the switch cabinet housing, which can be provided along said receiving locations for the storage blocks and / or the control device and / or power electronics, wherein said coolant lines can run along or through the receiving brackets of the receiving locations. If, for example, drawers are provided for the storage blocks in the switch cabinet housing, walls delimiting the drawer, into which the storage blocks or a control and / or power electronics module is inserted, can be provided with such coolant lines in order to extract the heat from the storage blocks or the power electronics module.Alternatively or additionally, coolant lines can also be arranged in an exposed manner, for example in the form of cooling coils, and advantageously mounted directly adjacent to the components of the energy storage device to be cooled.

[0024] The coolant heated by the warm or hot storage modules is circulated via the coolant lines to a recooler, which can advantageously be located outside the control cabinet housing—for example, on its roof or ceiling. Alternatively or additionally, such a recooler can also be housed in a separate control cabinet to which the coolant lines are connected.

[0025] Alternatively or in addition to such a liquid cooling module, an air cooling module can also be provided, which can comprise cooling fins on and / or between the mounting locations, through which cooling air can flow. In order to generate a cooling air flow, at least one cooling air fan can be provided, which can blow or suck the cooling air flow through the aforementioned cooling fins. Advantageously, such a cooling air fan can be provided on each cooling fin group provided between mounting locations or storage modules in order to generate a sufficient cooling air flow and to sufficiently cool each mounting location. The plurality of cooling air fans can advantageously be individually switchable in order to actually cool only the required mounting locations in the switch cabinet housing.For example, if one or two recording locations remain empty because only a small number of memory blocks are required, or if individual memory blocks remain switched off for a specific operating mode, the corresponding cooling air fans can also be switched off.

[0026] Alternatively or in addition to such liquid and / or air cooling modules, an at least two-phase cooling module can also be provided, which can cool an element of the energy storage device to be cooled by phase conversion of the cooling medium. In particular, such a two-phase cooling module can have at least one coolant container in which a liquid that evaporates even at low temperatures is accommodated, so that the liquid can evaporate when exposed to heat from the storage blocks or a component of the power electronics or another heat-generating component.

[0027] Advantageously, such a coolant container can be arranged directly at each or at least one of the receiving locations and / or also directly assigned to one of the storage blocks and / or power electronics modules to be arranged there in order to effectively cool the respective storage block or the respective power electronics component.

[0028] Such a two-phase cooling module can advantageously have a cooling liquid that evaporates at less than 70° or even less than 50°.

[0029] In an advantageous development of the invention, the cooling device can comprise a pump and / or tank module in which a storage container for the coolant and a circulating pump can advantageously be combined, wherein said pump and / or tank module can advantageously be adapted, independently of this, to the aforementioned storage blocks in terms of its dimensions and / or contouring and / or connection dimensions in such a way that said pump and / or tank module can be pushed or inserted into one of the receiving locations of the switch cabinet, which can in itself serve to accommodate a storage block. In this respect, depending on the configuration and cooling requirements, either a storage block or the aforementioned pump and / or tank module can be inserted into at least one receiving location of the switch cabinet. Advantageously, a lowest receiving location of the switch cabinet can be provided orthe pump and / or tank module mentioned must be adapted to this.

[0030] In order to be able to easily reconfigure the control cabinet with regard to electromagnetic compatibility, an EMC filter for suppressing electromagnetic interference can be installed in the control cabinet, preferably in a detachable and replaceable manner, whereby such an EMC filter can also be installed in one of the mounting locations of the control cabinet.

[0031] Advantageously, the aforementioned EMC filter can be configured with its connection dimensions corresponding to the connection dimensions of a storage block and / or the connection dimensions of the control device and / or the connection dimensions of the power electronics module. If the mounting locations are configured, for example, in the manner of a drawer and / or provided with a slide guide, the EMC filter can have slide guide surfaces that are compatible with the aforementioned slide guides of the mounting locations and, if appropriate, correspond to the dimensions of the slide guide surfaces of the storage blocks and / or the control module and / or the power electronics module, so that the EMC filter and the aforementioned additional components, such as the storage block, control device, and power electronics, can be variably arranged in the control cabinet.If necessary, the number of EMC filters can also be easily changed in order to be able to accommodate one, two or even more EMC filters in the control cabinet without having to modify the control cabinet housing per se.

[0032] In a further development of the invention, a disconnecting device for automatically disconnecting the storage blocks from the current controller in the event of a fault can also be provided in the switch cabinet housing in order to prevent, for example, damage to the storage blocks in the event of a short circuit in the current controller or to prevent the uncontrolled release of energy by the storage blocks from damaging components of the drive device connected to them.

[0033] For example, such a separating device may comprise a pyro-fuse.

[0034] In order to be able to adapt the energy storage device even more widely to different applications and to further scale its performance level, multiple control cabinet housings can be provided, each of which can accommodate a variable number of storage blocks, a control device, and a power electronics module with at least one current controller in its respective locations. Advantageously, the multiple control cabinets can be connected to each other with the power connections either in parallel or in series and connected to the drive system to be jointly supplied or supported.

[0035] If the energy storage device comprises a plurality of switch cabinets, each of which can house storage blocks, a control device, and power electronics, it may be advantageous to provide an at least partially centralized cooling device, particularly if the cooling device comprises a liquid cooling module in at least some of the switch cabinets. In particular, the coolant lines running through the plurality of switch cabinets can be routed to a common recooler and connected to it in order to centrally recool the coolant. Such a recooler can be housed in another, separate switch cabinet or arranged externally at another location.

[0036] Regardless of whether only one control cabinet or several control cabinets are provided, it may be advantageous in a further development of the invention to provide a variably configurable control device in at least one control cabinet in order to be able to adapt the respective control device in a simple manner to different application purposes and / or different operating modes.

[0037] In particular, the control device itself can have a modular design and comprise at least one controller board and an adaptation board connectable thereto. Said controller board can be provided with various control modules to implement various control functions, wherein the controller board can have at least output and / or feed-in control means for controlling the current controller for outputting and / or feeding current from or into the at least one storage block, as well as voltage regulation and / or control means for regulating and / or controlling the output voltage of the energy storage device.

[0038] Said adaptation board can in particular have a plurality of connection ports for differently designed external system controllers, at least one communication interface for communicating with the controller board and at least one adaptation circuit for adapting and transmitting signals between said connection ports of the adaptation board and the controller board.

[0039] Due to the multiple, differently designed connection ports of the adaptation board, the control device integrated in the energy storage device can be easily connected to differently designed external system controls.

[0040] Depending on how the external system control is designed, the signals, data formats and / or parameters required or provided by the external system control can be received, transmitted or provided via the appropriate connection port of the adaptation board.In order that the signals, data and / or parameters provided by the controller board can also be used by the external system controller or, conversely, signals, data, commands or parameters provided by the external system controller can be used by the controller board, the at least one adaptation circuit of the adaptation board adapts the said signals, data, commands and / or parameters with regard to their format and / or voltage level and / or with regard to their transmission paths to the respective connection port and / or to the communication interface of the adaptation board, so that the controller board can communicate with differently designed, higher-level external system controllers.

[0041] Advantageously, the adaptation board can comprise several adaptation circuits, each of which can adapt the required signals, data and / or parameters from / to the respective external system controller.

[0042] In a further development of the invention, said adaptation board can also comprise a plurality of sensor connections for connecting to various sensors required for system control and / or for the internal control device. In particular, the adaptation board can be connected, by means of said sensor connections, to sensors internal to the energy storage device, by means of which the energy storage device, in particular its storage block and / or at least one operating state on the power converter and / or on the internal voltage circuit is monitored. Alternatively or additionally, the adaptation board can be connected via said sensor connections to external sensors, which monitor at least one operating state of the drive system to be connected or its power electronics.

[0043] For example, cooling device sensors for monitoring a cooling device, for example a coolant flow quantity and / or mass sensor and / or a temperature sensor, and / or a current and / or voltage sensor for monitoring a current flow and / or a voltage in the voltage circuit of the drive system to be connected and / or in the internal voltage circuit of the memory block, and / or a symmetry degree sensor for monitoring the symmetrization of several memory blocks can be connected to the sensor connections of the adaptation board.

[0044] The said at least one adaptation circuit of the adaptation board can, for example, consist of one or more hardware components in the form of electronic components such as semiconductor components, but can also alternatively or additionally comprise one or more software components that can be stored in a memory component and processed in a processor.

[0045] The adaptation board can in particular also comprise several such hardware circuits and / or software components.

[0046] With the aid of the aforementioned adaptation board, a controller board adapted to the memory block and its circuitry can be used, yet still be adapted to and used in conjunction with various higher-level system controllers. The aforementioned adaptation board can be detachably connected to the aforementioned controller board via one or more connectors. Alternatively or additionally, the adaptation board can also be hard-wired to the controller board.

[0047] Said controller board can advantageously have at least one microcontroller, at least one FPGA component (i.e., a field-programmable gate array), furthermore hardware circuits and connectors for contacting, and / or consist of said components. Said hardware circuits of the controller board can comprise electronic components such as semiconductor components, transistors, diodes, or other active or passive components, wherein, in particular, integrated circuits can also be provided on the controller board. Alternatively or in addition to said hardware circuits, the controller board can also comprise at least one software component that is stored in a memory component and interacts with the microcontroller or is processed by it.

[0048] In a further development of the invention, the control device integrated into the energy storage device can further comprise a communication board which is intended to enable fieldbus communication for the control device, in particular with signal-generating and / or signal-processing components of the energy storage device, such as sensors, and / or with signal-generating and / or signal-processing components of the drive device to be connected and / or the external system control, such as sensors installed on the drive device.

[0049] The communication board mentioned can advantageously have connectors and be plugged onto the controller board.

[0050] In said controller board, a multitude of control functions can advantageously be implemented and / or pre-arranged, which enable the control device to control the energy storage device for a multitude of different drive devices and different external control systems and to execute corresponding control functions, depending on which control function is required by the drive device and / or the external control system.

[0051] In particular, the control device of the energy storage device can comprise control means for controlling the operation of the at least one storage block, wherein said state control means for the operation of the energy storage device can advantageously be configured to carry out an automatic pre-charging of an internal intermediate circuit and / or an automatic connection and disconnection to an external intermediate circuit of the drive system and / or an automatic pre-charging to a preferably parameterizable initial voltage.

[0052] Alternatively or additionally, the integrated controller may comprise detection means for detecting various sensors, for example at least one voltage sensor and / or at least one current sensor and / or at least one temperature sensor or at least one flow sensor, by means of which corresponding operating variables of the energy storage device and / or the drive system can be measured.

[0053] Alternatively or additionally, the control device of the energy storage device may comprise power control means for generating control signals for the power electronics of the drive system.

[0054] Alternatively or additionally, the control device may comprise a regulator for regulating the current in the memory block.

[0055] Alternatively or additionally, the integrated control device can comprise operating control means for setting or controlling different operating modes of the energy storage device, wherein said operating control means can comprise in particular a controller for regulating an intermediate circuit voltage and / or a controller for regulating an intermediate circuit voltage with a setpoint window and / or a controller for regulating an intermediate circuit current and / or a controller for regulating a power and / or a controller for regulating a state of charge and / or control means for actively discharging the storage block.

[0056] Alternatively or additionally, the integrated control device may have a self-test module for self-testing the power electronics.

[0057] Alternatively or additionally, the integrated control device can comprise at least one limiter module which is provided and designed to limit or change at least one characteristic manipulated variable of the energy storage device and / or the drive device when storage voltage limits are reached and / or when storage current limits are reached and / or when intermediate circuit current limits are reached and / or when intermediate power limits are reached and / or when temperature limits are reached, for example to limit or reduce an output or input current and / or a voltage level.

[0058] Such a limiter module can advantageously be designed to be parameterizable in order to be able to set the corresponding voltage limit and / or current limit and / or power limit and / or temperature limit.

[0059] Alternatively or additionally, the said control device of the energy storage device can comprise at least one monitoring module which is designed to monitor an overcurrent in the energy storage device and / or an overvoltage in an intermediate circuit and / or a voltage in the energy storage device and / or a voltage in the at least one storage block, and / or an excess temperature, for example in the cooling water of a cooling device and / or in the at least one storage block and / or in an interior of the energy storage device and / or at at least one choke, and / or a state of at least one relay and / or a cooling device, for example with regard to coolant flow and / or a cooling unit state, and / or power electronics and / or a storage state and / or a balancing function of the storage blocks.Alternatively or additionally, monitoring means for monitoring the remaining service life of the energy storage device and / or of the at least one storage block may also be provided, wherein such monitoring means can calculate and / or estimate said remaining service life.

[0060] Alternatively or additionally, the aforementioned communication board and / or the adaptation board can have a fieldbus communication module for fieldbus communication with external control systems, wherein the fieldbus communication module can be provided, for example, to specify an operating mode and / or to specify a starting or stopping of the drive device and / or to specify a setpoint for a respective operating mode and / or to specify variable limits during operation and / or to specify a pilot control value for a control and / or operating mode and / or to read out a current status of the energy storage device and / or to read out and provide current operating data.

[0061] Alternatively or additionally, said control device of the energy storage device may comprise a statistical module for determining and / or storing statistical data, for example a time distribution of a storage temperature and / or a time distribution of a power and / or a time distribution of a current in the energy storage device and / or a time distribution of a voltage in the energy storage device.

[0062] Alternatively or additionally, the control device may comprise a master / slave control device for operating a plurality of storage blocks in a master / slave mode, wherein such a master / slave control device may advantageously comprise communication means that enable communication between a plurality of energy storage units, preferably via a CAN bus, and / or synchronization means for synchronizing the voltage of the plurality of parallel-connected energy storage units and / or distribution control means for evenly distributing the current in the parallel-connected energy storage units.

[0063] Alternatively or additionally, said control device may comprise operating data transmission means for transmitting operating data of the at least one energy storage device to a central server and / or a cloud.

[0064] In an advantageous development of the invention, the internal control device of the energy storage device, in particular at least one of the aforementioned control means, can be configured to be parameterizable in order to be able to change the aforementioned functionalities by appropriately specifying parameters. A parameterization module can advantageously communicate via a USB interface and / or a Profinet interface with an external or internal parameterization device, for example, a PC program OPAL, in order to perform the desired parameterization.

[0065] Advantageously, at least one of the following functionalities can be parameterized or adapted using the parameterization module mentioned: at least one communication parameter, at least one parameter for the power electronics such as the maximum current, a minimum and / or maximum voltage, at least one sensor, at least one switching time and / or at least one switching frequency, at least one operating mode, for example a control mode via a fieldbus and / or a master / slave mode and / or an error reaction mode, at least one monitoring function such as the specification of a limit value for a cooling device and / or a balancing function and / or a voltage, and / or at least one limit value for current and power of the energy storage device and / or the drive device, nominal data of the energy storage device such as nominal capacitance and / or nominal current and / or inductance, a setting of at least one controller.

[0066] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 : a schematic representation of an energy storage device with a control cabinet housing in which several storage blocks, a control and power electronics module and an EMC filter are accommodated, wherein a cooling device with a liquid cooling module is provided for cooling the storage blocks and, if appropriate, also the power electronics module, Fig. 2 : an energy storage device with a control cabinet housing similar Fig. 1 , where two separate control and power electronics modules are provided and each connected to its own group of storage blocks in order to be able to be connected to a separate four-pole or a common two-pole intermediate circuit, Fig. 3: an energy storage device with a control cabinet housing similar to the previous figures, wherein the cooling device has a cooling air module with cooling fins between the storage blocks and the control, power electronics and filter modules with cooling air fans, Fig. 4 : an arrangement of several control cabinets, which are scaled differently by the arrangement of different numbers of memory blocks in the control cabinet housings, Fig. 5 : an arrangement of several control cabinets, each containing storage blocks, a control and power electronics module and a filter module, with liquid cooling modules provided in the control cabinets being connected to a recooler housed in another, separate control cabinet, Fig. 6 : an arrangement of several control cabinets similar Fig. 5, wherein several control cabinets each have storage blocks, a control and power electronics module and a filter module and are connected with their liquid cooling modules to a separate, common recooler in a separate control cabinet, wherein an AC / DC converter is additionally accommodated in a further control cabinet in order to be able to connect the energy storage device to an AC voltage network. Fig. 7 : a schematic representation of an energy storage device similar Fig. 1 according to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, wherein in comparison to the embodiment of Fig. 1 the EMC filter is omitted and a pump and tank module is inserted into the control cabinet.

[0067] How Fig. 1As shown in Figure 1, the energy storage device 6 comprises a switch cabinet housing 10, which can be configured essentially as a cube or cuboid and can preferably comprise, on its front side, a preferably pivotable door (not specifically shown in the drawings) to provide access to the interior of the switch cabinet and the components arranged therein. Apart from the aforementioned door, the switch cabinet is bounded by the switch cabinet walls, including the base and lid.

[0068] A plurality of mounting locations 20 are provided in the control cabinet housing 10, which can be arranged one above the other and / or next to each other inside the control cabinet. These mounting locations 20 can be all the same size or can be of different sizes, either in groups or in groups.

[0069] In order to be able to insert components into the receiving locations 20 in a simple manner, the receiving locations 20 can each have sliding guides and / or plug-in contours which, for example, can be aligned lying approximately parallel to the depth direction of the control cabinet in order to enable easy insertion of the components.

[0070] How Fig. 1 As shown, a plurality of storage blocks 7 can be accommodated in the switch cabinet housing 10, which can be configured, for example, as a capacitor cell, in particular a double-layer capacitor, but also as a battery cell or fuel cell. Storage blocks 7 of only one type, or storage blocks of different types, for example, a mixture of double-layer capacitor blocks and battery blocks, can be arranged in the switch cabinet.

[0071] In addition to the memory blocks 7, a control and power electronics module 15 is advantageously accommodated in a control cabinet housing 10 at one of the receiving locations 20, which may have an electronic control device 9, which may comprise, for example, a microcontroller, various circuits, a sensor system and optionally one or more software memory modules.

[0072] Furthermore, the control module 15 can comprise at least one current controller, in particular in the form of a DC / DC controller 8, via which electrical energy from the storage blocks 7 can be supplied to power terminals 11, 12 of the energy storage device 6. Said DC / DC controller 8 can advantageously be bidirectional in order to be able to feed current fed back into the storage blocks 7 via the power terminals 11, 12.

[0073] The control device 9 and the said current controller can, if necessary, also be accommodated in separate modules which can be inserted into separate receiving locations 20 of the control cabinet housing 10.

[0074] In the drawn version of the Fig. 1 The storage blocks 7 are connected in series and to the control module 15. Alternatively, the arrangement can also be reconfigured and the power storage blocks 7 can also be connected in parallel to the control module 15.

[0075] Furthermore, an EMC filter 13 can be housed in the control cabinet housing 10 to suppress or filter electromagnetic interference. Said EMC filter 13 can advantageously also be installed in one of the receiving locations 20 of the control cabinet housing 10 and be designed accordingly with regard to its connection dimensions.

[0076] How Fig. 1shows, the energy storage device 6 can further comprise a cooling device 16, which can have a liquid cooling module 17 in which a cooling liquid such as water circulates. Coolant lines 18 can be provided in particular along the receiving locations 20, for example also passing through the walls of the receiving guide, and / or can be guided in the form of cooling coils along the heat-generating storage blocks 7 and / or the control and power module 15. Alternatively or additionally, the individual receiving locations 20 can also be provided with cooling line connections in order to be able to connect internal coolant lines, for example in the storage blocks, so that the cooling liquid can also flow through the storage blocks and / or through the control and power electronics modules.

[0077] The liquid cooling module 17 may further comprise a recooler 19, which may advantageously be arranged outside the control cabinet housing 10, for example, placed on its roof, in order to recool the cooling liquid heated by the storage blocks 7 and / or the control and power module 15 and to release the heat to the environment.

[0078] How Fig. 2As shown, several control and / or power electronics modules 15a and 15b can also be installed in the control cabinet housing 10, with one subgroup of the storage blocks 7 being connected to one control and / or power electronics module 15 and another subgroup of the storage blocks 7 being connected to the other control and / or power electronics module 15b. This allows two autonomous storage systems to be provided despite being arranged in a common control cabinet housing 10, each of which can be connected to a separate four-terminal or to a common two-terminal DC link.

[0079] How Fig. 3shows, alternatively or in addition to a liquid cooling module, the cooling device 16 can also have an air cooling module 30 in order to cool the heat-generating components of the energy storage device 6 with cooling air. Such an air cooling module 30 can have, in particular at or between the receiving locations 20 or at or between the storage blocks 7 and / or the control and / or power electronics module 15 and optionally also the EMC filter 13, an arrangement of cooling fins 31, which can be materially connected to the walls of the receiving locations, but optionally also directly to the storage blocks 7 and / or the control and / or power electronics module 15 and optionally the EMC filter 13, in order to allow the heat from the components to reach the cooling fins effectively and to transfer it from there to the cooling air efficiently through the large surface area of ​​the cooling fins.

[0080] To circulate the cooling air, at least one cooling air fan 32 is advantageously provided, wherein each of the cooling fin arrangements can advantageously be assigned at least one separate cooling air fan 32, cf. Fig. 3 .

[0081] Advantageously, the at least one cooling air fan 32 can suck in ambient air through inlets on the control cabinet housing 10, for example the control cabinet door, and advantageously release the heated air back into the environment in an upper region of the control cabinet housing 10.

[0082] How Fig. 4As shown, the control cabinets can be scaled as desired by varying the number of storage blocks 7 accommodated in the control cabinet housing 10, whereby some storage locations 20 can remain empty if necessary. However, if necessary, one or more storage blocks 7 can be disconnected or not connected, but otherwise remain in the control cabinet housing 10.

[0083] Alternatively or additionally, scaling of the control cabinets can also be achieved by replacing individual memory blocks 7 with more or less powerful memory blocks in order to meet different performance levels.

[0084] Advantageously, the DC / DC controller 8 of the control and power electronics module 15 is designed to be scalable in order to be able to equally meet the different power configurations.

[0085] The multiple control cabinets with the storage blocks accommodated therein can be connected with their power connections in parallel or in series to a respective working machine, for example a drive system, in order to be able to scale the energy supply system on a larger scale by not only varying the number or type of storage blocks within a control cabinet, but also by connecting the required number of control cabinets in parallel or in series.

[0086] How Fig. 5shows, when using multiple control cabinets, the liquid cooling modules 17 provided therein can be connected to a common, externally arranged cooling unit. In particular, a common, separate recooler 19 can be provided, which can be accommodated in another, separate control cabinet housing and is connected to the coolant lines 18 in the other control cabinet housings 10 in order to recool the cooling fluid circulating therein. Such a common recooler 19 can eliminate the need for separate recoolers on each of the control cabinet housings 10. If necessary, the number of control cabinets that are connected to the common recooler 19 by their coolant lines 18 can be varied.

[0087] How Fig. 6shows, a further control cabinet housing 10 can also be provided to accommodate a higher-level control module 40, which can, for example, be a system controller for a drive system to be connected or can at least form part thereof. Alternatively or additionally, an additional power electronics module can also be accommodated in a separate control cabinet housing 10, which can be combined with the aforementioned control module 40, but can also be designed separately. Such an additional power electronics module can, in particular, comprise an AC / DC converter and / or have a frequency converter in order to be able to connect the storage blocks 7 to an AC voltage network or an AC voltage machine.

[0088] How Figure 7As shown, the EMC filter 13 can also be omitted or the energy storage device 6 can also be configured or reconfigured such that such an EMC filter 13 is omitted in the control cabinet housing 10. This creates additional space in the control cabinet housing 10, for example, for another storage block and can be a useful configuration, especially when electromagnetic compatibility is less important.

[0089] How Figure 7Furthermore, in an advantageous development of the invention, the cooling device can also comprise a pump and tank unit 35, in whose storage container coolant can be stored and whose pump can serve to circulate the coolant. Said pump and tank unit 35 can advantageously be designed in terms of its dimensions and connection dimensions to correspond to one of the storage blocks 7 and / or be adapted to one of the receiving locations 20, so that said pump and tank unit 35 can be inserted into one of the receiving locations 20. As previously described for the storage blocks 7, said pump and tank unit 35 can have sliding guides and / or plug-in contours in order to be able to be inserted into corresponding sliding guides and / or plug-in contours of the respective receiving location 20.

[0090] Similar to the execution according to Figure 7The EMC filter 13 can also be used in the previous embodiments according to the Figures 1 to 6 be omitted and / or that in Figure 7 The tank and pump module shown can be accommodated accordingly in the control cabinet housing 10 in one of the other embodiments.

Claims

1. Energy storage device having a switching cabinet housing (10) in which a plurality of reception spaces (20) are provided, in which at least one control device (9) and a variable number of storage blocks (7) are replaceably received, wherein the storage blocks (7) are selectively interconnected in series or in parallel and are connected to power connections (11, 12) via a current controller (8), characterized in that the current controller (8) is configured to be scalable and is operated in different scaling stages depending on the number of storage blocks (7) used and on their parallel and / or serial connection.

2. Energy storage device in accordance with the preceding claim, wherein a detection device is provided for the detection of the number of storage blocks used and / or of their parallel and / or serial connection, and a scaling device automatically scales said current controller (8) in dependence on a signal of the detection device.

3. Energy storage device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one DC / DC controller is provided as the current controller (8), with a frequency converter that can be switched on and off and / or an AC / DC converter (41) that can be switched on and off being provided so that the energy storage device can selectively be used with a switched on frequency converter and / or AC / DC converter (41) for AC voltage systems and with a switched off frequency converter and / or AC / DC converter (41) for DC current systems.

4. Energy storage device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein differently configured storage blocks (7) are receivable and mutually exchangeable in the reception spaces (20) of the switchgear cabinet housing (10), with the storage blocks (7) comprising at least two of the following storage block types: a capacitor cell, a battery cell, a fuel cell.

5. Energy storage device in accordance with the preceding claim, wherein a storage block (7) having a double layer capacitor and a storage block (7) having a battery cell are simultaneously accommodated in the switchgear cabinet housing (10).

6. Energy storage device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein a cooling device (16) is provided for cooling the storage blocks (7) and / or the control device (9) and / or the current controller (8) and is at least partly accommodated in the switchgear cabinet housing (10), with the cooling device (16) comprising reconfigurable cooling modules for different performance configurations of the storage blocks (7) and / or for different storage blocks.

7. Energy storage device in accordance with the preceding claim, wherein the cooling device (16) comprises at least one liquid cooling module (17) that has coolant lines (18) in the switchgear cabinet housing (10) that extend along the reception spaces (20) and / or through reception holders for holding the storage blocks (7).

8. Energy storage device in accordance with one of the two preceding claims, wherein the cooling device (16) comprises at least one air cooling module (30), with cooling ribs (31) and at least one cooling air fan (32) for generating a cooling air flow through the cooling ribs (31) being provided at and / or between the reception spaces and / or at the storage blocks (7).

9. Energy storage device in accordance with one of the three preceding claims, wherein the cooling device (16) comprises at least one two-phase cooling module that has a coolant container at at least one of the reception spaces (20) and / or at least one of the storage blocks (7), said coolant container being filled with liquid that evaporates at low temperatures.

10. Energy storage device in accordance with the preceding claim, wherein the cooling liquid has a boiling point of less than 70°C or less than 50°C or less than 35°C.

11. Energy storage device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein the cooling device (16) comprises a pump and / or tank unit (35) that is adapted with respect to shape and dimensions to the storage blocks (7) such that said pump and / or tank unit (35) can be inserted into a reception space (20) in the switchgear cabinet housing (10) provided for a storage block (7).

12. Energy storage device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one EMC filter (13) is accommodated in the switchgear cabinet housing (10), in particular in one of the reception spaces (20), for suppressing or reducing electromagnetic interference.

13. Energy storage device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein a disconnection device is provided in the switchgear cabinet housing (10) for the automatic disconnection of the storage blocks (7) from the current controller (8) in an error case.

14. Energy storage device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of switchgear cabinet housings (10) are provided that each comprise storage blocks (7) received in reception spaces (20), with the plurality of switchgear cabinet housing (10) being selectively connected in parallel or series to the power connections (11, 12) of the storage blocks (7) received therein.

15. Energy storage device in accordance with the preceding claim, wherein at least two of the plurality of switchgear cabinet housings (10) each comprise a liquid cooling module (17) and are connected to coolant lines (19) at a common heat exchanger (19) that is accommodated in a further separate switchgear cabinet.