ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an energy storage device with several interconnected energy storage units for storing and providing electrical energy. Background of the invention

[0002] Renewable energy sources represent a viable alternative to conventional energy sources such as coal, natural gas, and oil in today's world. These include wind and hydropower, as well as solar energy, the latter of which can be harnessed for electricity generation using photovoltaic systems, for example. Such systems are increasingly found in private households to at least partially cover their energy needs.

[0003] Due to the inherent irregularities in the power supply from renewable energy sources, an energy storage system is needed that stores energy and provides it in the form of electrical energy precisely when it is required.

[0004] Different energy supply requirements necessitate flexible storage devices within the system, which can be expanded in terms of storage capacity with minimal effort and require minimal maintenance. This results in a modular design with individual energy storage units that can be removed from or added to the storage device relatively quickly and largely independently of one another; for example, during maintenance and upgrades or when expanding storage capacity.

[0005] For example, such a modular structure in the form of a high-voltage energy storage system with several battery modules that are placed in a battery support structure is already known from the patent application DE 10 2017 115 041 A1 and aims, among other things, to position individual battery modules while maintaining defined distances.

[0006] Furthermore, from patent application DE 10 2012 020 799 A1, an energy storage device with a plurality of electrically connectable energy storage units is known, in which individual energy storage units are electrically connected to each other by L-shaped connecting elements in combination with a cell connection of another energy storage unit designed to match.

[0007] Furthermore, from the patent application DE 10 2013 011 692 A1, an energy storage device is known with a plurality of electrically connectable energy storage units, which are arranged on a base plate and are electrically connected to each other by L-shaped connecting elements.

[0008] Furthermore, an energy storage device with a plurality of electrically connectable energy storage units is known from the patent application DE 10 2012 223 561 A1, wherein the individual energy storage units are electrically connected to each other by differently designed plugs of electrical connecting elements in combination with appropriately designed round or square connection openings in the individual energy storage units. Summary of the invention

[0009] One object of the invention is to provide an energy storage device with several energy storage units, in which only the wiring variant of the storage units necessary for proper operation is possible.

[0010] To solve this problem, an energy storage device according to claim 1 is proposed. The dependent claims relate to advantageous embodiments of the respective device according to the invention.

[0011] The energy storage device according to the invention comprises: A plurality of energy storage units which are placed in receiving locations of a carrier unit and are connected to each other by electrical connecting elements.

[0012] The carrier unit comprises a base to which several receiving devices are attached, which are connected to the base at fixed positions and each comprise two receiving places for the energy storage units.

[0013] The configuration of the mounting positions is designed such that the position and orientation of the energy storage units relative to the carrier unit are uniquely defined, with two energy storage units of a single mounting device having opposite orientations. Furthermore, the electrical connection elements are designed as cables of predetermined length with terminals adapted to the polarity of the energy storage units.

[0014] The base of the support unit can be connected to the surroundings by means of a form-fit or force-fit connection.

[0015] The energy storage device according to the invention reliably prevents short circuits caused by incorrect wiring. The two-stage design, based on the Poka-Yoke principle, prevents incorrect placement of the individual energy storage units due to the configuration of the mounting positions. This ensures that the units can only be wired together in a manner permissible for the intended operation using cables of predetermined lengths. The placement guarantees that, for proper wiring, the corresponding poles of the electrical connections of the energy storage units to be connected are always at the smallest possible distance from each other, which can be bridged by the predetermined-length cables provided by the device according to the invention.It follows that a wiring configuration leading to a short circuit always requires conductors longer than the aforementioned predetermined length, thus precluding such a wiring variant. This safety precaution against short circuits can be further enhanced by using conductors with polarity-specific connectors.

[0016] By designing the support unit as a base with several mounting devices attached at fixed positions, the energy storage units held by these devices can be positioned at appropriately defined intervals from one another. Additionally, this modular design allows for a simple, limited expansion of the support unit with additional mounting positions without requiring the complete replacement of the support unit.

[0017] The arrangement of the energy storage units, achieved through the opposing orientation, allows for a space-saving design, in which the connecting conductor elements can be designed to be particularly short and thus save material compared to other arrangement options for the energy storage units.

[0018] Because the base of the support unit can be connected to the environment in a form-fit or force-fit manner, a fixing connection to surrounding structures can be easily established, into which the energy storage device can be integrated or removed, thus facilitating the use of the energy storage device as part of larger systems.

[0019] An advantageous extension of the device according to the invention is provided by a detachably held connection of the receiving devices with the base.

[0020] The aforementioned advantage of expanding the carrier unit with additional mounting positions is made increasingly easier by a detachable connection between the mounting devices. Furthermore, in the event of a defect in individual mounting devices, these can be replaced without significant effort.

[0021] A particularly advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention is achieved by designing the receiving devices as crossbeams with energy storage units suspended therein.

[0022] This offers, among other things, the possibility of making sensible use of the weight of the energy storage units for the design of the receiving devices and their associated placement.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the carrier unit contains up to six mounting locations for energy storage units.

[0024] By using a large number of energy storage units, the energy storage device can provide a comparatively high power output through the functional interconnection of the individual units.

[0025] Another preferred embodiment comprises receiving devices which, by means of a form-fitting coding, clearly define the position and orientation of the energy storage units placed therein.

[0026] This design reliably prevents incorrect placement of the energy storage units in the receiving devices, as required by the invention, since the energy storage units can only be placed in a predetermined position and orientation within their respective receiving positions. Particularly in combination with the embodiment of a suspended placement of two energy storage units with opposite orientations, a clear, space-saving, modular, and therefore advantageous arrangement of the energy storage units can be achieved, which, in conjunction with the cables of predetermined length, prevents any wiring that could lead to a short circuit.

[0027] Another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention comprises a detachably designed connection between the energy storage units and the receiving devices.

[0028] This allows individual energy storage units to be removed from or added to the mounting devices with relatively little effort. This is particularly advantageous in combination with a suspended placement achieved via crossbeams and positively interlocking coded mounting positions, since, by making good use of these features, a clear and detachable connection can be achieved, in which no additional fixing measures for the individual energy storage units are required.

[0029] In an advantageous embodiment, the individual energy storage units are battery modules.

[0030] This enables the efficient release and storage of energy on an electrochemical basis.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the individual energy storage units of the energy storage device are electrically connected in series by conductors.

[0032] This allows the energy storage units, which serve as voltage sources, to be interconnected in a manner that makes sense for the intended operation.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, one or more connections between lines and energy storage units made by the connection devices are designed to be detachable.

[0034] Particularly when combined with an advantageous design of the connection devices as MC4 connectors, the electrical connections between individual energy storage units can be established and disconnected with relatively little effort. Especially in conjunction with a detachable connection between the mounting devices and the energy storage units, this enables the simple addition or removal of individual energy storage units from the energy storage device with relatively little effort.

[0035] A particularly advantageous further development of the inventive device is achieved through its integration into an energy supply system, which additionally includes a combined heat and power plant and / or a photovoltaic system.

[0036] This results in a connection to energy-generating plants that is useful for the use of the device according to the invention, whose energy obtained from renewable sources can be stored by the energy storage device and can be made available to a consumer in the form of electrical energy when required. Brief description of the characters

[0037] Figure 1 schematically shows an embodiment of the energy storage device with four energy storage units in a three-dimensional spatial representation. Figure 2 schematically shows an embodiment of the energy storage device with four energy storage units in a more detailed side view. Detailed description of the figures and preferred embodiments of the present invention

[0038] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying figures. Identical or similar elements in the figures may be designated by the same reference numerals, but sometimes they may be designated by different reference numerals.

[0039] It is emphasized that the present invention is in no way limited or restricted to the embodiments and features described below, but furthermore includes modifications of the embodiments, in particular those which are encompassed by modifications of the features of the described examples or by combination of one or more features of the described examples within the scope of protection of the independent claims.

[0040] Figure 1schematically shows an embodiment of the energy storage device according to the invention in a spatial, three-dimensional representation variant with a suspended mounting of the energy storage units.

[0041] The device comprises a support unit consisting of a base 1a attached to a wall 1c and mounting devices 2a, 2b, designed as crossbeams and attached to it, which contain mounting positions for energy storage units 3a, 4a and 3b, 4b. In the illustrated embodiment, two energy storage units are clearly positioned in opposite orientations in each mounting device, which in Figure 1The position of the poles of the electrical connections 9 of the individual energy storage units is shown by way of example. The energy storage units 3a and 3b are electrically connected in series via a line 5a of predetermined length and connection devices adapted according to the polarity. The same applies to the electrical connection of the energy storage units 4a and 4b by a line 5b.

[0042] The predetermined length of the conductors 5a and 5b, in conjunction with the position and orientation of the individual energy storage units determined by the mounting devices, reliably prevents wiring that could lead to a short circuit between the individual energy storage units. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, it is not possible to electrically connect the electrical poles of the energy storage units 3b and 4a using one of the conductors 5a, 5b, or 5c, which are characterized by their predetermined length, because the conductors are designed in such a way that they do not have the necessary length. The same applies to wiring the storage units 3a and 4b.For the purpose of an electrical connection in the form of a series connection of all energy storage units placed in the energy storage device, in the illustrated embodiment the units 3b and 4b are further electrically interconnected by a line 5c.

[0043] Figure 2 schematically shows an embodiment of the energy storage device according to the invention in a to Figure 1 suitable side view. The central aspect of this illustration is the demonstration of a possible design of the form-locking coded mounting locations to specify a unique position and orientation of the energy storage units placed therein.

[0044] In the given illustration, mounting devices 2a and 2b, designed as crossbeams, are attached to the base 1a, which is connected to the wall 1c via connecting elements 1b. The mounting devices 2a and 2b are similarly designed and each provides two mounting positions 7a and 8a, or 7b and 8b, for energy storage units. The design of each mounting device differs for the two mounting positions, so that only a corresponding, form-fitting counterpart 6a or 6b can be functionally accommodated. The different coding of the individual mounting positions 7a and 8a, or 7b and 8b, achieved through this form-fitting design, serves to unambiguously define the position and orientation of the energy storage units placed therein.

[0045] In the Figure 2In the illustrated embodiment, for example, only the shaped counterpart 6b fits the receiving positions 7a and 7b of the receiving devices 2a and 2b, respectively. The same applies to the receiving positions 8a and 8b with the corresponding counterpart 6a.

[0046] Each energy storage unit has a counterpart 6a and 6b, the position of which is based on the position of the poles of the electrical connections 9 and is the same for all energy storage units. Thus, in the Figure 2 In the illustrated version, the counterparts 6a are always on the side of the negative electrical pole and the counterparts 6b are on the side of the positive pole of the individual energy storage units.

[0047] The resulting form-fitting coding of the individual mounting positions means that, in the illustrated embodiment, for example, the energy storage unit 3a can only be placed in mounting position 7a of the mounting device 2a in the orientation shown. The same applies, among other things, to the orientation of the energy storage unit 4a placed in mounting position 8a. The orientations of the individual energy storage units are illustrated in the chosen representation by the orientations or positions of the poles of the electrical connections 9.

[0048] The energy storage units in the energy storage device are connected in series by identical electrical lines 5a, 5b, 5c. According to the relevant Figure 1 The described wiring variant also shows Figure 2 , that the feature of the predetermined length of the cables prevents any wiring that could lead to a short circuit.

[0049] In the according to Figure 2 In the given embodiment, short-circuited wiring is reliably prevented by the use of polarity-specific connection devices. These are detachable MC4 connectors with MC4 panel-mount sockets 10a and 10c attached to the electrical connections of the energy storage units, and corresponding MC4 plugs 10b and 10d on the individual lines. The polarity-specific design of the panel-mount sockets means that an electrical connection can only be established by the MC4 plug 10b that fits socket 10a or by the MC4 plug 10d that fits socket 10c.

[0050] In the Figure 2In the given version, the mounting sockets 10a are always located at the negative pole and the mounting sockets 10c are always located at the positive pole of the electrical connections of the energy storage units, and the lines 5a, 5b, 5c each have a plug 10b and 10d at their ends. Reference sign

[0051] 1a Base 1b Connecting element between base and wall 1c Wall 2a, 2b Mounting devices / crossbeams with coding 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b Energy storage units 5a, 5b, 5c Cables 6a, 6b Counterparts on the energy storage units for positive locking coding 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b Mounting positions 9 Electrical connections of the energy storage unit 10a MC4 panel mount socket (negative pole) 10b MC4 plug (matching 10a) 10c MC4 panel mount socket (positive pole) 10d MC4 plug (matching 10b)

Claims

1. Energy storage device having a plurality of energy storage units (3a, 4a, 3b, 4b) which are placed in receiving locations (7a, 8a, 7b, 8b) of a carrier unit and are connected to one another by means of electrical connecting elements of predetermined length, in such a way that cabling of the energy storage units (3a, 4a, 3b, 4b) which leads to polarity reversal and / or to a short circuit is ruled out, in that the carrier unit comprises a base (1a) and a plurality of receiving devices (2a, 2b) which are connected to the base (1a) at fixed positions and each comprise two receiving locations (7a, 8a, 7b, 8b) for energy storage units (3a, 4a, 3b, 4b), the base (1a) of the carrier unit can be connected to an environment (1c) of the energy storage device in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner, the configuration of the receiving locations (7a, 8a, 7b, 8b) uniquely fixes the position and orientation of the energy storage units (3a, 4a, 3b, 4b) with respect to the carrier unit, wherein two energy storage units (3a, 4a, 3b, 4b) of an individual receiving device (2a; 2b) have an opposite orientation, and the electrical connecting elements are designed as lines (5a, 5b, 5c) with connection devices (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) which are adapted in accordance with the polarity reversal of the energy storage units.

2. Energy storage device according to Claim 1, wherein the receiving devices (2a, 2b) of the carrier unit are connected releasably to the base (1a).

3. Energy storage device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the receiving devices (2a, 2b) are designed as traverses in which the energy storage units (3a, 4a, 3b, 4b) are placed in a suspended manner.

4. Energy storage device according to Claim 3, wherein the carrier unit contains up to six receiving locations (7a, 7b, 8a, 8b) for energy storage units (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b).

5. Energy storage device according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the position and orientation of the energy storage units (3a, 4a, 3b, 4b) with respect to the receiving devices (2a, 2b) are uniquely predefined by a positively locking coding which is adapted thereto.

6. Energy storage device according to Claim 5, wherein the energy storage units (3a, 4a, 3b, 4b) are connected releasably to the receiving devices (2a, 2b).

7. Energy storage device according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein the energy storage units (3a, 4a, 3b, 4b) are battery modules.

8. Energy storage device according to Claim 7, wherein the energy storage units (3a, 4a, 3b, 4b) are electrically connected to one another in series by the lines (5a, 5b, 5c).

9. Energy storage device according to Claim 8, wherein one or more connections produced by the connection devices between lines (5a, 5b, 5c) and energy storage units (3a, 4a, 3b, 4b) are designed to be releasable.

10. Energy storage device according to Claim 9, wherein the connection devices are designed as MC4 plug connections with MC4 installation sockets (10a, 10c) and MC4 plugs (10b, 10d).

11. Energy supply system which comprises a combined heat and power and / or photovoltaic system and an energy storage device according to one of Claims 1 to 10.