Battery module container with a protective step, electrical power storage system and associated method

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery module container (16) having a structure (30) which comprises: - a floor support member (34) with two longitudinal members (60) and crossmembers (64) connecting same, each longitudinal member having an upper face (62); - a floor (32) having an upper surface (43) for supporting the modules extending up to side edges (45) opposite the longitudinal members; - peripheral walls, at least one of which defines a door (92A) movable between a closed position in which a lower edge (104) faces the upper face and an open position; and - a roof above the peripheral walls. Along the lower edge of the door in the closed position, the side edge of the upper surface extends at a height above that of the upper face, the floor support member defining a step (84) between the upper face and the upper surface, defining a space (108) for receiving water.

Description

[0001] TITLE: BATTERY MODULE CONTAINER WITH PROTECTIVE STEP, STORAGE SYSTEM

[0002] ELECTRIC POWER AND ASSOCIATED METHOD

[0003] The present invention relates to a battery module container, comprising a structure comprising:

[0004] - a floor support, comprising two side rails, lower corner pieces fixed to the ends of the rails and crosspieces connecting the rails together, each rail having an upper face,

[0005] - a floor supported by the floor support, the floor having an upper surface for supporting battery modules extending to lateral edges arranged opposite the side members,

[0006] - peripheral walls, at least one peripheral wall defining at least one door movable between a closed position in which a lower edge of the door extends opposite the flat upper face of the side member and an open position, and

[0007] - a roof, arranged above the peripheral walls, the floor, the peripheral walls and the roof defining an interior volume for receiving battery modules.

[0008] Such a container is intended to contain battery modules to provide a movable source of electrical power, suitable for temporary or permanent installation on a site requiring electrical power.

[0009] Conventionally, it is known to build an electrical power storage system by placing, in a standard parallelepiped container, battery modules and an electrical and thermal management unit for the modules. This storage system is easily movable, particularly by road, rail, sea or air transport.

[0010] The structure of the container holding the battery modules generally includes a floor, peripheral walls projecting from the floor, and a flat roof that closes the interior volume containing the battery modules. The peripheral walls are equipped with doors that allow access to the interior volume when necessary.

[0011] As standard, the container is equipped with corner pieces at its lower and upper corners. The lower corner pieces project downwards relative to the floor and the upper corner pieces project upwards relative to the roof. Thus, the container can be placed under another container, with the lower corner pieces of the other container resting on the upper corner pieces of the container. Such a container is not entirely satisfactory when it is placed outdoors. This is because the lower edge of the door is flush with the upper surface of the floor receiving the modules.

[0012] If an operator opens the container door during rain, water will collect on the inside of the door in the open position. This water may drip onto the floor when the door is moved to the closed position.

[0013] Likewise, during transport, rainwater may seep along the inside of the door to the floor.

[0014] The presence of stagnant water in the container is likely to generate humidity and condensation in the interior volume. It increases the risk of electric arcing if it is projected onto the power cables.

[0015] To overcome this problem, it is known, for example, from CN 1 11 422 515, to add a sloping protruding joint to the floor in order to block the entry of water into the module.

[0016] This solution protects the container. However, it is not satisfactory for handling battery modules, since the sloping seal protrudes above the floor surface.

[0017] Therefore, to move the battery modules that are stacked on top of each other, it is necessary to lift them over the protruding part, which complicates handling, given the mass of the modules. An alternative solution is to raise the modules above the floor, but this reduces the number of modules present in the container, and therefore the available electrical power.

[0018] An aim of the invention is therefore to obtain a battery module container which is highly weather-resistant, while providing easy handling of the battery modules and providing maximized electrical power.

[0019] To this end, the invention relates to a container of the aforementioned type, in which at least along the lower edge of the door in the closed position, the lateral edge of the upper surface of the floor extends to a height situated above the height of the upper face of the side member, the floor support defining a step between the upper face of the side member and the upper surface of the floor, the step delimiting, opposite the door in the closed position, a water receiving volume situated below the upper surface of the floor and above the upper face of the side member.

[0020] The container according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in any technically possible combination:

[0021] - the floor support comprises a longitudinal beam laterally delimiting the step; - the longitudinal beam is fixed on the upper face of the side member;

[0022] - the side edge of the floor is fixed to the longitudinal beam;

[0023] - the crosspieces fixed to the side members have an upper face located above the upper face of the side member, the floor being attached to the upper faces of the crosspieces;

[0024] - the upper surface of the floor has at least one flat lateral region in the vicinity of the lateral edge, the upper face of the side member being flat and parallel to the flat lateral region;

[0025] - the height between the upper surface of the floor and the upper face of the side member is between 20 mm and 60 mm;

[0026] - the side members are each formed from an IPN or a profiled beam with a polygonal profile;

[0027] - the lower edge of the door is provided with a sealing gasket applied to the upper face of the side member in the closed position of the door;

[0028] - the lower edge of the door extends below the upper surface of the floor in the closed position of the door;

[0029] - the structure defines pillars mounted above the lower corner pieces, the stringers extending the full length between the pillars and the step extending the full length of the stringer between the pillars; and

[0030] - the container is elongated along a longitudinal axis, the side members extending along the longitudinal axis of the container;

[0031] - the water receiving volume is defined by an external lateral face of the longitudinal beam, the upper face of the side member and an internal face of the door in the closed position;

[0032] - the width of the water receiving volume, taken between the outer lateral face of the longitudinal beam and the inner lateral face of the door in the closed position, is greater than the width of the longitudinal beam taken between its lateral faces;

[0033] - the floor, in particular the side edge of the floor, completely covers the upper face of the longitudinal beam.

[0034] The invention also relates to an electrical power storage system, comprising:

[0035] - a container as defined above;

[0036] - battery modules received in the interior volume; and

[0037] - terminals, connected to the battery modules and intended to be connected to a consumer of electrical power supplied by the battery modules and / or to a supplier of electrical power for recharging the battery modules. The electrical power storage system may comprise the following characteristic:

[0038] - the structure comprises an internal partition separating the interior volume to delimit a control room receiving at least one battery module management system, at least one storage room receiving the battery modules, at least one movable door extending opposite the storage room, the step extending at least over the entire length of the storage room.

[0039] The invention also relates to a method of intervention in a storage system as defined above, comprising the following steps:

[0040] - moving the door from the closed position to the open position to carry out the intervention,

[0041] - water deposit on the inside of the door when open,

[0042] - moving the door from the open position to the closed position,

[0043] - water flow along the inner face to the lower edge of the door, and

[0044] - water collection in the water reception volume delimited by the step.

[0045] The invention will be better understood by reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0046] Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4 each illustrate an electrical power storage system according to the invention.

[0047] The storage system 10 is intended to be moved to a site of use, for example by a road vehicle such as a truck, by a rail vehicle, and / or by a maritime vehicle such as a transport vessel. It is intended to be electrically connected to an electrical energy use network at a site of use and alternately to an electrical energy supply network for its recharging.

[0048] The storage system 10 comprises a container 12 of battery modules 16, delimiting an interior volume 14, and a plurality of battery modules 16 received in the interior volume 14. The storage system 10 advantageously comprises a system 18 for electrical and thermal management of the battery modules 16 (“Battery Management Module” or “BMM” in English) and a security system 20.

[0049] In this example, with reference to Figure 2, the container 12 contains for example between 10 and 150 battery modules 16. The battery modules 16 are arranged in the form of columns and rows. They are mounted in series and / or in parallel to deliver to at least two electrical terminals 22 present on the container 12, an electrical power which can reach up to 4MWh for voltages of up to 1500V. Each battery module comprises a plurality of electrochemical cells, for example received in prismatic or cylindrical cases or in flexible bags. Each electrochemical cell comprises anodes, cathodes and separators, between which electrochemical reactions take place.

[0050] The management system 18 is capable of controlling the voltage and intensity delivered by each battery module when supplying electrical power, and the power and intensity of electrical current delivered to each battery module when recharging the battery modules 16.

[0051] The electrical terminals 22 are intended to connect to the user network (not shown) for the supply of electrical energy stored in the battery modules 16, and alternately, to an electrical power supply network, for recharging the battery modules 16.

[0052] The safety system 20 comprises, for example, sensors (not shown) for detecting temperature and / or pressure in the interior volume 14, a source of inert gas 24, and a control unit 25, capable of delivering the inert gas into the interior volume 14 from the source of inert gas 24, upon detection of an increase in temperature and / or pressure greater than a given threshold in the interior volume 14.

[0053] The container 12 comprises a self-supporting structure 30, intended to define the interior volume 14, and to allow the joint transport of the battery modules 16, the management system 18, and the security system 20 to a site of use.

[0054] The structure 30 comprises a floor 32 mounted on a floor support 34. It comprises peripheral walls 36 projecting at the periphery of the floor 32, the peripheral walls 36 being supported by vertical pillars 38 at the corner of the walls 36. It further comprises a roof 40 carried by a support frame 42.

[0055] The structure 30 of the container 12 is here of polyhedral shape. In particular, the structure 30 has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, extending longitudinally along a longitudinal axis A-A' which is horizontal when the container 12 is placed on a horizontal support.

[0056] The dimensions of the 30 structure are governed by transport standards.

[0057] The container 12 has, for example, a length greater than 2 m, in particular between 2.5 m and 15 m, a width greater than 1 m, in particular between 2 m and 4 m and a height greater than 1 m, in particular between 2 m and 4 m.

[0058] The container 12 is in particular a 20-foot container called “High Cube” of 6.058 m in length, 2.438 m in width and 2.896 m in height. However, the present invention applies to any type of container having ISO corners (e.g. 40 feet (12 m), 10 feet (3 m), etc.). The floor 32 is here flat. With reference to FIG. 3, it defines upwards, an upper flat support surface 43 which supports the battery modules 16, the management system 18 as well as the security system 20 when it is present.

[0059] The support surface 43 delimits the interior volume 14 downwards. It has lateral edges 45 which extend opposite the peripheral walls 36. It is supported by the floor support 34.

[0060] The floor support 34 is for example suitable for being gripped by gripping members of a crane, in order to lift the container 12 and move it.

[0061] The floor support 34 comprises at least two edge beams 60 extending along the longitudinal axis of the container 12 and crosspieces 64 transversely connecting the beams 60 to each other.

[0062] The floor support 34 further comprises in this example a longitudinal beam 65 fixed to the side member 60, on which the floor 32 rests.

[0063] The floor support 34 is also provided with lower corner pieces 44 extending at each corner defined between two adjacent peripheral walls 36.

[0064] The lower corner pieces 44 are ISO corners. They have a lower surface 48 intended to rest on the ground or on another support, the floor 32 then being located above the ground or the support. The lower corner pieces 44 have side surfaces 46 on which the respective edge beams 60 are fixed.

[0065] In this example, as seen in Figure 3, the edge beams 60 are each formed from a beam having here a polygonal or pseudo-polygonal cross-section profile.

[0066] Each edge beam 60 extends longitudinally along a respective longitudinal edge of the structure 30 over the entire length between the pillars 38. Each edge beam 60 has a planar upper face 62.

[0067] The crosspieces 64 are attached to the side members 60. They are perpendicular to the side members 60.

[0068] The crosspieces 64 have upper faces 66 which support the floor 32. Each upper face 66 of a crosspiece 64 is here located adjacent to the upper face of an edge beam 62, at a height greater than the height of the upper face of the edge beam 62.

[0069] The longitudinal beam 65 is attached to the upper face of the spar 62, along its inner edge, advantageously over the entire length of the spar 60 between the pillars 38.

[0070] It is formed here from a profile of polygonal section. Advantageously, its height is substantially equal to its width. The longitudinal beam 65 has an external lateral face 80 perpendicular to the upper face of the spar 62.

[0071] The upper face 82 of the beam 65 is flush with the upper face 66 of the crosspiece 64.

[0072] The floor 32 is thus fixed on the upper face 66 of the crosspiece 64, with its lateral edge 45 attached to the beam 65.

[0073] The upper surface 43 of the floor 32 is here flat. It extends to a height greater than that of the upper face of the side member 62.

[0074] Thus, the upper surface 43 of the floor 32, the lateral face 80 of the beam 65 and the upper face of the side member 62 define a protective step 84 between the side member 60 and the floor 32.

[0075] The step 84 here extends over the entire length of the side member 60 between the pillars 38. It has a height, for example, of between 20 mm and 60 mm.

[0076] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the peripheral walls 36 comprise two longitudinal vertical walls 50A, 50B, the longitudinal walls 50A, 50B being arranged vertically, parallel to the axis A-A', on either side of the axis A-A'.

[0077] The peripheral walls 36 further comprise two transverse vertical walls 52C, 52D extending perpendicular to the axis A-A' and connecting the longitudinal walls 50 to each other at the longitudinal ends of the structure 30.

[0078] The longitudinal walls 50 and the transverse walls 52 delimit two by two corners of the structure 30. They delimit the interior volume 14 towards the outside.

[0079] As visible in Figure 1, the longitudinal walls 50 and possibly the transverse walls 52 are provided with movable doors 92A, 92B making it possible to provide an access passage to the interior volume 14 from the exterior of the container 12, and with a locking mechanism 93 for the movable doors 92A, 92B.

[0080] Advantageously, with reference to FIG. 2, the structure 30 also comprises an internal partition 54 in the interior volume 14, delimiting in the interior volume 14 a room 56 for storing the battery modules 16, and separately, a control room 58, receiving the management system 18 and the security system 20.

[0081] At least one door 92A provided in a peripheral wall 36 allows access to the storage room 56, without having to open the control room 58, and at least one other door 92B allows access to the control room 58, without having to open the storage room 56.

[0082] With reference to Figure 3, each door 92A has an inner face 100 intended to close the interior volume 14, an outer face 102, intended to carry the locking mechanism 93, and a lower edge 104 extending between the inner face 100 and the outer face 102.

[0083] Each door 92A advantageously has on its lower edge 104 a deformable sealing gasket 106, intended to be applied to the upper face 62 of the edge spar 60.

[0084] Each door 92A is hinged about at least one vertical axis to be movable between a closed position and an open position.

[0085] In the open position, door 92A has been pivoted to release an access passage to interior volume 14.

[0086] In the closed position, the door 92A extends parallel to the axis A-A'. The inner face 100 of the door closes the passage to close the interior volume 14.

[0087] Given the presence of the step 84, the side members 60 have an upper face 62 lower than the upper surface 43 of the floor 32. The door 92A is then extended downwards so that its lower edge 104 extends in the vicinity of the upper face 62 of the edge side member 60.

[0088] The lower edge 104 of the door is therefore located at an intermediate height between the upper surface 43 of the floor 32 and the upper face of the side member 62, below the upper surface 43 of the floor 32.

[0089] The sealing gasket 106, when present, closes the gap between the lower edge 104 and the upper face 62 of the spar 60.

[0090] In the closed position, a lower region of the door 92A therefore extends opposite the step 84, in particular the outer lateral face 80 of the longitudinal beam 65. The step 84 and the lower region of the door 92A define between them a water receiving volume 108 which is located below the upper surface 43 of the floor 32.

[0091] The water receiving volume 108 is defined by the outer lateral face 80 of the beam 65, the upper face 62 of the spar 60 and the inner face 100 of the door 92A.

[0092] This volume 108 is capable of receiving water present on the inner face 100 of the door 92A, which would flow downwards, preventing this water from being deposited on the upper surface 43 of the floor 32. The risk of contamination of the floor 32 by water flowing over the inner face 100 of the door is therefore greatly reduced.

[0093] Step 84 therefore defines a physical boundary forcing the water, which flows over door 92A, to block in the receiving volume 108.

[0094] The height of the upper face of the side member 62 being lowered to form the step 84, the floor 32 retains its upper surface 43 at the same height, which makes it possible to keep the interior volume 14 available for placing battery modules 16 constant.

[0095] Furthermore, since the step 84 extends under the upper surface 43 of the floor 32, it does not hinder the handling of the battery modules 16, in particular when they have to be extracted from the interior volume 14. Even if a battery module 16 is placed on the upper surface 43 of the floor 32, or just above this surface 43, it can be extracted without having to lift it.

[0096] Furthermore, the step 84 forms an internal stop blocking the movement of the door 92A towards the interior volume 14. The cooperation between the outer lateral face 80 of the longitudinal beam 65 and the lower region of the door prevents the door 92A from pivoting towards the interior volume 14 beyond the closed position. This prevents the door 92A from slamming onto the battery modules 16.

[0097] With reference to figures 1 and 3, the locking mechanism 93 of the door 92A comprises in this example at least one cremone bolt 114 rotatably mounted on the outer face 102 of the door, retaining clips 116 of the cremone bolt 114 on the door 92A, and an actuating handle 118 suitable for being grasped by a user.

[0098] Conventionally, the cremone bolt 114 is provided, at its lower end, with a locking cam 120 for the door 92A. When the cremone bolt 114 rotates under the action of the handle 118, the cam 120 is able to pivot between a configuration engaged on a locking stop 121 carried by the structure 30 of the floor 32, in which the door 92A is locked in the closed position and a configuration disengaged from the locking stop 121 in which the door 92A is free to move into its open position.

[0099] In this example, the locking stop 121 is attached to an external lateral face of the beam of the side member 60, ensuring robustness and precision in locking the door.

[0100] In operation, the container 12 is connected to a user network to deliver electrical power to this network from the battery modules 16 present in the container 12 or to a source of electrical power in order to recharge the battery modules 16 present in the container 12.

[0101] Doors 92A, 92B are generally held in the closed position, with the cremone bolt 114 of each door 92A in the locked configuration.

[0102] To access the interior volume 14 of the container 12, an operator unlocks the locking mechanism 93, advantageously by pivoting the cremone bolt 114 around its axis by manipulating the handle 118. He then moves the door 92A into the open position to free up a passage for access to the interior volume 14. The user can then enter and exit the interior volume 14 of the container 12.

[0103] In the event of bad weather, each door 92A in the open position can receive water on its inner face 100.

[0104] When the operator moves the door 92A into the closed position and reactivates the locking mechanism 93, if water present on the inner face 100 of the door runs downwards, it is collected in the water receiving volume 108 created by the step 84, avoiding contaminating the floor 32.

[0105] In a variant of container 12, visible in FIG. 4, the structure 30 supporting the floor 34 differs from that visible in FIG. 3 in that the side members 60 are IPN beams 122 having an I-shaped section. An IPN beam 122 having a height chosen so that its upper face 62 is not flush with the upper surface 43 of the floor 32 is used to create the step 84.

[0106] In a variant (not shown), the system is devoid of a longitudinal beam 65 between the upper face 62 of the side member 60 and the upper surface 43 of the floor 32. The step 84 is then devoid of an external lateral face, or a simple cover can be positioned in place of the longitudinal beam 65 to form an external lateral face of the step.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Container (12) of battery modules (16), comprising a structure (30) comprising: - a floor support (34), comprising two lateral side members (60), lower corner pieces (44) fixed to the ends of the side members (60) and crosspieces (64) connecting the side members (60) together, each side member (60) having an upper face (62), - a floor (32) supported by the floor support (34), the floor (32) having an upper support surface (43) for battery modules (16) extending to lateral edges (45) arranged opposite the side members (60), - peripheral walls (36), at least one peripheral wall (36) defining at least one door (92A, 92B) movable between a closed position in which a lower edge (104) of the door extends opposite the flat upper face (62) of the side member (60) and an open position, - a roof (40), arranged above the peripheral walls (36), the floor (32), the peripheral walls (36) and the roof (40) defining an interior volume (14) for receiving battery modules (16), characterized in that at least along the lower edge (104) of the door (92A, 92B) in the closed position, the lateral edge (45) of the upper surface (43) of the floor (32) extends to a height situated above the height of the upper face (62) of the side member (60), the floor support (34) defining a step (84) between the upper face (62) of the side member (60) and the upper surface (43) of the floor (32), the step (84) delimiting opposite the door (92A, 92B) in the closed position, a water receiving volume (108) situated below the upper surface (43) of the floor (32) and above the upper face (62) of the spar (60).

2. Container (12) according to claim 1, in which the floor support (34) comprises a longitudinal beam (65) laterally delimiting the step (84).

3. Container (12) according to claim 2, in which the longitudinal beam (65) is fixed on the upper face (62) of the side member (60).

4. Container (12) according to any one of claims 2 to 3, in which the lateral edge (45) of the floor (32) is fixed on the longitudinal beam (65).

5. Container (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the crosspieces (64) fixed on the side members (60) have an upper face (66) located above the upper face (62) of the side member (60), the floor (32) being attached to the upper faces (66) of the crosspieces (64).

6. Container (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper surface (43) of the floor (32) has at least one flat lateral region in the vicinity of the lateral edge (45), the upper face (62) of the side member (60) being flat and parallel to the flat lateral region.

7. Container (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the height between the upper surface (43) of the floor (32) and the upper face (62) of the side member (60) is between 20 mm and 60 mm.

8. Container (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the side members (60) are each formed from an IPN (122) or a profiled beam of polygonal profile.

9. Container (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the lower edge (104) of the door (92A, 92B) is provided with a sealing gasket (106) applied to the upper face (62) of the side member (60) in the closed position of the door (92A, 92B).

10. Container (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower edge (104) of the door (92A, 92B) extends below the upper surface (43) of the floor (32) in the closed position of the door (92A, 92B).

11. A container (12) according to any preceding claim, wherein the structure (30) defines pillars (38) mounted above the lower corner fittings (44), the stringers (60) extending the full length between the pillars (38) and the step (84) extending the full length of the stringer (60) between the pillars (38).

12. Container (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the container (12) is of elongate shape along a longitudinal axis (A-A'), the side members (60) extending along the longitudinal axis (A-A') of the container (12).

13. Electrical power storage system (10), comprising: - a container (12) according to any one of the preceding claims; - battery modules (16) received in the interior volume (14); - terminals, connected to the battery modules (16) and intended to be connected to a consumer of electrical power supplied by the battery modules (16) and / or to a supplier of electrical power for recharging the battery modules (16).

14. System (10) according to claim 13, in which the structure (30) comprises an internal partition (54) separating the interior volume (14) to delimit a control room (58) receiving at least one system (18) for managing the battery modules (16), at least one storage room (56) receiving the battery modules (16), at least one movable door (92A, 92B) extending opposite the storage room (56), the step (84) extending at least over the entire length of the storage room (56).

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