Battery module container provided with a cooling system, electric power storage system, and associated method

Abstract

The invention relates to a container (12) which comprises a system (31) for diffusing cooled air to each battery module (16), the diffusion system (31) comprising a device for generating cooled air. The cooled air diffusion system (31) comprises at least two horizontal tubes (62) for conveying cooled air to the battery modules (16) delimiting therebetween an intermediate space (64), each horizontal tube (62) having a plurality of cooled air diffusion openings (80) intended to open facing successive battery modules (16) placed along the horizontal tubes (62). The cooled air diffusion system (31) comprises at least one vertical plenum (66) connected to the cooled air generating device (60) and to the horizontal tubes (62) for distributing the cooled air in the horizontal tubes (62).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: Battery module container with cooling system, electrical power storage system and associated method

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

[0004] - a floor having an upper surface for supporting battery modules,

[0005] - peripheral walls,

[0006] - a roof, arranged above the peripheral walls, the floor, the peripheral walls and the roof defining an interior volume for receiving the battery modules,

[0007] - a system for distributing cooled air to each battery module, included in the interior volume, the diffusion system comprising a device for generating cooled air.

[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 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] During operation, the modules included in the container are charged to store electrical power received from an electrical power source and discharged to provide electrical power to an electrical power consumer. These successive charges and discharges cause heating of the cells of the battery modules and therefore an increase in temperature within the battery modules.

[0012] However, a battery module must preferably operate within a very specific temperature range, for example between 18 and 25°C. In some cases, battery modules can reach a temperature well above the desired temperature, for example around 40°C.

[0013] Above a certain temperature, battery module cells have an irreversibly reduced lifespan. In some cases, this degradation causes events that endanger the container, for example thermal runaway.

[0014] Furthermore, below a certain temperature, the modules have increased internal resistance and heat up more due to the Joule effect.

[0015] Therefore, it is necessary to cool the modules so that they are at the ideal temperature for operation.

[0016] To achieve this, it is known to equip the container with a cooled air generation device by arranging it under the roof above the battery modules. The cooled air generation device blows cooled air from top to bottom.

[0017] This solution is not entirely satisfactory. Indeed, the diffusion of cold air from top to bottom around the modules creates a vertical thermal gradient, since the upper modules are cooled more than the lower modules. Similarly, the modules located closer to the cooled air generation device are cooled more than those further away, which causes an axial temperature gradient.

[0018] To address this problem, CN112259827 describes a storage system in which cold air is transported from top to bottom using ducts to each battery module individually connected to a duct. The hot air produced in each module is recovered and transported through pipes to a cooled air generation device.

[0019] This solution is still not optimal. Since the pipes bringing cold air to the modules are vertical, a vertical thermal gradient always exists. In particular, the cold air flow is not distributed evenly throughout the modules, with the upper modules receiving the cold air first, and the lower modules continuing to receive warmer air.

[0020] Furthermore, this type of solution is particularly suitable for use in buildings, where it is possible to easily extract the hot air leaving the modules to the outside, and not in container-type applications, where the volume is limited and the container must be sealed against outside air. The cooling system is also bulky.

[0021] An object of the invention is to provide an electrical power storage system, in which the heating of battery modules during successive charges and discharges is limited and this is done in a homogeneous manner across all the battery modules. To this end, the invention relates to a container of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the cooled air diffusion system comprises at least two horizontal tubes for routing the cooled air towards the battery modules delimiting between them an intermediate space, each horizontal tube having a plurality of cooled air diffusion openings intended to open opposite successive battery modules placed along the horizontal tubes, the cooled air diffusion system comprising at least one vertical plenum connected to the cooled air generation device and to the horizontal tubes to distribute the cooled air in the horizontal tubes.

[0022] The container according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in any technically possible combination:

[0023] - the cooled air diffusion system comprises at least three horizontal tubes distributed over the height of the vertical plenum, the assembly formed by the horizontal tubes and the vertical plenum forming a cooled air diffusion comb;

[0024] - the interior volume comprises at least one battery module storage compartment, the horizontal tubes extending horizontally over more than 50% of the length of the battery module storage compartment;

[0025] - the vertical plenum internally contains a plurality of blades for distributing the cooled air flow between the horizontal tubes;

[0026] - at least two diffusion openings along each horizontal tube have different area sections and / or at least one diffusion opening on a first horizontal tube has an area section different from the area of ​​another diffusion opening on another horizontal tube;

[0027] - at least part of the diffusion openings open vertically upwards, advantageously at least part of the diffusion openings open vertically downwards;

[0028] - the plenum has a cooled air intake opening in its internal space, connected to the cooled air generation device, the cooled air intake opening in the internal space having an internal section of area A1 substantially equal to the sum of the areas A2 of the internal sections of all the horizontal tubes.

[0029] The invention also relates to an electrical power storage system, comprising:

[0030] - a container as defined above;

[0031] - battery modules received in the interior volume; - 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.

[0032] The system according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in any technically possible combination:

[0033] - the storage system comprises at least one row of battery modules, each row comprising a plurality of columns of battery modules, the horizontal tubes extending along the row of battery modules at different heights opposite each column;

[0034] - each battery module is placed opposite a horizontal tube, the horizontal tube comprising a diffusion opening specific to each battery module;

[0035] - each battery module comprises an outer casing defining a fresh air intake passage, the diffusion opening opening in the vicinity of the fresh air intake passage without connection with the fresh air intake passage;

[0036] - the external housing has a hot air exhaust passage, the hot air exhaust passage opening into the interior volume without being connected to a hot air collection system;

[0037] - the cooled air generation device comprises a hot air intake inlet, the battery modules and the cooled air diffusion system externally delimiting in the interior volume a fluid path between each hot air discharge passage and the intake inlet.

[0038] The invention also relates to a method for cooling battery modules in a storage system as defined above, the method comprising the following steps:

[0039] - generation of cooled air using the cooled air generation device,

[0040] - passage of cooled air into the vertical plenum to distribute it between the horizontal tubes,

[0041] - circulation of cooled air through the horizontal tubes to the diffusion openings,

[0042] - diffusion of cooled air from the diffusion openings towards the battery modules,

[0043] - intake of cooled air into the battery modules.

[0044] The method according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in any technically possible combination: - the temperature difference between the temperature of the hottest battery module and the average temperature of the battery modules is less than 5°C;

[0045] - the cooling method comprises a discharge of heated air by each battery module, and a circulation of the heated air between the battery modules and the cooled air diffusion system towards a heated air intake inlet of the cooled air generation device, without passing through a hot air collection system.

[0046] 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:

[0047] -[Fig.1] Figure 1 is a view, taken in three-quarter perspective, of a first electrical power storage system according to the invention;

[0048] - [Fig.2] Figure 2 is a view, taken in section along a median vertical plane, of the first electrical power storage system according to the invention;

[0049] - [Fig. 3] Figure 3 is a view, taken in section along a horizontal plane, of the first electrical power storage system according to the invention;

[0050] - [Fig. 4] Figure 4 is a schematic view, taken in section along a vertical plane, of a plenum of the cooled air diffusion system of the first electrical power storage system according to the invention;

[0051] - [Fig.5] Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 of a variant of the electrical power storage system according to the invention;

[0052] Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a first electrical energy storage system 10 according to the invention.

[0053] 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.

[0054] The storage system 10 comprises a container 12 of battery modules, delimiting an interior volume 14, and a plurality of battery modules 16 received in the interior volume 14. The storage system 10 advantageously comprises an electrical and thermal management system for the battery modules 16 (“Battery Management Module” or “BMM” in English) and a security system (not shown).

[0055] In this example, with reference to figure 2, the container 12 contains for example between 10 and 150 battery modules 16. It extends along a longitudinal axis A-A'.

[0056] The battery modules 16 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 for example up to 4MWh for voltages going in particular up to 1500V.

[0057] Each battery module 16 comprises a plurality of electrochemical cells, for example received in prismatic or cylindrical inner housings or in flexible pockets. Each electrochemical cell comprises anodes, cathodes and separators, between which electrochemical reactions take place.

[0058] Each battery module 16 comprises an outer casing 21 containing the inner casings or cell pockets. As seen in Figures 2 and 3, each outer casing 21 comprises a fresh air intake passage 21 A opening here towards the axis A-A' and a hot air exhaust passage 21 B, opening here away from the axis A-A'.

[0059] The battery modules 16 are arranged vertically in the form of columns 22A and horizontally in the form of at least one row 22B, here at least two parallel rows 22B extending parallel to the longitudinal axis A-A' of the container 12.

[0060] Each row 22B comprises a plurality of columns 22A of battery modules 16, arranged one after the other parallel to the axis A-A'.

[0061] The columns 22A define between them transverse intermediate volumes 22C. Similarly, the rows 22B delimit between them an axial intermediate volume 22D, the volumes 22C, 22D allowing circulation of an air flow.

[0062] The management system (not shown) 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.

[0063] 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.

[0064] The safety system (not shown) comprises, for example, sensors for detecting temperature and / or pressure in the interior volume 14, a source of inert gas, and a control unit, capable of delivering the inert gas into the interior volume 14 from the source of inert gas, upon detection of an increase in temperature, smoke, carbon monoxide and / or pressure greater than a given threshold in the interior volume 14.

[0065] With reference to Figure 1, 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, and the security system to a site of use. It contains, as visible in Figures 2 and 3, a system 31 for diffusing cooled air towards each battery module 16 included in the interior volume 14.

[0066] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the structure 30 comprises a floor 32, peripheral walls 36 projecting at the periphery of the floor 32 and a roof 38. The floor 32, the peripheral walls 36 and the roof 38 internally delimit the interior volume 14.

[0067] 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 the longitudinal axis A-A' which is horizontal when the container 12 is placed on a horizontal support.

[0068] The dimensions of the 30 structure are governed by transport standards.

[0069] 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.

[0070] Container 12 is in particular a 20-foot container called “High Cube” 6.058 m long, 2.438 m wide and 2.896 m high. However, the present invention applies to any type of container having ISO corners (e.g. 40 feet (12 m), 10 feet (3 m), etc.).

[0071] The floor 32 is here planar. With reference to Figure 2, it defines upwards, an upper planar support surface 43 which supports the battery modules 16, the cooled air diffusion system 31, the management system as well as the security system when it is present.

[0072] With reference to Figures 1 to 3, 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'.

[0073] The peripheral walls 36 further comprise two transverse vertical walls 52C, 52D extending perpendicular to the axis A-A' and connecting the longitudinal walls 50A, 50B to each other at the longitudinal ends of the structure 30.

[0074] The longitudinal walls 50A, 50B and the transverse walls 52C, 52D delimit two by two corners of the structure 30. They delimit the interior volume 14 towards the outside.

[0075] As visible in figures 1 to 3, the longitudinal walls 50A, 50B and possibly the transverse walls 52C, 52D are provided with movable doors 53A, 53B making it possible to provide an access passage to the interior volume 14 from the outside of the container 12, and with a locking mechanism 53C of the movable doors 53A, 53B.

[0076] Advantageously, with reference to FIG. 2, the structure 30 possibly comprises an internal partition 54 in the interior volume 14, delimiting in the interior volume 14 a compartment 56 for storing the battery modules 16, and separately, a control compartment 58, receiving the management system and the security system.

[0077] The cooled air diffusion system 31 is arranged in the interior volume 14. It comprises a device 60 for generating cooled air (visible in FIG. 3), and horizontal tubes 62 for diffusing cooled air towards the battery modules 16, delimiting two by two intermediate spaces 64. The cooled air diffusion system 31 further comprises a vertical plenum 66 for distributing the cooled air produced by the generation device 60 in the horizontal tubes 62, interposed between the generation device 60 and the horizontal tubes 62.

[0078] With reference to FIG. 3, the cooled air generating device 60 comprises, for example, an air conditioning unit 67 accepting hot air at a hot air intake inlet 68 and delivering cooled air at a cooled air discharge outlet 70.

[0079] The horizontal tubes 62 extend linearly in an intermediate volume 22C along a row 22B of battery modules 16. Here they advantageously all extend parallel to the longitudinal axis A-A'.

[0080] The horizontal tubes 62 extend over at least part of the length of the facing rows 22B, here over the entire length of the rows 22B.

[0081] Each horizontal tube 62 is placed opposite the successive faces of the external housings 21 of battery modules 16 in which the fresh air intake passages 21A are arranged, at a predefined height relative to the floor 32. Advantageously, each horizontal tube 62 is placed in the vicinity of or in contact with the successive faces of the external housings 21 of battery modules 16 in which the fresh air intake passages 21A are arranged.

[0082] Each fresh air intake passage 21 A of a battery module 16 present in a column 22A within a row 22B is thus advantageously arranged opposite a horizontal tube 62.

[0083] The horizontal tubes 62 are disjointed and are placed at different heights. They are separated two by two by the intermediate spaces 64. The height of each intermediate space 64 between two adjacent horizontal tubes 62 is preferably greater than 10% of the height separating the central axes of the two adjacent horizontal tubes 62.

[0084] The height of each space 64 is preferably equal to the height of a module 16 so that the horizontal tubes 62 are exactly opposite the fresh air intake passages 21 A. The horizontal tubes 62 preferably have coplanar central axes, located in the same vertical plane containing the longitudinal axis A-A' or parallel to the longitudinal axis A-A'.

[0085] The horizontal tubes 62 have a vertical section, taken perpendicular to their central axis, with a polygonal or circular external contour.

[0086] Each horizontal tube 62 further has, along its length, a plurality of cooled air diffusion openings 80 opening upwards. Advantageously, certain horizontal tubes 62, for example the uppermost one, also have cooled air diffusion openings 80 opening downwards.

[0087] In some cases, the tubes 62 may have cooled air diffusion openings 80 at the top and bottom facing each other.

[0088] The air diffusion openings 80 advantageously have different area sections along each horizontal tube 62 and between the horizontal tubes 62, in order to distribute the air between the battery modules 16 according to their cooling requirements.

[0089] Thus, preferably, at least two air diffusion openings 80 along each horizontal tube 62 have different area sections and / or at least one air diffusion opening 80 on a horizontal tube 62 has a different area section than another air diffusion opening 80 on another horizontal tube 62.

[0090] Advantageously, at least one air diffusion opening 80 is placed opposite each fresh air intake passage 21 A of each battery module 16 to allow the diffusion of cooled air from a horizontal tube 62 towards each battery module 16 via the fresh air intake passage 21 A.

[0091] As can be seen in the figures, the cooled air diffusion system 31 is devoid of a conduit connecting the air diffusion openings 80 to the fresh air intake passages 21 A. Thus, the cooled air passes freely and without physical hindrance between the air diffusion openings 80 and the fresh air intake passages 21 A in the intermediate space 64 between two adjacent horizontal tubes 62.

[0092] The vertical plenum 66 is intended to receive the cooled air flow coming from the cooled air generation device 60 and to distribute this cooled air flow between the different horizontal tubes 62 according to the individual cooling needs of the battery modules 60 located opposite each horizontal tube 62.

[0093] The vertical plenum 66 extends at least over the entire height of the horizontal tubes 62, at one longitudinal end of the horizontal tubes 62.

[0094] Referring to Figure 4, which is a schematic representation, the vertical plenum 66 comprises a casing 90 defining an internal space 92, and blades 94 for distributing cooled air in each horizontal tube 62, arranged in the internal space 92.

[0095] The casing 90 has an opening 96 for inlet of cooled air into the internal space 92 connected to the cooled air outlet 70 of the cooled air generation device 60, via a possibly bent distribution duct 98.

[0096] The casing 90 defines, opposite the horizontal tubes 62, a plurality of vertically distributed cooled air distribution openings 100, to which the horizontal tubes 62 are connected. Each distribution opening 100 thus exclusively supplies a respective horizontal tube 62.

[0097] The vertical plenum 66 and the horizontal tubes 62 assembled on the vertical plenum 66 together form a comb for distributing the cooled air to the different battery modules 16.

[0098] Referring to Figure 4, the cooled air intake opening 96 in the internal space 92 has a maximum internal vertical section of area A1 (taken perpendicular to the local axis of the opening 96) greater than at least twice the area A2 of the maximum internal vertical section of each horizontal tube 62 (taken perpendicular to the central axis of the horizontal tube 62). The area A1 is furthermore substantially equal to the sum of the areas A2 of the internal sections of all the horizontal tubes 62, for example between 80% and 120% of the sum of the areas A2.

[0099] The air distribution blades 94 are arranged horizontally and / or inclinedly in the internal space 92 to create separate channels 102 for supplying cooled air connected upstream to the intake opening 96 and downstream each to a respective distribution opening 100.

[0100] Each channel 102 thus has an internal section which advantageously increases from the intake opening 96 towards each distribution opening 100. Alternatively, depending on the pressure and flow rate requirements, this internal section is constant or decreasing.

[0101] The air circulating in the channels 102 is thus able to be distributed in the different horizontal tubes 62 according to the predetermined requirement for cooled air of each horizontal tube 62, which is itself dependent on the predetermined individual requirement for cooled air of each battery module 60 located along the horizontal tube 62.

[0102] In the example shown in the figures, the battery modules 16 and the cooled air diffusion system 31 externally delimit in the interior volume 14 a free fluid path between each hot air discharge passage 21B and the hot air intake inlet 68 of the cooled air generation device 60. This path extends here, in the transverse intermediate volumes 22C, and / or in the axial intermediate volumes 22D between the external housings 21 of the battery modules 16 and the peripheral walls 36 of the container 12.

[0103] The container 12 is thus devoid of a hot air collection system comprising its own hot air guide ducts. This significantly improves the volume available in the container 12 for arranging the battery modules 16 there.

[0104] 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.

[0105] To compensate for possible heating within the battery modules 16, cooled air is continuously produced by the cooled air generation device 60. The cooled air has a temperature lower than the ambient temperature within the interior volume 14, for example 10°C lower than the ambient temperature.

[0106] The cooled air flow thus generated is conveyed to the vertical plenum 66 via the distribution duct 98 and the cooled air intake opening 96. It is distributed in the horizontal tubes 62 via the circulation channels 102 created by the distribution blades 94.

[0107] The cooled air then circulates in the horizontal tubes 62 via the distribution openings 100 and exits each horizontal tube 62 through diffusion openings 80 opposite the battery modules 16.

[0108] The cooled air then moves to the fresh air intake passages 21A of the outer housings 21 of the various battery modules 16 to cool each battery module 16.

[0109] The heated air in each battery module 16 then exits through the hot air discharge passage 21 B of the outer casing 21 of the battery module 16 and opens into the interior volume 14. It flows freely in the interior volume 14 towards the hot air intake inlet 68 of the cooled air generation device 60.

[0110] The cooled air diffusion system 31 of the container 12 according to the invention therefore cools all the battery modules 16 homogeneously by distributing the cooled air in a manner adapted to the thermal configuration of the battery modules 16. It is therefore possible to cool all the battery modules 16 more efficiently with the same air conditioning capacity, and therefore to increase the service life of the energy storage system 10.

[0111] By means of the arrangement of a plenum 66 and horizontal tubes 62 projecting from the plenum 66, the thermal difference in temperature between the temperature of the hottest battery module 16 and the average temperature of the battery modules 16 is advantageously less than 5°C.

[0112] Furthermore, the horizontal arrangement of the tubes 62 and the presence of intermediate spaces 64 between them ensures maximum compactness of the cooled air diffusion system 31, while allowing the passage of beams and structural uprights of the container and / or support racks of the battery modules 16 in the intermediate spaces 64.

[0113] In a variant, shown schematically in FIG. 5, the cooled air generation device 60 is arranged in a central region of the interior volume 14 within a transverse intermediate volume 22C between two longitudinal segments 120A, 120B of a row 22B of battery modules 16.

[0114] The vertical plenum 66 is also positioned in the central region, opposite the cooled air generation device 60. The horizontal tubes 62 then project longitudinally on either side of the central plenum 66 to extend respectively opposite each segment 120A, 120B of the row of battery modules 60.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Container (12) of battery modules (16), comprising a structure (30) comprising: - a floor (32) having an upper support surface (43) for battery modules (16), - peripheral walls (36), - a roof (38), arranged above the peripheral walls (36), the floor (32), the peripheral walls (36) and the roof (38) defining an interior volume (14) for receiving the battery modules (16), - a system (31) for diffusing cooled air towards each battery module (16), included in the interior volume (14), the diffusion system (31) comprising a device (60) for generating cooled air, characterized in that the cooled air diffusion system (31) comprises at least two horizontal tubes (62) for routing the cooled air towards the battery modules (16) delimiting between them an intermediate space (64), each horizontal tube (62) having a plurality of openings (80) for diffusing cooled air intended to open opposite successive battery modules (16) placed along the horizontal tubes (62), the cooled air diffusion system (31) comprising at least one vertical plenum (66) connected to the cooled air generation device (60) and to the horizontal tubes (62) to distribute the cooled air in the horizontal tubes (62).

2. Container (12) of battery modules (16) according to claim 1, in which the cooled air diffusion system (31) comprises at least three horizontal tubes (62) distributed over the height of the vertical plenum (66), the assembly formed by the horizontal tubes (62) and the vertical plenum (66) forming a cooled air diffusion comb.

3. Container (12) of battery modules (16) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, in which the interior volume (14) comprises at least one compartment (56) for storing battery modules (16), the horizontal tubes (62) extending horizontally over more than 50% of the length of the storage compartment (56) of battery modules (16).

4. Container (12) of battery modules (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the vertical plenum (66) internally contains a plurality of blades (94) for distributing the flow of cooled air between the horizontal tubes (62).

5. Container (12) of battery modules (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least two diffusion openings (80) along each horizontal tube (62) have different area sections and / or at least one diffusion opening (80) on a first horizontal tube (62) has an area section different from the area of ​​another diffusion opening (80) on another horizontal tube (62).

6. Container (12) of battery modules (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which at least a portion of the diffusion openings (80) open vertically upwards, advantageously at least a portion of the diffusion openings (80) open vertically downwards.

7. Container (12) of battery modules (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the plenum (66) has a cooled air intake opening (96) in its internal space (92), connected to the cooled air generation device (60), the cooled air intake opening (96) in the internal space (92) having an internal section of area A1 substantially equal to the sum of the areas A2 of the internal sections of all the horizontal tubes (62).

8. 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 (22), 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).

9. Storage system (10) according to claim 8, comprising at least one row (22B) of battery modules (16), each row (22B) comprising a plurality of columns (22A) of modules (16), the horizontal tubes (62) extending along the row (22B) of modules (16) at different heights opposite each column (22A).

10. Storage system (10) according to any one of claims 8 or 9, wherein each battery module (16) is placed opposite a horizontal tube (62), the horizontal tube (62) comprising a diffusion opening (80) specific to each battery module (16).

11. Storage system (10) according to any one of claims 8 to 10. 10, wherein each battery module (16) comprises an outer housing (21) defining a fresh air intake passage (21A), the diffusion opening (80) opening in the vicinity of the fresh air intake passage (21A) without connection with the fresh air intake passage (80).

12. Storage system (10) according to any one of claims 8 to 10. 11, in which the outer casing (21) comprises a passage (21 B) for discharging hot air, the hot air discharge passage (21 B) opening into the inner volume (14) without being connected to a hot air collection system.

13. Storage system (10) according to claim 12, wherein the cooled air generation device (60) comprises a hot air intake inlet (68), the battery modules (16) and the cooled air diffusion system (31) externally delimiting in the interior volume (14) a fluid path between each hot air discharge passage (21 B) and the intake inlet (68).

14. A method of cooling battery modules (16) in a storage system (10) according to any preceding claim, the method comprising the following steps: - generation of cooled air using the cooled air generation device (60), - passage of cooled air into the vertical plenum (66) to distribute it between the horizontal tubes (62), - circulation of cooled air through the horizontal tubes (62) to the diffusion openings (80), - diffusion of cooled air from the diffusion openings (80) towards the battery modules (16), - intake of cooled air into the battery modules (16).

15. Cooling method according to claim 14, comprising a discharge of heated air by each battery module (16), and a circulation of the heated air between the battery modules (16) and the cooled air diffusion system (31) towards a heated air intake inlet (68) of the cooled air generation device (60), without passing through a hot air collection system.

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