Energy Storage Systems

Abstract

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an energy storage system including: a plurality of battery packs, each including a plurality of battery cells and a pair of side plates covering the plurality of battery cells from both sides; and a battery rack including a rack frame facing the side plates, capable of accommodating a plurality of the battery packs stacked in a vertical direction, wherein the pair of side plates have rails on their outer surfaces, the rails including an upper member extending from one end to the other end in the longitudinal direction of the battery packs and a lower member parallel to the upper member, the rack frame having pins that protrude in a direction toward the side plates and are configured to be positioned between the upper member and the lower member, the pins being sandwiched between the upper member and the lower member of the rails, thereby accommodating the plurality of battery packs.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an energy storage system, and more particularly to an energy storage system that can reduce weight and cost by applying a new structure to a battery pack and a battery rack that can accommodate the battery packs stacked together.

[0002] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0173092, filed on December 12, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety in the specification and drawings thereof. [Background technology]

[0003] A smart grid is a futuristic power grid that applies information and communication technology to conventional power systems to monitor and control the power grid in real time, optimizing its operational efficiency through two-way communication between suppliers and consumers. It can be linked to new power devices such as new and renewable energy generation systems and electric vehicle charging systems, which are on the rise recently. It can also improve power utilization efficiency by providing real-time information on consumers' power usage, which is expected to reduce unnecessary investment in power generation facilities and greenhouse gas emissions. Recently, interest in smart grids has been growing in relation to issues such as power grid modernization plans and the expansion of new and renewable energy sources, and research into the subject has been actively conducted.

[0004] One of the key technologies related to smart grids is the energy storage system, which stores electricity during off-peak hours and uses the stored energy during peak hours to level the load. Such energy storage systems can help to efficiently use power facilities.

[0005] Recently, the development of lithium-ion batteries with high energy storage density has made it possible to build high-voltage, large-capacity energy storage systems using chemical energy storage methods.

[0006] For example, modern energy storage systems may consist of battery packs made up of high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries and battery racks that house stacks of such battery packs.

[0007] Furthermore, the battery packs and the battery racks that house them are quite heavy in order to ensure the necessary rigidity. Conventional battery racks house the battery packs as a structure equipped with L-shaped brackets.

[0008] However, not only do battery packs require rigidity for transportation, but the battery racks for stacking and accommodating the battery packs also require rigidity to support the battery packs. As a result, after the battery packs are accommodated in the battery racks, the rigidity becomes redundant, resulting in increased weight and costs. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide an energy storage system configured to reduce weight and costs by applying a new structure to battery packs and battery racks that stack and house them. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, an energy storage system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of battery packs, each including a plurality of battery cells and a pair of side plates covering the plurality of battery cells from both sides, and a battery rack including a rack frame facing the side plates, capable of accommodating a plurality of the battery packs stacked vertically, wherein the pair of side plates have rails on their outer surfaces, the rails including an upper member extending from one end to the other end in the longitudinal direction of the battery packs and a lower member parallel to the upper member, and the rack frame has pins that protrude toward the side plates and are configured to be positioned between the upper member and the lower member, and the pins are sandwiched between the upper member and the lower member of the rails, thereby accommodating the plurality of battery packs.

[0011] The plurality of battery packs may further include a front plate covering a front surface of the plurality of battery cells, a rear plate covering a rear surface thereof, and a bottom plate covering a lower surface thereof.

[0012] The rack frame may be upright along the vertical direction and may include at least two pins along the longitudinal direction of the battery pack and at least two pins along the width direction of the battery pack.

[0013] The rack frame may include at least two main frames along the longitudinal direction of the battery pack and at least two main frames along the width direction of the battery pack.

[0014] The rack frame may further include at least one first additional frame arranged between the main frames along the longitudinal direction of the battery pack.

[0015] The first additional frame may include the pin.

[0016] The rack frame may further include at least one second additional frame between the main frames along a width direction of the battery pack.

[0017] The second additional frame may include the pin.

[0018] The first additional frame may be located closer to one of two main frames located along the longitudinal direction of the battery pack.

[0019] The pair of side plates may include a fixing portion located at one end and configured to be hung on the rack frame.

[0020] The fixing portion can be connected to the rack frame by bolting.

[0021] The upper member and the lower member may be spaced apart from each other from the one end to the other end.

[0022] The pin may include a first portion having a first length in the protruding direction and a first height in a cross section perpendicular to the protruding direction, and a second portion connected to the first portion in the protruding direction, having a second length in the protruding direction, and having a second height greater than the first height in a cross section perpendicular to the protruding direction.

[0023] The upper member and the lower member may each include a connection portion that connects to the side plate, a pin accommodating portion that protrudes outward from the connection portion to form a space that accommodates the second portion, and a pin locking portion that is configured to prevent the second portion from slipping out of the space.

[0024] The pin locking portions of the upper and lower members may face each other.

[0025] The first height of the first portion may be smaller than the distance between an end of the pin locking portion of the upper member and an end of the pin locking portion of the lower member.

[0026] The second height of the second portion may be greater than the distance between an end of the pin locking portion of the upper member and an end of the pin locking portion of the lower member.

[0027] The side plate may include a first cover surface that covers side surfaces of the plurality of battery cells and a second cover surface that is bent from the first cover surface and covers at least a portion of bottom surfaces of the plurality of battery cells.

[0028] The side plate may be bent multiple times between the first cover surface and the second cover surface.

[0029] The fixing portion may extend from the first cover surface and be bent perpendicularly toward the rack frame.

[0030] The first cover surface, the second cover surface, and the fixing portion may be integrally formed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0031] According to the configuration of the present invention, there is no need to redundantly ensure the rigidity of the battery pack itself and the L-shaped brackets of the battery rack for stacking and accommodating the battery packs, as in conventional energy storage systems. The battery packs can be accommodated with a simple structure using the pins of the rack frame and the rails of the battery packs, thereby reducing the weight and cost of the energy storage system.

[0032] According to another aspect of the present invention, a battery pack can be accommodated using at least four main frames and at least two first additional frames. This allows for more stable accommodation of the battery packs than when only four main frames are used. Furthermore, the number of first additional frames can be adjusted to configure a battery rack according to the weight of the battery packs to be accommodated. Because the main frame and the first additional frames are in the form of columns rather than in the form of a surface that encloses a space, this is advantageous for cooling heat generated by the battery packs using an air circulation system. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the battery rack can accommodate battery packs arranged and stacked in two or more levels rather than one level. The battery rack can be configured in various ways by adjusting the number of second additional frames according to the number of battery packs to be accommodated and the accommodation environment, thereby increasing the scalability of the energy storage system.

[0033] According to another aspect of the present invention, even if the battery pack mounting process is not completed, the battery pack is supported by the pins even if only two pins are inserted into each of the rails of a pair of side plates. Therefore, no additional support is required for the battery pack during the mounting process, and the battery pack can be mounted stably and quickly.

[0034] According to another aspect of the present invention, the mounting process can be simplified by simply checking that the fixing portion is engaged with the rack frame without considering how many battery packs are mounted on the battery rack. In addition, the fixing portion and the rack frame can be connected by bolts, allowing the battery packs to be more stably accommodated.

[0035] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the first portion of the pin is stably sandwiched between the end of the pin locking portion of the upper member and the end of the pin locking portion of the lower member, and the second portion of the pin is accommodated in the pin accommodating portion, so that the pin does not slip out in the width direction of the battery pack, thereby enabling stable accommodation of the battery pack.

[0036] According to another aspect of the present invention, by forming recesses and protrusions in the side plates by bending them, other components necessary for the battery pack configuration can be provided in the space of the recesses. For example, a cooling channel or a BMS (Battery Management System) can be provided. The protrusions can guide the battery pack so that the rail and the outermost surface are flush with each other, preventing the battery pack from moving in the width direction during the battery pack installation process.

[0037] In addition, the present invention has various other effects, which will be explained in each embodiment, and explanations of effects that can be easily inferred by those skilled in the art will be omitted. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0038] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an energy storage system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 illustrates a battery pack included in an energy storage system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 illustrates a rack frame included in an energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 illustrates a rack frame included in an energy storage system according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 illustrates a rack frame included in an energy storage system according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a region B in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a region A in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a detailed view of a pin in a rack frame included in an energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10]FIG. 2 illustrates a side plate of a battery pack included in an energy storage system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 11 is a diagram showing a state in which a battery pack including the side plate of FIG. 10 is mounted on a rack frame included in an energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a side plate of a battery pack included in an energy storage system according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings attached to this specification are intended to illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention below, serve to further understand the technical concepts of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to only the details shown in such drawings. The same reference numerals refer to the same components. Furthermore, in the drawings, the thickness, ratio, and dimensions of components may be exaggerated to effectively explain the technical content.

[0040] The terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted in a limited way to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted in a way that corresponds to the technical idea of ​​the present invention, in accordance with the principle that the inventor himself can appropriately define the concept of the term in order to best explain the invention.

[0041] Although terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and back are used in this specification, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that these terms indicate relative positions and are used only for convenience of explanation, and may vary depending on the position of the object in question, the position of the observer, etc.

[0042] Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiment of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical idea of ​​the present invention, and that there may be various equivalents and modifications that can be substituted for them at the time of this application.

[0043] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a view showing a battery pack included in an energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] 1 to 3, an energy storage system 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of battery packs 100 and a battery rack 200.

[0045] The battery pack 100 may include a plurality of battery cells 110 and a pair of side plates 120 that cover the plurality of battery cells 110 from both sides.

[0046] Each battery cell in the plurality of battery cells 110 may represent a secondary battery. A secondary battery may include an electrode assembly, an electrolyte, and a battery case. In particular, the battery cell may be a pouch-type secondary battery. However, other types of secondary batteries, such as pouch-type batteries and prismatic batteries, may also be used in the battery cell of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the specific type or type of such secondary battery, and various types of secondary batteries known at the time of filing of the present invention may be used in the battery cell of the present invention.

[0047] The pair of side plates 120 may cover both sides of the plurality of battery cells 110. The side plates 120 may have the form of plates so as to cover the sides of the plurality of battery cells 110 along the longitudinal direction of the plurality of battery cells 110 (the extension direction of the X-axis).

[0048] In addition, the pair of side plates 120 may have a rail R on their outer surfaces, which includes an upper member 121 extending from one end to the other end in the longitudinal direction (extension direction of the X-axis) of the battery pack 100 and a lower member 122 parallel to the upper member 121.

[0049] 3, the battery pack 100 may include a side plate 120 covering the sides of the plurality of battery cells 110, a front plate 130 covering the front of the plurality of battery cells 110, a rear plate 140 covering the rear, and a butt plate 150 covering the bottom. The side plate 120, the front plate 130, the rear plate 140, and the butt plate 150 may be integrally formed in an outer casing of the battery pack 100. By leaving the top surfaces of the plurality of battery cells 110 uncovered, heat can be dissipated to the outside of the battery pack 100 when the battery cells 110 generate heat, and the weight of the battery pack 100 can be reduced.

[0050] The side plates 120, front plate 130, rear plate 140, and butt plate 150 may be configured to be at least partially integral with one another, or the side plates 120, front plate 130, rear plate 140, and butt plate 150 may be fabricated separately and then joined together, such as by welding or bolting.

[0051] The side plates 120 may be made of metal such as steel or aluminum to ensure rigidity, while the front plate 130, rear plate 140, and butt plate 150 may be injection molded plastic to reduce weight, but the present invention is not limited to these materials.

[0052] The present invention is characterized in that the structure for mounting the battery rack 200 is integrated into the side plate 120 that forms the outer box of the battery pack 100, and it should be noted that a specific example of the structure for mounting includes a rail R.

[0053] The battery rack 200 includes a rack frame 210 facing the side plate 120, and can accommodate a plurality of battery packs 100 stacked in the vertical direction (extension direction of the Z-axis). The battery rack 200 can stack and accommodate a plurality of battery packs 100 not only in a single row but also in two or more rows. The battery rack 200 can stack and accommodate the battery packs 100 in a desired arrangement of two or more rows by connecting unit structures that stack and accommodate the battery packs 100 in a single row vertically and / or horizontally. This can increase the scalability of the energy storage system 10.

[0054] The rack frame 210 includes pins 211 that protrude toward the side plates 120 and are configured to be positioned between the upper member 121 and the lower member 122. The pins 211 are sandwiched between the upper member 121 and the lower member 122 of the rail R, thereby accommodating multiple battery packs 100. As shown in the figure, the pins 211 of the rack frame 210 located on the left side of the battery pack 100 protrude in the negative direction of the Y axis, and the pins 211 of the rack frame 210 located on the right side of the battery pack 100 protrude in the positive direction of the Y axis. The rack frame 210 stands upright in the vertical direction (extension direction of the Z axis) and may include at least two pins 211 along the longitudinal direction of the battery pack 100 and at least two pins 211 along the width direction of the battery pack 100. The four pins 211 are sandwiched between both ends of the rails R of a pair of side plates 120, respectively, thereby allowing the battery packs 100 to be accommodated in the rack frame 210. The battery pack 100 can be accommodated by supporting gravity due to its weight between the top of the pin 211 and the upper member 121. The lower member 122, together with the upper member 121, can prevent the battery pack 100 from moving in the vertical direction (extension direction of the Z axis) due to vibration or the like.

[0055] According to this configuration of the present invention, unlike conventional energy storage systems, it is not necessary to ensure the rigidity of the battery packs 100 themselves and the rigidity of the L-shaped brackets of the battery rack 200 for stacking and accommodating the battery packs 100. Since the battery packs 100 can be accommodated with a simple structure using the pins 211 of the rack frame 210 and the rails R of the battery packs 100, the weight and cost of the energy storage system 10 can be reduced.

[0056] The rack frame 210 included in the energy storage system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that it does not require a separate structure such as a conventional L-shaped bracket, and has the pins 211 as described above to mount the battery pack 100, and can be configured in various ways. Hereinafter, this will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

[0057] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a rack frame included in an energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0058] 4, the rack frame 210 may include at least two main frames 212 along the longitudinal direction of the battery pack 100 and at least two main frames 212 along the width direction of the battery pack 100. Thus, the four main frames 212 may be located at both ends of both sides of the battery pack 100. Additional members may be further provided at the upper and lower ends of the main frames 212 as shown in the figure to fix the four main frames 212 in an upright state.

[0059] The rack frame 210 may further include at least two first additional frames 213 between the main frames 212 along the longitudinal direction of the battery pack 100. That is, the rack frame 210 may further include at least one first additional frame 213 between the two main frames 212 located on the left side of the battery pack 100 and at least one first additional frame 213 between the two main frames 212 located on the right side of the battery pack 100, thereby further including at least two first additional frames 213. The first additional frame 213 may be located approximately in the center between the two main frames 212 located along the longitudinal direction of the battery pack 100. The first additional frame 213 may include pins 211, similar to the main frames 212.

[0060] According to this configuration of the present invention, the battery pack 100 can be accommodated by at least four main frames 212 and at least two first additional frames 213. Therefore, the battery pack 100 can be accommodated more stably than when accommodated by only four main frames 212. In addition, the number of first additional frames 213 can be adjusted according to the weight of the battery packs 100 to be accommodated, allowing for various configurations of the battery rack. The main frames 212 and the first additional frames 213 are in the form of columns rather than in the form of surfaces that enclose a space, which is advantageous for cooling the heat generated by the battery pack 100 by air circulation.

[0061] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a rack frame included in an energy storage system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0062] 5, the rack frame 210 may further include at least two second additional frames 214 between the main frames 212 along the width direction of the battery pack 100 (extension direction of the Y-axis). That is, the rack frame 210 may further include at least one second additional frame 214 between two main frames 212 located at the rear of the battery pack 100, and at least one second additional frame 214 between two main frames 212 located at the front of the battery pack 100, thereby further including at least two second additional frames 214. The second additional frame 214 may be located approximately in the center between the two main frames 212 located along the width direction of the battery pack 100. The second additional frame 214 may also have pins 211, like the first additional frame 213 and the main frame 212.

[0063] According to this configuration of the present invention, the battery rack 200 can accommodate the battery packs 100 by arranging and stacking them in two or more levels instead of one level. The battery rack 200 can be configured in various ways by adjusting the number of second additional frames 214 according to the number of battery packs 100 to be accommodated and the accommodation environment, thereby increasing the scalability of the energy storage system 10.

[0064] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a rack frame included in an energy storage system according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0065] 6, the first additional frame 213 may be located closer to one of the two main frames 212 positioned along the length of the battery pack 100. The process and method for mounting the battery pack 100 on such a battery rack 200 will be described below. Mounting of the battery pack 100 begins by inserting the pins 211 provided on the two front main frames 212 positioned next to each other in the width direction of the battery pack 100 into the rails R of the pair of side plates 120. Once the pins 211 are inserted into the rails R of the pair of side plates 120, the battery pack 100 is pushed rearward, and pins 211 provided on the first additional frame 213 positioned along the length of the battery pack 100 and having the same height as the pins 211 inserted into the rails R are further inserted into the rails R to complete the mounting. Then, the pins 211 provided on the remaining rear main frame 212 and having the same height as the pins 211 inserted into the rails R are inserted into the rails R to complete the mounting. The first additional frame 213 may be located closer to the main frame 212 where mounting starts (the main frame located in the negative direction of the X-axis, ie, the main frame located in the front).

[0066] According to this configuration of the present invention, even if the mounting process of the battery pack 100 is not completed, the battery pack 100 is supported by the pins 211 simply by inserting the two pins 211 into the rails R of each of the pair of side plates 120. Therefore, no additional support is required for the battery pack 100 during the mounting process, and the mounting of the battery pack 100 can be performed stably and quickly.

[0067] Furthermore, the battery pack 100 included in the energy storage system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that it is provided with the rails R and mounted on the battery rack 200 as described above, and can be configured in various ways. Hereinafter, this will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0068] Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of a region B in Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of a region A in Fig. 1.

[0069] 7 and 8, the pair of side plates 120 may include fixing portions 123 located at one end and configured to hang on the rack frame 210. The fixing portions 123 may be portions that are bent and extended from one end of the side plate 120 toward the rack frame 210 (the positive direction of the Y-axis). The one end may be the opposite end (the end located in the negative direction of the X-axis) to the end (the end located in the positive direction of the X-axis) where the installation of the battery pack 100 begins in the installation process described above. During the installation of the battery pack 100 along its length, the fixing portions 123 may hang on the rack frame 210, completing the installation. The fixing portions 123 may be coupled to the rack frame 210 by bolting. After the fixing portions 123 hang on the rack frame 210 and completing the installation, the fixing portions 123 may be coupled to the rack frame 210 with bolts D.

[0070] The pair of side plates 120 may include a first cover surface C1 that covers side surfaces of the plurality of battery cells 110, and a second cover surface C2 that is bent from the first cover surface C1 and includes at least a portion of the lower surfaces of the plurality of battery cells 110. The first cover surface C1, the second cover surface C2, and the fixing portion 123 may be integrally formed. The first cover surface C1, the second cover surface C2, and the fixing portion 123 may be configured to be at least partially integrated with each other. The first cover surface C1, the second cover surface C2, and the fixing portion 123 may be manufactured separately and then coupled to each other by welding, bolting, or the like.

[0071] According to this configuration of the present invention, the mounting process is simplified because the mounting can be completed by confirming that the fixing parts 123 are engaged with the rack frame 210 without considering how many battery packs 100 are mounted on the battery rack 200. In addition, the battery packs 100 can be more stably accommodated by connecting the fixing parts 123 and the rack frame 210 by bolting.

[0072] 7, the upper member 121 and the lower member 122 may be spaced apart from one end to the other end. The upper member 121 and the lower member 122 may be spaced apart from one end to the other end so as to maintain a constant distance between them. Referring also to FIG. 2, the constant distance may correspond to the size of the pin 211.

[0073] FIG. 9 is a detailed view of pins in a rack frame included in an energy storage system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0074] 9, the pin 211 may include a first portion 211a and a second portion 211b. The first portion 211a and the second portion 211b may be integrally formed. The first portion 211a and the second portion 211b may be configured to be at least partially integral with each other. The first portion 211a and the second portion 211b may be manufactured separately and then coupled to each other by welding or bolting.

[0075] The first portion 211a of the pin 211 may have a first length a1 in a direction protruding toward the side plate 120 (negative direction of the Y axis), and may have a first height a2 in a cross section perpendicular to the protruding direction (a plane parallel to the XZ plane). The first portion 211a may be a cylinder whose base is a circle with a diameter equal to the first height a2 and whose height is equal to the first length a1.

[0076] The second portion 211b of the pin 211 may have a second length b1 in the protruding direction (negative direction of the Y axis) connected to the first portion 211a, and may have a second height b2 greater than the first height a2 in a cross section perpendicular to the protruding direction (a plane parallel to the XZ plane). The second portion 211b may be a cylinder whose base is a circle with the second height b2 as its diameter and whose height is the second length b1.

[0077] Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a side plate of a battery pack included in an energy storage system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which a battery pack including the side plate of Fig. 10 is mounted on a rack frame included in an energy storage system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0078] 10 and 11, the upper member 121 and the lower member 122 may each include connecting portions 121a and 122a, pin accommodating portions 121b and 122b, and pin locking portions 121c and 122c. The connecting portions 121a and 122a, the pin accommodating portions 121b and 122b, and the pin locking portions 121c and 122c may be integrally formed. The connecting portions 121a and 122a, the pin accommodating portions 121b and 122b, and the pin locking portions 121c and 122c may be configured to be at least partially integrated with each other. The connecting portions 121a and 122a, the pin accommodating portions 121b and 122b, and the pin locking portions 121c and 122c may be manufactured separately and then connected to each other by welding, bolting, or the like.

[0079] The connecting portions 121a and 122a may be connected to the side plate 120. The connecting portions 121a and 122a are portions that are connected to the side plate 120 and are formed substantially in a plate shape, and may be connected to the side plate 120 by welding, bolting, or the like.

[0080] The pin accommodating portions 121b, 122b may be configured to protrude outward (in the positive direction of the Y-axis) from the connecting portions 121a, 122a and form a space for accommodating the second portion 211b of the pin 211. The pin accommodating portions 121b, 122b may be formed by extending from the connecting portions 121a, 122a and bending at an angle of approximately 45°. However, the present invention is not limited to this shape of the pin accommodating portions 121b, 122b, and they may be configured to be bent at an angle of approximately 90° to form a space for accommodating the second portion 211b of the pin 211.

[0081] The pin locking portions 121c and 122c may be configured to prevent the second portion 211b of the pin 211 from slipping out of the space formed by the pin accommodating portions 121b and 122b. The pin locking portions 121c and 122c may be configured to extend from the pin accommodating portions 121b and 122b and prevent the pin 211 from moving in the width direction of the battery pack 100, i.e., in the positive direction of the Y axis in the drawing, and from slipping out.

[0082] In the case where first portion 211a of pin 211 is a cylinder having a bottom that is a circle with a diameter equal to first height a2 and a height equal to first length a1, and second portion 211b of pin 211 is a cylinder having a bottom that is a circle with a diameter equal to second height b2 and a height equal to second length b1, the remaining area obtained by excluding the right-side cylindrical surface of first portion 211a from the left-side cylindrical surface of second portion 211b of pin 211 engages with pin locking portions 121c and 122c, thereby preventing disengagement in the Y-axis direction. However, the present invention is not limited to the shapes of first portion 211a, second portion 211b, and pin locking portions 121c and 122c of pin 211, and the above-described shapes are merely one embodiment for describing the configuration for preventing disengagement by pin locking portions 121c and 122c of pin 211.

[0083] The pin locking portion 121c of the upper member 121 and the pin locking portion 122c of the lower member 122 may face each other and may be positioned on the same line so as to face each other in the Z-axis direction.

[0084] The first portion 211a of the pin 211 may have a first height a2 that is smaller than a distance 1 between an end of the pin locking portion 121c of the upper member 121 and an end of the pin locking portion 122c of the lower member 122. Referring to FIG. 4 , the battery pack 100 may move from front to rear in the X-axis direction, and the first portion 211a may be sandwiched between the end of the pin locking portion 121c of the upper member 121 and the end of the pin locking portion 122c of the lower member 122, thereby starting mounting.

[0085] The second portion 211b of the pin 211 may have a second height b2 that is greater than the distance l between the end of the pin locking portion 121c of the upper member 121 and the end of the pin locking portion 122c of the lower member 122. The second portion 211b of the pin 211 may engage with the pin locking portions 121c, 122c when moving in the width direction of the battery pack 100, that is, in the positive direction of the Y axis in the drawing.

[0086] According to this configuration of the present invention, the first portion 211a of the pin 211 is stably sandwiched between the end of the pin locking portion 121c of the upper member 121 and the end of the pin locking portion 122c of the lower member 122, and the second portion 211b of the pin 211 is housed in the pin housing portions 121b and 122b, so that the pin 211 does not come off the rail R in the width direction of the battery pack 100. This allows the battery pack 100 to be stably housed.

[0087] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a side plate of a battery pack included in an energy storage system according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0088] 12, the side plate 120 may include a first cover surface C1 that covers side surfaces of the battery cells and a second cover surface C2 that is bent from the first cover surface C1 and covers at least a portion of the bottom surfaces of the battery cells. The side plate 120 may be folded multiple times between the first cover surface C1 and the second cover surface C2. For example, the side plate 120 may be folded five times at an angle of approximately 90°. The structure formed by the multiple folding may include a recess I recessed in the negative direction of the Y axis and a protrusion O protruding in the positive direction of the Y axis. The outermost surface of the protrusion O in the Y axis direction may be located on the same plane (a plane parallel to the XZ plane) as the outermost surface of the rail R in the Y axis direction.

[0089] According to this structure of the present invention, other components necessary for configuring the battery pack 100 can be provided in the space of the recess I. For example, a cooling channel or a BMS (Battery Management System) can be provided. The rail R and the outermost surface of the protrusion O are positioned on the same plane, so that the battery pack 100 can be guided to prevent movement in the width direction of the battery pack 100, i.e., the Y-axis direction in the drawing, during the installation process of the battery pack 100.

[0090] Although not directly illustrated, referring to FIG. 12 together with FIGS. 7 and 8 showing other embodiments, the fixing portion 123 may extend from the first cover surface C1 and be bent perpendicularly toward the rack frame 210 (in the positive direction of the Y-axis). The first cover surface C1, the second cover surface C2, and the fixing portion 123 may be integrally formed. The first cover surface C1, the second cover surface C2, and the fixing portion 123 may be configured to be at least partially integrated with each other. The first cover surface C1, the second cover surface C2, and the fixing portion 123 may be manufactured separately and then joined to each other by welding, bolting, or the like.

[0091] While the present invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, focusing on preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should be construed by the claims written to include such various modifications. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 10 Energy Storage Systems 100 battery packs 110 battery cells 120 Side Plate 121 Upper member 121a Upper member connection 121b Pin receiving portion of upper member 121c Pin locking portion of upper member 122 Lower member 122a Lower member connection 122b Lower member pin receiving portion 122c Lower member pin locking portion 123 Fixed part 130 Front Plate 140 rear plate 150 Batom Plate 210 rack frame 200 Battery Rack 211 pins 211a Part 1 a1 First length a2 First height 211b Part 2 b1 Second length b2 Second height 212 Mainframe 213 First additional frame 214 Second additional frame R rail D bolt C1 First cover surface C2 Second cover surface l distance I Recess O Convex part

Claims

1. a plurality of battery packs including a plurality of battery cells and a pair of side plates covering the plurality of battery cells from both sides; a battery rack including a rack frame facing the side plate and capable of accommodating a plurality of the battery packs stacked in a vertical direction, The pair of side plates are a rail including an upper member extending from one end to the other end in a longitudinal direction of the battery pack on an outer surface and a lower member parallel to the upper member; the rack frame includes a pin that protrudes toward the side plate and is configured to be positioned between the upper member and the lower member, and the pin is sandwiched between the rails to accommodate the plurality of battery packs.

2. 2. The energy storage system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery packs further include a front plate covering a front surface of the plurality of battery cells, a rear plate covering a rear surface of the plurality of battery cells, and a bottom plate covering a bottom surface of the plurality of battery cells.

3. 2. The energy storage system according to claim 1, wherein the rack frame is upright along the vertical direction and includes at least two of the pins along the longitudinal direction of the battery pack and at least two of the pins along the width direction of the battery pack.

4. 4. The energy storage system according to claim 3, wherein the rack frame includes at least two main frames along the longitudinal direction of the battery pack and at least two main frames along the width direction of the battery pack.

5. the rack frame further includes at least one first additional frame between the main frames along the longitudinal direction of the battery pack; The energy storage system of claim 4 , wherein the first additional frame comprises the pin.

6. the rack frame further includes at least one second additional frame between the main frames along the width direction of the battery pack; The energy storage system of claim 4 , wherein the second additional frame comprises the pin.

7. The energy storage system according to claim 5, wherein the first additional frame is located closer to one of two main frames located along the longitudinal direction of the battery pack.

8. The energy storage system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the pair of side plates are provided with a fixing portion located at one side end and configured to hang on the rack frame.

9. The energy storage system according to claim 8 , wherein the fixing portion is coupled to the rack frame by bolting.

10. The energy storage system of claim 8 , wherein the upper member and the lower member are spaced apart from each other from the one end to the other end.

11. 2. The energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the pin includes: a first portion having a first length in the protruding direction and a first height in a cross section perpendicular to the protruding direction; and a second portion connected to the first portion in the protruding direction, having a second length in the protruding direction, and having a second height greater than the first height in a cross section perpendicular to the protruding direction.

12. 12. The energy storage system of claim 11, wherein the upper member and the lower member each include a connection portion connected to the side plate, a pin accommodating portion configured to protrude outward from the connection portion and form a space to accommodate the second portion, and a pin locking portion configured to prevent the second portion from slipping out of the space.

13. The energy storage system of claim 12 , wherein the pin locking portions of the upper member and the lower member face each other.

14. 13. The energy storage system of claim 12, wherein the first height of the first portion is less than a distance between an end of the pin engagement portion of the upper member and an end of the pin engagement portion of the lower member.

15. 13. The energy storage system of claim 12, wherein the second height of the second portion is greater than a distance between an end of the pin engagement portion of the upper member and an end of the pin engagement portion of the lower member.

16. 9. The energy storage system according to claim 8, wherein the side plate includes a first cover surface that covers side surfaces of the plurality of battery cells and a second cover surface that is bent from the first cover surface and covers at least a portion of bottom surfaces of the plurality of battery cells.

17. The energy storage system according to claim 16, wherein the side plate is bent multiple times between the first cover surface and the second cover surface.

18. The energy storage system according to claim 16, wherein the fixing portion extends from the first cover surface and is bent vertically toward the rack frame.

19. The energy storage system according to claim 18, wherein the first cover surface, the second cover surface, and the fixing portion are integrally formed.

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