Energy storage system

Abstract

This provides an energy storage system that allows for miniaturization of the current collection unit. [Solution] The energy storage system comprises multiple energy storage units, each having multiple battery packs, and a current collection unit connected to each of the multiple energy storage units for collecting current. Each of the multiple energy storage units has a first circuit breaker, which is connected to the current collection unit via the first circuit breaker. The current collection unit is built into the first energy storage unit among the multiple energy storage units, and has a second circuit breaker for connecting to each of the second energy storage units other than the first energy storage unit among the multiple energy storage units. Each of the second energy storage units is connected via the first and second circuit breakers, and the first energy storage unit is connected only via the first circuit breaker.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present disclosure relates to a power storage system.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a stationary power storage device in which a plurality of battery packs are stacked in the vertical direction and housed in a box-shaped casing.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The inventors have developed a power storage system including a plurality of power storage units (power storage devices) and a current collecting unit connected to each of the plurality of power storage units for current collection, and are considering miniaturization of the current collecting unit.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a power storage system capable of miniaturizing the current collecting unit.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A power storage system according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a plurality of power storage units each including a plurality of battery packs, and a current collecting unit connected to each of the plurality of power storage units for current collection, where each of the plurality of power storage units has a first breaker and is connected to the current collecting unit via the first breaker, and the current collecting unit is built in a first power storage unit among the plurality of power storage units, <00000It has a second breaker for connecting to each of the second energy storage units other than the first energy storage unit among the plurality of energy storage units, Each of the second energy storage units is connected via the first and second circuit breakers. The first energy storage unit is connected to the first circuit breaker only.

[0007] In the energy storage system according to this disclosure, the current collector unit is built into the first energy storage unit among a plurality of energy storage units, and has a second breaker for connecting to each of the second energy storage units other than the first energy storage unit among the plurality of energy storage units, and is connected to each of the second energy storage units via the first and second breakers, and is connected to the first energy storage unit only via the first breaker. Because the current collector unit is built into the first energy storage unit, the entire energy storage system can be made smaller, and the current collector unit built into the first energy storage unit does not need to have a second breaker for the first energy storage unit, so the current collector unit built into the first energy storage unit can also be made smaller.

[0008] In each of the multiple energy storage units, each of the multiple battery packs comprises a substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped battery module and a projection that protrudes upward from one end of the battery module, and the multiple battery packs may be stacked vertically and housed in a housing such that the projections are arranged alternately. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] This disclosure makes it possible to provide an energy storage system that enables miniaturization of the current collection unit. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of the energy storage system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a power storage unit that constitutes a power storage system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3]This is a perspective view of the battery pack 20. [Figure 4] This is a circuit diagram showing the circuit configuration of the energy storage system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of the energy storage system in the comparative example. [Figure 6] This is a circuit diagram showing the circuit configuration of a comparative example energy storage system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The following describes specific embodiments of this disclosure in detail with reference to the drawings. However, this disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. Also, for clarity, the following descriptions and drawings have been simplified as appropriate.

[0012] (First embodiment) <Configuration of the energy storage unit> First, the configuration of the energy storage system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 1. Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the energy storage system according to the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the energy storage system according to this embodiment comprises a plurality of energy storage units. As an example, the energy storage system shown in Figure 1 comprises one energy storage unit 100a and three energy storage units 100. Here, the energy storage unit (first energy storage unit) 100a has a built-in current collection unit 40, while the energy storage unit (second energy storage unit) 100 does not have a current collection unit 40.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the energy storage unit 100a and the energy storage unit 100 are each equipped with a circuit breaker (first circuit breaker) BR1, and are connected to the current collection unit 40 built into the energy storage unit 100a via the circuit breaker BR1. Furthermore, the current collection unit 40 built into the energy storage unit 100a has three circuit breakers (second circuit breakers) BR2 for connecting to each energy storage unit 100.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the current collector unit 40 built in the power storage unit 100a is connected to each power storage unit 100 via the breaker BR1 and the breaker BR2. On the other hand, the current collector unit 40 built in the power storage unit 100a is connected to the power storage unit 100a via only the breaker BR1.

[0015] Here, the configuration of the power storage unit 100a constituting the power storage system will be described. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the power storage unit constituting the power storage system according to the first embodiment. Of course, the right-handed XYZ orthogonal coordinates shown in FIG. 2 are for convenience in explaining the positional relationship of the components. In FIG. 2, the normal positive Z-axis direction is the vertically upward direction, the XY plane is the horizontal plane, and they are common among the drawings.

[0016] The power storage unit 100a constituting the power storage system according to the present embodiment is, for example, a power storage unit that can be installed outdoors. As shown in FIG. 2, the power storage unit 100a includes a plurality of battery packs 20 inside the housing 10. Also, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2, each battery pack 20 includes a controller 30 on the negative X-axis side. Further, the power storage unit 100a includes a current collector unit 40 inside the housing 10 between the controllers 30 arranged side by side in the Y-axis direction on the negative X-axis side of the battery pack 20.

[0017] In the present embodiment, nine battery packs 20 are accommodated in the housing 10, but the number of battery packs 20 is not limited as long as it is plural. Also, the configuration of the power storage unit 100 is the same as that of the power storage unit 100a except that it does not include the current collector unit 40.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 10 is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, that is, box-shaped, and is composed of an upper surface portion 11, a bottom surface portion 12, a front surface portion 13, a back surface portion 14, and a pair of side surface portions (not shown) arranged at both ends in the X-axis direction. The housing 10 is composed of, for example, a metal plate such as a steel plate.

[0019] The battery pack 20 is, for example, a lithium-ion battery and is a battery pack for use in a vehicle. Here, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the battery pack 20. As shown in Figure 3, the battery pack 20 comprises a battery module 21 and a protruding portion 22. As shown in Figure 3, the battery module 21 has a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape. The battery module 21 is the main body of the battery pack 20 and is composed of multiple cell stacks arranged side by side, for example, in the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction.

[0020] As shown in Figure 3, the protrusion 22 is provided so as to protrude upward from one end of the battery module 21 in the Y-axis direction. Electrical equipment such as a relay circuit, fuse, and current sensor is housed in the protrusion 22.

[0021] Here, as shown in Figure 2, multiple battery packs 20 are stacked vertically (in the Z-axis direction) and housed in the housing 10, such that the protruding portions 22 are arranged alternately in the Y-axis direction. In other words, the multiple battery packs 20 are stacked vertically so that the protruding portions 22 protrude outwards alternately. As a result, the height and center of gravity of the energy storage unit are lowered, improving the seismic resistance of the energy storage unit.

[0022] <Circuit configuration of the energy storage unit> Next, the circuit configuration of the energy storage system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 4. Figure 4 is a circuit diagram showing the circuit configuration of the energy storage system according to the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 4, in the energy storage unit 100a and each energy storage unit 100, the positive and negative terminals of the multiple battery packs 20 connected in series are connected to the circuit breaker BR1.

[0023] The positive and negative electrodes of each energy storage unit 100 are connected via breaker BR1 to breaker BR2 of the current collection unit 40 built into the energy storage unit 100a. As shown in Figure 4, the current collection unit 40 includes three breakers BR2, as well as a positive electrode connection section 41 and a negative electrode connection section 42.

[0024] As shown in Figure 4, the positive terminal of each energy storage unit 100 is connected to the positive terminal connection part 41 of the current collection unit 40 via breakers BR1 and BR2. The negative terminal of each energy storage unit 100 is connected to the negative terminal connection part 42 of the current collection unit 40 via breakers BR1 and BR2.

[0025] On the other hand, the positive electrode of the energy storage unit 100a, which incorporates the current collection unit 40, is connected to the positive electrode connection part 41 of the current collection unit 40 only via the circuit breaker BR1. On the other hand, the negative electrode of the energy storage unit 100a is connected to the negative electrode connection part 42 of the current collection unit 40 only via the circuit breaker BR1. As shown in Figure 4, the positive electrode connection part 41 and the negative electrode connection part 42 of the current collection unit 40 are connected to, for example, the power control unit PCU.

[0026] <Configuration of the energy storage unit in the comparative example> Next, with reference to Figure 5, the configuration of the energy storage system in the comparative example will be described. Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the energy storage system in the comparative example. As shown in Figure 5, the comparative example energy storage system includes four energy storage units 100, which are also present in the energy storage system shown in Figure 1, as well as a separate current collection unit 40a.

[0027] As shown in Figure 5, each energy storage unit 100 is equipped with a circuit breaker BR1 and is connected to the current collection unit 40a via the circuit breaker BR1. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the current collection unit 40a has four circuit breakers BR2 for connecting to each energy storage unit 100. The current collection unit 40a is connected to each energy storage unit 100 via circuit breakers BR1 and BR2.

[0028] Each energy storage unit 100 can be used as an energy storage device on its own. When using an energy storage unit 100 individually, the current collector unit 40a is not required. On the other hand, in an energy storage system comprising multiple energy storage units 100, the current collector unit 40a is required.

[0029] <Circuit configuration of the energy storage unit in the comparative example> Next, with reference to Figure 6, the circuit configuration of the comparative example energy storage system will be described. Figure 6 is a circuit diagram showing the circuit configuration of the comparative example energy storage system. As shown in Figure 6, in each energy storage unit 100, the positive and negative terminals of multiple battery packs 20 connected in series are connected to the circuit breaker BR1.

[0030] The positive and negative electrodes of each energy storage unit 100 are connected to the breaker BR2 of the current collection unit 40a via the breaker BR1. As shown in Figure 6, the current collection unit 40a includes four breakers BR2, as well as a positive electrode connection section 41 and a negative electrode connection section 42.

[0031] As shown in Figure 6, the positive terminal of each energy storage unit 100 is connected to the positive terminal connection part 41 of the current collection unit 40a via breakers BR1 and BR2. The negative terminal of each energy storage unit 100 is connected to the negative terminal connection part 42 of the current collection unit 40a via breakers BR1 and BR2. As shown in Figure 6, the positive electrode connection part 41 and the negative electrode connection part 42 of the current collection unit 40a are connected to, for example, the power control unit PCU.

[0032] <Effects of the energy storage system according to the first embodiment> Next, the effects of the energy storage system according to this embodiment will be described. In the energy storage system according to this embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 4, the current collection unit 40 is built into the energy storage unit 100a, compared to the energy storage system according to the comparative example shown in Figures 5 and 6, so the entire energy storage system can be made smaller.

[0033] Furthermore, since the current collection unit 40 is built into the energy storage unit 100a, there is no need to provide a separate circuit breaker BR2 for the energy storage unit 100a, and the current collection unit 40 can be made smaller. Specifically, in the energy storage system according to the comparative example shown in Figures 5 and 6, the current collection unit 40a is equipped with four circuit breakers BR2. In contrast, in the energy storage system according to this embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 4, the current collection unit 40 is equipped with three circuit breakers BR2. In other words, in the energy storage system according to this embodiment, the number of circuit breakers BR2 equipped in the current collection unit 40 can be reduced by one, and the current collection unit 40 can be made smaller.

[0034] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and may be modified as appropriate without departing from its intent. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0035] 10 cabinets 11 Top part 12 Bottom part 13 Front part 14 Back part 20 battery packs 21 Battery Modules 22 Protrusion 30 controllers 40, 40a current collection unit 41 Positive electrode connection 42 Negative electrode connection 100, 100A energy storage unit BR1, BR2 circuit breakers PCU Power Control Unit

Claims

1. Multiple energy storage units, each equipped with multiple battery packs, Each of the aforementioned multiple energy storage units is connected to a current collection unit that collects current, Each of the plurality of energy storage units has a first circuit breaker, and the energy storage system is connected to the current collection unit via the first circuit breaker, The aforementioned current collection unit is It is built into the first energy storage unit among the plurality of energy storage units, It has a second breaker for connecting to each of the second energy storage units other than the first energy storage unit among the plurality of energy storage units, Each of the second energy storage units is connected via the first and second circuit breakers. The first energy storage unit is connected only via the first circuit breaker. Energy storage system.

2. In each of the multiple energy storage units, Each of the plurality of battery packs comprises a substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped battery module and a projection that protrudes upward from one end of the battery module. The aforementioned multiple battery packs are housed in the casing, stacked vertically so that the protruding portions are arranged alternately. The energy storage system according to claim 1.

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