Energy storage systems and energy storage power plants
By integrating a bypass structure and hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism, the energy storage system addresses the high cost issue of dual cooling systems, achieving efficient cooling of battery modules and converters with a single set of devices, thereby reducing overall system costs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2023-07-27
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-02
AI Technical Summary
The high cost of energy storage systems is exacerbated by the need for two sets of cooling systems to meet the different flow rate and pressure requirements of battery modules and converters due to their distinct heat dissipation needs.
An energy storage system design incorporating a bypass structure and hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism to allow coolant to be distributed through a single set of cooling devices, accommodating the varying flow rates and pressures of battery modules and converters.
This approach reduces the need for multiple cooling systems, lowering the overall cost of the energy storage system and power plant by efficiently meeting the cooling demands of both components with a single set of cooling devices.
Smart Images
Figure 2026521907000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] [Cross-reference to Related Applications] This application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 202321658256.2, filed on June 28, 2023, entitled "Energy Storage System and Energy Storage Power Plant", and all of the content of the aforementioned application is incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] This application relates to the technical field of cooling of energy storage systems, and particularly provides an energy storage system and an energy storage power plant.
Background Art
[0003] An energy storage system mainly includes devices such as battery modules and converters. In the operation process, devices such as battery modules and converters generate heat and need to be equipped with a cooling system to lower the temperature.
[0004] In related technologies, since the requirements for the flow rate and pressure of the coolant for the battery modules and converters of an energy storage power plant are different, two sets of cooling systems are required to simultaneously meet the requirements for different flow rates and pressures of the coolant, thereby increasing the development and manufacturing costs of the energy storage system relatively significantly.
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0005] The objective of the embodiments of this application is to solve the problem that in related technologies, due to the different requirements for the flow rate of the coolant by the battery modules and converters of the energy storage system, the cost generated by the need for two sets of cooling systems is relatively high, and to provide an energy storage system and an energy storage power plant.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] The technical solution adopted in the embodiments of this application is as follows:
[0007] According to a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an energy storage system comprising a battery module, a converter, and a cooling device, wherein the battery module comprises a first cooling structure having a first liquid inlet and a first liquid outlet; the converter comprises a second cooling structure having a second liquid inlet and a second liquid outlet; the cooling device comprises a cooling unit and a bypass structure, wherein the outlet end of the cooling unit is connected via a conduit to a first liquid inlet, and the inlet end of the cooling unit is connected via a conduit to a second liquid outlet; the bypass structure is configured to communicate with the first liquid outlet and the second liquid inlet, respectively, and further configured to bypass a portion of the coolant discharged from the first liquid outlet to the second liquid inlet.
[0008] Beneficial Effects of the Embodiments of this Application: In the energy storage system according to the embodiments of this application, the cooling unit introduces coolant and flows it sequentially through the first and second cooling structures, thereby achieving heat dissipation to the battery module and the converter, respectively. After the coolant is discharged from the first liquid outlet of the first cooling structure, a bypass structure allows a portion of the coolant to be bypassed outside the second liquid inlet. Thus, only a portion of the coolant discharged from the first cooling structure can enter the second cooling structure through the second liquid inlet. In other words, the flow rate of the coolant flowing through the second cooling structure is smaller than the flow rate of the coolant flowing through the first cooling structure, thus satisfying the different flow rate requirements of both the first and second cooling structures. As a result, the cooling objective can be achieved by simultaneously introducing coolant to the first cooling structure of the battery module and the second cooling structure of the converter using only one set of cooling devices. Therefore, there is no need to use two sets of cooling devices to individually introduce coolant to the first cooling structure of the battery module and the second cooling structure of the converter, effectively reducing the cost of the energy storage system.
[0009] In some embodiments, the bypass structure has a bypass end that is connected to the inlet end of the cooling unit.
[0010] By adopting the above technical proposal, the bypass end of the bypass structure can bypass a portion of the coolant discharged from the first liquid outlet of the first cooling structure to the inlet end of the cooling unit. As a result, this portion of the coolant flows through the first cooling structure and then directly recirculates into the cooling unit, where it is cooled and circulated.
[0011] In some embodiments, the bypass structure is a three-way valve, which includes a first valve port, a second valve port and a third valve port, the first valve port being connected to a first liquid outlet, the second valve port being connected to a second liquid inlet, the third valve port being a bypass end, and the third valve port being connected to the liquid inlet end of the cooling unit.
[0012] By adopting the above technical proposal, the bypass structure is a three-way valve, the first liquid outlet is connected to the first valve port, the first liquid outlet can introduce the coolant flowing through the first cooling structure into the three-way valve, the second valve port is connected to the second liquid inlet, and the third valve port is connected to the liquid inlet end of the cooling unit, the second valve port can introduce a portion of the coolant entering the three-way valve to the second liquid inlet and flow through the second cooling structure, and the third valve port can directly introduce another portion of the coolant entering the three-way valve into the cooling unit for cooling and circulation.
[0013] In some embodiments, the cooling device further includes a hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the hydraulic pressure difference between the coolant in a first cooling structure and the coolant in a second cooling structure.
[0014] By adopting the above technical proposal, it is possible to adjust the hydraulic pressure difference between the coolant in the first cooling structure and the coolant in the second cooling structure using a hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism, thereby meeting the different hydraulic pressure requirements for the coolant of the battery module and the converter.
[0015] In some embodiments, the hydraulic adjustment mechanism includes a spacer, and when the spacer is configured to be located at the bottom of the first cooling structure in the direction of gravity, the height of the first cooling structure is greater than the height of the second cooling structure, or when the spacer is configured to be located at the bottom of the second cooling structure in the direction of gravity, the height of the second cooling structure is greater than the height of the first cooling structure.
[0016] By adopting the above technical proposal, the first or second cooling structure is raised using spacers, thereby creating a height difference in the direction of gravity between the first and second cooling structures. As can be understood, the higher the height in the direction of gravity, the lower the hydraulic pressure of the coolant. Therefore, by adjusting the height difference in the direction of gravity between the first and second cooling structures, the objective of adjusting the hydraulic pressure difference between the coolant in the first cooling structure and the coolant in the second cooling structure can be achieved, thereby meeting the different hydraulic pressure requirements for the coolant of the battery module and converter.
[0017] In some embodiments, the spacer is insulating.
[0018] By adopting the above technical proposal, the spacer has insulating properties, which improves the insulation level of the battery module or converter from the ground when the spacer is laid on the ground.
[0019] In some embodiments, the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism includes a pressure reducing structural member installed between a second liquid inlet and a first liquid outlet.
[0020] By adopting the above technical proposal, a pressure-reducing structural member is installed between the second liquid inlet and the first liquid outlet. When the coolant is introduced into the second liquid inlet, the pressure is first reduced by the pressure-reducing structural member. As a result, the pressure of the coolant introduced into the second liquid inlet and flowing through the second cooling structure is lower than the pressure of the coolant flowing through the first cooling structure, and this can further meet the different pressure requirements for the coolant of the battery module and the converter.
[0021] In some embodiments, the hydraulic regulation mechanism includes a pressure boosting structural member installed between the liquid outlet end of the cooling unit and the first liquid inlet.
[0022] By adopting the above technical solution, the coolant is introduced into the first cooling structure after being pressurized, and the coolant derived from the first cooling structure is further introduced into the second cooling structure after being depressurized, thereby realizing the satisfaction of different hydraulic requirements for the coolant of the battery module and the converter.
[0023] In some embodiments, the hydraulic regulation mechanism includes a pressure boosting structural member installed between the second liquid inlet and the first liquid outlet.
[0024] By adopting the above technical solution, the pressure boosting structural member is installed between the second liquid inlet and the first liquid outlet. When the coolant is introduced into the second liquid inlet, the hydraulic pressure is first enhanced by the pressure boosting structural member, so that the hydraulic pressure of the coolant introduced into the second liquid inlet and flowing through the second cooling structure is higher than that of the coolant flowing through the first cooling structure, and further different hydraulic requirements for the coolant of the battery module and the converter can be satisfied.
[0025] In some embodiments, the hydraulic regulation mechanism includes a pressure reducing structural member installed between the liquid outlet end of the cooling unit and the first liquid inlet.
[0026] By adopting the above technical solution, the coolant is introduced into the first cooling structure after being depressurized, and the coolant derived from the first cooling structure is further introduced into the second cooling structure after being pressurized, thereby realizing the satisfaction of different hydraulic requirements for the coolant of the battery module and the converter.
[0027] According to a second aspect, the embodiments of the present application further provide an energy storage power plant including at least the energy storage system as described above.
[0028] Beneficial effects of the embodiments of the present application: The energy storage power plant according to the embodiments of the present application includes the above energy storage system. The energy storage system can introduce a coolant into the first cooling structure of the battery module and the second cooling structure of the converter using one set of cooling devices to achieve the cooling purpose. Therefore, the cost of the energy storage system is effectively reduced, and thus the cost of the energy storage power plant can also be reduced.
[0029] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly introduces the drawings that need to be used in the embodiments or related technologies. It is self-evident that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can also be obtained based on these drawings without creative efforts.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0030] [Figure 1] It is a schematic structural diagram of an energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 2] It is a schematic structural diagram of an energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 3] It is a schematic structural diagram of an energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 4] It is a schematic structural diagram of an energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 5] It is a schematic structural diagram of an energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 6] It is a schematic structural diagram of an energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present application when it includes a plurality of energy storage subsystems.
Modes for Carrying Out the Invention
[0031] The embodiments of this application are described below in detail, and the examples of such embodiments are shown in the drawings, where the same or similar reference numerals from beginning to end represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the drawings are illustrative and are used to interpret this application and should not be understood as limitations thereto.
[0032] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art relating to the present application, and the terms used herein are solely for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application. The terms “including” and “having” and any variations thereof in the description of the specification, claims and drawings of this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.
[0033] In the descriptions of the embodiments of this application, the orientations or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "length," "width," "thickness," "inside," "outside," "top," "bottom," "left," and "right" are orientations or positional relationships shown based on the drawings and are merely for the convenience and simplification of the description in this application. They do not indicate or imply that the mentioned devices or elements have a specific orientation or must be configured and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as limitations on this application.
[0034] The terms "first," "second," etc., are used solely to distinguish descriptions and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features being referred to. For example, the first guide and the second guide are used only to distinguish different guides and do not limit their order. Without deviating from the scope of the various embodiments described, the first guide may be named the second guide, and the second guide may be named the first guide. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., do not necessarily limit the features being referred to.
[0035] In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise explicitly defined or limited, terms such as “connection” and “bond” should be understood in a broad sense. For example, these may be fixed connections, removable connections, integral connections, mechanical connections, electrical connections, direct connections, indirect connections through an intermediate medium, internal communication between two elements, or interaction relationships between two elements. Those skilled in the art will be able to understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application depending on the specific circumstances. The meaning of “multiple” is at least two, i.e., two or more.
[0036] In this application, "and / or" merely describes a relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may represent three cases: A alone, a combination of A and B, or B alone. In this specification, the letter " / " generally indicates that the related objects before and after are in an "or" relationship.
[0037] It should be noted that in this application, terms such as “in some embodiments,” “exemplary,” and “for example” are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or explanations. In this application, any embodiment or design described as “in some embodiments,” “exemplary,” or “for example” should not be construed as being more preferable or superior to other embodiments or designs. More precisely, the use of terms such as “in some embodiments,” “exemplary,” and “for example” is intended to present related concepts in a specific manner, meaning that certain features, structures, or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of the above vocabulary in each position in the specification does not necessarily mean that all of them refer to the same embodiment, nor do they represent independent or alternative embodiments that are mutually exclusive with other embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand, both explicitly and implicitly, that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.
[0038] To provide a clearer understanding of the purpose, technical proposal, and advantages of this application, the application will be described in more detail, linking it with the following drawings and embodiments.
[0039] Energy storage is a crucial equipment foundation and supporting technology for building new power systems and promoting a green, low-carbon energy transition. As the share of renewable energy generation and storage capacity in China continues to increase, the "renewable energy + energy storage" model will play an increasingly important role in regulating and ensuring the safety of the power system.
[0040] Energy storage systems include components such as battery modules and converters. During operation, these components generate heat, requiring a cooling system to reduce their temperature. Both the battery module and the converter are equipped with a liquid cooling structure through which a cooling liquid flows, such as a water cooling plate. By introducing the cooling liquid of the cooling system into the liquid cooling structure of the battery module and the converter, the goal of reducing the temperature of the battery module and the converter is achieved.
[0041] However, the power of the battery module and converter in an energy storage system is basically the same, and the conversion efficiency of the converter is generally slightly higher than that of the battery module. Therefore, the power generated by the converter is less than that of the battery module. Consequently, the heat dissipation requirements of the battery module and converter differ depending on the different power generated. Furthermore, the pipe diameters of the liquid cooling channels in the liquid cooling structures of the battery module and the converter also differ, resulting in different flow rate requirements for the coolant. Moreover, the coolant requirements for the battery module and the converter can differ by as much as tenfold. If the cooling structures of the battery module and the converter are simply connected, at least one of them will not be able to meet its cooling requirements.
[0042] In related technologies, the use of two cooling systems with different parameters, each acting on the battery module and converter, to simultaneously meet the demands for coolant flow rate and pressure for the battery module and converter, has a relatively significant impact on the development and manufacturing costs of energy storage systems, increasing their overall cost.
[0043] Based on the above considerations, in order to solve the problem of the relatively high cost incurred by requiring two sets of cooling systems because the battery modules and converters of the energy storage system have different flow rate requirements for the coolant, the energy storage system was designed by installing a bypass structure between the first liquid outlet of the first cooling structure and the second liquid inlet of the second cooling structure. The bypass structure allows a portion of the coolant discharged from the first liquid outlet to be bypassed to the second liquid inlet, meaning that only a portion of the coolant discharged from the first liquid outlet enters the second liquid inlet. This achieves the effect of different flow rates for the coolant in the first and second cooling structures, thereby satisfying the different flow rate requirements of the first and second cooling structures.
[0044] The energy storage systems disclosed in the embodiments of this application may, but are not limited to, fixed or mobile energy stations, such as energy storage containers, energy storage distribution cabinets, energy storage power plants, battery exchange stations, etc. In some embodiments, the energy storage system may further include other functional rooms, such as a control room, a fire room, etc., the control room being used to manage batteries and realize the storage and output of electrical energy.
[0045] The following describes an energy storage system according to an embodiment of this application.
[0046] Referring to Figure 1, an embodiment of the present application provides an energy storage system 1000 comprising a battery module 100, a converter 200, and a cooling device 300, wherein the battery module 100 includes a first cooling structure 110 having a first liquid inlet 111 and a first liquid outlet 112, and the converter 200 includes a second cooling structure 210 having a second liquid inlet 211 and a second liquid outlet 212.
[0047] The battery module 100 included in the energy storage system 1000 disclosed in the embodiments of this application is formed by connecting battery cells in series and parallel. In one embodiment, the battery cell includes an end cap, a case, and a battery core assembly. The end cap and case surround and form a housing cavity, and the battery core assembly is installed within the housing cavity. The battery core assembly is the component in which an electrochemical reaction occurs in the battery cell. The battery core assembly is mainly formed by winding or stacking a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate and leaving them to stand, and generally a separator is provided between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate. During the charging and discharging process of the battery, the active material on the positive electrode plate and the active material on the negative electrode plate react with the electrolyte to form an electric current.
[0048] The battery module 100 is a module formed by connecting battery cells in series and / or in parallel. In the embodiments of this application, as can be understood, a first cooling structure 110 is configured through which a coolant flows in the battery module 100. The first cooling structure 110 may be installed in a battery module 100 formed by connecting multiple battery cells in series and / or in parallel, or in a single battery cell, or in a housing / cabinet that accommodates all the battery cells / battery modules 100. When the coolant flows through the first cooling structure 110, the first cooling structure 110 cools the battery module 100 and removes the heat generated during the operation of the battery module 100. The first cooling structure 110 may be a tube structure, a plate structure, or the like, but is not limited to these. The first cooling structure 110 has a first liquid inlet 111 and a first liquid outlet 112, and the cooling liquid can flow into the first cooling structure 110 from the first liquid inlet 111 and out from the first cooling structure 110 from the first liquid outlet 112.
[0049] The converter 200 is a power-consuming device that changes the voltage, frequency, number of phases, and other energy or characteristics of a power supply system. To make it easier to understand, a second cooling structure 210 is configured through which a coolant flows to the converter 200. As the coolant flows through the second cooling structure 210, the second cooling structure 210 cools the converter 200 and removes the heat generated during the operation of the converter 200. The second cooling structure 210 may be a tube structure, a plate structure, or the like, but is not limited to these. The second cooling structure 210 has a second liquid inlet 211 and a second liquid outlet 212, and the coolant can flow into the second cooling structure 210 from the second liquid inlet 211 and out of the second cooling structure 210 from the second liquid outlet 212.
[0050] The cooling device 300 includes a cooling unit 310 and a bypass structure 320, wherein the outlet end of the cooling unit 310 is connected to a first liquid inlet 111 via a pipe, and the inlet end of the cooling unit 310 is connected to a second liquid outlet 212 via a pipe, and the bypass structure 320 is configured to communicate with the first liquid outlet 112 and the second liquid inlet 211, and the bypass structure 320 is further configured to bypass some of the coolant discharged from the first liquid outlet 112 to outside the second liquid inlet 211.
[0051] Here, the cooling unit 310 is used to supply coolant and to cool the cooled and recirculated coolant again. The outlet end of the cooling unit 310 refers to the output port for which the cooling unit 310 outputs coolant, and the inlet end of the cooling unit 310 refers to the input port for which the cooling unit 310 introduces the recirculated coolant.
[0052] The above-mentioned pipeline is a pipeline structure used for circulating coolant.
[0053] The outlet end of the cooling unit 310 is connected to the first liquid inlet 111 via a conduit, meaning the cooling unit 310 can introduce coolant into the first liquid inlet 111, thereby allowing the coolant to flow into the first cooling structure 110 and be used to dissipate heat from the battery module 100. The inlet end of the cooling unit 310 is connected to the second liquid outlet 212 via a conduit, meaning that the coolant, which flows sequentially through the first cooling structure 110 and the second cooling structure 210 to perform heat absorption and cooling operations, can be recirculated into the cooling unit 310 after flowing out from the second liquid outlet 212, and the cooling unit 310 can perform a cooling treatment on the recirculated coolant, thereby allowing the coolant to be discharged again from the outlet end of the cooling unit 310 at a preset temperature.
[0054] The bypass structure 320 is used to perform a bypass operation on the coolant discharged from the first liquid outlet 112 of the first cooling structure 110. This allows a portion of the coolant discharged from the first liquid outlet 112 to be introduced into the second liquid inlet 211 of the second cooling structure 210, while the remaining portion is discharged outside the second liquid inlet 211. This achieves the objective of having different flow rates for the coolant flowing through the first cooling structure 110 and the coolant flowing through the second cooling structure 210. Here, the bypass operation refers to separating a branch flow from the fluid flowing from the first liquid outlet 112 to the second liquid inlet 211 and discharging it to the outside.
[0055] Specifically, the bypass structure 320 may be a multi-way valve, for example a three-way valve, where two valve ports of the three-way valve communicate with the first liquid outlet 112 and the second liquid inlet 211, respectively, and the other valve port of the three-way valve communicates with the outside, thereby allowing only a portion of the coolant discharged from the first liquid outlet 112 to flow into the second liquid inlet 211. Alternatively, the bypass structure 320 may further be a diversion pipe, where the diversion pipe is connected to the pipeline between the first liquid outlet 112 and the second liquid inlet 211, and in the process of the coolant flowing from the first liquid outlet 112 to the second liquid inlet 211, a portion of the coolant can flow out through the diversion pipe, so that the coolant flowing in from the second liquid inlet 211 accounts for only a portion of the coolant discharged from the first liquid outlet 112.
[0056] The number of bypass structures 320 may be one or more. If there are multiple bypass structures 320, the multiple bypass structures 320 may be connected in series between the first liquid outlet 112 and the second liquid inlet 211.
[0057] In the energy storage system 1000 according to the embodiment of this application, the cooling unit 310 introduces coolant and flows it sequentially through the first cooling structure 110 and the second cooling structure 210, thereby achieving heat dissipation to the battery module 100 and the converter 200, respectively. After the coolant is discharged from the first liquid outlet 112 of the first cooling structure 110, a bypass structure 320 allows a portion of the coolant to be bypassed outside the second liquid inlet 211. Therefore, only a portion of the coolant discharged from the first cooling structure 110 can enter the second cooling structure 210 from the second liquid inlet 211, i.e., the coolant flowing through the second cooling structure 210... The flow rate of the discarded liquid is smaller than the flow rate of the coolant flowing through the first cooling structure 110, and can satisfy the flow rate limits of the first cooling structure 110 and the second cooling structure 210. As a result, the cooling objective can be achieved by simultaneously introducing coolant to the first cooling structure 110 of the battery module 100 and the second cooling structure 210 of the converter 200 using only one set of cooling devices 300. Therefore, there is no need to use two sets of cooling devices 300 to individually introduce coolant to the first cooling structure 110 of the battery module 100 and the second cooling structure 210 of the converter 200, effectively reducing the cost of the energy storage system 1000.
[0058] Referring to Figure 1, in some embodiments, the bypass structure 320 has a bypass end 321, which is connected to the inlet end of the cooling unit 310.
[0059] To make it easier to understand, the bypass structure 320 can perform a bypass operation on the coolant discharged from the first liquid outlet 112 of the first cooling structure 110, thereby introducing a portion of the coolant discharged from the first liquid outlet 112 into the second liquid inlet 211 of the second cooling structure 210, and discharging the other portion outside the second liquid inlet 211.
[0060] The bypass end 321 refers to an output port on the bypass structure 320 for diverting the coolant discharged from the first liquid outlet 112 to the outside of the second liquid inlet 211. For example, if the bypass structure 320 is a three-way valve, the bypass end is one valve opening of the three-way valve, which communicates with the outside of the first liquid outlet 112 and the second liquid inlet 211, thereby allowing the coolant discharged from the first liquid outlet 112 to be diverted to the outside of the second liquid inlet 211.
[0061] Specifically, the bypass structure 320 directs some of the coolant that has been led out of the second liquid inlet 211 directly to the inlet end of the cooling unit 310, thereby allowing all of the coolant to be recirculated into the cooling unit 310 and used in cycles.
[0062] Exemplary, in some specific embodiments, the bypass structure 320 may be a three-way valve, two of which are connected to a first liquid outlet 112 and a second liquid outlet 212, respectively, and the other valve of the three-way valve is connected to the inlet end of the cooling unit 310, and the coolant is led out from the outlet end of the cooling unit 310 and then introduced into the first liquid inlet 111, so that the coolant can flow through the first cooling structure 110 and cool the battery module 100 to lower its temperature, and the coolant flowing through the first cooling structure 110 can be led out from the first liquid outlet 112, and a portion of the coolant is led to the second liquid inlet 211 via the three-way valve The coolant is introduced, and the rest of the coolant is introduced to the outlet end of the cooling unit 310 via a three-way valve. The coolant introduced to the second liquid inlet 211 can flow through the second cooling structure 210 and cool the converter 200 to a lower temperature. The flow rate of the coolant flowing through the second cooling structure 210 is smaller than the flow rate flowing through the first cooling structure 110. This makes it possible to connect the first cooling structure 110 and the second cooling structure 210 sequentially using only one set of cooling units 310, and to satisfy the different coolant flow rate requirements of the first cooling structure 110 and the second cooling structure 210.
[0063] Here, the cooling unit 310 is a device for cooling the coolant by lowering its temperature. The cooling unit 310 may also be a cooling tower, which is an evaporative heat dissipation device that generates steam through a thermal exchange after the coolant comes into fluid contact with air, and dissipates the temperature of the coolant by utilizing principles such as evaporative heat dissipation, convective heat transfer, and radiant heat transfer, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the cooling process. Specifically, the coolant may be cooling water, cooling oil, etc., but is not limited to these.
[0064] To make it easier to understand, a water pump may be further installed between the outlet end of the cooling unit 310 and the first liquid inlet 111, and the water pump may be used to pump the coolant into the first cooling structure 110.
[0065] By installing it in this manner, the bypass end 321 of the bypass structure 320 can bypass a portion of the coolant discharged from the first liquid outlet 112 of the first cooling structure 110 to the inlet end of the cooling unit 310. As a result, this portion of the coolant flows through the first cooling structure 110 and then directly recirculates into the cooling unit 310, where it is cooled and circulates.
[0066] Referring to Figure 1, in some embodiments, the bypass structure 320 is a three-way valve, which includes a first valve port, a second valve port and a third valve port, the first valve port being connected to a first liquid outlet 112, the second valve port being connected to a second liquid inlet 211, and the third valve port being a bypass end, which is connected to the liquid inlet end of the cooling unit 310.
[0067] A three-way valve is a valve device in which the valve body has three valve openings, and the three valve openings have one inlet and two outlets. Specifically, in this embodiment, the first valve opening is an inlet for the coolant to flow in, the second and third valve openings are both outlets for the coolant to flow out, and the third valve opening may also be a bypass end 321, used to bypass a portion of the coolant to the cooling unit 310.
[0068] Specifically, during the cooling process, the coolant is drawn out from the cooling unit 310 and flows through the first cooling structure 110. The coolant is then drawn out from the first liquid outlet 112 to the first valve port of the three-way valve. The coolant entering the three-way valve is then divided into two streams and flows out of the valve from the second and third valve ports. One stream of coolant that flows out from the second valve port is introduced into the second liquid inlet 211 and can flow through the second cooling structure 210. It then flows out from the second liquid outlet 212 and returns to the cooling unit 310. The other stream of coolant that flows out from the third valve port can return directly to the cooling unit 310. This achieves the objective of having different flow rates for the coolant flowing through the first cooling structure 110 and the coolant flowing through the second cooling structure 210.
[0069] Referring to Figures 2 to 5, in some embodiments, the cooling device 300 further includes a hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the hydraulic pressure difference between the coolant in the first cooling structure 110 and the coolant in the second cooling structure 210.
[0070] To understand this, the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism can adjust the hydraulic pressure difference between the coolant in the first cooling structure 110 and the coolant in the second cooling structure 210, thereby accommodating the hydraulic pressure difference between the coolant in the first cooling structure 110 and the coolant in the second cooling structure 210 in different cases.
[0071] Specifically, the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism may include a pressure boosting device for increasing the hydraulic pressure of the coolant, such as a pressure boosting valve or a pressure boosting pump, and the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism may also include a pressure reducing device for decreasing the hydraulic pressure of the coolant, such as a pressure reducing pipe or a pressure reducing valve, where the pressure reducing pipe may be a pipe structure that tends to increase in cross-sectional area, and when the coolant flows, the larger the cross-sectional area of the pipe, the lower the hydraulic pressure of the coolant. Alternatively, the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism may further include a spacer, which can be used to raise the first cooling structure 110 and the second cooling structure 210 to different heights, so that the hydraulic pressure of the coolant flowing through the higher of the two cooling structures is lower.
[0072] Here, the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism may be installed between the outlet end of the cooling unit 310 and the first liquid inlet 111, and the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism can adjust the hydraulic pressure of the coolant in the first cooling structure 110; or the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism may be installed between the first liquid outlet 112 and the second liquid inlet 211, and the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism can adjust the hydraulic pressure of the coolant in the second cooling structure 210; or the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism may be installed simultaneously between the outlet end of the cooling unit 310 and the first liquid inlet 111 and between the first liquid outlet 112 and the second liquid inlet 211, and the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism can simultaneously adjust the hydraulic pressure of the coolant in the first cooling structure 110 and the coolant in the second cooling structure 210.
[0073] By installing the system in this manner, the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism is used to adjust the hydraulic pressure difference between the coolant in the first cooling structure 110 and the coolant in the second cooling structure 210, thereby meeting the different hydraulic pressure requirements for the coolant of the battery module 100 and the converter 200.
[0074] Referring to Figures 1 and 5, in some embodiments, the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism includes a spacer 410, and when the spacer 410 is configured to be placed at the bottom of the first cooling structure 110 in the direction of gravity G, the height of the first cooling structure 110 is greater than the height of the second cooling structure 210. To understand this, the spacer 410 may be placed at the bottom of the first cooling structure 110 in the direction of gravity G, thereby raising the first cooling structure 110 in the direction of gravity G, so that the first cooling structure 110 is higher than the second cooling structure 210 in the direction of gravity G, i.e., there is a height difference between the first cooling structure 110 and the second cooling structure 210. It should be understood that when the coolant flows to a higher place it needs to overcome gravity, so the higher the height, the lower the hydraulic pressure of the coolant. The hydraulic pressure of the coolant flowing through the first cooling structure 110 and the hydraulic pressure of the coolant flowing through the second cooling structure 210 form a hydraulic pressure difference, and the hydraulic pressure of the coolant flowing through the first cooling structure 110 is lower than the hydraulic pressure of the coolant flowing through the second cooling structure 210.
[0075] Specifically, the spacer 410 may be installed below the battery module 100 and used to raise the entire battery module 100, thereby raising the first cooling structure 110.
[0076] Referring to Figures 1 and 4, in some embodiments, the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism includes a spacer 410, and when the spacer 410 is configured to be located at the bottom of the second cooling structure 210 in the direction of gravity, the height of the second cooling structure 210 is greater than the height of the first cooling structure 110.
[0077] To make it understandable, the spacer 410 may be placed at the bottom of the second cooling structure 210 in the direction of gravity G, thereby raising the second cooling structure 210 in the direction of gravity G, so that the second cooling structure 210 is higher than the first cooling structure 110 in the direction of gravity G, i.e., there is a height difference between the first cooling structure 110 and the second cooling structure 210, thereby forming a hydraulic pressure difference between the hydraulic pressure of the coolant flowing through the first cooling structure 110 and the hydraulic pressure of the coolant flowing through the second cooling structure 210, where the hydraulic pressure of the coolant flowing through the second cooling structure 210 is lower than the hydraulic pressure of the coolant flowing through the first cooling structure 110.
[0078] Specifically, the spacer 410 may be installed below the converter 200 and used to raise the entire converter 200, thereby raising the second cooling structure 210; or the spacer 410 may be installed inside the converter 200 and laid below the second cooling structure 210, thereby raising the second cooling structure 210.
[0079] By installing in this manner, the spacer 410 is used to raise the first cooling structure 110 or the second cooling structure 210, thereby creating a height difference in the direction of gravity G between the first cooling structure 110 and the second cooling structure 210. As can be understood, the higher the height in the direction of gravity G, the lower the liquid pressure of the coolant. Therefore, by adjusting the height difference in the direction of gravity G between the first cooling structure 110 and the second cooling structure 210, the objective of adjusting the liquid pressure difference between the coolant in the first cooling structure 110 and the coolant in the second cooling structure 210 can be achieved, thereby meeting the different liquid pressure requirements for the coolant of the battery module 100 and the converter 200.
[0080] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, in some embodiments, the spacer 410 is insulating.
[0081] To ensure clarity, the spacer 410 may be, but is not limited to, an inorganic insulating spacer (e.g., a ceramic spacer, a mica spacer, a glass spacer, etc.), an organic insulating spacer (e.g., a rubber spacer, a resin spacer, etc.), or a mixed insulating spacer (a spacer formed by combining two or more insulating materials).
[0082] The number of spacers 410 may be one or more. The first cooling structure 110 or the second cooling structure 210 may be raised using only one spacer 410, or the first cooling structure 110 or the second cooling structure 210 may be raised using multiple spacers 410.
[0083] By installing it in this manner, the spacer 410 has insulating properties, which improves the insulation level of the battery module 100 or converter 200 from the ground when the spacer 410 is laid on the ground.
[0084] Exemplary, in some specific embodiments, the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism includes a spacer 410, which is insulating, and is laid at the bottom of the converter 200, thereby raising the entire converter 200, so that in the direction of gravity G, the height of the second cooling structure 210 is greater than the height of the first cooling structure 110, and the bypass structure 320 is a three-way valve, the first valve port of the three-way valve is in communication with the first liquid outlet 112, the second valve port of the three-way valve is in communication with the second liquid inlet 211, and the third valve port of the three-way valve is in communication with the inlet end of the cooling unit 310. During the cooling operation, the cooling unit 310 discharges coolant from its outlet end, and the coolant is introduced into the first cooling structure 110 via the first liquid inlet 111. After flowing through the first cooling structure 110, the coolant flows out to the three-way valve from the first liquid outlet 112. At this time, a portion of the coolant flows directly back into the cooling unit 310 via the inlet end, while the other portion of the coolant overcomes gravity and flows into the higher second cooling structure 210, thereby being introduced into the second cooling structure 210 from the second liquid inlet 211. Since the flow rate and pressure of the coolant are lower than those of the coolant flowing through the first cooling structure 110, the objective of meeting the different demands for coolant flow rate and pressure of the first cooling structure 110 and the second cooling structure 210 can be achieved. In other words, without changing the original structure of the battery module 100 and the converter 200, the cooling demands of the battery module 100 and the converter 200 can be met simultaneously using only one set of cooling units 310, effectively reducing the cost of the energy storage system 1000.
[0085] Referring to Figure 3, in some embodiments, the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism includes a pressure reducing structural member 420 installed between a second liquid inlet 211 and a first liquid outlet 112.
[0086] To make it easier to understand, the pressure reducing structural member 420 is used to perform a pressure reduction treatment on the coolant. Specifically, the pressure reducing structural member 420 may be a pressure reducing valve, a pressure reducing pipe, etc., but is not limited to these, and the number of pressure reducing structural members 420 may be one or more, and if there are multiple pressure reducing structural members 420, each pressure reducing structural member 420 may be installed sequentially between the second liquid inlet 211 and the first liquid outlet 112.
[0087] Exemplary, in some specific embodiments, the pressure reducing structural member 420 is a pressure reducing valve, the number of pressure reducing valves is one, and the pressure reducing valve is installed in the pipeline between the second liquid inlet 211 and the first liquid outlet 112, as can be specifically seen in Figure 3. As can be understood, the pressure reducing valve reduces the hydraulic pressure by local resistance to the water flow in the passage within the valve, and the range of the hydraulic pressure reduction is automatically adjusted by the hydraulic pressure difference between the inlets and outlets on both sides of the film or piston connecting the valve flap. The coolant flows through the first cooling structure 110 and is led out to a pressure reducing valve from the first liquid outlet 112, which can adjust the pressure of the coolant. The coolant then flows through the bypass structure 320, is bypassed and diverted by the bypass structure 320, and flows to the pressure reducing valve, where it is adjusted by the pressure reduction of the pressure reducing valve before being introduced to the second liquid inlet 211. Thus, the coolant is introduced to the second cooling structure 210 after being diverted and depressurized. The liquid pressure of the coolant flowing through the second cooling structure 210 is lower than the liquid pressure of the coolant flowing through the first cooling structure 110, and the flow rate of the coolant flowing through the second cooling structure 210 is lower than the flow rate of the coolant flowing through the first cooling structure 110, thereby satisfying the objective that the required flow rates and liquid pressures for the first cooling structure 110 and the second cooling structure 210 are different.
[0088] Referring to Figure 3, in some embodiments, the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism includes a pressure-boosting structural member 430 installed between the outlet end of the cooling unit 310 and the first liquid inlet 111.
[0089] To make it easier to understand, the pressure-boosting structural member 430 is used to perform a pressure-boosting treatment on the coolant. Specifically, the pressure-boosting structural member 430 may be a pressure-boosting valve, a pressure-boosting pump, a pressure-boosting pipeline, etc., but is not limited to these. Here, the pressure-boosting pipeline may be a pipeline structure that exhibits a tendency for the pipeline cross-sectional area to decrease, and when the coolant flows, the smaller the cross-sectional area of the pipeline, the greater the liquid pressure of the coolant.
[0090] The number of pressure-boosting structural members 430 may be one or more. If there are multiple pressure-boosting structural members 430, each pressure-boosting structural member 430 may be installed sequentially between the outlet end of the cooling unit 310 and the first liquid inlet 111.
[0091] Exemplary, in some specific embodiments, the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism includes a pressure-boosting structural member 430 and a pressure-reducing structural member 420, wherein the pressure-boosting structural member 430 may be a pressure-boosting pump, and the pressure-reducing structural member 420 may be a pressure-reducing valve, and there is one of each, the pressure-boosting pump installed in the pipeline between the cooling unit 310 and the first liquid inlet 111, and the pressure-reducing valve installed in the pipeline between the first liquid outlet 112 and the second liquid inlet 211, as specifically shown in Figure 3. To understand, the pressure-boosting pump achieves the purpose of pressure boosting by driving its impeller to rotate rapidly to rotate the coolant, causing the coolant to gain energy and flow out of the impeller. The cooling unit 310 discharges coolant from its outlet end, and after being pressurized by a pressure boosting pump, the coolant is introduced into the first cooling structure 110 from the first liquid inlet 111. After flowing through the first cooling structure 110, the coolant is discharged from the first liquid outlet 112. The discharged coolant is then diverted through the bypass of the bypass structure 320, and the reduced flow rate of the coolant is further depressurized by a pressure reducing valve before being introduced into the second cooling structure 210 from the second liquid inlet 211. Therefore, the liquid pressure of the coolant flowing through the second cooling structure 210 is lower than the liquid pressure of the coolant flowing through the first cooling structure 110, and the flow rate of the coolant flowing through the second cooling structure 210 is lower than the flow rate of the coolant flowing through the first cooling structure 110, thereby satisfying the objective that the required flow rates and liquid pressures for the first cooling structure 110 and the second cooling structure 210 are different.
[0092] Referring to Figure 2, in some embodiments, the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism includes a pressure-boosting structural member 430 installed between a second liquid inlet 211 and a first liquid outlet 112.
[0093] Exemplary, in some specific embodiments, the pressure-boosting structural member 430 may be a pressure-boosting pump, of which there is one, and the pressure-boosting pump is installed in the pipeline between the second liquid inlet 211 and the first liquid outlet 112, as specifically shown in Figure 2. The coolant flows through the first cooling structure 110 and is led from the first liquid outlet 112 to the bypass structure 320. After being bypassed and diverted by the bypass structure 320, it is introduced to a booster pump, which can regulate the pressure of the coolant. After the booster pump regulates the pressure, the coolant flows to the second liquid inlet 211, and thus the coolant is introduced to the second cooling structure 210 after being diverted by the bypass structure 320 and diverted by the booster pump. The liquid pressure of the coolant flowing through the second cooling structure 210 is greater than the liquid pressure of the coolant flowing through the first cooling structure 110, and the flow rate of the coolant flowing through the second cooling structure 210 is less than the flow rate of the coolant flowing through the first cooling structure 110. This satisfies the objective that the required flow rates and liquid pressures of the first cooling structure 110 and the second cooling structure 210 are different.
[0094] Referring to Figure 2, in some embodiments, the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism includes a pressure reducing structural member 420 installed between the outlet end of the cooling unit 310 and the first liquid inlet 111.
[0095] Exemplary, in some specific embodiments, the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism includes a pressure-boosting structural member 430 and a pressure-reducing structural member 420, wherein the pressure-boosting structural member 430 may be a pressure-boosting pump, and the pressure-reducing structural member 420 may be a pressure-reducing valve, and there is one of each, the pressure-boosting pump is installed in the pipeline between the first liquid outlet 112 and the second liquid inlet 211, and the pressure-reducing valve is installed in the pipeline between the cooling unit 310 and the first liquid inlet 111, and can be specifically referred to in Figure 3. The cooling unit 310 discharges coolant from its outlet end, and after being depressurized by a pressure reducing valve, the coolant is introduced into the first cooling structure 110 from the first liquid inlet 111. After flowing through the first cooling structure 110, the coolant is discharged from the first liquid outlet 112. The discharged coolant flows into the bypass structure 320, and after being bypassed and diverted by the bypass structure 320, it is introduced into a pressure booster pump. The pressure booster pump can adjust the pressure of the coolant, and after the pressure booster pump adjusts the coolant, it flows into the second liquid inlet 211. Therefore, the liquid pressure of the coolant flowing through the second cooling structure 210 is greater than the liquid pressure of the coolant flowing through the first cooling structure 110, and the flow rate of the coolant flowing through the second cooling structure 210 is less than the flow rate of the coolant flowing through the first cooling structure 110, thereby satisfying the objective that the required flow rates and liquid pressures of the first cooling structure 110 and the second cooling structure 210 are different.
[0096] At the same time, it should be understood that one set of battery modules 100 and a corresponding set of converters 200 can constitute one energy storage subsystem, and the energy storage unit may include one or more energy storage subsystems, as shown in Figure 6. As can be understood, each energy storage subsystem may communicate with the cooling unit 310 in a parallel connection manner, that is, the cooling unit 310 can simultaneously supply coolant to multiple energy storage subsystems via its outlet terminal, and the coolant, after being distributed to the multiple energy storage subsystems, can all be returned to the inlet terminal of the cooling unit 310.
[0097] Furthermore, each energy storage subsystem includes a bypass structure 320, which is used to reduce the flow rate of coolant flowing through the second cooling structure 210 of the corresponding converter 200 to that of the first cooling structure 110 by bypassing and diverting the coolant flowing out of the first cooling structure 110 of the battery module 100.
[0098] According to a second aspect, embodiments of the present application further provide an energy storage power plant comprising at least the energy storage system 1000 described above.
[0099] The energy storage power plant according to the embodiment of this application includes the above-described energy storage system 1000, and the energy storage system 1000 can achieve its cooling purpose by introducing coolant to the first cooling structure 110 of the battery module 100 and the second cooling structure 210 of the converter 200 using a set of cooling devices 300, thereby effectively reducing the cost of the energy storage system 1000, and consequently, the cost of the energy storage power plant can also be reduced.
[0100] The foregoing is merely a preferred embodiment of the present application and does not limit the present application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present application should all be included within the scope of protection of the present application. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0101] 1000 energy storage systems, 100 Battery module, 110 First cooling structure, 111 First liquid inlet, 112 First liquid outlet, 200 Converter, 210 Second cooling structure, 211 Second liquid inlet, 212 Second liquid outlet, 300 Cooling device, 310 Cooling unit, 320 Bypass structure, 321 Bypass terminal, 410 Spacer, 420 Pressure reduction structural member, 430 Pressure increasing structural member, G Gravity direction.
Claims
1. An energy storage system, A battery module including a first cooling structure having a first liquid inlet and a first liquid outlet, A converter including a second cooling structure having a second liquid inlet and a second liquid outlet, An energy storage system comprising a cooling device and a bypass structure, wherein the outlet end of the cooling device is connected to the first liquid inlet via a conduit, the inlet end of the cooling device is connected to the second liquid outlet via a conduit, the bypass structure is configured to communicate with the first liquid outlet and the second liquid inlet, and the bypass structure is further configured to bypass a portion of the coolant discharged from the first liquid outlet to outside the second liquid inlet.
2. The energy storage system according to claim 1, characterized in that the bypass structure has a bypass end, and the bypass end is connected to the liquid inlet end of the cooling unit.
3. The energy storage system according to claim 2, characterized in that the bypass structure is a three-way valve, the three-way valve includes a first valve port, a second valve port and a third valve port, the first valve port is connected to the first liquid outlet, the second valve port is connected to the second liquid inlet, the third valve port is the bypass end, and the third valve port is connected to the liquid inlet end of the cooling unit.
4. The energy storage system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cooling device further includes a hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the hydraulic pressure difference between the coolant in the first cooling structure and the coolant in the second cooling structure.
5. The hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism includes a spacer, In the direction of gravity, if the spacer is configured to be installed at the bottom of the first cooling structure, the height of the first cooling structure is greater than the height of the second cooling structure. Alternatively, the energy storage system according to claim 4, characterized in that, in the direction of gravity, the spacer is configured to be installed at the bottom of the second cooling structure, the height of the second cooling structure is greater than the height of the first cooling structure.
6. The energy storage system according to claim 5, characterized in that the spacer is insulating.
7. The energy storage system according to claim 4, characterized in that the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism includes a pressure reducing structural member installed between the second liquid inlet and the first liquid outlet.
8. The energy storage system according to claim 7, characterized in that the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism includes a pressure-boosting structural member installed between the outlet end of the cooling unit and the first liquid inlet.
9. The energy storage system according to claim 4, characterized in that the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism includes a pressure-boosting structural member installed between the second liquid inlet and the first liquid outlet.
10. The energy storage system according to claim 9, characterized in that the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism includes a pressure reducing structural member installed between the outlet end of the cooling unit and the first liquid inlet.
11. An energy storage power plant characterized by including at least the energy storage system described in any one of claims 1 to 3.