Container Module

Abstract

A container module is disclosed. A container module according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a case providing internal space, a battery pack housed inside the case, a pipe located inside the case and having a flow path, and a drain case located below the pipe and providing internal space.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a container module.

[0002] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0182380 filed on December 14, 2023, and all contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of that application are incorporated into the present application. [Background Art]

[0003] Currently, commercially available secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, and lithium secondary batteries. Among these, lithium secondary batteries are in the spotlight due to their advantages that compared with nickel-based secondary batteries, they hardly exhibit the memory effect, allow free charge and discharge, have an extremely low self-discharge rate and high energy density.

[0004] Recently, as issues such as energy conservation and environmentally friendly energy have become more important, energy storage systems (ESS) for storing produced electricity are attracting more attention. For example, smart grid systems have been proposed as one way to adjust the supply and demand of electricity. The amount of electricity used by consumers is not always constant and can fluctuate frequently. A typical example is the surge in electricity use in the afternoon during the summer due to the use of air conditioning, followed by a sharp decrease at night. Thus, on the consumption side, electricity consumption is not constant and can fluctuate frequently, but on the supply side, even if electricity production is adjusted to some extent, it is practically difficult to match such electricity consumption. This can lead to an imbalance between electricity supply and consumption, resulting in electricity surplus or shortage, but smart grid systems can flexibly store and adjust electricity to address such problems. A smart grid system can be described as a concept in which surplus electricity is stored at the point or region where it occurs, and stored electricity is supplied at the point or region where a shortage occurs. One of the core components for building such a smart grid system is an energy storage system for storing electricity. Furthermore, as the commercialization of electric vehicles progresses in earnest in the near future, energy storage systems can also be applied to facilities for charging electric vehicles, such as charging stations.

[0005] Such energy storage systems may include multiple battery containers. The number and configuration of battery containers can vary depending on diverse environments and requirements. To meet these requirements, it is necessary to improve energy density by combining small modules to form the battery containers and to configure them in a way that allows for expansion in various configurations. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems and other problems.

[0007] Another objective of this invention is to provide a container module capable of removing internal moisture.

[0008] Another objective of this invention is to provide a container module with improved electrical safety.

[0009] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a container module with a simplified structure.

[0010] Another objective of this invention is to provide a miniaturized container module. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] A container module according to one embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above objectives may include a case that provides internal space, a battery pack housed inside the case, a pipe located inside the case and having a flow path, and a drain case located below the pipe and providing internal space.

[0012] Furthermore, the pipe may extend in the vertical direction.

[0013] Furthermore, the drain case has an open top, and the internal space of the drain case can face the pipe.

[0014] Furthermore, the lower end of the pipe can be housed in the drain case.

[0015] Furthermore, the pipe may include fins that protrude from its outer surface and extend along the vertical direction.

[0016] Furthermore, the fins may be provided in multiple quantities, and these multiple fins may be arranged along the circumference of the pipe.

[0017] The system may further include a drain tube that communicates with the drain case.

[0018] Further, the drain tube may comprise one end connected to the drain case and another end located lower than said one end.

[0019] Further, the case may further comprise a bottom panel provided with a drainage hole, and a drain portion provided in said drainage hole, wherein said drain portion may be located below the drain case.

[0020] Further, the container module may further comprise a drain tube communicating with the drain case and extending toward said drainage hole.

[0021] Further, the container module may further comprise a branch tube that communicates the pipe with the battery pack.

[0022] Further, the pipe comprises a flat surface extending along the vertical direction, and the branch tube may be connected to said flat surface.

[0023] The present invention further comprises a port that communicates the pipe with the branch tube, and said port may comprise a guard protruding from an outer surface and located between the pipe and the branch tube.

[0024] A container system according to one aspect of the present invention comprises the container module according to the present invention.

[0025] An energy storage system according to one aspect of the present invention comprises the container module according to the present invention. Effects of the Invention

[0026] According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, moisture inside the container module can be removed.

[0027] According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, the electrical safety of the container module is improved.

[0028] According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, the structure of the container module is simplified.

[0029] According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, the container module can be reduced in size. [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS]

[0030] The following drawings attached to the present specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and serve to further understand the technical idea of the present invention together with the detailed description of the invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be construed as being limited only to the matters described in the drawings. [Figure 1] It is a diagram showing a container module according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a diagram showing a state where a front panel of the container module of FIG. 1 is open. [Figure 3] It is an enlarged view of portion A in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] It is a diagram schematically showing a drainage system of the container module of FIG. 1. [Figure 5] It is an enlarged view of portion B in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] It is a diagram schematically showing a cross-sectional configuration along line C-C' in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] It is an enlarged view of portion D in FIG. 5. [Figure 8] It is a diagram schematically showing a cross-sectional configuration along line F-F' in FIG. 2. [Figure 9] It is a diagram schematically showing a cross-sectional configuration along line E-E' in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] It is a diagram showing a drainage state in the cross-sectional configuration of FIG. 9. [Figure 11] It is a diagram schematically showing a cross-sectional configuration along line G-G' in FIG. 1. [Figure 12] It is a diagram schematically showing a cross-sectional configuration along line H-H' in FIG. 11. [Figure 13] It is a diagram showing a drainage state in the cross-sectional configuration of FIG. 12. [Figure 14] This figure schematically shows the cross-sectional structure along the line I-I' in Figure 5. [Figure 15] This is an enlarged view of section B in Figure 4. [Figure 16] This diagram shows a container according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0031] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. Prior to this, terms and words used in this specification and in the claims should not be interpreted in a manner limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but rather in a manner and concept that is in line with the technical idea of ​​the present invention, in accordance with the principle that the inventor himself can appropriately define the concepts of terms in order to best describe the invention.

[0032] Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments and configurations shown in the drawings described herein represent only one of the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent the entirety of the technical concept of the present invention, and that there are various equivalents and modifications that can be substituted for them at the time of this application.

[0033] Figure 1 shows a container module according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 shows the container module of Figure 1 with the front panel 110 open. Figure 3 is an enlarged view of part A in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the drainage system of the container module of Figure 1.

[0034] Referring to Figures 1 to 4, a container module according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a case 100, a battery pack 400, a pipe 500, and a drain case 600.

[0035] Case 100 may provide internal space. Case 100 may form the external shape of a container module. Case 100 may include a frame 160 and a plurality of panels coupled to the frame 160. Case 100 may include a front panel 110, a rear panel, side panels 120, a top panel 130, and a bottom panel 140. Case 100 may have a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0036] The battery pack 400 may be positioned, installed, fastened, coupled, or fixed inside the case 100. The battery pack 400 may include multiple battery cells, where the battery cells may refer to secondary batteries. Multiple battery packs 400 may be provided. The battery pack 400 may be in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.

[0037] The pipe 500 may be located inside the case 100. The pipe 500 may extend vertically or along the Z-axis. The pipe 500 may have internal flow paths. A cooling fluid may flow through the pipe 500. For example, cooling water may flow through the pipe 500. The pipe 500 may contain a metallic material. The pipe 500 may also contain a material with high thermal conductivity. For example, the pipe 500 may be made of aluminum. The pipe 500 may also be manufactured by an extrusion process.

[0038] The drain case 600 may provide internal space. The drain case 600 may be located below the pipe 500. Furthermore, the drain case 600 may contain a material with better insulation properties than the pipe 500.

[0039] According to this configuration of the present invention, the humidity inside the container module is reduced. If the humidity inside the container module is high, moisture may condense on the surface of the pipe 500. The condensed moisture may move downward due to gravity. The moisture can then be collected or contained in the drain case 600. This prevents electrical damage to the container module due to moisture or condensation.

[0040] Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the cooling unit 200 may be located on the front panel 110. For example, the cooling unit 200 may be a heat exchanger such as a chiller or cooler. The cooling unit 200 can regulate the temperature of the cooling fluid flowing inside the case 100. The cooling unit 200 may supply or circulate a cooling liquid or cooling gas into the case 100 through piping.

[0041] According to this configuration of the present invention, the container module can directly remove moisture. Moisture can be removed using the pipe 500 and drain case 600 even without HVAC. The container module may be equipped with a chiller that has fewer functions than HVAC instead of HVAC. This improves the economic efficiency of the container module and simplifies its structure.

[0042] Figure 5 is an enlarged view of section B in Figure 4. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing the cross-sectional configuration along the line C-C' in Figure 5. Figure 7 is an enlarged view of section D in Figure 5. Referring to Figures 5 to 7, the pipe 500 may include a supply pipe 510 and a discharge pipe 520. A supply channel 511 may be formed inside the supply pipe 510. A discharge channel 521 may be formed inside the discharge pipe 520. Cooling fluid can be supplied to the battery pack 400 through the supply pipe 510. The cooling fluid discharged after cooling the battery pack 400 can be recovered by the discharge pipe 520.

[0043] The pipe 500 may include fins 530. The fins 530 may protrude from the outer surface of the pipe 500. The fins 530 may extend long in the vertical direction, the Z-axis direction, or along the longitudinal direction of the pipe 500. There may be multiple fins 530. Multiple fins 530 may be arranged along the circumferential direction of the pipe 500.

[0044] Moisture inside case 100 may condense on the surface of fin 530 or pipe 500. The condensed moisture may then move downward or in the -Z axis direction due to gravity.

[0045] According to this configuration of the present invention, the surface area of ​​the pipe 500 is increased. This facilitates the condensation of moisture.

[0046] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing the cross-sectional configuration along the line F-F' in Figure 2. Figure 9 is a schematic diagram showing the cross-sectional configuration along the line E-E' in Figure 8. Figure 10 is a diagram showing the drainage state in the cross-sectional configuration of Figure 9.

[0047] Referring to Figures 8 to 10, the drain case 600 may have an open top. The internal space of the drain case 600 may face the pipe 500. The internal space of the drain case 600 may also face the lower end of the pipe 500. Furthermore, the opening of the drain case 600 may be formed to be larger than the diameter of the pipe 500.

[0048] According to this configuration of the present invention, moisture that moves downward along the surface of the pipe 500 can be collected or contained in the drain case 600.

[0049] Referring to Figures 8 to 10, at least a portion of the pipe 500 can be housed in the drain case 600. Also, the lower end of the pipe 500 may be positioned lower than the upper end of the drain case 600.

[0050] According to this configuration of the present invention, moisture that moves downward along the surface of the pipe 500 is stably collected or contained by the drain case 600.

[0051] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram showing the cross-sectional configuration along the line G-G' in Figure 1. Referring to Figures 10 and 11, the container module may include a drain tube 700 communicating with a drain case 600. The drain tube 700 may contain a material having higher thermal insulation properties than the pipe 500. The drain case 600 may include a discharge hole 601. The drain tube 700 may communicate with the discharge hole 601.

[0052] According to this configuration of the present invention, moisture collected or contained in the drain case 600 is discharged through the drain tube 700.

[0053] Referring to Figure 11, the drain tube 700 may extend along the frame 160 and the bottom panel 140. The drain tube 700 may have one end connected to the drain case 600 and the other end located lower than that end. One end of the drain tube 700 may be located h2 higher than the other end.

[0054] According to this configuration of the present invention, the moisture collected or contained in the drain case 600 can be moved through the drain tube 700 by gravity. This eliminates the need for the container module to be equipped with a separate power unit for draining the moisture.

[0055] Referring to Figure 11, the drain tube 700 may extend toward the drain hole 141. The drain hole 141 may be provided in the bottom panel 140. The drain case 600 may be positioned h1 higher than the bottom panel 140.

[0056] According to this configuration of the present invention, the moisture collected or contained in the drain case 600 can be moved through the drain tube 700 by gravity. This eliminates the need for the container module to be equipped with a separate power unit for draining the moisture.

[0057] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram showing the cross-sectional configuration at H-H' in Figure 11. Figure 13 is a diagram showing the drainage state in the cross-sectional configuration of Figure 12. Referring to Figures 12 and 13, the case 100 may include a bottom panel 140. The bottom panel 140 may include a drain section 142. The drain section 142 may be provided in the drain hole 141. The drain section 142 may be located below the drain case 600. The drain section 142 may include a holder 143 and a filter 144. The filter 144 may be installed and fixed to the holder 143. The filter 144 can discharge moisture from inside the case 100 to the outside. The filter 144 can also block foreign matter from penetrating into the inside of the case 100. The drain tube 700 may be located h3 higher than the upper end of the filter 144.

[0058] According to this configuration of the present invention, the water discharged from the drain section 142 is discharged to the outside of the case 100 by gravity. As a result, the container module does not need to be equipped with a separate power device for discharging water.

[0059] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram showing the cross-sectional configuration along the line I-I' in Figure 5. Figure 15 is an enlarged view of portion B in Figure 4. Referring to Figures 5, 6, 14, and 15, a container module according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a branch tube 800 communicating with the pipe 500. The branch tube 800 may connect the pipe 500 to the battery pack 400. The branch tube 800 may contain a material with higher thermal insulation properties than the pipe 500.

[0060] With this configuration of the present invention, moisture condensation inside the case 100 can be concentrated in the pipe 500. In the configuration through which the cooling fluid flows, the pipe 500 may be made of the material with the lowest thermal insulation properties. As a result, moisture can condense on the surface of the pipe 500 and be collected in the drain case 600.

[0061] Referring to Figures 5, 6, 14, and 15, the pipe 500 may have a flat surface 501. The flat surface 501 may extend along the vertical direction, the Z-axis direction, or the longitudinal direction of the pipe 500. The fins 530 do not have to be formed on the flat surface 501. The branch tube 800 may be connected, communicate with, or joined to the flat surface 501.

[0062] According to this configuration of the present invention, processing for connecting the pipe 500 and the branch tube 800 becomes easier. The pipe 500 can be manufactured by extrusion. In this case, if fins 530 are formed in the portion of the pipe 500 to which the branch tube 800 is connected, processing for connecting the branch tube 800 may become difficult. However, by having a flat surface 501 in the pipe 500, the connection between the pipe 500 and the branch tube 800 becomes easier.

[0063] Referring to Figures 5, 6, 14, and 15, a container module according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a port 900. The port 900 may connect a branch tube 800 to a pipe 500. The port 900 may include a coupling 920 and a guard 910. The coupling 920 may be provided on both sides of the guard 910, or the guard 910 may be located between the couplings 920. Part of the coupling 920 may be inserted into the pipe 500. Another part of the coupling 920 may be inserted into the branch tube 800. The guard 910 may be located between the branch tube 800 and the pipe 500. The guard 910 may be formed larger than the diameter of the coupling 920. The guard 910 may extend along the periphery of the coupling 920.

[0064] According to this configuration of the present invention, the safety of the container module is improved. Moisture condensed on the surface of pipe 500 can move downward. In this case, the guard 910 can block the flow of moisture into branch tube 800. The condensed moisture cannot move into branch tube 800 due to the guard 910 and can move downward along the periphery of the joint 920.

[0065] Figure 16 shows a container according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 16, the container system may include a plurality of container modules 10. The plurality of container modules 10 may be physically or electrically connected.

[0066] Case 100 may be configured to be stackable or connectable with the cases 100 of other container modules 10. The container system may also further include a control module. The control module may be fastened, connected, linked, stacked, or fixed to the side panels 120 of the container module 10.

[0067] The control module can be electrically connected to multiple container modules 10 included in the container system. The control module can control the charging and discharging of the multiple container modules 10. The control module can also acquire status information of the multiple container modules 10.

[0068] In addition, the container system may be configured to further include fire suppression modules for controlling thermal events.

[0069] The energy storage system ESS according to the present invention may include a container module 10 according to the present invention. The energy storage system may include a plurality of container systems. And a container system may include a plurality of container modules 10. Such an energy storage system can form a link group by combining a certain number of container modules 10 and a control module 20.

[0070] In this specification, terms indicating direction such as up, down, left, right, front, and back are used. However, such terms indicate relative positions and are merely for the convenience of explanation. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that these positions can change depending on the position of the object in question, the observer's position, and so on.

[0071] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific preferred embodiments described above, and it goes without saying that anyone with ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs can modify it in various ways without departing from the gist of the invention as claimed in the claims, and such modifications are included within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. Cases that provide interior space, A battery pack housed inside the aforementioned case, A pipe located inside the aforementioned case and equipped with a flow path, A container module including a drain case located below the aforementioned pipe and providing internal space.

2. The container module according to claim 1, wherein the pipe extends in the vertical direction.

3. The aforementioned drain case is The top is open, The container module according to claim 1, wherein the internal space of the drain case faces the pipe.

4. The container module according to claim 1, wherein the lower end of the pipe is housed in the drain case.

5. The aforementioned pipe is The container module according to claim 1, comprising fins protruding from the outer surface and extending along the vertical direction.

6. The aforementioned fins are provided in multiple quantities, The aforementioned multiple fins are, The container module according to claim 5, which is arranged along the perimeter of the pipe.

7. The container module according to claim 1, further comprising a drain tube communicating with the drain case.

8. The aforementioned drain tube is The container module according to claim 7, comprising one end connected to the drain case and the other end located lower than the one end.

9. The aforementioned case is, A bottom panel equipped with drainage holes, The present invention further includes a drain section provided in the drain hole, The aforementioned drain section is The container module according to claim 1, which is located below the drain case.

10. The container module according to claim 9, further comprising a drain tube communicating with the drain case and extending toward the drain hole.

11. The container module according to claim 1, further comprising a branching tube for connecting the pipe and the battery pack.

12. The aforementioned pipe is It has a flat surface that extends along the vertical direction, The aforementioned branching tube is The container module according to claim 11, connected to the flat surface.

13. The invention further includes a port that connects the pipe and the branch tube, The aforementioned port is The container module according to claim 11, comprising a guard protruding from the outer surface and located between the pipe and the branch tube.

14. A container system comprising a container module according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. An energy storage system comprising a container according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

Images