Energy storage battery pack thermal management system

Abstract

An energy storage battery pack thermal management system including a plurality of energy storage battery packs and temperature control sub-units, each of the energy storage battery packs including a plurality of battery modules and a main housing for housing the battery modules, the plurality of temperature control sub-units being respectively attached to the energy storage battery packs, each temperature control sub-unit including a speed adjustment fan for cooling the energy storage battery pack, a temperature detection device for detecting the battery module temperature, and a PWM controller, the speed adjustment fan, the temperature detection device, and the PWM controller of the same temperature control sub-unit being signal-connected, the PWM controller being used to adjust the duty ratio of the speed adjustment fan based on the difference between the battery module temperature and a temperature threshold, the temperature threshold being a preset value, an energy storage battery pack thermal management system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of energy storage systems, and particularly to an energy storage battery pack thermal management system. <Cross-reference to Related Applications> This patent application claims the priority of a Chinese patent application filed on January 4, 2023, with the application number 202320015462.5, the applicants being Zhejiang Jike Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., WeRide New Energy Automotive Technology (Ningbo) Co., Ltd., and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd., and the invention title being "Energy Storage Battery Pack Thermal Management System", and the full text of the above application is incorporated into this application by reference.

Background Art

[0002] An energy storage system is generally a device assembly that can rationally utilize energy to improve energy utilization efficiency, collect energy that is not used temporarily in some way, and store it for reuse. Currently, using a fan for cooling within an energy storage system is the most common cooling method in the industry. Cooling by a fan has advantages such as a simple structure, low cost, mature technology, and high reliability, so it is widely used.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] Energy storage systems with a capacity of MWh (megawatts) or higher that use fans for cooling inevitably require many fans, and all fans typically use the same control parameters. Specifically, when fans are turned on and off, fans corresponding to high-temperature and low-temperature battery boxes are controlled simultaneously to operate with the same parameters. This leads to problems such as high energy consumption in the energy storage system, loud fan noise, and a short fan lifespan. Furthermore, it results in uneven cooling of the batteries in the energy storage system and a large temperature range between the batteries and battery packs. Both uneven cooling and large temperature differences shorten the lifespan of the batteries and battery packs, affecting the system's stability and economic benefits. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] In view of this, the present invention provides an energy storage battery pack thermal management system that can stabilize the temperature of the battery in an energy storage system and extend the lifespan of the battery and battery pack.

[0005] The energy storage battery pack thermal management system of the present invention comprises a plurality of energy storage battery packs and a plurality of temperature control subunits, each of which comprises a plurality of battery modules and a main housing for housing the battery modules, each of which is attached to the plurality of energy storage battery packs, and each of which comprises a speed control fan for cooling the energy storage battery pack, a temperature detection device for detecting the battery module temperature and a PWM controller, the speed control fan, the temperature detection device and the PWM controller of the same temperature control subunit are signal-connected, the PWM controller is used to adjust the duty cycle of the speed control fan based on the difference between the battery module temperature and a temperature threshold, the temperature threshold being a preset value.

[0006] Furthermore, the energy storage battery pack further includes a cooling duct, the cooling duct is provided within the main housing, the speed control fan is provided at one end of the cooling duct and communicates with the cooling duct, and the battery modules are provided on both sides of the cooling duct.

[0007] Furthermore, the temperature detection device is in close contact with the plurality of battery modules, and the temperature detection device detects the temperature of the plurality of battery modules in close contact with it. , as the battery module temperature Used to transmit to the aforementioned PWM controller.

[0008] Furthermore, the PWM controller is signal-connected to the speed-adjustable fan located within the same battery module, and the PWM controller controls the duty cycle of the speed-adjustable fan within the same battery module, thereby bringing the battery module temperature closer to the temperature threshold.

[0009] Furthermore, the PWM controller is signal-connected to the temperature detection device located within the same battery module, and the PWM controller is used to adjust the duty cycle of the speed control fan based on the temperature of the battery module in close contact with the temperature detection device and the temperature threshold.

[0010] Furthermore, the PWM controller is used to adjust the duty cycle of the speed-adjustable fan by a first duty cycle preset value when the difference between the battery module temperature and the temperature threshold is less than or equal to a first difference, and the PWM controller is also used to adjust the duty cycle of the speed-adjustable fan by a second duty cycle preset value when the difference between the battery module temperature and the temperature threshold is less than or equal to a second difference, and the first difference, the second difference, the first duty cycle preset value, and the second duty cycle preset value are all preset values, and the second difference is greater than the first difference.

[0011] Furthermore, the speed-adjustable fan is a PWM fan.

[0012] Furthermore, the speed-adjusting fan is an energy-storage temperature-controlled fan.

[0013] Furthermore, the energy storage battery pack thermal management system further includes a plurality of battery clusters, each of which comprises a plurality of energy storage battery packs, and the plurality of temperature control subunits within a single battery cluster are signal-connected via sub-control boxes, and the plurality of sub-control boxes are signal-connected via a main control box, which controls all of the temperature control subunits via the sub-control boxes to ensure that the duty cycles of all of the speed control fans are not exactly the same.

[0014] Furthermore, the energy storage battery pack thermal management system further includes a main control box, a plurality of sub-control boxes are signal-connected via the main control box, the main control box includes an electrical control system, the electrical control system is used to control the temperature control subunit to detect the battery module temperature with a temperature detection interval as the period, the temperature detection interval being a preset value. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] The energy storage battery pack thermal management system of the present invention controls each energy storage battery pack individually using the energy storage battery pack and the temperature control subunit provided therein. This allows each energy storage battery pack to be cooled independently based on the temperature of its battery modules, without being affected by the cooling policy of any other energy storage battery pack. This stabilizes the temperature of the entire energy storage system, reduces unnecessary fan losses, lowers the overall energy consumption of the energy storage system, extends the lifespan of the speed control fan, and reduces the noise of the speed control fan. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of the energy storage battery pack thermal management system provided by the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic flow diagram showing how the energy storage system in the present invention controls the battery module temperature. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram of the temperature control subunit in the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0017] To further explain the technical means and effects employed by the present invention to achieve the intended inventive objectives, the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings and preferred embodiments.

[0018] The terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," etc., used in the specification and claims of this invention are intended to distinguish similar subjects and not to indicate a specific order or arrangement.

[0019] Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the energy storage battery pack thermal management system of the present invention includes a plurality of energy storage battery packs 2 and a plurality of temperature control subunits, each energy storage battery pack 2 including a plurality of battery modules and a main housing for housing the battery modules, each of the plurality of temperature control subunits is attached to the plurality of energy storage battery packs 2, and each temperature control subunit includes a speed control fan 1 for cooling the energy storage battery pack 2, a temperature detection device for detecting the battery module temperature and a PWM controller. Specifically, the speed control fan 1, temperature detection device and PWM controller of the same temperature control subunit are signal-connected and all are provided in the same energy storage battery pack 2, the temperature detection device can detect the temperature of a battery module located in the same energy storage battery pack 2, and the PWM controller can adjust the duty cycle of the speed control fan 1 based on the difference between the battery module temperature and a preset temperature threshold. In this embodiment, the temperature threshold is 30°C. When the temperature detection device detects that the battery module temperature is higher than this value, the PWM controller outputs a high duty cycle signal to increase the rotation speed of the speed control fan 1, bringing the battery module temperature closer to the temperature threshold of 30°C. Conversely, if the temperature is higher, the PWM controller outputs a low duty cycle signal to decrease the rotation speed of the speed control fan 1, bringing the battery module temperature closer to the temperature threshold of 30°C. In particular, the PWM controller in this invention is signal-connected only to speed control fans 1 located in the same energy storage battery pack 2, and controls only the speed control fans 1 located in the same energy storage battery pack 2. The temperature detection device also detects only the battery modules located within the same energy storage battery pack 2. In other words, in the energy storage battery pack thermal management system of this invention, any energy storage battery pack 2 can be cooled independently based on its own cooling policy, i.e., the battery module temperature, without being affected by the cooling policy of any other energy storage battery pack 2, thereby stabilizing the temperature of the entire energy storage system and reducing unnecessary fan losses.

[0020] Referring particularly to Figures 2 and 3, the temperature detection device in the present invention is in close contact with multiple battery modules, and the temperature detection device detects the temperature of the multiple battery modules in close contact with it. , as battery module temperature A signal is transmitted to a PWM controller, which is connected to a speed-controlled fan 1 located within the same battery module. The PWM controller controls the duty cycle of the speed-controlled fan 1 within the same battery module, thereby bringing the battery module temperature closer to a temperature threshold. The PWM controller is also connected to a temperature detection device located within the same battery module. The PWM controller is used to adjust the duty cycle of the speed-controlled fan 1 based on the temperature of the battery module in close contact with the temperature detection device and the temperature threshold. In this embodiment, since the temperature threshold of the speed-controlled fan 1 is a preset value, its initial duty cycle value is also a preset value. Furthermore, the PWM controller pre-sets duty cycle preset values ​​corresponding to speed-adjustable fans 1 at different temperatures. The PWM controller is also used to adjust the duty cycle of the speed-adjustable fan by a first duty cycle preset value when the difference between the battery module temperature and the temperature threshold is less than or equal to a first difference, and the PWM controller is also used to adjust the duty cycle of the speed-adjustable fan by a second duty cycle preset value when the difference between the battery module temperature and the temperature threshold is less than or equal to a second difference. The first difference, the second difference, the first duty cycle preset value, and the second duty cycle preset value are all preset values, and in this embodiment, the second difference is greater than the first difference. The temperature control subunit in the present invention can adjust the cooling policy of any energy storage battery pack 2 by adjusting preset parameters such as the first duty cycle preset value, the second duty cycle preset value, the first difference, and the second difference, and the system's operating logic is rational and cost management is simple.

[0021] Furthermore, the energy storage battery pack 2 further includes a cooling duct, the cooling duct is provided within the main housing, the speed adjustment fan 1 is provided at one end of the cooling duct and communicates with the cooling duct, and the battery modules are provided on both sides of the cooling duct. Specifically, the speed adjustment fan 1 is fixed to the main housing and provided facing the cooling duct, the PWM controller is directly connected to the temperature detection device within the main housing via a harness, the PWM controller is integrated with the speed adjustment fan 1, and the speed adjustment fan 1 sucks air from within the cooling duct during operation to take away the heat of the batteries located on both sides of the cooling duct. In other embodiments, the cooling duct may be provided to surround the battery modules in other forms according to the number of battery modules within the energy storage battery pack 2, as long as the circulation of the air medium is ensured and cooling by air cooling can be achieved. The speed adjustment fan in the present invention may be a PWM fan or an energy storage temperature control fan. The PWM fan has the characteristics of simple control and low cost, and the energy storage temperature control fan has better load performance.

[0022] Furthermore, the energy storage battery pack thermal management system of the present invention further includes a main control box, a sub-control box, and a battery cluster to which a plurality of energy storage battery packs 2 are connected. A single battery cluster includes a plurality of energy storage battery packs 2. The plurality of temperature control sub-units within a single battery cluster are signal-connected via the sub-control box, the plurality of sub-control boxes are signal-connected via the main control box, and the main control box is used to control all the temperature control sub-units via the sub-control box so that the duty ratios of the speed adjustment fans corresponding to any of the temperature control sub-units are not exactly the same.

[0023] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the energy storage battery pack thermal management system of the present invention is applied to a 40-foot container-type energy storage system, in which a total of 256 energy storage battery packs 2 are provided 、 256 speed adjustment fans 1 are respectively 256Attached to the energy storage battery pack 2 One energy storage battery pack 2 corresponds to one speed control fan 1, that is, the speed control fan 1 Only the energy storage battery pack 2 is cooled, and a temperature detection device for independently detecting the battery module temperature is provided in each energy storage battery pack 2. When the energy storage system actually operates, the 256 temperature detection devices respectively detect the battery module temperatures in the 256 energy storage battery packs 2, and the 256 speed adjustment fans 1 operate at duty ratios that are not necessarily exactly the same under the control of the 256 PWM controllers. This is because the temperatures of the energy storage battery packs 2 in the energy storage system are not always the same, and the cooling needs at any time for any of the energy storage battery packs 2 are not always the same.

[0024] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, 10 battery clusters are connected to form one energy storage system. Each battery cluster includes 15 energy storage battery packs 2, and a speed adjustment fan 1, a PWM controller, and a temperature detection device are correspondingly provided in each energy storage battery pack 2. Each battery cluster controls the on / off of the temperature control sub-unit through one sub-control box, and the on / off of the 10 sub-control boxes is controlled through one main control box and the corresponding electrical control system. When the energy storage system actually operates, the temperature of any energy storage battery pack 2 in any battery cluster is not always the same, so the cooling needs at any time for any of the energy storage battery packs 2 are not always the same. The temperature detection device respectively detects the battery module temperature in the energy storage battery pack 2, and the speed adjustment fan 1 operates at a duty ratio that is not necessarily exactly the same under the control of the PWM controller, but all the PWM controllers can detect the battery module temperature with the temperature detection interval as the period under the control of the main control box and the corresponding electrical control system BCM, and adjust the duty ratio of the speed adjustment fan 1 at the same time respectively.

[0025] When performing thermal management of any of the aforementioned energy storage systems using the energy storage battery pack thermal management system of the present invention, the temperature detection device in the temperature control subunit first detects the battery module temperature, and then the PWM controller compares the battery module temperature with a temperature threshold. When comparing the two, the PWM controller first compares the magnitudes of the two and then calculates the difference between them. If the PWM controller finds that the battery module temperature is greater than the temperature threshold, it outputs a high duty cycle signal to increase the rotation speed of the speed control fan and bring the battery module temperature closer to the temperature threshold. If the battery module temperature is less than the temperature threshold, it outputs a low duty cycle signal to decrease the rotation speed of the speed control fan. When the PWM controller compares the difference between the two, it compares the difference with a preset first difference and a preset second difference, respectively. If the difference between the battery module temperature and the temperature threshold is less than or equal to the first difference, it adjusts the duty cycle of the speed control fan with the first duty cycle preset value. If the difference between the battery module temperature and the temperature threshold is less than or equal to the second difference, it adjusts the duty cycle of the speed control fan with the second duty cycle preset value. The PWM controller adjusts the battery module temperature by ultimately comparing the battery module temperature with a temperature threshold and adjusting the duty cycle of the speed-adjusting fan based on the calculation results. Regardless of the number of battery clusters and energy storage battery packs included in the energy storage system, each energy storage battery pack will undergo thermal management according to the above control method.

[0026] In summary, the energy storage battery pack thermal management system of the present invention controls each energy storage battery pack individually using the energy storage battery pack and the temperature control subunit provided therein. This allows each energy storage battery pack to be cooled independently based on the temperature of its battery modules, without being affected by the cooling policy of any other energy storage battery pack. This stabilizes the temperature of the entire energy storage system, reduces unnecessary fan losses, lowers the overall energy consumption of the energy storage system, extends the lifespan of the speed control fan, and reduces the noise of the speed control fan.

[0027] The above are merely specific embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any modifications or substitutions that are easily conceivable by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed herein should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be subject to the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. An energy storage battery pack thermal management system comprising a plurality of energy storage battery packs (2) and a plurality of temperature control subunits, wherein each energy storage battery pack (2) comprises a plurality of battery modules and a main housing for housing the battery modules, the plurality of temperature control subunits are each attached to the plurality of energy storage battery packs (2), each temperature control subunit comprises a speed control fan (1) for cooling the energy storage battery pack (2), a temperature detection device for detecting the battery module temperature, and a PWM controller, the speed control fan (1), the temperature detection device, and the PWM controller of the same temperature control subunit are signal-connected, the PWM controller is used to adjust the duty cycle of the speed control fan (1) based on the difference between the battery module temperature and a temperature threshold, the temperature threshold is a preset value, The PWM controller is further used to adjust the duty cycle of the speed-adjustable fan (1) by a first duty cycle preset value when the difference between the battery module temperature and the temperature threshold is less than or equal to a first difference, and the PWM controller is further used to adjust the duty cycle of the speed-adjustable fan (1) by a second duty cycle preset value when the difference between the battery module temperature and the temperature threshold is less than or equal to a second difference, and the first difference, the second difference, the first duty cycle preset value, and the second duty cycle preset value are all preset values, and the second difference is greater than the first difference. A thermal management system for energy storage battery packs, characterized by the following features.

2. The energy storage battery pack (2) further includes a cooling duct, the cooling duct is provided within the main housing, the speed control fan (1) is provided at one end of the cooling duct and communicates with the cooling duct, and the battery modules are provided on both sides of the cooling duct. The energy storage battery pack thermal management system according to feature 1.

3. The temperature detection device is used to be in close contact with the plurality of battery modules, to detect the temperature of the plurality of battery modules in close contact with it, and to transmit the battery module temperature to the PWM controller. The energy storage battery pack thermal management system according to feature 1.

4. The PWM controller is signal-connected to the speed-adjustable fan (1) located within the same battery module, and the PWM controller controls the duty cycle of the speed-adjustable fan (1) within the same battery module to bring the battery module temperature closer to the temperature threshold. The energy storage battery pack thermal management system according to feature 3.

5. The PWM controller is signal-connected to the temperature detection device located within the same battery module, and the PWM controller is used to adjust the duty cycle of the speed control fan (1) based on the temperature of the battery module in close contact with the temperature detection device and the temperature threshold. The energy storage battery pack thermal management system according to feature 4.

6. The aforementioned speed-adjustable fan is a PWM fan. The energy storage battery pack thermal management system according to feature 1.

7. The aforementioned speed-adjusting fan is an energy-storing temperature-controlled fan. The energy storage battery pack thermal management system according to feature 1.

8. The energy storage battery pack thermal management system further includes a plurality of battery clusters, each of which comprises a plurality of energy storage battery packs (2), and the plurality of temperature control subunits within a single battery cluster are signal-connected via sub-control boxes, and the plurality of sub-control boxes are signal-connected via a main control box, which controls all of the temperature control subunits via the sub-control boxes to ensure that the duty cycles of all of the speed control fans are not exactly the same. The energy storage battery pack thermal management system according to feature 1.

9. The main control box includes an electrical control system, which is used to control the temperature control subunit to detect the battery module temperature with a temperature detection interval as the period, and the temperature detection interval is a preset value. The energy storage battery pack thermal management system according to feature 8.

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