Cycling test device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a test device for testing the performance of a battery and, more specifically, to a cycling test device for testing the performance of a battery by repeatedly charging and discharging the battery within a predetermined temperature for a long time. An embodiment of the present invention may provide a cycling test device comprising: a first freezer having a cooling capacity for maintaining a temperature in a chamber at a predetermined temperature in consideration of a heating load in the chamber; a second freezer provided separately from the first refrigerator and having a cooling capacity having a cooling capacity larger than the cooling capacity of the first refrigerator in order to lower the temperature in the chamber; and a control unit for controlling the second freezer to be selectively driven in a cooling operation for lowering the temperature in the chamber.

Description

Cycling test device

[0001] The present invention relates to a test device for testing the performance of a battery, and more specifically, to a cycling test device for testing the performance of a battery by repeatedly charging and discharging the battery at a constant temperature for a long period of time.

[0002] Products like batteries and semiconductor components can generate heat during operation. Therefore, after manufacturing, the product is tested in various environments to verify its performance and quality.

[0003] Specifically, for batteries requiring repeated charging and discharging, such as secondary batteries, the battery can be tested by placing it in a designated space and charging and discharging it under constant temperature conditions for an extended period of time. This constant temperature can be the room temperature at which the battery is used, or it can be used to test the battery's performance under more severe temperature conditions, such as extremely low or extremely high temperatures.

[0004] Meanwhile, battery testing using a cycling test device may be performed not only to verify or confirm the performance of a manufactured battery, but also during the battery design process.

[0005] Battery testing using cycling test equipment typically lasts for several months or longer. The purpose, shape, size, characteristics, and materials of a battery can vary greatly depending on its intended application. Therefore, a wide variety of battery types must be designed to meet customer requirements, necessitating a wide range of cycling test equipment.

[0006] Cycling test equipment is typically equipped to perform constant-temperature operation, maintaining a constant temperature within a chamber containing a test space housing the battery. Because repeated charging and discharging of the battery can generate heat, cycling test equipment typically incorporates a temperature control unit, such as a refrigerator. Furthermore, cycling test equipment typically includes a heater or other device.

[0007] Cycling test equipment can be categorized into room-temperature equipment, low-temperature equipment, and high-performance equipment depending on test conditions. Room-temperature equipment can be equipped for testing between room and high temperatures, low-temperature equipment can be equipped for testing between approximately -40 degrees Celsius or lower and high-temperature ranges (up to 89 degrees Celsius), and high-performance equipment can be equipped for testing requiring high-performance cooling and heating rates of approximately 3 to 4 degrees Celsius per minute. Of these, room-temperature equipment is the most commonly used, and the specifications of the refrigerator, including the compressor, and the heater for each device can be determined based on the required performance.

[0008] The temperature control unit includes a compressor that compresses a refrigerant. Since constant temperature operation can be performed not only at room temperature but also at low temperatures, a compressor with a cooling capacity greater than that required to dissipate the heat generated during battery testing is typically provided. Therefore, since a cooling capacity greater than that required for constant temperature operation is used, a heater for heating the supercooled air can be continuously operated.

[0009] Currently, the most commonly used room-temperature cycling test equipment utilizes compressors ranging from 1 / 2 horsepower (HP) to 5 horsepower (HP), depending on the chamber's internal space specifications. This lower output compared to industrially used refrigerator compressors presents limitations in compressor output control (e.g., inverter control), leading to the use of fixed-speed compressors for most low-capacity compressors. However, as battery specifications increase and cell areas increase, compressor output is trending upward. Furthermore, resistance heaters ranging from 2 to 15 kW are used to accommodate these compressor specifications.

[0010] As mentioned above, cycling test equipment typically utilizes a constant-speed compressor, resulting in heat removal equal to the compressor's capacity, regardless of the heat load generated within the chamber. In many cases, the amount of heat removed by the compressor exceeds the heat load. Therefore, the heater is driven to compensate for the amount of supercooling, thereby maintaining a constant temperature within the chamber. In other words, supercooling and heater operation consume unnecessary energy. Specifically, the heat removed by supercooling is released outside the chamber in the form of heat generation from the refrigerator's condenser. This increases the chamber's heat removal load, necessitating an increase in the capacity of the additional desiccation system for chamber desiccation and increasing the energy consumption required for desiccation. Therefore, during constant-temperature operation, which maintains a constant temperature for extended periods, it is necessary to improve energy efficiency by minimizing the unnecessary heat energy removed beyond a certain level and the energy consumed by supercooling. Furthermore, energy loss within the cycling test equipment can lead to excessive temperature deviations within the equipment. Therefore, it is not easy to perform efficient and accurate constant temperature operation.

[0011] As mentioned above, manufacturers designing and manufacturing batteries require a significant amount of cycling test equipment. This is because demand for new batteries is extremely high depending on the application. Therefore, as the number and type of cycling test equipment increases, improving their energy efficiency becomes a crucial requirement.

[0012] Furthermore, multiple cycling test devices are installed in a very large test room, and the heat energy emitted by each individual cycling test device can create a heat island effect within the test room. This heat island effect makes the test room difficult to operate and further exacerbates the energy efficiency degradation of each cycling test device.

[0013] Therefore, it is necessary to seek ways to improve the energy efficiency of the entire test facility, including the test room, as well as the energy efficiency of individual cycling test devices.

[0014] The present invention basically aims to solve the problems of conventional cycling test devices.

[0015] Through one embodiment of the present invention, it is intended to provide a cycling test device capable of improving energy efficiency by separately operating a refrigerator for constant temperature operation and a refrigerator for cooling operation.

[0016] Through one embodiment of the present invention, it is intended to provide a cycling test device capable of minimizing the heat island phenomenon within a test room by minimizing the amount of heat emitted from the cycling test device.

[0017] In order to achieve the above-described purpose, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a cycling test device providing a constant temperature operation for maintaining a temperature within a chamber at a constant temperature and a cooling operation for lowering the temperature within the chamber, the cycling test device including a first temperature control unit operated during the constant temperature operation; and a second temperature control unit operated during the cooling operation, characterized in that the cooling capacity of the second temperature control unit is greater than the cooling capacity of the first temperature control unit.

[0018] The above cycling test device can be configured to perform constant temperature operation as a basic operation. That is, the temperature within the chamber can be set, and constant temperature operation can be performed to continuously maintain the set temperature. This constant temperature operation can be performed continuously for a very long period of time.

[0019] The above cycling test device can be equipped to test the performance of secondary batteries. Repeated charging and discharging can be used to test the safety and performance of the battery. In particular, testing can be performed for extended periods at room temperature, the temperature at which the battery is used. Constant temperature operation can be performed to maintain the temperature continuously.

[0020] Meanwhile, batteries can be used in extremely low or high temperature environments. Therefore, battery performance can be tested while maintaining a specific low or high temperature. In other words, constant-temperature operation can be performed not only at room temperature but also at specific low or high temperatures.

[0021] Here, if the temperature condition for constant temperature operation is lower than the current temperature, the test device can perform a cooling operation. Conversely, if the temperature condition for constant temperature operation is higher than the current temperature, the test device can perform a heating operation. The cooling operation is a transitional operation performed during the process of lowering the temperature within the chamber to a newly set low temperature, while the heating operation is a transitional operation performed during the process of raising the temperature within the chamber to a newly set high temperature. Therefore, the constant temperature operation can be performed after the cooling operation or the heating operation is completed.

[0022] The first temperature control unit preferably includes a first refrigerator configured to control the temperature of supplied air, and the second temperature control unit preferably includes a second refrigerator configured to control the temperature of supplied air and having a cooling capacity greater than the cooling capacity of the first refrigerator.

[0023] The first and second refrigerators may each include separate compressors. In addition, the first and second refrigerators may each include separate evaporators. That is, it is preferable that the first and second refrigerators are configured to operate different cooling cycles individually.

[0024] It is preferable that the refrigerant compression capacity of the compressor (second compressor) of the second refrigerator be greater than the refrigerant compression capacity of the compressor (first compressor) of the first refrigerator. That is, when performing heat removal by driving the cooling cycle, it is preferable that the heat removal capacity of the second compressor be greater than the heat removal capacity of the second compressor.

[0025] The chamber may include a housing having a first case forming a plurality of partitions that form a test space for accommodating and testing a battery, and a second case partitioned from the first case.

[0026] It is preferable that a circulation duct be provided between the first case and the second case to resupply the air discharged from the test space to the test space.

[0027] It is preferable that the above circulation duct is provided with an evaporator (first evaporator) of the first refrigerator and an evaporator (second evaporator) of the second refrigerator, respectively. That is, when the cooling cycle of the first refrigerator is operated, the refrigerant can be supplied to the first evaporator and recovered, and when the cooling cycle of the second refrigerator is operated, the refrigerant can be supplied to the second evaporator and recovered. The refrigerant pipe through which the refrigerant of the first refrigerator flows can be provided so as to be separated from the refrigerant pipe through which the refrigerant of the second refrigerator flows.

[0028] It is preferable that the evaporators of the first refrigerator and the second refrigerator are sequentially arranged side by side in the direction of air flow. That is, air passing through the first evaporator may pass through the second evaporator or vice versa.

[0029] In a refrigeration cycle that cools circulating air, heat exchange occurs, absorbing heat from the circulating air and releasing it to the surrounding air. Therefore, the more heat is absorbed, the more heat is released. In other words, absorbing more heat than necessary means releasing more heat than necessary.

[0030] The above first temperature control unit, particularly the first refrigerator, may be configured to operate in constant temperature operation. That is, the heat load is calculated by including the amount of heat generated within the chamber and some margin, and the cooling performance may be provided only to the extent that the calculated heat load can be removed. In particular, it is preferable that the compressor of the first refrigerator be a constant-speed compressor with a capacity sufficient to remove the heat load, thereby minimizing the amount of heat generated by the compressor itself. This means that supercooling can be prevented from occurring as the compressor operates, and also means that the heater can be prevented from being operated unnecessarily to compensate for the temperature when supercooling occurs.

[0031] The above cycling test device provides a temperature-raising operation for increasing the temperature within the chamber, and may include a heater that is operated during the temperature-raising operation. That is, the heater is basically provided for the temperature-raising operation, and operation during constant-temperature operation may be excluded or minimized.

[0032] The heater may be provided on the downstream side of the first evaporator and the second evaporator within the circulation duct. That is, air passing through the evaporators may be supplied into the chamber after heat exchange with the heater.

[0033] It is preferable that a fan be provided to supply air heat-exchanged through the first evaporator, the second evaporator, and the heater into the chamber. As the fan is driven, air circulation can occur.

[0034] The above fan may be installed upstream of the evaporator or downstream of the heater, or may be installed both upstream and downstream. Accordingly, at least one fan may be installed.

[0035] It is preferable that at least one temperature sensor for measuring the temperature within the chamber is provided; and a control unit for controlling the operation of the first temperature control unit, the second temperature control unit, and the heater based on the set temperature and the temperature within the chamber is provided.

[0036] The above control unit may be provided to control the performance of constant temperature operation, cooling operation, and temperature increase operation.

[0037] The above control unit can control the constant temperature operation to continuously maintain the set temperature so that the basic operation is performed. That is, the test device basically performs constant temperature operation to maintain the set temperature.

[0038] The above control unit can control such that the constant temperature operation is performed after the cooling operation when the set temperature decreases. In addition, the control unit can control such that the constant temperature operation is performed after the temperature increasing operation when the set temperature increases.

[0039] The above cooling operation and temperature raising operation can be said to be a transitional operation from constant temperature operation based on the current set temperature to constant temperature operation based on the changed set temperature.

[0040] In the above constant temperature operation, the operation of the heater can be excluded or minimized.

[0041] It is preferable that the compressor of the second refrigerator is driven only during the cooling operation.

[0042] The compressor of the above first refrigerator can also be driven during the cooling operation. This will allow the new set temperature to be reached more quickly.

[0043] In order to achieve the above-described object, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a cycling test device providing a constant temperature operation for maintaining the temperature within a plurality of chambers at a constant temperature and a cooling operation for lowering the temperature within a plurality of chambers, the cycling test device including a plurality of first temperature control units that are driven during the constant temperature operation for maintaining the temperature within the chambers at a constant temperature and are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of chambers; a second temperature control unit that is driven during the cooling operation for lowering the temperature within the chambers and is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of chambers, and characterized in that the cooling capacity of the second temperature control unit is greater than the cooling capacity of the first temperature control unit.

[0044] Here, it is preferable that only one of the plurality of chambers is equipped to perform the cooling operation.

[0045] When the cooling operation is required in two or more chambers among the above-mentioned plurality of chambers, the cooling operation can be performed sequentially. That is, when the cooling operation is performed and completed in one chamber, the cooling operation can be performed in another chamber thereafter.

[0046] The first temperature control unit may include a plurality of first refrigerators provided to correspond to each of the plurality of chambers to control the temperature of the supplied air.

[0047] The second temperature control unit is configured to control the temperature of the supplied air, and may include a single second refrigerator having a cooling capacity greater than that of the first refrigerator and configured to correspond to all of the plurality of chambers. In other words, while the first refrigerator and the chamber may have a one-to-one correspondence, the second refrigerator and the chamber may have a one-to-many correspondence.

[0048] The second temperature control unit preferably includes a plurality of second evaporators connected in parallel with the single second refrigerator and arranged to correspond to each of the plurality of chambers. That is, among the components of the second refrigerator, the second evaporators in particular are preferably arranged to have a one-to-many correspondence with the chambers.

[0049] Meanwhile, if multiple chambers are provided, a second refrigerator may be provided individually for each chamber.

[0050] In order to achieve the above-described object, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a cycling test device may be provided, including: a first refrigerator having a cooling capacity for maintaining a temperature within a chamber at a constant temperature in consideration of a heat generation load within the chamber; a second refrigerator provided separately from the first refrigerator and having a cooling capacity greater than the cooling capacity of the first refrigerator for lowering the temperature within the chamber; and a control unit for controlling the first refrigerator to be operated in a constant temperature operation for maintaining the temperature within the chamber at a constant temperature, and controlling the second refrigerator to be operated only in a cooling operation for lowering the temperature within the chamber.

[0051] Cooling operation may be performed when the current chamber temperature rises above the control range during constant temperature operation. This may be caused by fluctuations in the set temperature or abrupt changes in the heat load within the chamber.

[0052] Cooling operation can be performed, and when the temperature inside the chamber reaches the target temperature, the cooling operation can be terminated and constant temperature operation can be performed. In constant temperature operation, the temperature inside the chamber can vary within a set range.

[0053] The first and second refrigerators each include a refrigerant cycle in which refrigerant circulates and a refrigerant pipe for performing the cycle, and may each include a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. In addition, an expansion valve for refrigerant expansion may be included between the condenser and the evaporator.

[0054] Specifically, the first refrigerator and the second refrigerator each include a compressor and an evaporator that are distinct from each other, and it is preferable that the refrigerant compression capacity of the compressor (second compressor) of the second refrigerator is greater than the refrigerant compression capacity of the compressor (first compressor) of the first refrigerator.

[0055] The chamber may include a test space for accommodating a battery and conducting a test, and may be provided with a circulation duct for resupplying air discharged from the test space to the test space.

[0056] The above circulation duct may be equipped with an evaporator (first evaporator) of the first refrigerator and an evaporator (second evaporator) of the second refrigerator, respectively.

[0057] The first evaporator and the second evaporator may be arranged sequentially and parallel to each other in the direction of air flow. It is preferable that the first evaporator and the second evaporator be arranged so that air passing through the first evaporator passes through the second evaporator.

[0058] It is preferable that the control unit includes one or more temperature sensors for measuring the temperature within the test space, and controls the operation of the first refrigerator and the second refrigerator by distinguishing between the constant temperature operation and the cooling operation based on the set temperature and the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

[0059] The above constant temperature operation is an operation to maintain a set temperature. Operation to maintain the temperature within the chamber after it reaches the initially set temperature can be called constant temperature operation.

[0060] The above control unit preferably controls the second refrigerator to operate only in the cooling operation. The cooling operation may be performed when the set temperature is lowered during constant temperature operation, or may be performed when the temperature inside the chamber increases for an unexpected reason during constant temperature operation, for example, when it goes beyond the control range of constant temperature operation.

[0061] The above control unit can control the first refrigerator to be operated at all times or to be operated when the temperature inside the chamber reaches a set temperature for performing the constant temperature operation.

[0062] In the above constant temperature operation, the operation of the heater, which is provided to receive feedback on the temperature inside the chamber and change the output, can be controlled.

[0063] The compression capacity of the first compressor may be a constant-speed compressor of 1 / 2 HP or less, and the compression capacity of the second compressor may be a constant-speed compressor or an inverter-controlled compressor of 2 HP or more. For example, if a compressor of 2 HP or more is provided and is constantly in operation, more heat is always removed than required, and thus the heater output becomes higher than necessary. As a result, the energy consumed by the compressor and the energy consumed by the heater inevitably increase.

[0064] Conversely, by using a constant-speed compressor with a rating of 1 / 2 HP or less, the energy consumed by the compressor and heater during continuous operation can be significantly reduced. Of course, by operating a high-capacity compressor with a rating of 2 HP or more only during limited cooling operation, the cooling capacity required by the cycling test device can be met.

[0065] In order to achieve the above-described object, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a cycling test device providing a constant temperature operation for maintaining the temperature within a plurality of chambers at a constant temperature and a cooling operation for lowering the temperature within a plurality of chambers, the cycling test device including a plurality of first refrigerators each corresponding to the plurality of chambers, which are driven during the constant temperature operation for maintaining the temperature within the chambers at a constant temperature; and a single second refrigerator each corresponding to the plurality of chambers, which are driven during the cooling operation for lowering the temperature within the chambers, and characterized in that the cooling capacity of the second refrigerator is greater than the cooling capacity of the first refrigerator.

[0066] A single cycling test device can have distinct spaces, i.e. chambers, where tests are performed, and target temperatures can be set independently for each chamber.

[0067] Only one of the above plurality of chambers may be provided to perform the cooling operation.

[0068] When the cooling operation is required in two or more chambers among the above plurality of chambers, the cooling operation can be performed sequentially.

[0069] The second refrigerator includes a plurality of second evaporators connected in parallel with the single second refrigerator and arranged to correspond to each of the plurality of chambers, and the second evaporators can be arranged sequentially in a one-to-one correspondence with the evaporators of the first refrigerator.

[0070] The control unit controls the independent operation of multiple first chillers, and when operation of the second chiller is required, controls the operation of the second chiller, but can control the cooling performance of the second chiller to be variable. For example, when the compressor of the second chiller is an inverter compressor, the cooling performance can be controlled to be variable by distinguishing between cases where cooling operation is performed in one chamber and cases where cooling operation is performed in multiple chambers.

[0071] The compressor of the second refrigerator is equipped with a single compressor, and it is also possible to selectively block the refrigerant flowing into the evaporator of the second refrigerator equipped in each chamber. For example, the refrigerant may be supplied only to the evaporator connected to the chamber performing cooling operation, and the refrigerant supply may be blocked to the evaporator connected to the chamber performing constant temperature operation.

[0072] Through one embodiment of the present invention, a cycling test device can be provided that can improve energy efficiency by separately operating a refrigerator for constant temperature operation and a refrigerator for cooling operation.

[0073] Through one embodiment of the present invention, a cycling test device can be provided that can minimize the heat island phenomenon within a test room by minimizing the amount of heat emitted from the cycling test device.

[0074] Through one embodiment of the present invention, the performance of a refrigerator required for continuous operation can be minimized within a range capable of handling the thermal load within the chamber. Therefore, the inefficient energy wasted during continuous operation, i.e., constant temperature operation, can be significantly reduced. In other words, energy waste for driving the refrigerator can be reduced.

[0075] Through one embodiment of the present invention, a low-capacity first refrigerator is operated under constant temperature maintenance conditions (constant temperature operation) in a test chamber where long-term temperature maintenance is performed, and a high-capacity second refrigerator is operated only under temporary temperature change conditions (cooling operation), thereby significantly reducing the energy consumed in the test chamber.

[0076] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a cycling test device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0077] Figure 2 illustrates the external appearance of a cycling test device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0078] Figure 3 is a control configuration diagram of a cycling test device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0079] Figure 4 is a control flow diagram of a cycling test device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0080] Hereinafter, a cycling test device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0081] Hereinafter, a test device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0082] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a cross-section of a cycling test device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an external appearance of the cycling test device.

[0083] The test device (10) may include a cabinet (11) forming an outer shape. The cabinet (11) may be provided with a housing (20) forming a chamber (30) and a machine room (40) having components forming a refrigerator, which are provided separately from each other.

[0084] A control panel (50) may be provided on the front of the cabinet (11). The control panel (50) may be provided with an operation unit that can input temperature conditions or time conditions within the chamber, and a display unit that can display the current status.

[0085] The housing (20) may include a chamber (30) having a test space (31) therein. In addition, the housing (20) may include a circulation duct (32) surrounding at least three sides of the chamber (30). For example, air discharged from one side of the chamber may move to the rear of the chamber and then be supplied into the chamber through the other side of the chamber. In other words, air circulation may be performed.

[0086] A plurality of chambers (30) may be provided in one test device (10), and as an example, two chambers are provided as shown in FIG. 2.

[0087] In the test space (31), various types of battery performance tests, such as battery charge / discharge tests, can be performed.

[0088] Specifically, the housing (20) may include a first case (21) forming a plurality of partition walls forming a test space (31) and a second case (22) partitioned from the first case (21).

[0089] The above first case (21) can be provided to have upper, lower, left, right, and rear walls, excluding the front that is connected to the outside through the door (60).

[0090] A circulation duct (32) may be provided or formed between the first case (21) and the second case (22). As illustrated, air within the chamber may be discharged through one side wall of the first case (21) and introduced to the rear of the first case (21), and then introduced into the chamber through the other side wall of the first case (21). A plurality of openings may be formed in one side wall and the other side wall of the first case (21) to allow air to flow in and out.

[0091] Battery testing can be performed over a very long period of time, and the start and end of testing for a particular battery are typically performed within the same chamber (30). This is because the input and output factors during the battery testing process are highly sensitive, and the accuracy of these factors can be compromised when the chamber (30) is changed. For this reason, when the type or number of batteries to be tested varies, a large number of test devices (10) are required.

[0092] During the battery testing process, heat may be generated within the battery. Battery testing is typically conducted at a constant temperature for an extended period of time. Therefore, a temperature control unit is required to control the temperature within the chamber (30) to maintain a constant temperature.

[0093] This temperature control can be achieved through air circulating through the above-mentioned circulation duct (32). This temperature control method can be referred to as a convection type. Specifically, a heat exchanger is provided within the circulation duct (32) to absorb heat from the air. In other words, heat generated within the chamber can be removed through the heat exchanger within the circulation duct (32).

[0094] It is preferable that the above circulation duct (32) be provided in each chamber.

[0095] As illustrated, different heat exchangers may be arranged side by side within the circulation duct (32). For example, air discharged within the chamber may be heat-exchanged by sequentially passing through the first heat exchanger (150) and the second heat exchanger (250). Here, the heat exchanger is a part of the components forming the refrigeration cycle, and the first heat exchanger (150) and the second heat exchanger (250) may be components forming separate refrigeration cycles. From a refrigerant perspective, these heat exchangers may be referred to as evaporators. That is, the liquid refrigerant introduced into the evaporator absorbs heat from the surrounding air and changes into a gaseous refrigerant.

[0096] Here, the first heat exchanger (150) may be a part of the first temperature control unit or the first refrigerator described later, and the second heat exchanger (250) may be a part of the second temperature control unit or the second refrigerator described later.

[0097] Additionally, the circulation duct (32) may be equipped with a heater (115). The heater may be provided to intentionally increase the temperature within the chamber. Of course, the heater (115) may be provided to supply heat during supercooling to compensate for the supercooling with appropriate cooling.

[0098] A circulation fan (170) may be provided to circulate air in the above circulation duct (32). The fan may be provided in the form of a sirocco fan that sucks in and discharges air, and when the fan is operated, air inside the chamber may be sucked in and the air may be discharged back into the chamber. The motor (171) that operates the circulation fan (170) may be provided in the machine room (40) rather than inside the circulation duct (32).

[0099] Below, the first temperature control unit and the second temperature control unit that can be applied to a test device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail.

[0100] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the test device may include a first temperature control unit (100) and a second temperature control unit (200). The test device may include a plurality of chambers, each of which may be individually equipped with a temperature control unit to individually perform temperature control. That is, in the case of a plurality of chambers, a plurality of first temperature control units (100) may also be equipped. FIG. 2 illustrates an example in which two first temperature control units (100) are equipped, assuming two chambers.

[0101] The first temperature control unit (100) may include a first refrigerator (110) that absorbs heat from the air flowing into the chamber and cools it. That is, it may include a first refrigerator (110) that can perform a cooling cycle.

[0102] The first refrigerator (110) may include a first compressor (120) that compresses a refrigerant, a first condenser (130) that converts a high-temperature gaseous refrigerant into a liquid refrigerant, a first expansion valve (140) that expands the refrigerant, and a first heat exchanger (150) that performs heat exchange to convert the refrigerant into a low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant. In addition, the first refrigerator (110) may include a refrigerant pipe (180) that connects the above components to provide a passage through which the refrigerant moves.

[0103] The first refrigerator (110) performs a cooling cycle using a refrigerant to perform heat removal, and its cooling capacity, freezing capacity, or heat removal capacity is determined. In particular, the capacity of the first refrigerator (110) can be determined by the capacity or performance of the first compressor (120).

[0104] Meanwhile, the first refrigerator (110) may include a fan (170) and may include a cooling fan (150) for supplying ambient air to the first condenser (130) to cool the first condenser. Since air circulation occurs through the fan (170), it may also be referred to as a circulation fan.

[0105] The first temperature control unit (100) may further include a heater (115). In other words, the cooling component for controlling the temperature within the chamber may be referred to as a first refrigerator (110), and the heating component may be referred to as a heater (115).

[0106] The configurations of the first temperature control unit (100) of the test device according to one embodiment of the present invention may be identical to the configurations of the temperature control units of conventional test devices. However, the two differ in various aspects, such as refrigeration capacity, operating timing, and whether or not they are linked with a heater.

[0107] The first refrigerator (110) can be designed to have a cooling capacity that is optimal for maintaining the temperature of the chamber. In other words, it can be designed to have a cooling capacity that is optimal for constant temperature operation. This means that the first refrigerator (110) does not require additional cooling capacity to perform not only constant temperature operation but also cooling operation.

[0108] For example, the operation of a test device may include constant temperature operation, cooling operation, and temperature increase operation. Constant temperature operation is an operation to maintain the temperature within the chamber at a set temperature. Cooling operation is an operation temporarily performed when the set temperature changes to a temperature lower than the current temperature. Temperature increase operation is an operation temporarily performed when the set temperature changes to a temperature higher than the current temperature. Furthermore, if a new set temperature is reached through the cooling operation and temperature increase operation, constant temperature operation may be performed again to maintain the new set temperature.

[0109] These test devices are operated for very long periods of time and basically perform constant temperature operation, and cooling operation or temperature increase operation can be said to be performed very limitedly and temporarily.

[0110] When performing constant temperature operation, a cooling capacity sufficient to dissipate the heat load is required to maintain the temperature inside the chamber, but when performing cooling operation, a larger cooling capacity is required because the temperature inside the chamber must be lowered.

[0111] Conventional test equipment used temperature controllers or refrigerators with relatively large cooling capacities, taking cooling operation into account. This meant that cooling capacity was determined with limited cooling in mind, leading to the problem of overcooling during constant-temperature operation. In particular, unnecessary heater operation to address overcooling led to unnecessary energy consumption in the refrigerator and heater operation, resulting in reduced energy efficiency. Furthermore, this excess energy also raised the ambient temperature of the test equipment.

[0112] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first temperature control unit (100) to the first refrigerator (110) may have a cooling capacity required for constant temperature operation, and during cooling operation, the second temperature control unit (200) to the second refrigerator (210) provided separately from the first temperature control unit (100) to the first refrigerator (110) may have a cooling capacity required.

[0113] That is, during the constant temperature operation, which is the main operation of the test device, the first temperature control unit (100) is operated, and during the cooling operation, which is a very limited auxiliary operation of the test device, the second temperature control unit (200) can be operated. Here, it is preferable that the cooling capacity of the second temperature control unit is greater than the cooling capacity of the first temperature control unit. Accordingly, since the operation of the second temperature control unit (200) with a large cooling capacity is restricted during the constant temperature operation, energy consumption can be significantly reduced.

[0114] Meanwhile, a test device according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a plurality of chambers. For example, if two chambers are provided, two first temperature control units (100) may be provided. The two first temperature control units (100) are preferably provided separately from each other and driven separately from each other. This means that two first refrigerators (110) are also provided and driven separately from each other. As the number of chambers increases, the number of first temperature control units (100) may be provided equal to the number of chambers.

[0115] A test device according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a second temperature control unit (200) to a second refrigerator (210). The components forming the second temperature control unit (200) to the second refrigerator (210) may be similar to the components forming the first temperature control unit (100) to the first refrigerator (110) described above.

[0116] The second refrigerator (210) may include components that form a refrigeration cycle. Specifically, it may include a second compressor (220), a second condenser (230), a second expansion valve (240), a second heat exchanger (250), and a refrigerant pipe (280). The functions of each of these components may be said to be the same as those of the first refrigerator.

[0117] A refrigerator includes a compressor, and the cooling capacity of the refrigerator is generally implemented through the refrigerant compression capacity of the compressor.

[0118] It is preferable that the refrigerant compression capacity of the second compressor (220) of the second refrigerator (210) be greater than the refrigerant compression capacity of the first compressor (120) of the first refrigerator (110). That is, it is preferable that the specifications of the second compressor (220) be greater than the specifications of the first compressor (120).

[0119] A first compressor (120) having a performance corresponding to the heat dissipation capacity during basic and main constant temperature operation can be selected.

[0120] For example, a first compressor with a specification of 1 / 2 HP can be applied to a room-temperature test device that can be used in a room-temperature to high-temperature environment. Compared to a conventional room-temperature test device under the same conditions that used a compressor with a specification of 1 to 3 HP, a compressor with a much lower specification can be applied in this embodiment. Therefore, energy waste corresponding to 1 / 2 to 5 / 2 HP during constant-temperature operation can be reduced.

[0121] Meanwhile, conventional compressor specifications were determined with cooling operation in mind. For example, a 3 HP compressor would deliver 3 HP of performance during cooling operation, providing sufficient cooling. However, a constant-speed compressor would only be able to deliver 3 HP of performance even during constant-temperature operation, which requires only 1 / 2 HP of performance.

[0122] On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, since a second compressor (220) is provided separately for cooling operation, wasted energy can be significantly reduced. This is because cooling operation is performed for a very limited and short period of time, whereas constant temperature operation is performed for a very long period of time.

[0123] According to the present embodiment, even if a single test device is equipped with multiple chambers, it is preferable that a single second refrigerator (210) be provided. However, among the detailed configurations of the second refrigerator (210), it is preferable that the number of second heat exchangers (250) be the same as the number of chambers.

[0124] When two chambers are provided, the second heat exchanger (250) may include two distinct heat exchangers (250a, 250b). Correspondingly, the second expansion valve (240) may include two expansion valves (240a, 240b).

[0125] Here, it is preferable that each of the second heat exchangers (250a, 250b) be individually installed within a circulation duct adjacent to the corresponding chamber. For example, when cooling operation is performed in the first chamber, the refrigerant is preferably controlled to flow into a specific second heat exchanger (250a), and when cooling operation is performed in the second chamber, the refrigerant is preferably controlled to flow into another second heat exchanger (250b).

[0126] The second heat exchanger (250) is preferably provided downstream of the first heat exchanger (150). In the case of cooling operation, cooling through the second heat exchanger (250) and the first heat exchanger (150) can be performed simultaneously. In this case, it is preferable that cooling is first performed through the first heat exchanger (150) having a small cooling capacity and then through the second heat exchanger (250) having a large cooling capacity.

[0127] The refrigerant flowing through one second compressor (220) and second condenser (230) can be selectively introduced into second heat exchangers (250a, 250b) that are arranged in parallel with each other. For this purpose, a three-way valve (235), for example, a flow switching valve, can be provided.

[0128] The second refrigerator (210) may include a cooling fan (260) for cooling the second condenser (230).

[0129] As previously described, the maximum cooling capacity of the first compressor (120) and the second compressor (220) is determined by the specifications of the compressors. Therefore, as the first and second compressors operate, overcooling may occur during the current temperature control process. Therefore, it is desirable to control the process so that only the necessary amount of heat can be removed.

[0130] The control unit (300) controls the operation of the first temperature control unit (100) and the second temperature control unit (200), and in particular, can perform operation control based on the sensing temperature of at least one temperature sensor (190).

[0131] The temperature sensor (190) may be provided to sense the temperature inside the chamber or to sense the temperature of air flowing into the chamber. Of course, multiple temperature sensors may be provided per chamber.

[0132] The heat load within the chamber may vary depending on the maintained temperature within the chamber. Therefore, it is desirable to be able to control the heat duty according to the heat load.

[0133] First, among the components of the first temperature control unit (100), the first expansion valve (140) is configured as a temperature automatic expansion valve, and the opening rate of the valve can be controlled according to the temperature maintenance conditions of the chamber, ultimately controlling the amount of heat removed through the first heat exchanger (150). Of course, a manual expansion valve capable of manually controlling the opening rate of the valve may also be applied. The characteristics of such an expansion valve may be equally applied to the second temperature control unit (200).

[0134] Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 3, a control method of a cycling test device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0135] When the test device starts operation (S10), constant temperature operation (S20) can be performed to basically maintain the set temperature. In other words, operation can be performed to maintain the temperature inside the chamber at the set temperature.

[0136] The above constant temperature operation (S20) is preferably performed for a very long period of time, as long as the set temperature conditions remain unchanged. During constant temperature operation, the battery is repeatedly charged and discharged to verify its performance and safety. Furthermore, during this constant temperature operation (S20), the first temperature control unit (100) is operated, and the second temperature control unit (200) is excluded from operation.

[0137] The set temperature may be changed during constant temperature operation, and when such a change in the set temperature is detected (S30), it is determined whether the set temperature increases or decreases (S40), and depending on the determination result, cooling operation or temperature increase operation may be performed.

[0138] If the new set temperature is set lower than the current set temperature, a cooling operation may be performed (S50). Since the first temperature control unit (100) only has the capacity to dissipate the heat load of the chamber, sufficient cooling may be difficult to achieve with the cooling capacity of the first temperature control unit. Even if maximum cooling is achieved through the first temperature control unit (100), it may take a long time to reach the new set temperature. Therefore, it is preferable to operate the second temperature control unit (200) when the cooling operation begins.

[0139] At this time, the first temperature control unit (100) may be driven together with the second temperature control unit (200) for faster cooling.

[0140] A new set temperature is reached through cooling operation, after which constant temperature operation can be performed again based on the new set temperature. Therefore, cooling operation can be considered a temporary transitional operation performed between constant temperature operations, and thus, the cooling operation time can only account for a very small portion of the overall operating time of the device.

[0141] A new set temperature may be set higher than the current set temperature, and a temperature-raising operation may be performed (S70). The first temperature control unit (100) drives the heater (115) for temperature-raising. A temperature-raising operation may be performed in which the heat load of the chamber and the heat output of the heater are added to raise the temperature of the air. Of course, it is preferable that the operation of the second temperature control unit (200) be excluded during the temperature-raising operation. In addition, the fan (170) of the first temperature control unit (100) is preferably driven for air circulation.

[0142] A new set temperature is reached through temperature-raising operation, after which constant temperature operation can be performed again based on the new set temperature. Therefore, temperature-raising operation can be considered a temporary transitional operation performed between constant temperature operations, and thus, the temperature-raising operation time can only account for a very small portion of the overall device operating time.

[0143] Therefore, for test equipment that can be operated continuously and for which most operations are constant temperature, wasted energy can be significantly reduced by operating only the primary refrigerator, which has the capacity to handle only the heat load within the chamber. This significantly reduces heat emitted outside the test equipment, effectively preventing the heat island effect within test rooms with numerous chambers.

[0144] According to this embodiment, the performance of the refrigerator required for continuous operation can be minimized within a range capable of handling the thermal load within the chamber. Therefore, the inefficient energy wasted during continuous operation, i.e., constant temperature operation, can be significantly reduced. In other words, energy waste for driving the refrigerator can be reduced.

[0145] In addition, in constant temperature operation, excessive energy dissipated from the chamber circulating air is compensated for through the heater. According to this embodiment, by minimizing the energy dissipated, energy waste due to heater operation can be reduced.

[0146] In addition, according to this embodiment, heat discharged outside the chamber can be reduced, thereby alleviating the heat island phenomenon.

[0147] According to this embodiment, by operating a low-capacity first refrigerator under constant temperature maintenance conditions (constant temperature operation) in a test chamber where long-term temperature maintenance is performed, and operating a high-capacity second refrigerator only under temporary temperature change conditions (cooling operation), the energy consumed in the test chamber can be significantly reduced.

[0148] As described in the detailed description of the invention.

Claims

1. A first refrigerator having a cooling capacity to maintain the temperature within the chamber at a constant temperature by taking into account the heat load within the chamber; A second refrigerator, which is provided separately from the first refrigerator and has a cooling capacity greater than that of the first refrigerator to lower the temperature within the chamber; and A cycling test device including a control unit that controls the first refrigerator to operate in a constant temperature operation that maintains the temperature within the chamber at a constant temperature, and controls the second refrigerator to operate only in a cooling operation that lowers the temperature within the chamber.

2. In paragraph 1, A cycling test device characterized in that the first refrigerator and the second refrigerator each include a compressor and an evaporator that are distinct from each other, and the refrigerant compression capacity of the compressor (second compressor) of the second refrigerator is greater than the refrigerant compression capacity of the compressor (first compressor) of the first refrigerator.

3. In paragraph 2, A cycling test device characterized in that the chamber includes a test space for accommodating a battery and conducting a test, and is provided with a circulation duct for resupplying air discharged from the test space to the test space.

4. In paragraph 3, A cycling test device comprising a housing having a first case having a plurality of partitions forming the test space and a second case partitioned from the first case, wherein the circulation duct is provided between the first case and the second case.

5. In paragraph 3, A cycling test device characterized in that the above circulation duct is equipped with an evaporator (first evaporator) of the first refrigerator and an evaporator (second evaporator) of the second refrigerator, respectively.

6. In paragraph 5, A cycling test device characterized in that the first evaporator and the second evaporator are sequentially arranged side by side in the direction of air flow.

7. In paragraph 5, A cycling test device comprising one or more temperature sensors for measuring the temperature within the test space, and characterized in that the control unit controls the operation of the first refrigerator and the second refrigerator by distinguishing between the constant temperature operation and the cooling operation based on the set temperature and the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

8. In paragraph 7, A cycling test device characterized in that the control unit controls the second refrigerator to operate only in the cooling operation.

9. In paragraph 7, A cycling test device characterized in that the control unit controls the first refrigerator to be always operated or to be operated when the temperature within the chamber reaches a set temperature for performing the constant temperature operation.

10. In paragraph 9, A cycling test device characterized in that the operation of a heater provided to change the output by receiving feedback on the temperature within the chamber during the above constant temperature operation is controlled.

11. In paragraph 7, A cycling test device characterized in that the compression capacity of the first compressor is a constant-speed compressor of 1 / 2 HP or less, and the compression capacity of the second compressor is a constant-speed compressor or inverter-controlled compressor of 2 HP or more.

12. In a cycling test device that provides constant temperature operation to maintain the temperature within each of a plurality of chambers at a constant temperature and cooling operation to lower the temperature within each of the plurality of chambers, A plurality of first refrigerators, each of which is provided corresponding to a plurality of chambers and driven during constant temperature operation to maintain the temperature within the chamber at a constant temperature; It is driven during cooling operation to lower the temperature within the chamber, and includes a single second refrigerator provided corresponding to the plurality of chambers, A cycling test device characterized in that the cooling capacity of the second refrigerator is greater than the cooling capacity of the first refrigerator.

13. In paragraph 12, A cycling test device characterized in that only one of the plurality of chambers is equipped to perform the cooling operation.

14. In paragraph 13, A cycling test device characterized in that, when the cooling operation is required in two or more chambers among the plurality of chambers, the cooling operation is performed sequentially.

15. In paragraph 12, A cycling test device characterized in that the second refrigerator includes a plurality of second evaporators connected in parallel with the single second refrigerator and arranged to correspond to each of the plurality of chambers, and the second evaporators are arranged sequentially in a one-to-one correspondence with the evaporators of the first refrigerator.

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