Battery cooling system of hybrid electric vehicle charger

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery cooling system of a hybrid electric vehicle charger, wherein cooling performance is improved by circulating a refrigerant through flow paths of first, second, and third cooling units, and a fire that occurs in a battery cell is prevented from spreading to an adjacent cell by disposing blocking partition walls between the battery cells, and can be quickly suppressed by supplying a fire extinguishing agent to the battery cell.

Description

Battery cooling system for hybrid electric vehicle chargers

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery cooling system for a hybrid electric vehicle charger.

[0002] As a countermeasure to environmental issues such as global warming, the transition to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power is being promoted as a national project, and the spread of energy storage systems (ESS), which store energy in advance and use it when needed, is rapidly increasing.

[0003] These ESSs are composed of power storage sources such as lithium-ion batteries (LiBs), power control units (PCSs, Power Conversion Systems), and energy management systems (EMSs, Energy Management Systems), among which the lithium-ion batteries, which are the power storage sources, are the most vulnerable to fire.

[0004] Since its first commercialization in the early 1990s, lithium-ion batteries have been widely used as representative secondary batteries due to their advantages such as high energy density, low memory effect, and low energy loss rate.

[0005] In particular, as the use of portable devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops increases and the demand for higher-capacity secondary batteries increases, the size and charge capacity of lithium-ion batteries are also increasing accordingly.

[0006] In addition, with the advancement of lithium-ion battery technology, traditional users such as automobiles and generators that used fossil fuels as power sources in the past are being replaced by electric vehicles (EVs) and ESS, and the application fields and demand for lithium-ion batteries are rapidly increasing.

[0007] As lithium-ion batteries become more widely used and larger in capacity, the risk of fire from lithium-ion batteries has become increasingly known, including the 2006 laptop battery fire incident and large-scale recall at Japanese company S, and the smartphone battery fire incident.

[0008] In recent years, major battery manufacturers and handlers have suffered significant losses from fires of various sizes, including a fire at a Chinese battery manufacturing plant and a fire at a U.S. electric vehicle battery plant that completely destroyed the plant. Furthermore, the number of accidents caused by fires in ESS continues to increase.

[0009] If we look at the components of a lithium-ion battery, we can see that it has all the fire characteristics of Class A, B, C, and D.

[0010] It has the characteristics of a Class A general combustible fire as plastic materials such as separators and pouches burn, and also has the characteristics of a Class B oil fire as it contains an organic solvent, which is a flammable liquid, as an electrolyte, unlike secondary batteries of the past.

[0011] And it can be classified as a Class C electrical fire, which has its own charged electric energy and can act as an ignition source, and it also has the characteristics of a Class D fire, which is a metal fire.

[0012] Therefore, ESS fires have a combination of characteristics of Class A, B, C, and D, making fire response very difficult. Furthermore, they have the unique fire characteristics of lithium-ion batteries, namely thermal runaway and reignition.

[0013] Accordingly, when a safety issue with a battery that could lead to a fire occurs, the development of technology that can prevent this from happening and prevent it from spreading to nearby batteries is required.

[0014] The present invention has been devised to solve the above problems, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a battery cooling system for a hybrid electric vehicle charger that can maintain battery cells at room temperature by increasing cooling performance by circulating refrigerant through the first, second, and third cooling sections.

[0015] In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a battery cooling system for a hybrid electric vehicle charger that can prevent a fire from spreading to an adjacent compartment in the event of a fire in a battery cell by arranging a blocking partition between battery cells and can quickly extinguish a fire by supplying a fire extinguishing agent to the battery cells.

[0016] The tasks of the present invention are not limited to the tasks mentioned above, and other tasks not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

[0017] In order to solve the above problem, the battery cooling system of the hybrid electric vehicle charger of the present invention converts power input from renewable energy or late-night power into DC power, stores the converted DC power in a battery module of an energy storage device, and supplies the stored DC power to the electric vehicle charger to charge the electric vehicle, the hybrid electric vehicle charger comprising: a first cooling unit installed above the battery cells of the battery module to maintain the temperature of the battery cells at room temperature; a second cooling unit installed below the battery cells to maintain the temperature of the battery cells at room temperature; a third cooling unit installed between the battery cells and connected to the first cooling unit and the second cooling unit to maintain the temperature of the battery cells at room temperature; a blocking partition installed vertically between the third cooling unit and the battery cells between the third cooling unit to block heat transfer between the battery cells; and an extinguishing agent supply unit formed above the first cooling unit to supply an extinguishing agent by rupturing a heat detection member when the temperature of the battery cells rises above a predetermined temperature.

[0018] The first and second cooling units include a first plate having a predetermined plate shape and having a flow path formed on one side thereof; a second plate that is in close contact with the first plate to close the flow path; and cooling fins arranged in the flow path of the first plate.

[0019] The third cooling unit includes a body vertically mounted between the battery cells; a cooling channel formed inside the body and communicating with the channels of the first and second cooling units; and at least one coupling protrusion protruding from the upper and lower ends of the body.

[0020] The above-mentioned blocking bulkhead includes at least one mounting protrusion formed at the upper and lower ends; and a buffer sheet arranged on both sides of the blocking bulkhead to prevent damage to the battery cells by preventing impact between the blocking bulkhead and the battery cells, wherein the mounting protrusion is inserted into and joined to a mounting hole formed in the first plate, and the buffer sheet is formed of a non-combustible material to prevent the fire from spreading to the battery cells of other adjacent compartments even if a fire occurs in the battery cells of an adjacent compartment.

[0021] The above-mentioned fire extinguishing agent supply unit includes a supply guide formed on a second plate of the first cooling unit; a storage container in which a certain amount of fire extinguishing agent is stored; a supply pipe connected between the supply guide and the storage container; a heat detection member mounted in a passage inside the supply guide and melting when the temperature exceeds a certain temperature; and a supply pump installed on the supply pipe and supplying the fire extinguishing agent stored in the storage container toward the supply guide.

[0022] According to the present invention, since the coolant is circulated through the first, second, and third cooling sections, there is an effect of increasing the cooling performance and maintaining the battery cell at room temperature.

[0023] In addition, according to the present invention, a blocking partition is placed between battery cells to prevent a fire from spreading to an adjacent compartment in the event of a fire in a battery cell, and a fire extinguishing agent is supplied to quickly extinguish the fire.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a battery cooling system of a hybrid electric vehicle charger according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a battery cooling system of a hybrid electric vehicle charger according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first and second cooling units of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 4 is a configuration diagram of the cooling fin of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a battery cell with the first, second, and third cooling units and a blocking bulkhead installed.

[0029] Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the third cooling unit of the present invention coupled to the first cooling unit.

[0030] Figure 7 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the third cooling unit of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the present invention's blocking bulkhead coupled to the first cooling unit.

[0032] Figure 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the first cooling unit of the present invention with the fire extinguishing agent supply unit mounted thereon.

[0033] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. First, when adding reference numerals to components in each drawing, it should be noted that identical components are given the same numerals as much as possible even if they are shown in different drawings. Furthermore, in describing the present invention, if a detailed description of a related known structure or function is judged to obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, although preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below, it should be understood that the technical idea of ​​the present invention is not limited or restricted thereto and can be implemented by those skilled in the art.

[0034] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a battery cooling system of a hybrid electric vehicle charger according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] First, the hybrid electric vehicle charging system may include an energy storage device (ESS, 10) that stores energy supplied from renewable energy or nighttime electricity in advance, and an electric vehicle charger (20) that charges an electric vehicle using the stored energy.

[0036] The above energy storage device (10) may be composed of a PCS (11), a BMS (12), an EMS (13), and a battery module (14).

[0037] PCS (11) is a power conversion device that converts power input from renewable energy or nighttime power into DC power.

[0038] BMS (12) is a system that manages batteries. It measures the current, voltage, temperature, etc. of the battery through sensors and controls the battery so that it can perform optimally.

[0039] EMS (13) is a device that stores generated electricity and allows it to be used when electricity is needed.

[0040] The battery module (14) has a plurality of battery cells (14a) built in to store energy, and the energy stored in the battery cells (14a) charges the electric vehicle through the electric vehicle charger (20).

[0041] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a battery cooling system of a hybrid electric vehicle charger according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first and second cooling units of the present invention.

[0042] A battery cooling system (A) of a hybrid electric vehicle charger according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a first cooling unit (100), a second cooling unit (200), a third cooling unit (300), a blocking bulkhead (400), and an extinguishing agent supply unit (500).

[0043] The first cooling unit (100) and the second cooling unit (200) are positioned so as to be in close contact with the upper and lower portions of the battery cell (14a), respectively, to maintain the temperature of the battery at room temperature and stabilize its performance.

[0044] The first and second cooling units (100)(200) may include a first plate (110)(210), a second plate (120)(220), and cooling fins (130)(230).

[0045] The first and second cooling units (100) (200) are formed with the same configuration and can be arranged symmetrically above and below the battery cell (14a).

[0046] The above first plate (110) (210) is formed in a predetermined plate shape and can be attached to the battery cell (14a), and can have an overall rectangular shape.

[0047] A concave path (111) (211) may be formed on one side of the first plate (110) (210).

[0048] The euro (111)(211) may include a first receiving space (111a)(211a) and a second receiving space (111b)(211b).

[0049] The second plate (120)(220) can be formed to the same size as the first plate (110)(210).

[0050] The second plate (120)(220) can close the euro (111)(211).

[0051] The second plate (120)(220) is in close contact with the first plate (110)(210), and a connecting portion (121)(221) may be formed concavely in the center. Accordingly, the connecting portion (121)(221) can be in close contact with and fixed to the first plate (110)(210), and accordingly, the refrigerant can be supplied along the passage (111)(211).

[0052] An inlet pipe (112)(212) and an outlet pipe (113)(213) are formed in the second plate (120)(220), and the refrigerant is supplied to the first receiving space (111a)(211a) through the inlet pipe (112)(212), and the circulated refrigerant can be discharged to the outlet pipe (113)(213) through the second receiving space (111b)(211b).

[0053] Referring to FIG. 4, the cooling fin (130)(230) may include a body (131)(231), a mounting member (132)(232), a protruding member (133)(233), and a communication hole (134)(234).

[0054] The above cooling fins (130)(230) are plate-shaped with a predetermined length. At this time, the width of the body (131)(231) may be formed to correspond to the width of the flow path (111)(211). In addition, a mounting member (132)(232)) may be formed at both ends of the body (131)(231).

[0055] For example, the mounting member (132)(232) may be formed by bending downwards at each end of the body (131)(231). Accordingly, the cooling fin (130)(230) may be mounted on the flow path (111)(211) through the mounting member (132)(232).

[0056] The above protruding members (133)(233) can be formed by protruding upward and downward from the body (131)(231). A plurality of protruding members (133)(233) can be formed at predetermined intervals along the length direction of the body (131)(231).

[0057] For example, the protruding member (133)(233) can be formed by cutting a part of the body (131)(231) and bending it upward or downward.

[0058] The above communication holes (134)(234) may be formed in multiple numbers along the longitudinal direction of the body (131)(231). The communication holes (134)(234) may be formed adjacent to the protruding member (133)(233).

[0059] Additionally, referring to FIG. 6, the third cooling unit (300) can be mounted between the battery cells (14a).

[0060] The third cooling unit (300) allows the coolant supplied through the ducts (111) (211) of the first and second cooling units (100) (200) to circulate between the battery cells (14a), thereby maintaining the temperature of the battery at room temperature.

[0061] The third cooling unit (300) may include a body (310), a cooling channel (320), and a coupling protrusion (330).

[0062] The above body (310) can be vertically placed between battery cells (14a).

[0063] The above body (310) may be formed in a rectangular shape, and the upper and lower parts may be in close contact with the first plate (110) (210).

[0064] The above cooling path (320) is formed on the inside of the body (310), and the path (320) of the third cooling unit (300) can be connected to the paths (111) (211) of the first and second cooling units (100) (200).

[0065] The above-mentioned coupling protrusion (330) is formed to protrude from both ends of the body (310) and can be coupled to the coupling hole formed in the first plate (110) (210).

[0066] At least one coupling protrusion (330) is formed protruding from the upper and lower ends of the body (310) and can be coupled into the coupling hole.

[0067] The coupling protrusion (330) is formed with the same height as the thickness of the first plate (110) (210) of the first and second cooling units (100) (200), so that the end of the coupling protrusion (330) does not protrude into the flow path (111) (211) of the first and second cooling units (100) (200).

[0068] Also, referring to FIG. 8, the blocking bulkhead (400) can be vertically arranged between battery cells (14a).

[0069] More specifically, the blocking bulkhead (400) can be mounted between the third cooling unit (300) and the battery cell (14a) arranged between the third cooling unit (300).

[0070] The blocking bulkhead (400) is formed of a non-combustible material to block heat transfer between battery cells (14a) and simultaneously delay the spread of fire between battery cells (14a) as much as possible.

[0071] At least one mounting protrusion (410) may be formed to protrude from the upper and lower ends of the above-mentioned blocking wall (400), and the mounting protrusion (410) may be inserted into and coupled to a mounting hole formed in the first plate (110) (210).

[0072] Both sides of the above-mentioned blocking wall (400) may include a buffer sheet (420) to prevent damage to the battery cell (14a) due to impact between the blocking wall (400) and the battery cell (14a).

[0073] It is preferable that the above buffer sheet (420) be formed of a material that can withstand the heat generated from the battery cell (14a).

[0074] The buffer sheet (420) may be formed of a non-combustible material woven from fiberglass or ceramic fiber.

[0075] The upper and lower portions of the above buffer sheet (420) may be formed with a folded portion (421) so that they can be positioned between the first plate (110) (210) and the blocking partition (400).

[0076] Accordingly, interference between the blocking bulkhead (400) and the battery cell (14a) is prevented and some external impact can be absorbed.

[0077] The configuration of the blocking bulkhead (400) and the buffer sheet (420) as described above can prevent the fire from spreading to the battery cells (14a) of other adjacent compartments even if a fire breaks out in the battery cells (14a) of the adjacent compartment.

[0078] In addition, referring to FIG. 9, the upper portion of the first cooling unit (100) may include a fire extinguishing agent supply unit (500) that can supply a fire extinguishing agent to extinguish a fire when a fire occurs in a battery cell (14a).

[0079] The above-mentioned digestive agent supply unit (500) may include a supply guide (510), a storage container (520), a supply pipe (530), a heat detection member (540), and a supply pump (550).

[0080] The above supply guide (510) can be formed on the second plate (120) of the first cooling unit (100).

[0081] It is preferable that the supply guide (510) be positioned on the same line as the flow path (111) of the first plate (110), and a passage through which the extinguishing agent can be supplied is formed inside the supply guide (510).

[0082] The above storage container (520) can store a certain amount of extinguishing agent inside.

[0083] The above supply pipe (530) is a pipe for supplying the extinguishing agent stored in the storage container (520) into the supply guide (510).

[0084] The above heat detection member (540) can be mounted in the passage of the supply guide (510).

[0085] The heat detection member (540) may be formed of a material that melts due to heat when a certain temperature is exceeded in the event of a fire in the battery cell (14a).

[0086] The heat sensing member (540) is made of Wood's metal, and is formed by combining 40 to 50% bismuth, 25 to 30% lead, 12.5 to 15.5% tin, and 12.5% ​​cadmium.

[0087] As described above, by installing the heat detection member (540) inside the supply guide (510), the fire extinguishing agent is not supplied to the passage inside the supply guide (510) under normal circumstances, and the fire extinguishing agent is supplied to the inside of the supply pipe (530) between the heat detection member (540) and the storage container (520).

[0088] The above supply pump (550) can be installed on the supply pipe (530).

[0089] The supply pump (550) may include a pressure sensor capable of detecting the pressure at which the extinguishing agent is supplied.

[0090] The above supply pump (550) applies pressure to supply the fire extinguishing agent stored in the storage container (520) toward the supply guide (510). Therefore, when the heat detection member (540) melts due to a fire in the battery, the supply pump (550) can supply the fire extinguishing agent toward the passage inside the supply guide (510).

[0091] The second plate (120) of the first cooling unit (100) may have first holes (560) formed at regular intervals. Accordingly, the first holes (560) and the passages within the supply guide (510) may be connected to each other.

[0092] Second holes (570) may be formed at regular intervals in the first plate (110) of the first cooling unit (100).

[0093] More specifically, a second hole (570) may be formed in the path (111) formed in the first plate (110), and accordingly, the passage inside the supply guide (510) and the first hole (560) and the second hole (570) may be connected to each other.

[0094] Therefore, when the heat detection member (540) melts due to a fire in the battery, the supply pump (550) forcibly supplies the fire extinguishing agent stored in the storage container (520) through the passage inside the supply guide (510).

[0095] The fire extinguishing agent supplied through the passage in this way passes through the first opening (560) and the second opening (570) and is then sprayed into the space formed between the lower part of the first plate (110) and the upper part of the battery cell (14a), thereby extinguishing the fire.

[0096] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the gist of the present invention as claimed in the claims. Furthermore, such modifications should not be understood individually from the technical idea or prospect of the present invention.

Claims

1. In a hybrid electric vehicle charger that converts power input from renewable energy or nighttime power into DC power, stores the converted DC power in a battery module of an energy storage device, and supplies the stored DC power to an electric vehicle charger to charge the electric vehicle, A first cooling unit (100) installed on the upper part of the battery cell of the above battery module to maintain the temperature of the battery cell at room temperature; A second cooling unit (200) installed at the bottom of the battery cell to maintain the temperature of the battery cell at room temperature; A third cooling unit (300) mounted between the battery cells and connected to the first cooling unit (100) and the second cooling unit (200) to maintain the temperature of the battery cells at room temperature; A blocking bulkhead (400) that is vertically installed between the third cooling unit (300) and the battery cells (14a) between the third cooling unit (300) to block heat transfer between the battery cells; A battery cooling system for a hybrid electric vehicle charger, including an extinguishing agent supply unit (500) formed on the upper portion of the first cooling unit (100) and supplying extinguishing agent when a heat detection member ruptures when the temperature of the battery cell rises above a predetermined temperature.

2. In claim 1, The above first and second cooling units (100)200) are, A first plate (110)(210) having a predetermined plate shape and having a flow path (111)(211) formed on one side thereof; A second plate (120)(220) that is in close contact with the first plate (110)(210) and closes the urea (111)(211); A battery cooling system for a hybrid electric vehicle charger including cooling fins (130) (230) arranged on a path (111) of the first plate (110).

3. In claim 1, The above third cooling unit (300) is A body (310) mounted vertically between the battery cells (14a) and the battery cells (14a); A cooling path (320) formed inside the body (310) and communicating with the paths (111) (211) of the first and second cooling units (100) (200); A battery cooling system for a hybrid electric vehicle charger including at least one connecting projection (330) protruding from the upper and lower ends of the body (310).

4. In claim 1, The above blocking bulkhead (400) is At least one mounting projection (410) formed on the upper and lower parts; It includes a buffer sheet (420) that is arranged on both sides of the above-mentioned blocking bulkhead (400) to prevent damage to the battery cell (14a) by preventing impact between the blocking bulkhead (400) and the battery cell (14a). The above mounting projection (410) is inserted into and joined to a mounting hole formed in the first plate (110) (210). The above buffer sheet (420) is formed of a non-combustible material, and is a battery cooling system of a hybrid electric vehicle charger that prevents fire from spreading to battery cells (14a) in other adjacent compartments even if a fire occurs in a battery cell (14a) in the adjacent compartment.

5. In claim 1, The above digestive agent supply unit (500) is A supply guide (510) formed on the second plate (120) of the first cooling unit (100); A storage container (520) in which a certain amount of extinguishing agent is stored inside; A supply pipe (530) connected between the supply guide (510) and the storage container (520); A heat detection member (540) mounted in a passage inside the above supply guide (510) and melts when the temperature exceeds a certain level; A battery cooling system for a hybrid electric vehicle charger, including a supply pump (550) installed on the supply pipe (530) and supplying extinguishing agent stored in a storage container (520) to the supply guide side.

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