Power storage equipment

Abstract

This power storage equipment comprises a first electric board, a second electric board, a first member that is wiring or piping, and a first cover. At least one of the first electric board and the second electric board accommodates at least one of a power storage element and a power converter. The first electric board is provided with a first through-hole through which the first member passes at a position facing the second electric board. The second electric board is provided with a second through-hole through which the first member passes at a position facing the first electric board. The first cover seals the first through-hole and the second through-hole in a state of covering the periphery of the first member.

Description

Energy storage facilities

[0001] The present invention relates to an electricity storage facility.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a power storage system including a battery panel that houses a storage battery, a branch panel, a first stand on which the battery panel is placed, a second stand on which the branch panel is placed, and a plurality of connection wirings that are arranged inside the first stand and the second stand and connect the battery panel and the branch panel.

[0003] International Publication No. 2019 / 044747

[0004] In the energy storage system disclosed in Patent Document 1, the connection wiring is arranged inside the first and second racks located below the battery panel and the branch panel, connecting the battery panel and the branch panel. That is, the connection wiring is led from the bottom of the battery panel to the first rack, and the connection wiring is led from the bottom of the branch panel to the second rack, and the connection wiring is arranged inside the first and second racks. As a result, in this energy storage system, the path of the connection wiring becomes complex, which may make it difficult to connect the battery panel and the branch panel.

[0005] The present invention was made by the inventors of the present application by focusing on the above-mentioned problem, and has an object to provide an electricity storage facility in which electrical panels can be easily connected to each other.

[0006] An energy storage facility according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a first electrical panel, a second electrical panel, a first member which is wiring or piping, and a first cover, wherein at least one of the first electrical panel and the second electrical panel houses at least one of an energy storage element and a power converter, the first electrical panel has a first through hole at a position opposite the second electrical panel through which the first member passes, the second electrical panel has a second through hole at a position opposite the first electrical panel through which the first member passes, and the first cover seals the first through hole and the second through hole while covering the periphery of the first member.

[0007] According to the electricity storage facility of the present invention, electrical panels can be easily connected to each other.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a power storage facility according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of four electrical panels and four air conditioning devices included in the power storage facility according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a power storage device included in an electrical panel according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the connection configuration of a first electrical panel and a second electrical panel according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the connection configuration of a first electrical panel and a second electrical panel according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the connection configuration of a first electrical panel, a second electrical panel, and a third electrical panel according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the connection configuration of a first electrical panel and a second electrical panel according to a first modified example of the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the connection configuration of a first electrical panel, a second electrical panel, and a fourth electrical panel according to a second modified example of the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the connection configuration of a first electrical panel and a fourth electrical panel according to the second modified example of the embodiment.

[0009] (1) An aspect of the present invention provides an energy storage facility comprising a first electrical panel, a second electrical panel, a first member which is wiring or piping, and a first cover, wherein at least one of the first electrical panel and the second electrical panel houses at least one of an energy storage element and a power converter, the first electrical panel has a first through hole at a position opposite the second electrical panel through which the first member passes, the second electrical panel has a second through hole at a position opposite the first electrical panel through which the first member passes, and the first cover seals the first through hole and the second through hole while covering the periphery of the first member.

[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, the first and second electrical panels have, at opposing positions, first and second through holes through which a first member, such as a wiring or pipe, passes, and the first cover seals the first and second through holes while covering the periphery of the first panel. In this manner, the first and second electrical panels can be connected by the first panel with a simple configuration, since the first panel passes through the first and second through holes arranged at opposing positions in the first and second electrical panels. By sealing the first and second through holes while covering the periphery of the first panel, the first cover can prevent problems (such as dust or rainwater entering the electrical panels) caused by the formation of the first and second through holes in the first and second electrical panels. This allows the electrical panels to be easily connected to each other in the power storage system.

[0011] (2) In the storage equipment described in (1) above, the first through hole may be arranged in a lower portion of the first electrical panel, and the second through hole may be arranged in a lower portion of the second electrical panel.

[0012] According to the energy storage equipment described in (2) above, the first through hole and the second through hole are disposed below the first and second electrical panels, thereby facilitating connection between the first and second electrical panels. In other words, even a slight tilt of the first and second electrical panels increases the tolerance at positions away from the ground, which may make it difficult to accommodate the tolerance at the top of the first and second electrical panels. This may make it difficult to insert the first member through the first through hole and the second through hole and to seal the first and second through holes with the first cover. Therefore, by disposing the first through hole and the second through hole below the first and second electrical panels, the first member can be easily inserted through the first through hole and the second through hole and the first through hole can be easily sealed with the first cover.

[0013] (3) The energy storage equipment described in (1) or (2) above may further include a third electrical panel, a second member that is wiring or piping, and a second cover, wherein the third electrical panel is arranged alongside the second electrical panel in the direction in which the first and second electrical panels are aligned so as to sandwich the second electrical panel together with the first electrical panel, the second electrical panel having a third through hole at a position opposite the third electrical panel through which the second member passes, and the third electrical panel having a fourth through hole at a position opposite the second electrical panel through which the second member passes, and the second cover may seal the third through hole and the fourth through hole while covering the periphery of the second member.

[0014] According to the energy storage equipment described in (3) above, the second and third electrical panels have third and fourth through holes at opposing positions through which second members, such as wiring or piping, pass, and the second cover seals the third and fourth through holes while covering the periphery of the second members. In this way, the second members pass through the third and fourth through holes at opposing positions in the second and third electrical panels, allowing the second and third electrical panels to be connected by the second member with a simple configuration. By sealing the third and fourth through holes while covering the periphery of the second member with the second cover, problems (such as dust or rainwater entering the electrical panels) caused by the formation of the third and fourth through holes in the second and third electrical panels can be suppressed. Thus, according to the energy storage equipment, even when the third electrical panel is positioned between the first and third electrical panels, the electrical panels can be easily connected to each other in a row of three electrical panels.

[0015] (4) The energy storage equipment described in any one of (1) to (3) above may further include a fourth electrical board, a third member which is wiring or piping, and a third cover, wherein the fourth electrical board is arranged alongside the first electrical board in a direction intersecting the arrangement direction of the first electrical board and the second electrical board, the first electrical board has a fifth through hole at a position opposite the fourth electrical board through which the third member passes, and the fourth electrical board has a sixth through hole at a position opposite the first electrical board through which the third member passes, and the third cover seals the fifth through hole and the sixth through hole while covering the periphery of the third member.

[0016] According to the energy storage equipment described in (4) above, the first and fourth electrical panels have fifth and sixth through holes at opposing positions, through which a third member, such as a wiring or a pipe, passes, and the third cover seals the fifth and sixth through holes while covering the periphery of the third member. In this way, the third member passes through the fifth and sixth through holes, which are arranged at opposing positions in the first and fourth electrical panels, allowing the first and fourth electrical panels to be connected by the third member with a simple configuration. By sealing the fifth and sixth through holes while covering the periphery of the third member with the third cover, problems caused by the fifth and sixth through holes in the first and fourth electrical panels (such as the intrusion of dust or rainwater into the electrical panels) can be suppressed. Thus, according to the energy storage equipment, even when the fourth electrical panel is arranged alongside the first electrical panel in a direction intersecting the arrangement direction of the first and second electrical panels, these electrical panels can be easily connected to each other.

[0017] (5) In the energy storage facility described in any one of (1) to (4) above, the first member may include at least one of a main circuit wiring, a signal line, a grounding line, a commercial AC wiring, a control power line, a cooling pipe, a heating pipe, and a fire extinguishing pipe.

[0018] According to the power storage facility described in (5) above, the first member includes at least one of wiring such as main circuit wiring, signal wiring, grounding wiring, commercial AC wiring, and control power supply wiring, and piping such as cooling piping, heating piping, and fire extinguishing piping, etc. Thus, according to the power storage facility, the first electrical panel and the second electrical panel can be easily connected with various wirings or pipings.

[0019] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a description will be given of an energy storage facility according to an embodiment of the present invention (including its modified examples). The embodiments described below all show comprehensive or specific examples. The numerical values, shapes, materials, components, component placement and connection configurations, manufacturing processes, and the order of manufacturing processes shown in the following embodiments are examples only and are not intended to limit the present invention. In each drawing, dimensions and the like are not strictly illustrated. In each drawing, the same or similar components are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0020] In the following description and drawings, the X-axis direction is defined as the arrangement direction of the first, second, and third electrical panels provided in the electrical panel, the direction in which the first member penetrates the first and second electrical panels, the direction in which the second member penetrates the second and third electrical panels, the width direction of the housing of the first electrical panel or the like, the direction in which the two side panels of the housing face each other, or the arrangement direction of multiple power storage devices on the shelf of the housing. The Y-axis direction is defined as the arrangement direction of the first and fourth electrical panels, the direction in which the third member penetrates the first and fourth electrical panels, the depth direction of the housing of the first electrical panel or the like, the direction in which the front and rear panels of the housing face each other, the longitudinal direction of the power storage device, or the arrangement direction of multiple power storage elements provided in the power storage device. The Z-axis direction is defined as the arrangement direction of the electrical panel and the air conditioning device, the height direction of the housing of the first electrical panel or the like, the direction in which the top and bottom panels of the housing face each other, the arrangement direction of the power storage devices sandwiched between the shelves of the housing, the vertical direction, or the up-and-down direction. These X-axis direction, Y-axis direction, and Z-axis direction intersect with each other (orthogonal in this embodiment).

[0021] In the following description, the positive X-axis direction refers to the direction of the arrow on the X-axis, and the negative X-axis direction refers to the direction opposite to the positive X-axis direction. When simply referring to the X-axis direction, it refers to both or either of the positive X-axis direction and the negative X-axis direction. The same applies to the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction. Expressions indicating relative directions or attitudes, such as parallel and orthogonal, also include cases where the directions or attitudes are not strictly those. When two directions are parallel (or orthogonal), it does not only mean that the two directions are completely parallel (or orthogonal), but also means that the directions are substantially parallel (or orthogonal), that is, there is a difference of about a few percent. In the following description, when the term "insulation" is used, it means "electrical insulation". An insulating material has a volume resistivity of 1×10 ６ Ωm or more, more preferably 1×10 ７ Ωm or more, more preferably 1×10 １０ It is preferable that the material be made of a material with a resistance of Ωm or more.

[0022] (Embodiment) [1 General Description of Power Storage Equipment 1] First, a general description of the power storage equipment 1 according to this embodiment will be provided. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the power storage equipment 1 according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of four electrical panels 100 and four air conditioning devices 200 included in the power storage equipment 1 according to this embodiment. In FIG. 2, the front panel 113 is removed from the housing 110 of one electrical panel 100 (101) to show the internal configuration of the housing 110, and the housing 110 and the air conditioning devices 200 are appropriately seen through, with parts to be described indicated by dashed lines. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the power storage device 120 included in the electrical panel 100 according to this embodiment. In FIG. 3, the internal configuration of the housing 121 of the power storage device 120 is shown through the housing 121 by dashed lines.

[0023] The power storage facility 1 is a facility that charges and discharges electricity and supplies it to an external power load. The power storage facility 1 is a stationary battery used for business or home purposes, and is used for power storage or power supply purposes. In this embodiment, the power storage facility 1 is an outdoor-spec facility that is installed outdoors (can be installed outdoors), and has dustproof and waterproof properties to the extent necessary for outdoor installation. The power storage facility 1 is installed in a large mobile object such as a ship or a railway vehicle for an electric railway, and can also be used as a battery for driving the large mobile object or starting the engine. Examples of the above-mentioned railway vehicle for an electric railway include electric trains, monorails, linear motor cars, and hybrid trains equipped with both a diesel engine and an electric motor.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1 , the power storage facility 1 includes an electrical panel 100, an air conditioning device 200 arranged above the electrical panel 100, an electrical panel 300, and an air conditioning device 400 arranged above the electrical panel 300. Specifically, the power storage facility 1 includes a plurality of electrical panels 100, a plurality of air conditioning devices 200 arranged above the plurality of electrical panels 100, one electrical panel 300, and a plurality of air conditioning devices 400 arranged above the single electrical panel 300. In this embodiment, ten electrical panels 100 are arranged in five sets of two electrical panels 100 arranged in the Y-axis direction in the X-axis direction, and one electrical panel 300 is located in the positive direction of the X-axis. These electrical panels 100 and 300 are arranged adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction. "Adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction" refers to a state in which the electrical panels are arranged relatively close to each other in the X-axis direction, and includes cases in which the electrical panels are in contact with each other in the X-axis direction and cases in which the electrical panels are close to each other but not in contact with each other in the X-axis direction. The same applies when the air conditioners 400 are arranged adjacent to each other in the Y-axis direction. In each electrical panel 100, one air conditioner 200 is arranged above one electrical panel 100. Four air conditioners 400 are arranged above the electrical panel 300, with two air conditioners 400 lined up in the Y-axis direction forming two sets in the X-axis direction.

[0025] In this embodiment, the electrical panel 100 is a power storage panel that houses power storage elements. The electrical panel 300 is a power conversion panel that houses a power converter. Power received from the outside is converted by the electrical panel 300 and then supplied to the electrical panel 100, where it is charged. Power discharged by the electrical panel 100 is converted by the electrical panel 300 and then supplied to the outside.

[0026] Hereinafter, these multiple electrical panels 100 (storage panels) and electrical panels 300 (power conversion panels) will be collectively referred to as electrical panels 10. The top plate of the electrical panel 100 (top plate 116 described below) and the top plate of the electrical panel 300 will be collectively referred to as top plate 11. The multiple air conditioning devices 200 and the multiple air conditioning devices 400 will be collectively referred to as air conditioning devices 20. In other words, the electrical panel 10 includes multiple electrical panels 100 (storage panels) and one electrical panel 300 (power conversion panel). The air conditioning device 20 includes multiple air conditioning devices 200 and multiple air conditioning devices 400. The air conditioning device 20 is disposed above the top plate 11 of the electrical panel 10. The numbers of electrical panels 100, electrical panels 300, air conditioning devices 200, and air conditioning devices 400 are not limited to those described above. As long as the configuration described below is satisfied, the electrical panel 10 may include any number of electrical panels 100, or may not include any electrical panels 100. The electrical panel 10 may include any number of electrical panels 300, or may not include any electrical panels 300. The air conditioning device 20 may include any number of air conditioning devices 200, or may not include any air conditioning devices 200. The air conditioning device 20 may include any number of air conditioning devices 400, or may not include any air conditioning devices 400.

[0027] [1.1 Description of Electrical Panels 100 and 300] Next, the configurations of the electrical panels 100 and 300 will be described in detail. First, the configuration of the electrical panel 100 will be described, and then the configuration of the electrical panel 300 will be described, focusing on the parts that differ from the electrical panel 100. Since the multiple electrical panels 100 included in the energy storage facility 1 (electrical panel 10) all have the same configuration, the configuration of one electrical panel 100 will be described in detail below.

[0028] The electrical panel 100 is a device that charges electricity from an external source and discharges electricity to the outside, and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The electrical panel 100 is a stationary storage panel (battery panel) that stores various types of electricity, such as electricity from a commercial power system, electricity generated by a generator, wind power generation, or solar power generation, and regenerative power from a railway system, and supplies stable power to external equipment. As described above, the electrical panel 100 is an outdoor-spec equipment that is installed outdoors (can be installed outdoors) and has the dustproof and waterproof properties required for outdoor installation. Specifically, the electrical panel 100 has an IP rating (IP code) defined by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) standards: IP2X, IP3X, IP4X, IP5X, or IP6X for dustproofness, and IPX3, IPX4, IPX5, IPX6, IPX7, or IPX8 for waterproofness.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2 , the electrical panel 100 includes a housing 110 and a plurality of power storage devices 120 arranged inside the housing 110. In addition to these components, the electrical panel 100 also includes electric wires and the like that connect the plurality of power storage devices 120 to one another, but these are not shown in the drawings and detailed description will also be omitted. In this embodiment, within the housing 110, a plurality of (six) power storage devices 120 are arranged in the X-axis direction and are arranged in multiple tiers in the Z-axis direction. The number of power storage devices 120 arranged in the X-axis direction and the number of tiers arranged in the Z-axis direction are not particularly limited. The plurality of power storage devices 120 may all be connected in series, may be connected in a combination of series and parallel, or may all be connected in parallel.

[0030] The housing 110 is a rectangular parallelepiped (box-shaped) container (shelf, rack). The interior space of the housing 110 is divided into multiple sections, and multiple power storage devices 120 are housed within the divided sections. The housing 110 is formed of metal such as stainless steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, iron, or plated steel. The housing 110 may be formed of a material other than metal (such as resin), but is preferably formed of a material that has high strength, heat resistance, and flame retardancy. The housing 110 includes side panels 111 and 112, a front panel 113, a rear panel 114, a bottom panel 115, a top panel 116, a first shelf 117, and a second shelf 118.

[0031] The side panels 111 and 112, the front panel 113, the rear panel 114, the bottom panel 115, and the top panel 116 are flat, rectangular walls that cover all six sides of the housing 110. Specifically, the side panel 111 is a wall of the housing 110 facing the negative X-axis, and the side panel 112 is a wall of the housing 110 facing the positive X-axis. The front panel 113 is a wall of the housing 110 facing the negative Y-axis. The front panel 113 is a cover member (door) that can be opened and closed (opened and closed freely) to close an opening on the surface (front face) of the housing 110 facing the negative Y-axis. The rear panel 114 is a wall of the housing 110 facing the positive Y-axis. The bottom panel 115 is a wall of the housing 110 facing the negative Z-axis. The top panel 116 is a wall of the housing 110 facing the positive Z-axis.

[0032] Through holes are formed in the lower parts of the side plates 111 and 112. As shown in FIG. 2 , of the four electrical boards 100, the electrical board 100 located in the positive direction of the X axis and the negative direction of the Y axis is also referred to as electrical board 101, and the electrical board 100 located in the negative direction of the X axis and the negative direction of the Y axis is also referred to as electrical board 102. The electrical boards 101 and 102 are adjacent to each other in the X axis direction. In this case, in the housing 110 provided for the electrical board 101, a through hole 111a is formed in the lower part of the side plate 111, and a through hole 112a is formed in the lower part of the side plate 112. In the housing 110 provided for the electrical board 102, a through hole 112b is formed in the lower part of the side plate 112 (the through hole in the lower part of the side plate 111 is not shown in the drawing).

[0033] As a result, the through-hole 111a of the electrical panel 101 and the through-hole 112b of the electrical panel 102 are arranged opposite each other, and a first member 30, which is wiring or piping, passes through the through-holes 111a and 112b. The first member 30 includes at least one of main circuit wiring, signal lines, grounding lines, commercial AC wiring, control power lines, cooling piping, heating piping, and fire extinguishing piping. The through-holes 111a and 112b are sealed by a first cover 40 that covers the periphery of the first member 30, thereby maintaining the above-mentioned dustproof and waterproof properties. The same applies to other through-holes such as the through-hole 112a.

[0034] The top plate 116 is formed with a first top plate vent hole 116a and a second top plate vent hole 116b. The first top plate vent hole 116a and the second top plate vent hole 116b are through-holes formed in the top plate 116 to allow the air conditioner 200 to take in and exhaust air, and are arranged in a position facing the air conditioner 200. In the present embodiment, the first top plate vent hole 116a is arranged at the end of the top plate 116 in the negative direction of the Y axis, and the second top plate vent hole 116b is arranged at the end of the top plate 116 in the positive direction of the Y axis. The air conditioner 200, which is arranged above the top plate 116, circulates air in the internal space of the electrical panel 100 via the first top plate vent hole 116a and the second top plate vent hole 116b. In other words, temperature-adjusted air is exhausted by the air conditioning unit 200 through the top plate second vent 116b into the internal space of the electrical panel 100, the air circulates through the internal space of the electrical panel 100, and is then drawn into the air conditioning unit 200 through the top plate first vent 116a. From the perspective of the air conditioning unit 200, the top plate first vent 116a is an intake port, and the top plate second vent 116b is an exhaust port. From the perspective of the electrical panel 100, the top plate first vent 116a is an exhaust port, and the top plate second vent 116b is an intake port. The top plate first vent 116a and the top plate second vent 116b are sealed from the air conditioning unit 200, thereby maintaining the above-mentioned dustproofness and waterproofness.

[0035] The first shelf 117 and the second shelf 118 are walls that divide the space inside the housing 110. Each power storage device 120 is arranged inside the housing 110 by being supported by the first shelf 117 and the second shelf 118 within the space divided by the first shelf 117 and the second shelf 118. A plurality of power storage devices 120 are arranged in the X-axis direction on the first shelf 117, and a plurality of power storage devices 120 are arranged in the X-axis direction on the second shelf 118. A space where no power storage devices 120 are arranged is formed in the negative Z-axis direction of the first shelf 117, and an electrical unit (electrical component) that controls all of the power storage devices 120 is arranged therein. In this embodiment, the first shelf 117 and the second shelf 118 are flat, rectangular wall portions. An opening (not shown) is formed in the second shelf 118, allowing air circulating through the internal space of the electrical panel 100 to pass through the opening. No opening is formed in the first shelf 117, and the air circulating in the internal space of the electrical panel 100 cannot pass through the space in the negative Z-axis direction of the first shelf 117. The shapes of the first shelf 117 and the second shelf 118 are not particularly limited, and may be narrow plate-like or rod-like members such as beams.

[0036] Next, the configuration of the energy storage device 120 will be described in detail. The energy storage device 120 is a battery module (battery assembly) having a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape that is elongated in the Y-axis direction. The longitudinal direction of the energy storage device 120 is the Y-axis direction. As shown in FIG. 3 , the energy storage device 120 includes an exterior body 121, a plurality of energy storage elements 122, and a substrate unit 123. In this embodiment, the plurality of energy storage elements 122 are arranged side by side in the Y-axis direction, but the arrangement direction and number of the energy storage elements 122 are not particularly limited, and only one energy storage element 122 may be arranged. In addition to these components, the energy storage device 120 also includes bus bars and the like that connect terminals of the plurality of energy storage elements 122 to each other, but these are not shown in the drawings and detailed description will be omitted. The energy storage device 120 may also include a pair of external terminals (positive and negative) for connecting to the outside, spacers arranged between the energy storage elements 122, restraining members (end plates, side plates, etc.) for restraining the energy storage elements 122, and a bus bar frame for positioning the bus bar, but these are not shown or described here.

[0037] The exterior body 121 is a box-shaped (rectangular parallelepiped) container (module case) that is elongated in the Y-axis direction and that constitutes the outer shell of the energy storage device 120. The exterior body 121 houses the multiple energy storage elements 122, fixes the multiple energy storage elements 122 in predetermined positions, and protects them from impacts and the like. The exterior body 121 is formed from an insulating material such as resin, and prevents the energy storage elements 122 from coming into contact with external metal members and the like. The exterior body 121 may be formed from a conductive material such as metal, as long as the insulating properties of the energy storage elements 122 are maintained.

[0038] The energy storage element 122 is a secondary battery (single cell) that can charge and discharge electricity, and more specifically, is a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery. In the present embodiment, the energy storage element 122 has a flattened rectangular parallelepiped (square) shape, but the shape of the energy storage element 122 is not limited to a rectangular parallelepiped shape and may be a polygonal prism shape other than a rectangular parallelepiped, a cylindrical shape, an elongated cylindrical shape, an elliptical cylindrical shape, or the like. The energy storage element 122 may be a secondary battery other than a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery or may be a capacitor. The energy storage element 122 may be a primary battery. The energy storage element 122 may be a battery using a solid electrolyte. The energy storage element 122 may be a pouch-type energy storage element.

[0039] The board unit 123 is a device that can monitor the states of the energy storage elements 122, such as the charge state and discharge state, and control the energy storage elements 122. The board unit 123 has electrical equipment such as a circuit board (CMU: Cell Management Unit) inside. In this embodiment, the board unit 123 is a flat, rectangular member that is attached to the end of the exterior body 121 in the negative Y-axis direction and is thereby disposed at the end of the energy storage device 120 in the negative Y-axis direction.

[0040] Next, a detailed description will be given of the configuration of the electrical panel 300. The electrical panel 300 is a stationary power conversion panel (PCS panel, power conditioner) that includes a housing similar to the electrical panel 100 and includes a power converter and copper bars (not shown) inside the housing.

[0041] The housing of the electrical panel 300, like the housing 110 of the electrical panel 100, has six flat, rectangular walls: two side panels, a front panel, a rear panel, a bottom panel, and a top panel. Of the two side panels of the housing of the electrical panel 300, the side panel facing the electrical panel 100 has a through-hole (not shown) formed in the lower part, like the side panels 111 and 112 of the housing 110 of the electrical panel 100. The top panel of the housing of the electrical panel 300 has a first top panel vent hole and a second top panel vent hole (not shown) formed therein for the air intake and exhaust of the air conditioning unit 400, like the top panel 116 of the housing 110 of the electrical panel 100. As such, the housing of the electrical panel 300 has a similar configuration to the housing 110 of the electrical panel 100, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0042] The power converter and copper bars included in the electrical panel 300 may be any known power converter and copper bar. The power converter is electrically connected to the power storage device 120 included in the electrical panel 100 and converts power to or from the electrical panel 100. The power converter converts AC power to DC power (AC-DC conversion), converts DC power to AC power (DC-AC conversion), or converts voltage or frequency to a different value (DC-DC conversion, AC-AC conversion). In this embodiment, the power converter converts power to the electrical panel 100 from AC power to DC power and adjusts the voltage of the power, and converts power from the electrical panel 100 from DC power to AC power and adjusts the voltage of the power. The electrical panel 300 may also include electrical equipment (electrical components) such as a breaker.

[0043] [1.2 Description of Air Conditioners 200 and 400] Next, the configurations of the air conditioners 200 and 400 will be described in detail. First, the configuration of the air conditioner 200 will be described, and then the configuration of the air conditioner 400 will be described, focusing on the parts that differ from the air conditioner 200. The multiple air conditioners 200 included in the power storage facility 1 (air conditioner 20) all have the same configuration, and the multiple air conditioners 400 all have the same configuration.

[0044] The air conditioner 200 is a device having at least one of a cooling function and a heating function. In this embodiment, the air conditioner 200 has both a cooling function and a heating function, and performs cooling or heating by switching between cooling operation and heating operation. From the viewpoint of cost reduction, the air conditioner 200 may be equipped with an air conditioner (cooler) dedicated to cooling and a heater separate from the air conditioner. In this case, the air conditioner 200 may stop the exhaust fan when the heater is in use. In this embodiment, the air conditioner 200 is a heat exchange type air conditioner.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 2 , the air conditioner 200 is disposed above the top plate 116 of the housing 110 of the electrical panel 100. Specifically, the air conditioner 200 includes an air conditioner main body 210, which is disposed in a position facing the first top plate vent 116a and the second top plate vent 116b formed in the top plate 116. As a result, the air conditioner 200 circulates air in the internal space of the electrical panel 100 via the first top plate vent 116a and the second top plate vent 116b formed in the top plate 116. In this embodiment, the air conditioner 200 is disposed above the top plate 116 with the air conditioner main body 210 in contact with (resting on) the top plate 116. The air conditioning unit 200 may be arranged above the top plate 116 with the air conditioning unit main body 210 spaced apart from the top plate 116, for example, by placing other components between the air conditioning unit main body 210 and the top plate 116.

[0046] During cooling, the air conditioner 200 exhausts cooled air from the top plate second vent 116b into the interior of the electrical panel 100, uses the air to cool the power storage device 120 located in the interior space of the electrical panel 100, and then draws heated air from the top plate first vent 116a into the interior of the air conditioner 200. During heating, the air conditioner 200 exhausts heated air from the top plate second vent 116b into the interior of the electrical panel 100, uses the air to heat the interior space of the electrical panel 100, and then draws cooled air from the top plate first vent 116a into the interior of the air conditioner 200. The air conditioner 200 cools or heats the power storage device 120 (particularly the power storage element 122; the same applies below) inside the electrical panel 100 by cooling or heating the interior space of the electrical panel 100. In cold regions, the air conditioner 200 heats the power storage device 120 inside the electrical panel 100 with heating, and when the temperature of the power storage device 120 becomes high, cools the power storage device 120 with cooling.

[0047] The air conditioner 200 has a configuration in which the indoor unit and outdoor unit of a heat exchange type air conditioner are integrated into the same case. Therefore, the air conditioner 200 further includes an external air intake vent 220 and an external exhaust vent 230 that communicate with the ambient air around the electrical panel 100. The external air intake vent 220 is an opening for drawing in ambient air around the electrical panel 100, and the external exhaust vent 230 is an opening for exhausting air to the ambient air around the electrical panel 100. In other words, the top plate first air vent 116a and the top plate second air vent 116b are the air intake vent and the exhaust vent that allow the air conditioner 200 to function as an indoor unit. The external air intake vent 220 and the external exhaust vent 230 are the air intake vent and the exhaust vent that allow the air conditioner 200 to function as an outdoor unit. The portion corresponding to the outdoor unit and the portion corresponding to the indoor unit are separated, so that the air inside the electrical panel 100 and the air around the electrical panel 100 do not mix.

[0048] The external air intake vent 220 and the external air exhaust vent 230 are disposed on the side or top surface (side surface in this embodiment) of the air conditioning device main body 210. Taking the example of air conditioning device 201, which is an air conditioning device 200 disposed above the electrical panel 101, the external air intake vent 220 of the air conditioning device 201 is disposed on the surface of the air conditioning device main body 210 facing in the negative Y-axis direction (the surface facing outward). This prevents the external air intake vent 220 from being buried in snow during snowfall. The surface of the air conditioning device main body 210 of the air conditioning device 201 facing in the negative Y-axis direction is preferably disposed in a position close to the front panel 113 of the housing 110 of the electrical panel 101 in the Y-axis direction, which prevents the external air intake vent 220 from being buried in snow during snowfall. For this reason, the surface of the air conditioning device main body 210 of the air conditioning device 201 facing in the negative Y-axis direction may be disposed in the same position as the front panel 113 of the electrical panel 101 in the Y-axis direction. External exhaust port 230 is disposed on the surface of air conditioner main body 210 in the X-axis direction. Because warm air is exhausted from external exhaust port 230, even when snow has accumulated, the warm air melts the snow, preventing external exhaust port 230 from becoming buried in snow. External intake port 220 or external exhaust port 230 may be provided with a hood or the like to prevent snow accumulation or snow blowing from the side.

[0049] Like the air conditioner 200, the air conditioner 400 has both cooling and heating functions. The air conditioner 400 is disposed above the top plate of the electrical panel 300. The air conditioner 400 circulates air in the interior space of the electrical panel 300 through a first top plate vent (not shown) and a second top plate vent (not shown) formed in the top plate of the electrical panel 300. The air conditioner 400 cools or heats the interior space of the electrical panel 300, thereby cooling or heating the power converters and other components inside the electrical panel 300. The air conditioner 400 may be configured to have only a cooling function if it is not necessary to heat the power converters and other components inside the electrical panel 300. Like the air conditioner 200, the air conditioner 400 has an external air intake vent 420 and an external air exhaust vent 430 that communicate with the ambient air around the electrical panel 300 (see FIG. 1 ). The configurations of the external intake port 420 and the external exhaust port 430 provided in the air conditioner 400 are similar to those of the external intake port 220 and the external exhaust port 230 provided in the air conditioner 200, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0050] [2 Description of the Connection Configuration of Multiple Electrical Panels 100, etc.] Next, the connection configuration of multiple electrical panel 100, etc. will be described in detail. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the connection configuration of the first electrical panel 101 and the second electrical panel 102 according to this embodiment. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the first cover 40, which is the connection portion of the electrical panel 101 and the electrical panel 102 shown in FIG. 2, and the surrounding configuration. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the connection configuration of the first electrical panel 101 and the second electrical panel 102 according to this embodiment. FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of the first cover 40 and the surrounding configuration shown in FIG. 4, cut along a plane passing through line V-V and parallel to the XZ plane. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the connection configuration of the first electrical panel 101, the second electrical panel 102, and the third electrical panel 103 according to this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration shown in FIG. 2 with two electrical panels 100 added. In Figure 6, the front panel 113 has been removed from the housing 110 of the first electrical board 101, the second electrical board 102, and the third electrical board 103 to show the connection configuration between these three electrical boards 100, and components other than the connection configuration are not shown.

[0051] [2.1 Description of the Connection Configuration of Two Electrical Panels 100] First, the connection configuration of the two electrical panels 100 (first electrical panel 101 and second electrical panel 102) will be described in detail. Hereinafter, the above-mentioned electrical panel 101 will also be referred to as the first electrical panel 101, and the electrical panel 102 will also be referred to as the second electrical panel 102. That is, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the energy storage equipment 1 includes the first electrical panel 101, the second electrical panel 102, a first member 30 which is wiring or piping, and a first cover 40. At least one of the first electrical panel 101 and the second electrical panel 102 houses at least one of an energy storage element 122 and a power converter. In this embodiment, both the first electrical panel 101 and the second electrical panel 102 house the energy storage element 122.

[0052] The through hole 111a formed in the side plate 111 of the housing 110 of the first electrical board 101 is also referred to as the first through hole 111a. The first through hole 111a is a through hole that penetrates the side plate 111 of the housing 110 of the first electrical board 101 in the X-axis direction and is rectangular when viewed from the X-axis direction. The through hole 112b formed in the side plate 112 of the housing 110 of the second electrical board 102 is also referred to as the second through hole 112b. The second through hole 112b is a through hole that penetrates the side plate 112 of the housing 110 of the second electrical board 102 in the X-axis direction and is rectangular when viewed from the X-axis direction. The shape of the first through hole 111a is not limited to a rectangular shape when viewed from the X-axis direction, and may be any shape other than a rectangular shape, such as a polygonal shape, a circle, an ellipse, or an oval shape. The notch (recess) formed by cutting (recessing) the edge of the side plate 111 in the negative Y-axis direction toward the positive Y-axis direction may be referred to as the first through hole 111a. The same applies to the second through hole 112b.

[0053] The side plate 111 of the housing 110 of the first electrical board 101 and the side plate 112 of the housing 110 of the second electrical board 102 are arranged opposite each other. Therefore, the first electrical board 101 has a first through hole 111a at a position facing the second electrical board 102. The second electrical board 102 has a second through hole 112b at a position facing the first electrical board 101. In the present embodiment, the side plate 111 of the first electrical board 101 and the side plate 112 of the second electrical board 102 are arranged spaced apart in the X-axis direction, and therefore the first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b are arranged spaced apart from each other in the X-axis direction.

[0054] The first through hole 111a is disposed in the lower part of the first electrical board 101. That is, the first through hole 111a is disposed in the lower part of the side plate 111 of the housing 110 of the first electrical board 101. The lower part of the first electrical board 101 (side plate 111) is the part in the negative Z-axis direction from the center position of the first electrical board 101 (side plate 111) in the Z-axis direction. This lower part is preferably the part extending from the lower edge of the first electrical board 101 (side plate 111) to 1 / 3 of the total length of the first electrical board 101 (side plate 111) in the Z-axis direction, more preferably to 1 / 4, and even more preferably to 1 / 5. The second through hole 112b is disposed in the lower part of the second electrical board 102. That is, the second through hole 112b is disposed in the lower part of the side plate 112 of the housing 110 of the second electrical board 102. The definition of the lower part of the second electrical panel 102 (side panel 112) is the same as the definition of the lower part of the first electrical panel 101 (side panel 111).

[0055] The second through hole 112b is a through hole of the same shape and size as the first through hole 111a. The second through hole 112b is arranged at a position facing the first through hole 111a in the X-axis direction. In other words, the second through hole 112b is arranged at a position overlapping at least a portion of the first through hole 111a when viewed from the X-axis direction. In this embodiment, the second through hole 112b is arranged at the same position as the first through hole 111a when viewed from the X-axis direction. In this configuration, the first member 30 is arranged to pass through the first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b.

[0056] As described above, the first member 30 includes at least one of a main circuit wiring, a signal line, a grounding line, a commercial AC wiring, a control power supply line, a cooling pipe, a heating pipe, and a fire extinguishing pipe. The main circuit wiring is a wiring through which a current (main current) flows for charging and discharging the power storage device 120. The signal line is a wiring for sending various information (current, voltage, temperature, etc.) about the power storage device 120 as a signal. The grounding line is a wiring for grounding the housing 110. The commercial AC wiring is a wiring for exchanging AC power with a commercial power system. The control power supply line is a wiring for supplying a control power source. These wirings may be indoor-spec electric wires, bus bars, or the like. The cooling pipe is a pipe through which a liquid or gaseous refrigerant passes. The heating pipe is a pipe through which a liquid or gaseous heat medium passes. The fire extinguishing pipe is a pipe through which a fire extinguishing agent passes. The first member 30 may be connected to equipment within the electrical panel 100, or may pass through the electrical panel 100 without being connected to equipment within the electrical panel 100.

[0057] The first cover 40 covers the periphery of the first member 30 and seals the first through-hole 111a and the second through-hole 112b. The first cover 40 covers the entire periphery of the first member 30, and both ends are inserted into the first through-hole 111a and the second through-hole 112b to seal the first through-hole 111a and the second through-hole 112b. The first cover 40 is positioned so as to overlap the first electrical board 101 (its side plates 111, 112) and the second electrical board 102 (its side plates 111, 112) when viewed from the X-axis direction. The first cover 40 is formed from any metal material or resin material that can be used for the housing 110. A gasket, packing, or waterproof tape may be placed between the first cover 40 and the first through-hole 111a and the second through-hole 112b. The method of sealing the first through-hole 111a and the second through-hole 112b with the first cover 40 is not limited to the above, and any configuration and any material may be used for sealing.

[0058] The sealing portion of the first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b by the first cover 40 preferably has the same or higher dustproof and waterproof properties as the other portions of the electrical panel 100. In other words, in terms of the protection ratings defined by the IEC standard, the IP code of the sealing portion is preferably the same as or higher than the IP code of the other portions of the electrical panel 100. The sealing portion has a dustproof rating of IP2X, IP3X, IP4X, IP5X, or IP6X, and a waterproof rating of IPX3, IPX4, IPX5, IPX6, IPX7, or IPX8.

[0059] [2.2 Description of Connection Configuration of Three Electrical Panels 100] Next, the connection configuration of the three electrical panels 100 (first electrical panel 101, second electrical panel 102, and third electrical panel 103) will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 6 , the third electrical panel 103 is arranged so that the second electrical panel 102 is sandwiched between the first electrical panel 101 and the third electrical panel 103. The third electrical panel 103 is arranged alongside the second electrical panel 102 in the arrangement direction of the first electrical panel 101 and the second electrical panel 102 so that the third electrical panel 103 sandwiches the second electrical panel 102 together with the first electrical panel 101. In other words, the energy storage equipment 1 further includes the third electrical panel 103, a second member 31 that is wiring or piping, and a second cover 50. The third electrical panel 103 houses at least one of the energy storage elements 122 and the power converter. In this embodiment, the third electrical panel 103 houses the energy storage elements 122.

[0060] A third through hole 111b is formed in the side plate 111 of the housing 110 of the second electrical board 102. The third through hole 111b is a through hole that passes through the side plate 111 of the housing 110 of the second electrical board 102 in the X-axis direction. A fourth through hole 112c is formed in the side plate 112 of the housing 110 of the third electrical board 103. The fourth through hole 112c is a through hole that passes through the side plate 112 of the housing 110 of the third electrical board 103 in the X-axis direction. The side plate 111 of the housing 110 of the second electrical board 102 and the side plate 112 of the housing 110 of the third electrical board 103 are arranged opposite each other. Therefore, the second electrical board 102 is provided with the third through hole 111b at a position facing the third electrical board 103. The third electrical board 103 is provided with the fourth through hole 112c at a position facing the second electrical board 102. In this embodiment, the side plate 111 of the second electrical board 102 and the side plate 112 of the third electrical board 103 are arranged at a distance from each other in the X-axis direction, and therefore the third through hole 111b and the fourth through hole 112c are arranged at a distance from each other in the X-axis direction.

[0061] The third through hole 111b is arranged in the lower part of the second electrical board 102. That is, the third through hole 111b is arranged in the lower part of the side plate 111 of the housing 110 of the second electrical board 102. The fourth through hole 112c is arranged in the lower part of the third electrical board 103. That is, the fourth through hole 112c is arranged in the lower part of the side plate 112 of the housing 110 of the third electrical board 103. The definitions of the lower part of the second electrical board 102 (side plate 111) and the lower part of the third electrical board 103 (side plate 112) are the same as the definition of the lower part of the first electrical board 101 (side plate 111).

[0062] The shape, size, and positional relationship of the third through hole 111b and the fourth through hole 112c are similar to the shape, size, and positional relationship of the first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b. A second member 31 is disposed to pass through the third through hole 111b and the fourth through hole 112c. The second member 31 includes any wiring or piping that can be used for the first member 30. In this embodiment, the second member 31 is a separate member from the first member 30 and is electrically or mechanically connected to the first member 30 inside the second electrical board 102. The first member 30 and the second member 31 are connected to equipment within the second electrical board 102. The first member 30 and the second member 31 may be integrated or may not be electrically or mechanically connected. The first member 30 and the second member 31 may pass through the second electrical board 102 without being connected to equipment within the second electrical board 102.

[0063] The second cover 50 seals the third through hole 111b and the fourth through hole 112c while covering the periphery of the second member 31. The second cover 50 is formed of any metal material, resin material, or the like that can be used for the first cover 40. The second cover 50 is positioned so as to overlap with the second electrical board 102 (its side plates 111, 112) and the third electrical board 103 (its side plates 111, 112) when viewed from the X-axis direction. The method of sealing the third through hole 111b and the fourth through hole 112c by the second cover 50 is the same as the method of sealing the first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b by the first cover 40, and the dustproofness and waterproofness (IP code) of the sealed portion are also the same.

[0064] In the energy storage facility 1 (electrical panel 10), the multiple electrical panels 100 arranged in the X-axis direction are connected in a configuration similar to the connection configuration of the above-described first electrical panel 101, second electrical panel 102, and third electrical panel 103. The electrical panel 100 and the electrical panel 300 are connected in a configuration similar to the connection configuration of the above-described first electrical panel 101 and second electrical panel 102.

[0065] [3 Description of Effects] As described above, according to the energy storage equipment 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the first electrical board 101 and the second electrical board 102 are provided with the first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b at positions facing each other, through which the first member 30, which is wiring or piping, passes. The first cover 40 seals the first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b while covering the periphery of the first member 30. In this way, the first member 30 passes through the first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b, which are arranged at positions facing each other in the first electrical board 101 and the second electrical board 102, and therefore the first electrical board 101 and the second electrical board 102 can be connected by the first member 30 with a simple configuration. By sealing the first through-hole 111a and the second through-hole 112b while the first cover 40 covers the periphery of the first member 30, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of problems (such as the intrusion of dust or rainwater into the electrical board 100) caused by the formation of the first through-hole 111a and the second through-hole 112b in the first electrical board 101 and the second electrical board 102. As a result, the energy storage facility 1 can easily connect the electrical boards 100 (between the first electrical board 101 and the second electrical board 102). In this way, the electrical boards 100 can be connected with wiring or piping with a simple configuration, and multiple electrical boards 100 can be easily arranged outdoors, etc.

[0066] Conventionally, large-capacity power storage facilities have been constructed by arranging multiple electrical panels in a building or container. This configuration requires the construction of a building site and the building itself, or transport trucks or crane equipment suitable for the containers. In contrast, in the present embodiment, the power storage facility 1 can be constructed by directly arranging the electrical panels 100 on the site. This eliminates the need for a building or container, and allows the electrical panels 100 to be placed even in narrow spaces. There is no need to secure space for workers to access the foundations of the electrical panels 100. Without the first cover 40, the electrical panels 100 must be connected using outdoor-specified wiring. However, outdoor-specified wiring has problems such as being thick and difficult to bend and handle due to its thick coating, and requiring on-site processing, wiring termination, and assembly. In contrast, in the present embodiment, the first cover 40 is provided, allowing indoor-specified wiring to be used instead of outdoor-specified wiring. By arranging the first member 30 so as to pass through the first through-hole 111a and the second through-hole 112b, the length of the first member 30 can be shortened, and the first member 30 becomes lightweight and easy to handle, facilitating the work of connecting the first electrical board 101 and the second electrical board 102 with the first member 30. When replacing the electrical board 100, it is only necessary to remove and attach the first cover 40, making the work of replacing the electrical board 100 easy.

[0067] The first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b are disposed in the lower portions of the first electrical board 101 and the second electrical board 102, thereby facilitating connection between the first electrical board 101 and the second electrical board 102. In other words, even a slight tilt of the first electrical board 101 and the second electrical board 102 increases the tolerance at positions away from the ground, and therefore, it may be difficult to absorb the tolerance at the upper portions of the first electrical board 101 and the second electrical board 102. This may make it difficult to pass the first member 30 through the first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b or to seal the first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b with the first cover 40. Therefore, by positioning the first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b at the bottom of the first electrical board 101 and the second electrical board 102, the first member 30 can be easily passed through the first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b, and the first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b can be easily sealed with the first cover 40.

[0068] By arranging the first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b in the lower parts of the first electrical board 101 and the second electrical board 102, the first member 30 can be easily lifted and attached even when the weight of the first member 30 is large (for example, when a bus bar is used as the first member 30). Even in the event of an earthquake, vibrations at the lower parts of the first electrical board 101 and the second electrical board 102 are limited, which prevents damage to the seals of the first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b provided by the first cover 40 and prevents the first member 30 from coming off the first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b.

[0069] The second electrical board 102 and the third electrical board 103 have, at opposing positions, a third through hole 111b and a fourth through hole 112c through which a second member 31, which is wiring or piping, passes. The second cover 50 seals the third through hole 111b and the fourth through hole 112c while covering the periphery of the second member 31. In this way, the second member 31 passes through the third through hole 111b and the fourth through hole 112c, which are arranged at opposing positions on the second electrical board 102 and the third electrical board 103, so that the second electrical board 102 and the third electrical board 103 can be connected by the second member 31 with a simple configuration. By sealing the third through hole 111b and the fourth through hole 112c while the second cover 50 covers the periphery of the second member 31, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of problems (such as the intrusion of dust or rainwater into the electrical board 100) caused by the formation of the third through hole 111b and the fourth through hole 112c in the second electrical board 102 and the third electrical board 103. As a result, according to the energy storage facility 1, even when the third electrical board 103 is positioned so that the second electrical board 102 is sandwiched between the first electrical board 101 and the third electrical board 103, the electrical boards 100 can be easily connected to each other in the three electrical boards 100 lined up. In this way, the electrical boards 100 can be connected to each other with wiring or piping using a simple configuration in the three electrical boards 100 lined up, and the three electrical boards 100 can be easily placed outdoors, for example.

[0070] Since it is easy to connect (connect in parallel, etc.) a plurality of lined-up electrical panels 100, it is possible to easily construct the required capacity of the energy storage facility 1. Since the lengths of the first member 30 that passes through the first cover 40 and the second member 31 that passes through the second cover 50 can be shortened, and the first member 30 and the second member 31 are lightweight and easy to handle, it is possible to simplify the work of connecting the first electrical panel 101, the second electrical panel 102, and the third electrical panel 103 with the first member 30 and the second member 31.

[0071] The first member 30 includes at least one of wiring such as a main circuit wiring, a signal line, a grounding line, a commercial AC wiring, and a control power line, and piping such as a cooling pipe, a heating pipe, and a fire extinguishing pipe, etc. Thus, according to the energy storage facility 1, the first electrical panel 101 and the second electrical panel 102 can be easily connected with various wirings or pipings.

[0072] In the above-described effects, the effects of the two electrical boards 100, the first electrical board 101 and the second electrical board 102, can be similarly applied to the other two electrical boards 100 provided in the power storage facility 1, and can be similarly applied to the electrical board 100 and the electrical board 300. The effects of the three electrical boards 100, the first electrical board 101, the second electrical board 102, and the third electrical board 103, can be similarly applied to the other three electrical boards 100 provided in the power storage facility 1, and can be similarly applied to the two electrical boards 100 and the electrical board 300.

[0073] [4 Description of Modifications] While the energy storage facility 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The embodiment disclosed herein is an example in all respects, and the scope of the present invention includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0074] (Variation 1) In the above embodiment, the side plate 111 of the housing 110 of the first electrical board 101 and the side plate 112 of the housing 110 of the second electrical board 102 are arranged apart in the X-axis direction, but they may also be in contact. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the connection configuration of the first electrical board 101 and the second electrical board 102 according to Variation 1 of this embodiment. Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 5.

[0075] 7 , in this modified example, the side plate 111 of the housing 110 of the first electrical board 101 and the side plate 112 of the housing 110 of the second electrical board 102 are arranged in contact with each other in the X-axis direction. That is, the side plate 111 in which the first through hole 111a of the first electrical board 101 is formed and the side plate 112 in which the second through hole 112b of the second electrical board 102 is formed are arranged in contact with each other. As a result, the first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b are arranged in a connected state.

[0076] In this configuration, the first cover 41 seals the first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b while covering the periphery of the first member 30. With the first cover 41 covering the entire periphery of the first member 30, half of the first cover 41 is inserted into the first through hole 111a and half into the second through hole 112b, sealing the first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b. The material, etc. of the first cover 41 is the same as the material, etc. of the first cover 40. The method of sealing the first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b by the first cover 41 is the same as the method of sealing the first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b by the first cover 40, and the dustproofness and waterproofness (IP code) of the sealed portion are also the same.

[0077] The remaining configuration of this modification is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. This modification also achieves the same effects as the above-described embodiment. In particular, this modification can reduce the space required for the power storage equipment in the X-axis direction, allowing the power storage equipment to be installed even on small plots of land.

[0078] (Variation 2) In the above embodiment, a configuration in which multiple electrical panels 100 arranged in the same direction (X-axis direction) are connected is disclosed. However, multiple electrical panels 100 arranged in different directions may also be connected. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the connection configuration of the first electrical panel 101, the second electrical panel 102, and the fourth electrical panel 104 according to Variation 2 of this embodiment. FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2. In FIG. 8, the connection configuration of the first electrical panel 101 and the fourth electrical panel 104 is added to FIG. 2, and components other than the connection configuration are appropriately omitted. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the connection configuration of the first electrical panel 101 and the fourth electrical panel 104 according to Variation 2 of this embodiment. FIG. 9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5. FIG. 9 shows a cross section of the third cover 60 and its surrounding configuration shown in FIG. 8, taken along a plane passing through line IX-IX and parallel to the YZ plane.

[0079] As shown in Figure 8, in this modified example, the electrical panel 100 arranged in the positive Y-axis direction of the first electrical panel 101 is also referred to as the fourth electrical panel 104. In other words, the power storage equipment further includes the fourth electrical panel 104, a third member 32 which is wiring or piping, and a third cover 60. The fourth electrical panel 104 is arranged alongside the first electrical panel 101 in a direction (Y-axis direction) intersecting the arrangement direction (X-axis direction) of the first electrical panel 101 and the second electrical panel 102. The fourth electrical panel 104 houses at least one of a power storage element 122 and a power converter. In this embodiment, the fourth electrical panel 104 houses the power storage element 122.

[0080] A fifth through hole 114a is formed in the rear plate 114 of the housing 110 of the first electrical board 101. The fifth through hole 114a is a through hole that passes through the rear plate 114 of the housing 110 of the first electrical board 101 in the Y-axis direction. A sixth through hole 114b is formed in the rear plate 114 of the housing 110 of the fourth electrical board 104. The sixth through hole 114b is a through hole that passes through the rear plate 114 of the housing 110 of the fourth electrical board 104 in the Y-axis direction. In this modified example, no through holes are formed in the side plate 112 of the housing 110 of the first electrical board 101 and the side plate 111 of the housing 110 of the fourth electrical board 104, but through holes may be formed therein as in the above embodiment. The rear plate 114 of the housing 110 of the first electrical board 101 and the rear plate 114 of the housing 110 of the fourth electrical board 104 are arranged opposite each other. For this reason, the first electrical board 101 has a fifth through hole 114a at a position facing the fourth electrical board 104. The fourth electrical board 104 has a sixth through hole 114b at a position facing the first electrical board 101. In the present embodiment, the rear plate 114 of the first electrical board 101 and the rear plate 114 of the fourth electrical board 104 are arranged at a distance from each other in the Y-axis direction, and therefore the fifth through hole 114a and the sixth through hole 114b are arranged at a distance from each other in the Y-axis direction.

[0081] The fifth through hole 114a is arranged in the lower part of the first electrical panel 101. That is, the fifth through hole 114a is arranged in the lower part of the rear plate 114 of the housing 110 of the first electrical panel 101. The sixth through hole 114b is arranged in the lower part of the fourth electrical panel 104. That is, the sixth through hole 114b is arranged in the lower part of the rear plate 114 of the housing 110 of the fourth electrical panel 104. The definitions of the lower part of the first electrical panel 101 (rear plate 114) and the lower part of the fourth electrical panel 104 (rear plate 114) in this modified example are the same as the definitions of the lower part of the first electrical panel 101 (side plate 111) in the above embodiment.

[0082] The shape, size, and positional relationship of the fifth through hole 114a and the sixth through hole 114b are similar to the shape, size, and positional relationship of the first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b. A third member 32 is disposed to pass through the fifth through hole 114a and the sixth through hole 114b. The third member 32 includes any wiring or piping that can be used for the first member 30. In this embodiment, the third member 32 is a separate member from the first member 30 and is electrically or mechanically connected to the first member 30 inside the first electrical board 101. The first member 30 and the third member 32 are connected to equipment within the first electrical board 101. The first member 30 and the third member 32 may be integrated or may not be electrically or mechanically connected. The first member 30 and the third member 32 may pass through the first electrical board 101 without being connected to equipment within the first electrical board 101.

[0083] The third cover 60 seals the fifth through hole 114a and the sixth through hole 114b while covering the periphery of the third member 32. The third cover 60 is formed of any metal material, resin material, or the like that can be used for the first cover 40. The third cover 60 is disposed in a position that overlaps with (the rear plate 114 of) the first electrical board 101 and (the rear plate 114 of) the fourth electrical board 104 when viewed from the Y-axis direction. The method of sealing the fifth through hole 114a and the sixth through hole 114b by the third cover 60 is the same as the method of sealing the first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b by the first cover 40, and the dustproofness and waterproofness (IP code) of the sealed portion are also the same.

[0084] The remaining configuration of this modified example is similar to that of the above-described embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted. This modified example also achieves the same effects as the above-described embodiment. In particular, in this modified example, the first electrical board 101 and the fourth electrical board 104 are provided with fifth through holes 114a and sixth through holes 114b at opposing positions, through which a third member 32, which is a wiring or piping, passes. The third cover 60 seals the fifth through holes 114a and sixth through holes 114b while covering the periphery of the third member 32. In this manner, the third member 32 passes through the fifth through holes 114a and sixth through holes 114b, which are located at opposing positions on the first electrical board 101 and the fourth electrical board 104, thereby enabling the first electrical board 101 and the fourth electrical board 104 to be connected by the third member 32 with a simple configuration. By sealing the fifth through hole 114a and the sixth through hole 114b while the third cover 60 covers the periphery of the third member 32, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of defects (such as the intrusion of dust or rainwater into the electrical board 100) caused by the formation of the fifth through hole 114a and the sixth through hole 114b in the first electrical board 101 and the fourth electrical board 104. This makes it possible to easily connect the electrical boards 100 between these electrical boards 100, even when the fourth electrical board 104 is arranged next to the first electrical board 101 in a direction intersecting the arrangement direction of the first electrical board 101 and the second electrical board 102. In this way, even when the fourth electrical board 104 is arranged, the electrical boards 100 can be connected with wiring or piping using a simple configuration, making it easy to arrange multiple electrical boards 100 outdoors, etc.

[0085] Since it is easy to connect (for example, connect in parallel) a plurality of lined-up electrical panels 100, it is possible to easily build a power storage facility with the required capacity. Since the lengths of the first member 30 that passes through the first cover 40 and the third member 32 that passes through the third cover 60 can be shortened, and the first member 30 and the third member 32 are lightweight and easy to handle, it is possible to simplify the work of connecting the first electrical panel 101, the second electrical panel 102, and the fourth electrical panel 104 with the first member 30 and the third member 32.

[0086] In the energy storage facility, the multiple electrical panels 100 lined up in the Y-axis direction can be connected in a configuration similar to the connection configuration of the above-described first electrical panel 101 and fourth electrical panel 104. The same applies to the case where the electrical panel 100 and the electrical panel 300 are lined up in the Y-axis direction and the case where multiple electrical panels 300 are lined up in the Y-axis direction.

[0087] (Other Modifications) In the above embodiment, the electrical panel 100 accommodates the energy storage element 122, but it may accommodate a power converter, or it may accommodate both the energy storage element 122 and the power converter. The electrical panel 300 accommodates a power converter, but it may accommodate the energy storage element 122, or it may accommodate both the energy storage element 122 and the power converter. In other words, it is sufficient for the electrical panel 100 or 300 to accommodate at least one of the energy storage element 122 and the power converter. Any of the multiple electrical panels 100 and 300 included in the energy storage facility 1 may be configured not to accommodate both the energy storage element 122 and the power converter.

[0088] In the above embodiment, the first through hole 111a is arranged at the bottom of the first electrical board 101, but it may be arranged at the center or top of the first electrical board 101. The same applies to other through holes, such as the second through hole 112b. The first through hole 111a and the second through hole 112b are arranged at the same position when viewed from the X-axis direction, but they may be arranged at different positions. The same applies to other two opposing through holes, such as the third through hole 111b and the fourth through hole 112c.

[0089] In the above embodiment, all connection configurations between the multiple electrical panels 100 and 300 provided in the energy storage equipment 1 have the above-mentioned configuration, but any of the connection configurations may have a configuration different from the above-mentioned configuration.

[0090] In the above embodiment, the air conditioning unit 200 is arranged on the top plate 116 of the housing 110 of the electrical panel 100, but it may also be attached to the side plate 111 or 112, the front plate 113, or the rear plate 114 of the housing 110, or may be arranged in another location.

[0091] Any combination of the above-described embodiments and modifications is also included within the scope of the present invention. In the above-described various modifications, those applicable to the electrical panel 100 can also be applied to the electrical panel 300. Those applicable to the air conditioner 200 can also be applied to the air conditioner 400.

[0092] The present invention can be applied to an electricity storage facility equipped with an electrical panel.

[0093] 1 Electricity storage equipment 10, 100, 300 Electrical panel 20, 200, 201, 400 Air conditioning device 30 First member 31 Second member 32 Third member 40, 41 First cover 50 Second cover 60 Third cover 101 Electrical panel (first electrical panel) 102 Electrical panel (second electrical panel) 103 Third electrical panel 104 Fourth electrical panel 110 Housing 111, 112 Side panel 111a Through hole (first through hole) 111b Third through hole 112a Through hole 112b Through hole (second through hole) 112c Fourth through hole 113 Front panel 114 Rear panel 114a Fifth through hole 114b Sixth through hole 120 Electricity storage device 121 Exterior body 122 Electricity storage element 123 Circuit Board Unit

Claims

1. An energy storage facility comprising: a first electrical panel, a second electrical panel, a first member which is wiring or piping; and a first cover; at least one of the first electrical panel and the second electrical panel houses at least one of an energy storage element and a power converter; the first electrical panel has a first through hole at a position opposite the second electrical panel through which the first member passes; the second electrical panel has a second through hole at a position opposite the first electrical panel through which the first member passes; and the first cover seals the first through hole and the second through hole while covering the periphery of the first member.

2. The energy storage facility according to claim 1, wherein the first through-hole is arranged in a lower portion of the first electrical panel, and the second through-hole is arranged in a lower portion of the second electrical panel.

3. The energy storage facility according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a third electrical panel, a second member which is wiring or piping, and a second cover, wherein the third electrical panel is arranged alongside the second electrical panel in the direction in which the first and second electrical panels are aligned so as to sandwich the second electrical panel together with the first electrical panel, the second electrical panel having a third through hole at a position opposite the third electrical panel and through which the second member passes, the third electrical panel having a fourth through hole at a position opposite the second electrical panel and through which the second member passes, and the second cover seals the third through hole and the fourth through hole while covering the periphery of the second member.

4. The energy storage facility according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a fourth electrical board; a third member which is wiring or piping; and a third cover; wherein the fourth electrical board is arranged alongside the first electrical board in a direction intersecting the arrangement direction of the first electrical board and the second electrical board; the first electrical board has a fifth through hole at a position opposite the fourth electrical board, through which the third member passes; the fourth electrical board has a sixth through hole at a position opposite the first electrical board, through which the third member passes; and the third cover seals the fifth through hole and the sixth through hole while covering the periphery of the third member.

5. The power storage facility according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first member comprises at least one of a main circuit wiring, a signal line, a grounding line, a commercial AC wiring, a control power line, a cooling pipe, a heating pipe, and a fire extinguishing pipe.

Images