Energy storage system

Abstract

The present application discloses an energy storage system, comprising: an energy storage unit, an electrical device, and a thermal management unit. The thermal management unit comprises a refrigeration unit. The refrigeration unit comprises: a power apparatus, a condenser, and a first heat exchanger. The power apparatus is used for absorbing heat from the electrical device to provide a gaseous heat exchange medium so as to drive the refrigeration unit to operate; the condenser is used for condensing the gaseous heat exchange medium into a liquid heat exchange medium; and the first heat exchanger is used for absorbing heat from the energy storage unit by means of the liquid heat exchange medium. The thermal management unit has a first mode; and in the first mode, the power apparatus, the condenser, and the first heat exchanger are sequentially communicated end to end. The energy storage system implements heat dissipation for the energy storage unit and the electrical device. The power apparatus absorbs the heat from the electrical device to provide a gaseous heat exchange medium so as to drive the refrigeration unit to operate, without requiring additional heat or power, thereby reducing thermal management energy consumption of the energy storage system.

Description

An energy storage system

[0001] The present application claims priority to the Chinese patent application No. 202421532645.5, filed on June 28, 2024, and entitled "An energy storage system", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to the field of photovoltaic energy storage technology, and more particularly, to an energy storage system. BACKGROUND

[0003] The energy storage unit and the electrical equipment in the energy storage system both need to dissipate heat to ensure normal operation of the energy storage unit and the electrical equipment.

[0004] At present, the commonly used heat dissipation methods include air cooling and liquid cooling. Among them, the liquid cooling heat dissipation method is suitable for the energy storage system with large battery capacity and can meet the heat dissipation demand of high heat generation in high rate scenarios.

[0005] In the liquid cooling heat dissipation method, a liquid cooling unit is used to cool the energy storage unit and the electrical equipment by using a cooling medium. However, the liquid cooling of the electrical equipment increases the thermal load of the liquid cooling unit, the thermal management energy consumption of the energy storage system is large, and the heat dissipation effect of the energy storage unit is also affected.

[0006] Therefore, how to dissipate heat for the energy storage system to reduce the thermal management energy consumption of the energy storage system is a problem to be solved by the technical personnel in the field at present.

[0007] SUMMARY

[0008] Therefore, the purpose of the present application is to provide an energy storage system which can reduce the thermal management energy consumption of the energy storage system while meeting the heat dissipation demand of the energy storage system.

[0009] In order to achieve the above purpose, the present application provides the following technical solutions:

[0010] An energy storage system, comprising: an energy storage unit, an electrical equipment, and a thermal management unit;

[0011] The thermal management unit comprises a refrigeration unit, and the refrigeration unit comprises a power device, a condenser, and a first heat exchanger. The power device is used to provide gaseous heat exchange medium by absorbing heat of the electrical equipment to drive the refrigeration unit to work. The condenser is used to condense the gaseous heat exchange medium into liquid state. The first heat exchanger is used to absorb heat of the energy storage unit by the liquid heat exchange medium.

[0012] The thermal management unit has a first mode. In the first mode, the power device, the condenser, and the first heat exchanger are sequentially and circularly communicated.

[0013] Optionally, the electrical equipment comprises an energy storage converter, and the power device is configured to provide the gaseous heat exchange medium by absorbing heat of the energy storage converter.

[0014] Optionally, the electrical equipment comprises a switch box, and the power device is configured to provide the gaseous heat exchange medium by absorbing heat of the switch box.

[0015] Optionally, the energy storage unit comprises an energy storage unit body and an energy storage unit liquid cooling device, wherein the energy storage unit liquid cooling device is configured to absorb heat of the energy storage unit body by an energy storage unit cooling medium, and the first heat exchanger is configured to absorb heat of the energy storage unit cooling medium by the liquid heat exchange medium.

[0016] Optionally, the first heat exchanger comprises a first heat exchange channel and a second heat exchange channel capable of heat exchange, the first heat exchange channel is configured to allow the heat exchange medium to flow therethrough, and the second heat exchange channel is configured to allow the energy storage unit cooling medium to flow therethrough.

[0017] The thermal management unit further comprises a battery side delivery pump configured to drive the energy storage unit cooling medium to circulate between the second heat exchange channel and the energy storage unit liquid cooling device.

[0018] Optionally, the first heat exchanger comprises a heat exchange channel for the heat exchange medium to flow therethrough, and the heat exchange channel is in communication with a cooling channel of the energy storage unit so that the heat exchange medium flows through the energy storage unit.

[0019] Alternatively, the first heat exchanger is arranged on the energy storage unit, and an outer shell of the first heat exchanger is in thermal conduction connection with the energy storage unit.

[0020] Optionally, the refrigeration unit further comprises a first throttling device connected in series between the condenser and the first heat exchanger.

[0021] Optionally, the power device comprises an absorber and a second heat exchanger.

[0022] The second heat exchanger and the first heat exchanger are both in communication with the absorber.

[0023] The second heat exchanger is configured to absorb heat of the electrical equipment by an absorbent solution, so that the absorbent solution is converted from a dilute solution into a concentrated solution and water vapor, and the water vapor is the gaseous heat exchange medium.

[0024] The first heat exchanger is configured to absorb heat of the energy storage unit by condensed water and evaporate into water vapor, and the condensed water is the liquid heat exchange medium.

[0025] The absorber is configured to receive water vapor provided by the first heat exchanger and the concentrated solution provided by the second heat exchanger to form the dilute solution.

[0026] Optionally, the electrical device comprises an electrical device body and an electrical device liquid cooling device configured to absorb heat of the electrical device body by an electrical device cooling medium, and the second heat exchanger is configured to absorb heat of the electrical device cooling medium by the absorbent solution.

[0027] Optionally, the second heat exchanger comprises a first heat exchange passage and a second heat exchange passage capable of heat exchange, the first heat exchange passage is configured to allow the absorbent solution to flow therethrough, and the second heat exchange passage is configured to allow the electrical device cooling medium to flow therethrough.

[0028] Optionally, the second heat exchanger comprises a heat exchange passage configured to allow the absorbent solution to flow therethrough, and the heat exchange passage is in communication with a cooling passage of the electrical device to allow the absorbent solution to flow through the electrical device.

[0029] Alternatively, the second heat exchanger is arranged on the electrical device, and an outer shell of the second heat exchanger is in thermal conduction connection with the electrical device.

[0030] Optionally, the power device further comprises:

[0031] a refrigeration side delivery pump, the refrigeration side delivery pump being connected in series between the absorber and the second heat exchanger, and the refrigeration side delivery pump being configured to drive the dilute solution to flow from the absorber to the second heat exchanger or to drive the concentrated solution to flow from the second heat exchanger to the absorber.

[0032] and / or a second throttling device, the second throttling device being connected in series between the absorber and the second heat exchanger, and the second throttling device being configured to throttle the dilute solution.

[0033] Optionally, the refrigeration unit further comprises an evaporator, the evaporator and the first heat exchanger being arranged in parallel, and the evaporator being configured to evaporate the liquid heat exchange medium into the gaseous heat exchange medium.

[0034] The thermal management unit further has a second mode; in the second mode, the power device, the condenser and the evaporator are sequentially connected end to end.

[0035] Optionally, a pipeline in which the evaporator is arranged, a pipeline in which the first heat exchanger is arranged and a pipeline in which the condenser is arranged are connected by a communication valve.

[0036] The communication valve is located upstream of the evaporator and upstream of the first heat exchanger.

[0037] The communication valve has a first valve position and a second valve position; when the communication valve is in the first valve position, the communication valve communicates the condenser and the first heat exchanger, and the heat management unit is in the first mode; when the communication valve is in the second valve position, the communication valve communicates the condenser and the evaporator, and the heat management unit is in the second mode.

[0038] Optionally, the heat management unit further comprises a heating device; when the heat management unit is in the second mode, the heating device is used to heat the energy storage unit.

[0039] Optionally, the heating device is arranged on the energy storage unit, and the heating device and the energy storage unit are in thermal conduction connection.

[0040] Alternatively, the heating device is used to heat the energy storage unit cooling medium to heat the energy storage unit; wherein the energy storage unit, the heating device and the first heat exchanger are sequentially connected in a head-to-tail manner.

[0041] In the energy storage system provided by the application, in the first mode, the power device, the condenser and the first heat exchanger are sequentially connected in a head-to-tail manner, and the liquid heat exchange medium in the first heat exchanger realizes heat dissipation of the energy storage unit; the power device absorbs the heat of the electrical equipment, realizing heat dissipation of the electrical equipment; the heat exchange medium discharged from the first heat exchanger can be gaseous or liquid heat exchange medium, the power device absorbs the heat of the electrical equipment to provide gaseous heat exchange medium, and outputs the gaseous heat exchange medium to drive the refrigeration unit to work, without additional heat or power, effectively reducing the heat management energy consumption of the energy storage system.

[0042] In the energy storage system provided by the application, the liquid heat exchange medium flowing through the first heat exchanger realizes heat dissipation of the energy storage unit, realizing liquid cooling of the energy storage unit, facilitating to ensure the heat dissipation effect of the energy storage unit, thereby ensuring the safety and stability of the operation of the energy storage system; the power device absorbs the heat of the electrical equipment, realizing heat dissipation of the electrical equipment, facilitating to ensure the heat dissipation effect of the energy storage unit, thereby ensuring the safety and stability of the operation of the energy storage system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0043] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the application or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments or prior art description. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only embodiments of the application, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings according to the provided drawings without any creative effort.

[0044] Fig. 1 is a structural schematic view of an energy storage system provided by an embodiment of the application;

[0045] Fig. 2 is another structural schematic diagram of the energy storage system provided by the embodiment of the present application;

[0046] Fig. 3 is another structural schematic diagram of the energy storage system provided by the embodiment of the present application;

[0047] Fig. 4 is a structural schematic diagram of the power device utilizing the heat of the electrical equipment in the energy storage system provided by the embodiment of the present application;

[0048] Fig. 5 is another structural schematic diagram of the power device utilizing the heat of the electrical equipment in the energy storage system provided by the embodiment of the present application;

[0049] Fig. 6 is another structural schematic diagram of the energy storage system provided by the embodiment of the present application;

[0050] Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of the energy storage system shown in Fig. 6 in the first mode;

[0051] Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of the energy storage system shown in Fig. 6 in the second mode;

[0052] Fig. 9 is another structural schematic diagram of the energy storage system provided by the embodiment of the present application.

[0053] Explanation of reference signs:

[0054] 1 is an energy storage unit, 11 is an energy storage unit body, and 12 is an energy storage unit liquid cooling device;

[0055] 2 is an electrical equipment, 21 is an electrical equipment body, and 22 is an electrical equipment liquid cooling device;

[0056] 3 is a thermal management unit, 3a is a refrigeration unit, 31 is a power device, 311 is an absorber, 312 is a second heat exchanger, 313 is a refrigeration side delivery pump, 314 is a refrigeration first connecting pipe, 315 is a refrigeration second connecting pipe, 316 is a second throttling device, 32 is a condenser, 33 is a first heat exchanger, 34 is a battery side delivery pump, 35 is a first throttling device, 36 is an evaporator, 37 is a communication valve, and 38 is a heating device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all the other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor fall within the protection scope of the present application.

[0058] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. The terms used in the following embodiments are only for the purpose of describing the specific embodiments and are not intended to be limiting on the present application. As used in the specification and the appended claims of the present application, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “one or more” as used in the embodiments of the present application refer to one, two, or more than two; “and / or” describes the associated relationship of associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships; for example, A and / or B can represent the following three cases: A exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character “ / ” generally represents an “or” relationship between the associated objects.

[0059] In the present specification, the phrase “one embodiment” or “some embodiments” etc. means that the specific features, structures or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment are included in one or more embodiments of the present application. Therefore, the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in some embodiments”, “in other some embodiments”, “in further some embodiments” etc. appearing in different places in the present specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but mean “one or more but not all embodiments”, unless otherwise specifically emphasized. The terms “include”, “contain”, “have” and their variants mean “including but not limited to”, unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0060] The plurality referred to in the embodiments of the present application means greater than or equal to two. It should be noted that in the description of the embodiments of the present application, the terms “first”, “second” etc. are only used for the purpose of distinguishing the description and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance, nor can they be understood as indicating or implying order.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 1, the energy storage system provided by the embodiments of the present application includes an energy storage unit 1, an electrical device 2, and a thermal management unit 3.

[0062] The energy storage unit 1 described above can be understood as a battery cluster, and the energy storage unit 1 includes a plurality of battery monomers connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel.

[0063] The electrical device 2 described above can include at least one of an energy storage converter and a switch box. In actual situations, the electrical device can also include other devices other than the energy storage converter and the switch box, which are not limited by the embodiments of the present application.

[0064] The heat management unit 3 comprises a refrigeration unit 3a. The refrigeration unit 3a comprises a power device 31, a condenser 32 and a first heat exchanger 33. The power device 31 is configured to provide gaseous heat exchange medium by absorbing heat of the electrical equipment 2 to drive the refrigeration unit 3a to work. The condenser 32 is configured to condense the gaseous heat exchange medium into liquid heat exchange medium. The first heat exchanger 33 is configured to absorb heat of the energy storage unit by the liquid heat exchange medium.

[0065] It should be noted that, in the case that the electrical equipment 2 comprises an energy storage converter, the power device 31 can be configured to absorb heat of the energy storage converter; in the case that the electrical equipment 2 comprises a switch box, the power device 31 can be configured to absorb heat of the switch box.

[0066] The specific type of the power device 31 and the condenser 32 can be selected according to actual conditions, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific type of the power device 31 and the condenser 32.

[0067] The specific type of the first heat exchanger 33 can be selected according to actual conditions, for example, the first heat exchanger 33 can be a plate heat exchanger, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific type of the first heat exchanger 33.

[0068] The heat management unit 3 has a first mode. In the first mode, the power device 31, the condenser 32 and the first heat exchanger 33 are sequentially and circularly connected, so that a circulation loop for circulating the heat exchange medium is formed.

[0069] In order to reduce the temperature of the heat exchange medium entering the first heat exchanger 33, the refrigeration unit 3a can further comprise a first throttling device 35, and the first throttling device 35 is connected in series between the condenser 32 and the first heat exchanger 33. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the first throttling device 35 is connected on the connecting pipe connecting the condenser 32 and the first heat exchanger 33, and the first throttling device 35 is located between the condenser 32 and the first heat exchanger 33.

[0070] The first throttling device 35 can cool the heat exchange medium discharged from the condenser 32 by throttling the heat exchange medium, thereby increasing the temperature difference between the heat exchange medium and the energy storage unit 1, improving the heat absorption speed of the heat exchange medium absorbing the heat of the energy storage unit 1, and further improving the heat dissipation effect and efficiency of the energy storage unit 1. Moreover, the first throttling device 35 can also depressurize the heat exchange medium to a specified pressure (the specified pressure is the maximum pressure of the heat exchange medium from liquid to gas when the temperature of the heat exchange medium is constant, in other words, when the pressure of the heat exchange medium is the specified pressure, the heat exchange medium only needs to absorb a small amount of heat to change from liquid to gas), so that the heat exchange medium is more likely to change from liquid to gas. It can be seen that the first throttling device 35 can optimize the ability of the heat exchange medium in the first heat exchanger 33 to absorb the heat of the energy storage unit 1, thereby optimizing the heat dissipation effect of the energy storage unit 1, and further optimizing the heat dissipation effect of the energy storage system.

[0071] The first throttling device 35 can be a capillary tube, an electromagnetic expansion valve, or a throttling valve, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the same.

[0072] In the energy storage system provided by the embodiments of the present application, in the first mode, the power device 31, the condenser 32, and the first heat exchanger 33 are sequentially and circularly connected, and the liquid heat exchange medium in the first heat exchanger 33 realizes heat dissipation of the energy storage unit 1; the power device 31 absorbs the heat of the electrical equipment 2, realizing heat dissipation of the electrical equipment 2; the heat exchange medium discharged from the first heat exchanger 33 can be gaseous or liquid heat exchange medium, the power device 31 absorbs the heat of the electrical equipment 2 to provide gaseous heat exchange medium, and outputs the gaseous heat exchange medium to drive the refrigeration unit 3a to work, without the need for additional heat or power, effectively reducing the thermal management energy consumption of the energy storage system.

[0073] In the energy storage system provided by the embodiments of the present application, the liquid heat exchange medium flowing through the first heat exchanger 33 and in liquid state realizes heat dissipation of the energy storage unit 1, realizing liquid cooling of the energy storage unit 1, thereby ensuring the heat dissipation effect of the energy storage unit 1, and ensuring the safety and stability of the operation of the energy storage system; the power device 31 absorbs the heat of the electrical equipment 2, realizing heat dissipation of the electrical equipment 2, thereby ensuring the heat dissipation effect of the energy storage unit, and ensuring the safety and stability of the operation of the energy storage system.

[0074] In the energy storage system, the energy storage unit 1 can be cooled by air cooling or liquid cooling. In order to improve the heat dissipation effect of the energy storage unit 1, the energy storage unit 1 can be cooled by liquid cooling. As shown in FIG. 2, in some embodiments, the energy storage unit 1 includes an energy storage unit body 11 and an energy storage unit liquid cooling device 12, wherein the energy storage unit liquid cooling device 12 is configured to absorb heat of the energy storage unit body 11 by an energy storage unit cooling medium, and the first heat exchanger 33 is configured to absorb heat of the energy storage unit cooling medium by a liquid heat exchange medium, so as to absorb heat of the energy storage unit 1.

[0075] It should be noted that the energy storage unit cooling medium can be water, refrigerant or other cooling medium, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the same.

[0076] In order to facilitate the first heat exchanger 33 to absorb heat of the energy storage unit cooling medium, the first heat exchanger 33 can include a first heat exchange channel and a second heat exchange channel capable of heat exchange, the first heat exchange channel is configured to allow the heat exchange medium to flow therethrough, and the second heat exchange channel is configured to allow the energy storage unit cooling medium to flow therethrough.

[0077] It should be noted that the inlet and outlet of the second heat exchange channel are in communication with the energy storage unit liquid cooling device 12 to form a circulation loop for the circulation of the energy storage unit cooling medium. In the first mode, the power device 31, the condenser 32 and the first heat exchange channel of the first heat exchanger 33 are sequentially connected end to end.

[0078] In order to facilitate the circulation of the energy storage unit cooling medium, the thermal management unit 3 can further include a battery side delivery pump 34 configured to drive the energy storage unit cooling medium to circulate between the energy storage unit liquid cooling device 12 and the second heat exchange channel of the first heat exchanger 33.

[0079] The battery side delivery pump 34 can be close to the first heat exchanger 33 or close to the energy storage unit liquid cooling device 12. In order to facilitate the installation of the battery side delivery pump 34, the battery side delivery pump 34 can be close to the first heat exchanger 33. In this case, the battery side delivery pump 34 is located at the inlet side or the outlet side of the second heat exchange channel of the first heat exchanger 33, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the same.

[0080] The type of the battery side delivery pump 34 is selected according to the actual situation, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the same.

[0081] In the embodiments of the present application, the first heat exchanger 33 can also absorb heat of the energy storage unit cooling medium by other ways. For example, the first heat exchanger 33 is directly and thermally conductively connected to the energy storage unit liquid cooling device 12.

[0082] In the embodiments, the energy storage unit 1 can also be cooled by other manners. In some embodiments, the first heat exchanger 33 comprises a heat exchange channel for the heat exchange medium to flow through, and the heat exchange channel is in communication with the cooling channel of the energy storage unit 1, so that the heat exchange medium flows through the energy storage unit 1. The cooling channel of the energy storage unit 1 can be understood as the cooling channel of the energy storage unit liquid cooling device 12, or can be understood as the cooling channel of the energy storage unit main body 11 (in this case, the energy storage unit 1 does not comprise the energy storage unit liquid cooling device 12, and the first heat exchanger 33 functions as the energy storage unit liquid cooling device 12).

[0083] In some other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, the first heat exchanger 33 is arranged on the energy storage unit 1, and the shell of the first heat exchanger 33 is in thermal conduction connection with the energy storage unit 1. In this case, the energy storage unit 1 comprises the energy storage unit liquid cooling device 12, and the shell of the first heat exchanger 33 is in thermal conduction connection with the energy storage unit liquid cooling device 12 (as described above); or the energy storage unit 1 does not comprise the energy storage unit liquid cooling device 12, and the first heat exchanger 33 functions as the energy storage unit liquid cooling device 12.

[0084] In the case that the shell of the first heat exchanger 33 is in thermal conduction connection with the energy storage unit 1, the first heat exchanger 33 can be attached to the energy storage unit 1. Of course, the first heat exchanger 33 and the energy storage unit 1 can also be connected by other manners to achieve thermal conduction connection, which is not limited in the embodiments.

[0085] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, in the embodiments, the power device 31 comprises an absorber 311 and a second heat exchanger 312; the second heat exchanger 312 and the first heat exchanger 33 are both in communication with the absorber 311; the second heat exchanger 312 is configured to absorb the heat of the electrical equipment 2 by the absorbent solution, so that the absorbent solution is converted from a dilute solution into a concentrated solution and water vapor, and the water vapor is a gaseous heat exchange medium; the first heat exchanger 33 is configured to absorb the heat of the energy storage unit 1 by the condensed water and evaporate into water vapor, and the condensed water is a liquid heat exchange medium; and the absorber 311 is configured to receive the water vapor provided by the first heat exchanger 33 and the concentrated solution provided by the second heat exchanger 312, so as to form a dilute solution.

[0086] It should be noted that the absorber 311 has a water vapor inlet, a dilute solution outlet and a concentrated solution inlet, and the second heat exchanger 312 has a water vapor outlet, a concentrated solution outlet and a dilute solution inlet; wherein the water vapor inlet of the absorber 311 and the water vapor outlet of the first heat exchanger 33 are communicated, the dilute solution outlet of the absorber 311 and the dilute solution inlet of the second heat exchanger 312 are communicated, the concentrated solution outlet of the second heat exchanger 312 and the concentrated solution inlet of the absorber 311 are communicated, and the water vapor outlet of the second heat exchanger 312 and the inlet of the condenser 32 are communicated. For example, the dilute solution outlet of the absorber 311 and the dilute solution inlet of the second heat exchanger 312 are communicated through the refrigeration first connecting pipe 314, and the concentrated solution outlet of the second heat exchanger 312 and the concentrated solution inlet of the absorber 311 are communicated through the refrigeration second connecting pipe 315.

[0087] The above-mentioned absorbent solution can be a lithium bromide aqueous solution, or a calcium chloride aqueous solution, etc., which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0088] For the specific type of the second heat exchanger 312, it is selected according to the actual situation, for example, the second heat exchanger 312 is a spray type heat exchanger, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0089] In the above-mentioned power device 31, in order to facilitate the circulation of the absorbent solution, the power device 31 can further include a refrigeration side delivery pump 313, which is connected in series between the absorber 311 and the second heat exchanger 312.

[0090] The above-mentioned refrigeration side delivery pump 313 is used to drive the dilute solution to flow from the absorber 311 to the second heat exchanger 312, which can be understood as that the refrigeration side delivery pump 313 is used to be connected in series on the refrigeration first connecting pipe 314; or the refrigeration side delivery pump 313 is used to drive the concentrated solution to flow from the second heat exchanger 312 to the absorber 311, which can be understood as that the refrigeration side delivery pump 313 is used to be connected in series on the refrigeration second connecting pipe 315.

[0091] For the type of the refrigeration side delivery pump 313, it is selected according to the actual situation, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0092] As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, in the embodiment of the present application, the above-mentioned power device 31 can further include a second throttling device 316, which is connected in series between the absorber 311 and the second heat exchanger 312, and the second throttling device 316 is used to throttle the dilute solution.

[0093] The second throttling device 316 can be a capillary tube, an electromagnetic expansion valve or a throttling valve, etc., which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0094] The second throttling device 316 can cool the dilute solution by throttling the dilute solution, thereby increasing the temperature difference between the dilute solution and the electrical equipment 2, improving the absorption speed of the dilute solution absorbing the heat of the electrical equipment 2, and further improving the heat dissipation efficiency and effect of the electrical equipment 2. Moreover, the second throttling device 316 can also reduce the pressure of the dilute solution to a specified pressure (the specified pressure is the maximum pressure of the water in the dilute solution when the temperature of the dilute solution is constant, in other words, when the pressure of the dilute solution is the specified pressure, the dilute solution only needs to absorb a small amount of heat to make the water into water vapor.), so that the water in the dilute solution (absorbent solution) is more likely to become water vapor. It can be seen that the second throttling device 316 can optimize the function of the power device 31 to provide water vapor, thereby optimizing the heat dissipation effect of the energy storage unit 1, and further optimizing the heat dissipation effect of the energy storage system.

[0095] In the embodiments of the present application, after the above-mentioned power device 31, the refrigeration unit 3a can be understood as an absorption refrigeration unit.

[0096] In the energy storage system, the electrical equipment 2 can be cooled by air cooling or liquid cooling. In order to improve the heat dissipation effect of the electrical equipment 2, the electrical equipment 2 can be selected to be cooled by liquid cooling. As shown in FIGS. 4-5, in some embodiments, the electrical equipment 2 includes an electrical equipment main body 21 and an electrical equipment liquid cooling device 22; wherein the electrical equipment liquid cooling device 22 is used to absorb the heat of the electrical equipment main body 21 by the electrical equipment cooling medium; and the second heat exchanger 312 is used to absorb the heat of the electrical equipment 2 by absorbing the heat of the electrical equipment cooling medium by the absorbent solution.

[0097] It should be noted that the electrical equipment cooling medium can be water, refrigerant or other cooling medium, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0098] As shown in FIG. 4, in order to facilitate the second heat exchanger 312 to utilize the heat of the electrical equipment cooling medium, the second heat exchanger 312 can be selected to include a first heat exchange channel and a second heat exchange channel capable of heat exchange, the first heat exchange channel is used for the absorbent solution to flow through, and the second heat exchange channel is used for the electrical equipment cooling medium to flow through. In order to improve the heat exchange efficiency, the second heat exchange channel can be located in the first heat exchange channel, and the first heat exchange channel can be understood as a heat exchange cavity.

[0099] It should be noted that the inlet and outlet of the second heat exchange channel of the second heat exchanger 312 are in communication with the electrical equipment liquid cooling device 22 to form a circulation loop for the circulation of the electrical equipment cooling medium.

[0100] To facilitate the circulation of the energy storage unit cooling medium, the thermal management unit 3 can further comprise a delivery pump for driving the circulation of the electrical equipment cooling medium between the electrical equipment liquid cooling device 22 and the second heat exchange channel of the second heat exchanger 312.

[0101] The specific position of the delivery pump is selected according to actual conditions, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0102] In the embodiments of the present application, the second heat exchanger 312 can also absorb the heat of the electrical equipment cooling medium in other ways. For example, the second heat exchanger 312 is directly and thermally conductively connected to the electrical equipment liquid cooling device 22.

[0103] In the embodiments of the present application, the electrical equipment 2 can also be liquid-cooled in other ways. In some embodiments, the second heat exchanger 312 comprises a heat exchange channel for the flow of the absorbent solution, and the heat exchange channel is in communication with the cooling channel of the electrical equipment 2 to make the absorbent solution flow through the electrical equipment 2. The cooling channel of the electrical equipment 2 can be understood as the cooling channel of the electrical equipment liquid cooling device 22, or as the cooling channel of the electrical equipment main body 21 (in this case, the electrical equipment 2 does not comprise the electrical equipment liquid cooling device 22, and the second heat exchanger 312 functions as the electrical equipment liquid cooling device 22).

[0104] In some other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, the second heat exchanger 312 is arranged on the electrical equipment 2, and the shell of the second heat exchanger 312 is thermally conductively connected to the electrical equipment 2. In this case, the electrical equipment 2 comprises the electrical equipment liquid cooling device 22, and the shell of the second heat exchanger 312 is thermally conductively connected to the electrical equipment liquid cooling device 22 (as described above); the electrical equipment 2 does not comprise the electrical equipment liquid cooling device 22, and the second heat exchanger 312 functions as the electrical equipment liquid cooling device 22.

[0105] In the case where the shell of the second heat exchanger 312 is thermally conductively connected to the electrical equipment 2, the second heat exchanger 312 can be attached to the electrical equipment 2. Of course, the second heat exchanger 312 and the electrical equipment 2 can also be connected in other ways to achieve thermal conductive connection, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0106] As shown in FIGS. 6-9, in some embodiments, the refrigeration unit 3a can further comprise an evaporator 36, the evaporator 36 and the first heat exchanger 33 being arranged in parallel, and the evaporator 36 being used for evaporating the liquid heat exchange medium into gaseous heat exchange medium. The thermal management unit 3 further has a second mode; in the second mode, the power device 31, the condenser 32 and the evaporator 36 are sequentially and end-to-end connected, so as to form a circulation loop for the circulation of the heat exchange medium.

[0107] In the second mode in the above embodiment, the heat exchange medium flows into the evaporator 36 after flowing through the condenser 32, and no longer flows into the first heat exchanger 33. In this way, the heat exchange medium no longer absorbs the heat of the energy storage unit 1, that is, the energy storage unit 1 is no longer cooled by the heat exchange medium. This mode is suitable for the case where the energy storage system is in a low-temperature environment (since the energy storage unit 1 is not resistant to low temperature, the energy storage unit 1 does not need to be cooled in a low-temperature environment).

[0108] To facilitate the switching of the first mode and the second mode by the thermal management unit 3, the pipeline where the evaporator 36 is located, the pipeline where the first heat exchanger 33 is located, and the pipeline where the condenser 32 is located can be connected by a communication valve 37. The communication valve 37 is located upstream of the evaporator 36 and upstream of the first heat exchanger 33. The communication valve 37 has a first valve position and a second valve position. When the communication valve 37 is in the first valve position, the communication valve 37 connects the condenser 32 and the first heat exchanger 33, and the thermal management unit 3 is in the first mode, as shown in FIG. 7. When the communication valve 37 is in the second valve position, the communication valve 37 connects the condenser 32 and the evaporator 36, and the thermal management unit 3 is in the second mode, as shown in FIG. 8. In this way, the valve position of the communication valve 37 can be controlled to control the mode of the thermal management unit 3, which is convenient for use.

[0109] The type of the communication valve 37 is selected according to actual conditions, for example, the communication valve 37 is a two-position three-way valve.

[0110] In the embodiments of the present application, two two-way valves can also be used instead of the above-mentioned communication valve 37. One two-way valve is connected in series in the branch where the first heat exchanger 33 is located, and the other two-way valve is connected in series in the branch where the evaporator 36 is located, and is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0111] In actual conditions, if the temperature of the environment where the energy storage system is located is lower than the temperature that the energy storage unit 1 can adapt to, the energy storage unit 1 needs to be heated. In some embodiments, the thermal management unit 3 further includes a heating device 38. When the thermal management unit 3 is in the second mode, the heating device 38 is used to heat the energy storage unit 1. It should be noted that when the thermal management unit 3 is in the first mode, the heating device 38 is not started, and the heating device 38 does not heat the energy storage unit 1.

[0112] The type of the heating device 38 is selected according to actual conditions, for example, the heating device 38 is an electric heater or other heater, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0113] As shown in FIGS. 6-8, in order to facilitate the heating device 38 to heat the energy storage unit 1, the energy storage unit 1 can be selected to dissipate heat through the energy storage unit cooling medium flowing therethrough; the first heat exchanger 33 is used to absorb heat of the energy storage unit cooling medium through the liquid heat exchange medium to absorb heat of the energy storage unit 1; the heating device 38 is used to heat the energy storage unit cooling medium to heat the energy storage unit 1; wherein the energy storage unit 1, the heating device 38 and the first heat exchanger 33 are sequentially and continuously communicated. In this case, the energy storage unit 1 can include the energy storage unit body 11 and the energy storage unit liquid cooling device 12 as described above, or the energy storage unit 1 includes the energy storage unit body 11 and does not include the energy storage unit liquid cooling device 12.

[0114] For example, as described above, the first heat exchanger 33 includes the first heat exchange channel and the second heat exchange channel, based on which the energy storage unit 1, the heating device 38 and the second heat exchange channel of the first heat exchanger 33 are sequentially and continuously communicated. In this way, a circulation loop for the circulation flow of the energy storage unit cooling medium is formed.

[0115] In the above-mentioned energy storage system, the battery-side delivery pump 34 can be selected to be connected in series between the heating device 38 and the first heat exchanger 33, or the heating device 38 is connected in series between the battery-side delivery pump 34 and the first heat exchanger 33. Of course, the relative position relationship of the battery-side delivery pump 34, the heating device 38 and the first heat exchanger 33 can be other, which is not limited by the embodiments of the present application.

[0116] In the above-mentioned energy storage system, the heating device 38 fully utilizes the original structure of the heat management unit 3 in the first mode; and the circulation flow of the energy storage unit cooling medium can only need to set one battery-side delivery pump 34. In this way, the structure of the energy storage system is effectively simplified, and the cost of the energy storage system is reduced; and the entire energy storage system can only have two delivery pumps (the battery-side delivery pump 34 and the refrigeration-side delivery pump 313) to consume electric energy, which can greatly improve the energy efficiency ratio of the energy storage system, reduce auxiliary power consumption, and improve the energy utilization rate of the energy storage system.

[0117] In actual situations, the heating device 38 can also not be connected in series with the first heat exchanger 33, which can be understood as that the heating device 38 and the first heat exchanger 33 are connected in parallel, so that the battery-side delivery pump 34 and the valve are added in the branch where the heating device 38 is located, to ensure that the energy storage unit cooling medium flows through the first heat exchanger 33 in the first mode, and flows through the heating device 38 in the second mode.

[0118] As shown in FIG. 9, in order to facilitate the heating device 38 to heat the energy storage unit 1, the heating device 38 can also be arranged on the energy storage unit 1, and the heating device 38 and the energy storage unit 1 are in thermal conduction connection. For example, the heating device 38 is attached to the energy storage unit 1.

[0119] It should be noted that, in the case where the energy storage unit 1 comprises the energy storage unit liquid cooling device 12, the heating device 38 and the energy storage unit liquid cooling device 12 are in thermal conduction connection.

[0120] The working process of the energy storage system will be described below according to the energy storage system shown in FIGS. 6-8.

[0121] On the refrigeration side, the refrigeration side delivery pump 313 pumps the low-temperature dilute solution (absorbent dilute solution) into the second heat exchanger 312; the low-temperature dilute solution exchanges heat with the relatively high-temperature electrical equipment 2, thereby cooling the electrical equipment 2, and the water in the dilute solution is heated to evaporate into water vapor; the dilute solution after evaporation forms a concentrated solution (absorbent concentrated solution), which returns to the absorber 311 from the second heat exchanger 312; the water vapor formed in the second heat exchanger 312 enters the condenser 32 to condense into high-temperature liquid water, which is changed into low-temperature low-pressure water by the second throttling device 316, and enters the evaporator 36 or the first heat exchanger 33 to absorb heat and evaporate into high-temperature water vapor under the control of the communication valve 37, and then enters the absorber 311; the high-temperature water vapor mixes with the concentrated solution to regenerate the dilute solution, thereby completing the circulation of the absorbent solution; on the battery side (energy storage unit side), the cooling medium is driven by the battery side delivery pump 34 to control the temperature of the energy storage unit 1 (the energy storage unit 1 is cooled in the first mode, and the energy storage unit 1 is heated in the second mode).

[0122] As shown in FIG. 7, in the first mode, the refrigeration side delivery pump 313 is opened, the water vapor generated by heating of the dilute solution through the electrical equipment 2 is changed into low-temperature water through the condenser 32 and the first throttling device 35, and then enters the first heat exchanger 33 through the communication valve 37 to exchange heat with the high-temperature cooling medium (energy storage unit cooling medium) of the energy storage unit 1, thereby cooling the high-temperature cooling medium to low-temperature cooling medium (energy storage unit cooling medium), which then enters the energy storage unit 1 (the cooling battery cabin of the energy storage unit 1) and completes the circulation cooling of the energy storage unit 1 under the driving of the battery side delivery pump 34.

[0123] As shown in FIG. 8, in the second mode, the refrigeration side delivery pump 313 is opened, the water vapor generated by heating of the dilute solution through the electrical equipment 2 is changed into low-temperature water through the condenser 32 and the first throttling device 35, and then enters the evaporator 36 to cool, thereby completing independent circulation; on the battery side, the battery side delivery pump 34 is opened, the battery side delivery pump 34 drives the circulation of the energy storage unit cooling medium, and the heating device 38 is opened, so that the heating device 38 heats the energy storage unit cooling medium, thereby heating the energy storage unit 1.

[0124] In actual situations, the structure of the energy storage system can be adjusted, and the working process of the energy storage system can be adaptively adjusted, and is not limited to the above working process.

[0125] The above description of disclosed embodiments enables one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein can be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the application. Thus, the present application is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An energy storage system, characterized in that, include: Energy storage units, electrical equipment, and thermal management units; The thermal management unit includes a refrigeration unit, which includes a power unit, a condenser, and a first heat exchanger. The power unit is used to provide a gaseous heat exchange medium by absorbing heat from the electrical equipment to drive the refrigeration unit. The condenser is used to condense the gaseous heat exchange medium into a liquid state. The first heat exchanger is used to absorb heat from the energy storage unit through the liquid heat exchange medium. The thermal management unit has a first mode; in the first mode, the power unit, the condenser, and the first heat exchanger are connected end to end in sequence.

2. The energy storage system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrical equipment includes an energy storage converter, and the power unit is used to provide the gaseous heat exchange medium by absorbing heat from the energy storage converter; And / or, the electrical equipment includes a switch box, and the power unit is used to provide the gaseous heat exchange medium by absorbing heat from the switch box.

3. The energy storage system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The energy storage unit includes: an energy storage unit body and an energy storage unit liquid cooling device; wherein, the energy storage unit liquid cooling device is used to absorb heat from the energy storage unit body through the energy storage unit cooling medium, and the first heat exchanger is used to absorb heat from the energy storage unit cooling medium through the liquid heat exchange medium.

4. The energy storage system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first heat exchanger includes a first heat exchange channel and a second heat exchange channel capable of heat exchange. The first heat exchange channel is used for the heat exchange medium to flow through, and the second heat exchange channel is used for the cooling medium of the energy storage unit to flow through. The thermal management unit also includes a battery-side delivery pump, which drives the cooling medium of the energy storage unit to circulate between the second heat exchange channel and the liquid cooling device of the energy storage unit.

5. The energy storage system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first heat exchanger includes a heat exchange channel through which the heat exchange medium flows, and the heat exchange channel is connected to the cooling channel of the energy storage unit so that the heat exchange medium flows through the energy storage unit; Alternatively, the first heat exchanger is mounted on the energy storage unit, and the outer shell of the first heat exchanger is thermally connected to the energy storage unit.

6. The energy storage system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The refrigeration unit further includes a first throttling device, which is connected in series between the condenser and the first heat exchanger.

7. The energy storage system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power unit includes an absorber and a second heat exchanger; Both the second heat exchanger and the first heat exchanger are connected to the absorber; The second heat exchanger is used to absorb heat from the electrical equipment through an absorbent solution, so that the absorbent solution is converted from a dilute solution into a concentrated solution and water vapor, wherein the water vapor is the gaseous heat exchange medium; the first heat exchanger is used to absorb heat from the energy storage unit through condensate and evaporate it into water vapor, wherein the condensate is the liquid heat exchange medium. The absorber is used to receive water vapor provided by the first heat exchanger and concentrated solution provided by the second heat exchanger to form the dilute solution.

8. The energy storage system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The electrical equipment includes an electrical equipment body and an electrical equipment liquid cooling device. The electrical equipment liquid cooling device is used to absorb heat from the electrical equipment body through the electrical equipment cooling medium, and the second heat exchanger is used to absorb heat from the electrical equipment cooling medium through the absorbent solution.

9. The energy storage system according to claim 8, characterized in that, The second heat exchanger includes a first heat exchange channel and a second heat exchange channel capable of heat exchange. The first heat exchange channel is for the absorbent solution to flow through, and the second heat exchange channel is for the cooling medium of the electrical equipment to flow through.

10. The energy storage system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The second heat exchanger includes a heat exchange channel through which the absorbent solution flows, the heat exchange channel being connected to a cooling channel of the electrical equipment, so that the absorbent solution flows through the electrical equipment; Alternatively, the second heat exchanger is disposed on the electrical equipment, and the housing of the second heat exchanger is thermally connected to the electrical equipment.

11. The energy storage system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The power unit also includes: A refrigeration-side delivery pump is connected in series between the absorber and the second heat exchanger, and the refrigeration-side delivery pump is used to drive the dilute solution from the absorber to the second heat exchanger, or to drive the concentrated solution from the second heat exchanger to the absorber; And / or, a second throttling device, connected in series between the absorber and the second heat exchanger, for throttling the dilute solution.

12. The energy storage system according to any one of claims 1-11, characterized in that, The refrigeration unit further includes an evaporator, which is connected in parallel with the first heat exchanger. The evaporator is used to evaporate the liquid heat exchange medium into a gaseous heat exchange medium. The thermal management unit also has a second mode; in the second mode, the power unit, the condenser and the evaporator are connected sequentially end to end.

13. The energy storage system according to claim 12, characterized in that, The pipeline containing the evaporator, the pipeline containing the first heat exchanger, and the pipeline containing the condenser are connected by a connecting valve. The connecting valve is located upstream of the evaporator and upstream of the first heat exchanger; The connecting valve has a first valve position and a second valve position; when the connecting valve is in the first valve position, the connecting valve connects the condenser and the first heat exchanger, and the thermal management unit is in the first mode; when the connecting valve is in the second valve position, the connecting valve connects the condenser and the evaporator, and the thermal management unit is in the second mode.

14. The energy storage system according to claim 12, characterized in that, The thermal management unit further includes a heating device; when the thermal management unit is in the second mode, the heating device is used to heat the energy storage unit.

15. The energy storage system according to claim 14, characterized in that, The heating device is mounted on the energy storage unit, and the heating device and the energy storage unit are thermally connected. Alternatively, the heating device is used to heat the cooling medium of the energy storage unit to heat the energy storage unit; wherein the energy storage unit, the heating device, and the first heat exchanger are connected end to end in sequence.

Images