Power storage board and power storage equipment

Abstract

This power storage board comprises: a power storage device that is provided with a power storage element, and a rack that accommodates the power storage device. The rack comprises walls including an upper wall and side walls. The walls are provided with a valve portion that discharges gas from the power storage element, and a cover that covers the valve portion.

Description

Battery tray and power storage equipment

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery tray and power storage equipment.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a power storage device including a battery module, a rack that houses the battery module, and a cover that covers the rack. The cover is provided with an exhaust valve portion that opens outward without coming off the cover to release pressure when the pressure inside the cover exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The cover has a side cover that covers the side portion of the rack, and the exhaust valve portion is provided on the side cover.

[0003] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021 - 125401

[0004] In Patent Document 1 described above, the exhaust valve portion is provided on the side cover that covers the side portion of the rack, and the exhaust valve portion is configured to be exposed to rain, snow, or the like. Therefore, the inventor of the present application has found that in the configuration of Patent Document 1, the exhaust valve portion may be affected by the weather (rain, snow, or the like). In a configuration in which a power storage device such as a battery module is housed in a rack, a highly reliable configuration that can suppress being affected by the weather while including a valve portion that releases the pressure inside the rack is desired.

[0005] The present invention has been made by the inventor of the present application newly focusing on the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a battery tray and power storage equipment capable of improving reliability in a configuration in which a power storage device is housed in a rack.

[0006] A battery tray according to an aspect of the present invention includes a power storage device including power storage elements, and a rack that houses the power storage device. The rack includes a wall including an upper wall and side walls, and the wall includes a valve portion that releases gas from the power storage elements and a cover that covers the valve portion.

[0007] A power storage equipment according to an aspect of the present invention includes the above battery tray and an air conditioner disposed outside the wall, and the cover is an exterior case included in the air conditioner.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a power storage system comprising a power storage panel comprising a power storage device equipped with a power storage element and a rack housing the power storage device, wherein the rack comprises a wall including an upper wall and a side wall, and further comprises an air conditioning device disposed outside the wall, the air conditioning device comprising a valve section for passing gas from the power storage element and a cover covering the valve section.

[0009] According to the present invention, the reliability of the energy storage panel, etc., can be improved in a configuration in which the energy storage device is housed in a rack.

[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an energy storage system according to an embodiment. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of four power storage panels, four air conditioning units, and four base members included in the energy storage system according to an embodiment. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the energy storage devices included in the power storage panel according to an embodiment. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the valve and cover of the side wall (door) of the rack according to an embodiment. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a power storage panel included in an energy storage system according to a modification 1 of the embodiment. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a power storage panel and air conditioning unit included in an energy storage system according to a modification 2 of the embodiment. Figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a power storage panel and air conditioning unit included in an energy storage system according to a modification 2 of the embodiment. Figure 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a power storage panel and air conditioning unit included in an energy storage system according to a modification 3 of the embodiment. Figure 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a power storage panel and air conditioning unit included in an energy storage system according to a modification 4 of the embodiment. Figure 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the power storage panel and air conditioning system included in the power storage equipment according to modified example 5 of the embodiment.

[0011] (1) A power storage panel according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a power storage device equipped with a power storage element and a rack housing the power storage device, wherein the rack comprises a wall including an upper wall and a side wall, and the wall comprises a valve portion for releasing gas from the power storage element and a cover covering the valve portion.

[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, the wall of the rack housing the energy storage device, including the upper wall and side wall, is provided with a valve for releasing gas from the energy storage element and a cover for covering the valve. By providing the valve in the wall of the rack of the energy storage device in this way, the pressure inside the rack can be released when the pressure inside the rack rises, such as during thermal runaway of the energy storage element. However, if the valve is provided on the upper wall or side wall of the rack, the valve may be exposed to rain or snow, and may be affected by the weather (rain or snow, etc.). For this reason, the valve is covered with a cover. This protects the valve and suppresses its effects on the weather (rain or snow, etc.). As a result, reliability can be improved in an energy storage device where the energy storage device is housed in a rack.

[0013] (2) In the power storage panel described in (1) above, the wall may be provided with a door, and the valve may be located on the door.

[0014] According to the power storage panel described in (2) above, the valve can be easily positioned by placing it on the door of the rack wall.

[0015] (3) In the power storage panel described in (1) or (2) above, the valve portion may be provided on the side wall and extend in the vertical direction.

[0016] According to the power storage panel described in (3) above, by providing the valve section on the side wall of the rack so as to extend vertically, the area of ​​the valve section can be increased, so that when the pressure inside the rack rises, the pressure inside the rack can be quickly released.

[0017] (4) In the power storage panel described in any one of (1) to (3) above, the valve portion may be provided on the side wall, and an exhaust port for exhausting the gas may be provided at the lower part of the cover.

[0018] According to the power storage panel described in (4) above, the valve is installed on the side wall of the rack. In this case, if gas is released from the valve perpendicular to the side wall, there is a risk that the released gas may hit a person. For this reason, an exhaust port is provided at the bottom of the cover to exhaust the gas. As a result, the gas is released from the exhaust port at the bottom of the cover, which helps to prevent the released gas from hitting a person.

[0019] (5) In the power storage panel described in any one of (1) to (4) above, the valve portion may be provided with a membrane member.

[0020] According to the power storage panel described in (5) above, the valve section is equipped with a membrane member, which makes it easier to rupture the valve section when the pressure inside the rack rises, for example, by rupturing the membrane member. Even if the valve section ruptures, the relatively soft membrane member will scatter, thus improving safety. The valve section can be easily manufactured as it can be constructed by attaching the membrane member.

[0021] (6) In the power storage panel described in any one of (1) to (5) above, the valve portion may include a cylindrical member that protrudes outward from the rack and a closing member that closes the opening of the cylindrical member.

[0022] According to the power storage panel described in (6) above, the valve can be easily manufactured by composing the valve with a cylindrical member and a closing member.

[0023] (7) An energy storage system according to one aspect of the present invention may comprise an energy storage panel as described in any one of (1) to (6) above, and an air conditioning system located outside the wall, wherein the cover is an outer casing of the air conditioning system.

[0024] According to the energy storage equipment described in (7) above, the cover that surrounds the valve is the outer casing of the air conditioning unit. In other words, the valve is covered by the outer casing of the air conditioning unit. This allows the valve to be protected using the outer casing of the air conditioning unit, thus enabling protection of the valve with a simple configuration. Because the valve is covered by the outer casing of the air conditioning unit, the impact when the valve operates can be mitigated within the air conditioning unit.

[0025] (8) Another embodiment of the present invention provides a power storage system comprising a power storage panel comprising a power storage device having a power storage element and a rack housing the power storage device, wherein the rack comprises a wall including an upper wall and a side wall, and further comprises an air conditioning device disposed outside the wall, wherein the air conditioning device comprises a valve section for passing gas from the power storage element and a cover covering the valve section.

[0026] According to the energy storage equipment described in (8) above, the air conditioning unit located outside the wall, including the top and side walls of the rack housing the energy storage devices, includes a valve that allows gas from the energy storage elements to pass through, and a cover that covers the valve. By providing the valve in the air conditioning unit in this way, the pressure inside the rack can be released by the valve when the pressure inside the rack rises due to thermal runaway of the energy storage elements, etc. The air conditioning unit also includes a cover that covers the valve, and since the valve can be protected by the cover, the valve can be prevented from being affected by weather (rain or snow, etc.). As a result, reliability can be improved in energy storage equipment that includes an energy storage panel in which energy storage devices are housed in a rack.

[0027] (9) In the energy storage equipment described in (8) above, the valve portion may be located in a partition wall that separates the outdoor unit space from the indoor unit space in the air conditioning system.

[0028] According to the energy storage equipment described in (9) above, by placing the valve in the partition wall between the outdoor unit space and the indoor unit space of the air conditioner, gas that has entered the indoor unit space of the air conditioner from the rack of the energy storage panel can be passed through the valve to the outdoor unit space of the air conditioner and discharged to the outside from the outdoor unit space. This allows the pressure inside the rack to be released using the vent that connects the internal space of the rack of the energy storage panel and the indoor unit space of the air conditioner. Therefore, since the pressure inside the rack can be released without providing a separate opening in the rack of the energy storage panel, it is advantageous in terms of cost reduction, dustproofing, and waterproofing.

[0029] (10) In the energy storage equipment described in (9) above, the valve portion may include a door member and be positioned adjacent to the indoor unit side air outlet of the air conditioning device, and the direction in which the door member opens is toward the indoor unit space.

[0030] According to the energy storage equipment described in (10) above, the door member of the valve section, which is positioned adjacent to the indoor unit side air outlet of the air conditioner, opens in a direction toward the indoor unit space. Therefore, when the valve section is activated, the door member obstructs the airflow at the indoor unit side air outlet of the air conditioner. This prevents gas that has entered the indoor unit space of the air conditioner from the rack of the energy storage panel from flowing back into the rack of the energy storage panel via the indoor unit side air outlet of the air conditioner.

[0031] The following description of a power storage panel and power storage equipment according to embodiments (including modifications thereof) of the present invention will be given with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are all general or specific examples. The numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement and connection configurations of components, manufacturing processes, and the order of manufacturing processes shown in the following embodiments are examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. Dimensions, etc., in each figure are not strictly illustrated. In each figure, the same or similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0032] In the following description and drawings, the direction in which the left and right sides of the power storage panel face, the width direction of the power storage panel rack (left-right direction), or the direction in which the left and right side walls of the rack face each other is defined as the X-axis direction. The direction in which the front or back of the power storage panel face, the depth direction of the power storage panel rack (front-back direction), or the direction in which the front and rear side walls of the rack face each other (front wall and rear wall) is defined as the Y-axis direction. The direction in which the power storage panel and the air conditioning unit are aligned, the direction in which the power storage panel and the base member are aligned, the direction in which the top or bottom surface of the power storage panel faces, the height direction of the power storage panel rack, the direction in which the top and bottom walls of the rack face each other, the vertical direction, or the up and down direction is defined as the Z-axis direction. These X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions intersect each other (orthogonal in this embodiment).

[0033] In the following explanation, the X-axis positive direction refers to the direction of the X-axis arrow, and the X-axis negative direction refers to the direction opposite to the X-axis positive direction. When simply referred to as the X-axis direction, it refers to either the X-axis positive direction or the X-axis negative direction, or either direction. Unless otherwise specified, the center and ends of a member in the X-axis direction refer to the parts located in the center and ends when the member is divided into three parts in the X-axis direction. The same applies to the Y-axis and Z-axis directions. Expressions indicating relative directions or orientations, such as parallel and orthogonal, include cases where they are not strictly those directions or orientations. When two directions are parallel (or orthogonal), it means not only that the two directions are perfectly parallel (or orthogonal), but also that they are substantially parallel (or orthogonal), that is, that they include a difference of a few percent. In the following explanation, when "insulation" is used, it means "electrical insulation". The volume resistivity of an insulating material is 1 × 10⁻⁶ ６ Preferably Ωm or more, 1 × 10 ７ Ωm or greater is more preferable, 1 × 10 １０ A value of Ωm or greater is even more preferable.

[0034] (Embodiment) [1. General Description of Energy Storage Equipment 1] First, a general description of the energy storage panel 100 and the energy storage equipment 1 equipped with the energy storage panel 100 in this embodiment will be given. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the energy storage equipment 1 according to this embodiment. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the four energy storage panels 100, four air conditioning units 200, and four base members 300 provided in the energy storage equipment 1 according to this embodiment. In Figure 2, the side wall 113 has been removed from the rack 110 of one energy storage panel 100 (101), and the internal configuration of the rack 110 is shown with solid and dashed lines. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the energy storage device 120 provided in the energy storage panel 100 according to this embodiment. In Figure 3, the external casing 121 of the energy storage device 120 is viewed through, and the internal configuration of the external casing 121 is shown with dashed lines.

[0035] The energy storage device 1 is a device that charges and discharges electricity to supply power to an external power load. The energy storage device 1 is a stationary battery used for commercial or household purposes, and is used for power storage or power supply purposes. In this embodiment, the energy storage device 1 is an outdoor-specification device that is installed outdoors (or can be installed outdoors) and has the necessary dustproof and waterproof properties for outdoor installation. The energy storage device 1 can also be installed on a large mobile vehicle such as a ship or a railway vehicle for an electric railway, and can be used as a battery for the large mobile vehicle. Examples of railway vehicles for electric railways include electric trains, monorails, linear motor cars, and hybrid trains equipped with both diesel engines and electric motors.

[0036] As shown in Figure 1, the energy storage system 1 comprises a power storage panel 100, an air conditioning unit 200 positioned above the power storage panel 100, and a base member 300 positioned below the power storage panel 100. Specifically, the energy storage system 1 comprises a plurality of power storage panels 100, a plurality of air conditioning units 200 positioned above the plurality of power storage panels 100 (in the positive Z-axis direction), and a plurality of base members 300 positioned below the plurality of power storage panels 100 (in the negative Z-axis direction). In each power storage panel 100, one air conditioning unit 200 is positioned above one power storage panel 100, and one base member 300 is positioned below one power storage panel 100. The energy storage system 1 may also include a power conversion panel (PCS panel, power conditioner) equipped with a power converter inside.

[0037] In this embodiment, 10 power storage panels 100 are arranged, each consisting of 5 sets of two power storage panels 100 aligned in the Y-axis direction, arranged in the X-axis direction. These power storage panels 100 are arranged adjacent to each other in the X-axis and Y-axis directions. Arranged adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction means that they are arranged in relatively close positions in the X-axis direction, and includes cases where they are in contact in the X-axis direction, and cases where they are in close proximity but not in contact in the X-axis direction. The same applies when they are arranged adjacent to each other in the Y-axis direction. In this embodiment, the multiple power storage panels 100 are arranged with predetermined intervals in the X-axis and Y-axis directions. Specifically, the multiple power storage panels 100 are arranged with an interval S1 in the X-axis direction and an interval S2 in the Y-axis direction. Similarly, the multiple base members 300 are arranged adjacent to each other in the X-axis and Y-axis directions. In this embodiment, the multiple base members 300 are arranged in contact in the X-axis direction and with predetermined intervals in the Y-axis direction. The placement and number of the power storage panel 100, the air conditioning unit 200, and the base member 300 are not limited to those described above.

[0038] [1.1 Explanation of the power storage panel 100] First, the configuration of the power storage panel 100 will be explained in detail. Since all of the power storage panels 100 provided in the power storage equipment 1 have the same configuration, the configuration of one power storage panel 100 will be explained in detail below.

[0039] The power storage panel 100 is a device that can charge electricity from an external source and discharge electricity to the outside, and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The power storage panel 100 is a stationary electrical panel (battery panel) that stores various types of electricity, such as electricity from the commercial power grid, electricity generated by generators, wind power generation or solar power generation, and regenerative power from railway systems, and supplies power stably to external equipment. As described above, the power storage panel 100 is an outdoor-specification device that is installed outdoors (or can be installed outdoors) and has the necessary level of dustproof and waterproof properties for outdoor installation. Specifically, the power storage panel 100 has IP2X, IP3X, IP4X, IP5X or IP6X for dustproofness and IPX3, IPX4, IPX5, IPX6, IPX7 or IPX8 for waterproofness, according to the protection class (IP code) defined by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) standards.

[0040] As shown in Figure 2, the power storage panel 100 comprises a rack 110 and a plurality of power storage devices 120 arranged inside the rack 110. In addition to these components, the power storage panel 100 also includes wires and the like for connecting the plurality of power storage devices 120, but these are not shown in the illustration and detailed explanation is omitted. In this embodiment, within the rack 110, a plurality (six) of power storage devices 120 are arranged in the X-axis direction and in multiple rows in the Z-axis direction. The number of power storage devices 120 arranged in the X-axis direction and the number of rows in the Z-axis direction are not particularly limited. The plurality of power storage devices 120 may all be connected in series, a combination of series and parallel connections may be used, or all may be connected in parallel.

[0041] [1.1.1 Description of Rack 110] Rack 110 is a rectangular parallelepiped (box-shaped) enclosure (container, shelf) that houses the energy storage devices 120. Rack 110 has a sealed structure. "Having a sealed structure" means that it has a degree of airtightness that provides dustproof and waterproof properties as described above, and small gaps are permitted. The internal space of rack 110 is divided into multiple levels, and multiple energy storage devices 120 are housed in the divided spaces. Rack 110 is made of metal such as stainless steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, iron, or plated steel sheet. Rack 110 may be made of materials other than metal (such as resin), but it is preferable that it be made of a material with high strength, heat resistance and flame retardancy. Rack 110 comprises side walls 111 to 114, a bottom wall 115, a top wall 116, a first shelf 117, and a second shelf 118.

[0042] The side walls 111-114, the bottom wall 115, and the top wall 116 are flat, rectangular walls that cover the entire surface of the six sides of the rack 110. Side walls 111 and 112 are the left and right side walls of the rack 110, and side walls 113 and 114 are the front and rear side walls (front wall and rear wall) of the rack 110. Specifically, side wall 111 is the wall (side wall, side plate) of the rack 110 in the negative X-axis direction, and side wall 112 is the wall (side wall, side plate) of the rack 110 in the positive X-axis direction. Side wall 113 is the wall (front wall, front plate) of the rack 110 in the negative Y-axis direction. Side wall 113 is equipped with a door 113a. The door 113a is a door member that can open and close (open and close freely) the opening on the Y-axis negative side (front) of the rack 110. The side wall 114 is the wall of the rack 110 in the positive Y-axis direction (rear wall, rear plate). The bottom wall 115 is the wall of the rack 110 in the negative Z-axis direction (bottom wall, bottom plate, bottom plate). The top wall 116 is the wall of the rack 110 in the positive Z-axis direction (top wall, top plate, top plate).

[0043] A through-hole is formed in any one of the side walls 111 to 114. In the present embodiment, a through-hole is formed in the lower part of the side wall 111 or 112. As shown in FIG. 2, among the four power storage trays 100, the power storage tray 100 located in the +X-axis direction and -Y-axis direction is also referred to as the power storage tray 101, and the power storage tray 100 located in the -X-axis direction and -Y-axis direction is also referred to as the power storage tray 102. The power storage tray 101 and the power storage tray 102 are adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction. In this case, a through-hole 111a is formed in the lower part of the side wall 111 of the rack 110 included in the power storage tray 101, and a through-hole 112a is formed in the lower part of the side wall 112 of the rack 110 included in the power storage tray 102.

[0044] As a result, the through-hole 111a of the power storage tray 101 and the through-hole 112a of the power storage tray 102 are arranged to face each other, and a through-hole member 30 which is a wiring or a pipe penetrates through the through-holes 111a and 112a. The through-hole member 30 includes at least one of a main circuit wiring, a signal line, a ground line, a commercial AC wiring, a control power line, a cooling pipe, a heating pipe, and a fire extinguishing pipe. The through-holes 111a and 112a are sealed by a cover member 40 that covers the periphery of the through-hole member 30, thereby maintaining the above-described dust-proof and waterproof properties. Through-holes may also be formed in side walls other than the side wall 111 of the rack 110 of the power storage tray 101, or through-holes may also be formed in side walls other than the side wall 112 of the rack 110 of the power storage tray 102.

[0045] In the present embodiment, the side wall 113 includes a valve portion 130 that discharges gas from the power storage device 120 and a cover 140 that covers the valve portion 130. Specifically, the side wall 113 includes a door 113a, and the valve portion 130 is disposed on the door 113a. Thus, the rack 110 includes a wall including an upper wall 116 and side walls 111 to 114, and the wall includes a valve portion 130 that discharges gas from the power storage device 120 and a cover 140 that covers the valve portion 130. The wall includes a door 113a, and the valve portion 130 is disposed on the door 113a. A detailed description of the configuration of the valve portion 130 and the cover 140 included in this side wall 113 (door 113a) will be described later.

[0046] On the upper wall 116, a first ventilation port 116a and a second ventilation port 116b are formed. The first ventilation port 116a and the second ventilation port 116b are through-holes formed in the upper wall 116 for the air conditioner 200 to intake and exhaust air, and are arranged at positions facing the air conditioner 200. In the present embodiment, the first ventilation port 116a is arranged at the end in the minus Y-axis direction of the upper wall 116, and the second ventilation port 116b is arranged at the end in the plus Y-axis direction of the upper wall 116. Through the first ventilation port 116a and the second ventilation port 116b, the air conditioner 200 arranged above the upper wall 116 circulates the air in the internal space of the power storage panel 100. That is, the air whose temperature has been adjusted by the air conditioner 200 is exhausted from the second ventilation port 116b into the internal space of the power storage panel 100, and the air circulates in the internal space of the power storage panel 100 and is then intake by the air conditioner 200 from the first ventilation port 116a. When viewed from the air conditioner 200, the first ventilation port 116a is the intake port, and the second ventilation port 116b is the exhaust port. When viewed from the power storage panel 100, the first ventilation port 116a is the exhaust port, and the second ventilation port 116b is the intake port. The first ventilation port 116a and the second ventilation port 116b are sealed with the air conditioner 200, thereby maintaining the above-mentioned dust-proofness and waterproofness.

[0047] The first shelf board 117 and the second shelf board 118 are walls that partition the space inside the rack 110. Each power storage device 120 is arranged in the rack 110 by being supported by the first shelf board 117 and the second shelf board 118 in the space partitioned by the first shelf board 117 and the second shelf board 118. On the first shelf board 117, a plurality of power storage devices 120 are arranged in the X-axis direction, and on the second shelf board 118, a plurality of power storage devices 120 are arranged in the X-axis direction. A space where no power storage device 120 is arranged is formed in the minus Z-axis direction of the first shelf board 117, and an electric unit (electrical component) for controlling all the power storage devices 120 and the like are arranged. In the present embodiment, the first shelf board 117 and the second shelf board 118 are flat and rectangular walls. Openings (not shown) are formed in the first shelf board 117 and the second shelf board 118, and the air can pass through via the openings. The shapes of the first shelf board 117 and the second shelf board 118 are not particularly limited, and members such as narrow plate-shaped or rod-shaped members like beams may also be used.

[0048] [1.1.2 Description of the Energy Storage Device 120] The energy storage device 120 is a battery module (battery pack) that is elongated in the Y-axis direction and has a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape. As shown in Figure 3, the energy storage device 120 comprises an outer casing 121, a plurality of energy storage elements 122, and a circuit board unit 123. In this embodiment, the plurality of energy storage elements 122 are arranged in line in the Y-axis direction, but the direction of arrangement and the number of 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 busbars and the like that connect the terminals of the plurality of energy storage elements 122, but these are not shown in the illustration and their detailed explanation is also omitted. The energy storage device 120 may also include a pair of external terminals (positive and negative) for connecting to the outside, spacers placed between the energy storage elements 122, restraining members (end plates, side plates, etc.) for restraining the energy storage elements 122, and a busbar frame for positioning the busbars, but these are not shown or described.

[0049] The outer casing 121 is a box-shaped (rectangular parallelepiped) container (module case) that is elongated in the Y-axis direction and constitutes the outer shell of the energy storage device 120. The outer casing 121 houses a plurality of energy storage elements 122 and fixes the plurality of energy storage elements 122 in predetermined positions, protecting them from impacts and the like. The outer casing 121 is made of an insulating material such as resin to prevent the energy storage elements 122 from coming into contact with external metal members or the like. The outer casing 121 may be made of a conductive material such as metal, as long as the insulating properties of the energy storage elements 122 are maintained.

[0050] The energy storage element 122 is a secondary battery (single cell) capable of charging and discharging electricity, and more specifically, a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery such as a lithium-ion secondary battery. In this embodiment, the energy storage element 122 has a flattened rectangular parallelepiped shape (square), but the shape of the energy storage element 122 is not limited to a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and may be a polygonal prism shape, cylindrical shape, oblong cylindrical shape, elliptical prism shape, etc. The energy storage element 122 may be a secondary battery other than a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, or it 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.

[0051] The energy storage element 122 comprises a container 122a and a pair of terminals 122b (positive and negative electrodes). Inside the container 122a are electrodes, a pair of current collectors (positive and negative electrodes), and an electrolyte (non-aqueous electrolyte), but these are not shown in the illustration. There are no particular restrictions on the type of electrolyte as long as it does not impair the performance of the energy storage element 122, and various types can be selected. Gaskets and the like are placed between the container 122a, the terminals 122b, and the current collectors to improve insulation and airtightness, but these are also not shown in the illustration.

[0052] The container 122a is a rectangular parallelepiped (square) shaped container, with a lid that closes the opening in the Z-axis positive direction of the container body. Between a pair of terminals 122b on the lid of the container 122a, a gas discharge valve 122c is positioned to discharge gas from inside the container 122a and release the pressure when the pressure inside the container 122a rises. The material of the container 122a is not particularly limited, but it is preferably a weldable metal such as stainless steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, iron, or plated steel sheet.

[0053] Terminal 122b is an electrode terminal (positive electrode terminal and negative electrode terminal) electrically connected to the positive electrode plate and negative electrode plate of the electrode body via a current collector, and is formed of a metal (conductive) material such as aluminum, aluminum alloy, copper, or copper alloy. The electrode body is an energy storage element (power generation element) formed by laminating a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator. The positive electrode plate has a positive electrode active material layer formed on a current collector foil made of a metal such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The negative electrode plate has a negative electrode active material layer formed on a current collector foil made of a metal such as copper or a copper alloy. The current collector is a conductive material (positive electrode current collector and negative electrode current collector) electrically connected to terminal 122b and the electrode body. The positive electrode current collector is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, similar to the current collector foil of the positive electrode plate, and the negative electrode current collector is made of copper or a copper alloy, similar to the current collector foil of the negative electrode plate.

[0054] The circuit board unit 123 is a device capable of monitoring the state of the energy storage element 122, such as its charge and discharge states, and controlling the energy storage element 122. The circuit board unit 123 is equipped with electrical equipment such as a circuit board (CMU: Cell Monitoring Unit) inside. In this embodiment, the circuit board unit 123 is a flat rectangular member that is attached to the end of the outer casing 121 in the negative Y-axis direction and positioned at the end of the energy storage device 120 in the negative Y-axis direction.

[0055] [1.2 Description of the Air Conditioning System 200] Next, the configuration of the air conditioning system 200 will be described in detail. Since all of the air conditioning systems 200 provided in the energy storage facility 1 have the same configuration, the configuration of one air conditioning system 200 will be described in detail below.

[0056] The air conditioning system 200 is a device that has at least one of the functions of cooling and heating. In this embodiment, the air conditioning system 200 has both cooling and heating functions, and cooling or heating is performed by switching between cooling operation and heating operation. From the viewpoint of low cost, the air conditioning system 200 may include a cooling-only air conditioning system (cooler) and a heater separate from the air conditioning system. In this case, the air conditioning system 200 may stop the exhaust fan when the heater is in use. In this embodiment, the air conditioning system 200 is a heat exchange type air conditioning system.

[0057] As shown in Figure 2, the air conditioning unit 200 is positioned above the upper wall 116 of the rack 110 of the power storage panel 100. Specifically, the air conditioning unit 200 comprises an air conditioning unit body 210, which is positioned opposite the first vent 116a and the second vent 116b formed in the upper wall 116. As a result, the air conditioning unit 200 circulates the air in the internal space of the power storage panel 100 through the first vent 116a and the second vent 116b formed in the upper wall 116. In this embodiment, the air conditioning unit 200 is positioned above the upper wall 116 with the air conditioning unit body 210 in contact with (resting on) the upper wall 116. Alternatively, the air conditioning unit 200 may be positioned above the upper wall 116 with the air conditioning unit body 210 separated from the upper wall 116 by placing other components between the air conditioning unit body 210 and the upper wall 116.

[0058] The air conditioning unit 200 further includes an external air intake port 220 and an external exhaust port 230 that communicate with the surrounding air of the power storage panel 100. The external air intake port 220 is an opening for drawing in outside air from around the power storage panel 100, and the external exhaust port 230 is an opening for exhausting air to the outside air around the power storage panel 100. The external air intake port 220 and the external exhaust port 230 are located on the side or top surface (in this embodiment, the side surface) of the air conditioning unit body 210. A hood or the like may be provided on the external air intake port 220 or the external exhaust port 230 to prevent snow accumulation or snow being blown in from the side.

[0059] [1.3 Description of Base Member 300] The base member 300 is a channel base that serves as a foundation for installing the power storage panel 100. The base member 300 is a rectangular member that is flattened in the Z-axis direction and viewed from the Z-axis direction. The shape and size of the base member 300 are not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, the base member 300 is a frame-shaped member that has an outer frame surrounded by multiple members (H-beams, etc.). The base member 300 is positioned below (in the negative Z-axis direction) the bottom wall 115 of the rack 110 of the power storage panel 100. The base member 300 faces the bottom wall 115 in the Z-axis direction and contacts the bottom wall 115 in the Z-axis direction, thereby supporting the power storage panel 100 from below. The base member 300 may be provided with a positioning part (positioning pin, etc.) for positioning the power storage panel 100 on the base member 300. All of the multiple base members 300 provided in the power storage equipment 1 have the same configuration.

[0060] [2. Description of the valve section 130 and cover 140 of the side wall 113 (door 113a)] Next, the valve section 130 and cover 140 of the side wall 113 (door 113a) of the rack 110 of the power storage panel 100 will be described in detail. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the valve section 130 and cover 140 of the side wall 113 (door 113a) of the rack 110 according to this embodiment. Figure 4 shows a cross-section of one power storage panel 100 and one air conditioning unit 200 shown in Figures 1 and 2, when cut by a plane parallel to the YZ plane passing through the valve section 130 and cover 140 of the power storage panel 100 and the air conditioning unit 200.

[0061] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the valve section 130 is provided on the side wall 113 (door 113a) of the rack 110 and is a long member extending in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the valve section 130 is located on the door 113a in the negative X-axis direction, one of two doors 113a arranged in the X-axis direction on the side wall 113. Specifically, the valve section 130 is located in the central part of the door 113a in the negative X-axis direction, extending from one end in the Z-axis direction to the other. The valve section 130 is a valve (gas release valve, gas exhaust valve, safety valve) that releases gas from the energy storage element 122 of the energy storage device 120. In other words, when the energy storage element 122 experiences thermal runaway, etc., and gas is discharged from the gas discharge valve 122c of the energy storage element 122, causing the pressure inside the rack 110 to rise, the valve section 130 releases the gas inside the rack 110 to the outside of the rack 110, thereby releasing the pressure inside the rack 110.

[0062] In this embodiment, the valve portion 130 includes a membrane member 131. A long rectangular through-hole 113b extending in the Z-axis direction is formed in the door 113a in the X-axis negative direction of the side wall 113, and a rectangular membrane member 131 extending in the Z-axis direction is positioned to close the through-hole 113b. The membrane member 131 has an adhesive layer and is attached to the edge of the through-hole 113b in the side wall 113. The membrane member 131 may not have an adhesive layer and may be attached to the edge of the through-hole 113b in the side wall 113 with tape or the like that has an adhesive layer. The membrane member 131 may be attached to the edge of the through-hole 113b by other methods.

[0063] The membrane member 131 is a membrane that does not allow gas (such as water vapor) or liquid to pass through. When the pressure (or temperature) inside the rack 110 rises, the membrane member 131 of the valve part 130 ruptures (or melts), releasing the gas inside the rack 110 to the outside and releasing the pressure inside the rack 110. The material of the membrane member 131 is not particularly limited, and any known material can be used as appropriate. Examples of the membrane member 131 include PC (polycarbonate), aluminum vapor-deposited film, or aluminum laminate film. The position, shape, size, number, etc. of the valve part 130 (membrane member 131) on the side wall 113 (door 113a) are not particularly limited. The shape and number of through holes 113b are also not limited, and one or more slit-shaped through holes 113b with a small width in the X-axis direction may be formed. If multiple through holes 113b are formed, the membrane member 131 may be placed over the entire area of ​​multiple through holes 113b.

[0064] The cover 140 is a long, box-shaped member that extends vertically and is provided on the side wall 113 (door 113a) of the rack 110 so as to cover the entire valve section 130. The cover 140 is formed to be larger than the valve section 130 when viewed from the Y-axis direction and is positioned on the door 113a in the negative X-axis direction of the side wall 113 to cover the entire valve section 130. The shape, size, etc., of the cover 140 are not particularly limited as long as they can cover the entire valve section 130. The material of the cover 140 is also not particularly limited and can be formed from any material usable for the rack 110 (side wall 113), or other materials, etc.

[0065] The cover 140 is fitted snugly against the side wall 113 (door 113a), and an exhaust port 141 for exhausting gas is provided at the bottom of the cover 140. The exhaust port 141 is a through-hole that penetrates the bottom wall of the cover 140 in the Z-axis direction. The gas released from the valve section 130 (membrane member 131) is discharged outward through the exhaust port 141 of the cover 140. The position, shape, size, number, etc., of the exhaust port 141 are not particularly limited.

[0066] [3. Explanation of Effects] As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the wall of the rack 110 that houses the energy storage device 120, including the upper wall 116 and side walls 111 to 114, is equipped with a valve section 130 for releasing gas from the energy storage element 122 and a cover 140 that covers the valve section 130. By providing the valve section 130 on the wall of the rack 110 of the energy storage unit 100 (side wall 113 in this embodiment), the pressure inside the rack 110 can be released when the pressure inside the rack 110 rises, such as during thermal runaway of the energy storage element 122. However, if the valve section 130 is provided on the upper wall 116 or side walls 111 to 114 (side wall 113 in this embodiment) of the rack 110, the valve section 130 may be exposed to rain or snow, and the valve section 130 may be affected by the weather (rain or snow, etc.). For this reason, the valve section 130 is covered with a cover 140. This protects the valve section 130, thereby reducing the impact of weather conditions (rain or snow, etc.) on the valve section 130. These factors improve reliability in a power storage panel 100 where the power storage device 120 is housed in a rack 110.

[0067] By positioning the valve unit 130 on the door 113a of the wall (side wall 113 in this embodiment) of the rack 110, the valve unit 130 can be easily positioned. When the pressure inside the rack 110 rises, such as during thermal runaway of the energy storage element 122, the valve unit 130 opens before the door 113a opens, thereby releasing the pressure inside the rack 110. In other words, by providing the valve unit 130, the pressure inside the rack 110 can be released before the door 113a opens, thereby suppressing the pressure rise inside the rack 110.

[0068] By providing the valve portion 130 on the side wall 113 of the rack 110 so as to extend vertically, the area of ​​the valve portion 130 can be increased, allowing the pressure inside the rack 110 to be quickly released when the pressure inside the rack 110 rises.

[0069] The valve section 130 is provided on the side wall 113 of the rack 110. In this case, if gas is released from the valve section 130 in a direction perpendicular to the side wall 113, there is a risk that the released gas may hit a person. For this reason, an exhaust port 141 for exhausting gas is provided at the bottom of the cover 140. As a result, the gas is released from the exhaust port 141 at the bottom of the cover 140, which helps to prevent the released gas from hitting a person.

[0070] The valve section 130 is equipped with a membrane member 131, which makes it easier to rupture the valve section 130 when the pressure inside the rack 110 rises, for example, by rupturing the membrane member 131. Even if the valve section 130 ruptures, the relatively soft membrane member 131 will scatter, thus improving safety. The valve section 130 can be easily manufactured as it can be constructed by attaching the membrane member 131.

[0071] The above effect is achieved for all of the multiple power storage panels 100 provided by the power storage equipment 1.

[0072] [4. Description of Modifications] The power storage panel 100 and power storage equipment 1 according to embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects, and the scope of the present invention includes all modifications in the sense and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0073] (Modification 1) In the above embodiment, the valve portion 130 is provided on the side wall 113, but it may be provided on the side walls 111, 112, or 114. Alternatively, the valve portion 130 may be provided on the upper wall 116. In the above embodiment, the valve portion 130 is provided with a membrane member 131, but a different configuration is also possible. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a power storage panel 100a provided in the power storage equipment 2 according to Modification 1 of this embodiment. Figure 5 is a diagram corresponding to Figure 4, and shows the configuration of the valve portion 130a and cover 140a of the upper wall 116 provided in the rack 110 of the power storage panel 100a. Figure 5 shows a cross-section when the power storage panel 100a is cut in front of the air conditioning device 200 and by a plane parallel to the YZ plane passing through the valve portion 130a and cover 140a of the upper wall 116.

[0074] As shown in Figure 5, the energy storage equipment 2 in this modified example is equipped with a power storage panel 100a instead of the power storage panel 100 equipped in the energy storage equipment 1 in the above embodiment. The power storage panel 100a is equipped with a valve section 130a and a cover 140a provided on the upper wall 116 instead of the valve section 130 and cover 140 provided on the side wall 113 of the power storage panel 100 in the above embodiment. In other words, in the above embodiment, the side wall 113 of the rack 110 was equipped with the valve section 130a and cover 140, whereas in this modified example, the upper wall 116 of the rack 110 is equipped with the valve section 130a and cover 140a. The other configurations of this modified example are the same as in the above embodiment, so their explanation will be omitted.

[0075] The valve portion 130a is a columnar member that protrudes outward from the rack 110 and is positioned at a different location from the air conditioning unit 200. In this modified example, the valve portion 130a is positioned in the X-axis positive direction and in the Y-axis central position relative to the air conditioning unit 200 on the rack 110. The valve portion 130a comprises a cylindrical member 132 that protrudes outward from the rack 110 and a closing member 133 that closes the opening of the cylindrical member 132.

[0076] The cylindrical member 132 is a cylindrical (pipe-shaped) portion that protrudes in the positive Z-axis direction from a through hole 116c formed in the upper wall 116 of the rack 110. The cylindrical member 132 may have any shape, such as cylindrical, elliptical, oblong, rectangular, or other angular shapes. The closing member 133 has a shape that can close the opening of the cylindrical member 132 and is a lid member that is placed over (on) the tip of the cylindrical member 132 to close the opening of the cylindrical member 132. In order to create a sealed structure, it is preferable that the cylindrical member 132 and the closing member 133 have a circular shape (cylindrical or conical shape) when viewed from the Z-axis direction. In this way, the closing member 133 is placed over the tip of the cylindrical member 132 so that no gap is created between it and the cylindrical member 132. The valve portion 130a may be equipped with an elastic member such as an O-ring, rubber, or sponge to fill any gap that occurs between the cylindrical member 132 and the closing member 133.

[0077] With this configuration, the valve 130a releases gas from the energy storage element 122 of the energy storage device 120. In other words, when the pressure inside the rack 110 rises, the valve 130a releases the closing member 133 from the cylindrical member 132, releasing the gas inside the rack 110 to the outside of the rack 110 and releasing the pressure inside the rack 110. The material of the valve 130a (cylindrical member 132 and closing member 133) is not particularly limited and can be made of any material usable for the rack 110 (upper wall 116), or other materials. The position, shape, size, number, etc. of the valve 130a on the upper wall 116 are not particularly limited.

[0078] The cover 140a is a box-shaped member provided on the outside of the rack 110 so as to cover the entire valve portion 130a. The cover 140a is formed to be larger than the valve portion 130a when viewed from the Z-axis direction, and is positioned above the upper wall 116 to cover the entire valve portion 130a. The shape, size, etc., of the cover 140a are not particularly limited as long as they can cover the entire valve portion 130a. The material of the cover 140a is also not particularly limited and can be made of any material usable for the rack 110 (upper wall 116), or other materials. The cover 140a is attached to the upper wall 116 without any gaps, and an exhaust port 141a for exhausting gas is provided at the bottom of the portion of the cover 140a that protrudes laterally (in the positive Y-axis direction in this modified example). The configuration and function of the exhaust port 141a are the same as those of the exhaust port 141 provided on the cover 140 in the above embodiment, so a detailed explanation is omitted.

[0079] This modified version also provides the same effects as the above embodiment. In particular, in this modified version, the valve portion 130a can be easily manufactured by configuring the valve portion 130a with a cylindrical member 132 and a closing member 133. In the valve portion 130a, by closing the opening of the cylindrical member 132 with the closing member 133, it is easy to manufacture a valve portion 130a with a sealing structure. By providing the valve portion 130a, the closing member 133 detaches from the cylindrical member 132 before the door 113a opens, thereby releasing the pressure inside the rack 110 and suppressing the pressure rise inside the rack 110.

[0080] (Modification 2) In Modification 1 above, the valve portion 130a is positioned at a different location from the air conditioning unit 200, but it may be positioned at the same location as the air conditioning unit 200. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the power storage panel 100b and air conditioning unit 200 provided in the power storage equipment 3 according to Modification 2 of this embodiment. Figure 6 corresponds to Figure 5. Figure 6 shows a cross-section when one power storage panel 100b and one air conditioning unit 200 are cut by a plane parallel to the YZ plane passing through the valve portion 130a of the power storage panel 100b and the air conditioning unit 200. In Figure 6, the internal configuration of the air conditioning unit 200 is not shown. Figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the power storage panel 100b and air conditioning unit 200 provided in the power storage equipment 3 according to Modification 2 of this embodiment. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement position, size, shape, etc. of each component changed as appropriate in order to explain the configuration of the power storage panel 100b and air conditioning unit 200, and differs from the actual structure. In Figure 7, the diagram of the refrigerant circulating between the heat exchanger 241 in the indoor unit space 240 and the heat exchanger 251 in the outdoor unit space 250 of the air conditioning system 200 is omitted.

[0081] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the energy storage equipment 3 in this modified example is equipped with a power storage panel 100b instead of the power storage panel 100a equipped with the energy storage equipment 2 in Modified Example 1. The power storage panel 100b is equipped with a cover 211 instead of the cover 140a equipped with the power storage panel 100a in Modified Example 1. The other configurations of this modified example are the same as those in Modified Example 1, so their explanation will be omitted.

[0082] The cover 211 is a box-shaped member provided on the outside of the rack 110 so as to cover the entire valve section 130a. The material of the cover 211 is not particularly limited and is made of any material usable for the rack 110 (upper wall 116), or other materials. The cover 211 is attached to the upper wall 116 without any gaps. The cover 211 is the outer casing of the air conditioning unit 200. In other words, in this modified example, the outer casing of the air conditioning unit 200 also serves as the cover for the valve section 130a, and the outer casing of the air conditioning unit 200 covers the valve section 130a. For this reason, in this modified example, it can be said that the air conditioning unit 200 is equipped with the cover 211 as an outer casing, or that the upper wall 116 of the rack 110 provided by the power storage panel 100b is equipped with the cover 211 as a cover that covers the valve section 130a. The configuration of the air conditioning unit 200 will be described below.

[0083] The air conditioning unit 200 is positioned outside the wall of the rack 110b of the power storage panel 100b, including the upper wall 116 and the side walls 111-114. In this modified example, the air conditioning unit 200 is positioned outside (above) the upper wall 116 of the rack 110. The air conditioning unit 200 has a configuration in which the indoor and outdoor units of a heat exchange type air conditioner are integrated into the same case. That is, the air conditioning unit body 210 of the air conditioning unit 200 has an indoor unit space 240 and an outdoor unit space 250 inside the cover 211 (outer case).

[0084] The indoor unit space 240 is equipped with a heat exchanger 241 and a blower 242, such as a fan, which are arranged to divide the indoor unit space 240 into two spaces. The bottom wall of the indoor unit space 240 in the cover 211 has an indoor unit side intake port 243 facing the first ventilation port 116a and an indoor unit side outlet port 244 facing the second ventilation port 116b. The blower 242 is positioned on the indoor unit side intake port 243 side to draw in air, but it may also be positioned on the indoor unit side outlet port 244 side to blow in air. The outdoor unit space 250 is equipped with a heat exchanger 251 and a blower 252, such as a fan, which are arranged to divide the outdoor unit space 250 into two spaces. The side wall of the outdoor unit space 250 in the cover 211 has an external intake port 220 and an external exhaust port 230. The blower 252 is positioned on the side of the external exhaust port 230 to exhaust air, but it may also be positioned on the side of the external intake port 220 to draw in air. The indoor unit space 240 and the outdoor unit space 250 are separated by a partition wall 212, and the air inside the power storage panel 100b and the outside air do not mix through the indoor unit space 240 and the outdoor unit space 250.

[0085] In the indoor unit space 240, during cooling, the air conditioning unit 200 uses a blower 242 to supply air cooled by the refrigerant in the heat exchanger 241 into the storage panel 100b through the indoor unit side air outlet 244 and the second vent 116b, thereby cooling the inside of the storage panel 100b. The air conditioning unit 200 also uses the blower 242 to draw in heated air into the air conditioning unit 200 through the first vent 116a and the indoor unit side air intake 243. In the outdoor unit space 250, during cooling, the air conditioning unit 200 uses the blower 252 to draw in air from the external air intake 220, and the air heated by cooling the refrigerant in the heat exchanger 251 is discharged from the external exhaust 230. The same applies during heating. The air conditioning unit 200 cools or heats the energy storage device 120 (especially the energy storage element 122; the same applies hereinafter) inside the energy storage panel 100b by cooling or heating the internal space of the energy storage panel 100b. In cold regions, the air conditioning unit 200 heats the energy storage device 120 inside the energy storage panel 100b with heating, and when the temperature of the energy storage device 120 rises, it cools the energy storage device 120 with cooling.

[0086] The valve portion 130a is positioned on the upper wall 116 of the rack 110, facing the outdoor unit space 250 of the air conditioning unit 200. The valve portion 130a protrudes upward from the upper wall 116 and passes through a through hole 253 formed in the bottom wall of the outdoor unit space 250 in the cover 211. As a result, the valve portion 130a is positioned in the outdoor unit space 250 of the air conditioning unit 200. When the pressure inside the rack 110 rises and gas is released from the valve portion 130a, the gas flows into the outdoor unit space 250 and is discharged to the outside through the external exhaust port 230 by the blower 252.

[0087] This modified version also provides the same effects as the above embodiment or Modification 1. In particular, according to the energy storage equipment 3 of this modified version, the cover 211 covering the valve portion 130a is an outer casing of the air conditioning unit 200. That is, the valve portion 130a is covered with the outer casing of the air conditioning unit 200. As a result, the valve portion 130a can be protected using the outer casing of the air conditioning unit 200, and the valve portion 130a can be protected with a simple configuration. Because the valve portion 130a is covered with the outer casing of the air conditioning unit 200, the impact when the valve portion 130a operates can be mitigated within the air conditioning unit 200. Because the valve portion 130a is covered with the outer casing of the air conditioning unit 200, the risk of property damage or injury caused by the moving parts when the valve portion 130a operates can be reduced. The risk of property damage or injury caused by the scattering of internal components of the valve portion 130a or the energy storage panel 100b can also be reduced. Even after the valve 130a has been activated, some gas may remain in the power storage panel 100b. However, since the blower 252 is located in the air conditioning unit 200, the residual gas can be discharged by operating the blower 252.

[0088] (Modification 3) In Modification 2 described above, the valve 130a is positioned on the upper wall 116 of the rack 110 of the power storage panel 100b, but it may also be positioned on the air conditioning unit 200. Figure 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the power storage panel 100c and air conditioning unit 200a provided in the power storage equipment 4 according to Modification 3 of this embodiment. Figure 8 is a diagram corresponding to Figure 7, and like Figure 7, it is a schematic diagram that differs from the actual structure.

[0089] As shown in Figure 8, the energy storage equipment 4 in this modified example is equipped with a power storage panel 100c and an air conditioning unit 200a, instead of the power storage panel 100b and air conditioning unit 200 that are present in the energy storage equipment 3 in the modified example 2. Unlike the modified example 2, the power storage panel 100c does not have a valve unit 130a, while the air conditioning unit 200a is equipped with a valve unit 130a. The other configurations of this modified example are the same as those in the modified example 2, so their explanation will be omitted.

[0090] In this modified example, the valve portion 130a is positioned above the through-hole 116c formed in the upper wall 116 of the rack 110 of the power storage panel 100c. The valve portion 130a protrudes upward from the through-hole 254 formed in the bottom wall of the outdoor unit space 250 in the cover 211 and is positioned in the outdoor unit space 250. When the pressure inside the rack 110 rises and gas is released from the valve portion 130a, the gas flows into the outdoor unit space 250 and is discharged to the outside from the external exhaust port 230 by the blower 252. In this modified example, the cover 211, which is the outer casing of the air conditioning unit 200a, also serves as the cover for the valve portion 130a, and the cover 211 of the air conditioning unit 200a covers the valve portion 130a. Thus, the air conditioning unit 200a includes a valve section 130a that allows gas from the energy storage element 122 to pass through, and a cover 211 (outer case) that covers the valve section 130a.

[0091] This modified version also provides the same effects as the above embodiment or Modification 2. In particular, according to the energy storage equipment 4 of this modified version, the air conditioning unit 200a located outside the wall including the upper wall 116 and side walls 111 to 114 of the rack 110 that houses the energy storage device 120 includes a valve 130a that allows gas from the energy storage element 122 to pass through, and a cover 211 that covers the valve 130a. By providing the valve 130a in the air conditioning unit 200a in this way, the pressure inside the rack 110 can be released by the valve 130a when the pressure inside the rack 110 rises, such as during thermal runaway of the energy storage element 122. The air conditioning unit 200a also includes a cover 211 that covers the valve 130a, and since the valve 130a can be protected by the cover 211, the valve 130a can be prevented from being affected by weather (rain or snow, etc.). These improvements make it possible to enhance reliability in the energy storage system 4, which includes a power storage panel 100c in which the energy storage device 120 is housed in a rack 110. Since the air conditioning unit 200a is equipped with a valve section 130a, the power storage panel 100c can use a conventional configuration that does not include a valve section 130a. Because the air conditioning unit 200a is equipped with a valve section 130a, by changing the air conditioning unit 200a, the valve section 130a can be changed or the presence or absence of the valve section 130a can be switched while keeping the power storage panel 100c as is.

[0092] (Modification 4) In Modification 3 described above, the valve portion 130a of the air conditioning device 200a is located on the bottom wall of the outdoor unit space 250 in the cover 211. However, the valve portion 130a may also be located on the partition wall 212 that separates the outdoor unit space 250 from the indoor unit space 240. Figure 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the power storage panel 100d and air conditioning device 200b of the power storage equipment 5 according to Modification 4 of this embodiment. Figure 9 is a diagram corresponding to Figure 8, and like Figure 8, it is a schematic diagram that differs from the actual structure.

[0093] As shown in Figure 9, the energy storage equipment 5 in this modified example is equipped with an energy storage panel 100d and an air conditioning unit 200b, instead of the energy storage panel 100c and air conditioning unit 200a provided in the energy storage equipment 4 in the modified example 3. Unlike the modified example 3, the energy storage panel 100d does not have a through hole 116c formed in the upper wall 116 of the rack 110. Unlike the modified example 3, the air conditioning unit 200b does not have a through hole 254, but a through hole 213 is formed in the partition wall 212 that separates the outdoor unit space 250 and the indoor unit space 240. The valve 130a is located in the partition wall 212 that separates the outdoor unit space 250 and the indoor unit space 240 in the air conditioning unit 200b. The other configurations of this modified example are the same as those of the modified example 3, so their explanation is omitted.

[0094] In this modified example, the valve portion 130a protrudes from a through hole 213 formed in the partition wall 212 into the outdoor unit space 250 and is positioned in the outdoor unit space 250. When the pressure inside the rack 110 rises, the gas inside the rack 110 flows into the indoor unit space 240 via the first vent 116a and the indoor unit side intake port 243. This gas is supplied to the indoor unit space 240 by the blower 242 and reaches the valve portion 130a. At this time, because the first vent 116a and the indoor unit side intake port 243 are positioned on the valve portion 130a side, the gas can reach the valve portion 130a without passing through the heat exchanger 241, thus allowing the gas to easily reach the valve portion 130a. Subsequently, when the gas is released from the valve portion 130a, it flows into the outdoor unit space 250 and is discharged to the outside from the external exhaust port 230 by the blower 252. In this case, since the external exhaust port 230 is positioned on the valve portion 130a side, the gas can reach the external exhaust port 230 without passing through the heat exchanger 251, and thus the gas can be easily discharged from the external exhaust port 230.

[0095] In this modified example, as in Modified Example 3 above, the cover 211, which is the outer casing of the air conditioning unit 200b, also serves as the cover for the valve section 130a, and the cover 211 of the air conditioning unit 200b covers the valve section 130a. Thus, the air conditioning unit 200b comprises a valve section 130a that allows gas from the energy storage element 122 to pass through, and a cover 211 (outer casing) that covers the valve section 130a.

[0096] This modified version also provides the same effects as the above embodiment or Modification 3. In particular, in this modified version, the valve 130a is placed in the partition wall 212 between the outdoor unit space 250 and the indoor unit space 240 of the air conditioning unit 200b. This allows gas that has entered the indoor unit space 240 of the air conditioning unit 200b from the rack 110 of the power storage panel 100d to pass through the valve 130a to the outdoor unit space 250 of the air conditioning unit 200b and be discharged to the outside from the outdoor unit space 250. In this way, the pressure inside the rack 110 can be released by utilizing the vent (intake) connecting the internal space of the rack 110 of the power storage panel 100d and the indoor unit space 240 of the air conditioning unit 200b. Therefore, since the pressure inside the rack 110 can be released without providing a separate opening in the rack 110 of the power storage panel 100d, it is advantageous in terms of cost reduction, dustproof and waterproof properties.

[0097] In this modified example, the valve portion 130a may be provided on the side wall or upper wall of the indoor unit space 240 in the cover 211 of the air conditioning unit 200b, rather than on the partition wall 212. In this case, since the cover 211 cannot also serve as a cover to cover the valve portion 130a, a separate cover to cover the valve portion 130a may be provided.

[0098] (Modification 5) In Modification 4 described above, the valve portion 130a of the air conditioning device 200b is configured such that the closing member 133 that closes the opening of the cylindrical member 132 comes off within the outdoor unit space 250. However, the configuration of the valve portion 130a is not particularly limited. One example is described below. Figure 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the power storage panel 100e and air conditioning device 200c provided in the power storage equipment 6 according to Modification 5 of this embodiment. Figure 10 is a diagram corresponding to Figure 9, and like Figure 9, it is a schematic diagram that differs from the actual structure.

[0099] As shown in Figure 10, the energy storage equipment 6 in this modified example is equipped with an energy storage panel 100e and an air conditioning unit 200c instead of the energy storage panel 100d and air conditioning unit 200b equipped in the energy storage equipment 5 in the modified example 4. The air conditioning unit 200c is equipped with a valve unit 130b instead of the valve unit 130a equipped in the air conditioning unit 200b in the modified example 4. Unlike the modified example 4, the positions of the first vent 116a and the second vent 116b are reversed in the energy storage panel 100e. Unlike the modified example 4, the positions of the blower 242 and the indoor unit side intake port 243 and the indoor unit side outlet port 244 are reversed in the air conditioning unit 200c. The valve unit 130b is located on the partition wall 212, similar to the modified example 4, but unlike the modified example 4, the valve unit 130b is located adjacent to the indoor unit side outlet port 244 of the air conditioning unit 200c. The other components of this modified example are the same as those of Modified Example 4 described above, so their explanation will be omitted.

[0100] The valve section 130b includes a door member 134 instead of the closing member 133 provided in the valve section 130a in the modified example 4 described above. The door member 134 is a door-shaped member that is supported by the cylindrical member 132, closes the opening of the cylindrical member 132, and rotates around a hinge to open toward the indoor unit side air outlet 244. In other words, the door member 134 is positioned in the indoor unit space 240, and the direction in which the door member 134 opens is toward the indoor unit space 240.

[0101] When the pressure inside the rack 110 rises, the gas inside the rack 110 flows into the indoor unit space 240 through the first vent 116a and the indoor unit side intake port 243. This gas is supplied to the indoor unit space 240 by the blower 242, passes through the heat exchanger 241, and reaches the valve section 130b. At this time, the valve section 130b opens the door member 134 toward the indoor unit space 240 (indoor unit side air outlet 244). In other words, the valve section 130b has a function (electrically movable, etc.) to open the door member 134 toward the indoor unit space 240 (indoor unit side air outlet 244) by detecting the pressure or temperature inside the rack 110 or by detecting the gas inside the rack 110. As a result, the door member 134 of the valve section 130b closes the indoor unit side air outlet 244, preventing the gas that has flowed into the indoor unit space 240 from being supplied (backflowing) into the rack 110 via the indoor unit side air outlet 244. Subsequently, when the gas is released from the valve section 130b, it flows into the outdoor unit space 250, passes through the heat exchanger 251, and is discharged to the outside from the external exhaust port 230 by the blower 252. The valve section 130b may also be configured to open the door member 134 toward the indoor unit space 240 (indoor unit side air outlet 244) by a mechanical mechanism rather than an electrically operated mechanism.

[0102] In this modified example, as in Modified Example 4 above, the cover 211, which is the outer casing of the air conditioning unit 200c, also serves as the cover for the valve section 130b, and the cover 211 of the air conditioning unit 200c covers the valve section 130b. Thus, the air conditioning unit 200c comprises a valve section 130b that allows gas from the energy storage element 122 to pass through, and a cover 211 (outer casing) that covers the valve section 130b.

[0103] This modified version also provides the same effects as the above embodiment or Modification 4. In particular, in this modified version, the door member 134 of the valve section 130b, which is positioned adjacent to the indoor unit side air outlet 244 of the air conditioner 200c, opens in a direction toward the indoor unit space 240. Therefore, when the valve section 130b is activated, the door member 134 obstructs the airflow at the indoor unit side air outlet 244 of the air conditioner 200c. This prevents gas that has entered the indoor unit space 240 of the air conditioner 200c from the rack 110 of the power storage panel 100e from flowing back into the rack 110 of the power storage panel 100e via the indoor unit side air outlet 244 of the air conditioner 200c.

[0104] In this modified example, the door member 134 of the valve section 130b does not need to close all but part of the indoor unit side air outlet 244, or it may not close the indoor unit side air outlet 244 at all, but rather be positioned near the indoor unit side air outlet 244. In other words, the door member 134 of the valve section 130b only needs to be able to obstruct the airflow of gas through the indoor unit side air outlet 244. The valve section 130b may also be configured so that the door member 134 opens toward the outdoor unit space 250. In other words, the valve section 130b includes the door member 134 and is positioned adjacent to the indoor unit side air outlet 244 of the air conditioning device 200c, and the direction in which the door member 134 opens may be toward the outdoor unit space 250. Thus, the direction in which the door member 134 opens is not limited to the direction toward the indoor unit space 240. In this modified example, the valve portion 130b may be provided on the side wall of the indoor unit space 240 in the cover 211 of the air conditioning unit 200c, rather than on the partition wall 212, and the door member 134 may be positioned to obstruct the airflow of gas through the indoor unit side air outlet 244. In this case, since the cover 211 cannot also serve as a cover to cover the valve portion 130b, a separate cover to cover the valve portion 130b may be provided.

[0105] (Other Modifications) In the above embodiment, one air conditioning unit 200 is arranged above one power storage panel 100 and one base member 300 is arranged below one power storage panel 100, but the embodiment is not limited to this. There may be power storage panels 100 that do not have an air conditioning unit 200 or a base member 300. Multiple air conditioning units 200 may be arranged above one power storage panel 100. Multiple base members 300 may be arranged below one power storage panel 100, or one base member 300 may be arranged below multiple power storage panels 100.

[0106] In the above embodiment, the air conditioning unit 200 is positioned outside (above) the upper wall 116 of the rack 110 of the power storage panel 100. However, the air conditioning unit 200 may also be positioned outside (to the side) any of the side walls 111 to 114 of the rack 110.

[0107] In the above embodiment, the rack 110 of the power storage panel 100 was assumed to have a first shelf 117 and a plurality of second shelves 118, but it is not limited to this. The rack 110 may have only one second shelf 118, or it may not have any second shelves 118 at all. The rack 110 may not have either the first shelf 117 or the second shelf 118, and the power storage device 120 may be placed on the bottom wall 115. In this case, the bottom wall 115 on which the power storage device 120 is placed can be said to be a shelf of the rack 110. In other words, the rack 110 has at least a shelf on which the power storage device 120 is placed.

[0108] In the above embodiment, the valve portion 130 is not particularly limited in its configuration as long as it is a valve member capable of releasing gas from the energy storage element 122. The valve portion 130 may have the valve portion 130a in the above modifications 1 to 4 (a cylindrical member 132 is closed by a closing member 133), the valve portion 130b in the above modification 5 (a cylindrical member 132 is closed by a door member 134, and the valve is opened electrically or otherwise), or other configurations.

[0109] In the above embodiment, the valve unit 130 is positioned on the side wall 113 of the rack 110, but it is not limited to this. The valve unit 130 may also be positioned on the side walls 111, 112, or 114. In this case, the gas can be discharged to the outside of the energy storage equipment 1 by utilizing the gap S1 or S2 between the energy storage panels 100 (preventing gas from coming into contact with people).

[0110] In the above embodiment, the rack 110 is provided with a bottom wall 115, but it does not have to be provided with a bottom wall 115. In this case, the bottom surface of the rack 110 may be closed by the base member 300 or the ground.

[0111] In the above embodiment, the side wall 113 of the rack 110 is provided with a door 113a in which the valve unit 130 is located. However, the side walls 111, 112, 114, or the top wall 116 may also be provided with a door 113a in which the valve unit 130 is located.

[0112] In the above embodiment, the valve portion 130 extends in the vertical direction, but it may also extend in a direction inclined from the vertical direction, or in the horizontal direction.

[0113] In the above embodiment, the exhaust port 141 of the cover 140 is provided at the lower part of the cover 140, but it may also be provided at the upper part or the center of the cover 140.

[0114] In the above embodiment, it was assumed that all power storage panels 100 and all air conditioning units 200 etc. have the above configuration, but this is not limited to this. None of the power storage panels 100 may have the above configuration, and none of the air conditioning units 200 may have the above configuration.

[0115] Embodiments constructed by arbitrarily combining the above embodiments and modifications are also included within the scope of the present invention.

[0116] The present invention can be applied to a power storage panel equipped with a power storage device, or to a power storage facility equipped with a power storage panel.

[0117] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Energy storage equipment 100, 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 101, 102 Energy storage panel 110 Rack 111, 112, 113, 114 Side wall 111a, 112a, 113b, 116c, 213, 253, 254 Through hole 113a Door 115 Bottom wall 116 Top wall 116a First vent 116b Second vent 120 Energy storage device 122 Energy storage element 122c Gas discharge valve 130, 130a, 130b Valve section 131 Membrane member 132 Cylindrical member 133 Closure member 134 Door member 140, 140a, 211 Cover 141, 141a Exhaust vent 200, 200a, 200b, 200c Air conditioning unit 212 Partition wall 220 External intake vent 230 External exhaust vent 240 Indoor unit space 241, 251 Heat exchanger 242, 252 Blower 243 Indoor unit side intake vent 244 Indoor unit side outlet vent 250 Outdoor unit space 300 Base member

Claims

1. A power storage panel comprising: a power storage device equipped with a power storage element; and a rack housing the power storage device, wherein the rack has walls including an upper wall and side walls, and the walls include a valve section for releasing gas from the power storage element and a cover covering the valve section.

2. The power storage panel according to claim 1, wherein the wall is provided with a door, and the valve is located on the door.

3. The power storage panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the valve portion is provided on the side wall and extends in the vertical direction.

4. The power storage panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the valve portion is provided in the side wall, and an exhaust port for exhausting the gas is provided at the lower part of the cover.

5. The energy storage panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the valve portion comprises a membrane member.

6. The power storage panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the valve portion comprises a cylindrical member protruding outward from the rack and a closing member that closes the opening of the cylindrical member.

7. An energy storage system comprising a power storage panel according to claim 1 or 2, and an air conditioning unit disposed outside the wall, wherein the cover is an outer casing of the air conditioning unit.

8. An energy storage system comprising an energy storage device having an energy storage element, and an energy storage panel comprising a rack housing the energy storage device, wherein the rack comprises a wall including an upper wall and a side wall, and further comprises an air conditioning unit disposed outside the wall, the air conditioning unit comprising a valve section for passing gas from the energy storage element, and a cover covering the valve section.

9. The energy storage device according to claim 8, wherein the valve is located in a partition wall that separates the outdoor unit space from the indoor unit space in the air conditioning device.

10. The energy storage device according to claim 9, wherein the valve portion includes a door member and is positioned adjacent to the indoor unit side air outlet of the air conditioning device, and the direction in which the door member opens is toward the indoor unit space.

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