Battery and PCS Thermal Routing Across Three Cooling Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy storage systems face challenges in simultaneously meeting the different heat dissipation requirements of batteries and power electronic devices, such as Power Conversion Systems (PCS), leading to inefficiencies and high costs due to the need for large condensers and non-split design constraints.
Innovation Solution
An energy storage thermal management system with a controller that switches between three operating modes to manage heat dissipation: compression refrigeration for batteries and liquid-cooling for PCS, combined liquid-cooling for both, and heat exchange with an electric heater, using a fluid diverter to control coolant pathways.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single liquid-cooling system is used for both battery and power electronic device, then system complexity is reduced, but heat dissipation effectiveness for both components cannot be simultaneously optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic thermal management system that can switch between different operating modes (first mode with separate cooling loops, second mode with shared cooling loop, third mode with heat exchange) based on real-time temperature conditions and operational requirements. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to optimize heat dissipation effectiveness for both batteries and power electronic devices while managing system complexity through intelligent control.
2Reliability
If large condensers are used to meet heat dissipation requirements of both battery and PCS, then heat dissipation capacity is improved, but system size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the thermal management functions for batteries and power electronic devices into an integrated system that can operate in multiple modes. By combining cooling loops and enabling heat exchange between components, the system achieves high heat dissipation capacity without requiring proportionally large condensers, thereby reducing overall system size and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the power electronic device to serve as a heat source for battery heating in cold conditions (third operating mode), and allows heat exchange between components to reduce the burden on external cooling systems. This self-service capability reduces the size requirements for external heat dissipation equipment.
3Reliability
If separate cooling systems are used for battery and power electronic device, then heat dissipation effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and space occupation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal thermal management system that can perform multiple functions: separate cooling when needed (first mode), shared cooling when appropriate (second mode), and heat exchange for heating applications (third mode). This multi-functional approach maintains heat dissipation effectiveness while reducing device complexity through a unified system architecture that replaces the need for completely separate cooling systems.
4Ease of manufacture
If traditional thermal management systems are used, then design is simple, but space utilization is poor and energy efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables components to serve each other thermally - the power electronic device can provide heat to the battery when heating is needed, and heat can be exchanged between components to reduce energy waste. This self-service thermal management improves energy efficiency by utilizing waste heat and reducing the need for external heating/cooling energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts waste heat from the power electronic device into a useful resource for battery heating in cold conditions, and transforms thermal energy that would otherwise be lost into beneficial heat exchange between components. This approach improves energy efficiency by turning thermal waste into a valuable resource.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively meets the heat dissipation needs of both batteries and PCS by optimizing coolant pathways, reducing system size, and improving energy efficiency and space utilization.
Implementation Method 1
the battery exchanges heat in a compression refrigeration mode
Implementation Method 2
the power electronic device exchanges heat in a liquid-cooling heat exchange mode
Implementation Method 3
the battery exchanges heat with the power electronic device
Implementation Method 4
the battery exchanges heat with an electric heater
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided in the present invention are an energy storage thermal management system and method. The energy storage thermal management system comprises a controller, a battery, a power electronic device, and a shunting apparatus. The controller determines the operating mode of the energy storage management system, the operating mode being any one of a preset first mode, second mode and third mode; and according to the operating mode of the energy storage thermal management system, controls a corresponding path of the shunting apparatus to be turned on, so that in the first mode, the battery performs heat exchange in a compression cooling mode and the power electronic device performs heat exchange in a liquid-cooled heat exchange mode; in the second mode, the battery and the power electronic device both perform heat exchange in the liquid-cooled heat exchange mode; and in the third mode, the power electronic device and/or an electric heater perform heat exchange with the battery. The present invention can select different heat exchange modes for the battery and the power electronic device according to different operating modes, so as to meet the heat dissipation requirements of the battery and the power electronic device.