Refrigeration control method and device for liquid cooling system, system, and storage medium

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Solution Overview

Problem

Energy storage temperature control technologies face challenges in performing real-time adjustments to on-site temperature changes, leading to increased operating power consumption and reduced energy efficiency in energy storage systems.

Innovation Solution

A refrigeration control method and device for a liquid cooling system that includes a controller managing a fixed-frequency compressor and a variable-frequency compressor. The method involves acquiring the operating environment temperature and load changes to determine a matching compressor operating mode, optimizing the refrigeration cycle to reduce power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If air-cooled temperature control technology is used, then the system is simpler and suitable for low power applications, but the cooling efficiency is insufficient for high power energy storage systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidcooling efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs liquid cooling technology using water or other liquids as the cooling medium, replacing air cooling with a hydraulic cooling system. The liquid cooling plate directly contacts the battery pack, enabling efficient heat transfer through the liquid circulation system, thus solving the insufficient cooling efficiency for high power energy storage systems while maintaining acceptable system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes phase change materials or phase transition processes in the cooling system to enhance cooling efficiency. By leveraging the latent heat of phase transitions, the system can absorb large amounts of heat during battery operation, providing effective thermal management for high power applications without requiring overly complex system architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

2Loss of energy

If liquid-cooled temperature control technology is used, then the cooling efficiency is improved for high power applications, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the cooling system into modular components including cooling plates, circulation pumps, heat exchangers, and control units. Each module performs a specific function and can be independently optimized or replaced, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high cooling efficiency for high power energy storage applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The liquid cooling system is designed with multi-functional components that can serve multiple purposes. For example, the cooling liquid circulation system not only cools the battery pack but can also function as a fire suppression system or provide thermal energy storage capabilities, thereby reducing the need for separate dedicated systems and lowering overall complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If independent temperature control technologies are used, then each technology can be implemented separately, but real-time adjustment according to on-site temperature changes is difficult, increasing operating power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent implementation capabilityVSAvoidoperating power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a closed-loop control system with temperature sensors distributed throughout the battery pack and cooling system. The control unit continuously monitors temperature data and adjusts the cooling liquid flow rate, pump speed, and valve positions in real-time based on actual thermal conditions, enabling dynamic adaptation that reduces operating power consumption while maintaining effective temperature control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling system is designed with dynamic adjustable components including variable speed pumps, adjustable flow valves, and controllable heat exchangers. These components can dynamically adjust their operating parameters in response to real-time temperature changes, allowing the system to optimize its power consumption by matching cooling capacity to actual thermal demands rather than operating at fixed high-power states

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution reduces operating power consumption of energy storage system devices, thereby improving the overall energy efficiency of the energy storage system by enabling real-time adjustments to temperature changes.

Implementation Method 1

a variable-frequency compressor and a fixed-frequency compressor both configured to compress a refrigerant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

the compressed refrigerant enters a condenser to complete a refrigeration cycle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 3

an oil cooling coil configured to naturally cool a coolant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 4

an oil cooling coil configured to naturally cool a coolant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConduction (thermal): Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4517217A1Refrigeration control method and device for liquid cooling system, system, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.03.05 CSG POWER GENERATION (GUANGDONG) ENERGY STORAGE TECH CO LTD
  • EP4517217A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4517217A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4517217A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A refrigeration control method and device for a liquid cooling system, a system, and a storage medium are disclosed. The method includes: acquiring an operating environment temperature of the liquid cooling system (S202); acquiring a load change in the liquid cooling system in response to confirming, based on the operating environment temperature, that a compression refrigeration condition is currently satisfied (S204); and determining a matching compressor operating mode based on the load change (S206). The compressor operating mode is used to instruct the fixed-frequency compressor and the variable-frequency compressor to cooperate to compress the refrigerant until the compressed refrigerant enters a condenser to complete a refrigeration cycle. The method can reduce operating power consumption of devices of an energy storage system, and improve overall energy efficiency of the energy storage system.