Modular Energy Storage Cabinet With Reconfigurable Cooling and EMC

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing energy storage devices in control cabinets are inflexible and require significant conversion efforts to adapt to different applications or operating modes, often leading to inefficient cooling and electromagnetic compatibility issues, especially when dealing with varying performance classes.

Innovation Solution

The energy storage device features a scalable current controller, interchangeable storage blocks, and a reconfigurable cooling and EMC system, allowing easy adaptation to different applications and operating modes without replacing components, and includes a modular control device for flexible integration with various drive systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a control cabinet is designed with sufficient cooling capacity for high performance classes, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but the cooling system becomes excessive and wasteful for applications with only one storage block and low power

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidexcessive cooling
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system is designed to be dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The patent describes a cooling device with multiple cooling elements that can be individually activated or deactivated based on the actual thermal load. This allows the cooling capacity to match the operational requirements, providing sufficient cooling for high performance classes while avoiding excessive energy consumption when only one storage block is installed and generating minimal heat.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If strong electromagnetic insulation of the control cabinet is implemented, then electromagnetic compatibility is improved, but installation space is wasted and additional weight is added that is oversized for applications with smaller electromagnetic incompatibilities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectromagnetic compatibilityVSAvoidinstallation space and weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of providing uniform strong electromagnetic insulation throughout the entire control cabinet, the patent implements localized electromagnetic shielding only where needed. The shielding measures are concentrated in specific areas or zones within the cabinet that experience higher electromagnetic interference, while other areas with lower requirements have reduced or no shielding. This approach maintains adequate electromagnetic compatibility for critical components while minimizing the overall installation space and weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Quantity of substance

If conventional energy storage systems are used, then energy storage capability is provided, but they quickly reach their limits or become ineffective when considerable amounts of energy need to be temporarily stored

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy storage capacityVSAvoidadaptability to varying energy requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The energy storage system is segmented into multiple independently controllable storage blocks that can be individually activated. Rather than relying on a single large storage system that must be oversized to handle peak demands, the patent divides the storage capacity into several modular units. These segments can be selectively engaged based on the actual energy storage requirements, allowing the system to scale its capacity dynamically and avoid the limitations of conventional single-system approaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If control cabinet solutions are used for different drive systems with very far apart performance classes, then a single solution is provided, but appropriate dimensioning of cooling and protection with regard to electromagnetic compatibility becomes problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniversality of control cabinet solutionVSAvoidappropriate dimensioning of cooling and EMC protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control cabinet system incorporates dynamically adjustable cooling and electromagnetic protection capabilities. The cooling device can activate or deactivate specific cooling elements based on the thermal load generated by different drive system configurations. Similarly, electromagnetic shielding can be selectively applied to specific zones or components based on the actual electromagnetic compatibility requirements of the installed drive system. This dynamic adaptability ensures reliable operation across different performance classes without over-engineering the cabinet for all possible scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3785500B1Energy storage device
Publication Date: 2025.05.21 LIEBHERR ELECTRONICS & DRIVES GMBH
  • EP3785500B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3785500B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3785500B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an energy storage device, comprising a switchgear cabinet housing in which a plurality of receiving spaces are provided, in which receiving spaces at least one control device and a variable number of electrical storage blocks are accommodated in an exchangeable manner, wherein the storage blocks can be selectively interconnected in series or in parallel and are connected to power connections by means of a current controller. Therefore, it is initially proposed to form the control device which is installed in the switchgear cabinet housing and the associated power electronics components themselves in a reconfigurable or variable manner in order to allow the controller and power electronics to be matched to another mode of operation or another application, without having to exchange the control and power electronics module and provide corresponding wiring for this purpose.