JP7589077B2 - Container device for power storage device and container-type power storage system - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a container device for a power storage device and a container-type power storage system.

For example, a technique is known that cools batteries by passing cooling air through the gaps between the batteries.

JP 2015-26569 A

The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a container device for an energy storage device and a container-type energy storage system that can bring the temperature of each battery in continuous operation closer to a uniform temperature.

According to an embodiment, the container device for a power storage device has a blowing section, a container body, a main duct, multiple change sections, multiple storage battery arrangement sections, and an exhaust section. The blowing section has a blower and blows air with a uniform wind speed downstream. The container body is connected to the downstream side of the blowing section and forms an outer shell. The main duct is provided in the container body on the downstream side of the blowing section, and the flow path cross-sectional area is constant from the downstream end of the blowing section to the distal end facing the blowing section. The multiple change sections are provided in the container body. The multiple change sections face each other with the main duct in between, and change the direction of a portion of the air flowing through the main duct to a direction away from the main duct. The multiple storage battery arrangement sections are provided in the container body at a position sandwiching the change section with the main duct. A plurality of batteries are arranged in an aligned manner in the multiple storage battery arrangement sections. The exhaust section is provided in the container body at a position sandwiching the storage battery arrangement section and the change section with the main duct. The exhaust section exhausts the air that flows through the change section and the battery placement section.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a container device for an electricity storage device. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the container device for the electricity storage device taken along line AA in FIG. 1 . 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the container device for the electricity storage device taken along line BB in FIG. 1 . 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the container device for the electricity storage device taken along line CC in FIG. 1 . 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the container device for the electricity storage device taken along line DD in FIG. 1 . 2 is a schematic diagram of a modified portion of the container device for an electrical storage device, as viewed from a direction indicated by the symbol E in FIG. 1 . FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of a container device for an electricity storage device according to a modified example. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line FF of the electrical storage device container device shown in FIG. 7 showing a temperature cartridge heater.

The container-type energy storage system 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6.

Figure 1 shows a schematic plan view of the container-type energy storage system 1. Figure 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the container-type energy storage system 1 in Figure 1 taken along line A-A. Figure 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the container-type energy storage system 1 in Figure 1 taken along line B-B. Figure 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the container-type energy storage system 1 in Figure 1 taken along line C-C. Figure 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the container-type energy storage system 1 in Figure 1 taken along line D-D. Figure 6 shows a schematic view of the container-type energy storage system 1 as viewed from the direction indicated by the symbol E in Figure 1.

As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the container-type energy storage system 1 includes a container device 10 for an energy storage device and multiple battery panels 100 each having multiple batteries 110.

The container device 10 for the power storage device has an air blowing section 12 that blows rectified air downstream, and a container 14 in which a battery panel (battery module) 100 is arranged and which adjusts the temperature of the battery 110 by cooling the battery 110 with air blown from the air blowing section 12.

Here, a plurality of battery panels 100 including a plurality of batteries 110 are arranged and stored in the container 14 of the storage device container device 10. The batteries 110 are, for example, secondary batteries such as lithium ion secondary batteries. In each battery panel 100, the plurality of batteries 110 are connected in series and/or parallel and aligned together. In the battery panel 100, the plurality of batteries 110 are indirectly contacted with each other, for example, by a heat conductive material 120 having good thermal conductivity, such as a copper plate or an aluminum plate. For this reason, the temperature of the batteries 110 in each battery panel 100 is made uniform. The battery panels 100 are connected in series and/or parallel to each other. In FIG. 1, six battery panels 100 are arranged in one battery rack (battery arrangement section) 48 in the container 14, and six battery panels 100 are arranged in the other battery rack 48, but the number of battery panels 100 is set appropriately.

The blower section 12 has a blower 22, a diffusion drum 24 that diffuses the air flow of the blower 22, a flow straightening drum 26 provided downstream of the diffusion drum 24, and a flow contraction drum 28 provided downstream of the flow straightening drum 26 that compresses the straightened air. The blower 22, diffusion drum 24, flow straightening drum 26, and flow contraction drum 28 are arranged coaxially.

The blower 22 can be either an axial type or a centrifugal type. A large blower 22 with an output of, for example, 30 kW is used.

The diffusion body 24 is formed, for example, in the shape of a hollow quadrangular pyramid, with the inner area decreasing from the upstream side near the blower 22 to the downstream side farther from the blower 22.

The contraction body 28 is formed, for example, in a hollow pyramidal shape, with the inner area decreasing from the upstream side to the downstream side. It is preferable that the downstream end of the diffusion body 24 and the upstream end of the contraction body 28 are formed to have the same shape and size.

Between the downstream end of the diffusion drum 24 and the upstream end of the contraction drum 28, the straightening drum 26 is provided. As shown in FIG. 5, the straightening drum 26 has a rectangular tubular outer shell 32 and a straightening section (straightening wire mesh) 34 provided inside the outer shell 32. The straightening section 34 in FIG. 2 is an example of a honeycomb shape. The straightening section 34 can be in various shapes, such as a lattice shape. The straightening section 34 may be formed of multiple parts, such as a honeycomb shape and a lattice shape stacked between the upstream end and the lower end of the straightening drum 26. The straightening section 34 may have multiple straighteners, such as a honeycomb shape shown in FIG. 5 and a lattice shape (not shown) arranged along the wind flow.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the container 14 is connected to the blower 12. The container 14 may be of a standardized size, for example, 20 feet (approximately 6000 mm) to 40 feet (approximately 12000 mm), or may be of any suitable size without standards.

As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the container 14 has a container body 42 that forms the outer shell, a main duct 44, a change section 46 that changes the direction of air flow, and a battery rack 48 on which multiple battery panels 100 are aligned. The main duct 44, the change section 46, and the battery rack 48 are provided inside the container body 42.

The container body 42 is formed in a roughly rectangular box shape. The edges (sides) of the roughly rectangular container body 42 are formed by, for example, a frame made of a metal material. The blower 12 is connected to, for example, one of the smallest faces 52, 54 of the roughly rectangular container body 42. The face 54 away from the blower 12 has an exhaust section (main duct exhaust section) 54a that is formed, for example, in a louver shape, and that connects the inside and outside of the container body 42.

As shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the upper surface 62 and the lower surface 64 of the container body 42 are formed of panels made of a metal material or a resin material. The panels of the upper surface 62 and the lower surface 64 of the container body 42 may include a heat insulating material.

When the surface 54 of the container body 42 is viewed from the blower 12 side, the left side surface 72 on the left side has an exhaust section 72a that connects the inside and outside of the container 14, for example, formed in a louver shape. Similarly, when the surface 54 of the container body 42 is viewed from the blower 12 side, the right side surface 74 on the right side has an exhaust section 74a that connects the inside and outside of the container 14, for example, formed in a louver shape.

In this way, the container body 42 has exhaust sections 54a, 72a, and 74a on, for example, three surfaces 54, 72, and 74.

The main duct 44 is provided in the container body 42, continuous with the downstream side of the blower section 12. Specifically, the main duct 44 is connected to the downstream end of the contraction body 28. The blower 22, the diffusion body 24, the flow straightening body 26, the contraction body 28, and the main duct 44 are arranged in a straight line. Therefore, the blower 22, the diffusion body 24, the flow straightening body 26, the contraction body 28, and the main duct 44 are arranged on the same axis. The opening shape at the downstream end of the contraction body 28 and the position of the main duct 44 coincide with each other.

The main duct 44 has an upper surface 44a and a lower surface 44b. The main duct 44 refers to the area surrounded by the downstream end of the blower 12, the upper surface 44a, the lower surface 44b, the surface of the change section 46 on the main duct 44 side, and the front surface 54 of the blower 12. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, when viewed from the upstream side of the main duct 44 or the contraction body 28 side to the downstream side of the main duct 44 side, the flow path cross-sectional area of the main duct 44 is constant from the downstream end of the blower 12 to the surface 54, which is the downstream end of the main duct 44. The upper surface 44a and the lower surface 44b of the main duct 44 are closed. The upper surface 44a and the lower surface 44b of the main duct 44 are formed as surfaces with as little friction as possible, and keep the flow of air uniform between the downstream end of the blower 12 and the front surface 54 of the blower 12.

The upper surface 44a of the main duct 44 and the upper surface 62 of the container body 42 may be flush with each other. The lower surface 44b of the main duct 44 and the lower surface 64 of the container body 42 may be flush with each other.

When looking from the upstream side of the main duct 44 to the downstream side of the main duct 44, change sections (straightening wire mesh) 46 are provided on the left and right sides of the main duct 44. The change sections 46 are arranged symmetrically with respect to an imaginary plane S at the center of the width of the main duct 44. The multiple change sections 46 face each other with the main duct 44 between them, and change the direction (wind direction) of a portion of the air flowing through the main duct 44 to a direction away from the main duct 44. The change sections 46 are formed, for example, in a honeycomb shape as shown in FIG. 6. Various shapes, such as a lattice shape, can be used for the change sections 46.

When looking from the upstream side of the main duct 44 to the downstream side of the main duct 44, a battery rack 48 is provided on the opposite side (back side) of the change section 46 from the main duct 44 side. The battery rack 48 is arranged in a symmetrical position with respect to an imaginary plane S in the center of the width direction of the main duct 44. Note that FIG. 1 shows a state in which a battery panel 100 is arranged on the battery rack 48. For example, 16 battery panels 100 are arranged and connected to one pair of battery racks 48. The battery panels 100 are arranged in a symmetrical position with respect to an imaginary plane S in the center of the width direction of the main duct 44.

When looking downstream of the main duct 44 from the upstream side of the main duct 44, exhaust sections 72a, 74a are formed on the opposite side (back side) of the battery rack 48 from the modified section 46. The exhaust sections 72a, 74a are disposed symmetrically with respect to an imaginary plane S in the center of the width of the main duct 44. The exhaust sections 72a, 74a are formed as side surfaces of the container 14.

A DC high-speed circuit breaker 82 and a control panel 84 are provided in the container 14. The DC high-speed circuit breaker 82 and the control panel 84 are provided in a separate room isolated from the main duct 44, the change section 46, and the battery rack 48. The DC high-speed circuit breaker 82 and the control panel 84 are provided, for example, at positions facing the contraction body 28.

The operation of the container-type energy storage system 1 will be explained.

The container-type energy storage system 1 is installed in an appropriate location. The battery panel 100 including each battery 110 of the container-type energy storage system 1 is controlled by the control panel 84 and is continuously operated until the end of its life, for example, 10 to 20 years.

The blower 22 of the energy storage device container device 10 of the container-type energy storage system 1 generates wind and sends it to the diffusion drum 24. The amount of air from the blower 22 is adjusted according to the outside air temperature, humidity, the temperature of the battery 110, and the like. The adjustment of the amount of air from the blower 22 may be controlled by a control panel 84 provided in the container 14 according to the temperature of the battery 110, or may be controlled using a cloud server.

The diffusion drum 24 spreads the wind (air current) generated by the blower 22 from the upstream side to the downstream side and slows it down. The diffusion drum 24 then diffuses the air flow (wind) to the size of the inner area of the straightening drum 26.

The straightening section 26 straightens the wind speed distribution of the wind passing through the diffusion section 24. That is, the straightening section 34 makes the air passing through the diffusion section 24 a uniform flow and directs it into the contraction section 28.

The contraction body 28 reduces and compresses the wind straightened by the straightening body 26 from the upstream side to the downstream side, increasing its speed. The inner area of the contraction body 28 becomes smaller as it moves downstream, so the wind speed distribution becomes more uniform downstream.

Then, air with a uniform or nearly uniform speed distribution and wind speed V1 is sent from the downstream end of the blower 12 to the main duct 44. At this time, at the downstream end of the blower 12, wind with the same speed V1 flows between the upper surface 44a and the lower surface 44b on the imaginary plane S of the main duct 44. Also, at the downstream end of the blower 12, wind with the same speed V1 flows between the modified portions 46. Also, at the downstream end of the blower 12, wind with the same speed V1 flows at the boundary between the modified portion 46 and the upper surface 44a of the main duct 44, and at the boundary between the modified portion 46 and the lower surface 44b of the main duct 44.

There are no obstacles on the upper surface 44a and the lower surface 44b of the main duct 44. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the wind maintains a uniform speed distribution (speed V1) between the upper surface 44a and the lower surface 44b in the main duct 44 from the position close to the blower section 12 to the position far from it. That is, the main duct 44 has a constant flow path cross-sectional area from the downstream end of the blower section 12 to the distal end (surface 54) of the blower section 12, and the wind speed V1 of the air flowing from the blower section 12 is maintained constant. The wind flowing through the main duct 44 is exhausted to the outside of the container 14 through the exhaust section 54a of the surface 54 formed on the front side of the blower section 12.

A part of the wind flowing in the left direction and a part of the wind flowing in the right direction with respect to the imaginary plane S, which flows from the blower 12 side (upstream side) to the surface 54 (downstream side) in the main duct 44, come into contact with the change section 46. The change section 46 changes the wind flowing in the main duct 44 toward the exhaust sections 72a, 74a and rectifies it. Therefore, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, wind with the same speed V2 (< V1) and the same temperature flows between the battery panels 100 through the change section 46. The wind flowing between the battery panels 100 is then exhausted to the outside of the container 14 through the exhaust sections 72a, 74a of the surfaces 72, 74.

As a result, regardless of the position on the battery rack 48, air at the same temperature continues to come into contact with each battery panel 100 at a uniform wind speed V2. As a result, each battery 110 in each battery panel 100 is adjusted to the same temperature by the wind. The batteries 110 in each battery panel 100 are approximately the same temperature during charging, and approximately the same temperature during discharging. Therefore, the temperatures of each battery 110 in a given battery panel 100 are adjusted to approach a uniform temperature. Also, the temperatures of each battery 110 in different battery panels 100 are adjusted to approach a uniform temperature.

In the container device 10 for the electric storage device according to this embodiment, the blower 22, the flow straightening section 34, and the contraction drum 28 are arranged in this order, and wind with a uniform wind speed V1 and temperature flows through the main duct 44. Then, the change section 46 is arranged between the main duct 44 and the battery rack 48 of the battery panel 100, and wind with a uniform wind speed V2 and temperature flows through the battery panel 100. In the container device 10 for the electric storage device according to this embodiment, each battery panel 100 can be adjusted to have the same temperature, i.e., close to a uniform temperature, and each battery 110 in each battery panel 100 can be adjusted to have the same temperature, i.e., close to a uniform temperature. Therefore, the container device 10 for the electric storage device according to this embodiment can prevent the temperature of each battery 110 from varying.

Normally, a container-type power storage system requires a large air conditioning system depending on the output of the batteries. In the container-type power storage system 1 including the power storage device container device 10 according to this embodiment, the blower 22 is sufficient, and large or multiple air conditioning systems for maintaining, for example, hundreds of batteries 110 at an appropriate temperature are not required. In the container-type power storage system 1 including the power storage device container device 10 according to this embodiment, the blower 12 blows air with a uniform wind speed V1 and temperature into the main duct 44, so that the temperature of each battery 110 can be brought close to a uniform temperature, and therefore, compared to the case of using air conditioning systems, complex control for equalizing the temperature of each battery 110 is not required.

In the container-type energy storage system 1 according to the present embodiment, when a high output such as an output of 1 MW is obtained using each battery 110 with an output of 1 kW, for example, 500 batteries 110 are arranged in two racks in one rack. This results in a large number of batteries 110 in the container 14. The more batteries 110 of the same size are, the more widely they need to be arranged, and the more likely it is that the temperature adjustment for each battery 110 will vary. For example, if one battery 110 has low output, the other battery 110 electrically connected to that battery 110 will output an output that matches the low output, even if it is potentially capable of outputting a higher output. In the energy storage device container device 10 according to the present embodiment, the variation in temperature of each battery 110 is suppressed, and the degree of deterioration of each battery 110 is equalized. Therefore, the energy storage device container device 10 can suppress the variation in the output performance of each battery 110 over time due to differences in operating temperature. Therefore, in the container-type energy storage system 1 including the energy storage device container device 10 according to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the emergence of a low-output battery 110, maintain a stable output, and extend the time required to obtain the desired output.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a container device 10 for a power storage device and a container-type power storage system 1 that can adjust the temperature of each battery 110 that is continuously operated to approach a uniform temperature.

In this embodiment, in FIG. 1, the air flow in the main duct 44 and the air flow passing through the exhaust sections 72a, 74a of the faces 72, 74 are depicted as being perpendicular to each other. However, the air flow passing through the exhaust sections 72a, 74a of the faces 72, 74 does not need to be perpendicular to the air flow in the main duct 44. For example, the direction of the air flow passing through the exhaust sections 72a, 74a of the faces 72, 74 can be adjusted by the shape of the change section 46 and the arrangement of the battery panel 100, etc.

(Modification)
A container device 10 for an electric storage device according to a modified example will be described with reference to Figs.

Figure 7 shows a schematic plan view of a modified example of the container device 10 for an electric storage device. Figure 8 shows a schematic cross-sectional view along line F-F showing the temperature cartridge heater (temperature adjustment unit) 90 of the container device 10 for an electric storage device in Figure 7.

The blower 12 has a temperature cartridge heater 90, for example, at the downstream end of the contraction body 28. As shown in FIG. 8, the temperature cartridge heater 90 is formed in the shape of multiple wire meshes. The temperature cartridge heater 90 is controlled by the control panel 84 or a cloud server. For this reason, the temperature cartridge heater 90 adjusts the temperature of the outside air sent by the blower 22, for example, so that the battery 110 is in the desired temperature range, and flows it into the main duct 44. At this time, the blower 12 sends air with a uniform velocity distribution or a velocity distribution close to uniformity at a velocity V1 from the downstream end of the blower 12 to the main duct 44.

The maximum output of the battery 110 varies depending on the temperature. The battery 110 has a temperature range in which the maximum output can be maximized. When adjusting the temperature of the battery 110 to approach a uniform temperature, it is more efficient to operate the container-type energy storage system 1 by adjusting the temperature to an appropriate temperature range in which the output of the battery 110 can be maximized, rather than simply cooling the battery 110.

For example, when the outside air temperature is 0°C, the optimal temperature at which the battery 110 exerts maximum output is, for example, 40°C. If air at the outside air temperature is sent between the battery panels 100, the temperature of the batteries 110 may drop below the optimal temperature of the batteries 110. To avoid this situation, the temperature cartridge heater 90 adjusts the air temperature so that air at a higher temperature than the outside air temperature is sent to the main duct 44. The control panel 84 or cloud server adjusts the air volume of the blower 22 to adjust the air volume.

The surface 54 away from the blower 12 has an exhaust volume adjustment section 54b. The exhaust volume adjustment section 54b can adjust the exhaust volume per unit time between an open state and a closed state of the surface 54 away from the blower 12 facing the blower 12. The exhaust volume adjustment section 54b reduces the opening area of the exhaust volume adjustment section 54b as the wind speed of the wind flowing through the main duct 44 decreases. The exhaust volume adjustment section 54b increases the opening area of the exhaust volume adjustment section 54b as the wind speed V1 of the wind flowing through the main duct 44 increases. The exhaust volume of the exhaust volume adjustment section 54b is controlled by the control panel 84 or a cloud server.

This modified example makes it possible to provide a container device 10 for a power storage device and a container-type power storage system 1 that can adjust the temperature of each battery 110 that is continuously operated to approach a desired optimal uniform temperature.

According to at least one of the embodiments described above, it is possible to provide a container device 10 for a power storage device and a container-type power storage system 1 that can adjust the temperature of each battery 110 that is continuously operated so that it approaches a uniform temperature.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims.

1...container-type energy storage system, 10...container device for energy storage device, 12...blower section, 14...container, 22...blower, 24...diffuser, 26...flow straightener, 28...flow contraction, 32...outer shell, 34...flow straightener section, 42...container body, 44...main duct, 44a...upper surface, 44b...lower surface, 46...change section, 48...battery rack, 52, 54...surface, 54a...exhaust section, 62...upper surface, 64...lower surface, 72, 74...surface, 72a, 74a...exhaust section, 82...DC high-speed circuit breaker, 84...control panel, 100...battery panel, 110...battery, 120...material

Claims (6)

a blowing section having a blower and blowing air at a uniform wind speed to a downstream side;
a container body connected to the downstream side of the blower and forming an outer shell;
a main duct provided in the container body downstream of the blower unit, the main duct having a constant flow path cross-sectional area from the downstream end of the blower unit to a distal end facing the blower unit;
a plurality of change units provided in the container body, the change units being opposed to each other with the main duct therebetween and changing a direction of a portion of the air flowing through the main duct in a direction away from the main duct;
a plurality of storage battery arrangement sections provided in the container body at positions between the change section and the main duct, and in which a plurality of batteries are arranged in an aligned manner;
an exhaust section that is provided on the container body at a position between the main duct and the storage battery arrangement section and the changing section, and that exhausts the air flowing through the changing section and the storage battery arrangement section. The blower section includes:
a diffusion barrel provided downstream of the blower and diffusing the air flow generated by the blower;
a straightening drum provided downstream of the diffusion drum for straightening the flow of the air;
The container device for an electricity storage device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a contraction barrel provided downstream of the flow straightening barrel for compressing the straightened air. The container device for a power storage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the blower adjusts the temperature of the air flowing through the main duct and has a temperature adjustment unit that blows the air at a uniform wind speed through the main duct. The container device for a power storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the container body is provided with a main duct exhaust section that is provided in front of the air blowing section of the container body and exhausts the air flowing through the main duct. The container device for a power storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the container body has an exhaust volume adjustment section capable of adjusting the exhaust volume per unit time at the distal end of the main duct of the container body. The container device for an electricity storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
and batteries arranged in each of the plurality of storage battery arrangement sections of the container device for the storage device.