Energy storage system high temperature “hot”, how to achieve efficient heat dissipation and ensure safety
Classification of energy storage system
Energy storage systems are generally categorized into industrial energy storage systems and home energy storage systems based on the capacity of the energy storage batteries.
Large-scale energy storage system mainly includes important power generation part, PCS, storage battery, load consumption box and other large equipment.
Home energy storage systems mainly consist of energy storage batteries and inverters.
Safety issues caused by overheating in industrial energy storage systems
The capacity of industrial energy storage systems is typically measured in kilowatts or megawatts. During normal operation, the current is quite large, and the heat generated can significantly increase the temperature of the equipment.
If the issue of excessively high equipment temperature is not monitored and addressed in real-time, the entire energy storage system could experience equipment failure or even pose safety risks.
a: Battery cell temperature too high
- Uneven charging of the cells can cause the temperature of individual cells to rise abnormally. In this case, the battery and the entire energy storage system will issue warnings or directly report errors, leading to a shutdown that requires inspection or reset before operation can resume.
- Cell failure may cause the temperature to spike uncontrollably. If the temperature exceeds the battery's maximum tolerance, it may lead to cell swelling, or even burn out or explosion.
b: Overheating of critical components (e.g., MOSFETs)
- During long-term operation, important driving components or cables may continue to heat up. When the temperature reaches the system's set maximum value, the drive will control the device to stop operating, resulting in interruptions in the energy storage system's operation.
- If there is a failure in the system's drive monitoring while the system continues to operate for an extended period, the temperature will rise uncontrollably, potentially causing damage to the internal components. The entire system will fail and stop operating, requiring factory repair.
Thermal management of the energy storage system in high temperature environment
Thermal management system is a necessary part for any energy storage system, and it is also an important part of the safe and stable work of energy storage system.
Just like the BMS (Battery Management System) in battery systems that monitors and manages the temperature of battery cells, each energy storage system is also equipped with a thermal management system to ensure that the temperatures of all components remain within a normal range during operation.
The main functions of the thermal management system in energy storage include: battery cooling, battery preheating, temperature balancing, energy storage and scheduling, and thermal energy recycling
Technical Routes of Thermal Management in Energy Storage Systems
The thermal management system for energy storage employs various advanced technical routes, primarily categorized into passive thermal management and active thermal management. Based on different cooling technologies, the main methods include air cooling, liquid cooling, and phase change cooling.
- Passive Thermal Management mainly relies on natural convection and radiation for heat dissipation. It enhances the cooling efficiency of the energy storage system by using materials with excellent thermal conductivity. However, due to its relatively low cooling efficiency, this method may not meet the needs of high-power energy storage systems.
Active Thermal Management is a more efficient cooling method that utilizes active cooling devices such as fans, heat exchangers, and coolants to accelerate heat dissipation. This method significantly improves the cooling efficiency of the energy storage system, ensuring it operates within the appropriate temperature range. However, it also requires more power support and increases the complexity and overall cost of the system.
Adoption of Different Cooling Technologies
The thermal management system for energy storage employs various advanced technical routes, primarily categorized into passive thermal management and active thermal management. Based on different cooling technologies, the main methods include air cooling, liquid cooling, and phase change cooling.
Air Cooling Technology is widely used in containerized energy storage systems and communication base station storage due to its simple structure, reliability, and ease of implementation. When the energy density and space requirements of energy storage systems are less strict than those of power battery systems, increasing the number of batteries to reduce working ratios and heat generation rates becomes an effective strategy.
Liquid Cooling Technology employs coolants such as water, ethanol, and silicone oil, which indirectly contact the battery cells through flow channels on liquid cooling plates to dissipate heat. This technology offers efficient cooling capabilities and space-saving advantages, making it suitable for the future demands of large-scale energy storage stations. Additionally, by reducing mechanical components like fans, liquid cooling systems have lower failure rates, generate less noise, and consume less power, making them more environmentally friendly.
Phase Change Cooling Technology utilizes the principle of phase change materials absorbing heat during phase transitions for cooling. This technology has excellent thermal conductivity, high reusability, and is compact and lightweight, making it suitable for high-temperature and high-density environments. However, the lifespan of phase change materials is limited, and they must be combined with other cooling systems like liquid or air cooling to dissipate the absorbed heat to work for a long time.
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