Patent Description:
The present application claims priority to <CIT>, in the Republic of Korea.

Currently commercialized secondary batteries include nickel cadmium batteries, nickel hydrogen batteries, nickel zinc batteries, lithium secondary batteries, etc. Among these secondary batteries, because the lithium secondary batteries have almost no memory effect compared to nickel-based secondary batteries, the lithium secondary batteries have been spotlighted owing to advantages of free charging and discharging, a very low self-discharge rate, and a high energy density.

Such a lithium secondary battery mainly uses lithium-based oxides and carbon materials as positive electrode active materials and negative electrode active materials, respectively. The lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate on which a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material are respectively coated are arranged with a separator interposed therebetween, and a sheath material, that is, a battery case, that seals and accommodates the assembly together with an electrolyte solution.

Recently, secondary batteries are widely used not only in small devices such as portable electronic devices but also in medium and large devices such as vehicles and energy storage systems (ESSs). When secondary batteries are used in such medium and large devices, a large number of secondary batteries are electrically connected in order to increase capacity and output power. In particular, pouch type secondary batteries are widely used in such medium large devices because of advantages such as easy lamination.

Meanwhile, as the need for a large-capacity structure, including its use as an energy storage source, recently increases, demand for a battery rack including a plurality of secondary battery cells electrically connected in series and/or parallel, a battery module accommodating the plurality of secondary battery cells therein, and a battery management system (BMS) is increasing.

In addition, it was common for such a battery rack to include a rack case made of a metal material to protect or store a plurality of battery modules from external impact. Moreover, as the demand for a high-capacity battery rack is increasing recently, the demand for a battery rack in which a plurality of battery modules of a heavy load is accommodated is increasing.

However, it was very difficult to accurately position the battery rack of heavy load at a fixing point of an installation site. That is, it was inevitable to move the battery rack of heavy load using transportation equipment, and, when such transportation equipment is used, it was not easy to precisely adjust the position of the battery rack. Accordingly, an arrangement between battery racks is not even, which may cause a problem in that an electrical connection between the battery racks, or a connection of a firefighting facility, etc. may not be smooth.

Document <CIT> discloses a rack assembly having a plurality of shelves supported by a rack frame.

Document <CIT> discloses a battery rack comprising a main frame extending in a height direction to form wall bodies for supporting both lateral surface parts of battery modules.

The present disclosure is designed to solve the problems of the related art, and therefore the present disclosure is directed to providing a battery rack that is easy to install, an energy storage system, and a power generation system.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a battery rack as defined in the appended claims.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an energy storage system including at least one battery rack described above.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a power generation system including at least one battery rack described above.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the present disclosure includes the fixing groove in the fixing unit of each of the front frame and the rear frame, thereby stably fixing the battery rack to the bottom of the storage place. In addition, the present disclosure may stably fix the battery rack to the bottom of the transport device, thereby stably maintaining a fixed state even when an external impact occurs during transport. In addition, present disclosure may facilitate fixing the battery rack to the installation place.

<FIG> is a perspective view schematically illustrating a battery rack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating a rack case of the battery rack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a perspective view schematically illustrating a rack module of the battery rack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For reference, in <FIG>, a front door of the rack case was removed so that the inside of the battery rack may be viewed.

Referring to <FIG>, a battery rack <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of battery modules <NUM>, and a rack case <NUM> configured to accommodate the plurality of battery modules <NUM>.

Specifically, the plurality of battery modules <NUM> may be accommodated in the rack case <NUM> so as to be arranged in an up-down direction. The battery module <NUM> may include a module housing <NUM> and a plurality of battery cells (not shown) provided inside the module housing <NUM> and stacked in one direction. For example, the battery cell may be a pouch-type battery cell.

However, the battery cell of the battery module <NUM> according to the present disclosure is not limited to the pouch-type battery cell described above, and various battery cells known at the time of filing of the present disclosure may be employed.

The rack case <NUM> may include a fixing unit <NUM> provided on a lower end of the rack case <NUM>. The fixing unit <NUM> may include a main body part 126b of a plate shape. The main body part 126b may include a fixing groove <NUM> formed to be recessed from an edge of the main body part 126b.

Meanwhile, the rack case <NUM> may include a shelf frame <NUM>, a front frame <NUM>, and a rear frame <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the shelf frame <NUM> may be configured to mount the plurality of battery modules <NUM>. Specifically, the shelf frame <NUM> may include a plurality of receiving plates 121a. The receiving plate 121a may have an 'L' shape and a plate shape bent at an angle of approximately <NUM> degrees. In addition, both ends of the receiving plate 121a in a front-rear direction may be configured to be respectively connected to the front frame <NUM> and the rear frame <NUM>.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, two receiving plates 121a may be provided to receive one battery module <NUM>. The two receiving plates 121a may be configured to support a lower end portion of the battery module <NUM> in a left-right direction in an upper direction. In addition, the two receiving plates 121a may serve as a stopper for preventing the other battery module <NUM> placed below from moving in an upper direction.

Meanwhile, referring back to <FIG>, the front frame <NUM> may include a plurality of pillar portions <NUM> extending in the up-down direction. Upper end and lower end portions of the pillar portion <NUM> may be configured to be coupled to an external object (e.g., bottom or ceiling, or the other rack case <NUM> (of <FIG>)). The pillar portion <NUM> may serve as a main skeleton of the overall shape that is a hexahedron of the rack case <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the front frame <NUM> may include three pillar portions <NUM> positioned on the front end of the rack case <NUM>.

In addition, the front frame <NUM> may include a connection unit <NUM> connecting upper end portions between the pillar portions <NUM> in a horizontal direction. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the connection unit <NUM> may be configured to connect between the upper end portions of the three pillar portions <NUM>.

The front frame <NUM> may include a fixing unit <NUM> connecting lower end portions between the pillar portions <NUM> in the horizontal direction. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the fixing unit <NUM> may be configured to connect between the lower end portions of the three pillar portions <NUM>.

The rear frame <NUM> may include the plurality of pillar portions <NUM> extending in the up-down direction. The pillar portion <NUM> may serve as a main skeleton of the overall shape that is a hexahedron of the rack case <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the rear frame <NUM> may include three pillar portions <NUM> positioned on the rear end of the rack case <NUM>.

Furthermore, the rear frame <NUM> may include the connection unit <NUM> connecting upper end portions between the pillar portions <NUM> in the horizontal direction. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the connection unit <NUM> may be configured to connect between the upper end portions of the three pillar portions <NUM>.

The rear frame <NUM> may include the fixing unit <NUM> connecting the lower end portions between the pillar portions <NUM> in the horizontal direction. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the fixing unit <NUM> may be configured to connect between the lower end portions of the three pillar portions <NUM>.

<FIG> is a partial perspective view schematically illustrating the front of the battery rack of <FIG>. <FIG> is a partial perspective view schematically illustrating the rear of the battery rack of <FIG>.

<FIG> is a partial perspective view schematically illustrating a region A of the battery rack of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG> together with <FIG> again, the fixing unit <NUM> may include the main body part 126b of a plate shape extending in a horizontal direction. For example, the main body part 126b may extend in a horizontal direction to connect lower end portions of the plurality of pillar portions <NUM>. The fixing unit <NUM> may include the fixing groove <NUM> formed to be recessed from an edge of the main body part 126b. The fixing groove <NUM> may have a slit shape such that a body of a bolt B is slide-inserted in the horizontal direction.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, the fixing unit <NUM> of the front frame <NUM> may include four fixing grooves <NUM> recessed rearward from a front end portion of the main body part 126b. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the fixing unit <NUM> of the rear frame <NUM> may include four fixing grooves <NUM> recessed forward from a rear end portion of the main body part 126b.

That is, in the related art, there could be a case where an operator could not secure a working space to perform a bolting operation at the back of the battery rack in order to fix the battery rack to the bottom.

Meanwhile, according to the present disclosure, the bolt B may be previously fixed to the installation bottom by a predetermined depth, a form in which the bolt B is erected in the upper direction from the ground may be made, and then the battery rack <NUM> may slide and move rearward so that the body of the bolt B may be inserted into the fixing groove <NUM>. Then, the operator may tighten the bolt B inserted into the fixing groove <NUM> using a long bar-shaped spanner at the front of the battery rack <NUM> so that the rear frame <NUM> may be fixed to the bottom. More specifically, for example, the bolt B may be previously fixed to the installation bottom of the rear side of the battery rack <NUM> by a predetermined depth. Thereafter, the battery rack <NUM> may slide and move rearward and then the bolt B inserted into the fixing groove <NUM> may be tightened. Accordingly, the position of the battery rack <NUM> may be fixed. Therefore, the position of the fixing groove <NUM> on the front side may be determined. Thereafter, the battery rack <NUM> may be additionally fixed to the installation bottom by inserting the bolt B into the fixing groove <NUM> provided in the front side of the battery rack <NUM>. Here, a method of fixing the battery rack <NUM> to the installation bottom has been described, but the method may also be applied to a method of fixing the battery rack <NUM> to an upper portion of another battery rack <NUM> as well as the installation bottom.

Therefore, according to such a configuration of the present disclosure, the fixing groove <NUM> is included in the fixing unit <NUM> of each of the front frame <NUM> and the rear frame <NUM>, and thus the battery rack <NUM> may be stably fixed to the bottom of a storage place. In addition, the present disclosure may stably fix the battery rack <NUM> to the bottom of a transport device, thereby stably maintaining a fixed state even when an external impact occurs during transport. In addition, present disclosure may facilitate fixing the battery rack <NUM> to the installation place.

<FIG> is a partial plan view schematically illustration a part of the fixing unit of the battery rack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the fixing groove <NUM> of the present disclosure may include a taper portion 126h1 and an accommodation portion 126h2. At least a part of the taper portion 126h1 may have a shape in which the size of the groove is gradually reduced in a recessed direction from an edge of the main body part 126b. The accommodation portion 126h2 may have a space formed to be further recessed in an inside direction from the taper portion 126h1. The accommodation portion 126h2 may have a circular opening. The size of the groove of the taper portion 126h1 may be greater than the size of the body of the bolt B.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, the fixing groove <NUM> may include the taper portion 126h1 formed to be recessed rearward from a front end portion. At this time, the taper portion 126h1 may have a shape in which the size of the groove is gradually reduced in the recessed direction from the edge of the main body part 126b. The accommodation portion 126h2 may have the opening in which the body of the bolt B may be accommodated.

Therefore, according to such a configuration of the present disclosure, the present disclosure includes the taper portion 126h1 and the accommodation portion 126h2 in the fixing groove <NUM>, so that the bolt B may move in a horizontal direction along an inner surface of the taper portion 126h1 of the fixing groove <NUM> and may be seated in the accommodation portion 126h2. Accordingly, the present disclosure may easily fix the rack case <NUM> to the bolt B fixed to the bottom through the fixing groove <NUM>.

<FIG> is a partial plan view schematically illustrating a part of the fixing unit of the battery rack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the fixing unit <NUM> of the battery rack <NUM> according to another embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a restraining bar 127a, an accommodation groove <NUM>, and an elastic member 127b, as compared with the fixing unit <NUM> of <FIG>.

Specifically, the restraining bar 127a may be configured to protrude so as to partition between the taper portion 126h1 and the accommodation portion 126h2. The restraining bar 127a may have a bar shape extending in a straight line. For example, as shown in <FIG>, two restraining bars 127a may be provided in the fixing groove <NUM> of the fixing unit <NUM>.

Also, the accommodation groove <NUM> may have an internal space to accommodate at least a part of the restraining bar 127a. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the fixing groove <NUM> may include the two accommodation grooves <NUM> into which at least a part of the two restraining bars 127a is inserted.

Moreover, the elastic member 127b may be provided in the accommodation groove <NUM>. The elastic member 127b may be configured to pressurize the restraining bar 127a to protrude from the accommodation groove <NUM>. The elastic member 127b may include, for example, a spring.

Therefore, according to such a configuration of the present disclosure, the present disclosure includes the elastic member 127b configured to make the restraining bar 127a protrude to the outside from the accommodation groove <NUM>, and thus, when the bolt B is inserted into the fixing groove <NUM>, the restraining bar 127a may be accommodated in the accommodation groove <NUM>, and when the bolt B is positioned in the accommodation portion 126h2, the restraining bar 127a may protrude again from the accommodation groove <NUM> to the outside, thereby very easily achieving a process of fastening the bolt B to the fixing groove <NUM>. Accordingly, the present disclosure greatly facilitates installation of the battery rack <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view schematically illustrating a bracket of the battery rack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG> together with <FIG> and <FIG> again, the front frame <NUM> and/or the rear frame <NUM> of the battery rack <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one bracket <NUM>.

The bracket <NUM> may include a mounting unit 129a configured to face one surface of the fixing unit <NUM> so as to be mounted on the fixing unit <NUM>. The mounting unit 129a may include a slit groove <NUM> having a shape corresponding to the fixing groove <NUM> of the fixing unit <NUM>. That is, the slit groove <NUM> may be configured to be fixed in a state in which a head part of the bolt B is seated.

In addition, the bracket <NUM> may include a fastening unit 129b configured to be coupled to the pillar portion <NUM>. The fastening unit 129b may have a shape bent and extending in an upper direction from an end portion of the mounting unit 129a. The fastening unit 129b may include a bolt hole so as to be bolt-coupled to the pillar portion <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the bracket <NUM> may include four bolt holes H configured to be communicatively connected to the bolt hole H of the pillar portion <NUM>.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, the fixing unit <NUM> of the front frame <NUM> may include four brackets <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the fixing unit <NUM> of the rear frame <NUM> may include four brackets <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view schematically illustrating the fixing unit of the battery rack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the fixing unit <NUM> of the battery rack <NUM> according to another embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a guide unit <NUM> when compared with the fixing unit <NUM> of <FIG>.

Specifically, the guide unit <NUM> may be configured to guide a movement of the fixing unit <NUM>. The guide unit <NUM> may have a side parallel to the ground at the bottom so as to be movable along the ground. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the guide unit <NUM> may be a portion protruding and extending in an outer direction from the edge of the main body part 126b of the fixing unit <NUM>. The guide unit <NUM> may have a shape bent at a predetermined angle Q from the edge of the main body part 126b. The guide unit <NUM> may have a shape bent, for example, at an angle of about <NUM> degrees from the edge of the main body part 126b.

Therefore, according to such a configuration of the present disclosure, the present disclosure may guide the fixing unit <NUM> to slide and move along the bottom through the guide unit <NUM>.

For example, when the fixing groove <NUM> is inserted into the bolt B fixed to the bottom in a state where the battery rack <NUM> is inclined at an angle of <NUM> degrees with respect to the up-down direction, the guide unit <NUM> bent at an angle of <NUM> degrees from the main body part 126b has the side parallel to the ground. Accordingly, the guide unit <NUM> may easily slide and move the battery rack <NUM> in the horizontal direction without shaking in the up-down direction while moving along the ground.

In addition, the guide unit <NUM> may include an extension groove <NUM>. The extension groove <NUM> may be formed to be recessed in the inner direction of the body from a protruding edge of the guide unit <NUM>. That is, the extension groove <NUM> may be configured to be communicatively connected to the fixing groove <NUM> of the fixing unit <NUM>.

Therefore, according to such a configuration of the present disclosure, the guide unit <NUM> includes the extension groove <NUM>, thereby guiding the bolt B to be inserted into the fixing groove <NUM> formed in the fixing unit <NUM>. That is, the guide unit <NUM> may guide the bolt B to be first inserted into the extension groove <NUM> and then move to the fixing groove <NUM> through the extension groove <NUM> while moving along the ground. Accordingly, the guide unit <NUM> of the present disclosure may facilitate the installation of the battery rack <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view schematically illustrating an energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the energy storage system <NUM> according to the present disclosure may include one or more battery racks <NUM> according to the present disclosure described above. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the battery rack <NUM> may include two or more battery racks 100A and 100B according to the present disclosure in a stacked form. The plurality of battery racks 100A and 100B may be electrically connected to each other. The energy storage system <NUM> according to the present disclosure may be implemented in various forms, such as a smart grid system or an electric charging station.

<FIG> is a partial perspective view schematically illustrating a region A of the energy storage system of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG> together with <FIG> again, the energy storage system <NUM> may include the two or more battery racks 100A and 100B stacked in the up-down direction. Among the stacked two or more battery racks 100A and 100B, the battery rack 100B located relatively below may further include the bolt B. The bolt B may be configured to be inserted into the two or more stacked fixing grooves <NUM>. The battery rack 100B located relatively below may further include the bolt hole H formed in an upper portion of the rack case <NUM>. For example, the battery rack 100B located relatively below may further include the bolt hole H formed in the connection unit <NUM> of each of the front frame <NUM> and the rear frame <NUM>.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, among the two battery rack <NUM> stacked in the up-down direction, the battery rack 100B located below may include four bolts B and four bolt holes H in the connection unit <NUM> of the front frame <NUM>, and may include four bolts B and four bolt holes H in the connection unit <NUM> of the rear frame <NUM>.

In addition, the bolt B fixed to the bolt hole H may be inserted into the fixing groove <NUM> of the battery rack 100A located relatively above. For example, as shown in <FIG>, among the two battery racks 100A and 100B stacked in the up-down direction, the fixing unit <NUM> of each of the front frame <NUM> and the rear frame <NUM> of the battery racks 100A located above may be bolt-fastened to the connection unit <NUM> of each of the front frame <NUM> and the rear frame <NUM> of the battery rack 100B located below. At this time, the bolt B fixed to a bolt hole <NUM> of the connection unit <NUM> may slide and move in the horizontal direction to be inserted into the fixing groove <NUM> of the fixing unit <NUM>.

Therefore, according to such a configuration of the present disclosure, the present disclosure stacks the plurality of battery racks <NUM> in the up-down direction, fixes the battery rack 100B located below to the ground, and fixes the battery rack 100A located above to the upper portion of the battery rack 100B located below, thereby further utilizing an upper space of the space in which the battery rack <NUM> of the power storage system <NUM> is accommodated, thereby effectively increasing the energy density to the space of the power storage system <NUM>.

Moreover, the present disclosure includes the fixing groove <NUM> in the fixing unit <NUM> of the battery rack <NUM>, and thus having the advantage of stacking the plurality of battery racks <NUM> in the up-down direction and easily achieving fixing between the battery racks <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the present disclosure provides a power generation system including at least one battery rack <NUM>. The power generation system may include a hydro power generator, a thermal power generator, a wind power generator, a solar generator, etc. Electricity generated from such a generator may be stored in the battery rack <NUM>.

Meanwhile, although the terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and back are used herein, these terms are only for convenience of description, and it is obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the terms may vary depending on the location of a target object or the location of an observer.

Claim 1:
A battery rack (<NUM>) comprising:
a plurality of battery modules (<NUM>) arranged in one direction; and
a rack case (<NUM>) configured to accommodate the plurality of battery modules (<NUM>),
wherein the rack case (<NUM>) comprises a fixing unit (<NUM>) provided on a lower end portion of the rack case (<NUM>),
wherein the fixing unit (<NUM>) comprises a main body part (126b) of a plate shape, and
wherein the main body part (126b) comprises a fixing groove (<NUM>) formed to be recessed from an edge of the main body part (126b);
wherein the fixing groove (<NUM>) comprises:
a taper portion (126h1) having a shape in which a size of a groove is gradually reduced in a recessed direction from the edge of the main body part (126b); and
an accommodation portion (126h2) having a space formed to be further recessed in an inner direction from the taper portion (126h1).