Patent Description:
A battery energy storage apparatus has high flexibility, reliability, and energy density, and is gradually applied to fields such as large-scale photovoltaic power generation and wind power generation, to resolve a problem of large intermittent fluctuation of power generation. However, battery modules in the energy storage apparatus are generally arranged densely. This is not conducive to overall heat dissipation of the energy storage apparatus. The battery module works at a high temperature for a long time, leading to a decrease of a service life of the battery module. The document <CIT>shows an energy storing apparatus with a cyclic cooling unit and an air supply duct. Air is moved between the cyclic cooling unit and a number of devices to be cooled. The document <CIT> shows a modular energy storage system comprising a cyclic cooling unit. The document <CIT> shows a high voltage battery cooling system. The document <CIT> shows an air managing system for reducing gas concentrations in a metal-air battery.

further advantages developments are shown by the dependent claims.

This application provides an energy storage apparatus, to ensure a high cabinet deployment rate of a battery module, and achieve a good heat dissipation effect. This application specifically includes the following technical solutions.

An energy storage apparatus is provided, and includes a cabinet, cyclic cooling units, a support, battery modules, and an air supply duct. The support is fastened in an inner cavity of the cabinet, the battery modules are fastened on the support, and the support and the battery modules jointly separate the inner cavity into an air intake region and an air return region. A heat dissipation duct is disposed in the battery module, and the heat dissipation duct communicates with the air intake region and the air return region. The cyclic cooling unit is located outside the cabinet and is nearer the air return region than the air intake region. The cyclic cooling unit includes an air inlet vent and an air return vent. One end of the air supply duct communicates with the air inlet vent, and the other end of the air supply duct communicates with the air intake region. The air return vent communicates with the air return region. The cyclic cooling unit is configured to supply cooling gas from the air inlet vent. The cooling gas successively passes through the air supply duct, the air intake region, the heat dissipation duct, and the air return region, and finally flows back to the cyclic cooling unit from the air return vent. According to the energy storage apparatus in this application, the battery modules are fastened by using the support, and a fixing structure of the support and the battery modules separates the inner cavity of the cabinet into the air intake region and the air return region. Then, the cyclic cooling unit is fastened outside the cabinet, so that the air inlet vent and the air return vent of the cyclic cooling unit are disposed toward the inner cavity. In this way, the air return vent communicates with the air return region, and the air inlet vent communicates with the air intake region through the air supply duct. Cooling gas supplied by the cyclic cooling unit may flow from the air inlet vent to the air intake region through the air supply duct, or may flow back from the air return region to the cyclic cooling unit through the air return vent.

Between the air intake region and the air return region, cooling gas flows through the heat dissipation duct in the battery module. To be specific, cooling gas with a low temperature in the air intake region flows into the battery module, and then flows into the air return region after being fully in contact with, in the heat dissipation duct, gas with a high temperature in the battery module. Subsequently, the cooling gas with an increased temperature is cooled again in the cyclic cooling unit, and enters the air intake region again.

According to the energy storage apparatus in this application, a flow path for the cooling gas in the inner cavity is designed, so that the cooling gas can flow back only by mainly passing through the heat dissipation duct of the battery module. Therefore, the energy storage apparatus in this application achieves a better dissipation effect. This can better control a working temperature of the battery module, ensure working reliability of the battery module, and further prolong a service life of the battery module.

In a possible implementation, the cyclic cooling unit and the air intake region are disposed on two opposite sides of the air return region. The air supply duct is disposed across a top of the support and communicates with the air inlet vent and the air intake region.

In this implementation, the air supply duct crosses the top of the support, and the air supply duct may be formed by using a partial structure of the inner cavity. In addition, the air supply duct is disposed at a top position of the inner cavity. This can lower a height of the support, and facilitate installation, dismantlement, and maintenance of the battery module on the support.

In a possible implementation, the cabinet further includes a cabinet door, and the cyclic cooling unit is fastened on the cabinet door. The air supply duct includes a fixed section and a movable section. The fixed section is fastened on the top of the support, and the movable section is fastened on the cabinet door and communicates with the air inlet vent.

In this implementation, the energy storage apparatus needs to reserve space for opening and closing the cabinet door. Therefore, the cyclic cooling unit is fastened on the cabinet door. This properly uses space outside the cabinet door, and avoids that cyclic cooling units installed on other positions outside the cabinet occupy extra outside space. The fixed section of the air supply duct is fastened on the top of the support, so that relative positions of the air supply duct and the air intake region can be maintained. The movable section is fastened on the cabinet door, so that relative positions of the air supply duct and the cyclic cooling unit are maintained. When the cabinet door is closed, relative positions of the movable section and the fixed section are fixed, to ensure function implementation of the air supply duct.

In a possible implementation, an adhesive strip for sealing is further disposed at a fitting positionbetween the fixed section and the movable section.

In a possible implementation, there are at least two cyclic cooling units, and the at least two cyclic cooling units are disposed side by side in a first direction. The air supply duct includes at least two sub-ducts, the at least two sub-ducts are also disposed side by side in the first direction, and each sub-duct correspondingly communicates with an air inlet vent of one cyclic cooling unit.

In this implementation, when there are many battery modules accommodated in the energy storage apparatus, a size of the support is large, and a plurality of cyclic cooling units may be disposed to provide more cooling gas. The plurality of cyclic cooling units are disposed side by side. Each sub-duct correspondingly communicates with one cyclic cooling unit. This structure ensures that cooling gas supplied by each cyclic cooling unit is transported into the air intake region.

In a possible implementation, a side air deflector plate is disposed between two adjacent sub-ducts.

In this implementation, the side air deflector plate can prevent exchange of cooling gas between the two sub-ducts, and also prevent a phenomenon that cooling gas flows back from one sub-duct to the other sub-duct.

In a possible implementation, a mixed-flow fan is disposed between two adjacent sub-ducts, and is bidirectionally rotatable. The mixed-flow fan is configured to supply cooling gas in one sub-duct to the other sub-duct, to balance temperatures of the two adjacent sub-ducts.

In this implementation, when temperatures of cooling gas in the two sub-ducts are different, exchange of the cooling gas in the two adjacent sub-ducts may be actively controlled by using the mixed-flow fan, to eliminate a temperature difference between the two sub-ducts. In this way, temperature consistency of the cooling gas in the air intake region is ensured, and heat dissipation effects achieved by all battery modules tend to be consistent.

In a possible implementation, there are a plurality of battery modules, and the plurality of battery modules are fastened on the support at intervals. The battery module includes an air outlet surface facing the air return region. The heat dissipation duct includes an air outlet end, and the air outlet end is disposed on the air outlet surface.

In this implementation, the air outlet end of the heat dissipation duct is located on the air outlet surface of the battery module, so that the cooling gas can directly enter the air return region after passing through the heat dissipation duct. This avoids a case in which cooling gas flowing out of the heat dissipation duct flows back to the air intake region, and consequently, a temperature of the air intake region is increased and the heat dissipation effect is affected.

In a possible implementation, the battery module is rectangular. The battery module further includes an air inlet surface opposite to the air outlet surface, and four side surfaces connected between the air outlet surface and the air outlet surface. The heat dissipation duct includes an air inlet end opposite to the air outlet end, and the air inlet end is located on the air inlet surface and/or the side surface.

In this implementation, the plurality of battery modules are disposed at intervals, so that the air inlet surface and the four side surfaces of the battery module are in an open and unobstructed state. When cooling gas enters the heat dissipation duct from a plurality of positions, a cooling effect of the cooling gas on the battery module is accordingly improved.

In a possible implementation, a baffle plate is further disposed between the support and the air outlet surface of the battery module.

In this implementation, the baffle plate may seal a gap between the support and the battery module, so that gas with a high temperature in the air return region does not flow back to the air intake region through the air outlet surface of the battery module. In this way, the air intake region and the air return region are sealed and separated. The cooling gas can flow back to the air return region through only the heat dissipation duct of the battery module.

In a possible implementation, the support includes a first support and a second support, and the first support and the second support are disposed at intervals. The battery modules are fastened on each of the first support and the second support, and the air intake region is formed between the first support and the second support. The air return region further includes a first air return region and a second air return region. The first air return region is located on a side that is of the first support and that is away from the second support, and the second air return region is located on a side that is of the second support and that is away from the first support. The cyclic cooling units include a first cyclic cooling unit and a second cyclic cooling unit. The first cyclic cooling unit is located outside the first air return region, and the second cyclic cooling unit is located outside the second air return region. The air supply duct includes a first air supply duct and a second air supply duct. The first air supply duct communicates with an air inlet vent of the first cyclic cooling unit and the air intake region, and the second air supply duct communicates with an air inlet vent of the second cyclic cooling unit and the air intake region.

In this implementation, the first support and the second support are disposed opposite to each other, to form a structure in which the battery modules on the first support and the battery modules on the second support share one air intake region. In addition, the first cyclic cooling unit and the second cyclic cooling unit that are disposed opposite to each other may separately cool the battery modules on the first support and the battery modules on the second support, and recover and cool gas in the first air return region and the second air return region. This further reduces an overall size of the energy storage apparatus in this application.

In a possible implementation, the first air supply duct includes a first air deflector plate, and the first air deflector plate is located at an exit that is of the first air supply duct and that is near the air intake region, and is configured to prevent, from entering the first air supply duct, cooling gas supplied from the second air supply duct; and/or the second air supply duct includes a second air deflector plate, and the second air deflector plate is located at an exit that is of the second air supply duct and that is near the air intake region, and is configured to prevent, from entering the second air supply duct, cooling gas supplied from the first air supply duct.

In this implementation, the first air deflector plate and the second air deflector plate are configured to prevent the cooling gas from flowing back between the first air supply duct and the second air supply duct, to ensure that the cooling gas can smoothly enter the air intake region for cooling and heat dissipation.

In a possible implementation, the air supply duct further includes an eliminating vane. The eliminating vane is located at a top of the air intake region and between the first air supply duct and the second air supply duct. The eliminating vane is configured to direct cooling gas, so that the cooling gas flowing out of the first air supply duct and the second air supply duct enters the air intake region.

In this implementation, a structure of the eliminating vane can direct two streams of cooling gas supplied in opposite directions, so that the streams of cooling gas have a same moving direction when being converged, and large turbulence is not formed. This ensures smooth flow of the cooling gas in the inner cavity, and improves cooling efficiency.

In a possible implementation, a power distribution region is further disposed in the inner cavity of the cabinet. The energy storage apparatus further includes a controller and a cooling unit for a power distribution system. The power distribution region is located on one side of the support and is separated from both the air intake region and the air return region. The controller is accommodated in a control region and is configured to control working of each battery module. The cooling unit for the power distribution system corresponds to a position of the power distribution region and is fastened outside the cabinet. The cooling unit for the power distribution system is configured to perform cyclic cooling for the control region.

In this implementation, a controller structure in the power distribution region is relatively independent, and cyclic cooling is performed separately in the power distribution region, so that a cooling effect of the controller can be ensured.

In a possible implementation, the controller includes a power conversion module.

In a possible implementation, the controller includes a direct current distribution unit, a switch unit, and a power switch unit.

In a possible implementation, an air deflection separator is disposed in the power distribution region. Cooling gas supplied by the cooling unit for the power distribution system successively flows through the direct current distribution unit, the switch unit, and the power switch unit, and finally flows back to the cooling unit for the power distribution system.

In a possible implementation, a fire controller is further disposed in the power distribution region.

In a possible implementation, the cabinet further includes an air inlet ventilation casement, an air outlet ventilation casement, and an air supply unit. The air inlet ventilation casement and the air outlet ventilation casement are located at two opposite ends of the cabinet and each communicate with the air intake region. The air supply unit is located at the air inlet ventilation casement and/or the air outlet ventilation casement, and is configured to implement ventilation in the air intake region.

In this implementation, the air inlet ventilation casement and the air outlet ventilation casement may perform ventilation for the air intake region when necessary, to facilitate reliable working of the energy storage apparatus.

In a possible implementation, the air inlet ventilation casement and the air outlet ventilation casement each have an open state and a closed state. When the air supply unit works, both the air inlet ventilation casement and the air outlet ventilation casement are in the open state. When the air supply unit does not work, both the air inlet ventilation casement and the air outlet ventilation casement are in the closed state.

In this implementation, statuses of the air inlet ventilation casement and the air outlet ventilation casement are controlled. In this way, the energy storage apparatus can maintain the air intake region sealed in a working process, and a temperature of the cooling gas in the air intake region is ensured.

In a possible implementation, the air inlet ventilation casement and/or the air outlet ventilation casement are/is implemented in a form of a gravity louver.

The following describes technical solutions in embodiments of this application with reference to accompanying drawings in embodiments of this application.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of an application scenario of an energy storage apparatus <NUM> according to this application.

In <FIG>, the energy storage apparatus <NUM> provided in this application is applied to a photovoltaic power grid system <NUM>. The photovoltaic power grid system <NUM> further includes a photovoltaic system <NUM>, an inverter <NUM>, a transfer switch (Static Transfer Switch, STS) <NUM>, a transformer <NUM>, a power grid <NUM>, and a power conversion system (Power Conversion System, PCS) <NUM>. The photovoltaic system <NUM> is electrically connected to the inverter <NUM>, and an output end of the inverter <NUM> is connected to two transmission lines. On one of the transmission lines, the inverter <NUM> is connected to the power grid <NUM> successively through the transfer switch <NUM> and the transformer <NUM>. On the other transmission line, the inverter <NUM> is connected to the energy storage apparatus <NUM> in this application through the power conversion system <NUM>.

The photovoltaic system <NUM> is configured to: convert received solar energy into electric energy, and transmit the electric energy to the electrically connected inverter <NUM>. The inverter <NUM> is configured to: convert a direct current obtained through conversion by the photovoltaic system <NUM> into an alternating current, and output electric energy with a stable voltage to both the transfer switch <NUM> and the power conversion system <NUM>. On the transmission line on which the transfer switch <NUM> is located, the transfer switch <NUM> is configured to control switching of an internal line in the photovoltaic power grid system <NUM>. To be specific, the transfer switch <NUM> is configured to control the transformer <NUM> and the power grid <NUM> to be connected to the photovoltaic system <NUM> or the energy storage apparatus <NUM> in this application. The transformer <NUM> is configured to boost a voltage of electric energy transmitted to the power grid <NUM>, so as to reduce a loss of the electric energy in a transmission process. The power grid <NUM> delivers the electric energy to a power consumption side.

On the transmission line on which the energy storage apparatus <NUM> is located, the power conversion system <NUM> is configured to convert an alternating current output by the inverter <NUM> into a direct current, to control charging and discharging functions of the energy storage apparatus <NUM>. Specifically, refer to a schematic diagram of an internal structural framework of the energy storage apparatus <NUM> shown in <FIG>. After the power conversion system <NUM> provides direct current power distribution, a controller <NUM> in the energy storage apparatus <NUM> performs voltage conversion, and controls charging and discharging of a battery module <NUM> in the energy storage apparatus <NUM> one by one. In the figure, a quantity of controllers <NUM> is the same as that of battery modules <NUM>, and the controllers control charging and discharging of the battery modules <NUM> in a one-to-one correspondence manner. In other embodiments, the controller <NUM> may alternatively be electrically connected to a plurality of battery modules <NUM>, to simultaneously control charging and discharging functions of the plurality of battery modules <NUM>.

In the application scenario of the energy storage apparatus <NUM> in this application, the photovoltaic system <NUM> generates power by using solar energy, and output power of the photovoltaic system <NUM> is directly related to sunlight illumination intensity. To be specific, the photovoltaic system <NUM> can implement a power generation function when the daylight is sufficient. In this case, the photovoltaic system <NUM> can provide electric energy for not only the power grid <NUM> but also the energy storage apparatus <NUM> under control of the transfer switch <NUM>. In this case, the energy storage apparatus <NUM> may be charged in daytime. When there is no sunlight at night, the energy storage apparatus <NUM> may be connected to the power grid <NUM> under control of the transfer switch <NUM>, to provide stored electric energy to the power grid <NUM> for electric energy consumption. Further, when a power load at the power grid <NUM> is small, the power grid <NUM> may perform reverse charging on the energy storage apparatus <NUM>. In this way, the energy storage apparatus <NUM> may perform a peak adjustment function on the power grid <NUM>.

The photovoltaic power grid system <NUM> shown in <FIG> has a characteristic of large intermittent fluctuation of power generation in a working process because sunlight illumination intensity varies greatly with time. When the energy storage apparatus <NUM> in this application is applied to the photovoltaic power grid system <NUM>, peak adjustment may be performed on both the photovoltaic system <NUM> and the power grid <NUM>, to maintain a continuous power supply capability of the photovoltaic power grid system <NUM>. In addition, electric energy is consumed when the photovoltaic system <NUM> generates a large amount of electric energy or the power grid <NUM> has a small power consumption load. It may be understood that an application scope of the energy storage apparatus <NUM> in this application is not limited to the photovoltaic power grid system <NUM>, but the energy storage apparatus <NUM> in this application may be further applied to a power generation system having a similar requirement, for example, a wind power generation system or another power generation system that also has the characteristic of large intermittent fluctuation of power generation. In these power generation systems, a function of the energy storage apparatus <NUM> in this application is similar to a function in the photovoltaic power grid system <NUM>. Details are not described herein again in this specification.

<FIG> show an external structure of a cabinet <NUM> in the energy storage apparatus <NUM> according to this application. The cabinet <NUM> of the energy storage apparatus <NUM> in this application is substantially rectangular, and has four side walls. <FIG> and <FIG> respectively show structures of two opposite side walls, that is, a first side wall <NUM> and a second side wall <NUM>, of the cabinet <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> respectively show structures of the other pair of opposite side walls, that is, a third side wall <NUM> and a fourth side wall <NUM>, of the cabinet <NUM>.

It may be learned from <FIG> that the first side wall <NUM> and the second side wall <NUM> have larger exterior widths than the third side wall <NUM> and the fourth side wall <NUM>. Therefore, in this embodiment, the first side wall <NUM> and the second side wall <NUM> are defined as side walls extending in a length direction (a first direction <NUM>) of the cabinet <NUM>, and the third side wall <NUM> and the fourth side wall <NUM> are defined as side walls extending in a width direction (a second direction <NUM>) of the cabinet <NUM>. The cabinet <NUM> further includes a top wall (not shown in the figure) and a bottom wall (not shown in the figure). The top wall, the bottom wall, and the four side walls are fastened to each other and around the cabinet <NUM>, to form an inner cavity of the cabinet <NUM>. It may be understood that the inner cavity may be a sealed inner cavity. Some components of the energy storage apparatus <NUM> are accommodated in the inner cavity, and are sealed and protected by the cabinet <NUM>. In some embodiments, to facilitate transportation and installation of the energy storage apparatus <NUM>, the cabinet <NUM> may be implemented by using an appearance and specifications of a container.

Refer to <FIG> and <FIG>. A cabinet door <NUM> is disposed on the first side wall <NUM> and the second side wall <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM>. There may be a plurality of cabinet doors <NUM>, and the plurality of cabinet doors <NUM> are successively arranged in the first direction <NUM>. Two vent sashes <NUM> are respectively disposed at one end of the first side wall <NUM> near the fourth side wall <NUM> and at one end of the second side wall <NUM> near the fourth side wall <NUM>. The vent sash <NUM> is configured to implement air circulation between the outside and an inner cavity of a region corresponding to the vent sash <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a structure of the third side wall <NUM>. An air outlet ventilation casement <NUM> is disposed on the third side wall <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, a vent sash <NUM> is disposed on the fourth side wall <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM>. A position of the vent sash <NUM> is horizontally aligned with positions of the vent sashes <NUM> on the first side wall <NUM> and the second side wall <NUM>. A cabin door <NUM> communicating with a lower region of the inner cavity is disposed on a lower part of the fourth side wall <NUM> shown in <FIG>. It should be noted that the cabin door <NUM> is located below the vent sash <NUM> in <FIG>. In some other embodiments, the cabin door <NUM> may alternatively be located above the vent sash <NUM>, and the positions of the vent sashes <NUM> on the first side wall <NUM> and the second side wall <NUM> also move downward as the vent sash <NUM> on the fourth side wall <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a specific structure of the inner cavity of the cabinet <NUM> in which four side walls are not shown.

A separator <NUM> separates the inner cavity of the cabinet <NUM> into a first region <NUM> and a second region <NUM>. The first region <NUM> and the second region <NUM> are arranged in the length direction (the first direction <NUM>) of the cabinet <NUM>. The second region <NUM> is located near the fourth side wall <NUM>. The vent sashes <NUM> each communicate with the second region <NUM>, and the cabin door <NUM> is configured to open lower space of the second region <NUM>. In some embodiments, the second region <NUM> may be configured to accommodate the controller <NUM> of the energy storage apparatus <NUM>.

Refer to structures shown in <FIG>. <FIG> and <FIG> respectively show structures within the first side wall <NUM> and the second side wall <NUM>, and <FIG> shows a structure within the fourth side wall <NUM>. In <FIG>, the controller <NUM> accommodated in the second region <NUM> may include a power conversion module <NUM> (refer to <FIG> and <FIG>), a direct current distribution unit <NUM>, a switch unit <NUM>, and a power switch unit <NUM>. In some embodiments, a fire controller <NUM> and a fire extinguisher <NUM> may be further disposed in the second region <NUM>. The power conversion module <NUM> is disposed, corresponding to the positions of the three vent sashes <NUM>, in an upper part of the second region <NUM>. The direct current distribution unit <NUM>, the switch unit <NUM>, the power switch unit <NUM>, and the fire controller <NUM> are disposed, corresponding to a position of the cabin door <NUM>, below the power conversion module <NUM>.

Air circulation and heat dissipation may be implemented for the power conversion module <NUM> through the vent sash <NUM>. Other components are in a region corresponding to the cabin door <NUM>, and heat dissipation may be implemented through air cooling. Components in the second region <NUM> work together to control charging and discharging actions of the battery module <NUM> in the energy storage apparatus <NUM>. It may be understood that the second region <NUM> may correspond to the power distribution region.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, a support <NUM> and a plurality of battery modules <NUM> are disposed in the first region <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM>. The support <NUM> is fastened in the inner cavity of the cabinet <NUM>, and the plurality of battery modules <NUM> each are fastened to the support <NUM>. In an embodiment in this figure, the support <NUM> includes a first support <NUM> and a second support <NUM>. The first support <NUM> and the second support <NUM> are disposed at intervals in the second direction <NUM>, and each are configured to carry a part of the battery modules <NUM>. The battery modules <NUM> are arranged in an array manner and fastened on both the first support <NUM> and the second support <NUM>, to improve an arrangement density of the battery modules <NUM>, and improve a cabinet deployment rate of the energy storage apparatus <NUM>.

Refer to <FIG>. The energy storage apparatus <NUM> in this application further includes cyclic cooling units <NUM> and an air supply duct <NUM>. The cyclic cooling units <NUM> are fastened outside the cabinet <NUM>, and are fastened at positions of the first side wall <NUM> and the second side wall <NUM> in the schematic diagram. The cabinet doors <NUM> are further disposed on outer surfaces of the first side wall <NUM> and the second side wall <NUM>. Therefore, in this embodiment, the cyclic cooling unit <NUM> may be further fastened on the cabinet door <NUM>, and may rotate with the cabinet door <NUM> relative to the cabinet <NUM>. In this application, when the energy storage apparatuses <NUM> are arranged in a centralized manner, space for opening and closing the cabinet door <NUM> needs to be reserved at a position corresponding to the cabinet door <NUM>. The cyclic cooling unit <NUM> is fastened on the cabinet door <NUM>. This can properly use the reserved space outside the cabinet door <NUM>, and save internal space of the cabinet <NUM>. In some other embodiments, the cyclic cooling units <NUM> may alternatively be fastened at positions other than the cabinet doors <NUM> on the first side wall <NUM> and the second side wall <NUM>, and are fastened relative to the cabinet <NUM>.

The cyclic cooling unit <NUM> includes an air inlet vent <NUM> and an air return vent <NUM> (refer to <FIG>). Both the air inlet vent <NUM> and the air return vent <NUM> communicate with the inner cavity of the cabinet <NUM>. Specifically, both the air inlet vent <NUM> and the air return vent <NUM> communicate with the first region <NUM> of the inner cavity. The air inlet vent <NUM> of the cyclic cooling unit <NUM> is configured to supply cooling gas with a low temperature to the first region <NUM>. The air return vent <NUM> is configured to direct, to the cyclic cooling unit <NUM> for cooling again, gas that has a high temperature after heat dissipation in the first region <NUM>, and returns the gas from the air inlet vent <NUM> to the first region <NUM>, to achieve a cyclic cooling effect.

The air supply duct <NUM> is located between the cyclic cooling unit <NUM> and the cabinet <NUM>. Specifically, the air supply duct <NUM> communicates with the air inlet vent <NUM> and the first region <NUM>. Cooling gas supplied by the cyclic cooling unit <NUM> from the air inlet vent <NUM> may flow through the air supply duct <NUM> into the first region <NUM>. <FIG> shows an internal structure when there is one support <NUM>. In the first region <NUM> of the inner cavity, the support <NUM> and each battery module <NUM> carried by the support <NUM> may separate the inner cavity into two relatively independent regions: an air intake region <NUM> and an air return region <NUM>. The air supply duct <NUM> communicates with the air inlet vent <NUM> and the air intake region <NUM>, and the air return vent <NUM> communicates with the air return region <NUM> through the cabinet door <NUM>. Further, a heat dissipation duct <NUM> is disposed in the battery module <NUM>. The heat dissipation duct <NUM> passes through the inside of the battery module <NUM>, and communicates with the air intake region <NUM> and the air return region <NUM>.

Therefore, cooling gas with a low temperature supplied from the air inlet vent <NUM> to the air intake region <NUM> may pass through the heat dissipation duct <NUM> inside the battery module <NUM>, and enter the air return region <NUM>. Then, the gas flows back to the cyclic cooling unit <NUM> from the air return vent <NUM> communicating with the air return region <NUM>. The heat dissipation duct <NUM> is disposed inside the battery module <NUM>. This ensures that the cooling gas supplied by the cyclic cooling unit <NUM> can flow through the inside of the battery module <NUM>, sufficient cooling is performed on the battery module <NUM>, and then the cooling gas flows back to the cyclic cooling unit <NUM> for cooling again.

It may be understood that, when a sealed connection is formed between the support <NUM> and the battery modules <NUM> carried by the support <NUM>, that is, when the support <NUM> and the battery modules <NUM> can separate the first region <NUM> of the inner cavity into the air intake region <NUM> and the air return region <NUM> that are isolated from each other, the heat dissipation duct <NUM> in the battery module <NUM> is an only duct through which cooling gas can flow from the air intake region <NUM> to the air return region <NUM>. In this case, the cooling gas supplied by the cyclic cooling unit <NUM> can completely flow into the air return region <NUM> through the heat dissipation duct <NUM>. This can effectively improve a heat dissipation effect of the battery module <NUM> in the energy storage apparatus <NUM> in this application. In addition, due to separation of the support <NUM> and the battery modules <NUM>, gas with a high temperature in the air return region <NUM> is not easy to flow back to the air intake region <NUM>. In other words, a temperature of cooling gas in the air intake region <NUM> may not be affected. In this way, a cooling effect on the battery module <NUM> is ensured. According to the energy storage apparatus <NUM> in this application, a working temperature of the battery module <NUM> can be better controlled, working reliability of the battery module <NUM> can be ensured, and a service life of the battery module <NUM> can be further prolonged.

In <FIG>, the cyclic cooling unit <NUM> and the air intake region <NUM> are disposed on two opposite sides of the air return region <NUM> in the second direction <NUM>, and the air supply duct <NUM> is located on a top of the support <NUM>. The air supply duct <NUM> crosses the support <NUM> in the second direction <NUM>, and communicates with the air inlet vent <NUM> and the air intake region <NUM>. To be specific, a top of the first region <NUM> is configured to form the air supply duct <NUM>. Cooling air flows from a side that is of the support <NUM> and that is away from the cyclic cooling unit <NUM> in a top-down direction, and gradually flows back to the air return region <NUM> through the heat dissipation duct <NUM> of the battery module <NUM>. In this embodiment, the air supply duct <NUM> is disposed at a top position of the inner cavity. This can lower a height of the support <NUM>, and facilitate installation, dismantlement, and maintenance of the battery module <NUM> on the support <NUM>.

Refer to <FIG> and <FIG>. In this embodiment, the first support <NUM>, the second support <NUM>, and several battery modules <NUM> carried by each of the first support <NUM> and the second support <NUM> are disposed in the first region <NUM> of the inner cavity. A single support <NUM> and battery modules <NUM> carried by the support <NUM> can separate the first region <NUM> into two independent regions. When two supports <NUM> are disposed in the first region <NUM>, and the two supports <NUM> are disposed at intervals, a first air return region 112a is formed between the first support <NUM> and the first side wall <NUM>, and a second air return region 112b is formed between the second support <NUM> and the second side wall <NUM>. An air intake region <NUM> is formed between the first support <NUM> and the second support <NUM>. The air intake region <NUM> may be a region shared by the first support <NUM> and the second support <NUM>. Cooling gas with a low temperature may flow from the air intake region <NUM> to both the first air return region 112a and the second air return region 112b.

Correspondingly, in the embodiment shown in the figure, the cyclic cooling unit <NUM> includes a first cyclic cooling unit <NUM> and a second cyclic cooling unit <NUM>. The first cyclic cooling unit <NUM> and the second cyclic cooling unit <NUM> are disposed on two opposite sides of the cabinet <NUM> in the second direction <NUM>, and are both fastened to the cabinet <NUM>. The first cyclic cooling unit <NUM> is located on a side that is of the first support <NUM> and that is away from the second support <NUM>, and the second cyclic cooling unit <NUM> is located on a side that is of the second support <NUM> and that is away from the first support <NUM>. An air return vent <NUM> of the first cyclic cooling unit <NUM> may recover gas in the first air return region 112a through the first side wall <NUM>. An air return vent <NUM> of the second cyclic cooling unit <NUM> may recover gas in the second air return region 112b through the second side wall <NUM>.

The air supply duct <NUM> includes a first air supply duct <NUM> and a second air supply duct <NUM>. The first air supply duct <NUM> is disposed across the top of the first support <NUM>, and communicates with an air inlet vent <NUM> of the first cyclic cooling unit <NUM> and the air intake region <NUM>. The second air supply duct <NUM> is disposed across the top of the second support <NUM>, and communicates with an air inlet vent <NUM> of the second cyclic cooling unit <NUM> and the air intake region <NUM>. In other words, the first cyclic cooling unit <NUM> and the second cyclic cooling unit <NUM> share the air intake region <NUM>. Steams of cooling gas supplied by the two cyclic cooling units <NUM> are converged in the air intake region <NUM>, and then respectively flow into the first air return region 112a and the second air return region 112b.

In the solution of disposing the two symmetrical supports <NUM> in the second direction <NUM>, in comparison with the structure shown in <FIG>, an overall size of the energy storage apparatus <NUM> may be further reduced in a manner of sharing the air intake region <NUM>. In the length direction (the first direction <NUM>) of the cabinet <NUM>, a support <NUM> and battery modules <NUM> may be successively arranged in the first direction <NUM>, and a plurality of cyclic cooling units <NUM> may be arranged accordingly in the energy storage apparatus <NUM> in this application based on a quantity of actually used battery modules <NUM>. The air supply duct <NUM> may be correspondingly disposed with a plurality of sub-ducts <NUM>, and the plurality of sub-ducts <NUM> are arranged side by side in the first direction <NUM>. Each sub-duct <NUM> is configured to cooperate with one cyclic cooling unit <NUM> to supply, to the air intake region <NUM>, cooling gas supplied by the cyclic cooling unit <NUM>. Each sub-duct <NUM> correspondingly communicates with one cyclic cooling unit <NUM>. This structure ensures that cooling gas supplied by each cyclic cooling unit <NUM> is transported to a region near the air intake region <NUM>. The plurality of cyclic cooling units <NUM> can provide more cooling gas, and a flow distance is reduced before cooling gas enters the battery module <NUM>. This ensures a low temperature of the cooling gas.

Refer to a structure of the cyclic cooling unit <NUM> shown in <FIG>. In an embodiment, the cyclic cooling unit <NUM> includes an internal air duct T1 and an external air duct T2. Two opposite ends of the internal air duct T1 are the air inlet vent <NUM> and the air return vent <NUM>. Cooling gas in the cyclic cooling unit <NUM> flows from the air return vent <NUM> to the air inlet vent <NUM> through the internal air duct T1, to implement circulation of the cooling gas in the inner cavity in the internal air duct T1. The external air duct T2 exchanges heat with the internal air duct T1, to cool the cooling gas flowing from the air return vent <NUM> to the internal air duct T1. Gas flowing in the external air duct T2 is gas outside the energy storage apparatus <NUM>. In some embodiments, a cooling component such as a compressor (not shown in the figure) may be further disposed in the cyclic cooling unit <NUM>, to further cool the cooling gas in the internal air duct T1.

As shown in <FIG>, the air inlet vent <NUM> is located above the air return vent <NUM>, and the air supply duct <NUM> communicates with the air inlet vent <NUM>. With reference to <FIG>, the cooling gas supplied from the air inlet vent <NUM> enters the air intake region <NUM> through the air supply duct <NUM>. The air supply duct <NUM> shown in <FIG> includes a fixed section <NUM> and a movable section <NUM>. The movable section <NUM> is located between the air inlet vent <NUM> and the fixed section <NUM>. In other words, the movable section <NUM> communicates with the air inlet vent <NUM> and the fixed section <NUM>. Specifically, the cyclic cooling unit <NUM> is fastened on the cabinet door <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM> in this embodiment. The cyclic cooling unit <NUM> needs to move (rotate in this embodiment) with the cabinet door <NUM> relative to the cabinet <NUM> for performing an operation on the battery module <NUM> and the support <NUM> after the cabinet door <NUM> is opened. Therefore, the movable section <NUM> may be fastened to the cabinet door <NUM>, so as to ensure that relative positions of the movable section <NUM> and the air inlet vent <NUM> are stable. In this case, the movable section <NUM> may move synchronously with the cabinet door <NUM> and the cyclic cooling unit <NUM>, and the movable section <NUM> and the fixed section <NUM> may form separable structures.

The fixed section <NUM> is fastened on the top of cabinet <NUM>. The fixed section <NUM> includes a docking hatch <NUM> and an air deflection end <NUM>. The docking hatch <NUM> is nearer the movable section <NUM> than the air deflection end <NUM>. The docking hatch <NUM> is configured to fit the movable section <NUM>, and is in an interconnection mode with the movable section <NUM> when the cabinet door <NUM> is closed. <FIG> shows a fitting structure of the docking hatch <NUM> and the movable section <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> respectively show a structure of the docking hatch <NUM> and a structure of the movable section <NUM>. A sealing strip (not shown in the figure) may be further disposed between the docking hatch <NUM> and the movable section <NUM>. When the docking hatch <NUM> and the movable section <NUM> are interconnected, this structure implements a sealed connection function between the docking hatch <NUM> and the movable section <NUM>. In this way, overall air-tightness of the air supply duct <NUM> is ensured, and unnecessary leakage and losses of cooling gas are avoided. Due to a moving fitting form of the docking hatch <NUM> and the movable section <NUM>, size precision between the docking hatch <NUM> and the movable section <NUM> is difficult to control. Therefore, the sealing strip may be disposed around a periphery of a surface on which the docking hatch <NUM> fits the movable section <NUM>, to achieve the foregoing effect. It may be understood that a structure of the sealing strip may be separately disposed on a side that is of the docking hatch <NUM> and that faces the movable section <NUM>, or a side that is of the movable section <NUM> and that faces the docking hatch <NUM>. In some embodiments, the structure of the sealing strip may be disposed on both the docking hatch <NUM> and the movable section <NUM>, to enhance sealing performance when the docking hatch <NUM> fits the movable section <NUM>.

For a side on the air deflection end <NUM>, refer to <FIG> shows an arrangement form of air deflection ends <NUM> of two adjacent sub-ducts <NUM>. A side air deflector plate <NUM> is disposed in the air supply duct <NUM> between the two adjacent sub-ducts <NUM>. The side air deflector plate <NUM> is configured to separate the two sub-ducts <NUM>, to avoid a phenomenon of cooling gas exchange between the two adjacent sub-ducts <NUM>. As mentioned above, a shorter distance of cooling gas flowing in the air supply duct <NUM> is favorable for maintaining a low temperature of the cooling gas. This achieves a better heat dissipation effect on the battery module <NUM>. A structure of two side-by-side air deflection ends <NUM> is formed by disposing the side air deflector plate <NUM> between the two sub-ducts <NUM>.

Further refer to <FIG>. In an embodiment, a mixed-flow fan <NUM> is further disposed between the two adjacent sub-ducts <NUM>. The mixed-flow fan <NUM> may be disposed on the side air deflector plate <NUM>, and a hole allowing cooling gas to pass through is formed between the two sub-ducts <NUM>. The mixed-flow fan <NUM> is bidirectionally rotatable. When the mixed-flow fan <NUM> rotates in one rotation direction, cooling gas in one sub-duct <NUM> may be supplied to the other sub-duct <NUM>. When the mixed-flow fan <NUM> rotates in the other rotation direction, cooling gas in the other sub-duct <NUM> may be supplied to the one sub-duct <NUM>. In this way, an effect of actively controlling cooling gas exchange between the two adjacent sub-ducts <NUM> is achieved.

The mixed-flow fan <NUM> may be electrically connected to the controller <NUM>, and both a rotation direction and a rotation speed of the mixed-flow fan <NUM> are controlled by the controller <NUM>. This embodiment may correspond to a scenario in which two adjacent cyclic cooling units <NUM> have different cooling effects. For example, when one of the two adjacent cyclic cooling units <NUM> is faulty, cooling gas in a sub-duct <NUM> corresponding to a cyclic cooling unit <NUM> that is not faulty may be supplied to the other sub-duct <NUM> by using the mixed-flow fan <NUM>. In addition, the sub-duct <NUM> receiving the cooling gas may supply a specific amount of cooling gas toward the air intake region <NUM>, to ensure a low temperature of the cooling gas in the air intake region <NUM>. In this way, a heat dissipation effect of a battery module <NUM> in the region is not significantly degraded due to the faulty cyclic cooling unit <NUM>.

In some other application scenarios, for example, when the energy storage apparatus <NUM> is in an environment with a low temperature, and cooling gas required by the battery module <NUM> flows slowly, the controller <NUM> may actively control a part of cyclic cooling units <NUM> to stop working, and a remaining part of cyclic cooling units <NUM> to keep working. In this case, a temperature of entire cooling gas in the air intake region <NUM> is balanced through rotation of the mixed-flow fan <NUM>.

An application scenario of the mixed-flow fan <NUM> may further correspond to an embodiment in which a region temperature measurement unit (not shown in the figure) may be further disposed in the air intake region <NUM>. The region temperature measurement unit is configured to: detect real-time temperatures of regions in the air intake region <NUM> corresponding to different sub-ducts <NUM>, and transfer the real-time temperature of each region to the controller <NUM>. After receiving the real-time temperature of each region, the controller <NUM> determines whether a temperature difference between different regions meets a preset threshold. When the temperature difference between different regions exceeds the preset threshold, the mixed-flow fan <NUM> may be controlled to rotate, so as to transport more cooling gas toward a sub-duct <NUM> corresponding to a region with a high temperature. In this way, a temperature of overall cooling gas in the air intake region <NUM> is balanced, temperature consistency of the cooling gas in the air intake region <NUM> is ensured, and heat dissipation effects achieved by all battery modules <NUM> tend to be consistent.

In a position that is of a sub-duct <NUM> and that is near the air intake region <NUM>, refer to the embodiment in <FIG>. A structure of a first air deflector plate <NUM> is disposed in the first air supply duct <NUM>, and a structure of a second air deflector plate (not shown in the figure) is disposed in the second air supply duct <NUM>. An air deflection end <NUM> of the first air supply duct <NUM> and an air deflection end <NUM> of the second air supply duct <NUM> are disposed on two opposite sides of the air intake region <NUM>. When cooling gas in the first air supply duct <NUM> flows into the air intake region <NUM> from the air deflection end <NUM> of the first air supply duct <NUM>, the cooling gas may further flow toward a direction of the second air supply duct <NUM> due to inertia. In other words, the cooling gas in the first air supply duct <NUM> may be poured back into the second air supply duct <NUM>, causing an unnecessary loss of the cooling gas. After the structures of the first air deflector plate <NUM> and the second air deflector plate are disposed, the second air deflector plate may prevent, from entering the second air supply duct <NUM>, cooling gas supplied from the first air supply duct <NUM>. On the contrary, the first air deflector plate <NUM> may also prevent, from entering the first air supply duct <NUM>, cooling gas supplied from the second air supply duct <NUM>. In other words, in the embodiment in which the first support <NUM> and the second support <NUM> are disposed, the structures of the first air deflector plate <NUM> and the second air deflector plate may ensure that the cooling gas enters the air intake region <NUM>. This improves a heat dissipation effect of the energy storage apparatus <NUM>.

Refer to <FIG>, and structures shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. An eliminating vane <NUM> may be further disposed between the first air supply duct <NUM> and the second air supply duct <NUM>. The eliminating vane <NUM> is located on the top of the air intake region <NUM>, and includes a first air deflection side <NUM> and a second air deflection side <NUM>. The first air deflection side <NUM> is fastened to a side near the first air supply duct <NUM>. The first air deflection side <NUM> is constructed as an arc in an air supply direction parallel to the first air supply duct <NUM>, and a curved surface extends to a direction (vertically downward in this embodiment) toward the air intake region <NUM>. Cooling gas supplied from the first air supply duct <NUM> toward the air intake region <NUM> may be diverted after being directed by the first air deflection side <NUM>, so that the cooling gas entering the air intake region <NUM> flows in a preset direction. In this way, a battery module <NUM> near the bottom of the air intake region <NUM> may also receive a specific amount of cooling gas, and it is ensured that overall heat dissipation effects of battery modules <NUM> tend to be consistent. In addition, the first air deflection side <NUM> also avoids a turbulence phenomenon formed in the air intake region <NUM> due to an excessively large change in an angle of a flow path or convergence of two paths of cooling gas in a process in which the cooling gas enters the air intake region <NUM>. Smoothly flowing cooling gas helps improve cooling efficiency.

The second air deflection side <NUM> is disposed away from the first air deflection side <NUM>, is fastened to a side near the second air supply duct <NUM>, and is also constructed as an arc. It may be understood that the second air deflection side <NUM> is also configured to implement a directing function for the cooling gas supplied from the second air supply duct <NUM>, to prevent turbulence formed in a flow process of the cooling gas supplied from the second air supply duct <NUM>, and improve efficiency of the cooling gas. It may be understood that, an eliminating vane <NUM> having only one air deflection side may be introduced in the embodiment in which there is only one support <NUM> shown in <FIG>, to direct cooling gas supplied from a one-side air supply duct <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a structure of a battery module <NUM> in an energy storage apparatus <NUM> according to this application. The battery module <NUM> may have a substantially rectangular structure, and has an air outlet surface <NUM>. Air outlet holes <NUM> are disposed on the air outlet surface <NUM>. When the battery module <NUM> is fastened on the support <NUM>, the air outlet surface <NUM> is located on a side facing the air return region <NUM>. The air outlet holes <NUM> are constructed as an air outlet end of the heat dissipation duct <NUM> in the battery module <NUM>, and cooling gas in the heat dissipation duct <NUM> may flow into the air return region <NUM> through the air outlet holes <NUM>. An air inlet end that is of the heat dissipation duct <NUM> and that is away from the air outlet end may be disposed on any side surface of the battery module <NUM> other than the air outlet surface <NUM>. At least a part of the side surface is located in the air intake region <NUM>, and the air inlet end is also located in the air intake region <NUM>. In this way, cooling gas in the air intake region <NUM> can flow from the air inlet end of the heat dissipation duct <NUM>, and then flow into the air return region <NUM> through the air outlet end (the air outlet holes <NUM>).

In an embodiment, the entire battery module <NUM> may be located in the air intake region <NUM>. The air outlet surface <NUM> of the battery module <NUM> is disposed only toward the air return region <NUM>, so that cooling gas in the heat dissipation duct <NUM> can flow into the air return region <NUM>. Air inlet holes <NUM> constructed as an air inlet end are disposed on an air inlet surface <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) that is of the battery module <NUM> and that is away from the air outlet surface <NUM>, and/or four side surfaces <NUM> connected between the air inlet surface <NUM> and the air outlet surface <NUM> of the battery module <NUM>. Specifically, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, air inlet holes <NUM> are disposed on each of other outer surfaces of the battery module <NUM> other than the air outlet surface <NUM>. Each air inlet hole <NUM> communicates with the inside of the battery module <NUM>, and communicates with the air outlet hole <NUM> through the inside of the battery module <NUM>. In this embodiment, when a plurality of battery modules <NUM> are fastened on the support <NUM>, the plurality of battery modules <NUM> need to be disposed at intervals. In this way, the air inlet surface <NUM> and the four side surfaces <NUM> of the battery module <NUM> each are exposed in the air intake region <NUM>, and cooling gas in the air intake region <NUM> may flow into the heat dissipation duct <NUM> through each air inlet hole <NUM>.

Based on a specific internal structure of the battery module <NUM>, the air inlet hole <NUM> may be randomly disposed at a position on each side surface <NUM> and the air inlet surface <NUM>. For example, four electrochemical cells (not shown in the figure) are stacked in the battery module <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. Three heat dissipation gaps are formed between the four stacked electrochemical cells. Therefore, the air inlet holes <NUM> are disposed in three rows on each of two side surfaces <NUM> and the air inlet surface <NUM> of the battery module <NUM>. Each row of air inlet holes <NUM> may be aligned with one heat dissipation gap, so that cooling gas flowing into the battery module <NUM> through the air inlet holes <NUM> can directly pass through the three heat dissipation gaps and flow into the air outlet holes <NUM>. Air inlet holes <NUM> on an up side surface <NUM> and a down side surface <NUM> of the battery module <NUM> are disposed near the air inlet surface <NUM>. Cooling gas flowing from the air inlet holes <NUM> into the battery module <NUM> flows to the air outlet holes <NUM> through a long path. This can provide a better heat dissipation effect for the inside of the battery module <NUM>.

In an embodiment, refer to <FIG> and <FIG>. A baffle plate <NUM> is further disposed between the battery module <NUM> and the support <NUM>. The baffle plate <NUM> is configured to: cover a gap between the battery module <NUM> and the support <NUM>, and implement relative sealing isolation between the air intake region <NUM> and the air return region <NUM>. In this way, cooling gas in the air return region <NUM> is prevented from flowing back to the air intake region <NUM>, and a heat dissipation effect of the cooling gas is ensured. <FIG> show structures of several types of baffle plates <NUM>. The types of baffle plates <NUM> are distributed at different positions of the support <NUM>, to seal and isolate gaps between the support <NUM> and the battery module <NUM> at corresponding positions. It may be understood that a structure of the baffle plate <NUM> may be randomly disposed based on a shape requirement of an actual position, to achieve a similar beneficial effect. This is not particularly limited in this application.

<FIG> respectively show an upper component structure and a lower component structure of the second region <NUM> of the inner cavity. A power conversion module <NUM> in the controller <NUM> may be disposed, corresponding to the positions of the three vent sash <NUM>, in an upper part of the second region <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, an airflow duct <NUM> is disposed in the power conversion module <NUM>. The airflow duct <NUM> passes through a length direction of the power conversion module <NUM>, and works with a blower unit (not shown in the figure) disposed in the second region <NUM>. In this way, external air flows into the airflow duct <NUM> through a vent sash <NUM> on one side, and then flows out of the airflow duct <NUM> through a vent sash <NUM> on another side, to implement a heat dissipation function of the power conversion module <NUM>.

In the upper component structure of the second region <NUM> shown in <FIG>, the cabinet <NUM> is constructed by using a hollowed-out frame structure, and air may flow freely in the frame structure. The power conversion modules <NUM> may be disposed in two vertical columns. One column of vertically stacked power conversion modules <NUM> are located near the first side wall <NUM>, and the other column of vertically stacked power conversion modules <NUM> are located near the second side wall <NUM>. In addition, the length direction of the power conversion module <NUM> is arranged along the second direction <NUM>, and the blower unit is located between the two columns of power conversion modules <NUM>. The blower unit may blow air toward a vent sash <NUM> on the fourth side wall <NUM>. In this way, external air flows into the upper part of the second region <NUM> through a vent sash <NUM> on the first side wall <NUM> and a vent sash <NUM> on the second side wall <NUM>, and flows through airflow ducts <NUM> on the same sides of the vent sashes <NUM>. Heat dissipation is performed on columns of power conversion modules <NUM> on the same sides of the vent sashes <NUM>, and then the air is converged at a position near the blower unit. The converged air may flow toward the fourth side wall <NUM> with a blowing action of the blower unit, and finally flow out of the upper part of the second region <NUM> through the vent sash <NUM> on the fourth side wall <NUM>.

Further, the energy storage apparatus <NUM> may further include a cooling unit for a power distribution system (not shown in the figure). The cooling unit for the power distribution system is also located outside the cabinet <NUM> and is disposed corresponding to the second region <NUM>. The cooling unit for the power distribution system may be configured to provide cooling gas for the upper part and/or lower part of the second region <NUM>. That is, air flowing into the upper part of the second region <NUM> through the vent sashes <NUM> on the first side wall <NUM> and the second side wall <NUM> may be replaced with cooling gas supplied by the cooling unit for the power distribution system.

With reference to <FIG>, a direct current distribution unit <NUM>, a switch unit <NUM>, a power switch unit <NUM>, and a fire controller <NUM> are arranged in the lower part of the second region <NUM> shown in <FIG>. A fire extinguishing component, such as a fire extinguisher <NUM> and a fire extinguishing pipe <NUM>, may be further disposed in a region near the fire controller <NUM>. The fire extinguishing pipe <NUM> may be connected to fire extinguishing devices outside the cabinet <NUM>. A plurality of air deflection separators <NUM> may be disposed in the lower part of the second region <NUM>, and the air deflection separator <NUM> may implement region isolation between components, and direct flow of cooling gas. When being directed by the air deflection separators <NUM>, the cooling gas supplied by the cooling unit for the power distribution system may successively flow through the fire controller <NUM>, the power switch unit <NUM>, the switch unit <NUM>, and the direct current distribution unit <NUM>, and finally flow back to the cooling unit for the power distribution system for cyclic cooling.

In this embodiment, the second region <NUM> and the first region <NUM> are independent of each other. Therefore, cyclic cooling can be separately performed on the controller <NUM> in a power distribution region when the second region <NUM> works with the cooling unit for the power distribution system. This ensures a cooling effect of each component in the controller <NUM>.

In an embodiment, a ventilation duct (not shown in the figure) may be further disposed on the separator <NUM> configured to separate the inner cavity into the first region <NUM> and the second region <NUM>. The ventilation duct may be configured to communicate with the first region <NUM> and the second region <NUM>. In this embodiment, a position of the ventilation duct needs to correspond to the upper part of the second region <NUM>, so that the ventilation duct can communicate with the outside of the cabinet <NUM> through the vent sash <NUM> in the upper part. In addition, the position of the ventilation duct further needs to correspond to the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM> on the third side wall <NUM>, so that the ventilation duct can communicate with the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM> through the air intake region <NUM> or the air return region <NUM> in the first region <NUM>. Therefore, in the length direction (the first direction <NUM>) of the cabinet <NUM>, a vent sash <NUM> near or on the fourth side wall <NUM> can communicate with the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM> through the ventilation duct and the air intake region <NUM> (or the air return region <NUM>). In other words, an airflow path passing through the inner cavity of the cabinet <NUM> is formed in the length direction. In this case, the vent sash <NUM> forming the airflow path may be considered as an air inlet ventilation casement of the cabinet <NUM>.

The airflow path can ensure air circulation in the inner cavity of the cabinet <NUM> when necessary. In other words, when the energy storage apparatus <NUM> in this application encounters an accident such as a fire, air circulation may be forced to be implemented through the airflow path from the air inlet ventilation casement to the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM>, to implement fire protection. Because the inner cavity of cabinet <NUM> is sealed, cooling gas flows through only the heat dissipation duct <NUM> of the battery module <NUM>. When the energy storage apparatus <NUM> encounters an accident such as a fire, an airflow volume of the heat dissipation duct <NUM> cannot meet an air exchange requirement in the cabinet <NUM>. As a result, the energy storage apparatus <NUM> may fail to implement fire protection. However, a structure of the airflow path may work with an air supply function of an air supply unit <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) disposed in the inner cavity of the cabinet <NUM>, to form a larger airflow volume in the airflow path, to implement fire protection of the energy storage apparatus <NUM>. In addition, because the airflow path passes through the inner cavity of the cabinet <NUM> in the length direction of the cabinet <NUM>, air circulating in the airflow path can flow in a larger area of the inner cavity, to better implement fire protection.

It may be understood that an air supply direction of the air supply unit <NUM> in this embodiment may be a direction from the vent sash <NUM> to the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM>, or may be a direction from the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM> to the vent sash <NUM>. During air supply, the air supply unit <NUM> can exchange air for the inner cavity of the cabinet <NUM> through the airflow path. As shown in <FIG>, the air supply unit <NUM> may be accommodated in the air intake region <NUM> and fastened near the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM>. The air supply unit <NUM> may alternatively be fastened near the ventilation duct. In some embodiments, the air supply unit <NUM> may alternatively be disposed, corresponding to a position of the air ventilation duct, in the second region <NUM>. The air supply unit <NUM> may alternatively be disposed, corresponding to a position of the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM>, outside the cabinet <NUM>. Any unit that can achieve a ventilation effect on the airflow path may be used as an implementation of the air supply unit <NUM> in this application.

As shown in <FIG>, the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM> is implemented in a form of a louver. Specifically, the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM> in this application may have an open state and a closed state. <FIG> shows a structure when the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM> is in the open state, and <FIG> shows a structure when the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM> is in the closed state. When the energy storage apparatus <NUM> works normally, the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM> should be in the closed state. The air outlet ventilation casement <NUM> communicates with the air intake region <NUM> or the air return region <NUM>, and cooling gas used for cooling and heat dissipation flows in the region. In this case, the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM> is controlled to be in the closed state. This can ensure that the cooling gas mainly flows through the heat dissipation duct <NUM> of each battery module <NUM> for heat dissipation. In addition, external air is prevented from entering the first region <NUM> and causing unnecessary heat exchange with the cooling gas. When the foregoing accident occurs, and the inner cavity of the cabinet <NUM> needs to be ventilated, the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM> is controlled to switch to the open state, to ensure good ventilation of the airflow path.

It may be understood that the ventilation duct on the separator <NUM> may be disposed with reference to a manner of disposing the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM>. To be specific, a structure similar to a louver is also disposed at a position of the ventilation duct, and has an open state and a closed state. The ventilation duct communicates with the first region <NUM> and the second region <NUM>, and air circulation is implemented between the second region <NUM> and the outside through the vent sash <NUM>. Therefore, status switching of the ventilation duct helps control a heat dissipation effect of the battery module <NUM>.

The two statuses of the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM> may be switched in many manners. For example, the controller <NUM> controls opening or closing of the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM> in a form of an electric louver. Alternatively, the controller <NUM> controls opening or closing of the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM> in a form of a solenoid valve. The manners may be all applied to the energy storage apparatus <NUM> in this application. In solutions shown in <FIG>, the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM> may alternatively be implemented in a form of a gravity louver. Specifically, a plurality of blades <NUM> are disposed in the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM>, and the blades <NUM> are disposed obliquely relative to a vertical direction at intervals. The blades <NUM> are rotationally connected to an outer frame of the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM>, and the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM> implements switching between the open state and the closed state by synchronously rotating the blades <NUM>.

When an included angle between the blade <NUM> and the vertical direction is small (as shown in <FIG>), two adjacent blades <NUM> are in contact with each other, and a gap for air circulation at a position of the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM> is small. In this case, the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM> is in the closed state. When an included angle between the blade <NUM> and the vertical direction is large (as shown in <FIG>), a gap between two adjacent blades <NUM> becomes large, and a large airflow path is formed. In this case, the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM> is in the open state.

Further, the blade <NUM> may be divided into an upwind blade <NUM> and a downwind blade <NUM> along extension of a rotation axis. The upwind blade <NUM> is located relatively above the rotation axis of the blade <NUM>, and the downwind blade <NUM> is located relatively below the rotation axis of the blade <NUM>. Further, a weight of the downwind blade <NUM> is set to be greater than a weight of the upwind blade <NUM>. In this case, the downwind blade <NUM> is naturally in a droop posture, and drives the entire blade <NUM> to rotate toward a position near the vertical direction. The included angle between the blade <NUM> and the vertical direction is small. In other words, a weight difference is set between the downwind blade <NUM> and the upwind blade <NUM> in this embodiment, so that the air outlet ventilation casement <NUM> is naturally in the closed state.

Claim 1:
An energy storage apparatus (<NUM>), comprising a cabinet (<NUM>), cyclic cooling units (<NUM>), a support (<NUM>), battery modules (<NUM>), and an air supply duct (<NUM>), wherein
the support (<NUM>) is fastened in an inner cavity of the cabinet (<NUM>), the battery modules (<NUM>) are fastened on the support (<NUM>), the support (<NUM>) and the battery modules (<NUM>) jointly separate the inner cavity into an air intake region and an air return region, a heat dissipation duct (<NUM>) is disposed in the battery module (<NUM>), and the heat dissipation duct (<NUM>) communicates with the air intake region and the air return region;
the cyclic cooling unit (<NUM>) is located outside the cabinet (<NUM>) and is nearer the air return region than the air intake region, the cyclic cooling unit (<NUM>) comprises an air inlet vent (<NUM>) and an air return vent (<NUM>), one end of the air supply duct (<NUM>) communicates with the air inlet vent (<NUM>), and the other end of the air supply duct (<NUM>) communicates with the air intake region, and the air return vent (<NUM>) communicates with the air return region; and
the cyclic cooling unit (<NUM>) is configured to supply cooling gas from the air inlet vent (<NUM>), wherein the cooling gas successively passes through the air supply duct (<NUM>), the air intake region, the heat dissipation duct (<NUM>), and the air return region, and finally flows back to the cyclic cooling unit (<NUM>) from the air return vent (<NUM>),
wherein the cyclic cooling unit (<NUM>) and the air intake region are disposed on two opposite sides of the air return region, and the air supply duct (<NUM>) is disposed across a top of the support and communicates with the air inlet vent (<NUM>) and the air intake region,
wherein there are at least two cyclic cooling units (<NUM>), and the at least two cyclic cooling units (<NUM>) are disposed side by side in a first direction; and
the air supply duct (<NUM>) comprises at least two sub-ducts, the at least two sub-ducts are also disposed side by side in the first direction, and each sub-duct correspondingly communicates with an air inlet vent (<NUM>) of one cyclic cooling unit (<NUM>), and
wherein a mixed-flow fan (<NUM>) is disposed between two adjacent sub-ducts, and is bidirectionally rotatable; and the mixed-flow fan (<NUM>) is configured to supply cooling gas in one sub-duct to the other sub-duct, to balance temperatures of the two adjacent sub-ducts.