Patent Description:
Currently commercialized secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, and lithium secondary batteries, and among them, lithium secondary batteries have almost no memory effect compared to nickel-based secondary batteries, and thus, are in the spotlight for their advantages of free charge and discharge, extremely low self-discharge rate, and high energy density.

These lithium secondary batteries mainly use a lithium-based oxide and a carbon material as a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material, respectively. Lithium secondary batteries include an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate to which a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material are applied, respectively, are arranged with a separator therebetween, and an exterior, that is, a battery pouch exterior, for sealing and storing the electrode assembly together with an electrolyte.

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 or power storage devices. When used in these medium and large devices, a large number of secondary batteries are electrically connected to increase capacity and output. Especially, pouch-type secondary batteries are widely used in these medium and large devices due to an advantage of easy stacking.

Meanwhile, recently, as the need for a large-capacity structure as well as utilization as an energy storage source increases, there is an increasing demand for a plurality of secondary batteries connected in series and/or parallel, and a battery rack including a battery module that accommodates theses secondary batteries therein and a battery management system (BMS).

Also, such a battery rack generally includes a battery rack case of a metal material in order to protect a plurality of battery modules from external impact or accommodate and store the plurality of battery modules. Furthermore, as the demand for a high-capacity battery rack is increasing, the demand for a battery rack in which a plurality of battery modules of a heavy load are accommodated is increasing.

Battery racks of the related art has cooled secondary batteries or performed fire suppression by operating fire-fighting facilities when thermal runaway of secondary batteries of each battery module occurs or secondary batteries ignite or explode.

However, because positions of outlets of extinguishing agent supply pipes of provided fire-fighting facilities are different according to installation places, it is necessary to design a transfer pipe that transfers an extinguishing agent to a plurality of battery modules according to a position of an outlet of a supply pipe every time, and thus a battery rack including a plurality of battery modules has a problem of increasing manufacturing costs.

Furthermore, in the related art, an extremely difficult operation such as pipe welding has been required to perform an operation of connecting a supply pipe of a fire-fighting facility to a transfer pipe included in a battery rack. Accordingly, there has been a problem of increasing time and cost for installing a battery rack.

<CIT> concerns a power storage device. The storage device stores a plurality of battery modules in a rack. A back panel attached to the rack is provided with a plurality of extinguishant supply pipes being provided corresponding to each battery module stored in the rack. One end of the extinguishant supply pipe is connected to the rear wall of the case of the battery module, and the other end of the extinguishant supply pipe is connected to a connection piping. Another end of the connection piping is connected to a relay device, which in turn is connected to a fire extinguisher supply device. The fire extinguisher supply device includes an extinguishant pipe, one end of which is connected with the relay device and the other end of which is connected with a pump, which in turn is connected to the extinguishant tank by a connector pipe.

<CIT> concerns an energy storage battery cabinet with fire protection structure. Battery cases each including a plurality of batteries are placed in the cabinet body. Each battery box is provided with a fire-fighting liquid injection port for injecting a fire extinguishing agent. The fire injecting port may be a pipe disposed and sealed on the battery case. A fire-fighting pipeline is disposed on the cabinet body and is connected to the fire-fighting liquid injection port for injecting a fire extinguishing agent.

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, a power storage device, and a power generation system that reduce manufacturing costs and are easy to install.

Also, it will be easily understood that the objects and advantages of the present disclosure may be realized by the means shown in the appended claims.

A battery rack according to the present invention for achieving the object is defined in claim <NUM> and includes:.

The flexible pipe has a flexible material, the flexible material being a plastic material, OR the flexible pipe has a bendable structure, wherein the flexible pipe is formed in the form of a multi-layered pipe by weaving a plurality of round and narrow stainless steel wires.

Also, the battery rack may further include a connector provided at an outlet of the supply pipe or the inlet of the injection pipe, having a nozzle shape, and including a fixing groove formed by retreating a portion of the nozzle shape in an inward direction.

Also, in the battery rack, the first coupler or the second coupler may include an accommodating space into which a portion of the connector is inserted.

Also, the first coupler or the second coupler may include a fixing protrusion to be fixed to the fixing groove of the connector in the accommodating space when the connector is inserted into the accommodating space.

Also, the distribution unit of the injection pipe may protrude and extend toward each of the plurality of battery modules in a form branched from the main body portion, and an extended end portion may be inserted into each of the plurality of battery modules by penetrating the same.

Also, a passive valve to be opened when an internal temperature of the battery module rises above a predetermined temperature may be provided at the end portion of the distribution unit, which is inserted into each of the battery modules by penetrating the same.

Furthermore, a connector may be provided at a lower end of the injection pipe.

Also, the battery rack may further include a drain pipe.

The drain pipe may include a third coupler located at one end portion of the drain pipe and configured to be connected to the connector provided at the lower end of the injection pipe, and a discharge valve located at the other end portion of the drain pipe and configured to control whether the extinguishing agent is discharged.

Also, the battery rack may include two or more battery rack cases stacked in upward and down ward directions.

The injection pipe may be provided on each of the two or more battery rack cases.

The battery rack may further include
an intermediate pipe to connect between an injection pipe provided on a battery rack case located on a relatively upper portion and an injection pipe provided on a battery rack case located on a relatively lower portion, among the stacked two or more battery rack cases, and to have a bendable form.

Furthermore, the main body portion of the injection pipe may have a shape branched to two or more parts from the inlet.

Furthermore, the battery rack case may include
a cover portion including an accommodating space that accommodates the flexible pipe or the intermediate pipe to cover the flexible pipe or the intermediate pipe.

In addition, a power storage device of the present invention for achieving the above object is defined in claim <NUM> and includes at least one battery rack as specified above.

Furthermore, a power generation system of the present invention for achieving the above object is defined in claim <NUM> and includes at least one battery rack as specified above.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, by including a flexible pipe, the present disclosure may facilitate a connection between a supply pipe and an injection pipe of a fire-fighting facility provided at a place where a battery rack is installed. That is, because a position of an outlet of the supply pipe for supplying an extinguishing agent at the installation place where the battery rack is installed is not constant, when a pipe with a fixed position is used, there is a problem in that a separate custom-made connection pipe connecting the supply pipe and the injection pipe is additionally required. In contrast, the present disclosure may facilitate a connection between the outlet of the supply pipe and an inlet of the injection pipe by using the flexible pipe even when the position of the outlet of the supply pipe is not constant. Accordingly, the present disclosure may increase the efficiency of an operation of installing the battery rack and reduce manufacturing costs of the battery rack.

Therefore, the description proposed herein is just a preferable example for the purpose of illustrations only, not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, so it should be understood that modifications could be made thereto within the scope of the appended claims.

<FIG> is a rear perspective view schematically showing a battery rack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In addition, <FIG> is a partial front view schematically showing some components of a battery rack, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a battery rack <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of battery modules <NUM>, at least one battery rack case <NUM>, an injection pipe <NUM>, and a flexible pipe <NUM>.

Specifically, the plurality of battery modules <NUM> may be stored in the battery rack case <NUM> to be arranged in upward and downward directions. Each of the battery modules <NUM> may include a module housing <NUM> and a plurality of battery cells (not shown) provided in the module housing <NUM> and stacked in one direction. For example, the battery cells may be pouch-type battery cells.

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

Also, the battery rack case <NUM> accommodates the plurality of battery modules <NUM> therein. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the battery rack case <NUM> may include a plurality of storing plates <NUM> for storing one battery module <NUM>. Two of the plurality of storing plates <NUM> may be configured to support in an upward direction lower end portions of the battery module <NUM> in left and right sides. Also, the two storing plates <NUM> may serve as a stopper for preventing the other battery module <NUM> placed thereunder from moving upward.

Furthermore, the injection pipe <NUM> includes a main body portion <NUM> and a distribution unit <NUM>. The main body portion <NUM> includes an inlet 130a (see <FIG>) through which an extinguishing agent (not shown) is injected and an outlet 130b (see <FIG>). Here, the extinguishing agent may be a concentrated solution of an inorganic salt such as potassium carbonate, chemical foam, air foam, carbon dioxide, or water. The inlet may be located at an upper end of the main body portion <NUM>. The outlet may be located at a lower end of the main body portion <NUM>. The main body portion <NUM> may have a shape extending along an arrangement direction of the plurality of battery modules <NUM>. The main body portion <NUM> may have a shape extending in the upward and downward directions along the battery modules <NUM> arranged in the upward and downward directions.

In addition, the distribution unit <NUM> has a shape extending from the main body portion <NUM> to each of the plurality of battery modules <NUM>. That is, the distribution unit <NUM> may be a portion branched from the main body portion <NUM> to each of the plurality of battery modules <NUM>. The distribution unit <NUM> extends toward the plurality of battery modules <NUM>. An outlet (not shown) configured to discharge an extinguishing agent may be provided at an extended end portion of the distribution unit <NUM>. The outlet is inserted into each of the plurality of battery modules <NUM>.

<FIG> is a partial front view schematically showing a flexible pipe of a battery rack, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG> together with <FIG> and <FIG> again, the flexible pipe <NUM> includes a first coupler <NUM> and a second coupler <NUM>. The first coupler <NUM> is coupled to one end of the flexible pipe <NUM>. The first coupler <NUM> may be connected to a supply pipe <NUM> for supplying an extinguishing agent. That is, the first coupler <NUM> may be configured to be connected to an outlet 200a of the supply pipe <NUM>. In addition, the second coupler <NUM> is coupled to the other end of the flexible pipe <NUM>. The second coupler <NUM> may be connected to an inlet formed on an upper end of the main body portion <NUM> of the injection pipe <NUM>.

Furthermore, the flexible pipe <NUM> is bendable. That is, in one claimed alternative, the flexible pipe <NUM> includes a flexible material. The flexible material is a plastic material. Alternatively, the flexible pipe <NUM> has a bendable structure. The flexible pipe <NUM> is formed in the form of a multi-layered pipe by weaving a plurality of round and narrow stainless steel wires.

Therefore, according to this configuration of the present disclosure, by including the flexible pipe <NUM>, the present disclosure may facilitate a connection between the supply pipe <NUM> and the injection pipe <NUM> of a fire-fighting facility provided at a place where the battery rack <NUM> is installed. That is, because a position of the outlet 200a of the supply pipe <NUM> for supplying an extinguishing agent at the installation place where the battery rack <NUM> is installed is not constant, when a pipe with a fixed position is used, there is a problem in that a separate custom-made connection pipe connecting the supply pipe <NUM> and the injection pipe <NUM> is additionally required. In contrast, the present disclosure may facilitate a connection between the outlet 200a of the supply pipe <NUM> and an inlet of the injection pipe <NUM> by using the flexible pipe <NUM> even when the position of the outlet 200a of the supply pipe <NUM> is not constant. Accordingly, the present disclosure may increase the efficiency of an operation of installing the battery rack <NUM> and reduce manufacturing costs of the battery rack <NUM>.

<FIG> is a plan view schematically showing components of <FIG>. In addition, <FIG> is a front view schematically showing some components of a battery rack, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG> together with <FIG> and <FIG> again, the battery rack <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a connector <NUM> configured to be detachably coupled to the first coupler <NUM> or the second coupler <NUM>.

Specifically, the connector <NUM> may be provided at the outlet 200a of the supply pipe <NUM>, the inlet 130a (see <FIG>) of the injection pipe <NUM>, and the outlet 130b (see <FIG>). For example, the connector <NUM> may be coupled to the outlet 200a of the supply pipe <NUM>. The connector <NUM> may also be coupled to the inlet 130a of the injection pipe <NUM>. The connector <NUM> may have a nozzle shape protruding in one direction. The connector <NUM> may include a fixing groove H formed by retreating a portion of the nozzle shape in an inward direction.

Also, the first coupler <NUM> or the second coupler <NUM> may include an accommodating space S into which a portion (nozzle portion) of the connector <NUM> is inserted. The first coupler <NUM> or the second coupler <NUM> may include a fixing protrusion P to be fixed to the fixing groove H of the connector <NUM> in the accommodating space S when the connector <NUM> is inserted into the accommodating space S. The fixing protrusion P may include, for example, six metal beads (bearings).

That is, when the connector <NUM> is inserted into the accommodating space S of the first coupler <NUM> or the second coupler <NUM>, the six metal beads may be inserted and fixed into the fixing groove H of the connector <NUM> by pressing the six metal beads by using an external housing provided in each of the couplers <NUM> and <NUM>. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not necessarily limited thereto, and a quick coupler or quick joint in various known forms may be employed as the first coupler <NUM> or the second coupler <NUM>.

Therefore, according to this configuration of the present disclosure, the present disclosure may facilitate a connection between the flexible pipe <NUM> and the outlet 200a of the supply pipe <NUM> or the inlet 130a of the injection pipe <NUM> by using the connector <NUM> and the couplers <NUM> and <NUM> coupled to the connector <NUM>. Accordingly, the present disclosure may increase the efficiency of an operation of installing the battery rack <NUM>.

Referring back to <FIG>, the distribution unit <NUM> of the injection pipe <NUM> may protrude and extend toward each of the plurality of battery modules <NUM> in a shape branched from the main body portion <NUM>. In addition, an extended end portion of the distribution unit <NUM> may be inserted into each of the plurality of battery modules <NUM> by penetrating the same. For example, an opening may be formed in a rear surface of the module housing <NUM> of the battery module <NUM> so that an end portion (outlet) of the distribution unit <NUM> may be inserted thereto.

Therefore, according to this configuration of the present disclosure, the distribution unit <NUM> of the injection pipe <NUM> of the present disclosure is directly inserted into the battery module <NUM>, and thus, an extinguishing agent may be directly sprayed into the battery module <NUM> in which a fire has occurred, and thus an extinguishing effect may be extremely excellent. Accordingly, the present disclosure may increase fire safety.

<FIG> is a partial perspective view schematically showing some components of a battery rack, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG> together with <FIG>, the present disclosure may further include a passive valve <NUM> at an extended end portion 132a of the distribution unit <NUM>, which is inserted into each of the battery modules <NUM> by penetrating the same. The passive valve <NUM> may be configured such that the valve is opened when an internal temperature of the battery module <NUM> rises above a predetermined temperature. That is, the passive valve <NUM> may be an outlet of the distribution unit <NUM>.

Specifically, the passive valve <NUM> may include a glass bulb <NUM> configured to be broken at a predetermined temperature or higher. The glass bulb <NUM> may be configured to usually close an outlet 160a of the passive valve <NUM>. However, when the glass bulb <NUM> increases in temperature and thus ruptured and is lost to the outside, a closed state of the outlet 160a of the passive valve <NUM> may be released, and the outlet 160a of the passive valve may be opened.

Therefore, according to this configuration of the present disclosure, by including the passive valve <NUM>, the present disclosure may supply an extinguishing agent because only a valve of a distribution unit <NUM>, which is inserted into a battery module <NUM> where a fire has occurred, is opened when the fire occurs in only some of the plurality of battery modules <NUM>. Because the extinguishing agent is not supplied to the remaining battery modules <NUM> where the fire has not occurred, there is an advantage in that the remaining battery modules <NUM> may be re-used after the fire is extinguished. Also, in the present disclosure, because an extinguishing agent is not supplied to an unnecessary place, the extinguishing agent may be rapidly supplied to battery modules <NUM> that need extinguishing, thereby increasing the speed of extinguishing suppression.

Referring back to <FIG>, the battery rack <NUM> of the present disclosure may further include a drain pipe <NUM>. The drain pipe <NUM> may be bendable. Also, an outlet 130b may be provided at a lower portion of the injection pipe <NUM>. The connector <NUM> may be provided at the outlet 130b. The drain pipe <NUM> may be configured to be connected to the connector <NUM> located at one end portion thereof and coupled to a lower end of the injection pipe <NUM>. For example, the drain pipe <NUM> may include a third coupler <NUM> configured to be connected to the connector <NUM>.

Also, the drain pipe <NUM> may include a discharge valve <NUM> at the other end portion thereof. The discharge valve <NUM> may be configured to control whether the extinguishing agent is discharged. That is, when the discharge valve <NUM> is opened, the extinguishing agent existing inside the injection pipe <NUM> may be discharged to the outside through the drain pipe <NUM>.

Therefore, according to this configuration of the present disclosure, the present disclosure may facilitate discharging of the extinguishing agent remaining in the injection pipe <NUM> to the outside through the drain pipe <NUM>. That is, the present disclosure may discharge an unnecessary extinguishing agent to the outside after fire suppression is finished, and after a fire, may facilitate performing of a subsequent operation.

<FIG> is a partial rear perspective view schematically showing some components of a battery rack, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. That is, <FIG> shows an enlarged state of a portion between stacked battery rack cases <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> together with <FIG> again, the battery rack <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include two or more battery rack cases <NUM> stacked in the upward and downward directions. In this case, the injection pipe <NUM> may be provided on each of the two or more battery rack cases <NUM>.

Also, the battery rack <NUM> may further include an intermediate pipe <NUM>. The intermediate pipe <NUM> may connect between an injection pipe <NUM> provided on a battery rack case <NUM> located on a relatively upper portion and an injection pipe <NUM> provided on a battery rack case <NUM> located on a relatively lower portion, among the stacked two or more battery rack cases <NUM>. That is, the intermediate pipe <NUM> may be located between stacked two battery rack cases <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, one end of the intermediate pipe <NUM> may be connected to an outlet 130b of an injection pipe <NUM> connected to a battery rack case <NUM> located on a relatively upper portion among the stacked two battery rack cases <NUM>. Also, the other end of the intermediate pipe <NUM> may be connected to an inlet of an injection pipe <NUM> connected to a battery rack case <NUM> located on a relatively lower portion among the stacked two battery rack cases <NUM>.

The intermediate pipe <NUM> may include a fourth coupler <NUM> and a fifth coupler <NUM>. The fourth coupler <NUM> may be configured to be connected to an outlet 130b of an injection pipe <NUM> located on an upper portion among injection pipes <NUM> arranged in upward and downward directions. For example, the fourth coupler <NUM> may be configured to be coupled to a connector <NUM> provided at the outlet 130b of the injection pipe <NUM>. The fifth coupler <NUM> may be configured to be connected to an inlet 130a of an injection pipe <NUM> located on a lower portion among the injection pipes <NUM> arranged in the upward and downward directions. For example, the fifth coupler <NUM> may be configured to be coupled to a connector <NUM> provided at the inlet 130a of the injection pipe <NUM>.

Furthermore, the intermediate pipe <NUM> may include a bendable pipe. That is, a pipe having a flexible material or a bendable structure may be applied in the same manner as the flexible pipe <NUM> described above.

Therefore, according to this configuration of the present disclosure, by including the intermediate pipe <NUM>, the present disclosure facilitates the transfer of an extinguishing agent between at least two battery rack cases <NUM>. Accordingly, manufacturing costs of the battery rack <NUM> may be reduced by simplifying a structure of a member for supplying an extinguishing agent.

Furthermore, in a case where the intermediate pipe <NUM> is bendable, even when there is a spaced error between stacked battery rack cases <NUM>, injection pipes <NUM> may be easily connected by using the flexible pipe <NUM>. Accordingly, the present disclosure has an advantage of easy installation.

Also, the main body portion <NUM> of the injection pipe <NUM> may have a shape branched to at least two parts from the inlet 130a. For example, as shown in <FIG>, a main body portion <NUM> of each of the injection pipes <NUM> arranged in the upward and downward directions may have a shape branched to two parts.

Therefore, according to this configuration of the present disclosure, by including an injection pipe <NUM> having a shape branched to at least two parts, when an extinguishing agent is injected into a battery module <NUM> through a distribution unit <NUM> connected to any one of branched pipes of a main body portion <NUM> of an injection pipe <NUM> located on an upper portion among injection pipes <NUM> arranged in the upward and the downward directions, the present disclosure has an advantage of transferring the extinguishing agent to an injection pipe <NUM> located on a lower portion through the remaining pipe unselected from the branched pipes of the main body portion <NUM> while the extinguishing agent is filled into the battery module <NUM>.

In contrast, when the injection pipe <NUM> includes a single pipe rather than having a branched shape, transferring of an extinguishing agent to an injection pipe located on a relatively lower portion may not be smooth while the extinguishing agent is filled into a specific battery module <NUM>.

Accordingly, when a fire occurs in all stacked battery rack cases, the present disclosure has an advantage of being able to smoothly supplying an extinguishing agent to the battery rack cases at the same time.

<FIG> is a partial rear perspective view schematically showing some components of a battery rack, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the battery rack <NUM> according to another embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a cover portion <NUM> configured to cover the flexible pipe <NUM> or the intermediate pipe <NUM> when compared to the battery rack <NUM> of <FIG>. Also, the cover portion <NUM> may include an accommodating space for the flexible pipe <NUM> or the intermediate pipe <NUM>. The cover portion <NUM> may include a wall extending to surround the flexible pipe <NUM> or the intermediate pipe <NUM>.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, the cover portion <NUM> may have a shape bent in a horizontal direction several times to surround the intermediate pipe <NUM>. Although not shown, the battery rack case <NUM> may include a separate cover portion configured to cover the flexible pipe <NUM>.

Referring back to <FIG>, a power storage device according to the present disclosure includes at least one battery rack <NUM> according to the present disclosure. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the power storage device may include two or more battery rack cases <NUM> according to the present disclosure in a stacked form. In addition, battery modules <NUM> stored in each of the plurality of battery rack cases <NUM> may be electrically connected to each other. The power storage device according to the present disclosure may be implemented in various forms, such as a smart grid system or an electric charging station.

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, and the like. Electricity generated from these generators 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 in the present specification, it would be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the terms are only for convenience of description and may vary depending on the position of an object or the position of an observer.

As described above, although the present disclosure has been described with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A battery rack (<NUM>) comprising:
a plurality of battery modules (<NUM>);
at least one battery rack case (<NUM>) to accommodate the plurality of battery modules (<NUM>);
an injection pipe (<NUM>) comprising a main body portion (<NUM>) including an inlet (130a) through which an extinguishing agent is injected and extending along an arrangement direction of the plurality of battery modules (<NUM>), and a distribution unit (<NUM>) extending toward each of the plurality of battery modules (<NUM>) from the main body portion (<NUM>) and including an outlet inserted into each of the plurality of battery modules (<NUM>); and
a flexible pipe (<NUM>) to be bendable and comprising a first coupler (<NUM>) located at one end of the flexible pipe (<NUM>) to be connectable to a supply pipe (<NUM>) for supplying the extinguishing agent, and a second coupler (<NUM>) located at the other end of the flexible pipe (<NUM>) to be connectable to the inlet (130a) of the injection pipe (<NUM>),
wherein the flexible pipe (<NUM>) has a flexible material, the flexible material being a plastic material, OR
the flexible pipe (<NUM>) has a bendable structure, wherein the flexible pipe (<NUM>) is formed in the form of a multi-layered pipe by weaving a plurality of round and narrow stainless steel wires.