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Energy Storage Liquid Cooling Pipeline Solution
1.Preface
The government has issued policy documents such as the "14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of New Energy Storage", clarifying the development goals and directions of new energy storage, aiming to promote the clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient transformation of the energy system. These policies not only provide a stable market expectation for new energy storage but also create a favorable environment for its development.
With the significant increase in wind power and photovoltaic (PV) energy, the demand for energy storage on the power generation side has also risen. New energy storage technologies play an indispensable role in integrating intermittent renewable energy sources and enhancing the stability and efficiency of the energy system. For example, the newly installed capacity of wind power and PV saw a substantial growth in 2023, directly driving the demand for energy storage installations.
The development of new energy storage helps enhance China's energy security capabilities, reduce dependence on external energy sources, and ensure the stability and security of national energy supply. Meanwhile, it is also an important strategic measure to achieve the goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality.
2.Opportunities and Challenges
According to the data from the end of 2022, the global installed capacity of operational electrochemical energy storage has exceeded 20GW, and it is expected to continue expanding at a compound annual growth rate of over 20% in the next decade. The market size is projected to reach the hundred-billion-dollar level.
The energy storage market can be divided into three major categories: power system energy storage, industrial and commercial energy storage, and residential energy storage. Among them, power system energy storage is mainly used for peak shaving, valley filling, frequency regulation, etc., and is currently the largest and most technically demanding field. Mainstream energy storage technologies include lithium-ion batteries, sodium-sulfur batteries, flow batteries, compressed air energy storage, pumped hydro storage, etc. Lithium-ion batteries dominate the market due to their advantages such as high energy density, long lifespan, and decreasing costs year by year.
As the proportion of intermittent energy sources such as wind and solar energy in the power structure continues to increase, energy storage systems, as a key link to smooth the supply-demand curve and enhance grid stability, are becoming increasingly important.
However, while it is developing rapidly, safety accidents of energy storage facilities also occur from time to time, especially when the battery management system (BMS) fails, which can easily lead to serious consequences such as fire and explosion. Therefore, it is urgent to strengthen the formulation and supervision of standards for energy storage materials, design, operation and maintenance, as well as the establishment of cooling systems.
3.Energe Storage Pipelines
3.1 Comparison of Pipelines for Energy Storage Cabinets and Energy Storage Boxes
|
Type |
Energy storage cabinet (single cabinet) |
Energy storage box (container) |
|
Primary pipeline |
Stainless steel pipe or nylon pipe (diameter 20-30mm): 2-4 pieces Length: 1-2 meters/piece. Chuck-type flange connection is commonly used, which facilitates on-site installation and maintenance, while also ensuring the reliability and tightness of the connection. |
Stainless steel pipe or PE pipe (Diameter 50mm): 4 pieces Length: 4-5 meters/piece. Connection method: Chuck-type flange connection is commonly used, which facilitates on-site installation and maintenance, while also ensuring the reliability and tightness of the connection. |
|
Secondary pipeline |
Stainless steel pipe or nylon pipe: 2-4 pieces Length: 1-2 meters/piece Inner diameter: 21mm or 25mm |
Stainless steel pipe or nylon pipe: 10-14 pieces Length: 1-2 meters/piece |
|
Tertiary pipeline |
Nylon pipe or rubber pipe: 2 types, 4-10 pieces/type, generally formed pipes Inner diameter: Approximately 14mm |
Nylon pipe or rubber pipe: 2 types, 30-64 pieces/type |
3.2 Energy Storage Liquid Cooling Pipeline System Solution：
Secondary and tertiary pipelines usually use nylon or rubber pipes, which are adapted from mature products in the automotive industry, due to their excellent flexibility, lightweight nature, and significant cost advantages compared to other piping materials. Anti-condensation measures for energy storage liquid cooling pipelines generally involve insulation cotton around the pipes. The pipes are connected using VDA or CQC quick connectors, and the piping system is often equipped with special functional components such as check valves, bidirectional shut-off valves, and exhaust valves to ensure safe and stable system operation and facilitate subsequent maintenance.
At present, there are mainly the following forms of secondary and tertiary pipeline schemes:
Solution 1: Both secondary and tertiary pipelines use nylon pipes (commonly PA12 or PA612 materials), connected by tees, VDA, or CQC quick connectors.
Next, we will introduce the two schemes separately.
3.3 Advantages and Disadvantages of Rubber hoses:
- Rubber Hose Molding
Rubber hose molding is performed using an internal mold, which requires the use of a forming mold. The mold production is single-cavity (one mold produces one product), and molds are invested according to the project planning quantity. Compared to nylon hoses that use external molds for shaping, the mold price is much lower. The mandrel is inspected by a three-coordinate measuring system to ensure its qualification before being put into use.
- Rubber Hose Connection
Rubber hoses are generally connected using spring clamps, and the corresponding connection structure can also be selected according to the actual working pressure;(③ is the spring clamp fastening, and ④ is the hose clamp tightening)
