Energy Storage Technology Development Trend: Liquid Cooling Replaces Air Cooling!

Because of the thermal characteristics of batteries, thermal management has become a key link in the electrochemical energy storage industry chain. From the perspective of the value of the industry chain, the battery cost in the energy storage system accounts for about 55%, PCS accounts for about 20%, BMS and EMS account for about 11% in total, and thermal management accounts for about 2%-4%. The value of thermal management accounts for a relatively low proportion, but it plays a vital role and is the key to ensuring the continuous and safe operation of the energy storage system.

At present, the mainstream technical routes for energy storage thermal management are air cooling and liquid cooling. The technical routes for energy storage thermal management are mainly divided into air cooling, liquid cooling, heat pipe cooling, and phase change cooling, among which heat pipe and phase change cooling technologies are not yet mature.

Air cooling reduces the battery temperature through gas convection. It has the advantages of simple structure, easy maintenance, and low cost, but the heat dissipation efficiency, heat dissipation speed and temperature uniformity are poor. It is suitable for occasions with low heat generation rate.

Reducing the battery temperature through liquid convection. The heat dissipation efficiency, heat dissipation speed and temperature uniformity are good, but the cost is high and there is a risk of cold liquid leakage. It is suitable for occasions with high energy density of battery packs, fast charging and discharging speed, and large changes in ambient temperature.

Compared with traditional air cooling technology, battery liquid cooling technology has the advantages of high heat dissipation efficiency, high temperature control accuracy and good stability. At the same time, battery liquid cooling technology can also increase the life of the battery system and reduce the maintenance cost of the battery system.

Battery heat pipe technology and phase change cooling technology are a technology that uses liquid or solid coolants to dissipate battery heat through the phase change of heat pipes or phase change materials.

Compared with battery liquid cooling technology, battery heat pipe technology and phase change cooling technology are more suitable for small battery systems and batteries with high power density.

The principle is to use the heat transfer characteristics of heat pipes or phase change materials to take away the heat generated in the battery to maintain the normal temperature and operating efficiency of the battery.

Compared with traditional air cooling technology, battery heat pipe technology and phase change cooling technology have the advantages of high heat dissipation efficiency, high temperature control accuracy and good stability. At the same time, these technologies can also increase the life of the battery system and reduce the maintenance cost of the battery system.