JP2015133290A - Cooling system, and control device and control method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce power consumption of cooling auxiliary machines of an electric storage device such as a power storage unit, which is operated according to a schedule.SOLUTION: A cooling system 5 comprises: cooling fans 6a-6n provided corresponding to respective battery modules 3a-3n; and space-conditioning equipment 7. Each of the cooling fans 6a-6n is turned on to operate when a temperature of the corresponding battery module 3a-3n is equal to or higher than a predetermined first threshold value and when a predicted temperature after a predetermined time period is equal to or higher than a second threshold value. Regarding the space-conditioning equipment 7, when the temperature of any of the battery modules 3a-3n is equal to or higher than a third threshold value and when the predicted temperature after the predetermined time period is equal to or higher than a fourth threshold value, its operation is started. Further, at this time, it is determined whether to actuate a compressor or not depending on whether the predicted temperature after the predetermined time period is less than or equal to or higher than the fifth threshold value.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cooling system, a control device therefor, and a control method, and in particular, a cooling system that cools a power storage device that is charged and discharged according to a schedule, such as a power storage device, and the control device and control method therefor. It is about.

In recent years, power storage devices using secondary batteries have been used for the purpose of leveling power loads (load leveling). In load leveling, power is stored in the middle of the night when the power rate is low, and the stored power is supplied in the daytime when the power load is high to level the load.
Since secondary batteries generate heat due to charging and discharging, auxiliary devices such as cooling fans and air conditioners are generally provided.

JP-A-10-64598

  Conventionally, the cooling auxiliary machines are often operated at all times regardless of charging / discharging of the power storage device, and power is consumed wastefully.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, for example, to reduce the power consumption of cooling auxiliary equipment for a power storage device that is charged and discharged according to a schedule, such as a power storage device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cooling system capable of performing the same, a control device thereof, and a control method.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control device for a cooling system comprising: a first cooling unit that cools the power storage unit; and a second cooling unit that consumes more power than the first cooling unit. A storage unit that stores schedule information in which a charge / discharge pattern is set in advance, and a temperature after a predetermined time is predicted with reference to the schedule information when the temperature of the power storage unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined first threshold value And the temperature predicted by the temperature predicting means is equal to or higher than the first threshold, and the temperature predicted by the temperature predicting means is equal to or higher than the second threshold set to a value higher than the first threshold. In some cases, the control device of the cooling system includes an operation command output means for operating the first cooling means. Here, the temperature prediction unit may repeat the temperature prediction at predetermined time intervals until the first cooling unit is operated or until the temperature of the power storage unit becomes less than the first threshold value. .

  According to the control device of the cooling system, when the temperature of the power storage unit is equal to or higher than the predetermined first threshold, the temperature after a predetermined time is predicted with reference to the schedule information. Then, when the temperature of the power storage means is equal to or higher than the first threshold and the predicted temperature is equal to or higher than the second threshold set to a value higher than the first threshold, the first cooling means is operated. In this way, when the first cooling means is operated, the future temperature is predicted, and the first cooling means is operated only when the future temperature rise is expected, so that unnecessary activation of the first cooling means is suppressed. It is possible to suppress wasteful power consumption.

  In the control device of the cooling system, the temperature predicting unit is a state in which the first cooling unit is operating and the temperature of the power storage unit is set to a value higher than the second threshold value. When the temperature is equal to or greater than three thresholds, the temperature prediction is performed, and the operation command output means is configured such that the temperature of the power storage means is equal to or higher than the third threshold and the temperature predicted by the temperature prediction means is the third threshold. The second cooling means may be operated when the value is equal to or higher than a fourth threshold value set to a value higher than the threshold value. Further, at this time, the temperature predicting means may repeat the temperature prediction at predetermined time intervals until the second cooling means is operated or until the temperature of the power storage means becomes less than the third threshold value. Good.

  When the temperature of the power storage unit is further increased and exceeds the third threshold value with the first cooling unit being operated, temperature prediction is performed again. In this case, the second cooling unit is operated when the temperature of the power storage unit is equal to or higher than the third threshold value and the predicted temperature is equal to or higher than the fourth threshold value, which is larger than the third threshold value. In this way, when the second cooling means is operated, the future temperature is predicted, and the second cooling means is operated only when the future temperature rise is expected. Thereby, useless start-up of the second cooling means can be suppressed, and useless power consumption can be suppressed.

  In the cooling system control device, the second cooling means is an air conditioner including a compressor that compresses the refrigerant and circulates the compressed refrigerant, and the operation command output means is a temperature of the power storage means. Is not less than the third threshold, and the temperature predicted by the temperature predicting means is not less than the fourth threshold and less than the fifth threshold set to a value higher than the fourth threshold. In addition, the air conditioner is operated in a control mode in which the compressor is not operated, the temperature of the power storage means is equal to or higher than the third threshold value, and the temperature predicted by the temperature prediction means is equal to or higher than the fifth threshold value. In this case, the air conditioner may be operated in a control mode in which the compressor is operated.

  Thus, when the 2nd cooling means is an air conditioner, it is judged whether a compressor is operated according to the degree of future temperature rise. Thereby, the air conditioner can be operated in a cooling mode corresponding to a future temperature rise, and wasteful power consumption can be suppressed. For example, when the air conditioner is operated in a control mode in which the compressor is not operated, the operation command output means may give a set temperature higher than a room temperature to the air conditioner.

A 2nd aspect of this invention is a cooling system provided with the control apparatus of the said cooling system.
A 3rd aspect of this invention is an electric power storage system provided with the said cooling system.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooling system control method comprising: a first cooling unit that cools the power storage unit; and a second cooling unit that consumes more power than the first cooling unit. Schedule information in which a charge / discharge pattern is set in advance is acquired in advance, and when the temperature of the power storage unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined first threshold, the temperature after a predetermined time is predicted with reference to the schedule information, Cooling that activates the first cooling means when the temperature of the power storage means is equal to or higher than the first threshold and the predicted temperature is equal to or higher than a second threshold set to a value higher than the first threshold. This is a system control method.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the cooling auxiliary equipment of the power storage device that is charged and discharged according to the schedule as in the power storage device.

It is the figure which showed the schematic whole structure of the electric power storage system with which the cooling system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is applied. It is a functional block diagram of the system control apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure shown about the start timing of the temperature prediction by a temperature estimation part. It is the figure shown about the operation start conditions of the cooling fan. It is the figure shown about the operation start conditions of the air conditioner. It is a figure for demonstrating the conditions of the operation | movement start of a cooling fan. It is a figure for demonstrating the conditions of the operation | movement start of a cooling fan. It is a figure for demonstrating the conditions regarding the driving | operation start of an air conditioner. It is a figure for demonstrating the action | operation and temperature setting value of a compressor. It is a figure for demonstrating the conditions for stopping operation | movement of an air conditioner and a cooling fan.

Hereinafter, a cooling system, a control device thereof, and a control method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic overall configuration of a power storage system 1 to which a cooling system 5 according to the present embodiment is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the power storage system 1 according to this embodiment includes a power storage device 2, a cooling system 5, and a system control device 10.

  The power storage device 2 includes a plurality of battery modules 3 a to 3 n and a battery management unit (hereinafter referred to as “BMU”) 4 that manages the battery modules 3 a to 3 n. Each battery module 3a-3n is set as the structure which connected the some secondary battery in series, for example. The BMU 4 is a battery monitoring unit that monitors the temperature, remaining capacity, cell balance, and the like of the power storage device 2. The secondary battery constituting the battery modules 3a to 3n according to the present invention is not particularly limited, such as a lithium secondary battery, a lead secondary battery, and a nickel hydride secondary battery, but has good charge / discharge followability and the temperature of the secondary battery. From the importance of managing the deterioration of the secondary battery due to charge / discharge when the battery is low, a lithium secondary battery is preferable.

  The cooling system 5 includes cooling fans 6 a to 6 n provided corresponding to the battery modules 3 a to 3 n, an air conditioner 7, and a system control device 10, respectively. The system control device 10 receives the temperature (hereinafter referred to as “module temperature”) of each of the battery modules 3a to 3n from the BMU 4 of the power storage device 2, and also calculates the system internal temperature from the temperature sensor 8 installed in the system. Receive. Moreover, the information regarding the operation state of an air conditioning is received from the control apparatus 9 of an air conditioner. And the cooling fans 6a-6n and the air conditioner 7 are controlled using these received information. The air conditioner 7 includes a compressor that compresses the refrigerant and circulates the compressed refrigerant.

  Here, the cooling fans 6a to 6n are individually controlled based on the temperatures of the corresponding battery modules 3a to 3n. On the other hand, about an air conditioner, a driving | operation is started when the temperature about any one battery module satisfy | fills the predetermined conditions mentioned later.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating functions of the system control apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the system control device 10 includes an information acquisition unit 21, a storage unit 23, a temperature prediction unit 25, and an operation command output unit 27.
The information acquisition unit 21 acquires various types of information such as the temperature of the power storage device 2 described above, the temperature in the system, and the operation information of the air conditioner.
The storage unit 23 stores schedule information in which the charge / discharge pattern of the power storage device 2 is set in advance. The power storage system 1 is used, for example, for load leveling and the like, and a charging time zone and a discharging time zone are preset according to a schedule. The schedule information may be acquired by periodically accessing a control device (not shown) that controls the power storage system. Moreover, the driving | running pattern estimated from a weather prediction etc. may be managed by the system control apparatus 10, and a weather prediction may be reflected on schedule information.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the temperature prediction unit 25 refers to the schedule information stored in the storage unit 23 when the module temperature reaches a predetermined first threshold (for example, 30 ° C.). The module temperature after a predetermined time (for example, after 1 hour) is predicted. Here, every time the module temperature of the battery module 3i (i = 1 to n) exceeds the first threshold, the temperature prediction unit 25 starts temperature prediction regarding the battery module 3i. Further, the temperature predicting unit 25 performs temperature prediction regarding the battery module 3i until the temperature of the battery module 3i becomes less than the first threshold or until the cooling fan 6i corresponding to the battery module 3i starts operating. It is performed continuously at a predetermined time interval (for example, every 5 minutes).

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the temperature predicting unit 25 predicts a module temperature after a predetermined time (for example, 1 hour) when the module temperature reaches a predetermined third threshold (for example, 35 ° C.). To do. The temperature prediction at this time is repeated at a predetermined time interval (for example, every 5 minutes) until the air conditioner 7 is operated or the module temperature becomes equal to or lower than the third threshold value.
Instead of the above, temperature prediction may be performed for each of the battery modules 3a to 3n at a predetermined time interval (for example, every 5 minutes).

  The predicted module temperature is calculated, for example, from the module temperature and schedule information, after calculating the heat generation amount after a predetermined time, calculating the predicted temperature increase value after a predetermined time from the calculated heat generation amount, and predicting the temperature increase to the current module temperature. It can be calculated by adding a value. The arithmetic expression is given by, for example, the following expressions (1) and (2).

(Discharge power x discharge time) / heat capacity = predicted calorific value / heat capacity = predicted temperature rise (1)
Predicted temperature rise + current module temperature = predicted module temperature (2)

The operation command output unit 27 determines whether to operate each of the cooling fans 6a to 6g and the air conditioner 7 using the module predicted temperature Tf and the current module temperature Tp by the temperature prediction unit 25, An operation command is given to each according to the determination result.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the current module temperature Tp is equal to or higher than the first threshold value, and the predicted module temperature Tf is a second threshold value (a value larger than the first threshold value, for example, 32.5 ° C. ) If it is above, the cooling fan 6i corresponding to the battery module 3i is operated. Note that if either condition is not satisfied, the cooling fan 6i is not operated.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, the current module temperature Tp is equal to or higher than the third threshold value (a value larger than the second threshold value, for example, 35 ° C.), and the predicted module temperature Tf is equal to the fourth threshold value ( Operation that does not operate the compressor when the value is greater than the third threshold value, for example, 37.5 ° C. or more and less than the fifth threshold value (value that is greater than the fourth threshold value, for example, 40 ° C.) The air conditioner 7 is operated in the mode. The operation mode in which the compressor is not operated is to cool the battery modules 3 a to 3 n by the cooling fans 6 a to 6 n and the air conditioner 7. Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the current module temperature Tp is equal to or higher than the third threshold value and the predicted module temperature Tf is equal to or higher than the fifth threshold value, the air conditioner is operated in the operation mode in which the compressor is operated. Drive.
Note that if the current module temperature Tp is less than the third threshold value or the module predicted temperature Tf is less than the fourth threshold value, the operation of the air conditioner 7 is not started.

  Next, a method for controlling the cooling system 5 executed by the system control apparatus 10 having the above functions will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. Here, regarding the cooling fans 6a to 6n, when the temperatures of the battery modules 3a to 3n corresponding to the cooling fans 6a to 6n satisfy the conditions shown in FIG. 4, the corresponding cooling fans 6a to 6n Operates individually. On the other hand, since only one air conditioner 7 is installed in the cooling system 5, the operation is started when the condition shown in FIG. 5 is satisfied for any one of the battery modules. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the processing content of the system control apparatus 10 will be described by taking the battery module 3a as an example.

First, when the module temperature of the battery module 3a rises and reaches the first threshold (see FIG. 3), module temperature prediction by the temperature prediction unit 25 is started. Specifically, schedule information is acquired from the storage unit 23, and after a predetermined time (for example, one hour later) according to the above formulas (1) and (2) in consideration of the acquired schedule information, current module temperature, and the like. The predicted module temperature Tf is calculated.
As a result, when the module predicted temperature Tf by the temperature prediction unit 25 is equal to or higher than the second threshold as shown in FIG. 6 and the current module temperature Tp is equal to or higher than the first threshold (see FIG. 4), the operation command The output unit 27 outputs an operation command to the cooling fan 6a corresponding to the battery module 3a. On the other hand, when the module predicted temperature Tf by the temperature prediction unit 25 is less than the second threshold as shown in FIG. 7, the operation command output unit 27 does not output an operation command to the cooling fan 6a. In this case, until the current module temperature Tp becomes lower than the first threshold value or the predicted module temperature Tf becomes equal to or higher than the second threshold value, the temperature prediction calculation continues at a predetermined time interval (for example, every 5 minutes). Done.

  Subsequently, at some timing, after the conditions for starting the operation of the cooling fan 6a are satisfied and the cooling fan 6a starts to operate, when the module temperature of the battery module 3a further increases and reaches the third threshold value, The temperature prediction unit 25 calculates a module predicted temperature Tf. When the module predicted temperature Tf by the temperature predicting unit 25 is equal to or greater than the fourth threshold value and less than the fifth threshold value as indicated by β in FIG. 8, the operation command output unit 27 operates so as not to operate the compressor. The air conditioner 7 is operated in the mode. At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, the operation command output unit 27 gives a set temperature higher than the in-system temperature notified from the temperature sensor 8 to the control device 9 of the air conditioner. Thereby, the air conditioner 7 can be operated in an operation mode in which the compressor is not operated.

Further, when the module predicted temperature Tf by the temperature prediction unit 25 is equal to or higher than the fifth threshold as indicated by γ in FIG. 8, the operation command output unit 27 performs air conditioning in the operation mode in which the compressor is operated. The machine 7 is operated. At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, the operation command output unit 27 gives a set temperature lower than the system temperature notified from the temperature sensor 8 to the control device 9 of the air conditioner. Thereby, the air conditioner 7 can be operated in the operation mode in which the compressor is operated.
Further, when the module predicted temperature Tf by the temperature prediction unit 25 is less than the fourth threshold value as indicated by α in FIG. 8, the operation command output unit 27 defers the operation start of the air conditioner 7. In this case, until the current battery module temperature Tp becomes lower than the third threshold value or the module predicted temperature Tf becomes equal to or higher than the fourth threshold value, the temperature prediction calculation is performed at a predetermined time interval (for example, every 5 minutes). Continued.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the operation command output unit 27 performs air conditioning when the current temperatures Tp of all the battery modules are equal to or lower than the safety region temperature set to a value lower than the first threshold value. The operation of the machine 7 and all the cooling fans 6a to 6n is stopped.

  As described above, according to the cooling system, the control device thereof, and the control method according to the present embodiment, the temperature of the battery module 3i is equal to or higher than the predetermined first threshold, and the predicted future temperature is equal to or higher than the second threshold. Only when it is, the cooling fan 6i is operated. Thereby, useless start-up of the cooling fan 6i can be suppressed, and useless power consumption can be suppressed.

  Further, when the temperature of the battery module 3i further increases and the module temperature exceeds the third threshold value with the cooling fan 6i operated, the temperature of the battery module is equal to or higher than the third threshold value and is predicted. When the temperature is equal to or higher than the fourth threshold, the air conditioner 7 is operated. At this time, according to the predicted temperature, it is determined whether to set the operation mode in which the compressor is operated or the operation mode in which the compressor is not operated. Thus, since the air conditioner is operated in stages according to the degree of temperature rise, it is possible to further suppress wasteful power consumption.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric power storage system 2 Electric power storage apparatus 3a-3n Battery module 4 BMU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Cooling system 6a-6n Cooling fan 7 Air conditioner 8 Temperature sensor 9 Air conditioner control apparatus 10 System control apparatus 21 Information acquisition part 23 Storage part 25 Temperature prediction part 27 Operation command output part

Claims (7)

A control device for a cooling system, comprising: a first cooling means for cooling the power storage means; and a second cooling means having higher power consumption than the first cooling means,
Storage means for storing schedule information in which a charge / discharge pattern of the power storage means is preset;
A temperature predicting means for predicting the temperature after a predetermined time with reference to the schedule information when the temperature of the power storage means is equal to or higher than a predetermined first threshold;
When the temperature of the power storage means is equal to or higher than the first threshold, and the temperature predicted by the temperature prediction means is equal to or higher than a second threshold set to a value higher than the first threshold, the first A control device for a cooling system, comprising an operation command output means for operating one cooling means. When the temperature predicting means is in a state where the first cooling means is operating and the temperature of the power storage means is equal to or higher than a third threshold value set to a value higher than the second threshold value, Perform the temperature prediction,
The operation command output means has a temperature equal to or higher than the third threshold value and the temperature predicted by the temperature prediction means is set to a value higher than the third threshold value. The control device of the cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the second cooling means is operated when The second cooling means is an air conditioner including a compressor that compresses a refrigerant and circulates the compressed refrigerant,
The operation command output means includes
A fifth temperature in which the temperature of the power storage means is equal to or higher than the third threshold value, and the temperature predicted by the temperature prediction means is equal to or higher than the fourth threshold value and higher than the fourth threshold value. When the air conditioner is operated in a control mode in which the compressor is not operated when the value is less than the threshold;
When the temperature of the power storage means is equal to or higher than the third threshold value and the temperature predicted by the temperature prediction means is equal to or higher than the fifth threshold value, the air conditioner is controlled in a control mode for operating the compressor. The control device of the cooling system according to claim 2 to be operated.   The control of the cooling system according to claim 3, wherein the operation command output means operates the air conditioner in a control mode in which the compressor is not operated by giving a set temperature higher than a room temperature to the air conditioner. apparatus.   A cooling system provided with the control apparatus of the cooling system in any one of Claims 1-4.   An electric power storage system comprising the cooling system according to claim 5. A cooling system control method comprising: a first cooling means for cooling an electricity storage means; and a second cooling means having higher power consumption than the first cooling means,
Obtain in advance schedule information in which the charge / discharge pattern of the power storage means is preset,
When the temperature of the power storage means is equal to or higher than a predetermined first threshold, the temperature after a predetermined time is predicted with reference to the schedule information,
Cooling that activates the first cooling means when the temperature of the power storage means is equal to or higher than the first threshold and the predicted temperature is equal to or higher than a second threshold set to a value higher than the first threshold. How to control the system.

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