SCALABLE AND FLEXIBLE CELL-BASED ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM

• US 20170093156A1
• Filed: 09/29/2016
• Published: 03/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tesla Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tesla Motors Incorporated (Tesla Inc.)
• Inventors: Ozbek, Mehmet, Pierquet, Brandon, Baglino, Andrew David
• Granted Patent: US 10,424,923 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/28 Arrangements for balancing of the load in a network by storage of energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/44 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/14 Energy storage units

Abstract

An energy storage system includes: a grid tie unit comprising at least one DC/AC converter; and multiple pods connected to the grid tie unit, each pod including: a number of cells; and a power electronics unit, wherein the cells are floating relative to the system and are galvanically isolated therefrom. The multiple pods may be organized into packs, with a pack including a thermal management system.

Claims

1. An energy storage system comprising:

a grid tie unit comprising at least one DC/AC converter, the grid tie unit coupling the energy storage system to an external AC system;

a DC bus coupled to the grid tie unit;

a plurality of pods connected to the DC bus, each pod including;

plurality of battery cells;

a power electronics unit configured to galvanically isolate the plurality of battery cells from a plurality of battery cells of at least one other pod of the plurality of pods and to allow the plurality of battery cells to float relative to the grid tie unit.

2. The energy storage system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of pods are arranged in a pack that includes a thermal control system for a respective plurality of pods.

3. The energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the grid tie unit comprises a thermal control system.

4. The energy storage system of claim 1, further comprising a site master computer that is configured to control connection of multiple energy storage systems as a site.

5. The energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the power electronics unit includes a DC/DC converter.

6. The energy storage system of claim 5, wherein the DC/DC converter is a main DC/DC converter, and wherein the power electronics unit further comprises an additional DC/DC converter.

7. An energy storage system comprising:

an AC component for connection to an electric grid; and

an intermediate bus coupled to the AC component.

an energy storage unit coupled to the intermediate bus and having a plurality of battery cells and a power electronics unit, wherein the power electronics unit is configured to galvanically isolate the plurality of battery cells from the intermediate bus.

8. The energy storage system of claim 7, further comprising at least one solar panel connected to the intermediate bus.

9. The energy storage system of claim 8, further comprising a DC/DC converter between the solar panel and the intermediate bus.

10. The energy storage system of claim 8, wherein the power electronics unit comprises a DC/DC converter.

11. An energy storage system comprising:

a grid tie unit comprising at least one DC/AC converter;

a DC bus coupled to a DC side of the grid tie unit; and

a plurality of pods connected to the DC bus, each pod including;

a plurality of battery cells; and

a power electronics unit configured to galvanically isolate the plurality of battery cells from the DC bus.

12. The energy storage system of claim 11, wherein at least some of the plurality of pods are arranged in a pack that includes a thermal control system respective to at least some of the plurality of pods.

13. The energy storage system of claim 11, wherein the grid tie unit has its own thermal control system.

14. The energy storage system of claim 11, further comprising a site master computer that provides for connection of multiple energy storage systems as a site.

15. The energy storage system of claim 11, wherein the power electronics unit includes a DC/DC converter.

16. The energy storage system of claim 15, wherein the DC/DC converter is a main DC/DC converter, and wherein the energy storage system further comprises an additional DC/DC converter.

17. An energy storage system comprising:

an energy storage unit comprising a plurality of battery cells and a power electronics unit, wherein the power electronics unit is configured to cause the battery cells to float relative to the energy storage system and are galvanically isolated therefrom;

an AC component for connection to a grid;

an intermediate bus connecting the energy storage unit to the AC component; and

at least one solar panel connected to the intermediate bus.

18. The energy storage system of claim 17, further comprising a DC/DC converter between the solar panel and the intermediate bus.

19. The energy storage system of claim 17, wherein at least some of the plurality of battery cells are arranged in a pack.

20. The energy storage system of claim 17, further comprising a thermal control system for a respective plurality of battery cells.