TITLE OF THE INVENTION1
ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SETTING
IDENTIFICATION CODE TO BATTERY TRAY FOR THE SAME
5 [FIELD OF THE INVENTION1
The present invention relates to an energy storage system which has a
plurality of battery trays installed on a rack, and a method for setting an
identification code to a tray for the same.
[BACKGROUND ART1
10 There has been research on smart grid systems which flexibly adjust
supply of electricity in connection with a variety of information and
communications technologies, in order to effectively eliminate mismatches
between electricity usage and electricity production and prevent waste due to
oversupply of electricity and overloads due to electricity supply shortage.
15 That is, a smart grid system is equipped with an energy storage system
which stores electricity when electricity consumption is low and supplies stored
electricity, along with produced electricity, to consumers when electricity
consumption is high.
The energy storage system is equipped with battery packs each
20 consisting of rechargeable batteries to store produced electricity therein. The
energy storage system can be used in electric vehicle charging stations that
supply electricity for charging of electric vehicles, as well as in smart grid
systems.
In an example, the energy storage system may be configured by
installing a plurality of battery packs on a battery tray, installing a plurality of
battery trays on a rack, and keeping a plurality of racks in a container. A battery
pack is configured by assembling a plurality of rechargeable batteries into a
5 variety of structures and electrically connecting them.
In order for the energy storage system to control the batteries,
communication is established between a tray BMS (battery management
system) provided in a battery tray and a rack BMS. In this instance, an
identification (ID) code is assigned to the tray BMS of each battery tray.
10 For example, an identification code is assigned to a tray BMS according
to the setting of a jumper or DIP switch provided in the tray BMS. To this end,
the operator can identify a tray BMS and set an identification code to the tray
BMS after removing the tray cover and then the tray BMS cover and separating
different types of wire harnesses.
15 With the identification (ID) code assigned to the tray BMS, the process of
disassembling and reassembling the tray becomes complicated and difficult.
Moreover, in case of leakage of technology while disassembling tray or in case
of damage to a void label, it can be difficult to clarify where the responsibility lies
I: if something goes wrong with the product or a problem occurs in the future.
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20 IDISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTlONl
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[TECHNICAL PROBLEM1
One aspect of the present invention is to provide an energy storage
system which automatically assigns an identification code to a tray when battery
trays are installed on a rack. Another aspect of the present invention is to
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provide a method for setting an identification code to a tray for the energy
storage system.
[SOLUTION TO PROBLEM1
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an energy
5 storage system including: a plurality of trays each holding a battery pack and
equipped with a tray controller (tray BMS (battery management system)); a rack
equipped with a rack controller (rack BMS) and for mounting the trays; a switch
that is provided in each tray to set an identification code to the tray; and fingers
that are provided on the rack so as to correspond to the switch and selectively
lo activate the switch when the tray is mounted on the rack.
Each switch has a plurality of holes arranged in the same pattern, and
the fingers are selectively coupled to the holes of the switch.
The holes are arranged in rows and columns, and the same number of
fingers as holes specified by the identification code are arranged at the positions
15 corresponding to the holes.
The tray includes a first connector equipped with the switch, and the rack
includes a second connector equipped with the fingers and coupled to the first
connector.
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? The first and second connectors include first guide holes and second
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20 guide holes, respectively, and are fastened together by guide bolts passing
through the second guide holes and then the first guide holes and nuts provided
on the first connector's side.
The first connector includes fastening holes on either side, and the
second connector includes coupling members to be coupled to the fastening
holes.
Each fastening hole further includes a protrusion protruding toward the
coupling member, and the coupling member further includes an insert hole to be
coupled to the protrusion.
5 Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a
method for setting an identification code to a tray for an energy storage system,
the method including: preparing trays with no identification codes; mounting the
trays on a rack; automatically assigning identification codes to the trays as
fingers provided on the rack are selectively coupled to a switch provided in each
lo tray; sending identification code data to a rack controller provided in the rack
from a tray controller provided in each tray; and completing the preparation for
the operation of the energy storage system.
In the preparing, trays with no identification codes, each including an
identical switch, are prepared.
15 In the assigning, a different arrangement of fingers provided at the
mounting position of each tray on the rack is coupled to the switch
[ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS)
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a
switch for setting an identification code is provided on a battery tray and
20 selectively activated by fingers provided on a rack, and when the tray is mounted
on the rack, the switch of the tray is selectively coupled to the fingers of the rack,
thus automatically assigning the identification code to the battery tray.
[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an energy storage system according to an
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exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a rear view conceptually illustrating the energy storage system
of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tray of FIG. 1 which is to be installed.
5 FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a switch for setting an identification code,
provided in the tray of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of fingers connected to the switch of FIG. 4
to activate the same.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the tray with an identification code set to it
10 by connecting the fingers of FIG. 5 to the switch of FIG. 4.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method for setting an identification code to a
tray for an energy storage system according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
15 [DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS]
The present invention will be described more fully hereimfter with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of
the invention are shown. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described
embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing
20 from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The drawings and description
are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Like reference
numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an energy storage system according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a rear view
conceptually illustrating the energy storage system of FIG. 1. Referr~ngto FIGS.
1 and 2, the energy storage system according to the exemplary embodiment
includes a plurality of battery trays 10 holding a plurality of battery packs (not
shown), and a rack 20 for mounting the plurality of trays 10 thereon In an
5 example, the rack 20 according to the exemplary embodiment is configured to
mount eight trays 10 in a stacked structure.
Each tray 10 includes a tray controller 11 (e.g., tray BMS (battery
management system)) that controls the battery packs. The 20 includes a rack
controller 21 (e.g., rack BMS (battery management system)) that controls the
lo trays 10.
Each of the tray controllers 11 is connected to the rack controller 21 so
as to be controlled by the rack controller 21. For example, the trays 10 may be
connected in parallel by connecting the tray controllers 11 to the rack controller.
In order for the tray controllers 11 to send identification code data for the
15 trays 10 to the rack controller 21, each tray 10 is equipped with a switch 12, and
the rack 20 is equ~pped with fingers 22 (see FIG. 5). An identification code
represents unique pos~tionin formation of an individual tray 10
The switch 12 has the same structure for every tray 10. The fingers 22
are configured to selectively activate the switch 12 of the tray 10 depending on
20 the~pr ositions on the rack 20 when the tray 10 is mounted on the rack 20,
That is, the switch 12 has the same structure for every tray 10, and the
fingers 22 are arranged in different ways depending on their positions on the
rack 20.
That is, the fingers 22 are partially connected to the switch 12 while
corresponding to the entire range of the switch 12.
That is, when the trays 10 are slidably mounted on the rack 20, unique
identification codes are assigned to each tray I0 on the rack 20 as the trays 10
equipped with the switches 12 of the same structure are each connected to a
5 different arrangement of fingers 22 formed at a position on the rack 20 where
each tray 10 is mounted.
For convenience, FIG. 2 visually illustrates 1 to n (i.e., 1 to 8)
identification codes for n (e.g., eight) trays in a top-down view. In an exemplary
embodiment, eight trays 10 are mounted on the rack 20 and automatically
10 assigned identification codes as shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tray of FIG. 1 which is to be installed,
and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a switch for setting an identification code,
provided in the tray of FIG. 3. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the switch 12
provided in the tray 10 has a plurality of holes 121 arranged in the same pattern
15 by way of example.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of fingers connected to the switch of FIG. 4
to activate the same. Referring to FIG. 5, the fingers 22 provided on the rack
20 are configured to selectively correspond to the holes 121 of the switch 12.
Although not shown, push buttons may be provided inside the holes and
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I 20 selected when pressed by the fingers.
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j Referring back to FIGS. 4 and 5, the holes 121 constituting the switch 12
are arranged in rows and columns on the back side of the tray 10, and the same
number of fingers 22 as holes 121 specified by an identification code are
arranged at the positions corresponding to the holes 121.
For example, as shown in FIG. 5, four fingers 22 are arranged from the
top downward on the left column, and three fingers 22 are arranged from the top
downward on the right column. That is, the fingers 22 are arranged and
coupled to five rows and two columns of holes 21 in various combinations, so
5 that an identification code is assigned to the tray 10.
To this end, the tray 10 and the rack 20 include a first connector 13 and a
second connector 23, respectively, which are slidably coupled, so that the switch
12 of the tray 10 is connected to the fingers 22 of the rack 20.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the tray with an identification code set to it
10 by connecting the fingers of FIG. 5 to the switch of FIG. 4, and FIG. 7 is a
cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 6.
Referring to FIGS. 4 to 7, when the tray 10 is slidably mounted at a
specific position on the rack 20, the first connector 13 provided on the tray 10 is
slidably coupled to the second connector 23 provided on the rack 20.
15 The first connector 13 is equipped with the switch 12. That is, the tray
10 includes the first connector 13, and the first connector 13 includes the switch
12. The second connector 23 is equipped with the fingers 22. That is, the
rack 20 includes the second connector 23, and the second connector includes
the fingers 22.
20 Once the tray 10 is slidably mounted on the rack 20 as the first and
second connectors 13 and 23 are slidably coupled, the push buttons provided in
the holes are pressed by the fingers to thereby automatically assign an
identification code to the tray 10.
The first and second connectors 13 and 23 include first guide holes 122
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and second guide holes 222, respectively, so as to be coupled to each other.
Guide bolts 123 pass through the second guide holes 222 of the second
connector 23 and then the first guide holes 122 of the first connector 13, and are
fastened by nuts 223 to one side of the first connector 13. Accordingly, the first
5 and second connectors 13 and 23 are initially coupled together.
The first connector 13 further includes fastening holes 124 on either side,
and the second connector 23 further includes coupling members 224 to be
coupled to the fastening holes 124. When the first and second connectors 13
and 23 are coupled together, the coupling members 224 are inserted into and
10 fastened to the fastening holes 124. Accordingly, the first and second
connectors 13 and 23 are secondarily coupled more tightly.
Each fastening hole 124 includes a protrusion 125 protruding toward the
side of the coupling member 224 to be inserted, and the coupling member 224
includes an insert hole 225 to be coupled to the protrusion 125. When the
15 coupling member 224 is coupled to the fastening hole 124, the protrusion 124 is
coupled to the insert hole 225 of the coupling member 224. Accordingly, the
fastening hole 124 and the coupling member 224 are fastened together more
firmly.
Once the first and second connectors 13 and 23 are fastened together in
20 this manner, only some holes 121 corresponding to the fingers 22, of the holes
121 constituting the switch 12, are coupled to the fingers 22, and the other holes
121 remain without the fingers 22 in them. That is, a unique identification code
is assigned to the tray 10.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method for setting an identification code to a
tray for an energy storage system according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention. In this method, when a tray 10 is slidabiy mounted on the
rack 20, an identification code is automatically assigned to the tray 10.
Referring to FIG. 8, the method for setting an identification code to a tray
5 for an energy storage system includes: preparing trays 10 (STI); mounting the
trays 10 on a rack 20 (ST2); assigning identification codes to the trays 10 (ST3);
sending identification code data (ST4); and completing the process (ST5).
In the preparing ST1, a number of trays 10 with no identification codes,
corresponding to the number of mounting portions provided on the rack 20, are
10 prepared. Each tray 10 is equipped with an identical switch 12 on the first
connector 13. That is, the trays 10 and the first connectors 13 have a uniform
structure, respectively.
In the mounting ST2, the trays 10 are slidably mounted on the rack 20
where identification code setting is available. Each of the second connectors
15 23 of the rack 20 is equipped with a different arrangement of fingers 22 used to
set an identification code.
The fingers 22 are configured to set a different identification code
depending on where the mounting portion is located on the second connector 23
of the rack 20.
20 In the assigning ST3, fingers 22 of the rack 20 are coupled to the switch
12 provided in each tray 10. In this instance, as a different arrangement of
fingers 22 is selectively coupled to the holes 121 of the switch 12, an
identification code is automatically assigned to the tray 10 to be mounted.
That is, the switch 12 of each tray 10 is coupled to fingers 22 of the rack
20 in different ways, thereby assigning 1 to n (1 to 8) identification codes to the
trays 10.
In the sending ST4, once the fingers 22 are coupled to the switch 12, a
tray controller 11 provided in the tray 10 connected to the switch 12 sends
5 identification code data to a rack controller 21 connected to the fingers 22 and
provided in the rack 20. That is, data of an identification code set by the switch
12 and the fingers 22 is sent to the tray controller 11, and forwarded to the rack
controller 21 from the tray controller 21.
In the completing ST5, the preparation for the operation of the energy
10 storage system is complete when the rack controller 21 receives identification
code data of all the trays 10 from the tray controllers 11.
As such, the energy storage system of the present invention requires no
process of disassembling and reassembling a tray 10 when setting an
identification code to the tray 10. As consumers do not have to disassemble
15 the tray 10, leakage of technology or damage to the void label can be avoided.
Moreover, the trays 10 come in only one type, which improves the failure
rate of trays 10 mounted on the rack 20 and makes it easy to manage the
i products. Developers can set an identification code to a tray 10 by changing
i, the structures of the rack 20 and the fingers 22, without communication
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!I zo sequence alteration or circuit modification.
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Ii While this invention has been described in connection with what is
presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be
understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but,
on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

10: tray 11: tray controller (tray BMS)
12: switch 13, 23: first and second connectors
5 20: rack 21: rack controller (rack BMS)
22: fingers 121 : hole
122, 222: first and second guide holes
123: guide bolt
124: fastening hole 125: protrusion
10 223: nut 224: coupling member
225: insert hole

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. An energy storage system comprising:
a plurality of trays each holding a battery pack and equ~ppedw ~tha tray
controller;
5 a rack equipped wlth a rack controller and for mounting the trays;
a switch that is provided in each tray to set an identification code to the
tray; and
flngers that are provided on the rack so as to correspond to the switch
and selectively actlvate the switch when the tray is mounted on the rack.
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2. The energy storage system of claim 1, whereln each switch has a
plurality of holes arranged in the same pattern, and the fingers are selectively
coupled to the holes of the switch.
15 3. The energy storage system of claim 2, wherein the holes are
arranged in rows and columns, and the same number of fingers as holes
specified by the identification code are arranged at the positions corresponding
to the holes.
20 4. The energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the tray
comprises a first connector equipped with the switch, and the rack comprises a
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second connector equipped with the fingers and coupled to the first connector.
5. The energy storage system of claim 4, wherein the first and
second connectors comprise first guide holes and second guide holes,
respectively, and are fastened together by guide bolts passing through the
second guide holes and then the first guide holes and nuts provided on the first
connector's side.
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6. The energy storage system of claim 4, wherein the first connector
comprises fastening holes on either side, and the second connector comprises
coupling members to be coupled to the fastening holes.
10 7. The energy storage system of claim 6, wherein each fastening
hole further comprises a protrusion protruding toward the coupling member, and
the coupling member further comprises an insert hole to be coupled to the
protrusion.
15 8. A method for setting an identification code to a tray for an energy
storage system, the method comprising:
preparing trays with no identification codes;
mounting the trays on a rack;
automatically assigning identification codes to the trays as fingers
20 provided on the rack are selectively coupled to a switch provided in each tray;
sending identification code data to a rack controller provided in the rack
from a tray controller provided in each tray; and
completing the preparation for the operation of the energy storage
system.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein, in the preparing, trays with no
identification codes, each including an identical switch, are prepared.
5 10. The method of claim 8, wherein, in the assigning, a different
arrangement of fingers provided at the mounting position of each tray on the
rack is coupled to the switch.