One such advancement is the liquid-cooled energy storage battery system, which offers a range of technical benefits compared to traditional air-cooled systems. Much like the transition from air cooled engines to liquid cooled in the 1980’s, battery energy storage systems are now moving towards this same technological heat management add-on.
New liquid-cooled energy storage system mitigates battery inconsistency with advanced cooling technology but cannot eliminate it. As a result, the energy storage system is equipped with some control systems including a battery management system (BMS) and power conversion system (PCS) to ensure battery balancing.
Liquid-cooled battery energy storage systems provide better protection against thermal runaway than air-cooled systems. “If you have a thermal runaway of a cell, you’ve got this massive heat sink for the energy be sucked away into. The liquid is an extra layer of protection,” Bradshaw says.
Benefits of Liquid Cooled Battery Energy Storage Systems Enhanced Thermal Management: Liquid cooling provides superior thermal management capabilities compared to air cooling. It enables precise control over the temperature of battery cells, ensuring that they operate within an optimal temperature range.
Liquid-cooled energy storage systems are particularly advantageous in conjunction with renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind. The ability to efficiently manage temperature fluctuations ensures that the batteries seamlessly integrate with the intermittent nature of these renewable sources.
Higher Energy Density: Liquid cooling allows for a more compact design and better integration of battery cells. As a result, liquid-cooled energy storage systems often have higher energy density compared to their air-cooled counterparts.