An energy storage cabinet is a device that stores electrical energy and usually consists of a battery pack, a converter PCS, a control chip, and other components.
It can store electrical energy and release it for power use when needed. It is usually used to provide backup power and stabilize grid voltage.
Energy storage cabinets can smooth out fluctuations caused by non-connected new energy sources connected to the power grid, and maintain the stability of the public utility grid.
Also, suppress load jumps, regulate frequency and voltage, and improve power factor.
What does an energy storage cabinet consist of?
The energy storage cabinet comprises the following parts:
1-Battery module: This is the core component of the energy storage system and stores electrical energy. Common battery modules include lithium-ion batteries, lead-acid batteries, etc.
2-Battery Management System (BMS): used to monitor and control the battery status. The charging and discharging process protects the battery from abnormal conditions such as overcharge, over-discharge, and over-current.
3-Inverter (also known as bidirectional converter): used to convert stored DC power into AC power to power the power system or other equipment.
4-Control system: used to monitor and control the operating status, energy management, communication, etc. The energy storage unit.
5-Cooling system: used to maintain the energy storage system’s temperature within a safe range, usually including components such as heat sinks, fans, or air conditioners.
6- Housings and connectors: used to provide protection and mechanical support and ensure connections to other devices.
PVMars’ professional team can provide a complete solar energy storage system design plan and quotation customized within 24 hours based on your needs.
Among them, energy storage cabinets are mostly used in industrial and commercial engineering projects, and power generation generally exceeds MW.
If you are interested, you can click on “1MWh-3MWh Energy Storage System Price” for more details.
What are the common faults with energy storage cabinets?
The following content is for reference only.
1-Battery failure: Battery aging, overcharging, overdischarging, internal short circuit, etc. May cause battery failure. In addition, degradation or damage to individual cells in a battery pack may also affect the performance of the entire battery pack.
2-Electrical equipment failure: such as overcurrent, overvoltage, undervoltage, insulation failure, etc., which may cause equipment damage or safety issues.
3-Mechanical failure: If the energy storage cabinet is affected by external impact, vibration, etc., the mechanical parts may be damaged or lost.
4-Environmental impact: Environmental factors such as extreme temperatures, moisture, corrosion, etc. May also impact the performance and safety of energy storage cabinets.
5-Design and manufacturing defects: Defects in energy storage cabinets design and manufacturing may also lead to failure.
PVMars’ energy storage cabinets are available in 5ft, 10ft, 20ft, and 40ft sizes. Their waterproof rating is IP54 and their sealing performance is world-class.
Materials include a polymer coating, closed cell insulation, galvanized steel, or stainless steel.
Our energy storage cabinets are designed to operate for over 30 years in harsh environments and extreme weather conditions.
Tested in installations, it can withstand conditions ranging from the frozen Siberian tundra to California’s Death Valley. You can click “Contact Us” to get the product catalog.
How many categories of energy storage cabinets are there?
Based on various usage scenarios and combined with industry data, the general classification is as follows:
1-Discrete energy storage cabinet: composed of a battery pack, inverter, charge, and discharge controller, and communication controller.
Each component is placed independently in the cabinet, connected through cables, and combined into a system.
The advantage of this structure is that each part of the equipment in the energy storage cabinet is independent, the failure rate is low, and it is easy to maintain and expand. But the disadvantage is that it occupies a large area and costs high.
2- Combined energy storage cabinet: The battery pack, inverter, charge, and discharge controller, and communication controller are installed in independent cabinets.
Cabinets can be combined arbitrarily to form energy storage systems with different capacities, voltages, etc.
This structure has free combinations, high flexibility, and can be customized according to user needs.
But the disadvantage is that cabinet connections are complicated and installation is difficult.
PVMars provides on-site investigation before the system is designed in the early stage, as well as on-site installation guidance services for the entire system at the later stage.
3-Base-type energy storage cabinet: A structure in which the battery pack and power devices are installed on the base.
This structure occupies a small area, is easy to install, and is suitable for outdoor environments. However, the disadvantage is that the energy storage capacity is relatively small and not suitable for large-scale applications.
4-Integrated energy storage container: The battery pack, inverter, charge, and discharge controller, and communication controller are integrated into one cabinet.
This structure has compactness, portability, and easy installation, making it suitable for mobile energy systems or small grid systems.
However, the disadvantage is that the system has poor scalability and faults are difficult to troubleshoot.
Battery classification in Energy Storage Systems
Lithium-ion battery cabinet: Using lithium-ion batteries as an energy storage method, it has the advantages of high efficiency, environmental protection, and high charge and discharge efficiency.
In addition, lithium-ion battery cabinets also have high energy density, long life, and a low self-discharge rate.
At the same time, the lithium-ion battery cabinet size and capacity can be customized according to different energy storage demand scenarios.
Lead-acid battery cabinet: Lead-acid batteries store electrical energy. Although energy storage efficiency is low, the technology is mature and the price is low.
However, lead-acid batteries have a high self-discharge rate and require regular maintenance and testing, which also increases use costs.
Supercapacitor cabinet: Supercapacitors store electrical energy and have fast charge and discharge capabilities, long life, and no pollution.
At the same time, it adapts to various temperature environments and working conditions.
However, supercapacitors have relatively low energy storage density, and the capacity of a single capacitor is small.
This requires multiple capacitors to be connected in parallel and in series, which increases the cost.
Photovoltaic energy storage cabinets: divided into integrated and distributed energy storage cabinets.
Integrated energy storage cabinets are used in large centralized power stations. Distributed energy storage cabinets are used in homes and industrial and commercial photovoltaic power stations.
What quality standards are involved in energy storage cabinets?
The quality standards involved are:
GB/T40090-2021 Energy storage power station operation and maintenance procedures
GB/T36545-2022 Technical requirements for mobile electrochemical energy storage systems
GB/T36549-2022 Operation indicators and evaluation of electrochemical energy storage power stations
GB/T36548-2022 Test specifications for electrochemical energy storage systems connected to the power grid
GB/T42288-2022 “Safety Regulations for Electrochemical Energy Storage Power Stations”: This is a safety standard for electrochemical energy storage power stations, which stipulates safety requirements for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of energy storage power stations. The standard will be implemented on July 1, 2023.
GB/T36276-2018 “Lithium-ion batteries for electric energy storage”: This standard applies to lithium-ion batteries used in electric energy storage.
Including independent battery packs and battery pack modules, it mainly involves the requirements and test methods for battery capacity, voltage, internal resistance, charging performance, discharge performance, safety performance, etc.
In power systems, new energy power generation systems, and other fields, lithium-ion batteries may be used.
These quality standards cover many aspects of energy storage cabinets, including operation and maintenance procedures, general technical conditions, technical requirements, evaluation standards test specifications, etc.
Energy storage systems' future development
With the growing global demand for renewable energy, distributed photovoltaic energy storage systems are rapidly expanding.
First of all, the rapid development of distributed photovoltaics and electric vehicles provides huge opportunities for light, storage, and charging integration.
This integrated development model improves energy efficiency and reduces dependence on traditional energy, contributing to environmental protection.
Secondly, European optical and storage integration has become a trend, which provides valuable experience and inspiration for the development of the global optical and storage industry.
Solar storage power stations have moved from passive to active and will become the core of the future optical storage era.
Under this trend, PVMars, one of the leading companies in energy storage systems, is accelerating the joint construction of a comprehensive energy storage ecosystem. This is to seek high-quality development.
To sum up, to achieve a zero-carbon future, we need to accelerate the construction of the “four keys” of new energy systems such as photovoltaics, new energy storage, hydrogen energy, and solar energy.
Only through such efforts can we jointly create a better future and achieve sustainable energy development and progress in environmental protection.
