battery energy storage facilities

Product image of VLV 4 & 12 Chiller BESS Chiller

Unveiling New Battery Cooling: VLV 4-12 and DMC 8.0 Chillers from Pfannenberg

 

We’re excited to spotlight our latest thermal management solutions: the VLV 4 & 12 and DMC 8.0 Chillers. Engineered specifically for today’s evolving BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) landscape, these award-winning chillers are setting bold new standards in reliability, versatility, and energy savings.

 

Product and application of Bess Chillers DMC 8.0 and VLV 4 & 12

Why Advanced Cooling for BESS Matters

Modern BESS installations face extreme environments, complex integration needs, and the constant demand for longer battery life. The right cooling solution not only protects your investment, but it empowers greater performance and efficiency all year round.

Inside the VLV 4 & 12: Compact, Off-grid

Designed for seamless installation inside BESS containers or cabinets, the new VLV 4 & 12 Chillers bring:Product image of VLV 4 & 12 Chiller BESS Chiller

  • Direct DC Power Supply: Accepts 570–800V DC straight from the battery, no conversion needed. This means simplified system design and greater energy efficiency.
  • All-Climate Operation: Performs reliably from -13°F to +113°F.  Its internal heater ensures optimal liquid temperature in winter, safeguarding battery life even in the coldest climates.
  • Cutting-Edge Efficiency: Variable frequency drive (VFD) tech, a micro-channel condenser, and EC fans deliver significant energy savings and robust performance.
  • Space-Smart Design: A slim profile with a unique structural notch allows easy mounting in tight spots, ideal for maximizing use of every inch.
  • Easy Integration: Modbus TCP communication ensures seamless linkup with Battery Management Systems.

Did you know? The VLV 4 & 12 are protected by two patents, one covering its distinctive shape and another for its innovative DC power source.

Meet the DMC 8.0: Flexible, Space-Saving

If your project needs a solution that excels in both performance and installation options, the DMC 8.0 Chiller is ready to deliver:

DMC 8.0 door-mounted chiller for BESS applications

  • Installation Versatility: Designed for door mounting, semi-recessed or wall-mounted, for maximum space efficiency.
  • Extreme Environment Readiness: Handles temperatures from -4°F to +133°F, with an integrated heater supporting optimal battery function in stand-by mode.
  • Precision & Quiet: Inverter-driven compressor and high-efficiency EC fans offer precise control with low noise; perfect for urban or noise-sensitive sites.
  • Compact but Mighty: Delivers higher capacity in a smaller footprint than many competitors, as well as easy maintenance access.
  • Remote Connectivity: Supports Modbus RTU and Modbus TCP for straightforward remote monitoring and tight integration with battery management.

 

Designed for the Future of Battery Storage

Both the VLV 4 & 12 and DMC 8.0 chillers represent Pfannenberg’s commitment to driving forward-thinking solutions for energy storage:

  • Enhanced system uptime and energy efficiency
  • Future-ready reliability for every environment
  • Intuitive communication and integration for easier management

As Jared Hallberg, Product Management, Chillers, explains, “The VLV and DMC chillers set a new benchmark for BESS thermal management, combining direct DC connectivity and robust reliability to maximize battery performance in any environment.”

Ready to elevate your battery storage project? Discover how Pfannenberg’s latest chillers can transform your BESS operation with next-generation technology, efficiency, and peace of mind.

Protect your investment. Power your performance.

 

For more information about the BESS Chillers, visit our BESS Chiller page.

 

Thermal Management Protection Solutions For Battery Energy Storage Systems

By Adam Wells, Solutions Engineer, Pfannenberg USA

Cooling systems help achieve better battery performance, durability, and safety

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are helping to transform how the world generates and consumes electricity as we transition from large-scale fossil fuel plants to renewable sources. The market for BESS is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30 percent from 2023-2033 according to IDTechEx. What’s more, the global cumulative stationary battery storage capacity is expected to reach 2 terawatt hours (TWh) within ten years.

What’s the catch? The market is challenged by the basic fact that electrochemical energy storage is notoriously vulnerable to overheating, risking sudden fire and explosion, in addition to causing degraded performance and shortened lifetime. Cooling systems are critically important for BESS, providing the thermal stability that is crucial for battery performance, durability, and safety. If applied correctly, the solutions will reduce battery degradation and damage, and minimize downtime.

Thermal Stability and Uniform Temperature 

In general, it is best to keep batteries at a moderate, consistent temperature to ensure their optimal performance and longevity. Exposure to extreme temperatures, either hot or cold, can damage batteries and cause hazardous events.

The specific temperature range that batteries require to operate safely varies depending on battery type and design. While new battery technologies are being developed every day, lithium-ion batteries continue to dominate energy storage systems due to falling battery costs and increased performance with less weight and space requirements giving better energy density compared to other battery types. It is likely that lithium-ion will continue to be the most common BESS technology for the foreseeable future.

According to the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the optimal temperature range for lithium-ion is between 15 °C and 35 °C. An ambient temperature of about 20°C or slightly below (“room temperature”) is ideal; if a battery operates at 30°C, its lifetime is reduced by 20 percent. At 40°C, the losses in lifetime approach 40 percent, and if batteries are charged and discharged at 45°C, the lifetime is only half of what can be expected at 20°C.

It is also equally important to maintain uniform temperature throughout the system. Avoiding hot spots is crucial to preventing damage and mitigating the risk of triggering a chain reaction that leads to catastrophic thermal runaway.

Causes of Battery Overheating

One key factor contributing to overheating is use in applications that require rapid charging/ discharging. These are referred to as having a high C-rate, defined as the charging or discharging current divided by the capacity (the amount of energy the battery can hold). Applications with a  high C-rate and frequent cycling generate more heat.

Another factor is high ambient temperature, which can damage batteries in several ways. Elevated temperatures lead to an increased rate of side reactions, causing attrition of active material and resulting in a build-up of resistance at the electrode surface. Operation of lithium-ion batteries at high temperatures will also accelerate the aging process and lead to performance degradation.

Paradoxically, low ambient temperatures can cause more problems with internal overheating than high ambient temperatures. Cold temperatures can result in viscosity changes in the electrolyte that lead to sluggish ion transport, resulting in higher resistance and heat generation.

Designing an Optimal Cooling Solution – Liquid or Air Cooling?

BESS thermal management solutions include liquid and air cooling; the optimal solution depends primarily on the application’s C-rate and environmental conditions. The most demanding thermal management applications, such as large-scale BESS installation and high C-rate applications, require active liquid cooling. Smaller installations with low C-rate applications can be safely and efficiently operated with air cooling.

Liquid cooling

Liquid cooling is extremely effective at dissipating large amounts of heat and maintaining uniform temperatures throughout the battery pack, thereby allowing BESS designs that achieve higher energy density and safely support  high C-rate applications.

Multiple versions of chillers are available to optimize the layout of the cooling system. For example, Pfannenberg offers two layout options: A stand-alone chiller can be placed inside the BESS. Each unit provides up to 12kW of cooling, and multiple units can be easily combined to support the highest cooling load requirements. Alternatively, a compact version is designed to be mounted outdoors on the cabinet door, for a small footprint that allows easy integration inside battery cabinets and enclosures. Both solutions safely operate between -25 and +50°C and offer up to 800 V DC power supply to directly connect with the battery system, all while not needing any power conversion.

Air cooling

Air cooling systems provide a cost-effective cooling solution for smaller stationary energy storage systems operating at a relatively low C-rate.

For example, Pfannenberg’s DTS Cooling Unit seals out the ambient air, and then cools and re-circulates clean, cool air through the enclosure. The closed loop design isolates the external ambient air from the internally conditioned air eliminating the risk of contaminants entering the cabinet. Thehermetically sealed compressor guarantees 100 percent cooling capacity efficiency.

For applications where the ambient air is always cooler than the temperature required inside the enclosure, filter fans, which use natural convection of the air to circulate air and dissipate heat, are extremely cost-effective.

Energy storage plays an important role in the transition towards a carbon-neutral society. BESS systems depend on cooling systems that provide the thermal stability that is crucial for battery performance, durability, and safety. and if applied correctly, will reduce battery degradation and damage, and minimize downtime.