Lithium ion battery energy storage cabinet with fire extinguishing function and use method

Abstract

The invention discloses a lithium ion battery energy storage cabinet with a fire extinguishing function and a use method, and relates to the technical field of new energy battery energy storage, the lithium ion battery energy storage cabinet comprises a cabinet body, and a plurality of battery cabins and independent fire extinguishing agent storage tanks are arranged in the cabinet body. Through a highly integrated'early warning-fire extinguishing-cooling 'triple active safety mechanism, extremely high safety and reliability are achieved, after the fire detection unit gives out an early warning, a fire extinguishing agent is sprayed to an ignition point through a fire extinguishing agent release pipeline and a nozzle, open fire is rapidly extinguished, then the integrated cooling system works, and the fire extinguishing effect is achieved. The high-temperature battery module is continuously cooled through the atomization nozzle, the problem that a lithium ion battery is extremely prone to reburning is efficiently solved, the supercapacitor serves as a standby power source, it is ensured that the whole fire extinguishing system can still obtain instant and reliable emergency power under the extreme condition that a main power source is interrupted, and then the fire risk and secondary damage are reduced; and a solid foundation is provided for large-scale safe application of energy storage of the lithium ion battery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of new energy battery energy storage technology, specifically to a lithium-ion battery energy storage cabinet with fire extinguishing function and its usage method. Background Technology

[0002] New energy lithium-ion batteries are a type of rechargeable battery that primarily relies on the movement of lithium ions between the positive and negative electrodes to function. As the core integrated unit of the battery energy storage system, the safety of the energy storage cabinet is the cornerstone and lifeline of the industry's development. Lithium-ion batteries are prone to thermal runaway under conditions of overcharging, over-discharging, internal or external short circuits, mechanical abuse, or high temperatures. Thermal runaway is a violent chain reaction process that causes a sharp increase in the internal temperature and pressure of the battery, resulting in the release of a large amount of flammable gas. These flammable gases accumulate in the limited space inside the cabinet and are highly susceptible to combustion or even explosion when exposed to open flames or high temperatures. The fire can spread rapidly between battery modules through heat conduction and heat radiation, leading to an uncontrollable fire accident.

[0003] The shortcomings of existing lithium-ion battery energy storage cabinets are:

[0004] 1. Patent document CN114652980B discloses a lithium-ion battery energy storage integrated box with fire extinguishing function. However, the battery energy storage integrated box in the above document has technical problems such as using a single fire extinguishing setting, difficulty in continuous cooling after fire extinguishing, and easy reignition due to residual high temperature hot spots. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a lithium-ion battery energy storage cabinet with fire extinguishing function and a method of using it, so as to solve the technical problems mentioned in the background art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a lithium-ion battery energy storage cabinet with fire extinguishing function, comprising a cabinet body, wherein the cabinet body is provided with a plurality of battery compartments and an independent fire extinguishing agent storage tank;

[0007] The battery compartment is equipped with a battery module and a fire detection unit.

[0008] The cabinet is also equipped with a control unit and a fire extinguishing agent release pipeline. The fire extinguishing agent release pipeline is connected to the fire extinguishing agent storage tank and the nozzle installed in the battery compartment. The fire extinguishing agent release pipeline is equipped with a solenoid valve controlled by the control unit.

[0009] The cabinet integrates a coolant storage tank and a backup power module. The coolant storage tank is connected to an atomizing nozzle in the battery compartment via a cooling pipe with a micro pump.

[0010] The backup power module is a supercapacitor connected to the control unit, solenoid valve, and micro pump, and is used to provide emergency power when the main power supply is interrupted.

[0011] Preferably, the control unit is configured to perform the following operations: first, based on the signal from the fire detection unit, control the solenoid valve on the extinguishing agent release pipeline to directionally spray perfluorohexanone extinguishing agent onto the single battery compartment that has experienced thermal runaway, with a spraying duration of T1; after the extinguishing agent spraying ends and a preset time T2 is delayed, start the micro pump to spray coolant for a duration of T3, wherein the time parameters T1, T2, and T3 are dynamically adjusted according to the detected intensity of thermal runaway in the battery compartment.

[0012] Preferably, the coolant stored in the coolant storage tank is liquid carbon dioxide or gas-liquid two-phase perfluorohexanone, and the spray direction of the atomizing nozzle is directed towards the joint between the cell terminals and the casing of the battery module.

[0013] Preferably, the fire detection unit includes a temperature sensor, a gas sensor, and a smoke sensor, and the temperature sensor, gas sensor, and smoke sensor are respectively installed inside the battery compartment. The gas sensor specifically adopts a composite gas sensing device to detect the concentration of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

[0014] Preferably, the logic for the control unit to dynamically adjust T1, T2, and T3 is as follows: when the highest temperature value detected by the temperature sensor exceeds 100°C or the temperature rise rate exceeds 2°C / s, it is determined to be a high-intensity thermal runaway, and T1 is automatically set to the maximum value, T2 is set to the minimum value, and a high-frequency pulse mode is used for cooling.

[0015] Preferably, the fire determination logic of the control unit is configured as follows: when the gas sensor detects that the CO concentration exceeds 50ppm or the H2 concentration exceeds 50ppm, an early warning is issued and the ventilation device installed at the back of the cabinet is activated in conjunction with the gas sensor; when the temperature sensor detects that the temperature value exceeds 70℃ and the temperature rise rate exceeds 1℃ / s, or when the smoke sensor detects that the smoke concentration exceeds 5%obs / m, a fire is determined to have occurred.

[0016] Preferably, the extinguishing agent release pipeline is further equipped with a flow sensor and a pressure sensor, and the control unit is configured to dynamically adjust the opening of the solenoid valve based on the feedback data from the flow sensor and the pressure sensor, so as to achieve closed-loop control of the extinguishing agent spray flow rate and pressure.

[0017] Preferably, the side wall of the cabinet is provided with a plurality of pressure relief devices, each including an explosion vent sealed by a fusible alloy sheet, the melting point of which is 90°C to 110°C.

[0018] Preferably, the control unit is also electrically connected to a remote monitoring terminal. The control unit is configured to send early warning signals, fire alarm signals, extinguishing agent spraying status, and coolant spraying status information to the remote monitoring terminal, and to receive remote start commands from it. The nominal capacity of the supercapacitor bank of the backup power module is not less than 100F, and it is configured to provide backup power for the entire fire protection system for not less than 30 minutes after the main power fails.

[0019] Preferably, the operating steps of the lithium-ion battery energy storage cabinet with fire extinguishing function are as follows:

[0020] S1. During normal operation of the energy storage cabinet, the control unit continuously receives data from the fire detection units in each battery compartment, including readings from temperature sensors, gas sensors and smoke sensors. The backup power module is kept fully charged to ensure that the fire protection system can obtain emergency power in the event of an unexpected interruption of the main power supply.

[0021] S2. When the gas sensor detects that the CO concentration exceeds 50ppm or the H2 concentration exceeds 50ppm, the control unit determines that it is an early sign of thermal runaway. The control unit immediately issues an early warning signal and sends the signal to the remote monitoring terminal. At the same time, the control unit activates the ventilation device at the back of the cabinet to try to dilute and exhaust the combustible gas and delay the thermal runaway process.

[0022] S3. When the temperature sensor detects a temperature value exceeding 70℃ and a temperature rise rate exceeding 1℃ / s, or the smoke sensor detects a smoke concentration exceeding 5%obs / m, the control unit determines that a fire has occurred and immediately locks the specific battery compartment where thermal runaway has occurred. The control unit opens the corresponding solenoid valve on the extinguishing agent release pipeline to release perfluorohexanone extinguishing agent from the extinguishing agent storage tank and sprays it directionally onto the target battery compartment through nozzles. The spraying duration T1 is dynamically adjusted by the control unit according to the intensity of thermal runaway. During the spraying process, the flow sensor and pressure sensor provide real-time feedback data, and the control unit dynamically adjusts the opening of the solenoid valve accordingly to achieve closed-loop control of the extinguishing agent flow and pressure.

[0023] S4. After the extinguishing agent spraying is completed, the control unit enters a preset delay time T2 to ensure that the extinguishing agent is fully effective and to prevent reignition. After the delay time T2 is completed, the control unit starts the micro pump to deliver the coolant in the coolant storage tank to the atomizing nozzle in the battery compartment through the cooling pipeline. The coolant is aimed at the key parts such as the battery cell terminals and shell seams of the battery module for continuous cooling. The cooling duration T3 is also dynamically adjusted by the control unit according to the temperature rise after thermal runaway. For high-intensity thermal runaway, a high-frequency pulse mode can be used for strong cooling.

[0024] S5. During the entire thermal runaway process, if the pressure and temperature inside the battery compartment rise sharply due to violent reaction, when the temperature reaches 90℃-110℃, the fusible alloy sheet on the pressure relief device on the side wall of the cabinet will melt, open the explosion vent, release the pressure in time, and prevent the cabinet from bursting explosively.

[0025] S6. After the entire firefighting process is over, the control unit continues to monitor the status of the battery compartment to prevent reignition. From early warning to fire extinguishing and cooling, the control unit uploads all alarm signals and status information to the remote monitoring terminal in real time. Operators can also send remote start commands to the control unit through the remote monitoring terminal to manually trigger the fire extinguishing procedure.

[0026] S7. When a fire causes a main power outage, the backup power module immediately and seamlessly switches over to provide backup power for no less than 30 minutes to key fire-fighting components such as control units, solenoid valves, and micro pumps, ensuring that the entire fire-fighting process is completed completely and reliably.

[0027] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0028] 1. This invention achieves extremely high safety and reliability through a highly integrated triple active safety mechanism of "early warning-fire extinguishing-cooling". When the fire detection unit issues an early warning, the fire extinguishing agent is sprayed to the ignition point through the fire extinguishing agent release pipeline and nozzles to quickly extinguish the open flame. Subsequently, the integrated cooling system works to continuously cool the high-temperature battery module through atomizing nozzles, thereby efficiently solving the problem of lithium-ion batteries being extremely prone to reignition. A supercapacitor is used as a backup power source to ensure that in the extreme case of main power failure, the entire fire protection system can still obtain instantaneous and reliable emergency power, thereby reducing fire risk and secondary damage, and providing a solid foundation for the large-scale safe application of lithium-ion battery energy storage.

[0029] 2. This invention executes a precise, phased response of "extinguishing the fire first, then cooling" through a control unit. First, the spraying time T1 of perfluorohexanone is dynamically adjusted according to the fire intensity for targeted fire extinguishing. After a short delay T2, a targeted cooling phase T3 is initiated, effectively preventing interference with the extinguishing agent and ensuring subsequent cooling effects. Then, the atomizing nozzle precisely targets the core thermal runaway areas such as the battery cell terminals and seams, achieving efficient cooling and suppressing reignition. By dynamically adjusting the solenoid valve based on real-time monitoring of pipeline flow and pressure, the accuracy and reliability of the extinguishing agent spray are ensured. This not only improves the efficiency and reliability of fire extinguishing and cooling but also reduces maintenance costs.

[0030] 3. This invention can issue an early warning and start ventilation before a fire occurs through a composite gas sensing device. Based on a composite criterion of temperature, temperature rise rate and smoke concentration, it can accurately determine the fire situation and effectively prevent false activation. After confirming the fire, the control unit can adaptively and dynamically adjust the parameters of extinguishing T1, delay T2 and cooling T3 according to the real-time intensity of thermal runaway. For high-intensity thermal runaway, it immediately activates the maximum dose of extinguishing and uses a high-frequency pulse mode for powerful cooling. The pulse cooling can suppress reignition to the extreme. The whole process is fully intelligent and automated, thus forming a comprehensive safety barrier and improving the safety of use.

[0031] 4. This invention utilizes a vent sealed with a fusible alloy sheet. When battery thermal runaway causes a sudden increase in pressure and temperature inside the cabinet, the device can be passively triggered and actively depressurized. By melting the fusible alloy sheet, high-pressure gas and heat are released instantaneously, thus fundamentally preventing a catastrophic physical explosion caused by internal pressure buildup in the cabinet. This purely mechanical design requires no external power, ensuring absolutely reliable operation even in extreme situations of power outage or system failure, thereby improving the safety of the equipment. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the fire extinguishing agent storage tank according to the present invention;

[0034] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the fire extinguishing agent release pipeline structure of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 4 For the present invention Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the structure at point A in the middle;

[0036] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the coolant storage tank structure of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 6 For the present invention Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the structure at point B;

[0038] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the cabinet side structure of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the control logic structure of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the workflow of the present invention.

[0041] In the diagram: 1. Cabinet; 2. Battery compartment; 3. Extinguishing agent storage tank; 4. Battery module; 5. Fire detection unit; 8. Control unit; 9. Extinguishing agent release pipeline; 10. Nozzle; 11. Solenoid valve; 12. Coolant storage tank; 13. Backup power module; 14. Micro pump; 15. Atomizing nozzle; 16. Temperature sensor; 17. Gas sensor; 18. Smoke sensor; 19. Flow sensor; 20. Pressure sensor; 21. Pressure relief device; 22. Fusible alloy sheet; 23. Explosion vent. Detailed Implementation

[0042] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0043] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," "inner," "outer," "front end," "rear end," "both ends," "one end," and "the other end," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0044] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "equipped with," "connected," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can be a connection within two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0045] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 6 and Figure 8The present invention provides an embodiment of a lithium-ion battery energy storage cabinet with fire extinguishing function, comprising a cabinet body 1, wherein the cabinet body 1 is provided with a plurality of battery compartments 2 and an independent fire extinguishing agent storage tank 3, wherein the battery compartments 2 are provided with battery modules 4 and fire detection units 5, and the cabinet body 1 is also provided with a control unit 8 and a fire extinguishing agent release pipeline 9, wherein the fire extinguishing agent release pipeline 9 is respectively connected to the fire extinguishing agent storage tank 3 and a nozzle 10 provided in the battery compartment 2, and the fire extinguishing agent release pipeline 9 is provided with a solenoid valve 11 controlled by the control unit 8, wherein the cabinet body 1 integrates a coolant storage tank 12 and a backup power module 13, wherein the coolant storage tank 12 is connected to an atomizing nozzle 15 in the battery compartment 2 through a cooling pipeline with a micro pump 14, and the backup power module 13 is a supercapacitor, which is connected to the control unit 8, the solenoid valve 11 and the micro pump 14, and is used to provide emergency power when the main power is interrupted;

[0046] Furthermore, by integrating a triple active safety mechanism of "early warning + fire extinguishing + cooling", the fire detection unit 5 provides early warning, the fire extinguishing system quickly suppresses open flames, and the cooling system prevents reignition, forming a complete fire handling closed loop. After receiving the signal from the fire detection unit 5, the control unit 8 activates the solenoid valve 11 and sprays the fire extinguishing agent directly and accurately onto the burning battery module 4 through the preset fire extinguishing agent release pipeline 9 and nozzle 10. Then, through the independent coolant storage tank 12 and atomizing nozzle 15 integrated in the cabinet 1, after the open flame is extinguished, the micro pump 14 starts and sprays the coolant in the form of atomization onto the high-temperature battery module 4 to continuously cool it down, fundamentally eliminating the reignition caused by the chain reaction of battery thermal runaway.

[0047] Using supercapacitors as backup power sources, these supercapacitors have fast charging and discharging speeds, extremely long cycle life, and good high and low temperature resistance, ensuring that the system can be activated in an emergency where the main power supply is interrupted due to a fire. They can simultaneously provide the instantaneous high current required for starting the solenoid valve 11 and the micro pump 14, ensuring that the fire extinguishing and cooling systems can work immediately. This ensures that the entire fire safety system can operate independently and normally under any extreme conditions, achieving "fail-safe protection".

[0048] The fire extinguishing agent storage tank 3, coolant storage tank 12, control unit 8, backup power module 13 and all pipelines are highly integrated into the cabinet 1, forming a self-contained one-stop safety solution. This not only saves external space and facilitates transportation, installation and deployment, but also eliminates the need for additional complex fire protection facilities, making it particularly suitable for distributed energy storage scenarios.

[0049] Furthermore, by designing the battery compartment 2 as a single module, a failure or fire in a single battery compartment 2 will not easily affect the entire cabinet 1, and the fire protection system can also be activated for a single compartment, improving the system's accuracy and economy.

[0050] Please see Figure 1, Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 8 The present invention provides an embodiment of a lithium-ion battery energy storage cabinet with fire extinguishing function. The control unit 8 is configured to perform the following operations: First, based on the signal from the fire detection unit 5, the solenoid valve 11 on the fire extinguishing agent release pipeline 9 is controlled to directionally spray perfluorohexanone fire extinguishing agent onto a single battery compartment 2 that has experienced thermal runaway. The spraying duration is T1. After the fire extinguishing agent spraying ends and a preset time T2 is delayed, the micro pump 14 is started to spray coolant for a duration of T3. The time parameters T1, T2, and T3 are dynamically adjusted according to the detected thermal runaway intensity of the battery compartment 2. The coolant stored in the coolant storage tank 12 is liquid carbon dioxide or gas-liquid two-phase perfluorohexanone. The spraying direction of the atomizing nozzle 15 is aimed at the cell terminal and the shell seam of the battery module 4. The fire extinguishing agent release pipeline 9 is also equipped with a flow sensor 19 and a pressure sensor 20. The control unit 8 is configured to dynamically adjust the opening of the solenoid valve 11 according to the feedback data of the flow sensor 19 and the pressure sensor 20 to achieve closed-loop control of the fire extinguishing agent spray flow rate and pressure.

[0051] Furthermore, the control unit 8 adopts a phased logic of "extinguishing the fire first and then cooling", and adds a delay time T2 between the phases to ensure that the extinguishing agent has fully acted before cooling, thus avoiding interference to the fire extinguishing process caused by the premature intervention of the coolant and improving the processing efficiency.

[0052] The time parameters T1, T2, and T3 can be dynamically adjusted according to the intensity of thermal runaway, thus enabling intelligent responses to fires of different scales. Small fires require smaller doses and shorter durations, while large fires trigger a more powerful and sustained response, achieving optimized allocation of firefighting resources and maximizing system efficiency.

[0053] By precisely aiming the spray direction of the atomizing nozzle 15 at the key parts where thermal runaway is most likely to occur and where heat is most concentrated, such as the battery cell terminals and the shell seams, precise targeted cooling is achieved. This enables the fastest and most effective cooling effect with minimal coolant consumption, thereby suppressing heat diffusion and preventing reignition.

[0054] Using liquid carbon dioxide or gas-liquid two-phase perfluorohexanone as a coolant combines excellent heat absorption and cooling capacity with insulation properties. In particular, gas-liquid two-phase perfluorohexanone is homogeneous with fire extinguishing agents, thus preventing secondary damage to the battery electrical system during the cooling process.

[0055] Based on feedback from flow and pressure sensors 20, control unit 8 can dynamically adjust the opening of solenoid valve 11 to achieve real-time closed-loop control of extinguishing agent spray flow and pressure, ensuring that the preset optimal extinguishing agent dosage and spray speed can be output under any circumstances, thus guaranteeing the reliability and consistency of the extinguishing effect.

[0056] The flow and pressure sensors 20 are not only used for control, but also serve as a monitoring unit for the system status. The control unit 8 can monitor the health status of the fire extinguishing system in real time, provide fault diagnosis and early warning capabilities for the system, and further enhance the reliability of the entire fire protection system.

[0057] Adaptive adjustment and precise spraying avoid full-dose spraying for both large and small fires, saving on extinguishing agent and coolant consumption. Closed-loop control prevents waste, allowing limited agent reserves to be used to their maximum effect in a fire incident, reducing subsequent filling and maintenance costs.

[0058] Please see Figure 3 and Figure 4 One embodiment of the present invention provides a lithium-ion battery energy storage cabinet with fire extinguishing function. The fire detection unit 5 includes a temperature sensor 16, a gas sensor 17, and a smoke sensor 18, which are respectively installed inside the battery compartment 2. The gas sensor 17 specifically adopts a composite gas sensing device to detect the concentration of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The logic for the control unit 8 to dynamically adjust T1, T2, and T3 is as follows: when the highest temperature value detected by the temperature sensor 16 exceeds 100°C or the temperature rise rate exceeds 2°C / s... When a high-intensity thermal runaway is detected, T1 is automatically set to the maximum value and T2 is set to the minimum value. A high-frequency pulse mode is used for cooling. The fire detection logic of the control unit 8 is configured as follows: when the gas sensor 17 detects that the CO concentration exceeds 50ppm or the H2 concentration exceeds 50ppm, an early warning is issued and the ventilation device installed at the back of the cabinet 1 is activated. When the temperature sensor 16 detects that the temperature value exceeds 70℃ and the temperature rise rate exceeds 1℃ / s, or the smoke sensor 18 detects that the smoke concentration exceeds 5%obs / m, a fire is detected.

[0059] Furthermore, by employing a judgment logic that integrates temperature, composite gas, and smoke sensors, the accuracy and early detection of fires are improved. In particular, by detecting carbon monoxide and hydrogen generated in the early stages of thermal runaway, early warnings can be issued, enabling the detection of potential hazards earlier than relying solely on temperature or smoke.

[0060] By setting a tiered response, when a characteristic gas is detected, only an early warning is issued and the ventilation device is activated to try to eliminate the hidden danger, avoid unnecessary fire extinguishing agent spraying, and reduce the operation interruption and economic losses caused by false alarms.

[0061] Fire detection requires a combination of conditions, such as temperature and rate of temperature rise or smoke, rather than a single signal. This helps improve the reliability of fire detection and avoids false system activation caused by environmental interference or instantaneous high temperature.

[0062] By dynamically adjusting key time parameters T1, T2, T3 and cooling mode according to the intensity of thermal runaway, the system automatically adopts the most powerful fire extinguishing and the fastest and most intense pulse cooling mode for high-intensity thermal runaway, and a more economical mode for minor situations, thus achieving precise response strategy and optimized resource utilization.

[0063] To address high-intensity thermal runaway, a high-frequency pulse mode of coolant injection is used, which generates stronger impact and penetration force, helps to break the gas film on the surface of the incandescent reactants, improves cooling efficiency, and can more effectively prevent deep thermal penetration and chain reactions in battery module 4, thereby suppressing reignition.

[0064] The entire process of use, from early warning and judgment to fire extinguishing and cooling, is automatically executed by the control unit 8 based on multi-sensor data and preset intelligent algorithms, without human intervention. This ensures the speed and consistency of response and improves the unmanned operation capability and overall safety of the energy storage cabinet.

[0065] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 5 and Figure 7 An embodiment of the present invention provides: a lithium-ion battery energy storage cabinet with fire extinguishing function, wherein the side wall of the cabinet 1 is provided with a plurality of pressure release devices 21, and the pressure release device 21 includes an explosion vent 23 sealed by a fusible alloy sheet 22, the melting point of the fusible alloy sheet 22 being 90°C to 110°C.

[0066] Furthermore, thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries can instantly generate a large amount of flammable gas, causing the internal pressure of battery compartment 2 to rise sharply. The explosion vent 23 provides a pre-set weak point. When the internal pressure exceeds the danger limit, it can release pressure and high-temperature gas in a targeted manner through active pressure relief, thereby preventing the energy storage cabinet 1 from undergoing a catastrophic physical explosion due to its inability to withstand the pressure, and thus protecting the safety of the equipment body and surrounding personnel and facilities.

[0067] The fusible alloy sheet 22 is a purely mechanical, passive safety device. Its operation does not depend on electricity, control system or any sensor. It will melt and open as long as the ambient temperature reaches its melting point of 90℃-110℃. Therefore, even in the most extreme case where a fire causes the main power and backup power to fail and the control system to be paralyzed, the explosion relief function can still be effective.

[0068] The melting point of the fusible alloy sheet 22 is between 90℃ and 110℃, which is much lower than the softening point of the cabinet material 1, and significantly higher than the maximum ambient temperature for normal battery operation and the daily temperature fluctuation inside the cabinet. This ensures that the explosion vent 23 is absolutely sealed during normal operation and will only activate in the event of overheating and actual thermal runaway, thus effectively preventing accidental activation.

[0069] Excessive pressure inside battery compartment 2 can hinder the spraying and diffusion of extinguishing agent, affecting the fire extinguishing effect. Timely depressurization can maintain a relatively stable pressure environment inside the compartment, ensuring that the extinguishing agent can be sprayed smoothly and evenly, thereby guaranteeing the final effectiveness of the fire extinguishing system.

[0070] Please see Figure 8 The present invention provides an embodiment of a lithium-ion battery energy storage cabinet with fire extinguishing function. The control unit 8 is also electrically connected to a remote monitoring terminal. The control unit 8 is configured to send early warning signals, fire alarm signals, fire extinguishing agent spraying status and coolant spraying status information to the remote monitoring terminal, and can receive remote start commands from it. The nominal capacity of the supercapacitor bank of the backup power module 13 is not less than 100F, and is configured to provide backup power for the entire fire protection system for not less than 30 minutes after the main power fails.

[0071] Furthermore, by uploading information such as early warning, fire alarm, fire extinguishing and cooling status to the remote monitoring terminal in real time, operation and maintenance personnel can remotely and around the clock monitor the safety status of the energy storage cabinet.

[0072] By receiving remote start commands, maintenance personnel can manually intervene remotely to force the start of the fire protection system in special circumstances where the automatic system fails, adding another reliable manual guarantee for fire fighting and thus improving the system's controllability and flexibility.

[0073] The supercapacitor bank provides backup power for no less than 30 minutes, which is a very ample time window. It not only ensures the completion of the entire "fire extinguishing-delay-cooling" process, but also supports continuous monitoring of the system after a fire and maintains the smooth operation of remote communication links, providing sufficient time buffer for personnel to arrive at the scene.

[0074] Please see Figure 9 The present invention provides an embodiment of a method for using a lithium-ion battery energy storage cabinet with fire extinguishing function, the working steps of which are as follows:

[0075] S1. During normal operation of the energy storage cabinet, the control unit 8 continuously receives data from the fire detection units 5 in each battery compartment 2, including the readings of the temperature sensor 16, gas sensor 17 and smoke sensor 18. The backup power module 13 is kept fully charged to ensure that the fire protection system can obtain emergency power when the main power is unexpectedly interrupted.

[0076] S2. When the gas sensor 17 detects that the CO concentration exceeds 50ppm or the H2 concentration exceeds 50ppm, the control unit 8 determines that it is an early sign of thermal runaway. The control unit 8 immediately issues an early warning signal and sends the signal to the remote monitoring terminal. At the same time, the control unit 8 activates the ventilation device at the back of the cabinet 1 in an attempt to dilute and exhaust the combustible gas and delay the thermal runaway process.

[0077] S3. When the temperature sensor 16 detects a temperature value exceeding 70°C and a temperature rise rate exceeding 1°C / s, or the smoke sensor 18 detects a smoke concentration exceeding 5%obs / m, the control unit 8 determines that a fire has occurred and immediately locks the specific battery compartment 2 where thermal runaway has occurred. The control unit 8 opens the corresponding solenoid valve 11 on the extinguishing agent release pipeline 9 to release perfluorohexanone extinguishing agent from the extinguishing agent storage tank 3. The extinguishing agent is then sprayed directionally onto the target battery compartment 2 through the nozzle 10. The spraying duration T1 is dynamically adjusted by the control unit 8 according to the intensity of thermal runaway. During the spraying process, the flow sensor 19 and the pressure sensor 20 provide real-time feedback data. The control unit 8 dynamically adjusts the opening of the solenoid valve 11 accordingly to achieve closed-loop control of the extinguishing agent flow and pressure.

[0078] S4. After the extinguishing agent spraying is completed, the control unit 8 enters a preset delay time T2 to ensure that the extinguishing agent is fully effective and to prevent reignition. After the delay time T2 is completed, the control unit 8 starts the micro pump 14 to deliver the coolant in the coolant storage tank 12 to the atomizing nozzle 15 in the battery compartment 2 through the cooling pipeline. The nozzle is aimed at the key parts of the battery module 4, such as the cell terminals and the shell seams, for continuous cooling. The cooling duration T3 is also dynamically adjusted by the control unit 8 according to the temperature rise after thermal runaway. For high-intensity thermal runaway, a high-frequency pulse mode can be used for strong cooling.

[0079] S5. During the entire thermal runaway process, if the pressure and temperature inside the battery compartment 2 rise sharply due to violent reaction, when the temperature reaches 90℃-110℃, the fusible alloy sheet 22 on the pressure relief device 21 on the side wall of the cabinet 1 will melt, open the explosion vent 23, release the pressure in time, and prevent the cabinet 1 from bursting explosively.

[0080] S6. After the entire firefighting process is over, the control unit 8 continues to monitor the status of the battery compartment 2 to prevent reignition. From early warning to fire extinguishing and cooling, the control unit 8 uploads all alarm signals and status information to the remote monitoring terminal in real time. Operators can also send remote start commands to the control unit 8 through the remote monitoring terminal to manually trigger the fire extinguishing procedure.

[0081] S7. When a fire causes a main power outage, the backup power module 13 immediately and seamlessly switches over to provide backup power for no less than 30 minutes to key fire-fighting components such as the control unit 8, solenoid valve 11, and micro pump 14, ensuring that the entire fire-fighting process is completed completely and reliably.

[0082] Working principle: Through a highly integrated "early warning-fire extinguishing-cooling" triple active safety mechanism, extremely high safety and reliability are achieved. When the fire detection unit 5 issues an early warning, the extinguishing agent is sprayed to the ignition point through the extinguishing agent release pipeline 9 and nozzle 10 to quickly extinguish the open flame. Subsequently, the integrated cooling system operates, continuously cooling the high-temperature battery module 4 through the atomizing nozzle 15, thereby effectively solving the problem of the lithium-ion battery's high susceptibility to reignition. A supercapacitor serves as a backup power source, ensuring that in extreme cases of main power failure, the entire fire protection system can still obtain instantaneous and reliable emergency power, thereby reducing the risk of fire. The fire risk and secondary damage provide a solid foundation for the large-scale safe application of lithium-ion battery energy storage. Control unit 8 executes a precise, phased response of "extinguishing the fire first, then cooling." First, the spraying time T1 of perfluorohexanone is dynamically adjusted according to the fire intensity for targeted fire extinguishing. After a short delay T2, a targeted cooling phase T3 is initiated, effectively preventing interference with the extinguishing agent and ensuring subsequent cooling effects. Then, the atomizing nozzle 15 precisely targets the core thermal runaway areas such as the cell terminals and seams, achieving efficient cooling and suppressing reignition. Real-time monitoring of pipeline flow and pressure dynamically adjusts the solenoid valve 11 to ensure... The precision and reliability of extinguishing agent injection not only improve the efficiency and reliability of fire extinguishing and cooling but also reduce maintenance costs. A composite gas sensor can issue an early warning and activate ventilation before a fire occurs. Based on a composite criterion of temperature, temperature rise rate, and smoke concentration, it can accurately determine the fire situation, effectively preventing false activation. After confirming a fire, the control unit 8 can adaptively and dynamically adjust the parameters of extinguishing T1, delay T2, and cooling T3 according to the real-time intensity of thermal runaway. For high-intensity thermal runaway, it immediately activates the maximum dosage extinguishing agent and uses a high-frequency pulse mode for powerful cooling, further maximizing cooling efficiency. It suppresses reignition and the entire process is fully intelligent and automated, thus forming a comprehensive safety barrier and improving safety. Through the explosion vent 23 sealed by the fusible alloy sheet 22, when the battery thermal runaway causes a sudden increase in pressure and temperature inside the cabinet, the device can be passively triggered and actively depressurized. By melting the fusible alloy sheet 22, high-pressure gas and heat are released instantly, thereby fundamentally preventing the cabinet 1 from undergoing a catastrophic physical explosion due to internal pressure accumulation. This purely mechanical design requires no external power and ensures that it can still operate absolutely reliably in any extreme case of power outage or system failure, thereby improving the safety of the equipment.

[0083] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered in all respects as exemplary and non-limiting, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within the present invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A lithium-ion battery energy storage cabinet with fire extinguishing function, comprising a cabinet body (1), characterized in that: The cabinet (1) contains several battery compartments (2) and an independent fire extinguishing agent storage tank (3). The battery compartment (2) is equipped with a battery module (4) and a fire detection unit (5). The cabinet (1) is also equipped with a control unit (8) and a fire extinguishing agent release pipeline (9). The fire extinguishing agent release pipeline (9) is connected to the fire extinguishing agent storage tank (3) and the nozzle (10) set in the battery compartment (2). The fire extinguishing agent release pipeline (9) is equipped with a solenoid valve (11) controlled by the control unit (8). The cabinet (1) integrates a coolant tank (12) and a backup power module (13). The coolant tank (12) is connected to the atomizing nozzle (15) in the battery compartment (2) through a cooling pipe with a micro pump (14). The backup power module (13) is a supercapacitor connected to the control unit (8), solenoid valve (11) and micro pump (14) to provide emergency power when the main power supply is interrupted.

2. A lithium-ion battery energy storage cabinet with fire extinguishing function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control unit (8) is configured to perform the following operations: First, based on the signal from the fire detection unit (5), the solenoid valve (11) on the extinguishing agent release pipeline (9) is controlled to spray perfluorohexanone extinguishing agent in a directional manner onto the single battery compartment (2) that has experienced thermal runaway. The spraying duration is T1. After the extinguishing agent spraying ends and a preset time T2 is delayed, the micro pump (14) is started to spray coolant for a duration of T3. The time parameters T1, T2 and T3 are dynamically adjusted according to the detected thermal runaway intensity of the battery compartment (2).

3. A lithium-ion battery energy storage cabinet with fire extinguishing function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The coolant stored in the coolant tank (12) is liquid carbon dioxide or gas-liquid two-phase perfluorohexanone, and the spray direction of the atomizing nozzle (15) is aligned with the joint between the cell terminal and the casing of the battery module (4).

4. A lithium-ion battery energy storage cabinet with fire extinguishing function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fire detection unit (5) includes a temperature sensor (16), a gas sensor (17) and a smoke sensor (18), and the temperature sensor (16), the gas sensor (17) and the smoke sensor (18) are respectively installed inside the battery compartment (2). The gas sensor (17) specifically adopts a composite gas sensing device to detect the concentration of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

5. A lithium-ion battery energy storage cabinet with fire extinguishing function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The logic of the control unit (8) to dynamically adjust T1, T2 and T3 is as follows: when the highest temperature value detected by the temperature sensor (16) exceeds 100℃ or the temperature rise rate exceeds 2℃ / s, it is determined to be a high-intensity thermal runaway, and T1 is automatically set to the maximum value, T2 is set to the minimum value, and a high-frequency pulse mode is used for cooling.

6. A lithium-ion battery energy storage cabinet with fire extinguishing function according to claim 4, characterized in that: The fire determination logic of the control unit (8) is configured as follows: when the gas sensor (17) detects that the CO concentration exceeds 50ppm or the H2 concentration exceeds 50ppm, an early warning is issued and the ventilation device installed on the back of the cabinet (1) is activated in conjunction with the gas sensor (17); when the temperature sensor (16) detects that the temperature value exceeds 70℃ and the temperature rise rate exceeds 1℃ / s, or when the smoke sensor (18) detects that the smoke concentration exceeds 5%obs / m, a fire is determined to have occurred.

7. A lithium-ion battery energy storage cabinet with fire extinguishing function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The extinguishing agent release pipeline (9) is also equipped with a flow sensor (19) and a pressure sensor (20). The control unit (8) is configured to dynamically adjust the opening of the solenoid valve (11) based on the feedback data from the flow sensor (19) and the pressure sensor (20).

8. A lithium-ion battery energy storage cabinet with fire extinguishing function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The side wall of the cabinet (1) is provided with several pressure relief devices (21). Each pressure relief device (21) includes a vent (23) sealed by a fusible alloy sheet (22), the melting point of which is 90°C to 110°C.

9. A lithium-ion battery energy storage cabinet with fire extinguishing function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control unit (8) is also electrically connected to a remote monitoring terminal. The control unit (8) is configured to send early warning signals, fire alarm signals, extinguishing agent spraying status and coolant spraying status information to the remote monitoring terminal, and can receive remote start commands from it. The nominal capacity of the supercapacitor bank of the backup power module (13) is not less than 100F, and is configured to provide backup power for the entire fire protection system for not less than 30 minutes after the main power fails.

10. The method of using a lithium-ion battery energy storage cabinet with fire extinguishing function according to claim 9, characterized in that, The operating steps of this fire-extinguishing lithium-ion battery energy storage cabinet are as follows: S1. The fire detection unit (5) inside the cabinet (1) continuously monitors the battery modules (4) in each battery compartment (2) in real time. When abnormal data generated in the early stage of battery thermal runaway is detected, the fire detection unit (5) immediately sends an early warning signal to the control unit (8). After receiving the signal, the control unit (8) performs comprehensive analysis and judgment. After confirming that there is a risk of thermal runaway, it immediately sends the early warning signal to the remote management personnel or monitoring center through the remote monitoring terminal it is connected to, so as to realize early alarm. S2. As the danger continues to worsen and the fire characteristics are confirmed, the fire detection unit (5) will send a higher-level fire alarm signal to the control unit (8). After confirming the fire, the control unit (8) will immediately perform the following actions: start the fire extinguishing procedure: send an opening command to the corresponding solenoid valve (11) on the fire extinguishing agent release pipeline (9); start the cooling procedure: start the micro pump (14) on the cooling pipeline at the same time; and send the alarm status: upload information such as the fire alarm, fire extinguishing agent and coolant spray status to the remote monitoring terminal in real time. S3. After the solenoid valve (11) is opened, the extinguishing agent in the high-pressure extinguishing agent storage tank (3) is precisely sprayed through the extinguishing agent release pipeline (9) and nozzle (10) to the battery compartment (2) where the fire occurred, quickly suppressing the open flame and suffocating the fire. After the fire is extinguished, the micro pump (14) transports the coolant in the coolant storage tank (12) through the pipeline to the atomizing nozzle (15) and sprays it on the battery module (4) in the form of atomization, quickly reducing the battery temperature and efficiently solving the problem that lithium-ion batteries are very easy to reignite. S4. During the entire firefighting process, if the main power supply is interrupted due to fire or other reasons, the integrated backup power module (13) will be put into operation immediately and seamlessly. Since its nominal capacity is not less than 100F and it can provide backup power for not less than 30 minutes, it can ensure that key equipment such as control unit (8), solenoid valve (11) and micro pump (14) continue to work normally, and ensure that the fire protection system completes the entire fire extinguishing and cooling process in an emergency, avoiding fire extinguishing failure due to power failure. S5. The status information of the entire process is transmitted to the remote monitoring terminal in real time. The management personnel can remotely monitor the status inside the cabinet in real time and send a remote start command to the control unit (8) through the terminal when necessary to manually force the start of the fire extinguishing and cooling system to achieve dual protection. S6. After the fire is extinguished and the danger is eliminated, professional personnel should replace the used extinguishing agent and coolant, check and reset the extinguishing agent storage tank (3), coolant storage tank (12) and related pipeline system, so that the entire fire protection system is restored to standby status.

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