A device for measuring the dosage of coolant for suppressing thermal diffusion of batteries

Abstract

The present invention belongs to the technical field of battery thermal management, and discloses a device and method for measuring the dosage of coolant for inhibiting thermal diffusion of a battery. The device for measuring the dosage of coolant for inhibiting thermal diffusion of a battery comprises a sealed box, a battery, a heating device, a high-level container, a cooling device and a recovery device; the battery is placed in the inner cavity of the sealed box; the heating device is configured to heat the battery; the high-level container contains coolant; the cooling device comprises a heat exchanger and a control valve; the heat exchanger is arranged on the periphery of the battery, and the heat exchanger is connected to the high-level container; the control valve is arranged between the heat exchanger and the high-level container, and the control valve can obtain the thermal diffusion state of the battery and control the flow of coolant entering the heat exchanger from the high-level container; the recovery device is configured to collect the remaining coolant in the battery. The device for measuring the dosage of coolant for inhibiting thermal diffusion of a battery can simulate the thermal diffusion state of the battery and accurately measure the dosage of coolant required to inhibit thermal diffusion of the battery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of battery thermal management, and in particular to a device for measuring the dosage of a coolant to suppress thermal diffusion of a battery. Background Art

[0002] Battery thermal diffusion, also known as battery thermal runaway, refers to the phenomenon that the temperature of a single battery cell rises due to the heat release chain reaction, and at the same time, the temperature of the remaining batteries becomes uncontrollable. Depending on the main raw materials of the lithium-ion battery, there will be different starting temperatures and different energy release rates when thermal runaway occurs. For example, compared with lithium iron phosphate positive electrode materials, the energy release rate of ternary positive electrode materials is relatively large under the same capacity. Of course, this also needs to take into account various factors such as the mechanical structure design of the battery cell.

[0003] In order to suppress heat diffusion and thermal runaway, it is necessary to design a reasonable and reliable heat exchange strategy, mainly including liquid cooling technology, air cooling technology, heat-absorbing phase change material technology, etc. When the battery cell has thermal runaway, the heat emitted by the battery cell can be promptly exported to the module or system. Rapid cooling, as a method of suppressing thermal diffusion of batteries, is generally very helpful in suppressing thermal runaway fires in the early stage of thermal runaway. However, due to the existence of internal thermal resistance of the battery and the need for a large amount of coolant when the battery is rapidly cooled, the economy of rapid cooling is poor.

[0004] The heat capacity of water is 4.2kJ / kg℃, and the latent heat of phase change of water at normal pressure is 2260kJ / kg. If 1g / s of water is provided in the pipeline for cooling the thermal runaway battery cell at 300℃, the water can provide 2260W of heat dissipation, and can reduce the temperature of the battery cell to below 100℃ in 5 to 10 minutes. Therefore, water can be used as a good coolant to rapidly cool the battery. Since water has a certain conductivity, it is necessary to avoid injecting water directly into the battery pack to cool the battery in thermal runaway, but water vapor or fine water mist has little effect on the battery, so water can be used by drip irrigation or spraying to cool the battery in thermal runaway. Further testing is needed to determine how much water flow is needed to achieve rapid cooling to suppress thermal diffusion of the battery. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a device for measuring the amount of coolant for suppressing thermal diffusion of a battery, which can accurately measure the amount of coolant required for suppressing thermal diffusion of a battery.

[0006] To achieve this object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0007] The device for measuring the dosage of coolant for inhibiting thermal diffusion of a battery comprises a sealed box, a battery, a heating device, a high-level container, a cooling device and a recovery device; the battery is placed in the inner cavity of the sealed box; the heating device is configured to heat the battery; the high-level container contains coolant; the cooling device comprises a heat exchanger and a control valve; the heat exchanger is arranged at the periphery of the battery, and the heat exchanger is connected to the high-level container; the control valve is arranged between the heat exchanger and the high-level container, and the control valve can obtain the thermal diffusion state of the battery and control the flow of coolant entering the heat exchanger from the high-level container; the recovery device is configured to collect the remaining coolant in the battery.

[0008] Optionally, multiple batteries, cooling devices and recovery devices are provided, the multiple batteries are distributed at intervals, and the multiple cooling devices, multiple recovery devices and multiple batteries are provided in one-to-one correspondence.

[0009] Optionally, the heating device is a heating film, and the heating film is attached to the outer peripheral wall surface of the battery.

[0010] Optionally, the device for measuring the dosage of coolant for suppressing thermal diffusion of batteries further includes a bracket on which a clamp is arranged; the bracket is arranged in the inner cavity of the sealing box, the battery is placed on the bracket, and the clamp is configured to fix the battery.

[0011] Optionally, the control valve is a fusible alloy component; when heat diffusion occurs in the battery, the control valve can melt and rupture, and the coolant can flow into the battery from the control valve.

[0012] Optionally, the cooling device further comprises a cooling pipe, one end of the cooling pipe is connected to the heat exchanger, and the other end of the cooling pipe is connected to the high-level container, and a flow meter and a control valve are provided on the cooling pipe.

[0013] Optionally, an explosion-proof valve is provided on the sealing box.

[0014] Optionally, the device for measuring the dosage of coolant for suppressing thermal diffusion of batteries further includes an air pressure balance pipe, the high-level container is a sealed box, and two ends of the air pressure balance pipe are respectively connected to the high-level container and the sealed box.

[0015] Optionally, the high-level container is a closed box, and a pressure pump is provided on the high-level container.

[0016] The present invention also provides a method for measuring the dosage of cooling liquid for suppressing thermal diffusion of a battery, which can accurately measure the dosage of cooling liquid required for suppressing thermal diffusion of a battery.

[0017] To achieve this object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0018] The method for measuring the amount of cooling liquid for inhibiting thermal diffusion of a battery uses the device for measuring the amount of cooling liquid for inhibiting thermal diffusion of a battery as described in any of the above schemes, and comprises the following steps:

[0019] S1, heating the battery and causing thermal diffusion of the battery;

[0020] S2, the control valve obtains the battery heat diffusion state, so that the coolant enters the heat exchanger from the high-level container and suppresses the heat diffusion of the battery;

[0021] S3, the control valve adjusts the coolant flow rate so that the coolant dosage in the recovery device is not greater than the preset value;

[0022] S4. Calculate the amount of coolant required to suppress thermal diffusion of the battery.

[0023] Beneficial effects:

[0024] The device for measuring the amount of coolant for suppressing thermal diffusion of batteries causes the battery to be in a thermal diffusion state through a heating device, and then the control valve is opened to control the high-level container to inject coolant into the battery in the sealed box, and the thermal diffusion of the battery is suppressed. After cooling the battery, the remaining coolant is collected by the recovery device. The device for measuring the amount of coolant for suppressing thermal diffusion of batteries compares the reduced amount of coolant in the high-level container with the remaining amount of coolant in the recovery device, calculates the amount of coolant required to suppress the thermal diffusion of the battery, and can simulate the thermal diffusion state of the battery and accurately measure the amount of coolant required to suppress the thermal diffusion of the battery. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a device for measuring the dosage of a coolant for suppressing thermal diffusion of a battery provided by a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a method for suppressing thermal diffusion of a battery provided by a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 3 It is a flow chart of a method for measuring the dosage of coolant for suppressing thermal diffusion of a battery provided by a specific embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] In the figure:

[0029] 100, sealing box; 110, bracket; 111, fixture; 120, explosion-proof valve; 130, air pressure balance pipe;

[0030] 200, battery; 300, heating device; 400, high-level container;

[0031] 510, heat exchanger; 520, control valve; 530, cooling pipe; 540, flow meter;

[0032] 610. Low-level container; 620. Drainage tube; 630. Perforated tube. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It is to be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention, rather than to limit the present invention. It should also be noted that, for ease of description, only parts related to the present invention, rather than all structures, are shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0034] In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "connected", "connected", and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it 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 the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0035] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may include that the first and second features are in direct contact, or may include that the first and second features are not in direct contact but are in contact through another feature between them. Moreover, a first feature being "above", "above" and "above" a second feature includes that the first feature is directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. A first feature being "below", "below" and "below" a second feature includes that the first feature is directly below and obliquely below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.

[0036] In the description of this embodiment, the terms "upper", "lower", "right", etc., directions or positional relationships are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of description and simplification of operation, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present invention. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used to distinguish in the description and have no special meaning.

[0037] In this embodiment, the coolant used in the battery thermal diffusion suppressing coolant dosage measuring device is water. When rapid cooling is considered, liquid fire extinguishing agents such as fluoroprotein foam fire extinguishing agents or water-forming foam plastic fire extinguishing agents, or coolants such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol or diethylene glycol mixed with distilled water can also be used. This embodiment does not make specific restrictions.

[0038] Please refer to Figure 1 to Figure 2, this embodiment provides a device for measuring the dosage of cooling liquid for inhibiting thermal diffusion of a battery. The device for measuring the dosage of cooling liquid for inhibiting thermal diffusion of a battery comprises a sealed box 100, a battery 200, a heating device 300, a high-level container 400, a cooling device and a recovery device; the battery 200 is placed in the inner cavity of the sealed box 100; the heating device 300 is configured to heat the battery 200; the high-level container 400 contains cooling liquid; the cooling device comprises a heat exchanger 510 and a control valve 520; the heat exchanger 510 is arranged on the periphery of the battery 200, and the heat exchanger 510 is connected to the high-level container 400; the control valve 520 is arranged between the heat exchanger 510 and the high-level container 400, and the control valve 520 can obtain the thermal diffusion state of the battery 200 and control the flow of cooling liquid entering the heat exchanger 510 from the high-level container 400; the recovery device is configured to collect the remaining cooling liquid in the battery 200.

[0039] The device for measuring the amount of cooling liquid for suppressing thermal diffusion of a battery causes the battery 200 to be in a thermal diffusion state through the heating device 300, and then the control valve 520 is opened to control the high-level container 400 to inject cooling liquid into the battery 200 in the sealed box 100, and suppress the thermal diffusion of the battery 200. The remaining cooling liquid after cooling the battery 200 is collected by the recovery device. The device for measuring the amount of cooling liquid for suppressing thermal diffusion of a battery compares the reduced amount of cooling liquid in the high-level container 400 with the remaining amount of cooling liquid in the recovery device, calculates the amount of cooling liquid required to suppress the thermal diffusion of the battery 200, and can simulate the thermal diffusion state of the battery 200 and accurately measure the amount of cooling liquid required to suppress the thermal diffusion of the battery 200.

[0040] At the same time, the heat exchanger 510 uses drip quenching to suppress the thermal diffusion of the battery 200. The heat exchanger 510 is arranged on the side wall of the battery 200 to avoid increasing the height of the battery 200 and reduce the space occupied by the battery 200. In another optional embodiment, the control valve 520 is an atomizing nozzle, and the heat exchanger 510 uses coolant mist cooling to suppress thermal diffusion. The use of drip irrigation or atomized water droplets can reduce the amount of coolant used, so there is no need to consider the insulation requirements of the battery 200 for the coolant, so that liquid water can be used to suppress the thermal diffusion of the battery 200.

[0041] Specifically, the cooling device further includes a cooling pipe 530, one end of the cooling pipe 530 is connected to the heat exchanger 510, and the other end is connected to the high-level container 400. The cooling pipe 530 is provided with a flow meter 540 and a control valve 520. By providing the flow meter 540 on the cooling pipe 530, the dosage of the coolant injected into the battery 200 can be obtained more accurately, thereby improving the accuracy of the measurement.

[0042] Optionally, the control valve 520 is a fusible alloy component; when the battery 200 undergoes thermal diffusion, the control valve 520 can melt and rupture, and the coolant can flow into the battery 200 from the gap at the rupture of the control valve 520. The fusible alloy component is specifically a pipe made of a fusible alloy, which is arranged at one end of the cooling pipe 530 close to the battery 200. When the battery 200 undergoes thermal diffusion, the pipe made of the fusible alloy melts and ruptures, and the coolant can flow into the battery 200 from the rupture. Further, the control valve 520 is a fusible alloy nozzle, which detects the thermal diffusion of the battery 200 and starts the nozzle to inject coolant by melting the fusible alloy element under heat. The fusible alloy nozzle uses fusible alloy material as a temperature sensing element, and has stable performance, accurate action temperature, and fast response time, and can be started at the first time when thermal diffusion occurs.

[0043] Furthermore, the recovery device comprises a low-level container 610, a perforated pipe 630 and a drainage pipe 620 connected in sequence, and the drainage pipe 620 is connected to the bottom end of the battery 200. The recovery device configured in this way can effectively collect the remaining coolant in the battery 200, further improving the accuracy of the measurement of the coolant dosage measuring device for inhibiting battery thermal diffusion.

[0044] Specifically, multiple batteries 200, cooling devices, and recycling devices are provided, and multiple batteries 200 are distributed at intervals, and multiple cooling devices, multiple recycling devices, and multiple batteries 200 are provided one-to-one. In this embodiment, there are 4 batteries 200, and each battery 200 is provided with a cooling device and a recycling device. By providing multiple batteries 200, the situation where there are multiple batteries 200 in the battery 200 package in the real situation is simulated, so that the experimental results are closer to the real situation.

[0045] As a preferred embodiment, the heating device 300 is a heating film, which is attached to the outer peripheral wall surface of the battery 200. Further, the heating film is attached to one of the multiple batteries 200. In this embodiment, the heating film is attached to the outermost battery 200 to simulate the heat diffusion phenomenon caused by thermal runaway of one of the batteries 200 in real situations.

[0046] Furthermore, the device for measuring the dosage of cooling liquid for inhibiting thermal diffusion of batteries further includes a bracket 110, on which a clamp 111 is arranged; the bracket 110 is arranged in the inner cavity of the sealed box 100, the battery 200 is placed on the bracket 110, and the clamp 111 is configured to fix the battery 200. The battery 200 is fixed to the bracket 110 in the inner cavity of the sealed box 100 by using the clamp 111 to prevent the battery 200 from shaking, so that the cooling liquid can be accurately injected into the battery 200, further improving the measurement accuracy of the device for measuring the dosage of cooling liquid for inhibiting thermal diffusion of batteries.

[0047] Preferably, an explosion-proof valve 120 is provided on the sealed box 100. The explosion-proof valve 120 opens when the pressure in the sealed box 100 reaches a calibrated value to prevent the sealed box 100 from bursting, thereby improving the safety of the battery heat diffusion suppressing coolant dosage measuring device.

[0048] In an optional embodiment, the device for measuring the dosage of coolant for suppressing thermal diffusion of a battery further includes an air pressure balance pipe 130, the high-level container 400 is a closed box, and the two ends of the air pressure balance pipe 130 are respectively connected to the high-level container 400 and the sealed box 100. The closed high-level container 400 can reduce the loss of coolant due to evaporation or leakage, so as to more accurately obtain the dosage of the coolant flowing out of the high-level container 400, and the air pressure balance pipe 130 connected to the sealed box 100 can make the coolant in the closed high-level container 400 flow out smoothly, and prevent the situation where the coolant cannot flow out due to atmospheric pressure.

[0049] In another optional embodiment, the only difference from the above solution is that the above high-level container 400 is a closed box, and a pressure pump is provided on the high-level container 400. The pressure pump can be used to continuously inject the coolant in the high-level container 400 into the battery 200 where heat diffusion occurs, so that the measurement operation can be carried out continuously.

[0050] Please continue to refer to Figure 2 The above-mentioned heat exchanger 510 is provided with two heat exchangers 510, which are respectively arranged on the two side walls of the battery 200, and each heat exchanger 510 is provided with a cooling pipe 530. The two heat exchangers 510 can effectively improve the cooling efficiency of the coolant and further reduce the amount of coolant used.

[0051] Please refer to Figure 3 The present invention also provides a method for measuring the dosage of a cooling liquid for suppressing thermal diffusion of a battery. The method for measuring the dosage of a cooling liquid for suppressing thermal diffusion of a battery uses a device for measuring the dosage of a cooling liquid for suppressing thermal diffusion of a battery as described in any of the above schemes, and comprises the following steps:

[0052] S1, heating the battery 200 and causing heat diffusion of the battery 200;

[0053] S2, the control valve 520 obtains the thermal diffusion state of the battery 200, so that the coolant enters the heat exchanger 510 from the high-level container 400 and suppresses the thermal diffusion of the battery 200;

[0054] S3, the control valve 520 adjusts the coolant flow rate so that the coolant dosage in the recovery device is not greater than a preset value;

[0055] S4. Calculate the amount of coolant required to suppress thermal diffusion of the battery 200.

[0056] Specifically, the battery 200 is provided in plurality, the plurality of batteries 200 are distributed at intervals, and each battery is provided with a plurality of cooling devices and a plurality of recovery devices in a one-to-one correspondence; in step S1, a heating film is used to heat one of the plurality of batteries 200, and a monitoring device (not shown in the figure) is used to monitor the heated battery 200, and when heat diffusion occurs in the battery 200, the monitoring device sends a signal;

[0057] Specifically, in step S3, the cooling device also includes a flow meter 540, which can measure the total dosage of the coolant flowing to the battery 200; further, when the control valve 520 adjusts the coolant flow, it should be done until no or a small amount of coolant appears in the recovery device, which represents the minimum dosage that can suppress the thermal diffusion of the battery 200.

[0058] The method for measuring the coolant dosage for suppressing thermal diffusion of batteries provided in this embodiment can accurately measure the coolant dosage required to suppress thermal diffusion of the battery 200, so that when drip irrigation or atomization coolant is used to suppress thermal diffusion of the battery 200, the required coolant dosage can be accurately provided, avoiding the failure to suppress thermal diffusion due to insufficient coolant dosage, or the waste of coolant due to excessive coolant dosage.

[0059] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples for clearly illustrating the present invention, and are not intended to limit the embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, various obvious changes, readjustments and substitutions can be made without departing from the protection scope of the present invention. It is not necessary and impossible to list all the embodiments here. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for measuring the dosage of coolant for suppressing thermal diffusion of a battery, characterized in that: include: Sealed box (100); A battery (200), the battery (200) being placed in the inner cavity of the sealed box (100); a heating device (300), the heating device (300) being configured to heat the battery (200); A high-level container (400), wherein the high-level container (400) contains a cooling liquid; A cooling device, the cooling device comprising a heat exchanger (510) and a control valve (520); the heat exchanger (510) is arranged on the periphery of the battery (200), and the heat exchanger (510) is communicated with the high-level container (400); the control valve (520) is arranged between the heat exchanger (510) and the high-level container (400), and the control valve (520) can obtain the thermal diffusion state of the battery (200) and control the flow rate of the coolant entering the heat exchanger (510) from the high-level container (400); A recovery device is configured to collect remaining coolant in the battery (200).

2. The device for measuring the dosage of coolant for suppressing thermal diffusion of batteries according to claim 1, characterized in that: The battery (200), the cooling device and the recovery device are all provided in plurality, the plurality of batteries (200) are distributed at intervals, and the plurality of cooling devices, the plurality of recovery devices and the plurality of batteries (200) are provided in one-to-one correspondence.

3. The device for measuring the dosage of coolant for suppressing thermal diffusion of batteries according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heating device (300) is a heating film, and the heating film is attached to the outer peripheral wall surface of the battery (200).

4. The device for measuring the amount of coolant for suppressing thermal diffusion of a battery according to claim 1, characterized in that: The battery heat diffusion inhibiting coolant dosage measuring device further comprises a bracket (110), and a clamp (111) is arranged on the bracket (110); the bracket (110) is arranged in the inner cavity of the sealing box (100), the battery (200) is placed on the bracket (110), and the clamp (111) is configured to fix the battery (200).

5. The device for measuring the dosage of coolant for suppressing thermal diffusion of batteries according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cooling device further comprises a cooling pipe (530), one end of the cooling pipe (530) being connected to the heat exchanger (510) and the other end being connected to the high-level container (400), and a flow meter (540) and the control valve (520) being arranged on the cooling pipe (530).

6. The device for measuring the amount of coolant for suppressing thermal diffusion of a battery according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control valve (520) is a fusible alloy component; when the battery (200) undergoes thermal diffusion, the control valve (520) can melt and rupture, and coolant can flow from the control valve (520) into the battery (200).

7. The device for measuring the amount of coolant for suppressing thermal diffusion of a battery according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sealing box (100) is provided with an explosion-proof valve (120).

8. The device for measuring the dosage of coolant for suppressing thermal diffusion of batteries according to claim 1, characterized in that: The device for measuring the dosage of cooling liquid for inhibiting thermal diffusion of batteries further comprises an air pressure balance pipe (130); the high-level container (400) is a sealed box; and two ends of the air pressure balance pipe (130) are respectively connected to the high-level container (400) and the sealed box (100).

9. The device for measuring the amount of coolant for suppressing thermal diffusion of a battery according to claim 1, characterized in that: The high-level container (400) is a closed box, and a pressure pump is provided on the high-level container (400).

10. A method for measuring the dosage of coolant for suppressing thermal diffusion of a battery, characterized in that: The device for measuring the dosage of coolant for inhibiting thermal diffusion of a battery as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 comprises the following steps: S1, heating the battery (200) to cause thermal diffusion of the battery (200); S2, the control valve (520) obtains the heat diffusion state of the battery (200), so that the coolant enters the heat exchanger (510) from the high-level container (400) and suppresses the heat diffusion of the battery (200); S3, the control valve (520) adjusts the coolant flow rate so that the coolant dosage in the recovery device is not greater than a preset value; S4. Calculate the amount of coolant required to suppress thermal diffusion of the battery (200).

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