A system for processing lithium-ion battery thermal runaway jet products and a lithium-ion battery

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of lithium ion battery thermal management and safety protection, and discloses a system for processing lithium ion battery thermal runaway spray products and a lithium ion battery, which comprises a gas collecting pipeline, a first end of the gas collecting pipeline is used for connecting an explosion-proof valve of the lithium ion battery, a cyclone separator is provided with a separation cavity which gradually decreases in diameter from top to bottom, the cyclone separator is provided with a discharge port which is in communication with the separation cavity and located at the bottom, and an inlet and an outlet which are located at the top, a second end of the gas collecting pipeline is in communication with the separation cavity through the inlet, a condensation and adsorption module comprises a reaction part and a collection part which are arranged in an up-down mode, the reaction part is accommodated in the separation cavity, the reaction part is used for phase change and neutralization reaction with the spray products, the lower end of the reaction part is connected to the upper end of the collection part, and the collection part is connected to the discharge port. When the lithium ion battery is in thermal runaway, the high-temperature toxic liquid droplets are cooled and absorbed, and the safety of the lithium ion battery is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of lithium-ion battery thermal management and safety protection technology, and in particular to a system for treating the thermal runaway ejection products of lithium-ion batteries and a lithium-ion battery. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, with the widespread application of lithium-ion batteries in energy storage systems and other fields, their safety issues are receiving increasing attention. Under extreme conditions (such as overcharging, short circuits, and high-temperature environments), lithium-ion batteries may experience thermal runaway, leading to electrolyte decomposition and the release of large amounts of high-temperature, high-pressure toxic gases and droplets. If these ejected substances are not dealt with in time, they may deposit at high-voltage circuit connection points, easily triggering secondary explosions or fires, posing serious safety hazards.

[0003] In existing technologies, most solutions for treating thermal runaway gases and liquids in lithium-ion batteries focus on passive adsorption of gases or single liquid treatment, making it difficult to simultaneously and efficiently treat particles and droplets, and lacking effective control over system temperature. For example, patent CN114984724A discloses a liquid treatment agent for thermal runaway gas from lithium-ion batteries, which can treat electrolytes and acidic gases, but cannot effectively capture high-temperature particles, nor does it consider the overall cooling requirements of the thermal runaway system. Patent CN109565096B provides a system for managing thermal runaway gases in batteries, which prevents gas mixing by physically separating the paths of cooling air and thermal runaway gases, but does not address the treatment and neutralization of particles and droplets. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to cool and absorb the high-temperature toxic gases and droplets ejected from the electrolyte during thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries, thereby improving the safety of lithium-ion batteries.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a system for processing the thermal runaway ejection products of lithium-ion batteries, comprising:

[0006] Gas collection pipeline, the first end of which is used to connect to the explosion-proof valve of the lithium-ion battery;

[0007] Cyclone separator, the cyclone separator has a separation chamber with a diameter that gradually decreases from top to bottom. The cyclone separator has a discharge port at the bottom that is connected to the separation chamber, and a feed port and an air outlet at the top. The air collection pipeline is connected to the separation chamber through the feed port.

[0008] The condensation adsorption module includes a reaction section and a collection section. The reaction section is housed in the separation chamber and is used to undergo phase change and neutralization reactions with the thermal runaway ejection products of lithium-ion batteries. The collection section is connected to the discharge port.

[0009] Furthermore, the reaction section includes a skeleton and a filler, the filler being wrapped and fixedly connected to the outer periphery of the skeleton, and the lower end of the skeleton being connected to the upper end of the collection section.

[0010] Furthermore, the filler is a composition of calcium carbonate, barium hydroxide and paraffin, wherein the mass percentage of paraffin in the filler is 50% to 90%.

[0011] Furthermore, the upper outer periphery of the collecting section is provided with a first flange protruding outward, and the inner wall of the discharge port is provided with a second flange protruding inward. The collecting section and the cyclone separator are engaged with each other through the first flange and the second flange.

[0012] Furthermore, the system for processing the products ejected from the thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries also includes a feed pipe, one end of which is connected to the gas collection pipe, and the other end extends along the tangent of the parallel separation chamber and is connected to the feed inlet.

[0013] Furthermore, the air outlet is provided with an air outlet pipe, the air outlet end of which passes through the air outlet and extends into the separation chamber, and there is a gap between the air outlet pipe and the inner wall of the separation chamber. The feed inlet is located above the air outlet end of the air outlet pipe.

[0014] A lithium-ion battery includes a casing, a battery cell, and the aforementioned system for treating the thermal runaway ejection products of a lithium-ion battery. The casing has an upward-opening receiving cavity, the battery cell is installed in the receiving cavity, a gas collection pipeline is connected to the battery cell through an explosion-proof valve, and a cyclone separator is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the casing and communicates with the gas collection pipeline.

[0015] The present invention discloses a system for processing thermal runaway ejection products from lithium-ion batteries. Compared with existing technologies, the beneficial effects of this system and the lithium-ion battery are as follows: When a lithium-ion battery experiences thermal runaway, the ejection products are released through an explosion-proof valve and collected by a gas collection pipeline. The ejection products flow from the gas collection pipeline to a cyclone separator, where the gas and high-temperature solid particles in the ejection products are separated by centrifugal force. The toxic substances in the ejection products are solid particles, and the separated gas is almost non-toxic and is discharged from the outlet of the cyclone separator. The solid particles continue to enter the reaction section of the condensation adsorption module from the discharge port at the bottom of the cyclone separator, where they undergo phase change and neutralization reactions with the medium. The substances after the phase change and neutralization reactions are collected by the collection section of the condensation adsorption module.

[0016] It is understood that the thermal runaway products of lithium-ion batteries consist of toxic gases, a liquid primarily composed of electrolyte, and a solid layer formed from the shattered battery casing after thermal runaway. The main components of the toxic gases are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, toxic solid particles, and small amounts of alkane gases. This solution utilizes vortices in a cyclone separator to separate the toxic gases from the liquid-solid mixture, as well as the toxic solid particles within the toxic gases themselves, from other gases. Furthermore, the condensation and adsorption module achieves both cooling and adsorption neutralization functions. The phase change reaction absorbs the heat from the ejected products, and the neutralization reaction effectively treats the toxic substances in the ejected products, effectively suppressing secondary explosions and greatly ensuring the safety of lithium-ion battery use.

[0017] This solution achieves the separation of toxic liquids and high-temperature solid particles in the sprayed products while maintaining a highly integrated and compact structure by installing the condensation adsorption module at the discharge port.

[0018] This solution addresses the issue of toxic gases generated during thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries by enabling the ejected products to be automatically released from the explosion-proof valve and separated in a cyclone separator. The products are then collected and neutralized in a reaction section, improving the response speed to thermal runaway and allowing for rapid handling of safety incidents caused by lithium-ion battery thermal runaway, thereby further enhancing safety. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the condensation adsorption module in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] In the diagram, 1 represents the gas collection pipeline;

[0022] 2. Cyclone separator; 21. Discharge port; 22. Inlet port; 23. Air outlet; 24. Separation chamber;

[0023] 3. Condensation and adsorption module; 31. Reaction section; 32. Collection section;

[0024] 4. Feed pipe; 5. Outer casing; 6. Lithium-ion battery; 7. Vent pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0026] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "longitudinal," "lateral," "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., used to indicate orientation or positional relationships are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention.

[0027] In the description of the 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 based on the specific circumstances.

[0028] like Figures 1-2 As shown, a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a system for processing thermal runaway ejection products from lithium-ion batteries, comprising:

[0029] Gas collection pipe 1, the first end of gas collection pipe 1 is used to connect to the explosion-proof valve of lithium-ion battery 6;

[0030] Cyclone separator 2, the cyclone separator 2 is provided with a separation chamber 24 whose diameter gradually decreases from top to bottom, the cyclone separator 2 is provided with a discharge port 21 connected to the separation chamber 24 and located at the bottom, and a feed port 22 and an air outlet 23 located at the top, and the air collection pipeline 1 is connected to the separation chamber 24 through the feed port 22.

[0031] The condensation adsorption module 3 includes a reaction section 31 and a collection section 32 arranged vertically. The reaction section 31 is housed in the separation chamber 24. The reaction section 31 is used to undergo phase change and neutralization reactions with the thermal runaway ejection products of the lithium-ion battery 6. The lower end of the reaction section 31 is connected to the upper end of the collection section 32. The collection section 32 is connected to the discharge port 21 of the cyclone separator 2.

[0032] Based on the above scheme, the specific implementation process of this application is as follows: When the lithium-ion battery 6 experiences thermal runaway, the ejected products are released through the explosion-proof valve and collected by the gas collection pipeline 1. The ejected products flow from the gas collection pipeline 1 to the cyclone separator 2. The gas and solid particles in the ejected products are separated due to centrifugal force. The toxic substances in the ejected products are solid particles, and the separated gas is almost non-toxic. It is discharged from the outlet 23 of the cyclone separator 2. The solid particles continue to enter the reaction section 31 of the condensation adsorption module 3 from the discharge port 21 at the bottom of the cyclone separator 2, where they undergo phase change and neutralization reactions with the medium. The substances after the phase change and neutralization reactions are collected through the collection section 32 of the condensation adsorption module 3.

[0033] The beneficial effects of this solution are as follows: This solution achieves the separation of toxic gases and liquid-solid components from the ejected products through the vortex in the cyclone separator 2, as well as the separation of toxic solid particles within the toxic gases from other gases. Furthermore, the condensation adsorption module 3 achieves both cooling and adsorption neutralization functions. The phase change reaction absorbs the heat from the ejected products, and the neutralization reaction effectively treats the toxic substances in the ejected products, effectively suppressing the occurrence of secondary explosions and greatly ensuring the safety of the lithium-ion battery 6. By installing the condensation adsorption module 3 at the outlet 21 of the cyclone separator 2, this solution achieves both the separation of toxic liquids and high-temperature solid particles from the ejected products and a highly integrated and compact structure. For toxic gases generated by the thermal runaway of the lithium-ion battery 6, this solution enables the ejected products to be automatically released from the explosion-proof valve into the cyclone separator 2 for separation, and then collected and neutralized by the reaction section 31, improving the reaction speed of the thermal runaway response and enabling rapid response to safety accidents caused by the thermal runaway of the lithium-ion battery 6, thereby further improving safety.

[0034] Preferably, the reaction section 31 includes a skeleton and a filler. The filler is wrapped and fixedly connected to the outer periphery of the skeleton, and the lower end of the skeleton is connected to the upper end of the collection section 32. In this embodiment, the skeleton is a porous metal skeleton. It is understood that porous metal skeletons are prior art, and since they are mature products already in market application, their specific structure will not be described in detail here. The porous metal skeleton has high strength and good thermal conductivity. Furthermore, as a supporting structure for the filler, the porous metal skeleton can prevent the filler from falling off during non-reaction processes, thereby ensuring the structural stability of the reaction section 31.

[0035] Preferably, the filler is a composition of calcium carbonate, barium hydroxide, and paraffin wax, wherein the mass percentage of paraffin wax in the filler is 50% to 90%. When the lithium-ion battery 6 experiences thermal runaway, the ejected products are generally acidic substances. The solid particles and liquid separated by the cyclone separator 2 are also acidic substances. Calcium carbonate and barium hydroxide are both alkaline substances, which can neutralize the acidic substances (such as fluorides and sulfates) in the ejected products of the lithium-ion battery 6 during thermal runaway, reducing the emission of harmful substances. Furthermore, the melting point of paraffin wax is usually between 47°C and 64°C. When the ejected products enter the reaction section 31, the paraffin wax will partially melt, thereby achieving cooling.

[0036] Preferably, the upper outer periphery of the collecting part 32 is provided with a first flange protruding outward, and the inner wall of the discharge port 21 of the cyclone separator 2 is provided with a second flange protruding inward. The collecting part 32 and the cyclone separator 2 are engaged with each other by the first flange and the second flange. The engagement of the first flange and the second flange greatly simplifies the installation process of the collecting part 32 and the cyclone separator 2, eliminating the need for additional tools or fasteners, improving installation efficiency, and reducing installation costs. During maintenance, the collecting part 32 can be disassembled from the discharge port 21 of the cyclone separator 2 by separating the first flange and the second flange, facilitating regular inspection and maintenance by operators and ensuring the normal operation of the equipment. In other embodiments, the collecting part 32 and the cyclone separator 2 can also be connected by threaded connection, tight fit, or other methods.

[0037] Preferably, the system for processing the ejected products from the thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries further includes a hollow feed pipe 4. One end of the feed pipe 4 is connected to the gas collecting pipe 1, and the other end extends parallel to the tangential direction of the separation chamber 24 and is connected to the feed inlet 22. The ejected products from the lithium-ion battery 6 enter along one end of the curved feed pipe 4, and then enter the cyclone separator 2 from the second section of the straight feed pipe 4. This ensures that the ejected products enter the cyclone separator 2 tangentially, causing the ejected products to form a vortex in the cyclone separator 2, satisfying the aerodynamic design, achieving the best gas-solid separation effect for the ejected products, and further improving the overall processing efficiency of the system.

[0038] Preferably, the air outlet 23 is provided with an air outlet pipe 7, the air outlet end of the air outlet pipe 7 passes through the air outlet 23 and extends into the separation chamber 24, and there is a gap between the air outlet pipe 7 and the inner wall of the separation chamber 24. The feed inlet 22 is located above the air outlet end of the air outlet pipe 7 to prevent the incoming solid material from being discharged from the air outlet pipe 7.

[0039] A lithium-ion battery 6 includes a casing 5, a battery cell, and the aforementioned system for handling the thermal runaway ejection products of the lithium-ion battery 6. The casing 5 has an upward-opening receiving cavity, in which the battery cell is installed. A gas collecting pipe 1 is connected to the battery cell via an explosion-proof valve. A cyclone separator 2 is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the casing 5 and communicates with the gas collecting pipe 1. The system for handling the thermal runaway ejection products of the lithium-ion battery also includes the casing 5, which has an upward-opening opening. The casing 5 is used to fix the lithium-ion battery 6 and the gas collecting pipe 1. The cyclone separator 2 is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the casing 5. The casing 5 provides a robust physical barrier for the system, effectively preventing the thermal runaway ejection products of the lithium-ion battery 6 from causing harm to the surrounding environment and personnel. At the same time, the casing 5 can also prevent external impurities and contaminants from entering the system and affecting its normal operation. Furthermore, this embodiment integrates the lithium-ion battery 6 and the gas collecting pipe 1 inside the casing 5, forming a highly integrated system with a more compact structure.

[0040] In summary, this invention provides a system and a lithium-ion battery for handling the ejected products of thermal runaway from lithium-ion batteries. This solution utilizes the vortex flow in the cyclone separator 2 to separate the toxic gases and liquid-solid components of the ejected products, as well as the toxic solid particles within the toxic gases themselves, from other gases. The condensation adsorption module 3 performs both cooling and adsorption neutralization functions. The phase change reaction absorbs the heat from the ejected products, and the neutralization reaction effectively treats the toxic substances in the ejected products, effectively suppressing secondary explosions and greatly ensuring the safety of the lithium-ion battery 6. By installing the condensation adsorption module 3 at the outlet 21 of the cyclone separator 2, this solution achieves both separation of toxic liquids and high-temperature solid particles in the ejected products and a highly integrated and compact structure. This solution addresses the toxic gases generated by thermal runaway from lithium-ion batteries 6 by automatically releasing the ejected products from the explosion-proof valve into the cyclone separator 2 for separation, followed by collection and neutralization through the reaction section 31. This improves the reaction speed of the thermal runaway response, enabling rapid response to safety accidents caused by thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries 6, thereby further enhancing safety.

[0041] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and substitutions can be made without departing from the technical principles of the present invention, and these improvements and substitutions should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A system for treating products ejected during thermal runaway from lithium-ion batteries, characterized in that, include: A gas collection pipeline, the first end of which is used to connect to the explosion-proof valve of the lithium-ion battery; A cyclone separator is provided with a separation chamber whose diameter gradually decreases from top to bottom. The cyclone separator is provided with a discharge port at the bottom and a feed port and an air outlet at the top, which are connected to the separation chamber. The air collection pipeline is connected to the separation chamber through the feed port. A condensation adsorption module includes a reaction section and a collection section. The reaction section is housed within the separation chamber and is used to undergo phase change and neutralization reactions with the thermal runaway ejection products of lithium-ion batteries. The collection section is connected to the discharge port. The reaction section includes a skeleton and a filler. The filler is wrapped and fixedly connected to the outer periphery of the skeleton, and the lower end of the skeleton is connected to the upper end of the collection section. The air outlet is provided with an air outlet pipe, the air outlet end of the air outlet pipe passes through the air outlet and extends into the separation chamber, and there is a gap between the air outlet pipe and the inner wall of the separation chamber. The feed inlet is located above the air outlet end of the air outlet pipe.

2. The system for treating the thermal runaway ejection products of lithium-ion batteries according to claim 1, characterized in that, The filler is a composition of calcium carbonate, barium hydroxide and paraffin, wherein the mass percentage of paraffin in the filler is 50% to 90%.

3. The system for treating the thermal runaway ejection products of lithium-ion batteries according to claim 2, characterized in that, The upper outer periphery of the collecting part is provided with a first flange protruding outward, and the inner wall of the discharge port is provided with a second flange protruding inward. The collecting part and the cyclone separator are engaged with each other through the first flange and the second flange.

4. The system for treating the thermal runaway ejection products of lithium-ion batteries according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a feed pipe, one end of which is connected to the gas collecting pipe, and the other end extends along a direction parallel to the tangent of the separation chamber and is connected to the feed inlet.

5. A lithium-ion battery, characterized in that, The system includes a housing, a battery cell, and a system for treating thermal runaway ejection products of a lithium-ion battery as described in any one of claims 1-4. The housing has an upward-opening receiving cavity, the battery cell is installed in the receiving cavity, the gas collection pipeline is connected to the battery cell via an explosion-proof valve, and the cyclone separator is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the housing and communicates with the gas collection pipeline.

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