Battery pack thermal runaway management method, thermal runaway management system and energy storage system

Abstract

The embodiment of the application discloses a battery pack thermal runaway management method, a thermal runaway management system and an energy storage system. The method obtains battery temperature parameters collected in a battery pack and environment parameters collected in a battery compartment where the battery pack is located to perform thermal runaway judgment. If the battery temperature parameters do not satisfy a preset first threshold condition and the environment parameters satisfy a preset second threshold condition, a warning information is generated. If the battery temperature parameters satisfy the first threshold condition and the environment parameters satisfy a preset third threshold condition, a fire extinguishing device in the battery pack is controlled to perform fire extinguishing. Early detection and graded response of thermal runaway risk are realized, early warning of thermal runaway can be performed, and fire extinguishing can be accurately performed, so that the false positive rate is effectively reduced, and the safety and reliability of the energy storage system are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of thermal runaway management technology, and in particular to a thermal runaway management method, thermal runaway management system and energy storage system for a battery pack. Background Technology

[0002] With the large-scale application of electrochemical energy storage power stations and data center backup power supplies, the risk of thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries is becoming increasingly prominent. Battery thermal runaway is a violent chain reaction process, from internal short-circuit heat generation, electrolyte decomposition, separator melting to final open flame explosion. Therefore, how to effectively manage battery thermal runaway is a pressing technical problem that needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Based on this, this application provides a thermal runaway management method, a thermal runaway management system, and an energy storage system for a battery pack, which can realize early warning of thermal runaway and accurately extinguish fires, effectively reducing the false alarm rate and improving the safety and reliability of the energy storage system.

[0004] In a first aspect, this application provides a method for thermal runaway management of a battery pack, comprising: Acquire battery temperature parameters collected inside the battery pack, and environmental parameters collected inside the battery compartment where the battery pack is located; If the battery temperature parameter does not meet the preset first threshold condition, but the environmental parameter meets the preset second threshold condition, an early warning message is generated. If the battery temperature parameter meets the first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets the preset third threshold condition, the fire suppression device in the battery pack will be controlled to extinguish the fire.

[0005] In one embodiment, the battery temperature parameters include the individual cell temperatures of at least two battery cells, and the first threshold condition includes that the individual cell temperatures of at least two battery cells meet a preset battery temperature threshold; or / and, Environmental parameters include at least one of aerosol concentration, characteristic gas concentration, ambient temperature parameter, and smoke concentration; the second threshold condition includes any one of the following: aerosol concentration meeting a preset aerosol concentration threshold, characteristic gas concentration meeting a preset characteristic gas concentration threshold, ambient temperature parameter meeting a preset ambient temperature threshold, and smoke concentration meeting a preset smoke concentration threshold; or / and, The third threshold conditions include: the aerosol concentration meets the aerosol concentration threshold, the characteristic gas concentration meets the characteristic gas concentration threshold, the ambient temperature parameter meets the ambient temperature threshold, and the smoke concentration meets the smoke concentration threshold.

[0006] In one embodiment, the energy storage system containing the battery pack is equipped with a main control module and an industrial control module, and an environmental sensor is installed in the battery compartment where the battery pack is located. Acquire battery temperature parameters collected within the battery pack and environmental parameters collected within the battery compartment where the battery pack is located, including: Based on the industrial control module, battery temperature parameters are obtained from the main control module, and environmental parameters are also obtained from environmental sensors.

[0007] In one embodiment, if the battery temperature parameter does not meet a preset first threshold condition, but the environmental parameter meets a preset second threshold condition, a warning message is generated, including: If the battery temperature parameter does not meet the first threshold condition, but the environmental parameter meets the second threshold condition, an early warning message is generated based on the industrial control module.

[0008] In one embodiment, a first switch is provided between the fire-fighting device and the industrial control module; If the battery temperature parameter meets the first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets the preset third threshold condition, the fire suppression device in the battery pack is controlled to extinguish the fire, including: If the battery temperature parameter meets the first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets the third threshold condition, the first switch is turned on based on the industrial control module to control the fire-fighting device to extinguish the fire.

[0009] In one embodiment, the energy storage system further includes a high-voltage control box, which contains a main circuit switch. The first, second, and third terminals of the main circuit switch are respectively connected to the charging and discharging interface of the energy storage system, the battery pack, and the industrial control module. The method also includes: If the battery temperature parameter meets the first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets the preset third threshold condition, based on the industrial control module, a first disconnection command is sent to the main circuit switch to disconnect the main circuit of the energy storage system; or / and, A mains power switch is provided between the charging / discharging interface and the mains power. The first, second, and third terminals of the mains power switch are respectively connected to the mains power, the charging / discharging interface, and the industrial control module. The method also includes: If the battery temperature parameter meets the first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets the preset third threshold condition, the industrial control module sends a second disconnection command to the mains switch to disconnect the energy storage system from the mains power.

[0010] In one embodiment, the energy storage system further includes an AC / DC switch, the first terminal of which is connected to the third terminal of the main circuit switch and the third terminal of the mains switch, the second terminal of which is connected to a preset voltage source, and the third terminal of which is connected to an industrial control module. The method further includes: If the battery temperature parameter meets the first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets the preset third threshold condition, the industrial control module sends a third disconnect command to the AC / DC switch to disconnect the main circuit switch and the mains power switch.

[0011] In one embodiment, after generating a warning message if the battery temperature parameter does not meet a preset first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets a preset second threshold condition, the method further includes: The warning information is sent remotely for remote display.

[0012] Secondly, this application also provides a thermal runaway management system configured to perform the thermal runaway management method for the battery pack provided in the first aspect.

[0013] Thirdly, this application also provides an energy storage system that includes the thermal runaway management system provided in the second aspect.

[0014] The thermal runaway management method for battery packs provided in this application acquires battery temperature parameters collected within the battery pack and environmental parameters collected within the battery compartment where the battery pack is located to determine thermal runaway. If the battery temperature parameters do not meet a preset first threshold condition, but the environmental parameters meet a preset second threshold condition, an early warning message is generated. If the battery temperature parameters meet the first threshold condition, and the environmental parameters meet a preset third threshold condition, the fire suppression devices within the battery pack are controlled to extinguish the fire. This achieves early detection and graded response to thermal runaway risks, enabling early warning of thermal runaway and precise fire suppression, effectively reducing the false alarm rate and improving the safety and reliability of the energy storage system. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 An architecture diagram of an energy storage system provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the thermal runaway management method for a battery pack provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0017] Figure label: 10. Battery compartment; 100. Battery pack; 110. Battery module; 120. Fire protection equipment; 200. High voltage control box; 20. Industrial control module. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0019] It should be understood that, when used in this specification and the appended claims, the terms "comprising" and "including" indicate the presence of the described features, integrals, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components and / or collections thereof.

[0020] It should also be understood that the terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the application. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0021] It should also be further understood that the term “and / or” as used in this application specification and the appended claims means any combination of one or more of the associated listed items and all possible combinations, and includes such combinations.

[0022] Furthermore, in this application, unless otherwise explicitly specified or limited in the embodiments, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing" appearing in the embodiments should be interpreted broadly. For example, a connection can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can also be a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, etc. Of course, it can also be a direct connection, or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal communication between two components, or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific implementation.

[0023] In related technologies, thermal runaway is characterized by its suddenness and rapid development; the process from internal short-circuit heat generation to open flame often occurs within minutes, thus requiring prevention and control. Existing prevention and control technologies include single-parameter threshold alarm schemes, smoke / heat sensor-linked fire suppression schemes, and gas detection and early warning schemes. However, these schemes suffer from problems such as late warning timing, high false alarm rates, lack of targeted response strategies, and insufficient system linkage, making it difficult to effectively intervene in the early stages of thermal runaway.

[0024] Among them, the single-parameter monitoring scheme relies solely on battery temperature or environmental sensors. When the temperature exceeds a set threshold (such as 60-80℃), the action is triggered. At this point, thermal runaway has usually entered an irreversible stage, resulting in a severe delay in response.

[0025] The smoke / heat sensor-linked fire suppression system uses the logic of activating the fire suppression system when a single detector alarms. This system is susceptible to false alarms due to environmental interference such as dust, and the all-area sprinkler system can cause secondary damage to batteries that are not out of control.

[0026] Although the gas detection and early warning scheme can capture the characteristic gases in the early stages of thermal runaway, it lacks a multi-dimensional verification mechanism. Relying solely on changes in gas concentration may lead to false alarms due to normal gas evolution in the battery or sensor drift.

[0027] It is evident that existing technologies cannot accurately identify thermal runaway in its early stages. They struggle to distinguish between normal gas evolution and genuine risk, and lack a tiered response mechanism, leading to frequent false triggers or missed optimal intervention windows. Furthermore, when a detection signal appears alone, existing solutions either directly initiate crude fire suppression, wasting resources, or delay the response, escalating the risk and failing to establish a complete closed loop from early warning to precise response.

[0028] To address this, this application provides a thermal runaway management method, a thermal runaway management system, and an energy storage system for a battery pack. This method acquires battery temperature parameters collected within the battery pack and environmental parameters collected within the battery compartment to determine thermal runaway. If the battery temperature parameters do not meet a preset first threshold condition, but the environmental parameters meet a preset second threshold condition, an early warning is generated. If the battery temperature parameters meet the first threshold condition, and the environmental parameters meet a preset third threshold condition, the fire suppression devices within the battery pack are controlled to extinguish the fire. This achieves early detection and graded response to thermal runaway risks, enabling early warning of thermal runaway and precise fire suppression, effectively reducing false alarm rates and improving the safety and reliability of the energy storage system.

[0029] To facilitate understanding, we will first introduce the architecture of the energy storage system, and then describe in detail the thermal runaway management method of the battery pack.

[0030] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is an architectural diagram of an energy storage system provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 1As shown, the energy storage system has functions such as air conditioning, fire protection, and flood prevention. It is charged and discharged through a power conversion system (PCS), which can accept AC input, output, and PV input to enable photovoltaic charging and power supply to the load. Simultaneously, the energy storage system can also be connected to the mains power supply via the PCS. An automatic transfer switch (ATS) can be used to switch between the PCS and the mains power for charging via the mains. The PCS contains an AC / DC converter and an MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) controller.

[0031] The energy storage system can contain five battery packs 100, which can be integrated into a battery compartment 10, which can be understood as an energy storage container. Each battery pack 100 is equipped with a Protocol Data Unit (PDU). Each battery pack 100 contains multiple battery modules 110, and each battery pack 100 has fire suppression and heat dissipation functions. Each battery module 110 can be composed of multiple battery cells. The power distribution unit is located within a high-voltage control box.

[0032] Meanwhile, the energy storage system also includes a battery management system, which comprises multiple slave control modules and a master control module 210. The master control module 210 is located inside the high-voltage control box. Each battery pack 100 has a slave control module to collect data from the cells within the battery module 110. Each battery pack 100 also has a fuse FU2 for protection. The master control module 210 can aggregate the data collected by the slave control modules and transmit it to the industrial control module 20 via CAN (Controller Area Network) communication to execute the thermal runaway management method for the battery pack. The industrial control module 20 can be integrated into the energy storage container as an industrial control display screen.

[0033] The industrial control display can be the Bestech BC-U411 HMI industrial control screen, which features an embedded ARM touch controller and is an industrial-grade device. The HMI (Human-Machine Interface) industrial control screen is based on a 600MHz ARM processor and a customized Linux system, equipped with 256MB of memory / storage and an 800×480 screen. The HMI industrial control screen's interfaces include Ethernet, CAN bus, and serial port, supporting 6 inputs and 3 outputs for switch control. It can adapt to a temperature range of -40℃ to 80℃ and features anti-static / anti-interference design, primarily targeting touch display and equipment control in industrial automation scenarios.

[0034] The industrial control display screen can be connected to the battery management system via a CAN bus. The communication baud rate can be set to 250kbps, which complies with the ISO11898-2 CAN communication standard and can realize real-time data interaction between the main control display screen and the battery management system. The status display unit of the industrial control display screen can be divided into a cell status area, a test status area, and an alarm area, which respectively display cell temperature, single cell voltage, voltage difference data, allow / disallow test status, and abnormal alarm information.

[0035] The thermal runaway management method for the battery pack provided in this application is described in detail below. Figure 2 As shown, this application provides a method for thermal runaway management of a battery pack, including steps S310, S320 and S330.

[0036] S310. Acquire battery temperature parameters collected inside the battery pack and environmental parameters collected inside the battery compartment where the battery pack is located. S320. If the battery temperature parameter does not meet the preset first threshold condition, and the environmental parameter meets the preset second threshold condition, generate a warning message. S330. If the battery temperature parameter meets the first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets the preset third threshold condition, control the fire-fighting device in the battery pack to extinguish the fire.

[0037] In this embodiment, the battery temperature parameter is a physical quantity characterizing the internal thermal state of the battery pack 100 to reflect abnormal heating of the battery body. The battery temperature parameter can be obtained by a temperature sensor installed inside the battery pack 100 or on the surface of the battery cells. The battery temperature parameter may include the temperature value of a single battery cell or the average temperature value of multiple battery cells.

[0038] Environmental parameters are physical quantities that characterize the internal environmental state of the battery compartment 10 where the battery pack 100 is located, in order to capture the non-temperature-related physicochemical changes that occur in the early stages of thermal runaway. Environmental parameters can be acquired by various environmental sensors deployed within the battery compartment 10. These environmental parameters may include one or more of the following: aerosol concentration, characteristic gas concentration (such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen, hydrogen fluoride, etc.), ambient temperature, and smoke concentration.

[0039] The first threshold condition is used to determine whether the battery temperature parameters have reached a level requiring further intervention. The first threshold condition can be set when the battery temperature parameters reach or exceed a certain critical value. For example, the first threshold condition is considered met when the battery temperature parameters indicate that the battery temperature has risen to a dangerous level that may trigger thermal runaway or that thermal runaway has already occurred.

[0040] The second threshold condition is used to determine whether environmental parameters meet the criteria for generating an early warning message. The second threshold condition can be set by one or more environmental parameters reaching or exceeding a preset value to detect early signs of thermal runaway. For example, the second threshold condition is considered met when any of the following parameters reaches a preset threshold: aerosol concentration, characteristic gas concentration, ambient temperature, or smoke concentration.

[0041] The third threshold condition is used to determine whether environmental parameters meet the requirements for initiating fire suppression. The third threshold condition can be set as one or more indicators of environmental parameters reaching or exceeding a preset value, and this preset value can be different from the second threshold condition. It, together with the battery temperature parameter meeting the first threshold condition, serves as a composite criterion for initiating fire suppression.

[0042] Early warning information can be understood as a notification generated in the early stages of battery thermal runaway when a potential risk is detected. Early warning information alerts operators or remote monitoring systems to an abnormal situation; it typically does not initiate fire suppression actions to buy time for manual intervention or further observation. Early warning information can be characterized through audible and visual alarms, display prompts, or remote notifications.

[0043] The fire suppression device 120 is a device for extinguishing fires or suppressing the spread of thermal runaway from the battery pack 100. The fire suppression device 120 may include, but is not limited to, water spray devices, gas extinguishing devices, fine water mist nozzles, or coolant spray devices. The fire suppression device 120 can be activated after thermal runaway is confirmed to have occurred, in order to cool or extinguish the fire in the battery pack 100.

[0044] Specifically, battery temperature parameters can be collected in real time by temperature sensors installed inside the battery pack 100 or on the surface of each cell, and the collected analog signals can be converted into digital signals for storage and transmission.

[0045] Environmental parameters can be collected by independent sensors deployed at different locations within the battery compartment 10. For example, smoke sensors, gas sensors, and ambient temperature sensors can be manually installed, and each sensor can independently transmit its detection results to a central processing unit via wired or wireless means. For instance, operators can periodically inspect and manually record the readings of each sensor, or the sensors can directly send the data to a simple display screen for visualization.

[0046] After obtaining the battery temperature parameters and environmental parameters, the battery temperature parameters and environmental parameters can be judged. If the battery temperature parameters do not meet the preset first threshold condition, and the environmental parameters meet the preset second threshold condition, it can be determined that the battery temperature has not yet reached a dangerous level (e.g., below a certain preset temperature threshold), but there are abnormal signs in the environmental parameters (e.g., the smoke concentration or characteristic gas concentration has reached the preset early warning threshold), then a warning message is generated.

[0047] Specifically, this application can set a simple logic circuit in the industrial control module 20. When an abnormal signal is received from the environmental sensor and the battery temperature sensor does not emit a high temperature signal, the logic circuit will output a warning signal. The warning signal can drive a local indicator light to light up or display a text message on the local control panel to indicate that there is a potential risk in the energy storage system.

[0048] If the battery temperature parameter meets the first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets the preset third threshold condition, it can be determined that the cell temperature in the battery pack 100 has reached a dangerous level (e.g., exceeding a preset temperature threshold), and the environmental parameter is also confirmed to be seriously abnormal (e.g., the smoke concentration or characteristic gas concentration has reached a preset fire extinguishing threshold). At this time, it is necessary to control the fire extinguishing device 120 in the battery pack 100 to extinguish the fire.

[0049] Specifically, after receiving signals of battery temperature parameters and environmental parameters, the industrial control module 20 of this application makes judgments through internal comparators and logic gates. When the judgment conditions are met, it sends a start signal to the fire-fighting device 120. For example, the industrial control module 20 can activate the fire-fighting device 120 to spray water or fire extinguishing agent by controlling the relay to conduct.

[0050] In this application, by integrating battery temperature parameters and environmental parameters for graded judgment, the problems of alarm lag and high false alarm rate in traditional solutions can be effectively solved. This allows for the generation of early warning information based on abnormal changes in environmental parameters in the early stages of battery thermal runaway, before the temperature has significantly increased, thus gaining valuable time for manual intervention. Simultaneously, by combining battery temperature and environmental parameter judgment, system malfunctions caused by false alarms from a single parameter are avoided. This achieves graded response for early warning and fire suppression, ensuring that the fire suppression device 120 is activated only upon confirmation of thermal runaway, thereby reducing secondary damage to normal batteries and improving the accuracy and reliability of thermal runaway management of the battery pack 100.

[0051] In some embodiments, the battery temperature parameters include the individual cell temperatures of at least two cells, and the first threshold condition includes the individual cell temperatures of at least two cells satisfying a preset battery temperature threshold; and / or, the environmental parameters include at least one of aerosol concentration, characteristic gas concentration, ambient temperature parameter, and smoke concentration; the second threshold condition includes any one of the following: aerosol concentration satisfying a preset aerosol concentration threshold, characteristic gas concentration satisfying a preset characteristic gas concentration threshold, ambient temperature parameter satisfying a preset ambient temperature threshold, and smoke concentration satisfying a preset smoke concentration threshold; and / or, the third threshold condition includes: aerosol concentration satisfying an aerosol concentration threshold, characteristic gas concentration satisfying a characteristic gas concentration threshold, ambient temperature parameter satisfying an ambient temperature threshold, and smoke concentration satisfying a smoke concentration threshold.

[0052] In this embodiment, the battery temperature parameters include the individual cell temperatures of at least two cells. Individual cell temperature can be understood as the actual temperature of a single cell, which can be directly measured using a patch-type temperature sensor to measure the temperature of the cell's surface or interior. This application monitors the individual cell temperatures of at least two cells to obtain more comprehensive information on the internal temperature distribution of the battery pack 100, avoiding misjudgments caused by potential local anomalies at a single measuring point or sensor malfunctions.

[0053] The first threshold condition includes at least two individual cell temperatures meeting a preset battery temperature threshold, which is a pre-set upper limit value based on battery type, operating environment, safety standards, and thermal runaway development patterns. When the individual cell temperatures of at least two cells meet the battery temperature threshold, it can be determined that there is a general or localized severe overheating risk inside the battery pack 100.

[0054] Environmental parameters include at least one of aerosol concentration, characteristic gas concentration, ambient temperature parameter, and smoke concentration.

[0055] Aerosol concentration can be understood as the content of suspended solid or liquid particles in the air within the battery compartment 10 where the battery pack 100 is located. These particles may be generated by electrolyte decomposition in the early stages of battery thermal runaway. Aerosol concentration can be monitored using an aerosol detector. The aerosol detector can be a laser scattering aerosol sensor or an ionization aerosol sensor.

[0056] Characteristic gas concentration can be understood as the content of gaseous components (such as carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), and hydrogen fluoride (HF)) specifically released during battery thermal runaway. Characteristic gases are products of early chemical reactions in the thermal runaway process, and their increased concentration is an early signal of thermal runaway. Monitoring characteristic gas concentrations can be achieved using specific gas sensors. These sensors can be electrochemical or semiconductor sensors.

[0057] The ambient temperature parameter can be understood as the air temperature inside the battery compartment 10 where the battery pack 100 is located. An abnormal increase in ambient temperature may also indicate the occurrence or spread of thermal runaway. Monitoring of the ambient temperature parameter can be achieved through an ambient temperature sensor. The ambient temperature sensor can be a thermistor or a thermocouple.

[0058] Smoke concentration can be understood as the content of smoke particles in the air inside the battery compartment 10 where the battery pack 100 is located. It is usually generated when thermal runaway develops to a certain stage. Smoke concentration can be monitored by a smoke detector, which can be a photoelectric smoke sensor or an ionization smoke sensor.

[0059] The second threshold condition includes any one of the following: aerosol concentration meets the aerosol concentration threshold, characteristic gas concentration meets the characteristic gas concentration threshold, ambient temperature parameter meets the preset ambient temperature threshold, and smoke concentration meets the smoke concentration threshold.

[0060] The aerosol concentration threshold, characteristic gas concentration threshold, ambient temperature threshold, and smoke concentration threshold can be understood as safety upper limits set for each environmental parameter. When any one of the aerosol concentration, characteristic gas concentration, ambient temperature parameter, or smoke concentration reaches or exceeds its corresponding preset threshold, it can be determined that the environmental parameter meets the second threshold condition, thereby achieving early warning of thermal runaway.

[0061] The third threshold conditions include aerosol concentration meeting the aerosol concentration threshold, characteristic gas concentration meeting the characteristic gas concentration threshold, ambient temperature parameter meeting the ambient temperature threshold, and smoke concentration meeting the smoke concentration threshold.

[0062] The third threshold condition can be understood as the aerosol concentration, characteristic gas concentration, ambient temperature parameter, and smoke concentration all reaching or exceeding their respective preset thresholds, thereby confirming that thermal runaway has entered a stage where immediate fire extinguishing measures are required, thus avoiding accidental triggering of the fire extinguishing system.

[0063] In this application, by refining the definition and multi-dimensional threshold judgment of battery temperature parameters and environmental parameters, the battery temperature parameter is specifically limited to the individual temperature of at least two battery cells, and at least two individual cell temperatures are required to meet a first threshold condition. This effectively avoids misjudgments caused by single measurement points or local anomalies, ensuring the comprehensiveness and representativeness of temperature judgment. Meanwhile, the environmental parameters cover at least one of aerosol concentration, characteristic gas concentration, ambient temperature parameters, and smoke concentration, providing the ability to fuse multi-source heterogeneous information. This allows the system to be flexibly configured according to the actual deployed sensor types, enhancing the adaptability of the method.

[0064] In addition, during the early warning phase, any one of the following conditions can be met: aerosol concentration meets the aerosol concentration threshold, characteristic gas concentration meets the characteristic gas concentration threshold, ambient temperature parameter meets the preset ambient temperature threshold, and smoke concentration meets the smoke concentration threshold. This allows for the capture of abnormal signals that appear first in different physical quantities in the early stages of thermal runaway, thereby achieving very early warning and buying valuable time for human intervention and initial handling.

[0065] Meanwhile, in the emergency response phase where fire suppression needs to be initiated, all relevant environmental parameters are required to meet the third threshold condition, which greatly reduces the risk of falsely triggering the fire suppression system, avoids unnecessary waste of resources and secondary damage to uncontrolled batteries, and makes the early warning and fire suppression decisions for thermal runaway more accurate and timely. This effectively solves the problems of alarm lag, high false alarm rate and single and crude response strategy in existing technologies, thereby improving the overall safety and operating efficiency of the energy storage system.

[0066] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, the energy storage system where the battery pack 100 is located has a main control module and an industrial control module 20. An environmental sensor is installed in the battery compartment 10 where the battery pack 100 is located. The system acquires battery temperature parameters collected in the battery pack 100 and environmental parameters collected in the battery compartment 10 where the battery pack 100 is located, including: acquiring battery temperature parameters from the main control module based on the industrial control module 20, and acquiring environmental parameters collected by the environmental sensor.

[0067] In this embodiment, the energy storage system includes a main control module and an industrial control module 20. The main control module is responsible for the core functions of the battery management system, such as battery status monitoring, state of charge and health estimation, equalization management, and fault diagnosis. The main control module can be an industrial-grade computer running on an embedded operating system, integrating multiple communication interfaces to communicate with the battery module 110 and external systems.

[0068] In this application, the industrial control module 20 is responsible for the coordinated control of the entire energy storage system, external interface management, data aggregation and uploading, and execution of upper-level control strategies. Simultaneously, the industrial control module 20 can employ an industrial-grade programmable logic controller (PLC) and communicate with the main control module and environmental sensors via industrial protocols such as Modbus TCP / RTU and Profinet, executing preset logic control programs.

[0069] In addition, the industrial control module 20 can be an embedded controller based on the ARM architecture. The industrial control module 20 can run customized software, communicate with the main control module via Ethernet or CAN bus, and directly read environmental sensor data for data fusion and decision-making.

[0070] Specifically, an environmental sensor can be installed inside the battery compartment 10 where the battery pack 100 is located. The environmental sensor can monitor the environmental state inside the battery compartment 10 in real time, and the industrial control module 20 can acquire environmental parameters related to thermal runaway. The environmental sensor can be a composite environmental sensor unit integrating multiple sensors. The environmental sensor can include an aerosol sensor, a characteristic gas sensor (such as CO, H2, HF), an ambient temperature sensor, and a smoke sensor, which can be installed inside the battery compartment 10 and connected to the industrial control module 20 through their respective interfaces.

[0071] Specifically, in the process of acquiring battery temperature parameters and environmental parameters, the industrial control module 20 can establish a communication link with the main control module (such as CAN bus, Modbus TCP / RTU, Ethernet) and periodically or as needed send data request commands to the main control module. After receiving the command, the main control module packages the currently collected battery temperature parameters and sends them to the industrial control module 20.

[0072] In addition, when the main control module detects a significant change in the battery temperature parameters or reaches the preset reporting cycle, it actively pushes the battery temperature parameters to the industrial control module 20 through a preset communication protocol.

[0073] Meanwhile, the industrial control module 20 can directly acquire environmental parameters from the environmental sensor. The industrial control module 20 can directly connect to the environmental sensor through its I / O interface or communication interface (such as RS485, analog input port) to read the analog voltage / current signal or digital data output by the sensor in real time; or the environmental sensor can directly send the collected environmental parameters to the industrial control module 20.

[0074] This application utilizes the industrial control module 20 to obtain battery temperature parameters from the main control module and directly acquires environmental parameters collected by environmental sensors. This effectively solves the problems of inconsistent data sources and low communication efficiency between modules, which affect the timeliness and accuracy of early warning and fire suppression responses. It also reduces redundant communication and data processing burden between the main control module and the industrial control module 20, thereby improving data transmission and processing efficiency. Simultaneously, the industrial control module 20, as a data integration center, can efficiently fuse heterogeneous information from different sources, providing necessary data support for the establishment and execution of composite criteria.

[0075] In some embodiments, if the battery temperature parameter does not meet the preset first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets the preset second threshold condition, an early warning message is generated, including: if the battery temperature parameter does not meet the first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets the second threshold condition, an early warning message is generated based on the industrial control module 20.

[0076] In this embodiment, the industrial control module 20 can compare the battery temperature parameter with a first threshold and the environmental parameter with a second threshold using logic gate circuits or software algorithms. Only when the comparison result of the battery temperature parameter is not satisfied and the comparison result of the environmental parameter is satisfied, the industrial control module 20 generates an early warning message.

[0077] Specifically, the industrial control module 20 can receive and process data from the perception layer, and make judgments and decisions based on preset logic to generate early warning information. This ensures centralized management and efficient execution of the early warning logic, avoiding delays and inconsistencies that may be caused by distributed processing.

[0078] As an example, the industrial control module 20 may integrate an early warning logic processing unit. When a signal that meets the early warning conditions is received, the early warning logic processing unit directly triggers the generation of early warning information.

[0079] As another example, the industrial control module 20 can generate early warning information by executing preset firmware programs or software instructions and calling corresponding functions or modules when the judgment conditions are met.

[0080] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, a first switch is provided between the fire-fighting device 120 and the industrial control module 20; if the battery temperature parameter meets the first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets the preset third threshold condition, the fire-fighting device 120 in the battery pack 100 is controlled to extinguish the fire, including: if the battery temperature parameter meets the first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets the third threshold condition, the first switch is turned on based on the industrial control module 20 to control the fire-fighting device 120 to extinguish the fire.

[0081] In this embodiment, the first switch can establish or disconnect the power supply or control circuit of the fire protection device 120 under the command of the industrial control module 20. The first switch can serve as a switch between the industrial control module 20 and the high-power or high-risk fire protection device 120. The first switch can be a relay, which can be respectively... Figure 1 Switches K5, K6, K7, and K8 are used in the circuit. When the industrial control module 20 outputs a low-voltage control signal, the relay coils are energized, and their contacts close, thereby connecting the power supply circuit of the fire-fighting device 120. The first switch can also be a solid-state relay (SSR) or a contactor. Solid-state relays achieve contactless switching through semiconductor devices, offering fast response and long lifespan; contactors are suitable for controlling higher-power fire-fighting equipment, providing stronger switching capabilities.

[0082] Specifically, when the industrial control module 20 receives a battery temperature parameter that meets the first threshold condition and an environmental parameter that meets the third threshold condition, it executes a preset instruction to output a high-level or low-level signal to the control port connected to the first switch, thereby changing the first switch from the off state to the on state.

[0083] In this application, by setting a first switch between the fire extinguishing device 120 and the industrial control module 20, it can be ensured that the fire extinguishing action is triggered only under strict conditions, avoiding misoperation, improving the overall safety of the system, and effectively preventing the fire extinguishing device 120 from being unexpectedly activated due to misoperation or system failure, thereby minimizing potential damage to the battery pack 100 and the energy storage system.

[0084] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, the energy storage system also includes a high-voltage control box 200, which contains a main circuit switch. The first, second, and third terminals of the main circuit switch are connected to the charging and discharging interface of the energy storage system, the battery pack 100, and the industrial control module 20, respectively. The thermal runaway management method of the battery pack 100 further includes: if the battery temperature parameter meets the first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets the preset third threshold condition, the industrial control module 20 sends a first cut-off command to the main circuit switch to cut off the main circuit of the energy storage system.

[0085] In this embodiment, the high-voltage control box 200 can be understood as a sealed enclosure for housing and protecting high-voltage electrical components. The high-voltage control box 200 contains a main circuit switch, which can be an electrical device for interrupting or connecting the main power supply circuit within the energy storage system. The main circuit switch can be a high-voltage DC contactor, a high-voltage circuit breaker, or a solid-state relay, etc.

[0086] The first cut-off command can be understood as a control command sent by the industrial control module 20 to the main circuit switch through digital signals, analog signals or communication protocols. The first cut-off command triggers the main circuit switch to disconnect, thereby interrupting the electrical connection between the battery pack 100 and the charging and discharging interface.

[0087] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, a mains switch K10 is provided between the charging / discharging interface and the mains power. The first, second, and third ends of the mains switch K10 are respectively connected to the mains power, the charging / discharging interface, and the industrial control module 20. The thermal runaway management method of the battery pack 100 also includes: if the battery temperature parameter meets the first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets the preset third threshold condition, a second cut-off command is sent to the mains switch K10 based on the industrial control module 20 to disconnect the energy storage system from the mains power.

[0088] In this embodiment, a mains switch K10 can be installed between the charging / discharging interface and the mains power. The mains switch K10 is an electrical device used to control the connection between the energy storage system and the external mains power grid. An energy storage converter PCS can be installed between the mains switch K10 and the energy storage system. The high-voltage control box 200 is also equipped with an isolating switch Q1, a first main positive relay K1, a second main positive relay K2, a main negative relay K3, an equalization switch K4, an equalization resistor R1, a diode D1, a diode D2, and a fuse FU1. The isolating switch Q1 can be understood as the main circuit switch. The first main positive relay K1 and the diode D2 work together to realize the charging of the energy storage system. The second main positive relay K2 and the diode D1 work together to realize the discharging of the energy storage system. The equalization switch K4 and the equalization resistor R1 can realize the equalization of the energy storage system.

[0089] The second disconnection command can be understood as a control command sent by the industrial control module 20 to the mains switch K10 through digital signals, analog signals or communication protocols. This command triggers the mains switch K10 to disconnect, thereby interrupting the electrical connection between the energy storage system and the mains power.

[0090] Specifically, in an emergency situation where battery thermal runaway is confirmed and fire extinguishing is initiated, the energy storage system can automatically and quickly disconnect the internal main circuit and the connection with the mains power. This not only effectively prevents the risk of electrical short circuit caused by thermal runaway of the battery pack 100 during charging and discharging, but also avoids the risk of electric shock to personnel that may occur during fire extinguishing operations. It effectively prevents the fire from spreading through electrical connections and significantly improves the overall safety of the energy storage system under extreme conditions.

[0091] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, the energy storage system is also equipped with an AC / DC switch K11. The first end of the AC / DC switch K11 is connected to the third end of the main circuit switch and the third end of the mains switch K10. The second end of the AC / DC switch K11 is connected to a preset voltage source. The third end of the AC / DC switch K11 is connected to the industrial control module 20. The thermal runaway management method of the battery pack 100 also includes: when the battery temperature parameter meets the first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets the preset third threshold condition, based on the industrial control module 20, a third disconnect command of the AC / DC switch K11 is sent to the AC / DC switch K11 to disconnect the main circuit switch and the mains switch K10.

[0092] In this embodiment, the AC / DC switch K11 can be understood as an electrical switching device capable of simultaneously or separately controlling the on / off state of the DC and AC circuits. The AC / DC switch K11 can serve as a unified control point for the main circuit switch and the mains switch K10, receiving instructions from the industrial control module 20 and executing corresponding disconnection operations. This allows it to simultaneously and effectively act on both the main circuit switch and the mains switch K10, achieving synchronous disconnection of the two switches. Simultaneously, the industrial control module 20 can directly send control commands to the AC / DC switch K11 to control its state, enabling rapid response and precise management of the main circuit and mains connections.

[0093] Among them, the AC / DC switch K11 can be an intelligent switch module that integrates control logic for DC contactors and AC contactors, and realizes independent or linked control of AC / DC circuits through internal relays or semiconductor devices; the AC / DC switch K11 can also be a power electronic switch with multiple control outputs, such as a solid-state relay built based on power devices such as IGBTs or MOSFETs, which can receive digital commands and respond quickly to achieve precise control of high-voltage AC / DC circuits.

[0094] The third disconnection command can be understood as a control command sent by the industrial control module 20 to the AC / DC switch K11 through digital signals, analog signals or communication protocols to control the state of the AC / DC switch K11, thereby achieving rapid response and precise management of the main circuit and mains power connection.

[0095] In this application, by introducing an AC / DC switch K11 as a unified control node, when the battery temperature parameter meets the first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets the third threshold condition, the industrial control module 20 sends a third disconnect command to the AC / DC switch K11 to disconnect the AC / DC switch K11, thereby causing the main circuit switch and the mains switch K10 to disconnect synchronously. This effectively solves the problem that the main circuit switch and the mains switch K10 may be out of sync or inefficient due to independent control during the thermal runaway confirmation stage. It significantly improves the speed and reliability of emergency response, effectively reduces the secondary risks caused by short circuits and electric shocks in thermal runaway events, and thus provides a more solid guarantee for the safe operation of the energy storage system.

[0096] In some embodiments, after generating a warning message if the battery temperature parameter does not meet a preset first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets a preset second threshold condition, the method further includes: remotely sending the warning message to remotely display the warning message.

[0097] Specifically, this application can remotely send early warning information to a remote monitoring system or operator via the industrial control module 20, enabling remote operators to understand the abnormal status of the battery pack 100 in real time and intuitively. This allows for rapid judgment and corresponding remote intervention measures, effectively preventing the escalation of accidents due to information delays and gaining valuable time for early intervention and risk control. Simultaneously, the early warning information can also be displayed on the industrial control display screen where the industrial control module 20 is located.

[0098] In some embodiments, this application also provides a thermal runaway management system configured to perform the thermal runaway management method of the battery pack 100 provided in this application.

[0099] In some embodiments, this application also provides an energy storage system, which includes the thermal runaway management system provided in this application.

[0100] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various equivalent modifications or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in this application, and these modifications or substitutions should all be covered within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for managing thermal runaway in a battery pack, characterized in that, include: The battery temperature parameters collected inside the battery pack and the environmental parameters collected inside the battery compartment where the battery pack is located are obtained. If the battery temperature parameter does not meet the preset first threshold condition, and the environmental parameter meets the preset second threshold condition, an early warning message is generated; If the battery temperature parameter meets the first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets the preset third threshold condition, the fire-fighting device in the battery pack is controlled to extinguish the fire.

2. The thermal runaway management method for a battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The battery temperature parameters include the individual temperatures of at least two battery cells, and the first threshold condition includes that the individual temperatures of at least two battery cells meet a preset battery temperature threshold; or / and, The environmental parameters include at least one of aerosol concentration, characteristic gas concentration, ambient temperature parameter, and smoke concentration. The second threshold condition includes any one of the following: the aerosol concentration meets a preset aerosol concentration threshold, the characteristic gas concentration meets a preset characteristic gas concentration threshold, the ambient temperature parameter meets a preset ambient temperature threshold, and the smoke concentration meets a preset smoke concentration threshold; or / and, The third threshold condition includes: the aerosol concentration meets the aerosol concentration threshold, the characteristic gas concentration meets the characteristic gas concentration threshold, the ambient temperature parameter meets the ambient temperature threshold, and the smoke concentration meets the smoke concentration threshold.

3. The thermal runaway management method for a battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The energy storage system containing the battery pack is equipped with a main control module and an industrial control module, and an environmental sensor is installed in the battery compartment where the battery pack is located. The acquisition of battery temperature parameters collected within the battery pack and environmental parameters collected within the battery compartment where the battery pack is located includes: Based on the industrial control module, the battery temperature parameters are obtained from the main control module, and the environmental parameters collected by the environmental sensor are also obtained.

4. The thermal runaway management method for a battery pack according to claim 3, characterized in that, If the battery temperature parameter does not meet a preset first threshold condition, and the environmental parameter meets a preset second threshold condition, an early warning message is generated, including: If the battery temperature parameter does not meet the first threshold condition, and the environmental parameter meets the second threshold condition, the warning information is generated based on the industrial control module.

5. The thermal runaway management method for a battery pack according to claim 3, characterized in that, A first switch is provided between the fire-fighting device and the industrial control module; If the battery temperature parameter meets the first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets the preset third threshold condition, controlling the fire suppression device in the battery pack to extinguish the fire includes: If the battery temperature parameter meets the first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets the third threshold condition, the first switch is turned on based on the industrial control module to control the fire-fighting device to extinguish the fire.

6. The thermal runaway management method for a battery pack according to claim 3, characterized in that, The energy storage system also includes a high-voltage control box, which contains a main circuit switch. The first, second, and third terminals of the main circuit switch are respectively connected to the charging and discharging interface of the energy storage system, the battery pack, and the industrial control module. The method further includes: If the battery temperature parameter meets the first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets the preset third threshold condition, based on the industrial control module, a first disconnection command is sent to the main circuit switch to disconnect the main circuit of the energy storage system; or / and, A mains power switch is provided between the charging / discharging interface and the mains power. The first, second, and third ends of the mains power switch are respectively connected to the mains power, the charging / discharging interface, and the industrial control module. The method further includes: If the battery temperature parameter meets the first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets the preset third threshold condition, the industrial control module sends a second disconnection command to the mains switch to disconnect the energy storage system from the mains power.

7. The thermal runaway management method for a battery pack according to claim 6, characterized in that, The energy storage system also includes an AC / DC switch. The first terminal of the AC / DC switch is connected to the third terminal of the main circuit switch and the third terminal of the mains switch, respectively. The second terminal of the AC / DC switch is connected to a preset voltage source, and the third terminal of the AC / DC switch is connected to the industrial control module. The method further includes: If the battery temperature parameter meets the first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets the preset third threshold condition, the industrial control module sends a third disconnect command to the AC / DC switch to disconnect the main circuit switch and the mains power switch.

8. The method for thermal runaway management of a battery pack according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, After generating a warning message if the battery temperature parameter does not meet a preset first threshold condition and the environmental parameter meets a preset second threshold condition, the method further includes: The warning information is sent remotely for remote display.

9. A thermal runaway management system, characterized in that, The battery pack is configured to perform the thermal runaway management method according to any one of claims 1-8.

10. An energy storage system, characterized in that, Includes the thermal runaway management system as described in claim 9.

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