A heat pipe and liquid cooling-based energy storage battery thermal management and fire-fighting integrated device and method

Abstract

The application discloses a heat pipe and liquid cooling collaborative energy storage battery thermal management and fire-fighting integrated device and method, which comprises a battery box, a heat pipe-aerogel heat insulation module, a phase change liquid releasing unit, a double-path independent cooling system and a multi-parameter monitoring module. The heat pipe longitudinally leads out the battery heat, and the aerogel blocks the lateral heat conduction of the battery cell. The bottom of the liquid storage cavity is filled with a paraffin phase change sealing layer, and the heat runaway high temperature can be self-melted to form a directional liquid leakage channel, so that passive precise spraying is realized. The system is divided into two independent circulation paths: the top low-conductivity plasma water is used for fire-fighting and cooling, and the bottom ethylene glycol medium is responsible for normal heat dissipation. The bottom liquid cooling plate is integrated with a flow guide groove to collect and discharge waste liquid. Temperature, gas and voltage sensors are positioned to locate the fault battery cell, and when the parameters exceed the standard, the double-path cooling is started synchronously. The application relies on the pure heat driving spraying of the heat pipe, solves the power-off failure problem of the electric control fire-fighting, synchronously considers the temperature equalization and heat resistance through three-dimensional temperature control, and greatly improves the thermal safety level of the energy storage battery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of emergency response to thermal runaway of energy storage batteries, specifically relating to an integrated device and method for thermal management and fire protection of energy storage batteries based on heat pipes and liquid cooling. Background Technology

[0002] Lithium-ion batteries for energy storage contain many flammable components and have high energy density. If subjected to abuse such as electrical, mechanical, or thermal misuse during use, they are highly susceptible to thermal runaway. Current research on lithium-ion battery thermal runaway focuses on early warning technologies and the development of efficient and feasible battery thermal management systems to prevent its occurrence. However, research on emergency response to lithium-ion battery thermal runaway is severely lacking, and there is an urgent need to develop effective methods to reduce its hazards. Furthermore, in battery module applications, thermal runaway from a single cell can easily propagate to adjacent cells, potentially leading to fires or explosions in the battery module or even the entire energy storage power station. Therefore, preventing the propagation of thermal runaway is crucial in handling battery thermal runaway in energy storage power stations.

[0003] When the temperature of a single battery cell reaches the thermal runaway warning threshold, effective heat dissipation measures can promptly cool the battery, thus preventing thermal runaway. To prevent the propagation of thermal runaway, thermal barrier treatment is necessary to suppress the transfer of heat from the thermally runaway battery to surrounding batteries. Traditional battery thermal management systems, primarily based on air cooling and liquid cooling, have certain shortcomings in emergency response to battery thermal runaway. Air cooling, due to its low specific heat capacity and heat transfer coefficient, is insufficient to meet the requirements for controlling the temperature rise of lithium-ion battery packs. Liquid cooling systems can remove the heat generated by the battery module through the circulation of the liquid working fluid, and its heat dissipation effect is significantly better than air cooling. However, liquid cooling has a relatively complex structure and poses a safety hazard of leakage, which can lead to battery short circuits.

[0004] Chinese patent application CN117317426A discloses a rapid response device for handling thermal runaway in energy storage battery modules. It is equipped with components such as toxic gas sensors and temperature sensors to detect the heating and combustion status of the battery module, and uses this as a signal to activate a fire extinguisher. The fire extinguisher can spray dry powder extinguishing agent for rapid fire suppression. The device also includes a fire chamber with the function of blocking the propagation of thermal runaway. However, this invention only achieves the purpose of automatic detection, fire suppression, and thermal runaway prevention for the entire battery module; it cannot prevent the thermal runaway behavior of individual cells.

[0005] Chinese patent application CN105742755A discloses a "sandwich" composite plate consisting of a thermally conductive shell, a phase change material, and a separator. This plate is tightly installed in the gaps between batteries, which can improve the heat dissipation capacity of the battery pack while preventing heat transfer from thermally runaway individual cells, thus blocking the propagation of thermal runaway. While this device achieves a synergistic effect of system heat dissipation and thermal runaway prevention, the stability of its heat dissipation performance is largely constrained by the thermal conductivity of the phase change material. Furthermore, the heat absorbed by the phase change material cannot be dissipated; once saturated, it can no longer absorb heat. Chinese patent application CN215896514U uses liquid nitrogen spraying to hinder the propagation of thermal runaway. Upon contact with the thermally runaway battery module, liquid nitrogen vaporizes and absorbs a large amount of heat. Liquid nitrogen also blocks oxygen contact, further reducing the risk of thermal runaway propagation. The separator used in this device is a steel plate, which can prevent the spread of open flames but cannot prevent heat transfer.

[0006] Currently, research on emergency response to battery thermal runaway faces the obstacle of ineffective coordination between individual cells, battery module heat dissipation, and thermal runaway propagation prevention. Therefore, there is an urgent need to design superior emergency response methods for energy storage batteries to prevent thermal runaway from occurring and to address the problem of thermal runaway propagation within battery packs. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide an integrated device and method for thermal management and fire protection of energy storage batteries that combines heat pipes and liquid cooling, thereby solving the problem of the lack of emergency response technology after thermal runaway warning in the prior art and the contradiction between thermal runaway propagation blockage and battery heat dissipation, and improving the safety performance of the battery.

[0008] To solve the above problems, the technical solution of the present invention is as follows:

[0009] An integrated device for thermal management and thermal runaway fire suppression of energy storage batteries based on heat pipes and liquid cooling includes a battery housing, a heat pipe-aerogel cooling and insulation module, a top liquid storage cooling unit, a phase change sealing and liquid release unit, a bottom liquid cooling guide unit, a dual-path coolant delivery system, and a thermal runaway monitoring and handling module.

[0010] The battery pack housing is used to house the battery modules;

[0011] The heat pipe-aerogel cooling and insulation module includes a heat pipe and an aerogel insulation component. The heat pipe is arranged in contact with the battery surface to conduct battery heat, and the aerogel insulation component is placed between adjacent batteries to block lateral heat transfer. The condensation section of the heat pipe extends into the top liquid storage cooling unit.

[0012] The top liquid storage cooling unit is located above the battery module. It stores coolant inside and exchanges heat with the heat pipe condensation section. A through hole is opened at the bottom for the heating pipe to pass through.

[0013] The phase change sealing and liquid release unit is located between the through hole and the heat pipe. Under normal conditions, it seals the through hole. When the heat pipe temperature reaches the phase change temperature, it melts to form a liquid discharge channel, allowing the coolant in the liquid storage and cooling unit to flow directionally to the thermal runaway abnormal battery area.

[0014] The bottom liquid cooling guide unit is located below the battery module. It is equipped with a liquid cooling channel to achieve conventional cooling of the bottom of the battery, and is also equipped with a guide and drainage structure to receive and discharge the coolant released from the top.

[0015] The dual-path coolant delivery system independently supplies coolant to the top liquid storage cooling unit and the bottom liquid cooling guide unit;

[0016] The thermal runaway monitoring and handling module includes a multi-parameter sensor group and a controller. The sensors collect battery temperature, gas production, and voltage signals. When the controller detects that any parameter exceeds the standard, it starts a dual-path coolant delivery system for forced cooling.

[0017] Further optimization involves a flat Z-shaped copper heat pipe, divided into an evaporation section, an insulation section, and a condensation section. The evaporation section is attached to the large surface and side of the battery, the insulation section extends upward through the top liquid storage cooling unit through-hole, and the condensation section is immersed in the coolant of the liquid storage cooling unit. The liquid wick inside the heat pipe is a wire mesh wick, a grooved wick, or a sintered metal wick, and the heat exchange medium is water or methanol.

[0018] Further optimization involves using a silica aerogel composite material with a thickness of less than 2 mm and a thermal conductivity of less than 0.02 W / (m·K). This material highly covers the battery body and the heat pipe insulation section, and is arranged between adjacent heat pipes to block the lateral propagation of thermal runaway.

[0019] Further optimization involves using a paraffin-based phase change material for the phase change sealing and release unit. The phase change temperature range is 90℃-110℃. It fills the gap between the heat pipe and the through hole, and only partially melts and releases liquid when the corresponding heat pipe is at high temperature, while the remaining through holes remain sealed.

[0020] Further optimization includes the dual-path coolant delivery system comprising independent heat pipe circulation branches and bottom liquid-cooled circulation branches;

[0021] Among them, the heat pipe circulation branch transports low-conductivity plasma water, and urea, AEO-9, FC-4430 or DMMP flame retardant and conductive inhibitor are added to the plasma water.

[0022] The bottom liquid-cooled circulation branch transports distilled water or ethylene glycol aqueous solution, and the total coolant storage capacity of the system is 3 times the full volume of the pipeline and liquid-cooled plate;

[0023] The heat dissipation efficiency of the heat pipe circulation branch is ≥1℃ / min, and the bottom liquid cooling circulation branch controls the maximum normal battery temperature to within 40℃ by adjusting the flow rate.

[0024] Further optimization involves a sensor group for the thermal runaway monitoring and handling module, which includes a temperature sensor, a VOC-CO-H2 three-in-one gas sensor, and a single-cell voltage sensor. Each sensor is matched with a unique location number, and the controller can locate the thermal runaway battery area based on the abnormal sensor number.

[0025] Further optimization involves a layered, drawer-type, detachable structure for the battery housing. Each drawer is equipped with a sliding rail and a front-mounted detachable panel. The side panels of the housing have pre-drilled holes for pipes and sensor wiring, and the interior is fitted with elastic clamping components to ensure a tight fit between the heat pipe and the battery.

[0026] Further optimization includes a bottom liquid cooling guide unit comprising a high thermal conductivity metal liquid cooling plate, a reciprocating liquid cooling channel inside the liquid cooling plate, a guide groove on the plate surface, and an integrated liquid collection tank and external drain port at the bottom of the drawer to achieve centralized external discharge of emergency coolant.

[0027] An integrated method for handling thermal runaway of energy storage batteries based on the above-mentioned device includes the following steps:

[0028] S1. Real-time monitoring of multiple parameters: Each gas, temperature and voltage sensor collects the gas content g, temperature t and voltage v in the corresponding battery pack in real time and transmits them to its corresponding controller.

[0029] S2. Thermal runaway warning determination: After receiving an input signal, the controller compares it with the corresponding set warning threshold. If any parameter exceeds the corresponding threshold, it is determined to enter the thermal runaway warning state.

[0030] S3, Dual-path forced cooling start: The controller drives the dual-path coolant delivery system to operate synchronously, respectively circulating and cooling the heat pipe condensation section and the bottom of the battery; specifically: the controller issues a command based on the processing result of the input information, and opens the water pump corresponding to the sensor number of the battery pack through the water pump start control device, circulating low-conductivity plasma water to the corresponding battery pack water tank, cooling the battery through the cooling heat pipe; at the same time, the water pump start control device connected to the coolant storage tank of the liquid cooling plate will also open the water pump after receiving the command, circulating coolant to the bottom liquid cooling plate to cool the battery;

[0031] S4, Phase Change Melting Directional Release: When the temperature of the heat pipe condensation section in the corresponding area reaches the phase change temperature of the phase change sealing unit, the phase change material melts and forms a discharge channel, so that the coolant in the top liquid storage cooling unit flows directionally through the discharge channel to the battery area where thermal runaway or thermal runaway warning occurs.

[0032] S5. Coolant drainage: The coolant released from the top liquid storage cooling unit flows along the heat pipe across the battery surface and enters the bottom liquid cooling and drainage drainage unit. The drainage drainage structure of the bottom liquid cooling and drainage drainage unit guides the coolant to the drain port or collection area, thereby achieving local cooling of abnormal batteries, blocking heat propagation of adjacent batteries, and draining emergency coolant.

[0033] Further optimization involves step S4 where only the phase change sealing unit at the location corresponding to the thermal runaway battery melts and releases liquid, while the through holes in other areas remain sealed, achieving precise local cooling of the individual cell.

[0034] After completing the emergency cooling, the controller continuously monitors the battery parameters and shuts down the coolant delivery system after a delay once all parameters have fallen back to the safe threshold.

[0035] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0036] 1. This invention uses a heat pipe as both a normal heat carrier and a heat source to trigger thermal runaway. The phase change sealing structure automatically melts and forms a drainage channel by relying on the high temperature conducted by the heat pipe, eliminating the need for solenoid valves, independent actuators, and external power supply triggers. Even if thermal runaway burns out the BMS, control circuits, or conventional circulating water pumps and causes power loss, the high temperature conducted by the heat pipe can still automatically start the spray cooling, solving the industry pain point of power failure in traditional electric fire protection systems. At the same time, coolant is released only at the location corresponding to the faulty battery cell, which is different from full-area spraying, significantly reducing the amount of medium used and lowering the risk of large-area short circuits.

[0037] 2. Flat heat pipes are attached to the front and sides of the battery to conduct heat longitudinally, and the bottom liquid cooling plate realizes bottom surface heat exchange, forming a three-dimensional heat dissipation system, which significantly improves the uniformity of battery temperature; ultra-thin high air resistance aerogel is sandwiched between adjacent batteries to completely cut off the lateral heat transfer path from the faulty cell to the surrounding batteries, thereby avoiding the chain propagation of single-cell thermal runaway from the root and overcoming the inherent defects of single liquid cooling without heat insulation and pure aerogel without continuous heat dissipation capability.

[0038] 3. The two physically isolated cooling circulation branches have completely distinct functions: the bottom ethylene glycol branch is responsible for daily temperature equalization, while the top low-conductivity flame-retardant plasma water branch is specifically used for thermal runaway spraying; the electrolyte and high-temperature impurities generated by the spraying only contaminate the medium in the top liquid storage chamber, while the bottom conventional heat dissipation pipes remain uncontaminated, eliminating the need to replace the coolant in the entire system; the low-conductivity spraying medium can significantly reduce the probability of battery short circuit and fire after spraying.

[0039] 4. Traditional liquid cooling plates only have heat dissipation function and no waste liquid collection structure. After spraying, the coolant accumulates and soaks the battery cells. This invention integrates a flow guide channel, a drawer with a matching liquid collection tank and an external drain port into the liquid cooling plate. All spraying waste liquid is automatically collected and discharged out of the cabinet, with no liquid accumulation inside the cabinet. No additional drainage and fire-fighting accessories are required, simplifying the cabinet structure.

[0040] 5. Each battery is independently equipped with temperature and voltage sensors, and the module is equipped with a three-in-one gas sensor. The sensor is bound to a unique location number, which can accurately locate a single faulty cell. The monitoring system forms a complete linkage process with the dual-path cooling and phase change spray structure. After the warning, the upper and lower dual-path pre-cooling is started simultaneously, and the self-driven spray achieves graded treatment with no warning blind spots.

[0041] 6. The battery module, heat pipe insulation component, liquid cooling plate, and top liquid storage cooling unit are all integrated into the pull-out layered drawer. One set of equipment covers all functions of normal thermal management, thermal runaway early warning, precise fire protection, waste liquid diversion, and heat spread prevention. It replaces the traditional split thermal management equipment and independent fine water mist fire protection device, reduces the space occupied by the energy storage cabinet, and lowers the overall cost of hardware procurement, installation and operation and maintenance. The drawer slide rail and detachable panel design make it convenient to disassemble and repair the battery cells and cooling components, and is suitable for batch operation and maintenance scenarios of energy storage power stations. Attached Figure Description

[0042] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of an emergency response device for thermal runaway of energy storage batteries;

[0043] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the arrangement of the heat pipe-insulation composite unit between adjacent batteries in this invention;

[0044] Figure 3 A partially enlarged schematic diagram of the phase change blocking unit of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 4 Parameter diagram of the bottom liquid cooling plate of this invention;

[0046] Figure 5 Battery assembly diagram of this invention;

[0047] Figure 6 Front view of the battery pack of this invention;

[0048] Figure 7 Side view of the battery pack of this invention;

[0049] Figure 8 Distribution diagram of heat pipes on the front and side sides of a single battery of this invention;

[0050] Figure 9 The result is obtained by heating a 50Ah lithium iron phosphate battery with 500W.

[0051] In the diagram: 100 is a three-layer drawer-type battery box; 101 is the first layer structure; 102 is the second layer structure; 103 is the third layer structure; 104 is the right-side drawer slide rail structure; 105 is the detachable front panel; 106 is the liquid cooling plate; 107 and 107-2 are water tanks; 108 is the top plate / upper water tank structure; 109 is the temperature sensor; 110 is the gas sensor; 111 is the voltage sensor; 112 is the first water pump; 113 is the second water pump; 114 is the drain hole; 115 is the drain outlet; 116 is the controller; 117 is the liquid inlet; 118 is the liquid outlet; 119 is the drain guide channel; 120 is the liquid collection tank; 121 is the liquid outlet; and 122 is the liquid inlet. Detailed Implementation

[0052] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0053] Example 1:

[0054] like Figure 1-8 As shown, an integrated device for thermal management and thermal runaway fire suppression of energy storage batteries based on heat pipes and liquid cooling includes a battery housing, a heat pipe-aerogel cooling and insulation module, a top liquid storage cooling unit, a phase change sealing and liquid release unit, a bottom liquid cooling guide unit, a dual-path coolant delivery system, and a thermal runaway monitoring and handling module.

[0055] The battery pack enclosure, used to house the battery modules, is a three-layer drawer-type battery enclosure 100. The three-layer drawer-type battery enclosure 100 includes a first layer structure 101, a second layer structure 102, and a third layer structure 103 arranged vertically in sequence. The first layer structure 101, the second layer structure 102, and the third layer structure 103 all employ a drawer-type load-bearing structure, and each layer can be pulled out or pushed in horizontally to facilitate the installation, maintenance, and replacement of battery modules, liquid cooling plates 106, water tanks 107, top plate structures 108, and related sensors and pipelines.

[0056] In this embodiment, the height of each layer of the first layer 101, the second layer 102, and the third layer 103 is 220mm, the length is 1200mm, and the width is 780mm. These dimensions are preferred dimensions in this embodiment and can be adjusted according to the number of individual energy storage battery modules, their arrangement, the size of the liquid cooling plate, the water tank capacity, and the installation space.

[0057] The first layer structure 101 is located at the bottom of the three-layer drawer-type battery box 100. A liquid cooling plate 106 is installed inside the first layer structure 101, integrated into the drawer bottom plate of the first layer structure 101, forming a cooling support structure for the bottom of the battery module. The liquid cooling plate 106 has internal liquid cooling channels, allowing coolant to circulate within them to remove heat from the bottom of the battery module, achieving basic heat dissipation during normal operation and auxiliary cooling during thermal runaway warning stages.

[0058] In this embodiment, the first layer structure 101 is further provided with a drain hole 114, a drain outlet 115, a drain guide channel 119, and a collection tank 120. The drain guide channel 119 is located at the bottom of the first layer structure 101 or in the lower area of ​​the upper surface of the liquid cooling plate 106, and is used to receive the coolant flowing downward from the upper water tank. The drain hole 114 communicates with the drain guide channel 119 and is used to guide the coolant into the collection tank 120 or the drain channel. The drain outlet 115 is located at the bottom or lower side of the first layer structure 101 and is used to discharge the coolant in the collection tank 120 into the battery housing 100, thereby reducing the accumulation of coolant inside the battery module.

[0059] The second layer structure 102 is located above the first layer structure 101. A water tank 107 is installed within the second layer structure 102, which is used to store or circulate coolant. The water tank 107 can serve as part of the top liquid storage cooling unit, corresponding to the heat pipe condenser section in the battery module. During normal operation or thermal runaway warning phases, the coolant circulates within the water tank 107 and exchanges heat with the heat pipe condenser section extending into the water tank 107, allowing the heat generated by the battery to be transferred to the water tank 107 via the heat pipe and then carried away by the coolant. When the temperature in the thermal runaway warning area further increases and reaches the phase change temperature of the phase change sealing structure, the coolant in the water tank 107 can be directionally released to the abnormal battery area through corresponding venting channels to locally cool the thermal runaway battery and its adjacent batteries.

[0060] The third layer structure 103 is located on top of the three-layer drawer-type battery box 100. A top plate structure 108 is provided on the third layer structure 103. The top plate structure 108 can serve as an upper liquid storage cooling structure or an upper closed support structure, used to cooperate with the heat pipe condenser section for heat exchange. The top plate structure 108 can be provided with holes corresponding to the heat pipe condenser section, coolant channels, an inlet 117, and an outlet 118 to achieve coolant circulation and localized release functions.

[0061] Each of the first layer structure 101, the second layer structure 102, and the third layer structure 103 has a right-side drawer slide structure 104 on one side. The right-side drawer slide structure 104 provides sliding support and guidance for the corresponding layer structure, allowing each layer structure to be independently pulled out or pushed in. The right-side drawer slide structure 104 can be a heavy-duty slide rail, a roller slide rail, a guide rail slider structure, or other sliding support structure capable of supporting the weight of the battery module and cooling structure.

[0062] The front ends of the first layer structure 101, the second layer structure 102, and the third layer structure 103 are all provided with detachable front panels 105. The detachable front panels 105 are used to close the front openings of the corresponding layer structure and can be removed during installation, maintenance, or replacement of internal components. The detachable front panels 105 can be connected to the corresponding layer structure via bolts, clips, pins, or locking mechanisms. The detachable front panels 105 may be provided with handles or opening holes to facilitate manual pulling and maintenance operations.

[0063] In this embodiment, the three-layer drawer-type battery housing 100 is further equipped with a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit includes a temperature sensor 109, a gas sensor 110, and a voltage sensor 111. The temperature sensor 109 is disposed within the first layer structure 101, the second layer structure 102, and the third layer structure 103, and is used to collect temperature signals from locations such as the surface of the battery module, battery gaps, and electrode areas. The gas sensor 110 is disposed in a gas-prone area near the third layer structure 103 or the top plate structure 108, and is used to detect VOCs, CO, H2, or other characteristic gases released in the early stages of thermal runaway. The voltage sensor 111 is disposed in the electrical connection area of ​​the battery module or the side connection position of the drawer structure, and is used to collect voltage change signals from individual cells or the battery pack.

[0064] Temperature sensor 109, gas sensor 110 and voltage sensor 111 are respectively connected to controller 116 via signal lines. Figure 1 The signal connection between the sensor and the controller 116 is indicated by a dashed line. The controller 116 receives temperature signals, gas signals, and voltage signals, and compares the acquired signals with preset thresholds. When any of the temperature, gas, or voltage signals reaches or exceeds the corresponding preset threshold, the controller 116 determines that the corresponding battery or battery region has entered a thermal runaway warning state and sends a start command to the coolant delivery system.

[0065] The coolant delivery system includes a first water pump 112 and a second water pump 113. The first water pump 112 is connected to the second layer structure 102 and the third layer structure 103, and is used to drive the coolant to enter through the inlet 117 and flow out through the outlet 118, thereby forming a top liquid storage cooling cycle.

[0066] The second water pump 113 is connected to the liquid cooling plate 106 and is used to drive the coolant to circulate in the liquid cooling channel inside the liquid cooling plate 106. The coolant can enter the liquid cooling plate 106 through the inlet 122 and flow out through the outlet 121, thereby removing heat from the bottom of the battery module. In the event of a thermal runaway warning, the controller 116 can start the second water pump 113 to enable the liquid cooling plate 106 to provide enhanced cooling to the bottom of the battery module. After the coolant is released from the top water tank, the liquid cooling plate 106 can also cooperate with the drain guide channel 119, the top coolant outlet 114, the drain port 115, and the collection tank 120 to realize the reception, guidance, and discharge of emergency coolant.

[0067] The controller 116 is electrically connected to the first water pump 112 and the second water pump 113 respectively. Figure 1 The dashed lines in the diagram represent the control connection between the controller 116 and the first water pump 112 and the second water pump 113. When the controller 116 receives a thermal runaway warning signal, it can select to start the first water pump 112, the second water pump 113, or both water pumps 112 and 113 simultaneously, depending on the battery area corresponding to the abnormal signal. The first water pump 112 is used to improve the circulating heat exchange capacity of the coolant in the water tanks 107, 107-2, and the top plate structure 108, while the second water pump 113 is used to improve the cooling capacity of the liquid cooling plate 106 to the bottom of the battery module.

[0068] In a specific operating process, when the battery module is operating normally, the liquid cooling plate 106 can drive the coolant circulation via the second water pump 113 to achieve conventional heat dissipation at the bottom of the battery module; the water tanks 107, 107-2, and the top plate structure 108 can select low-flow circulation or standby according to the operating temperature. When the temperature sensor 109, gas sensor 110, or voltage sensor 111 detects an abnormal signal, the controller 116 determines that the battery module has entered a thermal runaway warning state and starts the first water pump 112 and the second water pump 113, so that the coolant circulates in the water tanks 107, 107-2, the top plate structure 108, and the liquid cooling plate 106 to actively cool the abnormal battery area.

[0069] When the abnormal battery temperature continues to rise and the phase change sealing structure near the heat pipe condensation section melts, the coolant in the water tanks 107, 107-2, and the top plate structure 108 can be directionally released to the abnormal battery area through corresponding discharge channels. The released coolant flows downwards along the battery surface, heat pipe surface, or gaps in the insulation components, and finally enters the drain guide channel 119 in the first layer structure 101. Subsequently, the coolant flows into the collection tank 120 through the drain hole 114, and then exits through the drain port 115 into the three-layer drawer-type battery case 100. Through the above structure, the present invention can achieve integrated and coordinated handling of thermal runaway early warning monitoring, top liquid storage cooling, bottom liquid cooling, localized liquid release cooling, and emergency coolant discharge.

[0070] In this embodiment, the number, location, and connection method of the liquid inlets 117 and 122 and the liquid outlets 118 and 121 can be adjusted according to the specific flow channel arrangement of the water tanks 107 and 107-2, the top plate structure 108, and the liquid cooling plate 106. The size and number of the top coolant outlet 114, drain outlet 115, drain guide channel 119, and collection channel 120 can also be designed according to the coolant release volume, drain direction, tank installation posture, and short-circuit protection requirements. The number and arrangement of the temperature sensor 109, gas sensor 110, and voltage sensor 111 can be determined according to the number of individual battery modules, the thermal runaway risk area, and the monitoring accuracy requirements.

[0071] To further optimize the cooling and heat insulation effect, this embodiment also adopts the following measures:

[0072] The heat pipe has a thickness of less than 2mm and a width of 9mm. The length of the evaporation section of the heat pipe is equal to the height of the battery, so that the maximum heat transfer of the heat pipe meets the requirement of a heat dissipation efficiency greater than or equal to 1℃ / min.

[0073] The thickness of the aerogel sheet should be less than 2 mm, and a silica aerogel composite material with a thermal conductivity of less than 0.02 W / (m•K) and an elastic modulus of greater than 1500 kPa should be selected.

[0074] The liquid cooling plate is made of metal with a thermal conductivity greater than 200 W / m•K, and the liquid cooling pipe is made of metal with a thermal conductivity greater than 300 W / m•K.

[0075] Example 2:

[0076] The integrated thermal runaway handling method for energy storage batteries based on the device described in Embodiment 1 includes the following steps:

[0077] S1. Real-time monitoring of multiple parameters: Each gas, temperature and voltage sensor collects the gas content g, temperature t and voltage v in the corresponding battery pack in real time and transmits them to its corresponding controller.

[0078] S2. Thermal runaway warning determination: After receiving an input signal, the controller compares it with the corresponding set warning threshold. If any parameter exceeds the corresponding threshold, it is determined to enter the thermal runaway warning state.

[0079] S3, Dual-path forced cooling start: The controller drives the dual-path coolant delivery system to operate synchronously, respectively circulating and cooling the heat pipe condensation section and the bottom of the battery; specifically: the controller issues a command based on the processing result of the input information, and opens the water pump corresponding to the sensor number of the battery pack through the water pump start control device, circulating low-conductivity plasma water to the corresponding battery pack water tank, cooling the battery through the cooling heat pipe; at the same time, the water pump start control device connected to the coolant storage tank of the liquid cooling plate will also open the water pump after receiving the command, circulating coolant to the bottom liquid cooling plate to cool the battery;

[0080] S4, Phase Change Melting Directional Release: When the temperature of the heat pipe condensation section in the corresponding area reaches the phase change temperature of the phase change sealing unit, the phase change material melts and forms a discharge channel, so that the coolant in the top liquid storage cooling unit flows directionally through the discharge channel to the battery area where thermal runaway or thermal runaway warning occurs.

[0081] Only the phase change sealing unit at the corresponding location of the thermal runaway battery melts and releases liquid, while the through holes in other areas remain sealed, achieving precise local cooling of the individual cell;

[0082] After completing the emergency cooling, the controller continuously monitors the battery parameters and shuts down the coolant delivery system after a delay once all parameters have fallen back to the safe threshold.

[0083] S5. Coolant drainage: The coolant released from the top liquid storage cooling unit flows along the heat pipe across the battery surface and enters the bottom liquid cooling and drainage drainage unit. The drainage drainage structure of the bottom liquid cooling and drainage drainage unit guides the coolant to the drain port or collection area, thereby achieving local cooling of abnormal batteries, blocking heat propagation of adjacent batteries, and draining emergency coolant.

[0084] Verification Experiment 1:

[0085] To investigate the rapid heat dissipation capability of the embodiments, the following analysis is conducted through examples.

[0086] Based on the schemes described in Examples 1 and 2, and in order to study the effect of heat pipe on the suppression of battery thermal runaway, flat heat pipes were purchased, and the heat-absorbing section of the heat pipe was placed on a large surface, while the heat-releasing section was placed in water. The heat dissipation effect of the heat pipe during the thermal runaway process of the 314 battery under heating and overcharging conditions is shown in Table 1.

[0087] Table 1. Heat dissipation effect of heat pipes during battery thermal runaway.

[0088]

[0089] The experiment conducted so far: a 50Ah lithium iron phosphate battery, heated by 500W, yielded the following results. Figure 9As shown, blue represents pure heating, and red represents the side with two heat pipes added on each side. The side without heating has two heat pipes added, which shows that thermal management can reduce the battery temperature.

[0090] This embodiment is merely an exemplary description of this patent and does not limit its scope of protection. Those skilled in the art can make some improvements and modifications without departing from the principle of this invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of this invention.

Claims

1. An integrated device for thermal management and thermal runaway suppression of energy storage batteries based on heat pipes and liquid cooling, characterized in that, It includes a battery housing, a heat pipe-aerogel cooling and insulation module, a top liquid storage cooling unit, a phase change sealing and liquid release unit, a bottom liquid cooling guide unit, a dual-path coolant delivery system, and a thermal runaway monitoring and handling module; The battery pack housing is used to house the battery modules; The heat pipe-aerogel cooling and insulation module includes a heat pipe and an aerogel insulation component. The heat pipe is arranged in contact with the battery surface to conduct battery heat, and the aerogel insulation component is placed between adjacent batteries to block lateral heat transfer. The condensation section of the heat pipe extends into the top liquid storage cooling unit. The top liquid storage cooling unit is located above the battery module. It stores coolant inside and exchanges heat with the heat pipe condensation section. A through hole is opened at the bottom for the heating pipe to pass through. The phase change sealing and liquid release unit is located between the through hole and the heat pipe. Under normal conditions, it seals the through hole. When the heat pipe temperature reaches the phase change temperature, it melts to form a liquid discharge channel, allowing the coolant in the liquid storage and cooling unit to flow directionally to the thermal runaway abnormal battery area. The bottom liquid cooling guide unit is located below the battery module. It is equipped with a liquid cooling channel to achieve conventional cooling of the bottom of the battery, and is also equipped with a guide and drainage structure to receive and discharge the coolant released from the top. The dual-path coolant delivery system independently supplies coolant to the top liquid storage cooling unit and the bottom liquid cooling guide unit; The thermal runaway monitoring and handling module includes a multi-parameter sensor group and a controller. The sensors collect battery temperature, gas production, and voltage signals. When the controller detects that any parameter exceeds the standard, it starts a dual-path coolant delivery system for forced cooling.

2. The integrated device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat pipe is a flat Z-shaped copper heat pipe, which is divided into an evaporation section, an insulation section, and a condensation section. The evaporation section is attached to the large surface and side of the battery, the insulation section passes upward through the top liquid storage cooling unit through hole, and the condensation section is immersed in the coolant of the liquid storage cooling unit. The liquid wick inside the heat pipe is a wire mesh wick, a grooved wick, or a sintered metal wick, and the heat exchange medium is water or methanol.

3. The integrated device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The aerogel insulation component is a silica aerogel composite material with a thickness of less than 2 mm and a thermal conductivity of less than 0.02 W / (m·K). It covers the battery body and the heat pipe insulation section and is arranged between adjacent heat pipes to block the lateral propagation of thermal runaway.

4. The integrated device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The phase change sealing and liquid release unit uses paraffin-based phase change material with a phase change temperature range of 90℃-110℃. It fills the gap between the heat pipe and the through hole, and only partially melts and releases liquid when the corresponding heat pipe is at high temperature, while the other through holes remain sealed.

5. The integrated device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The dual-path coolant delivery system includes an independent heat pipe circulation branch and a bottom liquid-cooled circulation branch. Among them, the heat pipe circulation branch transports low-conductivity plasma water, and urea, AEO-9, FC-4430 or DMMP flame retardant and conductive inhibitor are added to the plasma water. The bottom liquid-cooled circulation branch transports distilled water or ethylene glycol aqueous solution, and the total coolant storage capacity of the system is 3 times the full volume of the pipeline and liquid-cooled plate; The heat dissipation efficiency of the heat pipe circulation branch is ≥1℃ / min, and the bottom liquid cooling circulation branch controls the maximum normal battery temperature to within 40℃ by adjusting the flow rate.

6. The integrated device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sensor group of the thermal runaway monitoring and handling module includes a temperature sensor, a VOC-CO-H2 three-in-one gas sensor, and a single-cell voltage sensor; each sensor is matched with a unique location number, and the controller can locate the thermal runaway battery area according to the abnormal sensor number.

7. The integrated device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The battery housing is a layered drawer-type detachable structure. Each drawer is equipped with a sliding rail and a front detachable panel. The side panel of the housing has reserved through holes for pipes and sensor wiring. The interior is equipped with elastic clamping components to ensure that the heat pipe and battery are tightly fitted together.

8. The integrated device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom liquid cooling guide unit includes a high thermal conductivity metal liquid cooling plate, a reciprocating liquid cooling channel inside the liquid cooling plate, a guide groove on the plate surface, and a liquid collection tank and an external drain port integrated at the bottom of the drawer to realize centralized external discharge of emergency coolant.

9. A method for integrated handling of thermal runaway of an energy storage battery based on the device described in any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. Real-time monitoring of multiple parameters: Each gas, temperature and voltage sensor collects the gas content g, temperature t and voltage v in the corresponding battery pack in real time and transmits them to its corresponding controller. S2. Thermal runaway warning determination: After receiving an input signal, the controller compares it with the corresponding set warning threshold. If any parameter exceeds the corresponding threshold, it is determined to enter the thermal runaway warning state. S3, Dual-path forced cooling start: The controller drives the dual-path coolant delivery system to operate synchronously, respectively circulating and cooling the heat pipe condensation section and the bottom of the battery; specifically: the controller issues a command based on the processing result of the input information, and opens the water pump corresponding to the sensor number of the battery pack through the water pump start control device, circulating low-conductivity plasma water to the corresponding battery pack water tank, cooling the battery through the cooling heat pipe; at the same time, the water pump start control device connected to the coolant storage tank of the liquid cooling plate will also open the water pump after receiving the command, circulating coolant to the bottom liquid cooling plate to cool the battery; S4, Phase Change Melting Directional Release: When the temperature of the heat pipe condensation section in the corresponding area reaches the phase change temperature of the phase change sealing unit, the phase change material melts and forms a discharge channel, so that the coolant in the top liquid storage cooling unit flows directionally through the discharge channel to the battery area where thermal runaway or thermal runaway warning occurs. S5. Coolant drainage: The coolant released from the top liquid storage cooling unit flows along the heat pipe across the battery surface and enters the bottom liquid cooling and drainage drainage unit. The drainage drainage structure of the bottom liquid cooling and drainage drainage unit guides the coolant to the drain port or collection area, thereby achieving local cooling of abnormal batteries, blocking heat propagation of adjacent batteries, and draining emergency coolant.

10. The treatment method according to claim 9, characterized in that, In step S4, only the phase change sealing unit at the corresponding location of the thermal runaway battery melts and releases liquid, while the through holes in the remaining areas remain sealed, thereby achieving precise local cooling of the individual cell. After completing the emergency cooling, the controller continuously monitors the battery parameters and shuts down the coolant delivery system after a delay once all parameters have fallen back to the safe threshold.

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