A thermal runaway early warning and suppression device for energy storage battery packs

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of energy storage battery pack thermal runaway early warning suppression devices, including battery pack shell, central control unit being set to the inside of battery pack shell, and the sensing unit and suppression assembly electrically connected central control unit, sensing unit includes the inside sensing unit being set to the inside of battery pack shell, gas detection unit, air pressure monitoring unit, and the smoke and flame detection unit being set to the outside of battery pack shell, suppression assembly includes primary suppression assembly, secondary suppression assembly, tertiary suppression assembly, fourth suppression assembly, battery pack shell inner wall is surrounded and is provided with built-in pipeline, built-in pipeline outer wall is uniformly provided with nozzle, suppression assembly cooperation built-in pipeline executes hierarchical thermal runaway suppression under the control of central control unit. The utility model adopts fourth suppression measure, according to the dynamic adjustment response strategy of thermal runaway development stage, realize from local cooling to progressive type prevention and control of system level isolation, hierarchical response mechanism is accurate, improve resource utilization efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of battery safety technology, and in particular to a thermal runaway early warning and suppression device for energy storage battery packs. Background Technology

[0002] Electrochemical energy storage systems (especially lithium-ion batteries) have been widely used in large-scale energy storage scenarios on the grid side and user side, but their safe operation faces a serious threat from battery thermal runaway. Battery thermal runaway is characterized by a violent chain reaction and rapid propagation. During the process, it releases a large amount of toxic and flammable gases, which can easily cause serious accidents such as fires and explosions, becoming a core safety bottleneck restricting the large-scale application of energy storage systems.

[0003] Existing thermal runaway prevention technologies are insufficient to meet practical needs and have several significant shortcomings: First, the response lag is prominent. Most solutions rely on temperature and smoke sensors, which can only trigger warnings after open flames or high temperatures appear. By this time, thermal runaway has already entered an irreversible stage, missing the best opportunity for suppression. Second, the prevention and control measures are simplistic. Traditional total flooding gas extinguishing or water spraying methods can extinguish surface flames but cannot solve the problem of "reignition" inside the battery and may cause secondary damage to electrical equipment. Third, there is a lack of coordinated linkage mechanisms. Subsystems such as early warning, suppression, isolation, and pressure relief often operate independently without a unified coordinated control strategy, resulting in low prevention and control efficiency. Fourth, they fail to interrupt chain reactions. Existing methods focus on "fire extinguishing" rather than "source suppression," failing to fundamentally cut off the propagation path of thermal runaway from a single cell to adjacent cells, which can easily lead to the escalation of accidents. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this utility model designs an energy storage battery pack thermal runaway early warning and suppression device capable of early warning, graded response, multi-level coordination, and effectively blocking the spread of thermal runaway, thereby effectively solving the fixation problem in the background technology.

[0005] This utility model is achieved using the following technical solution: a thermal runaway early warning and suppression device for an energy storage battery pack, comprising a battery pack housing, a central control unit disposed inside the battery pack housing, and a sensing unit and a suppression component electrically connected to the central control unit. The sensing unit includes an internal sensing unit, a gas detection unit, and a gas pressure monitoring unit disposed inside the battery pack housing, and a smoke and flame detection unit disposed outside the battery pack housing. The suppression component includes a primary suppression component, a secondary suppression component, a tertiary suppression component, and a quaternary suppression component. An internal pipeline is arranged around the inner wall of the battery pack housing, and nozzles are uniformly arranged on the outer wall of the internal pipeline. The suppression component, in conjunction with the internal pipeline, performs graded thermal runaway suppression under the control of the central control unit.

[0006] Preferably, the primary suppression component consists of a micro-positive pressure maintaining pipe and an active cooling system. The micro-positive pressure maintaining pipe passes through the battery pack housing and is connected to an external nitrogen source. The active cooling system includes a liquid cooling plate assembly disposed inside the battery pack housing, a water tank and a water pump disposed outside the battery pack housing, and realizes coolant circulation through connecting pipes.

[0007] Preferably, the secondary suppression component includes a main pipe connected to the built-in pipeline and a perfluorohexanone pipeline connected to the main pipe, wherein the perfluorohexanone pipeline is connected to a perfluorohexanone storage tank and a pressurized injection device on the outside.

[0008] Preferably, the three-stage suppression assembly consists of a nitrogen pipeline, a pressure relief channel, and a quick-cut-off device for the electrical connection lines. The nitrogen pipeline is connected to the main pipeline, the pressure relief channel passes through the battery pack housing and is equipped with an explosion-proof valve on the outside, and the electrical connection lines integrate a fast circuit breaker and are controlled by a central control unit.

[0009] Preferably, the four-level suppression assembly consists of a ventilation duct disposed between adjacent battery pack housings, a fire damper on the outside of the ventilation duct, and a communication module; the fire damper is deployed at the ventilation duct interface, and the communication module is connected to the energy storage power station management system via a CAN bus.

[0010] Preferably, the central control unit is configured to perform a graded response based on the sensing unit signal: when the gas detection unit detects a slight abnormality in VOCs / CO concentration, it triggers level one suppression; when the CO concentration rises to the level one threshold, it triggers level two suppression; when the smoke and flame detection unit detects an open flame or the gas pressure monitoring unit detects a sharp increase in pressure, it triggers level three suppression; and when thermal runaway cannot be locally controlled, it triggers level four suppression.

[0011] Preferably, valves are installed on the outside of both the perfluorohexanone pipeline and the nitrogen pipeline, and the valves are opened and closed by electrical signals controlled by the central control unit.

[0012] Based on this, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: This invention employs a four-level suppression measure, dynamically adjusting the response strategy according to the stage of thermal runaway development, to achieve progressive prevention and control from local cooling to system-level isolation. The graded response mechanism is precise and improves resource utilization efficiency.

[0013] Based on this, the present invention can trigger an early warning in the early stage of thermal runaway by using multiple sensors such as internal sensing unit and gas detection unit, overcoming the problem of response lag of traditional solutions that rely on temperature or smoke sensors, and has outstanding early warning capability.

[0014] Based on this, the central control unit, in conjunction with electrically connected sensors and electrical components inside the battery pack housing, achieves automated control and suppression, unifying and coordinating subsystems such as early warning, suppression, and isolation, thus solving the problem of low prevention and control efficiency caused by the independent operation of traditional solutions.

[0015] Based on this, this utility model uses perfluorohexanone chemical inhibition, nitrogen oxygen reduction, and fire damper isolation to not only extinguish surface flames but also cut off the thermal runaway chain reaction between battery cells, effectively preventing "reignition" and the expansion of the accident. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a structural illustration of the present utility model; Figure 2 This is a diagram illustrating the central control unit and connection structure of this utility model; Figure 3 This is a structural diagram of the primary suppression component of this utility model; Figure 4 This is a structural diagram of the secondary suppression component of this utility model; Figure 5 This is a structural diagram illustrating the three-stage suppression component of this utility model; Figure 6 This is a structural diagram of the four-level suppression component of this utility model.

[0017] Explanation of key symbols: 1-Battery pack housing, 2-Central control unit, 201-Internal sensing unit, 202-Gas detection unit, 203-Gas pressure monitoring unit, 204-Smoke and flame detection unit, 3-Built-in piping, 4-Nozzle, 5-Micro positive pressure maintaining piping, 6-Active cooling system, 601-Liquid cooling plate assembly, 602-Water tank, 603-Water pump, 604-Connecting pipe, 7-Main pipeline, 8-Perfluorohexanone pipeline, 9-Nitrogen pipeline, 10-Electrical connection line, 11-Pressure relief channel, 12-Communication module, 13-Control valve, 14-Ventilation duct, 1401-Fire damper. Detailed Implementation In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or component referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.

[0018] In the description of this utility model, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0019] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "equipped with," "sleeved / connected," "connected," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can be a connection within two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0020] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments.

[0021] Please combine Figure 1-6 A thermal runaway early warning and suppression device for an energy storage battery pack includes a central control unit 2 disposed inside the battery pack housing 1. The inner wall of the battery pack housing 1 is also provided with an internal sensing unit 201, a gas detection unit 202, and a gas pressure monitoring unit 203 electrically connected to the central control unit 2. The outer side of the battery pack housing 1 is also provided with a smoke and flame detection unit 204 electrically connected to the central control unit 2. The internal sensing unit 201 monitors the cell temperature in real time and is the first line of defense for thermal runaway early warning. The inner wall of the battery pack housing 1 is surrounded by an internal pipeline 3, and nozzles 4 are evenly arranged on the outer wall of the internal pipeline 3 for injecting gas to suppress fire.

[0022] Based on this design, in order to achieve early warning, graded response, multi-level coordination, and effectively block the spread of thermal runaway in the battery pack, this utility model sets up four levels of suppression measures, which, together with the structures set inside and outside the battery pack housing, achieve the above-mentioned effects.

[0023] The primary suppression consists of a micro-positive pressure maintaining pipe 5 and an active cooling system 6. The micro-positive pressure maintaining pipe 5 extends through the inside of the battery pack housing 1, and its outer side is connected to a nitrogen storage tank and a micro air pump. A control valve 13 is installed on the outer side of the micro-positive pressure maintaining pipe 5 and is controlled by an electrical signal from the central control unit 2. The active cooling system 6 includes a liquid cooling plate assembly 601 installed inside the battery pack housing 1 and a water tank 602 and a water pump 603 installed outside the battery pack housing 1. The water tank 602 and the water pump 603 circulate cold water and liquid cooling plate assembly 601 through a connecting pipe 604.

[0024] When in use, when the gas detection unit 202 detects a slight abnormality in VOCs / CO concentration, the water pump 603 is started to realize cold water circulation, the liquid cooling plate assembly 601 is used to reduce the cell temperature, and nitrogen is injected through the micro-positive pressure maintaining pipe 5 to maintain the pressure inside the package slightly higher than the outside, diluting the leaked combustible gas and delaying the triggering of thermal runaway.

[0025] The secondary suppression includes a main pipe 7 connected to the built-in pipe 3 and a perfluorohexanone pipe 8 connected to the main pipe 7. The perfluorohexanone pipe 8 is connected to one side of the outer end of the main pipe 7, and its outer side is connected to the perfluorohexanone storage tank and the pressurized injection device. A control valve 13 is also provided on the outer side of the perfluorohexanone pipe 8, and is controlled by the central control unit 2 by electrical signals.

[0026] When in use, when the gas detection unit 202 detects that the CO concentration has risen to the first-level threshold, the central control unit 2 determines that it is the initial stage of thermal runaway and immediately triggers the control valve 13 to open. The perfluorohexanone pipeline 8 connects to the main pipeline 7 and sprays perfluorohexanone directionally onto the target cell through the nozzle 4, so that the surface temperature of the target cell drops rapidly, achieving local cooling and chemical chain reaction suppression, and preventing thermal runaway from spreading to adjacent cells.

[0027] The three-stage suppression system consists of a nitrogen pipeline 9, a pressure relief channel 11, and a quick-cut-off device for the electrical connection lines 10 of the battery pack body. The nitrogen pipeline 9 is located on the outside of the battery pack housing 1 and connects to the other side of the outer end of the main pipeline 7. A control valve 13 is also installed on the outside of the nitrogen pipeline 9 and is controlled by an electrical signal from the central control unit 2. The pressure relief channel 11 passes through the battery pack housing 1 and connects to external gas treatment equipment (such as a scrubbing tower), and an explosion-proof valve is installed on the outside of the pressure relief channel 11. The electrical connection lines 10 integrate a fast circuit breaker.

[0028] During use, when the smoke and flame detection unit 204 detects an open flame or the pressure monitoring unit 203 detects a sharp increase in the internal pressure of the pack, the central control unit 2 determines that thermal runaway has occurred and simultaneously executes the following operations: ① Within 10ms, the electrical connection line 10 is disconnected by a fast circuit breaker to isolate the battery pack from the external circuit; ② Open the control valve 13 of the nitrogen pipeline 9 to release a large amount of nitrogen into the entire area of ​​the pack, quickly reducing the oxygen concentration inside the battery pack casing 1 to below 8%; ③ When the internal pressure reaches the expected set danger threshold, the explosion-proof valve of the pressure relief channel 11 will automatically open, and the high-temperature and high-pressure gas will be introduced into the external scrubbing tower through a special pipeline for neutralization treatment to prevent the package from exploding.

[0029] The four-level suppression system consists of a fire damper 1401 located outside the ventilation duct 14 between adjacent battery pack housings 1 and a communication module 12. The ventilation duct 14 connects the battery pack to the adjacent module, and the fire damper 1401 is deployed at the duct interface. The communication module 12 is connected to the energy storage power station management system via a CAN bus.

[0030] During use, after the Level 3 suppression is triggered, the central control unit 2 confirms that the thermal runaway cannot be locally controlled and immediately performs the following operations: ① Close the fire damper 1401 of the ventilation duct 14 to block the airflow and flame propagation path between the battery pack and the adjacent module; ② Disconnect the electrical connections between modules using electrical isolation barriers to prevent short circuit propagation; ③ The highest-level alarm is sent to the energy storage power station management system through the communication module 12, which triggers the emergency cooling, personnel evacuation and fire protection systems of the entire station to achieve system-level collaborative prevention and control.

[0031] The four-level suppression system achieves full-process thermal runaway suppression from early warning to final isolation through a progressively advanced structural design. It relies on multi-parameter sensing, precise execution devices, and coordinated system control.

[0032] The above embodiments are preferred embodiments of the present utility model, but the embodiments of the present utility model are not limited to the above embodiments. Any changes, modifications, substitutions, combinations, or simplifications made without departing from the spirit and principle of the present utility model shall be considered equivalent substitutions and shall be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0033] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms indicating orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.

Claims

1. A thermal runaway early warning and suppression device for an energy storage battery pack, characterized in that, It includes a battery pack housing (1), a central control unit (2) disposed inside the battery pack housing (1), and a sensing unit and a suppression component electrically connected to the central control unit (2); The sensing unit includes an internal sensing unit (201), a gas detection unit (202), and a gas pressure monitoring unit (203) disposed inside the battery pack housing (1), and a smoke and flame detection unit (204) disposed outside the battery pack housing (1). The suppression components include a primary suppression component, a secondary suppression component, a tertiary suppression component, and a quaternary suppression component. The inner wall of the battery pack housing (1) is surrounded by an internal pipeline (3), and the outer wall of the internal pipeline (3) is uniformly provided with nozzles (4). The suppression components, in conjunction with the internal pipeline (3), perform graded thermal runaway suppression under the control of the central control unit (2).

2. The thermal runaway early warning and suppression device for an energy storage battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The primary suppression component consists of a micro-positive pressure maintaining pipe (5) and an active cooling system (6). The micro-positive pressure maintaining pipe (5) passes through the battery pack housing (1) and is connected to an external nitrogen source. The active cooling system (6) includes a liquid cooling plate assembly (601) disposed inside the battery pack housing (1), a water tank (602) disposed outside the battery pack housing (1), and a water pump (603), and realizes coolant circulation through a connecting pipe (604).

3. The thermal runaway early warning and suppression device for an energy storage battery pack according to claim 2, characterized in that, The secondary suppression component includes a main pipe (7) connected to the built-in pipe (3) and a perfluorohexanone pipe (8) connected to the main pipe (7). The perfluorohexanone pipe (8) is connected to a perfluorohexanone storage tank and a pressurized injection device on the outside.

4. The thermal runaway early warning and suppression device for an energy storage battery pack according to claim 3, characterized in that, The three-stage suppression assembly consists of a nitrogen pipeline (9), a pressure relief channel (11), and a quick-cut-off device for an electrical connection line (10). The nitrogen pipeline (9) is connected to the main pipeline (7). The pressure relief channel (11) passes through the battery pack housing (1) and is equipped with an explosion-proof valve on the outside. The electrical connection line (10) integrates a fast circuit breaker and is controlled by the central control unit (2).

5. The thermal runaway early warning and suppression device for an energy storage battery pack according to claim 4, characterized in that, The four-level suppression assembly consists of a ventilation duct (14) between adjacent battery pack housings (1), a fire damper (1401) on the outside of the ventilation duct (14), and a communication module (12); the fire damper (1401) is deployed at the interface of the ventilation duct (14), and the communication module (12) is connected to the energy storage power station management system via a CAN bus.

6. The thermal runaway early warning and suppression device for an energy storage battery pack according to claim 5, characterized in that, The central control unit (2) is configured to perform a graded response based on the sensing unit signal: when the gas detection unit (202) detects a slight abnormality in VOCs / CO concentration, it triggers a first-level suppression; when the CO concentration rises to the first-level threshold, it triggers a second-level suppression; when the smoke and flame detection unit (204) detects an open flame or the gas pressure monitoring unit (203) detects a sharp increase in pressure, it triggers a third-level suppression; when thermal runaway cannot be locally controlled, it triggers a fourth-level suppression.

7. The thermal runaway early warning and suppression device for an energy storage battery pack according to claim 6, characterized in that, Valves (13) are provided on the outside of the perfluorohexanone pipeline (8) and the nitrogen pipeline (9), and the valves (13) are opened and closed by electrical signals controlled by the central control unit (2).

Images