Thermally active retractable EMC protection

Abstract

A system and method for flushing electrolyte out of an electrolyte-flushable battery device during a thermal runaway event. At least one condition of the electrolyte-flushable battery device is monitored to detect a potential thermal runaway event based on the at least one condition exceeding a threshold. In response, an inlet valve and an outlet valve on the battery device are opened. A flushing fluid is flushed or pumped through the battery device, where the flushing fluid enters the device through the inlet valve and leaves the device through the outlet valve. The flushing fluid is then stored in a reservoir.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to device protection, and more particularly to an electrolyte flushable battery device for controlling and / or preventing thermal runaway. [Background technology]

[0002] Lithium-ion batteries have the potential to suffer internal short circuits due to hidden manufacturing defects that can lead to the process of thermal runaway. During thermal runaway, battery temperatures can exceed 1000°F (537.78°C), at which point the flammable electrolyte can ignite or even explode when exposed to oxygen in the air. These types of thermal runaway events are believed to have caused many accidents, including aviation and marine accidents. One of the primary causes of thermal runaway and ignition is due to chemical reactions in the electrolytes used in batteries. Summary of the Invention

[0003] An embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a thermal runaway protection system for a battery. The thermal runaway protection system includes a supply reservoir having a flushing fluid. The flushing fluid flows through the battery device in response to a thermal runaway event. The system also includes at least one electrolyte-flushable battery device having a battery casing, an electrolyte disposed within the battery casing, an inlet flushing valve on a first end of the battery casing that opens in response to a thermal runaway event, and an outlet flushing valve on a second end of the battery casing that opens in response to a thermal runaway event. The system further includes an outlet reservoir that receives the flushing fluid and the electrolyte during flushing. An inlet manifold is connected to the inlet flushing valve and a pump (if present). An outlet manifold is connected to the outlet flushing valve and the outlet reservoir.

[0004] In one embodiment, the flushing fluid can be configured to flow through the battery device in response to a thermal runaway event in at least one electrolyte-flushable battery device.

[0005] In one embodiment, the flushing liquid may be a non-conductive liquid.

[0006] In one embodiment, the at least one electrolyte battery device can have a salt package disposed within the battery casing and configured to be released into the electrolyte in response to a thermal runaway event.

[0007] In one embodiment, the system may further include at least one sensor configured to monitor at least one condition of the electrolyte flashable battery indicative of a thermal runaway event. In one embodiment, the condition may be a temperature of the electrolyte flashable battery. In one embodiment, the condition may be a voltage of the electrolyte flashable battery. In one embodiment, the at least one condition may exceed a threshold for a predetermined period of time.

[0008] In one embodiment, the system may further include a battery monitoring module configured to determine the presence of a thermal runaway event, and a battery flushing module configured to receive a signal from the battery monitoring module regarding the presence of the event and configured to release a flushing fluid to flush the electrolyte.

[0009] In one embodiment, the system may further include a pump configured to pump flushing fluid through the battery device.

[0010] In one embodiment, the inlet flushing valve of the battery device may be sealed.

[0011] In one embodiment, the outlet flushing valve of the battery device may be sealed.

[0012] In one embodiment, a salt packet of the battery device may be disposed within the battery casing and configured to be released into the electrolyte in response to a thermal runaway event.

[0013] In one embodiment, the inlet and outlet valves of the battery device may be electronically controlled.

[0014] In one embodiment, the inlet and outlet valves of the battery device may be automatically activated in response to temperatures associated with a thermal runaway event.

[0015] In one embodiment, the inlet and outlet valves of the battery device may be automatically activated in response to pressures associated with a thermal runaway event.

[0016] An embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a method for flushing electrolyte out of an electrolyte-flushable battery device. The method monitors at least one condition of the electrolyte-flushable battery device to detect a potential thermal runaway event based on the at least one condition exceeding a threshold. In response, an inlet valve and an outlet valve on the battery device are opened. A flushing fluid is flushed through the battery device, the flushing fluid entering the device through the inlet valve and leaving the device through the outlet valve.

[0017] In one embodiment, detecting a potential thermal runaway event further comprises detecting a voltage threshold being exceeded, detecting a temperature threshold being exceeded, and / or detecting the presence of emitted gas.

[0018] In one embodiment, the flushing liquid is a non-conductive liquid.

[0019] In one embodiment, the method for flushing electrolyte out from an electrolyte-flushable battery device may further comprise, in response to detecting a potential thermal runaway event, releasing a salt packet into the electrolyte within the battery device prior to flushing the flushing fluid.

[0020] In one embodiment, the method for flushing electrolyte out of an electrolyte-flushable battery device may further comprise generating a notification that a flushing event has occurred.

[0021] In one embodiment, the method for flushing electrolyte out of an electrolyte-flushable battery device may further comprise replacing the flushing fluid in response to a flushing event.

[0022] The above summary is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the present disclosure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] The drawings contained herein are incorporated into and form a part of this specification. They illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. The drawings illustrate particular embodiments only and do not limit the disclosure.

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electrolyte flushable battery device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] [Figure 2A] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a flushing system including multiple electrolyte flushable battery devices according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] [Figure 2B] 10 is a graph illustrating the minimum amount of pressure required, according to an embodiment.

[0027] [Figure 3] 1 is a system diagram illustrating a system using an electrolyte flushable battery device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] [Figure 4] 1 is a graph illustrating an example of a laboratory experiment of a battery during thermal runaway, according to an embodiment.

[0029] [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating a process for detecting and responding to a thermal runaway event in a battery, according to an embodiment.

[0030] [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a computing system according to one embodiment.

[0031] While the present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific features thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It is to be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] Aspects of the present disclosure relate to device protection, and more particularly to electrolyte-flushable battery devices for controlling and / or preventing thermal runaway. While the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to such applications, various aspects of the present disclosure may be understood through a discussion of various examples using this context.

[0033] Lithium-ion batteries have the potential to suffer internal short circuits due to hidden manufacturing defects that can lead to the process of thermal runaway. During thermal runaway, battery temperatures can exceed 1000°F (537.78°C), at which point the flammable electrolyte can ignite or even explode when exposed to oxygen in the air. These types of thermal runaway events are believed to have caused many accidents, including aviation and marine accidents. One of the primary causes of thermal runaway and ignition is due to chemical reactions in the electrolytes used in batteries.

[0034] Current solutions for dealing with thermal runaway focus on keeping the battery at a safe operating temperature. For example, a coolant may be used to cool the battery. A fan may also be used to provide cooler air around the battery. Additionally, thermally conductive films may be used to cool the battery or to dissipate heat from hot areas of the battery. However, none of these solutions prevent thermal runaway, minimize the effects of thermal runaway, or stop it when it begins.

[0035] The present disclosure presents an approach to reducing or eliminating electrolyte chemical reactions that exacerbate thermal runaway. Specifically, the present disclosure provides an electrolyte flushable battery device that includes an anode, a cathode, a separator, a casing, a positive terminal, a negative terminal, a sealed inlet flushing valve, a sealed outlet flushing valve, an inlet fitting, and an outlet fitting. A flushing system is provided that pushes a non-conductive liquid through an input to the electrolyte flushable battery device and captures the electrolyte and flushing liquid at the output side of the electrolyte flushable battery device. A process is provided for monitoring the electrolyte flushable battery device, detecting problems that lead to thermal runaway, and triggering the flushing system. The present disclosure provides benefits in servers that utilize rechargeable batteries, as well as in any product that utilizes rechargeable batteries and has space for a flushing system (e.g., servers, UPS battery backup systems, electric vehicles, large appliances, etc.).

[0036] Figure 1 is a side view of an electrolyte flushable battery device 100. Device 100 includes a battery 105, a positive terminal 110, a negative terminal 115, a sealed inlet flushing valve 120, a sealed outlet flushing valve 125, an inlet fitting 130, and an outlet fitting 135. While Figure 1 shows a cylindrical battery, it should be appreciated that other battery shapes and sizes may be used.

[0037] Battery 105 contains all the components of a standard battery, although only the case is shown in FIG. 1. Inside the battery case (again, this is not shown in FIG. 1) are located an anode, a cathode, a separator, and a liquid electrolyte. The cathode is connected to the positive terminal 110, and the anode is connected to the negative terminal 115. Terminals 110, 115 are located on the sides of battery 105 to allow space for other components of electrolyte-flushable battery device 100. In some embodiments, terminals 110 and 115 may be on the top and bottom of battery 105, with other components located on the sides of battery 105.

[0038] The terminals 110, 115 are offset from one another. In the example of Figure 1, the terminals 110, 115 are located on opposite sides of the electrolyte flushable battery device 100. This configuration makes it difficult to short the terminals together; that is, a short circuit is not created when the battery 105 is placed or rolled on a conductive surface such as a metal table or enclosure.

[0039] A sealed inlet flushing valve 120 and a sealed outlet flushing valve 125 are located on opposite sides of the electrolyte flushable battery device 100. Both of these valves are opened in response to the battery 105 experiencing a thermal runaway event. In some embodiments, the valves 120, 125 are electronically controlled and open when an increase in temperature and / or voltage is detected. In some embodiments, the valves 120, 125 are self-acting and open when they reach a temperature or pressure that is only experienced during thermal runaway, such as 100°C. However, they may be configured to activate at other temperatures.

[0040] The inlet fitting 130 and outlet fitting 135 allow the electrolyte flushable battery device 100 to be connected to pipes and / or hoses as part of a larger flushing system that is designed to be integrated into the system.

[0041] 2A is a schematic diagram of a flushing system 200 including multiple electrolyte flushable battery devices 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The exact layout of these components and the number of electrolyte flushable battery devices 100 will depend on the product in which the system is implemented. The flushing system 200 includes multiple electrolyte flushable battery devices 100-1, 100-2, 100-3, 100-4, 100-N (collectively 100), a supply reservoir 205, a pump 207, an inlet manifold 210, an outlet manifold 215, and an outlet reservoir 220.

[0042] Supply reservoir 205 holds a liquid used to flush electrolyte flushable battery device 100 if thermal runaway is detected. This flushing liquid can be a non-conductive liquid, such as mineral oil. In some embodiments, supply reservoir 205 contains an electronically controlled valve that holds the liquid in the reservoir until it is needed to flush electrolyte flushable battery device 100. In some embodiments, the size of supply reservoir 205 must be large enough to mitigate the consequences of thermal runaway for at least one electrolyte flushable battery device 100. However, in some embodiments, reservoir 205 is sized to be able to flush multiple battery devices 100. In some embodiments, supply reservoir 205 can be positioned in the center of a battery jelly roll (consisting of anode, cathode, separator, and / or electrolyte) with a syringe pump that pushes the flushing liquid through the center of the jelly roll. The flushing fluid is then forced out the top of the cell (inside the casing) and through the jelly roll flushing the electrolyte out of the battery device 100.

[0043] The pump 207 is used to provide pressure to the flushing fluid so that sufficient force is generated to flush the electrolyte flushable battery device 100. Any pump may be utilized to apply pressure to the flushing fluid, including, for example, an external gear pump, an internal gear pump, a gerotor pump, a peristaltic pump, a lobe pump, or a vane pump. However, other pump types may be used. Note that during a thermal runaway event, the battery is heated, which reduces the viscosity of the electrolyte. This makes it easier to flush the battery. Therefore, due to the increased temperature within the electrolyte flushable battery device 100 caused by the onset of a thermal runaway event prior to flushing, this reduced viscosity of the electrolyte allows a smaller pump to be used to perform the flushing. In some embodiments, pipes and / or hoses may be connected between the supply reservoir 205 and the pump 207. Note that some electrolyte may remain in the device after flushing. However, because most of the electrolyte is flushed, any possibility of a thermal runaway event may be eliminated or at least significantly reduced. In some embodiments, a salt packet may be contained within the casing that is released (e.g., by collapsing the packet material) if a threshold temperature is reached during thermal runaway. The salt is selected to help reduce the viscosity of the electrolyte prior to flushing. In some embodiments, the pump 207 is not present. In these embodiments, gravity, rotation, or centripetal force may provide sufficient force to move the flushing fluid through the battery 105 and flush the electrolyte.

[0044] 2B is a graph showing the minimum amount of pressure required to flush electrolytes of different viscosities in about 2 seconds, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, if a slower flushing is desired, the pressure may be reduced from that shown. Conversely, if a faster flushing is desired, the pressure may be increased.

[0045] 2A , during operation when a thermal runaway event is detected, pump 207 forces flushing fluid into inlet manifold 210 where the fluid is distributed to electrolyte flushable battery devices 100 experiencing thermal runaway. Flushing fluid flows only to those electrolyte flushable battery devices 100 whose sealed inlet flushing valves 120 and sealed outlet flushing valves 125 are open. In some embodiments, inlet manifold 210 may include valves or other pathways to direct flushing fluid to the correct electrolyte flushable battery devices 100 so that flushing fluid is not wasted filling the entire manifold.

[0046] The inlet manifold 210 connects to the electrolyte flushable battery device 100 using the inlet fitting 130. In some embodiments, pipes and / or hoses can be connected between the inlet manifold 210 and the electrolyte flushable battery device 100.

[0047] The outlet manifold 215 captures the flushing fluid that has flowed through the electrolyte flushable battery device 100 undergoing thermal runaway, along with any electrolyte that has been flushed out of the electrolyte flushable battery device 100, and directs it to the outlet reservoir 220.

[0048] FIG. 3 illustrates a system 300 for monitoring one or more electrolyte-flushable battery devices 100 and flushing the electrolyte if a thermal runaway event is detected.

[0049] The system 300 includes one or more electrolyte flushable battery devices 100, a pump 207, a supply reservoir valve 310, one or more sensors 312, and a battery management system (BMS) 315, all interconnected via a wired and / or wireless network 305. The wired and / or wireless network 305 may implement any communication protocol that allows data to be transferred between components of the system, such as PCIe, I2C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular (e.g., 3G, 4G, 5G), Ethernet, fiber optic, etc.

[0050] As described above, the electrolyte flushable battery device 100 contains a sealed inlet flushing valve 120 and a sealed outlet flushing valve 125, which are configured to receive input from the battery flushing module 325. The battery flushing module provides input to the flushing valves 120, 125, instructing them when to open. However, the valves are typically closed during shipping, storage, and normal operation.

[0051] Supply reservoir valve 310, which is part of supply reservoir 205, also receives input from battery flushing module 325 as to when to open. Again, valve 310 is closed during shipping, storage, and normal operation. Pump 207 also receives input from battery flushing module 325 as to when to turn on. Again, pump 207 is off during shipping, storage, and normal operation.

[0052] The sensor 312 is a component of the system 300 configured to monitor the temperature and / or voltage of each electrolyte flushable battery device 100 and send output data to a battery monitoring module 320 of the BMS 315.

[0053] The BMS 315 includes a battery monitoring module 320 and a battery flushing module 325. The battery monitoring module 320 receives input from one or more sensors 312 to determine whether any of the electrolyte flushable battery devices 100 are experiencing early signs of a thermal runaway event. If one or more of the devices 100 are experiencing a thermal runaway event, the battery monitoring module 320 is configured to activate the battery flushing module 325.

[0054] Figure 4 shows an example of the results of a laboratory experiment. Figure 4 shows that both a temperature rise and a voltage drop can be detected in a single lithium-ion battery during the precursor to thermal runaway. The results show that the particular lithium-ion battery tested took approximately 1525 seconds (>25 minutes) to reach ignition. Even when a significant drop in voltage occurred (approximately 980 seconds), there was still 545 seconds (>9 minutes) until ignition. Due to the significant time from initial detection of the fault to the lithium-ion battery reaching ignition, there is time to perform electrolyte flushing.

[0055] In response to a detected thermal runaway event, battery flushing module 325 sends output signals to open valves 120, 125, and 310 and turn on pump 207 to flush the electrolyte flushable battery device 100 experiencing thermal runaway. In some embodiments, additional valves (not shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3) in inlet manifold 210 may also be controlled to direct flushing fluid to the correct electrolyte flushable battery device 100. The duration of flushing may range from a few seconds to a few minutes depending on viscosity, inlet / outlet size, etc.

[0056] 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a process 500 for detecting and responding to a thermal runaway event in a battery. In some embodiments, the process 500 is performed by the BMS 315, which monitors the electrolyte-flushable battery device 100 and performs electrolyte flushing when necessary.

[0057] Process 500 begins at step 502, where all valves (sealed inlet flushing valves 120 and sealed outlet flushing valves 125 on all electrolyte flushable battery devices 100, supply manifold valves, and any additional valves in the inlet manifold 210) are sealed and pump 207 is set to its inoperative (i.e., off) state.

[0058] Next, in step 505, the electrolyte flushable battery devices 100 begin / continue to operate (either charged, charging, or discharging) within the product. The process then continues with the battery monitoring module 320 extracting the temperature and / or voltage from the sensors 312 for all the electrolyte flushable battery devices 100. This is shown in step 510.

[0059] The system then determines whether a temperature and / or voltage threshold has been reached or exceeded. This is shown in step 515. In some embodiments, the voltage threshold is a threshold of voltage change within a threshold time that is greater than a typical discharge rate (e.g., ΔV≧0.25V within a 10 second time span). In some embodiments, additional sensors may be used to detect gases being expelled from the electrolyte flashable battery device 100.

[0060] If the temperature or voltage threshold has not been reached, the process 500 returns to step 505 to continue operating and monitoring the battery device 100. If the temperature or voltage threshold has been reached, the process proceeds to step 520. In this step, the process opens the sealed inlet flushing valve 120 and the sealed outlet flushing valve 125 on the particular electrolyte flushable battery device 100 in which thermal runaway was detected. The supply manifold valve 310 and any additional valves in the inlet manifold 210 are also opened in this step.

[0061] The pump 207 is activated to force flushing fluid through the electrolyte flushable battery device 100 and flush the electrolyte into the outlet reservoir 220. This is shown in step 525. However, in some embodiments, the flushing fluid is flushed without the use of a pump, such as by using gravity, rotation, or centripetal force. A notification is generated to inform the user that the battery has been flushed. This is shown in step 530. This notification may be in any form that notifies the user. For example, the notification may be a call home action, an LED indicator, an audible alarm, an email, a text message, etc. In some embodiments, following system activation, the user may wish to replace the electrolyte flushable battery device 100, refill the supply reservoir 205, and / or empty the outlet reservoir 220. During this particular type of operation, system monitoring may be paused.

[0062] 6, a high-level block diagram of an exemplary computer system 601 that may be used to implement one or more of the methods, tools, and modules, and any associated functionality, described herein (e.g., using one or more processor circuits of a computer or computer processor) is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the major components of computer system 601 may include one or more CPUs 602, a memory subsystem 604, a terminal interface 612, a storage interface 616, an I / O (input / output) device interface 614, and a network interface 618, all of which may be communicatively coupled, directly or indirectly, via a memory bus 603, an I / O bus 608, and an I / O bus interface unit 610 for inter-component communication.

[0063] Computer system 601 may contain one or more general-purpose programmable central processing units (CPUs) 602-1, 602-2, 602-3, 602-N (collectively referred to herein as CPUs 602). In some embodiments, computer system 601 may include multiple processors, as is typical of relatively large systems, although in other embodiments, computer system 601 may alternatively be a single CPU system. Each CPU 602 may execute instructions stored in memory subsystem 604, which may include one or more levels of on-board cache.

[0064] The system memory subsystem 604 may include computer system-readable media in the form of volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 622 or cache memory 624. The computer system 601 may further include other removable / non-removable, volatile / non-volatile computer system storage media. By way of example only, a storage system 626 may be provided for reading from and writing to non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media, such as a “hard drive.” Although not shown, a magnetic disk drive may be provided for reading from and writing to a removable, non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”), or an optical disk drive may be provided for reading from and writing to a removable, non-volatile optical disk, such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or other optical media. Additionally, the memory 604 may include flash memory, such as a flash memory stick drive or flash drive. Memory devices may be connected to the memory bus 603 by one or more data medium interfaces. The memory 604 may include at least one program product having a set of program modules (e.g., at least one) configured to perform the functions of various embodiments.

[0065] 6 as a single bus structure providing a direct communication path between CPU 602, memory subsystem 604, and I / O bus interface 610, memory bus 603, in some embodiments, may include multiple different buses or communication paths, which may be arranged in any of a variety of configurations, such as point-to-point links in a hierarchical, star, or web configuration, multiple hierarchical buses, parallel and redundant paths, or any other suitable type of configuration. Furthermore, while I / O bus interface 610 and I / O bus 608 are shown as single respective units, computer system 601, in some embodiments, may include multiple I / O bus interface units 610, multiple I / O buses 608, or both. Furthermore, while multiple I / O interface units are shown separating I / O bus 608 from the various communication paths to the various I / O devices, in other embodiments, some or all of the I / O devices may be directly connected to one or more system I / O buses.

[0066] In some embodiments, computer system 601 may be a multi-user mainframe computer system, a single-user system, or a server computer or similar device that has little or no direct user interface but receives requests from other computer systems (clients). Further, in some embodiments, computer system 601 may be implemented as a desktop computer, a portable computer, a laptop or notebook computer, a tablet computer, a pocket computer, a telephone, a smartphone, a network switch or router, or any other suitable type of electronic device.

[0067] It should be noted that Figure 6 is intended to illustrate representative major components of an exemplary computer system 601. However, in some embodiments, the individual components may be more or less complex than depicted in Figure 6, components other than or in addition to those shown in Figure 6 may be present, and the number, type, and configuration of such components may vary.

[0068] One or more programs / utilities 628, each having a set of at least one program module 630, may be stored in the memory subsystem 604. The programs / utilities 628 may include a hypervisor (also referred to as a virtual machine monitor), one or more operating systems, one or more application programs, other program modules, and program data. Each of the operating system, one or more application programs, other program modules, and program data, or any combination thereof, may comprise an implementation of a networking environment. The programs 628 and / or program modules 630 generally perform the functions or methodologies of various embodiments.

[0069] The present invention may be a system, method, and / or computer program product integrated at any possible level of technical detail. The computer program product may include a computer-readable storage medium (or media) having computer-readable program instructions that cause a processor to perform aspects of the present invention.

[0070] A computer-readable storage medium may be a tangible device that can hold and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer-readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination thereof. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of computer-readable storage media includes the following: portable computer diskettes, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), static random access memory (SRAM), portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disk (DVD), memory sticks, floppy disks, mechanically encoded devices such as punch cards or ridge structures in grooves on which instructions are recorded, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. As used herein, a computer-readable storage medium should not be construed as a transitory signal itself, such as an electric wave or other freely propagating electromagnetic wave, an electromagnetic wave propagating through a waveguide or other transmission medium (e.g., a light pulse passing through a fiber optic cable), or an electrical signal transmitted over a wire.

[0071] The computer-readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded from a computer-readable storage medium to each computing / processing device or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, such as the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, and / or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fiber, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers, and / or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing / processing device receives the computer-readable program instructions from the network and transfers the computer-readable program instructions to a computer-readable storage medium in the respective computing / processing device for storage.

[0072] The computer-readable program instructions for carrying out the operations of the present invention may be either assembler instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine-dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state setting data, configuration data for integrated circuits, or source or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Smalltalk, C++, etc., and procedural programming languages ​​such as the "C" programming language or similar programming languages. The computer-readable program instructions may run entirely on the user's computer, as a standalone software package, partially on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer and partially on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer via any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be to an external computer (e.g., via the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, a programmable logic circuit, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or a programmable logic array (PLA) may execute computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to perform aspects of the present invention.

[0073] Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer-readable program instructions.

[0074] These computer-readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine such that the instructions, executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions / acts specified in one or more blocks of the flowcharts and / or block diagrams. These computer-readable program instructions may also be stored on a computer-readable storage medium that can instruct a computer, programmable data processing apparatus, and / or other device to function in a particular manner, such that the computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored therein has an article of manufacture including instructions that implement aspects of the functions / acts specified in one or more blocks of the flowcharts and / or block diagrams.

[0075] The computer-readable program instructions may also be loaded into a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device and cause the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device to perform a series of operational steps to create a computer-implemented process, such that the instructions executing on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions / acts specified in one or more blocks of the flowcharts and / or block diagrams.

[0076] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in a flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, including one or more executable instructions for implementing a specified logical function. In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may be executed in the reverse order, depending on the functionality involved. It should also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and / or flowchart diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and / or flowchart diagrams, may be implemented by a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the specified functions or operations or executes a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

[0077] While the description of various embodiments of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration, it is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the described embodiments. The terms used herein have been selected to best explain the principles, practical applications, or technical improvements of the embodiments over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others skilled in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. 1. A method for flushing an electrolyte out of an electrolyte-flushable battery device, comprising: monitoring at least one condition of the electrolyte flushable battery device; detecting a potential thermal runaway event based on the at least one condition exceeding a threshold; opening an inlet valve and an outlet valve on the battery device; and flushing a flushing fluid through the battery device, wherein the flushing fluid enters the device through the inlet valve and leaves the device through the outlet valve. A method comprising:

2. Detecting a potential thermal runaway event includes: detecting when a voltage threshold has been exceeded The method of claim 1 further comprising:

3. Detecting a potential thermal runaway event includes: Detecting when a temperature threshold has been exceeded The method of claim 1 further comprising:

4. Detecting a potential thermal runaway event includes: Detecting the presence of emitted gas The method of claim 1 further comprising:

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the flushing liquid is a non-conductive liquid.

6. in response to detecting a potential thermal runaway event, releasing a salt packet into the electrolyte within the battery device prior to flushing the flushing fluid. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

7. generating a notification that a flushing event has occurred. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

8. replacing said flushing fluid in response to a flushing event. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

9. Battery casing; an electrolyte disposed within the battery casing; an inlet flushing valve disposed at a first end of the battery casing configured to open in response to a thermal runaway event; and an outlet flushing valve disposed at a second end of the battery casing configured to open in response to a thermal runaway event; An electrolyte flushable battery device comprising:

10. 10. The electrolyte flushable battery device of claim 9, wherein the inlet flushing valve is sealed.

11. 10. The electrolyte flushable battery device of claim 9, wherein the outlet flushing valve is sealed.

12. 10. The electrolyte flushable battery device of claim 9, wherein a salt packet is disposed within the battery casing and configured to be released into the electrolyte in response to a thermal runaway event.

13. 10. The electrolyte flushable battery device of claim 9, wherein the inlet flushing valve and the outlet flushing valve are electrically controlled.

14. 10. The electrolyte flushable battery device of claim 9, wherein the inlet flushing valve and the outlet flushing valve are automatic in response to a temperature associated with a thermal runaway event.

15. 10. The electrolyte flushable battery device of claim 9, wherein the inlet flushing valve and the outlet flushing valve are automatic in response to pressures associated with a thermal runaway event.

16. a supply reservoir containing flushing fluid; Battery casing; an electrolyte disposed within the battery casing; an inlet flushing valve disposed on a first end of the battery casing configured to open in response to a thermal runaway event; and an outlet flushing valve disposed on the second end of the battery casing configured to open in response to a thermal runaway event; at least one electrolyte flushable battery device having; an outlet reservoir configured to receive the flushing fluid and the electrolyte during flushing; an inlet manifold connected to the inlet flushing valve; an outlet manifold connected to the outlet flushing valve and the outlet reservoir; The flushing fluid is configured to flow through the at least one electrolyte-flushable battery device in response to a thermal runaway event in the battery device. Thermal runaway protection system.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the flushing liquid is a non-conductive liquid.

18. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one electrolyte battery device includes a salt package disposed in the battery casing configured to be released into the electrolyte in response to a thermal runaway event.

19. at least one sensor configured to monitor at least one condition of the electrolyte flashable battery indicative of a thermal runaway event; The system of claim 16 further comprising:

20. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the condition is a temperature of the electrolyte flushable battery.

21. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the condition is a voltage of the electrolytic flushable battery.

22. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the at least one condition exceeds a threshold for a predetermined period of time.

23. a battery monitoring module configured to determine the presence of the thermal runaway event; and a battery flushing module configured to receive a signal of the occurrence of the event from the battery monitoring module and configured to release the flushing fluid to flush the electrolyte. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

24. a pump configured to pump the flushing fluid through the battery device; The system of claim 16 further comprising:

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