Protection equipment

Abstract

To appropriately protect an area to be protected such as a warehouse facility or an energy storage facility from an abnormality such as a fire occurring in the area by using charged liquid particles.SOLUTION: This protective facility is provided with a thermal sensor 12 for sensing abnormality including a fire generated in a sensing section provided for each sensing section including one or a plurality of storage sections of a shelf, an open type head part 14 capable of spraying charged liquid particles obtained by charging liquid particles of a fire extinguishing liquid to a protective section provided for each protective section including one or a plurality of storage sections of a shelf, a voltage supply part 16 for supplying a prescribed high voltage to the open type head part 14 when the open type head part 14 senses the abnormality, and a control part 22 for controlling a spraying operation for selectively spraying the liquid particles or the charged liquid particles of the fire extinguishing liquid from the open type head part 14 provided in a prescribed protective section based on the sensing section of the prescribed protective section when the thermal sensor 12 senses the abnormality.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a protection system that protects a protected area where shelves are installed, such as a warehouse facility or an energy storage facility, from abnormalities such as fire. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, warehouse facilities where warehouse operations such as storing and delivering goods have become widespread, and in such warehouse facilities, shelves for storing goods are installed at regular intervals in a large space. In addition, to extinguish fires that occur on shelves or the like within the warehouse, warehouse facilities are equipped with protective equipment, and heads for spraying fire extinguishing liquid are installed on each shelf, ceiling, etc.

[0003] Conventionally, protective equipment installed in warehouse facilities includes, for example, a system that divides multiple shelves into one or more shelf groups, detects a shelf group in which a fire has occurred using a fire detection means, and extinguishes the fire by spraying fire-extinguishing water (fire-extinguishing liquid) from an open-type sprinkler head (head portion) into the protected area, thereby extinguishing the fire (Patent Document 1).In addition, there is also protective equipment that extinguishes the fire by combining open-type sprinkler heads and closed-type sprinkler heads (Patent Document 2).

[0004] However, conventional fire extinguishing methods that spray water from sprinkler heads in protective equipment cannot extinguish fires efficiently if the water path to the fire source is blocked by items such as luggage stored on shelves, and there is a concern that it may take a long time to extinguish the fire or that the fire may not be able to be stopped from spreading.

[0005] In recent years, storage batteries such as lithium-ion batteries have also come to be stored in large numbers on the shelves of warehouse facilities, and energy storage facilities have also emerged that house storage batteries inside battery clusters and store electricity using these batteries.In general, the electrolyte in lithium-ion batteries is treated as a hazardous material (flammable liquid) as defined by the Fire Service Act, and in the event of a fire, the electrolyte and flammable gases in lithium-ion batteries may spray out and ignite outside the cells, causing intense flames, so there is a demand for protective equipment that can more reliably extinguish fires.

[0006] One possible solution is to employ protective equipment that extinguishes fires by spraying electrically charged liquid particles (charged liquid particles) of fire-extinguishing water with an average particle diameter of, for example, approximately 10 to 300 μm from an electrically charged spray head (head unit) (Patent Document 3). Protective equipment that sprays charged liquid particles is known to have a high fire-extinguishing effect because the charged liquid particles sprayed from the electrically charged spray head are electrically charged, and the electrostatic force increases the amount of charged liquid particles that reach the fire source without being blocked by obstacles, allowing the charged liquid particles to efficiently adhere to the target of the fire source. Furthermore, protective equipment that sprays charged liquid particles can reduce the amount of fire-extinguishing water needed to extinguish a fire, and the charged liquid particles have a smoke-eliminating effect in addition to their fire-extinguishing effect. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-276426 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-276427 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-103335 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] However, the application of protective equipment that sprays charged liquid particles to warehouse facilities with large spaces and many shelves or energy storage facilities with many battery clusters has not been fully considered, and there is room for consideration as to how to appropriately configure protective equipment that sprays charged liquid particles, including the spraying method, spraying range, and power supply system that supplies the high voltage to charge the liquid particles.

[0009] The present invention aims to provide protective equipment that can appropriately protect against abnormalities such as fires that occur in areas to be protected, such as warehouse facilities and energy storage facilities, using charged liquid particles. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] (protective equipment) The present invention is a protection equipment for protecting a protection target area in which at least one shelf is installed, on which storage compartments are arranged in a height direction and a direction perpendicular to the height direction in a three-dimensional space, an abnormality detection unit provided for each detection section including one or more storage sections of the shelf, and configured to detect an abnormality including a fire occurring in the detection section; an open-type head unit provided for each protected compartment including one or more storage compartments of the shelf, and capable of spraying charged liquid particles of fire-extinguishing liquid into the provided protected compartment; a voltage supply unit that supplies a predetermined high voltage to the open-type head unit when the open-type head unit sprays the charged liquid particles; a control unit that controls a spraying operation to selectively spray liquid droplets or charged liquid droplets of fire extinguishing liquid from an open head unit provided in a predetermined protected compartment based on the detected compartment of the abnormality detection unit that detected the abnormality when the abnormality detection unit detects the abnormality; The present invention is characterized by the following features.

[0011] (Spraying operation combining liquid particles and charged liquid particles) When the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality, the control unit: spraying charged liquid particles from an open head unit provided in a protected section located within a predetermined first range from the detection section of the anomaly detection unit that detected the anomaly; Liquid particles are sprayed from an open head unit provided in a protected area located outside a predetermined first range and within a predetermined second range that is wider than the predetermined first range from the sensing area of ​​the abnormality sensing unit that sensed the abnormality.

[0012] (Anomaly detection unit equipped with heat and smoke detectors) The abnormality detection unit includes a heat detection unit that detects heat and a smoke detection unit that detects smoke.

[0013] (Control changes due to differences in sensing methods) The control unit performs different spraying operations depending on whether an abnormality is detected by the heat detection unit of the abnormality detection unit or the smoke detection unit of the abnormality detection unit.

[0014] (Voltage supply unit installed in each protected area) A voltage supply unit is provided for each of the protected compartments.

[0015] (closed head) In addition, each protected section is equipped with a closed head unit that senses the heat of a fire, activates, and sprays fire extinguishing liquid.

[0016] (Sensing sensitivity of closed head) The abnormality detection unit includes a heat detection unit that detects heat, The sensitivity of the closed-type head unit to detect the heat of a fire is set to be lower than the sensitivity of the heat detecting unit of the abnormality detecting unit to detect the heat of a fire.

[0017] (Detecting abnormalities based on the amount of charge in smoke) The abnormality sensing unit includes a smoke detector capable of detecting the amount of charge of smoke generated due to an abnormality, The smoke detector determines whether the detected charge amount is the charge amount of smoke generated due to an abnormality, and if it determines that the charge amount is the charge amount of smoke generated due to an abnormality, it senses an abnormality.

[0018] (Control of spraying operation based on the charge polarity of detected smoke) The smoke detector is further capable of detecting the polarity of the charge of smoke generated due to an abnormality, and when an abnormality is detected, transmits information about the polarity of the charge of the detected smoke to the control unit; The control unit controls the spraying operation so that the charged polarity of the charged liquid particles is opposite to the charged polarity of the smoke detected by the smoke detection device.

[0019] (Detection of abnormalities due to smoke charge polarity) The abnormality sensing unit includes a smoke detector capable of detecting the charge polarity of smoke generated by an abnormality, The smoke detector determines whether the detected charge polarity is the charge polarity of smoke generated due to an abnormality, and if it determines that the charge polarity is the charge polarity of smoke generated due to an abnormality, it senses an abnormality.

[0020] (Control of spraying operation based on the charge polarity of detected smoke) The smoke detector transmits information about the charge polarity of the detected smoke to the control unit when it detects an abnormality. The control unit controls the spraying operation so that the charged polarity of the charged liquid particles is opposite to the charged polarity of the smoke detected by the smoke detection device.

[0021] (Detecting thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries) The abnormality sensing unit includes an oxygen concentration detection unit that detects the oxygen concentration, The oxygen concentration detector detects thermal runaway of the lithium ion battery as an abnormality based on the detected oxygen concentration.

[0022] (Detection zone and disaster prevention zone range 1) Each of the sensing compartment and the protection compartment is a compartment that covers one storage compartment.

[0023] (Detection zone and disaster prevention zone range 2) Each of the sensing sections is a section that targets a storage section included in any one of the groups when the storage sections are divided into groups in a direction perpendicular to the height direction so as to include all of the storage sections arranged in the height direction, Each protected compartment is a compartment covering one storage compartment. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] (Effects of protective equipment) The present invention is a protection equipment for protecting a protection target area in which at least one shelf is installed, with storage compartments arranged in a height direction and a direction perpendicular to the height direction in a three-dimensional space, the protection equipment comprising: an abnormality detection unit provided for each detection compartment including one or more storage compartments on the shelf, and for detecting abnormalities including a fire occurring in the detection compartment; an open-type head unit provided for each protection compartment including one or more storage compartments on the shelf, and capable of spraying charged liquid particles of a fire-extinguishing liquid into the protection compartment; a voltage supply unit for supplying a predetermined high voltage to the open-type head unit when the open-type head unit sprays the charged liquid particles; and a voltage supply unit for supplying a predetermined high voltage to the open-type head unit when the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality. The device is also equipped with a control unit that controls the spraying operation of selectively spraying liquid particles or charged liquid particles of extinguishing liquid from the open head unit provided in a specified protected area based on the detection area of ​​the abnormality detection unit that detected the abnormality.This makes it possible to freely control the protected area to which extinguishing liquid is sprayed from the open head unit based on the position of the detection area targeted by the abnormality detection unit that detected an abnormality such as a fire, and to freely control whether the extinguishing liquid is sprayed from the open head unit as liquid particles without being charged, or as charged liquid particles, making it possible to more flexibly and appropriately protect against abnormalities such as fires that occur in the protected area.

[0025] (Effect of spraying a combination of liquid particles and charged liquid particles) When the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality, the control unit sprays charged liquid particles from the open head unit provided in a protected compartment located within a predetermined first range from the detection compartment of the abnormality detection unit that detected the abnormality, and sprays liquid particles from the open head unit provided in a protected compartment located outside the predetermined first range and within a predetermined second range that is wider than the predetermined first range from the detection compartment of the abnormality detection unit that detected the abnormality.Therefore, in protected compartments located within the first range, for example, protected compartments including a storage compartment where an abnormality source is present or which is close to the abnormality source and is likely to be significantly affected by the abnormality, the fire extinguishing liquid is sprayed as charged liquid particles with high fire and smoke extinguishing effects, and in protected compartments located outside the first range but within the second range, for example, protected compartments including a storage compartment that is not significantly affected by the abnormality but is still affected to some extent, or where the abnormality is at risk of spreading, the fire extinguishing liquid is sprayed as uncharged liquid particles for the purpose of fire prevention and cooling, making it possible to spray the fire extinguishing liquid in an appropriate state depending on the location of the protected compartment.

[0026] In addition, since the protected area where the fire extinguishing liquid is sprayed as charged liquid droplets is limited, there is no need to supply a specified high voltage from the voltage supply unit to the open head unit more than necessary, which makes it possible to reduce and prevent unnecessary power consumption.

[0027] (Effect of abnormality detection unit equipped with heat and smoke detectors) The abnormality detection unit is provided with a heat detection unit that detects heat and a smoke detection unit that detects smoke, making it possible to detect a fire based on heat and smoke, and the inclusion of a smoke detector makes it possible to detect a fire in its early stages.

[0028] Furthermore, by equipping the abnormality detection unit with a smoke detection unit, even if smoke occurs due to factors other than a fire, charged liquid particles of fire extinguishing liquid can be sprayed from the open head unit for the purpose of smoke suppression, making it possible to spray charged liquid particles not only for fire extinguishing but also for smoke suppression.

[0029] (Effect of control changes due to differences in sensing methods) The control unit is configured to perform different spraying operations when an abnormality is detected by the heat detection unit of the abnormality detection unit and when an abnormality is detected by the smoke detection unit of the abnormality detection unit.Therefore, when an abnormality is detected by the smoke detection unit and it is likely to be an abnormality that is assumed to be low in risk, such as an early stage fire or an abnormality other than a fire that has caused smoke, the protective area into which the fire extinguishing liquid is sprayed can be narrowed compared to when the abnormality is detected by the heat detection unit and it is likely to be an abnormality that is assumed to be high in risk, such as a fire that spreads.This makes it possible to spray the fire extinguishing liquid according to the purpose and situation.

[0030] (Effect of voltage supply units installed in each protected area) Since the voltage supply units are individually provided for each protected compartment, there is an independent voltage supply unit for each protected compartment, and even if a specific voltage supply unit fails and the open head unit of the corresponding protected compartment is unable to spray the extinguishing liquid as charged liquid droplets, the open head units of other protected compartments can still spray the extinguishing liquid as charged liquid droplets without being affected.

[0031] (Effect of closed head) Furthermore, each protected area is equipped with a closed head section that senses the heat of a fire, activates, and sprays fire extinguishing liquid. Therefore, if the fire cannot be dealt with by spraying fire extinguishing liquid from the open head section alone, fire extinguishing liquid will also be sprayed from the closed head section, increasing the amount sprayed and further improving the fire extinguishing effect.

[0032] (Effect of closed head sensitivity) The abnormality detection unit is equipped with a heat detection unit that detects heat, and the sensitivity with which the closed head unit detects the heat of a fire is set to be lower than the sensitivity with which the heat detection unit of the abnormality detection unit detects the heat of a fire.Therefore, the response to a fire is basically to spray extinguishing liquid from the open head unit, and by preventing the closed head unit from operating unnecessarily to spray extinguishing liquid, water damage is reduced, and if the fire cannot be responded to by spraying extinguishing liquid from the open head unit alone, extinguishing liquid can also be sprayed from the closed head unit to increase the fire extinguishing effect.

[0033] (Effect of detecting abnormalities based on the amount of smoke charge) The anomaly detection unit includes a smoke detector capable of detecting the amount of charge of smoke generated due to an abnormality, and the smoke detector determines whether the detected amount of charge is the amount of charge of smoke generated due to an abnormality, and if it determines that the amount of charge is the amount of charge of smoke generated due to an abnormality, it detects an abnormality, thereby enabling detection of an abnormality based on the amount of charge of smoke, which is different from conventional smoke detectors.Furthermore, detecting the amount of charge of smoke does not require the optical structure provided in conventional smoke detectors, and it is possible to make the anomaly detection unit highly resistant to dirt.

[0034] (Effect of detecting abnormalities due to smoke charge polarity) The anomaly detection unit includes a smoke detector capable of detecting the charge polarity of smoke generated by an anomaly, and the smoke detector determines whether the detected charge polarity is the charge polarity of smoke generated by an anomaly, and if it determines that the charge polarity is the charge polarity of smoke generated by an anomaly, it detects an anomaly, thereby enabling detection of anomalies due to smoke charge polarity different from conventional smoke detectors.Furthermore, detecting the charge polarity of smoke does not require an optical structure such as that provided in conventional smoke detectors, making it possible to provide an anomaly detection unit with excellent resistance to dirt.

[0035] (Effect of controlling spraying operation based on the charge polarity of detected smoke) The smoke detection device transmits information regarding the charge polarity of the detected smoke to the control unit, and the control unit controls the spraying operation so that the charge polarity of the charged liquid particles is the opposite polarity to the charge polarity of the smoke detected by the smoke detection device.This makes it possible to spray charged liquid particles charged to the opposite polarity to the charge polarity of the smoke from the open head unit, thereby improving the smoke-eliminating effect.

[0036] (Detecting thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries) The abnormality detection unit is equipped with an oxygen concentration detection unit that detects oxygen concentration, and the oxygen concentration detection unit is configured to detect thermal runaway of a lithium-ion battery as an abnormality based on the detected oxygen concentration.This makes it possible to detect abnormalities specific to lithium-ion batteries, which have become widely used in recent years, and enables more flexible and appropriate protection from abnormalities that occur in the area to be protected.

[0037] (Effect of detection zone and disaster prevention zone range 1) Since each detection section and protection section is designed to target one storage section, an abnormality detection unit is provided for each storage section, making it possible to pinpoint the location of a fire in more detail. Also, since an open-type head unit is provided for each storage section, it is possible to select in more detail the location to spray the fire extinguishing liquid and whether or not to electrify the fire extinguishing liquid.

[0038] (Effect of detection zone and disaster prevention zone range 2) Each sensing section is a section that targets storage sections included in one of the groups when the storage sections are divided into groups perpendicular to the height direction so as to include all of the storage sections arranged in the height direction, and each protection section is a section that targets one storage section, so that the number of sensing sections can be reduced and the number of abnormality detection units required can be suppressed, making it possible to reduce the installation costs of the protection equipment. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0039] [Figure 1] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a part of an area to be protected where shelves are installed. [Figure 2] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a first embodiment of protection equipment. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of an open-type head portion. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a voltage supply unit together with an open-type head unit. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a first control in the form of a flowchart. [Figure 6]FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a second control in the form of a flowchart. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a second embodiment of the protection equipment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a third control in the form of a flowchart. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a third embodiment of the protection equipment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a fourth embodiment of the protection equipment. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a smoke detection device. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the main body of the smoke detection device. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the internal structure of the smoke detection device. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the rotary electrode of the device main body. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the cage electrode of the device body in an assembled and disassembled state. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing details of a first cage electrode and a second cage electrode that constitute a cage electrode. [Figure 17] 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the vicinity of the circuit housing portion in FIG. 13 together with an oscilloscope. [Figure 18] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the rotational positions of the rotating electrode relative to the flue pipe and cage electrode at rotational positions of 0°, 45°, 90°, and 135°. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the charge distribution on the flue pipe and cage electrode when the rotating electrode is at a rotation position of 0°. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the charge distribution on the flue pipe and cage electrode when the rotating electrode is rotated at 45°. [Figure 21] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the charge distribution on the flue pipe and cage electrode when the rotating electrode is rotated at 90°. [Figure 22] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the charge distribution on the flue pipe and cage electrode when the rotating electrode is rotated at 135°. [Figure 23]23 is an explanatory diagram showing a charge detection voltage signal that changes sinusoidally in response to the rotational position of the rotary electrode of FIGS. 19 to 22. FIG. [Figure 24] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a fifth embodiment of the protection equipment. [Figure 25] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the change over time in oxygen concentration measured in a fire experiment of a lithium-ion battery. [Figure 26] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the ranges of a detection zone and a protection zone. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the protective equipment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment.

[0041] [Basic concept of the embodiment] First, a basic concept of the embodiment will be described. The embodiment generally relates to a protection system that protects a protected area, such as a warehouse facility where shelves are installed or an energy storage facility where a battery cluster having a shelf structure is installed, from an abnormality such as a fire.

[0042] Here, "protective equipment" refers to equipment that protects the area to be protected by primarily extinguishing fires that occur, but since it is configured to be able to spray charged liquid particles that have a smoke-extinguishing effect in addition to a high fire-extinguishing effect, it also has the meaning of equipment that protects the area to be protected by extinguishing smoke that is generated by abnormalities, including fires, and is a concept that also includes "protective systems."

[0043] The "protected area" is a concept that includes areas protected by protective equipment, i.e., areas or spaces where fire extinguishing fluid is sprayed, sources of smoke, etc., sources of fire, or areas or spaces where these exist. In addition, the "protected area" is not limited to areas or spaces that are separated from the outside by walls, etc., but also includes areas or spaces that are partially open to the outside, such as warehouse facilities and energy storage facilities.

[0044] A "shelf" is a three-dimensional space having storage compartments arranged in a height direction and a direction perpendicular to the height direction. Adjacent storage compartments do not necessarily have to be completely physically separated from each other. Adjacent storage compartments may be open in a height direction, as in a "rack shelf." Even if adjacent storage compartments are separated by a plate-like member or the like, the plate-like member may have a mesh-like shape, so that the adjacent storage compartments do not necessarily have to be completely separated from each other. In other words, the "storage compartment" on a shelf encompasses both physically separated compartments and conceptually separated compartments. Also, shelves with a single level in both the height direction and the direction perpendicular to the height direction are also included. Furthermore, the term "shelf" does not refer to a shelf itself, but rather includes a structure having a shelf structure, such as a battery cluster in which batteries equipped with lithium-ion batteries or the like are packed together in a height direction or a direction perpendicular to the height direction.

[0045] "Three-dimensional space" is a space in which a position can be identified using coordinates of mutually perpendicular X, Y, and Z axes. In this embodiment, when the shelf is installed in the area to be protected, the Y axis is defined as the height direction (up and down direction), the two directions perpendicular to the height direction are defined as the left and right direction and the front and back direction (depth direction), and the X axis is defined as the left and right direction and the Z axis is defined as the front and back direction.

[0046] The "protective equipment" of the embodiment includes an "abnormality detection unit," an "open-type head unit," a "voltage supply unit," and a "control unit."

[0047] The "abnormality detection unit" is a means for detecting abnormalities, including fires, and can use known heat detectors, smoke detectors, flame detectors, etc., and may also combine different types of detectors, such as heat detectors and smoke detectors.

[0048] Furthermore, the "abnormality detection unit" may be equipped with a smoke detection device capable of detecting the charge amount of smoke generated due to an abnormality, the charge polarity of smoke, or both the charge amount and the charge polarity of smoke, and the "smoke detection device" determines whether the detected charge amount or charge polarity is the charge amount or charge polarity of smoke generated due to an abnormality, and detects an abnormality if it determines that the detected charge amount or charge polarity is the charge amount or charge polarity of smoke generated due to an abnormality.

[0049] In addition, when the "smoke detection device" is capable of detecting the charge polarity of smoke generated due to an abnormality, it transmits information regarding the charge polarity of the smoke detected when it senses an abnormality to the control unit, thereby enabling the dispersion of charged liquid particles with the opposite polarity to the charge polarity of the smoke.

[0050] A smoke detector capable of detecting the amount and polarity of charge on smoke includes, for example, a device with a rotating chopper type Faraday cage structure. Details of a smoke detector with a rotating chopper type Faraday cage structure will be described later.

[0051] Furthermore, the "abnormality detection unit" may be equipped with an oxygen concentration detection unit that detects the oxygen concentration, and the "oxygen concentration detection unit" detects thermal runaway of the lithium ion battery as an abnormality based on the detected oxygen concentration.

[0052] Lithium-ion batteries have become widely used in recent years, for example, when stored on shelves in warehouse facilities or in battery clusters. However, thermal runaway is one of the problems that can occur with lithium-ion batteries.

[0053] "Thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries" is a phenomenon in which, due to a specific cause, the lithium-ion battery enters an abnormal heat state that can reach high temperatures of 1000 to 1200 degrees, and in the worst case scenario, may ignite or explode. If the battery ignites or explodes, it may develop into a violent fire. In the event of thermal runaway, the lithium-ion battery is known to emit gas (white smoke) containing various combustion products such as hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide.

[0054] Furthermore, the inventors of the present application have confirmed through experiments that "oxygen" is a combustion product that accompanies the temperature rise of a lithium-ion battery that leads to thermal runaway, and that it is possible to detect the rising oxygen concentration. The "oxygen concentration detection unit" is capable of sensing thermal runaway in a lithium-ion battery by using the detected oxygen concentration value, its amount of change, and its rate of change.

[0055] The "open-type head" sprays extinguishing liquid in response to an abnormality that has occurred, does not have a heat-sensing part for detecting the heat of a fire, and is a head with a structure in which the outlet through which the extinguishing liquid is sprayed is always open. Furthermore, the "open-type head" of the embodiment is capable of charging the liquid particles of the extinguishing liquid to be sprayed by receiving a predetermined high voltage from a voltage supply, and functions like the charged spray head of Patent Document 3 (JP 2009-103335 A) shown as prior art.

[0056] The "open type head unit" is capable of spraying charged liquid particles of fire extinguishing liquid, but is also capable of spraying uncharged liquid particles, and is capable of selectively spraying charged liquid particles or liquid particles depending on whether or not a predetermined high voltage is supplied from the voltage supply unit.

[0057] Furthermore, the term "dispersal" is a concept that may include alternative terms such as release, spray, squirt, and atomization, based on the meaning of the term.

[0058] In addition, an "abnormality detection unit" is provided for each detection section that includes one or more storage sections of the shelf, and an "open type head unit" is provided for each protection section that includes one or more storage sections of the shelf, and the detection section in which the abnormality detection unit is provided and the protection section in which the open type head unit is provided may be the same section or different sections.

[0059] For example, if we consider a shelf with storage compartments arranged in 4 rows (rows 1 to 4) x 4 columns (columns A to D), as shown in Figure 26(A), there is a shelf where each detection compartment and protection compartment targets one storage compartment, and the detection compartment and protection compartment are set to be the same as the storage compartment.

[0060] In addition, as shown in Figure 26(B), there is another configuration in which the storage compartments are divided into four groups by row so that each detection compartment includes four storage compartments arranged vertically, and each protection compartment is set to target one storage compartment, so that the detection compartment and the protection compartment are different. When detection compartments are set by row in this way, the location of a fire cannot be identified in more detail than when detection compartments are set to target one storage compartment, but because fire flames and smoke generally spread upward, it is possible to identify the location of a fire by row even when detection compartments are set by row, and it is therefore possible to respond to a fire.

[0061] Furthermore, when other shelves are installed adjacent to or near a specific shelf, the sections may be set so that storage sections on different shelves are included in one detection section or protection section.

[0062] The "voltage supply unit" supplies the open head unit with the high voltage required to charge the liquid particles when the open head unit sprays the charged liquid particles. Since an open head unit is provided for each protected area, the "voltage supply unit" may be provided individually for each protected area, or a common voltage supply unit may be provided for the entire protective equipment or for each shelf, with different power supply wiring extending from the common voltage supply unit to the open head unit for each protected area. Furthermore, when a voltage supply unit is provided individually for each protected area or for each shelf, the "voltage supply unit" does not necessarily have to be provided within the protected area or on or near the shelf, and may be provided away from the protected area or shelf in question.

[0063] When the abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality, the "control unit" controls the spraying operation to selectively spray liquid particles or charged liquid particles of the extinguishing liquid from the open head unit provided in a predetermined protected compartment based on the detection compartment of the abnormality detection unit that detected the abnormality. In other words, the "control unit" controls to determine the protected compartment to which the extinguishing liquid is sprayed and whether or not to charge the liquid particles of the extinguishing liquid.

[0064] Furthermore, the "spraying operation of selectively spraying liquid particles of fire-extinguishing liquid or charged liquid particles" refers to a spraying operation that combines the spraying of liquid particles and the spraying of charged liquid particles, and includes, for example, a selection of liquid particles or charged liquid particles for each protected section, a selection of liquid particles or charged liquid particles depending on the time of day, etc. Note that while the protective equipment of the embodiment is characterized by a spraying operation of selectively spraying liquid particles of fire-extinguishing liquid or charged liquid particles, this does not preclude the performance of a spraying operation that sprays only either liquid particles or charged liquid particles.

[0065] In a spraying operation that selects between liquid particles or charged liquid particles for each protected section, for example, charged liquid particles with high fire and smoke extinguishing effects are sprayed from an open head unit provided in a protected section located within a predetermined first range from the detection section of the abnormality detection unit that detected the abnormality, for example, a protected section that includes a storage section included in the detection section of the abnormality detection unit that detected the abnormality, and normal uncharged liquid particles are sprayed from an open head unit provided in a protected section located outside the predetermined first range and within a predetermined second range that is wider than the first range from the detection section of the abnormality detection unit that detected the abnormality, for example, a protected section that includes a storage section located around a storage section included in the detection section where the abnormality was detected.

[0066] Furthermore, if the "abnormality detection unit" is equipped with a heat detection unit and a smoke detection unit, it will detect abnormalities due to heat or smoke, and the "control unit" may perform different spraying operations depending on whether an abnormality is detected by the heat detection unit of the abnormality detection unit or by the smoke detection unit of the abnormality detection unit.

[0067] For example, when the heat detection section of the anomaly detection section does not detect an abnormality but the smoke detection section does, it is likely that the risk is relatively low, such as an early stage fire or an abnormality that generates smoke other than a fire, whereas when the heat detection section of the anomaly detection section detects an abnormality, it is likely that the risk is high compared to when the smoke detection section detects an abnormality such as a fire that causes flames to burst into flames.Therefore, when an abnormality is detected by the smoke detection section, it is possible to spray fire extinguishing liquid in a way that suits the purpose and situation, such as narrowing the protected area into which the extinguishing liquid is sprayed compared to when an abnormality is detected by the heat detection section.

[0068] Furthermore, the "protective equipment" of the embodiment may further include a "closed head unit." The "closed head unit" is a head unit having a structure in which the discharge port is normally closed and opens the discharge port when a predetermined temperature is reached, the heat of a fire is detected, and the heat-sensing unit is activated.

[0069] Furthermore, the "closed head" has a lower sensitivity for detecting the heat of a fire than the heat sensing part of the abnormality detection part. By making the sensitivity for detecting the heat of a fire lower than the heat sensing part of the abnormality detection part in this way, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the closed head sprays fire extinguishing liquid before the open head, and to respond to a fire by basically spraying fire extinguishing liquid from the open head, and when a situation occurs in which the fire cannot be responded to by spraying fire extinguishing liquid from the open head, it is possible to operate the protective equipment so that the amount of fire extinguishing liquid sprayed is increased by spraying fire extinguishing liquid from the closed head in addition to the open head.

[0070] Specific embodiments will be described below. In the specific embodiments shown below, the first embodiment is a basic embodiment equipped with an abnormality detection unit, an open-type head unit, a voltage supply unit, and a control unit, while the second embodiment is an embodiment equipped with a heat detector and a smoke detector as the abnormality detection unit, the third embodiment is an embodiment equipped with a closed-type head unit in addition to an open-type head unit, the fourth embodiment is an embodiment equipped with a smoke detection device as the abnormality detection unit, and the fifth embodiment is an embodiment equipped with an oxygen concentration detection unit as the abnormality detection unit.

[0071] [Specific details of the embodiment] The protective equipment will be described in the following separate embodiments. a. Overview of the warehouse facility with shelves installed b. First embodiment of protective equipment b1. Overall configuration of protective equipment b2. Open head structure b3. Power supply configuration c. Operation of protective equipment d. Second embodiment of protective equipment d1. Overall configuration of protective equipment d2. Operation of protective equipment e. Third embodiment of protective equipment f. Fourth embodiment of protective equipment f1. Configuration of protective equipment f2. Configuration of smoke detection device f3.Detailed structure of smoke detection device f4. Charge detection unit f5. Rotational position of the rotating electrode and charge generation of the cage electrode f6. Abnormality determination section g. Fifth embodiment of protective equipment g1. Configuration of protective equipment g2. Changes in oxygen concentration during thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries h. Modifications of the present invention

[0072] [a. Overview of the warehouse facility with shelves installed] First, an overview of the warehouse facility (protected area) where shelves are installed will be explained. In this explanation, reference will be made to Figure 1, which shows a portion of the area where shelves are installed in the warehouse facility. Note that Figure 1(A) shows a plan view of the portion of the area where shelves are installed in the warehouse facility, and Figure 1(B) shows the shelves as seen from the front.

[0073] In the warehouse facility 1, shelves are installed at predetermined intervals in the front-rear and left-right directions, such as shelves 10 (10-1) to 10 (10-4) shown in FIG.

[0074] Here, the warehouse facility 1 is a three-dimensional space whose position can be identified by coordinates of mutually perpendicular X-, Y-, and Z-axes, with the Y-axis being the height direction (up and down direction), the X-axis (left and right direction) being defined so that shelves 10 (10-1) and 10 (10-3) are on the left side and shelves 10 (10-2) and 10 (10-4) are on the right side, and the Z-axis (front and back direction) being defined so that shelves 10 (10-1) and 10 (10-2) are on the front side and shelves 10 (10-3) and 10 (10-4) are on the rear side.

[0075] The shelves 10 (10-1) to 10 (10-4) have a total of 32 storage compartments arranged in four rows in the left-right direction, two rows in the front-back direction, and four rows in the up-down direction, as shown in Figure 1. When there is no need to distinguish between the shelves 10 (10-1) to 10 (10-4), they will be referred to as shelves 10.

[0076] Here, in one shelf 10, when viewed in plan as shown in Fig. 1(A), the four compartments located at the front are referred to as compartments A to D in order from the left, and the four compartments located at the rear are referred to as compartments E to H in order from the left. Also, as can be seen from a front view (from the front) as shown in Fig. 1(B), the compartments are referred to as compartments 1 to 4 in order from the top in the height direction. That is, in this embodiment, the 32 storage compartments of the shelf 10 are assigned unique codes using the letters A to H and the numbers 1 to 4.

[0077] [b. First embodiment of protective equipment] Next, a first embodiment of the protective equipment will be described.

[0078] (b1. Overall configuration of protective equipment) First, the overall configuration of the protective equipment will be described. In this description, reference will be made to Fig. 1, which shows the configuration of a first embodiment of the protective equipment. Note that Fig. 1 shows the equipment configuration by taking up one shelf.

[0079] The protective equipment includes a heat detector 12 as an abnormality detector, an open head unit 14, a voltage supply unit 16, a pump equipment 18, an open valve 20, a control unit 22, a display unit 30, and an operation unit 32.

[0080] Heat detectors 12 are provided in eight locations on one shelf 10, corresponding to sections A to H, with four storage sections included in each of sections A to H considered as one detection section, and detect fires that occur in the target detection section. For example, a heat detector 12 whose detection section is section A will detect fires that occur in four storage sections A1 to A4, and each heat detector 12 in each section is set with unique identification information, such as an address, that is different from one another, in order to be able to identify the detection section in which a fire has been detected.

[0081] Furthermore, the heat detectors 12 must be able to detect fires that occur in all compartments 1 to 4 within any of the target compartments A to H, and because flames caused by a fire tend to burn upward, two detectors are installed near the ceiling of compartment 1 (the compartment at the highest position) in each of compartments A to H.

[0082] The open-type head units 14 are provided in 32 locations on one shelf 10, corresponding to each of the storage compartments A1 to H4, with each storage compartment A1 to H4 being treated as a single protected compartment. For example, two units are installed near the ceiling of the target storage compartment, and liquid particles of fire extinguishing liquid with an average particle diameter of approximately 10 to 300 μm are sprayed.

[0083] In addition, the open head unit 14 receives a predetermined high voltage from the voltage supply unit 16, and is able to charge the liquid particles of the fire-extinguishing liquid to be sprayed, for example, using an induction charging method in which the liquid particles pass through a high electric field, thereby spraying charged liquid particles (charged liquid particles).

[0084] The voltage supply unit 16 is individually provided corresponding to the open head unit 14 provided in each of the protected compartments (storage compartments A1 to H4), and is connected to the open head unit 14 in the same protected compartment by a high-voltage cable 24 to supply a predetermined high voltage.

[0085] Furthermore, the voltage supply unit 16 is provided to correspond to each of the protected compartments (storage compartments A1 to H4), but does not necessarily have to be installed within or near the storage compartments A1 to H4 of the shelf 10, and may be installed in a location away from the shelf 10.

[0086] The pumping system 18 stores the fire extinguishing fluid to be sprayed from the open heads 14 as liquid droplets or charged liquid droplets, and a liquid piping 26 extends from the pumping system 18 to each of the open heads 14.

[0087] The on-off valve 20 is provided midway along the fire extinguishing liquid piping 26, for example, at a position after the fire extinguishing liquid piping 26 branches into each of the compartments A to H, making it possible to start and stop the supply of fire extinguishing liquid from the pump equipment 18 to the open head section 14 on a compartment-by-compartment basis.

[0088] The control unit 22 controls the spraying operation by the protective equipment, and is connected to the heat detectors 12, the voltage supply unit 16, the pump equipment 18, and the on-off valves 20 by signal lines 28 including power lines. Therefore, when a fire is detected by any of the heat detectors 12 and the control unit 22 receives a fire detection signal including its own address from the heat detector 12 that detected the fire, the control unit 22 starts the pump equipment 18 and opens the on-off valves 20 corresponding to the protected compartments to which the fire-extinguishing liquid is to be sprayed, thereby enabling the control unit 22 to operate the voltage supply units 16 corresponding to the protected compartments to which the fire-extinguishing liquid is to be sprayed as charged liquid particles.

[0089] In addition, the control unit 22 is provided with a display unit 30 that displays necessary information such as information regarding abnormalities such as fires that have occurred, information regarding the operation of the equipment and the spraying status, and an operation unit 32 that performs necessary operations such as operations related to spraying operations and recovery operations.

[0090] (b2. Open head structure) Next, the structure of the open-type head unit will be described. This description will refer to Figure 3, which shows the structure of the open-type head unit. In Figure 3, the spraying side is on the bottom, and Figure 3(A) shows a perspective view of the spray head unit as seen from the bottom, while Figure 3(B) shows a cross-sectional view as seen from the side.

[0091] 3, the open-type head unit 14 is composed of a body 1410, a spray nozzle unit 1420, an electrode holder 1430, an induction electrode unit 1440, a water-side electrode unit 1450, and a pipe connection unit 1460. The body 1410, the spray nozzle unit 1420, the electrode holder 1430, and the pipe connection unit 1460 are made of insulating materials.

[0092] Open-type head unit 14 is assembled by first fitting conductive water-side electrode unit 1450 from below into a through-hole formed inside body 1410 along the direction of spray axis 1470, then fitting piping connection unit 1460 above water-side electrode unit 1450 and fitting spray nozzle unit 1420 below water-side electrode unit 1450, and finally attaching induction electrode unit 1440 by electrode holder 1430 to the open space below spray nozzle unit 1420. Note that the configuration and structure of induction electrode unit 1440 are arbitrary, but for example, it is a ring-shaped electrode formed by insulating a conductive electrode core material.

[0093] In addition, a fire extinguishing liquid pipe 26 is connected to the pipe connection part 1460, and pressurized fire extinguishing liquid is supplied from the pump equipment 18 to the pipe connection part 1460, causing the spray nozzle part 1420 to spray liquid particles having an average particle diameter of, for example, about 100 to 300 μm.

[0094] Furthermore, high-voltage cable 24 is connected to cable connection 1442 of induction electrode 1440 and electrode connection 1452 of water-side electrode 1450, and a predetermined voltage (e.g., 10 kV DC voltage) adjusted within a predetermined adjustment range (e.g., 0.5 kV to 20 kV) within the voltage range capable of charging liquid particles is applied between induction electrode 1440 and water-side electrode 1450 from voltage supply 16. This applied voltage forms a predetermined external electric field around the ring portion of induction electrode 1440, and liquid particles sprayed from spray nozzle 1420 are charged by induction charging as they pass through the ring portion of induction electrode 1440.

[0095] Here, the predetermined adjustment range within the voltage range capable of charging the liquid particles may include a voltage range in which the liquid particles cannot be charged, as long as the voltage can be adjusted to the predetermined voltage capable of charging the liquid particles. The voltage polarity (positive / negative) of the applied voltage is switched by the voltage supply unit 16.

[0096] When a predetermined DC voltage is applied to the induction electrode unit 1440 such that the potential of the induction electrode unit 1440 becomes positive with respect to the water-side electrode unit 1450 as the reference potential (earth potential, 0V), the liquid particles sprayed from the open-type head unit 14 become negatively charged. When a predetermined DC voltage is applied to the induction electrode unit 1440 such that the potential of the induction electrode unit 1440 becomes negative with respect to the water-side electrode unit 1450 as the reference potential (earth potential, 0V), the liquid particles sprayed from the spray nozzle unit 1420 become positively charged. When the absolute value of the voltage applied between the induction electrode unit 1440 and the water-side electrode unit 1450 is set in the range of 0.5 kV to 20 kV, for example, spark discharge is prevented, and charged liquid particles are generated while ensuring safety.

[0097] The configuration and structure of open-type head 14 are arbitrary and are not limited to the open-type head 14 shown in Fig. 3, but may include any suitable or known structure that can generate liquid droplets and charge the generated liquid droplets to spray them as charged liquid droplets. Furthermore, the voltage applied between induction electrode 1440 and water-side electrode 1450 is not limited to DC voltage, and a pulse voltage, pulsating voltage, or AC voltage may also be applied.

[0098] (b3. Configuration of the voltage supply unit) Next, the configuration of the voltage supply unit will be described with reference to Fig. 4, which shows the configuration of the voltage supply unit together with the open-type head unit.

[0099] The voltage supply unit 16 supplies the voltage required to generate charged liquid particles in the open head unit 14 to the open head unit 14 via a high-voltage cable 24, and although the configuration and function thereof are arbitrary, it may include, for example, a high-voltage variable circuit 1610 that adjusts the voltage to be supplied and a polarity reversing circuit 1620 that switches the voltage polarity of the voltage to be supplied, as shown in Figure 4. Furthermore, the high-voltage cable 24 is such that the cable connected to the induction electrode unit 1440 side of the open head unit 14 is referred to as a voltage application cable 2410, and the cable connected to the water-side electrode unit 1450 side is referred to as an earth cable 2420.

[0100] A voltage application cable 2410 connected to a polarity reversing circuit 1620 of the voltage supply unit 16 is connected to the induction electrode unit 1440 of each open-type head unit 14 via a current-limiting resistor 1630, and an earth cable 2420 connected to the polarity reversing circuit 1620 of the voltage supply unit 16 is connected to the water-side electrode unit 1450 of each open-type head unit 14, thereby charging the liquid particles sprayed from the open-type head unit 14 when a predetermined high voltage is applied between the induction electrode unit 1440 and the water-side electrode unit 1450. Here, highly insulating, voltage-resistant cables are used for the voltage application cable 2410 and the earth cable 2420, but if only DC voltage is applied, the positive cable may be a voltage-resistant cable and the negative cable may be a normal low-voltage cable.

[0101] High-voltage variable circuit 1610 adjusts the voltage applied between induction electrode 1440 and water-side electrode 1450 in response to a control signal sent from control unit 22 via signal line 28, thereby enabling charged liquid particles with a charge appropriate for extinguishing fires, removing smoke, etc. to be sprayed from open-type head 14. Furthermore, by lowering the absolute value of the applied voltage, charged liquid particles with a reduced charge can be sprayed, making it possible to prevent discharge accidents caused by an increase in the charge that can occur on objects that are susceptible to charging.

[0102] The polarity reversing circuit 1620 switches the voltage polarity of the voltage output from the high-voltage variable circuit 1610 in response to a control signal transmitted from the control unit 22 via the signal line 28, thereby switching the charge polarity of the charged liquid particles sprayed from the open-type head unit 14 and enabling the spraying of charged water particles of a charge polarity suitable for fire extinguishing, smoke suppression, etc. Note that the voltage polarity is not necessarily switched by the polarity reversing circuit 1620, but is switched as needed. Furthermore, if the object to be extinguished or protected from fire is electrically charged or is prone to becoming electrically charged, a greater fire and smoke extinguishing effect can be expected by spraying charged liquid particles charged with a polarity opposite to the polarity of the charged liquid particles.

[0103] [c. Operation of protective equipment] Next, the operation of the protective equipment will be described. The operation of the protective equipment will be described taking as an example a case where a fire breaks out in one of the storage compartments B1 to B4 belonging to compartment B of shelf 10 (10-1) shown in Figure 1 (A).

[0104] If a fire breaks out in any of the storage compartments B1 to B4 belonging to compartment B of shelf 10 (10-1) shown in Figure 1 (A), the fire will be detected by the heat detector 12 whose detection compartment is compartment B (storage compartments B1 to B4) of shelf 10 (10-1), and a fire detection signal including its own address will be transmitted from the heat detector 12 whose detection compartment is compartment B of shelf 10 (10-1) to the control unit 22. Then, upon receiving the fire detection signal, the control unit 22 determines the detection compartment in which the fire was detected from the address included in the fire detection signal, and controls the spraying operation to selectively spray liquid particles of fire-extinguishing liquid or charged liquid particles from the open head unit 14 of a specified protected compartment based on the detection compartment of the heat detector 12 of shelf 10 (10-1) that detected the fire.

[0105] Here, the control of the spraying operation by the control unit 22 to selectively spray liquid particles or charged liquid particles of fire extinguishing liquid includes, for example, a first control to selectively spray liquid particles and charged liquid particles depending on the protected area, and a second control to selectively spray liquid particles and charged liquid particles depending on the time of day.

[0106] (c1. First control) First, the first control will be described with reference to Fig. 5, which shows a flowchart of an example of the first control.

[0107] In the first control, the control unit 22 stores the sensing area (or storage area included in the sensing area) in association with the protection area (or storage area included in the protection area) in which charged liquid particles are sprayed and the protection area (or storage area included in the protection area) in which liquid particles are sprayed, so that the control unit 22 can determine the protection area in which liquid particles or charged liquid particles are sprayed based on the sensing area corresponding to the address included in the received fire detection signal.

[0108] Furthermore, it is up to the controller 22 to decide which protected compartments to spray charged liquid particles and which protected compartments to spray liquid particles (uncharged liquid particles). For example, since charged liquid particles have a high fire and smoke extinguishing effect, the controller 22 performs a first control such that charged liquid particles are sprayed from the open head unit 14 protecting storage compartments B1 to B4 included in the detection compartment where a fire has been detected, and liquid particles are sprayed from the open head unit 14 of the protected compartments targeting storage compartments A1 to A4, C1 to C4, and F1 to F4 adjacent to storage compartments B1 to B4 for the purpose of cooling, fire prevention, etc.

[0109] The first control by the control unit 22 when spraying charged liquid particles to the storage compartments B1 to B4 and liquid particles to the storage compartments A1 to A4, C1 to C4, and F1 to F4 is, for example, as shown in the flowchart of FIG.

[0110] The control unit 22 normally determines whether or not a fire detection signal transmitted by the heat detector 12 is received when the heat detector 12 detects a fire, and when the fire detection signal is received, determines the detection section (or a storage section included in the detection section) from the address included in the fire detection signal (steps S1 to S2). If the control unit 22 does not receive a fire detection signal in step S1, the process returns to before step S1.

[0111] Next, the control unit 22 activates the voltage supply units 16 provided corresponding to the storage compartments B1 to B4 and the corresponding protected compartments to supply a predetermined high voltage to the open head units 14 so that charged liquid particles can be sprayed from the open head units 14 of the protected compartments corresponding to the storage compartments B1 to B4, and activates the pump equipment 18 to enable the pump equipment 18 to supply fire extinguishing liquid to the open head units 14 of compartments A to C and F, and opens the on-off valves 20 provided midway along the fire extinguishing liquid piping 26 from the pump equipment 18 to the open head units 14 of compartments A to C and F (steps S3 to S5).

[0112] Next, the control unit 22 detects and determines whether recovery has occurred, such as a recovery operation by the operation unit 32 or the cessation of reception of a fire detection signal from the heat detector 12, and if recovery is detected, the control unit 22 stops the pump equipment 18, closes the on-off valve 26, and stops the application of voltage by the power supply unit 16, thereby stopping the spraying of liquid particles and charged liquid particles, and then returns to the process before step S1, and again determines whether a fire detection signal has been received (steps S6 to S9).If the control unit 22 does not detect recovery, the process returns to the process before step S6, and the spraying operation continues.

[0113] While the above description is given taking the example of a fire occurring in section B of the shelf 10 (10-1) shown in Fig. 1A, if there are other sections on other shelves 10 (10-2) and 10 (10-3) adjacent to each other at a predetermined interval, such as sections D to H of the shelf 10 (10-1) in Fig. 1, liquid particles or charged liquid particles may be sprayed to a protected section that targets storage sections on a shelf other than the shelf where the fire was detected. For example, if a fire occurs in section D of the shelf 10 (10-1), the control unit 22 may spray liquid particles or charged liquid particles from the open head unit 14 of a protected section that targets storage sections A1 to A4 of the shelf 10 (10-2).

[0114] In addition, in the first control, whether to spray liquid particles or charged liquid particles is selected depending on the location of the protected area, but this does not prevent control so that only liquid particles or charged liquid particles are sprayed in all protected areas where fire extinguishing liquid is sprayed.

[0115] (c2. Second control) Next, the second control will be described with reference to Fig. 6, which shows a flowchart of an example of the second control.

[0116] Even in the second control, it is necessary to determine the protected area to which fire extinguishing liquid is to be sprayed based on the address included in the received fire detection signal, so the control unit 22 stores the protected area (or storage area included in the protected area) to which fire extinguishing liquid is to be sprayed in association with the sensing area (or storage area included in the sensing area).

[0117] Furthermore, the time distribution of the liquid particles and charged liquid particles can be determined arbitrarily, but for example, the control unit 22 can perform the second control so that charged liquid particles are sprayed in all protected areas that are the target of spraying for a predetermined time from the start of spraying, and then liquid particles are sprayed in all protected areas that are the target of spraying after the predetermined time has elapsed.In the early stages of extinguishing a fire after it is detected, charged liquid particles that have a high fire and smoke extinguishing effect are sprayed to extinguish the fire while suppressing its spread, and after a certain amount of time has passed and it is assumed that the fire has been extinguished to a certain extent, the operation of the power supply unit is stopped, making it possible to reduce the power consumption of the protective equipment.

[0118] Similarly to the first control, in the case where fire extinguishing liquid is sprayed on storage compartments A1 to A4, B1 to B4, C1 to C4, and F1 to F4, the second control by the control unit 22 is, for example, as shown in the flowchart of FIG.

[0119] The control unit 22 normally determines whether or not a fire detection signal transmitted by the heat detector 12 is received when the heat detector 12 detects a fire, and when the fire detection signal is received, determines the detection section (or a storage section included in the detection section) from the address included in the fire detection signal (steps S11 to S12). If the control unit 22 does not receive a fire detection signal in step S11, the process returns to before step S11.

[0120] Next, the control unit 22 activates the voltage supply units 16 provided corresponding to the protected compartments covering storage compartments A1 to A4, B1 to B4, C1 to C4, and F1 to F4 to supply a predetermined high voltage to the open head units 14 so that charged liquid particles can be sprayed from the open head units 14 of the protected compartments covering storage compartments A1 to A4, B1 to B4, C1 to C4, and F1 to F4, and activates the pump equipment 18 to enable the supply of fire extinguishing liquid from the pump equipment 18 to the open head units 14 of compartments A to C and F, and opens the on-off valves 20 provided midway along the fire extinguishing liquid piping 26 from the pump equipment 18 to the open head units 14 of compartments A to C and F (steps S13 to S15).

[0121] Next, the control unit 22 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the reception of the fire detection signal, and if it determines that the predetermined time has elapsed, it switches from dispersing charged liquid particles to dispersing liquid particles by stopping the application of voltage by the power supply unit 16 (steps S16 to S17). Note that if the control unit 22 does not determine that the predetermined time has elapsed, the process returns to before step S16 and the dispersing of charged liquid particles continues.

[0122] Next, the control unit 22 detects and determines whether recovery has occurred, such as a recovery operation by the operation unit 32 or the cessation of reception of a fire detection signal from the heat detector 12, and if recovery is detected, the control unit 22 stops the pump equipment 18 and closes the on-off valve 26 to stop the spraying of liquid particles, and then the process returns to before step S1, and the control unit 22 again determines whether a fire detection signal has been received (steps S18 to S20).If recovery is not detected, the control unit 22 again returns to before step S18, and continues the spraying of liquid particles.

[0123] In the above explanation, the spraying of charged liquid particles is switched to that of liquid particles all at once regardless of the location of the protected compartment, but the timing of the switch may be varied depending on the location of the protected compartment, or a protected compartment may be set in which the switch does not occur. For example, since the influence of a fire is less the further away from the storage compartment of the detection compartment where the fire was detected, the time until the switch from charged liquid particles to liquid particles may be set to be shorter the further away from the storage compartment of the detection compartment where the fire was detected, with the storage compartment of the detection compartment where the fire was detected as the center.

[0124] [d. Second embodiment of protective equipment] Next, a second embodiment of the protective equipment will be described with reference to Fig. 7, which shows the configuration of the second embodiment of the protective equipment, and Fig. 8, which shows a flowchart of an example of the third control in the spraying operation of the second embodiment.

[0125] (d1. Configuration of protective equipment) As shown in Figure 7, the second embodiment of the protective equipment differs from the first embodiment in that it is equipped with a smoke detector 13 in addition to a heat detector 12 as an abnormality detector. As the other configurations are basically the same as those of the first embodiment, their explanation will be omitted.

[0126] In the second embodiment, in addition to the heat detector 12, a smoke detector 13 is provided as an abnormality detection unit, and abnormalities including fires are detected by smoke in addition to heat (temperature rise). Furthermore, since the charged liquid particles have a smoke-extinguishing effect in addition to a fire-extinguishing effect, it is possible to respond to abnormalities by spraying charged liquid particles from the open head unit 14 even in the event of an early-stage fire that is difficult to detect with the heat detector 12, or an abnormality that generates smoke even when there is no fire (an abnormality that generates smoke other than a fire).

[0127] (d2. Operation of protective equipment) Next, the operation of the second embodiment of the protective equipment will be described. In the second embodiment, it is possible to perform the spraying operation by the first control and the second control described in the first embodiment, and further, it is possible to perform a third control in which the control unit 22 controls the spraying operation to be different depending on the type of detector that has detected an abnormality.

[0128] In the third control, it is arbitrary how the spraying operation is made different based on the type of detector, but the smoke detector 13 can detect an early stage fire or an abnormality such as smoke being generated even though there is no fire, and when an abnormality is detected by the smoke detector 13, it is assumed that the damage will not have spread and the risk will be lower than when an abnormality is detected by the heat detector 12.Therefore, the control unit 22 performs the third control so that, for example, when an abnormality is detected by the smoke detector 13, the area of ​​the protected area into which the fire extinguishing liquid is sprayed is narrower than when an abnormality is detected by the heat detector 12, thereby avoiding unnecessary water damage.

[0129] Furthermore, in the third control, it is necessary to determine whether the detector that sent the abnormality detection signal is a heat detector 12 or a smoke detector 13, in addition to the detection zone, based on the address included in the abnormality detection signal received by the control unit 22, and therefore different addresses are set for the heat detector 12 and the smoke detector 13 that are installed in the same detection zone. Furthermore, the control unit 22 distinguishes between the cases where the detector is a heat detector 12 and a smoke detector 13, and stores the detection zone (or storage zone included in the detection zone) in association with a protection zone (or storage zone included in the protection zone) that sprays charged liquid particles and a protection zone (or storage zone included in the protection zone) that sprays liquid particles.

[0130] As in the first embodiment, if an abnormality occurs in one of storage compartments B1 to B4 belonging to compartment B of shelf 10 (10-1) shown in (A) of Figure 1, and the abnormality is detected by heat detector 12, charged liquid particles are sprayed in storage compartments B1 to B4, and liquid particles are sprayed in storage compartments A1 to A4, C1 to C4, and F1 to F4, and when the abnormality is detected by smoke detector 13, charged liquid particles are sprayed in storage compartments B1 to B4. In this case, the third control by control unit 22 is, for example, as shown in the flowchart of Figure 8.

[0131] Control unit 22 normally determines whether or not an abnormality detection signal is received, which is transmitted when heat detector 12 or smoke detector 13 detects an abnormality, and when an abnormality detection signal is received, determines the detection section (or storage sections B1 to B4 included in the detection section) from the address included in the abnormality detection signal, and determines the type of detector that sent the signal (steps S21 to S23). Note that if control unit 22 does not receive a fire detection signal in step S21, the process returns to before step S21.

[0132] Next, if the control unit 22 determines that the source of the abnormality detection signal is the heat detector 12, it starts up the voltage supply unit 16 provided corresponding to the storage compartments B1 to B4 to supply a predetermined high voltage to the open head unit 14, starts up the pump equipment 18, and opens the on-off valve 20 provided midway along the fire extinguishing liquid piping 26 from the pump equipment 18 to the open head units 14 of compartments A to C and F, in order to spray charged liquid particles into storage compartments B1 to B4 and perform the spraying operation of spraying liquid particles into storage compartments A1 to A4, C1 to C4, and F1 to F4 (steps S24 to S26).

[0133] On the other hand, if the control unit 22 determines that the source of the abnormality detection signal is a smoke detector 13, it starts up the voltage supply unit 16 provided corresponding to the storage compartments B1 to B4 to supply a predetermined high voltage to the open head unit 14, starts up the pump equipment 18, and opens the on-off valve 20 provided midway along the fire extinguishing liquid piping 26 from the pump equipment 18 to the open head unit 14 of compartment B, in order to perform a spraying operation to spray charged liquid particles into the storage compartments B1 to B4 (steps S27 to S29).

[0134] Next, control unit 22 detects and determines whether recovery has occurred, such as a recovery operation by operation unit 32 or the cessation of reception of fire detection signals from sensors, and if recovery is detected, it stops pump equipment 18, closes on-off valve 26, and stops the application of voltage by power supply unit 16, thereby stopping the spraying of liquid particles and charged liquid particles, and then returns to the process before step S21, and again determines whether a fire detection signal has been received (steps S30 to S33).If control unit 22 does not detect recovery, it returns to the process before step S30, and continues the spraying operation.

[0135] In the above explanation, the spraying operation is varied by changing the storage compartment to which spraying is performed based on the type of sensor that sent the signal. However, the spraying operation may also be varied by, for example, changing the spraying time, the voltage or polarity (charging conditions) supplied from the voltage supply unit, etc.

[0136] [e. Third embodiment of protective equipment] Next, a third embodiment of the protective equipment will be described with reference to Fig. 9 showing the configuration of the third embodiment of the protective equipment.

[0137] As shown in Figure 9, the third embodiment of the protective equipment differs from the first embodiment in that each protected section is provided with a closed head section 15 in addition to an open head section 14 as a means for spraying fire extinguishing liquid. As the other configurations are basically the same as those of the first embodiment, their explanation will be omitted.

[0138] The closed-type head unit 15 has a structure in which the discharge port is opened when the heat-sensing unit is activated upon reaching a predetermined temperature and detecting the heat of a fire, and therefore sprays the extinguishing liquid independently of the control of the control unit 22. In addition, in the third embodiment, the closed-type head unit 15 is provided for the purpose of spraying additional extinguishing liquid into the protected area to enhance the fire extinguishing effect when the spraying from the open-type head unit 14 is not enough to respond to the fire, and the sensitivity of the closed-type head unit 15 to detect the heat of a fire is set to be lower than that of the heat detector 12, so that the extinguishing liquid is sprayed from the closed-type head unit 15 after the open-type head unit 14.

[0139] In addition, in the protective equipment shown in FIG. 9, the open type head portion 14 and the closed type head portion 15 share the fire extinguishing liquid piping 26, but separate fire extinguishing liquid piping 26 may be provided.

[0140] [f. Fourth embodiment of protective equipment] Next, a fourth embodiment of the protective equipment will be described.

[0141] (f1. Configuration of protective equipment) First, the configuration of the protection equipment will be described with reference to Fig. 10 showing the configuration of a fourth embodiment of the protection equipment.

[0142] As shown in Figure 10, the fourth embodiment of the protective equipment differs from the first embodiment in that it is equipped with a smoke detection device 40 as an abnormality detection unit, but the other configurations are basically the same as those of the first embodiment, so their explanation will be omitted.

[0143] The smoke detector 40 is capable of detecting the amount of charge of smoke generated due to an abnormality, determines whether the detected amount of charge is the amount of charge of smoke generated due to an abnormality, and if it determines that the amount of charge is the amount of charge of smoke generated due to an abnormality, senses the abnormality and sends an abnormality detection signal to the control unit 22, and is equipped with, for example, a rotating chopper type Faraday cage structure.

[0144] Furthermore, the smoke detection device 40 equipped with a rotary chopper-type Faraday cage structure can detect the charge polarity of smoke generated due to an abnormality, and includes information about the charge polarity of the smoke in the abnormality detection signal sent to the control unit 22. Therefore, based on the information about the charge polarity of the smoke included in the abnormality detection signal, the control unit 22, upon receiving the abnormality detection signal, can control the spraying operation so that the charge polarity of the charged liquid particles sprayed from the open-type head unit 14 is opposite to the charge polarity of the smoke detected by the smoke detection device 40, thereby efficiently causing the charged liquid particles to adsorb to the smoke particles, causing the smoke to settle quickly.

[0145] (f2. Configuration of smoke detection device) Next, the configuration of a smoke detector equipped with a rotary chopper-type Faraday cage structure will be described. In this description, reference will be made to Fig. 11, which shows the configuration of the smoke detector, and Fig. 12, which shows the main body of the smoke detector. Note that the orientation of the main body in Fig. 12 is upside down compared to Fig. 11, with Fig. 12(A) showing the device as viewed from the left side in Fig. 11, Fig. 12(B) showing the device as viewed from the same side as Fig. 11, and Fig. 12(C) showing the device as viewed from the right side in Fig. 11.

[0146] As shown in FIG. 11, the smoke detection device 40 includes a device main body 42, a rotation drive unit 44, a connecting pipe 46, a charge detection unit 48, a suction unit 50, an operation control unit 52, and an abnormality determination unit 54.

[0147] A rotary electrode, which will be described later, is housed inside the device body 42, and the rotary electrode rotation drive unit 44 is provided with a motor 58 and three gears including gears 6010 and 6012 that constitute the speed reducer unit 60.

[0148] The device body 42 has air inlets and outlets 62, 64 arranged at both axial ends, and in FIG. 11 , the left-side inlet 62 is connected to a suction unit 50 via a flexible connecting pipe 46 made of resin, rubber, or the like. The suction unit 50 houses a motor-driven blower therein, and supplies air sucked in from an intake port 5010 on the left side in FIG. 11 to the device body 42 via the connecting pipe 46. The air supplied to the device body 42 passes through the inside of the device body 42 and is discharged from the inlet and outlet 64. Note that, as an alternative embodiment, the suction unit 50 may be connected to the inlet and outlet 64 side, and the air in the monitoring area may be sucked in from the inlet and outlet 64, passed through the inside of the device body 42, and discharged from the inlet and outlet 62; the direction in which the air passes through the inside of the device body 42 is not limited.

[0149] The charge detection unit 48 is a functional unit realized by, for example, a circuit board arranged in a box-shaped circuit storage unit 49 arranged in the device main body 42, and the charge detection unit 48 outputs a charge detection voltage signal corresponding to the amount of charge of the smoke (smoke particles) contained in the passing atmosphere from output terminals OUT1 and OUT2 to the abnormality determination unit 54 using the electrode structure within the device main body 42.

[0150] The abnormality determination unit 54 determines whether the detected charge amount is the charge amount of smoke generated due to an abnormality based on the charge detection voltage signal output from the charge detection unit 48, and if it determines that the detected charge amount is the charge amount of smoke generated due to an abnormality, it senses the abnormality and outputs an abnormality detection signal to the control unit 22 via the signal line 28.

[0151] The operation control unit 52 controls the operations required to operate the smoke detection device 40. When power is supplied to the smoke detection device 40 via the signal line 28 from the control unit 22, the operation control unit 52 outputs a drive signal to the motor 58 of the rotation drive unit 44 to rotate the rotating electrode located in the device body 42 at a predetermined speed, and outputs a drive signal to the suction unit 50 to start suctioning air and supplying the suctioned air to the device body 42. The device body 42 is also provided with a rotation detector 56 that detects the rotation speed of the rotating electrode, and the operation control unit 52 controls the rotation speed of the motor 58 so as to eliminate the difference between the detected speed of the rotation detector 56 and the predetermined set speed. Note that the operation control unit 52 and the abnormality determination unit 54 are also functional units realized by circuit boards located in the circuit housing unit 49. However, for convenience of explanation, FIG. 11 illustrates the charge detection unit 48 in the position of the circuit housing unit 49, and the operation control unit 52 and the abnormality determination unit 54 in different positions.

[0152] 12, device main body 42 is, for example, a metal cylinder closed at both ends by a flange structure, and is provided with a box-shaped circuit housing section 49 that houses a circuit board for realizing functional sections such as charge detection section 48, and is therefore installed near the ceiling of section 1 (the section at the highest position) of each of sections A to H, using circuit housing section 49 as a base. Note that the orientation of suction port 5010 of suction section 50 when installed is not limited, and may be installed so that it faces downward when installed in each section, for example.

[0153] (f3. Detailed structure of smoke detection device) Next, the detailed structure of the smoke detector will be explained with reference to Fig. 13 showing the internal structure of the smoke detector, Fig. 14 showing the rotating electrode of the device body, Fig. 15 showing the cage electrode of the device body in an exploded state, and Fig. 16 showing the details of the first and second cage electrodes that make up the cage electrode.

[0154] In the description of FIG. 13 , the X, Y, and Z directions are mutually orthogonal. Specifically, when viewing the front surface of the device main body 42 shown in FIG. 13 , the X direction is the left-right direction, the Y direction is the up-down direction, and the Z direction, which faces the paper (not shown), is the front-to-back direction. The +X side of the X direction is the right side, the −X side is the left side, the +Y side of the Y direction is the top side, the −Y side is the bottom side, and the +Z side of the Z direction is the front side, and the −Z side is the rear side. This also applies to FIGS. 14 to 22 . Although the X, Y, and Z directions are also defined in the warehouse facility 1, the X, Y, and Z directions defined in the warehouse facility 1 do not necessarily coincide with the X, Y, and Z directions defined in the smoke detection device 40. Also, FIGS. 13 and 17 show a circuit configuration for implementing the charge detection unit 48 as an internal structure of the circuit housing unit 49, and the circuit is not limited by the directions defined by the X, Y, and Z directions.

[0155] As shown in Figure 13, the device main body 42 is closed by connecting and fixing a flange member 68 to the left side of a cylindrical external electrode 86, and by connecting and fixing a flange member 70 to the right side of the external electrode 86, thereby forming the outer shell of the device main body 42.

[0156] The flange members 68, 70 are integrally formed with internal piping sections 6210, 6410 that continue to the entrances and exits 62, 64 that protrude to the outside, and the internal piping sections 6210, 6410 are arranged at a predetermined distance in the center, and a flue pipe 66 that functions as an insulating pipe member is arranged between the opposing openings of the internal piping sections 6210, 6410.

[0157] The flue pipe 66 is made of Teflon (registered trademark) resin, and if the air passing through it contains electrically charged smoke particles (charged smoke particles), induced polarization of the charges of the charged smoke particles passing through the inside of the flue pipe 66 generates charges of the opposite polarity to the charges of the charged smoke particles on the inner circumferential surface, and charges of the same polarity as the charges of the charged smoke particles on the outer circumferential surface. For example, if the charged smoke particles have a positive charge (positive polarity), a negative charge is generated on the inner circumferential surface of the flue pipe 66, and a positive charge is generated on the outer circumferential surface. Conversely, if the charged smoke particles have a negative charge (negative polarity), a positive charge is generated on the inner circumferential surface of the flue pipe 66, and a negative charge is generated on the outer circumferential surface.

[0158] A rotary electrode 76 is concentrically (coaxially) disposed on the outside of the flue pipe 66 and is rotatable by bearings 72, 74 disposed on both sides.

[0159] The rotating electrode 76 has a structure shown in Fig. 14. Fig. 14(A) shows a plan view, Fig. 14(B) shows a cross section taken along line aa in Fig. 14(A), Fig. 14(C) shows a cross section taken along line bb in Fig. 14(A), Fig. 14(D) shows a left side view, and Fig. 14(E) shows a right side view.

[0160] 14, the rotating electrode 76 is a metallic cylindrical member having an internal passage 7616, with rectangular openings 7612 and 7614 that are long in the left-right direction opening into diametrically opposed cylindrical surfaces 7610. A flange 7618 for connecting to the rotation drive unit is formed at the right end of the rotating electrode 76, and screw holes 7620 are formed in four locations on the flange 7618. A ground ring 7622 for establishing a ground connection while the rotating electrode 76 is rotated is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the left end side of the rotating electrode 76.

[0161] The rotation drive unit 44 reduces the rotation of the motor 58 using gears 6010, 6012, and 6014 of the speed reducer 60, and transmits the reduced rotation to the rotary electrode 76, which is rotatably supported by bearings 72 and 74. The rotary electrode 76 can rotate at any speed, for example, 200 rpm.

[0162] In the rotating electrode 76, the area through which the electric field lines pass due to the charges generated by induced polarization on the outer surface of the flue pipe 66 is restricted to the rectangular openings 7612 and 7614. Since the positions of the rectangular openings 7612 and 7614 move as the rotating electrode 76 rotates, the positions through which the electric field lines pass also change depending on the positions of the rectangular openings 7612 and 7614.

[0163] Furthermore, a rotation detector 56 is provided on the left flange portion 68. The rotation detector 56 is composed of a slit disk 5610 fixed to the left end of the rotating electrode 76 and a photointerrupter 5612 arranged between the light receiving portion and the light emitting portion so that the slit disk 5610 passes through it, and detects the rotation speed of the rotating electrode 76 in pulse form and outputs it to the operation control portion 52.

[0164] A cage electrode is arranged concentrically (coaxially) around the rotating electrode 76. The cage electrode has the structure shown in Figures 15 and 16, and is composed of a first cage electrode 78 and a second cage electrode 80. Note that Figure 16(A) shows a plan view of the first and second cage electrodes in an assembled and disassembled state, Figure 16(B) shows a front view of the first and second cage electrodes in an assembled state, Figure 16(C) shows the assembled state of the first and second cage electrodes, and Figure 16(D) shows a cross section taken along line cc in Figure 16(C).

[0165] As shown in Figure 13, the first cage electrode 78 and the second cage electrode 80 are fixedly arranged concentrically (coaxially) on the outside of the rotating electrode 76, and are insulated and separated from the inner rotating electrode 76 and the outer external electrode 86 by insulating rings 82, 84.

[0166] As shown in Figures 15 and 16, the first cage electrode 78, which is fixed to the left side of the device body 42, is a cylindrical metal member and has an electrode structure in which a pair of curved electrode pieces 7812, 7814 are notched (extending) from a circular ring portion 7810 at the left end to the right side.

[0167] The second cage electrode 80, which is fixed to the right side of the device main body 42, is a cylindrical metal member and has an electrode structure in which a pair of curved electrode pieces 8012, 8014 are notched (extending) from a circular ring portion 8010 at the right end to the left side.

[0168] The first cage electrode 78 and the second cage electrode 80 are arranged opposite and separated from each other such that the curved electrode pieces 8012 and 8014 of the second cage electrode 80 are located between the curved electrode pieces 7812 and 7814 of the first cage electrode 78, for example.

[0169] As electric field lines due to the charges induced on the outer peripheral surface of the flue pipe 66 pass through the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 of the rotating electrode 76, charges of opposite polarity to the charges on the outer peripheral surface of the flue pipe 66 are generated by electrostatic induction in the parts of the cage electrode corresponding to the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 of the rotating electrode 76. The area of ​​the first cage electrode 78 facing the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 changes periodically as the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 rotate, and therefore the amount of induced charge induced in the first cage electrode 78 changes periodically.

[0170] The same is true for the second cage electrode 80; the area of ​​the second cage electrode 80 facing the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 changes periodically as the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 rotate, and therefore the amount of induced charge induced in the second cage electrode 80 also changes periodically.

[0171] Furthermore, since the curved electrode pieces 8012, 8014 of the second cage electrode 80 are positioned at a position rotated 90° around the left-right axis relative to the curved electrode pieces 7812, 7814 of the first cage electrode 78, the periodic change in the amount of induced charge induced in the second cage electrode 80 has a phase difference (time delay) of 90° with respect to the periodic change in the amount of induced charge induced in the first cage electrode 78.

[0172] Here, the first cage electrode 78 and the second cage electrode 80 (cage electrodes) correspond to the inner Faraday cage in a rotary chopper type Faraday cage, and the external electrode 86 placed outside the cage electrodes and grounded corresponds to the outer Faraday cage, and the rotary electrode 76 functions as a rotary chopper that alternately induces electric charges in the inner Faraday cage (cage electrode) as the rectangular opening rotates.

[0173] (f4. Charge detection section) Next, the charge detection unit will be described with reference to Fig. 17, which shows the vicinity of the circuit housing unit in Fig. 13 together with an oscilloscope.

[0174] The charge detection unit 48 is a functional unit realized by a circuit unit mounted on the circuit board 95, and outputs the potential difference between the external electrode 86 and each of the first cage electrode 78 and the second cage electrode 80, where charges corresponding to the charges of charged smoke particles contained in the air passing through the flue pipe 66 are electrostatically induced on the outer surface as the rotating electrode 76 rotates, as charge detection voltage signals V1 and V2.

[0175] The circuit section (first charge detection circuit section) that outputs the charge detection voltage signal V1 includes an operational amplifier 92 and a feedback resistor 96, and the grounded external electrode 86 is connected to the non-inverting input terminal (+ input terminal) of the operational amplifier 92 via an electrode pin 89, and the first cage electrode 78 is connected to the inverting input terminal (- input terminal) of the operational amplifier 92 via an electrode pin 88 and is also connected to the output terminal of the operational amplifier 92 via the feedback resistor 96.

[0176] When negative feedback is applied via the feedback resistor 96, the operational amplifier 92 performs an imaginary short operation (virtual ground) so that the potential difference between the non-inverting input terminal (+ input terminal) and the inverting input terminal (- input terminal) becomes 0V, thereby converting the amount of induced charge in the first cage electrode 78 into a charge detection voltage signal V1 and outputting it from OUT1.

[0177] Furthermore, the amount of induced charge in the first cage electrode 78 varies sinusoidally in synchronization with the rotation of the rotating electrode 76, and therefore the charge detection voltage signal V1 also varies sinusoidally. For example, if the charge detection voltage signal V1 obtained when positively charged smoke particles pass through the flue pipe 66 is input to an oscilloscope 100 and observed, a sinusoidal waveform 102 such as that shown by the solid line on the screen of the oscilloscope 100 in FIG. 17 will appear.

[0178] The circuit section (second charge detection circuit section) that outputs the charge detection voltage signal V2 is basically the same as the first charge detection circuit section, and is equipped with an operational amplifier 94 and a feedback resistor 98, with the grounded external electrode 86 connected to the non-inverting input terminal (+ input terminal) of the operational amplifier 94 via an electrode pin 91, and the second cage electrode 80 connected to the inverting input terminal (- input terminal) of the operational amplifier 94 via an electrode pin 90 and also connected to the output terminal of the operational amplifier 94 via a feedback resistor 98.

[0179] When negative feedback is applied via the feedback resistor 98, the operational amplifier 94 performs an imaginary short operation (virtual ground) so that the potential difference between the non-inverting input terminal (+ input terminal) and the inverting input terminal (- input terminal) becomes 0V, thereby converting the amount of induced charge in the second cage electrode 80 into a charge detection voltage signal V2 and outputting it from OUT2.

[0180] Furthermore, because the amount of induced charge in the second cage electrode 80 also varies sinusoidally in synchronization with the rotation of the rotating electrode 76, the charge detection voltage signal V2 also varies sinusoidally, with a phase difference of 90° between the charge detection voltage signal V2 and the charge detection voltage signal V1. For example, if the charge detection voltage signal V2 obtained when positively charged smoke particles pass through the flue pipe 66 is input to and observed on the oscilloscope 100, a sinusoidal waveform 104 will appear as shown by the dotted line on the screen of the oscilloscope 100 in Figure 17.

[0181] Furthermore, for example, if the rotation speed of the rotary electrode 76 is 200 rpm, the charge detection voltage signals V1 and V2 are observed as sine waveforms with a frequency of 3.3 Hz.

[0182] (f5. Rotational position of the rotating electrode and charge generation of the cage electrode) Next, the rotational position of the rotating electrode and the generation of charge on the cage electrode will be explained. In this explanation, reference will be made to Fig. 18, which shows the rotational position of the rotating electrode relative to the flue pipe and cage electrode, which are fixedly arranged concentrically (coaxially), at rotational positions of 0°, 45°, 90°, and 135°; Fig. 19, which shows the charge distribution on the flue pipe and cage electrode when the rotating electrode is rotated at 0°; Fig. 20, which shows the charge distribution on the flue pipe and cage electrode when the rotating electrode is rotated at 45°; Fig. 21, which shows the charge distribution on the flue pipe and cage electrode when the rotating electrode is rotated at 90°; Fig. 22, which shows the charge distribution on the flue pipe and cage electrode when the rotating electrode is rotated at 135°; and Fig. 23, which shows the charge detection voltage signal that changes sinusoidally in response to the rotational position of the rotating electrode in Figs. 19 to 22.

[0183] Figures 18(A) to (D) show the rotational positions of the rotating electrode 76 at 0°, 45°, 90°, and 135°, and for ease of understanding, markers 75 are shown to indicate the rotational positions of the rotating electrode 76.

[0184] When the rotating electrode 76 is at a rotational position of 0° as shown in Figure 18(A), the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 of the rotating electrode 76 are positioned above and below the curved electrode pieces 7812, 7814 that are located above and below the fixedly arranged first cage electrode 78, and the opposing area of ​​the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 relative to the curved electrode pieces 7812, 7814 is maximized, and the amount of induced charge induced in the curved electrode pieces 7812, 7814 is maximized.

[0185] On the other hand, the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 of the rotating electrode 76 do not face the curved electrode pieces 8012, 8014 located in front of and behind the fixedly arranged second cage electrode 80, and the opposing area of ​​the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 to the curved electrode pieces 8012, 8014 is minimum (zero here), and the amount of induced charge in the curved electrode pieces 8012, 8014 is zero.

[0186] When the rotating electrode 76 is rotated at 45° as shown in Figure 18(B), a portion (here, approximately half) of the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 of the rotating electrode 76 faces the curved electrode pieces 7812, 7814 located above and below the fixedly arranged first cage electrode 78, and the opposing area of ​​the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 with respect to the curved electrode pieces 7812, 7814 decreases to approximately half from its maximum, and the amount of induced charge induced in the curved electrode pieces 7812, 7814 also decreases from the maximum induced charge amount to approximately half of the maximum induced charge amount.

[0187] On the other hand, a portion (here, approximately half) of the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 of the rotating electrode 76 faces the curved electrode pieces 8012, 8014 located in front of and behind the fixedly arranged second cage electrode 80, and the facing area of ​​the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 relative to the curved electrode pieces 8012, 8014 increases from zero to approximately half of the maximum, and the amount of induced charge induced in the curved electrode pieces 8012, 8014 also increases from zero to approximately half of the maximum induced charge amount.

[0188] When the rotating electrode 76 is rotated at 90° as shown in Figure 18(C), the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 of the rotating electrode 76 do not face the curved electrode pieces 7812, 7814 located above and below the fixedly arranged first cage electrode 78, and the opposing area of ​​the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 to the curved electrode pieces 7812, 7814 is minimum (zero here), and is zero for the curved electrode pieces 7812, 7814.

[0189] On the other hand, the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 of the rotating electrode 76 are located in front and behind the curved electrode pieces 8012, 8014, which are located in front and behind the fixedly arranged second cage electrode 80, so the opposing area of ​​the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 with respect to the curved electrode pieces 8012, 8014 is maximized, and the amount of induced charge induced in the curved electrode pieces 8012, 8014 is maximized.

[0190] When the rotating electrode 76 is rotated at a position of 135° as shown in Figure 18(D), a portion (here, approximately half) of the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 of the rotating electrode 76 faces the curved electrode pieces 7812, 7814 located above and below the fixedly arranged first cage electrode 78, and the opposing area of ​​the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 relative to the curved electrode pieces 7812, 7814 increases to approximately half of its maximum, and the amount of induced charge induced in the curved electrode pieces 7812, 7814 also increases from zero to approximately half of the maximum induced charge amount.

[0191] On the other hand, a portion (here, approximately half) of the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 of the rotating electrode 76 faces the curved electrode pieces 8012, 8014 located in front of and behind the fixedly arranged second cage electrode 80, and the facing area of ​​the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 with respect to the curved electrode pieces 8012, 8014 is reduced to approximately half of its maximum, and the amount of induced charge induced in the curved electrode pieces 8012, 8014 is also reduced from the maximum induced charge amount to approximately half of the maximum induced charge amount.

[0192] When the rotary electrode 76 is further rotated clockwise by 45° from the state of FIG. 18(D), it becomes the same state as FIG. 18(A), and thereafter the states of FIGS. 18(A) to 18(D) are repeated in order.

[0193] Next, the rotational position of the rotating electrode and the generation of charge on the cage electrode will be specifically described with reference to Figures 19 to 23. In Figures 19 to 23, the case where positively charged smoke particles are passing through the inside of the flue pipe 66 will be described.

[0194] Figure 19 shows the case where the rotating electrode 76 shown in Figure 18(A) is positioned at a rotational position of 0°, and due to induced polarization in the flue pipe 66, which acts as an insulator, based on the positive charge of the charged smoke particles passing through the flue pipe 66, a negative charge is induced on the inner surface of the flue pipe 66 and a positive charge is induced on the outer surface.

[0195] At this time, the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 of the rotating electrode 76 face the curved electrode pieces 7812, 7814 of the first cage electrode 78, the opposing area of ​​the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 relative to the curved electrode pieces 7812, 7814 is maximized, and electrostatic induction induces a negative charge, which represents the maximum amount of induced charge, on the inner surfaces of the curved electrode pieces 7812, 7814, and a positive charge on the outer surfaces. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 23, at a rotational position of 0°, the charge detection voltage signal V1 output from the first charge detection circuit reaches a peak value Vp corresponding to the maximum amount of induced charge.

[0196] In contrast, the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 of the rotating electrode 76 do not face the curved electrode pieces 8012, 8014 of the second cage electrode 80, the opposing area of ​​the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 with respect to the curved electrode pieces 8012, 8014 is minimum (zero in this case), the electric field lines caused by the positive charge induced on the outer peripheral surface of the flue pipe 66 are blocked by the cylindrical surface 4610 of the rotating electrode 76 and do not pass through, and the amount of induced charge on the curved electrode pieces 8012, 8014 is zero. For this reason, as shown in Figure 23, at a rotational position of 0°, the charge detection voltage signal V2 output from the second charge detection circuit has a minimum value of 0 V.

[0197] Next, Figure 20 shows the case where the rotating electrode 76 shown in Figure 18(B) is positioned at a rotational position of 45°, and the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 of the rotating electrode 76 face a portion (here, approximately half) of the curved electrode pieces 7812, 7814 of the first cage electrode 78 and a portion (here, approximately half) of the curved electrode pieces 8012, 8014 of the second cage electrode 80, and the induced charge amount of the dielectric charge of the curved electrode pieces 7812, 7814 decreases from the maximum dielectric charge amount to approximately half of the maximum dielectric charge amount, and the induced charge amount of the dielectric charge of the curved electrode pieces 8012, 8014 increases from zero to approximately half of the maximum dielectric charge amount.

[0198] Therefore, as shown in Figure 23, at a rotational position of 45°, the charge detection voltage signal V1 output from the first charge detection circuit unit decreases to approximately half of the peak value Vp, and the charge detection voltage signal V2 output from the second charge detection circuit unit increases to approximately half of the peak value Vp.

[0199] 21 shows the case where the rotating electrode 76 shown in FIG. 18(C) is at a rotational position of 90°, in which the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 of the rotating electrode 76 face the curved electrode pieces 8012, 8014 of the second cage electrode 80, the opposing area of ​​the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 relative to the curved electrode pieces 8012, 8014 is maximized, and the amount of induced charge in the curved electrode pieces 8012, 8014 increases from approximately half of the maximum amount of induced charge to the maximum amount of induced charge. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 23, at a rotational position of 90°, the charge detection voltage signal V2 output from the second charge detection circuit increases to a peak value Vp.

[0200] In contrast, the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 of the rotating electrode 76 do not face the curved electrode pieces 7812, 7812 of the first cage electrode 78, so the opposing area of ​​the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 to the curved electrode pieces 7812, 7812 is minimized (zero in this case), and the amount of dielectric charge in the curved electrode pieces 7812, 7814 decreases from approximately half the maximum amount of dielectric charge to zero. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 23, at the rotational position of 90°, the charge detection voltage signal V1 output from the first charge detection circuit decreases to the minimum value of 0 V.

[0201] Next, Figure 22 shows the case where the rotating electrode 76 shown in Figure 18(D) is positioned at a rotational position of 135°, in which the rectangular openings 7612, 7614 of the rotating electrode 76 face a portion (here, approximately half) of the curved electrode pieces 7812, 7814 of the first cage electrode 78 and a portion (here, approximately half) of the curved electrode pieces 8012, 8014 of the second cage electrode 80, and the induced charge amount of the dielectric charge of the curved electrode pieces 7812, 7814 increases from zero to approximately half of the maximum dielectric charge amount, and the induced charge amount of the dielectric charge of the curved electrode pieces 8012, 8014 decreases from the maximum dielectric charge amount to approximately half of the maximum dielectric charge amount.

[0202] Therefore, as shown in Figure 23, at a rotational position of 135°, the charge detection voltage signal V1 output from the first charge detection circuit unit increases to approximately half of the peak value Vp, and the charge detection voltage signal V2 output from the second charge detection circuit unit decreases to approximately half of the peak value Vp.

[0203] When the rotating electrode 76 is rotated a further 45° clockwise from the state shown in Figure 22, the state becomes the same as that shown in Figure 19, and the states shown in Figures 19 to 22 are then repeated in sequence. When negatively charged smoke particles pass through the inside of the flue pipe 66, the polarities of the charges shown in the flue pipe 66, first cage electrode 78, and second cage electrode 80 shown in Figures 19 to 22 become reversed, and the peak value Vp of the charge detection voltage signals V1 and V2 shown in Figure 23 becomes a negative signal.

[0204] (f6. Abnormality judgment part) Next, the abnormality determination unit 54 will be described. The abnormality determination unit 54 uses the charge detection voltage signals V1 and V2 based on the amount of charge detected by the charge detection unit 48 to determine whether the amount of charge detected by the charge detection unit 48 is the amount of charge of smoke generated due to an abnormality, and senses an abnormality when it determines that the detected amount of charge is the amount of charge of smoke generated due to an abnormality. The determination method is arbitrary, and the following determination method is one example.

[0205] When charged smoke particles pass through the inside of the flue pipe 66, the abnormality determination unit 54 receives the charge detection voltage signals V1, V2 that change periodically between the peak value Vp and zero as shown in Figure 23.Therefore, there is a method for determining whether the amount of charge detected by the charge detection unit 48 is the amount of charged charge of smoke generated due to an abnormality, based on the absolute value of the peak value Vp of the charge detection voltage signals V1, V2.For example, the absolute value of the peak value Vp is compared with a predetermined threshold, and if the absolute value of the peak value Vp is equal to or greater than the threshold, it is determined that the amount of charged charge of smoke generated due to an abnormality, and if the absolute value of the peak value Vp is below the threshold, it is determined that the amount of charged charge of smoke generated due to an abnormality is not.

[0206] The absolute value of the peak value Vp is used for the judgment because the peak value Vp will be a negative value when negatively charged smoke particles pass through the flue pipe 66, and a positive value when positively charged smoke particles pass through the flue pipe 66, and a common threshold value is used for the peak value Vp, which will be positive or negative depending on the polarity of the charged smoke particles. Alternatively, a threshold value for when negatively charged smoke particles pass through the flue pipe 66 and a threshold value for when positively charged smoke particles pass through the flue pipe 66 may be set separately, and judgment may be made based on the peak value Vp.

[0207] Furthermore, the peak value Vp used for the judgment does not have to be one, and multiple peak values ​​Vp that differ on the time axis (different depending on the rotational position of the rotating electrode 106) may be used for the judgment. When multiple peak values ​​Vp are used, the judgment is made, for example, by comparing the absolute value of the average value of the peak values ​​Vp with a threshold. When multiple peak values ​​Vp are used, the peak value Vp of only the charge detection voltage signal V1 or only the charge detection voltage signal V2 may be used, or of course the peak values ​​Vp of both the charge detection voltage signals V1 and V2 may be used. When the judgment is made using one peak value Vp, the peak value Vp of either the charge detection voltage signal V1 or V2 is used.

[0208] Furthermore, since the abnormality determination unit 54 receives two charge detection voltage signals, charge detection voltage signals V1 and V2, in addition to comparing the absolute value of the peak value Vp with a predetermined threshold, it may also compare the peak value Vp of charge detection voltage signal V1 with the peak value Vp of charge detection voltage signal V2 and determine whether the amount of charge detected by the charge detection unit 48 is the amount of electrified charge of smoke generated due to an abnormality.

[0209] Although a 90° phase difference occurs between the charge detection voltage signals V1 and V2 when charged smoke particles pass through the inside of the flue pipe 66, there is almost no difference in the peak value Vp. Therefore, if the absolute value of the peak value Vp used for the judgment is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the peak value Vp of the charge detection voltage signal V1 is compared with the peak value Vp of the charge detection voltage signal V2, and the error between the peak value Vp of the charge detection voltage signal V1 and the peak value Vp of the charge detection voltage signal V2 is calculated, for example. If the error is within 10%, it is judged that the charge amount of smoke has been generated due to an abnormality, and if the error exceeds 10%, it is judged that the charge amount of smoke has not been generated due to an abnormality, thereby improving the judgment accuracy.

[0210] Furthermore, when comparing the peak value Vp of the charge detection voltage signal V1 with the peak value Vp of the charge detection voltage signal V2, it is not necessary to use one peak value Vp; multiple peak values ​​Vp may be used. If multiple peak values ​​Vp are used, the comparison is made using, for example, the average values ​​of the peak values ​​Vp.

[0211] Another method of determination is to determine whether the detected charge amount is the charge amount of smoke generated due to an abnormality based on the absolute value of the integral value of the voltage of the charge detection voltage signals V1 and V2 over a specified period of time. For example, the absolute value of the integral value is compared with a specified threshold value, and if the absolute value of the integral value is greater than or equal to the threshold value, it is determined to be the charge amount of smoke generated due to an abnormality, and if the absolute value of the integral value is less than the threshold value, it is determined to be not the charge amount of smoke generated due to an abnormality.

[0212] Here, the period for obtaining the integral value is arbitrary, but for example, the starting point is set to the rising edge of the signal (when the charge detection voltage signal is at its minimum) or the falling edge (when the charge detection voltage signal reaches its peak value Vp), and the integral value is obtained over a predetermined period from the starting point, for example, a period of one cycle or half a cycle. Furthermore, the starting point, such as the rising edge or the falling edge, may be detected based on the voltage of the charge detection voltage signals V1 and V2, or may be detected based on the rotational position of the rotating electrode 76.

[0213] The absolute value of the integral value is used for the judgment in order to make the threshold common when negatively charged smoke particles pass through the inside of the flue pipe 66 and when positively charged smoke particles pass through the inside of the flue pipe 66. If the threshold value when negatively charged smoke particles pass through the inside of the flue pipe 66 and the threshold value when positively charged smoke particles pass through the inside of the flue pipe 66 are set separately, the judgment can be made using the integral value.

[0214] The integral value used for the judgment may be the integral value of only the charge detection voltage signal V1 or only the integral value of the charge detection voltage signal V2, or may naturally be the integral values ​​of both the charge detection voltage signals V1 and V2. When multiple integral values ​​are used for the judgment, for example, the average value of the integral values ​​is used for the judgment.

[0215] Furthermore, since the abnormality determination unit 54 receives two charge detection voltage signals, charge detection voltage signals V1 and V2, in addition to comparing the absolute value of the integral value with a predetermined threshold, it may also compare the integral value of charge detection voltage signal V1 with the integral value of charge detection voltage signal V2 and then determine whether the amount of charge detected by the charge detection unit 48 is the amount of electrified charge of smoke generated due to an abnormality.

[0216] Although a 90° phase difference occurs between the charge detection voltage signals V1 and V2 when charged smoke particles pass through the inside of the flue pipe 66, there is almost no difference in the peak value Vp or the duration of one cycle, and therefore there is almost no difference in the integral values ​​when the conditions for calculating the integral value (starting point, duration, etc.) are the same. For this reason, if the absolute value of the integral value is equal to or greater than the threshold, the integral value of the charge detection voltage signal V1 and the integral value of the charge detection voltage signal V2 calculated under the same conditions are compared to calculate the error between the integral value of the charge detection voltage signal V1 and the integral value of the charge detection voltage signal V2, for example. If the error is within 10%, it is determined that the charge amount of smoke generated by an abnormality is due to smoke, but if the error exceeds 10%, it is determined that the charge amount of smoke generated by an abnormality is not due to smoke.

[0217] In addition, the judgment may be made based on both the peak value Vp and the integral value, or other appropriate conditions related to the amount of charged charge, such as the change over time (degree of change, rate of change, amount of change) of the charge detection voltage signals V1 and V2, may be set and the judgment may be made by setting appropriate conditions related to the amount of charged charge.

[0218] Furthermore, when positively charged smoke particles pass through the inside of the flue pipe 66, the peak value Vp and the integral value are positive values, and when negatively charged smoke particles pass through the inside of the flue pipe 66, the peak value Vp and the integral value are negative values.Therefore, whether the method of judgment using the peak value Vp or the method of judgment using the integral value is used, the abnormality judgment unit 54 can detect the polarity of the charge of smoke (charged smoke particles) generated due to an abnormality based on the polarity (positive or negative value) of the peak value Vp or the integral value; if the peak value Vp or the integral value is a positive value, the polarity of the charge of the smoke is positive, and if the peak value Vp or the integral value is a negative value, the polarity of the charge of the smoke is negative.

[0219] When the abnormality determination unit 54 determines that the amount of charge detected by the charge detection unit 48 is the amount of charge of smoke generated by an abnormality and detects an abnormality, it transmits an abnormality detection signal containing information about the charge polarity of the smoke to the control unit 22. Note that the operation of the protective equipment after the control unit 22 receives the abnormality detection signal and determines that an abnormality has occurred is basically the same as in the first embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0220] [g. Fifth embodiment of protective equipment] Next, a fifth embodiment of the protective equipment will be described.

[0221] (g1. Configuration of protective equipment) First, the configuration of the protective equipment will be described with reference to Fig. 24 showing the configuration of a fifth embodiment of the protective equipment.

[0222] As shown in Figure 24, the fifth embodiment of the protective equipment differs from the first embodiment in that it is equipped with an oxygen concentration detection unit 200 as an abnormality detection unit, but the other configurations are basically the same as those of the first embodiment, so their explanation will be omitted.

[0223] The oxygen concentration detection unit 200 is capable of detecting the oxygen concentration that increases with the temperature rise that leads to thermal runaway of the lithium ion battery, and detects thermal runaway of the lithium ion battery as an abnormality based on the detected oxygen concentration, and sends an abnormality detection signal to the control unit 22.

[0224] (g2. Changes in oxygen concentration during thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries) Next, we will explain the change in oxygen concentration during thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries, with reference to Figure 25, which shows the time-dependent change in oxygen concentration measured in a fire experiment using lithium-ion batteries.

[0225] First, to briefly explain lithium-ion batteries and their thermal runaway, lithium-ion batteries are mainly composed of a positive electrode portion, a negative electrode portion, a separator separating the positive and negative electrode portions, and an electrolyte filled in each of the positive and negative electrode portions. When charging or discharging a lithium-ion battery, lithium ions move through the electrolyte via the separator, and charging occurs when lithium ions on the positive electrode portion move to the negative electrode portion, creating a potential difference between the positive and negative electrode portions. On the other hand, discharging occurs when lithium ions on the negative electrode portion move to the positive electrode portion, creating a potential difference between the positive and negative electrode portions.

[0226] "Thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries" is a phenomenon in which, due to certain causes, a lithium-ion battery enters an abnormal heat state that can reach high temperatures of 1000-1200°C, and in the worst case, may ignite or explode. If the battery ignites or explodes, it may develop into a violent fire. The causes of thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries can be mainly divided into physical and electrical causes. Furthermore, when a lithium-ion battery experiences thermal runaway, it will emit gas (white smoke) containing various combustion products such as hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide.

[0227] The "physical cause of thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries" is physical damage or deformation of any part of the lithium-ion battery, such as damage to the separator due to impact or pressure. If the separator is damaged, a short circuit occurs between the positive and negative electrodes. When a short circuit occurs, current flows suddenly to the negative electrode, causing the negative electrode to heat up. The heated negative electrode heats the positive electrode, causing a heat-generating reaction in the positive electrode. This triggers various heat-generating chemical reactions, such as reactions between the negative and positive electrodes and the electrolyte, decomposition of the electrolyte itself, and combustion reactions caused by oxygen released by sparks or the collapse of the crystalline structure of the positive electrode, ultimately leading to thermal runaway.

[0228] In addition, the "electrical causes of thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries" are overcharging and overdischarging. When a battery is overcharged, the potential of the positive electrode increases relative to the negative electrode, causing the electrolyte to oxidize and decompose, resulting in heat generation in the positive electrode. This heat gradually causes the separator to shrink and deform, resulting in a short circuit between the positive and negative electrodes. This, in turn, induces various heat-generating chemical reactions, as well as accelerates the separator's shrinkage and deformation, ultimately leading to thermal runaway.

[0229] The inventors of the present application found that, among the combustion products generated during thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, benzene, butadiene, etc., can be difficult to measure experimentally, while carbon dioxide and oxygen are relatively easy to measure experimentally. Therefore, they focused on oxygen among the combustion products generated during thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries, and conducted fire experiments on lithium-ion batteries to measure changes in oxygen concentration during thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries.

[0230] The lithium-ion battery fire experiment was conducted by placing an 18650-type lithium-ion battery in a chamber of a specified size and heating the lithium-ion battery from below with a rod heater, and measuring the heating temperature of the rod heater, the temperature of the lithium-ion battery, and the oxygen concentration in the chamber. Note that the temperature of the lithium-ion battery was measured by measuring the temperature of the upper side (non-heated surface) opposite the lower side heated by the rod heater, and the oxygen concentration in the chamber was measured by placing an oxygen concentration meter at a specified height away from the lithium-ion battery.

[0231] Figure 25 shows the time-dependent change in oxygen concentration obtained in the fire experiment, along with the time-dependent changes in the heating temperature of the rod heater and the temperature of the lithium-ion battery. As shown by the dotted lines in Figure 25, heating by the rod heater began after about 5 minutes had elapsed, and the heating temperature was gradually increased until about 40 minutes had elapsed.

[0232] As shown by the solid line in Figure 25, the temperature of the lithium-ion battery rises due to heating by the rod heater. When the temperature reaches approximately 150°C, the safety valve activates, causing a temporary drop in temperature. However, the temperature then rises rapidly to approximately 550°C due to thermal runaway. Furthermore, as shown by the dashed-dotted line in Figure 25, the oxygen concentration gradually increases as the temperature of the lithium-ion battery rises. At the time the safety valve activates, the concentration is approximately 1 vol% higher than before heating by the rod heater. After thermal runaway, the concentration is again approximately 1 vol% higher than before the safety valve activates. This change in oxygen concentration confirmed the release of oxygen from the lithium-ion battery as the temperature rises to thermal runaway. As mentioned above, oxygen is released from the lithium-ion battery because the temperature rise causes an exothermic reaction (thermal decomposition) in the positive electrode, which causes the crystalline structure of the positive electrode to collapse.

[0233] For this reason, the oxygen concentration detection unit 200 presets a threshold value corresponding to the oxygen concentration at the timing when the safety valve operates (the timing just before thermal runaway occurs) as a condition for detecting thermal runaway of the lithium ion battery, compares the detected oxygen concentration with the threshold value, and if an oxygen concentration equal to or greater than the threshold value is detected, it detects thermal runaway of the lithium ion battery.

[0234] 25, the oxygen concentration is approximately 21.8 vol% when the safety valve operates, and the oxygen concentration after thermal runaway rises to approximately 22.8 vol%, but this oxygen concentration is merely an example of data obtained through experiments and is not limited to this numerical value, and the oxygen concentration threshold set in the oxygen concentration detection unit 200 may also be an appropriate value. Furthermore, the detection of thermal runaway of a lithium ion battery based on the oxygen concentration by the oxygen concentration detection unit 200 is not limited to using the value of the oxygen concentration as a condition, and thermal runaway of a lithium ion battery may also be detected using, for example, the amount of change or rate of change (amount of change / time) of the oxygen concentration as a condition.

[0235] [h. Modifications of the present invention] Modifications of the protective equipment according to the present invention will now be described. In addition to the above-described embodiment, the protective equipment according to the present invention includes the following modifications.

[0236] (Protected area) In the above embodiment, the protective equipment is intended for a warehouse facility, but the protected area is not limited to this. For example, the protective equipment may be intended for an energy storage facility having a shelf structure and equipped with a battery cluster housing storage batteries such as lithium-ion batteries.

[0237] (Detection area and protection area) In the above embodiment, there are eight detection compartments corresponding to the shelf compartments A to H, and 32 protection compartments corresponding to the shelf storage compartments A1 to H4, but this is not limited to this. For example, like the protection compartments, there may be 32 detection compartments corresponding to the storage compartments A1 to H4, and the storage compartments, detection compartments, and protection compartments may be the same compartment, in which case the location of the fire can be identified for each storage compartment.

[0238] (Shut-off valve) In the above embodiment, the on-off valves are provided at positions after the fire extinguishing liquid piping 26 branches into each of the compartments A to H, and when the on-off valves are opened, fire extinguishing liquid is sprayed from the four storage compartments included in the corresponding compartments, but this is not limited to this. For example, the on-off valves may be provided at positions after the fire extinguishing liquid piping 26 branches into each of the compartments A to H and then further branches into compartments 1 to 4, in which case it is possible to spray fire extinguishing liquid on a storage compartment-by-storage compartment basis.

[0239] (Number and location of sensors and heads) In the above embodiment, two sensors are installed for one detection area and two open head units are installed for one protection area, and in the third embodiment, two open head units are installed in addition to one closed head unit, but the number is arbitrary, and the installation location is also arbitrary as long as it can correctly detect abnormalities and can spray fire extinguishing liquid onto the target protection area.

[0240] (Human-operated spraying of fire extinguishing fluid) In the above embodiment, the spraying operation of the protective equipment is described as being controlled by the control unit, but this is not limited to this. For example, the spraying operation may be performed by selecting the area to be sprayed and whether to charge the area by operating the operation unit.

[0241] (Voltage supply unit) In the above embodiment, the voltage supply units were provided individually for each protected area, but it is also possible to provide a common voltage supply unit for the entire protective equipment or for each shelf, etc., and to pull out individual high-voltage cables from the common voltage supply unit to the open head unit of each protected area.

[0242] (Protective equipment combining multiple embodiments) In the above embodiments, the first embodiment is taken as the basic embodiment, and the second embodiment adds a smoke detector as the abnormality detector, the third embodiment adds a closed-type head unit, the fourth embodiment includes a smoke detection device as the abnormality detector, and the fifth embodiment includes an oxygen concentration detector as the abnormality detector. However, embodiments combining the second to fifth embodiments are also possible. For example, the second and third embodiments may be combined to provide protective equipment that includes a heat detector and a smoke detector as the abnormality detector and further includes a closed-type head unit in addition to an open-type head unit. The second and fourth embodiments may be combined to provide protective equipment that includes a heat detector, a smoke detector, and a smoke detection device as the abnormality detector. The second and fifth embodiments may be combined to provide protective equipment that includes a heat detector, a smoke detector, and an oxygen concentration detector as the abnormality detector.

[0243] (Charge detection unit of smoke detector) In the above embodiment, the charge detection unit of the smoke detection device has two charge detection signal outputs, but the charge detection signal output may be one output.

[0244] (Smoke detection device abnormality determination section) In the above embodiment, the abnormality determination unit of the smoke detection device detects an abnormality by determining whether the detected charge amount is the charge amount of smoke generated due to an abnormality, but is not limited to this, and may also detect an abnormality by determining whether the detected charge polarity is the charge polarity of smoke generated due to an abnormality.

[0245] For example, in warehouse facilities where the objects stored on shelves are lithium-ion batteries, or in energy storage facilities where lithium-ion batteries are stored in battery clusters, a large amount of white smoke is generated when a fire (abnormality) caused by thermal runaway of a lithium-ion battery occurs, and the inventors have confirmed through experiments that this white smoke is negatively charged. Therefore, when a negative polarity is detected by the abnormality determination unit of the smoke detection device, it is highly likely that smoke caused by a fire caused by thermal runaway of a lithium-ion battery has been detected, and it is therefore possible to determine that this detected negative polarity is the polarity of the smoke generated by a fire (abnormality) caused by thermal runaway of a lithium-ion battery, and to detect a fire (abnormality) caused by thermal runaway of a lithium-ion battery.

[0246] As an example, we have taken up a fire caused by thermal runaway of a lithium-ion battery, but even in the case of other abnormalities that generate smoke, if the objects stored on the shelves are fixed and the charge polarity of the smoke generated by the abnormality is investigated in advance through experiments, etc., the abnormality determination unit of the smoke detection device can similarly determine whether the detected charge polarity is the charge polarity of smoke generated by the abnormality and detect the abnormality.

[0247] (Detecting thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries) In the above embodiment, an oxygen concentration detection unit was provided and thermal runaway of the lithium ion battery was detected based on the oxygen concentration. However, in order to take into account the temperature rise in addition to the rise in oxygen concentration leading up to thermal runaway when detecting thermal runaway of the lithium ion battery, a temperature detection unit may also be provided as an abnormality detection unit, and thermal runaway of the lithium ion battery may be detected based on the oxygen concentration and temperature.

[0248] (others) Furthermore, the present invention includes appropriate modifications that do not impair the objects and advantages thereof, and is not limited to the numerical values ​​shown in the above embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0249] 1: Warehouse facility 10, 10(10-1)~10(10-4): Shelf 12: Heat detector 13: Smoke detector 14: Open head 1410: Body 1420: Spray nozzle part 1430: Electrode holding part 1440: Induction electrode part 1442: Cable connection part 1450: Water side electrode part 1452: Electrode connection part 1460: Pipe connection 1470:Scatter axis 15: Closed head 16: Voltage supply unit 1610: High voltage variable circuit 1620: Reversing circuit 1630: Current limiting resistor 18: Pump equipment 20: Release valve 22: Control unit 24: High voltage cable 2410: Voltage application cable 2420: Earth cable 26: Fire extinguishing liquid piping 28: Signal line 30: Display section 32:Operation unit 40: Smoke detector 42: Device body 44: Rotation drive unit 46: Connecting pipe 48: Charge detection unit 49: Circuit storage section 50:Suction part 5010: Intake port 52: Operation control unit 54: Abnormality determination section 56: Rotation detector 5610: Slit disc 5612: Photointerrupter 58: Motor 60: Reduction section 6010, 6012, 6014: Gear 62,64: Entrance / exit 6210, 6410: Internal piping section 66: Flue pipe 68, 70: Flange member 72,74: Bearings 75: Marker 76: Rotating electrode 7610: Cylindrical surface 7612,7614: Rectangular opening 7616: Internal passage 7618: Flange part 7620:Threaded hole 7622: Grounding ring 78: First cage electrode 7810: Annular part 7812, 7814: Curved electrode pieces 80: Second cage electrode 8010: Annular part 8012, 8014: Curved electrode pieces 82,84: Insulation ring 86: External electrode 88, 89, 90, 91: Electrode pins 92,94: Op-amp 95: Circuit board 96,98: Feedback resistor 100: Oscilloscope 102,104: Sine waveform 200: Oxygen concentration detector A1~H4: Storage area

Claims

1. A protection facility for protecting a protection target area in which at least one shelf is installed, in which storage compartments are arranged in a height direction and a direction perpendicular to the height direction in a three-dimensional space, an abnormality detection unit provided for each detection section including one or more of the storage sections of the shelf, and configured to detect an abnormality including a fire occurring in the detection section; an open-type head unit provided for each protected compartment including one or more of the storage compartments on the shelf, the open-type head unit being capable of spraying charged liquid particles of fire-extinguishing liquid into the protected compartments; a voltage supply unit that supplies a predetermined high voltage to the open-type head unit when the open-type head unit sprays the charged liquid particles; a control unit that controls, when the abnormality detection unit detects the abnormality, a spraying operation to selectively spray the liquid particles or the charged liquid particles of the fire-extinguishing liquid from the open-type head unit provided in the predetermined protected compartment based on the detection compartment of the abnormality detection unit that detected the abnormality; A protective facility characterized by comprising:

2. The protective equipment according to claim 1, When the abnormality detection unit detects the abnormality, the control unit: spraying the charged liquid particles from the open head unit provided in the protection zone located within a first predetermined range from the detection zone of the abnormality detection unit that detected the abnormality; A protective equipment characterized in that the liquid particles are sprayed from the open head unit provided in the protected area located outside the specified first range and within a specified second range that is wider than the specified first range from the detection area of ​​the abnormality detection unit that detected the abnormality.

3. The protective equipment according to claim 1, The protective equipment is characterized in that the abnormality detection unit includes a heat detection unit that detects heat and a smoke detection unit that detects smoke.

4. The protective equipment according to claim 3, The control unit is characterized in that it performs different spraying operations when an abnormality is detected by the heat detection unit of the abnormality detection unit and when an abnormality is detected by the smoke detection unit of the abnormality detection unit.

5. The protective equipment according to claim 1, The protection facility is characterized in that the voltage supply unit is individually provided corresponding to each of the protection sections.

6. The protective equipment according to claim 1, The protective equipment further comprises a closed head unit for each protected section that senses the heat of a fire, activates, and sprays the fire extinguishing liquid.

7. The protective equipment according to claim 6, The abnormality detection unit includes a heat detection unit that detects heat, A protective equipment characterized in that the sensitivity with which the closed head portion detects the heat of a fire is lower than the sensitivity with which the heat sensing portion of the abnormality sensing portion detects the heat of a fire.

8. The protective equipment according to claim 1, The abnormality sensing unit includes a smoke detection device capable of detecting the amount of charge of smoke generated due to an abnormality, The smoke detection device determines whether the detected charge amount is the charge amount of smoke generated by the abnormality, and detects an abnormality if it determines that the detected charge amount is the charge amount of smoke generated by the abnormality.

9. The protective equipment according to claim 8, The smoke detection device is further capable of detecting the polarity of smoke generated due to an abnormality, and when an abnormality is detected, transmits information about the polarity of smoke detected to the control unit; The protective equipment is characterized in that the control unit controls the spraying operation so that the charged polarity of the charged liquid particles is opposite to the charged polarity of the smoke detected by the smoke detection device.

10. The protective equipment according to claim 1, The abnormality sensing unit includes a smoke detector capable of detecting the charge polarity of smoke generated due to an abnormality, The smoke detection device determines whether the detected charge polarity is the charge polarity of smoke generated by the abnormality, and detects an abnormality if it determines that the detected charge polarity is the charge polarity of smoke generated by the abnormality.

11. The protective equipment according to claim 10, The smoke detector transmits information regarding the charge polarity of the detected smoke to the control unit when detecting an abnormality, The protective equipment is characterized in that the control unit controls the spraying operation so that the charged polarity of the charged liquid particles is opposite to the charged polarity of the smoke detected by the smoke detection device.

12. The protective equipment according to claim 1, The abnormality sensing unit includes an oxygen concentration detection unit that detects an oxygen concentration, The protective equipment is characterized in that the oxygen concentration detection unit detects thermal runaway of a lithium ion battery as the abnormality based on the detected oxygen concentration.

13. The protective equipment according to claim 1, A protective facility characterized in that each of the sensing section and the protection section is a section that targets one of the storage sections.

14. The protective equipment according to claim 1, Each of the sensing sections is a section that targets the storage sections included in any one of the groups when the storage sections are divided into groups in a direction perpendicular to the height direction so as to include all of the storage sections arranged in the height direction, A protective facility characterized in that each of the protective compartments is a compartment covering one of the storage compartments.

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