Multilayer Thermal Runaway Experimental Platform for Lithium-Ion Battery Systems

Abstract

A multi - layer thermal runaway experimental platform for a lithium - ion battery system to measure heat generation, gas generation and other experimental data due to thermal runaway of a multi - layer lithium - ion battery. The experimental platform includes one container Measurement an experimental area, one large - scale experimental area, one control room, one set of heat measurement system, and one set of flue gas treatment system. The control room is located between two experimental compartments. There are high - definition camera heads inside the experimental area. The structure between the large - scale experimental area and the control room is an explosion - proof wall. The heat measurement system can measure two experimental areas. The flue gas treatment system has a total of three treatment steps.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims the priority of a Chinese patent application with an application number of 202310393769.3, filed with the Chinese Patent Office on April 13, 2023, and all the contents of the said application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] This application relates to the field of lithium-ion batteries, for example, a multi-layer thermal runaway experimental platform for lithium-ion battery systems.

Background Art

[0003] In recent years, with the proposal of the goal of "carbon peak and carbon neutrality", lithium-ion batteries have been playing an important role in the fields of aerospace, electric vehicles, and energy storage due to their excellent performance. The accompanying safety issues of lithium-ion batteries have also become the focus of people's attention. The safety issues of lithium-ion batteries mainly mean that there is a risk of fire or thermal runaway in cases of thermal abuse, electrical abuse, and mechanical abuse. The characteristic parameters during the thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries include heat generation, gas generation, battery temperature, flame behavior, etc. Therefore, the research on the thermal runaway characteristics of lithium-ion batteries has important significance for the evaluation of the safety performance of lithium-ion batteries.

[0004] However, current experimental instruments for heat measurement in the market, such as cone calorimeters, can only measure the heat generation of small-capacity lithium-ion batteries similar to the 18650 type, and cannot measure the heat generation of large-capacity battery cells. There is no set video monitoring system or isolation device. In the event of an explosion during the thermal runaway process of a lithium-ion battery, there is no guarantee for the safety of the experimenter. Some self-constructed experimental platforms for lithium-ion battery testing can only complete the thermal runaway test of a battery system with one or two device levels. Moreover, many self-constructed experimental cabins are not equipped with flue gas treatment devices, which are likely to cause environmental pollution. Therefore, it is applicable to all general lithium-ion battery safety tests in the market, and can online monitor the characteristics and evolution mechanism of fires caused by thermal runaway of battery systems at different device levels, such as lithium-ion battery cells, lithium-ion battery modules, and lithium-ion battery clusters. It is possible to measure the characteristic parameters evolution law of fires caused by thermal runaway of batteries, such as the characteristics of heat generation (heat release rate, total heat generation, heat radiation, etc.), the characteristics of gas generation (gas generation rate, gas generation volume, generated gas components and ratios, etc.), and the temperature of the battery, the macroscopic behavior of the flame, etc. At the same time, it is necessary to design an experimental platform that can protect the safety of the experimenter during the experiment and enable the flue gas to be discharged up to the standard after the experiment.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a multi-level thermal runaway experimental platform for lithium-ion battery systems that uses a set of heat measurement system and a set of flue gas treatment system to realize the measurement and analysis of thermal runaway data of lithium-ion battery systems at different device levels, protect the safety of the experimenter, and reduce air pollution. This application A container measurement experimental area used for conducting thermal runaway experiments on lithium-ion battery cells and modules, equipped with a high-definition camera head for real-time monitoring and recording of the experimental process inside, and a first smoke collection hood is installed in the middle area of the ceiling, and It is used to conduct thermal runaway experiments on single or multiple battery clusters, equipped with a high-definition camera head inside, with a second smoke hood attached to the middle position of the ceiling, and an intermittent air inlet prepared below the rear position, a large-scale experimental area, and a control room with three compartments of a gas cylinder room, an observation room, and an instrument room inside, and an explosion-proof wall provided between it and the large-scale experimental area, and a heat measurement system that collects through a flue, provides a measurement area in the flues of the container measurement experimental area and the large-scale experimental area, and shares a set of calorimeters to measure data on heat generation and gas generation in the container measurement experimental area and the large-scale experimental area, and a multi-layer thermal runaway experiment platform for a lithium-ion battery system, including a flue gas treatment system that includes three-stage treatment processes of cyclone tower treatment, electrostatic precipitator treatment, and activated carbon adsorption tank treatment, and can discharge so as to meet the standard based on the flue gas.

[0006] Hereinafter, the drawings necessary for the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

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Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, in connection with the drawings in the embodiments of this application, this application will be clearly and completely described. It is obvious that the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. For those skilled in the art, other embodiments obtained based on these embodiments without creative labor all belong to the protection scope of this application.

[0009] As shown in Fig. 1a, Fig. 1b, Fig. 2 - Fig. 8, this application includes A container measurement experiment area 1 used for conducting thermal runaway experiments on lithium - ion battery cells and modules, equipped with a high - definition camera head for real - time monitoring and recording of the experimental process inside, and a first smoke - collecting hood 12 is installed in the middle area of the ceiling part; A large - scale experiment area 3 used for conducting thermal runaway experiments on single or multiple battery clusters, equipped with a high - definition camera head inside, a second smoke - collecting hood 35 is installed on the ceiling part, and an intermittent air inlet 37 is provided below the rear - side position; A control room 2 with three compartments of a gas cylinder room 25, an observation room 26, and an instrument room 27 inside, and a first explosion - proof wall 24 is provided between it and the large - scale experiment area 3; A heat quantity measurement system 4 that collects through flue ducts (the first flue duct 13 and the second flue duct 36), sets measurement areas in the flue ducts of the container measurement experiment area 1 and the large - scale experiment area 3, and shares one set of calorimeters to measure data on heat generation and gas generation in the container measurement experiment area 1 and the large - scale experiment area 3; A multi - layer thermal runaway experimental platform for a lithium - ion battery system is provided, which includes a cyclone tower 51, an electrostatic precipitator 52, and an activated carbon adsorption tank 53, and a flue gas treatment system 5 used to discharge the flue gas to meet the standard.

[0010] Preferably, the height and angle of the high - definition camera head inside the container measurement experimental area 1 and the large - scale experimental area 3 are adjustable, and the high - definition camera head has functions of remote on, remote off, and signal transmission by cloud.

[0011] Preferably, an electronic platform scale 17 is provided inside the container measurement experimental area 1.

[0012] Preferably, the electronic platform scale 17 has functions of real - time online and remote display, can record the mass change of the experimental object during the entire experimental period, and can be remotely operated by a remote display in the observation room.

[0013] Preferably, the large - scale experimental area 3 is provided with a shutter 32 on the front side and an intermittent air inlet 37 at the bottom of the rear - side position.

[0014] Preferably, the shutter 32 includes two modes of electric and manual, and an explosion - proof wall 6 is provided behind the intermittent air inlet 37.

[0015] Preferably, the control room 2 is located between the container measurement experimental area 1 and the large - scale experimental area 3.

[0016] Preferably, the first smoke - collecting hood 12 on the ceiling of the container measurement experimental area 1 and the second smoke - collecting hood 35 on the ceiling of the large - scale experimental area 3 collect the flue gas generated by the branch flue into the main flue 38 directly connected to the flue gas treatment system 5.

[0017] Preferably, the flue ducts in both the container measurement experiment area 1 and the large-scale experiment area 3 are provided with a turbulent flow area, and in the turbulent flow area, heat quantity measurement data collection points, gas type and content measurement points, and fixed maintenance platforms are provided.

[0018] Preferably, the flue gas treatment system 5 has a soundproof wall 7 attached around it and a vibration damping pedestal attached to the bottom, and uses the advantage of the location to adopt a high-emission device.

[0019] Preferably, inside the control room 2, the experiment scenes in the container measurement experiment area 1 and the large-scale experiment area 3 are monitored in real time by a computer, all experimental data are collected, and physical partitions are provided between the three compartments.

[0020] Preferably, the container is provided with some embossed areas at the bottom, one air outlet in the middle area of the ceiling, the right side of the container is the flue gas treatment system 5, the left side is the control room 2 equipped with a gas cylinder room 25, an observation room 26, and an instrument room 27, and the other side of the control room 2 is the large-scale experiment area 3 with an explosion-proof wall structure for the wall body, and the flue gas treatment system 5 includes a cyclone tower 51, an electrostatic precipitator 52, and an activated carbon adsorption tank 53.

[0021] Preferably, the thermal runaway experiment area for battery cells and modules is divided into the container measurement experiment area 1, and the thermal runaway experiment area for battery clusters is divided into the large-scale experiment area 3.

[0022] The advantages and beneficial effects of the present application are as follows.

[0023] Instead of the experimenter having to observe the experiment process with the eyes, the present application can monitor and record the experimental phenomena in the entire experiment process in real time by the high-definition camera heads in each experiment area, improve the working efficiency, and also protect the personal safety of the experimenter.

[0024] By building a control room between two experimental compartments, this application facilitates operations, enables a clean and orderly experimental environment to be maintained inside the control room, is beneficial for protecting experimental equipment, and at the same time, the explosion-proof wall on the left side of the control room can guarantee the personal safety of the experimenters inside the control room.

[0025] This application makes it easier to maintain equipment and reduce experimental expenses by having two different levels of experimental areas share the same set of heat measurement systems and flue gas treatment systems.

[0026] This application can ensure emissions that meet the flue gas standards through three flue gas treatment processes: a cyclone tower 51, an electrostatic precipitator 52, and an activated carbon adsorption tank 53. It plays an important role in protecting the surrounding environment. At the same time, the installation of related vibration damping structures and sound insulation structures can eliminate the discomfort of experimenters and visitors.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2 to 8, the multi-level thermal runaway experiment platform of the lithium-ion battery system according to this application includes a container measurement experiment area 1, a control room 2, a large-scale experiment area 3, a heat measurement system 4, a flue gas treatment system 5, an explosion-proof wall 6, and a sound insulation wall 7. Among them, the container measurement experiment area 1 may be a thermal runaway experiment area for battery cells and modules, and the large-scale experiment area 3 may be a thermal runaway experiment area for battery clusters. It is mainly used for thermal runaway experiments on batteries at different equipment levels. During the experiment, the operator can observe the monitoring video screen and the online status of real-time data inside the control room 2, and can also directly check the situation of the large-scale experiment area 3 through the explosion-proof window 23. The flue gas generated during the experiment process is sucked out by a centrifugal fan 16 and a centrifugal ventilator 54, and is discharged after reaching the standard after being processed by the flue gas treatment system 5.

[0028] The thermal runaway experiment area 1 of the battery cell and module is located on one side of the control room 2. There is no observation window, and the experimental phenomena are monitored and recorded in real time by a high-definition movable camera head arranged inside. Between the first smoke collection hood 12 and the container 11, a removable connection method is adopted. Due to the role of the first flow stabilization segment smoke pipe 14, the data collected in the standard measurement segment 15 becomes more accurate. At the same time, reasonably utilizing the ceiling of the control room 2 as the support point of the first flue 13 and the inspection and repair platform of the standard measurement segment 15 ensures rationality and further guarantees the safety of the inspection and repair workers during inspection and repair. Among them, after the exhaust gas is generated inside the container 11, the exhaust gas sequentially passes through the first smoke collection hood 12, the first flue 13, the first flow stabilization segment smoke pipe 14, the first flue 13, the standard measurement segment 15, the first flow stabilization segment smoke pipe 14, and the centrifugal fan 16, and is then discharged into the main flue 38. At the middle position of the upper part of the container 11, the first smoke collection hood 12 is connected by a square flange. The first smoke collection hood 12 is connected to the first flue 13, the first flue 13 is connected to the first flow stabilization segment smoke pipe 14, and the first flow stabilization segment smoke pipe 14 is Standard measurement segment 15 connected, the first flue 13 is connected to the standard measurement segment 15, the standard measurement segment 15 is connected to the first flow stabilization segment smoke pipe 14, and the first flow stabilization segment smoke pipe 14 is connected to the centrifugal fan 16. Unless otherwise specified, all of the above connection methods are in the form of a flange plate, and a connection method is adopted in which a high-temperature-resistant flange gasket is additionally installed in the middle to ensure sealing performance.

[0029] The control room 2 is located on one side of the thermal runaway experiment area 3 of the battery cluster. The wall between the two is the first explosion-proof wall 24. At the same time, in order to timely grasp the internal situation when the high-definition camera head inside the thermal runaway experiment area 3 of the battery cluster fails, two explosion-proof windows 23 are provided on the first explosion-proof wall 24. The control room 2 has fire-proof windows 21 and fire-proof doors 22. At the same time, three compartments, namely a gas cylinder room 25, an observation room 26, and an instrument room 27, are provided inside. Physical partitions are provided between the compartments. Among them, the gas cylinder room 25 is separated from other compartments by the first explosion-proof wall 24. At the same time, two gas cylinder rooms 25 for storing normal gas and combustible gas respectively are placed inside. Inside the observation room 26, explosion-proof windows 23 and related computer equipment are provided. During the experiment, the experimenter can observe and record the experimental data here. Mainly related experimental instruments are stored inside the instrument room 27 to record and analyze the data during the experiment process.

[0030] The thermal runaway experiment area 3 of the battery cluster is mainly used for large-scale experiments with heat generation in the megawatt level. All the walls are the second explosion-proof walls 31. At the same time, two explosion-proof windows 23 are provided on the first explosion-proof wall 24 between the control room 2. On the rear side, an intermittent air supply port 37 is provided to ensure sufficient air supply inside during the experiment. On the front side, a shutter 32 including two opening and closing methods, manual and electric, is provided so that it can be opened and closed even in special situations. On the ceiling, a 6m * 6m second smoke collection hood 35 and a 1.2m diameter second flue 36 are provided to ensure that the gas generated inside during the experiment can be timely sucked out by the centrifugal ventilator 54. Due to the role of the second flow stabilization segment smoke pipe 33, the accuracy of the data measured by the measurement segment 34 is guaranteed.

[0031] The calorimetry system 4 mainly comprises an optical path structure 41, a sampling tube 42, a temperature acquisition point 43, a spare flange opening 44, and a differential pressure measurement point 45. By connecting these data measurement points, the heat generation and gas generation conditions of the experimental object can be analyzed and obtained. At the same time, due to the issue of ensuring the tightness of the flue during data collection, a flange opening design should be adopted, and a spare flange opening 44 should be prepared to facilitate the addition of subsequent sampling instruments. Among them, for the accuracy of measurement and the aesthetics of the layout, the optical path structure 41 is arranged at the rear end position on the side of the measurement segment 34, the spare flange opening 44 and the differential pressure measurement point 45 are arranged at the front end position above the measurement segment 34, the sampling tube 42 is arranged one by one at the middle position above the measurement segment 34 and the middle position on the side with the optical path structure 41, and the temperature acquisition point 43 is arranged one by one at the rear end position above the measurement segment 34 and the front end position on the side with the optical path structure 41.

[0032] The flue gas treatment system 5 mainly passes the flue gas inside the experimental area through a cyclone tower 51, an electrostatic precipitator 52, and an activated carbon adsorption tank 53 in sequence by a centrifugal ventilator 54, and then sucks it out and discharges it through a flue duct 55. Among them, the cyclone tower 51 mainly removes dust and some acidic gases, the electrostatic precipitator 52 further reduces the dust content in the flue gas, the activated carbon adsorption tank 53 absorbs the remaining toxic and harmful gases, and finally completes the discharge that meets the experimental flue gas standards. Among them, the inlet of the cyclone tower 51 and the electrostatic precipitator 52 is connected by a flue pipe, the outlet of the electrostatic precipitator 52 is connected to one end of the activated carbon adsorption tank 53 by a flue pipe, the other end of the activated carbon adsorption tank 53 is connected to the centrifugal ventilator 54 by a flue pipe, and the centrifugal ventilator 54 discharges the sucked gas through the flue duct 55.

[0033] The power of the centrifugal ventilator 54 should be determined based on the maximum heat release rate of the experimental test object. At the same time, since the greater the power of the centrifugal ventilator 54, the greater the generated noise, a soundproof wall 7 and related vibration damping structures should be adopted to reduce the impact of the noise on people.

[0034] There is a possibility of explosion in the experiment in the thermal runaway experimental area 3 of the battery cluster. In order to reduce the destruction of the surrounding environment and facilities when an explosion occurs, the structure of the thermal runaway experimental area 3 of the battery cluster adopts the second explosion-proof wall 31. For the outside of the intermittent air inlet 37, an explosion vent wall 6 is adopted, thereby reducing the possible hazards.

[0035] Among several situations to be explained, first, in the description of the present application, "left side", "right side", "front side", "rear side", "front end", "rear end", etc. are only for indicating relative positional relationships. If the absolute position of the object to be described changes, the relative positional relationship may change.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0036] 1 ··· Container measurement experimental area (thermal runaway experimental area for battery cells and modules) 11 ··· Container 12 ··· First smoke hood 13 ··· First flue 14 ··· First flow stabilization segment smoke pipe 15 ··· Standard measurement segment 16 ··· Centrifugal fan 17 ··· Electronic platform scale 2 ··· Control room 21 ··· Fire window 22 ··· Fire door 23 ··· Explosion-proof window 24 ··· First explosion-proof wall 25 ··· Gas cylinder room 26 ··· Observation room 27 ··· Instrument room 3 ··· Large-scale experimental area (thermal runaway experimental area for battery clusters) 31 ··· Second explosion-proof wall 32 ··· Shutter 33 ··· Second flow stabilization segment smoke pipe 34 ··· Measurement segment 35 ··· Second smoke hood 36 ··· Second flue 37 ··· Intermittent air inlet 38 ··· Main flue 4 ··· Heat measurement system 41 ··· Optical path structure 42 ··· Sampling tube 43 ··· Temperature sampling point 44 ··· Spare flange opening 45 ··· Differential pressure measurement point 5 ··· Flue gas treatment system 51 ··· Cyclone tower 52 ··· Electrostatic precipitator 53 ··· Activated carbon adsorption tank 54 ··· Centrifugal ventilator 55 ··· Flue duct 6 ··· Explosion-proof wall 7 ··· Sound insulation wall

Claims

1. A container measurement experiment area (1) used for conducting thermal runaway experiments on lithium-ion battery cells and modules, equipped with a high-definition camera head inside for real-time monitoring and recording of the experimental process, and a first smoke hood (12) is attached to the middle area of the ceiling; A large-scale experiment area (3) used for conducting thermal runaway experiments on single or multiple battery clusters, equipped with a high-definition camera head inside, a second smoke hood (35) is attached to the ceiling, and an intermittent air supply port (37) is provided below the rear position; A control room (2) with three compartments of a gas cylinder room (25), an observation room (26), and an instrument room (27) inside, and a first explosion-proof wall (24) is provided between it and the large-scale experiment area (3); A heat measurement system (4) that collects through a flue, provides a measurement area in the flues of the container measurement experiment area (1) and the large-scale experiment area (3), and shares one set of calorimeters to measure data on heat generation and gas generation in the container measurement experiment area (1) and the large-scale experiment area (3); A flue gas treatment system (5) equipped with a cyclone tower (51), an electrostatic precipitator (52), and an activated carbon adsorption tank (53), and is used to discharge the flue gas after passing through to meet the standard; A multi-layer thermal runaway experiment platform for a lithium-ion battery system.

2. The height and angle of the high-definition camera heads inside the container measurement experiment area (1) and the large-scale experiment area (3) are both adjustable, and each high-definition camera head has functions of remote on, remote off, and signal transmission via the cloud. The multi-layer thermal runaway experiment platform for a lithium-ion battery system according to Claim 1.

3. An electronic weighing scale (17) is provided inside the container measurement experiment area (1). The multi-layer thermal runaway experiment platform for a lithium-ion battery system according to Claim 1.

4. The electronic weighing scale (17) has functions of real-time online and remote display, is used to record the mass change of the experimental object during the entire experimental period, and is remotely operated by a remote display in the observation room (26). The multi-layer thermal runaway experiment platform for a lithium-ion battery system according to Claim 3.

5. A shutter (32) is provided in front of the large-scale experiment area (3). Multi - layer thermal runaway experiment platform for the lithium - ion battery system according to claim 1.

6. The shutter (32) includes two modes, electric and manual. A blast - proof wall (6) is provided behind the intermittent air supply port (37). Multi - layer thermal runaway experiment platform for the lithium - ion battery system according to claim 5.

7. The control room (2) is located between the container measurement experiment area (1) and the large - scale experiment area (3). Multi - layer thermal runaway experiment platform for the lithium - ion battery system according to claim 1.

8. The first smoke hood (12) at the ceiling of the container measurement experiment area (1) and the second smoke hood (35) at the ceiling of the large - scale experiment area (3) collect the exhaust gas generated by the first flue (13) and the second flue (36) respectively into the main flue (38) directly connected to the exhaust gas treatment system (5). Multi - layer thermal runaway experiment platform for the lithium - ion battery system according to claim 1.

9. The flues of the container measurement experiment area (1) and the large - scale experiment area (3) both have flow - stabilizing segments, each of which is the first flow - stabilizing segment smoke pipe (14) and the second flow - stabilizing segment smoke pipe (33). Heat - quantity measurement data collection points are provided in the standard measurement segment (15) and the measurement segment (34), and the types and contents of gases are measured by the sampling pipe (42). Multi - layer thermal runaway experiment platform for the lithium - ion battery system according to claim 8.

10. The exhaust gas treatment system (5) has a sound - proof wall (7) attached around it and a vibration - damping pedestal attached to the bottom, and adopts a high - emission device by taking advantage of the location advantages. Multi - layer thermal runaway experiment platform for the lithium - ion battery system according to claim 1.

11. Inside the control room (2), the experiment scenes of the container measurement experiment area (1) and the large - scale experiment area (3) are monitored in real - time by a computer, and all experimental data are collected. Physical partitions are provided between the three compartments. Multi - layer thermal runaway experiment platform for the lithium - ion battery system according to claim 7.

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