Apparatus for fire extinguishing battery pack mounted on railway vehicle and control method thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fire extinguishing device for a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle and a control method thereof. The fire extinguishing device for a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle comprises: an off-gas detection module that detects off-gas generated from the battery pack through a detection pipe formed in a pack housing where the battery pack is installed; a fire pump that pumps and pressurizes a fire extinguishing agent in a fire extinguishing liquid tank; a solenoid valve connected to a fire extinguishing pipe formed in the pack housing to supply the fire extinguishing agent pressurized by the fire pump into the interior of the pack housing; and a processor operatively coupled to the off-gas detection module, the fire pump, and the solenoid valve; wherein the processor operates the fire pump and the solenoid valve when off-gas is detected by the off-gas detection module and outputs at least one of an operating state and a fire state through an output module.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fire extinguishing device for a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle and a control method thereof, and more specifically, to a fire extinguishing device for a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle and a control method thereof for detecting and extinguishing a fire in a lithium-ion battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle at an early stage. Background Technology

[0002] Recently, there has been an increasing number of railway vehicles in urban railways and other areas that use lithium-ion batteries as a primary or auxiliary power source as an eco-friendly energy source.

[0003] Lithium-ion batteries are chemical energy storage devices in which lithium ions are charged and discharged through a positive and negative electrode. Compared to other types of batteries, they offer faster charging and higher power density, allowing for extended use. They can be relatively compact and lightweight, and do not suffer from the "memory effect"—where operating time decreases if charged before complete discharge—and are environmentally friendly with relatively low maintenance costs. However, they have the disadvantage of being vulnerable to fire compared to other types of batteries.

[0004] Battery fires are primarily caused by thermal runaway in battery cells, which refers to a chemical reaction in which a highly oxidizing anode and a highly reducing cathode come into contact and rapidly generate heat.

[0005] When thermal runaway occurs, the battery cell rapidly releases stored energy, and the more energy charged in the battery cell, the more vigorously the thermal runaway reaction occurs. In particular, because lithium-ion batteries have a higher energy density than other batteries, thermal runaway occurs very rapidly. Causes of thermal runaway include overcharging, over-discharging, internal short circuits, poor terminal contact, charging failure, mechanical shock, and electrical shock.

[0006] The background technology of the present invention is disclosed in Korean Published Patent Application No. 10-2025-0031671 (published March 7, 2025).

[0007] The information described above disclosed in the background technology of this invention is intended only to enhance understanding of the background of the present invention and may therefore include information that does not constitute prior art. The problem to be solved

[0008] As such, because lithium-ion batteries have high energy density and are designed with explosion-proof structures, fire suppression is difficult in the event of thermal runaway, and effective fire suppression is challenging using only ordinary fire extinguishers or external water supply due to toxic gases and oxygen generated internally.

[0009] In addition, while the voltage, current, and temperature of the cell can be monitored through a battery management system (BMS), there is a lack of technology to preemptively suppress fire by detecting early signs of fire, such as internal gas generation or heat transfer, in real time.

[0010] Therefore, if a lithium-ion battery fire occurs in a confined space such as an underground tunnel, it is difficult for operators to access the area, and the generation of oxygen inside the battery makes suppression extremely difficult. Furthermore, the fire is accompanied by a large amount of toxic gas, posing a significant risk of leading to a major disaster.

[0011] The objective of the present invention according to one aspect is to provide a fire extinguishing device and method for a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle, which detects a fire early through vent-off gas before thermal runaway of the lithium-ion battery pack mounted on the railway vehicle, and effectively suppresses or delays the fire in the early stages by injecting a fire extinguishing agent into the pack housing where the battery pack is installed to submerge the battery pack.

[0012] However, the technical problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to those described above, and other unmentioned problems can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention below. means of solving the problem

[0013] A fire extinguishing device for a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: an off-gas detection module that detects off-gas generated from the battery pack through a detection pipe formed in a pack housing where the battery pack is installed; a fire pump that pumps and pressurizes a fire extinguishing agent in a fire extinguishing liquid tank; a solenoid valve connected to a fire extinguishing pipe formed in the pack housing to supply the fire extinguishing agent pressurized by the fire pump into the interior of the pack housing; and a processor operatively coupled to the off-gas detection module, the fire pump, and the solenoid valve, wherein the processor operates the fire pump and the solenoid valve when off-gas is detected by the off-gas detection module and outputs at least one of an operating state and a fire state through an output module.

[0014] In the present invention, the off-gas detection module is characterized by detecting off-gas by sucking in air inside the pack housing in an air-sucking type.

[0015] The present invention is characterized by further including a manual valve connected to a fire extinguishing pipe to manually supply a fire extinguishing agent into the interior of a pack housing.

[0016] The present invention is characterized by further including a safety valve that discharges overpressure when the internal pressure of the pack housing is greater than or equal to the set pressure.

[0017] In the present invention, the fire pump is characterized by having a discharge amount capable of filling the volume of the pack housing with a fire extinguishing agent within a set time.

[0018] The present invention further includes a fire extinguishing switch, and is characterized in that the processor operates a fire extinguishing pump and a solenoid valve when the fire extinguishing switch is activated.

[0019] The present invention further includes a protective cap that protects the fire extinguishing switch, and is characterized in that the processor warns through an output module when the protective cap is opened.

[0020] A method for controlling a fire extinguishing device for a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle according to another aspect of the present invention comprises: a step in which a processor detects off-gas generated in a battery pack inside a pack housing through an off-gas detection module; a step in which, if off-gas is detected as a result of the processor detecting off-gas, a fire pump is operated to pump a fire extinguishing agent from a fire extinguishing liquid tank; a step in which, after the processor operates the fire pump, a solenoid valve is operated to supply the fire extinguishing agent into the interior of the pack housing; and a step in which the processor warns of at least one of an operating state and a fire state through an output module.

[0021] The present invention is characterized by further including the step of operating a fire pump and a solenoid valve when a fire switch is activated.

[0022] The present invention is characterized by further including the step of warning through an output module when a protective cap protecting a fire extinguishing switch is opened. Effects of the invention

[0023] A fire extinguishing device for a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle and a control method thereof according to one aspect of the present invention can detect a fire early through vent-off gas before thermal runaway of a lithium-ion battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle, and by injecting a fire extinguishing agent into the pack housing where the battery pack is installed to submerge the battery pack, the fire can be effectively suppressed or delayed in the early stages, thereby preventing major disasters in confined spaces such as tunnels and ensuring the safety of eco-friendly railway vehicles.

[0024] However, the effects obtainable through the present invention are not limited to those described above, and other unmentioned technical effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention below. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0025] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a fire suppression device for a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the connection state of the pack housing in a fire extinguishing device for a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a control method for a fire extinguishing device of a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0026] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a fire extinguishing device for a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle and a control method thereof according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0027] In this process, the thickness of lines or the size of components depicted in the drawings may be exaggerated for the sake of clarity and convenience of explanation. Furthermore, the terms described below are defined considering their functions in the present invention, and these may vary depending on the intent or convention of the user or operator. Therefore, the definitions of these terms should be based on the content throughout this specification.

[0028] Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the attached drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement them. However, the present invention may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, in order to clearly explain the present invention in the drawings, parts unrelated to the explanation have been omitted, and similar parts throughout the specification are denoted by similar reference numerals.

[0029] Throughout the specification, when a part is described as "including" a certain component, this means that, unless specifically stated otherwise, it does not exclude other components but may include additional components.

[0030] The implementations described herein may be implemented, for example, as methods or processes, devices, software programs, data streams, or signals. Even if discussed only in the context of a single form of implementation (e.g., discussed only as a method), the implementation of the discussed features may also be implemented in other forms (e.g., devices or programs). Devices may be implemented in appropriate hardware, software, and firmware, etc. Methods may be implemented in devices such as processors, which generally refer to processing devices including, for example, computers, microprocessors, integrated circuits, or programmable logic devices.

[0031] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a fire extinguishing device for a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the connection state of a pack housing in a fire extinguishing device for a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a fire extinguishing device for a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention may include an off-gas detection module (10), a fire extinguishing switch (20), a protective cap (30), a memory (40), a processor (50), an output module (60), a fire extinguishing pump (70), a solenoid valve (80), a fire extinguishing liquid tank (90), and a manual valve (100).

[0033] In an embodiment of the present invention, the battery pack (120) mounted on the railway vehicle can be installed inside a pack housing (110) formed with an explosion-proof structure that ensures rigidity and fire resistance as shown in FIG. 2, protects against external impacts, and suppresses the external spread of flames and gases in the event of an internal fire.

[0034] At this time, the pack housing (110) can protect the battery pack (120) from external impact and can be used as a water tank to immerse the battery pack (120) by pouring a fire extinguishing agent.

[0035] The off-gas detection module (10) can detect off-gas (vent-off gas) generated from the battery pack (120) through a detection pipe (15) formed in the pack housing (110) where the battery pack (120) is installed.

[0036] At this time, the off-gas detection module (10) is an air-suction type and can detect off-gas by continuously sucking in air inside the pack housing (110). The detection pipe (15) is formed in the pack housing (110) and maintains airtightness to prevent dust from entering from the outside.

[0037] If there are multiple pack housings (110), each can be installed to transmit detection results to the processor (50) via multiple channels.

[0038] Vent-off gas refers to flammable and hazardous gases generated when the internal electrolyte degrades and vaporizes due to thermal runaway or an increase in internal pressure within a lithium-ion battery cell. Therefore, the occurrence of vent-off gas can be considered a sign of thermal runaway.

[0039] The fire extinguishing liquid tank (90) is a tank for storing fire extinguishing agents, and is installed above the pack housing (110) to pressurize the fire extinguishing agent into the pack housing by gravity, and stainless steel can be used for corrosion resistance.

[0040] In addition, a porous partition may be installed to minimize liquid sloshing, and a water level sensor, a liquid level gauge, and a flow meter may be installed inside to detect the water level of the fire extinguishing agent.

[0041] The extinguishing agent used is a penetrating extinguishing agent (surface tension 33 mN / m or less), and the operating temperature range is from -20 degrees to 40 degrees.

[0042] The fire pump (70) can pump the fire extinguishing agent from the fire extinguishing liquid tank (90) to pressurize it.

[0043] Considering corrosion resistance, the body and impeller of the fire pump (70) may be made of stainless steel. At this time, the discharge volume of the fire pump (70) can be selected to a capacity that can fill the volume of the pack housing (110) within a set time, for example, 5 minutes.

[0044] The solenoid valve (80) is connected to the fire extinguishing pipe (95) formed in the pack housing (110) and operates by an operating signal from the processor (50) to supply the fire extinguishing agent pressurized by the fire pump (70) into the interior of the pack housing (110).

[0045] The manual valve (100) is connected to the fire extinguishing pipe (96) in the form of a ball valve, so that when the fire extinguishing device does not operate automatically, it can be opened manually to directly inject the fire extinguishing agent into the pack housing (110).

[0046] The fire extinguisher switch (20) allows the user to manually operate the fire pump (70) and solenoid valve (80) in case of a fire hazard.

[0047] The protective cap (30) can protect the fire extinguisher switch (20) to prevent it from malfunctioning. Additionally, when the protective cap (30) is opened to operate the fire extinguisher switch (20), it can provide an opening signal to the processor to warn of the manual operation state in advance.

[0048] The safety valve (130) can discharge excess pressure when the internal pressure of the pack housing (110) is greater than the set pressure, thereby facilitating the application of the fire extinguishing agent.

[0049] The output module (60) can warn of at least one of the operating status and fire status of the processor (50). That is, the output module (60) can output the operating status of the fire pump (70) and solenoid valve (80) and the open / closed status of the manual valve (100), including an indicator light, speaker, buzzer and display, and can be installed in the pack housing (110) to allow the operating status to be checked immediately.

[0050] The memory (40) can store various data used by the processor (50). The data can store instructions that enable the execution of operations or steps according to an embodiment of the present invention. That is, the memory (40) can store instructions for performing the function of a data hub.

[0051] Additionally, the memory (40) may store data required for an operation or step performed according to the above-mentioned command, or may store data generated through the operation or step.

[0052] The memory (40) may include at least one storage medium among a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card type memory, RAM (Random Access Memory), SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), ROM (Read-Only Memory), PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), and EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

[0053] The memory (40) may include magnetic storage media or flash storage media in addition to volatile storage devices that require power to maintain stored information, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0054] The processor (50) is operatively coupled to the off-gas detection module (10), fire switch (20), protective cap (30), memory (40), output module (60), fire pump (70), and solenoid valve (80) to execute commands stored in the memory (40) to control the overall operation of the fire extinguishing device of the battery pack mounted on the railway vehicle, thereby performing various operations and storing generated data.

[0055] Additionally, the processor (50) may be configured to perform each function separately at the hardware, software, or logic level. In this case, dedicated hardware may be used to perform each function. To this end, the processor (50) may be implemented as or include at least one of an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), DSP (Digital Signal Processor), PLD (Programmable Logic Devices), FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays), CPU (Central Processing Unit), microcontrollers, and / or microprocessors.

[0056] The processor (50) can be implemented as a central processing unit (CPU) or a system on chip (SoC), and can control multiple hardware or software components connected to the processor (50) by running an operating system or application, and can perform various data processing and operations.

[0057] First, the processor (50) runs an execution program stored in memory (40) and then detects off-gas inside the pack housing (110) through the off-gas detection module (10). When off-gas is detected, it operates the fire pump (70) and the solenoid valve (80) and outputs at least one of an operating state and a fire state through the output module (60).

[0058] Additionally, the processor (50) can determine the operating state of the fire extinguishing switch (20) and, if the fire extinguishing switch (20) is activated, operate the fire extinguishing pump (70) and the solenoid valve (80).

[0059] At this time, the processor (50) can warn through the output module (60) when the protective cap (30) is opened to operate the fire extinguishing switch (20).

[0060] Meanwhile, the power source for driving the fire extinguishing device of the battery pack mounted on the railway vehicle according to the present embodiment may use power from a storage battery or an electric storage device, and may be charged by receiving power from the battery pack (120). At this time, a protection circuit may be installed to prevent a short circuit.

[0061] As described above, according to the fire extinguishing device for a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, a fire is detected early through vent-off gas before thermal runaway of the lithium-ion battery pack mounted on the railway vehicle, and by injecting a fire extinguishing agent into the pack housing where the battery pack is installed to submerge the battery pack, the fire can be effectively suppressed or delayed in the early stages, thereby preventing major disasters in confined spaces such as tunnels and ensuring the safety of eco-friendly railway vehicles.

[0062] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a control method for a fire extinguishing device of a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] As illustrated in FIG. 3, in a control method for a fire extinguishing device for a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention, first, a processor (50) runs an execution program stored in a memory (40) and then detects off-gas (vent-off gas) inside the pack housing (110) through an off-gas detection module (10) to determine whether off-gas is detected (S10).

[0064] Vent-off gas refers to flammable and hazardous gases generated when the internal electrolyte degrades and vaporizes due to thermal runaway or an increase in internal pressure within a lithium-ion battery cell. Therefore, the occurrence of vent-off gas can be considered a sign of thermal runaway.

[0065] In step S10, the processor (50) determines whether off-gas is detected, and if off-gas is detected, the processor (50) operates a fire pump (70) that pumps fire extinguishing agent from a fire extinguishing agent tank (90) to pressurize the fire extinguishing agent (S20).

[0066] At this time, the discharge volume of the fire pump (70) can be pressurized to a discharge volume that can fill the volume of the pack housing (110) within a set time, for example, 5 minutes.

[0067] The extinguishing agent used is a penetrating extinguishing agent (surface tension 33 mN / m or less), and the operating temperature range is from -20 degrees to 40 degrees.

[0068] At step S20, the fire pump (70) is operated, and at the same time, the processor (50) operates the solenoid valve (80) (S30).

[0069] By operating the fire pump (70) and the solenoid valve (80) in this way, the fire extinguishing agent from the fire extinguishing liquid tank (90) can be poured into the pack housing (110) so that the battery pack (120) is submerged.

[0070] In this way, while operating the fire pump (70) and solenoid valve (80), the processor (50) warns of the operating status and fire status through the output module (60) (S40).

[0071] Meanwhile, the processor (50) determines whether off-gas is detected in step S10, and if off-gas is not detected, determines the operating state of the fire extinguisher switch (20) (S50).

[0072] In step S50, the operating state of the fire extinguisher switch (20) is determined, and if the fire extinguisher switch (20) is activated, the processor (50) activates the fire extinguisher pump (70) (S20) and activates the solenoid valve (80) (S30).

[0073] Additionally, the processor (50) warns of at least one of the operating state and fire state through the output module (60) (S40).

[0074] At this time, even if the protective cap (30) is opened to operate the fire extinguishing switch (20), the processor (50) can output a warning through the output module (60).

[0075] As described above, according to the control method of a fire extinguishing device for a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, a fire is detected early through vent-off gas before thermal runaway of a lithium-ion battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle, and by injecting a fire extinguishing agent into the pack housing where the battery pack is installed to submerge the battery pack, the fire can be effectively suppressed or delayed in the early stages, thereby preventing major disasters in confined spaces such as tunnels and ensuring the safety of eco-friendly railway vehicles.

[0076] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, this is merely illustrative, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent alternative embodiments are possible therefrom.

[0077] Therefore, the technical scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the claims below. Explanation of the symbols

[0078] 10: Off-gas detection module 15: Detection piping 20: Fire extinguisher switch 30: Protective cap 40 : Memory 50 : Processor 60 : Output module 70 : Fire pump 80: Solenoid valve 90: Fire extinguishing fluid tank 95 : Fire extinguishing pipe 100 : Manual valve 110 : Pack housing 120 : Battery pack

Claims

Claim 1 An off-gas detection module that detects off-gas generated from a battery pack through a detection pipe formed in a pack housing where a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle is installed; a fire pump that pumps and pressurizes a fire extinguishing agent in a fire extinguishing liquid tank; and a solenoid valve connected to a fire extinguishing pipe formed in the pack housing to supply the fire extinguishing agent pressurized by the fire pump into the interior of the pack housing. A fire extinguishing device for a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle, comprising: a processor operatively coupled to the off-gas detection module, the fire pump, and the solenoid valve; wherein the processor determines that when off-gas is detected by the off-gas detection module, it is a sign of thermal runaway of the battery pack, operates the fire pump and the solenoid valve, and outputs at least one of an operating state and a fire state through an output module; wherein the detection pipe is formed to maintain airtightness in a pack housing formed with an explosion-proof structure so as not to cause dust ingress from the outside; wherein the fire extinguishing liquid tank is installed above the pack housing and is equipped with a porous partition inside, and further comprises a manual valve connected to the fire extinguishing pipe that supplies the fire extinguishing agent from the fire extinguishing liquid tank to the pack housing to manually supply the fire extinguishing agent into the interior of the pack housing; and a safety valve that discharges overpressure when the internal pressure of the pack housing is greater than or equal to a set pressure. Claim 2 A fire extinguishing device for a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle, wherein, in claim 1, the off-gas detection module is an air-suction type that detects the off-gas by sucking in air inside the pack housing. Claim 3 delete Claim 4 delete Claim 5 A fire extinguishing device for a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle, characterized in that, in claim 1, the fire pump has a discharge amount capable of filling the volume of the pack housing with the fire extinguishing agent within a set time. Claim 6 A fire extinguishing device for a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle, wherein, in claim 1, it further includes a fire extinguishing switch, and the processor operates the fire extinguishing pump and the solenoid valve when the fire extinguishing switch is activated. Claim 7 A fire extinguishing device for a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle, characterized in that, in claim 6, it further includes a protective cap that protects the fire extinguishing switch, and the processor warns through the output module when the protective cap is opened. Claim 8 A method for controlling a fire extinguishing device for a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle, comprising: a step in which a processor detects off-gas generated from a battery pack inside a pack housing mounted on a railway vehicle through an off-gas detection module; a step in which, if the processor detects the off-gas, it determines that the off-gas is a sign of thermal runaway of the battery pack and operates a fire pump to pump a fire extinguishing agent from a fire extinguishing liquid tank; a step in which, after operating the fire pump, the processor operates a solenoid valve to supply the fire extinguishing agent into the interior of the pack housing; and a step in which the processor warns of at least one of an operating state and a fire state through an output module, wherein the step of detecting the off-gas is performed through a detection pipe formed to maintain airtightness in the pack housing formed as an explosion-proof structure so as not to cause dust ingress from the outside, and the fire extinguishing liquid tank is installed above the pack housing and is equipped with a porous partition inside. Claim 9 A method for controlling a fire extinguishing device of a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle, characterized in that, in claim 8, the processor further includes the step of operating the fire pump and the solenoid valve when the fire extinguishing switch is activated. Claim 10 A method for controlling a fire extinguishing device of a battery pack mounted on a railway vehicle, characterized in that, in claim 9, the processor further includes the step of warning through the output module when the protective cap protecting the fire extinguishing switch is opened.

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