Fire extinguishing system for electric vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for extinguishing fire in a vehicle, more particularly, electric vehicles. Advantageously, the system extinguishes fire by using an encapsulator solution dispenser and by halting thermal runaway by submerging at least a part of the vehicle in a flooding medium. Further, the system is able to discharge the vehicle's battery. In this way, the system prevents reignition and the vehicle's battery is considered safe for disposal. The system comprises: a detecting unit capable of detecting at least gaseous compounds released from combustion of an electric vehicle; a parking bay configured with a collapsible barrier in response to the detection unit in which the barrier is activated to at least partially enclose the parking bay in case of combustion whereby the barrier allows the enclosed parking bay to hold a predetermined depth of flooding medium therein; an encapsulator solution dispenser located within the parking bay and configured to reduce heat, extinguish flames and encapsulate flammable toxic gasses in the enclosed parking bay upon activated; and a flooding unit in response to the detecting unit and being configured to administer a flooding medium into the enclosed parking bay whereby the vehicle is at least partially submerged in the medium for a predetermined period to arrest thermal runaway and subsequently adding another medium to the solution to discharge the vehicle's battery therefore significantly reducing the stored energy of the battery.

Description

[0001] FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE

[0002] FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

[0003] The present invention relates generally to a system for extinguishing fire.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A Class D fire is a type of fire that involves combustible metals such as but not limited to magnesium, lithium, titanium, zirconium, and others. Class D fire is challenging to put out and requires the use of specialized Class D fire extinguishing agents. Generally, a Class D fire extinguisher puts out a fire by smothering the flames and preventing oxygen from fueling the fire. Conventionally, a Class D fire extinguishing agent is a dry powder with a blend of powdered graphite, granular sodium chloride, and fragments of copper. However, these types of powder are insufficient to put out a fire caused by ignition of lithium-ion batteries in an electric vehicle.

[0006] Lithium-ion batteries are commonly used to power electric vehicles, such as but not limited to, electric cars and electric bikes. The batteries of an electric car are commonly well- packed to be embedded within a car chassis. Often times this fire may be caused by overheating, being punctured, or an electrical fault like a short circuit within the lithium- ion batteries. Lithium battery fires release flammable toxic gases which can spark a fastspreading fire resulting in the propagation of the fire to its surroundings. Due to the flammable nature of lithium, a small ignition may escalate quickly and even cause explosion. In view of the above problem, a solution to put out a fire caused by the ignition of lithium-ion batteries is necessary.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One aspect of the present invention is to provide a fire extinguishing system suitable for fire caused by ignition of lithium-ion batteries, such as combustion of an electric vehicle. Advantageously, the system is able to isolate an ignited source (i.e., the battery) to prevent thermal runaway. Hence, the system is suitable to be configured into an indoor parking facility.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a fire extinguishing system which quenches the flame, reduces the heat of the ignited environment and prevent further reignition. Advantageously, the system preferably submerges at least the battery part of the vehicle in a flooding medium for a predetermined period.

[0009] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a fire extinguishing system capable of discharging a lithium-ion battery. Advantageously, the system further submerges at least the battery part of the vehicle in an ionised flooding medium. The ionised flooding medium facilitates the discharging of the battery and a discharged battery is considered safe for disposal.

[0010] At least one of the preceding aspects is met, in whole or in part, by the present invention, in which one of the embodiments of the present invention is a fire extinguishing system for an electric vehicle (EV), the system comprising: a parking bay configured with a collapsible barrier in which the barrier is activated to at least partially enclose the parking bay in case of combustion whereby the barrier allows the enclosed parking bay to hold a predetermined depth of flooding medium therein; an encapsulator solution dispenser located within the parking bay and configured to reduce heat and to encapsulate the flammable toxic gasses in the enclosed parking bay upon activated; and a flooding unit being configured to administer a flooding medium into the enclosed parking bay whereby the vehicle is at least partially submerged in the medium for a predetermined period and able to discharge the vehicle’s battery. Preferably, the system operates in three stages, wherein there is a first stage which involves isolating the electric vehicle by activating the barrier; followed by a second stage which involves reducing heat, extinguishing flames, encapsulating flammable toxic gasses and flooding the enclosed parking bay with the flooding medium by activating the dispenser and the flooding unit simultaneously; and a third stage involves ionising the flooding medium so as to discharge the vehicle’s battery.

[0011] In another embodiment, the system further comprises a detecting unit capable of detecting at least gaseous compounds released from combustion of lithium-ion battery from an electric vehicle. Preferably, the detecting unit comprises a flame detector, a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide (CO) detector, a carbon dioxide (CO2) gas detector, a hydrogen fluoride (HF) gas detector, a heat detector, or a combination of two or more thereof.

[0012] In another embodiment, the system further comprises a control panel with circuitry connected to the detecting unit, the collapsible barrier, the dispenser, and the flooding unit.

[0013] In one embodiment, the parking bay is defined by a ceiling, 3 reinforced concrete or brick walls being a side wall, a back wall and a front wall configured with the collapsible barrier, in which the barrier is opened by default and is at least partially closed upon activation. Preferably, the enclosed parking bay is capable of holding liquid therein for at least 1 metre in depth.

[0014] Preferably, the flooding unit is configured to administer a non-conductive flooding medium at the second stage and adding an ionising compound into the non-conductive flooding medium at the third stage.

[0015] Advantageously, the non-conductive flooding medium comprises water, glycol compounds, benzoate salts, and sulphonic salts. Advantageously, the ionising compound comprises salt selected from the group consisting of chlorides, phosphates, sulphates and borates.

[0016] Advantageously, the ionising compound further comprises an elemental metal selected from Period IV of the periodic table.

[0017] In one embodiment, the encapsulator solution dispenser is at least a sprinkler connected by a network of piping surface mounted to the ceiling or walls of the parking bay, wherein upon activated the encapsulator solution is spread across the enclosed parking bay.

[0018] Advantageously, the encapsulator solution comprises water and a surfactant composition comprising a fatty acid triethanolamine salt, an alcohol, an alkyl ether amine and an aliphatic acid.

[0019] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The invention is illustrated, although not limited, by the following description of embodiments made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0021] Figure 1 shows a perspective illustration depicting an embodiment of the system in the present disclosure.

[0022] Figure 2 shows a side view of Figure 1.

[0023] Figure 3 shows a front view of Figure 1.

[0024] Figure 4 shows a top view of Figure 1.

[0025] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Exemplary, non-limiting embodiments of the invention will be disclosed. However, it is to be understood that limiting the description to the preferred embodiments of the invention is merely to facilitate discussion of the present invention and it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications without departing from the scope of the appended claim.

[0026] According to Figure 1-4, the system comprises a parking bay (1) defined by a ceiling (2), a floor (3), 3 reinforced concrete or brick walls being a side wall, a back wall and a front wall (5) configured with a collapsible barrier (10). The collapsible barrier (10) can be a roller or folded shutter, insofar that it can be repeatedly opened or closed when necessary. More preferably, the collapsible barrier (10) is a dropdown roller shutter. When unused, the barrier can be held in a storage (11), preferably with pulley systems. Preferably, the barrier and the parking bay may be configured with water-tight seal (not shown) at its perimeter to achieve a leak-proof enclosure when it is closed. Alternatively, according to Figure 1 , the barrier (10) is further configured with a flood barricade (12) to prevent leakage. When the barrier (10) is closed, the enclosed parking bay should be capable of holding liquid therein for at least 1 metre in depth.

[0027] The system in the present invention comprises at least an encapsulator solution dispenser (20). The dispenser can be at least a sprinkler or a nozzle, located within the parking bay area, (21) connected by a network of piping therein, in which the piping connects to a storage (22) with encapsulator solution above the ceiling (2), or any where external to the enclosed parking bay. The encapsulator solution used herein comprises water and a surfactant comprising fatty acid triethanolamine salt, an alcohol, an alkyl ether amine and an aliphatic acid. The fatty acid of triethanolamine salt can be selected from the group consisting of alkylated aliphatic acids or derivatives thereof, such as ethyl hexanoic acid or derivatives thereof. The alcohol can be selected from the group consisting of decanol, nonanol, octanol or a combination of any two or more thereof. More preferably, the encapsulates composition comprises 3 to 5 wt% of the surfactant in water. Upon activated, the dispenser (20) spreads the encapsulator solution across the enclosed parking bay, including the electric vehicle, so as to reduce heat and encapsulate flammable toxic smoke from the smouldering vehicle, thereby extinguishing flame within the enclosure.

[0028] The system in the present invention further comprises a flooding unit (30) being configured to administer a flooding medium into the enclosed parking bay. The flooding unit (30) is preferably equipped with a sensor, such as a float sensor, to determine the level of flooding upon activated. The flooding unit (30) may comprised of a valve (31) and a flooding pump connected to a flooding medium storage tank (32) by pipeline installed along any one of the sidewall of the parking bay. Further, there is a discharge valve and pipe (33) at the floor of the parking bay for releasing the used flooding medium therefrom. The valve (31) and the flooding pump can be manually or mechanically controlled to administer the flooding medium into the enclosed parking bay. It is preferred that the flooding medium used is a non-conductive medium so as to cool down the ignited lithium-ion battery and prevent short circuit therein. The non-conductive flooding medium comprises water, glycol compounds, benzoate salts, and sulphonic salts. More preferably, the flooding medium comprises at least 70 wt % of water, less than or equal to 28 wt % glycol compounds, and less than or equal to 2 wt% of a combination of benzoate salt and sulfonate salt. In the preferred embodiment, the flooding medium at least submerges the battery part of the electric vehicle for about 24 hours so as to cool down the battery and prevent thermal runaway.

[0029] As mentioned in the background, specialized fire extinguishing agent is necessarily used to put out fire caused by, or at least involved with, lithium-ion batteries. As set forth in the preceding description, the system herein operates to extinguish fire in three stages, wherein there is a first stage which involves isolating the electric vehicle by activating the barrier (10); followed by a second stage which involves extinguishing flames, reducing heat and flooding the enclosed parking bay with the flooding medium by activating the dispenser (20) and the flooding unit (30) simultaneously; and a third stage involves ionising the flooding medium so as to discharge the vehicle’s battery. Stage two is considered completed upon successfully arresting fire and thermal runaway. The flooding medium is preferably added with ionising compound after stage two is completed. The ionising compound comprises salt selected from the group consisting of chlorides, phosphates, sulphates and borates. Preferably, the ionising compound is used in 5 wt % to 30 wt % of the flooding medium. More preferably, the ionising compound is used in about 10 wt % of the flooding medium. The ionising compound further comprises an elemental metal selected from Period IV of the periodic table. Addition of the elemental metal enhances galvanisation of lithium in the battery hence facilitates discharging of the battery. Preferably, powdered zinc, iron, or copper can be used. More preferably, the powdered metal is used in about 10 wt % of the flooding medium. Thereinafter, the ionised flooding medium is drained out via the draining pipe. The electric vehicle may be removed physically from the enclosure. The system may be reset to its initial condition (unactivated mode).

[0030] In one embodiment, according to Figure 2, the system further comprises a detecting unit (40) which is capable of detecting at least gaseous compounds released from combustion of lithium-ion batteries from an electric vehicle. It shall be noted that the detecting unit (40) can be installed at any location within the parking bay insofar that it connects and provides an indication to activate the system. It is usually installed in the ceiling. The detecting unit (40) may comprised of a flame detector, a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide (CO) detector, a carbon dioxide (CO2) gas detector, a hydrogen fluoride (HF) gas detector, a heat detector, or a combination of two or more thereof. The flame detector used is preferably optical, such as those sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) wavelengths, but not limited thereto. According to Figure 1, a CO2 gas detector (41) and a HF gas detector (42) are installed at the ceiling. In another embodiment, the system further comprises a control panel with circuitry connected to the collapsible barrier (10), the dispenser (20), the flooding unit (30), and the detecting unit (40) for an automated operation. The control panel (not shown) can be analog or digital, and may be furnished with fire extinguishing programme to collect and translate parameters of a fire occurence into activating signal for the barrier, dispenser and flooding unit. Further, the system may be configured to include additional features of a fire extinguishing system. For example, an alerting feature such as an audible alarm or a warning sign such as a visual strobe light to indicate its operation. Another example may be an emergency latch to stop the operation manually. Another example may be a camera or window to provide visualisation towards the enclosed parking bay. Another example may be a reset function to restore the system parameters or conditions back to initial position. Another example may be a network connection enabling status or condition of the system to be linked with one or more remote devices.

[0031] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all aspects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes, which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims, are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A fire extinguishing system for electric vehicle, the system comprising: a parking bay configured with a collapsible barrier (10) in which the barrier is activated to at least partially enclose the parking bay in case of combustion whereby the barrier allows the enclosed parking bay to hold a predetermined depth of flooding medium therein; an encapsulator solution dispenser (20) located within the parking bay and configured to reduce heat, extinguish flames and to encapsulate flammable toxic gasses emitted in the enclosed parking bay upon activated; and a flooding unit (30) being configured to administer a flooding medium into the enclosed parking bay whereby the vehicle is at least partially submerged in the medium for a predetermined period and able to discharge the vehicle’s battery.

2. The system according to claim 1 operates in three stages, wherein there is a first stage which involves isolating the electric vehicle by activating the barrier (10); followed by a second stage which involves reducing heat, extinguishing flames and encapsulating flammable toxic gasses by flooding the enclosed parking bay with the flooding medium by activating the dispenser (20) and the flooding unit (30) simultaneously; and a third stage involves ionising the flooding medium so as to discharge the vehicle’s battery.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2 further comprises a detecting unit (40) capable of detecting at least gaseous compounds released from combustion of lithium-ion batteries from an electric vehicle.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein detecting unit (40) comprises a flame detector, a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide (CO) detector, a carbon dioxide(CO2) gas detector, a hydrogen fluoride (HF) gas detector, a heat detector, or a combination of two or more thereof.

5. The system according to claim 1 or 3 further comprises a control panel with circuitry connected to the detecting unit, the collapsible barrier, the dispenser, and the flooding unit.

6. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the parking bay is defined by a ceiling, 3 reinforced concrete or brick walls being a side wall, back wall and a front wall configured with the collapsible barrier (10), in which the barrier (10) is opened by default and is at least partially closed upon activation.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the enclosed parking bay is capable of holding liquid therein for at least 1 metre in depth.

8. The system according to claim 2, wherein the flooding unit is configured to administer a non-conductive flooding medium at the second stage and adding an ionising compound into the non-conductive flooding medium at the third stage.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the non-conductive flooding medium comprises water, glycol compounds, benzoate salts, and sulphonic salts.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the ionising compound comprises salt selected from the group consisting of chlorides, phosphates, sulphates and borates.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the ionising compound further comprises an elemental metal selected from Period IV of the periodic table.

12. The system according to claim 1 or 6, wherein the encapsulator solution dispenser is at least a sprinkler connected by a network of piping mounted to the ceiling or walls of the parking bay, wherein upon activated the encapsulator compound is spread across the enclosed parking bay.

13. The system according to claim 1 or 12, wherein the encapsulator solution comprises water and a surfactant composition comprising a fatty acid triethanolamine salt, an alcohol, an alkyl ether amine and an aliphatic acid.

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