Apparatus for preventing explosion of ess

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for preventing an explosion of ESS which can prevent a secondary explosion generated in an ESS fire, the apparatus comprising: a housing in which a battery is accommodated; a drainage facility communicating with the interior of the housing; and a pump facility accommodated inside the drainage facility to spray firefighting water, wherein when the pump facility sprays firefighting water, negative pressure is generated by a spray speed of the firefighting water to discharge combustible and flammable gases inside the housing to the drainage facility.

Description

ESS explosion prevention device

[0001] The present invention relates to an ESS (Energy Storage System) explosion prevention device, and more specifically, to an ESS explosion prevention device capable of preventing a secondary explosion occurring in the event of an ESS fire.

[0002] ESS (Energy Storage System) is a device that stores excess electricity and then delivers it to where it is needed when there is a temporary power shortage. More specifically, it is a storage device that collects and stores surplus electricity generated from thermal power, wind power, solar power, etc. and supplies it to homes, factories, buildings, and other places where it is needed at a time.

[0003] ESS can be broadly categorized into battery-type storage using chemical energy (lithium-ion, nickel, lead-acid batteries, etc.) and non-battery-type storage using physical energy (pumped storage, compressed air storage, etc.). Most ESS utilize battery-type storage using lithium-ion batteries.

[0004] However, as mentioned above, these ESS mainly involve chemical reactions such as lithium-ion batteries or hydrogen fuel cells, and when these reactions occur in a fire or overheating situation, H2 (hydrogen) and HF (hydrogen fluoride) are released.

[0005] Hydrogen is a highly flammable gas and can easily ignite in air.

[0006] Hydrogen leaking from a fire can easily catch fire, increasing the risk of explosion.

[0007] Additionally, lithium-ion batteries can experience chemical reactions when their internal structure is damaged or overheated, releasing hydrogen as the electrolyte within the lithium-ion battery decomposes into hydrogen and lithium.

[0008] If enough hydrogen accumulates to an explosive concentration, an explosion can occur.

[0009] Hydrogen fuel cells also produce hydrogen by reacting with water, and under the wrong conditions, H2 (hydrogen) and HF (hydrogen fluoride) leaks can occur.

[0010] In particular, the battery type of these ESSs has a high energy density, so even a small cause of ignition can cause a continuous thermal runaway phenomenon that causes rapid self-heating.

[0011] Additionally, the interior of an ESS is generally a single sealed environment for constant temperature and humidity, making it very difficult to extinguish fires from the outside.

[0012] Meanwhile, ESS fires have the characteristic of releasing a lot of toxic gases, and the toxic gases contain a lot of combustible or flammable gases.

[0013] Recently, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released a safety summary for fires in ESS, stating in NFPA 68 and NFPA 69 that explosion-proofing or smoke exhaust systems must be installed if batteries that create an explosive atmosphere indoors are present to prevent explosions.

[0014] Meanwhile, the current smoke exhaust system refers to exhausting combustible or flammable gases using exhaust fans, exhaust ducts, hoods, etc. in the event of a fire in an ESS. This is a method of exhausting combustible or flammable gases into the duct space by driving a fan using an electrical device.

[0015] However, when a fan is driven to discharge combustible or flammable gases into the duct space, the duct space is narrow compared to the flammable gases, so the volume of the gas sucked in is condensed, increasing the concentration of flammable gases per unit area, and as the fluid passes through the narrow hole, the speed increases, which may generate frictional heat.

[0016] Therefore, forced discharge of explosive flammable gases by the fan may easily cause a secondary explosion within the duct space.

[0017] For the above reasons, the field is seeking ways to safely discharge large amounts of flammable gases generated in the event of a fire in an ESS to the outside of the ESS, but has not yet achieved satisfactory results.

[0018] The present invention, which aims to solve the aforementioned problems, provides an ESS explosion prevention device capable of safely discharging a large amount of flammable gas generated in the event of a fire in an ESS to the outside of the ESS.

[0019] The above-described objects and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention, and methods for achieving them will become clear with reference to the embodiments described in detail below together with the attached drawings.

[0020] In order to achieve the above-described object, an ESS explosion prevention device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a housing in which a battery is accommodated; a drainage facility communicating with the interior of the housing; and a pump facility accommodated inside the drainage facility and spraying fire water, wherein when the pump facility sprays, a negative pressure is generated by the spraying speed of the fire water, and flammable and combustible gases inside the housing are discharged to the drainage facility.

[0021] The above drainage facility includes a connecting duct communicating with the interior of the housing; and an exhaust duct communicating with the housing via the connecting duct.

[0022] The above pumping equipment includes a pipe through which fire water flows in from the outside; and a spray nozzle disposed inside the connecting duct, through which fire water flowing in from the pipe is sprayed in the direction of the discharge duct.

[0023] It further includes a damper that generates a differential pressure between the housing and the connecting duct.

[0024] A ventilation device is installed at the upper part of the above discharge duct to discharge gas that is not dissolved in the above pump device to the outside of the above discharge duct.

[0025] The effective spray diameter of the fire extinguishing agent sprayed from the above spray nozzle is the same as the inner diameter of the above connecting duct.

[0026] According to the present invention, the injection nozzle injects fire water flowing in from a pipe in the direction of a discharge duct opposite to the direction in which the housing is arranged, and by injecting the fire water in the form of a spray rather than a straight stream radiated by the nozzle in the shape of a water stream, a negative pressure lower than the surrounding atmospheric pressure is generated, so that flammable and / or combustible gases inside the housing are dissolved with the fire water while being sucked in along the spray direction of the fire water sprayed from the injection nozzle and are quickly introduced into the discharge duct of the drainage facility.

[0027] Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent secondary explosions in the event of an ESS fire by preventing the high temperature inside the housing and flammable and / or combustible gases generated from the battery from mixing due to thermal runaway of the battery.

[0028] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the installed state of an ESS explosion prevention device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing one direction of an ESS explosion device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing another direction of an ESS explosion device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the operating state of an ESS explosion device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the operating state of an ESS explosion device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing the operating state of an ESS explosion device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] The embodiments of the present invention are provided to more completely explain the present invention to those skilled in the art, and the following embodiments can be modified in many different forms, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Rather, these embodiments are provided to more faithfully and completely convey the spirit of the present invention to those skilled in the art. In addition, each component in the drawings below is exaggerated for convenience and clarity of description, and like numbers refer to like elements in the drawings. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any one of the listed items and any combination of one or more of the listed items.

[0035] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to limit the invention.

[0036] As used herein, the singular forms may include the plural forms unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Furthermore, as used herein, the words "comprise" and / or "comprising" specify the presence of stated features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0037] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0038] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an installed state of an ESS explosion prevention device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one direction of an ESS explosion device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another direction of an ESS explosion device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an operating state of an ESS explosion device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an operating state of an ESS explosion device according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an operating state of an ESS explosion device according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, an ESS explosion prevention device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a housing (100), a drainage facility (200), a pump facility (300), and a drainage facility (200).

[0040] The housing (100) houses a battery (600) inside and forms the body of an ESS (Energy Storage System).

[0041] The drainage facility (200) is connected to the inside of the housing (100), and when a fire occurs in the battery (600) housed inside the housing (100), the firefighter (20) and the flammable and / or combustible gas (11) dissolved in the firefighter (20) flow.

[0042] This drainage facility (200) includes a connecting duct (210) and a discharge duct (220).

[0043] The connecting duct (210) is connected to the interior of the housing (100) and extends outward from the side of the housing (100).

[0044] And, a damper is installed between the connecting duct (210) and the housing (100).

[0045] The damper is mounted between the housing (100) and the connecting duct (210) and, in a normal situation where no fire occurs in the housing (100), creates a differential pressure between the housing (100) and the connecting duct (210).

[0046] And, when a fire occurs inside the housing (100), the damper is opened so that flammable and / or combustible gas (10) inside the housing (100) can be discharged through the connecting duct (210).

[0047] The exhaust duct (220) is connected to the housing (100) via the connecting duct (210), and the firefighter (20) and the gas (11) dissolved in the firefighter (20) are discharged.

[0048] And, the exhaust duct (220) preferably extends in a direction perpendicular to the connecting duct (210).

[0049] The pump equipment (300) is housed inside the drainage equipment (200) and sprays fire water (20). When a fire occurs, fire water (20) flows in from an external rotor.

[0050] This pumping equipment (300) includes a pipe (310) and a spray nozzle (320).

[0051] The pipe (310) is a pipe through which fire water (20) flows in from the outside, the first end of which is placed outside the drainage facility (200), and the second end penetrates into the inside of the connecting duct (210).

[0052] And, the injection nozzle (320) is fixed to an end of the pipe (310), specifically, the second end, and is placed inside the connecting duct (210).

[0053] The injection nozzle (320) sprays the fire water (20) flowing in from the pipe (310) in the direction of the discharge duct (220) opposite to the direction in which the housing (100) is arranged, and sprays it in the form of a spray rather than a straight stream that is emitted in the shape of a stream of water by the nozzle.

[0054] Due to this, the injection nozzle (320) generates a negative pressure that is lower than the surrounding atmospheric pressure, so that the flammable and / or combustible gas (10) inside the housing (100) is sucked in along the spraying direction of the firefighter (20) sprayed from the injection nozzle (320) and dissolved with the firefighter (20) so that it quickly flows into the discharge duct (220) of the drainage facility (200).

[0055] Accordingly, it is possible to effectively prevent a secondary explosion from occurring in the event of an ESS fire by preventing the high temperature inside the housing (100) and the flammable and / or inflammable gas (10) generated from the battery (600) from mixing due to thermal runaway of the battery (600).

[0056] And, the effective spray diameter of the fire extinguishing agent (20) sprayed from the spray nozzle (320) is made to be the same size as the inner diameter of the connecting duct (210).

[0057] For example, if the effective injection diameter of the fire extinguishing agent (20) sprayed from the injection nozzle (320) is smaller than the inner diameter of the connecting duct (210), differential pressure may not be formed within the connecting duct (210).

[0058] In addition, if the effective injection diameter of the fire extinguishing agent (20) sprayed from the spray nozzle (320) is excessively larger than the inner diameter of the connecting duct (210), a situation may occur in which the fire extinguishing agent (20) sprayed from the spray nozzle (320) flows backward in the direction in which the housing (100) is arranged.

[0059] Therefore, the inner diameter of the connecting duct (210) must be designed to match the effective injection diameter of the injection nozzle (320).

[0060] Meanwhile, the connecting duct (210) according to another embodiment of the present invention may be formed in a shape in which the diameter becomes narrower as it goes toward the exhaust duct (220), as illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0061] Accordingly, as the spray speed of fire water (20) sprayed from the spray nozzle (320) accelerates, a negative pressure lower than the surrounding atmospheric pressure is generated by the orifice principle, so that the surrounding air, i.e., the flammable and / or combustible gas (10) inside the housing (100), can be sucked into the exhaust duct (220) of the drainage facility (200).

[0062] At this time, the small inner diameter of the connecting duct (210) is made to be the same size as the effective injection diameter of the injection nozzle (320).

[0063] Meanwhile, in another embodiment of the present invention, the inner diameter of the connecting duct (210) is larger than the effective injection diameter of the fire extinguishing agent (20) sprayed from the injection nozzle (320), and a space reduction structure (500) having the same inner diameter as the effective injection diameter of the fire extinguishing agent (20) sprayed from the injection nozzle (320) is mounted as shown in FIG. 6.

[0064] The space reduction structure (500) is preferably formed in the same cylindrical shape as the connecting duct (210), and is mounted on the inner surface of the connecting duct (210) in a direction away from the injection nozzle (320) in which the discharge duct (220) is arranged.

[0065] Due to this, the space reduction structure (500) can effectively block the backflow of fire water (20) sprayed from the spray nozzle (320) by forming a differential pressure within the connecting duct (210).

[0066] The cross-sectional shape of this space reduction structure (500) can be formed into various shapes such as a streamlined shape, a trapezoid, a square shape, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0067] Meanwhile, the fire extinguishing agent (20) sprayed from the spray nozzle (320) contains a fire extinguishing agent.

[0068] The fire extinguishing agent is capable of dissolving flammable and / or combustible gases (10) sucked into the discharge duct (220) of the drainage facility (200) by the spray nozzle (320), and is composed of acid alkali, reinforcing liquid, foam, etc. or a combination thereof, and is mixed with water when sprayed from the spray nozzle (320).

[0069] Accordingly, the fire extinguishing agent included in the fire extinguishing agent (20) can smoothly dissolve substances with low solubility in water among the combustible and / or flammable gases (10), and when sucking and discharging the combustible and / or flammable gases (10) through the injection nozzle (320), it is mixed with water and discharged, thereby preventing an ignition phenomenon that may occur in the discharge duct (220).

[0070] In addition, the gas (10) sucked in through the drainage facility (200) may include not only flammable and / or combustible gases (10), but also various toxic gases and smoke. The fire extinguishing agent mixed in the fire extinguishing agent (20) is diluted and dissolved in water according to its solubility in the fire extinguishing agent (20), so that fire extinguishing is easy and the scale of damage such as inhalation of toxic gases can be significantly reduced.

[0071] Meanwhile, a ventilation facility (400) may be installed on the upper part of the exhaust duct (220).

[0072] The ventilation equipment (400) is preferably installed on the upper part of the exhaust duct (220) and discharges the gas (12) that is not dissolved in the fire extinguishing agent mixed with the fire extinguishing agent (20) to the outside of the exhaust duct (220).

[0073] Accordingly, the present invention can discharge not only the flammable and / or inflammable gas (11) dissolved in the fire extinguishing agent (20), but also the gas (12) not dissolved in the fire extinguishing agent (20) to the outside of the duct through the ventilation equipment (400).

[0074]

[0075] As such, the embodiments disclosed herein should be considered illustrative rather than restrictive. The scope of the present invention is set forth in the claims, not the foregoing description, and all differences within the scope equivalent thereto should be construed as being encompassed by the present invention.

Claims

1. Housing that houses the battery; A drainage facility communicating with the interior of the above housing; Includes a pump facility that is housed inside the above drainage facility and sprays fire water, An ESS explosion prevention device in which, when the above pump equipment is sprayed, negative pressure is generated by the spraying speed of the firefighter, and flammable and combustible gases inside the housing are discharged to the drainage equipment.

2. In paragraph 1, the drainage facility, A connecting duct communicating with the interior of the above housing; An ESS explosion prevention device including an exhaust duct communicating with the housing via the above-mentioned connecting duct.

3. In the second paragraph, the pumping equipment, A pipe through which fire water flows in from outside; An ESS explosion prevention device including a spray nozzle disposed inside the above connecting duct and spraying fire water flowing in from the pipe in the direction of the discharge duct.

4. In paragraph 2, An ESS explosion prevention device further comprising a damper that applies differential pressure between the housing and the connecting duct.

5. In paragraph 2, An ESS explosion prevention device equipped with a ventilation device on the upper part of the above discharge duct to discharge gases not dissolved in the above pump equipment to the outside of the above discharge duct.

6. In paragraph 3, An ESS explosion prevention device in which the effective spray diameter of the fire extinguishing agent sprayed from the above spray nozzle is the same as the inner diameter of the above connecting duct.

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