Battery system for electric ship, and fire suppression method therefor

Abstract

A battery system for an electric ship, and a fire suppression method therefor are disclosed. The battery system for an electric ship comprises: a battery room provided on the electric ship; and at least one battery enclosure disposed in the battery room. Here, at least one battery is present in the battery enclosure, and, in order to suppress fire in the event of a fire, a fire suppressant is supplied into the battery enclosure or the battery room in which the fire has broken out.

Description

Battery system for electric ships and fire suppression method therefor

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery system for an electric ship and a fire suppression method therefor.

[0002] Recently, electric ships have emerged as environmentally friendly alternatives. However, currently, there is no technology capable of quickly and safely extinguishing a fire in an electric ship's battery.

[0003] The present invention provides a battery system for an electric ship and a fire suppression method therefor.

[0004] In order to achieve the above-described purpose, a battery system for an electric vessel according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a battery room installed on the electric vessel; and at least one battery compartment arranged within the battery room. Here, at least one battery is present within the battery compartment, and in the event of a fire, a fire extinguishing agent is supplied to the battery compartment where the fire occurred or within the battery room to extinguish the fire.

[0005] A method for suppressing a fire in a battery system for an electric ship, comprising a battery room having a battery compartment having at least one battery arranged therein, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises the steps of: detecting, by a second fire detection sensor installed inside the battery compartment, the occurrence of a fire or a sign of a fire; when the occurrence of the fire or the sign of a fire is detected, cutting off power supply to the battery; and supplying cooling water into a space of the hollow battery room or into the interior of the battery room to lower the temperature of the battery room.

[0006] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a battery system for an electric ship includes: a battery room installed on the electric ship; at least two battery compartments arranged in the battery room; and a sensor for detecting a fire within the two or more battery compartments. Here, at least one battery is present within the battery compartment, and in the event of a fire, a fire extinguishing agent is supplied into the battery room to extinguish the fire, and the fire extinguishing agent supplied into the battery room is selectively supplied to the interior of a battery compartment in which a fire has occurred among the plurality of battery compartments based on a fire situation within the battery compartment detected by the sensor.

[0007]

[0008] The battery system for an electric vessel according to the present invention and the fire suppression method therefor position a battery case containing a battery within a battery room, and when a fire occurs, fire extinguishing agents are introduced into the battery room to quickly and safely extinguish the fire. Furthermore, since the battery case is positioned within the battery room, even if a fire breaks out from the battery, the fire will not spread outside the battery room.

[0009] FIGS. 1 and 2 are drawings illustrating an electric vessel equipped with a battery system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating a battery case according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating a battery according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating a battery case installation process according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figures 6 to 8 are drawings illustrating a battery system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figures 9 and 10 are drawings illustrating a pump operation process according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] As used herein, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this specification, terms such as "consist of" or "include" should not be construed to necessarily include all components or steps described in the specification, and should be construed to mean that some of the components or steps may not be included, or that additional components or steps may be included. In addition, terms such as "part" and "module" described in the specification mean a unit that processes at least one function or operation, which may be implemented by hardware or software, or by a combination of hardware and software.

[0016]

[0017] The present invention relates to a battery system capable of quickly and safely extinguishing a fire, and more particularly, to a battery system for an eco-friendly hybrid ship (electric ship).

[0018] In one embodiment, the battery system positions a battery case within a battery room, and when a fire occurs or is expected to occur, coolant is introduced into an empty space or interior of the battery room to cool the battery room itself, and when an actual fire occurs, a fire extinguishing agent, such as fire extinguishing water, is filled into the battery room to quickly and safely extinguish the fire. Since the battery case is located within the battery room, using this extinguishing method, the fire can be safely extinguished within the battery room without spreading outside the battery room.

[0019]

[0020] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0021] FIGS. 1 and 2 are drawings illustrating an electric vessel equipped with a battery system according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating a battery case according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating a battery according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating a battery case installation process according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 6 to 8 are drawings illustrating a battery system according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 9 and 10 are drawings illustrating a pump operation process according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 1, a battery room (100) having a battery case (200) containing electrically charged batteries positioned therein may be installed on a ship. In other words, the ship may be an environmentally friendly electric ship.

[0023] According to one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2, battery rooms (100a and 100b) may be installed on the left and right sides of the deck of a ship, respectively. By separating the battery rooms (100a and 100b) in this manner, even if a fire breaks out in one battery room, the other battery rooms remain safe, thereby preventing damage to the entire battery. Here, the battery rooms (100a and 100b) may have the same or different structures, and the number of battery enclosures (200) arranged in the battery rooms (100a and 100b) may also be the same or different. Of course, the number of battery rooms is not limited to two, and one or more battery rooms (100) are sufficient.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the battery case (200) may include at least one battery (300). For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, four electric ship batteries (300) may be arranged vertically in one battery case (200). In this case, the batteries (300) may be connected in series or in parallel.

[0025] The battery case (200) has considerable weight and size, and thus can be placed into the body (500) of the battery room (100) using a crane, as illustrated in FIG. 5 . However, a door (502) may be formed on one side of the body (500) to facilitate repair or maintenance. Accordingly, a manager can open the door (502) and enter and exit to repair or maintain the battery case (200) within the battery room (100) or the battery (300) within the battery case (200). However, the door (502) may have a watertight and waterproof structure.

[0026] After the battery case (200) is placed inside the body (500) of the battery room (100), the cover (600) can cover the body (500) to seal the battery room (100). The purpose of placing the battery case (200) inside the battery room (100) in this way is to prevent the fire from spreading to the outside of the battery room (100) even if a fire occurs in the battery (300) and to quickly extinguish the fire inside the battery room (100).

[0027] According to one embodiment, the battery (300) may be mounted in the battery case (200) through a side of the battery case (200) as illustrated in FIG. 3. At least one slot may be formed within the battery case (200) to separate these batteries (300).

[0028] According to one embodiment, the battery (300) may include various signal terminals, a fuse, a ventilation fan, a ventilation hole, and an entrance as shown in FIG. 4.

[0029] Battery control signals, etc. are input through the above signal terminals, heat inside the battery (300) is discharged to the outside through the ventilation fan and the ventilation port, and in case of fire, coolant or fire extinguishing agent can be introduced into the battery (300) through the entrance / exit port. As a result, a fire in the battery (300) can be quickly extinguished.

[0030] From the perspective of the battery enclosure, a plurality of battery enclosures (200) are located within the battery room (100), and when a fire occurs or a fire is predicted to occur, fire extinguishing agents or coolant may flow into the corresponding battery enclosure (200) to extinguish the fire, but fire extinguishing agents may not flow into other battery enclosures (200). In other words, fire extinguishing is possible for each battery enclosure (200), and thus other battery enclosures (200) in which a fire has not occurred can be preserved.

[0031] According to one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 8, a fire extinguishing agent may be introduced into each battery compartment (200), thereby preserving the remaining battery compartments (200) except for the battery compartment (200) in which a fire has occurred. To this end, a slit-type door may be installed in each battery compartment (200). Specifically, when a fire occurs in a specific battery compartment (200), the slit-type door of the specific battery compartment (200) may be opened to allow the fire extinguishing agent to be introduced into the specific battery compartment (200) and the fire may be extinguished, while the slit-type doors of the other battery compartments (200) may remain closed. As a result, the fire extinguishing agent may not be supplied to the other battery compartments (200) and may be blocked. At this time, the fire extinguishing agent may be supplied to the battery compartments (200) from outside the battery room (100). Meanwhile, there are no restrictions on the installation location and structure of the openable door as long as it can be opened and closed and the supply and blocking of fire extinguishing agents are possible.

[0032] In another embodiment, battery compartments (200) may be arranged within the battery room (100) separated by partition walls. That is, multiple spaces formed by the partition walls may exist, and only one battery compartment (200) may be located in each space. Consequently, only the battery compartment (200) in which a fire has occurred may be destroyed, while the other battery compartments (200) may be protected by the partition walls. Of course, fire extinguishing agents will be supplied to the battery compartment (200) in which the fire has occurred.

[0033]

[0034] Hereinafter, the detailed structure of the battery system of the present invention will be examined. Figures 6 to 8 schematically show the inner and outer structures of the battery room (100) as viewed from different directions.

[0035] Referring to FIGS. 6 to 9, the battery system of the present embodiment may include a battery room (100) having at least one battery compartment (200) positioned therein, at least one sensor, a cooling water unit (not shown), a fire extinguishing unit (not shown), a battery power connection unit (710), a chiller (712), and pumps (900 and 902). Here, the battery power connection unit (710) is positioned outside the battery room (100) and may control power connection to batteries (300). For example, the battery power connection unit (710) may cut off power connection to batteries (300) in the event of a fire.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the battery power connection unit (710) may cut off power to the batteries (300) of all battery units (200) within the battery room (100) in the event of a fire, or may cut off power to only the batteries (300) of the battery unit (200) where the fire occurred. In this case, a method of cutting off the power line drawn from the battery unit (200) may be used. Meanwhile, the power cut to the batteries (300) may be performed not when a fire occurs, but when a fire is predicted to occur or when fire extinguishing agents are supplied.

[0037] The above battery system may include at least one of a gas sensor, a smoke sensor, and a temperature sensor to detect fire, i.e., may include at least one fire detection sensor. However, there is no limitation on the type and number of fire detection sensors as long as they can detect fire.

[0038] According to one embodiment, a gas sensor, a smoke sensor, and a temperature sensor may be present as first fire detection sensors within the battery room (100), and a gas sensor may be present as a second fire detection sensor within the battery housing (200).

[0039] For example, when determining a fire, the occurrence of a fire can be determined firstly by a gas sensor within the battery case (200), and secondly by using a gas sensor, smoke sensor, and temperature sensor installed within the battery room (100). However, the introduction of fire extinguishing agents into the battery room (100) can be decided after the second determination.

[0040] If it is determined through a first judgment that a fire has broken out in a specific battery compartment (200), fire extinguishing agents may be injected into that specific battery compartment (200) and not injected into other battery compartments (200). Of course, fire extinguishing agents are not injected into the battery room (100). However, the speed of the ventilation fan may increase, coolant may flow into the empty space of the body (500) of the battery room (100), or a chiller (712) outside the battery room (100) may cool the battery room (500). Of course, these operations may continue to be performed even when it is determined through a second judgment that a fire has broken out.

[0041] Specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, there is an empty space in the body (500) of the battery room (100) through which coolant can flow, that is, the body (500) has a hollow structure, a ventilation fan is installed in a part of the body (500), for example, in the upper part, a ventilation hole is installed in the body (500) or the cover (600), a chiller (712) can be arranged on the outside of the battery room (100), and a passage (for example, a pipe) through which a fire extinguishing agent can be introduced can be installed in a part of the body (500), for example, in the upper part. In addition, a temperature rise prevention cover (700) can be additionally arranged on the cover (600).

[0042] According to another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 8, an air vent and a drain may be connected to each battery case (200). These air vents and drains are connected to the outside of the battery. In addition, drains may be formed within the body (500) itself and penetrating the body (500). Consequently, outside air may be introduced into the battery case (200) through the air vents, or air within the battery case (200) may be discharged to the outside, and fire extinguishing agents or cooling water used to extinguish a fire may be discharged to the outside through each drain. For this purpose, a valve is installed in each drain. For example, when a fire extinguishing agent is supplied to extinguish a fire, the valve is locked to prevent the fire extinguishing agent from being discharged to the outside, and when the fire extinguishing is completed, the valve is opened to discharge the fire extinguishing agent to the outside. As a result, the fire extinguishing agent inside the battery case (200), the fire extinguishing agent inside the battery room (100), and the coolant inside the body (500) can be discharged to the outside at the manager's choice.

[0043] If a fire detection sensor detects that a fire in a specific battery case (200) has spread to the outside and caused a fire inside the battery room (100), the management server (not shown) can operate a pump (900) connected to a coolant unit (e.g., a coolant tank) storing coolant to supply coolant into an empty space of the body (500) or the inside of the battery room (100), and can operate a pump (902) connected to a fire extinguishing unit to supply fire extinguishing agent into the inside of the battery room (100). At this time, the pumps (900 and 902) or the pumps (900 and 902), the coolant unit, and the fire extinguishing unit may be shared by a plurality of battery rooms (100), as illustrated in FIG. 9. Here, the coolant may be supplied to the internal space (wall surface) of the body (500) when a fire occurs in the battery room (100), but may also be supplied to the internal space of the body (500) when a fire occurs in the battery case (200).

[0044] In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 10, a single pump may supply coolant and extinguishing agent to multiple battery rooms (100a and 100b). Here, the coolant may be supplied to the bottom and wall surfaces of the body (500), and the extinguishing agent may be supplied to the battery case (200) or the battery room (100a or 100b). At this time, since a valve is present in each supply line (pipe), the coolant or extinguishing agent may be supplied only to a desired location by opening and closing the valve. In other words, the supply operation of the pipes supplying the coolant and extinguishing agent may be controlled by the valve, and the valve may be installed in a location out of reach of passengers and may be locked with a key.

[0045]

[0046] Let's look at the fire suppression process in the event of a fire in a battery system with this structure.

[0047] In normal times, fire detection sensors inside the battery room (100) and the battery case (200) perform monitoring operations, the ventilation fan operates, and air may be introduced or exhausted through the ventilation holes. These operations may be controlled by the management server. Here, the ventilation fan may operate continuously or periodically, and may operate when the temperature inside the battery room (100) rises above a preset temperature. Meanwhile, when the internal temperature inside the battery room (100) rises above the preset temperature, coolant may flow into the hollow space (floor surface and wall surface) of the body (500) of the battery room (100) through the cooling pipe.

[0048] Next, when the first fire detection sensor of the battery case (200) detects a fire or a sign of a fire, the management server controls the battery power connection case (710) to cut off the power supply to the batteries (300), controls the first pump (900) to supply cooling water to the bottom and wall surfaces of the body (500), and controls the chiller (712) to cool the battery room (100) to lower the temperature of the battery room (100). At this time, the ventilation fan may rotate faster than usual. In addition, fire extinguishing agents may be supplied to the battery case (200) where the fire has occurred.

[0049] Continuing, when the second fire detection sensor of the battery room (100) detects that a fire has occurred, the management server can control the second pump (902) to introduce fire extinguishing agents into the battery room (100). At this time, the introduction of coolant and the cooling operation of the chiller (712) can be continuously performed. As a result, the battery case (200) is immersed in the fire extinguishing agents, so that the fire can be extinguished. At this time, the fire will not spread outside the battery room (100). Meanwhile, not only the fire extinguishing agents but also the coolant may be introduced into the battery room (100).

[0050] In summary, the electric ship battery system of the present embodiment has a structure in which a battery case (200) is placed within a battery room (100), a fire detection sensor is installed within the battery room (100), and coolant and fire extinguishing agents can be supplied. Consequently, in the event of a battery fire, the fire can be quickly and safely extinguished. However, to minimize damage, fire extinguishing agents are first supplied only to the battery case (200) where the fire has occurred, and if the fire spreads outside the battery case (200), the fire extinguishing agents can be supplied into the battery room (100) to extinguish the fire.

[0051]

[0052] Meanwhile, the components of the aforementioned embodiments can be easily understood from a process perspective. That is, each component can be understood as a separate process. Furthermore, the processes of the aforementioned embodiments can be easily understood from the perspective of the device components.

[0053] The above-described embodiments of the present invention are disclosed for the purpose of illustration, and those skilled in the art with common knowledge of the present invention will be able to make various modifications, changes, and additions within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and such modifications, changes, and additions should be considered to fall within the scope of the following patent claims.

Claims

1. In the battery system for electric ships, A battery room installed on the above electric vessel; and At least one battery compartment disposed within the battery room, An electric ship battery system, characterized in that at least one battery is present in the battery case, and in the event of a fire, a fire extinguishing agent is supplied into the battery case where a fire has occurred or into the battery room to extinguish the fire.

2. In paragraph 1, the battery room is installed on the deck of the electric ship, An electric ship battery system, characterized in that at least one first fire detection sensor is present within the battery room and a second fire detection sensor is present within the battery housing.

3. In the first paragraph, the battery room includes a body and a cover covering the upper surface of the body, An electric ship battery system, characterized in that a door is formed on one side of the body, and the battery compartment is placed into the body through the upper surface of the body using a crane.

4. In paragraph 3, An electric ship battery system further characterized by including a temperature rise prevention cover placed on the cover.

5. In paragraph 1, A ventilation fan installed on one side of the above battery room; A first passage through which the above-mentioned fire extinguishing agent can be supplied to the battery compartment; A second passage through which the above fire extinguishing agent can be supplied to the battery room; A pump supplying the above fire extinguishing agent to the battery room; A first drain for discharging the fire extinguishing agent of the battery compartment outside the battery room; and An electric ship battery system further characterized by including a second drain for discharging fire extinguishing material inside the battery room to the outside of the battery room.

6. In the first paragraph, the inside of the bottom surface and the wall surface of the body of the battery room is empty, An electric ship battery system characterized in that cooling water is supplied to the bottom surface and wall surface of the body to lower the temperature of the battery room.

7. In paragraph 1, A chiller located outside the battery room to cool the battery room; and An electric ship battery system further comprising a battery power connection unit for controlling power supply to the battery.

8. An electric ship battery system according to claim 1, characterized in that the battery cases in the battery room are arranged to be separated from each other by bulkheads, and when a fire occurs in a specific battery case, the fire extinguishing agent is supplied only to the space of the bulkheads where the battery case is located.

9. A method for suppressing a fire in a battery system for an electric ship, the battery system comprising a battery room having a battery compartment having at least one battery arranged therein, A step in which a second fire detection sensor installed inside the battery case detects the occurrence of a fire or signs of a fire; A step of cutting off the power supply to the battery when the fire or the sign of the fire is detected; and A method for extinguishing a fire in an electric ship battery system, characterized by comprising the step of supplying cooling water into a space of a hollow battery room or into the interior of the battery room to lower the temperature of the battery room.

10. In paragraph 9, A step for detecting a fire by a first fire detection sensor installed in the above battery room; and A method for extinguishing a fire in an electric ship battery system, characterized in that it further includes a step of extinguishing the fire by supplying a fire extinguishing agent into the inside of the battery room when the first fire detection sensor detects that a fire has occurred.

11. In paragraph 10, A method for suppressing a fire in an electric ship battery system, characterized in that it further comprises the step of operating a chiller located outside the battery room to cool the battery room when the first fire detection sensor or the second fire detection sensor detects that a fire has occurred.

12. A method for extinguishing a fire in an electric ship battery system, characterized in that in paragraph 9, when a fire is detected in a specific battery case, a fire extinguishing agent is supplied to the specific battery case and not supplied inside the battery room, and when the fire spreads outside the specific battery case, the fire extinguishing agent is supplied inside the battery room.

13. In the battery system for electric ships, A battery room installed on the above electric vessel; At least two battery compartments arranged within the battery room; and Including a sensor for detecting fire within the above two or more battery compartments, At least one battery is present within the battery compartment, and fire extinguishing agents are supplied into the battery room to extinguish a fire in the event of a fire. An electric ship battery system, characterized in that the fire extinguishing agent supplied into the battery room is selectively supplied to the inside of a battery case where a fire has occurred among the plurality of battery cases according to a fire situation inside the battery case detected by the sensor.

14. In paragraph 13, The above battery compartment includes an openable door through which the fire extinguishing agent can be supplied or shut off independently, An electric ship battery system characterized in that when the sensor detects a fire and a fire extinguishing agent is supplied, a battery compartment other than the battery compartment where a fire occurred among the battery compartments closes the door to block the inflow of the fire extinguishing agent.

15. In paragraph 13, An electric ship battery system further characterized by including a configuration for cutting off a power line drawn from a battery case where a fire has occurred among the battery cases when the sensor detects a fire and an extinguishing agent is supplied.

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