Electric ship capable of fire prevention and suppression

Abstract

An electric ship using a battery as a power source is disclosed. The electric ship capable of fire prevention and suppression, according to the present invention, comprises: a hull left part; a hull right part disposed to be spaced apart from the hull left part; a hull bottom part for connecting the lower portions of the hull left part and the hull right part to each other; and a battery pack mounted inside the electric ship, wherein the battery pack is cooled by means of the water flowing in from the outside of the electric ship.

Description

Electric ships capable of fire prevention and suppression

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric vessel that uses a battery as a power source for a motor or the like.

[0002] Just as electric vehicles have recently been gaining attention due to environmental concerns and advancements in battery technology, the shipping industry is also experiencing a surge in demand for electric ships that use batteries as their power source, including motors.

[0003] However, as is well known from the electric vehicle fire accident, electric ships have the problem that if a fire breaks out due to thermal runaway of the installed batteries, it is very difficult to put out the fire, resulting in significant casualties.

[0004] For reference, in the case of an electric vehicle fire accident, a method is commonly used to extinguish the fire by creating a submersion tank and submerging the electric vehicle battery in the tank for a certain period of time.

[0005] Accordingly, there is an urgent need for research and development of electric ships with structures and functions that can prevent fires caused by batteries and quickly extinguish fires if they do occur.

[0006] Related prior art documents include Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1517017 (Title of the invention: Battery cooling system and electric boat using the same, Publication date: May 6, 2015), Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1672261 (Title of the invention: Ship including battery, Publication date: November 3, 2016), and Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2289709 (Title of the invention: Fire extinguishing system for battery loading compartment of electric propulsion ship, Publication date: August 13, 2021).

[0007] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an electric vessel capable of preventing and extinguishing fires, which can prevent fires caused by thermal runaway of batteries in electric vessels that use batteries as a power source for motors, etc., and can quickly extinguish fires even if fires occur.

[0008] The above object is achieved by an electric ship capable of preventing and suppressing fire, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprising a left side of the hull, a right side of the hull spaced apart from the left side of the hull, a bottom of the hull interconnecting the left side of the hull and the lower part of the right side of the hull, and a battery pack mounted inside the electric ship, wherein the battery pack is cooled by water introduced from the outside of the electric ship.

[0009] Preferably, the electric vessel further includes a water inlet space formed by the hull bottom between the left hull portion and the right hull portion and opened rearward on the stern side to allow water to flow in from the outside of the electric vessel, and the battery pack can be placed within the water inlet space.

[0010] Preferably, the water inflow space is filled with water flowing in from the outside when the electric vessel is stationary, and the water filled in the water inflow space can be discharged to the outside when the electric vessel is running.

[0011] Preferably, the water inlet space can serve as a flooding tank for extinguishing a fire in the battery pack in the event of a fire caused by the battery pack.

[0012] Preferably, the electric vessel may further include an inlet formed through the bottom of the hull so that water flows from the outside of the electric vessel into the space where the battery pack is located while the electric vessel is running.

[0013] Preferably, the electric vessel may further include a cooling case in which the battery pack is accommodated and water is introduced from the outside of the electric vessel through the inlet, and a drain formed in the cooling case on a side opposite to the inlet so that water inside the cooling case is discharged to the outside of the cooling case.

[0014] Preferably, the battery pack may be provided with a waterproof structure.

[0015] Preferably, the left side of the hull and the right side of the hull may each be provided with a buoyancy unit including a tube member in its internal space.

[0016] According to an electric ship capable of preventing and extinguishing fire according to one embodiment of the present invention, by efficiently cooling a battery pack using water flowing in from the outside of the electric ship, a fire caused by the battery pack is prevented, and even if a fire occurs, the fire can be quickly extinguished.

[0017] In addition, according to an electric ship capable of preventing and extinguishing fires according to one embodiment of the present invention, a water inflow space that opens rearward from the stern side to allow water to flow in from the outside of the electric ship is formed between the left side of the ship and the right side of the ship, and a battery pack is placed within this water inflow space, thereby preventing fire caused by the battery pack, and even if a fire occurs, the water inflow space filled with water acts as a submergence tank for extinguishing the fire in the battery pack, thereby having the effect of extinguishing the fire more quickly.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric vessel capable of fire prevention and suppression according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 is a front view of the electric ship capable of fire prevention and suppression as seen from the stern of Figure 1.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cooling system of a battery pack applied to an electric ship capable of preventing and suppressing fire according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] In order to fully understand the present invention, its operational advantages, and the objects achieved by the practice of the present invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention and the contents described in the accompanying drawings.

[0022] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail by describing preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings. However, in describing the present invention, descriptions of previously known functions or structures will be omitted to clarify the gist of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric ship capable of fire prevention and suppression according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the electric ship capable of fire prevention and suppression of FIG. 1 as viewed from the stern.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an electric ship capable of fire prevention and suppression according to one embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an "electric ship") includes a left side of the hull (110), a right side of the hull (120), a bottom of the hull (130), a bow of the hull (140), a transom (150), a water inlet space (160), and a battery pack (170). Meanwhile, in this specification, the term "ship" is used to mean various ships or vessels such as boats, fishing boats, and merchant ships.

[0025] The left side of the hull (110) and the right side of the hull (120) are formed to extend long from the bow side to the stern side as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and are arranged parallel to each other while being spaced apart from each other. The left side of the hull (110) and the right side of the hull (120) have substantially the same configuration except that they are arranged on the left and right sides, respectively, in a bilaterally symmetrical structure. For reference, in this specification, the terms "left" and "right" are based on the view from the stern side of the electric boat toward the bow side.

[0026] Here, the left side of the hull (110) and the right side of the hull (120) may be manufactured from a sheet of synthetic resin (plastic) material such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or may be manufactured from a sheet of metal material. Specifically, the left side of the hull (110) and the right side of the hull (120) may be manufactured by preparing each part through a process of CNC cutting a sheet of synthetic resin material or a sheet of metal material based on a CAD design drawing, bending the same, and then assembling the parts through a bolt-fastening process. In particular, the left side of the hull (110) and the right side of the hull (120) are preferably manufactured from a sheet of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is lightweight but has excellent strength and elasticity, is resistant to external impact, and can ensure durability even in cold weather.

[0027] Furthermore, the hull bottom (130), hull bow (140), etc., which will be described later and constitute the exterior of the electric ship according to the present invention, together with the hull left side (110) and the hull right side (120), can also be manufactured through the above processes, and the assembly between the hull left side (110), the hull right side (120), the hull bottom (130), and the hull bow (140) can also be accomplished through a bolt fastening process.

[0028] Accordingly, the electric vessel according to the present invention can be assembled entirely through a simple bolt-fastening process, so there is no need for a welding process requiring skilled workers or a hull mold required for the production of FRP boats, and thus, unskilled workers can be employed, and labor costs can be reduced. In addition, the electric vessel according to the present invention has the advantage of improving productivity and facilitating standardization and maintenance because it is suitable for the construction of an automated production line. In addition, the electric vessel according to the present invention can significantly reduce noise, dust, odor, and waste generated during the production process compared to conventional boats, and thus is environmentally friendly and can be operated as a factory even in large cities or residential complexes, so there is an advantage of a smooth supply and demand of the necessary manpower for its production.

[0029] Meanwhile, the left side of the hull (110) and the right side of the hull (120) may each be provided as buoyancy units, and specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2, at least one tube member (not shown) may be accommodated in the internal space thereof. As gas is injected into the tube member, the inner surface of the plate constituting the left side of the hull (110) and the right side of the hull (120) is pressed, and thus the plate member may expand together with the tube member and be formed to be convex outward.

[0030] The left side (110) and right side (120) of the hull having such a structure can secure sufficient and stable buoyancy by the tube members accommodated in their internal spaces, and the soft tube members can be protected from external impact by the hard plate members constituting the left side (110) and right side (120) of the hull. Accordingly, the electric ship according to the present invention can maintain buoyancy even if the hull is partially damaged, and thus does not sink.

[0031] The hull bottom (130) interconnects the lower portions of the left side of the hull (110) and the right side of the hull (120), as illustrated in FIG. 2. Specifically, the left end of the hull bottom (130) is coupled to the left side of the hull (110) by bolt fastening, and the right end of the hull bottom (130) is coupled to the right side of the hull (120) by bolt fastening, so that the hull bottom (130) can interconnect the lower portions of the left side of the hull (110) and the right side of the hull (120). Meanwhile, the hull bottom (130) may be provided to cover only a portion of the lower portions of the left side of the hull (110) and the right side of the hull (120), or may be provided to cover the lower portions of the left side of the hull (110) and the right side of the hull (120).

[0032] This hull bottom (130) forms the bottom of the electric vessel according to the present invention together with the lower portions of the left side (110) and the right side (120) of the hull, thereby enabling stable gliding of the electric vessel during operation. To this end, it is preferable that the hull bottom (130) have a structure that slopes downward from both sides toward the center, as illustrated in FIG. 2. For example, the hull bottom (130) may have an overall approximately 'V'-shaped cross-section.

[0033] Preferably, the hull bottom (130) can be manufactured by preparing individual parts through a process of CNC cutting and bending a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) material plate based on a CAD design drawing as described above, and then assembling these parts through a bolt-fastening process. In addition, the hull bottom (130) can be joined to the left side (110) and the right side (120) of the hull through a bolt-fastening process to interconnect the lower portions of the left side (110) and the right side (120) of the hull. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the hull bottom (130) can be formed integrally with the left side (110) and the right side (120) of the hull, and furthermore, its shape and structure are not limited to those disclosed in the attached drawings and can be appropriately changed as needed.

[0034] Meanwhile, the hull bottom (130) is additionally connected to the left side of the hull (110) and the right side of the hull (120) by a first reinforcing frame (131) and a second reinforcing frame (132) which are arranged lengthwise from the stern side to the bow side as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to improve its structural strength and rigidity. The first reinforcing frame (131) is arranged in the space between the left side of the hull (110) and the hull bottom (130), and its upper end is connected to the left side of the hull (110) by bolt fastening, and its lower end is connected to the hull bottom (130) by bolt fastening. In addition, the second reinforcing frame (132) is arranged in the space between the right side of the hull (120) and the hull bottom (130), and its upper end is connected to the right side of the hull (120) by bolt fastening, and its lower end is connected to the hull bottom (130) by bolt fastening.

[0035] The hull bow portion (140) provides the bow of the electric vessel according to the present invention as its name suggests, and has the function of cutting through water when the electric vessel is in operation. In addition, the hull bow portion (140) is connected to the left side of the hull (110) and the right side of the hull (120) on the bow side of the electric vessel. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the left end of the hull bow portion (140) may be connected to the left side of the hull (110) by bolt fastening, and the right end of the hull bow portion (140) may be connected to the right side of the hull (120) by bolt fastening.

[0036] Preferably, the hull bow portion (140) can be manufactured by preparing individual parts through a process of CNC cutting and bending a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) material plate based on a CAD design drawing as described above, and then assembling these parts through a bolt-fastening process. In addition, the hull bow portion (140) can be connected to the hull left side (110) and the hull right side (120) through a bolt-fastening process, thereby interconnecting the hull left side (110) and the hull right side (120) at the bow side of the electric ship. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the hull bow portion (140) can be formed integrally with the hull left side (110) and the hull right side (120), and furthermore, its shape and structure are not limited to those disclosed in the attached drawings and can be appropriately changed as needed.

[0037] The transom (150) is a means for mounting a driving motor or an outboard motor, and is installed to extend transversely from the stern of the electric ship to the upper portions of the left side (110) and the right side (120) of the hull, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. At this time, the transom (150) may include a reinforcing frame (not shown) that extends from the central portion to the hull bottom (130) and is coupled to the hull bottom (130), in order to reinforce the weak rigidity due to the space between the left side (110) and the right side (120) of the hull, i.e., the water inflow space (160). However, the electric ship according to the present invention is not limited to the structure and shape of the transom (150) shown in the attached drawing, and may be appropriately changed to a transom having various other structures and shapes.

[0038] The water inflow space (160) is formed by the hull bottom (130) between the left side (110) and the right side (120) of the hull, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and is opened rearward from the stern of the electric vessel to allow water to flow in from the outside of the electric vessel. That is, the water inflow space (160) is provided as a space defined by the left side (110) and the right side (120) of the hull, which are spaced apart from each other, and the hull bottom (130), and has a structure in which the rear side is open to allow water to flow in from the outside of the electric vessel. For reference, in this specification, 'water' means seawater (ocean water) when the electric vessel operates in the sea, and means river water or lake water when the electric vessel operates in a river or lake.

[0039] Here, the water inflow space (160) is filled with water flowing in from the outside of the electric vessel when the electric vessel is stationary, and the water filled in the water inflow space (160) is discharged to the outside of the electric vessel when the electric vessel is running.

[0040] In this way, the electric ship according to the present invention has the lower portions of the left side (110) and the right side (120) of the hull, which are spaced apart from each other, interconnected by the hull bottom (130), and a water inflow space (160) is formed by the hull bottom (130) between the left side (110) and the right side (120) of the hull, so that when the electric ship is stationary, water flows into the water inflow space (160) from the outside of the electric ship and fills it, thereby exhibiting the characteristics of a catamaran, thereby stabilizing the center of buoyancy and reducing the risk of rolling and capsizing, and since water that has flowed into the interior of the hull is automatically discharged (drained) to the outside of the electric ship like a raft, there is no need for a bilge pump and internal water cleaning is easy, while when the electric ship is running, the water filled in the water inflow space (160) is discharged to the outside of the electric ship, thereby exhibiting the characteristics of a monohull, thereby increasing the area in contact with water and improving the gliding performance. And it can improve fuel efficiency.

[0041] In addition, the electric ship according to the present invention can implement a hull that is lightweight but has excellent strength and rigidity by the hull left side (110), hull right side (120), hull bottom (130), and hull bow (140) having the structures described above, and therefore can be said to be very suitable for an electric ship equipped with a heavy battery pack (170).

[0042] The battery pack (170) is a power source that supplies the power required for a motor (or outboard motor) for driving an electric vessel according to the present invention, and is installed inside the electric vessel. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is preferably installed inside a water inlet space (160). That is, the battery pack (170) is installed in a state accommodated inside a water inlet space (160) provided by a space defined by the left side of the hull (110), the right side of the hull (120), and the bottom of the hull (130), which are spaced apart from each other as described above. At this time, the battery pack (170) may be installed in a state of being firmly fixed on a battery support frame (175) installed inside the water inlet space (160), as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. For reference, the battery pack (170) can be applied to any of various battery products, including a lithium-ion battery, and can be provided in a structure in which multiple battery cells or battery modules are arranged and various components for control are mounted and packaged.

[0043] Here, the water filled in the water inflow space (160) acts as a coolant to cool the battery pack (170), thereby preventing a fire caused by thermal runaway of the battery pack (170). In addition, the water inflow space (160) functions as a flooding tank for extinguishing a fire in the battery pack (170) in the event of a fire caused by thermal runaway of the battery pack (170). Specifically, when a fire occurs in the battery pack (170) while the electric vessel is moored at a standstill or the battery is being charged, the water inflow space (160) can function as a flooding tank for extinguishing the fire in the battery pack (170) while filled with water. In addition, when a fire occurs in the battery pack (170) while the electric vessel is running, the motor stops operating and the electric vessel stops, so that water flows in from the outside of the electric vessel and fills the water inflow space (160), thereby functioning as a flooding tank for extinguishing the fire in the battery pack (170).

[0044] Meanwhile, it is preferable that the battery pack (170) be provided with a waterproof structure in that it is mounted in the water inlet space (160) and immersed in water filled in the water inlet space (160). For example, the battery pack (170) may be provided with a waterproof coating or a structure housed in a waterproof case.

[0045] In this way, since the electric ship according to the present invention has the battery pack (170) placed in the water inlet space (160), even if a fire occurs due to the battery pack (170), the water inlet space (160) filled with water acts as a submersion tank for the battery pack (170), so that the fire can be quickly extinguished, and the water filled in the water inlet space (160) acts as a coolant, so that the battery pack (170) is prevented from overheating in advance, thereby preventing a fire due to the battery pack (170).

[0046] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cooling system of a battery pack applied to an electric ship capable of preventing and suppressing fire according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, an electric ship capable of preventing and suppressing fire according to an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an “electric ship”) includes the hull left side (110), hull right side (120), hull bottom (130), hull bow (140), transom (150), water inlet space (160), and battery pack (170) described above, but further includes an inlet (181), a cooling case (185), and a drain (187) as a system for cooling the battery pack (170) using water introduced from the outside of the electric ship even when the electric ship is in a running state without water filled in the water inlet space (160) or even when the electric ship does not have the water inlet space (160). At this time, the water introduced from the outside of the electric ship cools the battery pack (170) mounted inside the electric ship and then is discharged to the outside of the electric ship again.

[0048] The inlet (181) is formed through a penetration in the bottom of the hull (130) that comes into contact with seawater or river water so that water can flow from the outside of the electric ship into the space where the battery pack (170) is located while the electric ship is running. In this embodiment, the 'space where the battery pack is located' refers to the internal space of the cooling case (185) in which the battery pack (170) is accommodated. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and in an embodiment without the cooling case (185), the water inlet space (160) or the like can be used.

[0049] Here, the inlet (181) is preferably formed penetrating the V-hull bottom of the hull bottom (130) as shown in Fig. 3 to ensure smooth inflow of water from the outside of the electric vessel when the electric vessel is running. In addition, the inlet (181) may be formed to face the bow side (front side) of the electric vessel in consideration of the forward running of the electric vessel.

[0050] The cooling case (185) forms an internal space in which the battery pack (170) is accommodated, as illustrated in FIG. 3. That is, the battery pack (170) is placed in the water inlet space (160) in a structure accommodated within the cooling case (185). At this time, the battery pack (170) is accommodated within the cooling case (185) after being waterproofed with a waterproof coating or a waterproof case. For reference, the replacement of the battery pack (170) can be performed by replacing the entire cooling case (185) in which the battery pack (170) is accommodated. The cooling case (185) is preferably made of aluminum, which has excellent thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance.

[0051] And, water flows into the cooling case (185) from the outside of the electric ship through the inlet (181) in the internal space thereof. At this time, the inlet (181) is connected to the inside of the cooling case (185) through the inlet pipe (183) as illustrated in FIG. 3, so that water from the outside of the electric ship flows into the inside of the electric ship through the inlet (181) and into the inside of the cooling case (185) through the inlet pipe (183). At this time, the inlet pipe (183) is provided with a structure and shape that does not restrict the flow of water flowing in through the inlet (181), but is not limited to the structure and shape illustrated in FIG. 3 and may be appropriately changed as needed.

[0052] Meanwhile, an inlet valve (not shown) may be installed in the inlet pipe (183), although not shown in the attached drawing, and this inlet valve controls the amount of water flowing into the interior of the cooling case (185) through the inlet port (181). At this time, it is preferable that the opening / closing amount of the inlet valve be controlled so as to control the amount of water flowing into the interior of the cooling case (185) according to the temperature of the battery pack (170). Specifically, the opening / closing amount of the inlet valve may be controlled so as to increase the amount of water flowing into the interior of the cooling case (185) when the temperature of the battery pack (170) rises, and the opening / closing amount may be controlled so as to decrease the amount of water flowing into the interior of the cooling case (185) when the temperature of the battery pack (170) drops. Meanwhile, the inlet valve may completely block the inlet port (181) to prevent water from flowing into the interior of the cooling case (185), if necessary.

[0053] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the drain port (187) is formed in a pipe shape in the cooling case (185) on the side opposite to the inlet port, i.e., on the stern side of the electric ship, and water flowing in through the inlet port (181) and contained within the cooling case (185) is discharged to the outside of the cooling case (185). At this time, the water discharged to the outside of the cooling case (185) through the drain port (187) can be discharged to the outside of the electric ship through the open rear side of the water inlet space (160). However, in the case of an electric ship without a water inlet space (160), the drain port (187) may be extended to the outside of the electric ship so as to directly discharge water contained within the cooling case (185) to the outside of the electric ship.

[0054] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an electric vessel to which the cooling system described above is applied can prevent danger caused by temperature rise of the battery pack (170) and fire caused by thermal runaway of the battery pack (170) by allowing water that flows in from the outside of the electric vessel through the inlet (181) during the course of running to flow into the inside of the cooling case (185) and cool the battery pack (170) accommodated inside the cooling case (185). In spite of the cooling system, the electric vessel according to an embodiment of the present invention can stop the electric vessel by stopping the motor in a thermal runaway situation in which the temperature of the battery pack (170) continues to rise, thereby allowing water to immediately flow in from the outside of the electric vessel into the water inlet space (160), thereby preparing for an explosion of the battery pack (170) and quickly extinguishing a fire even if one occurs. In addition, in the electric vessel according to an embodiment of the present invention, even if the battery pack (170) explodes, a considerable amount of water filled in the cooling case (185) and the water inlet space (160) can act as a buffer, thereby minimizing casualties.

[0055] While the present invention has been described in detail through preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned preferred embodiments, and that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, such modifications and variations should fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

[0056] The present invention can be widely used in the manufacturing field of various electric ships that use batteries as a power source such as motors.

Claims

1. In electric ships that use batteries as a power source, left side of the hull; The right side of the hull is spaced apart from the left side of the hull; The hull bottom portion interconnecting the left side of the hull and the lower part of the right side of the hull; and Battery pack installed inside the above electric vessel Including, The above battery pack An electric vessel capable of fire prevention and suppression, characterized in that it is cooled by water flowing in from the outside of the electric vessel.

2. In paragraph 1, A water inlet space formed by the hull bottom between the left hull portion and the right hull portion and opened rearward from the stern side to allow water to flow in from the outside of the electric ship. Including more, The above battery pack An electric vessel capable of fire prevention and suppression, characterized in that it is placed within the above water inflow space.

3. In paragraph 2, The above water inflow space When the above electric vessel is stationary, water flows in from the outside and fills it, An electric ship capable of preventing and suppressing fire, characterized in that water filled in the water inlet space is discharged to the outside during the driving state of the electric ship.

4. In paragraph 3, The above water inflow space An electric ship capable of fire prevention and suppression, characterized in that it serves as a submersion tank for suppressing fire in the battery pack in the event of a fire caused by the battery pack.

5. In paragraph 1, An inlet formed through the bottom of the hull to allow water to flow from the outside of the electric vessel into the space where the battery pack is located while the electric vessel is running. An electric vessel capable of fire prevention and suppression, characterized by further including:

6. In paragraph 5, A cooling case in which the battery pack is accommodated and water is introduced from the outside of the electric vessel through the inlet; and A drain formed in the cooling case on the side opposite to the inlet so that water inside the cooling case can be discharged to the outside of the cooling case. Electric ship capable of fire prevention and suppression characterized by further including 7. In paragraph 1, An electric vessel capable of fire prevention and suppression, characterized in that the above battery pack is provided with a waterproof structure.

8. In paragraph 1, An electric ship capable of fire prevention and suppression, characterized in that the left side of the hull and the right side of the hull are each provided with a buoyancy unit including a tube member in its internal space.

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