Gas detection device and fire-fighting device

Abstract

A gas detection device (1) and a fire-fighting device. The gas detection device (1) comprises: a blower (10), a gas guide assembly (11), a detection assembly (12), and a control assembly (13); the end of the gas detection device (1) where the blower (10) is located is provided with a gas inlet (14); the end of the gas detection device (1) where the detection assembly (12) is located is provided with a gas outlet (15); the blower (10) is communicated with the detection assembly (12) by means of the gas guide assembly (11), and gas enters the gas detection device (1) under the action of the blower (10) and is guided to the detection assembly (12) by the gas guide assembly (11); and the detection assembly (12) is communicatively connected to the control assembly (13), and the control assembly (13) generates a first control signal on the basis of gas information collected by the detection assembly (12).

Description

Gas detection devices and fire-fighting devices

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202410800320.9, filed on June 20, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of battery technology, such as a gas detection device and a fire-fighting device. Background Technology

[0003] With the development of technologies such as electric vehicles, the need for energy storage batteries is increasing. Generally, to monitor whether there is a risk of thermal runaway in energy storage batteries, a gas detection device is installed inside the battery pack to monitor for fire.

[0004] Generally speaking, gas detection devices have a lifespan of only 3-5 years, while energy storage batteries are usually designed to last 15 years or longer. When a gas detection device is worn out, the battery pack needs to be disassembled and reassembled, which is a very complicated process and wastes human resources. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a gas detection device and a fire-fighting device to solve the problem of wasted human resources caused by the need to disassemble and reassemble the battery pack when the detection device is damaged in related technologies.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a gas detection device, which includes: a blower, a guide assembly, a detection assembly, and a control assembly;

[0007] The gas detection device has an air inlet at one end where the blower is located, and an air outlet at one end where the detection component is located. The blower is connected to the detection component through the air guide component. Gas enters the gas detection device under the action of the blower and is guided to the detection component through the air guide component.

[0008] The detection component is communicatively connected to the control component, and the control component generates a first control signal based on the gas information collected by the detection component.

[0009] In one embodiment, the gas detection device further includes: a cavity enclosed by a sealed structure, wherein the blower is disposed inside the cavity;

[0010] The sealed structure is provided with an opening communicating with the air inlet and an opening communicating with the air guide assembly.

[0011] In one embodiment, the air guide assembly includes a cover plate installed at the connection between the opening communicating with the air guide assembly and the air guide assembly.

[0012] In one embodiment, the air guide assembly includes a speed-reducing component and an air guide plate.

[0013] In one embodiment, the speed-reducing component includes at least one baffle plate, which is staggered on the air guide plate.

[0014] In one embodiment, the speed-reducing component includes at least one overflow port disposed on the air guide plate.

[0015] In one embodiment, the control component includes a communication interface disposed on the housing of the gas detection device for communication connection with an external device.

[0016] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a fire-fighting device, which includes: the gas detection device and the suppression device described in the first aspect;

[0017] The suppression device is communicatively connected to the gas detection device to output an inhibitor from the output port of the suppression device according to the first control signal;

[0018] The air inlet of the gas detection device is connected to one end of the air inlet pipe at one end of the detection pipeline, the output port of the suppression device is connected to one end of the suppression pipeline, and the other end of the detection pipeline and the other end of the suppression pipeline are connected to a common pipeline, which is connected to the inside of the battery pack.

[0019] In one embodiment, the other end of the detection pipeline and the other end of the suppression pipeline are connected to the common pipeline via a three-way valve, and the three-way valve is communicatively connected to the suppression device;

[0020] Alternatively, an electric shut-off valve may be installed on the detection pipeline, and a puncture valve may be installed on the suppression pipeline. The other end of the detection pipeline and the other end of the suppression pipeline may be connected to the common pipeline via a three-way valve. The electric shut-off valve and the puncture valve may be communicatively connected to the suppression device.

[0021] Alternatively, an electric shut-off valve may be installed on the detection pipeline, and a puncture valve may be installed on the suppression pipeline. The other end of the detection pipeline and the other end of the suppression pipeline may be connected to the common pipeline via a three-way valve. The three-way valve, the electric shut-off valve, and the puncture valve may be communicatively connected to the suppression device.

[0022] In one embodiment, the common conduit has a nozzle at one end connected to the battery pack. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a gas detection device provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0024] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a gas detection device provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0025] Figure 3 is an exploded view of a gas detection device provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0026] Figure 4 is a top view of a cover plate 111 provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0027] Figure 5 is a front view of a cover plate 111 provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0028] Figure 6 is a left view of a cover plate 111 provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0029] Figure 7 is a bottom view of a cover plate 111 provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 8 is a bottom view of an exemplary embodiment of the present application of an air guide assembly 11;

[0031] Figure 9 is a left view of an exemplary embodiment of the present application of an air guide assembly 11;

[0032] Figure 10 is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of this application, showing an air guide assembly 11.

[0033] Figure 11 is a rear view of an exemplary embodiment of the present application of an air guide assembly 11;

[0034] Figure 12 is a structural schematic diagram of a fire-fighting device provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0035] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0036] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of this application described herein can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or server that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or devices.

[0037] An exemplary embodiment of this application provides a gas detection device. The gas detection device is configured to analyze gas information in a gas. When the gas information contains components such as smoke, CO (carbon monoxide), H2 (hydrogen), and VOCs (volatile organic compounds, such as formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, xylene, ether, acetic acid, etc.), the gas detection device will determine that there is a fire and report it to the corresponding handling system for subsequent fire alarm, fire extinguishing, and other handling.

[0038] The gas detection device provided in this embodiment can be applied to battery pack scenarios or other scenarios; there is no limitation on this, and the choice can be made according to the actual situation. When applied to a battery pack scenario, the installation location of the gas detection device will be changed from the traditional inside of the battery pack to the outside of the battery pack, such as the top of the battery cluster or a monitoring room. Simultaneously, gas from inside the battery pack is drawn into the gas detection device through gas pipelines for analysis, thereby achieving real-time monitoring of the thermal runaway risk of the battery pack.

[0039] Based on this, referring to Figure 1, the gas detection device 1 includes: a blower 10, an air guide assembly 11, a detection assembly 12, and a control assembly 13.

[0040] The gas detection device 1 has an air inlet 14 at the end where the blower 10 is located, and an air outlet 15 at the end where the detection component 12 is located. The blower 10 is connected to the detection component 12 via an air guide assembly 11. Gas enters the gas detection device 1 under the action of the blower 10 and is guided to the detection component 12 via the air guide assembly 11. The detection component 12 is communicatively connected to the control component 13, which generates a first control signal based on the gas information collected by the detection component 12.

[0041] The air inlet 14 can be installed on the housing 19 of the gas detection device 1 and extend through the housing 19 to the interior of the gas detection device 1. One end of the air inlet 14 can be connected to the gas pipeline of the device being detected, and the other end leads to the cavity where the blower 10 is located, so that the blower 10 can draw the gas to be detected from the air inlet 14 into the interior of the gas detection device 1 for analysis.

[0042] The air outlet 15 can also be set on the housing 19 of the gas detection device 1 and extend from the housing 19 to the interior of the gas detection device 1 so that the detected gas can be released into the external environment.

[0043] One end of the air guide assembly 11 is connected to the air outlet 15 of the blower 10, and the other end of the air guide assembly 11 is connected to the detection assembly 12. The air guide assembly 11 can guide the gas so that the gas can pass smoothly to the detection assembly 12 for gas detection. On the other hand, the air guide assembly 11 can also decelerate the gas to avoid the gas flow rate being too fast, which would prevent the detection assembly 12 from being unable to fully detect the gas information in the gas and affect the accuracy of the gas detection results.

[0044] The detection component 12 includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: smoke sensor, CO sensor, H2 sensor and VOC sensor. The detection component 12 can integrate multiple sensors into one unit. After the gas is guided to the detection component 12, the gas information in the gas is collected by the detection component 12.

[0045] Gas information includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: smoke concentration, CO concentration, H2 concentration, formaldehyde concentration, and benzene concentration. These can be set according to the type of sensor actually installed.

[0046] When the control component 13 obtains gas information collected by the detection component 12 that exceeds the corresponding safety threshold, for example, when the CO concentration information is greater than the CO safety threshold, the control component 13 will generate first control information.

[0047] The first control information includes information indicating that a fire has occurred in the device being monitored and the severity of the fire. It can be linked with other devices to accelerate the response to a fire and ensure the safety of the monitored device. For example, the first control information can be sent to an alarm to trigger an alarm and alert the user to the fire. Alternatively, the first control information can be sent to a suppression device to trigger the delivery of suppressant to extinguish the fire.

[0048] In this embodiment, the gas detection device 1 can actively acquire outside air for detection and analysis through the blower 10. Compared with other passive gas detection devices, it does not need to be installed inside the device being detected, such as the battery pack. The gas from the battery pack can be introduced into the gas detection device 1 through pipes or other means to complete the detection. This simplifies the manual operation process without affecting the accuracy of gas detection, and facilitates disassembly and replacement, reducing the waste of human resources.

[0049] To facilitate understanding of the gas detection device 1 in this embodiment, Figures 2 and 3 will be used as examples to describe the gas detection device 1 in detail, but the structure of the gas detection device 1 is not limited to these:

[0050] In one embodiment, the gas detection device 1 further includes a cavity 16 for housing the blower 10. During operation, it is necessary to ensure that the blower 10 is within a relatively enclosed working space to prevent gas leakage or interference from gas released from the gas detection device 1 or gas from the external environment, which could affect the accuracy of the detection results and thus pose a safety hazard.

[0051] Therefore, the cavity 16 is a closed and independent cavity formed by the enclosed structure 161. The enclosed structure 161 can be welded from appropriate materials or made of appropriate materials reinforced with a sealing gasket. No restrictions are placed here.

[0052] The blower 10 is located inside the cavity 16. However, in order for the gas detection device 1 to work properly, an opening communicating with the air inlet 14 and an opening communicating with the air guide assembly 11 are provided on the sealed structure 161. The blower 10 can communicate with the air guide assembly 11 through the opening on the sealed structure 161 so that the gas to be detected can be normally input into and output from the cavity 16.

[0053] Meanwhile, in order to ensure the airtightness between the air guide assembly 11 and the blower 10 and reduce interference from problems such as gas leakage, as shown in Figures 4-7, the air guide assembly 11 includes a cover plate 111. The cover plate 111 is installed at the connection between the opening of the sealed structure 161 and the air guide assembly 11. The cover plate 111 and the air guide structure 11 can be reinforced and connected by screws or the like.

[0054] In one embodiment, since the gas flow rate of the blower 10 is relatively high when the gas to be detected is delivered to the air guide assembly 11, if the gas flow rate is not processed, the gas to be detected will pass through the detection assembly 12 at a relatively fast speed, making it impossible for the detection assembly 12 to accurately obtain the gas information in the gas to be detected, thus affecting the accuracy of the detection. Therefore, the air guide assembly 11 needs to appropriately reduce the speed of the gas to be detected.

[0055] Referring to Figures 8-11, the air guide assembly 11 includes a speed reduction component and an air guide plate 113. The air guide plate 113 can be understood as a base plate that guides the gas being detected, while the speed reduction component is configured to reduce the speed of the gas being detected.

[0056] The speed reduction component may include at least one baffle plate 1121, which is staggered on the air guide plate 113.

[0057] The baffle plate 1121 forms multiple loops on the air guide plate. The flow rate of the gas being detected decreases step by step as it passes through the loops, and finally reaches the detection component 12 when it reaches the gas flow rate that meets the detection requirements of the detection component 12.

[0058] The speed reduction component may also include at least one overflow port 3, which is disposed on the air guide plate 113.

[0059] The opening area of ​​overflow port 3 is less than or equal to the preset area, which is set according to the actual situation. The function of overflow port 3 is to release a certain flow rate of the gas to be detected in stages between the air guide component 11 and the outer shell 19 of the gas detection device 1 without affecting the detection results of the detection component 12, and then release it into the external environment through the gap at the connection of the outer shell 19. On the one hand, overflow port 3 can effectively reduce the gas flow rate to meet the detection requirements; on the other hand, releasing part of the gas in stages can effectively reduce the release pressure of the exhaust port.

[0060] In addition, the outer casing 19 provided in this embodiment includes an outer casing cover 191 and an outer casing body 192.

[0061] In one embodiment, since the gas to be detected needs to be released into the external environment after detection in the detection component 11, the detection component 11 can be configured as an open structure with openings, which can release the gas to be detected into the external environment step by step.

[0062] It is understandable that when the gas being tested passes through the blower 10 from the inlet 14, it needs to be kept in a closed environment to avoid interference from other gases, changes in the concentration information of the gas, failure to trigger the first control information, and potential safety hazards.

[0063] However, the gas being detected after being detected by the detection component 12 no longer needs to face the above problems. Therefore, the gas being detected can be released into the cavity where the detection component 12 is located through the open structure of the detection component 12. Part of it is released into the external environment through the exhaust port and other locations, and part of it is released into the external environment through the gaps at the multiple connections of the outer casing 19.

[0064] In one embodiment, when connecting the housing 19 of the gas detection device 1, a tight connection method such as welding is not used, but a certain gap is left between multiple connections to allow gas to escape.

[0065] This allows the gas being detected to be released into the external environment not only through the exhaust port of the gas detection device 1, but also through the gap at the connection of the outer casing 19 of the gas detection device 1, thereby reducing the release pressure of the exhaust port.

[0066] In one embodiment, in order to ensure the accuracy of gas analysis, it is necessary to ensure a tight connection between the air inlet 14 and the housing 19 of the gas detection device 1 to prevent gas escape. For example, the connection between the two can be reinforced by a sealing gasket, but this is not the only reinforcement method. The appropriate method can be selected according to the actual situation.

[0067] In one embodiment, the control component 13 is communicatively connected to the detection component 12 via a first connection harness 17.

[0068] In one embodiment, it can also be communicatively connected to the blower 10 to adjust the blower speed, and the control component 13 is communicatively connected to the blower 12 via the second connection harness 18.

[0069] In addition, to ensure the airtightness of the cavity where the blower is located, the second connecting harness 18 is equipped with sealing gaskets at both ends of the opening when it passes through the sealed structure.

[0070] In one embodiment, the control component 13 includes a communication interface 131 disposed on the housing 19 of the gas detection device for communication connection with an external device.

[0071] External devices include, but are not limited to, alarms, suppression devices, and fire-fighting devices, which can be selected according to the actual situation.

[0072] An exemplary embodiment of this application provides a fire-fighting device, as shown in FIG12. The fire-fighting device includes: a gas detection device 1 and a suppression device 2 as described in the above embodiment.

[0073] The suppression device 2 is communicatively connected to the gas detection device 1 so as to output the inhibitor from the output port of the suppression device 2 according to the first control signal.

[0074] Inhibitors include, but are not limited to, perfluorohexane copper, aerosols, CO2, etc., but are not limited to these and can be selected according to the actual situation. Inhibitors can be set in the inhibition bottle group of inhibition device 2.

[0075] The air inlet 14 of the gas detection device 1 is connected to one end of the detection pipeline 3, the output port 21 of the suppression device 2 is connected to one end of the suppression pipeline 4, and the other end of the detection pipeline 3 and the other end of the suppression pipeline 4 are connected to a common pipeline 5, and are connected to the inside of the battery pack 6 through the common pipeline 5.

[0076] To improve gas detection efficiency and reduce fire protection costs, a common conduit 5 can connect to at least one battery pack 6. This means that the gas detection device 1 and the suppression device 2 can simultaneously control multiple battery packs for fire protection. The common conduit 5 can use a quick-connect flexible hose with a diameter of 8mm, but is not limited to this; the appropriate mechanism can be selected based on actual conditions.

[0077] Gas detection device 1 obtains the gas to be detected from battery pack 6 through common pipeline 5. When a fire is detected in battery pack 6, it issues a first control message. Gas detection device 1 is interconnected with suppression device 2, and reports the first control message reflecting the status of battery pack 6 to suppression device in real time. Suppression device 2 then takes fire control measures based on the first control message and sprays inhibitor into the battery pack 6, thereby achieving fire protection for lithium battery pack 6.

[0078] In this embodiment, the suppression device 2 and the gas detection device 1 are connected to the inside of the battery pack 6 through a common pipeline, which can integrate multiple functions into one pipeline, reduce the number of installation structures and openings in the battery pack 6, effectively simplify the internal structure of the existing battery pack 6, and minimize the impact on the internal structure of the battery pack 6.

[0079] In one embodiment, when the suppressor is sprayed by the suppressor device 2, due to the shared conduit 5, the suppressor may mistakenly enter the gas detection device 1 via the suppressor conduit 4, the shared conduit 5, and the detection conduit 3. This affects both the lifespan of the gas detection device 1 and the fire extinguishing effect of the suppressor device 2. Therefore, it is necessary to isolate the detection conduit 3 and the suppressor conduit 4 to a certain extent. Simultaneously, when the gas detection device 1 is performing detection, the suppressor conduit 4 can also affect the detection results to some extent. Based on this, two implementation methods are provided for controlling the piping of the fire-fighting device:

[0080] In the first method, the other end of the detection pipeline 3 and the other end of the suppression pipeline 4 are connected to the common pipeline 5 through a three-way valve 9, and the three-way valve 9 is communicatively connected to the suppression device 2.

[0081] When the suppression device 2 outputs inhibitor, it sends a second control message to the three-way valve 9. The three-way valve 9 closes the control detection line 3 and opens the suppression line 4 to deliver the inhibitor to the battery pack 6. When the suppression device 2 does not output inhibitor, the three-way valve 9 opens the detection line 3 and closes the suppression line 4 to deliver the gas to be detected to the gas detection device 1.

[0082] In the second method, an electric shut-off valve 7 is installed on the detection pipeline 3, and a puncture valve 8 is installed on the suppression pipeline 4. The other end of the detection pipeline 3 and the other end of the suppression pipeline 4 are connected to the common pipeline 5 through a three-way valve 9. The electric shut-off valve 7 and the puncture valve 8 are communicatively connected to the suppression device 2.

[0083] When the suppression device 2 outputs inhibitor, it sends a second control message to the electric shut-off valve 7 and the puncture valve 8, controlling the electric shut-off valve 7 to close and the puncture valve 8 to puncture, so as to deliver the inhibitor to the battery pack 6; when the suppression device 2 does not output inhibitor, it controls the electric shut-off valve 7 to open and the puncture valve 8 to be in the normally closed state, so as to deliver the gas to be detected to the gas detection device 1.

[0084] In one embodiment, a nozzle is provided at one end of the common pipeline 5 that connects to the battery pack 6, and the inhibitor can be quickly atomized under the action of the nozzle to achieve the effect of extinguishing the fire.

[0085] In this embodiment, during routine monitoring, the gas to be detected in the battery pack 6 enters the gas detection device 1 through components such as nozzles, common pipeline 5, three-way valve 9, electric shut-off valve 7, and detection pipeline 3. After processing by the gas detection device 1, the gas is detected and the first control information is output. When a fire is detected in the battery pack 6, the suppression device 2 outputs the second control information based on the first control information reported by the gas detection device 1 and sprays the inhibitor. At this time, the electric shut-off valve 7 leading to the gas detection device 1 is closed, and the puncture valve 8 connected to the suppression pipeline 4 is punctured and opened. Under the pressure inside the suppression bottle group, the inhibitor is quickly sprayed into the battery pack 6 and rapidly atomized with the help of the nozzle, thereby extinguishing the fire.

[0086] The order of the embodiments described above is for descriptive purposes only and does not represent the superiority or inferiority of the embodiments. Furthermore, the above description focuses on specific embodiments of this specification. Other embodiments are within the scope of the appended claims. In some cases, the actions or steps described in the claims can be performed in a different order than that shown in the embodiments and still achieve the desired result. Additionally, the processes depicted in the drawings do not necessarily require a specific or sequential order to achieve the desired result. In some embodiments, multitasking and parallel processing are also possible or may be advantageous.

[0087] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner. For the same or similar parts between the various embodiments, please refer to each other. Each embodiment focuses on describing the differences from other embodiments.

Claims

1. A gas detection device, comprising: Blower (10), air guide assembly (11), detection assembly (12) and control assembly (13); The gas detection device (1) has an air inlet (14) at one end where the blower (10) is located, and an air outlet (15) at one end where the detection component (12) is located. The blower (10) is connected to the detection component (12) through the air guide component (11). Gas enters the gas detection device (1) under the action of the blower (10) and is guided to the detection component (12) through the air guide component (11). The detection component (12) is communicatively connected to the control component (13), and the control component (13) generates a first control signal based on the gas information collected by the detection component (12).

2. The gas detection device as described in claim 1 further includes: A cavity (16) is enclosed by a sealed structure (161), and the blower (10) is located inside the cavity (16); The sealed structure (161) is provided with an opening communicating with the air inlet (14) and an opening communicating with the air guide assembly (11).

3. The gas detection device as described in claim 2, wherein, The air guide assembly (11) includes a cover plate (111), which is installed at the connection between the air guide assembly (11) and the opening communicating with the air guide assembly (11).

4. The gas detection device as described in claim 1, wherein, The air guide assembly (11) includes a speed reduction component and an air guide plate (113).

5. The gas detection device as described in claim 4, wherein, The speed reduction component includes at least one baffle plate (1), which is staggered on the air guide plate (113).

6. The gas detection device (1) as described in claim 4, wherein, The speed reduction component includes at least one overflow port (2), which is disposed on the air guide plate (113).

7. The gas detection device (1) as described in claim 1, wherein, The control component (13) includes a communication interface (131), which is disposed on the housing of the gas detection device (1) for communication connection with external devices.

8. A fire-fighting device, comprising: The gas detection device (1) and the suppression device (2) as described in any one of claims 1-7; The suppression device (2) is communicatively connected to the gas detection device (1) to output an inhibitor from the output port of the suppression device (2) according to the first control signal; The air inlet (14) of the gas detection device (1) is connected to one end of the detection pipeline (3), the output port of the suppression device (2) is connected to one end of the suppression pipeline (4), the other end of the detection pipeline (3) and the other end of the suppression pipeline (4) are connected to a common pipeline (5), and are connected to the inside of the battery pack (6) through the common pipeline (5).

9. The fire-fighting device as described in claim 8, wherein, The other end of the detection pipeline (3) and the other end of the suppression pipeline (4) are connected to the common pipeline (5) through a three-way valve (9), and the three-way valve (9) is communicatively connected to the suppression device (2); Alternatively, an electric shut-off valve (7) may be provided on the detection pipeline (3), and a puncture valve (8) may be provided on the suppression pipeline (4). The other end of the detection pipeline (3) and the other end of the suppression pipeline (4) may be connected to the common pipeline (5) through a three-way valve (9). The electric shut-off valve (7) and the puncture valve (8) may be communicatively connected to the suppression device (2).

10. The fire-fighting device as described in claim 8, wherein, The common pipeline (5) has a nozzle at one end that connects to the battery pack (6).

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