Battery Module Agent Injection for Thermal Runaway Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery packs and racks face challenges in rapidly extinguishing thermal runaway or fire that can lead to secondary explosions due to heat or flame transfer between battery cells.
Innovation Solution
A battery module equipped with a fire extinguishing unit that injects a fire extinguishing agent directly into the module case upon detection of thermal runaway, using a glass bulb that breaks at high temperatures to initiate agent injection, and a nozzle system to disperse the agent effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional battery rack without rapid fire suppression is used, then the structure is simple and cost-effective, but thermal runaway can spread to neighboring battery cells causing secondary explosions
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is divided into modular battery modules, each equipped with its own fire suppression unit. This segmentation allows independent fire suppression in each module, preventing fire spread to other modules while maintaining overall system simplicity through standardized modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
Fire extinguishing agents are pre-loaded into suppression units within each battery module before thermal runaway occurs. When temperature sensors detect overheating, the glass bulb breaks and triggers immediate injection of the pre-positioned extinguishing agent, achieving rapid fire suppression before flames can spread to neighboring cells.
2Speed
If fire extinguishing agents are injected rapidly into the module case, then thermal runaway is extinguished at an early stage, but the injection system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The fire suppression system uses the thermal energy from the battery thermal runaway itself to trigger the suppression mechanism. When the glass bulb temperature reaches its breaking point during thermal runaway, it automatically shatters and activates the injection nozzle, eliminating the need for external sensors or control systems and achieving rapid response through self-activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex electronic sensing and control system is replaced with a passive thermal-responsive glass bulb mechanism. The glass bulb contains the extinguishing agent and uses thermal expansion and fracture mechanics to automatically trigger injection when temperature exceeds the bulb's breaking point, simplifying the system while maintaining rapid response.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Rapid extinguishing of thermal runaway or fire at an early stage, preventing secondary explosions by effectively containing the fire within the module, thereby ensuring safety.
Implementation Method 1
a glass bulb that breaks at high temperatures to initiate agent injection
Implementation Method 2
injects a fire extinguishing agent directly into the module case upon detection of thermal runaway
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Disclosed is a battery module, which includes a battery cell; a module case configured to accommodate the battery cell; and a fire extinguishing unit mounted to penetrate into the module case and connected to a fire extinguishing tank unit containing a fire extinguishing agent to directly inject the fire extinguishing agent into the module case when a thermal runaway or fire occurs at the at least one battery cell.