Battery Storage Cabinet Flooding for Thermal Runaway Fires
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery storage and transportation risks, such as overcharging, impact, and environmental defects, can lead to short circuits and high-temperature reactions, igniting combustible components and causing fires, which can spread to adjacent apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
An energy storage apparatus with a fire extinguishing system that includes a cabinet body capable of withstanding high temperatures and a liquid injection device to flood the battery system with fire-extinguishing liquids, along with a pressure relief valve and integrated energy management system to transfer energy and control fire spread.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a battery energy storage apparatus is used to improve energy efficiency and flexibility, then energy storage capacity is improved, but the risk of fire accidents increases due to thermal runaway
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage system is divided into multiple independent battery modules, each equipped with its own fire extinguishing device. This segmentation isolates fire risks to individual modules, preventing spread to the entire system while maintaining overall energy storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
A fire extinguishing system using water or fire-retardant liquid is introduced as an intermediary substance between the battery and the environment. This mediator absorbs heat and suppresses combustion, preventing the thermal runaway from causing fire accidents while allowing the battery to function normally.
2Reliability
If fire extinguishing liquid is injected to flood the battery system, then fire is extinguished effectively, but the cabinet body must withstand high temperatures and pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The cabinet body is pre-designed with high temperature resistance (withstanding flames at ≥150°C) and high compressive strength (≥60 MPa) before fire occurs. This preliminary strengthening ensures the cabinet can contain the fire extinguishing liquid and withstand the pressure and heat generated during fire suppression without structural failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cabinet body is designed with sufficient structural strength and thermal resistance as a protective cushion against the harsh conditions during fire suppression. This beforehand cushioning allows the system to safely contain the fire extinguishing process, including the injection of large volumes of liquid and the generation of steam and pressure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a liquid injection device is added to extinguish fires, then fire safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fire extinguishing system is designed to automatically detect fire conditions and activate the liquid injection device without human intervention. The system monitors temperature and other parameters, and when fire is detected, it automatically floods the affected battery module with fire-retardant liquid, eliminating the need for complex manual control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire extinguishing system uses hydraulic or pneumatic principles to deliver the fire-retardant liquid to the battery modules. This approach simplifies the control mechanism compared to electric pumping systems, as it can utilize pressure differentials and gravity to achieve rapid liquid delivery when activated.
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
The system effectively extinguishes fires by flooding the battery system with liquid, reducing the risk of fire spread and damage, and can be applied in scenarios requiring high safety, such as electric vehicle charging stations.
Implementation Method 1
The liquid injection device is configured to inject liquid into the accommodating space of the cabinet body to flood the at least one battery system for fire extinguishing
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an energy storage apparatus and a fire extinguishing method of the energy storage apparatus. The energy storage apparatus includes an energy storage cabinet and a fire extinguishing system. The energy storage cabinet includes a cabinet body. The cabinet body is configured to withstand flames at a temperature equal to or greater than about 150° C. and has a compressive strength greater than about 60 MPa. The cabinet body has an accommodating space for accommodating at least one battery system. The fire extinguishing system includes a liquid injection device which is configured to inject liquid into the accommodating space of the cabinet body to flood the at least one battery system for fire extinguishing.