Battery Cabinet Fire Suppression for Thermal Runaway Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy storage systems using air-cooled heat dissipation face challenges such as low cooling efficiency, temperature control issues, increased risk of short circuits, and ineffective fire extinguishing due to the air-cooled mechanism.
Innovation Solution
The energy storage system incorporates a plurality of battery packs arranged in a direction, an energy storage cabinet with a containment compartment, and integrated firefighting equipment including aerosol firefighting devices, an explosion-proof plate, and a water firefighting device to address thermal management and fire safety concerns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If air-cooled heat dissipation is used in outdoor cabinet systems, then the system can be transported as a whole and integrated into the cabinet, but the cooling efficiency is low and the temperature inside the battery pack cannot be maintained at the most suitable temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the air-cooled heat dissipation system with a liquid cooling system. The liquid cooling plates are installed between battery modules to directly conduct heat away from battery surfaces, providing superior temperature control compared to air cooling while maintaining the integrated cabinet design for easy transportation and installation.
2Device complexity
If air-cooled heat dissipation is used, then the system structure is simple, but the temperature difference within the system is difficult to control and the risk of short circuit fires increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces air cooling with liquid cooling using cooling plates positioned between battery modules. This substitution provides more precise temperature control and reduces temperature differences within the battery pack, thereby lowering the risk of thermal runaway and short circuit fires while maintaining reasonable system complexity.
3Reliability
If fire extinguishing agents are used in air-cooled systems, then fire protection is provided, but the agents cannot stay inside the battery pack for a long time to extinguish fires and prevent secondary re-ignition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a water spray fire suppression system that uses hydraulic pressure to deliver water directly into the battery compartment through nozzles. This system provides sustained fire suppression capability, preventing re-ignition by continuously cooling the battery pack after thermal runaway, unlike aerosol agents that dissipate quickly in air-cooled systems.
4Adaptability or versatility
If air-cooled energy storage system is used, then the system can operate in outdoor environments, but it is susceptible to environmental factors such as sand, rain, or insects over long periods of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an enclosed battery compartment design that creates a protected environment for the battery packs. The liquid cooling system operates within this enclosed space, shielding the batteries from external environmental factors such as sand, rain, and insects, thereby maintaining system reliability in outdoor conditions while preserving outdoor deployment capability.
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 controls fires, prevents the spread of flames, and manages thermal runaway through the combination of aerosol firefighting devices, explosion-proof plates, and water firefighting, enhancing safety and reliability compared to traditional air-cooled systems.
Implementation Method 1
each second aerosol firefighting device is installed on a corresponding one of the battery packs
Implementation Method 2
the first aerosol firefighting device is installed in the energy storage cabinet
Implementation Method 3
the water firefighting device is installed in the energy storage cabinet and is configured to spray water into the battery compartment
Implementation Method 4
when the internal gas pressure of the battery compartment reaches the bursting pressure of the explosion-proof plate due to a large amount of gas generated by one or more thermally out-of-control battery packs, the explosion-proof plate bursts instantaneously, releasing the internal pressure
Data Source
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AI summary
The application provides an energy storage system including: battery packs; an energy storage cabinet, which includes a cabinet body whose containment compartment includes a battery compartment installed with the plurality of battery packs; firefighting equipment, which includes a first aerosol firefighting device, second aerosol firefighting devices, an explosion-proof plate, and a water firefighting device; wherein, the first aerosol firefighting device is installed in the energy storage cabinet; the second aerosol firefighting devices each are installed on a corresponding one of the battery packs; the explosion-proof plate surrounds the battery compartment; and the water firefighting device is configured to spray water into the battery compartment.