Battery Coolant Branch Isolation for Leak Detection and Mitigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rechargeable energy storage systems face challenges in effectively detecting and mitigating coolant leaks, which can lead to thermal runaway events due to heat build-up and degradation of battery performance.
Innovation Solution
A coolant leak detection and mitigation system for multi-cell rechargeable energy storage systems, featuring a cooling system with a main coolant loop and parallel branches, electronic controller, flow-valves, and sensors to monitor and shut off coolant flow in affected branches, utilizing techniques like electrical resistance and fluorescent dye detection to identify leaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If coolant is circulated through multiple parallel branches to cool battery modules, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but the risk of coolant leaks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into multiple independent parallel branches, each with individual flow control valves. This segmentation allows the system to maintain effective cooling through multiple pathways while isolating potential leak sources to specific branches rather than the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor coolant flow and temperature in each branch, providing feedback to the control system. When a leak is detected in one branch, the feedback mechanism triggers the closure of flow control valves in affected branches, automatically mitigating the leak risk.
2Manufacturing precision
If flow valves are installed in each coolant branch to regulate distribution, then cooling distribution precision is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control valves are equipped with electronic actuators that dynamically adjust opening degrees based on real-time coolant flow and temperature sensor data. This dynamic control enables precise coolant distribution across branches while the electronic control system manages the complexity of multiple valves through automated regulation rather than manual adjustment.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are deployed to detect coolant leaks in each battery module, then leak detection precision is improved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensors deployed in each battery module serve multiple functions: detecting coolant leaks, monitoring coolant flow rates, and measuring temperature. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated leak detection sensors in each branch, thereby controlling system complexity while maintaining high leak detection precision through the same sensor infrastructure.
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
Effectively detects and mitigates coolant leaks, preventing thermal runaway and maintaining battery system performance by isolating affected branches and alerting users to the leak.
Implementation Method 1
Each battery module may include a first sensor in communication with the electronic controller and configured to detect a coolant leak via a change in electrical resistance of the first sensor
Implementation Method 2
The coolant may include a fluorescent dye. In such an embodiment, each battery module may include a second sensor in communication with the electronic controller and configured to detect a coolant leak via detection of the fluorescent dye
Data Source
AI summary
A coolant leak detection and mitigation system for a multi-cell rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) having a plurality of battery cells arranged in individual battery modules includes a cooling system. The cooling system has a main coolant loop circulating coolant and a plurality of coolant branches arranged in parallel. Each coolant branch receives a portion of the coolant from the main coolant loop to adjust the temperature of one battery module. The cooling system also has flow-valve(s) for regulating and distributing the coolant from the main coolant loop across the coolant branches. The leak detection and mitigation system also includes an electronic controller configured to monitor the coolant branches for coolant leaks via coolant leak detection technique(s). The controller is also configured to identify a coolant branch having a coolant leak and shut off, via the flow-valve(s), coolant flow into the coolant branch having the coolant leak.