Battery Module Firefighting Using Gas and Temperature Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing firefighting methods for energy storage systems, particularly for lithium batteries, struggle with low precision in detecting thermal runaway and suppressing fires due to slow temperature changes, leading to inadequate control over thermal runaway and potential safety hazards.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a firefighting system with multiple gas detectors and temperature sensors for each battery module, coupled with exhaust fans and firefighting apparatuses, to monitor gas concentrations and temperatures in real-time, enabling precise detection and timely intervention to prevent thermal runaway.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If container-level total flood gas firefighting solution is adopted, then fire extinguishing coverage is improved, but detection precision and control accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire extinguishing coverageVSAvoiddetection precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the energy storage container into multiple detection zones, each equipped with independent gas detectors and temperature sensors. This segmentation allows precise localization of thermal runaway sources while maintaining comprehensive fire coverage, resolving the contradiction between broad coverage and precise detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements localized detection and control at each battery module level, with individual gas detectors monitoring specific modules. This local quality approach enables precise identification of affected modules while the overall system maintains comprehensive fire suppression capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If temperature-based detection is used, then system simplicity is improved, but detection timeliness and accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoiddetection timeliness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent detects characteristic gases (CO, H2, VOCs) that are released during early stages of thermal runaway, before significant temperature rise occurs. This preliminary detection action enables early warning and intervention, addressing the timeliness issue while maintaining relatively simple system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from solely temperature-based detection to multi-parameter detection including gas concentration (CO, H2, VOCs) and temperature. This parameter change enables earlier and more accurate detection of thermal runaway events while keeping the system architecture manageable through modular sensor deployment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If single detection method is adopted, then system complexity is reduced, but control precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidcontrol precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple detection methods (gas detection for CO, H2, VOCs and temperature sensing) into a unified monitoring system. This combination enables precise identification of thermal runaway conditions through multiple indicators, achieving high control precision while managing system complexity through integrated control logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a multi-functional detection system where sensors monitor multiple parameters (various gases and temperature) to serve both early warning and precise control functions. This universal approach improves control precision across different thermal runaway scenarios while maintaining a cohesive system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enhances the accuracy and timeliness of detecting abnormalities in battery modules, allowing for early intervention to extinguish fires and prevent thermal runaway, thereby improving safety and stability in energy-storage systems.

Implementation Method 1

Each battery module is provided with a corresponding gas detector... when a first gas detector disposed in the first battery module detects the preset gas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas detection:

Implementation Method 2

Each battery module is provided with a corresponding temperature sensor... obtain a temperature of the first battery module at each moment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature sensing:

Implementation Method 3

The BMS turns on a first exhaust fan corresponding to a first battery cluster where a first battery module is disposed to exhaust a preset gas from the energy-storage container

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas exhaust through convection: Convection

Implementation Method 4

The BMS determines whether to turn on a first firefighting apparatus corresponding to the first battery cluster... to extinguish a fire at a battery module

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFire suppression through chemical inhibition:

Data Source

PatentEP4366033B1Firefighting method and system for energy storage, battery management system, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 HITHIUM TECH HK LTD
  • EP4366033B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4366033B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4366033B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A firefighting method and system for energy storage, a battery management system (BMS), and a storage medium are provided in implementations of the present disclosure. The method includes the following. The BMS turns on a first exhaust fan corresponding to a first battery cluster where a first battery module is disposed to exhaust a preset gas from the energy-storage container, when a first gas detector disposed in the first battery module detects the preset gas. The BMS obtains a concentration of the preset gas at each moment in a preset period through the first gas detector and a second gas detector adjacent to the first gas detector. The BMS obtains a temperature of the first battery module at each moment in the preset period through a first temperature sensor disposed in the first battery module. The BMS determines whether to turn on a first firefighting apparatus corresponding to the first battery cluster based on the concentration of the preset gas at each moment in the preset period and the temperature of the first battery module at each moment in the preset period, to extinguish a fire at a battery module in the energy-storage container.