Battery Module Fire Suppression With Recirculating Pipe Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional fire suppression systems are ineffective in stopping thermal runaway in high-density Li-Ion energy storage systems and often require a constant external water supply, leading to inefficiencies and risks of catastrophic fire propagation.
Innovation Solution
A closed-loop fire suppression system that recirculates a fixed volume of suppressant, using a containerized pipe system with vertically extending pipes to distribute the suppressant between battery modules, a tank for storage, and a pump for recirculation, eliminating the need for continuous water supply and mitigating fire propagation between modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fire suppression systems use water impingement to prevent thermal runaway, then fire suppression effectiveness is improved, but water consumption increases significantly and constant external water supply is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses drains to collect and recirculate water within the container, making the fire suppression system self-sufficient. The collected water is pumped back through the pipe system with slots to continuously suppress thermal runaway without requiring external water supply
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding water after a single use, the system recovers water through drains at the bottom of the container and recirculates it through the pipe system. This recovering approach eliminates the need for constant external water supply while maintaining fire suppression effectiveness
2Duration of action of stationary object
If traditional fire suppression systems require constant connection to external water supply, then continuous suppressant availability is ensured, but system complexity and operational dependency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to be self-sufficient by collecting and recirculating water internally. The drains and pump system automatically manage water recovery and redistribution, eliminating dependency on external water supply connections while ensuring continuous suppressant availability
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe system with slots serves multiple functions: it distributes water for fire suppression and also facilitates water collection through integrated drains. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate external supply infrastructure
3Reliability
If water is supplied directly to battery cells to prevent thermal runaway, then cell-level protection is achieved, but fire propagation between modules cannot be effectively prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe system is divided into multiple vertically extending pipes with slots, each serving specific battery modules. The container is also segmented with frames separating battery modules, allowing targeted water distribution to specific areas while preventing fire propagation between segments
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides localized water suppression through vertically extending pipes with slots positioned between battery modules. Each pipe delivers water to specific areas where thermal runaway is detected, creating local cooling zones that prevent fire propagation while maintaining cell-level protection
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 prevents thermal runaway and reduces the risk of catastrophic fire loss by recirculating a limited volume of suppressant, reducing the need for continuous water supply and minimizing waste, while controlling the suppressant flow to specific areas for targeted fire suppression.
Implementation Method 1
at least one pump configured to recirculate the suppressant, supplied by the slots of each of the at least one vertically extending pipe of the pipe system, to the pipe system or a tank of the at least one tank
Implementation Method 2
the at least one vertically extending pipe configured to be provided between a respective two of the frames and configured to supply suppressant to at least one of the battery modules of each of the respective two of the frames via slots of the vertically extending pipe
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for fire suppression, a fire suppression system including a container configured to receive frames, each of the frames including battery modules; a pipe system including at least one vertically extending pipe, the at least one vertically extending pipe configured to be provided between a respective two of the frames and configured to supply suppressant to at least one of the battery modules of each of the respective two of the frames via slots of the vertically extending pipe; at least one tank connected to the pipe system and configured to store the suppressant; at least one pump configured to recirculate the suppressant to the pipe system or a tank of the at least one tank; and an inlet body configured to connect with a suppressant source, that is external to the container, to provide new suppressant into the pipe system or the at least one tank.