Battery Module Fire Suppression With Closed-Loop Water Recirculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional fire suppression systems for high-density Li-Ion energy storage systems are often ineffective in stopping thermal runaway and require constant connection to an external water source, leading to inefficiencies and risks of catastrophic fire propagation.
Innovation Solution
A containerized battery energy storage system with a low-volume direct impingement fire suppression system that recirculates a fixed volume of suppressant, eliminating the need for continuous water supply and mitigating fire propagation between battery modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water impingement fire suppression systems are used to prevent thermal runaway, then fire suppression effectiveness is improved, but water consumption increases significantly and constant connection to external water source is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers and recirculates water that falls to the container floor back to the tanks through drain connections, eliminating waste and enabling continuous fire suppression with a fixed volume of water. The pump system continuously circulates water from the floor drains back to the suppression tanks, creating a closed-loop system that prevents thermal runaway propagation without requiring constant external water supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire suppression system serves itself by recirculating its own water supply through the pump and drain system, eliminating the need for external water sources. The system uses its internal water volume repeatedly, with the pump drawing water from the tanks, distributing it through vertically extending pipes with slots, and recovering it via floor drains back to the tanks.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional fire suppression systems are used, then installation simplicity is maintained, but they are ineffective in stopping thermal runaway in high density Li-Ion energy storage systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments water distribution through multiple vertically extending pipes with slots positioned between battery module frames, delivering suppressant directly to where thermal runaway occurs. This segmented approach provides effective fire suppression for high-density Li-Ion systems while maintaining installation simplicity by using standardized components within the containerized structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from traditional horizontal water distribution to vertical water delivery through slots in vertically extending pipes positioned between battery frames. This dimensional change allows direct impingement of suppressant on battery modules from above, significantly improving thermal runaway suppression effectiveness while maintaining the containerized simple structure.
3Duration of action of moving object
If large volume water tanks are used to provide sufficient suppressant, then fire suppression duration is improved, but system complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system continuously circulates water from the tanks through the vertically extending pipes and back to the tanks via floor drains, enabling the same water volume to be used repeatedly for fire suppression. This continuous recirculation extends fire suppression duration indefinitely without requiring large tank volumes, maintaining system simplicity while providing sustained protection against thermal runaway propagation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses hydraulic principles with the pump to circulate water through the suppression system. The pump creates continuous water flow through the vertically extending pipes with slots, and the hydraulic system recovers water through floor drains back to the tanks, enabling extended fire suppression duration with minimal water volume and simple system architecture.
4Quantity of substance
If constant connection to external water source is required, then sufficient suppressant supply is ensured, but system reliability decreases due to dependency on external infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The system is completely self-sufficient with internal water tanks and a recirculation pump that continuously cycles water through the suppression system and back. No external water connections are required, making the fire suppression system fully independent and reliable for preventing thermal runaway propagation in containerized energy storage systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter from continuous external water supply to closed-loop internal recirculation. The pump maintains continuous water circulation within the system, and the same water volume is reused indefinitely, ensuring adequate suppressant supply while eliminating dependency on external infrastructure and improving system reliability.
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 propagation between battery modules and cells, reducing the risk of catastrophic fire loss by recirculating a controlled volume of suppressant within a closed loop system.
Implementation Method 1
each of the vertically extending pipes being provided between a respective two of the frames and supplying 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
Implementation Method 2
at least one pump being connected via a tube to at least one vertically extending pipe or connected to the horizontally extending pipe via a connection pipe, thereby recirculating the suppressant, supplied by the slots of each of the vertically extending pipes of the pipe system, to the pipe system or a tank of the plurality of tanks
Implementation Method 3
the tanks being connected to drains within the floor of the container, that allow suppressant supplied by the vertically extending pipes to return to the tanks
Data Source
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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.