Battery Module Swelling Sensing for Rack Fire Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery management systems fail to effectively monitor and manage internal battery cell conditions, leading to potential fires due to lack of monitoring for swelling and pressure changes within battery cells.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a swelling/pressure sensor in battery modules to detect abnormal swelling, triggering an alarm and halting charging and discharging, along with a water fire suppression system and high-frequency AC power for cell balancing and cooling, to prevent fires and ensure safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional battery management systems only monitor voltage and temperature, then the system complexity is low, but the reliability of fire prevention is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting battery cell swelling before thermal runaway occurs. The swelling detection mechanism identifies early signs of cell degradation and potential fire hazards, allowing the system to take preventive measures (halting charging/discharging) before actual fires start, thus improving fire prevention reliability without requiring complex real-time fire suppression systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a swelling detection sensor as an intermediate indicator between conventional voltage/temperature monitoring and actual fire events. This sensor acts as an early warning mechanism that bridges the gap between normal operation and dangerous conditions, providing additional safety information without directly confronting the fire hazard
2Reliability
If high frequency AC power is used for cell balancing, then the use of isolation transformers is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary device (isolation transformer) in the cell balancing circuit to provide galvanic isolation between the high frequency AC power source and the battery cells. This intermediary component enables safe cell balancing operations by blocking voltage spikes and electrical noise while allowing power transfer, thus improving balancing safety without requiring direct complex power management circuits
3Reliability
If a water fire suppression system with cascading water flow is implemented, then fire spread control is improved, but the device complexity and water management requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the water suppression system into multiple independent modules, each with its own water reservoir and flow control mechanism. This modular approach allows localized fire suppression while preventing water damage to adjacent battery modules, improving fire spread control without requiring a complex centralized water distribution system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by providing targeted water suppression at specific high-risk locations within the battery enclosure, such as near individual battery modules or critical components. This localized approach concentrates fire suppression efforts where they are most needed, improving fire spread control efficiency while reducing overall water usage and system complexity compared to uniform coverage systems
4Reliability
If a sensor detects swelling to halt operation, then the safety is improved, but the productivity of the battery system decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting swelling early in the cell degradation process, allowing the system to halt operations before actual failure or fire occurs. This early detection enables preventive maintenance scheduling and avoids catastrophic failures, improving safety while minimizing overall system downtime compared to reactive approaches that wait for actual failures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring battery cell swelling and providing real-time information to the battery management system. This feedback loop enables dynamic adjustment of charging/discharging operations based on cell condition, improving safety through adaptive control while maintaining productivity by allowing operation within safe parameters rather than requiring complete system shutdowns
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 solution effectively prevents battery fires by detecting swelling, halting operations, and using a water suppression system to control and extinguish fires, enhancing safety and reliability of battery energy storage systems.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor that detects swelling of a battery cell
Implementation Method 2
high frequency AC power is used as a power source for balancing the battery module cells
Implementation Method 3
a top cover that collects water and directs this water to plates of the battery module to cool the battery
Implementation Method 4
a water fire suppression system having a cascading water flow among the battery modules, which provides cooling in the event of a battery cell fire
Implementation Method 5
an exhaust duct to remove gases and/or heat and direct these gases and/or heat outside of the room
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a battery module and battery rack having enhanced fire safety features. The battery module includes a swelling/pressure sensor that detects swelling of a battery cell. An output signal of the sensor is used to halt operation of a battery rack/battery system containing the battery module and prevent charging and discharging of the battery module. In an embodiment, the battery module uses an AC-to-AC power supply to provide AC frequency power for balancing battery cells of the battery module. In an embodiment, the battery rack includes an internal water fire suppression system that provides battery cooling in the event of a battery cell fire to prevent the spread and/or reigniting of the fire.