Battery Pack Extinguishment Layout for Secondary Ignition Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery packs face the risk of secondary ignition or explosion due to thermal runaway in one battery module causing heat or flame transfer to neighboring modules, necessitating a fast and effective fire extinguishing solution.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design incorporating a linear temperature sensor, fire extinguishing tank, and a network of pipes and valves to deliver fire extinguishing agent directly to overheating modules, with passive and active valves ensuring targeted fire suppression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional battery pack structure without active fire suppression is used, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability is poor due to risk of secondary ignition or explosion from thermal runaway
Solution Approach 1:
The fire extinguishing agent is pre-loaded in the tank, and the distribution pipes are pre-positioned to connect to battery modules. When thermal runaway is detected by temperature sensors, the system immediately activates valves to discharge extinguishing agent through the pre-established piping network, eliminating response delays and reducing the need for complex real-time decision systems
Solution Approach 2:
A fire extinguishing tank and distribution pipe system act as an intermediary between the thermal runaway event and the battery modules. The system uses temperature sensors to detect overheating, triggers valve activation, and delivers extinguishing agent through pipes as a mediating substance to suppress fire before it propagates to neighboring modules
Solution Approach 3:
The fire suppression system applies extinguishing agent locally to specific battery modules that exhibit thermal runaway symptoms. Temperature sensors monitor each module individually, and valves are activated only for affected modules, allowing targeted suppression rather than blanket coverage, thus improving reliability while controlling complexity
2Reliability
If a fire suppression system with multiple sensors and valves is implemented, then the reliability improves, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fire suppression system is divided into independent modular units, each comprising a temperature sensor, valve, and distribution pipe connected to specific battery modules. This segmentation allows for standardized mass production of modules, simplifying manufacturing processes and reducing costs through economies of scale while maintaining reliable fire suppression coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The fire extinguishing tank and distribution pipe network serve multiple functions: they provide fire suppression, cooling, and potential gas venting capabilities. The same infrastructure supports both active fire suppression and passive thermal management, reducing the need for separate systems and lowering overall manufacturing costs while maintaining high 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
Reduces manufacturing costs and failure rates while rapidly responding to thermal runaway, effectively extinguishing fires by injecting fire extinguishing agent directly to affected modules, thereby preventing secondary ignitions.
Implementation Method 1
a linear temperature sensor partially extending linearly along the at least two battery modules and configured to sense whether at least one of the at least two battery modules has a temperature over a predetermined temperature
Implementation Method 2
a fire extinguishing tank configured to accommodate a fire extinguishing agent, a pipe connected to the fire extinguishing tank to supply the fire extinguishing agent from the fire extinguishing tank to each of the at least two battery modules
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack includes at least two battery modules arranged in one direction; and a fire extinguisher having a linear temperature sensor partially extending linearly along the at least two battery modules and configured to sense whether at least one of the at least two battery modules has a temperature over a predetermined temperature, a fire extinguishing tank configured to accommodate a fire extinguishing agent therein, a pipe connected to the fire extinguishing tank to supply the fire extinguishing agent from the fire extinguishing tank to each of the at least two battery modules, and a valve opened to supply the fire extinguishing agent from the fire extinguishing tank to the battery module over the predetermined temperature.