Battery Rack Coolant Submersion for Reused Pack Fire Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Used battery packs from electric vehicles, which have reached a predetermined period of use or capacity, pose a fire risk due to overheating and are not effectively reused in energy storage systems, leading to environmental pollution and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A battery rack design that includes a battery pack frame with coolant injection holes and a feed pipe system to quickly submerge battery packs in coolant during abnormal situations, such as overheating, to prevent fires and ensure safe reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If used battery packs are reused in energy storage systems, then resource recycling and cost reduction are achieved, but fire risk due to overheating increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-installing fire prevention mechanisms (coolant injection system, fire barriers, temperature sensors) in the battery rack before abnormal situations occur. These mechanisms are designed to prevent fire before it can develop, addressing the overheating risk of reused battery packs through advance preparation of protective measures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses coolant as an intermediary substance to transfer heat away from the battery packs. The coolant injection system introduces this mediating fluid between the heat source (battery cells) and the surrounding environment, preventing direct thermal buildup that could lead to fire while enabling safe heat dissipation for reused battery packs.
2Reliability
If fire prevention mechanisms are added to battery rack, then safety against fire is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple fire prevention functions into an integrated system within the battery rack structure. The coolant injection system, fire barriers, temperature sensors, and control mechanisms are combined into a unified fire prevention architecture, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive safety coverage across all battery packs.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery rack design incorporates universal fire prevention components that serve multiple functions. For example, the coolant system not only prevents fire but also provides thermal management during normal operation, and the modular structure allows the same safety mechanisms to protect multiple battery packs simultaneously, reducing per-unit complexity.
3Speed
If coolant injection system is implemented, then fire suppression speed is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-positioning coolant injection holes and connecting them to the injection system before any fire event occurs. The coolant pathways are pre-established through the battery pack structure, and the system is primed to immediately inject coolant upon detecting abnormal temperature, achieving rapid fire suppression without requiring complex real-time decision-making or delayed response mechanisms.
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 stabilizes the reuse of used battery packs by effectively preventing and controlling fires, enhancing safety and reducing environmental impact through efficient fire suppression and resource recycling in energy storage systems.
Implementation Method 1
a coolant may be injected into the battery pack frame and the at least one battery pack is submerged in the coolant at a predetermined depth
Data Source
AI summary
A battery rack and an energy storage system comprising the same are provided. The battery rack includes at least one battery pack used for a predetermined period of time or of which a predetermined capacity consumed; and a battery pack frame accommodating the at least one battery pack, and having a height greater than a height of the at least one battery pack, thereby accommodating the battery pack for reuse stably and ensuring safety against fire resulting from an abnormal situation such as overheat.