Battery Rack Air Isolation for Early Fire Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional energy storage systems fail to effectively contain and extinguish fires within battery racks until the danger has spread significantly, leading to extensive debris and high cleanup costs.
Innovation Solution
A battery rack with integrated air circulation units, isolation units, and a control unit that seals off air circulation and injects fire extinguishing liquid when temperatures exceed preset thresholds, preventing fire spread and allowing self-extinguishing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate fire extinguishing structure is provided in the rack container, then fire extinction capability is provided, but fire detection and response is delayed until danger spreads to a certain degree
Solution Approach 1:
The fire safety system is segmented into two distinct components: (1) air circulation units with integrated isolation capability for early containment, and (2) separate fire extinguishing devices for active fire suppression. This segmentation allows the isolation units to respond immediately to temperature changes and contain fires in early stages, while the fire extinguishing devices provide backup extinction capability, thereby resolving the contradiction between having fire extinction capability and achieving early response time.
2Reliability
If a separate fire extinguishing structure is provided in the rack container, then fire extinction is provided, but sprinkler debris or carbon dioxide discharge debris remains in all areas requiring cleanup
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments fire safety functions into localized components where each air circulation unit has its own isolation capability confined to specific rack areas. This localization ensures that when isolation occurs, debris from fire extinguishing operations is contained only within the affected rack unit rather than spreading across the entire container, significantly reducing cleanup scope and associated costs while maintaining reliable fire extinction capability.
3Temperature
If air circulation units are kept open for cooling, then heat dissipation is effective, but fire can spread to other areas
Solution Approach 1:
The air circulation units are designed with dynamic isolation capability through slidable isolation members that can transition between open and closed positions. During normal operation, the units remain open to maximize heat dissipation efficiency. When temperature sensors detect fire conditions, the isolation members slide to close the units, dynamically switching from heat dissipation mode to fire containment mode. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between effective cooling and fire spread prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature sensors provide continuous feedback on the thermal state of battery modules to the control system. When abnormal temperature rise indicating fire conditions is detected, the control system automatically activates the isolation mechanism to close the air circulation units. This feedback-controlled response allows the system to maintain open circulation for cooling under normal conditions while automatically preventing fire spread when needed, resolving the contradiction between heat dissipation efficiency and fire containment.
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 quickly contains and extinguishes fires within the battery rack, minimizing spread and reducing post-fire cleanup time and costs.
Implementation Method 1
a control unit electrically connected to the isolation units to control the sliding operation of the isolation units and further comprising a temperature sensor provided to the rack case and electrically connected to the control unit
Implementation Method 2
a fire extinguishing device provided to the rack case and electrically connected to the control unit, the fire extinguishing device having a predetermined fire extinguishing liquid
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a battery rack, which includes a plurality of battery modules, each having at least one battery cell; a rack case configured to accommodate the plurality of battery modules, the rack case having a plurality of air circulation units; an isolation unit mounted to the rack case and configured to be slidable to expose or seal the plurality of air circulation units; and a control unit electrically connected to the isolation unit to control the sliding operation of the isolation unit.