Battery Rack Fire Water Bracket Structure for Thermal Runaway

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery racks lack effective solutions to prevent heat propagation from thermal runaway in battery modules, posing a safety risk and requiring a method to quickly extinguish fires and enhance structural rigidity.

Innovation Solution

A battery rack design featuring a fire extinguishing water supply unit with nozzles connected to a pipe along the rack case, supported by a double bracket structure that includes venting holes to manage heat and external impacts, and a sealing member to prevent water leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional battery rack structure is used, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability is insufficient due to inability to prevent heat propagation from thermal runaway

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal runaway preventionVSAvoidrack structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery rack divides battery modules into isolated compartments with thermal insulation barriers between them. This segmentation prevents heat propagation from one module to adjacent modules, containing thermal runaway events within individual compartments while maintaining overall system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rack structure incorporates pre-installed thermal insulation barriers and fire-resistant materials during manufacturing. These protective measures are prepared in advance before thermal runaway occurs, enabling immediate containment when temperature anomalies arise without requiring additional active intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If thermal insulation barriers are added to prevent heat propagation, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat propagation preventionVSAvoidinsulation structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Thermal insulation barriers are strategically positioned only at critical interfaces between battery modules where heat propagation risk is highest. This localized approach provides effective thermal containment while minimizing the overall complexity and material usage compared to complete insulation of the entire rack structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If a simple bracket structure is used, then the device complexity is low, but the strength is insufficient to protect from external impacts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidbracket structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket structure combines high-strength steel components with energy-absorbing polymer elements to create a composite support system. This composite design provides superior impact resistance and structural strength while maintaining reasonable complexity through the integration of materials with complementary mechanical properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Reliability

If fire extinguishing nozzles are installed in battery modules, then the reliability improves for fire suppression, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire suppression capabilityVSAvoidnozzle system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fire extinguishing nozzles are integrated with the existing cooling system infrastructure of the battery rack. The same fluid distribution network serves both thermal management during normal operation and fire suppression during emergencies, eliminating the need for separate dedicated fire suppression piping and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 heat propagation and external damage by quickly injecting extinguishing water and enhancing structural rigidity, ensuring safer operation and protection against thermal runaway.

Implementation Method 1

fire extinguishing water nozzles connected to the fire extinguishing water pipe and mounted through the plurality of battery modules

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCooling: Cooling

Implementation Method 2

The first bracket may have a plurality of venting holes disposed opposite to the plurality of fire extinguishing water nozzles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure release: Depressurisation

Data Source

PatentEP4002551B1Battery rack and power storage device comprising same
Publication Date: 2025.01.01 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4002551B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4002551B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4002551B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a battery rack, which includes a plurality of battery modules respectively having at least one battery cell, a rack case configured to accommodate the plurality of battery modules, a fire extinguishing water supply unit disposed at the rear of the rack case and connected to the plurality of battery modules, and a bracket unit configured to cover the fire extinguishing water supply unit and disposed at the rear of the rack case.