Battery Rack Hydrogen Recombination for Explosion Risk Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The risk of explosion due to hydrogen flammability in battery packs is not adequately addressed in existing energy storage systems, as hydrogen gas generated can easily ignite and cause explosions.
Innovation Solution
An energy storage system with a container housing a battery rack, equipped with a catalyst structure to recombine hydrogen gas into steam, including a discharge port, fan for airflow induction, hydrogen concentration measuring means, and a control unit to manage the removal process, and optionally a non-contact temperature measuring system and alarm for safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a battery pack is used to store power, then energy storage capacity is improved, but hydrogen gas may leak and cause explosion risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful hydrogen gas produced by battery thermal runaway into a beneficial outcome by using a catalyst structure to promote hydrogen recombination reaction, transforming hydrogen gas (harmful) into water (harmless), thereby eliminating explosion risk while maintaining energy storage function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a catalyst structure as an intermediary substance between the battery pack and the external environment. This catalyst structure contains catalyst materials that mediate the hydrogen recombination reaction, enabling hydrogen gas to be converted into water without direct contact or complex control systems
2Object-affected harmful factors
If hydrogen gas is discharged to the outside, then explosion risk is reduced, but hydrogen may still ignite before discharge
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of simply discharging hydrogen gas which carries ignition risk, the patent converts the hydrogen gas into water through catalytic recombination reaction. This transforms the harmful combustible gas into harmless liquid water, eliminating the ignition risk entirely rather than merely managing the discharge process
3Reliability
If a catalyst structure is added to remove hydrogen, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catalyst structure is designed to function autonomously without requiring external control systems, power supply, or complex monitoring. The catalyst materials automatically promote hydrogen recombination reaction when hydrogen gas contacts the structure, making the safety system self-activating and eliminating complex control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs porous catalyst materials with high surface area to volume ratio, which maximize the catalytic reaction efficiency while maintaining a compact structure. The porous structure allows hydrogen gas to penetrate and react efficiently without requiring large or complex catalyst components
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
Effectively prevents explosions by removing hydrogen gas from battery packs, ensuring the catalyst structure operates correctly, and alerts for potential hydrogen explosion risks, utilizing AI algorithms for risk identification.
Implementation Method 1
at least one catalyst structure which is located in the container so that hydrogen leaked from the battery pack reacts with a catalyst material to thus enable recombination into steam
Implementation Method 2
at least one fan provided at the discharge port in order to induce an ascending airflow with respect to the hydrogen in the container
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an energy storage system comprising: at least one battery rack which comprises at least one battery pack; a container which accommodates the battery rack; and at least one catalytic structure which is located in the container, and in which hydrogen that has leaked from the battery pack reacts with a catalyst material and is recombined as steam.