ESS Fire Monitoring with Multi-Sensor Level Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Energy storage systems, particularly those with lithium batteries, are vulnerable to fires due to external surges and high temperatures, necessitating effective fire monitoring and suppression measures to prevent the spread of fires within the system.
Innovation Solution
A fire monitoring apparatus and method that includes a fire level determination unit to assess smoke detection signals from multiple sensors, controlling air conditioning, fire extinguishing, watering, and ventilation units to suppress fires based on determined levels, and differentiating between electrical and battery fires using temperature-sensitive pipeline bulbs and gas concentration monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple smoke sensors are deployed to improve fire detection accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage system is divided into multiple zones with smoke sensors distributed throughout. Each sensor independently monitors its local area, and the control unit aggregates signals from multiple sensors to determine fire level. This segmentation approach improves detection precision by covering more areas while managing complexity through modular sensor deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it receives signals from multiple smoke sensors, determines fire levels based on signal aggregation, controls fire extinguishing units, and manages ventilation systems. By making the control unit multi-functional, the patent reduces overall system complexity despite deploying multiple sensors for improved detection accuracy.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If fire extinguishing units are operated to suppress fires, then harmful factors are reduced, but loss of substance increases due to extinguishing agent consumption
Solution Approach 1:
Fire extinguishing units are positioned at specific locations within the energy storage system, and the control system activates only the units nearest to the detected fire. This localized response reduces the consumption of extinguishing agents compared to system-wide deployment, while still effectively suppressing fires at their origin points.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit operates fire extinguishing units partially or selectively based on the determined fire level, rather than activating all units simultaneously. This partial action approach uses just enough extinguishing agent to suppress the fire while minimizing unnecessary consumption, balancing fire suppression effectiveness with resource conservation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If air conditioning units are stopped during fire conditions, then harmful factors are reduced by preventing oxygen supply, but productivity decreases due to loss of cooling function
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit stops the air conditioning unit as a preliminary measure when smoke is detected, before the fire fully develops. This preliminary anti-action prevents oxygen supply that would fuel fire propagation. The system accepts temporary loss of cooling function as necessary to prioritize fire suppression, and can resume cooling operations after the fire threat is eliminated.
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
Enables early fire suppression and prevention of accidents like explosions by determining fire levels accurately and implementing appropriate measures, effectively distinguishing between electrical and battery fires and managing gas concentrations to prevent system explosions.
Implementation Method 1
a smoke sensor provided inside the energy storage system
Implementation Method 2
receive a smoke detection signal from a smoke sensor
Implementation Method 3
a pipeline equipped with a bulb that is capable of being destroyed according to a temperature of the corresponding battery module
Implementation Method 4
bulb that is capable of being destroyed according to a temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A fire monitoring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a device for monitoring a fire in an energy storage system, and includes a fire level determination unit for receiving a smoke detection signal from a smoke sensor provided inside the energy storage system and determining a fire level according to the number of smoke sensors that detect the smoke, a control unit for controlling an operation of at least one of an air conditioning unit, a fire extinguishing unit, a watering unit and a ventilation unit for the energy storage system as a fire suppression measure corresponding to the determined fire level.