ESS Battery Rack Discharge Control for Fire Spread Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy storage systems (ESS) face risks of fire spread and instability due to high temperatures and vibrations, particularly during external shocks like earthquakes, without effective prevention methods.
Innovation Solution
A fire detection system that identifies individual battery racks with fires and forcibly discharges adjacent racks, optionally based on state of charge (SOC), and includes a forced discharge device to manage power distribution and prevent fire spread.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If batteries are installed in a compact ESS system, then energy storage capacity is improved, but fire risk and temperature increase are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The ESS system is divided into multiple independent battery racks (first battery rack, second battery rack, etc.), each with independent fire detection and forced discharge capabilities. This segmentation allows localized fire containment while maintaining overall system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful thermal energy is extracted from the battery racks through forced discharge when fire is detected. The system actively removes excess energy by directing current through forced discharge lines to prevent thermal runaway propagation.
2Measurement precision
If fire detection is implemented for each battery rack, then fire detection precision is improved, but system complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The ESS controller performs multiple functions: normal power management, fire detection coordination, and forced discharge control. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated control systems for each battery rack.
Solution Approach 2:
Fire detection systems from multiple battery racks are merged into a unified control architecture where the ESS controller coordinates responses across all racks, reducing overall system complexity through integration.
3Reliability
If forced discharge is applied to adjacent battery racks, then fire spread prevention is improved, but energy loss is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by forcibly discharging adjacent battery racks before fire can spread to them. This preventive measure neutralizes the potential fuel source before the harmful effect (fire spread) occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potentially harmful stored energy in adjacent battery racks into a beneficial protective action by controlled forced discharge. The energy that could have fueled fire spread is instead safely discharged through forced discharge lines, protecting the overall system.
4Stability of the object's composition
If all battery racks are discharged during vibration events, then system stability is improved, but productivity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its discharge strategy based on real-time conditions. During vibration events, only necessary battery racks are discharged rather than all racks, allowing flexible response that maintains stability while preserving energy availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The forced discharge action is applied locally to specific battery racks affected by vibration or fire risk, rather than uniformly to all racks. This localized approach maintains system stability where needed while preserving functionality in unaffected areas.
Data Source
AI summary
A fire spreading prevention method in an energy storage system (ESS) composed of a plurality of battery racks including an individual battery rack fire detection step of detecting whether a fire occurs for each of the plurality of battery racks and a battery rack forced discharge step of forcibly discharging at least some of the plurality of battery racks when a fire is detected in the individual battery rack fire detection step.