WO2024117924A2 - Fire protection system for electric energy systems (ees) - Google Patents

Fire protection system for electric energy systems (ees) Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2024117924A2
WO2024117924A2 PCT/RO2024/050003 RO2024050003W WO2024117924A2 WO 2024117924 A2 WO2024117924 A2 WO 2024117924A2 RO 2024050003 W RO2024050003 W RO 2024050003W WO 2024117924 A2 WO2024117924 A2 WO 2024117924A2
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
fire
controlled
driving gas
inert
battery
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PCT/RO2024/050003
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French (fr)
Inventor
Risco RAUL - IOAN
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Publication of WO2024117924A2 publication Critical patent/WO2024117924A2/en

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Abstract

Fire protection system for electric energy systems EES, comprising: a fire protection system with at least two substances MSFSS with or without a controlled prevention apparatus PAC and a controlled fire extinguisher apparatus EAC with at least two components: inert driving gas (102) and anti-fire substance, preferably in liquid form (113) transformed into aerosol by the in-tank mixer (108) powered by the principle of vessels connected to the reservoir (110), representing an extinguishing agent injected directly at the fire source through an actuator and injector system, then evacuated through a system of hatches and smoke circuit through a drainage system, controlled by a detection and data transmission system and a data acquisition and control system, where prevention is done by replacing the air and cooling, and the anti-fire action is done by extinguishing and evacuating directly from the source inside a battery module and/or electrical equipment.

Description

Fire Protection System for Electric Energy Systems (EES)
TECHNICAL FIELD
Fire protection system for Electric Energy Systems (Electric Energy Systems - EES) is a very important field for ensuring optimal conditions for the storage and distribution of electrical energy from green energy systems to energy consumers, further distribution to homes, businesses, and factories by synchronizing production with consumption and balancing at the level of the electric network.
In this context, fire protection systems play a fundamental role in preventing and/or extinguishing fires, thus minimizing the risks of loss and/or damage to batteries, racks, containers, electric vehicle charging systems, as well as other energy storage systems or small enclosures that require protection against overheating/fire and where the device from this invention can be installed.
Moreover, the system of the current invention can also be adapted to battery systems and battery modules in Electric Vehicles (EVs), thereby increasing road safety and preventing loss of human lives due to fires that may occur in these vehicles.
Furthermore, due to its significantly reduced size and ease of installation, the fire protection system of this invention can be used to ensure the safety of data centers, servers, hard drives, or other devices that require protection against overheating/fire.
The present invention is a continuation of inventions and invention patents filed with OSIM under number A/00352A/2022 on 20/06/2022, and International Application Number WO2023/136737 A2 (PCT/R02023/050007) titled "Battery cell with electrode, thermal and electrical conductor collector, with internal and external heat exchanger," as well as under number A/00209/2023 on 27.04.2023, and International Application Number WO2023/113632 A2 (PCT/R02023/050005) titled "Battery module and energy storage rack." BACKGROUND ART
Currently, fire protection systems designed to extinguish fires occurring in rooms or containers where materials, electrical equipment, substances, or containers presenting a fire hazard are located, act with foam, powders, or inert gases stored in large pressurized reservoirs, which are sprayed into rooms and spaces through multiple sprinklers / nozzles. In cases where there are multiple options for the fire protection system to act, we are dealing with a centralized fire protection system.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
TECHNICAL PROBLEM
At present, the fire protection systems in the electrical field used in areas, rooms, or containers where battery modules, electrical equipment, servers, electronic equipment, and/or Information Technology equipment are located are deficient in their concept because they centrally operate at a macro level with dielectric fire extinguishing substances including powder, various types of clean extinguishing agents, inert gases, or a combination of these. Among the fire system triggering systems, we mention smoke detectors, which work on the aspiration principle, periodically analyzing air samples from the room, or can be triggered manually. Tanks or cylinders are pressurized and held under pressure, being used only once from activation to depletion. The inert gas is loaded into the reservoir together with Novec (for example), resulting in a homogeneous mixture, and the pressures are on average over 50 bars, and the reservoirs are very large because they are designed for a fire spreading throughout the room or constructed enclosures, or multiple rooms / containers. The power supply for these fire protection systems is 220 V or in case of power outage, through UPS units, which supply the same 220 V, but have a limited operating time.
Fire protection systems designed for Energy Storage Systems (ESS) at the container or enclosure level where there are batteries, electrical, electronic, or IT equipment are equipped with large reservoirs of inert gases such as CO2, N2, Argon, or a mixture with clean extinguishing agent, and their operation principle is based on reducing the oxygen level so that combustion cannot occur. They are activated by spraying the entire content when a fire is detected within the room. The spraying takes place through sprinklers located at ceiling level, without having special systems for evacuating the gases resulting from the fire protection system activation, as well as the smoke resulting from the fire. Some fire protection systems are equipped with plastic pipes filled with Novec placed near the at-risk areas, which melt at high temperatures in case of fire and release the clean extinguishing agent into the enclosure.
Other types of Energy Storage Systems, located in containers, are also equipped with water flooding pipes by firefighters in case of fire, which completely flood the interior of the container, rendering all cells/batteries unusable.
TECHNICAL SOLUTION
The technical solution provided by the present invention refers to a fire protection system with at least two fire extinguishing substances, but not limited to them, of substantially reduced dimensions, designed to have a controlled prevention apparatus, as well as a controlled fire extinguishing apparatus that are put into operation and controlled by a detection and data transmission system and a data acquisition and control system, the system having at least one reservoir of inert driving gas and a reservoir of liquid state fire extinguishing substance, with dedicated circuits that close or open the circuits mentioned earlier, connecting pipes for supplying the inert driving gas and/or the mixture with the fire extinguishing substance to a actuator rod piston which, when activated, becomes an injector, a smoke suction and exhaust apparatus, a drainage system for neutralizing gases resulting from battery cell venting or in case of a fire.
This technical solution uses a controlled prevention apparatus that utilizes at least one pressure circuit, but preferably a low-pressure circuit to distribute a fire inhibition preventive agent, arranged next to a controlled fire extinguishing apparatus that uses at least a separate pressure circuit, but preferably a high-pressure circuit, for the rapid distribution of a extinguishing agent consisting of a mixture of inert driving gas with aerosols of the anti-fire liquid substance, a switching mechanism that allows seamless transition between prevention and fire extinguishing apparatus, enabling a smooth transition between high- pressure and low-pressure circuits, a dedicated fluid transport circuit to regulate the flow of extinguishing agents through specific pipes to designated (EES) modules.
Also, the controlled prevention apparatus initiates and triggers the following components: an actuator and injector system to initiate and inject inert driving gas, the fire prevention agent, an exhaust apparatus to remove oxygen from the protected area, a suction apparatus to extract oxygen from the circuit, resulting in replacing the evacuated air with inert driving gas to reduce the risk of burning and pre-cooling (EES) modules, all followed by a smoke extraction and redirection device from the modules to the exhaust apparatus.
At the same time, the controlled fire extinguisher apparatus includes a mixing device with its own tank that uses a significantly modified compressed air lubricator as a central component to transform the anti-fire substance from liquid into an aerosol by combining it with the inert driving gas and to calibrate the mixing ratio to ensure the optimal mixture ratio. In addition, the controlled fire extinguisher apparatus includes at least one fire extinguishing substance reservoir, in addition to its own reservoir, these being interconnected, with the two operating on the principle of communicating vessels, thus allowing the continuous supply of the liquid fire extinguishing substance to the mixing device with its own tank for transformation into an aerosol.
The fire protection system also includes a rod actuator piston used as a device for actuating the evacuation hatches, which is a piston mounted in a cylinder that uses the power of the inert driving gas to push and forcibly open the hatches from the module and rack through a rod, and after actuation, the system becomes an injection cylinder having at least one discharge orifice, preferably three orifices, positioned to distribute the inert driving gas and/or extinguishing agent mixture in the form of aerosols uniformly among the cells inside the battery module.
Furthermore, the technical solution offered by this system also includes a smoke column circuit consisting of an exhaust device connected to fire dampers, a main suction column that channels the flow of smoke, a suction device connected to an absorbent vacuum, and a dual-function smoke circuit system: the first function being to vent the smoke to the drainage system and the second function to flood the modules (EES) in reverse with water supplied by firefighters through a dedicated intake. Additionally, the fire protection system includes a multitude of dedicated exhaust apparatuses for each EES to ensure efficient removal of combustible gases through the recirculated water of a drainage system. The exhaust apparatus is equipped with elbows and one-way valves protecting against reverse flow, all connected to a reservoir that serves as a collection point for water with resulting substances and smoke from drainage, in a closed circuit through a recirculation pump.
Moreover, the detection and data transmission system comprises a multitude of temperature, pressure, gas, vibration, and shock sensors, transmitters, and transducers positioned at the level of the modules within the (EES) or in surrounding open areas and separate subassemblies, divided into groups such as: battery cell group, cooling groups, power electronics group, each having at least one sensor on each cell electrode, one sensor on the cooling system, and one sensor on the BMS, resulting in redundancy so that any of the groups can initiate the fire protection system.
In addition to the aforementioned, the fire protection system may also include a data acquisition and control system with an analysis and execution subsystem that triggers the activation of the controlled prevention device upon detecting any critical values or activates the controlled fire extinguishing device when it detects any imminent value, originating either from within a module or indicating the pressure produced by the discharge of the cell inside any module. Furthermore, the data acquisition and control system can also switch between the controlled prevention apparatus and the controlled fire extinguisher apparatus. This is achieved by switching between the low-pressure circuit and the high-pressure circuit, a system that decides the appropriate circuit for supplying the inert driving gas either to the prevention apparatus, which can act intermittently, and/or to the extinguisher apparatus, which can act continuously.
Moreover, when activating the fire protection system, at least one of the three types of reactions can occur:
- Thermal reaction with additional cooling of the cells inside the battery modules by injecting the inert driving gas and/or aerosols formed from the mixture of inert driving gas with the anti-fire liquid substance; - Physical reaction involving the replacement and aspiration of oxygen and/or combustible gases with inert driving gas and/or aerosols formed from the mixture of inert driving gas with the anti-fire substance in liquid form;
- Chemical reaction resulting from the mixing of combustible gases with N2 injected by the protection system of the electrical system or mixing with fire extinguishing substances, as well as passing through the water in the drainage system, which significantly reduces the flammability of the component gases.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION
- The intervention process is preventive and fire-fighting action that is carried out in stages based on the values provided by temperature, pressure, and gas sensors;
- The fire extinguishing process is controlled in real-time and is fast;
- The action is carried out directly at the focus, directly at the battery cell in mode, and the system has significantly reduced dimensions, resulting in lower production costs;
- There are no residues in the affected area, and only the defective module needs to be replaced, with the possibility of reusing the unaffected battery cells;
- The resulting gases are neutralized and no longer pose a danger to people or the surrounding environment;
- The cost of recommissioning is determined by replacing the affected module, recharging the inert gas and clean extinguishing agent reservoirs, with the cost being significantly lower compared to current known methods.
The solution to technical problems is presented in independent claims 1, 10, 11 creating preferences for the inventive solution and execution in dependent claims 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and are the subject of dependence.
It will be appreciated that one or more of the elements described in drawings/figures may also be implemented in a more separate or integrated manner or even eliminated, in certain cases, as useful according to a particular application, device, apparatus, reaction or / and process. Furthermore, the dimensions, sizes, distances, scale, magnitudes, and proportions in the figures, but not limited to these, are only for understanding and explaining the present invention, for presenting solutions to problems.
At the same time, terms used in the singular may be applied to the plural and vice versa, to objects, assemblies, subassemblies, processes, substances, in any description, figures, and claims of this invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 It is a schematic diagram of the MSFSS, PAC and EAC and inert driving gas with preventive circuit, mixing circuit and dedicated fluid transport pipeline.
Fig. 2 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the battery module with sensors and evacuation hatches.
Fig. 3 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of battery modules with actuator and injector system and hatches.
Fig. 4 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of battery modules with exhaust and suction apparatus.
Fig. 5 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of a (EES) container with outlet transport pipe lines and drainage.
Fig. 6 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of battery modules in the racks with outlet transport pipe lines and main drainage system.
Fig. 7 It is an illustration with markings of the real-time action of the experimental process: detection, prevention, circulation, evacuation, extinguishing mode, on the reaction of a battery cell discharge from a module.
Fig. 8 It is a schematic diagram of EES containers group with individual transport pipe line to common drainage and collecting reservoir.
Fig. 9 It is a schematic diagram of the in-tank mixer device connected to the reservoir of the liquid fire extinguishing substance, for balancing the pressure of the inert gas cushion based on the principle of communicating vessels.
Fig. 10 It is a schematic diagram of actuator and injector system. REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
101 - inert driving gas
102 - reservoir of inert driving gas
103 - main pressure regulator
104 - main solenoid valve
105 - high pressure regulator of (EAC) circuit
106 - low pressure regulator of (PAC) circuit
107 - low pressure solenoid valve of output circuit (PAC)
108 - in-tank mixer device
109 - connection for equalizing the pressure of the inert gas cushion on the principle of communicating vessels
110 - reservoir of anti-fire liquid substance
111 - balanced air cushion of the anti-fire substance
112 - interconnected pipeline between the two inert gas cushions between the two communicating vessels
113 - anti-fire liquid substance
114 - liquid interconnected pipeline between the two communicating vessels
115 - outlet with mixture of anti-fire substance
116 - high pressure solenoid valve of output circuit (EAC)
117 - separate output dedicated circuit solenoid valve CA
118 - separate output dedicated circuit solenoid valve CB
119 - separate output dedicated circuit solenoid valve CC
120 - battery module
121 - actuator and injector system
122 - battery module hatch
123 - module evacuation flow
124 - exhaust apparatus of the module
125 - vacuum absorber
126 - battery module cover 127 - blast wave of the battery cell
128 - rack hatch of the module compartment
129 - selectable input/output valve
130 - EES container
131 - intake of water during firefighting operation
132 - elbow-shaped backflow prevention device
133 - main drainage column
134 - one-way directional valve
135 - collecting reservoir
136 - recirculation drainage pump
137 - intake line of the drainage column
138 - controlled exhaust flow
139 - smoke circuit system
140 - switching mechanism
141 - rod actuator piston
142 - multiport injectors cylinder
143a, 143b, 143c - orifices for injecting inert driving gas and/or mixture of inert driving gas with anti-fire substance at aerosol stage.
144 - piston-driven hatch actuator
145 - drainage system
146 - detection and data transmission system
147 - module and rack exhaust apparatus
148 - suction apparatus
149 - exhaust apparatus
150 - oxygen replacement and cooling process with inert driving gas
151 - intake of multiport injectors cylinder
152 - main suction column of the battery modules
153 - evacuation apparatus with reversible flooding function
154 - liquid transformed into an aerosol
CS - data acquisition and control system
PAC - controlled prevention apparatus EAC - controlled fire extinguisher apparatus
T1 - cell temperature sensor 1
T2 - cell temperature sensor 2
Pl - battery module pressure sensor 1
P2 - battery module pressure sensor 2
P3 - high pressure sensor for inert driving gas
Hl - hydrogen- derived combustible gas detection sensor
SI - shock sensor
VI - vibration sensor
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TECHNICAL TERMS
For a better understanding of the terms used in this patent, a simple explanation of the terms used in its elaboration is provided, as follows:
- Fire Protection System - serves the purpose of detecting, preventing, and promptly neutralizing the occurrence of fire factors in protected spaces, as well as alerting competent personnel;
- Inert Driving Gas - an inert gas under pressure of up to 300 bars, or at the authorized maximum pressure, which, once released, due to the pressure, sets in motion the elements of the fire protection system;
- Reservoir of Inert Gas - a device designed to store inert driving gas under pressure;
- Liquid Fire Extinguishing Substance - a fire extinguishing substance in liquid form that acts on the fire, which can be, but not limited to: Novec 1230, Novec 649, FK-5- 1-12, C6F12O, or any known form of fire extinguishing substance;
- Reservoir of Fire Extinguishing Substance - a device designed to store the fire extinguishing agent in liquid form under pressure;
- Pressure Regulator - a valve that controls the pressure of a fluid or gas to a desired value using negative feedback from the controlled pressure;
- Balanced Gas Cushion of the Fire Extinguishing Substance - a gas cushion formed between two interconnected tanks, having the same pressure to ensure the operation of the communicating vessels principle; - Battery Module - multiple cells put together, held together by a metal frame, with electrical connections, to form an energy storage system;
- Battery Module Cover - cover located above the battery cells arranged in the battery module;
- Discharge Valve - the discharge valve of a battery cell assembly of parts or fittings that is used to establish, interrupt, or regulate the flow of a fluid or gas;
• Battery Cell Venting Wave - the shock produced by the activation of the battery cell safety system through the discharge valve and the release of flammable substances due to the pressure exceeding the safety threshold set by the manufacturer;
- Solenoid Valve - an electrically operated device through a coil that allows control of the passage of gas/liquid in a circuit;
- One-way Valve - a valve that allows the passage of a fluid or gas in one direction;
- Switching Mechanism - a valve that allows the passage of a fluid or gas in both the inlet and outlet directions, which can be manual or based on the pressure difference principle;
- In-Tank Mixer - a device designed to mix inert driving gas with the fire extinguishing substance in liquid form through atomization, aerosols, and other known methods;
- Controlled Prevention Apparatus (PAC) - a circuit through which the injection of inert driving gas is carried out at a certain pressure.
- Controlled Fire Extinguisher Apparatus (EAC) - a circuit through which an inert gas mixture with firefighting substance in liquid state is injected;
- Temperature Sensor - sensor designed to measure the temperature in fire hazard areas;
- Pressure Sensor - sensor used to measure pressure in fire hazard areas;
- Gas Sensor - sensor for detecting the presence of gases in fire hazard areas;
- Shock Sensor - sensor that reacts to shocks in a monitored area;
- Vibration Sensor - sensor that reacts to vibrations in a monitored area;
- Transmitter - device that automatically transmits signals measured by sensors to the control system; - Translator - device or system that establishes a correspondence between the values of a specific quantity in this system and the values of a quantity of another nature, specific to another system; in this case, it correlates sensors with the control system;
• Detection and Data Transmission System - device that continuously reads the data provided by temperature, pressure, gas detection, shock, or vibration sensors through transmitters, translators located within (EES);
• Data Acquisition and Control System - device that receives data from the detection and data transmission system and based on preset values, commands the activation of one of the fire prevention or extinguishing devices;
• Predefined Parameters - a series of fixed values to trigger the fire-fighting system;
• Connecting Elements - consist of hoses and quick couplings;
• Rod Actuator Piston - component of the piston actuator rod system operated by pressure to move the rod that triggers the discharge hatches, which, once activated, remain open;
• Multiport Injection Cylinder - is the component of the rod actuator system, which, at the predefined stroke, has three holes as an injector and which spreads inert gas or a mixture with the fire extinguishing substance in the aerosol stage;
• Battery Module Hatch - hatch with the role of obturating / releasing the smoke exhaust circuit, located on the battery module;
• Rack Hatch - hatch with the role of obturating / releasing the smoke exhaust circuit, located on the rack cover;
• Hatch Trigger Rod for Releasing the Exhaust Circuit - the rod with the role of simultaneous actuation of the module hatch and the rack hatch, which closes the exhaust system of the gases resulting from the fire;
• Drainage Column - the column aimed at draining smoke/gases and substances resulting from the fire;
• Gas Exhaust Device Dedicated to the Module - downspout / pipe with the role of exhausting gases resulting from the fire;
• Absorbent Vacuum Cleaner - device with the role of suction of the mixture of gases resulting from the fire; • Elbow-shaped Backflow Prevention Device - it has the role of passing the burnt gases through a portion with water so that they do not return to the system;
• Collector Tank - container with the role of collecting substances resulting from the fire;
• Recirculation Drainage Pump - device with the role of recirculating water from the drainage system;
• Water Reservoir - container through which the gases resulting from combustion pass and has the role of neutralizing them;
• Selectable Inlet/Outlet Valve - device with the role of switching between the exhaust circuit and the flood circuit;
• ESS - energy storage system;
• EES Container - electrical energy system container;
• Firefighter Intake - special link post designed for connecting the firefighter hose;
• Visual and Auditory Warning System - a combined system of two visual and auditory elements with the purpose of warning about the triggering of the anti-fire system;
• The Principle of Communicating Vessels - if two or more containers are connected by a pipe, through which a liquid can flow, then the liquid poured into one of the containers will flow through the pipe and into the other(s), until in each container the liquid level will be the same;
• Inhibition - slowing down / stopping the reaction process that triggers the fire at the battery cell level;
• Cell / Battery / Battery Management System (BMS) - electronic system that does charge / discharge management, protecting the battery / batteries from overcharging or discharging below the minimum discharge level, monitors SOC, SOD and SOF and forwards this data;
• Extinguishing Agent - inert driving gas and/or mixed with the anti-fire substance in the form of aerosols;
• Mixture of Inert Driving Gas With Aerosols From the Fire-fighting Substance in Liquid State - the resulting mixture at the exit from the in-tank mixer device by atomization and/or other known methods;
• State of Charge (SOC) - state of charge of the battery modules; • Stage of Discharge (SOD) - battery module discharge stage;
• State of health of the battery cell (SOF) - as the battery modules charge and discharge, the battery becomes less efficient in keeping the same state of life it had at the beginning, so the cell cycles are reduced;
• Fire Protection System With At Least Two Substances (MSFSS) - has the role of fire protection and uses at least two substances to extinguish a fire event.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
The objective of the present invention is to create a fire protection system for an Electric Energy Storage (EES) System to address the fire risk and propagation deficiencies in the current state of the art.
The present invention describes a fire protection system with at least two substances (MSFSS), designed with significantly reduced dimensions. With the help of temperature, gas, shock pressure, and vibration sensors (which can be Tl, T2, Pl, P2, P3, Hl, SI, VI), the system of the present invention acts directly at the source of the fire with inert driving gas (101) and/or a mixture of inert driving gas (101) with the anti-fire liquid substance (113), which can be a clean volatile or gaseous extinguishing agent, non-polluting and with dielectric properties, such as fluorocarbons - FCs; perfluorocarbons - PFCs; fluoroiodocarbons - FICs, Novec 1230, Novec 649, and FK- 5-1-12 (C6F12O), etc., calibrated and dosed through a in-tank mixer device (108) to combat fire factors, applied in a controlled manner in terms of pressure, mixture ratio, flow rate, and by controlling intervention times, through intermittent or continuous application.
As shown in Fig. 1, the inert driving gas (101) stored in the reservoir (102), at a pressure up to the maximum safety limit, is also a driving / engine / propellant element of the present invention, allowing significantly prolonged and controlled action on the fire throughout the extinguishing process, both with slow, progressive, intermittent application and maximum intensity. The present invention introduces a fire protection system with at least two substances (MSFSS) which can include a controlled prevention apparatus (PAC), utilizing at least one pressure circuit, preferably a low-pressure circuit, further reduced by the low- pressure regulator (106) and/or operated by a low pressure solenoid valve of output circuit
(107), to distribute an inert driving gas (101) for fire inhibition through a dedicated circuit to prevent the risk of fire, directly into at least one battery module (120) belonging to an Electric Energy Storage (EES) system.
Furthermore, the fire protection system with at least two substances (MSFSS) also includes a controlled fire prevention apparatus (EAC), which can utilize at least one pressure circuit, preferably a high-pressure circuit, operated by the high-pressure regulator (105) and/or high pressure solenoid valve (116) to distribute an inert driving gas (101) combined by a in-tank mixer device (108) with an anti-fire liquid substance (113), transforming it into an aerosol (154) for fire inhibition.
Between the apparatus (PAC) and (EAC), the present invention proposes a switching mechanism (140) that allows seamless transition between the two mentioned apparatuses.
From the main output of the two apparatuses or at least one of (PAC) or (EAC), the invention presents a dedicated circuit for transporting the extinguishing agent, which can be one of the circuits (CA), (CB), (CC) using a set of separate output dedicated solenoid valves (117), (118), (119) to distribute the flow of the extinguishing agent through specific pipes into the battery module (120).
The two substances of (MSFSS) of this invention are formed from at least two components of substances: an inert driving gas (101) used for fire inhibition and propulsion of prevention and extinguishing devices, as well as the in-tank mixer device
(108); and an anti-fire liquid substance (113) which, when combined with the inert driving gas, is transformed into an aerosol (154).
To eliminate at least one condition for sustaining combustion, the controlled fire prevention apparatus (PAC) is physically connected by the inert driving gas (101) and logically through the initiation and priming of the following components: an actuator and injector system (121) for injecting the inert driving gas (101) and opening the hatches (122 and 128), a smoke column with the external environment of the battery module (120), a module and rack exhaust apparatus (147) to remove air/oxygen from the protected area, a suction apparatus (148) to remove air/oxygen from the battery module, and an exhaust apparatus (149) to expel the air removed from the protected area.
Additionally, in addition to the previously mentioned devices and systems, the controlled fire prevention apparatus (PAC) performs at least one of the processes: oxygen evacuation from the battery module (120) and oxygen replacement and cooling process with inert driving gas (150), and cooling which can also be done through an intermittent injection process of the inert driving gas (101) to manage the limited source from the reservoir of inert driving gas (102).
The purpose of the aforementioned processes is to eliminate at least one condition, preferably two conditions that sustain combustion, such as by maintaining the protected area without oxygen and at a low temperature.
The fire protection system in the present invention features a significantly reduced- size reservoir of inert driving gas (102), which could be, but not limited to 20 liters for an Electric Energy Storage (EES) system recommended for 0.6 MW, where the inert driving gas (101) is stored at a pressure of at least 200 bar, preferably 300 bar, or at a maximum pressure without exceeding the recommended pressure limit of the reservoir of inert driving gas (102). Additionally, the system has a second reservoir (110) containing the anti-fire liquid substance (113) equivalent to a clean extinguishing agent, at a pressure close to atmospheric pressure. The fire protection system is activated by the main pressure regulator (103), with the main solenoid valve (104), the assembly being a substantially reduced-size system but ensuring a quick response, ideal for both stationary and mobile installations, all of which are integral parts of the present invention.
Furthermore, the fire protection system with at least two substances (MSFSS), in addition to the controlled fire prevention apparatus (PAC) that activates upon detecting a critical operating value of the (EES), also includes a controlled fire extinguisher apparatus (EAC) that activates upon detecting an imminent fire value, such as the venting of a battery cell from a battery module.
The controlled fire extinguishing apparatus (EAC) of the present invention may also contain a in-tank mixer device (108) that can dose and/or calibrate and/or proportionally distribute in aerosol form (154) the anti-fire liquid substance (113) from the reservoir of anti-fire liquid substance (110) connected based on the principle of communicating vessels.
The in-tank mixer device (108) of the present invention, which can be a significantly modified compressed air lubricator as a central component, is an integral part of the present invention, combining the anti-fire liquid substance (113) with the inert driving gas (101), transforming them into an aerosol (154) through a connection for equalizing the pressure of the inert gas cushion on the principle of communicating vessels (109) with a interconnected pipeline (112) between the two gas cushions 111 and 109 and another interconnected pipeline in liquid (114) both based on the principle of communicating vessels, for the continuous supply of the in-tank mixer device (108) from the reservoir of anti-fire liquid substance (110).
The in-tank mixer device (108) is significantly modified from other known devices, which operate on principles such as injection, pumping, suction through pressure-driven flow, based on the aerosol principle, spray, Hydrostatic Head (HH), i.e., a liquid from an upper container that can have higher pressure due to its greater height, causing the liquid to flow into the lower container, or other known dosing and mixing systems, which can also be based on the principle of the so-called adjustable flow pneumatic lubricator, proposed in the present invention, with at least a mixer property, which in turn doses the liquid substance sprayed into an aerosol. The in-tank mixer device (108) can be driven by the inert driving gas (101) or another known external energy source, but this device is an integral part of the present invention.
The above-mentioned reservoir of anti-fire liquid substance (110) contains the antifire liquid substance (113), a interconnected pipeline between the two inert gas cushions (112), and a liquid interconnected pipeline between the two communicating vessels (114), allowing for the continuous supply of the anti-fire liquid substance (113) to the mixing device in the in-tank mixer device (108) for its transformation into an aerosol (154).
The system of the present invention may also include a pressure reducer/regulator in the circuit and/or in each of the circuits to manage the driving pressure and apply the necessary pressure to the prevention or mixing circuit based on the result and/or substances used, such as N2 preventively injected at 3 bar and/or a mixture of N2 with Novec fire extinguisher injected at 3 bar with actuator and injection, and/or a mixture of N2 with Novec at 8 bar with actuator and injection, to which evacuation, suction, drainage systems, but not limited to these, assemblies, and sub-assemblies can also be applied and/or added as an integral part of the present invention.
Upon the triggering of at least one of the controlled fire prevention apparatus (PAC) and/or the controlled fire extinguishing apparatus (EAC), the inert driving gas (101) and/or the outlet with mixture of anti-fire substance (115) from the in-tank mixer device (108) are transported through dedicated circuits directly into the battery module (120) via the actuator and injector system (121).
In the present invention, the actuator and injector system (121) can be represented by a piston in a cylinder, which is significantly modified to become an injector actuator in the battery module (120), with its components described further.
The actuator and injector system (121) may include a rod actuator piston (141) mounted in a multiport injectors cylinder (142) that utilizes the power of the inert driving gas (101) through intake of multiport injectors cylinder (151) and forcibly opens the hatches (122) / (128) by actuating piston-driven hatch actuator (144).
Furthermore, the substantially modified cylinder of the actuator and injector system
(121), which is an integral part of the present invention, becomes an injector through at least one but preferably three (143a) / (143b) / (143c) orifices, positioned in three axes, behaving like a sprayer after the rod actuator piston (141) translates to the opening stroke of the orifices, ensuring optimal injection of the inert driving gas (101) from the controled prevention apparatus (PAC) and/or the mixture of inert driving gas with the anti-fire liquid substance (113) from the fire extinguisher apparatus (EAC), with the three holes ensuring the spread of the extinguishing agent, so that the sprayed substances reach uniformly inside the battery module (120).
The present fire protection system can also be equipped with a hatch or multiple hatches, which, through the translational motion of the rod actuator piston (141), pushes the piston-driven hatch actuator (144) attached to the piston, opening the battery module hatch
(122) and the rack hatch (128), components of the module and rack exhaust apparatus (147), through the dedicated exhaust apparatus of the module (124), with the role of opening the smoke circuit system (139) and/or the gases resulting from combustion, and introducing them into the exhaust, suction, escape, and drainage circuit of the gases and resulting substances.
In the present invention, the battery module hatch (122) and rack hatch (128) are designed, based on mechanical, magnetic, and gravitational principles, to remain closed and be opened by the actuator and injector system (121) which operates them in a chain from the battery module hatch (122) to the rack hatch (128) by hooking onto them and opening gravitationally.
These mechanical, magnetic, and gravitational devices of hatches (122) and (128) operate in fire situations, where electrical and electronic devices are not recommended or are prohibited due to fire and/or high temperatures.
After the opening of the traps mentioned above, there is a circulation of fire extinguishing substances and smoke, referred to as the module evacuation flow (123), transferred outside the module through the controlled exhaust flow (138). This phenomenon is due to the battery module cover (126) fixed above the battery cells, represented by the heat-resistant glass (replacing 126) in the test in Fig 7. Due to the chosen construction solution, the battery module cover (126) opposes all the discharge valves of the battery cells, and in case of discharge, forms the discharge blast wave of the battery cell (127), representing the primary source of pressure detection and explosion identification.
After opening the hatches (122) and (128) and through the dedicated exhaust apparatus of the module (124), the circulation of fire and smoke substances is directed through the main suction column of the battery modules (152), with dual functionality, which channels the flow of smoke through a suction apparatus (148), connected to a vacuum absorber (125), followed by an exhaust apparatus (149).
The main suction column of the battery modules (152) can have dual functionality, explained as follows: the first being the channeling of the smoke flow from inside any battery module (120) to the outside of the (EES) container (130) through a suction apparatus (148), connected to a vacuum absorber (125), followed by an exhaust apparatus (149), and the second functionality being the flooding of the battery modules (120) from the firefighters' water source outside the (EES) container (130) of the battery modules (120) comprising intake of water during firefighting operation (131), selectable inlet/outlet valve (129), and the evacuation apparatus with reversible flooding function (153), so that the main suction column of the battery modules (152) and the evacuation apparatus with reversible flooding function (153) ensure the evacuation function from the module to the outside and flooding from the intake of water during firefighting operation (131) to the modules.
As a result, the actuator and injector system (121), hatches (122) and (128) module and rack exhaust apparatus (147), suction apparatus (148), and exhaust apparatus (149) with all the devices and appliances previously presented operate on mechanical, gravitational, and magnetic principles, except for the vacuum absorber (125) which is electrically powered from a UPS with a voltage of 12 / 60 V DC, preferably 24V, but not limited to these voltages. The vacuum cleaner turbine is electrically isolated. In the present invention, the Fire Protection System for Electric Energy Storage (EES) Systems may also be equipped with a drainage system (145), which may include: a set of dedicated fluid transport pipes for the (EES) container (130) connected from the exhaust apparatus (149) to the main drainage column (133), where each separate (EES) container (130) can be connected to the main drainage column (133) to ensure the efficient removal of combustible substances through water recirculated through the intake line of the drainage column (137), a backflow prevention device, which may consist of a elbow-shaped backflow prevention device (132) and a one-way directional valve (134), a collecting reservoir (135) serving as an accumulation reservoir for residues or combustible and polluting substances to prevent their release into the external environment, and a recirculation drainage pump (136) allowing the reuse of water from the collection tank by pumping it back into the drainage system.
In the present invention, the Fire Protection System for the Electric Energy Storage (EES) System may also be equipped with a detection and data transmission system (146) comprising: a group of temperature sensors (which can be Tl, T2) and/or transmitters and/or transducers, appropriately positioned at the battery module level, a group of pressure, vibration, or shock sensors (which can be Pl, P2, P3, SI, VI) and/or transmitters and/or transducers installed and dedicated in the battery module for monitoring internal pressure, and a group of flammable/combustible gas detectors (which can be Hl) and/or transmitters and/or transducers arranged inside the battery modules, so that all sensor groups continuously transmit data from the monitored object to the data acquisition and control system (CS).
The present invention proposes a Fire Protection System for the Electric Energy Storage (EES) System controlled, as based on the detection and data transmission system (146), the systems, devices, and component devices are controlled by the data acquisition and control system (CS) in real-time for prevention, extinguishing, evacuation, drainage, and spreading the action from one battery module to a plurality of battery modules up to the entire (EES) container (130), depending on fire propagation, all through controlled management of the inert driving gas source and the UPS powering the vacuum cleaner with a current of 12 / 60 V DC, preferably 24V, which in turn can power the detection and data transmission system (146) and the data acquisition and control system (CS).
The data acquisition and control system (CS) mentioned earlier is an integral part of the present invention and may include: a data acquisition system from the detection and data transmission system (146) and an execution system, which triggers the controlled prevention apparatus (PAC) upon detecting at least one critical value received from the detection device, or triggers the controlled fire protection apparatus (EAC) upon detecting at least one imminent value received from the detection device.
Furthermore, the data acquisition and control system (CS) can perform the following actions: switch between the controlled prevention apparatus (PAC) and the controlled fire protection apparatus (EAC), switch circuits between the low-pressure circuit and the high-pressure circuit, respectively trigger the controlled prevention apparatus (PAC) or trigger the controlled fire protection apparatus (EAC), start the vacuum absorber (125) and/or the recirculation drainage pump (136), carry out intermittent action of either the controlled prevention apparatus (PAC) or the controlled fire protection apparatus (EAC) to manage the allocated resources of the (EES) container (130) during intervention, from the reservoir of inert driving gas (102) or the reservoir of anti-fire liquid substance (110).
In the present invention, in case of a fire outbreak and/or the venting of at least one battery cell, which is part of a battery cell module, the Fire Protection System for the Electric Energy Storage (EES) System is triggered, leading to at least one thermal and/or physical and/or chemical reaction, being an integral part of the present invention and representing innovative and significant solutions presented further. The thermal reaction can be additional/forced cooling of the cells inside the battery modules by inert driving gas and/or a mixture of fire-retardant substance in aerosol form, injected directly above and among the battery cells.
The physical reaction can be pushing and suction for the evacuation and replacement of oxygen and/or flammable gases directly above and among the battery cells inside the module, by injecting inert driving gas (101) and/or a mixture of inert driving gas with anti-fire liquid substance (113).
The chemical reaction can occur when a battery cell vents, producing H2 and other derived combustible gases that react with N2 injected by the electric system's fire protection system, resulting in the formation in the first phase of N2 + H2 — NH3 at the critical temperature (greater than) 132.22°C, and its outcome is passed through the drainage system, being water-soluble, resulting in the second phase NH3 (aq) + H2O (1) NH4+ (aq) + OH- (aq) where ammonium hydroxide (NH40H) is significantly less flammable and soluble compared to hydrogen (H2) and/or other flammable gases resulting from the explosion of one or more battery cells.
In the present invention, a method for protecting the electric energy system (EES) is presented, which may include the following steps:
- when the data acquisition and control system (CS) receives at least one critical value from the detection and data transmission system (146) and/or the state of charge (SOC) / state of discharge (SOD) / state of health (SOF) from the BMS, the data acquisition and control system (CS) activates the controlled prevention apparatus (PAC) and simultaneously primes the controlled fire protection apparatus (EAC) upon receiving a previously mentioned critical value, by equalizing the pressure and the level of the liquid fire retardant substance between the two communicating vessels 108 and 110, creating the initial conditions for aerosol production;
- at the same time, the control system (CS) by opening the circuit of the controlled prevention apparatus (PAC), the inert driving gas (101) propels the rod actuator piston (141) from the multiport injectors cylinder (142) which opens the hatches (122) and (128) and disperses in the battery cell module compartment to push and replace the oxygen inside, simultaneous with suction; - after opening the hatches, the control system (CS) performs intermittent action by injecting the inert driving gas (101) to conserve its resources, keeping the module enclosure oxygen-free and at a low temperature, and to mitigate the thermal spread from the compromised cell to the other cells in the module;
- to correlate the positive pressure released through the orifices (143a, 143b, 143c), balanced with the negative suction pressure from the main suction column of the battery modules (152), the system executes modulation commands through pulses (PWM) to power the vacuum absorber (125) to correlate its suction flow, preferably in real-time, throughout the process;
- in the event a cell in the battery module vents, the pressure wave is detected by the detection and data transmission system (146), which transmits these data in real-time to the data acquisition and control system (CS), opens (EAC) simultaneous with the dedicated circuit of the affected battery module, and the mixture of anti-fire liquid substance in aerosol form (154) is injected at the fuel source directly into the affected battery module;
- subsequently, the resulting gases are channeled through the main suction column of the battery modules (152), towards the exterior of the container through the exhaust apparatus (149), to the drainage system (145), where the chemical reaction resulting from the phase in which the battery cell has vented, producing H2 and other combustible derivative gases, will take place in Phase 2, transforming them into a form with significantly reduced flammability for the elimination of the risk of propagation from one (EES) container (130) to another, and protecting the environment.
In the event of depletion of the controlled fire extinguisher apparatus (EAC), and the fire risk is not completely eliminated, (EES) can be filled and/or flooded with water, through the intake of water during firefighting operation (131) flooding through the evacuation apparatus with reversible flooding function (153), water reaching all battery modules through module and rack exhaust apparatus (147) thus ensuring the complete extinguishing of a potential fire.
In the present invention, the previous method is not limited to the order of steps, as not all are essential, but they can be complemented by at least one redundant method that, by detecting a critical value of temperature (by Tl, T2) and/or pressure (by Pl, P2, P3), and/or combustible gas, vibration or shock (by Hl, SI, VI), will open all traps from all battery modules in the entire (EES) and will open all circuits through which the inert driving gas with anti-fire mixture is injected with a generalized action of systems, apparatuses, and devices.
The system has reduced dimensions and weight that allow for the application and/or installation of the fire protection system in small mobile or fixed enclosures, which can be attached or integrated into battery modules in the electric vehicles / ships / aircraft industry representing a high-demand fire protection application for batteries but not limited to them, a fire protection system that is an integral part of the present invention with the mentioned applications and integrations.
The reduced dimensions and the application of the extinguishing agent directly at the source allow for the installation of the fire protection system close to the source of the fire, reducing response time through quick triggering, reducing the dimensions of the pipes and tubes from the reservoir and/or mixing by the dosing device to the actuator piston rod or injection at the hearth and/or reactor of flammable and/or combustible and/or fire substances, reducing fire spread through the listed elements, representing an integral part of the present invention.
By multiplying the action paths of the fire protection system and placing actuator piston rods, rods, exhaust traps, and dedicated exhaust devices for the modules and controlling them through the data acquisition and control system (CS), the safety of an entire rack of modules or a container can be ensured by using a single reservoir of inert driving gas (102) and a single reservoir of anti-fire liquid substance (110), triggered by temperature, pressure, gas, shock, or vibration sensors (which can be Tl, T2, Pl, P2, P3, Hl, SI, VI), placed in each module, which are an integral part of the present invention.
The fire protection system in this invention can also be equipped with a visual and auditory alarm system to alert personnel in the area, as well as to more accurately locate the fire.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a real-time and condition-specific test was performed. The results of this testing are presented in the following figures:
As show in Fig. 7 A, a fire has been caused by destroying a battery using an external heating source, the pictures show the phases of fire intervention. Pre-fire phase: the temperature sensors indicate its increase and the fire protection system is triggered by the intermittent release of propellant inert gas with the aim of: activating the exhaust circuit (falling of hatches), cooling the premises and pushing oxygen out from the battery module. On the right side you can see the release of the exhaust circuit and on the left side the supply hose of the rod actuator piston, which comes from the output circuit of the anti-fire protection system and injection of inert propellant gas and/or inert propellant gas mixture with the anti-fire substance in liquid state.
As show in Fig. 7 B, discharge / explosion of the pressure valve of the cell / battery and spreading of the gas inside the battery module due to the temperature rising above a certain level / maximum threshold.
As show in Fig. 7 C, activation of the fire protection system by injecting anti-fire liquid substance transformed into aerosols through the injector cylinder, simultaneously with the activation of the gas-absorbing aspirator resulting from the discharge / explosion of the battery / cell and their evacuation through the exhaust system.
As show in Fig. 7 D, completion phase of the exothermic reaction and cessation of gas emission from the cell / battery, due to the fire protection system that cools and extinguishes a fire resulting from the release of flammable gases and stops the fire protection system when the temperature drops below the critical value.
Description of the way of work
The fire protection system has been designed to work in such a way as to eliminate from the protected and sealed environment of a battery module, the two elements that sustain combustion: high temperature and oxygen, taking into account the following aspects:
1. Temperature, pressure, gas, shock or vibration sensors (which can be Tl, T2, Pl, P2, P3, Hl, SI, VI) transmitters and transducers, which are located inside the battery module / rack / (EES) / servers / electric machines permanently transmit data to the data detection and transmission system, mounted near the battery support / rack / servers. 2. The data acquisition and control system (CS) receives data from the data detection and transmission system and compares the obtained values, which include battery data and ambient data, with preset reference values. Analyze and determine if an event has occurred.
3. If the measured / resulting value exceeds the reference value by comparison and analysis with a preset reference value of temperature, pressure, gas presence, shock or vibration, a system start command is generated according to the two preset phases, thus:
PHASE 1: When the temperature rises above the preset limit: the solenoid valve that controls the output of the inert driving gas cylinder is activated and CS sends the command to open the controlled prevention apparatus (PAC), so that inert driving gas is released intermittently at low pressure by means of the pressure regulator, by controlling the solenoid valves, with the purpose of activating the exhaust circuit by dropping the hatches, for cooling the premises and removing oxygen or other flammable gases from the circuit. The system sends inert driving gas (nitrogen - N2) at certain time intervals with the purpose of cooling the element / elements that release the heat. At the same time, it turns on: the fire alarm, the resulting smoke exhaust system, and automatically cuts off the electrical power supply to the protected device. The system works until the temperature drops below the preset intervention value.
Explanation: this intervention phase also refers to the avoidance of a potential danger of explosion as a result of an accumulation of flammable gas emitted by the batteries, as a result of the increase in temperature, before the ignition of the gaseous mixture, to avoid accumulations in the form of gas pockets, measure the fall of the hatches and the evacuation of flammable gases outside with the help of the absorbent vacuum cleaner. If the measures taken in this phase are not sufficient and a fire breaks out, or a battery cell discharges, proceed to PHASE 2.
PHASE 2: When a fire occurs or if a battery cell discharges, temperature, pressure, gas, shock or vibration sensors (which can be Tl, T2, Pl, P2, P3, Hl, SI, VI) transmit a massive increase in of the measured values and triggers the start of the controlled fire protection apparatus (EAC). The CS is programmed to open the solenoid valves through the control relays, and release inert driving gas (N2), at high pressure, on a secondary circuit, different from the circuit in PHASE 1, which contains an in-tank mixer, and which combines the inert driving gas with a clean extinguishing agent (including, but not limited to NOVEC), turns it into aerosols and sprays it above the fire by means of a rod actuator piston which, after being actuated, becomes an injector cylinder with several holes. At the same time, the fire alarm goes on, the resulting smoke exhaust system removes oxygen from the room and automatically cuts off the electrical power supply to the protected device. The system releases the inert gas and the extinguishing agent until the total exhaustion of the inert gas (N2), which is also the driving of the firefighting system.
The fire protection system is powered by a 12 V / 60 V UPS source, preferably 24 V, to which the (CS) system is connected and which provides power to the solenoid valves, which can be powered at 12 V / 24 V, but not limited to these values.
Problems that can occur in a battery-based (EES) can fall into the following fire classes: Class C "Gas Fires" due to the fact that the cells / batteries in these systems emit flammable gases due to temperature rise above a certain threshold, Class D - "flammable metals" due to the lithium in the cell component and in Class E - "fires in electrical installations" under voltage because in the modules, the cells / batteries can be electrically connected in series or parallel, which the risk of spreading to other cells/batteries from the affected one increases.

Claims

1. A protection system for Electric Energy Systems (EES), comprising: a multi-substances fire suppression system (MSFSS) with or without a controlled prevention apparatus (PAC), an actuator and injector system (121), a smoke circuit system (139), a drainage system (145), a detection and data transmission system (146) and a control system, wherein the multi-substances fire suppression system (MSFSS) comprises at least one controlled extinguisher apparatus (EAC) with at least two components: inert driving gas (101) and anti-fire substance preferably in a liquid form (H3).
2. The multi-substances fire suppression system (MSFSS) according to claim 1, comprising:
- a controlled prevention apparatus (PAC): utilizes at least one pressure circuit but preferably a low-pressure circuit drive by the low-pressure regulator (106) and / or solenoid valve (107) to distribute an inert driving gas (101) as fire inhibition role;
- a controlled extinguisher apparatus (EAC): utilizes at least one pressure circuit but preferably a high-pressure circuit drive by the high-pressure regulator (105) and / or high-pressure solenoid valve (116) to distribute an extinguishing agent as fire suppression role;
- a switching mechanism (140): enables seamless transition between prevention and extinguishing modes, enables a seamless transition between circuits of controlled prevention apparatus (PAC) and controlled fire extinguisher apparatus (EAC);
- a dedicated circuit for transporting the extinguishing agent which can be at least one of (CA), (CB), (CC): using a plurality of separate output dedicated circuit solenoid valve (117), (118), (119), to regulate the flow of extinguishing agent through specific pipes to the inside of the battery module (120);
- two components of substances: an inert driving gas (101) acts as a fire suppressant and provides the propulsive force for the preventive and extinguishing apparatus, along with the mixing device used in conjunction with in-tank mixer device (108); and an anti-fire liquid substance (113), preferably a liquid transformed into an aerosol (154).
3. The controlled prevention apparatus (PAC), according to claims 1 and 2, utilizes inert driving gas(101) for physical connection and acts as a central control system, initiating and priming the following components, apparatuses, and processes:
- an actuator and injector system (121) for injecting the inert driving gas (101) and opening the hatches (122 and 128);
- a module and rack exhaust apparatus (147) to remove air/oxygen from the protected area;
- a suction apparatus (148) for evacuating air/oxygen from the battery module;
- an exhaust apparatus (149) to expel the removed air from the protected area;
- a dual-effect process of oxygen replacement and cooling process with inert driving gas (150) to replace air/oxygen with inert driving gas to reduce the risk of ignition; - an intermittent process of injecting the inert driving gas (101) with the purpose of managing the limited supply from the reservoir of inert driving gas (102) and maintaining the oxygen-free protected area.
4. The controlled fire extinguisher apparatus (EAC), according to claim 2, and integrated into the multi -sub stance fire suppression system (MSFSS) of claim 1, comprising:
- a in-tank mixer device (108) which utilizes an enhanced compressed air lubricator as the core component, to combine the anti-fire liquid substance (113) with the inert driving gas (101), transforming them into an aerosol (154) with a connection for equalizing the pressure of the inert gas cushion based on the principle of communicating vessels (109) with a interconnected pipeline between the two inert gas cushions (112) and a liquid interconnected pipeline between the two communication vessels (114) to achieve the principle of communicating vessels; and
- at least one communicating vessel which is attached to the in-tank mixer device (108), connects to an reservoir of anti-fire liquid substance (110) which contains an anti-fire liquid substance (113), the system incorporates a interconnected pipeline between the two inert gas cushions (112) and a dedicated liquid interconnected pipeline between the two vessels (114), ensures the continuous supply of the anti-fire liquid substance (113) to the in-tank mixer device (108) for transformation into an aerosol (154).
5. The actuator and injector system (121) according to claim 1, which incorporates a significantly modified cylinder piston to function as an actuator injector in battery model, comprising:
- a rod actuator piston (141) mounted in a multiport injectors cylinder (142) that uses the power of the inert driving gas (101) by intake of multiport injectors cylinder
(151) and forcibly opens the hatches (122) / (128); and
- a multiport injectors cylinder (142) with at least one but preferably three orifices (143a) / (143b) / (143c), positioned in three axes, which act as injectors, after the rod actuator piston’s translational motion to the opening stroke of the orifices, that ensuring optimal injection of the extinguishing agent from the controlled prevention apparatus and/or from the controlled fire extinguisher apparatus, above, as well as among the battery cells.
6. The smoke circuit system (139) according to claim 1, comprising:
- a module and rack exhaust apparatus (147) comprising hatches (122, 128) and a dedicated exhaust apparatus of the module (124), ensuring the evacuation of gases from the battery module;
- a main suction column of the battery modules (152), with dual functionality, through which the smoke flow is channeled, through a suction apparatus (148) connected to a vacuum absorber (125), followed by an exhaust apparatus (149); and
- a evacuation apparatus with reversible flooding function (153) comprising: selectable input/output valve (129), intake of water during firefighting operation (131); so that the main suction column of the battery modules (152) and the evacuation apparatus with reversible flooding function (153) ensure the evacuation/flooding function from the module to the exterior and from firefighters to the modules.
7.The drainage system (145) according to claim 1, comprising:
- a plurality of dedicated fluid transport pipelines connected from the exhaust apparatus (149) of each EES to the main drainage column (133), to ensure the efficient removal of combustible substances through water recirculated through the main drainage column (133) and recirculated water;
- a backflow protection device comprising: an elbow-shaped backflow prevention device (132) and a one-way directional valve (134);
- a collecting reservoir (135) that serves as a reservoir for the accumulation of residues or combustible and polluting substances to prevent their release into the external environment; and
- a recirculation drainage pump (136) which enables the re-use of the collected water by pumping it back into the drainage system.
8. The detection and data transmission system (146) according to claim 1, comprising:
- a group of cell temperature sensors (which can be Tl, T2) and/or transmitters and/or transducers, which are properly positioned at the battery module level;
- a group of pressure sensors (which can be Pl, P2, P3) and/or transmitters and/or transducers installed and dedicated in the battery module for monitoring internal pressure; and
- a group of detectors for flammable/combustible gases, shock or vibrations (which can be Hl, SI, VI) and/or transmitters and/or transducers, which are arranged inside the battery modules; so that all sensor groups continuously transmit data from the monitored object to the data acquisition and control system (CS).
9. The data acquisition and control system (CS) according to claim 1, comprising:
- a data acquisition system from the detection and data transmission system (146) and an execution system that performs the following: a) triggering the controlled prevention apparatus (PAC) when at least one critical value received from the detection system is detected; b) triggering the controlled fire extinguisher apparatus (EAC) when at least one imminent value received from the detection device is detected; c) executing the switching between the controlled prevention apparatus (PAC) and the controlled fire extinguisher apparatus (EAC); d) executing the change of circuits between the low-pressure circuit and the high-pressure circuit, respectively triggering the controlled prevention apparatus (PAC) or triggering the controlled fire extinguisher apparatus (EAC); e) starting the operation of the vacuum absorber (125) and/or the recirculation drainage pump (136); f) performing intermittent action of either the controlled prevention apparatus (PAC) or the controlled fire extinguisher apparatus (EAC) to manage allocated resources (EES) during the intervention from the reservoir of inert driving gas (102) or the reservoir of anti-fire liquid substance (110).
10. The reactions of the Protection System for Electric Energy System (EES) of the present invention with the fire outbreak and / or with the substances resulting from the explosion of at least one battery cell, which is part of a battery cell module, are part of the component of the present invention and represent solutions innovative and significant represented by:
- thermal reaction with further cooling of the cells inside the battery modules by inert driving gas and/or a mixture of anti -fire substance in the form of aerosols, injected directly above and among the battery cells;
- physical reaction combined with the process of pushing and suction for the evacuation and replacement of oxygen and/or combustible gases directly above and among the battery cells inside the module with a mixture of inert driving gas and/or anti-fire liquid substance;
- chemical reaction resulting from the phase where the battery cell vented, producing H2 and other combustible derivative gases which react with N2 injected by the protection system of electric system, forming in the first phase N2 + H2 — NH3 at the critical temperature, above 132.22 °C, and its result is passed through the drainage system, being soluble in water, resulting in the second phase NH3 (aq) + H2O (1) NH4+ (aq) + OH- (aq) where ammonium hydroxide (NH40H) is significantly less combustible compared to hydrogen (H2) and/or other combustible gases resulting from the explosion of one or more battery cells.
11. The method of protection of the electric energy system (EES) is as follows:
- the data acquisition and control system (CS) receives at least one critical value from the data detection and transmission system (146) and/or the state of charge (SOC) / state of discharge (SOD) / state of health (SOF) from the BMS;
- the data acquisition and control system (CS) triggers the controlled prevention apparatus (PAC) and activates the controlled fire extinguisher apparatus (EAC) upon receiving a critical value mentioned earlier;
- upon activation of the controlled fire extinguisher apparatus (EAC), the pressure and level of the anti-fire liquid substance are equalized between the two vessels, 108 and 110 ;
- the data acquisition and control system (CS) opens the circuit of the controlled prevention apparatus (PAC) and the inert driving gas (101) propels the rod actuator piston (141) from the multiport injectors cylinder (142) which opens the hatches (122) and (128) and injects inert driving gas (101) into the battery cell module compartment to push and replace the oxygen inside, simultaneously with its aspiration;
- the data acquisition and control system (CS), after opening the hatches, performs intermittent action of injecting the inert driving gas (101) to conserve its resources, keeping the module enclosure oxygen-free and at a low temperature, and to mitigate the thermal spread from the compromised cell to the other cells in the module; - the system executes modulation commands through pulses width modulation (PWM) at the vacuum absorber (125) to correlate the positive pressure released through the orifices (143a, 143b, 143c), balanced with the negative suction pressure from the main suction column of the battery modules (152) preferably in real-time throughout the process;
- in the event that a battery cell vents, the pressure wave is detected by the detection system from claim 8, which transmits this data in real time to the control system, which in turn activates the opening (EAC) simultaneously with the dedicated circuit of the affected battery module;
- the fire extinguishing agent mixture is injected directly at the source of combustion into the affected battery module;
- the resulting gases are channeled through the main suction column of the battery modules (152) to the exterior of the container through the exhaust apparatus (149), to the drainage system (145), where the chemical reaction from claim 10, phase 2, will take place, transforming them into a form with significantly reduced flammability to eliminate the risk of propagation from one (EES) to another and protect the environment;
- in case the resources of the controlled fire extinguishing apparatus (EAC) are depleted, if the fire risk is not completely eliminated, (EES) can be filled and/or flooded with water, through the firefighter intake (131) flooding through the evacuation apparatus with reversible flooding function (153), water reaching all battery modules through module and rack exhaust apparatus (147) thus ensuring the complete extinguishing of a possible fire.
PCT/RO2024/050003 2024-04-09 2024-04-18 Fire protection system for electric energy systems (ees) WO2024117924A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ROA202400165 2024-04-09

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Publication Number Publication Date
WO2024117924A2 true WO2024117924A2 (en) 2024-06-06

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