NO347807B1

NO347807B1 - Extinguishing system with chilled water mist

Info

Publication number: NO347807B1
Application number: NO20190021A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Kai Edvard Haldorsen
Original assignee: Safe At Sea As
Priority date: 2019-01-07
Filing date: 2019-01-07
Publication date: 2024-03-25
Also published as: NO20190021A1

Description

SLUKKEANLEGG MED KJØLT VANNTÅKE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM WITH CHILLED WATER MIST

Oppfinnelsen angår et slukkeanlegg hvor en benytter kjølt vanntåke fo r bekjempelse av overoppheting og brann i batterier og andre objekter. The invention relates to an extinguishing system where chilled water mist is used to combat overheating and fire in batteries and other objects.

Ved overoppheting eller intern kortslutning i litium -ion batterier b lir cellene i batterie t term isk ustabile. Det isolerende laget mellom anode og e lektro lytt i cellen brytes ned ved en overoppheting. Deretter vil e lektrolytten i cellen brytes ned til brennbare gasser hvoretter separatoren mellom elektrolytten og katoden smelter, med påfølgende mulighet fo r kortslutning i cellen. Til slutt brytes katoden ned, en prosess som produserer oksygen. In the event of overheating or an internal short circuit in lithium-ion batteries, the cells in the battery become thermally unstable. The insulating layer between the anode and the electrode in the cell is broken down by overheating. The electrolyte in the cell will then break down into flammable gases, after which the separator between the electrolyte and the cathode will melt, with the subsequent possibility of a short circuit in the cell. Finally, the cathode breaks down, a process that produces oxygen.

Dette kan føre til en tilstand kjent som term isk runaway hvor brennbare gasser ventileres fra den påvirkede cellen. Dersom de brennbare gassene antennes vil varmen som utvikles medføre at nærliggende celler overhetes og dermed blir term isk ustabile i en kjedereaksjon. Siden det i denne prosessen produserer både brennbare gasser og oksygen er det vanskelig å stoppe og/eller slukke en term isk runaway. En term isk runaway kan foregå svært raskt og utarte eksplosjonsartet. This can lead to a condition known as thermal runaway where flammable gases are vented from the affected cell. If the flammable gases are ignited, the heat developed will cause nearby cells to overheat and thus become thermally unstable in a chain reaction. Since in this process it produces both flammable gases and oxygen, it is difficult to stop and/or extinguish a thermal runaway. A thermal runaway can take place very quickly and degenerate into an explosion.

Cellene er vanligvis samlet i lukkede beholdere eller i store pakker som utgjør et batteri. For energikrevende applikasjoner kan store mengder batterier være samlokalisert i dedikerte rom, noe som øker skadepotensialet drastisk. The cells are usually collected in closed containers or in large packs that make up a battery. For energy-intensive applications, large quantities of batteries can be co-located in dedicated rooms, which drastically increases the potential for damage.

Ulike m etoder er i dag i bruk fo r å slukke branner i batterier som beskrevet og fo r å m otvirke term isk runaway. Felles fo r disse er at de har begrenset effekt, høy kompleksitet eller benytter slukkemidler som er potensielt farlige fo r miljø og helse. Various methods are currently in use to extinguish fires in batteries as described and to counteract thermal runaway. What these have in common is that they have limited effect, high complexity or use extinguishing agents that are potentially dangerous for the environment and health.

Publikasjonen US2018/0289996 A l beskriver et slukkemiddel som rettes mot en batteripakke ved hjelp av et sprinkleranlegg. Sprinkleranlegget er innre tte t til å distribuere kjølevann eller en kjølende gass. Den kjølende gassen kan være nitrogengass med lav temperatur. The publication US2018/0289996 Al describes an extinguishing agent which is aimed at a battery pack by means of a sprinkler system. The sprinkler system is designed to distribute cooling water or a cooling gas. The cooling gas may be low temperature nitrogen gas.

Ifølge forliggende oppfinnelse er det tilveiebrakt et slukkeanlegg med kjølt vanntåke fo r slukking og/eller begrensning av brann i batterier. Vann føres inn i en buffertank og avkjøles, fo r så å distribueres med en pumpeenhet via en fordelingsmanifold til vanntåkedyser styrt av soneventiler fo r distribusjon av kjølt vanntåke t il objektet som skal beskyttes, idet avkjølt vann distribueres fra fordelingsmanifolden, t il avgrensede soner ved hjelp av soneventilene. According to the present invention, an extinguishing system with cooled water mist is provided for extinguishing and/or limiting fires in batteries. Water is fed into a buffer tank and cooled, then distributed with a pump unit via a distribution manifold to water mist nozzles controlled by zone valves for distribution of chilled water mist to the object to be protected, chilled water being distributed from the distribution manifold to delimited zones by using the zone valves.

De uselvstendige kravene definerer fordelaktige utførelser av oppfinnelsen. The independent claims define advantageous embodiments of the invention.

Ved å benytte kjølt vanntåke ifølge oppfinnelsen oppnås en effektiv avkjøling, begrensning og slukking av branntilløp i litium -ion batterier. Fullskala tester u tfø rt viser at kjølt vanntåke kan benyttes uten at nærliggende batterier påføres skade eller tap av funksjon. By using chilled water mist according to the invention, an effective cooling, limitation and extinguishing of fire in lithium-ion batteries is achieved. Full-scale tests carried out show that chilled water mist can be used without causing damage or loss of function to nearby batteries.

Ved å tilfø re fin t forstøvet vanntåke med lav tem peratur, kjølt vanntåke ifølge oppfinnelsen, oppnår en tre effekter: By supplying finely atomized water mist with low temperature, cooled water mist according to the invention, one achieves three effects:

1. Kjølende effekt: vann partiklene, som funksjon av størrelsen, fordam per raskt med den påfølgende effekten at store mengder term isk energi fjernes. 1. Cooling effect: the water particles, as a function of their size, evaporate quickly with the subsequent effect that large amounts of thermal energy are removed.

2. Inerting effekt: vanndampen, som resultat av fordampingen av vannpartiklene, fungerer som en inert gas som bidrar t il å kontrollere og undertrykke brannen. 2. Inerting effect: the water vapour, as a result of the evaporation of the water particles, acts as an inert gas which helps to control and suppress the fire.

3. Skjermende effekt: vann partiklene er i stand til å absorbere strålevarme fra brannen og dermed signifikant redusere muligheten fo r at materialer I nærheten av flammene oppnår antennelses temperatur. 3. Shielding effect: the water particles are able to absorb radiant heat from the fire and thus significantly reduce the possibility of materials near the flames reaching ignition temperature.

Slukkeanlegg med kjølt vanntåke ifølge oppfinnelsen kjennetegnes av de følgende karakteriserende fordeler: Extinguishing systems with cooled water mist according to the invention are characterized by the following characterizing advantages:

• Svært effektiv metode fo r begrensning og bekjempelse av branntilløp i litium -ion celler og batterier samt andre objekter generelt. • Very effective method for limiting and fighting fires in lithium-ion cells and batteries as well as other objects in general.

• M iljøvennlig da det ikke benyttes kjemikalier eller tilsetninger fo r å oppnå slukkeeffekt. • Environmentally friendly as no chemicals or additives are used to achieve an extinguishing effect.

• Benytter ingen tilsetninger som medfører risiko fo r skade på infrastruktur. • Does not use any additives that pose a risk of damage to infrastructure.

• M edfører ingen risiko fo r mennesker som blir eksponert. • Lav kompleksitet gir høy driftssikkerhet. • Does not pose any risk to people who are exposed. • Low complexity provides high operational reliability.

• Lav kompleksitet gir høy driftssikkerhet. • Low complexity provides high operational reliability.

• Kosteffektive og plassbesparende anlegg. • Cost-effective and space-saving facilities.

Slukkeanlegg med kjølt vanntåke ifølge oppfinnelsen er vist i Figur 1 og består av en påfyllingsventil (1) fo r buffertank (2) med kjøleelement, nivå måler (3) fo r buffertank (2), en pumpeenhet (4) bestående av pumpe og drivanordning, fordelingsmanifold (5), trykkm anom eter (6), trykkreguleringsventil (7), overtrykksventil/sikkerhetsventil (8), soneventil(er) (9), underfordelingsmanifold (10), vanntåkedyser (11), deteksjonssensorer (12) og styringsenhet (13). Extinguishing system with cooled water mist according to the invention is shown in Figure 1 and consists of a filling valve (1) for buffer tank (2) with cooling element, level gauge (3) for buffer tank (2), a pump unit (4) consisting of pump and drive device , distribution manifold (5), pressure gauge (6), pressure control valve (7), overpressure valve/safety valve (8), zone valve(s) (9), sub-distribution manifold (10), water mist nozzles (11), detection sensors (12) and control unit ( 13).

Claims

Patent claims

1. Extinguishing system with chilled water mist for extinguishing and/or limiting fires in batteries, characterized by water being fed into a buffer tank (2) and cooled, then distributed with a pump unit (4) via a distribution manifold (5) ) to water mist nozzles (11) controlled by zone valves (9) for the distribution of chilled water mist to the object to be protected, as chilled water is distributed from the distribution manifold (5), to delimited zones using the zone valves (9).

2. Extinguishing system with chilled water mist according to claim 1, characterized in that water can be continuously cooled in the buffer tank (2) for continuous operation of the extinguishing system without time interruption.

3. Extinguishing system with cooled water mist according to claim 1, characterized in that the pump unit (4) with optional operating device distributes cooled water from the buffer tank (2) to the distribution manifold (5).

4. Extinguishing system with cooled water mist according to claim 1, characterized in that the extinguishing system can be triggered manually from a central control unit (13).

5. Extinguishing system with cooled water mist according to claim 1, characterized in that the extinguishing system can be triggered automatically from a central control unit (13), defined by signals from monitoring sensors (12) connected to the central control unit (13).

6. Extinguishing system with cooled water mist according to claim 1, characterized in that monitoring sensors (12) register changes in temperature, visual flame and/or spark, formation of flammable gas, increased concentration of oxygen or soot particles in the atmosphere.

7. Extinguishing system with cooled water mist according to claim 1, characterized in that the extinguishing system can be remotely controlled and remotely monitored with an external connection, wired or wireless, to a central control unit (13).

8. Extinguishing system with cooled water mist according to claim 1, characterized in that pressurization of cooled water can be achieved with other drive mechanisms than pumps.

9. Extinguishing system with chilled water mist according to claim 1, characterized in that pressurization of chilled water can be achieved with direct addition of pressurized gas.

10. Extinguishing system with cooled water mist according to claim 1, characterized in that the extinguishing system can be permanently mounted or a mobile unit.