ESS Protection - Mitigation, Detection, Suppression, Control
Fire Protection System Components
The battery cabinet is equipped with a comprehensive thermal runaway mitigation and fire protection system. This includes aerogel cell separation to limit thermal propagation, a dual-redundant aerosol-based fire suppression system for rapid fire suppression, and passive deflagration ventilation to manage overpressure events. Designed to detect and respond to thermal hazards at both the battery pack and cabinet levels, this system ensures maximum safety and risk containment.
Fire Protection System Components
ESS Protection Components
Thermal Runaway Mitigation: Implemented through multiple safety mechanisms. The BMU (Battery Management Unit) and BCU (Battery Control Unit) continuously monitor system parameters, ensuring controlled charging and discharging for safe operation. The TMS (Thermal Management System) actively regulates cell temperatures within safe operating ranges. In the event of thermal runaway, aerogel cell separators with phase change materials provide thermal insulation and help prevent propagation.
Smoke Detector: Continuously monitors for smoke and combustible gases. If levels exceed a predefined threshold, the system triggers a fire alarm and initiates an automatic battery system shutdown.
Thermal Detector: Detects excessive temperature conditions and activates the fire suppression system, releasing aerosol-based extinguishing agents while simultaneously triggering the fire alarm and system shutdown.
Audible and Visual Alarm: Alerts personnel to fire or thermal hazards through both sound and flashing indicators when a smoke or temperature event is detected.
Aerosol Fire Suppression System: Deploys an aerosol-based extinguishing agent upon activation to suppress thermal events within the battery pack and cabinet.
Fire Suppression Control:
Cabinet-Level Fire Suppression is managed by a cabinet thermal detection system.
Pack-Level Fire Suppression is managed by an independent, self-contained thermal detection system.
Passive Deflagration Vent: Provides explosion control by safely venting heat and gases from the top of the cabinet to relieve pressure buildup during thermal events.
Cabinet-Level Protection - Cabinet-Level Fire Suppression
The cabinet contains a 300-gram aerosol canister positioned in the top-right corner, which is electronically triggered by the temperature detector. The aerosol agent fills the cabinet during a thermal event.
Pack-Level Protection - Pack-Level Fire Suppression
Each battery pack contains a 12-gram aerosol canister, designed to automatically deploy in the event of internal thermal runaway or external thermal event, triggered at 170°C ±10°C (338°F ±18°F).