Extinguishing Method and Extinguishing Device for Introducing at Least One Extinguishing Agent into a Battery

Abstract

A method for introducing at least one extinguishing agent into a battery, in particular into a high-voltage battery for a motor vehicle. The at least one extinguishing agent is introduced into a housing of the battery that is at least partially sealed against the penetration of water, in which a plurality of battery cells are arranged. For this purpose, a through-opening is created in a partial region of a wall of the housing, wherein the partial region is penetrated by means of an end region of an extinguishing device. At least one extinguishing agent is introduced into the housing of the battery through a supply channel of the extinguishing device. In addition, the invention relates to an extinguishing device.

Claims

1. A method for introducing at least one extinguishing agent into a battery, comprising: introducing the at least one extinguishing agent into a housing of the battery, which is at least partially sealed against the penetration of water and in which are arranged a plurality of battery cells, creating a through-opening in a partial region of a wall of the housing by piercing the wall of the housing with an end region of an extinguishing device; and, introducing at least one extinguishing agent into the housing of the battery through a supply channel of the extinguishing device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the end region of the extinguishing device is inserted into the housing of the battery to a limited extent, such that insertion of the end region of the extinguishing device avoids at least one of damage to the respective battery cells of the battery cell housing by the end region, or contact between a component conducting electric current in the interior of the housing of the battery and the end region.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the battery further comprises a pressure compensation element arranged in the through-opening in the wall of the housing, and wherein when creating a through-opening in a partial region of the wall of the housing comprises piercing a membrane of the pressure compensation element with the end region of the extinguishing device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the end region of the extinguishing device further comprises a barb, and wherein the step of piercing the wall of the housing with the end region of the extinguishing device further comprises arranging the barb so as to secure the end region of the extinguishing device against being removed from the wall.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of introducing at least one extinguishing agent into the housing of the battery further comprises discharging the extinguishing agent exiting from the housing of the battery via a return channel of the extinguishing device arranged in the interior of the end region.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising opening an overpressure valve by an extinguishing agent exiting into the surrounding environment through the return channel, the overpressure valve configured to close the return channel.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the overpressure valve is opened when an overpressure of 0.1 bar is exceeded.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the extinguishing device further comprises a handle, the handle formed from an electrically insulating material surrounding a part of the end region; and wherein operating the extinguishing device comprises holding the extinguishing device on the handle of the extinguishing device.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the supply channel is connected to a hose connected to the end region, wherein the hose is connected to an outlet of a shut-off device, and wherein the step of introducing at least one extinguishing agent into the housing of the battery through a supply channel of the extinguishing device further comprises supplying extinguishing agent through the hose when the shut-off device is opened.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the extinguishing agent comprises at least one of water, a powder, or a gas.

11. An extinguishing device for introducing at least one extinguishing agent into a battery, the battery having a housing that is at least partially sealed against the penetration of water, the battery further having a plurality of battery cells arranged therein, the extinguishing device comprising: an end region, the end region configured to pierce a partial region of the wall of the housing and thereby create a through-opening in the partial region of the wall of the housing; and a supply channel, the supply channel configured to allow the passage of at least one extinguishing agent and through which the at least one extinguishing agent is configured to be introduced into the housing.

12. The extinguishing device of claim 11, wherein the end region of the extinguishing device is configured to be inserted into the housing of the battery to a limited extent, such that insertion of the end region of the extinguishing device avoids at least one of: damage to the respective battery cells of the battery cell housing by the end region, or contact between a component conducting electric current in the interior of the housing of the battery and the end region.

13. The extinguishing device of claim 11, wherein the battery further comprises a pressure compensation element arranged in the through-opening in the wall of the housing, and wherein the end region is configured to create a through-opening in a partial region of the wall of the housing by piercing a membrane of the pressure compensation element with the end region of the extinguishing device.

14. The extinguishing device of claim 11, wherein the end region of the extinguishing device further comprises a barb, and wherein the barb of the end region of the extinguishing device is configured to be arranged within the wall of the housing so as to secure the end region of the extinguishing device against being removed from the wall when the end region of the extinguishing device has pierced the wall.

15. The extinguishing device of claim 11, wherein the extinguishing device further comprises a return channel arranged in the interior of the end region, and wherein extinguishing agent exiting from the housing of the battery is configured to be discharged through the return channel.

16. The extinguishing device of claim 15, wherein the extinguishing device further comprises an overpressure valve configured to close the return channel, the overpressure valve configured to be opened by an extinguishing agent exiting into the surrounding environment through the return channel.

17. The extinguishing device of claim 16, wherein the overpressure valve is configured to be opened when an overpressure of 0.1 bar is exceeded.

18. The extinguishing device of claim 11, wherein the extinguishing device further comprises a handle, the handle formed from an electrically insulating material surrounding a part of the end region.

19. The extinguishing device of claim 11, wherein the extinguishing device further comprises a hose connected to the end region, the hose connected to the supply channel and to an outlet of a shut-off device, and wherein the shut-off device is configured to supply extinguishing agent through the hose when the shut-off device is opened.

20. The extinguishing device of claim 11, wherein the extinguishing agent comprises at least one of water, a powder, or a gas.

Description

[0031] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become evident from the claims and from the following description of preferred embodiments, as well as from the figures, which show the following:

[0032] FIG. 1 a perspective view of a lithium-ion high-voltage battery for a motor vehicle;

[0033] FIG. 2 the battery according to FIG. 1 in a top view, indicating the locations of the batteries in which the pressure compensation elements are located;

[0034] FIG. 3 regions of the wall of the housing according to FIG. 2, in which the pressure compensation elements are located;

[0035] FIG. 4 a perspective view of an example of a pressure compensation element before it is mounted on the wall of the housing of the battery;

[0036] FIG. 5 a mounted pressure element compensation element in a sectional view;

[0037] FIG. 6 the pressure compensation element in another perspective view;

[0038] FIG. 7 a schematic view of an extinguishing device by means of which an extinguishing agent, such as water, can be introduced into the housing of a battery.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows schematic view of a battery 10 for a motor vehicle, which is designed as a high-voltage battery. Such high-voltage batteries are used as electrical energy storage devices for a drive motor, for example for an electrical motor vehicle of a hybrid vehicle. Accordingly, a plurality of individual lithium-ion battery cells 10 are arranged inside a housing 12, which are electrically connected in series and/or in parallel in order to provide the high voltages and currents required to drive a motor vehicle. The battery 10 is provided in the present case with a first region, in which is arranged a battery connection box 14. This battery connection box 14 is used to create a connection to electrical lines on the side of the motor vehicle and it usually contains a switch for interrupting or creating an electrically conductive connection or the like.

[0040] In another region 16, the battery 10 is provided with a region of the battery connection box 14 which is designed so that it is located higher relative to the battery 10. The battery 10 can thus be accommodated in an installation space in the region of the underside of the motor vehicle in a particularly suitable manner. Lateral structures 18 of the battery serve to secure the battery 10 to the body of the motor vehicle. The battery 10 indicated in FIG. 1 is shown here merely by way of an example, as different configurations and designs of such batteries 10 can be considered as high-voltage batteries for motor vehicles, such as for example for passenger cars.

[0041] As one can see from combining FIG. 2 with FIG. 3, in the region of a wall 20 of the housing 12 of the battery 10 are arranged pressure compensation elements 22. In the region of these pressure compensation elements 22, the housing 12, which is otherwise sealed against penetration of water, can be easier destroyed than in the regions of the housing 12 adjacent to the pressure compensation elements. This is because the pressure compensation elements 22 are provided with a membrane 24 (see FIG. 4) by means of which the pressure compensation between the interior of the housing 12 and the environment takes place.

[0042] As can be seen from FIG. 4, but also from FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, in order to attach the pressure compensation element 22 to the wall 29 of the housing 12, the pressure compensation element 22 can be provided with a bayonet cover 26 or a similar attachment element. However, numerous variants of the arrangement of the pressure compensation element 22 on the wall 20 are possible in the present example of the battery 10.

[0043] It is evident from FIG. 6 that a circumferential seal is provided on one side 28 of the pressure compensation element 2, which is facing one outer side of the wall 20 of the 12 of the battery 10.

[0044] It may happen that one or a plurality of lithium-ion battery cells of the high-voltage battery will start to overheat or even to burn as a result of a defect, or of a short-circuit or the like. Such a reaction of a lithium-ion battery cell, several of which are arranged inside the housing 12 of the battery 10, will be referred to as a thermal leakage. In this case, an exothermic chemical reaction leads to a self-reinforcing release of heat. In such a case, the battery 10 must be cooled or extinguished.

[0045] In order to accomplish this, an extinguishing device 32 is used in present case, which is designed as a lance 34 provided with a hose 36 that is attached to the lance (see FIG. 7). The lance 34 is driven into the battery 10 or into the energy storage device in order to extinguish or cool it in a defined, non-hazardous location, for example in the location in which one of the pressure compensation elements 22 facilitates accessibility. The battery 10 is thus not extinguished so that the housing 12 of the battery 10 is impacted by water from outside, or so that it is introduced into a flood box or the like. Instead, the battery may remain in its original state, for example mounted on a stand during the manufacture of the battery 10, on a transport rack in which the battery 10 is transported to the motor vehicle, or in the state during which it is being installed in the motor vehicle.

[0046] When a pressure compensation element 22 that is made from a plastic material is provided, the lance 34 can be particularly easily driven into the housing 12 of the battery 10, wherein the wall 20 of the housing 12 s pierced in the region of the pressure element 22 and a through-opening is thus created in the wall 20 in this manner. This is done by means of a hard tip 38 of the lance 34. The hard tip 38 is preferably made of metal, so that when there is doubt whether the housing 12 of the battery 10 is formed from a plastic material or from an aluminum alloy, it can penetrate through the material even if none of the pressure compensation elements 22 is readily accessible.

[0047] A supply channel or feed 40 is located in the region of the lance 34 by means of which an end region of the extinguishing device 32. An extinguishing agent, for example water, can be introduced via this supply channel 40 into the interior of the housing 12 of the battery 10. In the region of the hard tip 38 of the lance 34 are further also preferably provided barbs 42. The barbs ensure that after the lance has penetrated through the wall 20 of the housing 12, in particular in the region of the pressure compensation element 22, it will remained hooked in this location and it can no longer slip out of the through-opening by means of the lance 34.

[0048] The hose 36 is connected to the lance 34 at the end 44 of the lance that is 34 located opposite the tip 38. The length of the hose ensures that water used for extinguishing the battery 10 can be turned on from a safe distance. Furthermore, it is preferred when a shut-off device is provided, for example in the form of a valve 46, by means of which access of the extinguishing agent is enabled so that water can be introduced downstream and at a spatial distance to the battery 10. Therefore, the extinguishing agent, in particular water, which is thus introduced through the hose 36 and further via the supply channel 40 into the housing 12 of the battery 10, will flood completely after the opening of the valve 46 the housing 12, specifically the interior thereof.

[0049] When the housing 12 is completely filled with water, water supplied further through the puncture created with the lance 34 can flow out in a defined manner. It is preferred when the lance 34 is provided for this purpose with a return or overflow channel 48. The return channel 48 is closed with a valve 50, which is designed as an overpressure valve. Accordingly, the valve 50 is open when the pressure inside the housing 12 of the battery 10 and thus also inside the return channel 48 exceeds a predetermined threshold value. For example, the valve 50 can be designed in such a way that it will be open with an overpressure of approximately 0.1 bar. This makes it possible for the water to rise even in a housing 12 of the battery 10 penetrated from below until the housing 12 can be completely filled up, without bursting of the housing 12 of the battery.

[0050] As soon as the water exits the return channel 48 with an open valve 50 into the surrounding area, a person operating the extinguishing device 32 will notice that the housing 12 of the battery 10 is completely filled with water. If the housing 12 of the battery 10 is still sealed and the temperature inside the housing 12 is no longer rising but instead falls, this means that there is a sufficient amount of water in the battery 10 for a targeted discharging of the battery cells. This is because the water ensures that the battery cells will be short-circuited, in particular due to the participation of the electrolyte that is released from the individual battery cells. Therefore, the lance 34 thus also ensures a neutralization, which is to say a targeted discharging of the individual battery cells located inside the housing 12 of the battery 10.

[0051] On the other hand, if the housing 12 of the battery 10 is not sealed and water is discharged from the housing 12 in other locations than in the location of the puncture that was created by means of the lance 34, the water level in the housing 12 of the battery 10 can be maintained constant by further supplying water and the temperature can thus be lowered. The same applies also in the case when the housing 12 of the battery is sealed and the temperature inside the housing 12 continues to rise.

[0052] It is preferred when a handle 52, which is made of an electrically insulating material surrounding a part of the end region formed in the lance 34, is provided at the region of the end 44 of the lance 34 to which the hose 36 is connected. This handle 52 is formed around the end of the lance 34, preferably in a partial region opposite the tip 38. Therefore, the lance 34 can be handled in a manner that is safe for the person carrying out the extinguishing operation involving extinguishing, cooling or neutralization of the battery 10.

[0053] In addition to water, powder or a gas such as for example carbon dioxide or argon can be also used as an extinguishing agent. However, water is particularly suitable for targeted discharging of the battery cells of the battery 12 and thus for neutralization of the battery 12. However, different types of extinguishing agents or media can be also supplied through the lance 34.