Thermal runaway detection system for batteries within enclosures
AssigneeAmphenol Thermometrics, Inc.
InventorsBrian Allen Engle, Neil Roberts
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A battery thermal runaway detection sensor system for use within a battery enclosure housing one or more batteries. The system has at least one gas sensor for detecting a venting condition of a battery cell of hydrogen, carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide, and providing a sensed output in real time. A microcontroller determines power management and signal conditioned output on the concentration of specific battery venting gases based on the sensed output from said at least one gas sensor.
Claims12
A battery thermal runaway detection system for use within a battery enclosure housing one or more batteries, the detection system comprising:
- at least one a hydrogen sensor configured to act as a primary detector and configured to provide a sensed output in real time;
- at least one carbon dioxide sensor configured to act as a secondary detector and configured to provide a sensed output in real time;
- a microcontroller electrically connected to the primary and secondary detectors and configured to determine power management and provide a signal conditioned output of a concentration detected by the primary and secondary detectors;
- a battery controller connected to the microcontroller;
- wherein the primary and secondary detectors are configured to differentiate between background and battery cell venting conditions;
- and
- wherein said microcontroller provides a rate of progression of the thermal runaway based on the provided information from said secondary detector.
A battery thermal runaway detection system, comprising:
- at least one a primary detector and configured to provide a sensed output in real time;
- at least one secondary detector and configured to provide a sensed output in real time;
- and
- a combined microcontroller and battery controller electrically connected to the primary and secondary detectors,
- wherein the primary and secondary detectors are configured to differentiate between background and battery cell venting conditions,
- wherein the background condition is characterized by hydrogen and carbon dioxide concentrations of ambient atmospheric concentrations,
- wherein the battery cell venting condition is characterized by an elevation of hydrogen and carbon dioxide concentrations above ambient,
- wherein said combined microcontroller is further configured to send an alarm signal upon detection of a cell venting condition, and,
- wherein the combined microcontroller initiates, maintains, escalates, or ceases a response due to the alarm signal.
A battery thermal runaway detection system for use within a battery enclosure housing one or more batteries, the detection system comprising:
- at least one a hydrogen sensor sensitive to at least 300 ppm configured to act as a primary detector and configured to provide a sensed output in real time;
- at least one carbon dioxide sensor sensitive to at least 1000 ppm configured to act as a secondary detector and configured to provide a sensed output in real time;
- and
- a microcontroller electrically connected to the primary and secondary detectors, configured to determine power management and provide a signal conditioned output of a concentration detected by the primary and secondary detectors, and configured to turn at least one cell on or off, or control the voltage output of the at least one cell,
- wherein the primary and secondary detectors are configured to differentiate between background and battery cell venting conditions, and,
- wherein said microcontroller provides a rate of progression of the thermal runaway based on the provided information from said primary and secondary detectors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.