# US 2024/0204271 A1 · Battery outgassing detector

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- Number: US 2024/0204271 A1
- Document ID: US20240204271A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/083,510
- Filed: 2022-12-17
- Published: 2024-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2022-12-17
- Assignees: Kidde Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: Kidde Technologies Inc.
- Inventors: John W. Porterfield; Robert Dunster; Albert C. Rouse; John Lewis; Barrett Stein
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240204271A1

## CPC

- G01N 33/0004: {Gaseous mixtures, e.g. polluted air}
- H01M 10/48: Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte (constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569)
- A62C 3/16: in electrical installations, e.g. cableways
- A62C 37/40: with electric connection between sensor and actuator
- G01N 33/004: {CO or CO2}
- G01N 33/005: {H2}
- G01N 33/0063: {using a threshold to release an alarm or displaying means}
- G01N 33/0078: {Testing material properties on manufactured objects}
- H01M 10/4228: {Leak testing of cells or batteries}
- H01M 10/482: {for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially}
- G01N 33/0031: {comprising two or more sensors, e.g. a sensor array}
- H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- A62C: FIRE-FIGHTING (fire-extinguishing compositions, use of chemical substances in extinguishing fires A62D1/00; spraying, applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces in general B05; alarm arrangements G08B, e.g. fire alarms actuated by smoke or gases G08B17/10)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A system for detecting gas leakage within a battery pack includes a battery pack, a controller, and a detector. The battery pack comprises a plurality of cells which may be subject to a gas leakage. The detector is configured to sense a concentration value of one or more gases. The detector is further configured to generate a return signal indicative of no alarm, a first alarm level, or a second alarm level. The detector is electrically connected to the controller and is configured to transmit the return signal to the controller. The controller is configured to output a first alarm level or a second alarm level in response to the return signal. Emergency response procedures may be implemented based on the level of gas leakage within the battery pack indicated.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A gas detection system for a battery pack, the gas detection system comprising:
a battery pack comprising a plurality of cells;
a controller;
a first detector, in communication with the battery pack and configured to sense a concentration value of one or more gases, wherein:
the first detector is electrically connected to the controller;
the first detector is configured to generate an alarm level return signal indicative of no alarm, a first alarm, or a second alarm based upon the concentration value of the one or more gases;
the first detector is configured to transmit the alarm level return signal to the controller;
the controller is configured to output no alarm, the first alarm, or the second alarm based upon the alarm level return signal received from the first detector.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The gas detection system of claim 1, further comprising a first port mounted on an exterior of the battery pack, wherein the first port provides access to an interior of the battery pack.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The gas detection system of claim 2, wherein the first detector is mounted on the first port.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The gas detection system of claim 1, wherein one or more spaces exist between the plurality of cells.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The gas detection system of claim 1, wherein the first detector is mounted in the one or more spaces between the plurality of cells.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The gas detection system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cells are electrically connected in series to create a plurality of battery modules within the battery pack.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The gas detection system of claim 1, wherein the first detector is configured to sense a first concentration value of H2 gas and sense a second concentration value of CO gas.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The gas detection system of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to output the first alarm if a first concentration value of H2 gas is between 100 and 150 parts per million or if a second concentration value of CO gas is between 400 and 500 parts per million.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The gas detection system of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to output the second alarm if the first concentration value of H2 gas is between 200 and 300 parts per million or if the second concentration value of CO gas is between 800 and 1000 parts per million.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The gas detection system of claim 1, further comprising a second detector in communication with the battery pack and electrically connected to the controller, wherein the second detector is configured to sense a concentration value of one or more gases.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The gas detection system of claim 10, wherein the first detector is configured to sense a concentration value of H2 gas within the battery pack and the second detector is configured to sense a concentration value of CO gas within the battery pack.

### Claim 12

A method of detecting cell failure within a battery pack, the method comprising:
sensing a first gas within a battery pack using a first detector to produce a first gas concentration value;
sensing a second gas within the battery pack using the first detector to produce a second gas concentration value;
generating an alarm level return signal using the first detector based upon the first gas concentration value and the second gas concentration value, wherein the alarm level return signal is indicative of no alarm, a first alarm, or a second alarm;
transmitting the alarm level return signal from the first detector to the controller; and
outputting no alarm, the first alarm, or the second alarm, via the controller, based upon the voltage return value from the first detector.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein a first port mounted on the exterior of the battery module provides access to an interior of the battery pack.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the first detector is mounted on the first port.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the battery pack comprises a plurality of cells with one or more spaces between the plurality of cells.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the first detector is mounted within the one or more spaces between the plurality of cells.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the first gas is H2 and the second gas is CO.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising:
outputting the first alarm if the first gas concentration value is between 100 and 150 parts per million or if the second gas concentration value is between 400 and 500 parts per million; and
outputting a second alarm if the first gas concentration value is between 200 and 300 parts per million or if the second gas concentration value is between 800 and 1000 parts per million.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, further comprising:
outputting a signal, via the controller, to turn off an outgassing cell if the first alarm or the second alarm is output by the controller.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, further comprising:
outputting a signal, via the controller, to release a cooling agent into the battery pack if the second alarm is output by the controller.