减少锂离子电池储能系统(BESS)的危害

Jens Conzen + Michael Townsend

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2023年12月8日

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) use an arrangement of batteries and other electrical equipment to store electrical energy. 越来越多地用于住宅, 商业, 工业, and utility applications for peak shaving or grid support these installations vary from large-scale outdoor and indoor sites (e.g.(仓库式建筑)到模块化系统. 集装箱系统, 模块化设计的一种形式, 已经成为有效集成BESS项目的流行方法.

由于快速的响应时间, 锂离子电池储能系统可用于稳定电网, 调制栅极频率, 并提供应急电力或工业规模的调峰服务, 降低终端用户的用电成本. 然而, high-powered and rapid charge cycles can put stress on the batteries resulting in degradation over time, 哪些不利于安全.

在过去的四年里, more than thirty large-scale BESS around the world experienced failures that resulted in fires and, 在某些情况下, 爆炸. 考虑到这些问题, professionals and authorities need to develop and implement strategies to prevent and mitigate BESS fire and explosion hazards. The guidelines provided in NFPA 855 (Standard for the Installation of Energy Storage Systems) and Chapter 1207 (Electrical Energy Storage Systems) of the International Fire Code are the first steps.

热失控

预防和缓解措施应针对热失控, 哪种是目前为止最严重的BESS故障模式. 如果不能阻止热失控,最严重的后果是火灾和爆炸.

Thermal runaway of lithium-ion battery cells is essentially the primary cause of lithium-ion BESS fires or 爆炸. 在各种情况下引起短路, batteries can undergo thermal runaway where the stored chemical energy is converted to thermal energy. 如果过程不能充分冷却, 温度升高会加剧反应, 哪些会导致电池破裂并释放可燃和有毒气体. 热失控最常见的启动事件包括:

  • 电池制造缺陷
  • 收费过高(e.g.,逆变器故障)
  • 过热(e.g.冷却能力差或冷却系统故障)
  • 机械虐待(e).g.(地震事件或撞击)

电池管理系统作为热失控的屏障

在电池储能系统中, 其中最重要的障碍是电池管理系统(BMS)。, which provides primary thermal runaway protection by assuring that the battery system operates within a safe range of parameters (e.g.,电荷状态,温度). 在UL 9540中列出了BESS, BMS监视器, controls and optimizes the performance of battery modules and disconnects them from the system in the event of abnormal conditions. BMS还提供电池的充放电管理.

在欠压或过压情况下, 过热现象, 或者过流状态, BMS报警,然后限制充放电电流或功率. 在紧急情况下, BMS将停止运行并断开每个电池外壳的电连接. 这是假设BMS没有损坏并且可以运行. 然而,如果电池内部发生破裂,BMS将无法阻止热失控.

爆炸控制

A thermal runaway with fire or explosion as the consequence is the most severe hazard to prevent or mitigate. 虽然有一些关于火控和压制的指导, 许多BESS制造商, 集成商和最终用户都在努力解决爆炸控制要求. 爆炸控制可以通过提供以下其中一种来实现:

  • 设计了防爆系统, 安装, 操作, 通过NFPA 69(防爆系统标准)维护和测试
  • Deflagration venting 安装 and maintained following NFPA 68 (Standard on Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting)

如果按照NFPA 69标准实施防爆系统, the combustible concentration shall be maintained at or below 25 percent of LFL for all foreseeable variations in operating conditions and material loadings. 达到这些要求的一个选择是通风或空气稀释. 这可以通过安装强制通风系统来实现, which can be automatically actuated by a gas-detection system when gas concentration levels exceed a pre-determined set point.

此外, deflagration venting creates a pathway for rapidly expanding gases to exit the enclosure in the event of a deflagration. It can be challenging to protect BESS enclosures with little free air volume and a high degree of internal obstruction. 基于性能的工程方法, 例如计算流体动力学(CFD), 在这种情况下可能需要.

减轻BESS危害的最佳实践

越来越多地要求符合NFPA 855来允许BESS, and the International Fire Code (IFC) has influenced local fire code requirements concerning these systems. 因此,NFPA 855和国际金融公司被用来指导最佳实践以及彩宝网经验.e.(从失败事件中吸取的教训).

以下是容量大于600kwh的BESS的最佳实践. These are for the BESS product level and do not have general applicability to various installation sites. 取决于BESS的安装位置, 可能需要考虑其他当地要求和偏好. 此外, 所有功能应符合适用的当地规范和标准, 包括所列设备的使用.

  • 减灾分析(HMA). HMA有助于识别和减轻BESS技术产生的危害. 至少,HMA应该解决NFPA 855和IFC中确定的失效模式. HMA可用于分析所安装安全措施的有效性.
  • 烟雾和火灾探测. 烟雾和火灾探测 equipment is required to be 安装 in large BESS enclosures that are not remote or indoor applications. The IFC requires smoke detection and automatic sprinkler systems for “rooms” containing stationary battery energy storage systems.
  • 火控与灭火. 火控与灭火 is prescriptively required by NFPA 855 but may be omitted if approved by both the authority and the owner if the project site is remote and outdoors. The IFC requires automatic sprinkler systems for “rooms” containing stationary battery energy storage systems. In case of thermal runaway with the resulting fire, water is the preferred agent for suppression. While incapable of stopping thermal runaway in the cells where that process has already started, fire sprinklers are capable of controlling fire spread and reducing the hazard of a lithium-ion battery fire.
  • 爆炸控制. NFPA 855 requires explosion control measures in the form of deflagration venting (NFPA 68) or explosion prevention (NFPA 69), 包括柜式BESS机箱.
  • 气体探测. 气体检测可以作为NFPA 69爆炸控制解决方案的一部分.
  • 热失控保护. 热失控保护 is required and can generally be achieved by using a battery management system that is UL 1973 certified.
  • 尺寸和分离要求. Separation distances between each BESS container and adjacent structures should be maintained to reduce fire spread. There are prescriptive distances that can be shortened under the consideration of full-scale fire test data, 基于性能的方法或使用工程防火屏障.
  • 水的供应. 因为水是抑制锂离子电池火灾的首选药剂, 建议使用永久水源.

解决锂离子电池存储的消防安全挑战

BESS is an important element in reducing carbon emissions and enabling renewable power generation technologies. 在BESS安装的开发和部署不断增加的时代, 确保安全是很重要的. Jensen Hughes can help you address the unique fire safety challenges associated with lithium-ion battery storage and handling and ensure that building and fire code requirements are met.

延斯·康森的大头照

作者简介

Jens Conzen
Jens supports research related to lithium-ion battery safety as well as fire and explosion safety for energy storage systems (ESS) and is extensively involved with the development of chemical reactor safety systems.