EP-4740258-A1 - METHOD AND DEVICE FOR STORING BATTERIES

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of storing batteries comprising the following steps: placing the batteries onto a storage tray (110), monitoring a surface temperature of the batteries by using a thermal imaging camera (130), detecting if the surface temperature of one of the batteries exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature, and, if the surface temperature of one of the batteries exceeds the predetermined threshold temperature, providing a cryogenic liquid flow as a coolant through a cryogenic liquid injector (120) onto at least the respective one of the batteries, the surface temperature of which exceeding said predetermined threshold temperature, and it relates to a corresponding storage device (100).

Inventors

• ZHU, HENG
• WEI, Zhongling
• SHAO, Xiangxiang
• ZHANG, TAO
• WEN, Baofeng
• GE, Linhan

Assignees

• Linde GmbH
• North Star Advanced Recycling Technology (Tsingtao) Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20230706

Claims (15)

1. A method of storing batteries comprising the following steps: placing the batteries onto a storage tray (110) , monitoring a surface temperature of the batteries by using a thermal imaging camera (130) , detecting if the surface temperature of one of the batteries exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature, and, if the surface temperature of one of the batteries exceeds the predetermined threshold temperature, providing a cryogenic liquid flow as a coolant through a cryogenic liquid injector (120) onto at least the respective one of the batteries, the surface temperature of which exceeding said predetermined threshold temperature.
2. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of detecting the location of the respective battery, the surface temperature of which exceeding said predetermined threshold temperature.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of directing the cryogenic liquid injector (120) and/or the cryogenic liquid flow onto the detected location of the respective battery and/or relocating the respective battery.
4. The method of claim 3, comprising the step of relocating the respective battery, wherein the respective battery is relocated by removing the battery from the storage tray (110) .
5. The method of anyone of the preceding claims, wherein an amount of the cryogenic liquid flow is based on a weight of the batteries on the storage tray (110) .
6. The method of anyone of the preceding claims, wherein an IR-camera is used as the thermal imaging camera.
7. The method of anyone of the preceding claims, wherein a flow of inert cryogenic liquid, particularly of liquified nitrogen, is used as the cryogenic liquid flow.
8. The method of anyone of the preceding claims, wherein spent batteries, in particular Lithium Ion Batteries, are used as the batteries.
9. The method of anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the batteries are placed onto the storage tray (110) such that only a single layer of batteries is formed.
10. A storage device (100) for storing batteries comprising a storage tray (110) for placing batteries thereon; a thermal imaging camera (130) for monitoring a surface temperature of the batteries placed onto the storage tray (110) ; a detector, the detector being configured for detecting if the surface temperature of one of the batteries exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature; a cryogenic liquid injector (120) for injecting a cryogenic liquid flow, the cryogenic liquid injector (120) being configured to provide the cryogenic liquid flow onto at least a part of the storage tray (110) ; and a controller (140) , the controller being operatively connected to the detector and to the cryogenic liquid injector (120) and being configured to control the cryogenic liquid injector (120) to provide the cryogenic liquid flow as a coolant onto at least a respective battery, the surface temperature of which exceeding said predetermined threshold temperature as detected by the detector.
11. The storage device (100) of claim 10, wherein the detector is configured for detecting the location of the respective battery, and particularly wherein the cryogenic liquid injector (120) is configured for being directed onto the detected location of the respective battery and/or the storage device (100) is configured for relocating the respective battery.
12. The storage device of any one of the claims 10 or 11, wherein the thermal imaging camera (130) is an IR-camera.
13. The storage device (100) according to any one of the claims 10-12, wherein the cryogenic liquid injector (120) is connected to a reservoir of liquified cryogenic gas, particularly liquified inert cryogenic gas, more particularly liquified nitrogen.
14. The storage device (100) according to claim 13, wherein a liquid gas separator and/or a subcooler is installed in a pipe connecting the reservoir of liquified cryogenic gas and the cryogenic liquid injector (120) .
15. The storage device (100) of any one of the claims 10-14, wherein the storage device (100) comprises a plurality of storage trays (110) , each storage tray (110) being equipped with an associated thermal imaging camera (130) for monitoring a surface temperature of the batteries placed onto the associated storage tray (110) , further with an associated detector, the detector being configured for detecting if the surface temperature of one of the batteries placed onto the associated storage tray (110) exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature, and with an associated cryogenic liquid injector (120) for injecting a cryogenic liquid flow, the cryogenic liquid injector (120) being configured to provide the cryogenic liquid flow onto at least a part of the associated storage tray (110) .

Description

Method and device for storing batteries The present invention relates to a method of storing batteries, particularly spent batteries, more particularly spent Lithium Ion Batteries (LIB) , and to a corresponding storage device. Technical Field The storage of spent batteries, particularly spent Lithium Ion Batteries (LIB) , runs the risk of having a thermal runaway due to internal short circuits. Such a thermal runaway most likely results in a development of fire. The current technology is limited to use conventional fire extinguishing agents, such as dry powder, foam, carbon dioxide, or water, to put out the fire. CN 215474806 U discloses a safe transportation and storage device for lithium batteries including a liquid nitrogen tank, an electric control valve, a transportation bin, a storage bin, and one or more temperature measurement resistance sensors, a smoke alarm sensor as well as a sound and light alarm. When the temperature resistance sensor detects a high temperature in the storage bin or the smoke alarm sensor detects a high concentration of smoke in the transport bin, the electric control valve is opened such that liquid nitrogen from the liquid nitrogen tank enters the storage bin such that the burning accident is eliminated. In this way, when a lithium battery burns, liquid nitrogen is released from the tank to cool down the storage bin and to extinguish the fire. Although the prior art provides a technology for extinguishing fire in Lithium Ion Batteries storage bins, such technologies are not able to avoid the development of fire in such storage bins. Summary of the present invention The present invention provides a method of storing batteries and a corresponding storage device according to the independent claims. Embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the respective dependent claims and of the description as follows. The method of storing batteries according the present invention comprises the steps of placing the batteries onto a storage tray, monitoring a surface temperature of the batteries by using a thermal imaging camera, detecting if the surface temperature of one of the batteries exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature, and, if the surface temperature of one of the batteries exceeds the predetermined threshold temperature, providing a cryogenic liquid flow as a coolant through a cryogenic liquid injector onto at least the respective one of the batteries, the surface temperature of which exceeds said predetermined threshold temperature. It is noted that the step of monitoring a surface temperature of the batteries does not necessarily include the step of determining an actual surface temperature as it is sufficient to determine values being in relation to the surface temperature of the batteries, such values being delivered by e.g. an image of a thermal imaging camera. Same applies to the step of detecting if a predetermined threshold temperature is exceeded, which predetermined threshold temperature does not necessarily need to be an actual temperature but rather a value corresponding to such a temperature. The temperature distribution in an image taken by a thermal imaging camera allows a person skilled in the art to set such a threshold temperature (corresponding to a pixel value in the image) . If this predetermined threshold value/temperature is exceeded, an internal short circuit in a battery or another incident is likely to have happened resulting in a possible thermal runaway or fire. In that case, a cryogenic liquid flow is directed onto at least the respective battery. Thus, the invention allows to detect a thermal runaway in an early stage and to mitigate or to prevent such a thermal runaway or even fire with a cryogenic liquid flow. Thus, the occurrence of fire is effectively prevented. It is noted that the term “acryogenic liquid flow” comprises the output of a cryogenic liquid through the injector. Thus, in an embodiment, a flow of cryogenic liquid, particularly of an inert cryogenic liquid, more particularly of liquified nitrogen (LIN) can be used as the cryogenic liquid flow. The boiling temperature of liquified nitrogen is about -320°F (= -196℃) such that the injected cryogenic liquid flow can be used as an effective inert coolant. Same is true for other cryogenic liquids like liquid argon, helium,  carbon dioxide or even hydrogen or oxygen. Since hydrogen and oxygen are not inert, a possible inflammability has to be taken into account. An advantage of using a cryogenic liquid like LIN as a coolant is that LIN could take away the heat produced due to the internal short circuit much faster than conventional fire extinguishing agents, e.g. water. This helps prevent heat cumulation inside a battery, so as to prevent developing into the thermal runaway. Meanwhile, a cryogenic liquid like LIN can freeze electrolyte inside a battery to stop the reaction between electrolyte and anode active material which could be triggered by the decomposition