Thermal runaway detection system for batteries within enclosures
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.
1. A battery thermal runaway detection system for use within a battery enclosure housing one or more batteries, the detection system comprising:
at least one gas sensor comprising a hydrogen sensor configured to detect greater than 300 ppm hydrogen, or a carbon dioxide sensor configured to detect greater than 1,000 ppm carbon dioxide, and configured to provide a sensed output in real time;
a microcontroller electrically connected to the at least one gas sensor and configured to determine power management and provide a signal conditioned output of a concentration of the hydrogen or the carbon dioxide based on the sensed output from the at least one gas sensor; and
a battery controller connected to the microcontroller.
2. The detection system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one sensor detects a level of hydrogen gas or carbon dioxide gas in the battery enclosure housing.
3. The detection system of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor housing enclosing said at least one gas sensor.
4. The detection system of claim 1 , further comprising software embedded within the microcontroller configured to determine if a threshold for thermal runaway has been exceeded and to send an alarm to the battery controller or a charging system controller.
5. The detection system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one gas sensor comprises a hydrogen sensor configured to detect 300 ppb to 140,000 ppm hydrogen and a carbon dioxide sensor configured to detect 1,000 ppm to 60,000 ppm carbon dioxide.
6. The detection system of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen sensor is configured to detect 300 ppb to 140,000 ppm hydrogen.
7. The detection system of claim 1 , wherein the carbon dioxide sensor is configured to detect 1,000 ppm to 60,000 ppm carbon dioxide.
8. The detection system of claim 1 , wherein the battery controller is connected to the microcontroller by a wired connection.
9. The detection system of claim 1 , wherein the battery controller is connected to the microcontroller by a wireless connection.