With the promotion and application of clean energy, energy storage power stations, as an important means of energy storage and peak regulation, have gradually become a key component of the energy system. However, the ensuing safety hazards are also becoming increasingly prominent, especially the fire safety of energy storage power stations has attracted much attention. In the fire safety equipment of energy storage power station, the design of fire sprinkler is very important, which is directly related to the emergency response and fire extinguishing effect in the event of a fire. This paper will start from the characteristics of energy storage power stations, fire risk factors, types and principles of fire sprinklers, design considerations, etc., and the scientific design and reasonable layout of fire sprinklers in energy storage power stations to improve the fire safety prevention level of energy storage power stations.
1. Characteristics and fire risk factors of energy storage power stations.
1.1 Characteristics of energy storage power stations.
An energy storage power station is a system that can store electricity during off-peak hours and release it during peak hours, and its working principle usually includes battery energy storage, energy conversion, and grid connection. Energy storage power stations are usually divided into different types such as electrochemical energy storage, mechanical energy storage and thermal energy storage, among which electrochemical energy storage (such as lithium battery energy storage system) is the most widely used.
1.2 Fire hazard factors.
The fire hazard of energy storage power station mainly stems from the battery components, especially the abnormal conditions such as overcharge, overdischarge, and short circuit that may occur during the operation of the battery components. These abnormalities can cause the battery to heat up,** which can lead to a fire. In addition, energy storage power stations also face fire threats caused by external factors, such as lightning strikes, hot weather, and operational errors.
Second, the types and principles of fire sprinklers.
2.1 Types of fire sprinklers.
According to its working principle and different fire extinguishing mediums, fire sprinklers can be divided into various types such as water mist sprinklers, dry powder sprinklers, and gas fire extinguishing sprinklers. In the fire protection system of energy storage power station, water mist sprinklers and gas fire extinguishing sprinklers are commonly used.
Water mist nozzle: By spraying water to form a water mist, it uses the cooling effect of water mist and the suffocation effect of water vapor to extinguish the fire.
Gas extinguishing sprinklers: Fire extinguishing sprinklers use extinguishing gases, such as CO2, nitrogen, etc., to extinguish fires by rapidly releasing and controlling the oxygen concentration in the fire area.
2.2 How fire sprinklers work.
Water mist sprinkler: When a fire breaks out, the activation mechanism of the water mist sprinkler is activated, thus turning on the water source. Water mist forms mist, tiny water droplets that absorb a lot of heat, while water vapor formation can suffocate the source of fire.
Gas extinguishing sprinkler: The gas extinguishing sprinkler releases the extinguishing gas stored in the pressure cylinder through the activation signal of the extinguishing system. These extinguishing gases can quickly fill the fire area and reduce the oxygen concentration, thus achieving the effect of extinguishing the fire.
3. Design considerations for fire sprinklers for energy storage power stations.
3.1 Layout and density.
The layout of the energy storage power station determines the sprinkler layout of the fire protection system. According to the structure of the energy storage power station, the distribution of equipment, the location of battery components and other factors, the position and density of fire sprinklers should be reasonably set. In particular, it is important to ensure coverage of critical areas, such as the area where the battery pack is located and the electrical equipment room.
3.2. Selection of fire extinguishing medium.
Choosing the right extinguishing medium is key to the design of fire sprinklers. For energy storage power stations, water mist sprinklers are often an effective choice, as they can both quickly reduce the temperature of the ignition source and control the oxygen concentration in the fire area. In special cases, such as where battery components are susceptible to moisture, the use of gas fire extinguishing sprinklers may also be considered.
3.3 Precautions.
Due to the particularity of the energy storage power station, the design of the fire sprinkler also needs to consider protective measures to prevent the fire extinguishing system from being affected by the abnormal condition of the battery pack. For example, a protective cover can be placed around the battery pack to prevent fire extinguishing water from entering the battery pack in the event of a fire and causing a larger accident.
3.4. System linkage.
The fire protection system of the energy storage power station needs to be linked with other safety systems to achieve automatic and intelligent fire control. Through linkage control, the fire sprinkler can respond to the fire signal more accurately and improve the fire extinguishing effect.
4. Challenges and innovations in the design of fire sprinklers for energy storage power stations.
4.1 Temperature-sensing technology.
Considering the high-temperature operating environment of the battery pack, the fire sprinkler design needs to adopt advanced temperature sensing technology. The temperature of the battery pack is monitored in real time by a temperature sensor to detect anomalies in advance so that the fire protection system can be activated before a fire breaks out.
4.2. Intelligent control.
With the development of the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence technology, an intelligent control system can be introduced to realize the intelligent monitoring and control of fire sprinklers. Through data analysis and algorithm optimization, the response speed and fire extinguishing effect of the fire protection system are improved.
4.3. Research and development of new fire extinguishing medium.
In the design of fire sprinklers for energy storage power stations, new fire extinguishing media can also be considered to be developed to adapt to different fire scenarios. For example, fire extinguishing gases can be developed for the special fire hazards of battery packs.
The design of fire sprinklers in energy storage power stations is an important part of ensuring the safe operation of energy storage power stations. Through scientific and reasonable design, fire can be effectively prevented and controlled, and safety risks can be reduced. In the future, with the continuous innovation and development of technology, the fire safety equipment of energy storage power stations will be more intelligent and efficient, providing reliable safety guarantee for the development of clean energy.