A technology has been developed to automatically spray a fire extinguishing agent and suppress a fire on its own when a fire occurs in the battery cell of an electric vehicle.
Hyundai Mobis announced on the 14th that it has applied for three domestic and international patents related to this technology.
Hyundai Mobis's electric vehicle thermal runaway prevention technology automatically sprays extinguishing agents to immediately extinguish a fire in the event of a battery cell ignition. It can preemptively block thermal runaway by preventing heat from transferring to adjacent cells, and it is known to be an advanced technology that has not yet been commercialized globally.
Hyundai Mobis designed the battery system to not only delay thermal runaway using heat-resistant materials but also to fundamentally block it. Major countries, including Europe, China, and India, mandate delaying thermal runaway for at least five minutes after the initial ignition of the battery cell, and some countries are also promoting measures to strengthen regulations to prevent heat transfer altogether.
As a result, Hyundai Mobis's battery system (BSA), which has a cell-level extinguishing function, is likely to be evaluated as next-generation safety technology in the global market.
The BSA developed by Hyundai Mobis consists of hardware, including a battery management system (BMS), extinguishing devices, and a battery case, as well as software logic that controls them.
The BMS analyzes temperature, voltage, and pressure within the battery system based on real-time data collected by sensors to determine abnormal signs. It sets the location for spraying the extinguishing agent during ignition and commands the extinguishing device to activate.
The software is designed to facilitate quick and accurate judgments and responses to physical changes that may occur in the battery system. Hyundai Mobis's highly reliable judgment logic features a multi-safety mechanism and a dual-layer algorithm structure.
The battery system is equipped with extinguishing agents that amount to five times the capacity of a typical household fire extinguisher, which is 3.3 kg. This agent is composed of materials that excel in cooling, insulation, and permeability and are harmless to the environment and human health.
While developing this technology, Hyundai Mobis also applied for a total of three domestic and international patents for battery cases and extinguishing devices, among other things, including design technology capable of spraying with strong pressure for the extinguishing agent.
Park Yong-jun, head of the battery system research division at Hyundai Mobis, noted, “As large electric vehicles that enhance driving range are emerging, the safety standards for battery systems are becoming more stringent. We will develop an advanced battery system that surpasses global standards and integrates hardware and software to showcase it in the global market.”
Hyundai Mobis also developed new materials to prevent battery overheating last year and is focusing on commercializing them. This material, known as a vibration-type heat pipe, is composed of aluminum alloy and refrigerant, and is placed between battery cells to lower the temperature in the battery system during rapid charging. It is expected to be applied as a stable thermal management system, even during fast charging.
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