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Some people claim that ordinary lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries are very safe and won't experience safety incidents. Others believe that the probability of safety accidents is low and that they themselves won't be the "unlucky" ones. However, accidents often occur with decision-makers who have a sense of "luck." So, can energy storage be made extremely safe?

When pursuing the ultimate safety in energy storage solutions, multiple dimensions must be considered, including battery cell safety, system architecture design, fire safety and early warning mechanisms, and the choice of technology routes. Below are some key strategies and technologies:

1. Battery Cell Safety

The core of energy storage devices lies in the battery cells, which are energy storage units. The electrolyte inside the cells is typically flammable and volatile. The electrolyte usually accounts for about 30% of the total battery composition, meaning that the more electrolyte present, the higher the risk of the battery cell.

• Choose high-quality battery cells: It's essential to ｓｅｌｅｃｔ well-known brands, considering their advanced technology and good consistency. Also, opt for inherently safe battery cells, such as semi-solid-state lithium iron phosphate batteries.
• Avoid using outdated cells: Ensure that the battery cells are within their service life, and avoid using outdated technologies or those with reduced performance.

2. System Architecture Design

• Series connection and modular design: Use a series-only design for battery cells, eliminating issues with parallel mismatches and internal circulation, thus maintaining consistent battery temperature. A modular design ensures that when a single battery cluster or PCS module fails, it won’t affect other modules, improving the overall system reliability and safety.
• Independent control and cooling: Each battery cluster should have independent control and cooling designs. The PCS (Power Conversion System) should also be modular, ensuring that each battery cluster or PCS module can operate and cool independently, reducing the risk of thermal runaway.

3. Fire Safety and Early Warning Mechanisms

• Multi-level fire safety mechanisms: Establish multi-level fire safety systems, including software protection shutdown, fire suppression gas spraying, and water-based firefighting. When an abnormal battery temperature or thermal runaway trend is detected, these systems can quickly respond to suppress risks and prevent accidents from expanding.
• Advanced detection technologies: Utilize technologies that monitor particles or rare gases (e.g., carbon monoxide, methane) in fixed spaces to detect hidden dangers early and issue warnings. This type of detection can identify internal battery issues much earlier than traditional methods like detecting electrolyte heating and evaporation, providing more time to take preventive actions.

4. Choosing Technology Routes

• Distributed inverter solutions: Battery clusters are connected in series with the energy storage inverter, and the inverters on the AC bus are connected in parallel, avoiding parallel connections on the DC side, which effectively eliminates internal circulation issues. This approach allows for independent management of each cluster, simplifying fault isolation. However, it may require higher demands on system stability and reliability.
• Centralized inverter solutions: Though widely used and cost-effective, centralized inverters tend to cause internal circulation due to inconsistent voltage. Optimization of control strategies is necessary to enhance system stability.
• Flow battery technology: New energy storage technologies like zinc-iron flow batteries offer inherent safety, long life, and easy deployment advantages. With technological advancements and large-scale production, their cost per kilowatt-hour is expected to decrease, potentially making them one of the safest and most efficient energy storage solutions.

5. Adhering to National Standards and Regulations

• Follow the latest standards: Ensure compliance with updated standards such as the national standard "Lithium-ion Batteries for Electric Power Storage" (GB/T36276-2023) and the "Safety Code for Electrochemical Energy Storage Power Stations" (GB/T42288-2022), ensuring that the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of energy storage systems meet safety regulations.

Extreme safety in energy storage solutions requires a comprehensive consideration of various factors and continuous innovation and optimization to improve the system's safety and reliability. Eastch Energy strives for ultimate safety in energy storage with semi-solid-state lithium iron phosphate battery cells, safeguarding energy storage batteries along the way.