EVTOL aircraft air-cooled battery pack

Abstract

The utility model discloses an eVTOL aircraft air-cooled battery pack which comprises a floor, the floor is installed at the bottom of a front fuselage of an eVTOL aircraft, a front frame and a rear frame are installed on the floor and connected through the two ends of a longitudinal beam, a battery containing area is defined by the floor, the front frame, the rear frame and the longitudinal beam, a battery is installed in the battery containing area, and the battery is installed in the battery containing area. The front frame is provided with an air inlet pipe connector which is connected with an air inlet pipe, the rear frame is provided with an exhaust pipe connector which is connected with an exhaust pipe, the floor is connected with the skin, the skin covers the battery containing area and the battery, the skin is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet, and the air inlet and the air outlet are connected with the end of the air inlet pipe and the end of the exhaust pipe respectively. The air-cooled battery pack is high in safety: after the battery is mounted, the pressure relief opening of the battery cell of the battery faces to the lower part, and when the battery cell is subjected to thermal runaway, high-temperature gas is sprayed out through the pressure relief opening and faces to the lower part, so that the influence on members in an upper cab is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of aviation equipment, and in particular to an air-cooled battery pack for an eVTOL aircraft. Background Art

[0002] The development of eVTOL (Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing) electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft has attracted widespread attention from aerospace companies, the automotive industry, the transportation industry, the government, the military and academia. The potential future applications of eVTOL involve a variety of scenarios such as urban passenger transport, regional passenger transport, freight, personal aircraft, and emergency medical services. The American Vertical Flight Association believes that eVTOL technology is one of the most important technological changes in the aviation industry since the birth of the helicopter 75 years ago, and may be more revolutionary than the emergence of turbine engines. According to the "World Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Aircraft Directory" published online by the association, there are currently more than 260 projects engaged in eVTOL development around the world. The use of electric propulsion systems instead of internal combustion engine power has gained many advantages and unique qualities. The most prominent advantages are energy saving and environmental protection, high efficiency and low energy consumption, while achieving near-zero emissions, low noise and vibration levels, and good ride comfort. It is a truly environmentally friendly aircraft. In addition, it is also safe and reliable (no explosion and fuel leakage), simple structure, easy operation and use, good maintainability / low cost, and good economy. There are also many advantages in design: the overall layout is flexible, and both optimal layout and unconventional / innovative layout can be adopted; aircraft with extraordinary performance can be designed to meet special purpose requirements, etc.

[0003] The eVTOL aircraft relies on battery packs for power supply, and the power is relatively high. When the eVTOL aircraft takes off and lands vertically, the battery pack will generate a lot of heat to heat the battery cells, but when the battery cell temperature exceeds a certain value, it will no longer continue to supply power, which will cause the eVTOL aircraft to lose power and cause a major accident. Battery pack cooling mainly comes in two forms: liquid cooling and air cooling. Liquid cooling has a higher efficiency, but due to its heavy weight, it cannot meet the lightweight requirements of eVTOL aircraft. The efficiency of air cooling is lower than that of liquid cooling, so the heat dissipation path needs to be carefully designed to meet the heat dissipation requirements. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of the utility model is to provide an air-cooled battery pack for an eVTOL aircraft to solve the problems mentioned in the background technology. To achieve the above purpose, the utility model provides the following technical solutions: an air-cooled battery pack for an eVTOL aircraft, comprising a floor, the floor is installed at the bottom of the front fuselage of the eVTOL aircraft, a front frame and a rear frame are installed on the floor, the front frame and the rear frame are connected by two ends of a longitudinal beam, the longitudinal beam is connected to the floor, the floor, the front frame, the rear frame and the longitudinal beam surround a battery placement area, a battery is installed inside the battery placement area, an air intake pipe connection port is opened on the front frame, the air intake pipe connection port is connected to the air intake pipe, the rear frame is opened on the exhaust pipe connection port, the exhaust pipe connection port is connected to the exhaust pipe, the floor is connected to the skin, the skin covers the battery placement area and the battery inside, the skin is opened with an air intake port and an exhaust port, the air intake port and the exhaust port are respectively connected to the ends of the air intake pipe and the exhaust pipe.

[0005] Preferably, two of the air inlet pipes and two of the air inlet ports are provided, and their positions correspond to each other.

[0006] Preferably, the battery comprises a plurality of rows of battery cells, the battery cells are mounted on the floor, the battery cells are connected in series or in parallel, gaps are provided between adjacent battery cells, and air ducts are provided between two adjacent rows of battery cells along the airflow direction.

[0007] Preferably, a pressure relief port is designed on the upper portion of the battery cell.

[0008] Preferably, the air intake pipe and the exhaust pipe are both closed pipe structures, and the ends of the air intake pipe and the exhaust pipe are both provided with flanges.

[0009] Preferably, the air inlet has a NACA port shape.

[0010] Preferably, the longitudinal beams, front frame, rear frame, floor and skin are all made of fireproof materials.

[0011] The technical effects and advantages of the utility model: The air-cooled battery pack has high safety: after the battery is installed, the pressure relief port of the battery cell faces downward. When the battery cell has thermal runaway, the high-temperature gas is ejected through the pressure relief port in a downward direction, reducing the impact on the members in the upper cockpit. There is a large gap between the battery cell and the skin. When condensed water is generated, it will not adhere to the upper battery cell, but will flow to the bottom, ensuring the safety of the battery cell;

[0012] Batteries are heavy and are placed at the front of the eVTOL aircraft, which can easily adjust the center of gravity of the eVTOL aircraft to the front of the aerodynamic focus of the entire aircraft, maintaining the aerodynamic stability of the eVTOL aircraft during the fixed-wing cruise phase;

[0013] Good air cooling effect: The dedicated NACA port in the aircraft is used as the air inlet, with good air intake effect and large air volume. Air ducts and gaps are designed between the battery cells to allow air to pass through each battery cell evenly and take away the heat of the battery cell. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 It is an exploded view of the utility model;

[0015] Figure 2 This is a bottom view of the utility model after the skin is hidden;

[0016] Figure 3 It is an axonometric view of the skin of the utility model;

[0017] Figure 4 This is an axonometric diagram of a battery of the present utility model;

[0018] Figure 5 It is an axonometric diagram of the battery cell of the utility model;

[0019] Figure 6 This is an axonometric view of the utility model installed on an eVTOL aircraft.

[0020] In the figure, 1. air-cooled battery pack; 11. floor; 12. skin; 121. air inlet; 122. exhaust port; 13. air inlet pipe; 14. exhaust pipe; 15. front frame; 151. air inlet pipe connection port; 16. longitudinal beam; 17. battery cell; 171. pressure relief port; 172. gap; 173. air duct; 18. rear frame; 181. exhaust pipe connection port; 19. flange; 2. eVTOL aircraft. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] In order to make the technical means for realizing the utility model, creative features, objectives and effects easy to understand, the utility model is further explained below in conjunction with specific diagrams. In the description of the utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly stipulated and limited, the terms "installation", "connection" and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, an integral connection or a mechanical connection, or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be internal communication between two components.

[0022] Example

[0023] like Figure 6 As shown, the air-cooled battery pack 1 is installed at the bottom of the front fuselage of the eVTOL aircraft 2, and the main weight is on the front fuselage of the eVTOL aircraft 2, which helps to adjust the center of gravity of the entire eVTOL aircraft 2 and ensure that the center of gravity is in a reasonable interval position in front of the aerodynamic focus of the entire aircraft. At the same time, the air-cooled battery pack 1 is at the bottom, and when it rains outside, no rain will enter the air-cooled battery pack 1.

[0024] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the air-cooled battery pack 1 includes a floor 11, a skin 12, an air intake pipe 13, an exhaust pipe 14, a front frame 15, a longitudinal beam 16, a battery and a rear frame 18, wherein the floor 11 is installed at the bottom of the front fuselage of the eVTOL aircraft 2, the front frame 15 and the rear frame 18 are installed on the floor 11, the front frame 15 and the rear frame 18 are connected through the two ends of the longitudinal beam 16, the front frame 15 and the rear frame 18 cooperate with the two longitudinal beams 16 to enclose a battery placement area, and batteries are installed inside the area, the floor 11 is connected to the skin 12, and the skin 12 covers the battery placement area and the battery inside. Since batteries may catch fire, the parts in the space area that comes into contact with the batteries need to have fireproof properties. They can be made of carbon fiber composite materials, steel, titanium alloy and other materials. The thickness of steel shall not be less than 0.381 mm, the thickness of titanium alloy shall not be less than 0.406 mm, and the thickness of carbon fiber composite materials shall not be less than 1.2 mm. Therefore, the longitudinal beam 16, front frame 15, rear frame 18, floor 11 and skin 12 shall all have fireproof properties and meet the above requirements. The parts used in this example are made of flame-retardant carbon fiber composite materials with a thickness of 1.25 mm.

[0025] The battery includes multiple rows of cells 17, which form the energy system of the eVTOL through certain parallel and series connections, and supply power to the eVTOL aircraft 2. During the discharge process, a large amount of heat will be generated. The cell 17 is inverted inside the battery pack, and the bottom is connected to the floor 11, so that the pressure relief port 171 is aligned with the lower part. When the cell 17 thermally runs away and sprays high-temperature gas, it will not be directly sprayed onto the floor 11, thereby protecting the safety of the members on the floor 11. Two air intake pipe connection ports 151 are opened on the front frame 15, and the air intake pipe connection ports 151 are connected to the air intake pipe 13. The air intake pipe 13 draws air from the front, and flows into the surface of the cell 17 through the air intake pipe connection ports 151 on the front frame 15 to dissipate heat from the cell 17. The flow channel direction of the air intake pipe 13 is upward, so that when the air flow circulates inside the air intake pipe 13, even if there is liquid in the air flow, it will flow down due to the principle of gravity and will not enter the battery pack, thereby ensuring the safety of the battery pack. The rear frame 18 is provided with an exhaust pipe connection port 181, which is connected to the exhaust pipe 14. The exhaust pipe 14 discharges the airflow inside the battery pack through the exhaust pipe connection port 181 on the rear frame 18, and its flow direction is downward, which is convenient for the discharge of water vapor inside the battery pack. The air intake pipe 13 and the exhaust pipe 14 are both closed pipe structures. At the end position where they are connected to the skin 12 and the front frame 15 and the rear frame 18, a flange 19 is designed for easy connection. The material is plastic and the process is 3D printing.

[0026] like Figure 3As shown, the skin 12 is provided with an air inlet 121 and an exhaust port 122, which are connected to the ends of the air inlet pipe 13 and the exhaust pipe 14. Through the air inlet 121 and the exhaust port 122, air enters from the air inlet 121, passes through the air inlet pipe 13, the air inlet pipe connection port 151, the surface of the battery cell 17, the exhaust pipe connection port 181, the exhaust pipe 14, and the exhaust port 122, and is discharged to complete the process of heat dissipation of the battery cell inside the battery pack by air. The shape of the air inlet 121 is a standard NACA port shape, which improves the air bleed efficiency.

[0027] like Figure 4 As shown, the battery cells 17 inside the battery pack are connected in series and in parallel in sequence, a gap 172 is designed between adjacent battery cells 17, and an air duct 173 is designed along the air flow direction between two rows of battery cells 17, so as to ensure that the air flow can effectively dissipate heat for each battery cell 17 and meet the heat dissipation requirements of the battery cells 17.

[0028] like Figure 5 As shown, a pressure relief port 171 is designed on the upper portion of the battery cell 17. When the electrolyte inside the battery cell 17 thermally runs away, the pressure inside the battery cell 17 increases. The pressure relief port 171 is a weak link. The high-temperature and high-pressure gas inside the battery cell 17 is ejected through the pressure relief port 171. In this example, the pressure relief port 171 faces downward, which can avoid high-temperature injuries to the occupants on the floor 11 and improve safety.

[0029] Finally, it should be noted that the above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features therein. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An air-cooled battery pack for an eVTOL aircraft, comprising a floor, characterized in that: The floor is installed at the bottom of the front fuselage of the eVTOL aircraft, and a front frame and a rear frame are installed on the floor. The front frame and the rear frame are connected by two ends of a longitudinal beam, and the longitudinal beam is connected to the floor. The floor, the front frame, the rear frame and the longitudinal beam surround a battery placement area, and batteries are installed inside the battery placement area. The front frame is provided with an air intake pipe connection port, and the air intake pipe connection port is connected to the air intake pipe. The rear frame is provided with an exhaust pipe connection port, and the exhaust pipe connection port is connected to the exhaust pipe. The floor is connected to a skin, and the skin covers the battery placement area and the battery inside. The skin is provided with an air intake port and an exhaust port, and the air intake port and the exhaust port are respectively connected to the ends of the air intake pipe and the exhaust pipe.

2. The air-cooled battery pack for eVTOL aircraft according to claim 1, characterized in that: There are two air inlet pipes and two air inlet ports, and the positions of the two correspond to each other.

3. The air-cooled battery pack for eVTOL aircraft according to claim 1, characterized in that: The battery comprises a plurality of rows of cells, which are mounted on a floor, are connected in series or in parallel, have gaps between adjacent cells, and have air ducts between two adjacent rows of cells along the airflow direction.

4. The air-cooled battery pack for eVTOL aircraft according to claim 3, characterized in that: A pressure relief port is designed on the upper portion of the battery cell.

5. The air-cooled battery pack for eVTOL aircraft according to claim 2, characterized in that: The air inlet pipe and the exhaust pipe are both closed pipe structures, and the ends of the air inlet pipe and the exhaust pipe are both provided with flanges.

6. The air-cooled battery pack for eVTOL aircraft according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air inlet has a NACA port shape.

7. The air-cooled battery pack for eVTOL aircraft according to claim 1, characterized in that: The longitudinal beams, front frame, rear frame, floor and skin are all made of fireproof materials.

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