Acid Battery Vent Valve Turbulence Chamber and Filter
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vent valves for acid batteries fail to adequately prevent the escape of battery acid during severe conditions such as vibration and reduced-pressure tests, leading to potential damage and safety hazards, and often require complex and expensive structures.
Innovation Solution
A vent valve design featuring a cylindrical plug with a passage opening, a turbulence chamber, and a gas-permeable filter unit that separates solids and liquids from the gas flow, reducing the risk of acid escape and valve clogging, and incorporating a dual- or single-chamber system with a filter unit that ensures effective pressure relief.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional vent valves are used in acid batteries, then the structure is simple, but acid mist escapes during vibration and reduced-pressure tests
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous plug made of porous material positioned in the vent valve passage. This porous plug allows gas to pass through while physically blocking acid mist and liquid droplets. The porous structure provides multiple tortuous paths that trap and condense acid aerosol particles, preventing them from escaping the battery during vibration and reduced-pressure tests, thereby solving the contradiction between simple structure and reliable acid mist prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous plug acts as an intermediary element between the battery interior and the external environment. It mediates the gas flow by allowing breathable passage while simultaneously filtering out acid mist. This intermediary component protects the external environment from acid contamination without requiring complex mechanical valve mechanisms, thus maintaining structural simplicity while achieving reliable acid mist prevention.
2Reliability
If conventional vent valves are used, then manufacturing is simple, but acid entrainment occurs during gas discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The porous plug made of porous material provides an effective barrier against acid entrainment during gas discharge. The porous structure creates capillary pressure and tortuous flow paths that separate gas from liquid acid droplets and aerosol. This passive filtration mechanism prevents acid from being carried out with the vented gas, improving reliability without requiring complex manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous plug can be manufactured as a simple, inexpensive component using common porous materials. It serves as a disposable or easily replaceable element that provides reliable acid entrainment prevention without the need for complex, expensive valve mechanisms. This approach prioritizes functional effectiveness and cost-effectiveness over long-term durability of the filter element itself.
3Reliability
If complex vent valve structures are used to prevent acid escape, then acid mist prevention improves, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The porous plug provides effective acid mist prevention through its inherent porous structure, which physically blocks and condenses acid aerosol particles. This simple porous component replaces complex mechanical valve systems, achieving reliable acid mist prevention at low production cost. The porous material itself is inexpensive and the manufacturing process is straightforward, eliminating the need for precision-machined parts or complex assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous plug is designed as a simple, low-cost component that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed. It provides effective acid mist prevention without requiring expensive materials or complex construction. This approach prioritizes cost-effectiveness, using a simple porous barrier instead of elaborate mechanical systems, thereby reducing production costs while maintaining high reliability in acid mist prevention.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The proposed vent valve significantly reduces the risk of acid escape and valve clogging, enhancing safety and longevity by effectively separating liquids and solids from the gas flow, while maintaining simplicity and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a gas-permeable filter unit follows the turbulence chamber in the direction of gas flow
Implementation Method 2
at least one turbulence chamber follows the passage opening of the plug portion in the direction of the cell interior
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention concerns a vent valve for acid batteries comprising a substantially cylindrical plug portion (28) which is designed for being brought into engagement with a cell opening of the acid battery (1) and which has at least one passage opening communicating the cell interior of the acid battery with the ambient atmosphere, wherein provided in the passage opening is a valve arrangement (29) having an inlet communicating with the cell interior and an outlet connected to the ambient atmosphere. In order to provide a vent valve for an acid battery, in particular an acid battery with fixed electrolyte, which is simple and inexpensive to produce and which affords improved protection against the escape of battery acid, it is proposed in accordance with the invention that at least one turbulence chamber (30) follows the passage opening of the plug portion (28) in the direction of the cell interior and a gas-permeable filter unit (31, 31′) follows the turbulence chamber (30).