Adjustable Bulkhead Arrangement for EV Battery Fire Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric vehicle traction batteries pose a challenge for fire extinguishing due to their sealed battery boxes, requiring large amounts of extinguishing agent and complicating access, especially in confined spaces like garages, where flames can cause significant damage.

Innovation Solution

A bulkhead arrangement with variably adjustable outflow openings and sealing elements is used to create a water-tight tub around the vehicle, allowing for efficient flooding with extinguishing agents like water, protecting the traction battery while preventing damage to other components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sealed battery box is used to protect the traction battery, then the battery is protected from external factors, but access for fire extinguishing is severely limited and large amounts of extinguishing agent are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery protectionVSAvoidfire extinguishing access

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bulkhead element is divided into multiple segments that can be independently positioned and secured. The sealing elements are also segmented to match the battery box contours, allowing the system to adapt to different battery configurations while maintaining effective sealing for fire suppression

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bulkhead arrangement is designed to be pre-positioned around the battery box before a fire incident occurs. The sealing elements are pre-configured to match the battery box geometry, enabling rapid deployment and immediate fire suppression without requiring complex on-site adjustments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If large amounts of extinguishing agent are used to flood the battery box, then the fire is effectively suppressed, but damage to other vehicle components and building structures increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire suppression effectivenessVSAvoidcollateral damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing elements are designed with varying properties to match different regions of the battery box. The bulkhead elements have localized reinforcement at critical sealing points while maintaining flexibility in other areas, enabling precise containment of the extinguishing agent exactly where needed - directly on the battery surface - without excessive flooding of surrounding areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The bulkhead elements act as an intermediary barrier between the extinguishing agent and the vehicle interior. This intermediate structure allows the extinguishing agent to be directed precisely at the battery while preventing uncontrolled flooding into the vehicle cabin and surrounding building structures, thus reducing collateral damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the bulkhead element has a fixed height, then the structure is simple and stable, but it cannot adapt to different vehicle types with batteries at different heights

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebulkhead structure stabilityVSAvoidcompatibility with different vehicle types

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The bulkhead element incorporates adjustable height mechanisms that allow the structure to dynamically adapt to different battery heights in various vehicle types. The sealing elements can be repositioned along the bulkhead surface while maintaining secure attachment, enabling the same bulkhead design to work with batteries at different elevations without compromising sealing effectiveness or structural stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The bulkhead element is designed as a universal component that can serve multiple vehicle types through its adjustable features. The same bulkhead structure can be configured for different battery heights and configurations, making it a multi-functional solution that maintains stability across various applications while adapting to different vehicle architectures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution effectively directs extinguishing agents to the traction battery, efficiently putting out fires while minimizing damage to other vehicle components, and can be easily set up and adjusted for different vehicle types and locations.

Implementation Method 1

sealing elements at side boundary surfaces and one boundary surface toward the floor... for sealing off the space

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 2

the bulkhead element has an outflow opening which is adapted to limiting the extinguishing agent height in the space to a predetermined height

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid level control:

Data Source

PatentUS20230181949A1Bulkhead arrangement for flooding a space

Publication Date: 2023.06.15 AUDI AG

AI summary

A bulkhead arrangement for flooding a space comprises at least one bulkhead element, which has sealing elements at side boundary surfaces and one boundary surface toward the floor and which can be connected at side connection sites to an infrastructure and/or another bulkhead element for sealing off the space and then flooding the space with an extinguishing agent, wherein the bulkhead element comprises a variably adjustable outflow opening in the direction of the height of the bulkhead element.