Aircraft Battery Compartment Air System for Off-Gassing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft electrical systems face challenges in efficiently managing the environment around electrical power storage, such as batteries, to prevent off-gassing and ensure optimal performance.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates an air system that directs pressurized air into internal compartments housing electrical power storage, using a flow regulator to couple multiple air sources to the compartment, thereby conditioning the environment and flushing out off-gassing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electrical power storage is housed within an internal compartment on an aircraft, then the battery can be integrated into the aircraft structure, but off-gassing from the battery may contaminate or damage other aircraft systems
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful byproduct (off-gas) is extracted from the battery compartment using a ventilation system that actively removes gases generated during battery operation, preventing contamination of other aircraft systems while maintaining the integrated design
Solution Approach 2:
A flow regulator acts as an intermediary device between the battery compartment and the rest of the aircraft, controlling and regulating the flow of air to capture and remove off-gassing before it can affect other systems
2Reliability
If multiple air sources are used to condition the battery environment, then the ability to flush off-gassing and control temperature is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple air sources serve multiple functions: cooling the battery, flushing off-gassing, and pressurizing the compartment. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated systems for each function, thereby managing complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The flow regulator dynamically adjusts the flow rates from different air sources based on operational conditions, allowing the system to adapt to varying battery thermal and gas generation requirements without requiring fixed, over-engineered infrastructure
3Reliability
If pressurized air is directed into the battery compartment, then off-gassing is effectively removed and battery performance is optimized, but additional energy and resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes aircraft engine bleed air, which is already pressurized and available as a byproduct of normal aircraft operation. This self-service approach uses existing resources rather than requiring dedicated energy input specifically for battery compartment pressurization
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers and utilizes bleed air that would otherwise be discarded or underutilized, converting it into a useful resource for battery compartment environmental control, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining battery safety and performance
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
This solution effectively conditions the environment around electrical power storage, reduces off-gassing, and optimizes system performance by utilizing pressurized air from various sources, potentially improving aircraft engine efficiency and reducing bleed air demand.
Implementation Method 1
The air system is configured to direct pressurized air into the internal compartment to flush off-gassing from the battery out of the internal compartment
Implementation Method 2
The flow regulator is configured to fluidly couple each of the air sources to the internal compartment
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2A
AI summary
A system (20) is provided for an aircraft. This aircraft system (20) includes an aircraft structure (24), an electrical power storage (28) and an air system (26). The aircraft structure (24) includes an internal compartment (36). The electrical power storage (28) is housed within the internal compartment (36). The air system (26) is configured to direct pressurized air into the internal compartment (36). The air system (26) includes a plurality of air sources (52A, 52B, 52C) and a flow regulator (104). The flow regulator (104) is configured to fluidly couple each of the air sources (52A, 52B, 52C) to the internal compartment (36).