Aircraft Lithium Battery Transport Container with Electrolyte Neutralization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current regulations lack fire protection measures for transporting lithium batteries by aircraft, leading to prohibitions on lithium metal and ion batteries on passenger aircraft due to safety concerns, necessitating a solution to safely manage thermal runaway and electrolyte release during transport.

Innovation Solution

A transport device comprising a container with a hermetically closing lid, shutoff valves to neutralize or remove released electrolytes, and separators to prevent fire spread, using fire-resistant materials and a pressure sensor for enhanced safety, which includes a catalyst to decompose flammable electrolytes and a unidirectional valve to vent gases and liquids outside the aircraft.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If lithium batteries are transported by aircraft without fire protection measures, then transport speed and flexibility are improved, but safety deteriorates due to risk of thermal runaway and fire

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport speedVSAvoidsafety

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The transport device is pre-equipped with fire protection components including a fire extinguishing agent reservoir, nozzle system, and heating element positioned around the battery container. These safety measures are installed in advance before transport, allowing immediate fire suppression response without compromising transport speed while ensuring safety through pre-positioned protection systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A fire extinguishing agent is introduced as an intermediary substance between the potential fire source (lithium battery) and the surrounding environment. The agent reservoir and nozzle system deliver this intermediary material to suppress thermal runaway and fire, resolving the contradiction by providing safety mediation without affecting the primary transport function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If fire protection measures are added to the transport device, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fire protection system is merged with the transport device structure by integrating the reservoir, nozzle, and heating element into a unified assembly that surrounds the battery container. This merging approach provides comprehensive safety protection while avoiding the complexity of separate, independent safety systems by combining multiple functions into a single integrated unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stress or pressure

If electrolyte is released during thermal runaway, then pressure buildup is prevented, but fire and explosion risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure managementVSAvoidfire and explosion risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system converts the harmful released electrolyte into a beneficial fire suppression resource. The heating element vaporizes the electrolyte to create a suppressive atmosphere that prevents fire and explosion, while the nozzle system directs this vaporized electrolyte to the fire source. This transforms the harmful pressure-building electrolyte release into a beneficial fire protection mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The heating element changes the temperature parameter of the released electrolyte, vaporizing it to transform from liquid to gas phase. This parameter change converts the electrolyte from a fire hazard in liquid form to a fire suppressant in vaporized form, allowing pressure management while eliminating fire and explosion risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 neutralizes and removes potentially flammable and explosive electrolytes, preventing fires and explosions, ensuring safer transportation of lithium batteries by neutralizing electrolytes and managing pressure, thus allowing for the continued transport of lithium batteries on both passenger and freight aircraft.

Implementation Method 1

a catalyst to decompose flammable electrolytes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Implementation Method 2

a pressure sensor for enhanced safety

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure sensing:

Implementation Method 3

a unidirectional valve to vent gases and liquids outside the aircraft

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure-driven flow: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS10122000B2Transport device for lithium batteries in an aircraft

Publication Date: 2018.11.06 AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH

AI summary

A transport device for lithium batteries in an aircraft, in particular in a hold, includes a container and a lid, lithium batteries being arranged in the container and the lid closing the container during transport of the lithium batteries. A shutoff valve neutralizes electrolyte released by the lithium batteries within the container or conveys the electrolyte to the outside.