Battery Pack Extinguisher Cover Layout for Cell Fire Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for extinguishing battery fires in electric vehicles are inefficient and time-consuming, often requiring large amounts of water and external application, which can delay fire suppression and allow flames to spread to surrounding battery cells.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack fire extinguisher with a built-in fire extinguishing agent, positioned above each battery cell, connected through slot holes in a cover member to facilitate rapid flame and smoke interaction, ensuring the extinguishing agent is ignited by the flame to generate aerosol spray material that extinguishes the fire.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If water is sprayed from the outside of the electric vehicle to extinguish battery fire, then the fire can be suppressed, but fire extinguishing efficiency is very low and requires a large amount of water
Solution Approach 1:
The fire extinguishing agent is extracted from external water sources and integrated directly into the battery pack structure. The agent is positioned within the battery enclosure to directly contact and suppress fires at their source, eliminating the need for external water application and dramatically reducing the quantity of extinguishing material required while improving efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
A specialized fire extinguishing agent serves as an intermediary substance between the heat source and the surrounding environment. This agent is designed to chemically interact with the fire at the battery cell level, providing more effective suppression than water while requiring minimal quantities due to its targeted application within the battery pack.
2Loss of time
If external water is used for fire extinguishing, then fire can be suppressed, but early fire extinguishing response is difficult before fire trucks arrive
Solution Approach 1:
The fire extinguishing agent is pre-positioned within the battery pack enclosure during manufacturing, ready for immediate deployment. This preliminary placement ensures that when a fire occurs, the agent is already in the optimal position to suppress the fire at its source, enabling instant response without waiting for external fire suppression systems or fire truck arrival.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery pack becomes self-capable of fire suppression through the integrated agent. Upon detecting thermal runaway or fire conditions, the system automatically activates the extinguishing mechanism, allowing the battery pack to suppress its own fire without external intervention. This self-service capability eliminates response time delays associated with external fire suppression systems.
3Productivity
If a built-in fire extinguishing agent is installed in the battery pack, then fire extinguishing efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fire extinguishing agent and its housing are merged with the battery pack enclosure structure. The agent housing is integrated into the top case or bottom case, eliminating the need for separate external fire suppression components. This merging approach improves fire extinguishing efficiency while minimizing the increase in device complexity by utilizing existing structural elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery pack enclosure serves multiple functions: it protects the battery cells, provides structural support, and houses the fire extinguishing agent. By making the enclosure multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated fire suppression structures, thereby improving fire safety without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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 system effectively prevents the spread of fire from one battery cell to others by quickly igniting and extinguishing the flame with a built-in agent, enhancing fire suppression efficiency and reducing the need for external water.
Implementation Method 1
the fire extinguishing agent is ignited by the flame to generate aerosol spray material that extinguishes the fire
Data Source
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AI summary
A battery pack fire extinguisher includes: a plurality of battery cells; a bottom case accommodating the battery cells; a top case covering the battery cells and coupled to the bottom case; a fire extinguishing agent in a receiving portion at an inner surface of the top case; and a cover member fastened to the receiving portion to support the fire extinguishing agent. The cover member has a plurality of slot holes fluidly connecting the fire extinguishing agent and the battery cells.