Vehicle Battery Fire Suppression via Hermetic Spread Bag
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Solution Overview
Problem
Eco-friendly vehicles, such as electric and hybrid electric vehicles, face challenges in efficiently suppressing fires at batteries, which can spread quickly due to their internal structure and materials, and conventional fire extinguishers are often inadequate, posing risks to passengers and vehicle safety.
Innovation Solution
A fire suppression apparatus featuring a sensor to detect temperature anomalies, a controller to trigger a spread bag system that unfolds to cover the battery, and a cooling water supply to enhance fire suppression, using an inflator module with a squib, igniting agent, and gas-generating agent to block oxygen supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a small-sized fire extinguisher is used to suppress battery fire, then the device is compact and easy to store, but it is impossible to effectively suppress the fire due to the internal constituent material in the battery
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the fire suppression function from manual operation and separates the detection function from the suppression function. A sensor detects temperature rise at the battery, and a controller automatically triggers the spread bag apparatus to cover the battery, eliminating the need for manual intervention and ensuring reliable suppression even when drivers cannot recognize or respond to fires in time
Solution Approach 2:
The spread bag acts as an intermediary between the detection system and the fire suppression goal. When deployed, it hermetically covers the battery to isolate oxygen, creating a controlled environment that prevents fire spread without requiring direct contact with the battery or manual application of extinguishing agents
2Ease of operation
If a driver is located inside the vehicle during traveling, then the driver can operate the vehicle, but it is difficult to recognize the outbreak of fire until a large amount of smoke is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The fire suppression system performs self-detection and self-action. The sensor mounted on or near the battery continuously monitors temperature, and when fire conditions are detected, the system automatically deploys the spread bag without requiring driver awareness or intervention. This allows the driver to remain focused on operating the vehicle while the system handles fire detection and suppression independently
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor is positioned to detect temperature rise at the battery in advance of visible smoke or flames. By detecting thermal changes before they become visually apparent, the system enables preliminary action to be taken, deploying the spread bag to cover the battery before the fire spreads or generates significant smoke that would alert the driver
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional fire extinguishers are used in vehicles, then the fire suppression method is simple and widely available, but the fire may spread throughout the vehicle before suppression is effective
Solution Approach 1:
The spread bag apparatus is pre-positioned and pre-charged, ready for immediate deployment. When the sensor detects fire conditions, the controller triggers instantaneous deployment of the spread bag to cover the battery, eliminating the time delay associated with manual retrieval and application of conventional fire extinguishers. This preliminary preparation enables suppression action within seconds of fire detection
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the suppression mechanism from manual fire extinguisher operation and replaces it with an automatic containment system. The spread bag hermetically isolates the battery fire source, preventing oxygen supply and fire spread without requiring manual application, thereby dramatically reducing the time from fire detection to effective suppression
4Quantity of substance
If a bus accommodates a large number of passengers, then the vehicle provides high capacity transport, but it is essential to quickly respond to fire for passenger safety
Solution Approach 1:
The fire suppression system operates autonomously without requiring passenger or driver intervention. The sensor detects battery temperature rise and the controller automatically deploys the spread bag, ensuring reliable fire suppression even in the chaotic environment of a crowded bus where manual response may be delayed or impossible
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection and suppression action before fire can spread to threaten passengers. By detecting thermal changes at the battery and immediately deploying the spread bag to contain the fire, the system prevents fire spread before it reaches a level that would endanger passengers in the high-capacity vehicle
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 apparatus effectively suppresses fires at vehicle batteries by hermetically covering the area with a heat-insulating spread bag and cooling water, preventing fire spread and ensuring passenger safety with a more reliable and efficient method than conventional extinguishers.
Implementation Method 1
the unfolded spread bag hermetically covers the object, thereby suppressing fire at the object
Implementation Method 2
a cooling water supply to enhance fire suppression
Implementation Method 3
hermetically covering the area with a heat-insulating spread bag and cooling water, preventing fire spread
Data Source
AI summary
A fire suppression apparatus for a vehicle includes a sensor for detecting a condition of an object mounted in the vehicle, a controller configured to determine whether the condition of the object mounted in the vehicle, which is detected by the sensor, satisfies a predetermined criterion for determining outbreak of fire and to output a control signal for suppression of the fire when the condition of the object satisfies the predetermined criterion, and a spread bag apparatus mounted in the vehicle, which is configured to unfold a collapsed spread bag toward the object in response to the control signal from the controller such that the unfolded spread bag hermetically covers the object, thereby suppressing fire at the object.