Vehicle Battery Fire Suppression Tank for Thermal Runaway Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fires in battery devices of vehicles are difficult to extinguish due to the challenge of delivering fire extinguishing agents directly to the affected area and the delay in external fire extinguishing devices reaching the location.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle equipped with a fire extinguishing agent tank and a system of flow paths, valves, and sensors that allow for the direct delivery of extinguishing agents to the battery device based on temperature or pressure triggers, supplemented by external sources for increased agent supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a fire extinguishing device is positioned outside the vehicle, then it can accommodate a sufficient amount of fire extinguishing agent, but it takes time to reach the battery device location and deliver the agent
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the fire extinguishing agent storage into two segments: a first fire extinguishing agent tank positioned outside the vehicle for bulk storage, and a second fire extinguishing agent tank positioned inside the vehicle near the battery device for immediate response. This segmentation allows the external tank to provide sufficient agent quantity while the internal tank enables rapid deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal fire extinguishing agent tank acts as an intermediary between the external tank and the battery device. It receives fire extinguishing agent from the external tank through a transfer mechanism and can immediately dispense it to the battery device when thermal runaway is detected, bridging the time gap between external detection and local response.
2Reliability
If the vehicle structure is designed to accommodate both battery device and fire extinguishing systems, then fire extinguishing capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fire extinguishing agent tank is designed with multi-functionality: it can store fire extinguishing agent, receive additional agent from external sources, and serve as a transfer mechanism. The flow paths and valves are configured to handle both normal operation and emergency fire suppression scenarios, reducing the need for separate dedicated components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the fire extinguishing agent storage and delivery functions into an integrated structure where the internal and external tanks work as a unified system. The flow paths connect both tanks to the battery device, allowing either or both to supply agent depending on the situation, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Productivity
If fire extinguishing agent is delivered directly to the battery device, then fire extinguishing efficiency is improved, but the system requires complex flow path control and valve mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having multiple complex valves controlling agent flow from multiple sources to multiple destinations, the system inverts the approach: the fire extinguishing agent tank is positioned to naturally gravity-feed or pressure-feed agent through simple flow paths to the battery device. The valve control is simplified to primarily regulate the external-to-internal transfer rather than managing complex multi-point distribution.
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
Enhances fire extinguishing efficiency by enabling early intervention and reduced heat transfer, preventing thermal runaway in battery devices.
Implementation Method 1
preventing thermal runaway in battery devices
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes a battery device, a fire extinguishing agent tank accommodating a fire extinguishing agent, a first flow path connected to the battery device and the fire extinguishing agent tank, a valve configured to regulate opening of the first flow path, a second flow path connected to the fire extinguishing agent tank, and an external inlet connected to the second flow path and configured to receive the fire extinguishing agent from an external device.