Battery Housing Openings for EV Fire Suppressant Recirculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicle battery fires pose challenges due to their location beneath the vehicle body, making access difficult for firefighters, require large amounts of water for extinguishing, and can reignite, with potential environmental hazards from extinguishing agents.
Innovation Solution
A housing system for electrical energy stores with strategically positioned openings for a fire extinguishing medium, including conduits and recirculation arrangements, that allows controlled access and efficient delivery of the medium, using temperature sensors and control circuitry to activate the system when pre-defined conditions are met.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the battery is heavily encased and located beneath the vehicle body for protection, then safety and structural integrity are improved, but access for firefighters and rescue personnel becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented with strategically positioned openings (first opening for medium entry, second opening for medium exit) that provide access points without compromising the overall structural integrity of the encased battery system
Solution Approach 2:
A fire extinguishing medium acts as an intermediary substance that can be delivered through the openings to reach the battery interior, enabling firefighting access without direct physical entry into the encased space
2Reliability
If large quantities of water are used to extinguish battery fires, then fire suppression effectiveness is improved, but resource consumption and environmental impact worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of the extinguishing medium from conventional water to a specialized fire extinguishing medium that is more effective per unit volume, reducing the total quantity needed while maintaining suppression effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The recirculation arrangement recovers and reuses the fire extinguishing medium after it exits the housing, reducing waste and the need for continuous supply of fresh extinguishing agent
3Strength
If the housing is heavily encased for battery protection, then safety is improved, but the fluid flow path for extinguishing medium becomes restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The encased housing is divided into sections with strategically positioned openings that allow fluid flow paths to penetrate deep into the battery structure, ensuring adequate delivery of extinguishing medium while maintaining overall enclosure integrity
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple openings are positioned at different locations and orientations on the housing, creating three-dimensional fluid flow paths that can reach the battery from various directions, overcoming the limitations of the encased structure
4Ease of operation
If openings are provided for extinguishing medium access, then fire suppression capability is improved, but vulnerability to unauthorized access or contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closing means provide dynamic control over the openings, allowing them to be closed during normal operation to prevent unauthorized access and opened when fire suppression is required, adapting the housing's protective function to operational needs
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the housing have different properties: the majority of the housing maintains heavy encasement for protection, while specific localized openings with closing means provide controlled access functionality when needed
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
Enables effective and resource-conserving fire suppression for electric vehicle batteries by ensuring efficient delivery and collection of the extinguishing medium, reducing environmental impact and improving access for emergency responders.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature sensor arranged detect the temperature of the electrical energy store
Implementation Method 2
the first opening is arranged to provide a fluid flow path for the fire extinguishing medium to pass over an electrical energy store positioned inside the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A housing for an electrical energy store is an enclosure used to contain and protect an electrical energy store, such as a vehicle battery. The housing may provide the necessary protection and support for the electrical energy store and may be shaped appropriately to accommodate the electrical energy store and openings for fire extinguishing medium to flow through. The housing may also include mounting arrangements so it may be mounted within or onto a vehicle. The housing may have a first opening for providing a fire extinguishing medium to the housing and a second opening to allow the fire extinguishing medium to be collected from the housing. At least one of the first opening and the second opening may comprise a closure arranged to prevent access to the fluid flow path of at least one of the first and second openings until at least one pre-defined condition is met.