Battery Maintenance Trolley with Immersion Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The maintenance of electric vehicle propulsion battery packs poses safety risks due to the potential for thermal runaway, which can lead to fires or explosions, especially during disassembly when monitoring systems are disconnected from the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A support bench or trolley with a work surface that can lower into a container filled with coolant or extinguishing liquid, either manually or automatically, to safely manage and extinguish heat in case of a thermal runaway, featuring a human-machine interface and detection system for activating immersion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the battery is disconnected from the vehicle for maintenance, then maintenance operations can be performed, but the control and monitoring systems cannot signal thermal runaway triggering, creating safety risks for workers
Solution Approach 1:
A detection system acts as an intermediary between the battery and the operator. This system includes temperature sensors and other detection devices that continuously monitor the battery pack and cell, providing safety monitoring capability independent of the vehicle's original control systems. The detection system mediates the gap created by disconnecting the battery from the vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
The work surface includes a release mechanism that can automatically or manually lower the battery into the container volume when dangerous conditions are detected. This self-service capability allows the system to respond to thermal runaway events without requiring external intervention, enhancing safety while maintaining ease of operation.
2Reliability
If the work surface releases the battery into the container volume upon detection of dangerous conditions, then safety is enhanced, but the device complexity increases due to additional detection and release mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system, work surface, and release mechanism are merged into an integrated safety system. The detection devices are positioned to monitor the battery, and the work surface incorporates both manual and automatic release capabilities. This merging reduces overall system complexity by combining multiple functions into a unified structure rather than separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The work surface serves multiple functions: it supports the battery during maintenance operations, detects dangerous conditions through integrated sensors, and can release the battery into the container volume. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining enhanced safety.
3Reliability
If the container volume contains coolant/extinguishing liquid before battery placement, then fire suppression capability is immediate, but the device complexity and preparation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The container volume is pre-configured with coolant or extinguishing liquid before the battery is placed on the work surface. This preliminary action ensures that fire suppression capability is immediately available when thermal runaway occurs, without requiring additional preparation time or complex liquid management systems during the maintenance operation.
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 safety during maintenance operations by automatically or manually submerging the battery into a coolant or extinguishing liquid to prevent fires and explosions, protecting both maintenance workers and the environment.
Implementation Method 1
the container volume is capable of containing a coolant/extinguishing liquid... to safely manage and extinguish heat in case of a thermal runaway
Implementation Method 2
the container volume is capable of containing a coolant/extinguishing liquid... to safely manage and extinguish heat
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4a
Figure 4b~5
AI summary
Support bench or trolley (T) for the maintenance of a vehicle propulsion battery (B) comprising a work surface (P), a container volume (V) closed at the bottom arranged operationally underneath the work surface and capable of containing a refrigerant and/or extinguishing liquid (L) and locking means (UL) arranged to unlock the work surface; the work surface being capable of releasing or accompanying the battery inside the container volume (V).