Cabin Venting System for Electrified Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrified vehicles, battery vent byproducts can migrate into the passenger cabin during faults or charging, requiring effective purging to ensure occupant safety, but existing systems lack autonomous and efficient methods for venting these byproducts without operator intervention, especially during key-off states.
Innovation Solution
A cabin venting system that detects battery faults, activates the HVAC system to fresh air mode, and expels battery vent byproducts through air extractor vents using a communication network between control modules, ensuring continuous operation during key-on or key-off states without direct operator participation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the HVAC system is activated to purge battery vent byproducts from the passenger cabin, then the safety and air quality in the cabin is improved, but the energy consumption and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects battery faults and activates the HVAC system in advance to purge the cabin of potential harmful byproducts before they accumulate to dangerous levels. The control module monitors battery conditions and preemptively initiates fresh air mode to maintain cabin safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The HVAC system is commanded to operate autonomously in fresh air mode without requiring manual operator intervention. The control module automatically manages the venting process by controlling fresh air intake and air circulation based on detected battery fault conditions.
2Reliability
If the HVAC system operates autonomously during key-off states to expel battery vent byproducts, then the safety response time is improved, but the device complexity and control system requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control module continuously monitors battery conditions and receives feedback from battery management systems. When a fault is detected, the system automatically triggers the HVAC operation and air extractor vents, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to real-time battery status without operator intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The HVAC system is designed to perform multiple functions: normal climate control during operation and autonomous cabin purging during key-off states. The same HVAC infrastructure and control modules handle both routine temperature regulation and emergency battery byproduct venting, reducing the need for separate dedicated systems.
3Quantity of substance
If fresh air is communicated into the passenger cabin and air extractor vents are used to expel byproducts, then the air purification effectiveness is improved, but the air flow requirements and potential loss of conditioned air increase
Solution Approach 1:
The HVAC system operates in fresh air mode for a predetermined time period after battery fault detection or key-off event. This periodic operation introduces fresh air to displace and purge accumulated byproducts, then transitions back to normal operation, balancing purification needs with energy efficiency and conditioned air conservation.
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 purges battery vent byproducts from the cabin, enhancing safety by maintaining a fresh air environment within the vehicle, even when the vehicle is turned off, without requiring operator intervention, thus addressing the challenge of autonomous venting during battery faults or charging.
Implementation Method 1
A fan of the HVAC system is actuated to an on position... The HVAC system is commanded to a fresh air mode... expelling battery vent byproducts from the passenger cabin
Data Source
AI summary
A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, detecting a battery fault of a battery of an electrified vehicle, activating a HVAC system ON, commanding the HVAC system to a fresh air mode, communicating fresh air into a passenger cabin, and expelling battery vent byproducts from the passenger cabin through at least one air extractor vent during key-on or key-off states.