Electric Refuse Vehicle Thermal Protection With Sensor-Triggered Nozzles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refuse vehicles experience thermal stress on energy devices due to varying operational conditions, which can lead to performance degradation and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A thermal stress mitigation system is integrated into refuse vehicles, comprising thermal sensors, a controller, and nozzles to deploy a thermal stress mitigation substance such as a fluid or foam when thermal stress exceeds a threshold, protecting energy devices like batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the vehicle operates under varying operational conditions, then productivity is improved, but thermal stress on energy devices increases causing performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The system proactively monitors thermal conditions using sensors and deploys mitigation substances before critical thermal damage occurs. The controller detects thermal stress conditions and activates the mitigation system in advance, preventing performance degradation rather than reacting after damage occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
A thermal stress mitigation substance is introduced as an intermediary between the thermal stress source (operational conditions) and the energy device. This substance acts as a buffer or protective layer that absorbs or redirects thermal stress, preventing direct contact between harmful thermal conditions and the energy device.
2Reliability
If thermal stress mitigation substance is deployed, then energy device protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal stress mitigation system is designed to protect multiple energy devices simultaneously using a single controller and substance deployment mechanism. The system can address various thermal stress scenarios (overheating, thermal cycling, hot spots) with one unified approach, reducing the need for separate protection systems for each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates automatic monitoring and response capabilities where the controller continuously detects thermal conditions and autonomously deploys mitigation substances without external intervention. The sensors and controller work together to self-regulate thermal protection, eliminating the need for manual monitoring or complex external control systems.
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 mitigates thermal stress, protecting energy devices and ensuring the vehicle's operational reliability and longevity by deploying a thermal stress mitigation substance when needed.
Implementation Method 1
one or more nozzles fluidly coupled to the at least one of the container and the tank and configured to deploy the thermal stress mitigation substance on the energy device
Implementation Method 2
one or more thermal sensors coupled to the controller and configured to detect the thermal stress on the energy device
Data Source
AI summary
A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a body assembly coupled to the chassis, and a thermal stress mitigation system. The body assembly defines a refuse compartment. The thermal stress mitigation system is configured to mitigate against a thermal stress on the refuse vehicle. The thermal stress mitigation system includes a thermal stress mitigation substance, at least one of a container and a tank, one or more nozzles, a controller, one or more thermal sensors. The controller is structured to receive thermal stress data from the sensors, determine whether the thermal stress is greater than a threshold thermal stress based on the thermal stress data from the sensors, and operate the nozzles to deploy the thermal stress mitigation substance on the refuse vehicle responsive to determining that the thermal stress is greater than the threshold thermal stress.