Fire Training Device Simulating Battery Thermal Decomposition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fire training devices lack the capability to simulate realistic scenarios of electrical accumulator fires, particularly in terms of heat development and smoke generation, which are crucial for training firefighters in extinguishing electric vehicle battery fires, and existing solutions do not provide sufficient safety and realism for training purposes.

Innovation Solution

A fire training device equipped with a heating burner device that generates individually controllable flames to heat radiating surfaces, allowing for realistic simulation of smoldering fires and heat development, along with optional features like a smoke generator and explosion burner, enabling the simulation of various fire scenarios, including flash flames and explosions, while ensuring safety through remote control operation and environmentally friendly propane gas use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional burners are used to create practice fires, then open flames of different fire classes can be generated for training, but realistic heat development and smoke generation of electrical accumulator fires cannot be simulated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimulation capabilityVSAvoidtraining effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the burner device by introducing a heating burner that can operate in two modes: conventional open flame mode and heating mode. In heating mode, the burner generates heat without visible flames, allowing the simulation of smoldering electrical accumulator fires. This parameter change enables the device to realistically replicate the thermal characteristics of battery fires while maintaining training safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a simplified model of electrical accumulator fire behavior using heat-radiating surfaces that replicate the thermal characteristics of actual battery fires. The heating burner generates controlled heat patterns that copy the smoldering fire behavior of lithium-ion batteries, providing realistic training scenarios without the dangers of real battery fires.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If real battery fires are used for training, then realistic fire scenarios can be practiced, but safety cannot be guaranteed and training can only be performed once

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraining repetitionVSAvoidsafety risks
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses disposable or replaceable heat-radiating surfaces that can be safely discarded after use. These surfaces simulate battery fire conditions but do not pose the same safety risks as real batteries. The system allows unlimited training repetitions by replacing the simulated fire components rather than dealing with actual hazardous materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The heating burner device acts as an intermediary between the trainer and the training scenario. It generates controlled thermal conditions that simulate battery fires without the inherent dangers of real battery chemistry. The heat-radiating surfaces serve as intermediaries that transfer thermal energy for training purposes while maintaining safety through controlled, contained heating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If heating burner device generates multiple individually controllable flames, then different heat levels and hot spots can be created for thermal imaging training, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraining scenario varietyVSAvoidburner control system
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating burner device is segmented into multiple independently controllable heating zones or flames. Each zone can be controlled separately to create different heat levels and hot spots on the heat-radiating surfaces. This segmentation allows the simulation of varied fire scenarios including localized hot spots and distributed heating patterns, while each zone can be independently adjusted for training requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 device allows for safe and realistic training of firefighters in extinguishing electric vehicle battery fires, enabling the practice of using thermal imaging cameras and special extinguishing aids, with the ability to repeatedly simulate different phases of fire development, enhancing training effectiveness and safety.

Implementation Method 1

a burner device (4), in particular a heating burner device, to heat at least one heat-radiating surface (2)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 2

heat-radiating surfaces (2) that can be heated, preferably directly, by means of the burner device (4)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP4134139B1Fire safety training device for realistic simulation of fire scenarios of electrical accumulators
Publication Date: 2024.10.16 AISCO FIRETRAINER GMBH
  • EP4134139B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4134139B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4134139B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

To improve training opportunities for various fire scenarios, a fire training device 1 is proposed, which can realistically simulate a flameless, thermal decomposition process within an electric battery to enable corresponding fire extinguishing exercises. For this purpose, the fire training device 1 comprises several cuboid metal parts that can be heated internally by at least one heating flame from a heating burner device 4, causing the metal parts to heat up and radiate heat, similar to the outer casing of a battery that heats up considerably due to a short circuit or thermal decomposition process, although the heating flames are not visible from the outside.Furthermore, the fire protection training device 1 can be easily adapted/extended to simulate a fully developed accumulator fire, especially with the development of flash flames and/or smoke, and an accumulator explosion for training purposes (Figure 1).