Electric Fire Truck Pump Standby Control for Battery Power Saving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric fire truck chassis face challenges with longer charging times and lower energy-storage capacity compared to traditional internal-combustion engine fire trucks, necessitating an energy-efficient pump system to maintain readiness and reduce power consumption during standby conditions.
Innovation Solution
A firefighting apparatus with a movable electric fire truck chassis powered by a battery array, featuring a controller that manages the pre-connect pump, pressure-maintenance pump, and main pump to maintain a standby condition with reduced power consumption, utilizing electric motors and a controller to optimize pump operation based on demand, ensuring quick response and efficient energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pre-connect pump operates under an idle condition to maintain standby readiness, then the firefighting apparatus remains ready to pump firefighting fluid, but the power consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts pump operation between idle and standby conditions based on real-time pressure sensor feedback. The controller monitors system pressure and activates the pump only when pressure drops below the threshold, rather than maintaining continuous idle operation, thereby reducing energy consumption while ensuring readiness.
Solution Approach 2:
A pressure sensor provides continuous feedback to the controller about the system pressure status. This feedback mechanism enables the controller to make intelligent decisions about pump activation, switching between idle and standby modes based on actual pressure conditions, thus optimizing power consumption while maintaining firefighting readiness.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the battery array is sized to provide sufficient energy for extended standby operation, then the firefighting apparatus can maintain readiness longer, but the charging time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The pump operates in periodic cycles rather than continuously, switching between active pumping and idle states based on pressure threshold feedback. This periodic operation reduces average power consumption during standby, extending the battery's effective duration without requiring larger battery capacity or longer charging times.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by adjusting pump duty cycle and power consumption levels based on actual standby needs. Rather than maintaining constant high-power idle operation, the system varies power consumption dynamically, allowing extended standby duration with the same battery capacity.
3Speed
If the pump system is designed to maintain high pressure readiness at all times, then the firefighting apparatus responds faster to fire incidents, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains pressure within an acceptable range rather than constantly at maximum levels, using preliminary pressure buildup only when needed. The pressure sensor detects when pressure drops below the threshold and triggers pump activation, providing sufficient response time without requiring continuous high-pressure maintenance.
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 significantly reduces energy usage during standby conditions, extends battery life, and minimizes generator runtime, enabling efficient firefighting operations with rapid response times even with limited energy capacity.
Implementation Method 1
a battery array movable with the movable fire truck chassis and operatively connected to provide power for operating at least one pump of the firefighting apparatus
Implementation Method 2
The pre-connect pump has a pre-connect inlet and a pre-connect outlet and is electrically powered by the battery array
Data Source
AI summary
Briefly stated, one aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a firefighting apparatus. The firefighting apparatus includes a movable fire truck chassis and a battery array movable with the movable fire truck chassis and operatively connected to provide power for operating at least one pump of the firefighting apparatus. A pre-connect pump has a pre-connect inlet and a pre-connect outlet and is electrically powered by the battery array. A controller is operatively connected to the pre-connect pump and configured to control the pre-connect pump under a standby condition selected to maintain the firefighting apparatus in a state of readiness to pump firefighting fluid. The controller reduces a power-consumption rate of the pre-connect pump while maintaining the standby condition as compared to operating the pre-connect pump under an idle condition. The standby condition requires pumping by at least one pump within the firefighting apparatus for maintenance of the standby condition.