Flexible Liquid Distributors for Battery Fire Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional firefighting methods fail to effectively extinguish fires in modern vehicles equipped with powerful traction batteries, as they require specialized equipment and trained personnel, which may not be readily available.

Innovation Solution

A method using pliable, foldable nozzle hoses with lateral outlet nozzles connected by bent pipe sections to form a ring around the fire, allowing conventional extinguishing liquids to create vertical liquid walls that absorb radiant energy and prevent fire spread, utilizing standard firefighting equipment and techniques.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional firefighting methods are used on battery fires, then the equipment is readily available and easy to operate, but the methods are ineffective against modern traction battery fires

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of fire extinguishingVSAvoidcompatibility with conventional equipment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a liquid distributor as an intermediary device that connects conventional firefighting equipment (water supply) to the fire source. This distributor system mediates between the conventional water delivery method and the specific requirements of battery fire suppression, enabling effective cooling through distributed liquid application without requiring specialized equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If specialized firefighting equipment is used for battery fires, then the extinguishing effectiveness is improved, but the equipment and trained personnel are not readily available

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of fire extinguishingVSAvoidavailability and operational simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid distributor system is designed to be universally compatible with conventional firefighting water supplies while performing the specialized function of effective battery fire suppression. The system can be integrated into existing fire hose infrastructure, making specialized battery fire capabilities available through standard equipment without requiring dedicated specialized apparatus

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The fire suppression approach is segmented into multiple liquid application zones through the distributor system with outlets arranged along the hose length. This segmentation allows conventional equipment to achieve effective coverage by distributing liquid through multiple points rather than requiring a single specialized device, enabling widespread availability through standard fire hose infrastructure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Area of stationary object

If liquid distributors with outlets over the entire circumference are used, then complete coverage is achieved, but the device complexity and material consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage area of liquid distributionVSAvoidcomplexity of liquid distributor design

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid distributor implements local quality by concentrating outlets on specific circumferential segments rather than distributing them uniformly around the entire hose. This allows the hose to be positioned with the outlet segment facing the fire, providing targeted coverage while reducing the number of outlets needed and simplifying the overall device design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

This method effectively extinguishes battery fires using conventional means, preventing fire spread and protecting neighboring combustible objects without the need for specialized equipment or trained personnel, leveraging standardized firefighting components for widespread compatibility and ease of use.

Implementation Method 1

These liquid walls represent a simple yet effective measure to absorb radiant energy emanating from the source of the fire and to prevent the spread of the fire and radiant heat to neighboring flammable objects

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadiant energy absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP3546027B1Method for extinguishing fires containing a high proportion of batteries, e.g. vehicles with drive batteries installed therein

Publication Date: 2023.08.23 FETTWEIS HERBERT

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AI summary

A method for extinguishing fires involving large quantities of batteries, e.g., in vehicles with installed traction batteries, comprises the following steps: - providing liquid distributors (10), each consisting of a nozzle hose (11) made of a flexible, foldable fabric material that is pliable when depressurized, and identically designed hose couplings (12) at both hose ends, wherein each nozzle hose (11) is provided with outlet nozzles (15) distributed along the hose length, from which liquid can only exit on a circumferential segment of the nozzle hose (11) that extends over a partial circumference of the nozzle hose (11); - connecting one liquid distributor (10) to one end and another liquid distributor (10) to the other end of a bent pipe section (20, 20A), preferably a quarter-circle pipe section; - placing the liquid distributors (10) and the bent pipe section (20, 20A) in such an arrangement.that the liquid distributors (10) extend along different sides of the fire source (1), - feeding extinguishing liquid into the liquid distributors (10). In this way, battery-intensive fire sources can be effectively extinguished using, if possible, conventional firefighting agents.