Portable Lithium-Ion Fire Containment Case for Aircraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fire suppression systems in aircraft cabins are inadequate for containing and extinguishing fires caused by lithium-ion batteries in personal electronic devices, as they fail to prevent thermal runaway and can cause discomfort and health issues due to the discharge of extinguishing agents in confined spaces.
Innovation Solution
A portable, lightweight fire containment system with a high-temperature and corrosion-resistant metal hinged case equipped with a pressurized compartment for agency-approved extinguishing gases like Halon, allowing for rapid deployment and controlled release of extinguishing agents, along with optional coolant infusion for enhanced heat dissipation, to suppress lithium-ion battery fires while minimizing exposure to passengers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current fire suppression systems are used in aircraft cabins, then they can discharge extinguishing agents to suppress fires, but they cause discomfort and health issues to passengers due to discharge in confined spaces and fail to prevent thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries
Solution Approach 1:
The fire suppression system is segmented into two distinct functional components: a containment enclosure that physically isolates the burning device, and a separate extinguishing agent delivery system. This segmentation allows the extinguishing agent to be discharged into the confined enclosure space rather than directly into the cabin atmosphere, eliminating passenger exposure to harmful discharge effects while maintaining fire suppression effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The containment enclosure acts as an intermediary barrier between the fire source and the passengers. By discharging the extinguishing agent into this intermediate enclosed space rather than directly into the cabin, the system mediates the interaction between the suppressor and passengers, preventing direct contact and associated health issues while still achieving fire suppression through the enclosed environment.
2Weight of moving object
If lightweight portable containment system is used, then rapid deployment is enabled, but containment integrity at high temperatures may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The containment enclosure is constructed from composite materials that combine lightweight properties with high-temperature and corrosion resistance. Specifically, the enclosure uses a metal substrate providing structural strength and thermal resistance, coated with corrosion-resistant layers that maintain integrity at elevated temperatures. This composite construction achieves both lightweight portability for rapid deployment and sufficient temperature resistance for effective fire containment.
Data Source
AI summary
A fire suppression system usable in an aircraft cabin comprising a portable flight case with a dual shell, linings, valves, indicators, agency/industry-approved fire extinguishers and such. The case is able to be retrieved from storage for easy hand carriage in an aircraft/cabin for rapid deployment to any location inside it wherein a fire caused by batteries such as a Lithium Ion battery used in Personal Electronic Devices (PED) has erupted and to be able to enclose the PED fire inside the unit, and discharge into the unit, the fire extinguisher through ports such that the infused extinguishing medium would rapidly envelop the PED on fire inside the flight case while simultaneously allowing the egress of the initial smoke into containing flexible bags and equalizing the displaced volume being replaced by the extinguishing medium thus maintaining a pressurized environment, to chemically interact with and suppress the fire.