Opposite-Side Venting Assembly for Electric Aircraft Battery Thermal Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Modern ventilation systems in electric aircraft are inefficient in reducing battery temperatures, which can lead to overheating during flight or charging operations.
Innovation Solution
A venting assembly is designed for electric aircraft, comprising multiple battery packs with attached vents and an outlet located on the opposite side of the aircraft as an egress, allowing for fluidic communication to direct battery ejecta away from the aircraft, thereby managing temperature effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If modern ventilation systems are used to cool batteries, then battery temperature reduction is attempted, but the cooling efficiency is insufficient and batteries still overheat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional ventilation approach by positioning the outlet on the opposite side of the aircraft from the egress location. This reversal creates a cross-flow ventilation pattern where air enters through the egress side and exits through the opposite side, significantly improving cooling efficiency by preventing hot air recirculation and enhancing thermal management of the battery packs.
2Temperature
If ventilation outlets are positioned near battery packs, then direct cooling is achieved, but heated air may recirculate back to the batteries reducing cooling effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric positioning of the ventilation outlet on the opposite side of the aircraft from the egress location, creating an asymmetric airflow path. This asymmetric design ensures that cooled air flows across the battery packs in a single direction without recirculating, simplifying the airflow management while maintaining effective cooling.
3Temperature
If multiple vents are attached to each battery pack, then cooling coverage is improved, but the system complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system is segmented into multiple individual vents, with each vent attached to a specific battery pack. This segmentation allows for modular manufacturing and assembly, where each battery pack can be equipped with its own vent independently, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while ensuring uniform cooling coverage across all battery packs.
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 venting assembly effectively manages battery temperature by allowing heated air to escape, reducing the risk of overheating and improving the operational safety and efficiency of electric aircraft.
Implementation Method 1
a venting assembly for battery ejecta opposite an egress in an electric aircraft... allowing heated air to escape, reducing the risk of overheating
Data Source
AI summary
A venting assembly for battery ejecta opposite an egress, wherein the venting assembly comprises a plurality of battery packs configured to power the electric aircraft, a plurality of vents wherein each vent of the plurality of vents is attached to each battery pack of the plurality of battery packs, and at least an outlet in fluidic communication with the plurality of vents, wherein the at least an outlet is located on an opposite side of the electric aircraft as an egress.