Li-ion Battery Fire Suppression via Thermal Decomposition Foam
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium-ion batteries pose a significant fire risk due to thermal runaway, which can occur during short-circuiting, overheating, or overcharging, leading to structural integrity issues and safety concerns, especially in enclosed spaces like aircraft or spacecraft, where rapid suppression and containment of fires are crucial.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus is designed to automatically generate fire-fighting foam by using temperature-dependent breakdown materials in cartridges that release a foaming agent to mix with water, triggered by the heat from failing batteries, creating a fire-fighting foam to moderate thermal runaway and suppress combustion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automatic foam generation system is implemented, then fire suppression effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the heat generated by the failing battery itself to trigger the foam generation. The thermal runaway process activates the temperature-dependent breakdown material, which releases the foaming agent, eliminating the need for external sensors or power sources.
Solution Approach 2:
A temperature-dependent breakdown material serves as an intermediary between the heat source and the foaming agent release. This material decomposes at a specific temperature threshold, automatically triggering the foam generation process without requiring direct mechanical or electrical connection.
2Loss of time
If foam generation is triggered by heat from failing batteries, then response time is improved, but risk of inadvertent triggering increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the triggering parameter from a broad temperature range to a specific threshold temperature. The temperature-dependent breakdown material is designed to decompose only above a predetermined temperature threshold, ensuring that normal operational heat does not trigger the system while thermal runaway does.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature-dependent breakdown material undergoes a phase transition or chemical decomposition at a specific temperature threshold. This phase change provides a sharp, binary response that reduces the risk of gradual or partial activation, making the system more reliable.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If fire-fighting foam is applied to suppress thermal runaway, then fire suppression capability is improved, but heat extraction efficiency may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fire-fighting foam is a composite material combining water, foaming agent, and other additives. This composite structure provides both fire suppression through foam blanket formation and heat extraction through the water content, addressing both requirements simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire-fighting foam serves multiple functions: it forms an insulating blanket to smother the fire, provides cooling through evaporation and conduction, and suppresses vapor release. A single substance performs multiple protective functions that would otherwise require separate systems.
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 effectively suppresses and contains fires by extracting heat from failing battery components, reducing the risk of structural damage and exposure to passengers, while minimizing the likelihood of inadvertently triggering the suppression system and lowering costs.
Implementation Method 1
heat generated by a failing battery is sufficient to cause the temperature-dependent breakdown material to fail such that the foaming agent is released from at least one cartridge to mix with the water stored within the container
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for automatically generating a fire-fighting foam at elevated temperatures is provided. The apparatus includes a container sized to hold at least one battery. Water is stored within the container. One or more cartridges made, at least in part, of a temperature-dependent breakdown material are stored within the container. The one or more cartridges contain a foaming agent. Heat generated by a failing battery causes the temperature-dependent breakdown material to fail such that the foaming agent is released from at least one cartridge to mix with the water stored within the container.