Thermoelectric Triggered Explosive Foam for Li-ion Battery Fire Suppression

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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, threatening the safety of transportation and structural integrity of vehicles, especially in enclosed spaces like aircraft or spacecraft, where rapid suppression and containment of fires are crucial.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a thermoelectric generator, detonator circuit, and explosive foam applicator that automatically generates fire-fighting foam by detecting temperature thresholds, using a thermoelectric generator to produce an electrical current that triggers a detonator circuit to activate a propelling charge, which ruptures a foam cartridge to apply foam effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If conventional fire suppression systems are used for Li-ion battery fires, then response time is delayed, but the fire spreads and compromises structural integrity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse speedVSAvoidfire suppression effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-positions foam cartridges and propelling charges near the batteries, ready for immediate deployment. When thermal runaway is detected, the pre-positioned materials are rapidly dispensed onto the batteries, eliminating delays associated with bringing equipment to the scene.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces conventional mechanical fire suppression systems with a chemically-driven foam generation system. The propelling charge chemically reacts to generate gas that rapidly expands the foam material, providing much faster response than mechanical pump-based systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Extent of automation

If automated temperature detection is implemented, then false triggers increase, but manual monitoring is too slow for rapid fire suppression

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic detectionVSAvoidfalse trigger rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors temperature and uses feedback control to distinguish between normal temperature fluctuations and genuine thermal runaway events. The control algorithm analyzes temperature trends and rates of change to make intelligent decisions about when to activate the foam suppression system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system monitors multiple temperature parameters simultaneously (absolute temperature, rate of temperature change, temperature differential between locations) and uses threshold-based activation. This multi-parameter approach allows the system to differentiate between normal heating and dangerous thermal runaway conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 rapidly suppresses and contains Li-ion battery fires by extracting heat and starving combustible components of oxygen, minimizing exposure to passengers and protecting structural integrity, while being designed to minimize false triggers and reduce costs.

Implementation Method 1

a thermoelectric generator having a first surface and a second surface, wherein a temperature differential between the first surface and the second surface causes the thermoelectric generator to generate an electrical current having a temperature-dependent voltage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermoelectric effect: Seebeck Effect

Implementation Method 2

a propelling charge contained within the chamber and positioned within the chamber such that the trigger mechanism can trigger the propelling charge; and a foam cartridge attached to the interior of the chamber such that expansion of the propelling charge ruptures the foam cartridge and ejects, at least in part, contents of the foam cartridge from the chamber via the nozzle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectExplosive expansion: Explosion

Implementation Method 3

The system rapidly suppresses and contains Li-ion battery fires by extracting heat and starving combustible components of oxygen

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat absorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS10912963B2Automatically generating fire-fighting foams to combat Li-ion battery failures

Publication Date: 2021.02.09 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

A system for explosively applying a fire-fighting foam is provided. The system includes a thermoelectric generator that is attached to a battery heat source. A temperature differential across the thermoelectric generator generates an electrical current having a temperature-dependent voltage. A detonator circuit is electrically connected to the thermoelectric generator. The detonator circuit measures the voltage of the electrical current. An explosive foam applicator is communicatively connected to the detonator circuit and includes a trigger mechanism that detonates a propelling charge in response to receiving a signal from the detonator circuit when the detonator circuit determines that the electrical current corresponds to temperature that is greater than or equal to a threshold temperature. The explosive foam applicator is oriented such that detonating the propelling the charge causes the explosive foam applicator to apply a foam to the battery heat source.