Meltable Upper Plate Water Release for High-Voltage Battery Fires
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Solution Overview
Problem
High voltage batteries in vehicles pose a challenge for fire extinguishment due to the difficulty in reaching and effectively cooling the stacked cells, as external water spray cannot easily penetrate the battery case, leading to prolonged fires.
Innovation Solution
A system with an upper cooling passage and a melting solder mechanism that allows cooling water to flow into the battery cell assembly when a fire occurs, utilizing a water pump and controller to maximize water supply until submersion is confirmed, then stopping to prevent pressure buildup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If water is sprayed from the outside of the battery case, then the fire extinguishment process is simple, but the water cannot easily reach the inside of the battery case and the fire cannot be effectively extinguished
Solution Approach 1:
The upper plate is segmented with multiple through-holes distributed across its surface, allowing water to reach multiple battery cells simultaneously through separate pathways, resolving the contradiction between simple operation and effective fire extinguishment
Solution Approach 2:
The upper plate acts as an intermediary component between the external water source and the battery cells, using through-holes and solderings to mediate water delivery while maintaining structural integrity and thermal isolation during normal operation
2Reliability
If a prefabricated water tank is provided around the vehicle to submerge the battery, then the fire can be extinguished, but it is not easy to install the water tank around the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The water tank system is extracted from the vehicle structure and replaced by utilizing the existing cooling water system components (upper cooling passage, water pump, radiator) already present in the vehicle, eliminating the need for additional prefabricated water tanks while maintaining effective fire suppression
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling water system is designed to serve dual functions: normal battery cooling during operation and fire extinguishment when needed, eliminating the need for separate dedicated fire suppression water storage while achieving the same effectiveness
3Reliability
If solderings are disposed in the upper plate to melt at predetermined temperature, then cooling water can be supplied to the battery cell assembly, but the upper plate structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The solderings are selected with specific melting point parameters that respond to fire temperature conditions, enabling automatic activation of water supply through phase change from solid to liquid state when temperature exceeds the predetermined melting point
Solution Approach 2:
The solderings automatically melt and open the through-holes in response to temperature increase from battery fire, enabling self-activating water supply without requiring external control systems or additional sensors, thus achieving reliable automatic response with minimal structural complexity
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
Rapidly extinguishes fires by directly supplying cooling water to the affected cells, preventing further fire spread and potential explosion risks, while ensuring efficient water usage.
Implementation Method 1
solderings disposed in the at least one through-hole in the upper plate at intervals and configured to be melted at a predetermined temperature
Implementation Method 2
supply cooling water flowing in an upper portion of a high voltage battery to the high voltage battery when a fire occurs
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method for extinguishing a fire in a high voltage battery for a vehicle, which supply cooling water flowing in an upper portion of a high voltage battery to the high voltage battery when a fire occurs in the high voltage battery, extinguishing the fire, include a battery cell assembly, an upper cooling passage which is provided in an upper portion of the battery cell assembly and through which cooling water flows, an upper plate including at least one through-hole and disposed between the battery cell assembly and the upper cooling passage to separate the battery cell assembly and the upper cooling passage, and solderings disposed in the at least one through-hole in the upper plate at intervals and configured to be melted at a predetermined temperature. When a temperature of the battery cell assembly due to the fire is predetermined temperature or higher, the solderings are melted and the cooling water is supplied to the battery cell assembly.