Patent Application
20250087779
The subject disclosure relates to vehicles, and vehicles having high-capacity battery assemblies.
High capacity battery assemblies are utilized in many consumer and industrial sectors categorically including transportation and power grid applications. High capacity battery packs are known to include a plurality of battery assembly modules allowing for flexibility in configurations and adaptation to application requirements. Such battery assemblies generate heat and internal pressure when placed under load. Heat may have a detrimental effect on battery efficiency and/or battery life, and a buildup of internal temperature and pressure may lead to failure of the battery assembly.
In the occurrence of a thermal event greater than design conditions, it is desired to direct fire suppressant such as water to the battery assembly. Since the battery assembly is typically embedded inside the vehicle structure, however, it is difficult to direct the water to act directly on the battery assembly. One solution is to provide a conduit open to the vehicle exterior through which the water can be flowed directly to the battery assembly. Such conduits, however, may be subject to tampering, such that fluids or other foreign objects may be passed through the conduit into the battery assembly.
In one exemplary embodiment, a battery assembly of a vehicle includes a one or more battery cells, a battery housing in which the one or more battery cells are positioned, and a suppressant conduit extending from the battery housing and configured to deliver a flow of fire suppressant to the one or more battery cells. An activation element is configured to block the suppressant conduit and activate when a pressure exceeding a preselected threshold pressure is applied to the activation element, thus allowing a flow of fire suppressant to flow into the battery housing.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, a conduit fitting is secured to the battery housing and the suppressant conduit is operably connected thereto. The activation element is positioned inside the conduit fitting.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein the activation element is secured in the conduit fitting by one of welding, brazing, crimping or sealing.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the activation element is configured to activate at a pressure of 50 psi or greater.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the pressure disk is configured to activate at a temperature greater that 1200 degrees Celsius.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the activation element includes one or more localized reductions in thickness to enable the activation at the preselected threshold pressure.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the activation element is formed from a metallic material.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the suppressant conduit extends from the battery housing to a flood port located at an exterior of the vehicle.
In another exemplary embodiment, a vehicle includes a vehicle body defining a passenger compartment, and a battery assembly located at the vehicle body. The battery assembly includes a one or more battery cells, a battery housing in which the one or more battery cells are positioned, and a suppressant conduit extending from the battery housing and configured to deliver a flow of fire suppressant to the one or more battery cells. An activation element is configured to block the suppressant conduit and to activate when a pressure exceeding a preselected threshold pressure is applied to the activation element, allowing the flow of fire suppressant to flow into the battery housing.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, a conduit fitting is secured to the battery housing and the suppressant conduit is operably connected thereto. The activation element is positioned inside the conduit fitting.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the activation element is secured in the conduit fitting by one of welding, brazing, crimping or sealing.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the activation element is configured to activate at a pressure of 50 psi or greater.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the activation element is configured to activate at a temperature greater that 1200 degrees Celsius.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the activation element includes one or more localized reductions in thickness to enable the activation at the preselected threshold pressure.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the activation element is formed from a metallic material.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the suppressant conduit extends from the battery housing to a flood port positioned at an exterior of the vehicle body.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, a method includes positioning an activation element between a suppressant conduit and a battery assembly of a vehicle, directing a flow of suppressant along the suppressant conduit toward the battery assembly, activating the activation element via the suppressant pressure on the activation element, and flowing the suppressant into the battery assembly.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the activation element is configured to activate at a pressure of 50 psi or greater.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, a conduit fitting is secured to the battery assembly and the suppressant conduit is operably connected thereto. The activation element is positioned inside the conduit fitting, and the activation element is secured in the conduit fitting by one of welding, brazing, crimping or sealing.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the flow of suppressant is directed along the suppressant conduit via a flood opening at an exterior of the vehicle.
The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages of the disclosure are readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Other features, advantages and details appear, by way of example only, in the following detailed description, the detailed description referring to the drawings in which:
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment a vehicle, in accordance with a non-limiting example, is indicated generally at 10 in
Referring to now
Referring again to
Referring now to
To prevent tampering with the battery assembly 38 and to seal the battery housing 42, an activation element 74 such as a disk or similar is installed into an interior of the conduit sleeve 60, for example, at an interior of the conduit fitting 58, as in
In some embodiments, the activation element 74 includes one or more features to enable the activation element 74 to rupture when a pressure in a preselected range of pressures is applied to the activation element 74. In some embodiments, the activation element 74 is formed from an aluminum material, while in other embodiments the activation element 74 may be formed from other metallic or plastic materials configured to provide the required rupture characteristics, while also withstanding the temperatures and pressures associated with a designed thermal runaway event. Further, as an alternative to brazing or welding the rupture disk 74 into position in the conduit fitting 58 or the conduit sleeve 60, a sealant or a rubber seal may be utilized to secure the activation element 74 in place.
Referring now to
A typical thermal runaway event could show a pressure of about 6.52 psi gauge (21.03 absolute) or higher during the event, or alternatively a gauge pressure increase of 2 psi or greater during a thermal runaway event. The activation element 74 is configured to activate at a pressure much greater than such an event pressure. The fire hose would supply water at a preselected pressure significantly higher than the pressure during the thermal runaway event. In some embodiments, the preselected pressure is in the range of about 50-200 psi, and the preselected pressure is, in some embodiments 100 psi or greater, thus allowing the flow of water to be directed into the battery assembly 38. Additionally, the pressure disk 74 may be configured to rupture or melt in an extraordinary thermal event where temperatures exceed those of a design thermal runaway, which is in the range of about 500-1200 degrees Celsius. This temperature rupture threshold is, in some embodiments, based on one or more of absolute maximum temperature experienced by the pressure disk 74, or may alternatively be based on a dynamic temperature over time.
Referring now to
Utilization of the pressure disk 74 in the conduit fitting 58 prevents tampering with the battery assembly 38 via the suppressant conduit 44, yet allows for activation or rupturing when, for example a first responder utilizes a fire hose to direct a flow of water through the suppressant conduit 44 toward the battery assembly 38. The pressure disk 74 ruptures at a pressure only greatly exceeding that of a design thermal runaway event, and/or at a temperature greatly exceeding that of a design thermal runaway event. Further, installation and sealing of the pressure disk 74 into the conduit fitting 68 allows for improvements in ease of leak testing of the battery assembly 38.
The terms “a” and “an” do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. The term “or” means “and/or” unless clearly indicated otherwise by context. Reference throughout the specification to “an aspect”, means that a particular element (e.g., feature, structure, step, or characteristic) described in connection with the aspect is included in at least one aspect described herein, and may or may not be present in other aspects. In addition, it is to be understood that the described elements may be combined in any suitable manner in the various aspects.
When an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present.
Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.
While the above disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from its scope. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but will include all embodiments falling within the scope thereof.
