Battery pack exhaust assembly and exhaust method
By designing the battery pack exhaust assembly, using the coolant channel to pass through multiple annular structures and supporting legs, the problem of high temperature of the battery pack exhaust by-products is solved by traction of the battery pack exhaust by-products of electrified vehicles, and the effect of rapid cooling and effective discharge is achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202411399006.0
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-10-10
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-09
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-18
AI Technical Summary
The tow battery pack of an electrified vehicle may cause high temperatures of exhaust by-products after a heat propagation event, which is difficult for the prior art to effectively cool and discharge these by-products.
A battery pack exhaust assembly is designed, including a battery pack exhaust port and a coolant passageway that passes through a plurality of annular structures and support legs, manages thermal energy in the exhaust by-product stream through the coolant and cools before exhaust.
It realizes rapid cooling and effective discharge of the exhaust by-products of the battery pack, reduces the temperature of the exhaust by-products, and improves the safety and reliability of the battery pack.
Smart Images
Figure CN119852636A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to exhausting exhaust byproducts from a traction battery pack, and more particularly to cooling the exhaust byproducts prior to exhausting. Background Art
[0002] Electrified vehicles differ from conventional motor vehicles in that they are selectively driven using one or more electric machines powered by a traction battery. The electric machines may drive the electrified vehicle in place of or in addition to an internal combustion engine. Exemplary electrified vehicles include hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), and battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Summary of the invention
[0003] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a battery pack vent assembly, comprising: a battery pack vent port, the battery pack vent port transmitting an exhaust byproduct flow from a battery pack, the battery pack vent port having a coolant channel, the coolant channel transmitting a coolant to manage thermal energy levels within the exhaust byproduct flow.
[0004] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a battery pack vent assembly, wherein the battery pack vent includes a first ring and a second ring radially outside the first ring, and the battery pack vent also includes at least one support leg extending radially from the first ring to the second ring.
[0005] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a battery pack vent assembly wherein the coolant channel extends through the first ring, the second ring, and the at least one support leg.
[0006] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a battery pack vent assembly, wherein the battery pack vent further includes a third ring radially outside the second ring, the battery pack vent further includes at least one support leg extending radially from the second ring to the third ring, and the coolant channel further extends through the third ring and the at least one support leg extending radially from the second ring to the third ring.
[0007] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a battery pack vent assembly wherein the first ring includes a plurality of first ring holes that allow exhaust byproducts to flow radially from a location radially inward of the first ring to a location radially outward of the first ring.
[0008] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a battery pack vent assembly wherein the second ring includes a plurality of second annular holes that allow exhaust byproducts to flow radially from a location radially inward of the second ring to a location radially outward of the second ring.
[0009] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a battery pack vent assembly wherein the plurality of first annular rings are circumferentially offset from the plurality of second annular rings about an axis of the battery pack vent.
[0010] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a battery pack vent assembly wherein the coolant is a liquid coolant.
[0011] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a battery pack vent assembly wherein the battery pack vent is a metal or a metal alloy.
[0012] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a battery pack vent assembly in which the battery pack vent is secured to a housing of the battery pack.
[0013] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a battery pack vent assembly, wherein the exhaust byproduct stream is radially exhausted from the battery pack vent port.
[0014] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method of venting exhaust from a battery pack, comprising: receiving an exhaust byproduct stream at a battery pack vent; managing thermal energy within the exhaust byproduct stream using a coolant transmitted through the battery pack vent; and exhausting the exhaust byproduct stream from the battery pack vent.
[0015] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method that also includes transferring the exhaust byproducts within the battery pack vent between a first ring and a second ring of the battery pack vent.
[0016] In some aspects, the technology described herein is directed to a method wherein the coolant is passed through at least one coolant passage within the first ring, within the second ring, or both.
[0017] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method wherein the first ring and the second ring are coaxially arranged about an exhaust port axis.
[0018] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method, which also includes radially directing the exhaust byproduct flow through at least one first ring hole in the first ring within the battery pack exhaust port so that the exhaust byproduct flow impinges on the second ring and then flows between the first ring and the second ring.
[0019] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method that also includes radially directing the exhaust byproduct flow through at least one second ring hole in the second ring.
[0020] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method wherein the coolant is a liquid coolant.
[0021] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method that also includes radially exhausting the exhaust byproducts from the battery pack exhaust port.
[0022] In some aspects, the technology described herein is directed to a method that also includes radially exhausting the exhaust byproducts from the battery pack exhaust port through an annular outlet.
[0023] The embodiments, examples and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs, claims or the following description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or respective individual features, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in conjunction with one embodiment apply to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] According to the detailed description, various features and advantages of the disclosed examples will become apparent to those skilled in the art. The drawings attached to the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:
[0025] Figure 1 A side view of an electric vehicle with a traction battery pack is shown.
[0026] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 A perspective enlarged view of the traction battery pack.
[0027] Figure 3 Shows the view from the inside of the traction battery pack Figure 2 The battery pack exhaust port of the traction battery pack.
[0028] Figure 4 Shows Figure 2 Side view of the battery pack.
[0029] Figure 5 Shows Figure 3 A close-up side view of the battery pack vent.
[0030] Figure 6 Shown in Figure 5 A cross-sectional view taken along line 6–6 in FIG.
[0031] Fig. 7A – Figure 7C Shown along Figure 6Cross-sectional views taken along lines 7A-7A, 7B-7B, and 7C-7C.
[0032] Fig. 8A – Figure 8C A cross-sectional view through an exhaust port is shown according to another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure.
[0033] Fig.8D Shows Fig. 8A – Figure 8C End view of the exhaust port.
[0034] Fig.9A and Fig. 9B Shown by Fig. 8A – Fig.8D Other cross-sectional views of the exhaust port. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] The present disclosure relates generally to a traction battery pack for an electrified vehicle, and more particularly to a battery pack vent that cools and then exhausts exhaust byproducts from the traction battery pack.
[0036] refer to Figure 1 , the electrified vehicle 10 includes a traction battery pack 12, an electric motor 14, and wheels 16. The battery pack 12 powers the electric motor 14, which converts the electricity into torque to drive the wheels 16. The battery pack 12 is a traction battery pack because the battery pack 12 is used for electric propulsion.
[0037] In the exemplary embodiment, the battery pack 12 is secured to the underbody 18 of the electrified vehicle 10 below and outside the passenger compartment of the electrified vehicle 10. In other examples, the battery pack 12 may be located elsewhere on the electrified vehicle 10.
[0038] The exemplary vehicle 10 is a battery electric vehicle (BEV). In another example, the vehicle 10 may be another type of electrified vehicle, such as a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), or a conventional vehicle. A hybrid electric vehicle selectively drives wheels using torque provided by an internal combustion engine (as an alternative or in addition to an electric machine). In general, the electrified vehicle 10 may be any type of vehicle having a traction battery pack.
[0039] Reference now Figure 2 and Figure 3 , and continue to refer to Figure 1, the battery pack 12 includes a plurality of battery arrays 20 housed within an interior 22 of a housing 24. The battery arrays 20 each include a plurality of groups of individual battery cells 26 arranged in a row. In an embodiment, the battery cells 26 are lithium-ion soft-pack cells. However, battery cells having other geometries (cylindrical, prismatic, etc.), other chemistries (nickel-metal hydride, lead acid, etc.), or both may alternatively be used within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0040] Sometimes, a heat propagation event due to, for example, overcharging or discharging may increase the pressure and temperature in one of the battery cells 26. Heat propagation events may also be caused by internal contamination, battery cell deformation, or electrical shorts. The increased pressure and temperature may rupture the vent 28 of the battery cell 26 and release the exhaust byproducts V from the interior of the battery cell 26 into the interior 22. Although Figure 2 A single vent 28A is shown ruptured, but more than one of the battery cells 26 may be vented simultaneously.
[0041] Some battery cells 26 (such as soft pack batteries) may not include discrete vents, but may rupture in various areas due to a thermal propagation event. The rupture provides an opening that is considered a vent. For the purposes of this disclosure, the exhaust byproducts V that are discharged through the opening created by the rupture are also considered exhaust byproducts V.
[0042] In this example, the housing 24 includes a tray 32 and a cover 34. The tray 32 includes side walls 36 and a floor 38. When the cover 34 is secured to the tray 32, the housing 24 completely encloses the array 20.
[0043] In this example embodiment, at least one battery pack vent 40 is secured to housing 24. In some examples, battery pack vent 40 may be a vent tip.
[0044] The battery pack exhaust port 40 is used to transfer the exhaust byproducts V from the interior 22 of the battery pack 12 to the surrounding area outside the battery pack 12. For the purposes of this disclosure, the surrounding area is the area outside the battery pack 12, outside the passenger compartment of the vehicle 10, and outside the engine compartment or trunk of the vehicle 10 (if so equipped). Ambient air refers to the air in the surrounding area. The temperature of the ambient air is generally much lower than the temperature of the exhaust byproducts V in the interior 22.
[0045] Reference now Figure 4 – Figure 6In this example, the battery pack vent 40 includes a first ring 44A, a second ring 44B, and a third ring 44C coaxially arranged around the vent axis A. The support leg 46A extends from the first ring 44A to the second ring 44B, and the second ring is radially outside the first ring 44A. The support leg 46B radially extends from the second ring 44B to the third ring 44C, and the third ring is radially outside the second ring 44B.
[0046] In other examples, the exhaust port 40 may include more than three rings or less than three rings.The exhaust port 40 may be a metal or metal alloy material.
[0047] Reference now Fig. 7A – Figure 7C And continue to refer to Figure 2 – Figure 5 In order to manage the thermal energy of the exhaust byproducts V, the exhaust port 40 includes a coolant passage 50 extending from a coolant inlet 52 to a coolant outlet 54. In this example, the coolant passage 50 extends through the first ring 44A, the second ring 44B, and the third ring 44C. The coolant passage 50 also extends through the support legs 46A and the support legs 46B. The diameter of the coolant passage 50 may be two millimeters to five millimeters. In other examples, in some examples, the coolant passage 50 may be less than two millimeters.
[0048] Coolant C, such as a liquid coolant, may move into the coolant passage 50 through the inlet 52 along the coolant path 56. The coolant C may exit the exhaust port 40 through the outlet 54. The coolant C may move from the outlet 54 to a heat exchange device 58, such as a heat exchanger, and then to the coolant supply device 60. The pump 62 may draw the coolant C, which has been cooled at the heat exchange device 58, from the coolant supply device 60 and circulate the coolant C back into the battery cell exhaust port 40 through the inlet 52.
[0049] During a thermal event, the exhaust byproducts V may move from the interior 22 into the exhaust port 40. Specifically, the exhaust byproducts V flow into the first ring 44A of the exhaust port 40 in a first axial direction. The exhaust byproducts V then move radially outward from the axis A through a plurality of first ring holes 66A within the first ring 44A. The first ring holes 66A allow the exhaust byproducts to flow radially from a location radially inward of the first ring 44A to a location radially outward of the first ring 44A.
[0050] After moving through the first annular hole 66A, the exhaust byproduct V is radially located between the first ring 44A and the second ring 44B. It is worth noting that when the exhaust byproduct V is guided through the first annular hole 66A, the exhaust byproduct V hits the radial inner surface ( ) of the second ring 44B. Fig. 7A ). Impingement may facilitate cooling of exhaust byproducts using coolant C circulating through coolant passages 50 .
[0051] After striking the second ring 44B, at least some of the exhaust byproducts V turn and flow in an opposite second axial direction. The exhaust byproducts V also flow circumferentially between the first ring 44A and the second ring 44B about the axis A and then move through the second annular hole 66B, which is circumferentially offset about the axis A relative to the first annular hole 66A.
[0052] The second annular aperture 66B allows exhaust byproducts V to flow radially from a location radially inward of the second ring 44B to a location radially outward of the second ring 44B.
[0053] After the exhaust byproducts V pass through the second ring hole 66B, the exhaust byproducts B impinge on the inner surface of the third ring 44C ( Figure 7B The impact of the exhaust byproducts V on the inner surface of the third ring 44C may facilitate cooling of the exhaust byproducts V using the coolant C moving through the coolant passages 50 within the third ring 44C.
[0054] The exhaust byproducts V then flow circumferentially until they exit the exhaust port 40 through a plurality of third ring holes 66C in the third ring 44C. Fig. 7A ).
[0055] As exhaust byproducts V pass through exhaust port 40 , coolant C within coolant passage 50 cools the exhaust byproducts to reduce thermal energy levels within exhaust byproducts V. In some examples, the temperature of exhaust byproducts V may be reduced by more than 300 degrees Celsius before the exhaust byproducts move out of exhaust port 40 through third annulus 66C.
[0056] Although the pump 62 can circulate the coolant C continuously through the coolant passages 50, the exemplary pump 62 circulates the coolant C only when one or more battery cells 26 are venting. In response to the temperature within the interior 22 of the battery pack 12, the pump 62 can be activated to circulate the coolant C through the coolant passages 50 of the vent 28. For example, if the temperature sensor 70 within the interior 22 detects that the temperature has increased to, for example, greater than 200 degrees Celsius, the controller can activate the pump 62 to move the coolant C through the vent 40. In such an example, a temperature exceeding 200 degrees Celsius indicates that there is a high probability that at least one of the battery cells 26 is venting and expelling exhaust byproducts V into the interior 22.
[0057] Although the example exhaust port 40 expels exhaust byproducts V radially relative to the axis A, other example exhaust ports may alternatively or additionally expels exhaust byproducts in other directions. Fig. 8A – Fig.8DAnother example exhaust port 140 may expel exhaust byproducts V through the annular outlet 80 . The exhaust byproducts V exit the exhaust port 140 after being cooled by the coolant moving through the coolant passage 150 .
[0058] The support legs are circumferentially aligned in exhaust ports 40 and 140. In other examples, the support legs between the first innermost ring and the second intermediate ring may be circumferentially offset from the support legs between the second intermediate ring and the third outer ring.
[0059] Features of the disclosed exemplary exhaust ports include the ability to rapidly cool exhaust byproducts prior to exhausting them.
[0060] The foregoing description is illustrative and non-restrictive in nature. Changes and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art, and the changes and modifications do not necessarily depart from the essence of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection granted to the present disclosure can only be determined by studying the attached claims.
Claims
1. A battery pack exhaust assembly, comprising: A battery pack vent conveys an exhaust byproduct stream from a battery pack, the battery pack vent having a coolant passage conveying a coolant to manage thermal energy levels within the exhaust byproduct stream.
2. The battery pack vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the battery pack vent comprises a first ring and a second ring radially outside the first ring, and the battery pack vent further comprises at least one support leg extending radially from the first ring to the second ring.
3. The battery pack vent assembly of claim 2, wherein the coolant channel extends through the first ring, the second ring and the at least one support leg, and optionally wherein the battery pack vent further includes a third ring radially outside the second ring, the battery pack vent further includes at least one support leg extending radially from the second ring to the third ring, and the coolant channel further extends through the third ring and the at least one support leg extending radially from the second ring to the third ring.
4. The battery pack vent assembly of claim 2, wherein the first ring includes a plurality of first annular holes that allow exhaust byproducts to flow radially from a position radially inward of the first ring to a position radially outward of the first ring, and optionally wherein the second ring includes a plurality of second annular holes that allow exhaust byproducts to flow radially from a position radially inward of the second ring to a position radially outward of the second ring. 5 . The battery pack vent assembly of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of first annular holes are circumferentially offset from the plurality of second annular holes around an axis of the battery pack vent.
6. The battery pack vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the coolant is a liquid coolant.
7. The battery pack vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the battery pack vent is metal or metal alloy.
8. The battery pack vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the battery pack vent is fixed to a housing of the battery pack.
9. The battery pack vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the exhaust byproduct stream is radially exhausted from the battery pack vent port.
10. A method for venting air from a battery pack, comprising: receiving an exhaust byproduct stream at a battery pack exhaust port; managing thermal energy within the exhaust byproduct stream using a coolant passed through the battery pack exhaust port; as well as The exhaust byproduct stream is exhausted from the battery pack exhaust port.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising conveying the exhaust byproducts within the battery pack vent between a first ring and a second ring of the battery pack vent, and optionally wherein the coolant is conveyed through at least one coolant channel within the first ring, within the second ring, or both.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first ring and the second ring are coaxially arranged about an exhaust port axis.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising, within the battery pack exhaust port, radially directing the exhaust byproduct flow through at least one first annular hole in the first ring so that the exhaust byproduct flow impinges on the second ring and then flows between the first ring and the second ring, and optionally further comprising radially directing the exhaust byproduct flow through at least one second annular hole in the second ring.
14. The method of claim 10, further comprising radially exhausting the exhaust byproducts from the battery pack exhaust port.
15. The method of claim 10, further comprising exhausting the exhaust byproducts axially from the battery pack exhaust port through an annular outlet.