Degassing device for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a degassing device (100) for a motor vehicle, comprising an accumulator housing (110) with a lid (111), a base plate (112) and a surrounding frame (113), wherein the frame is arranged between the lid and the base plate, thereby defining a receiving space (120) for at least one accumulator (130), wherein the at least one accumulator comprises a cell valve (131) and the accumulator housing comprises at least one degassing valve (114), wherein the degassing valve is configured to discharge hot gas and / or particles from inside the receiving space into an exterior area of ​​the accumulator housing, wherein the degassing valve comprises or is configured as a rupture disc (115), wherein each degassing valve is adjacent to a cell valve of the at least one accumulator, and wherein the base plate comprises at least one opening (116).wherein the rupture disc is inserted into at least one opening and seals the receiving chamber against the outside of the accumulator housing.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a degassing device for a motor vehicle.

[0002] In modern electric vehicles, the battery's degassing system plays a crucial role in vehicle safety. Due to the high energy density and significant thermal stress on the battery cells during operation, it is essential to design an effective system, especially for unforeseen events.

[0003] A key element here is the consideration of gas flow during thermal runaway in a battery cell. In extreme situations, such as a short circuit or mechanical damage, a battery cell can overheat and experience thermal runaway, potentially leading to a fire. The presented system integrates special safety mechanisms designed to limit heat propagation to neighboring cells, thereby minimizing the risk of cascade failure. This innovation thus makes a significant contribution to increasing vehicle safety and protecting the occupants.

[0004] The aim of the invention is to provide an improved degassing device for a motor vehicle compared to the prior art, thereby optimizing the safety of the electric vehicle. Through innovative technologies and a well-thought-out design, this solution aims to make a significant contribution to the safety of modern electric vehicles.

[0005] DE 10 2023 121 197 A1 relates to a method for manufacturing a battery assembly with a shielding material, wherein a two-component polyurethane shielding material foams up after mixing and fills a space between a battery module and a degassing channel wall. The shielding material serves as a thermal and mechanical barrier to neighboring cells and forms predetermined breaking points through which gas can be introduced into a degassing channel in the event of thermal runaway in a battery cell. A layered application of different polyurethane expanding foams is not disclosed.

[0006] DE 10 2023 109 120 A1 relates to a battery arrangement with a thermal protection device comprising a thermally expanding fire-resistant material on a carrier film. The protection device expands only when a predetermined limit temperature is exceeded and then seals penetrations between adjacent battery cells. PU expanding foams or a layered application of different foams are not disclosed.

[0007] DE 10 2023 125 812 A1 relates to a method for manufacturing a battery assembly with a flame-retardant layer, wherein a viscous flame-retardant material is applied which, through a crosslinking process, forms a protective layer between a degassing area and a penetration area. The flame-retardant layer can be designed as a foam layer and protects the accessible cell degassing openings of adjacent cells from hot gases. A layered application of different PU swelling foams is not disclosed.

[0008] According to the invention, a degassing device for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, a motor vehicle comprising a battery with a degassing device according to claim 7, and a method for manufacturing a battery with a degassing device for a motor vehicle according to claim 8 are provided.

[0009] Advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims and the description.

[0010] The invention relates to a degassing device for a motor vehicle, comprising an accumulator housing with a lid, a base plate and a surrounding frame, wherein the frame is arranged between the lid and the base plate, thereby defining a receiving space for at least one accumulator, wherein the at least one accumulator comprises a cell valve and the accumulator housing comprises at least one degassing valve, wherein the degassing valve is configured to discharge hot gas and / or particles from inside the receiving space into an exterior area of ​​the accumulator housing, wherein the degassing valve comprises or is configured as a rupture disc, wherein each degassing valve is adjacent to a cell valve of the at least one accumulator, and wherein the base plate comprises at least one opening.wherein the rupture disc is inserted into at least one opening and seals the receiving chamber against the outside of the accumulator housing.

[0011] Hot gas and / or particles from at least one accumulator can be introduced into the accumulator housing via the cell valve, melting the rupture disc. This opens a degassing path. The hot gas and / or particles from the at least one accumulator can then be vented to the exterior of the accumulator housing. The degassing path can lead via the respective cell valve of the at least one accumulator, the respective degassing valve, and thus through the rupture disc to an exterior area of ​​the accumulator housing. An underride guard can be located in the exterior of the accumulator housing, or the accumulator housing can include such a guard, in which case the degassing path can lead into the underride guard.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment, a hose can be arranged on the degassing path or the degassing path includes such a hose, wherein the hose is led to the outside of the motor vehicle, advantageously into a flame silencer and / or onto the road. In a further advantageous embodiment, the flame silencer is arranged in the underride guard of the motor vehicle or the battery housing. The underride guard can include a labyrinth to form the flame silencer, in which any potential flame ingress, gases, or particles from the degassing path can escape without being openly directed onto the road or into any other area accessible to pedestrians or a motor vehicle user before sufficient cooling has occurred.

[0013] In a further advantageous embodiment, the accumulator housing or the motor vehicle can include the underride guard. The underride guard can also be arranged directly in an outlet area of ​​the base plate or the degassing path without the use of a hose, so that escaping hot gases, particles, or flames are directed into the underride guard.

[0014] The hot gas and / or flames and / or particles can be caused by a thermal runaway of at least one accumulator.

[0015] Thermal runaway of at least one battery is a dangerous situation in which the temperature inside the battery rises rapidly. This can be triggered by various causes, such as internal short circuits or mechanical stress on at least one battery. In particular, mechanical stress can occur in the event of an accident.

[0016] During thermal runaway, temperatures inside the accumulator and / or the escaping gases and particles can reach very high levels very quickly. Temperatures can rise to over 500 °C within a very short time.

[0017] The term "accumulator housing" should be understood as follows in the context of a motor vehicle. The frame of the accumulator housing can also be part of the vehicle's body structure.

[0018] In an advantageous further development, the exterior of the accumulator housing refers to the area outside the motor vehicle or the external space, or in other words, the environment of the accumulator housing.

[0019] In a further training, at least one breakthrough incorporates a fire-resistant material, with the rupture disc being inserted into the fire-resistant material.

[0020] Various flame-retardant materials are available for potting battery housings, with the choice depending on factors such as cell type, protection level, processing requirements, and cost. Epoxy resins, polyurethanes, and silicones can be advantageous base materials. Flame retardants such as halogenated or halogen-free compounds, phosphoric acid derivatives, or metal hydroxides can be added to these materials.

[0021] In an advantageous further development, the base plate is coated over its entire surface with the fire-retardant material.

[0022] In an advantageous further development, at least one interior surface of the recording room is coated with the fire-retardant material. The coating may also be applied only partially to the respective interior surface.

[0023] In a further development step, the rupture disc penetrates the flame-retardant material. In other words, the rupture disc, or degassing valve, connects the intake chamber to the outer chamber of the battery housing. The underride guard is located in the outer chamber of the battery housing.

[0024] In an advantageous further development, the base plate is designed as a battery tray for at least one accumulator.

[0025] According to the invention, the rupture disc is designed as a foam. The foam is advantageous in that it can be easily compressed in an accident situation and does not exert any mechanical force on the at least one accumulator.

[0026] According to the invention, the foam is a PU swelling foam.

[0027] Polyurethane expanding foam (PU expanding foam), also known as cold foam, is an elastic foam made from polyurethane. It is characterized by its open-cell structure, which gives it its special properties. Unlike other PU foams (such as viscoelastic foam or rigid foams), it is not baked with heat, but rather through chemical reactions involving the addition of water. The resulting CO2 drives the reaction and creates the open-cell structure.

[0028] In a training course, the foam is applied as a foam insert. This allows prefabricated foams to be shaped by die-cutting and quickly applied during production without waiting for drying times.

[0029] In an advantageous further development, the foam insert can be designed as a stamped part or as a molded part. This allows for pre-assembly.

[0030] In a further training course, the foam inserter is trained in multiple layers.

[0031] According to the invention, various PU swelling foams are layered and incorporated to form the bursting disc or the degassing valve.

[0032] In a further training, the foam insert includes a gas-tight layer or the foam insert is glued into the degassing valve using PU expanding foam.

[0033] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a battery with a degassing device according to at least one of the preceding embodiments.

[0034] The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a battery with a degassing device for a motor vehicle according to one of the foregoing embodiments, comprising the following method steps: In a first process step, an accumulator housing is provided, the accumulator housing comprising a degassing valve. In a second process step, a PU expanding foam is introduced into the degassing valve or the base plate to form a bursting disc, or a foam insert is introduced into the degassing valve or the base plate to form a bursting disc. In an advantageous further development, the degassing valve is potted or injected with a flame-retardant material.

[0035] The invention is described below by way of example only, with reference to the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic degassing device for a motor vehicle according to one embodiment of the invention; and Fig. Figure 2 schematically shows a motor vehicle comprising a battery with a degassing device, according to an embodiment of the invention and; Fig. Figure 3 shows a method for manufacturing a battery with a degassing device for a motor vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0036] Fig. Figure 1 shows a degassing device 100 for a motor vehicle 200, comprising an accumulator housing 110 with a cover 111, a base plate 112 and a surrounding frame 113, wherein the frame 113 is arranged between the cover 111 and the base plate 112, thereby defining a receiving space 120 for at least one accumulator 130, wherein the at least one accumulator 130 comprises a cell valve 131 and the accumulator housing 110 comprises at least one degassing valve 114, wherein the degassing valve 114 is configured to discharge hot gas and / or particles from inside the receiving space 120 to outside the accumulator housing, wherein the degassing valve 114 comprises or is configured as a rupture disc 115, and wherein each degassing valve 114 is connected to each cell valve 131 of the at least one accumulator 130 adjoins, with the base plate 112 comprising at least one opening 116,wherein the burst disc 115 is inserted into the at least one opening 116 and seals the receiving chamber 120 against the environment of the accumulator housing 110.

[0037] In at least one opening 116 a fire-resistant material 117 is inserted, wherein the bursting disc 115 is inserted into the fire-resistant material 117 and seals the receiving space 120 against the environment of the accumulator housing 110.

[0038] The bursting disc 115 penetrates the flame-retardant material 117, whereby in the event of a burn-through or melting of the bursting disc 115, a degassing channel can be formed between the receiving chamber 120 and an outer area of ​​the accumulator housing 110.

[0039] Below the accumulator housing 110 is an underride guard 140.

[0040] Fig. Figure 2 shows a motor vehicle 200 comprising a battery with a degassing device 100.

[0041] Fig. Figure 3 shows a method for manufacturing a battery with a degassing device 100 for a motor vehicle 200 according to one of the above further developments, comprising the following process steps:

[0042] In a first process step, an accumulator housing is provided, wherein the accumulator housing 110 includes a degassing valve 114, S1.

[0043] In a second process step, a PU swelling foam is introduced into the degassing valve 114 or the base plate 112 of the accumulator housing 110 to form a rupture disc 115 or Inserting a foam insert into the degassing valve 114 or the base plate 112 of the accumulator housing 110 to form a burst disc 115, S2.

[0044] The invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Within the scope of the invention, all described and / or drawn features can be combined with one another as desired, unless otherwise stated. Reference sign 100 Degassing device 110 accumulator housings 111 lids 112 Base plate 113 frames 114 Degassing valve 115 Burst disc 116 Breakthrough 117 Fire-retardant material 120 recording room 130 accumulator 131 Cell valve 140 Underride protection S1 - S2 process steps

Claims

Degassing device (100) for a motor vehicle (200), comprising an accumulator housing (110) with a cover (111), a base plate (112), and a surrounding frame (113), wherein the frame (113) is arranged between the cover (111) and the base plate (112), thereby defining a receiving space (120) for at least one accumulator (130), wherein the at least one accumulator (130) comprises a cell valve (131) and the accumulator housing (110) comprises at least one degassing valve (114), wherein the degassing valve (114) is configured to discharge hot gas and / or particles from within the receiving space (120) into an exterior area of ​​the accumulator housing, wherein the degassing valve (114) comprises or is configured as a rupture disc (115), and wherein a degassing valve (114) is connected to each cell valve (131) of at least one accumulator (130), wherein the base plate (112) includes at least one opening (116),wherein the rupture disc (115) is inserted into the at least one opening (116) and seals the receiving space (120) against the outside of the accumulator housing (110), wherein the rupture disc (115) is designed as a foam, wherein the foam is a PU expanding foam, wherein different PU expanding foams are layered and form the rupture disc (115). Degassing device (100) for a motor vehicle (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that a flame-retardant material (117) is inserted into the at least one opening (116), wherein the bursting disc (115) is inserted into the flame-retardant material (117). Degassing device (100) for a motor vehicle (200), according to claim 2, characterized in that the bursting disc (115) penetrates the flame-retardant material (117). Degassing device (100) for a motor vehicle (200), according to claim 1, characterized in that the foam is applied as a foam insert. Degassing device (100) for a motor vehicle (200), according to one of claims 1 or 4, characterized in that the foam insert is multi-layered. Degassing device (100) for a motor vehicle (200), according to one of claims 1 or 4, characterized in that the foam insert comprises a gas-tight layer or the foam insert is glued into the degassing valve (114) by means of a PU swelling foam. Motor vehicle (200), comprising a battery with a degassing device (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims. Method for manufacturing a battery with a degassing device for a motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising the following method steps: - providing an accumulator housing (110), wherein the accumulator housing (110) comprises a degassing valve (114), (S1); - introducing a PU expanding foam into the degassing valve (114) or the base plate (112) to form a rupture disc (115), (S2); or - introducing a foam insert into the degassing valve (114) or the base plate (112) to form a rupture disc (115), (S2).

Images