Degassing system for an electric vehicle battery pack

The degassing system for electric vehicle battery packs addresses the risk of thermal runaway by capturing and delaying gas releases within a retention collector, ensuring occupant safety by providing time to evacuate and reducing combustion risks through gas cooling.

WO2025109130A1PCT designated stage expired Publication Date: 2025-05-30AMPERE SAS
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Patent Information

Application Number
PCT/EP2024/083211
Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2023-11-22
Filing Date
2024-11-22
Publication Date
2025-05-30

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Despite precautionary measures, the risk of excessive heating and thermal runaway in electric vehicle battery packs cannot be completely eliminated, posing a risk to vehicle occupants and requiring effective degassing systems to manage gas releases and prevent combustion.

Method used

A degassing system featuring a retention collector with a buffer volume and selectively opening passages with relief valves, designed to capture and delay the release of gases from electrochemical cells, thereby reducing the risk of ignition and providing occupants with sufficient time to evacuate.

Benefits of technology

The system effectively delays the release of hot gases into the atmosphere, allowing vehicle occupants at least five minutes to leave the vehicle in case of a degassing event, and reduces the risk of thermal runaway by cooling the gases before release.

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Abstract

The invention relates to a degassing system configured to manage a possible release of gas from a plurality of electrochemical cells (2) of an electric vehicle battery, the degassing system comprising a retention collector (1) that generally hermetically delimits a buffer volume (V1), the retention collector comprising, facing each cell, an opening forming part of a passage with selective opening (PS) between an interior volume of the cell and the buffer volume (V1), each cell comprising a first relief valve (3), configured to make the interior volume of the cell communicate with the retention collector in the event of an overpressure inside the cell, the degassing system comprising at least one second downstream relief valve (4) arranged on a wall of the retention collector, configured to make the buffer volume communicate with the ambient air in the event of an overpressure inside.
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Description

DESCRIPTION TITLE OF THE INVENTION: Degassing system for an electric vehicle battery pack The present invention relates to a degassing system for an electric vehicle battery pack, and a vehicle comprising such a system. The battery of an electric vehicle comprises electrochemical cells grouped together in a unit called a 'pack' in the trade. The most common traction batteries in electric vehicles are lithium-ion batteries. There are several types of these, including NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt), LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate / LifePo4), and others. [0 Each electrochemical cell contains chemical elements hermetically contained within a cell envelope. It cannot be excluded that one (or more) lithium-ion battery cell(s) may be subject, in certain circumstances, to excessive heating which causes an internal release of gas and an increase in the pressure prevailing inside the cell envelope. Each electrochemical cell therefore has, in order to limit the increase in the internal pressure of the cell and thus avoid any risk of incident, a gas discharge device also called a relief valve here. When said discharge device opens, gases present inside the cell envelope escape; these gases are also very hot in the circumstances in question. This phenomenon is called "degassing" of the cell here. Moreover, it turns out that in practice the risk of a phenomenon called "thermal runaway" cannot be completely eliminated.

[0007] This phenomenon of thermal runaway, also called "thermal runaway" in the trade, occurs when an electrochemical cell reaches too high a temperature and begins to burn while communicating sufficient heat energy to neighboring cells to increase the temperature of neighboring cells so that they too begin to burn, which gradually leads to the destruction of the battery. [0 On motor vehicles, all precautionary measures are taken to avoid at all costs an unwanted inflammatory or incandescent event for the entire vehicle, including the battery. To this end, electric and electrified motor vehicles are equipped with high-performance cooling systems to cool the electrochemical cells of their batteries. Regarding the battery, it is also planned to limit the load applied to the battery if the temperature approaches a predefined threshold (this is called voluntary performance capping, also known as 'derating').

[0010] Despite all the appropriate precautions taken, the risk of excessive heating in a cell of the battery pack with degassing, or even local heating which spreads to neighboring cells with possible thermal runaway, cannot be completely excluded.

[0011] If such an event were to occur, even if it is of extremely low probability, the battery monitoring system ('BMS') is configured to detect it. in order to alert the occupants of the vehicle in question in time, so that they can take all relevant and appropriate actions in view of the situation.

[0012] It is requested that the occupants of the vehicle in question be given time to leave the vehicle if an event of the aforementioned type occurs. The time that the vehicle occupants must have is at least five minutes. Document US2022149477 discloses a solution that proposes a baffle system to channel gases emanating from a cell in a degassing situation. The passage of gases through the baffle system lowers the temperature and reduces the risk of ignition. However, the release of gases into the atmosphere, although slowed, is not substantially delayed in time.

[0015] The inventors sought to improve the situation, in particular to delay or delay the effect of heating or even degassing of one or more cells.

[0016] For this purpose, a degassing system is provided configured to manage a possible release of gas from a plurality of electrochemical cells (2) of an electric vehicle battery, the degassing system comprising a retention collector (1) generally hermetically delimiting a buffer volume (V1), the retention collector comprising opposite each cell an opening (12) forming part of a selectively opening passage between an interior volume of the cell and the buffer volume, each cell comprising a first discharge valve (3) with an opening directed towards the retention collector, configured to communicate the interior volume of the cell with the retention collector in the event of pressure inside the cell greater than a first threshold, through the selectively opening passage,the degassing system comprising at least one second relief valve (downstream of the first valve) arranged on a wall of the retention collector, configured to communicate the buffer volume with the ambient air in the event of pressure inside the retention collector exceeding a second threshold.,

[0017] Thanks to these provisions, the retention manifold allows the gases emanating from a cell to be kept captive in a degassing situation. It is only from the moment when several cells have degassed in the retention manifold that the accumulation of gases in the retention manifold generates an increase in the pressure in the retention manifold and the second relief valve can then open to release gas into the atmosphere. Expressed differently, the retention collector makes it possible to substantially delay in time the occurrence of the release, into the atmosphere, of degassing gases emanating from the cells. If a small number of cells vent, the retention manifold can contain the venting gases without time limit. Advantageously, the retention collector also allows the temperature of the gases to be lowered before any possible release into the atmosphere, this limits any potential risks of combustion.

[0021] A possible outgassing phenomenon of the first cell is detected and known to the battery management computer which can issue an alert to the vehicle occupants. The vehicle occupants then have the time to leave the said vehicle before a possible second, third, (or even more) electrochemical cells in turn degas in the particular case of a runaway battery pack which ends up causing the opening of the second discharge valve, and therefore degassing into the atmosphere. [0 According to one embodiment, the buffer volume represents a volume greater than three times the internal volume of a cell, preferably greater than five times the internal volume of a cell. Whereby the retention manifold can accommodate the gases resulting from a degassing of a problematic cell, without the second relief valve opening. Depending on the volumes degassed by the cells, and the opening pressure thresholds of the second relief valve, the retention manifold can accommodate the gases resulting from a degassing of several problematic cells. The release of hot and potentially toxic gases is thus delayed / deferred, which allows time for the vehicle occupants to move away.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the buffer volume represents a volume greater than 20 liters, and preferably greater than 30 liters. This is a substantial volume capable of storing a large quantity of gas emanating from a degassing cell. According to one embodiment, each selectively opening passage comprises a third valve interposed between the first relief valve and the buffer volume. As a result, the third valve is downstream of the first relief valve and an isolation airlock is formed between the first relief valve and the third valve, in the normal configuration, i.e. in their closed state. This isolation airlock makes it possible to prevent hot gases emanating from a problematic cell, after having filled the retention collector, from directly heating the mouth where the breakable membrane of a normally operating cell is located. This arrangement is therefore beneficial for preventing runaway or propagation of the problem from a problematic cell to other cells, via the buffer volume.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the first and / or second relief valves are of the breakable membrane type. This is a cheap and well-controlled solution. A breakable membrane is also a very reliable solution; it is not likely to jam, and it tears without a hitch as expected under a pressure differential across its faces, from a rupture point or rupture zone.

[0026] In one embodiment, the third valve is a breakable membrane or a check valve. In a normal initial configuration, this third valve remains closed and delimits the isolation airlock mentioned above. In the event of a pressure differential across its faces, the third valve opens. The third valve may typically have a lower trigger threshold than the first relief valve so that the third valve systematically opens if the first valve opens. The trigger threshold of the third valve may be adjusted to a third threshold chosen according to the respective volumes of cells and the retention collector.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the breakable membrane of the first relief valve has a breaking strength up to a first breaking strength threshold in response to a pressure difference, and the membrane breakable membrane of the second relief valve having a breaking strength up to a second breaking strength threshold in response to a pressure difference across its faces. The first and second breaking strength thresholds may be identical but, depending in particular on the volume available inside the retention manifold, the first and second breaking strength thresholds may be differentiated. The breakable membrane of the third relief valve has a breaking strength up to a third breaking strength threshold in response to a pressure difference across its faces. According to one embodiment, the retention collector comprises a main body and two end pieces forming a closure plate, the main body being obtained by extrusion, and the main body further comprises hollow channels resulting from extrusion and adapted to conduct cooling fluid. Thus, the cooling fluid intended to cool the electrochemical cells also cools the buffer volume and helps to lower the temperature of the degassed gases before they are discharged into the open air. [0 According to one embodiment, the retention collector is arranged, in a local vertical direction Z, under the plurality of electrochemical cells. The retention collector thus naturally forms the mechanical support on which the electrochemical cells rest.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the degassing system may further comprise, for each cell, a cell support, mounted on the retention collector, then acting as a base for the cell supports, each cell being mounted individually on a cell support. Each cell support provides a mechanical holding function for the cell that it frames.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the degassing system further comprises a connecting sleeve between each cell and the retention collector, associated with a cell support or forming part of the cell support. According to one embodiment, heat transfer is provided by means of angled strips adjacent to a slice of the cell housing. For each cell, the angled strips make it possible to exchange calories with the cell over a fairly large surface area as well as to exchange calories with the upper wall of the retention collector over a fairly large surface area, which provides good cooling efficiency. According to an alternative embodiment, the retention collector is arranged, in a local vertical direction Z, above the plurality of electrochemical cells. According to this configuration, the hot gases resulting from the degassing tend to be placed upwards in the interior volume of the retention collector, and they have less tendency to lick the first discharge valve of the other cells which are still operating normally.

[0035] The present invention also relates to a battery pack comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells, and a degassing system as described previously.

[0036] The present invention also relates to an electric or hybrid vehicle, comprising at least one degassing system as described previously.

[0037] The invention will be further detailed by the description of non-limiting embodiments, and on the basis of the appended figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which: - [Fig.1] illustrates a side view of an electric vehicle in which the present invention is implemented; - [Fig.2] represents a cross-sectional view of an example of a battery pack according to a first embodiment; - [Fig.3] illustrates a perspective view of an example of a retention collector; - [Fig.4] represents a cross-sectional view in exploded mode; - [Fig.5] illustrates a perspective view of an example of a retention collector with the cell supports mounted without the cells and without the cover; - [Fig.6] illustrates a perspective view of an example of a battery pack without the cover; - [Fig.7] illustrates a perspective view from below of the electrical connections between the cells; - [Fig.8] illustrates an exploded perspective view of an example of a cell support according to a first embodiment; - [Fig.9] shows in a detail view the area of ​​the connecting sleeve with the first relief valve and the third valve; - [Fig.10] represents a perspective view of a variant of the first embodiment with cell supports according to an alternative embodiment; - [Fig.11] illustrates a perspective view of an example of a cell support according to the embodiment variant of figure 10; - [Fig.12] illustrates a perspective view of a set of cell supports according to the embodiment variant of figure 10; - [Fig.13] represents a cross-section of an example of a battery pack according to the embodiment variant of figure 10; [Fig.14] represents a cross-sectional view of an example of a battery pack according to a second embodiment. In the various figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements. For reasons of clarity of the presentation, some elements are not necessarily shown to scale. It should be noted that the chemical elements contained inside the battery cells have not been shown in the figures. With reference to the figures, a battery pack 19 used in an electric vehicle is now described. The battery pack comprises electrochemical cells. For example, electrochemical cells are based on Lithium-Ion type electrochemistry. However, it should be noted that the presentation can be applied to any electrochemical variant of electrochemical cells for traction batteries of electric vehicles. Regarding the amount of energy stored in the battery pack, we are talking in practice about a significant amount of energy, several tens of kWh. A 100% electric vehicle battery has an energy storage capacity typically between 40 kWh and 100 kWh, depending on the target range, weight and consumption of the vehicle. The number of electrochemical cells can range from 20 to 200, without excluding a larger number. The battery pack 19 is installed in the vehicle floor area 9 shown here. The vehicle may be of any type, passenger car or commercial vehicle, e.g., sedan, station wagon, SUV, MPV, van, truck. Off-road vehicles, such as recreational vehicles, are also considered. Watercraft are also not excluded.

[0043] Advantageously, a degassing retention collector 1 is provided, arranged in the first embodiment below the electrochemical cells of the battery. The retention collector 1 may also be called a 'casing'. A battery management computer 92 is provided (this computer is called in the jargon of the profession BMS from the English Battery Management System), in charge of monitoring the operation of the battery to periodically calculate its state of charge, to isolate if necessary the battery pack from the rest of the high voltage electrical network of the vehicle, to monitor the temperature of the cells or cell modules and to cooperate with a cooling system in order to maintain the cells in an optimal temperature range. Turning to Figures 2 to 9, we now discuss the arrangement of the battery pack 19 according to a first embodiment. By convention, a motor vehicle moves in an orthogonal spatial reference frame comprising a longitudinal axis X in a direction of movement of the vehicle, a transverse axis Y perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X, and a vertical axis Z perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X and to the transverse axis Y, the vertical axis being directed from bottom to top. The three axes in question are represented in figures 2 and following.

[0047] The battery pack 19 comprises in the lower part the retention collector 1 already mentioned. On the retention collector are mounted cell supports 6. Each electrochemical cell 2 is mounted individually on a cell support 6. The cells are arranged in a row and are close to each other, but are not in direct contact with one or the other to avoid possible direct thermal conduction. In the non-limiting example illustrated in the figures, there are 20 cells arranged in two rows of 10 cells. Regarding the position of each electrochemical cell, we note that the electrical terminals, positive 22 and negative 23, are oriented downwards. Conversely, the bottom of the cell 20 is at the top. In other words, the cell is positioned upside down compared to a conventional position, with here its front interfacial face 21 oriented downwards. The electrochemical cells 2 are prismatic, i.e. generally parallelepiped in shape. A metal frame 29 is provided which runs along the entire edge of the cell, i.e. on the 4 short sides of the parallelepiped. The frame can itself be the casing which contains the internal elements of the cell or a specific part attached to a casing made of synthetic material, plastic. The thickness E2 in the X direction can be between 3 cm and 10 cm. The height H2 along the Z axis can be between 10 cm and 20 cm. The length L2 along the Y axis can be between 15 cm and 40 cm. The cell envelope delimits an internal cell volume marked V2. The internal volume of the cell contains electrode elements and an electrolyte (not shown in the figures).

[0056] The retention manifold 1 is a hollow part, made of extruded aluminum. The retention manifold 1 comprises hollow channels 34 produced by extrusion and adapted to channel cooling fluid. The retention collector 1 generally hermetically delimits a buffer volume V1. The retention manifold 1 comprises a main body 10 and two end pieces, a front end plate 15 and a rear end plate 16. The end plates form sealed closure plates hermetically joined to the main body 10 around the entire circumference of the closure plates, by welding or structural bonding. The main body 10 comprises a bottom wall 14, two side walls 13 and a top wall 11. The main body 10 is a good thermal conductor, therefore the thermal gradient between the temperature of the fluid which flows through the hydraulic channels 34 and the average temperature of the main body 10 of the retention collector 1 remains low. The cell support 6 comprises a horizontal sole 60 elongated along the axis Y6. Two uprights 61, 62 extend from the ends of the sole in the vertical direction to frame the cell. In the middle of each of the uprights 61, 62II is provided a vertical notch 69 whose utility will be seen later. The cell holder 6 may be made of light alloy, or may be made of synthetic polymer for example based on polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, PVC or other. In the middle of the horizontal sole 60, a core 65 is provided with a central bore 66 in which the sleeve 7 seen further on is received. In addition, support surfaces 63 are provided on which the cells 2 rest. The weight of the cells is taken up by these support surfaces 63 and transferred to the retention collector which thus forms a main base for the entire battery pack.

[0065] Recesses 64 are provided to leave space for the nuts 78 which allow the bus bars connecting the cells electrically to each other to be screwed on. For each cell, a selective opening passage PS is provided between the internal volume V2 of the cell and the buffer volume V1. For this purpose, a connecting sleeve 7 is also provided between each cell 2 and the retention collector 1. The connecting sleeve 7 may be part of the cell support 6. In the example illustrated, the connecting sleeve 7 is a separate part associated with the cell support 6. More precisely, the sleeve is inserted into the central bore 66 already described above. Referring to Figure 2, the connecting sleeve 7 shown on the left has axis Z1 and the connecting sleeve shown on the right has axis Z2. According to a particular option, the connection sleeve is metallic and acts as a heat pipe between the main body 10 of the retention collector and the metal casing or the cell frame 29.

[0070] As seen in Figure 8, an annular layer of thermal grease 71 is provided between the connecting sleeve 7 and the main body 10 of the retention collector, and in addition an annular layer of thermal grease 72 is also provided between the connecting sleeve 7 and the metal frame 29 which surrounds the edge of the cell.

[0071] The connecting sleeve 7 and the layers of thermal grease 71 together form a thermal bridge between the cell and the main body 10 of the retention collector.

[0072] Thanks to these provisions, in addition to the thermal conduction function, gas leaving the cell is prevented from escaping on the sides of the connection sleeve. All the gas escaping from the cell reaches the internal volume V1 of the retention manifold. According to an alternative embodiment, sealing rings may be provided instead of the aforementioned thermal grease, the sealing rings being made of a material which is a good thermal conductor. As visible in figures 3 and 9, the retention collector 1 comprises opposite each cell an opening 12 forming part of the selective opening passage PS between the interior volume of the cell V2 and the buffer volume V1.

[0075] Each cell comprises a first relief valve 3 with an opening directed towards the retention collector, i.e. downwards here. The first relief valve 3 is configured to communicate the interior volume of the cell with the retention collector in the event of pressure inside the cell exceeding a first threshold, through the selectively opening passage PS.

[0076] Referring to Figure 9, the first relief valve 3 comprises a breakable membrane 30. The breakable membrane 30 has a breaking strength up to a first breaking strength threshold in response to a pressure difference. A fixing ring 32 makes it possible to immobilize the relief valve 3 relative to the cell frame 29.

[0077] The degassing system comprises at least one second downstream relief valve 4 arranged on a wall of the retention collector. The second relief valve 4 is configured to communicate the buffer volume V1 with the ambient air in the event of pressure inside the retention collector exceeding a second threshold. The second relief valve 4 comprises a breakable membrane 40. The breakable membrane 40 has a breaking strength up to a second breaking strength threshold in response to a pressure difference.

[0079] The two breakable membranes 30,40 can be made of different plastic materials with a certain flexibility such as neoprene, Teflon™, but more generally any synthetic polymer such as polyamide, polyester, polyethylene. A membrane made of rubber or polyurethane is also possible. A membrane in the form of a thin metal sheet or a metal / plastic composite sheet can also be suitable. A membrane in the form of a thin aluminum sheet can also be suitable. Each of the breakable membranes 30,40 has a constant general thickness of between 0.1 mm and 2 mm, preferably between 0.2 mm and 1 mm depending on the material chosen. Advantageously, weakening lines are provided in the breakable membrane so as to control the breaking strength threshold. Once the breakable membrane has been ruptured, it remains open; the rupture phenomenon is non-reversible. According to one option, the second threshold can be equal to the first threshold. According to another option, the two thresholds are differentiated and chosen so as to obtain the desired confinement of gas in the internal volume of the retention manifold. In a side wall 13, a hole 47 with axis Y4 is provided to receive the second relief valve 4. It is noted that there could be several second relief valves in parallel to evacuate the gas included in the internal volume V1 of the retention manifold.

[0086] Each selective opening passage PS comprises a third valve 5 interposed between the first discharge valve 3 and the buffer volume V1. As illustrated in the detail view of Figure 9, the third valve 5 is downstream of the first relief valve 3. An isolation airlock marked Vsas is thus formed between the first relief valve 3 and the third valve 5, in the normal configuration, i.e. in their closed state. This Vsas isolation airlock prevents hot gases emanating from a problematic cell, after having filled the retention collector 1, from directly heating the wall of a normally operating cell. This arrangement is therefore favorable for preventing runaway through its closed membrane 30 and / or propagation of the problem from a problematic cell to other cells. In an illustrated example, the third valve 5 comprises a breakable membrane 50 which operates in a manner similar to the breakable membranes already described. In an alternative embodiment, the third valve may be formed as a check valve which allows gases to flow towards the buffer volume but not back towards the internal volume of the cell. Electrical connection bar buses 77 visible in Figure 7 are provided, and nuts 78 as known per se and therefore not described in detail here. To electrically connect a cell of the first row to a cell of the second row, the bus bar 77a passes through the aforementioned notch 69. [0 The channels 34 are in specific fluid communication with respective hydraulic fittings 35 (see Figure 3). It is noted that the end closure plates 15, 16 each have four holes 36. The holes 36 in the front and rear plates receive the hydraulic fittings. In Figure 2, it is noted that a cover 8 shown in dotted lines covers the plurality of cells. According to a particular embodiment, shims 84 are provided to constrain the cells 2 against the cell supports 6. Any other means of fixing the cells inside the battery pack is also considered in the context of the present invention. The cover 8 can be assembled by screwing onto the retention collector 1. Figure 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment essentially concerning the cell supports and the heat pipe function. Anything not described in the following paragraphs is considered similar or identical to what was described for the first embodiment and therefore not described again.

[0096] According to the variant shown in Figures 10 to 13, the heat pipe function is performed differently from that of the first embodiment. The cell holder marked 6' can fully contain the function of the connection sleeve without heat pipe function. For the thermal conduction function between the cell 2 and the retention collector 1, there are here right-angled strips 55, 56 adjacent to the edge of the housing. A first portion 87, arranged horizontally, is in thermal contact with the upper wall of the retention collector. A second portion 88, arranged vertically, is in contact with a rising side of a cell. The first and second portions are connected by an elbow 89. The 55, 56 angle strips are made of aluminum or any good thermally conductive metal alloy. The parts of the right-angled strip in contact with the cell 2 and in contact with the upper face 11 of the retention collector are coated with a thermal paste 82, 83. Each electrochemical cell 2 is framed on the one hand on the left side by a first right-angled strip 55, and on the other hand on the right side by a second right-angled strip 56.

[0102] As seen in Figure 11, the cell support marked 6' includes previous lower height lateral vertical uprights, but each upright, on the right and left side, includes two separate notches 75, 76.

[0103] Cleverly, the 2 square strips are not opposite each other but are offset along the longitudinal axis X. This allows, as visible in figures 12 and 13, to have in the intermediate zone between the two rows of cells, an alternation of the square strips, namely a square strip which holds the cell on the left then a square strip which holds the cell on the right, and so on. This gives a more compact physical integration, that is to say a single thickness of strip on the line marked 74 between the 2 rows of cells. Figure 14 illustrates a second embodiment in which the retention collector 1 is arranged above the cells (instead of below the cells in the first embodiment presented above). In other words, the assembly is reversed in the vertical direction.

[0105] In this second embodiment, the internal volume of the retention collector has, as in the first embodiment, a substantial volume. In practice, a buffer volume V1 of at least 20 liters, preferably at least 30 liters, is chosen.

[0106] The first relief valves 3 open upwards. The third relief valves 5 also open upwards if present.

[0107] The 34 hydraulic cooling channels remain below. [1 The second relief valve 4 is on the side and directed downwards, so that the discharge of potentially hot gases is directed towards the ground.

[0109] In Figure 14, the path of the gases from the inside of the cell to the open air is shown by the path illustrated in dotted lines marked F1. Generally, it should be noted that, in a single vehicle, several instances of the battery pack described above can be arranged one after the other along X, sharing the same hydraulic circuit along the X axis.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Degassing system configured to manage a possible release of gas from a plurality of electrochemical cells (2) of an electric vehicle battery, the degassing system comprising a retention collector (1) generally hermetically delimiting a buffer volume (V1), the retention collector comprising opposite each cell an opening (12) forming part of a selectively opening passage (PS) between an interior volume of the cell and the buffer volume (V1), each cell comprising a first discharge valve (3) with an opening directed towards the retention collector, configured to communicate the interior volume of the cell with the retention collector in the event of pressure inside the cell greater than a first threshold, through the selectively opening passage, the degassing system comprising at least one second downstream discharge valve (4) arranged on a wall of the retention collector,configured to communicate the buffer volume with the ambient air in the event of pressure inside the retention collector exceeding a second threshold., 2. Degassing system according to claim 1, in which the buffer volume represents a volume greater than three times the interior volume of a cell, or greater than five times the interior volume of a cell.

3. Degassing system according to any one of claims 1 to 2, in which each selectively opening passage comprises a third valve (5) interposed between the first discharge valve and the buffer volume.

4. Degassing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first and / or second relief valves are of the breakable membrane type.

5. A degassing system according to claim 3, wherein the third valve is a breakable membrane (50) or a non-return valve.

6. A degassing system according to claim 4, wherein the breakable membrane (30) of the first relief valve (3) has a breaking strength up to a first breaking strength threshold in response to a pressure difference, the breakable membrane (40) of the second relief valve (4) has a breaking strength up to a second breaking strength threshold in response to a pressure difference.

7. A degassing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the retention collector comprises a main body (10) and two parts end (15,16), the main body being obtained by extrusion and the main body further comprises hollow channels (34) resulting from extrusion and adapted to conduct cooling fluid.

8. Degassing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the retention collector is arranged, in a local vertical direction (Z), under the plurality of electrochemical cells.

9. Degassing system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising, for each cell, a cell support (6), mounted on the retention collector then acting as a base for the cell supports, each cell being mounted individually on a cell support.

10. A degassing system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a connecting sleeve (7) between each cell and the retention manifold, the connecting sleeve being associated with a cell support or forming part of the cell support.

11. Degassing system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which thermal transfer is provided by means of angled strips (55, 56) adjacent to a slice of the cell housing.

12. Degassing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the retention collector is arranged, in a local vertical direction Z, above the plurality of electrochemical cells.

13. Battery pack comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells, and a degassing system according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. Electric or hybrid vehicle, comprising the degassing system according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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