Battery Module Energy-Drain Circuit to Contain Fire Propagation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Secondary battery packs lack a device to prevent fire or explosion propagation to adjacent modules in case of an emergency, posing safety risks, especially in automotive applications.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design incorporating a plurality of modules with an event detector, a resistor, a switch, and a controller to absorb energy from abnormal modules, and partitions with cooling functions to prevent fire propagation and manage heat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If battery modules are arranged closely to increase energy density, then productivity and space utilization are improved, but fire propagation risk to adjacent modules increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is divided into multiple independent battery modules, each equipped with its own event detector and protection circuitry. When an abnormal event occurs in one module, the system can isolate that specific module from adjacent modules through switches, preventing fire propagation while maintaining close arrangement for high energy density.
Solution Approach 2:
Event detectors and protection circuits serve as intermediary components between battery modules. These intermediaries detect abnormal conditions (temperature, voltage, current) and activate protection mechanisms such as switches to disconnect affected modules, thereby preventing fire spread without requiring physical separation of modules.
2Temperature
If cooling systems are added to monitor and control temperature, then thermal management is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The event detector serves multiple functions: it monitors temperature, voltage, and current conditions, and triggers protection mechanisms when abnormalities are detected. This multi-functional approach provides comprehensive thermal management without adding separate dedicated cooling systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection circuit automatically detects abnormal conditions and activates switches to isolate affected modules without requiring external intervention. The system self-manages thermal safety through automated detection and response, reducing the need for complex external control systems.
3Reliability
If protection circuits and switches are added to each module, then safety and reliability are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Event detectors and protection circuits are pre-installed in each battery module before assembly. The switches are configured in advance to connect modules to protection circuits, enabling immediate response to abnormal conditions without requiring complex real-time decision-making or additional wiring during operation.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If event detectors and protection systems are implemented, then fire propagation prevention is improved, but manufacturing precision and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each battery module is designed as an independent unit with its own event detector and protection circuitry already integrated. This segmentation allows each module to be manufactured and tested separately with standardized assembly procedures, reducing the overall manufacturing precision requirements compared to integrating all protection systems into a single complex unit.
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
Effectively prevents fire or explosion propagation to adjacent modules by draining energy from abnormal modules and cooling the affected area, enhancing safety in battery packs, particularly in vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
a resistor connectable to the plurality of battery modules to absorb energy from the at least one abnormal battery module
Implementation Method 2
Each of the partitions may be provided as a cooling plate having a channel along which cooling water flows, and disposed in contact with at least one surface of one of the plurality of battery modules
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack includes a plurality of battery modules arranged along at least one direction, a resistor connected to an abnormal battery module that operates abnormally among the battery modules to absorb energy, an event detector provided to detect the abnormal battery module, a switch to connect or disconnect each of the battery modules to/from the resistor to selectively form a closed circuit, and a controller to receive information from the event detector and control the switch to form a current path between the abnormal battery module and the resistor.