Aerogel Insulation Sheets for Secondary Battery Module Thermal Runaway Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Secondary battery modules face challenges in preventing heat transfer and ignition propagation between battery cells, leading to potential thermal runaway and explosions, especially due to the generation of heat during charging and discharging.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of aerogel insulation sheets with 80-90% silica particles and nano-sized pores, along with an adhesion tape having a higher thermal conductivity, to block heat transfer between battery cells, while maintaining a lightweight and compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional MICA insulation sheets are used between battery cells, then heat transfer blocking is provided, but the module weight increases and insulation performance is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses aerogel, a porous material with extremely low density and exceptional insulation properties, to replace traditional MICA sheets. The porous structure of aerogel provides superior heat transfer blocking while significantly reducing the weight of the insulation sheets and overall module weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite insulation sheets made from aerogel particles combined with binding agents. This composite structure maintains the excellent insulation properties of aerogel while providing structural integrity and ease of manufacturing, achieving both lightweight design and effective heat transfer blocking.
2Reliability
If insulation sheet thickness is increased to improve heat transfer blocking, then insulation performance improves, but the module volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
Aerogel's unique porous structure provides extremely high insulation performance per unit thickness. The patent leverages this property to achieve effective heat transfer blocking with thin insulation sheets, thereby preventing thermal runaway propagation without significantly increasing module volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from traditional MICA to aerogel, which has fundamentally different thermal conductivity properties. This parameter change enables achieving the same insulation performance with much thinner sheets, thus maintaining compact module volume while ensuring safety.
3Reliability
If aerogel insulation sheets are used to reduce weight and improve insulation, then safety and lightness are enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite aerogel sheets that combine aerogel particles with binding agents, making the material easier to handle and manufacture compared to pure aerogel. This composite structure maintains the lightweight and safety benefits while improving manufacturability through standard sheet production processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the thickness parameter of aerogel sheets to balance insulation performance, weight reduction, and manufacturing feasibility. By selecting an appropriate thickness range, the patent achieves effective heat transfer blocking without excessive complexity in manufacturing and assembly processes.
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
The use of aerogel insulation sheets effectively reduces thermal conductivity by approximately 20% compared to traditional MICA sheets, preventing heat propagation and enhancing safety by suppressing thermal runaway and ignition, thus ensuring the module's lightness and safety.
Implementation Method 1
the insulation sheets including aerogel for blocking heat transfer between the plurality of battery cells
Data Source
AI summary
A secondary battery module includes a plurality of battery cells aligned in one direction, a plurality of insulation sheets between the plurality of battery cells, the insulations sheets including aerogel for blocking heat transfer between the plurality of battery cells, and a housing fixing the battery cells and the insulation sheets. The secondary battery module may prevent or retard generation of heat or ignition from a cell within the module from propagating to adjoining cells.