Alternating Battery Cell Contact Members for Thermal Runaway Isolation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In battery units, thermal runaway in one cell can cause heat transfer to adjacent cells through conductive materials, leading to increased temperatures and potential burnout due to inadequate heat isolation between cells.
Innovation Solution
A battery unit design featuring alternating first and second members with convex portions that contact every other battery cell, reducing heat transfer between adjacent cells by thermal conduction, while maintaining effective cooling through a heat transfer medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a thermally conductive material is provided between battery cells and cooling part to uniformly cool battery cells, then cooling uniformity is improved, but heat transfer between adjacent battery cells increases causing thermal runaway propagation
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling part is divided into multiple independent cooling units, each corresponding to a specific battery cell. Each cooling unit has its own cooling channels and is thermally isolated from adjacent cooling units by heat insulating members, enabling independent cooling control for each cell while preventing thermal runaway propagation.
Solution Approach 2:
Heat insulating members are introduced as intermediary elements between adjacent cooling units. These members have low thermal conductivity and prevent heat transfer between adjacent battery cells through the cooling part, while still allowing each cooling unit to effectively cool its corresponding battery cell.
2Productivity
If battery cells are arranged closely to increase energy density, then productivity is improved, but heat isolation between cells deteriorates increasing thermal runaway risk
Solution Approach 1:
Heat insulating members are placed between adjacent battery cells or between adjacent cooling units to provide thermal isolation. These members allow close arrangement of battery cells for high energy density while preventing heat transfer that could lead to thermal runaway propagation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system provides localized cooling to each battery cell through independent cooling units. Each cooling unit is positioned to cool a specific battery cell, allowing effective heat dissipation while maintaining close cell arrangement for high energy density.
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
This design minimizes heat transfer between adjacent battery cells during thermal runaway, preventing temperature increases and reducing the risk of adjacent cell burnout, thereby enhancing safety and allowing for reduced spacing between cells.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling part that cools the plurality of battery cells by exchanging heat between the plurality of battery cells and a heat transfer medium
Implementation Method 2
heat is barely transferred between adjacent battery cells
Data Source
AI summary
This battery unit includes: a plurality of battery cells arranged side by side in a prescribed direction; a cooling part that cools the plurality of battery cells by exchanging heat between the plurality of battery cells and a heat transfer medium; first members which are disposed between the plurality of battery cells and the cooling part and each of which has a plurality of first protrusions formed so as to make contact with every other cell of the plurality of battery cells in the prescribed direction; and second members which are disposed between the plurality of battery cells and the cooling part and each of which has a plurality of second protrusions formed so as to make contact with the cells, among the plurality of battery cells, which are not in contact with the first members in the prescribed direction.