Anisotropic Composite Heat Conduction Plate for Battery Thermal Runaway
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium battery modules face thermal runaway diffusion issues due to poor thermal conductivity in existing phase change materials, leading to prolonged cooling times and safety risks in electric vehicles, where thermal runaway can cause combustion and explosions.
Innovation Solution
A multilayer anisotropic heat conduction structure with composite heat conduction plates, consisting of heat conduction and insulation layers, is introduced between battery cells and modules to control heat transmission and dissipation, preventing thermal runaway diffusion and enhancing safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If phase change material is used for thermal management, then thermal insulation is improved, but heat dissipation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal management system is segmented into distinct functional zones: phase change material layers for thermal insulation and heat absorption, and heat dissipation fins for active heat rejection. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the battery pack are assigned different thermal properties. The phase change material provides high thermal insulation where needed, while heat dissipation fins provide high thermal conductivity in critical heat rejection zones. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between insulation and dissipation.
2Reliability
If thermal insulation is enhanced to prevent thermal runaway diffusion, then safety is improved, but cooling time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat dissipation fins act as an intermediary thermal management component between the battery cells and the external environment. They facilitate controlled heat transfer, enabling safety through thermal isolation while maintaining acceptable cooling times through enhanced heat rejection surfaces.
3Productivity
If thermal conductivity is increased to improve heat dissipation, then cooling efficiency is improved, but thermal runaway prevention capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal management system operates in multiple dimensional scales: micro-scale phase change material for localized thermal isolation between cells, and macro-scale heat dissipation fins for overall system cooling. This multi-dimensional approach enables simultaneous heat dissipation efficiency and thermal runaway prevention.
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 composite heat conduction structure effectively insulates heat from spreading to neighboring cells, controlling thermal runaway within a single unit cell and reducing the risk of module-wide thermal runaway, thereby extending battery life and ensuring user safety.
Implementation Method 1
The composite heat conduction plate is located within the battery module casing, contacted with the battery module casing, and sandwiched between at least two of the unit cells as a heat transmission medium between the cells and the casing
Implementation Method 2
The composite heat conduction plate is a multilayer anisotropic heat conduction structure constituted by at least one heat conduction layer and at least one heat insulation layer
Data Source
AI summary
A protection structure for preventing thermal dissipation and thermal runaway diffusion in battery system is provided. The protection structure includes a battery module casing and at least one composite heat conduction plate. There is a plurality of unit cells disposed in the battery module casing. The composite heat conduction plate is located within the battery module casing, contacted with the battery module casing, and sandwiched between at least two of the unit cells as a heat transmission medium between the cells and the casing to control heat transmission among the cells. The composite heat conduction plate is a multilayer anisotropic heat conduction structure constituted by at least one heat conduction layer and at least one heat insulation layer.