Battery System Absorption Element for Liquid Leak Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery systems are not equipped to effectively manage the discharge of a liquid temperature-control medium in the event of an accident, leading to potential short circuits and damage due to the medium's conductivity and inability to absorb large amounts of fluid within the closed battery housing.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an absorption element made of nonwoven material with a mix of supporting and absorption fibers, arranged between the battery cells and housing, to absorb and bind the discharged liquid temperature-control medium, enhancing the system's crash behavior and reducing the risk of damage such as short circuits and fires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a liquid temperature-control medium is used to cool and/or heat the battery cells, then the thermal management efficiency is improved, but the risk of short circuit and damage in case of accident increases due to leakage and discharge of the temperature-control medium
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an absorption element as an intermediary component between the temperature-control system and battery cells. This absorber material captures and retains the temperature-control medium in case of leakage, preventing direct contact between the conductive liquid and battery cells, thereby eliminating the short circuit risk while maintaining thermal management functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The absorption element is pre-positioned within the battery housing before any accident occurs. This beforehand cushioning measure ensures that if leakage happens, the absorber is already in place to immediately capture the discharged medium, preventing harmful effects before they can occur
2Quantity of substance
If conventional absorption materials are used to bind discharged temperature-control medium, then some absorption capacity is provided, but the ability to bind large amounts of medium and prevent damage is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite absorption element made from multiple fiber types (cellulose fibers, synthetic fibers, and optionally carbon fibers) combined in specific proportions. This composite structure synergistically provides both high absorption capacity for large volumes of liquid and structural integrity to maintain positioning and prevent damage, overcoming the limitations of conventional single-material absorbers
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 absorption element's elastic properties and high absorbent capacity effectively manage the discharge of the temperature-control medium, preventing undesired flows and electrochemical reactions, thereby enhancing the operational safety and structural integrity of the battery system.
Implementation Method 1
an absorption element configured to receive the liquid temperature-control medium and arranged spatially between the battery cells and the battery housing
Implementation Method 2
a nonwoven material having an average area-related mass of from 250 to 700 g/m2 with at least two different fibre types, at least one of the fibre types being a supporting fibre and at least one other of the fibre types being an absorption fibre
Data Source
AI summary
A battery system having at least one battery cell, an absorption element, and a temperature-control system having a liquid temperature-control medium configured to cool and/or heat the battery cells in a battery housing, and a motor vehicle having such a battery system.