Battery Box and Air Duct Layout for Thermal Runaway Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to increase the energy density of energy storage devices by maximizing the number of battery cells while ensuring effective thermal management to prevent thermal runaway and improve safety performance.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves arranging the battery box and electrical box side by side, with an air duct assembly between them to facilitate heat transfer, allowing the thermal management system to exchange heat efficiently and reduce the risk of thermal runaway, thereby increasing the available space for more battery cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the number of battery cells is increased to improve energy density, then the energy density of the energy storage device is improved, but the thermal management difficulty increases and the risk of thermal runaway increases
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage device is divided into multiple independent battery boxes, each containing a limited number of battery cells. This segmentation isolates thermal risks within individual boxes while allowing the overall system to achieve high energy density through parallel arrangement of multiple boxes. The electrical box is also separated into distinct modules for better thermal management.
Solution Approach 2:
Air duct assemblies are introduced as intermediary thermal management components between battery boxes and the external environment. These air ducts enable efficient heat dissipation from battery cells without requiring direct contact with cooling systems, thereby improving thermal management safety while accommodating more battery cells.
2Quantity of substance
If the battery box and electrical box are arranged side by side to increase available space, then the energy density is improved, but the heat transfer from electrical box to battery box increases thermal runaway risk
Solution Approach 1:
Air duct assemblies are positioned between the battery box and electrical box to serve as thermal intermediaries. These air ducts facilitate controlled heat exchange, allowing the electrical box to dissipate heat efficiently while preventing uncontrolled thermal transfer to the battery box. The air ducts create a buffered thermal zone that reduces thermal runaway risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal management function is extracted from the direct contact between battery box and electrical box. By using separate air duct assemblies for thermal management, the harmful direct heat transfer is eliminated while maintaining the beneficial side-by-side arrangement for space optimization.
3Reliability
If the air duct assembly is used to exchange heat and cool the electrical box, then the thermal management effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as a thermal management component for heat exchange, acts as a structural separator between battery box and electrical box, and provides a pathway for airflow. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while improving thermal management effectiveness.
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 configuration enhances energy density by accommodating more battery cells, effectively cools the electrical box, and improves safety by preventing thermal runaway, thus meeting international standards and reducing weight and cost.
Implementation Method 1
The heat transfer gas exchanges heat for the electrical box through the air duct assembly, thereby removing the heat in the electrical box in time, cooling the electrical box effectively
Data Source
AI summary
An energy storage device includes a battery box, an electrical box, and an air duct assembly. The battery box includes a first box body, a plurality of battery cells, and a thermal management assembly, where the plurality of battery cells and the thermal management assembly are accommodated in the first box body, and the thermal management assembly is configured to provide a heat transfer gas. The electrical box is arranged alongside the battery box. The electrical box includes a second box body and an electrical assembly disposed in the second box body. The electrical assembly is electrically connected to the battery cells to exercise electrical control on the battery box. At least a part of air ducts of the air duct assembly is located between the first box body and the second box body to separate the first box body from the second box body.