Battery Electrode Stack Bracket Passageways for Thermal Runaway Venting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery cell designs lack effective mechanisms to manage gas pressure and facilitate gas release during thermal runaway events, posing risks to the battery's integrity and safety.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of brackets within the battery cell enclosure that define passageways for gas to flow through, supporting the electrode stack and directing gas to a vent for release when pressure exceeds a threshold, thereby preventing damage from excessive pressure buildup.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a bracket is introduced to support the electrode stack, then mechanical support and structural stability are improved, but gas flow path obstruction may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural supportVSAvoidgas flow obstruction

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket is designed with a porous or perforated structure that contains multiple openings or channels. This allows the bracket to maintain its mechanical support function while simultaneously enabling gas flow through its structure, thus resolving the contradiction between providing structural strength and preventing gas flow obstruction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The bracket structure is segmented into multiple sections with distributed openings rather than a solid continuous structure. This segmentation allows gas to pass through multiple pathways while the remaining structural elements maintain the necessary mechanical support for the electrode stack.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If the bracket structure is made solid for strength, then mechanical support is improved, but gas pressure relief capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebracket strengthVSAvoidpressure relief

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket incorporates a porous structure with controlled porosity that provides both mechanical strength and gas permeability. The porous architecture allows the material to maintain structural integrity while enabling gas flow paths for pressure relief during thermal runaway events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The bracket may utilize composite material construction that combines structural components for strength with permeable components for gas flow. This composite approach allows optimization of both mechanical support and pressure relief functions simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Stability of the object's composition

If no gas flow path is provided through the bracket, then structural integrity is maintained, but thermal runaway gas management deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebracket integrityVSAvoidgas pressure buildup

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket employs a porous structure that maintains overall structural integrity while providing interconnected pathways for gas flow. The porous architecture ensures that the bracket remains stable and supportive while actively managing gas pressure by allowing controlled flow through its structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The bracket acts as an intermediary structure between the electrode stack and the external environment. Its porous structure serves as a medium that both supports the electrical components and facilitates gas transport, mediating between structural requirements and safety requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution effectively manages gas pressure during thermal runaway events by allowing controlled gas release, enhancing the safety and integrity of the battery cell.

Implementation Method 1

a vent configured to open to release gas out from within the enclosure when pressure within the enclosure exceeds a threshold

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure threshold activation: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

the bracket defining at least one passageway through the bracket configured to allow gas to flow through the bracket to the vent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas flow through passageways: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS20250323374A1Battery electrode stack bracket configured to permit gas flow therethrough

Publication Date: 2025.10.16 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A battery cell including: an enclosure; a stack of anode electrodes and cathode electrodes within the enclosure; a vent configured to open to release gas out from within the enclosure when pressure within the enclosure exceeds a threshold; and a bracket within the enclosure supporting the stack, the bracket defining at least one passageway through the bracket configured to allow gas to flow through the bracket to the vent.