Battery Cell Bracket Venting for Faster Thermal Runaway Pressure Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
The reliability of battery cells is hindered by slow gas exhaustion rates during thermal runaway, leading to a high risk of burning and explosion, which affects the stability and reliability of batteries.
Innovation Solution
A bracket design with abutting portions and gas passage gaps forms exhaust channels that facilitate rapid pressure relief by guiding generated gas to an explosion-proof valve, enhancing exhaustion capability and reducing the risk of explosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional bracket design is used without abutting portions, then the structure is simpler, but the gas exhaustion capability is poor leading to slow pressure relief
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is segmented into multiple functional portions: a bracket body, a first abutting portion that abuts the electrode assembly to form a first exhaust channel, and a second abutting portion that abuts the housing to form a second exhaust channel. This segmentation creates multiple dedicated exhaust pathways that improve gas evacuation efficiency during thermal runaway while maintaining a relatively simple overall bracket structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust channels are formed by utilizing the thickness dimension of the bracket body. The first abutting portion protrudes from the first side toward the electrode assembly, while the second abutting portion protrudes from the second side toward the housing, creating three-dimensional exhaust pathways that extend through the bracket thickness, thereby improving exhaust capability without significantly increasing the bracket's planar footprint.
2Reliability
If the distance between the bracket and electrode assembly is small, then the device is more compact, but the exhaust channel length is insufficient reducing exhaustion capability
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket design incorporates protruding abutting portions that dynamically define the exhaust channel geometry. The first abutting portion extends toward the electrode assembly and the second abutting portion extends toward the housing, creating variable-length exhaust channels that can be optimized for gas flow without requiring a uniformly large distance between components. This dynamic geometric definition allows efficient exhaust channels within a compact overall volume.
3Reliability
If multiple gas passage gaps are provided on the bracket, then the pressure relief timeliness is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas passage system is segmented into multiple independent gaps: a first gas passage gap extending through the first side and second side of the bracket, and a second gas passage gap extending through the first side and second side at a different position. These segmented gaps provide multiple parallel gas flow pathways that improve pressure relief timeliness. The gaps can be formed as simple through-holes or slots, maintaining relatively easy manufacturability through conventional machining or molding processes.
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 design improves the timeliness of pressure relief, reduces the risk of battery cell explosions, and enhances the stability and reliability of batteries by shortening infiltration times and improving electrolyte solution flow efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the exhaust hole and the end portion of the electrode assembly jointly form a first exhaust channel... generated gas may first enter the first exhaust channel, then pass through the bracket through the exhaust hole, and finally may be discharged from the explosion-proof valve, to implement rapid pressure relief
Implementation Method 2
a gas passage gap that extends through the first side and the second side is provided in a circumferential direction of the bracket, the gas passage gap and the housing jointly form a gas passage channel, and the gas passage channel is in communication with the first exhaust channel
Implementation Method 3
during injection, an electrolyte solution may flow to the electrode assembly through the gas passage gap, to shorten infiltration time and improve infiltration efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A battery cell, a battery, a power-consuming apparatus, and a bracket are disclosed. The battery cell includes a housing with an explosion-proof valve, an electrode assembly disposed within the housing, and a bracket. The bracket includes a body having a first side and a second side opposite each other, and an exhaust hole positioned to align with the explosion-proof valve. A first abutting portion is arranged on the first side to abut an end portion of the electrode assembly, such that the exhaust hole and the end portion form a first exhaust channel. The design enhances gas exhaust capability, reduces the risk of combustion or explosion, and mitigates impact on adjacent cells, thereby improving battery reliability and stability.