Battery Pack Bridge Member Layout for Thermal Runaway Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs face challenges in effectively controlling temperature, particularly in high-temperature environments, which can lead to performance deterioration, risk of explosion, and thermal runaway.
Innovation Solution
The battery pack incorporates a plurality of battery modules spaced apart by a predetermined distance, with a bridge member made of heat conductive material that receives heat from one battery module and transfers it to adjacent modules, effectively distributing and storing heat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a large number of secondary batteries are included in the battery pack to increase capacity and output, then the battery pack's energy storage and power delivery improve, but heat accumulation increases and temperature control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is divided into multiple battery modules, each with its own cooling channels. This segmentation allows heat to be managed at the module level, preventing heat accumulation in specific high-density regions while maintaining overall high capacity through the combination of multiple modules.
Solution Approach 2:
A cooling medium (such as coolant flowing through cooling channels or air passing through spaced regions) acts as an intermediary to transfer heat away from the battery modules. This mediator enables effective heat dissipation from the high-density battery configuration without requiring direct contact between batteries and heat sinks.
2Volume of stationary object
If battery modules are placed close together to maximize space utilization, then the battery pack density improves, but heat dissipation becomes insufficient and thermal runaway risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the battery pack are designed with different thermal management characteristics. Battery modules are positioned with specific spacing in high-heat-generation areas, while maintaining higher density in lower-heat regions. This local differentiation of spacing quality allows high overall density while ensuring thermal safety in critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
Cooling channels and heat dissipation pathways are pre-configured within the battery module structures before operation. The spacing and cooling infrastructure are designed in advance to handle maximum expected heat generation, preventing thermal runaway before it can occur rather than responding after heating begins.
3Reliability
If cooling structures are added to the battery pack to improve temperature control, then thermal safety improves, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The battery module housing structure serves multiple functions: it contains the battery cells, provides structural support, and incorporates cooling channels for thermal management. By making the housing multi-functional, the cooling system is integrated into the existing structure rather than added as a separate complex subsystem, reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system utilizes changes in the physical parameters of a cooling medium (such as temperature and pressure changes of coolant or air flow) to manage heat. By leveraging these natural parameter changes and convection/ conduction principles, the system achieves effective cooling without requiring complex active control mechanisms, maintaining simplicity while improving temperature control.
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 temperature control within the battery pack, prevents thermal runaway, and improves safety by quickly distributing or storing heat generated from abnormal situations.
Implementation Method 1
a bridge member made of heat conductive material that receives heat from one battery module and transfers it to adjacent modules, effectively distributing and storing heat
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack can include a plurality of battery modules having a first battery module and a second battery module, each battery module including a plurality of secondary batteries that are sequentially stacked, and a bridge member extending from the first battery module to the second battery module, and having a mounting portion disposed on first surfaces of the first and second battery modules and an insertion portion disposed between second surfaces of the first and second battery modules. The first surfaces of the first and second battery modules can be adjacent to the second surfaces of the first and second battery modules.