Battery Module Buffering Space for Thermal Runaway Gas Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery modules lack sufficient safety measures to prevent the spread of flames and high-temperature gas from a single cell explosion, which can damage adjacent devices and pose a risk to human life.

Innovation Solution

A battery module design featuring a buffering space with partition members and a coupling member that forms a movement path, allowing gas and flame to move through a controlled path, reducing pressure and temperature, and includes adjustable components to accommodate various capacities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a battery module includes a plurality of battery cells to increase capacity, then the energy storage capability is improved, but the risk of fire spread and explosion damage to adjacent devices increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery cell capacityVSAvoidfire spread risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The battery module is divided into multiple independent battery cell compartments separated by partition members. Each partition member includes a movement path with a coupling member that has a movement space, creating segmented channels that restrict the spread of flames and high-temperature gas between adjacent battery cells while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling member acts as an intermediary element between partition members, providing a controlled movement path with a movement space that allows selective passage of gas and flame. This intermediary structure enables the system to manage the harmful effects of thermal runaway by directing and limiting the spread path rather than completely blocking it.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Power

If high-temperature gas and flame are emitted from a battery cell explosion, then the energy release is increased, but the damage to other battery modules and adjacent devices increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy releaseVSAvoidgas ejection damage

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The movement path with the coupling member and movement space converts the harmful high-temperature gas and flame emission into a controlled flow path. The movement space allows the gas and flame to pass through a restricted channel that reduces their temperature and pressure, transforming the harmful thermal energy into a less dangerous state before discharge to the external environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling member's movement space changes the physical parameters of the emitted gas and flame by forcing them through a restricted path. This causes pressure drop and temperature reduction as the hot gas expands and cools while passing through the movement space, thereby reducing the damaging potential of the emission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If partition members are added to create movement paths, then the safety against fire spread is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire safetyVSAvoidmodule structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The partition member and coupling member are merged into an integrated structure where the coupling member is positioned between partition members to form a unified movement path system. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies assembly while maintaining the fire safety function of creating controlled movement paths between battery cells.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12525681B2Battery module, battery pack, and vehicle

Publication Date: 2026.01.13 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD

AI summary

A battery module includes a cell assembly including a plurality of battery cells, a lower case having an open upper portion and including an accommodating space, an upper case coupled to the lower case and including a connection hole to communicate with the accommodating space, an upper cover coupled to the upper case, forming a buffering space between the upper cover and the upper case by being spaced apart from the upper case, and including a discharge hole perforated such that the buffering space communicates with the outside, a partition member located in the buffering space to form a movement path extending from the connection hole to the discharge hole, and a coupling member located on the movement path, configured to be coupled to the partition member, and including a movement space formed by perforating a body of the coupling member.