Battery Case Venting With Flame Extinguishing at Thermal Runaway

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery designs discharge both high-temperature gas and flame through a discharge hole, reducing safety performance as the flame poses a threat to the battery and the apparatus it powers.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a fire extinguishing member at the discharge hole to extinguish and cool the flame, allowing safe discharge of gases while maintaining atmospheric pressure balance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a discharge hole is provided on the box to discharge high-temperature gas and flame produced by thermal runaway, then the gas can be discharged efficiently, but flame is also discharged which reduces safety performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas discharge efficiencyVSAvoidflame discharge
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The discharge hole is divided into two functional zones: an outer circumferential region with fire extinguishing members for flame suppression, and an inner central region for gas discharge. This segmentation allows simultaneous achievement of flame extinction and efficient gas venting without mutual interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Fire extinguishing members are introduced as intermediary elements positioned at the discharge hole periphery. These members intercept and extinguish flame before it exits the box, while allowing high-temperature gas to pass through the central discharge region. The intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by selectively treating different components of the discharge flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the fire extinguishing member covers a part of the discharge hole, then flame can be extinguished quickly, but gas discharge may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflame extinguishing effectivenessVSAvoidgas discharge efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The fire extinguishing member is positioned only at the outer periphery of the discharge hole rather than covering the entire opening. This local quality approach concentrates flame suppression capability where flame typically contacts first (at the periphery), while leaving the central region open for unrestricted gas discharge. The localized positioning optimizes both flame extinction and gas flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of completely blocking the discharge hole with fire extinguishing members, only a partial coverage at the periphery is implemented. This partial action is sufficient to intercept and extinguish flame (which tends to concentrate at edges), while maintaining adequate open area for gas discharge. The partial coverage avoids excessive restriction of gas flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Stability of the object's composition

If the discharge hole is fully opened for gas discharge, then atmospheric pressure balance is maintained, but flame can escape to threaten safety

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveatmospheric pressure balanceVSAvoidflame escape
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Fire extinguishing members are positioned as intermediary elements at the discharge hole periphery to intercept flame while allowing gas to pass through to the external environment. This intermediary structure maintains the open discharge pathway needed for pressure balance while blocking the harmful flame component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful flame component is selectively extracted and removed from the discharge flow at the periphery, while the beneficial gas discharge function is preserved through the central opening. The fire extinguishing members extract and neutralize the flame, separating it from the overall discharge process and allowing safe gas venting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 fire extinguishing member effectively prevents flame discharge, ensuring safety by extinguishing the flame twice and maintaining pressure balance, thus enhancing battery and apparatus safety.

Implementation Method 1

the fire extinguishing member can release a fire extinguishing agent to extinguish the flame for cooling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFire extinguishing agent cooling: Cooling

Data Source

PatentEP4064440B1Box, battery, and apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 JIANGSU CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECH LTD
  • EP4064440B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4064440B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4064440B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A case body (21), a battery (20), and an apparatus (100). The case body (21) is provided with a discharge hole (215) used to discharge flames generated in the interior of the case body (21) when a battery cell (22) experiences a thermal runaway. The case body (21) is further provided with a fire extinguishing member (23) used to extinguish the flames passing through the discharge hole (215) and perform cooling. In the invention, a discharge hole (215) and a fire extinguishing member (23) are arranged on a case body (21), such that the fire extinguishing member (23) can release a fire extinguishing agent to extinguish flames passing through the discharge hole (215) generated when a battery cell (22) experiences a thermal runaway and perform cooling, thereby preventing the flames from being discharged from the interior of the case body (21) via the discharge hole (215), and improving safety performance of a battery (20).