Battery Cell Bundle Barrier Wall Gas Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery cell configurations face challenges in effectively managing thermal runaway, as gas generated during overheating or ignition is not efficiently discharged, leading to spread of heat and flames between adjacent cells, complicating electrical connections and increasing the risk of thermal runaway in battery packs.

Innovation Solution

A battery cell bundle design featuring a support member with barrier walls, a cover member, and venting members to direct gas discharge, along with an internal busbar for simplified electrical connectivity, and a heat transfer member for enhanced cooling, all contributing to a stable and efficient gas management system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If battery cells are stacked without a module housing to form a cell stack directly installed on the pack housing, then energy density of the battery pack is increased, but thermal runaway risk increases due to inadequate gas discharge pathways

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy densityVSAvoidthermal runaway risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support member is divided into multiple installation spaces by barrier walls, with each space accommodating individual battery cells. This segmentation allows independent gas discharge for each cell through dedicated venting members, preventing thermal runaway propagation while maintaining high energy density through direct cell-to-pack configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support member acts as an intermediary structure between the battery cells and pack housing. It provides barrier walls that compartmentalize cells and venting members that facilitate controlled gas discharge, thereby managing thermal runaway risk without requiring a traditional module housing that would reduce energy density.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If gas discharge pathways are not provided in the battery cell configuration, then manufacturing is simpler, but thermal runaway spreads between adjacent cells through uncontrolled gas release

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidthermal runaway containment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support member combines multiple functions: structural support for battery cells, compartmentalization through barrier walls, and gas discharge through integrated venting members. This merging of functions provides thermal runaway containment without adding separate complex safety systems, maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If barrier walls are added to the support member to create installation spaces, then thermal runaway is contained, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal runaway containmentVSAvoidsupport member structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support member is designed as a universal component that simultaneously provides mechanical support, thermal containment through barrier walls, and gas discharge pathways via venting members. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving thermal runaway containment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 delays or reduces thermal runaway by swiftly discharging gases and heat, improving electrical connectivity and cooling efficiency, thereby enhancing the safety and performance of battery packs.

Implementation Method 1

a first venting member at a position between adjacent first battery cells and between adjacent second battery cells disposed in the installation spaces

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas discharge:

Implementation Method 2

a heat transfer member for enhanced cooling

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS20230084013A1Battery cell bundle and battery cell assembly including the same

Publication Date: 2023.03.16 SK ON CO LTD

AI summary

A battery cell bundle includes a support member including at least one barrier wall including first and second sides; a plurality of first battery cells disposed on the first side of the at least one barrier wall; a plurality of second battery cells disposed on the second side of the at least one barrier wall; a cover member surrounding at least a portion of an outer portion of the plurality of first and second battery cells, and coupled to the support member such that the cover member and the support member define an internal space; and a panel member covering ends of the internal space, wherein the internal space is divided into a plurality of installation spaces by the at least one barrier wall, and wherein the first and second battery cells are disposed in each of the installation spaces.