Battery Cell Spacer and Vent Layout for Fire Spread Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Energy storage modules face challenges in preventing fires from spreading due to their design, which makes extinguishing fires within them difficult, posing safety risks.
Innovation Solution
The energy storage module incorporates a configuration with battery cells arranged such that their long side surfaces face each other, with insulation spacers having heat-insulating and flame-retardant materials between them, and a fire extinguishing system that emits a fire extinguishing agent when a certain temperature is reached, to suppress ignition and rapidly extinguish fires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If battery cells are arranged in close proximity to maximize energy density, then productivity and space utilization are improved, but fire spread risk increases due to reduced separation distance
Solution Approach 1:
Insulation spacers are introduced as intermediary components between adjacent battery cells. These spacers include a heat-insulating first sheet and flame-retardant second sheets that act as mediators to block heat transfer and flame propagation while allowing the battery cells to maintain close proximity for high energy density
Solution Approach 2:
The insulation spacer combines multiple materials with different functions: a heat-insulating first sheet (such as ceramic paper or aerogel) and flame-retardant second sheets (such as MICA paper) are adhered together to create a composite structure that simultaneously provides thermal insulation and flame resistance
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional insulation materials are used between battery cells, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but fire suppression effectiveness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The insulation spacer uses a composite structure combining heat-insulating first sheet and flame-retardant second sheets adhered together, providing enhanced fire suppression effectiveness while maintaining ease of manufacture through a modular design that can be easily assembled between battery cells
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the insulation system have different properties: the first sheet provides heat insulation at the interface with battery cells, while the second sheets provide flame retardancy on the outer surfaces, creating a locally optimized fire protection system
3Reliability
If fire extinguishing agents are applied continuously, then fire suppression effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fire extinguishing system operates periodically rather than continuously: the extinguisher sheet remains inactive during normal operation and only activates when temperature exceeds the reference temperature, thereby suppressing fire effectively while minimizing energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses temperature as a triggering parameter: when the temperature exceeds the reference temperature, the extinguisher sheet activates to emit fire extinguishing agent, and when temperature returns to normal, activation stops, creating an energy-efficient responsive fire suppression system
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 reduces the risk of fire spread and enhances safety by rapidly extinguishing and cooling battery cells when a fire occurs, thereby preventing ignition and heat propagation to adjacent cells.
Implementation Method 1
each of the insulation spacers including a heat-insulating first sheet and a plurality of flame-retardant second sheets
Implementation Method 2
each of the insulation spacers including a heat-insulating first sheet and a plurality of flame-retardant second sheets
Implementation Method 3
an extinguisher sheet between the top cover and the top plate, the extinguisher sheet being configured to emit a fire extinguishing agent at a temperature exceeding a reference temperature
Implementation Method 4
the extinguisher sheet being configured to emit a fire extinguishing agent at a temperature exceeding a reference temperature
Data Source
AI summary
An energy storage module includes: a plurality of battery cells such that long side surfaces of adjacent ones of the battery cells face one another; a plurality of insulation spacers, at least one of the insulation spacers being between adjacent battery cells, each of the insulation spacers including a heat-insulating first sheet and a plurality of flame-retardant second sheets respectively adhered to opposite surfaces of the first sheet by an adhesion member; a cover member including an internal receiving space configured to accommodate the battery cells and the insulation spacers; a top plate coupled to the cover member and including ducts respectively corresponding to vents of the battery cells and having fire extinguishing agent openings respectively corresponding to the insulation spacers; a top cover coupled to the top plate and having discharge openings respectively corresponding to the ducts; and an extinguisher sheet between the top cover and the top plate.