Battery Cell Sleeve Structure for Cooling and Thermal Runaway Inhibition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing assembled batteries face challenges in efficiently dissipating heat during ordinary use and preventing thermal runaway during abnormalities, with complex designs and materials that are ineffective in inhibiting heat transfer between battery cells.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves covering each battery cell with a flameproof material and a heat dissipation member, such as a tubular body, which inhibits heat transfer and efficiently radiates heat, using materials with high thermal conductivity and optionally elastic members to absorb deformations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a metallic block composed of vertically separated parts with heat insulator is used to hold battery cells, then the structure provides mechanical support, but heat dissipation efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical supportVSAvoidheat dissipation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The metallic block is divided into multiple independent small blocks, each holding individual battery cells. This segmentation eliminates the need for heat insulators between vertically separated parts while maintaining mechanical support, and allows heat to dissipate directly from each cell to its own metallic block without thermal resistance barriers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The metallic block serves as a direct thermal intermediary between the battery cells and the external environment. By making the small blocks integrally connected rather than separated, the thermal conduction path is optimized, allowing efficient heat transfer from cells through the metallic material to the surrounding air.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If vertically separated metallic blocks with heat insulator are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but heat transfer inhibition between battery cells is ineffective

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidheat transfer between cells
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Heat insulating members are selectively placed only in the horizontal gaps between adjacent small blocks, not in vertical separations. This localized insulation approach effectively blocks heat transfer between battery cells held by different small blocks while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The heat insulation strategy shifts from vertical dimension (separating blocks vertically with insulators) to horizontal dimension (placing insulating members in horizontal gaps between blocks). This dimensional change effectively inhibits heat transfer between adjacent cells while simplifying the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Temperature

If complex design changes are made to the battery case, then heat dissipation may be improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipationVSAvoiddesign complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The small metallic blocks serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide mechanical support for battery cells, act as heat dissipation components through their high thermal conductivity, and function as structural elements of the battery case. This multi-functionality improves heat dissipation without requiring separate dedicated cooling structures or complex design changes.

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

This configuration effectively inhibits heat transfer and prevents thermal runaway, allowing for easy fabrication without complex design changes, ensuring the battery cells are efficiently cooled and protected.

Implementation Method 1

a heat dissipation member 8 made of, for example, a metal or carbon and having a high thermal conductivity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a flameproof material 4 covering a peripheral surface of the battery cell 2

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP4287372B1Assembled battery and battery pack
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 IBIDEN CO LTD
  • EP4287372B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4287372B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4287372B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Provided are an assembled battery and battery pack which are easy to design and assemble, and are capable of inhibiting the occurrence of thermal runaway by inhibiting the propagation of heat between battery cells and efficiently cooling the battery cells during normal operations and abnormal operations. Battery cells (2) each have an electrode surface (2a) having an electrode (3) and an outer peripheral surface (2b), which is the surface orthogonal to the electrode surface (2a). The battery cells (2) respectively have the outer peripheral surfaces (2b) disposed so as to face each other, and are connected in series or in parallel via an electrode (3) and a connector (not shown), etc. The outer peripheral surface of the battery cell (2) is covered with a flame proof material (4) and the outer peripheral surface of the flame proof material (4) is further covered with a heat dissipating member (8), thereby forming an assembled battery (10). The heat dissipating member (8), for example, is a tubular body that is open on both ends thereof, and covers the battery cell (2) and the outer peripheral surface of the flame proof material (4).