Battery Cooling Conduit Melted by Vent Gas Jet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery systems face issues with false triggering of extinguishing systems due to abnormal surface temperatures during normal operation, leading to irreversible damage and increased installation space and weight, which can result in thermal runaway and battery fires.
Innovation Solution
A battery system with a conduit means that is melted only by a vent-gas jet, positioned at a distance from the vent holes to avoid false triggering, and integrated into the cooling circuit to minimize installation space, using a gas or liquid extinguishing agent released upon melting, ensuring the extinguishing system operates only during abnormal operation conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the conduit means is positioned close to the vent holes for rapid response, then the response speed is improved, but the installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the conduit means with the cooling circuit structure. The conduit is integrated into the existing cooling circuit components, such as the cooling plate or housing, eliminating the need for separate conduit routing and reducing overall installation space while maintaining rapid response capability through close positioning to vent holes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the cooling circuit structure serve dual functions: thermal management during normal operation and fire suppression during abnormal conditions. The cooling plate or housing structure that provides cooling also houses the extinguishing agent reservoir and conduit, eliminating the need for dedicated fire suppression components and reducing total system volume.
2Device complexity
If the conduit means is integrated into the cooling circuit to minimize installation space, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of the extinguishing system may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The melting element serves as a reliable intermediary that ensures the extinguishing system is triggered only under appropriate conditions. Even though the conduit is integrated into the cooling circuit, the melting element provides a distinct and reliable trigger mechanism that prevents premature or failed activation, maintaining high reliability while achieving system integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the thermal energy from the battery cell itself to trigger the extinguishing mechanism. The heat from the battery cell directly causes the melting element to melt, which in turn activates the extinguishing agent release. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for separate sensors, control systems, or power sources, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing complexity.
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 reduces false triggering and minimizes installation space requirements, ensuring the extinguishing system operates only during abnormal conditions, thereby enhancing protection against thermal runaway and battery fires while maintaining energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the conduit means is positioned such that it is hit by a vent-gas jet emitted by any of the vent holes of the plurality of aligned battery cells and is further configured to be melted by the vent-gas jet
Implementation Method 2
an evaporator that is in thermal contact with the at least one plurality of aligned battery cells and that is configured for causing an incombustible or flame-retardant coolant to absorb heat from the plurality of aligned battery cells
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a battery system (100) that comprises at least one plurality of aligned battery cells (80) arranged in a first direction (y). Each of the battery cells (80) comprises a vent hole (88). The battery system (100) further an extinguishing system (60) with a reservoir (61) for an extinguishing agent and at least one conduit means (62) for conducting the extinguishing agent, wherein the conduit means (62) is positioned such that it is hit by a vent-gas jet emitted by any of the vent holes (88) of the plurality of aligned battery cells (80) and wherein the at least one conduit means (62) is configured to be melted by the vent-gas jet. The invention further relates to a cooling circuit (70) for a battery system (100) comprising at least one plurality of aligned battery cells (80), each of the battery cells (80) comprising a vent hole (88). The cooling circuit (70) comprises a conduit means (72) configured for conducting an incombustible or flame-retardant coolant and an evaporator (71) that is in thermal contact with the a first plurality (91) of aligned battery cells (80) and that is configured for causing the coolant to absorb heat from the first plurality of aligned battery cells (80). The conduit means (72) is positioned such that it is hit by a vent-gas jet emitted by any of the vent holes (80) of the first plurality (91) of aligned battery cells (80) and is configured to be melted by the vent-gas jet.