Battery Cover Element Shielding Terminals from Thermal Runaway
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery systems in electric vehicles face damage from venting products during thermal runaway, which can cause short circuits and chain reactions due to hot and toxic gases and conductive solid matter depositing on live parts within the same housing.
Innovation Solution
A battery system with an electrically and thermally insulating cover element that shields electrode terminals and connecting means from venting products, directing them into a venting channel to prevent deposition on live parts and reduce thermal propagation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If battery cells are enclosed in a common housing to provide structural protection and thermal control, then structural integrity and thermal management are improved, but the housing becomes vulnerable to damage from venting products during thermal runaway events
Solution Approach 1:
The internal housing space is segmented into a protected first region containing live parts and an exposed second region containing battery cells. This segmentation allows venting products to be contained in the second region while keeping the first region safe, resolving the contradiction between providing structural protection and preventing damage from venting products.
Solution Approach 2:
A cover element acts as an intermediary barrier between the battery cells and the live parts. This cover element is selectively permeable to venting products, allowing them to pass through while blocking conductive solid matter. The intermediary protects the live parts from harmful venting products while maintaining the benefits of a common housing structure.
2Ease of operation
If electrode terminals and connecting means are exposed for electrical connectivity, then electrical function is improved, but they become vulnerable to short circuits from conductive solid matter deposition
Solution Approach 1:
The cover element serves as an intermediary that selectively blocks conductive solid matter from reaching the electrode terminals and connecting means while allowing venting gas to pass through. This maintains electrical connectivity by keeping live parts accessible while preventing short circuits by filtering out harmful conductive particles.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover element provides localized protection specifically at the region where electrode terminals and connecting means are located. The selective permeability is applied locally at the cover element rather than throughout the entire housing, allowing electrical connectivity in protected areas while blocking harmful deposits only where needed.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If thermal management system is integrated into the housing to dissipate heat, then thermal control efficiency is improved, but heat from venting products can propagate to neighboring cells
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into regions with different thermal management requirements. The first region with live parts is thermally isolated from the second region where hot venting products are directed. This segmentation prevents thermal propagation to neighboring cells while maintaining efficient thermal control in each zone through dedicated cooling channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover element acts as a thermal intermediary that blocks heat transfer from venting products to the live parts and neighboring battery cells. It allows venting gas to pass through while providing thermal insulation, thus preventing thermal runaway propagation while maintaining thermal management efficiency.
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
Prevents arcing and short circuits by isolating live parts from venting products, reducing the risk of thermal runaway propagation and battery system damage.
Implementation Method 1
an electrically and thermally insulating cover element covering the electrode terminals and the connecting means
Implementation Method 2
an electrically and thermally insulating cover element covering the electrode terminals and the connecting means
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure refers to a battery system (10) for an electric vehicle, comprising a plurality of battery cells (12) and a battery housing (30) enclosing the plurality of battery cells (12), wherein the battery cells (12) are interconnected with one another via electrical connecting means (18, 19) contacting electrode terminals (16) of the battery cells (12), characterized by an electrically and thermally insulating cover element (20) covering the electrode terminals (16) and the connecting means (18, 19) so that the electrode terminals (16) and connecting means (18, 19) are shielded from venting products exiting one or more of the battery cells (12) towards the battery housing (30) in case of a thermal runaway.