Battery Module Cover Venting for Thermal Runaway Containment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Batteries used in vehicles, industries, and homes face safety issues due to the spread of fire and gas when a specific battery module or cell experiences thermal runaway, necessitating effective venting mechanisms to prevent flame spread while ensuring gas discharge.

Innovation Solution

A battery module cover with a cover plate and insulating sheet featuring venting portions composed of cut lines and non-cut portions, made from fire-resistant materials, facilitates controlled gas and flame discharge during thermal runaway.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the battery pack is sealed to protect battery cells from external environment, then protection performance is improved, but gas and flame spread between modules is facilitated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection performanceVSAvoidgas and flame spread
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The battery pack is divided into multiple independent modules, each module being a separate containment unit. This segmentation allows fire and gas to be confined within the affected module while other modules remain protected, preventing cascading failures across the entire battery pack.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Fire-resistant barriers and heat insulation materials are introduced as intermediary layers between adjacent battery modules. These materials act as mediators that block heat transfer and flame propagation while allowing the battery pack to remain sealed for environmental protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If venting holes are added to the battery module cover to enable gas discharge, then gas venting is improved, but flame spread to adjacent modules is facilitated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas dischargeVSAvoidflame spread
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The venting structure is designed with localized fire-resistant barriers and heat insulation materials positioned strategically around the venting holes. This creates different functional zones: the venting holes allow gas discharge, while the surrounding fire-resistant materials prevent flame propagation, achieving both gas venting and flame containment simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If fire-resistant materials and heat insulation materials are used in the battery module cover, then flame containment is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflame containmentVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery module cover integrates multiple functions into a single component: structural protection, fire resistance, heat insulation, and venting. By merging these functions into one integrated cover structure rather than using separate components, the design achieves flame containment while minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 fire spread to adjacent modules or cells while allowing smooth gas venting, enhancing safety by containing and managing thermal events within battery packs.

Implementation Method 1

an insulating sheet provided between the cover plate and battery cells, and having a venting portion formed at a point corresponding to each of the through holes of the cover plate, the venting portion including a pair of cut lines and a non-cut portion provided between the pair of cut lines

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas venting through cut lines:

Implementation Method 2

A battery module cover according to the present disclosure includes a cover plate covering one side of a battery module, and an insulating sheet provided between the cover plate and battery cells

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFire resistance:

Data Source

PatentEP4693678A1Battery module cover and battery pack, and vehicle including same
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4693678A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4693678A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4693678A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Disclosed are a battery module cover including a cover plate covering one side of a battery module and having a plurality of through holes, and an insulating sheet provided between the cover plate and battery cells and having a venting portion formed at a point corresponding to each of the through holes of the cover plate, the venting portion including a pair of cut lines and a non-cut portion provided between the pair of cut lines, a battery pack, and a vehicle including the same.