Traction Battery Degassing Control for Cooler Gas Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
In traction batteries, hot gases emitted during cell outgassing can cause uncontrolled rupturing of the battery housing or damage to other cells due to excessive temperature, and existing degassing elements do not effectively manage gas routing to prevent this.
Innovation Solution
A traction battery system with a sensing system and control unit that localizes cell outgassing and actuates degassing elements to route gases through the battery housing as a cooling path, keeping the nearest degassing element closed and the farthest one open, maximizing cooling and reducing exit temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If degassing elements are opened immediately to conduct hot gases away, then gas discharge efficiency is improved, but the gas stream temperature remains excessively high causing damage risk
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit delays opening the degassing element until the sensing system detects thermal runaway conditions. This preliminary detection and delayed action ensures gases are discharged only when necessary, preventing premature discharge while maintaining safety. The system prepares to discharge gases but waits for confirmed thermal runaway before activating the degassing element.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery housing interior serves as an intermediary cooling chamber between the battery cells and the external environment. Hot gases are conducted through this intermediate space, allowing heat dissipation to the housing structure before gases exit. This mediator approach reduces gas temperature without requiring direct cooling mechanisms.
2Loss of time
If the nearest degassing element is opened for quick gas discharge, then response time is improved, but cooling effect is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Different degassing elements are positioned at different distances from battery cells, creating local variations in cooling effectiveness. The control unit selects which element to open based on the specific thermal runaway location, optimizing the balance between response time and cooling effect for each scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects which degassing element to open based on real-time detection of thermal runaway location and conditions. Rather than using a fixed opening strategy, the control unit adapts its decision to maximize both response time and cooling effectiveness for each specific incident.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple degassing elements are opened to increase discharge capacity, then gas discharge capability is improved, but cooling path length is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The battery housing is divided into multiple zones with strategically positioned degassing elements. Rather than opening all elements simultaneously, the control unit selectively opens specific elements based on thermal runaway location, creating segmented discharge paths that optimize both capacity and cooling for each scenario.
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 approach effectively cools the gas stream within the battery housing, reducing the risk of damage from excessive temperature when gases exit, thereby preventing uncontrolled rupturing and protecting other cells.
Implementation Method 1
the interior of the battery housing serves as cooling path for the hot stream of gas
Implementation Method 2
the stream of gas within the battery housing has to travel a certain distance before the stream of gas can escape to the environment
Data Source
AI summary
A traction battery for a motor vehicle includes a plurality of battery cells which are electrically connected to one another, a battery housing which houses the battery cells, several degassing elements for conducting gas away out of the battery housing in the case of a cell outgassing, a sensing system for localizing the cell outgassing, and a control unit which, in the case of a cell outgassing, actuates the degassing elements such that the degassing element situated nearest the cell outgassing remains closed and one or more of the degassing elements that are farther away from the cell outgassing is/are opened.