Battery Drum Foil Vents for Gas Release Without Water Ingress

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drums for transporting and storing batteries, particularly lithium batteries, are prone to spontaneous ignition due to the development of combustible gases, which can lead to explosions, and plastic inner bags used for containment can also ignite, posing a risk of fire.

Innovation Solution

A drum with a lid featuring venting openings and a foil covering these openings, which allows gas escape while preventing water ingress, and includes a flame-retardant material to manage heat and flames, eliminating the need for plastic inner bags.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the drum is closed off to prevent water ingress and contain batteries, then protection against water and containment is improved, but the risk of explosion due to combustible gas accumulation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against water ingressVSAvoidexplosion risk from gas accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A foil is placed over the venting opening to prevent water ingress while allowing combustible gases to escape. The foil acts as a selective barrier that blocks liquid water but permits gas permeation, resolving the contradiction between water protection and gas venting requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The foil functions as a porous or permeable material that allows gas molecules to pass through while blocking larger liquid water molecules. This selective permeability enables simultaneous water protection and gas venting, addressing the harmful effect of gas accumulation without compromising water ingress protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Reliability

If plastic inner bags are used to contain batteries, then protection against short-circuits is improved, but the risk of spontaneous ignition increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against short-circuitsVSAvoidspontaneous ignition risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the plastic inner bag from the system, replacing it with a foil covering the venting opening. This removes the harmful property of spontaneous ignition associated with plastic while maintaining the necessary protection functions through the foil and drum structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The material property of the containment system is changed from plastic (prone to ignition) to foil (metallic, non-combustible). This parameter change in material composition eliminates the spontaneous ignition risk while preserving the protective functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-generated harmful factors

If venting openings are provided without foil covering, then gas escape is improved, but water ingress through openings increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecombustible gas ventingVSAvoidwater ingress through openings

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 drum safely vents gases without exploding and prevents fire spread by using a foil that tears under pressure, combined with a flame-retardant material to extinguish flames, ensuring safe transport and storage of batteries.

Implementation Method 1

the lid is provided with one or more openings for venting gas from the storage space to the atmosphere... on the outside of the lid at least one sheet of foil is present extending accross a first group of two or more of said openings

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

the sheet of foil is designed to tear or break if the difference between the pressure on the inside of the lid and the atmospheric pressure is greater than a threshold value

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFracture Mechanics: Fracture Mechanics

Implementation Method 3

the drum comprises a layer of gas-permeable flame-retardant material extending across the one or more openings

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat Sink: Heat Sink

Data Source

PatentUS12441527B2Drum for transporting and/or storing batteries and the use of such a drum

Publication Date: 2025.10.14 BEBAT VZW

AI summary

A drum for transporting and/or storing batteries, the drum having an internal storage space having a volume, and the drum being provided with a lid to close off the storage space The lid is provided with one or more openings for venting gas from the storage space to the atmosphere. One or more openings have a total surface area of at least 1.0 square centimeter per liter volume of the storage space. On an outside of the lid is at least one sheet of foil which covers a first group of two or more of said openings, in which the sheet of foil is connected to the lid completely around the first group of openings.