Portable Battery Enclosure With TRS Pouches for Runaway Containment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable lithium-ion battery systems face risks of thermal runaway, leading to uncontrollable heat release and potential explosions, which can propagate to nearby batteries, causing damage and safety hazards, especially in concentrated battery stacks or arrays.

Innovation Solution

A portable battery system with thermal runaway shield (TRS) pouches containing thermally cooling fluid, which rupture to mitigate heat and include a control system for monitoring and managing thermal events, along with a support structure for easy transportation and a backup power system to prevent propagation and ensure safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If multiple lithium-ion batteries are deployed in concentrated stacks or arrays to provide sufficient electrical power, then the power output capability is improved, but the risk of thermal runaway propagation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical power outputVSAvoidthermal runaway propagation risk

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The battery system is divided into modular units, each enclosed in a separate fire-resistant containment structure. These modular segments are arranged in stacks or arrays, allowing high power output while isolating thermal events to individual segments, preventing propagation to adjacent batteries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Fire-resistant containment structures and thermal barriers are introduced as intermediary elements between adjacent batteries. These intermediaries absorb and isolate heat, acting as a protective buffer that prevents thermal runaway from propagating between battery modules while allowing the system to maintain high power density.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If thermal runaway occurs in a lithium-ion battery, then the battery releases heat rapidly to stop the exothermic reaction, but this heat can propagate to nearby batteries causing a catastrophic cascade

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal event containmentVSAvoidheat release and explosion risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Fire-resistant containment structures and thermal barriers are pre-installed around each battery module before thermal runaway occurs. These protective elements are designed to activate during thermal events, absorbing excess heat and containing pressure, thereby cushioning the impact and preventing catastrophic cascade failures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The system captures and utilizes the thermal energy released during controlled thermal runaway events. Thermal barriers and containment structures convert the harmful heat release into a contained thermal event that can be managed and dissipated safely, transforming a potentially catastrophic failure into a controlled, isolated incident.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If diesel generators are used to provide continuous electrical power availability, then the power supply reliability is improved, but the noise levels increase and efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower supply availabilityVSAvoidnoise and efficiency loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical combustion-based diesel generator system with an electrochemical battery storage system. This substitution eliminates the noisy combustion process and mechanical moving parts while providing equivalent or superior power supply reliability, significantly reducing noise levels and improving operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Effectively contains and manages thermal runaway events in lithium-ion battery systems, preventing cascades and ensuring safety by isolating and mitigating heat release, thus reducing the risk of damage and ensuring reliable power supply.

Implementation Method 1

The TRS pouches each include a thermally cooling fluid that ruptures into the battery module from heat produced in a thermal runaway event in the battery module

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal cooling: Cooling

Implementation Method 2

An increase in air pressure is associated with gas released from the thermal runaway event in one or more battery cells in one or more of the battery modules of the respective battery component(s). The pressure is relieved through a vent that opens automatically when there is a thermal runaway event

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure relief: Depressurisation

Data Source

PatentUS20240413450A1Portable energy storage system including Anti-propagation

Publication Date: 2024.12.12 VIRIDI PARENTE INC

AI summary

Provided in this disclosure is a portable battery system, including battery components that each include battery modules for supplying electrical power at a base voltage. A water-tight, sealed enclosure retains the battery modules within the battery components. Thermal runaway shield (TRS) pouches are associated with each battery module. The TRS pouches include a thermally cooling fluid that ruptures into the battery module from heat produced in a thermal runaway event in the battery module. An inverter is provided for converting electrical power from DC voltage to AC voltage. A portable support structure is included for supporting and moveably transporting components of the portable battery system.