Battery Enclosure Venting for Thermal Runaway Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal runaway in battery systems can lead to uncontrolled propagation, causing harm and destruction due to the inability of existing enclosures to effectively contain primary effects such as vapor combustion, over-pressurization, and flames.
Innovation Solution
A battery enclosure with a relief vent and deflagration assembly, including a burst disc or explosion vent, designed to equalize pressures and prevent rupture, combined with flame arresters and thermal barrier plates to contain and mitigate thermal runaway events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing battery enclosures are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but they cannot effectively contain thermal runaway effects such as vapor combustion, over-pressurization, and flames
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is divided into multiple functional zones: a primary containment chamber for battery cells, a secondary containment chamber surrounding the primary chamber, and intermediate partitions. This segmentation allows each zone to handle specific aspects of thermal runaway containment, improving overall reliability while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through modular construction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nested containment chambers where the secondary containment chamber surrounds the primary containment chamber, creating multiple barriers against thermal runaway propagation. This nested structure enhances containment reliability without requiring a completely new enclosure design, as each nested layer can be manufactured using similar processes
2Reliability
If pressure relief mechanisms are added to contain thermal runaway, then containment effectiveness improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Pressure relief vents and deflagration panels are pre-installed and pre-positioned on the enclosure chambers before thermal runaway occurs. These mechanisms are designed to activate automatically at predetermined pressure thresholds, eliminating the need for complex real-time control systems while ensuring reliable pressure management
Solution Approach 2:
The relief vent system operates autonomously based on internal pressure conditions without requiring external control or monitoring systems. The deflagration panels and pressure relief vents automatically activate when pressure thresholds are exceeded, simplifying the overall device complexity while maintaining effective pressure management
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 solution effectively contains thermal runaway within the battery system, preventing secondary effects like harm to people and environmental damage by managing pressure and flame propagation, thereby ensuring safer operation.
Implementation Method 1
Relief vents may equalize internal and external pressures, which minimizes potential for inadvertent rupture of deflagration panel 210
Implementation Method 2
The one or more deflagration panels may be designed to rupture at a predetermined burst pressure or temperature
Implementation Method 3
A flame arrester 230 may be positioned between the deflagration panel 210 and the exterior of the battery enclosure 100. The flame arrester 230 may retart or prevent flames from escaping through a ruptured deflagration panel 210
Implementation Method 4
one or more thermal barrier plates 300 may be positioned within the battery enclosure 100 to impede propagation of thermal runaway
Data Source
AI summary
A battery enclosure includes a top wall, bottom wall, and side walls connected to each other, forming an inside and an outside of the battery enclosure. The battery enclosure further includes a relief vent, the relief vent extending through the top wall or side wall and a battery enclosure pressure relief, the battery enclosure pressure relief including a deflagration panel, wherein the deflagration panel is a burst disk or explosion vent.