Prismatic Battery Endcap Venting for Thermal Runaway Gas Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery cell assemblies lack effective thermal management systems to control the temperature of vent gas during thermal runaway propagation (TRP) events, leading to potential safety hazards and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A battery assembly with an endcap and external channel for thermal management, where the endcap includes a baffle and vent channel to direct and cool vent gas, and the external channel is configured in a non-direct pattern to increase cooling surface area and residence time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If vent gas is directly exhausted from the battery assembly, then the structure is simple, but the temperature of vent gas is not effectively controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The venting system is segmented into multiple functional components: internal vents in the battery pan, an endcap with vent channels, baffles to direct flow, and external channels. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific thermal management function while collectively achieving effective temperature control of vent gas.
Solution Approach 2:
The endcap acts as an intermediary component between the internal battery vents and the external environment. It provides vent channels that guide hot gas flow and incorporates baffles to extend the cooling path, effectively mediating the thermal management process before gas is exhausted externally.
2Temperature
If the vent channel is made direct and short, then the gas exhausts quickly, but the cooling surface area is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The external channel is configured in a non-direct, curved or serpentine pattern rather than a straight line. This curvature increases the length of the vent channel and the surface area available for heat dissipation, while also extending the residence time of hot gas in the cooling channel before external exhaust.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent channel extends in multiple dimensions within the endcap structure, using vertical and horizontal pathways with baffles to create a three-dimensional cooling path. This dimensional expansion increases cooling surface area without significantly increasing the overall footprint of the battery assembly.
3Temperature
If the baffle wall is positioned to block apertures, then gas flow is directed through the vent channel, but the aperture area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The endcap structure uses different local configurations: solid baffle walls in regions requiring flow direction and heat dissipation, and open apertures in regions requiring gas passage. This local differentiation optimizes both cooling efficiency and flow characteristics in different zones of the endcap.
Solution Approach 2:
The baffle wall configuration creates asymmetric flow paths within the endcap, with the vent channel positioned to receive hot gas from specific aperture patterns. This asymmetric arrangement directs gas flow through the cooling channel while maintaining sufficient total aperture area for effective venting.
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 proposed solution effectively manages the temperature of vent gas during TRP events, enhancing safety and efficiency by passively cooling the gas through the endcap and external channel configurations.
Implementation Method 1
The vent channel is defined by the baffle and the elongated body and extends along the baffle and is configured to carry vent gas
Implementation Method 2
The external channel has a channel entrance and a channel vent. The channel entrance is disposed proximate to and receives vent gas from the pack vent. The channel vent exhausts the vent gas.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery assembly includes a battery pan and battery cells. The battery cells are supported within the battery pan and disposed in a plurality of rows. The battery assembly includes a plurality of vents, and each of the plurality of vents is defined by a floor of the battery pan, support members, and a battery tray. Each vent extends a length of each row. An endcap is coupled to the structural plates of the battery pan. The endcap includes a plurality of apertures, a baffle, and a vent channel. The baffle has a baffle wall disposed opposite the plurality of apertures. The baffle wall extends to the ceiling and the floor of the elongated body. The vent channel extends along the baffle and is configured to carry vent gas. The battery assembly also includes a pack vent configured to exhaust the vent gas from the endcap.