Battery Module Extinguisher Sheet for Thermal Runaway Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Energy storage modules with multiple battery cells face challenges in preventing fires from spreading due to their high-capacity, high-output characteristics, making it difficult to extinguish fires effectively and ensuring safety.
Innovation Solution
The energy storage module design includes a configuration where battery cells are arranged with their long side surfaces facing each other, with insulation spacers and a fire extinguisher sheet that emits a fire extinguishing agent when a temperature is exceeded, reducing the risk of fire spread and enhancing safety by rapidly extinguishing and cooling the battery cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If battery cells are arranged in high-density configuration to increase energy storage capacity, then productivity and energy density are improved, but fire safety deteriorates due to increased risk of fire spread between adjacent cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the battery cell array into isolated compartments using insulation spacers positioned between adjacent cells. These spacers create physical segmentation that prevents fire from spreading between cells while maintaining high-density arrangement, thus resolving the contradiction between energy density and fire safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces insulation spacers as intermediary elements between battery cells. These spacers act as mediators that thermally isolate adjacent cells, preventing direct heat transfer during thermal runaway events while allowing the cells to remain in close proximity for high energy density
2Reliability
If insulation spacers are placed between adjacent battery cells to prevent fire spread, then fire safety is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The insulation spacers serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide thermal insulation to prevent fire spread, maintain electrical isolation between cells, and structurally support the battery cell arrangement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving fire safety
3Reliability
If extinguisher sheet is integrated into the module structure to enable rapid fire suppression, then fire response time is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional safety mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The extinguisher sheet is pre-integrated into the battery module structure during manufacturing, with extinguishing agents positioned in advance between the insulation spacers and battery cells. This preliminary preparation enables immediate fire suppression upon thermal runaway without requiring external intervention or complex activation systems
Solution Approach 2:
The extinguisher sheet is designed to automatically activate through self-service mechanism where the thermal runaway heat directly triggers the phase change or chemical reaction of the extinguishing agent, eliminating the need for external sensors, controllers, or power sources, thus achieving rapid response with minimal added complexity
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 design effectively suppresses ignition and prevents heat from spreading to adjacent cells by rapidly extinguishing and cooling the battery cells when a fire occurs, thereby reducing the risk of fire propagation and enhancing overall safety.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of insulation spacers, at least one of the insulation spacers being located between the long side surfaces of each adjacent pair of the battery cells
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of flame-retardant second sheets respectively adhered to opposite surfaces of the first sheet
Implementation Method 3
an extinguisher sheet located between the top cover and the top plate, configured to emit a fire extinguishing agent at a temperature exceeding a reference temperature
Implementation Method 4
configured to emit a fire extinguishing agent at a temperature exceeding a reference temperature
Data Source
AI summary
An energy storage module includes a plurality of battery cells, each including a vent; a plurality of insulation spacers, at least one of the insulation spacers being located between long side surfaces of each adjacent pair of the battery cells; a cover member including an internal receiving space; a top plate coupled to a top portion of the cover member and including ducts respectively corresponding to the vents of the battery cells, and opening holes respectively corresponding to the insulation spacers; a top cover coupled to a top portion of the top plate and including discharge holes respectively corresponding to the ducts; and an extinguisher sheet located between the top cover and the top plate, configured to emit a fire extinguishing agent at a temperature exceeding a reference temperature, and including opening holes positioned to correspond to the ducts.