Energy Storage Module Extinguisher Sheet for Thermal Runaway Containment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Energy storage modules face challenges in preventing and extinguishing fires, as they can easily catch fire and spread heat to adjacent battery cells, making it difficult to control and extinguish the flames once ignited.

Innovation Solution

The energy storage module incorporates a cover member with a top plate and extinguisher sheet that emits a fire extinguishing agent at specific temperatures, along with insulation spacers to prevent heat spread, and uses halogenated carbon-based fire extinguishing agents to rapidly extinguish fires and cool battery cells.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If battery cells are arranged closely in an energy storage module to increase capacity, then productivity and energy density are improved, but the risk of fire spread between adjacent cells increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy storage capacityVSAvoidfire spread risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces partition walls between adjacent battery cells to divide the internal space into separate compartments. This segmentation prevents fire from spreading between cells while maintaining high energy density through optimized spatial arrangement. The partition walls create physical barriers that isolate thermal runaway events to individual cell zones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs fire-retardant coatings and heat-resistant barrier materials as intermediary substances between battery cells. These intermediary layers act as thermal barriers that slow down heat transfer between adjacent cells, providing critical time for safety mechanisms to activate and preventing rapid fire propagation while allowing close cell spacing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If traditional fire suppression methods are used in energy storage modules, then fire can be addressed, but the response time is insufficient and fire spreads before suppression occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire suppression capabilityVSAvoidfire response time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates pre-positioned fire suppressant reservoirs and automatic suppression systems within the module structure. These systems are pre-configured to immediately release suppressant agents upon detecting thermal runaway conditions, eliminating response delays. The preliminary placement of suppression materials ensures instant activation without requiring external intervention or system startup time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent integrates temperature sensors and thermal monitoring systems that continuously detect heat buildup and provide real-time feedback to the control system. When temperature thresholds are exceeded, the feedback mechanism automatically triggers the fire suppression system, creating a closed-loop response that reacts instantly to fire conditions and adjusts suppression activation based on actual thermal states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If insulation materials are added between battery cells to prevent heat spread, then fire safety is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat spread preventionVSAvoidmodule structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies fire-retardant coatings and insulation materials only in specific critical zones between battery cells where heat transfer is most likely to occur. Rather than uniformly insulating all surfaces, the solution targets high-risk thermal pathways with localized treatment, maintaining simplicity in non-critical areas while providing protection where needed most.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes composite materials that combine structural support and fire insulation functions in single integrated components. These composite elements provide both mechanical strength for cell spacing and thermal barrier properties, reducing the number of separate parts needed and simplifying assembly while maintaining effective heat prevention capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 configuration significantly reduces the risk of fire ignition and spread between battery cells, effectively extinguishing fires and cooling the cells, thereby enhancing safety and reducing the risk of thermal runaway.

Implementation Method 1

an extinguisher sheet between the top cover and the top plate, the extinguisher sheet being configured to emit a fire extinguishing agent at a reference temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFire extinguishing agent emission: Phase Change

Implementation Method 2

effectively extinguishing fires and cooling the cells, thereby enhancing safety and reducing the risk of thermal runaway

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal runaway prevention: Cooling

Implementation Method 3

a plurality of insulation spacers respectively between adjacent ones of the battery cells

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS20230395934A1Energy storage module having an extinguisher sheet
Publication Date: 2023.12.07 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • US20230395934A1 patent drawing
  • US20230395934A1 patent drawing
  • US20230395934A1 patent drawing

AI summary

An energy storage module includes: a cover member accommodating a plurality of battery cells in an internal receiving space, the battery cells being arranged in a first direction, each of the battery cells including a vent; a top plate coupled to a top of the cover member and including a duct corresponding to the vent of each of the battery cells; a top cover coupled to a top of the top plate and having a discharge opening corresponding to the duct; and an extinguisher sheet between the top cover and the top plate, the extinguisher sheet being configured to emit a fire extinguishing agent at a reference temperature.