Battery Module Fire Barrier That Preserves Cooling Flow

The partition wall is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to change position based on temperature conditions. At normal operating temperatures, the partition wall retracts to allow airflow and cooling. When thermal runaway occurs and temperature rises, the partition wall automatically moves to block the flow path, preventing fire spread to adjacent cells. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between fire prevention and cooling efficiency.

The partition wall's position parameter changes in response to temperature changes. The system utilizes temperature as a triggering parameter to switch between two states: open position for cooling and closed position for fire containment. This parameter-based control allows the system to optimize both cooling efficiency during normal operation and fire prevention during thermal events.

The blocking member is designed to automatically activate in response to thermal conditions without requiring external control systems, sensors, or power sources. The thermal expansion mechanism or temperature-triggered phase change enables the blocking member to self-activate and prevent fire spread autonomously. This self-service approach maintains reliability while avoiding the complexity of sensor-based control systems.

The patent replaces complex electronic sensor and actuator systems with a passive mechanical or physical-chemical mechanism. The blocking member utilizes thermal expansion, phase change, or other temperature-responsive physical phenomena to automatically block fire pathways. This substitution eliminates the need for temperature sensors, control electronics, and power supplies, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining fire prevention functionality.

The patent replaces electronic temperature sensors and detection systems with a passive physical mechanism that directly responds to thermal conditions. The blocking member's activation is triggered by thermal expansion, phase change, or other temperature-dependent physical phenomena occurring at the fire source. This substitution eliminates sensors, control electronics, and power requirements while maintaining effective fire detection and response capability.

The system uses the thermal energy from the fire event itself to trigger the protective action, without requiring external detection or control systems. The heat from thermal runaway directly causes the blocking member to activate through thermal expansion or phase change, creating a self-service detection and response mechanism that is both precise and simple.