Battery Module Fire Injection Channel for Thermal Runaway
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery packs and racks face challenges in rapidly extinguishing thermal runaway or fire that can lead to secondary explosions due to heat or flame transfer between battery cells.
Innovation Solution
A battery module with a fire extinguishing agent supply channel and injection unit that injects extinguishing agent directly into the module case upon thermal runaway, using a glass bulb that breaks at high temperatures to release the agent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional battery packs without direct injection systems are used, then the structure is simpler, but the fire extinguishing speed is insufficient allowing thermal runaway to spread
Solution Approach 1:
The fire extinguishing agent is pre-filled in the supply channel formed within the side plate during module assembly. When thermal runaway occurs, the agent is already in position to be injected directly into the battery cell, eliminating the need for complex pumping systems or external delivery mechanisms, thus achieving rapid fire suppression while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The fire extinguishing agent supply channel is nested within the side plate structure itself, forming an integrated design where the channel is formed inside the side plate. This nesting approach incorporates the fire suppression functionality into the existing module structure without adding separate external systems, thereby achieving rapid fire extinguishing while minimizing structural complexity
2Reliability
If fire extinguishing agent is not directly injected into module case, then the structure is simpler, but thermal runaway cannot be extinguished at early stage allowing secondary explosions
Solution Approach 1:
The fire extinguishing agent is pre-positioned in the supply channel within the side plate, ready for immediate injection upon thermal runaway detection. This preliminary preparation ensures rapid response at the early stage of thermal runaway without requiring complex real-time delivery systems, thereby enhancing reliability while keeping the injection system simple
Solution Approach 2:
The supply channel is nested within the side plate structure, creating an integrated fire suppression system. This nesting ensures the extinguishing agent is already positioned for direct injection into the module case when thermal runaway occurs, achieving early-stage suppression reliability without adding complex external injection mechanisms
3Productivity
If fire extinguishing agent supply channel is provided to module case, then fire can be extinguished rapidly, but the module case structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The fire extinguishing agent supply channel is nested within the side plate structure during module assembly. This integration allows the channel to be formed inside the side plate itself, enabling rapid fire suppression by direct injection into the module case while avoiding the need for separate external supply systems, thus improving productivity without significantly increasing structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The fire suppression function is merged with the side plate structure by forming the supply channel within it. This combination integrates two functions (structural support and fire suppression delivery) into a single component, achieving high fire suppression efficiency while minimizing the increase in overall module case 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
Rapidly extinguishes thermal runaway or fire at an early stage, preventing secondary explosions by directly injecting extinguishing agent into the module case, thus safeguarding neighboring cells.
Implementation Method 1
a glass bulb that breaks at high temperatures to release the agent
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Disclosed is a battery module, which includes at least one battery cell; and a module case configured to accommodate the at least one battery cell, wherein a fire extinguishing agent supply channel connected to a fire extinguishing tank unit containing a fire extinguishing agent to directly inject the fire extinguishing agent into the module case when a thermal runaway or fire occurs at the at least one battery cell is provided to an inside of at least one side of the module case.