Battery Module Fire Suppression Using Insulation Spacers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Energy storage modules face challenges in preventing fires from spreading due to their design, which makes extinguishing fires difficult once they occur, posing safety risks.
Innovation Solution
The energy storage module incorporates a configuration with battery cells arranged such that their long side surfaces face each other, with insulation spacers having heat-insulating and flame-retardant materials, and a fire extinguishing agent system that emits agents when a certain temperature is reached to rapidly extinguish and cool the cells, preventing heat spread.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple battery cells are arranged in close proximity to achieve high capacity and high output, then energy storage capacity increases, but fire spread risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the battery module into multiple compartments using partition walls, with each compartment containing one or more battery cells. This segmentation physically isolates potential fire sources, preventing fire spread between adjacent cells while maintaining high energy density through optimized compartment arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces insulation spacers made of heat-resistant and flame-retardant materials as intermediary elements between adjacent battery cells. These spacers create thermal barriers that inhibit heat transfer and fire propagation, allowing cells to be positioned closer together for higher capacity without increasing fire risk.
2Reliability
If insulation spacers with thick flame-retardant layers are used to prevent fire spread, then fire safety improves, but space for battery cells decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite insulation spacers combining multiple materials with complementary properties: heat-resistant materials (such as ceramic coatings or high-temperature polymers) provide thermal barrier functionality, while flame-retardant materials (such as intumescent coatings or halogen-free flame retardants) suppress fire propagation. This composite structure achieves superior fire safety with reduced thickness compared to single-material solutions, maximizing space for battery cells.
3Productivity
If fire extinguishing agents are applied to rapidly extinguish fires, then fire suppression effectiveness improves, but complexity of the safety system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates fire extinguishing agents directly into the insulation spacers and partition walls, allowing the structure itself to provide fire suppression functionality. When thermal runaway occurs, the heat-triggered release mechanism activates the extinguishing agents (such as halon alternatives, dry chemical powders, or foam-based agents) at the source, achieving rapid fire suppression without requiring external detection or control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition mechanisms (such as endothermic decomposition of hydrates or expansion of intumescent materials) to trigger fire extinguishing agent release. When exposed to high temperatures from thermal runaway, these materials undergo phase transitions that automatically dispense the extinguishing agent, providing responsive fire suppression through passive thermal activation without complex electronics.
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 reduces the risk of fire ignition and effectively suppresses and cools battery cells when a fire occurs, minimizing the chance of fire spread to adjacent cells, thereby enhancing safety and reducing fire risks.
Implementation Method 1
each of the insulation spacers including a heat-insulating first sheet and a plurality of flame-retardant second sheets
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 between the top cover and the top plate, the extinguisher sheet being configured to emit a fire extinguishing agent at a temperature exceeding a reference temperature
Implementation Method 4
the fire extinguishing agent may fill spaces between the insulation spacers and the battery cells through the fire extinguishing agent openings
Data Source
AI summary
An energy storage module includes: a plurality of battery cells arranged in a first direction such that long side surfaces of adjacent ones of the battery cells face one another; a plurality of insulation spacers, at least one of the insulation spacers being between each adjacent pair of the battery cells, each of the insulation spacers including a heat-insulating first sheet and a plurality of flame-retardant second sheets respectively adhered to opposite surfaces of the first sheet by an adhesion member; a cover member including an internal receiving space configured to accommodate the battery cells and the insulation spacers; a top plate coupled to the cover member, the top plate including ducts respectively corresponding to vents of the battery cells and having fire extinguishing agent openings respectively corresponding to the insulation spacers; a top cover coupled to the top plate and having discharge openings respectively corresponding to the ducts; and an extinguisher sheet between the top cover and the top plate.