Battery Module Fire Suppression Pockets for Thermal Runaway
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery modules are prone to thermal runaway due to overheating, which can lead to explosions, as heat from an abnormal battery cell is transferred to adjacent cells, posing significant safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design featuring leakage prevention pockets and a fire extinguishing capsule unit within the module case to contain and extinguish flames or sparks, preventing thermal runaway by blocking escape routes and deploying a fire extinguishing agent upon abnormal situations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional battery module design is used without additional safety structures, then the device complexity is low, but thermal runaway occurs when overheating is transferred to adjacent battery cells
Solution Approach 1:
The module case is segmented into multiple compartments by partition walls, creating isolated spaces between battery cells. This segmentation prevents thermal runaway propagation by physically separating adjacent cells with heat-resistant partitions, allowing each cell to be contained independently within its own compartment.
Solution Approach 2:
A heat-resistant member is introduced as an intermediary component between battery cells to block heat transfer. This mediator absorbs or reflects thermal energy, preventing the propagation of thermal runaway from one cell to adjacent cells, thereby enhancing safety without requiring complete cell isolation.
2Volume of stationary object
If battery cells are stacked closely together to maximize space utilization, then the volume efficiency is high, but heat transfer between adjacent cells increases thermal runaway risk
Solution Approach 1:
Heat-resistant members are selectively positioned at critical interfaces between battery cells where heat transfer is most problematic. This local application of thermal protection allows close stacking for space efficiency while providing targeted heat blocking exactly where thermal runaway propagation would occur, without adding unnecessary spacing throughout the entire module.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat-resistant members and partition walls are nested within the existing module case structure, integrating safety features into the available space without requiring additional external volume. The partitions are formed as integral parts of the module housing, allowing battery cells to be stacked closely while maintaining thermal isolation through the nested heat-resistant structures.
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
The solution effectively suppresses thermal runaway and fires by blocking flames and sparks within the module case and deploying a fire extinguishing agent, enhancing safety by preventing the escalation of overheating incidents.
Implementation Method 1
a fire extinguishing capsule unit provided to the at least one leakage prevention pocket and configured to discharge a fire extinguishing agent into the module case by the flame or spark in the event of the abnormal situation
Implementation Method 2
at least one leakage prevention pocket provided in the module case to prevent leakage of flame or spark in case of an abnormal situation of the at least one battery cell
Data Source
AI summary
A battery module includes at least one battery cell, a module case accommodating the at least one battery cell, at least one leakage prevention pocket provided in the module case to prevent leakage of flame or spark in case of an abnormal situation of the at least one battery cell, and a fire extinguishing capsule unit provided to the at least one leakage prevention pocket and configured to discharge a fire extinguishing agent into the module case by the flame or spark in the event of the abnormal situation.