Battery Pack Flame Control Block for Thermal Runaway Venting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Battery packs in electric vehicles face safety issues due to uncontrolled discharge of flames during thermal runaway, which can cause damage and increase the risk of fires or explosions, and existing solutions like mesh-shaped members or flame blocking plates are inadequate in completely preventing flame propagation.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design featuring a lower and upper case with venting holes, a sealing member that deforms under pressure or temperature to open these holes, and a flame control block with a flame blocking surface and discharge holes to manage the discharge of flames in a controlled manner, preventing them from propagating to other modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a mesh-shaped member is mounted in the gas discharge openings to regulate flames, then flames can be reduced to some extent, but the flame suppression effect is limited and it is difficult to completely prevent flames
Solution Approach 1:
The flame discharge opening is divided into multiple smaller holes in the flame blocking plate, segmenting the flame flow path. This segmentation reduces flame intensity and controls flame discharge more effectively than a single large opening or mesh structure, addressing the limitation of incomplete flame prevention while maintaining gas discharge capability
Solution Approach 2:
A flame blocking plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the battery module and the external environment. This plate with controlled hole patterns acts as a mediator that allows gas to pass through while blocking and suppressing flame propagation, resolving the contradiction between flame suppression and gas discharge
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a flame blocking plate is formed inside gas discharge openings to prevent flames, then flames can be prevented from being discharged to the outside, but the flame blocking plate may interfere with the flow of gas to be discharged
Solution Approach 1:
The flame blocking plate features locally optimized hole distributions with different sizes and patterns in different regions. This local quality variation allows the plate to block flames effectively in critical areas while maintaining sufficient gas discharge pathways in other areas, resolving the contradiction between flame prevention and gas discharge efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The flame blocking plate functions as a porous structure with controlled孔洞 (holes) that allows gas permeation while blocking flame propagation. The porous design with specific hole patterns enables simultaneous achievement of flame blocking and gas discharge, addressing the interference problem between flame prevention and gas flow
3Speed
If flames are discharged directly to the outside of the battery pack, then gas can be discharged quickly, but mechanical or electrical devices outside the battery pack may be damaged and fires or explosions may be caused
Solution Approach 1:
The flame blocking plate serves as an intermediary component between the internal battery module and the external environment. It allows rapid gas discharge while blocking and suppressing flame propagation, preventing direct flame contact with external devices and eliminating the harmful effects of uncontrolled flame discharge
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful flame component is extracted and blocked from the gas discharge flow by the flame blocking plate. This separation allows the beneficial gas discharge function to proceed rapidly while the harmful flame propagation is removed and contained, protecting external devices and preventing fires or explosions
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 reduces and controls the discharge of flames outside the battery pack, enhancing safety by preventing them from spreading internally and minimizing damage to external devices, while ensuring efficient gas discharge.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing member installed on at least one of the side wall of the lower case and the upper case to cover the at least one venting hole, and configured to be deformed under a predetermined pressure and/or at a predetermined temperature to open the at least one venting hole
Implementation Method 2
a sealing member installed on at least one of the side wall of the lower case and the upper case to cover the at least one venting hole, and configured to be deformed under a predetermined pressure and/or at a predetermined temperature to open the at least one venting hole
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack includes a lower case; an upper case coupled to the lower case; venting holes provided in at least one of a side wall of the lower case and the upper case; a sealing member on at least one of the side wall of the lower case and the upper case to cover the venting holes, and deformed under predetermined pressure and/or at a predetermined temperature to open the venting holes; and a flame control block mounted on at least one of an inner surface of the side wall of the lower case and an inner surface of the upper case to cover the venting holes and the sealing member, and including a flame blocking surface with a plurality of flame discharge holes and an inner space that communicates with the flame discharge holes and that is open toward the venting hole and the sealing member.