Battery Module Cell Frame With Firewall Sealing Against Fire Spread

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery modules face challenges in manufacturing a cell frame with a height corresponding to the battery cell, leading to gaps that allow fire to spread between adjacent cells.

Innovation Solution

A battery module with an integrated cell frame having a vertically symmetrical structure, where a firewall part made of a flame-retardant material is injected into the cell frame to surround the battery cells, preventing fire spread.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the cell frame is manufactured as a single integrated component, then manufacturing precision and fire prevention are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell frame integrityVSAvoidcell frame structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cell frame is divided into an upper frame and a lower frame that are assembled together. This segmentation allows each frame to be manufactured separately using existing injection processes, avoiding the need for complex single-component manufacturing while maintaining structural integrity through proper assembly design with overlapping walls and sealing elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cell frame employs composite construction by combining the upper frame and lower frame as separate components. This composite approach enables fire prevention through the overlapping wall structure and sealing elements that create barriers to flame propagation, while allowing each component to be optimized for its specific manufacturing requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If gaps are present in the cell frame at joint sites, then ease of manufacture is improved, but fire spread prevention deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell frame assemblyVSAvoidfire spread

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A sealing element is introduced as an intermediary component between the upper frame and lower frame. This sealing element fills and seals the gap formed at the joint site, preventing fire and hot gas from propagating through the gap while allowing the frames to be manufactured and assembled separately for ease of manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The overlapping wall structure extends the vertical dimension of the frame walls, creating multiple layers that overlap at the joint. This dimensional approach provides fire barriers in the vertical direction while maintaining horizontal assembly capability, effectively blocking fire spread paths without compromising manufacturing ease.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS20250038330A1Battery Module

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a battery module including a plurality of battery cells, a cell frame provided with a cell insertion space into which the respective battery cells are inserted, and a support rib dividing the cell insertion space and supporting the respective battery cells. A firewall part in the cell insertion space is provided to surround the respective battery cells. The cell frame is provided so that its thickness becomes thicker at least in part toward the central portion of the cell frame along the insertion direction of the battery cell.