Battery Gas Deflection Structure for Thermal Propagation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-voltage batteries in motor vehicles face issues with thermal propagation where an overheating event in one battery cell can spread heat and gas to adjacent cells, posing a risk to occupants.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a hollow profile with intake apertures and gas-discharging elements that direct emerging gas from battery cells into the profile, preventing thermal propagation and electrical short circuits by routing the gas through the vehicle frame structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If battery cells are arranged in high-density configurations to maximize energy storage, then the energy density and productivity are improved, but the risk of thermal propagation increases due to closer proximity of cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the battery pack into modular units with individual gas discharge paths for each cell or group of cells. Gas-discharging elements create separate ventilation channels that isolate thermal events to specific segments, preventing propagation to adjacent cells while maintaining high cell density for maximum energy storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow profile structure acts as an intermediary component between battery cells, providing a controlled pathway for gas discharge. This mediator redirects hot gas away from neighboring cells through dedicated intake apertures and internal cavities, enabling high-density cell arrangement without increasing thermal propagation risk.
2Reliability
If gas-discharging elements are added to each battery cell to prevent thermal propagation, then the safety is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the gas-discharging elements with the existing battery cell structure and integrates them into a unified hollow profile system. Rather than adding completely separate components, the ventilation channels are combined with the cell housing and frame structure, reducing overall complexity while maintaining enhanced safety through controlled gas discharge paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow profile structure serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical support for the battery cells, acts as a thermal barrier, and functions as a gas discharge pathway. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated gas discharge components, improving safety without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Loss of energy
If ventilation channels are integrated into the hollow profile structure, then the thermal energy dissipation is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase due to aperture positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow profile structure with integrated ventilation channels is designed and manufactured as a pre-assembled unit before battery cell installation. The intake apertures and internal cavities are pre-positioned with required precision during the profile fabrication process, eliminating the need for high-precision field assembly and reducing overall manufacturing complexity while ensuring effective thermal energy dissipation pathways.
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
Effectively dissipates thermal energy and gas from overheating cells, reducing the risk of thermal propagation and electrical contamination, while maintaining structural integrity during crashes.
Implementation Method 1
gas emerging from the battery cells is conducted by the gas-discharging elements into the intake apertures of the hollow profile... the hot stream of gas is purposefully discharged... the dissipating of the thermal energy of the venting gas
Implementation Method 2
The discharge is affected into the cavity of a hollow profile... the dissipating of the thermal energy of the venting gas when a thermal event arises in a cell
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle including a battery which includes a plurality of battery cells, a frame component having at least one hollow profile with a plurality of intake apertures, and a plurality of gas-discharging elements arranged on the plurality of battery cells to guide a flow of gas from the battery cells through the intake apertures into the hollow profile.