Battery Pack Venting Layout for Thermal Runaway Gas Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In battery packs, particularly in electric vehicles, there is a risk of thermal propagation and electrical short circuits due to high-temperature gas and flammable materials generated from ignited battery cells, which can lead to unsafe conditions.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design featuring a venting system with a pack housing, gas discharge passages, and a gas guide portion that directs high-temperature gases externally through strategically placed venting holes and passages, including a backflow prevention mechanism to ensure safe discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If battery modules are disposed and mounted closely to increase energy density, then productivity and space utilization are improved, but thermal propagation risk increases when a battery cell ignites
Solution Approach 1:
A non-conductive baffle is introduced as an intermediary component between adjacent battery modules. This baffle physically blocks the path of flames and high-temperature gas ejected from ignited battery cells, preventing thermal propagation to neighboring modules while maintaining close spacing for high energy density. The baffle acts as a thermal barrier that interrupts the harmful heat transfer pathway.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful thermal propagation pathway is extracted or removed from the system by introducing the baffle structure. The baffle effectively takes out the direct line-of-sight path that allows flames and hot gas to travel between closely spaced battery modules, isolating the thermal hazard while preserving the compact arrangement.
2Ease of manufacture
If conductive flammable materials are present in the battery pack, then ease of manufacture is improved, but electrical short circuit risk increases during thermal runaway
Solution Approach 1:
The baffle is specifically designed with non-conductive properties in the regions where electrical isolation is critical. By applying different material properties to different parts of the battery pack structure, the baffle provides electrical insulation precisely where needed to prevent short circuits during thermal runaway, while other parts of the battery pack can maintain conventional conductive materials for manufacturing efficiency.
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 design effectively prevents thermal runaway and electrical short circuits by safely discharging high-temperature gases and flammable materials away from the battery pack, enhancing safety and stability.
Implementation Method 1
a gas guide portion disposed between the venting portion and the venting hole, and guiding gas discharged from the venting portion to the venting hole
Implementation Method 2
a gas discharge passage communicating with the venting hole, and configured to discharge gas discharged through the venting portion externally
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a plurality of battery cells including a venting portion; a pack housing in which a plurality of battery cells are disposed in a longitudinal direction, the pack housing including a venting hole communicating with the venting portion; and a gas discharge passage communicating with the venting hole, and configured to discharge gas discharged through the venting portion externally, wherein the gas discharge passage may include a body portion coupled to the pack housing; and a main passage connected to the body portion, and having a form of a tube extending in a longitudinal direction of the pack housing.