Battery Assembly Gas Valve for Thermal Runaway Particle Blocking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Secondary batteries are vulnerable to thermal events, which can lead to the emission of ignitable particles and flames, increasing the risk of chain reactions and accidents, particularly in crowded spaces like battery modules and packs.

Innovation Solution

A battery assembly with a case and gas valve featuring a movable cover and resisting members to suppress or block the discharge of ignitable particles while allowing venting gas to escape, enhancing thermal safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple battery cells are crowded in a small space to increase capacity, then productivity and energy density are improved, but thermal safety deteriorates and risk of thermal chain reaction increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidthermal safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the battery system into modular battery assemblies, each with its own containment case and gas valve. This segmentation isolates thermal events to individual modules, preventing chain reactions while maintaining high overall capacity through parallel arrangement of multiple modules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The gas valve acts as an intermediary safety device between the battery cells and the external environment. It selectively allows venting of thermal runaway gases while blocking ignitable particles and flames, thus mediating between the need for pressure relief and the need to prevent thermal propagation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a gas venting system is added to prevent thermal chain reaction, then thermal safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal safetyVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gas valve is integrated directly into the case structure of each battery assembly, merging the venting function with the containment structure. This reduces overall device complexity by eliminating separate venting components while maintaining thermal safety functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The gas valve is designed to automatically respond to thermal runaway conditions without external control. The valve opens in response to pressure or temperature changes caused by thermal events, allowing the system to self-regulate and vent harmful substances without requiring external monitoring or control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4685966A1Battery assembly
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4685966A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4685966A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4685966A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a battery assembly. The battery assembly includes a case providing a space therein and having an opening; a battery cell located inside the case; and a gas valve having a cover installed in the opening and configured to move in a front and rear direction and a resisting member formed on an inner surface of the cover.