Battery Module Heat Sink Venting for Thermal Runaway Containment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Secondary batteries in battery packs are prone to overheating and explosion due to high-temperature and high-pressure gas ejection, leading to potential chain reactions and safety hazards.

Innovation Solution

A battery module design incorporating a heat sink with rupture parts and a sealing material layer that ejects sealing material to block high-temperature heat and gas, preventing chain reactions and reducing explosion risk.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If secondary batteries are connected in series/parallel to increase capacity, then energy storage capability is improved, but safety risk increases due to potential chain reactions from overheating

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidsafety
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The battery pack is divided into multiple independent battery modules, each equipped with its own heat sink. This segmentation isolates thermal hazards so that overheating in one module does not propagate to other modules, thereby maintaining safety while allowing increased overall capacity through parallel connection of multiple modules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A heat sink is introduced as an intermediary component between adjacent battery cells. The heat sink absorbs and dissipates heat generated by individual battery cells, acting as a thermal barrier that prevents heat propagation to neighboring cells, thus preventing chain reactions while allowing higher capacity configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If heat sink is added to battery module, then thermal management is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal managementVSAvoidstructure
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heat sink is merged with the battery module structure, integrating thermal management functionality directly into the existing module design. This integration approach adds cooling capability while minimizing the increase in overall structural complexity by combining multiple functions into a unified component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat sink serves multiple functions: it cools individual battery cells, acts as a physical barrier between modules, and provides structural support. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby improving thermal management without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 the spread of high-temperature heat and reduces the likelihood of explosions by ejecting sealing material through rupture parts, enhancing safety in battery packs.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling pipe (310), at least one rupture part (210, 220, 230), and a sealing material layer (250)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

cooling pipe (310)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

at least one rupture part (210, 220, 230)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure increase: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP3879620B1Battery module and battery pack including the same
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP3879620B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3879620B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3879620B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A battery module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, and a heat sink located on one side of the battery cell stack, wherein the heat sink includes a cooling pipe, at least one rupture part, and a sealing material layer.