Battery Pack Holder Grooves for Thermal Runaway Gas Venting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery packs face challenges in efficiently exhausting high-temperature internal gas during thermal runaway, as wide-shaped current collector leads obstruct the gas exhaust path, potentially causing thermal runaway in neighboring batteries.

Innovation Solution

The battery pack design includes grooves in the holder surface that abut the current collector plate, allowing high-temperature internal gas to be efficiently exhausted to the outside without obstruction, thereby preventing thermal runaway in neighboring batteries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If wide-shaped current collector leads are used to increase battery size and output, then electrical performance is improved, but gas exhaust path is obstructed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery outputVSAvoidgas exhaust obstruction

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The holder surface is segmented into multiple regions: a first region with a larger opening for primary gas exhaust, and a second region with a smaller opening blocked by the current collector lead. This segmentation allows the system to accommodate wide current collector leads while maintaining adequate exhaust pathways through the larger first region opening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a single-opening exhaust design to a two-region opening design, adding spatial dimensionality to the exhaust path. The first region provides a larger exhaust area while the second region accommodates the electrical connection, effectively using dimensional arrangement to resolve the conflict between electrical performance and gas exhaust.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If current collector lead blocks the opening to maintain electrical connection, then electrical connectivity is ensured, but high-temperature gas may flow into holder and contact neighboring batteries

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connectionVSAvoidthermal runaway risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the holder surface are assigned different qualities: the first region has a larger opening optimized for gas exhaust, while the second region has a smaller opening that accommodates the current collector lead for electrical connection. This local differentiation allows each region to fulfill its specific function while collectively solving the safety issue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The holder structure acts as an intermediary element between the battery's gas exhaust system and the current collector lead. By designing the holder with differentiated opening regions, it mediates between the conflicting requirements of gas exhaust and electrical connection, allowing both to coexist without compromising safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If opening size is reduced to accommodate current collector lead, then electrical connection is maintained, but gas exhaust efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection assemblyVSAvoidgas exhaust efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The exhaust system is segmented into two functional regions: a first region with a larger opening that maintains high gas exhaust efficiency, and a second region with a smaller opening that facilitates current collector lead assembly. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both manufacturing ease and exhaust efficiency simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 sequential occurrence of thermal runaway by ensuring high-temperature gas is discharged from the holder, maintaining safety and preventing battery pack failures.

Implementation Method 1

At least a portion of the one surface of the holder that abuts the current collector plate includes a groove for exhausting, to an outside of the holder, the internal gas exhausted from the portion of the opening blocked by the current collector plate.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas flow through groove:

Data Source

PatentUS20250316832A1Battery pack

Publication Date: 2025.10.09 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

A battery pack includes: a plurality of batteries (30) each of which includes a cap (45) of a sealing body as a positive external terminal on one side of the battery in a Z direction, the battery causing an internal gas to be exhausted from the one side when an internal pressure increases; a first holder (50) that holds the one side of each of the plurality of batteries (30) that are arranged in alignment, the first holder (50) including an opening (52) through which the cap (45) is exposed; and a current collector plate (60) that abuts one surface of the first holder (50), and is connected to the cap (45) while blocking a portion of the opening (52). At least a portion of the one surface of the first holder (50) that abuts the current collector plate (60) includes a groove (53) for exhausting, to an outside of the first holder (50), the internal gas exhausted from the portion of the opening (52) blocked by the current collector plate (60).