Battery Housing Partition for Pressure Equalization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing electric power storage apparatuses face challenges in managing internal pressure increases due to gas production in abnormal states without leaking coolant, which can lead to increased costs and size due to current gas release mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a partitioned housing with a pressure release mechanism, including a pressure release valve and gas release hole, to direct internal pressure from the first housing portion to a second portion, preventing coolant leakage and allowing gas release while maintaining structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gas release valve is provided to release gas from unit cell, then internal pressure of battery housing case increases, but if conventional gas release mechanisms are used, then coolant leaks to the outside and device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery housing case is divided into a first housing portion containing the battery and coolant, and a second housing portion serving as a pressure equalization chamber. The partition between them includes a pressure equalization hole that allows pressure communication while maintaining functional separation, preventing coolant leakage during pressure events.
Solution Approach 2:
The second housing portion acts as an intermediary pressure chamber that receives excess pressure from the first housing portion through the pressure equalization hole. This intermediary structure absorbs pressure surges and prevents direct coolant ejection to the external environment.
2Reliability
If gas release valve is provided to release gas from unit cell, then internal pressure of battery housing case increases, but if conventional gas release mechanisms are used, then device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure equalization hole is positioned in the partition wall, utilizing the lateral dimension of the housing structure rather than increasing thickness in the vertical dimension. This allows pressure relief functionality to be integrated into the existing housing geometry without adding significant thickness.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If pressure resistance of battery housing case is increased to prevent coolant leakage, then device size and cost increase, but thinner housing is desired
Solution Approach 1:
The second housing portion serves as a pressure buffer zone that absorbs pressure surges before they can force coolant through the housing walls. This intermediary chamber protects the housing structure from high pressure events, allowing the use of thinner, less expensive housing materials.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the housing into pressure-isolated portions connected through a controlled pressure equalization hole, the design distributes pressure loads across multiple structures rather than concentrating them on the housing walls, enabling reduced wall thickness.
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
This solution effectively prevents internal pressure increases without coolant leakage, allowing for a reduced thickness and size of the battery housing case, thereby minimizing costs and weight while ensuring safe operation.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure release means for releasing an internal pressure of the first housing portion to the second housing portion in an abnormal state of the electric power storage unit
Data Source
AI summary
An electric power storage apparatus including a housing, a partition which is placed in the housing to form a first housing portion and a second housing portion, a electric power storage unit which is housed in the first housing portion, a coolant which is housed in the first housing portion and is provided for cooling the electric power storage unit, and a pressure release means for releasing an internal pressure of the first housing portion to the second housing portion in an abnormal state of the electric power storage unit in which gas is produced in the electric power storage unit.