Battery Housing Ventilation Channels for Thermal Runaway Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal runaway in vehicle battery packs poses a risk of rapid thermal spread and damage due to uncontrolled heat, gas, and particle release, necessitating improved housing designs to manage and contain these elements.
Innovation Solution
A battery housing design featuring elongated spacer elements between cells forming ventilation channels with outlets to ambient environment, combined with metal and heat-resistant coatings, to isolate and direct thermal runaway gases and particles away from adjacent cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If battery cells are arranged side by side in a compact configuration, then space utilization is improved, but thermal propagation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is segmented into isolated compartments using spacer elements that divide the housing into separate ventilation channels. Each channel contains individual battery cells and provides independent ventilation pathways, preventing thermal propagation between cells while maintaining compact arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
Spacer elements serve as intermediary structures positioned between battery cells. These spacers create physical separation and form ventilation channels that act as mediators to channel hot gases away from adjacent cells, reducing thermal coupling while preserving space efficiency.
2Reliability
If ventilation channels are created using spacer elements, then thermal runaway containment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer elements perform multiple functions simultaneously: they provide physical separation between cells, form ventilation channel walls, guide hot gas flow pathways, and maintain structural integrity of the battery pack. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation channel structure is merged with the spacer elements themselves rather than being separate components. The channels are formed by the arrangement and geometry of the spacers, combining the separation function and ventilation function into a single integrated structure.
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 isolates battery cells, reducing the risk of thermal propagation and containing hazardous materials, thereby minimizing damage during thermal runaway events.
Implementation Method 1
Thermal runaway in battery packs for vehicles refers to a chain reaction of escalating heat generation within the battery cells
Implementation Method 2
the battery cells are more or less isolated from each other by the elongated spacer element extending to the inner surface of the top cover
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a battery housing, comprising at least one pair of battery cells, the battery cells being arranged side by side and spaced apart from each other by a geometric gap, a top cover having an inner surface facing in a direction towards the battery cells, the inner surface being arranged at a distance from the at least one pair of battery cells, and an elongated spacer element extending from the inner surface of the top cover and into the geometric gap between the battery cells, wherein a first ventilation channel is formed by the spacer element and the top cover, the first ventilation channel comprising a first outlet in the housing towards an ambient environment.