Battery Energy Absorbing Structure With Gas Vent Redirection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery failure in electric vehicles can lead to gas emission, which poses a risk to the passenger compartment due to the battery's location under the seat or floor, limiting effective gas management solutions.
Innovation Solution
An energy absorbing structure is positioned proximate to the battery housing, comprising energy absorbers and hollow tubes that deform to absorb collision forces and redirect gas away from the passenger compartment, featuring vents and deflection devices to safely exhaust gas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the battery is located under the seat or floor to save space, then the vehicle can accommodate more components, but gas emission from battery failure directly threatens the passenger compartment
Solution Approach 1:
A vent channel is introduced as an intermediary structure between the battery and passenger compartment. The vent channel includes a vent opening at the battery end and a vent outlet at the exterior end, providing a dedicated pathway for gas to escape from the battery to the outside environment without passing through the passenger compartment, thus resolving the conflict between space utilization and gas emission safety.
2Reliability
If conventional battery protection structures are used, then collision protection is provided, but they cannot effectively manage gas emission during battery failure
Solution Approach 1:
The vent channel structure serves multiple functions: it provides collision protection by being positioned between the battery and passenger compartment, and simultaneously manages gas emission through its vent opening and vent outlet. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction between collision protection and gas management capability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the battery housing is sealed to prevent gas leakage, then containment is improved, but pressure buildup during battery failure can cause housing rupture
Solution Approach 1:
A vent opening is provided in the battery housing at a location away from the battery, allowing gas to escape before pressure buildup can compromise the housing structure. This preliminary gas release mechanism maintains both containment and structural integrity by preventing excessive pressure accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent channel extracts the harmful gas from the battery housing system and directs it to the exterior through the vent outlet. By removing the gas from the enclosed space, the system maintains housing containment while preventing pressure-related structural damage.
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 structure effectively minimizes impact forces on the battery and redirects gas to safe areas, protecting the vehicle and occupants by absorbing energy and managing gas expulsion during collisions or defects.
Implementation Method 1
The energy absorber may include a hollow tube configured to deform to minimize forces applied to the battery housing caused by a collision
Implementation Method 2
The energy absorbing structure can include a hollow tube or other structure having a passage aligned with a vent of the battery housing to receive gas from the battery housing and redirect the gas to an area away from a passenger compartment or a door of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
An energy absorbing structure positioned proximate a vehicle body and a battery housing reduces impact forces imparted to a battery during a side collision. The energy absorbing structure may include energy absorbers positioned on longitudinal sides of the vehicle between the vehicle body and the battery housing. The energy absorbers can represent one or more hollow tubes having a passage aligned with a vent of the battery housing to receive gas from the battery housing and redirect the gas to an area away from a passenger compartment or an exit of the vehicle.