Battery Module Thermal Runaway Response via Targeted Capacity Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium battery fires pose a significant risk due to thermal runaway, leading to the spread of flames and compromising safety, despite existing protections, which is a concern for the industry and regulatory bodies.
Innovation Solution
A battery module with temperature sensors and an energy consumption module controlled by a controller to detect abnormal temperatures and consume the capacity of affected battery packs, using heating elements, fans, or resistors to prevent thermal runaway and fire spread.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If temperature sensors and energy consumption module are added to detect and consume battery capacity, then fire spread suppression capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery module is divided into multiple battery packs, each monitored by temperature sensors. The energy consumption module is segmented into multiple heating elements that can independently consume capacity of specific battery packs. This segmentation allows targeted response to thermal runaway in individual packs rather than requiring system-wide complex control.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between temperature sensors and the energy consumption module. When a temperature sensor detects abnormal heat, the controller activates heating elements near the affected battery pack. These heating elements serve as intermediaries that consume battery capacity through controlled heating, preventing thermal runaway without requiring direct complex control of the battery chemistry.
2Reliability
If heating elements are used to consume battery capacity, then thermal runaway prevention is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating elements apply preliminary anti-action by consuming battery capacity through controlled heating before thermal runaway can occur. When temperature sensors detect abnormal heat generation, the controller activates heating elements to create counter-heating that consumes the runaway energy, preventing the exothermic reaction from escalating into full thermal runaway.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy consumption module applies partial action by targeting only the specific battery pack experiencing thermal runaway rather than consuming capacity from all packs. The heating elements are strategically positioned near affected packs and activated only when needed, consuming just enough energy to prevent runaway without unnecessarily depleting the entire battery module's capacity.
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 solution effectively suppresses the spread of battery fires by quickly dissipating heat and reducing the risk of complete combustion, enhancing safety and compliance with regulatory standards.
Implementation Method 1
an energy consumption module 5, wherein the energy consumption module 5 includes a heating element 52
Implementation Method 2
The energy consumption module 5 may include a fan 54
Data Source
AI summary
A battery module capable of suppressing spread of battery fire including a case, a plurality of battery packs, a plurality of temperature sensors, an energy consumption module and a controller. The case forms an accommodation space, and the battery packs is accommodated in the accommodation space. The temperature sensors are dispersedly configured to the accommodation space, and the temperature sensors respectively detect an ambient temperature around configure locations. The controller is coupled to the temperature sensors, and when the ambient temperature detected by one of the temperature sensors is greater than or equal to a first specific temperature range, the controller controls the energy consumption module to consume a battery capacity of at least one battery pack around the one of the temperature sensors.