Battery Module Terrace Pressing for Directional Cell Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Secondary batteries used in electric vehicles and portable devices are prone to thermal runaway, leading to the spread of high-temperature gas and flames, which can cause structural damage and chain reactions, posing a significant safety risk.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design featuring pressing members that pressurize the terrace portions of battery cells to control the venting direction of gases and flames, preventing their discharge towards vulnerable components and promoting directional venting to minimize thermal propagation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If battery cells are densely stored inside a module frame to increase energy density, then productivity and energy efficiency are improved, but thermal safety deteriorates as high-temperature gas and flames can spread to adjacent cells causing chain reactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the battery module into isolated compartments using partition walls between adjacent battery cells. These partition walls create physical barriers that segment the internal space, preventing thermal runaway in one cell from propagating to neighboring cells while maintaining high cell density for energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces pressing members as intermediary components that apply pressure to seal the terrace portions of battery cells. These pressing members act as mediators between the cell structure and the sealing requirement, ensuring that venting pathways are blocked during thermal events without compromising the dense packing of cells.
2Volume of moving object
If battery cells are densely packed to improve energy density, then volume efficiency is improved, but the risk of thermal propagation between cells increases
Solution Approach 1:
Partition walls are implemented to segment the module into isolated cell compartments, allowing maximum cell density while creating fire barriers that prevent thermal propagation between adjacent cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different structural qualities to different locations: pressing members are positioned at specific locations (terrace portions) where sealing is critical, while partition walls are placed between cells. This localized application of safety features maintains volume efficiency while addressing thermal propagation risks at specific vulnerable points.
3Reliability
If pressing members are used to seal terrace portions and block venting pathways, then thermal safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing members serve multiple functions: they seal the terrace portions to prevent thermal propagation, maintain structural integrity of the module, and enable controlled venting through designated pathways. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the sealing function from the cell structure itself and implements it through separate pressing members. This allows the sealing mechanism to be independently optimized and installed only where needed (at terrace portions), rather than complicating the entire cell structure.
4Reliability
If venting pathways are blocked to prevent thermal runaway spread, then safety is improved, but pressure buildup inside cells may increase
Solution Approach 1:
Pressing members act as intermediaries that selectively block venting pathways at terrace portions while allowing controlled pressure release through designated pathways. They mediate between the need to prevent thermal propagation and the need to manage internal pressure, directing venting through safer routes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the venting function from the blocking function by creating dedicated venting pathways that are distinct from the terrace portions. Pressing members block the terrace portions while venting occurs through separate, controlled pathways, extracting these functions into different locations to resolve the pressure-safety conflict.
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 suppresses thermal runaway by blocking venting gas and flames from spreading to adjacent cells, enhancing safety and reliability by preventing structural damage and maintaining electrical connections.
Implementation Method 1
a pressing member configured to pressurize the terrace portion when an internal pressure of the battery cell increases
Data Source
AI summary
A battery module including a plurality of battery cells being configured to be stacked on each other, each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells including a storage portion, an electrode lead, a sealing portion, and a terrace portion where the electrode lead is located at the sealing portion, a module case including an inner space configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells, and a plurality of pressing members, each pressing member of the plurality of pressing members facing a surface of the terrace portion of each battery cell, and configured to pressurize the terrace portion when internal pressure inside each battery cell increases.