Battery Module Gas Discharge Duct and Flow Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery modules face safety risks due to the potential for fires when gases discharged from batteries mix with outside oxygen, and increasing battery capacity exacerbates this risk by increasing the amount of gas released, compromising safety.
Innovation Solution
A battery module configuration featuring a duct plate with a gas discharge duct connected to valve portions and a cover plate with a flow path that intersects the stacking direction, allowing gradual gas leakage and reducing the temperature of discharged gases and particles, thereby suppressing fire occurrence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If battery capacity is increased to meet higher power requirements, then power output is improved, but the amount of gas blown off increases leading to higher fire risk
Solution Approach 1:
The gas discharge path is segmented into multiple sections: the gas discharge duct extending in the stacking direction, and the flow path portion extending in the first direction. This segmentation creates a multi-stage discharge process that prolongs gas release time and reduces instantaneous gas flow rate, thereby lowering fire risk while maintaining high battery capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a new spatial dimension by extending the flow path portion in the first direction (intersecting with stacking direction). This dimensional extension creates a longer, more complex gas discharge trajectory that increases discharge time and allows for gradual gas release, effectively reducing the temperature and fire hazard of discharged gases
2Speed
If gas is discharged quickly to the outside, then pressure relief is improved, but the temperature of discharged gas remains high causing fire hazard
Solution Approach 1:
The gas discharge duct is designed to extend in the stacking direction before the flow path portion diverges in the first direction. This preliminary extension allows gas to travel through a longer path and undergo gradual cooling before reaching the external environment, reducing its temperature and fire hazard while still maintaining effective pressure relief
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
Enhances safety by delaying the release of gases and lowering their temperature, reducing the risk of fires outside the battery module while allowing for increased battery capacity without compromising safety.
Implementation Method 1
a gas discharge duct which extends in a stacking direction of the batteries, is connected to the valve portions of the respective batteries, and temporarily stores a blown-off gas
Implementation Method 2
a flow path portion defined by the duct plate and the cover plate, the flow path portion extending from the gas discharge duct in a first direction that intersects with the stacking direction of the batteries and allowing leaking of the gas in the gas discharge duct to an outside of the battery module
Implementation Method 3
the temperature of a gas or fine particles blown off from the battery can be lowered so that the occurrence of fire outside the battery module can be suppressed
Data Source
AI summary
The battery module includes: battery stack including a plurality of batteries that are stacked, each of the plurality of batteries having valve portion; duct plate configured to cover a surface of battery stack on which a plurality of valve portions are disposed, duct plate having gas discharge duct that temporarily stores a gas blown off from valve portions of respective batteries; cover plate placed on duct plate; and a flow path portion defined by duct plate and cover plate, the flow path portion extending from gas discharge duct and allowing leaking of the gas in gas discharge duct to an outside of the battery module. Cover plate includes first vertical wall portion at an end portion of cover plate in stacking direction of batteries, first vertical wall portion extending in a second direction along which cover plate and duct plate are arranged and overlapping with duct plate as viewed in stacking direction of batteries.