Battery Module Controllable External Heat Sink Thermal Runaway
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery modules face safety threats due to internal short circuits, which can cause overheating, damage, and potential fires, and are often addressed with costly electronic components and incomplete solutions that may not prevent thermal runaway.
Innovation Solution
A battery module with a controllable external heat sink and a controller that detects internal short circuits by voltage and current thresholds, isolates the affected cell, and uses a heat sink with adjustable resistance to manage heat generation, thereby preventing excessive heating and potential fires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electronic sensors and cooling systems are used to monitor and control battery cell temperature, then safety against thermal runaway is improved, but system cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat management function from the battery cell itself and relocates it to an external heat sink. By providing a dedicated heat dissipation path outside the battery module, the system prevents thermal runaway without requiring complex internal temperature monitoring and cooling systems for each cell, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary heat sink component between the battery cell and the environment. This heat sink acts as a mediator that absorbs excess heat from the battery cell during internal short circuits and dissipates it safely, providing a simple yet effective safety mechanism without requiring complex electronic control systems
2Reliability
If the entire battery module is shut down when one cell becomes too hot, then safety is improved, but productivity and energy availability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by providing individual heat management for each battery cell through separate heat sinks, rather than treating the entire battery module as a single unit. This allows the affected cell to be isolated and cooled independently, enabling the rest of the battery module to continue operating and maintaining energy availability while ensuring safety
3Device complexity
If simple mechanical measures like breaker plates are used to direct gas away, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to prevent thermal runaway deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by providing a heat sink that is pre-configured and ready to absorb heat before thermal runaway occurs. The heat sink is designed with appropriate thermal capacity and dissipation pathways in advance, so when an internal short circuit occurs, the heat is immediately absorbed and dissipated, preventing thermal runaway before it can develop, rather than just responding to gas generation after the fact
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 reduces the risk of thermal runaway and fire, enhances safety, and extends the state-of-charge window by managing heat effectively during internal short circuits, improving the reliability and safety of the battery module.
Implementation Method 1
the controller closes the first switch in order to generate heat in the heat sink
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A battery module (100) having a controllable external heat sink (130) and methods of operating the battery module are provided. According to an aspect of the invention, the battery module includes a battery cell (110), an external circuit connected to the battery cell, and a controller that controls the external circuit. The external circuit includes a first switch (SW1) and a heat sink. If an internal short circuit within the battery cell is detected, the controller closes the first switch in order to generate heat in the heat sink.