Battery Module Cooling Structure for Thermal Runaway Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-capacity battery modules are prone to rapid temperature increases leading to thermal runaway, ignition, and explosion due to venting, necessitating rapid and effective fire extinguishing and cooling measures.
Innovation Solution
A battery module structure incorporating a sprinkler system with thermally expanding blocks and an insulation cover that operates to increase the level of cooling fluid for rapid fire extinguishing and cooling, utilizing thermally expanding foaming agents and expansion pads to enhance cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a high-capacity battery module structure is used to increase energy storage, then the energy density and capacity are improved, but the temperature control and fire safety are worsened due to increased risk of thermal runaway
Solution Approach 1:
The battery module is divided into multiple battery cell groups arranged in series, with each group containing multiple battery cells. This segmentation allows for better thermal management of individual groups while achieving high overall capacity, preventing uncontrolled thermal runaway propagation across the entire module.
Solution Approach 2:
A cooling fluid passage is introduced as an intermediary element between battery cell groups. This passage allows cooling fluid to flow through and remove heat from multiple battery cell groups simultaneously, acting as a thermal mediator that prevents temperature increase while maintaining high battery capacity.
2Device complexity
If conventional cooling systems are used in battery modules, then the structure is simple, but the cooling speed and fire extinguishing effectiveness are insufficient during thermal runaway
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling fluid passage is pre-configured within the battery module structure before thermal runaway occurs. The passage includes multiple branching channels that are ready to distribute cooling fluid rapidly to all battery cell groups when needed, enabling immediate and effective cooling action without requiring complex real-time system reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system utilizes hydraulic flow of cooling fluid through the cooling fluid passage to achieve rapid heat removal. The fluid dynamics design allows high flow rates through the branching channels, providing fast cooling speed and effective fire extinguishing capability while maintaining relatively simple structural implementation.
3Reliability
If more cooling fluid is introduced during thermal runaway, then fire extinguishing effectiveness is improved, but fluid leakage and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling fluid passage is merged with the battery module housing structure, integrating the cooling function into the existing module design. This combination allows multiple cooling channels to share a unified structural framework, reducing overall system complexity while enabling effective distribution of cooling fluid to all battery cell groups for reliable fire extinguishing.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling fluid passage serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides cooling during normal operation, enables rapid fire extinguishing during thermal runaway, and structurally integrates with the battery module housing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated fire suppression systems, simplifying the overall fluid management system while maintaining high reliability.
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
Enables rapid fire extinguishing and cooling by increasing the level of cooling fluid within the module, minimizing leakage and maximizing fire suppression effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a thermally expanding block disposed in an empty space inside the module housing and configured to be thermally expanded according to a temperature rise inside the module housing
Implementation Method 2
rapidly increasing a level of a cooling fluid (for example, a cooling water) for fire extinguishing and cooling
Data Source
AI summary
A battery module includes a cell stack including a plurality of battery cells, a module housing configured to accommodate the cell stack, a sprinkler configured to supply cooling fluid to inside the module housing and provided through the module housing at one side of the cell stack in a stacking direction, and a first plurality of thermally expanding blocks disposed in an empty space inside the module housing and configured to be thermally expanded according to a temperature rise inside the module housing, thereby reducing the volume of the empty space to configured to be filled with the cooling fluid.