Battery Pack Module Segmentation With Rupture-Activated Fire Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium secondary battery packs face challenges in controlling thermal events, which can lead to thermal propagation and potential fires or explosions, posing safety risks due to inadequate suppression of venting gases between battery cells or modules.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack configuration that includes a battery module, a control module, and a fire extinguishing tank with a rupture member to release a fire extinguishing agent, such as antifreeze or insulating oil, to quickly manage and suppress thermal events, preventing the spread of heat or fires between modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If battery cells are arranged densely to increase energy density, then energy density is improved, but thermal safety deteriorates due to increased risk of thermal propagation
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is divided into multiple independent battery modules, each surrounded by fire extinguishing tanks. This segmentation isolates thermal events to specific modules, preventing propagation to other modules while maintaining high cell density within each module.
Solution Approach 2:
Fire extinguishing tanks filled with fire extinguishing agents (such as non-aqueous electrolytes) are positioned between battery modules as intermediary protective elements. These agents act as thermal barriers that can suppress thermal runaway propagation when injected during thermal events.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If fire extinguishing agents are injected to suppress thermal runaway, then thermal safety is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The fire extinguishing tanks are integrated with the battery module structures, combining the protective function with the existing battery pack architecture. This merging reduces overall system complexity compared to adding completely separate safety systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire extinguishing system utilizes the non-aqueous electrolyte from the battery cells themselves as the fire extinguishing agent. When thermal runaway occurs, the electrolyte is injected into surrounding modules, allowing the system to use its own resources for protection without requiring external fire suppression systems.
3Speed
If rupture members are used to automatically release fire extinguishing agents, then response speed is improved, but reliability decreases due to potential premature rupture
Solution Approach 1:
The rupture members are designed with specific rupture temperatures that correspond to thermal runaway conditions. By carefully selecting materials and geometries with appropriate thermal thresholds, the system achieves automatic activation at dangerous temperatures while remaining stable during normal operation and minor temperature fluctuations.
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 controls thermal runaway situations, prevents fire propagation, and ensures continuous power supply by injecting the fire extinguishing agent only to affected modules, enhancing safety and reducing damage from potential fires.
Implementation Method 1
a rupture member configured to be ruptured under a predetermined condition so that the fire extinguishing agent comes out when the rupture member is ruptured
Implementation Method 2
a fire extinguishing tank containing a fire extinguishing agent... configured to inject the fire extinguishing agent into the battery module in response to the thermal event
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack or the like configured to secure safety even when a thermal event occurs is disclosed. The battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a battery module having at least one battery cell, a control module connected to the battery module and configured to manage the battery module, and a fire extinguishing tank containing a fire extinguishing agent, coupled to at least one of the battery module and the control module, and having a rupture member configured to be ruptured under a predetermined condition so that the fire extinguishing agent comes out when the rupture member is ruptured.