Battery Module Thermal Runaway Prevention via Segmented Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery modules face the challenge of thermal chain reactions due to flammable gases escaping from a single energy storage element, which can lead to the spread of overheating and damage to adjacent elements, and current solutions require significant design effort to prevent this.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design featuring a housing with multiple electrochemical energy storage elements arranged in planes, a thermally stable plate above them with predetermined breaking points spatially assigned to each element, and a space for gas venting, allowing hot gases to escape safely without affecting other elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pressure relief valve is provided in each energy storage element to release hot gases, then the risk of thermal runaway of the respective element is reduced, but the escaping gases and entrained particles can attack neighboring elements causing overheating and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into multiple compartments, each containing one or more energy storage elements. These compartments are separated by partition walls that prevent hot gases and particles from one compartment from reaching neighboring compartments, thus stopping thermal propagation while maintaining individual pressure relief capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Partition walls act as intermediary barriers between compartments. These walls include heat-resistant coatings or insulating layers that can withstand high temperatures and prevent heat transfer, serving as a protective mediator between the hot gases from a failing element and neighboring elements.
2Device complexity
If conventional battery module designs are used without additional protective structures, then the device complexity is low, but thermal chain reactions can spread to adjacent elements causing catastrophic failure
Solution Approach 1:
The battery module is segmented into multiple compartments using partition walls. This segmentation approach provides thermal isolation between elements with minimal additional structural complexity, as the partition walls can be integrated into the existing housing design rather than adding separate protective systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls serve multiple functions: they provide structural support for the housing, act as thermal barriers between compartments, and guide hot gases toward designated exhaust paths. By combining these functions into a single structural element, the overall device complexity is minimized while achieving reliable thermal protection.
3Reliability
If extensive protective measures are implemented to prevent fire spread between elements, then thermal runaway propagation is prevented, but considerable additional design effort and complexity are required
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into fire-resistant compartments using partition walls. This segmentation provides effective fire spread prevention by isolating thermal runaways to individual compartments, while the design requires minimal additional effort as it utilizes the existing modular structure of battery modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls create isolated compartments that effectively create inert environments for each energy storage element. By preventing oxygen and hot gas exchange between compartments, the design achieves fire spread prevention through environmental isolation rather than requiring active suppression systems or complex protective measures.
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
Prevents thermal chain reactions by isolating defective elements from others, ensuring safe operation with minimal material usage and simple manufacturing, using a thermally stable plate with hinged breaking points and gas channels to vent gases effectively.
Implementation Method 1
Several predetermined breaking points are provided in the thermally stable plate, which open when gas pressure occurs
Implementation Method 2
a thermally stable plate, in particular made of synthetic mica, is located above at least one level with the energy storage elements
Data Source
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AI summary
A battery module (100; 200) is equipped with a housing and a plurality of electrochemical energy storage elements within the housing. The energy storage elements (10) are arranged in at least one plane. Above at least one of the planes containing the energy storage elements (10) is a thermally stable plate (20), wherein several predetermined breaking points (21) are provided in the thermally stable plate (20), each spatially assigned to one or more energy storage elements (10). The predetermined breaking points (21) are designed to open when gas pressure occurs. Furthermore, a space (31; 231) for gas venting is provided above the thermally stable plate (20).