Battery Module Sub Vent Holes Flame Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Secondary battery cells in mobile devices, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems face issues with heat generation leading to increased internal pressure, potential ignition, and chain reactions causing explosions and fires, which can propagate to nearby cells without external discharge of gases or flames.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design featuring sub-packing units with a case and body frame unit that includes sub vent holes for external communication, a surrounding cover made of high-temperature metal, and an inner pad generating carbon dioxide or nitrogen to block external oxygen, along with a metal foam block and open/close mechanism for vent hole management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If secondary battery cells are mounted in close proximity for high energy density, then productivity and energy storage capacity increase, but the risk of flame propagation and chain reaction explosions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the battery system into independent sub-packing units, each containing one or more battery cells and equipped with its own case and vent hole. This segmentation isolates potential flame propagation to individual units, preventing chain reactions across the entire battery pack while maintaining high energy density through close proximity arrangement of the segmented units.
Solution Approach 2:
The case surrounding each battery cell acts as an intermediary barrier between adjacent cells. The case includes a vent hole that serves as a controlled intermediary pathway for gas and flame discharge, directing harmful factors externally rather than allowing uncontrolled propagation to neighboring cells.
2Reliability
If the battery cell is sealed to prevent external contamination, then reliability improves, but internal pressure buildup from heat generation can cause ignition and explosion
Solution Approach 1:
The case provides localized protection with different functional zones: the main body of the case remains sealed to protect the battery cell from external contamination, while a specific local region (the vent hole) is designed to allow controlled gas discharge. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between sealing for reliability and venting for pressure relief.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent hole extracts the harmful function of gas discharge from the sealed case structure. By creating a dedicated extraction pathway, the case maintains its protective sealing function while simultaneously providing a controlled release mechanism for internal pressure buildup, preventing ignition and explosion.
3Reliability
If a vent hole is provided to discharge internal pressure, then safety against ignition improves, but flames and gases may propagate to nearby battery cells
Solution Approach 1:
Each battery cell is enclosed in its own case with a dedicated vent hole, segmenting the discharge pathways. This segmentation ensures that flames and gases from one cell are discharged through its specific vent hole and contained within its case structure, preventing propagation to other battery cells while still providing effective pressure relief for each individual cell.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent hole converts the harmful effect of internal pressure buildup into a beneficial controlled discharge mechanism. By providing a designated pathway for flame and gas ejection, the system transforms the potential danger of pressure accumulation into a safety feature that directs harmful factors externally in a controlled manner, preventing uncontrolled propagation.
4Strength
If the case is made of high-temperature resistant material to withstand ignition, then strength and fire resistance improve, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The case is designed with local quality differentiation where only specific regions requiring high-temperature resistance are made from fire-resistant materials, while other portions may use less complex materials. This selective material application maintains necessary fire resistance at the vent hole and critical structural areas while simplifying manufacturing for non-critical sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The case may employ composite material construction combining fire-resistant materials with easier-to-manufacture materials in different sections. This composite approach allows the case to achieve the required strength and fire resistance where needed while maintaining ease of manufacture and reducing overall complexity through strategic material selection.
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 flame propagation, guides high-temperature, high-pressure flames and gases externally, minimizes risk to occupants by discharging flames from the lower end, and rapidly extinguishes fires by blocking oxygen inflow, thereby enhancing safety in battery cell assemblies.
Implementation Method 1
a sub vent hole for allowing communication between an interior of the case 120 and an exterior of the case 120
Implementation Method 2
an inner pad disposed inside the case, in contact with all the battery cells, configured to block an inflow of external oxygen by generating at least one of carbon dioxide and nitrogen during oxidation
Implementation Method 3
a metal foam block formed of a material that is melted by flames generated inside the battery sub-packing unit
Data Source
AI summary
A battery module includes: a plurality of battery sub-packing units including at least one battery cell and a case in which the at least one battery cell is accommodated; and a body frame unit in which the plurality of battery sub-packing units are installed, the body frame unit surrounding the plurality of battery sub-packing units to be isolated, wherein the case may include a sub vent hole for allowing communication between an interior of the case and an exterior of the case in which the at least one battery cell is disposed.