Battery Module Heat Insulation Layout for Thermal Runaway Blocking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery modules face limitations in effectively preventing heat and high-temperature particle diffusion between battery cells and bus bar plates, leading to potential fires and explosions, and they fail to maintain efficient cooling performance due to unblocked spaces.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of a first heat insulator in the form of a heat insulation pad between individual battery cells and a second heat insulator made of a thermally expandable material between electrode leads to block heat and high-temperature particle movement, utilizing a silicone material for the first insulator and expanding paper for the second to seal open spaces at critical temperatures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If heat insulation pads are disposed between individual battery cells, then heat and high-temperature particle diffusion between battery cells is reduced, but open spaces remain between bus bar plate and battery cells allowing heat diffusion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat and high-temperature particle diffusionVSAvoidfire and explosion prevention effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The heat insulation solution is divided into two separate components: first heat insulators (pads) positioned between battery cells, and second heat insulators positioned between electrode leads and bus bar plate. This segmentation allows each component to address specific heat diffusion paths independently, ensuring comprehensive coverage without compromising cooling performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Second heat insulators made of thermally expandable material serve as intermediary components between the electrode leads and bus bar plate. These intermediaries block heat diffusion paths that would otherwise connect battery cells to the bus bar plate through open spaces, preventing fire and explosion propagation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If thermally expandable material is used for second heat insulator, then heat blocking capability is improved at high temperature, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat blocking capabilityVSAvoidheat insulator configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The second heat insulators utilize thermally expandable material whose physical parameters (volume, density) change in response to temperature variations. At normal operating temperatures, the material maintains a compact state that allows cooling air flow. When exposed to fire or explosion temperatures, the material expands to block heat diffusion paths, providing adaptive protection without requiring complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Effectively reduces the risk of fires and explosions by blocking heat and high-temperature particles, while maintaining cooling performance through air passage in normal temperature ranges.

Implementation Method 1

a first heat insulator of a heat insulation pad type disposed between individual battery cells

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

a second heat insulator made of a thermally expandable material and placed between individual electrode leads

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentEP4415112B1Battery module
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4415112B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4415112B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4415112B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is disclosed a battery module including a first heat insulator formed in an insulation pad shape and disposed between battery cells; and a second heat insulator disposed between electrode leads and made of a material having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than that of the first heat insulator, thereby blocking heat and high-temperature particles from moving between the respective battery cells and a bus bar plate and effectively reducing a risk of fires and explosions.