Battery Module Vent Channel System for Thermal Runaway Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery modules, particularly lithium battery modules, face safety challenges under abusive conditions such as elevated temperature, crushing, penetration, overcharge, and short-circuit, where a single failing cell can lead to thermal runaway and propagate to surrounding cells, posing fire hazards and releasing toxic gases.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design featuring a vent channel system with heat-resistant materials, filters, and scrubbers to manage thermal energy and toxic substances, including a vent channel system with interconnected vents, filters, and scrubbers to release and neutralize vent gases outside the module, and thermal insulation to prevent heat propagation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If battery cells are connected in quantities to form a battery module, then electrical energy storage capacity is improved, but safety risk increases due to potential thermal runaway propagation
Solution Approach 1:
The battery module is segmented into multiple independent battery cell compartments, each equipped with individual vents and thermal management features. This segmentation isolates thermal runaway events to specific compartments, preventing propagation to other cells while maintaining high overall capacity through the modular arrangement of multiple cells.
Solution Approach 2:
Heat-resistant materials and thermal barriers are introduced as intermediary substances between battery cells to block heat transfer during thermal runaway events. These intermediary materials act as mediators that absorb and dissipate thermal energy, preventing direct heat propagation between adjacent cells while allowing the battery module to maintain its high-capacity configuration.
2Reliability
If thermal runaway occurs in a battery cell, then vent gases are released, but toxic substances and fire hazards are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The venting system is designed to convert the harmful thermal runaway event into a controlled release process. By providing dedicated vent channels and heat-resistant barriers, the system directs toxic gases through safe pathways away from surrounding cells and components, transforming the uncontrolled hazardous event into a managed pressure relief process that protects the overall battery module.
Solution Approach 2:
Toxic vent gases are extracted and directed through dedicated vent channels that separate them from the battery module's internal environment. The venting system extracts harmful substances from the affected cell and channels them through heat-resistant pathways to external discharge points, removing the toxic substances from the confined battery space and preventing fire hazards.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If heat-resistant materials are applied to vent channels, then heat propagation is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Heat-resistant materials are applied locally only to critical areas of the vent channels where heat exposure is highest, rather than coating the entire venting system. This localized application provides effective thermal protection at key interfaces between battery cells and vent channels while minimizing the overall complexity and material requirements of the heat-resistant coating system.
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 reduces the risk of heat propagation and fire hazards by safely releasing and neutralizing toxic gases, enhancing the safety and environmental friendliness of battery modules.
Implementation Method 1
at least a part of an interior surface of the vent channel system is covered with a heat resistant material
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A battery module (10) comprises a plurality of battery cells (12), each battery cell (12) having a vent (18), which is adapted to open, when an overpressure builds up in the battery cell (12), and to release vent gases from the battery cell (12); and a vent channel system (22) connecting the vents (18) of the battery cells (12) for guiding and releasing the vent gases. The vent channel system (22) comprises vent heads (20) and vent channels (24); wherein each vent head (20), a respective vent channel (24) and a respective vent (18) are connected in a sealed manner to one another; and wherein the vent channels (24) interconnect the vent heads (20).