Battery Module Venting Layout to Contain Thermal Runaway
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery modules fail to effectively prevent the spread of flames and sparks during thermal runaway, posing a safety risk to surrounding devices and personnel.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design featuring a cell holder with extruding separators, metal plates forming compartments, a fire-retardant expandable member, and a vent system that includes pressure relief openings and an intermediate space to manage and contain thermal runaway substances, preventing their spread.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If traditional battery module design is used, then energy density is improved, but thermal runaway spreading cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The battery module is divided into multiple independent compartments by metal plates and extruding separators. Each compartment contains specific cells and is isolated from others, preventing flame and spark propagation between adjacent battery packs while maintaining high energy density arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
Fire-retardant expandable members are positioned between adjacent battery packs as intermediary safety barriers. These members remain inactive during normal operation but expand when exposed to thermal runaway conditions, blocking flame and spark transmission pathways without affecting the energy density of the battery module.
2Reliability
If compartments are added to prevent thermal runaway, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The metal plates serve multiple functions: they form compartment boundaries for thermal isolation, provide mounting surfaces for fire-retardant expandable members, and act as structural support elements. The extruding separators simultaneously divide compartments and guide the flow of high-temperature substances, reducing the need for additional dedicated safety components.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire-retardant expandable members are nested within the compartments, adhered to the metal plates. This nested arrangement allows the safety mechanism to be integrated into the existing compartment structure without adding external complexity, maintaining a compact and organized module design.
3Stress or pressure
If pressure relief openings are provided, then thermal runaway substance release is improved, but flame spreading risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure relief openings and intermediate space convert the harmful high-temperature substances into a controlled flow pathway. By directing flames and hot gases through the intermediate space and across metal plates, the system uses the thermal runaway energy to activate fire-retardant expandable members that subsequently block further spread, transforming the harmful effect into a safety activation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate space provides a controlled pathway that high-temperature substances must traverse before reaching the outside environment. This pathway forces the thermal runaway products to pass through multiple safety barriers including metal plates and activated expandable members, effectively slowing and containing the spread while allowing pressure relief.
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 design effectively contains and directs thermal runaway substances, preventing flames and sparks from escaping the chassis, thereby ensuring safety by providing a controlled release pathway.
Implementation Method 1
the fire-retardant expandable member reacts and expands to cover the opening of the cell accommodating cavity
Implementation Method 2
fire-retardant expandable member is disposed within the compartment and adhered to the metal plate
Implementation Method 3
the pressure relief openings are connected with the intermediate space, allowing high-temperature substances released by the cells undergoing thermal runaway to pass through
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a battery module for preventing thermal runaway spreading, comprising: a cell holder; a battery pack, including a plurality of cells; a metal plate, disposed with the cell holder to collaboratively form multiple compartments, with adjacent compartments separated by the extruding separators; a fire-retardant expandable member, disposed within the compartment; and an upper cover, disposed on the cell holder with a intermediate space between the upper cover and the cell holder. The cell holder includes pressure relief openings for the compartments, allowing high-temperature substances released by cells undergoing thermal runaway to pass through the compartments, the pressure relief openings, the intermediate space, and the vent openings in the metal plate to the outside. This allows the pressure to be relieved first, followed by preventing oxygen from fueling the fire, thereby avoiding flames and sparks spreading out of the chassis, and ensuring the safety of surrounding personnel and devices.