Battery Module Viscosity Adjustment for Thermal Runaway Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery modules face inefficiencies in cooling abnormally heated cells due to the low viscosity of coolants like water, leading to insufficient cooling effects and reduced energy density, as the coolant vaporizes quickly without providing adequate heat dissipation.
Innovation Solution
Adjusting the viscosity of the coolant within the range of 2 Pa·s to 350 Pa·s by adding a thickener, allowing it to remain in contact with the cell for a longer period and vaporize sufficiently, thereby enhancing cooling efficiency and preventing chained abnormal heat generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If water is used as a coolant with low viscosity, then the coolant can be easily released and brought into contact with the cell, but the coolant falls off the cell before sufficient vaporization occurs, resulting in insufficient cooling effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of viscosity by adding a thickening agent to the coolant, transforming it from a low-viscosity liquid to a high-viscosity liquid. This parameter change allows the coolant to maintain contact with the cell surface longer, enabling sufficient vaporization and effective cooling while still being releasable when needed
2Reliability
If a plurality of cells is sunk into water to achieve sufficient cooling effect, then the cooling efficiency is improved, but excessive water remains in the battery module, reducing the energy density per mass
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the viscosity parameter of the coolant through adding a thickening agent, the patent enables effective cooling with a minimal amount of coolant. The high-viscosity coolant adheres to the cell surface and vaporizes efficiently, eliminating the need for excessive coolant volume and preserving energy density
3Quantity of substance
If the distance between adjacent cells is reduced to increase energy density, then the battery module can be downsized, but normal cells are exposed to high temperature from abnormally heated cells, potentially causing chained abnormal heat generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares high-viscosity coolant in advance within the cooling unit, positioned to be rapidly released upon detection of abnormal heat generation. This preliminary preparation ensures that when thermal runaway occurs in one cell, the coolant is immediately available to protect adjacent cells, enabling closer cell spacing without compromising safety
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 adjusted viscosity coolant effectively reduces the temperature of abnormally heated cells, preventing the spread of heat to adjacent cells and maintaining high energy density per mass in battery modules.
Implementation Method 1
a rapid reduction in temperature of an abnormally heated cell is expected by directly bringing the water into contact with the cell to cool the cell by utilizing heat of vaporization of the water
Implementation Method 2
the viscosity of a coolant released to an abnormally heated cell in a battery module of the present invention is adjusted in such a range that the coolant is in contact with the cell for a long period of time, and a large amount of the coolant is vaporized
Data Source
AI summary
A battery module 100 includes a plurality of cells 10, wherein a cooling unit 20 in which a coolant is sealed is disposed in the vicinity of the cells 10, the coolant is liquid adjusted to have a viscosity within the range of 2 Pa·s to 350 Pa·s, and the cooling unit 20 includes an unsealable portion 23 which is partially unsealed to release the coolant when at least one of the cells 10 abnormally generates heat.