Battery Pack Base Melting Structure for Thermal Runaway Extinguishing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery packs with separate water cooling and extinguishing systems are complex, increase volume and weight, and decrease energy density due to the need for separate components and configurations.

Innovation Solution

A battery pack with an integrated water cooling and extinguishing system, where a battery cell base portion includes a base melting portion that melts at a reference temperature to allow coolant from a lower space portion to flow into the battery cell accommodating space, immersing the battery cell and extinguishing thermal runaway.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate water cooling system and extinguishing system are configured, then cooling function and extinguishing function can be independently provided, but device complexity increases and volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling function and extinguishing functionVSAvoidinternal structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the water cooling system and extinguishing system into a single integrated structure. The same housing accommodates both the coolant (for cooling) and the extinguishing liquid (for fire suppression), eliminating the need for separate pipes and compartments. This merging reduces structural complexity while maintaining both cooling and extinguishing functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing structure serves multiple functions: it acts as both the coolant conduit for water cooling and the extinguishing liquid conduit for fire suppression. This multi-functional design eliminates redundant components and simplifies the overall system architecture while providing both thermal management and safety extinguishing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate water cooling system and extinguishing system are configured, then cooling and extinguishing can be provided, but volume of extinguishing system increases and weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling and extinguishing capabilityVSAvoidbattery pack volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the cooling system and extinguishing system into a single integrated housing structure. Both the coolant and extinguishing liquid share the same accommodation space and conduit system, significantly reducing the total volume required compared to having separate systems. This volume reduction directly improves the energy density of the battery pack.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The extinguishing system is nested within the same housing structure that accommodates the cooling system. The extinguishing liquid is stored in the lower space portion of the same housing that also contains the coolant, creating a nested arrangement that minimizes overall volume while providing both functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If separate water cooling system and extinguishing system are configured, then cooling and extinguishing functions are provided, but energy density decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal management and safety functionVSAvoidenergy density

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By combining both thermal management (cooling) and safety (extinguishing) functions into a single integrated system, the patent eliminates redundant components and reduces overall system volume. This volume reduction increases the proportion of active battery capacity relative to total pack volume, thereby improving energy density while maintaining both cooling and extinguishing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 integrated system efficiently extinguishes thermal runaway while maintaining a compact structure, reducing the number of components and improving energy density by eliminating the need for separate cooling and extinguishing systems.

Implementation Method 1

a base melting portion configured to melt if an adjacent one of the battery cells is heated to a reference temperature or greater

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 2

coolant flowing into a battery cell accommodating space portion from a lower space portion through an opening where the base melting portion used to be located to immerse the battery cell in the coolant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCooling: Cooling

Data Source

PatentUS20250132410A1Battery pack and extinguishing method thereof

Publication Date: 2025.04.24 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD

AI summary

A battery pack includes a battery housing having a battery cell accommodating space portion accommodating a plurality of battery cells, a lower space portion under the battery cell accommodating space portion, and a battery cell base portion between the lower space portion and the battery cell accommodating space portion and supporting the plurality of battery cells. The battery cell base portion includes: a base melting portion configured to melt if an adjacent one of the battery cells is heated to a reference temperature or greater; and a base non-melting portion configured to not melt if the adjacent one of the battery cells is heated to the reference temperature or greater.