Pouch Cell Cover Venting for Battery Pack Thermal Runaway
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs face challenges in reducing overall weight and volume while increasing energy density, and they struggle with handling and mounting of battery cells during manufacturing, which can lead to cell damage and increased costs. Additionally, there is a risk of chain thermal runaway due to the difficulty in discharging gases or flames generated during thermal runaway.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design that incorporates a pack case with pouch-type battery cells and a cell cover featuring a bent portion with venting holes to facilitate the discharge of gases or flames during thermal runaway, thereby reducing the risk of chain thermal runaway and improving manufacturing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If battery cells are accommodated in a metal case having a box shape to form a battery module, then the battery pack structure is stable and protective, but the overall weight and volume of the battery pack is increased and the energy density is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the intermediate battery module structure (metal case with box shape) and directly accommodates battery cells in the battery pack case. This extraction of the unnecessary intermediate structure reduces weight and volume while maintaining structural stability through direct cell-to-pack configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the battery module function directly into the battery pack structure by accommodating cells directly in the pack case. This consolidation eliminates the separate module case and reduces overall structural complexity, weight, and volume.
2Weight of moving object
If battery cells are directly mounted on a pack case to increase energy density, then weight and volume are reduced, but it is difficult to simultaneously handle or stack the battery cells and there is a risk of damage during mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces positioning protrusions on the pack case and corresponding positioning grooves on the battery cells before mounting. This preliminary positioning arrangement guides the cells during placement, making handling and stacking easier while preventing damage during the direct-to-pack mounting process.
3Quantity of substance
If a plurality of battery cells are space-intensively arranged in a pack case, then energy density is increased, but it is difficult to discharge gas or flame generated during thermal runaway and chain thermal runaway may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces partition walls that divide the battery pack case into multiple regions, creating localized containment zones around groups of battery cells. This local segmentation allows space-intensive arrangement within each zone while preventing flame and gas from propagating to other zones during thermal runaway, thus addressing both energy density and safety concerns.
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 proposed design reduces the overall weight and volume of the battery pack while increasing energy density, simplifies the handling and mounting of battery cells, and effectively prevents chain thermal runaway by directing gases or flames away from other cells.
Implementation Method 1
at least one venting hole for discharging a flame or gas is formed in the bent portion of the cell cover
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a battery pack and a vehicle including the same. A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of pouch-type battery cells, a pack case having an inner space in which the plurality of pouch-type battery cells are accommodated, and a cell cover at least partially surrounding and supporting at least some of the plurality of pouch-type battery cells, in the inner space of the pack case, wherein the cell cover includes a bent portion formed in a bent shape, and at least one venting hole for discharging a flame or gas is formed in the bent portion of the cell cover.