Battery Pack Discharge Gap and Cover for Hot Vent Gas Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery packs face safety issues due to high-temperature exhaust gas ejected from discharge valves, which can cause thermal damage and ignition when discharged outside.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design featuring a discharge gap between facing battery cell end surfaces, a heat dissipation plate, and a bendable heat-resistant cover that collides with and diffuses the exhaust gas, reducing thermal energy and preventing direct contact with the case.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a hole is provided in the exterior case to discharge exhaust gas, then the exhaust gas can be discharged to the outside, but the high-temperature exhaust gas may cause the case to thermally melt or be ignited
Solution Approach 1:
A heat-resistant cover is introduced as an intermediary component between the discharge valve and the exterior case. This cover redirects the high-temperature exhaust gas flow away from the case, preventing thermal damage while maintaining effective exhaust gas discharge. The cover acts as a mediator that protects the case from direct exposure to hot gases.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge gap is formed by arranging battery cells on a straight line with their end surfaces facing each other, creating a spatial dimension for gas flow. This linear arrangement with facing end surfaces establishes a dedicated channel that guides exhaust gas away from the case in a specific direction, utilizing spatial geometry to solve the thermal protection problem.
2Reliability
If the discharge valve opens to release internal pressure, then safety against rupture is ensured, but the battery is abnormally heated and high-temperature gas is vigorously ejected
Solution Approach 1:
The heat-resistant cover serves as a protective intermediary that intercepts the high-temperature gas flow before it can contact the exterior case. By positioning the cover in the gas flow path, it absorbs and redirects the thermal energy, allowing the discharge valve to function for pressure relief while the cover mitigates the temperature-related harmful effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The high-temperature gas flow, which initially represents a harmful effect, is redirected through the discharge gap and along the heat-resistant cover toward the outside. The thermal energy that would otherwise damage the case is instead channeled in a controlled path that exits safely, converting a potentially harmful situation into a controlled discharge process.
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 dissipates thermal energy from the exhaust gas, preventing thermal failure and ignition, ensuring safe discharge of high-temperature gases.
Implementation Method 1
a heat dissipation plate arranged in the lower case and between the lower case and the battery block
Implementation Method 2
a bendable heat-resistant cover protruding from a side edge of the heat dissipation plate and being arranged at a position covering an opening of the discharge gap
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A decrease in safety due to high-temperature exhaust gas ejected from an opening discharge valve is prevented. A battery pack includes a battery block (10) including battery cells (1) connected to one another and a case (2) accommodating the battery block (10) therein. Each battery cell (1) includes a discharge valve on an end surface of the cell. The discharge valve is configured to open when an internal pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure. The battery cells (1) constituting the battery block (10) is arranged on a straight line such that respective end surfaces of the calls face each other. The battery block (10) has a discharge gap (12) between the end surfaces of the cells (1) facing each other. The discharge gap (12) is configured to guide exhaust gas from the discharge valve The case (2) includes lower case (2A) having side walls (22) on both sides thereof such that the battery block (10) is arranged between side walls (22), an upper case (2B) closing an opening of lower case (2A), a heat dissipation plate (5) arranged in lower case (2A) and between the lower case and battery block (10), and a bendable heat-resistant cover (6) protruding from a side edge of the heat dissipation plate (5) and arranged at a position covering an opening of discharge gap (12).