Battery Pack Venting Layout for Downward Gas Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery packs suffer from increased size, reduced energy density, and safety hazards due to gas emission during overheating or fire situations.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design with a vent portion directing gas outwards, a pack case exposing the vent to the lower side, and a compact structure incorporating a cooling system with integrated heat sinks and a safety space to guide gas away from the vehicle's occupants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If additional members such as top cover and heat sink are added to conventional battery pack, then cooling performance is improved, but total energy density is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The pack case is designed to integrate both cooling and venting functions into a single structural component. The lower part of the pack case serves as both the cooling structure and the gas discharge path, eliminating the need for separate heat sink and vent components. This merging of functions maintains cooling performance while increasing energy density by removing redundant parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The pack case is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides structural support, cooling, and gas venting functions. The lower surface of the pack case acts as both the cooling surface and the gas discharge outlet, allowing a single component to perform multiple roles that would traditionally require separate parts, thereby improving energy density.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional pack case structure with multiple components is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but total size of battery pack increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pack case integrates multiple functions (structural support, cooling, and venting) into a single component, reducing the total number of parts and assembly steps. This merging maintains manufacturing simplicity while significantly reducing the overall battery pack size by eliminating redundant components.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If vent portion directs gas to upper part of battery pack, then gas discharge is achieved, but safety of driver and passengers is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of directing gas discharge upward toward the driver and passengers, the vent portion is designed to discharge gas downward through the lower surface of the pack case. This inversion of the discharge direction redirects harmful gases away from occupants, significantly improving safety while maintaining effective gas discharge functionality.
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 achieves a more compact structure with increased energy density and improved safety by directing gas and flames away from the vehicle's occupants, enhancing safety performance and reducing the risk of damage.
Implementation Method 1
a pack cover which is coupled to the pack case and covers the at least one battery cell on a side opposite to the vent portion... The pack cover may have a cooling channel inside to cool the at least one battery cell... a bottom heat sink positioned in contact with the at least one battery cell; and a top heat sink coupled to the bottom heat sink to form the cooling channel inside
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes at least one battery cell including a vent portion configured to force gas out; and a pack case in which the at least one battery cell is accommodated such that the vent portion faces a lower side of the battery pack. The vent portion is exposed from the battery pack.