Battery Pack Flow Paths for Thermal Runaway Gas Discharge
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional battery packs face challenges in effectively managing and discharging high-temperature gases and fluids produced during thermal runaway, leading to safety risks and potential accidents due to poor gas circulation.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design featuring a protective member with a first path for guiding fluids perpendicular to the battery height, constraining components to stabilize the battery row, and an explosion-proof exhaust structure for smooth discharge of gases, along with a partitioning structure for orderly battery arrangement and thermal insulation to prevent re-circulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If fireproof cotton is used to cover the upper part of the battery pack, then thermal spread is temporarily slowed down, but gas circulation becomes poor and high-temperature gases cannot be discharged promptly
Solution Approach 1:
The protective member is divided into multiple sections with through holes, creating segmented pathways that allow gas circulation while maintaining thermal protection. The partitioning structure divides the cavity into multiple zones, enabling controlled gas flow paths rather than a single blocked path.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective member acts as an intermediary structure between the batteries and the external environment. It provides thermal protection while incorporating through holes that serve as intermediate pathways for gas discharge, reconciling the conflicting requirements of thermal blocking and gas circulation.
2Reliability
If a protective member covers all explosion-proof valves, then thermal protection is improved, but gas discharge pathways become blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The protective member has different properties in different locations: it is solid and protective in most areas, but contains through holes at specific locations to allow gas discharge. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between overall protection and localized discharge needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective member converts the potentially harmful direct discharge of hot gases into a beneficial controlled discharge through designated pathways. The through holes transform the hazard of blocked gas into a controlled release mechanism that protects surrounding components.
3Stability of the object's composition
If constraining components are added to stabilize the battery row, then structural stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The constraining components are integrated with the partitioning structure, merging two functions into a single structural element. The partitioning structure serves both to divide the cavity and to constrain the battery rows, reducing the total number of separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The partitioning structure performs multiple functions simultaneously: it divides the cavity into zones, provides structural support, and constrains the battery rows. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity while maintaining stability.
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
Enhances safety by promptly discharging gases and fluids away from the battery pack, reducing the risk of thermal runaway spread and passenger harm, while maintaining a stable and orderly battery arrangement.
Implementation Method 1
a first path for guiding fluid to flow in the first direction is provided between the protective member and an upper surface of the top cover
Implementation Method 2
a constraining component, disposed in the cavity, located between the battery row and an inner wall of the cavity in the first direction, and configured to constrain the battery row
Implementation Method 3
the top of the constraining components, the battery row, and the box cover form a second path communicating with the first path; and an explosion-proof exhaust structure is provided on a side plate of the box cover that is opposite the second path, and the explosion-proof exhaust structure communicates with the second path and is configured to discharge the fluid in the second path out of the battery pack
Implementation Method 4
the partitioning structure includes a first partitioner, the first partitioner extends in the first direction, and the constraining component is connected to the first partitioner
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A battery pack (100) and a vehicle are provided. The battery pack (100) includes: a box cover (12), a battery row (41), a protective member (42), and a constraining component (5). A first path (PI) for guiding airflow to flow in a first direction (W) is provided between the protective member (42) and an upper surface of the battery row (41). The constraining component (5) is located between the battery row (41) and an inner wall (111a) of a cavity (111) in the first direction (W), at least a part of a top of the constraining component (5) is lower than the upper surface of the battery row (41), the constraining component (5) constrains the battery row (41), and the part of the top of the constraining component (5) lower than the upper surface of the battery row (41), the battery row (41), and the box cover (12) form a second path (P2) communicating with fluid in the first path (PI). The battery pack (100) allows smoother discharge of produced gas and better safety performance.