Battery Pack Duct Member Isolates Thermal Runaway Gas

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery packs face issues with high-temperature gas and flames generated from one battery cell igniting neighboring cells due to shared flow spaces, leading to secondary ignition and thermal runaway.

Innovation Solution

A battery pack design with a duct member that separates the flow of gas or flames into distinct paths, each corresponding to individual cell groups, and a venting unit for external discharge, along with a heat insulating member to prevent flame propagation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a shared flow space is used for all battery cells, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but high-temperature gas or flames from one cell can propagate to other cells causing secondary ignition

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow space configurationVSAvoidprevention of secondary ignition
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flow space is divided into multiple independent flow channels, each corresponding to a specific battery cell or cell group. Partition walls separate these channels, ensuring that high-temperature gas or flames from one cell can only enter its designated flow channel and be discharged externally, preventing propagation to other cells while maintaining a structured and manageable design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If multiple inlets communicate with a single flow space, then the ease of operation is improved with simpler gas intake, but the harmful effect increases as flames from one cell can transfer to other cells through the shared flow space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas discharge operationVSAvoidflame transfer between cells
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple inlets are assigned to different flow channels instead of all communicating with a single shared flow space. Each inlet serves its corresponding cell or cell group, allowing simple and direct gas discharge operation while physically isolating flame propagation paths through partition walls

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Partition walls act as intermediaries that separate the flow channels connected to different inlets. These walls prevent direct communication between flow channels, blocking flame transfer while allowing each inlet to independently discharge gas from its corresponding cell through its own flow channel

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Effectively prevents gas or flames from affecting other cells, reducing the risk of secondary ignition and thermal runaway, and allows for controlled discharge of hazardous gases.

Implementation Method 1

The duct member includes a plurality of flow paths partitioned from each other to separate flow of the gas or flames introduced into the flow space from each other

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical separation of gas flows:

Implementation Method 2

a heat insulating member to prevent flame propagation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP4216357A1Battery pack
Publication Date: 2023.07.26 SK ON CO LTD
  • EP4216357A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4216357A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4216357A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A battery pack includes at least one cell stack provided by stacking a plurality of battery cells, a packing case having an accommodating space accommodating at least one cell stack, and at least one duct member disposed in the packing case and having a flow space through which gas or flames discharged from the cell stack flow. The duct member is disposed to face a side surface of the cell stack and includes a plurality of flow paths partitioned from each other to separate flow of the gas or flames introduced into the flow space from each other, and each of the plurality of flow paths communicates with at least one inlet disposed on a side surface of the duct member.