Battery Pack Duct Venting to Block Oxygen During Thermal Propagation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery packs in energy storage systems are vulnerable to fires due to thermal propagation, which can lead to the spread of high-temperature gas and sparks, posing risks to property and human life.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design featuring a duct with a discharge hole and an opening/closing member that allows gas to escape while blocking oxygen inflow, using elastic members with varying elastic moduli to manage pressure and prevent combustion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If battery modules are densely packed to increase energy density, then energy storage capacity is improved, but fire risk increases due to thermal propagation
Solution Approach 1:
A duct is introduced as an intermediary component between battery modules to manage thermal propagation. The duct provides a controlled pathway for gas discharge and includes an opening/closing member that acts as a mediator to regulate oxygen access, thereby preventing fire spread while maintaining dense battery packing
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful thermal propagation effect is extracted and directed through a dedicated duct structure. By separating the thermal management function into a distinct duct component, the patent prevents uncontrolled heat transfer between densely packed battery modules while maintaining their close proximity for high energy density
2Stress or pressure
If a discharge hole is provided in the duct to release high-temperature gas, then pressure relief is improved, but oxygen inflow may cause combustion
Solution Approach 1:
The opening/closing member is designed to dynamically respond to pressure changes within the duct. When pressure exceeds a threshold, the member opens to allow gas discharge; when pressure normalizes, it closes to prevent oxygen ingress. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between pressure relief and combustion prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The opening/closing member operates autonomously based on pressure differential without requiring external control systems. The member self-regulates the discharge hole opening based on internal duct pressure, automatically preventing combustion while maintaining pressure relief capability
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 fires by ensuring that high-temperature gases and sparks do not ignite, and allows for easy extinguishment by blocking additional oxygen inflow, thereby reducing the risk of fire spread.
Implementation Method 1
an opening/closing member (300) located at the discharge hole (210) of the duct (200) and configured to open the discharge hole (210) when an internal pressure of the duct (200) is in a predetermined level or above
Implementation Method 2
when an internal pressure of the duct (200) is in a predetermined level or above
Implementation Method 3
In a closed state, the opening/closing member (300) may be configured to block the inflow of oxygen at the outside of the duct (200) into the duct (200)
Data Source
AI summary
Discussed is a battery pack that can effectively suppress a fire even when high-temperature gas or sparks are generated in some battery modules. The battery pack may include at least one battery module having at least one secondary battery and configured to store and release energy, a duct provided to at least one side of the at least one battery module and configured discharge hole configured to discharge a gas generated from the at least one battery module, when the generated gas flows toward the discharge hole, and an opening/closing member located at the discharge hole of the duct and configured to open the discharge hole when an internal pressure of the duct is at or above a predetermined level and to close the discharge hole when the internal pressure of the duct is at or below the predetermined level.