Tubular Battery Pack Cooling for Thermal Runaway Ejecta

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery packs fail to effectively cool ejected matter from thermal runaway battery cells, leading to chain reactions and thermal failures that spread fire throughout the pack and damage connected devices.

Innovation Solution

A battery pack design featuring a metal tubular case with integrated heat-absorbing fins and ducts that dissipate thermal energy efficiently, guiding ejected matter to the outside in a cooled state to prevent further thermal runaway.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If multiple battery packs are connected in parallel to increase current output, then the current supply capability is improved, but the risk of mutual contamination between positive and negative terminals increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurrent supply capabilityVSAvoidterminal contamination risk
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The battery pack is divided into multiple independent battery modules, each with its own terminal structure. This segmentation allows parallel connection of multiple packs while isolating terminals physically, preventing contamination between positive and negative terminals of different packs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An insulating structure is introduced as an intermediary element between the positive and negative terminals of adjacent battery packs. This insulating structure prevents direct contact and potential contamination while allowing electrical parallel connection through controlled pathways.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the battery pack structure is made more robust to prevent terminal contamination, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminal isolationVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating structure is merged with the existing terminal housing or casing of the battery pack, combining multiple functions (structural support, terminal isolation, and protection) into a single integrated component, thereby reducing overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal housing structure is designed to serve multiple functions: providing mechanical support for terminals, isolating positive and negative terminals through integrated insulating features, and protecting internal components. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4310990B1Battery pack
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 PANASONIC ENERGY CO LTD
  • EP4310990B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4310990B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4310990B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Thermal energy of batteries is efficiently dissipated to outside, achieving high safety. A battery pack includes a core block (10) including battery cells disposed at predetermined positions in a battery holder (2) and a casing accommodating the core block (10) therein. The casing includes a heat-dissipating case (4) having both end-openings and closing parts closing the both end-openings of the heat-dissipating case (4). The heat-dissipating case (4) includes a tubular part (6) and heat-absorbing fins (7). The tubular part (6) has a tubular shape made of metal, and accommodates the core block therein. The heat-absorbing fins (7) disposed in rows are made of metal and thermally coupled to the inner surface of the tubular part (6), and protrude to an inside from the tubular part and extend in an axial direction of the tubular part (6).