Battery Pack Discharge Unit for Filtered Thermal Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs face challenges in efficiently discharging venting gas and solid ejections during thermal events, leading to thermal propagation and potential explosions, as these discharges are often obstructed by vehicle structures.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design with a discharge unit that includes first and second discharge portions on the pack case, featuring mesh nets to separate and filter solid ejections, allowing venting gas to be discharged downward without obstruction, thereby preventing thermal energy accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If venting gas is discharged through existing structures, then thermal propagation can be delayed, but the discharge flow is obstructed by vehicle body or chassis structures
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: a receiving space for battery modules, a dedicated discharge unit with discharge portions, and a pack case. This segmentation allows the venting gas to be directed through specific discharge paths that are not obstructed by vehicle structures, while maintaining thermal isolation between battery modules to delay thermal propagation.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge unit acts as an intermediary component between the battery modules and the external environment. It includes discharge portions that extend through the pack case to discharge venting gas to the outside, serving as a mediator that enables safe gas discharge without direct contact between battery thermal events and vehicle body structures.
2Loss of energy
If solid ejections are discharged together with venting gas, then thermal energy can be released, but solid ejections cause clogging and obstruct discharge flow
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and separates solid ejections from venting gas using mesh nets installed within the discharge unit. The mesh nets capture solid particles while allowing venting gas to pass through, effectively removing the harmful solid components that would otherwise cause clogging and discharge obstruction, while still enabling thermal energy release through gas discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
Mesh nets with specific pore sizes are used within the discharge unit to filter solid ejections from venting gas. The porous structure of the mesh nets allows gas molecules to pass through while blocking larger solid particles, enabling continuous discharge flow without clogging while still releasing thermal energy through the venting gas.
3Volume of stationary object
If battery modules are accommodated intensively in the pack case, then space utilization is improved, but thermal events can easily propagate to adjacent modules
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is divided into multiple independent receiving spaces, each accommodating battery modules. The pack case structure creates physical separation between modules while maintaining intensive space utilization. This segmentation ensures that thermal events in one module are isolated from adjacent modules, delaying thermal propagation while maximizing space efficiency.
4Productivity
If discharge unit is added to separate solid ejections, then discharge flow efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge unit is designed to perform multiple functions within a single integrated structure: it provides a discharge path for venting gas, captures solid ejections using mesh nets, and directs gas flow to the outside environment. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while improving discharge efficiency.
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 effectively separates and discharges venting gas and solid ejections, minimizing clogging and delaying thermal propagation, ensuring safety by preventing energy buildup and reducing the risk of explosions.
Implementation Method 1
a discharge unit configured to capture solid ejection ejected together with the venting gas and discharge the venting gas to the outside
Data Source
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AI summary
A battery pack according to the present disclosure may include a plurality of cell assemblies; a pack case in which a receiving space for accommodating the plurality of cell assemblies is formed; and a discharge unit provided to be partially exposed to one side of the pack case and discharging venting gas generated by a thermal event in the cell assembly to the outside of the pack case.