Battery Pack Separation Wall Fins for Thermal Runaway Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery packs face challenges in effectively dissipating heat generated during charging or discharging, which can lead to thermal runaway and potential explosions if not managed properly.

Innovation Solution

The battery pack incorporates a main separation wall with heat dissipation fins protruded from its lower part, allowing for efficient heat dissipation during charging and discharging processes. This design includes multiple heat dissipation fins spaced apart to maximize surface area for heat dissipation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a fluid path tube with coolant is installed inside the base plate to cool battery modules, then the battery modules can be cooled, but the heat dissipation capability is limited to cooling heat already generated inside

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery module temperatureVSAvoidthermal runaway prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The heat dissipation fins are positioned at the lower part of the main separation wall to proactively dissipate heat before it can accumulate and cause thermal runaway. This preliminary heat dissipation action prevents the temperature from reaching dangerous levels in the first place, rather than merely cooling already-generated heat.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a single-dimension cooling approach (fluid path tubes within the base plate) to a multi-dimensional heat dissipation system by adding heat dissipation fins that extend vertically from the lower part of the main separation wall, creating additional heat dissipation surfaces in multiple spatial dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Power

If multiple battery cells are connected in series/parallel to form a battery pack, then higher output voltage and charge/discharge capacity are achieved, but heat generation increases and thermal runaway risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutput voltage and charge/discharge capacityVSAvoidheat generation and thermal runaway risk

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The main separation wall is segmented into multiple heat dissipation fins that are spaced apart from each other. This segmentation increases the total heat dissipation surface area and allows heat to be dissipated more efficiently across multiple discrete surfaces, reducing the overall thermal risk in high-power battery packs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The heat dissipation fins act as an intermediary structure between the battery modules and the surrounding environment. They provide an intermediate heat transfer path that facilitates heat dissipation from the battery modules through the fins, reducing the direct thermal risk to other components and preventing thermal runaway propagation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Volume of moving object

If battery modules are arranged on both sides of a main separation wall, then space utilization is improved, but heat transfer between modules can occur during thermal runaway

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidheat transfer during thermal runaway

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The main separation wall, which initially serves only as a structural divider, is transformed into a heat dissipation device by adding fins to its lower part. This converts the separation wall from a passive structure into an active heat management component that benefits the thermal safety of adjacent battery modules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 solution effectively cools the battery pack during operation, delays or prevents heat transfer to other battery modules in case of thermal runaway, thereby reducing the risk of explosion and ensuring safer battery performance.

Implementation Method 1

a heat dissipation part comprising a heat dissipation fin protruded to allow heat dissipation, at a lower part of the main separation wall

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat dissipation: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS20250158155A1Battery pack

Publication Date: 2025.05.15 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD

AI summary

Disclosed herein relates to a battery pack, including: a battery module; and a pack case accommodating the battery module; wherein the pack case includes: a main separation wall; a base plate coupled to the main separation wall, and including a module area in which the battery module is disposed; and a side wall coupled along a perimeter of the base plate coupled to the main separation wall, and wherein the main separation wall includes: a heat dissipation part comprising a heat dissipation fin protruded to allow heat dissipation, at a lower part of the main separation wall.