Battery Pack Fire-Extinguishing Structure for Uniform Cell Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs lack effective mechanisms to enhance fire-extinguishing efficiency in the event of a battery cell ignition.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design incorporating a fire-extinguishing member and a support member that supplies fire-extinguishing material to the battery cell upon ignition, with a vent and connection members to facilitate the transfer of gases and the distribution of the extinguishing material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fire-extinguishing member is added to supply extinguishing material to battery cells, then fire-extinguishing efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fire-extinguishing member is pre-positioned between the battery cell and cover with extinguishing material ready for deployment. Upon detection of thermal runaway or ignition, the system immediately releases the pre-positioned extinguishing material through the vent opening, eliminating the need for complex real-time material delivery mechanisms while maintaining rapid response capability
Solution Approach 2:
The support member structure utilizes the existing battery pack components (housing, cover, vent) to automatically position and deploy the fire-extinguishing member. The design leverages the natural thermal expansion, pressure differential, or mechanical movement during thermal runaway to trigger extinguishing material release without requiring external control systems or additional actuators
2Manufacturing precision
If a support member is introduced to support the fire-extinguishing member, then fire distribution uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support member features a specifically designed surface structure with varying local geometries (protrusions, recesses, or patterned surfaces) that correspond to the positions of individual battery cells. This localized structural variation ensures that extinguishing material is distributed uniformly across different areas of the battery cell array, with each region receiving appropriate coverage based on its specific requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The support member introduces a third dimensional layer between the fire-extinguishing member and battery cells, creating a structured interface that controls material flow in multiple directions. This dimensional addition allows for precise spatial control of extinguishing material distribution without requiring complex multi-component systems
3Reliability
If the vent faces the cover to allow gas discharge, then safety is improved, but fire spread risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fire-extinguishing member is positioned as an intermediary layer between the vent opening and the battery cell. When gas discharges through the vent during thermal runaway, this intermediary structure immediately introduces fire-extinguishing material into the discharge path, neutralizing harmful effects before they can spread to adjacent cells while still allowing pressure relief
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack includes a housing, a battery cell inside the housing and including a vent, a cover coupled to the housing and facing the battery cell, a fire-extinguishing member between the battery cell and the cover and configured to supply a fire-extinguishing material to the battery cell if the battery cell ignites, and a support member facing the fire-extinguishing member and configured to support the fire-extinguishing member.