Battery Pack Base Structure for Coolant-Triggered Fire Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery packs with separate water cooling and extinguishing systems are complex, increase volume and weight, and decrease energy density.

Innovation Solution

A battery pack with an integrated water cooling and extinguishing system, where a base melting portion melts upon thermal runaway, allowing coolant to flow and immerse the battery cell, thereby extinguishing the fire.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate water cooling system and extinguishing system are configured, then each system can function independently, but device complexity increases and volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent system functionVSAvoidinternal structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the water cooling system and extinguishing system into a single integrated structure. The cooling channel and extinguishing cavity share the same spatial arrangement, with the cooling channel positioned above the extinguishing cavity. This allows both functions to be performed through a unified system rather than separate independent systems, reducing overall complexity while maintaining functional capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated system structure serves multiple functions simultaneously. The same structural components and spatial arrangement support both cooling operations during normal battery operation and extinguishing operations during thermal runaway events. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated structures for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate water cooling system and extinguishing system are configured, then each system can function independently, but volume increases and energy density decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent system functionVSAvoidbattery pack volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The extinguishing cavity is positioned beneath the cooling channel in a nested vertical arrangement. This nesting strategy allows the extinguishing system to utilize the same horizontal footprint as the cooling system, effectively stacking functions vertically rather than requiring additional horizontal space, thus reducing overall battery pack volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If base melting portion melts upon thermal runaway, then coolant can flow to immerse battery cell, but structural integrity may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveextinguishing functionVSAvoidbase structural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The base is designed with differentiated regions: a melting portion with lower melting point material and a non-melting portion with higher melting point material. This local quality differentiation ensures that only the specific area needing to open for coolant flow undergoes melting, while the surrounding structural areas maintain their integrity and continue to provide mechanical support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The base melting portion utilizes the harmful effect of thermal runaway heat to trigger a beneficial response. The heat that would otherwise cause uncontrolled damage instead selectively melts the low-melting-point portion, creating an opening that enables coolant flow and active extinguishing. The harm (heat) is converted into a useful function (opening creation) through the deliberate inclusion of thermally responsive material.

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 integrated system efficiently extinguishes thermal runaway while maintaining a compact structure, reducing component count and improving energy density.

Implementation Method 1

a base melting portion configured to melt if an adjacent one of the battery cells is heated to a reference temperature or greater

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 2

coolant flowing into a battery cell accommodating space portion from a lower space portion through an opening where the base melting portion used to be located

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 3

coolant flowing into a battery cell accommodating space portion from a lower space portion through an opening where the base melting portion used to be located to immerse the battery cell in the coolant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCooling: Cooling

Data Source

PatentEP4542730A1Battery pack and extinguishing method thereof

Publication Date: 2025.04.23 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD

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AI summary

A battery pack includes a battery housing having a battery cell accommodating space portion accommodating a plurality of battery cells, a lower space portion under the battery cell accommodating space portion, and a battery cell base portion between the lower space portion and the battery cell accommodating space portion and supporting the plurality of battery cells. The battery cell base portion includes: a base melting portion configured to melt if an adjacent one of the battery cells is heated to a reference temperature or greater; and a base non-melting portion configured to not melt if the adjacent one of the battery cells is heated to the reference temperature or greater.