Battery Pack Venting Paths to Block Module-to-Module Flame Spread
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal runaway in battery packs can lead to the spread of high-temperature gas or flames between adjacent battery modules, risking chain ignition and accelerated thermal runaway.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design with a pack housing that includes venting holes and flow passages to discharge gas generated from each battery module through distinct paths, preventing the spread of gas or flames to adjacent modules and ensuring safe discharge outside the pack.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single venting hole is used for all accommodation spaces, then the structure is simple, but gas or flames can spread between adjacent battery modules causing chain ignition
Solution Approach 1:
The venting structure is segmented into multiple independent venting holes, with each accommodation space having its own dedicated venting hole. This segmentation prevents gas or flames from spreading between adjacent battery modules while maintaining safe gas discharge, thereby resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and thermal runaway prevention.
2Reliability
If accommodation spaces are isolated without communication, then thermal runaway is prevented, but gas discharge efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Each accommodation space is equipped with its own dedicated venting hole and flow passage, ensuring that gas can be efficiently discharged from each space independently. This segmented approach maintains both thermal runaway prevention through isolation and high gas discharge efficiency through dedicated pathways.
3Device complexity
If flow passages are shared between accommodation spaces, then the structure is simplified, but gas or flames can transfer between spaces accelerating thermal runaway
Solution Approach 1:
The flow passage structure is segmented into separate, non-shared passages for each accommodation space. Each flow passage is dedicated to a specific accommodation space and connects only to that space's venting hole, preventing gas or flames from transferring between spaces while maintaining structural organization.
4Reliability
If multiple venting holes are provided for each accommodation space, then gas discharge reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses one venting hole per accommodation space rather than multiple venting holes per space. This segmentation approach achieves adequate gas discharge reliability for each isolated space without unnecessarily increasing overall device complexity.
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 blocks the spread of gas or flames between battery modules, enhancing safety by isolating accommodation spaces and ensuring controlled discharge, thereby preventing chain ignition and thermal runaway acceleration.
Implementation Method 1
a first side frame including a plurality of flow passages through which the gas can flow
Data Source
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AI summary
A battery pack includes a plurality of battery modules each including a plurality of battery cells; and a pack housing having a plurality of accommodation spaces in which the plurality of battery modules are accommodated, wherein the pack housing includes a plurality of venting holes disposed on an external surface of the pack housing and configured to discharge gas generated from the plurality of battery modules, and wherein each of the plurality of accommodation spaces is configured to communicate with a different venting hole among the plurality of venting holes.