Battery Pack Support Plate Gaps for Thermal Runaway Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery packs face challenges in terms of energy density, assembly complexity, cooling efficiency, and thermal event propagation, leading to increased volume, weight, and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design that eliminates the need for reinforcing members by using support plates with gaps formed by fixing members, allowing for stable assembly and thermal runaway prevention through gaps and compression pads, enhancing energy density and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional battery packs use module cases and stacking frames to modularize battery cells, then assembly structure is provided, but volume increases unnecessarily and energy density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the module case and stacking frame from the conventional battery pack structure. Battery cells are directly installed into the pack case without intermediate modularization components, eliminating unnecessary volume occupation and improving energy density while maintaining assembly functionality through direct fixation structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of the module case and stacking frame directly into the pack case structure. The pack case itself provides both the containment function and the stacking support function, eliminating the need for separate modularization components and reducing overall volume.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional battery packs include module cases and stacking frames, then battery cells can be modularized, but manufacturing process becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the intermediate modularization steps involving module cases and stacking frames. Battery cells are directly installed into the pack case in a simplified sequence, eliminating the complex multi-stage modularization process while maintaining the ability to organize and secure cells effectively.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional battery packs use module cases for storing battery cells, then assembly is structured, but cooling efficiency decreases and thermal runaway propagation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces partition walls that divide the pack case into multiple independent storage spaces. Each storage space can contain individual battery cells or small groups, creating physical separation barriers that prevent thermal runaway propagation between cells while maintaining structured assembly through the partition wall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls act as intermediary structures between battery cells, providing both structural organization and thermal isolation. These walls create physical barriers that interrupt heat transfer pathways, preventing thermal runaway from spreading while still allowing for systematic cell arrangement and assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack with a simplified structure and a vehicle including the same are provided. The battery pack according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a plurality of battery cell assemblies, a pack housing configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cell assemblies therein, a plurality of support plates configured to support both sides of each battery cell assembly accommodated in the pack housing, and a fixing member configured to fix mutually adjacent support plates among the plurality of support plates to the pack housing so that a gap is formed between the mutually adjacent support plates.