Battery Pack Inert Gas Purging for Thermal Runaway Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rechargeable energy storage systems in vehicles face the challenge of thermal runaway, which can lead to the production of combustible gases and potential ignition, necessitating a system to mitigate thermal runaway and prevent combustion.
Innovation Solution
A thermal runaway propagation mitigation system that includes a gas delivery system to introduce inert gas into the housing of the energy storage system, utilizing a gas generation system to produce inert gas, which may include a nozzle, flame retardant material, and phase change material to cool and purge volatile gases, triggered by a temperature sensor and battery monitoring system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If inert gas is delivered into the housing to purge combustible gases, then thermal runaway mitigation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas delivery system is pre-configured with nozzles positioned to deliver inert gas directly to energy storage cells before thermal runaway occurs. The system includes pre-positioned nozzles with gas outlets oriented toward the cells, allowing immediate mitigation action when triggered by temperature sensors, eliminating the need for complex real-time positioning mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
Inert gas acts as an intermediary substance between the hazard (combustible gases from thermal runaway) and the desired outcome (prevention of ignition). The gas delivery system introduces this intermediary inert gas into the housing to displace and purge combustible gases, creating a non-combustible atmosphere that prevents fire propagation
2Temperature
If phase change material is used to cool inert gas, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Phase change material (PCM) is utilized to cool the inert gas through its phase transition from solid to liquid or liquid to gas. The PCM is positioned in thermal contact with the inert gas flow path, absorbing heat from the gas during phase change without requiring active cooling mechanisms, compressors, or refrigeration systems
Solution Approach 2:
The phase change material provides self-regulating cooling of the inert gas based on its inherent phase transition properties. When the inert gas temperature rises, the PCM automatically absorbs heat through phase change without requiring external control systems, sensors, or active intervention, thereby maintaining temperature control through passive self-service
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
Effectively mitigates thermal runaway by purging combustible gases and preventing ignition through the use of inert gas, flame retardant material, and temperature-controlled gas delivery, ensuring safety and stability of the energy storage system.
Implementation Method 1
an amount of phase change material (PCM) is arranged in the gas delivery system, the amount of PCM cooling the amount of inert gas passing into the housing
Implementation Method 2
an amount of flame retardant material is arranged in the gas delivery system
Data Source
AI summary
A rechargeable energy storage system (RES S) including a thermal runaway propagation (TRP) mitigation system includes a housing having at least one outlet, a plurality of energy storage cells arranged in the housing, and at least one duct extending along the plurality of energy storage cells. The at least one duct is fluidically connected to the at least one outlet. A gas delivery system including a gas generation system is operable to deliver an amount of inert gas into the housing to purge gases from one or more of the plurality of energy storage cells through the at least one outlet.