Battery Pack Intake Shutoff for Thermal Runaway Isolation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Battery packs with densely packed modules are vulnerable to thermal events like thermal runaway, leading to heat and gas propagation that can cause fires or explosions, and existing cooling methods can exacerbate this issue by allowing venting gas to spread between modules.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design with intake and exhaust ports on each module, an intake duct for cooling fluid, and an opening/closing member that automatically adjusts to prevent heat and gas propagation by closing the intake when internal pressure increases, using a hinge mechanism for the opening/closing member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If battery modules are densely located to increase energy density, then energy density is improved, but thermal safety deteriorates due to increased vulnerability to thermal runaway propagation
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is divided into multiple independent battery modules, each equipped with its own cooling duct and opening/closing member. This segmentation isolates thermal events within individual modules, preventing propagation to other modules while maintaining high density packing.
Solution Approach 2:
A cooling fluid acts as an intermediary substance that absorbs heat from battery modules during normal operation. The cooling fluid flows through dedicated cooling ducts in each module, providing thermal management without direct contact between modules, thus preventing thermal runaway propagation.
2Temperature
If cooling ducts are used to supply cooling fluid to battery modules, then thermal control is improved, but thermal safety deteriorates when venting gas is introduced into other modules through the cooling duct
Solution Approach 1:
The opening/closing member dynamically changes the state of the cooling duct from open to closed based on operational conditions. During normal cooling, the duct is open to allow fluid flow. During thermal runaway, the duct closes to prevent venting gas propagation, making the cooling system adaptive rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening/closing member responds to feedback from thermal events (venting gas generation) by automatically closing the cooling duct. This feedback mechanism detects the thermal runaway condition through pressure or temperature changes and triggers the closing action to isolate the affected module.
3Reliability
If an opening/closing member is added to prevent venting gas propagation, then thermal safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The opening/closing member is designed to operate automatically in response to thermal runaway conditions without requiring external control systems. The member self-actuates based on physical parameters such as pressure differential or thermal expansion, eliminating the need for complex sensors, actuators, or control electronics.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening/closing member utilizes changes in physical parameters (such as pressure differential or thermal state) to trigger the closing action. This parameter-based actuation mechanism is simpler than electronic control systems, reducing device complexity while maintaining effective thermal safety protection.
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 suppresses heat and gas propagation between modules, improving thermal safety by preventing fires or explosions, simplifying the cooling configuration, and enhancing energy density without additional space requirements.
Implementation Method 1
when venting gas is generated in a battery module, close the intake portion
Implementation Method 2
supplying a cooling fluid into each battery module through a cooling duct
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided is a battery pack in which a thermal event is effectively controlled to improve safety. A battery pack according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a plurality of battery modules each including one or more battery cells to store and release energy, each battery module further including an intake portion and an exhaust portion, an intake duct including an intake channel and communicating with the intake portion of each of the plurality of battery modules, and an exhaust duct including an exhaust channel and communicating with the exhaust portion of each of the plurality of battery modules, wherein each of the plurality of battery modules further includes an opening/closing member configured to close the intake portion when internal pressure increases.