Battery Pack Phase-Change Cooling for Thermal Runaway Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery packs face significant security risks due to thermal runaway, which can lead to dangerous incidents such as explosions or fires, and existing solutions are inadequate in effectively mitigating this issue.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design that incorporates a thermally conductive medium capable of converting between liquid and gaseous states at critical temperatures between 40° C and 70° C, combined with a cell support structure that can adsorb this medium, enhancing heat dissipation and acting as a fire suppression agent, while maintaining a sealed environment with controlled atmospheric pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a battery pack uses conventional thermal management without phase-change medium, then the structure is simple, but thermal runaway cannot be effectively suppressed and heat dissipation is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the phase transition properties of a thermally conductive medium that changes from liquid to gas state at critical temperatures between 40°C and 70°C. During normal operation, the medium remains liquid and is adsorbed by the cell support. When thermal runaway occurs and temperature exceeds the critical point, the medium rapidly vaporizes, expanding to fill the housing and suppress the thermal runaway reaction while conducting heat away from the cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermally conductive medium acts as an intermediary substance between the battery cells and the housing environment. It mediates heat transfer from the cells to the surrounding environment and provides fire suppression functionality. The medium is contained within the sealed housing, creating a controlled environment that protects the cells from external factors while enabling efficient thermal management.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a battery pack incorporates thermally conductive medium and cell support structure, then heat dissipation and fire suppression are enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermally conductive medium performs multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as a heat dissipation medium through its high thermal conductivity, acts as a fire suppression agent when vaporized, and provides thermal insulation when in gas state. The cell support structure with porous configuration simultaneously supports the cells mechanically and adsorbs the liquid thermally conductive medium. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for thermal management and fire suppression.
Solution Approach 2:
The cell support is designed with a porous structure that enables it to adsorb the liquid thermally conductive medium while maintaining mechanical support functionality. The porous configuration increases the surface area for adsorption and facilitates capillary action to distribute the medium evenly around the cells. This porous design integrates thermal management functionality into the structural support component without requiring additional separate elements.
3Reliability
If the housing is sealed to accommodate cells and thermally conductive medium, then thermal runaway suppression is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed as a sealed enclosure that contains the thermally conductive medium and cells. The sealing structure prevents external contaminants from entering while maintaining the integrity of the thermal management system. The housing configuration allows for effective heat dissipation pathways while preserving the sealed environment necessary for the phase-change medium to function properly.
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 solution effectively suppresses thermal runaway by conducting heat away from cells and providing a fire-safe environment, reducing the risk of explosions and fires, thereby enhancing the security and reliability of battery packs.
Implementation Method 1
The thermally conductive medium undergoes, at a critical temperature, conversion between a liquid state and a gaseous state
Implementation Method 2
a thermally conductive medium surrounding the multiple cells and filled in the housing
Implementation Method 3
the cell support is formed with a structure with pores capable of adsorbing a liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack includes: a housing; and multiple cells disposed in the housing. The battery pack further includes a fluorinated fluid disposed in the housing.