Battery Pack Cooling Plate Venting for Thermal Runaway Gas Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs face challenges in gas-discharging mechanisms that lead to increased manufacturing costs and pack size without adequate solutions.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design incorporating a discharging path within the thickness of a cooling plate that extends in the plate's direction, equipped with a gas-permeable sheet member to manage gas discharge without additional safety valves, maintaining pack size and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a partition wall is provided to partition the case into battery chamber and gas-discharging chamber, then gas discharge function is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the gas discharge function with the cooling plate by providing a discharging path through the cooling plate structure. The cooling plate serves dual purposes: cooling the battery cells and providing a pathway for gas discharge, thereby eliminating the need for a separate partition wall and reducing manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling plate is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides thermal management for the battery cells and acts as a gas discharge pathway. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional components like separate partition walls, thus reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining gas discharge capability
2Reliability
If a partition wall is provided to partition the case into battery chamber and gas-discharging chamber, then gas discharge function is achieved, but pack size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the gas discharge pathway within the existing cooling plate structure rather than adding a separate partition wall. This integration utilizes the available space more efficiently and avoids increasing the overall pack volume
Solution Approach 2:
The discharging path is nested within the thickness of the cooling plate, utilizing the existing structural space. This nesting approach allows gas discharge functionality to be embedded within the cooling system without requiring additional external space or increasing pack size
3Reliability
If additional safety valves are added for gas discharge, then gas discharge reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the gas discharge function with the cooling plate structure, eliminating the need for separate safety valves. The cooling plate itself provides the discharge pathway, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining gas discharge reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling plate structure serves itself by providing both cooling and gas discharge functions. The discharging path is inherently provided through the cooling plate design, eliminating the need for additional safety valves or complex control mechanisms
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
Enables efficient gas discharge during thermal runaway without additional components, reducing manufacturing costs and size, while preventing condensation and moisture ingress.
Implementation Method 1
a sheet member (233) having gas permeability, wherein the sheet member is provided over the discharging path so as to close the discharging path
Data Source
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AI summary
A battery pack includes: a plurality of battery cells (100) arranged side by side along a first direction; and a case (200) provided with an inner space for accommodating the plurality of battery cells (100). The case (200) includes a structural member (210, 220, 230) for securing strength of the case (200). The structural member (210, 220, 230) includes a plate-shaped portion (220, 230) having a thickness. A discharging path (220B, 232) through which a gas in the inner space is dischargeable is formed within the thickness of the plate-shaped portion (220, 230) so as to extend in an extending direction of the plate-shaped portion (220, 230).