Battery Pack Protruding Upper Case for Thermal Runaway Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery packs face issues with thermal runaway, where gases and spark particles from one cell assembly can transfer to others through opening holes, leading to potential explosions and heat transfer, compromising safety.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design featuring a protruding part on the upper case that presses against the cell assembly to secure a protective sheet over opening holes, combined with a porous or non-porous sheet to control gas and flame discharge, preventing heat and spark transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If opening holes are provided in the cell assembly to discharge internal gas pressure, then gas discharge capability is improved, but heat and spark particles can transfer to other cell assemblies through the opening holes
Solution Approach 1:
A protective sheet is introduced as an intermediary component between the cell stack and the opening holes. This sheet selectively allows gas to pass through while blocking heat and spark particles, thus resolving the contradiction between gas discharge capability and protection against harmful heat/spark transfer to other cell assemblies
Solution Approach 2:
The protective sheet utilizes porous material structure that permits gas molecules to pass through while physically blocking larger particles such as spark particles and reducing heat transfer. This enables the opening holes to function as gas discharge pathways while maintaining protection against thermal runaway propagation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a protective sheet is added to cover opening holes, then heat and spark particle transfer is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A thin protective sheet is used instead of complex rigid structures. This thin film approach provides effective protection against heat and spark particles while adding minimal structural complexity and maintaining a compact design
Solution Approach 2:
The protective sheet serves multiple functions simultaneously: it allows gas discharge, blocks heat transfer, filters spark particles, and can be integrated into the existing cell assembly structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity
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 design effectively suppresses heat and spark transfer to neighboring cell assemblies, enhancing safety by ensuring controlled gas discharge and minimizing explosion risks during thermal runaway.
Implementation Method 1
a porous or non-porous sheet to control gas and flame discharge, preventing heat and spark transfer
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein relates to a battery pack in which a cell assembly is accommodated, including: a pack case in which a cell assembly is seated; and an upper case coupled to the pack case to cover an upper part of a cell assembly seated inside the pack case, wherein the upper case includes a protruding part at a lower end that presses against the upper part of a cell assembly seated in the pack case.