Battery Pack Rear Cover Venting to Limit Thermal Propagation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery packs face issues with thermal propagation, ignition risk, and venting path obstruction due to high-temperature gas and dust discharge from battery modules, which can lead to serial ignition and venting path blockage.

Innovation Solution

A battery pack structure featuring a rear cover made of heat-resistant material with upward venting holes and a melting frame that delays venting, guiding gas and dust discharge upward and cooling them, while preventing lateral thermal propagation and spark leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If gas is discharged through the rear space between pack frame and battery modules, then venting function is provided, but thermal propagation to adjacent battery modules occurs and venting path may be blocked by dust

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveventing functionVSAvoidthermal propagation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rear cover is divided into multiple partition plates that create separate channels, segmenting the rear space into isolated regions. This prevents thermal propagation between adjacent battery modules while maintaining venting function through dedicated upward paths for each module.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The venting path is redirected from lateral discharge through rear space to vertical discharge through upward-facing holes in the rear cover. This dimensional change directs hot gas upward away from adjacent modules, preventing thermal propagation while maintaining effective venting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If rear cover is made of heat-resistant material, then thermal propagation is prevented, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal propagationVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The rear cover is designed as a modular structure with separate partition plates that can be manufactured independently and assembled. This segmentation allows standard manufacturing processes for each component while achieving the overall heat-resistant function through proper material selection for critical areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Heat-resistant materials are applied selectively to specific regions of the rear cover that require thermal protection, rather than the entire structure. This localized approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while providing necessary thermal resistance where it is most needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 prevents thermal propagation, delays venting, and reduces ignition risk by guiding high-temperature gas and dust discharge upward, cooling, and maintaining venting path integrity.

Implementation Method 1

a melting frame (24) covering an inner surface of the rear cover (2), wherein the venting hole (211) is provided at an upper portion of the melting frame (24)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 2

guiding gas and dust discharge upward and cooling them

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4683084A1Battery pack with improved venting
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4683084A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4683084A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4683084A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention provides a structure of a battery pack including a plurality of battery modules juxtaposed in widthwise direction, each of the plurality of battery modules including: a rear cover connected to a rear end of the battery module, the rear cover having open front end and made of a heat-resistant material, wherein the rear cover includes: a pair of partition plates extending in rear direction from two widthwise ends of a rear end of the battery module; and a venting hole facing upward direction.