Battery Pack Thermal Runaway Safety System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs in electric drive vehicles face challenges in quickly and safely addressing thermal runaway phenomena, which can lead to dangerous consequences like fires and explosions, due to the difficulty in accessing and effectively cooling the batteries during such events.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack with an integrated safety system that allows for direct fluid communication between the inner space and the outside through a pipe with a thermally activated valve, enabling rapid cooling without needing to access the interior, combined with an inner safety system within the cooling system using hot-melt elements to control temperature and vent gases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rescuers access the inside of the vehicle to spray fire extinguishing liquid, then cooling effect is achieved, but intervention time is increased and operation becomes more dangerous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-installs a safety system with injection ports and fluid communication pathways within the battery pack housing before any thermal runaway event occurs. This preliminary preparation allows rescuers to immediately inject cooling liquid through external access points without needing to enter the vehicle, thus maintaining cooling effectiveness while dramatically reducing intervention time and eliminating the danger of rescuer exposure to thermal runaway conditions.
2Reliability
If battery pack housing is sealed for protection, then safety is improved, but access for cooling becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the battery pack housing into multiple sections with dedicated injection ports positioned at different locations. This segmentation allows the housing to remain sealed and protective while providing multiple external access points for cooling liquid injection. The fluid communication system is divided into separate pathways that can be independently activated, maintaining both protection and accessibility.
3Reliability
If large quantities of fire extinguishing liquid are used, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes hydraulic principles by designing a fluid communication system with injection ports connected to internal channels that distribute cooling liquid throughout the battery pack. This hydraulic system allows large quantities of cooling liquid to be delivered effectively through relatively simple external injection points, avoiding the need for complex pumping or distribution mechanisms while maintaining high cooling effectiveness.
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 prompt and safe cooling of batteries during thermal runaway, preventing dangerous temperature increases and potential fires, while ensuring safety and efficiency by allowing external fluid injection without interior access, and precise temperature control.
Implementation Method 1
Following an external tampering and/or an internal fault, it is possible for the heating to reach levels that are such as to generate a phenomenon known as 'thermal runaway', in which the temperature triggers exothermic reactions
Implementation Method 2
an inner safety system within the cooling system using hot-melt elements to control temperature and vent gases
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
AI summary
A battery pack (5) for a vehicle (1) provided with a casing (6) defining a closed space (7) configured to house one or more electric batteries (4), and a safety system (8) configured to allow fluids to be selectively introduced into the closed space (7) when the temperature in the battery pack (5) exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature.