Battery Pack Support Plate Layout to Limit Thermal Runaway

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery packs face challenges in terms of energy density, assembly complexity, cooling efficiency, and thermal event propagation, leading to potential fires or explosions.

Innovation Solution

A battery pack design that includes a plurality of battery cell assemblies supported by support plates with a fixing member forming gaps between them, eliminating the need for reinforcing members, allowing stable arrangement and preventing thermal runaway propagation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a battery pack is disposed of when its capacity falls below a predetermined level, then safety is maintained, but resource waste occurs and environmental burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery safetyVSAvoidresource waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the decision parameter from binary (use/dispose) to continuous (reconditioning priority levels). Instead of disposing batteries at a fixed capacity threshold, the system evaluates multiple parameters including capacity, impedance, and temperature to assign reconditioning priorities, enabling batteries to remain in service longer through targeted maintenance interventions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary reconditioning actions before batteries reach critical failure points. By monitoring battery parameters and assigning reconditioning priorities in advance, the system performs maintenance proactively to extend battery life and prevent premature disposal, thereby reducing resource waste while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If battery packs are monitored and managed individually, then performance and safety are optimized, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery performance and safetyVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges individual battery monitoring into a unified management system that handles multiple battery packs simultaneously. The controller integrates parameter collection, evaluation, and reconditioning priority determination for numerous batteries through a single centralized system, reducing overall complexity compared to managing each battery separately while maintaining optimized performance and safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The management controller performs multiple functions including parameter monitoring, capacity estimation, impedance measurement, temperature detection, and reconditioning priority determination within a single system. This multi-functional approach optimizes battery performance and safety without proportionally increasing system complexity, as one controller handles diverse monitoring and management tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4372887B1Battery pack and vehicle including the same
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4372887B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4372887B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4372887B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A battery pack with a simplified structure and a vehicle including the same are provided. The battery pack according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a plurality of battery cell assemblies, a pack housing configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cell assemblies therein, a plurality of support plates configured to support both sides of each battery cell assembly accommodated in the pack housing, and a fixing member configured to fix mutually adjacent support plates among the plurality of support plates to the pack housing so that a gap is formed between the mutually adjacent support plates.