Partitioned Traction Battery Pack for Thermal Vent Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing traction battery packs in electrified vehicles face challenges in effectively containing and directing gas and debris vented from one or more battery cells during thermal events to prevent the thermal event from cascading to adjacent cells.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of dividers with seals, such as bulb seals made of intumescent endo-thermic doped silicon material, which are compressed between the enclosure and dividers to block vent byproducts from moving along the cell stack axis and redirect them through dedicated openings, thereby separating and protecting adjacent battery cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If battery cells are arranged in cell stacks without dividers, then the battery pack structure is simpler, but vent byproducts can move along the cell stack axis and cause thermal cascading to adjacent cells
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is segmented into multiple partitions using dividers with seals positioned between battery cell groups along the cell stack axis. Each divider creates a separate compartment that isolates vent byproducts to the local partition, preventing them from traveling along the cell stack axis to adjacent battery cells. This segmentation approach maintains reliability by containing thermal events locally while adding structured complexity through the divider assemblies.
2Reliability
If dividers with seals are added to separate battery cell groups, then vent byproducts are contained more effectively, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The divider and seal are merged into a single integrated divider assembly that combines the structural divider function with the sealing function. The seal is positioned within a groove on the divider and secured to the divider, creating a unified component that simplifies the manufacturing process by reducing the number of separate parts that need to be assembled, while still providing effective containment of vent byproducts.
3Reliability
If seals are compressed between the enclosure and dividers, then the seals effectively block vent byproduct flow, but the compression force requires precise assembly tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is implemented as a flexible bulb seal that can deform under compression to conform to the interface between the divider and enclosure. This flexibility allows the seal to maintain effective sealing even with variations in assembly tolerances, as the compliant material can accommodate minor dimensional variations while still blocking vent byproduct flow paths.
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 contains and directs vent byproducts away from adjacent battery cells, preventing thermal cascading and maintaining the integrity of the battery pack during thermal events.
Implementation Method 1
compressing a seal between a portion of the enclosure assembly and a divider within a cell stack to block vent byproducts
Implementation Method 2
seal is an intumescent endo-thermic doped silicon material
Implementation Method 3
seal is an intumescent endo-thermic doped silicon material
Data Source
AI summary
An traction battery pack assemblies includes enclosure assembly providing an interior area. At least one cell stack having a plurality of battery cell groups disposed along a cell stack axis is within the interior area. The at least one cell stack includes a plurality of dividers disposed along the cell stack axis. Each of the divider assemblies is disposed axially between a first and a second battery cell group within the plurality of battery cell groups. A seal is associated with each of the dividers within the plurality of the dividers. The seal seals an interface between the respective divider and the enclosure assembly. The seal can be a bulb seal.