Cover-Integrated Battery Pack Venting for Thermal Runaway Containment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs lack a simple and efficient method to collectively form an induction passage for venting devices across all secondary batteries in a battery block, leading to potential thermal runaway and ignition risks due to uncontrolled ejection of flammable gases and heated electrodes.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design featuring an upper cover with an integrally formed venting duct that serves as a compartmentalized pathway for each battery block, simplifying assembly and reducing material usage while enhancing mechanical rigidity and safety by directing combustion products to a predetermined discharge direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate venting ducts are installed for each battery block, then each battery block has proper venting capability, but the assembly process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate venting ducts into a single integrated upper cover structure that serves all battery blocks simultaneously. The upper cover includes a unified venting duct with multiple outlets positioned to serve different battery blocks, eliminating the need to install separate ducts for each block while maintaining individual venting capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper cover is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as the enclosure cover for all battery blocks and simultaneously functions as the venting system. The integrated venting duct with multiple outlets provides universal venting service to all battery blocks through a single component, reducing assembly complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple separate venting ducts are installed, then each battery block is protected, but material usage and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple venting ducts into one integrated upper cover structure. Instead of using separate duct materials for each battery block, a single upper cover with integrated venting duct serves all blocks, reducing total material consumption while maintaining protective function.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper cover serves dual purposes as both the enclosure cover and the venting system for all battery blocks. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional separate venting duct materials, reducing overall material usage and cost.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If flammable gases and heated electrodes are ejected in random directions, then the venting device relieves pressure, but the risk of ignition and thermal propagation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the upper cover with integrated venting duct as an intermediary structure between the battery blocks and the external environment. This intermediary guides the ejection of flammable gases and heated electrodes through controlled outlets positioned away from neighboring cells, reducing ignition risk while maintaining pressure relief function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful random ejection of combustion products into a controlled directional discharge. By designing the venting duct outlets to direct gases and heated electrodes away from neighboring battery cells, the harmful thermal runaway products are channeled in a way that protects surrounding cells while still relieving pressure from the affected cell.
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 simplifies assembly, reduces material costs, improves mechanical rigidity, and effectively contains thermal runaway by guiding combustion products away from neighboring cells, thereby enhancing safety and reducing the risk of ignition.
Implementation Method 1
If the secondary battery is not properly cooled, the increase in temperature causes an increase in current, which causes an increase in temperature, and the increase in current causes the temperature to rise again, triggering a feedback chain reaction that eventually leads to the catastrophic condition of thermal runaway.
Implementation Method 2
the thermal runaway of one secondary battery can cause the thermal propagation phenomenon that continuously overheats other neighboring secondary batteries
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A battery pack which includes a battery block including a cell array in which prismatic cells having a venting device on the upper surface is arranged in a row, a pair of side plates disposed on both sides of the cell array, and a pair of end plates disposed on front and rear surfaces of the cell array, wherein both ends of the end plates in the width direction are fixed to side brackets provided at both ends of the side plates in the longitudinal direction, so that the cell array is constrained as a single block; and a pack case in which a plurality of the battery blocks are mounted, wherein the upper cover of the pack case is integrally formed with a venting duct having a flow path communicating with a plurality of venting devices arranged in a row on the upper surface of the cell array.