Battery Pack Venting and Cooling Layout for Thermal Runaway Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium secondary batteries are vulnerable to thermal events, which can lead to thermal runaway, causing chain reactions and potential accidents due to high temperature gas, flames, and ignitable particles, especially in crowded battery packs used in electric vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design with an independent venting path for each module, featuring a cooling channel and venting device that includes a spraying portion and mesh covers to manage venting gas temperature and block ignitable particles, enhancing thermal safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple battery cells are crowded in a small space to increase output and capacity, then productivity and energy density are improved, but thermal stability deteriorates and risk of thermal chain reaction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the battery pack into multiple independent modules, each with its own venting path and cooling channel. This segmentation isolates thermal events to specific modules, preventing chain reactions across the entire pack while maintaining high cell density for improved output and capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cooling channels and venting devices as intermediary structures between battery cells. These intermediaries act as thermal management systems that actively control heat transfer and provide escape paths for thermal runaway gases, thereby maintaining thermal stability despite high cell density.
2Quantity of substance
If battery cells are densely packed to improve energy density, then volume efficiency is improved, but heat dissipation deteriorates and thermal runaway risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates cooling channels that extend in multiple dimensions throughout the battery pack structure. This multi-dimensional cooling approach enables effective heat dissipation from densely packed cells by creating thermal pathways in directions that do not compromise volumetric energy density.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses cooling channels with fluid flow (hydraulic principle) to actively remove heat from battery cells. The fluid circulation through the cooling channels provides continuous heat dissipation, enabling high energy density while maintaining thermal control.
3Power
If thermal runaway occurs in one battery cell, then energy release is improved, but thermal propagation to other cells occurs causing fire or explosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates physical and thermal segmentation between battery cells using independent modules, cooling channels, and venting paths. This segmentation contains thermal runaway events within individual modules, allowing energy release while preventing propagation to adjacent cells through the isolated structural boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts harmful thermal runaway gases and heat from the battery system through dedicated venting paths and cooling channels. By removing these harmful factors at their source rather than containing them, the system allows controlled energy release while preventing thermal propagation to other cells.
4Device complexity
If venting path is shared among multiple modules to simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but thermal stability deteriorates due to cross-contamination of thermal events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements segmented venting paths for each battery module, creating independent thermal management zones. This segmentation prevents cross-contamination of thermal events between modules while maintaining relatively simple individual venting structures, achieving thermal stability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple simple venting structures into a unified battery pack design where each module has its own integrated venting path. This merging of identical simple units achieves thermal stability through independence while avoiding the complexity of integrated thermal management systems.
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 improves thermal stability by lowering venting gas temperature and preventing the emission of ignitable particles, thereby reducing the risk of fire and explosion.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling channel configured to partition the opening... The design improves thermal stability by lowering venting gas temperature
Implementation Method 2
a spraying portion formed in the body... configured to communicate an inside and an outside of the body when a thermal event occurs
Implementation Method 3
The design improves thermal stability by lowering venting gas temperature
Implementation Method 4
venting device that includes a spraying portion and mesh covers to manage venting gas temperature and block ignitable particles
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a battery pack. The battery pack includes a case providing an inner space and having an opening; a plurality of battery cells positioned inside the case; and a cooling channel configured to partition the opening.