Layered Battery Pack Venting for Thermal Runaway Delay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs face challenges in preventing the rapid propagation of heat and high-temperature gases between battery modules, which can lead to safety issues and operational inefficiencies, particularly in large-capacity modules used in vehicles and energy storage devices.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design featuring a layered structure with a heat insulating member attached to the lateral side of the outermost battery module, a gas fluid portion, and a gas outlet to manage and delay the propagation of heat and high-temperature gases, using a horizontal plate to separate layers and minimize direct heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If battery modules are closely arranged to increase capacity and energy density, then the energy storage capacity is improved, but heat propagation between modules accelerates and safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A heat insulating member is introduced as an intermediary substance between adjacent battery modules. This heat insulating member serves as a thermal barrier that slows down heat propagation from one module to another, while allowing the modules to maintain close arrangement for high energy density. The intermediary element resolves the contradiction by providing thermal isolation without sacrificing spatial efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat insulating member is selectively positioned at specific locations where heat propagation is most critical - between adjacent battery modules. This localized application of insulation provides targeted thermal protection at the interfaces between modules, allowing the overall battery pack to maintain high energy density while protecting against heat spread at vulnerable points.
2Volume of moving object
If battery modules are closely arranged to improve energy density, then the space utilization is improved, but the risk of thermal runaway propagation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat insulating member acts as a protective intermediary between battery modules, creating a thermal barrier that prevents rapid heat transfer. This allows the modules to be closely packed for high space utilization while the intermediary layer provides the necessary thermal isolation to maintain reliability and prevent thermal runaway propagation.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat insulating member is pre-installed between battery modules before operation, providing advance thermal protection. This beforehand cushioning measures ensures that if thermal runaway occurs in one module, the insulating barrier is already in place to slow down heat propagation to adjacent modules, thereby maintaining system reliability.
3Quantity of substance
If high-capacity battery modules are used to increase energy storage, then the energy density is improved, but the heat generation and thermal runaway risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat insulating member serves as a thermal barrier intermediary between high-capacity battery modules. These modules generate significant heat due to their high energy storage capacity, but the insulating member positioned between them prevents this heat from rapidly propagating to adjacent modules, thereby managing the harmful thermal effects while maintaining high energy storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat insulating member is strategically positioned at the interfaces between high-capacity battery modules where heat generation is most intense. This localized thermal management approach addresses the heat generation problem at its source - the boundaries between modules - while allowing the modules themselves to maintain their high energy storage capacity.
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 effectively delays the propagation of heat and high-temperature gases, enhancing safety and operational efficiency by minimizing direct heat transfer to adjacent modules and facilitating controlled gas discharge, thus reducing the risk of thermal runaway.
Implementation Method 1
a heat insulating member disposed near a lateral side of the first battery module disposed on outermost side of the plurality of first battery modules
Implementation Method 2
A gas fluid portion may be disposed on an upper portion of the pack frame, and the gas outlet may be disposed on the gas fluid portion
Data Source
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AI summary
A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a pack frame; a plurality of first battery modules installed on an upper portion of the pack frame; and a plurality of second battery modules installed on a lower portion of the pack frame, and a heat insulating member is attached to a lateral side of the first battery module disposed on an outermost side in the pack frame from among the first battery modules.