Battery Pack Venting Guidance Portion for Controlled Gas Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium secondary batteries face challenges in safely managing thermal events, as venting gas from a thermal event can randomly discharge, potentially causing oxygen inflow and fire, leading to ignition or explosion.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design with a venting guidance portion that forms an outlet at a weakened joint in the pack frame, allowing controlled discharge of venting gas in a specific direction, guided by a structurally vulnerable portion that opens outward as internal pressure increases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the pack frame is designed with strong joints to maintain structural integrity, then the strength and stability of the pack frame is improved, but the ability to form venting outlets when internal pressure increases is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The pack frame is designed with non-uniform joint strengths: most joints maintain high strength for structural integrity, while specific venting joints are designed with lower strength to open at controlled pressure points. This local differentiation allows the frame to simultaneously maintain overall strength and provide controlled venting pathways when internal pressure increases.
Solution Approach 2:
The pack frame is pre-designed with predetermined weak joint locations that will open at specific pressure thresholds. These weak joints are strategically positioned to serve as venting outlets, allowing the system to automatically respond to pressure buildup without requiring active control mechanisms.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the pack frame is designed with weak joints to allow venting gas discharge, then the ability to form venting outlets is improved, but the structural integrity and strength of the pack frame is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than making the entire pack frame weak, only specific localized joints are designed with reduced strength. These localized weak points serve as controlled venting outlets while the rest of the frame maintains full structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between overall strength and localized venting capability.
3Stress or pressure
If venting gas is allowed to discharge randomly from the pack frame, then the release of pressure is improved, but the risk of oxygen inflow and fire is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The controlled venting joints act as intermediary structures that mediate between the high-pressure internal environment and the external atmosphere. By providing predetermined, controlled discharge pathways, these joints ensure pressure relief occurs in a controlled manner that prevents uncontrolled oxygen ingress and associated fire hazards.
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
Prevents random discharge of venting gas, minimizing oxygen inflow and damage to the pack frame, thereby reducing the risk of fire and explosion.
Implementation Method 1
as the internal pressure of the pack frame increases due to the venting gas
Implementation Method 2
configured to cause the pack frame to open outwards as the internal pressure of the pack frame increases
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are a battery pack configured to guide venting gas to be discharged in a desired direction when a thermal event occurs, and an energy storage system including the same. A battery pack according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a cell assembly, a pack frame accommodating the cell assembly therein, and a venting guidance portion coupled to the pack frame and configured to cause an outlet, through which venting gas emitted from the cell assembly is discharged to the outside of the pack frame, to be formed at a coupling portion with the pack frame, which is at least partially weakened as the internal pressure of the pack frame increases due to the venting gas.