Battery Pack Venting Structure for Thermal Runaway Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current battery packs face safety hazards due to thermal runaway, where sparks and hot air can cause a chain reaction among battery units, leading to excessive temperature and potential fires within a limited compartment space.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design featuring a restraint assembly with an accommodating cavity and exhaust passages, including explosion-proof valves and a fireproof member, which directs ejected fluids away from other battery units, preventing chain reactions and improving safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If battery units are placed in a limited compartment space, then space utilization is improved, but temperature control and safety are worsened due to rapid temperature rise during thermal runaway
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is divided into multiple independent battery units, each equipped with its own explosion-proof valve and exhaust passage. This segmentation allows each unit to independently vent thermal runaway products, preventing heat accumulation and protecting other units from thermal propagation while maintaining compact overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
An exhaust passage system acts as an intermediary between the battery units and the external environment. The passage provides a controlled pathway for hot air and sparks to escape, mediating the thermal runaway process to prevent uncontrolled temperature rise within the compartment while preserving space efficiency.
2Device complexity
If battery units are isolated in a compact space, then device compactness is improved, but safety is worsened due to chain reaction risk from ejected sparks and hot air
Solution Approach 1:
Each battery unit is equipped with dedicated safety components (explosion-proof valve and exhaust passage), creating independent safety zones. This segmentation ensures that thermal runaway in one unit does not propagate to others, maintaining reliability while preserving compact design.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful thermal runaway products (sparks and hot air) are extracted from the compartment through individually positioned exhaust passages. By removing these hazardous substances from the confined space, the chain reaction risk is eliminated while maintaining the compact overall structure.
3Reliability
If exhaust passages are added to vent thermal runaway products, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The explosion-proof valve and exhaust passage are merged into an integrated safety system for each battery unit. This combination simplifies the overall structure by reducing the number of separate components while maintaining effective venting functionality and improving safety during thermal runaway events.
Solution Approach 2:
Each battery unit is equipped with its own explosion-proof valve and exhaust passage, enabling self-venting of thermal runaway products. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex centralized venting systems, reducing overall device complexity while ensuring reliable safety performance.
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 discharges hot air and sparks during thermal runaway, reducing the risk of secondary thermal events and enhancing operational safety by containing and directing hazardous fluids outside the compartment.
Implementation Method 1
when the battery units suffer from thermal runaway, the ejected sparks and hot air are both diffused in the compartment
Implementation Method 2
the ejected sparks and hot air after thermal runaway of the battery unit will rapidly raise the temperature within the compartment
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a battery pack and transportation vehicle, wherein the battery pack includes: a box assembly; a restraint assembly disposed within the box assembly, wherein the restraint assembly is internally provided with an accommodating cavity, a first exhaust passage is provided between the restraint assembly and the box assembly, and the restraint assembly is provided with a communication hole which communicates the accommodating cavity with the first exhaust passage; and a battery module disposed within the accommodating cavity.