Battery Pack Venting Structure for Cooling Gas and Blocking Sparks

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Densely arranged battery modules in energy storage systems are vulnerable to fires due to thermal runaway, which can lead to unfiltered high temperature venting gas and sparks, causing propagation and severe economic and life-threatening damage.

Innovation Solution

A battery pack with an anti-fire venting unit featuring a metal temperature reducing tunnel and mesh structures to guide and filter venting gas and sparks, preventing them from igniting external structures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If battery modules are densely arranged to increase energy density, then energy storage capacity is improved, but fire vulnerability increases due to thermal runaway propagation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy storage capacityVSAvoidfire vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The battery pack is divided into multiple battery modules, each with its own independent venting path and anti-fire venting unit. This segmentation isolates thermal runaway events to specific modules, preventing fire propagation to other modules while maintaining high energy density through dense arrangement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The anti-fire venting unit acts as an intermediary component between the battery module interior and exterior environment. It includes a temperature reducing tunnel that cools vented gas and a mesh that filters sparks, thereby mediating the harmful effects of thermal runaway before they can affect surrounding structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If thermal runaway occurs in a battery module, then high temperature venting gas and sparks are generated, but this leads to fire in surrounding structures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveventing gas temperatureVSAvoidfire hazard

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The high temperature venting gas and sparks, which are harmful during thermal runaway, are converted into a controlled venting process. The temperature reducing tunnel utilizes the venting gas flow itself to drive cooling, and the mesh structure directs sparks away from surrounding structures, transforming the harmful thermal runaway byproducts into a safer controlled release.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The anti-fire venting unit serves as an intermediary that intercepts and treats the hot venting gas and sparks before they can ignite surrounding structures. The temperature reducing tunnel cools the gas, and the mesh filters and redirects sparks, thereby mediating between the thermal runaway event and the external environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If high temperature spark and venting gas contact oxygen in the environment, then fire occurs, but this can spread to neighboring battery modules

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire occurrenceVSAvoidfire propagation resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Each battery module has its own dedicated anti-fire venting unit and venting path, creating segmented fire zones. This segmentation prevents fire from one module from spreading to neighboring modules, as the venting structures are independently positioned and designed to contain thermal events within their respective modules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The anti-fire venting unit acts as a protective intermediary that prevents direct contact between the hot venting gas/sparks and the external oxygen-rich environment. By cooling the gas and filtering sparks before release, it mediates the combustion process and prevents fire initiation in surrounding areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Effectively reduces the temperature of venting gas and filters high temperature sparks, preventing fires from occurring in surrounding structures or other battery packs during thermal runaway.

Implementation Method 1

a temperature reducing tunnel made of metal having pores

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a mesh configured to cover at least one of an entrance or an exit of the temperature reducing tunnel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS20230318127A1Battery pack with structure for reducing the temperature of venting gas and preventing the emission of spark

Publication Date: 2023.10.05 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD

AI summary

A battery pack includes at least one battery module; a pack case accommodating the battery module; and an anti-fire venting unit positioned on a gas venting path configured to guide gas generated from the battery module to flow out of the pack case, wherein the anti-fire venting unit includes a temperature reducing tunnel made of metal having pores; and a mesh configured to cover at least one of an entrance or an exit of the temperature reducing tunnel.