Battery Pack Venting Structure for Thermal Runaway Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs face challenges in miniaturization and energy density due to the need for sufficient distance between gas exhaust valves to prevent thermal runaway, leading to increased size and decreased energy density.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design with a deformable heat-resistant member between cells that widens the gas exhaust path upon thermal runaway, using notches, melting parts, or elastic materials to displace and secure the path, allowing for miniaturization while preventing chain reactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a heat-resistant sheet is arranged in the center between gas exhaust valves of cells arranged to face each other with sufficient distance, then thermal runaway chain reaction is prevented, but the battery pack size increases and energy density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat-resistant member is designed to be displaceable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position based on gas pressure. During normal operation, the member maintains a compact position enabling miniaturization. During thermal runaway, gas pressure displaces the member to widen exhaust paths, ensuring reliable gas evacuation while preventing thermal runaway chain reactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat-resistant member is nested within the holder structure, fitting into the space between facing battery blocks. This nested arrangement allows the member to be integrated into the existing battery pack geometry without requiring additional external space, enabling both miniaturization and effective thermal runaway prevention.
2Quantity of substance
If the space between facing cells is reduced to increase energy density, then energy density improves, but the battery pack becomes more susceptible to thermal runaway chain reactions
Solution Approach 1:
The heat-resistant member acts as an intermediary element positioned between facing battery blocks with reduced spacing. This mediator allows the system to maintain narrow spacing for high energy density while still providing thermal protection through its heat-resistant properties and gas exhaust path formation capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state and position of the heat-resistant member in response to gas pressure. During normal operation, the member maintains a compact configuration. During thermal runaway, the member displaces to alter the gas exhaust path geometry, changing parameters to ensure reliable gas evacuation while maintaining narrow cell spacing for high energy density.
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 suppresses thermal runaway chain reactions and maintains compact size by widening the gas exhaust path during abnormal cell conditions, enhancing energy density and safety.
Implementation Method 1
displaceable to widen a corresponding one of the gas exhaust paths in response to a pressure of gas exhausted from an abnormal cell among the plurality of battery cells
Data Source
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AI summary
A battery pack includes a plurality of battery blocks each including a gas exhaust surface, the gas exhaust surfaces of the plurality of battery blocks facing each other, and a heat-resistant member arranged between the gas exhaust surfaces facing each other, and forming gas exhaust paths between the heat-resistant member and each of the gas exhaust surfaces facing each other. Each of the battery block includes a plurality of battery cells including a gas exhaust valve, and a holder holding the plurality of battery cells and aligning the gas exhaust valves of the plurality of battery cells on the holder end surface of the holder to form the gas exhaust surfaces. The heat-resistant member is fixed between the holder end surfaces of the plurality of battery blocks. The holder end surfaces face each other. The heat resistant member is displaceable to widen a corresponding one of the gas exhaust paths in response to a pressure of gas exhausted from an abnormal cell among the plurality of cells.