Battery Pack Venting System with Ducted Exhaust Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Batteries prone to thermal runaway pose risks due to uncontrolled release of hot gas, which can lead to combustion and collateral damage, especially when the autoignition temperature of materials decreases upon exposure to ambient oxygen, endangering passengers and responders.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system with a battery venting assembly integrated into a sealed battery pack, featuring an exhaust port, valve retention plate, and ducted exhaust guide to direct hot gas away from the vehicle during thermal runaway, minimizing the risk of ignition and propagation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a battery undergoes thermal runaway, then hot gas is generated and pressure increases, but uncontrolled release of hot gas leads to combustion and collateral damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful hot gas and pressure buildup from the battery pack by providing a dedicated exhaust port that directs thermal runaway products away from the battery pack and surrounding components, preventing combustion and collateral damage
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust port acts as an intermediary component between the battery cells and the external environment, controlling the release path of hot gas and directing it through a safe exhaust route that prevents ignition of surrounding materials
2Stress or pressure
If the cell casing is perforated due to increased pressure, then hot gas escapes, but this compromises the cell at this and adjoining locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a preventive measure by providing a dedicated exhaust port before thermal runaway occurs, allowing controlled pressure release that prevents catastrophic cell casing perforation and maintains cell integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust port extracts excess pressure and hot gas from the battery pack in a controlled manner, preventing the uncontrolled perforation of cell casings that would compromise cell integrity and lead to further damage
3Temperature
If hot gas comes into contact with ambient oxygen, then the autoignition temperature of materials decreases, but this leads to spontaneous combustion and extensive collateral property damage
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust port serves as an intermediary that controls the interaction between hot gas and ambient oxygen by directing the flow through a designated path, managing the temperature conditions to prevent spontaneous combustion of surrounding materials
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust port extracts hot gas from the battery pack and directs it away from combustible materials, preventing the dangerous interaction between high-temperature gas and ambient oxygen that would otherwise lead to spontaneous combustion
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 system effectively controls the release of hot gas and materials during thermal runaway, reducing the risk of combustion and collateral damage by directing the exhaust away from the vehicle and preventing event propagation within the battery pack.
Implementation Method 1
each of the valves seals the corresponding retention plate port during normal operating conditions and unseals the corresponding retention plate port when an excess pressure arises within the battery pack due to one or more of the batteries within the pack entering into thermal runaway
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal management system is provided that minimizes the effects of thermal runaway within a battery pack, the system using an integrated battery venting assembly comprised of an integrated exhaust port, a valve retention plate that covers the exhaust port and includes a plurality of retention plate ports, and a plurality of valves that are configured to seal the retention plate ports under normal conditions and unseal the retention plate ports during thermal runaway. As hot gas passes through the retention plate ports, the plate is configured to melt and be ejected, thereby allowing subsequent hot gas to pass through the larger exhaust port. A perforated cover plate may be used to protect the external surfaces of the retention plate and valves. An internally mounted exhaust guide may be used to direct the flow of hot gas expelled during the thermal runaway event.