Battery Pack Cover With Water-Filled Frame for Thermal Runaway
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to prevent surface ignition of battery packs during thermal runaway events, which can lead to explosions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating frame members containing cooling water or fire extinguishing water within the battery pack structure, along with valves and thermal interface materials, to manage and reduce surface temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional battery pack design is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but surface temperature increases during thermal runaway leading to ignition
Solution Approach 1:
The frame member containing cooling water is nested within the battery pack structure, specifically positioned between the battery module and the heat dissipation fin. This nested configuration allows the cooling system to be integrated into the existing battery pack architecture without requiring separate external cooling components, thereby reducing overall system complexity while providing effective thermal management during thermal runaway events
Solution Approach 2:
The frame member acts as an intermediary thermal management component between the battery module and the heat dissipation fin. It contains cooling water that absorbs heat from the battery module during thermal runaway, then transfers this heat to the heat dissipation fin for external dissipation. This intermediary mechanism effectively lowers surface temperature without requiring direct contact cooling systems
2Reliability
If cooling water is added to the battery pack, then surface ignition is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frame member serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the battery pack, acts as a cooling channel containing cooling water, and serves as a mounting structure for the heat dissipation fin. By combining these functions into a single component, the design achieves reliable ignition prevention through cooling while minimizing the increase in device complexity that would result from separate cooling system components
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling water channel, structural frame, and heat dissipation mounting structure are merged into a single integrated frame member. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate cooling pipes, brackets, and mounting structures, thereby achieving reliable thermal runaway management while keeping the overall device complexity increase minimal
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 lowers surface temperatures and prevents ignition, thereby preventing flames from escaping and reducing the risk of explosions.
Implementation Method 1
one or more frame members provided on the pack cover and containing cooling water or fire extinguishing water
Implementation Method 2
the high-temperature venting gas ignites the surface of the conventional battery pack 1
Data Source
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AI summary
A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a plurality of battery cells; a pack frame to which the battery cells are directly mounted or the battery cells are mounted in the state of being housed in a module frame; a pack cover that covers the pack frame; and one or more frame members provided on the pack cover and containing cooling water or fire extinguishing water.