Battery Rack Cooling Line Venting for Thermal Runaway Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Secondary batteries in energy storage systems are prone to fire or explosion, which can propagate rapidly due to high density and voltage, causing significant damage.
Innovation Solution
A battery rack design incorporating a housing with module units and a cooling unit featuring a cooling line that melts to discharge coolant through vent holes, using materials with different phase change temperatures to manage heat and suppress flames or explosions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If secondary battery cells are densely formed in energy storage system, then productivity and space utilization are improved, but fire or explosion propagation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery rack is divided into multiple module units, each containing a limited number of battery cells (e.g., 6 cells per module). This segmentation creates natural fire barriers that prevent rapid propagation across the entire system, while still maintaining high overall density through efficient arrangement of multiple modules.
Solution Approach 2:
A cooling unit with cooling lines is introduced as an intermediary component between battery cells. The cooling lines, made of heat-sensitive materials, act as thermal management intermediaries that detect and respond to temperature increases, preventing fire propagation while maintaining close spacing of battery cells for high density.
2Speed
If cooling line outer periphery is melted by heat to supply coolant, then response speed to overheating is improved, but structural integrity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling line is constructed with different materials having different phase change temperatures at different locations. The portion facing the vent hole uses a material with lower phase change temperature (e.g., rubber or thermoplastic plastic) that melts quickly to discharge coolant, while other portions use materials with higher phase change temperatures to maintain structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling line is made of composite materials or multi-material construction, combining materials with different thermal properties. This allows the cooling line to exhibit both quick melting capability at critical locations and sufficient structural strength in other areas, resolving the contradiction between rapid response and structural integrity.
3Volume of stationary object
If module units are stacked to form battery rack, then space utilization is improved, but heat accumulation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
A cooling unit with circulating coolant lines is integrated into the module unit structure. The hydraulic cooling system efficiently removes heat from densely stacked battery cells, preventing heat accumulation while maintaining high space utilization through compact modular design.
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 overheating and ignition, delays flame or explosion propagation, and quickly cools overheated cells, reducing the risk of widespread damage.
Implementation Method 1
at least a portion of an outer periphery of the cooling line is melted by heat generated from the module unit
Implementation Method 2
the cooling line is provided so that at least a portion of an outer periphery thereof is melted by heat generated from the module unit
Implementation Method 3
the cooling unit may further include a fixing line accommodating the cooling line therein, and formed of a material having a different phase change temperature from a material of the outer periphery of the cooling line
Data Source
AI summary
A battery rack includes: a housing; a module unit provided in the housing, including a plurality of battery cells, and having at least one vent hole; and a cooling unit provided to face the vent hole in the housing, and including a cooling line in which a coolant is provided, wherein the cooling line is provided so that at least a portion of an outer periphery thereof is melted by heat generated from the module unit to supply the coolant toward the vent hole.