Battery Rack Cooling Line That Melts to Suppress Fire Propagation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In densely packed energy storage systems, flames or explosions in a secondary battery cell can easily propagate and cause significant damage due to high voltage, necessitating effective suppression or prevention of fires and explosions.

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

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If secondary battery cells are densely packed in an energy storage system, then productivity and space utilization are improved, but the risk of fire propagation and explosion expansion increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidfire propagation risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

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 isolates potential fire sources within individual modules, preventing rapid propagation to the entire system while maintaining high density packaging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A cooling unit with a cooling line is positioned between adjacent module units to act as a thermal barrier. The cooling line, containing coolant, absorbs heat and delays temperature rise in the intermediate region, thereby preventing fire propagation between modules while allowing dense packing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a cooling unit with cooling line is provided between module units to suppress fire propagation, then fire safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire suppression capabilityVSAvoidcooling unit structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling line utilizes phase change parameters of the coolant (liquid to gas transition at specific temperatures) to automatically absorb heat when fire occurs. This passive thermal response mechanism provides fire suppression without requiring complex active control systems, pumps, or sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling line is designed to undergo phase transition (melting or vaporization) when exposed to fire temperatures, absorbing large amounts of latent heat in the process. This phase change mechanism provides automatic fire suppression while simplifying the cooling unit structure by eliminating the need for external power sources or control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

3Speed

If cooling line is designed to melt and discharge coolant upon heating, then fire response speed is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire response speedVSAvoidphase change temperature control

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling line is constructed from composite materials or materials with specifically selected phase change temperatures that ensure reliable melting or vaporization within the fire temperature range. This material selection provides consistent thermal response without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances, as the phase change occurs over a temperature range rather than a single precise point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

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

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Implementation Method 2

at least a portion of an outer periphery of the cooling line is melted by heat generated from the module unit to supply the coolant toward the vent hole

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat absorption: Latent Heat

Implementation Method 3

supply the coolant toward the vent hole

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS20260018705A1Battery rack

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 SK ON CO LTD

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.