Battery Rack Venting Channel for Thermal Runaway Gas Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery racks face a high risk of fire and ignition due to vent gas from battery modules being vented to the atmosphere during abnormal situations, which can lead to unintentional flaring and ignition.
Innovation Solution
A battery rack design with a venting channel and support brackets that guide vent gas away from ignition risk zones, using a barrier membrane to control venting at predetermined temperatures, and incorporating a plastic membrane that melts or tears to allow communication between venting and guide holes during abnormal conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If venting holes are provided in battery modules to escape vent gas during abnormal situations, then the battery module can release pressure and prevent internal damage, but the vent gas may mix with outdoor air and cause flaring or ignition when vented to the atmosphere
Solution Approach 1:
A rack case is introduced as an intermediary component between the battery module venting holes and the external environment. The rack case provides a controlled venting path through its own venting holes, separating the battery module venting function from direct atmospheric exposure. This intermediary structure guides vent gas through a controlled route that reduces ignition risk while maintaining pressure relief functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The venting function is extracted from the battery module itself and relocated to the rack case. The battery module retains only the venting holes for pressure equalization, while the actual venting to the external environment is performed by the rack case through its dedicated venting holes. This separation allows the rack case to control the venting process and minimize fire hazards.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a rack case is used to accommodate battery modules with venting holes, then the rack case can control vent gas release and reduce ignition risk, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The rack case is designed to serve multiple functions: it accommodates and supports the battery modules, provides structural protection, manages ventilation through controlled holes, and facilitates heat dissipation. By integrating these functions into a single component, the design avoids adding separate dedicated structures for each function, thereby reducing overall system complexity while achieving fire risk reduction.
3Productivity
If venting holes are made larger to improve gas escape, then vent gas can be released more efficiently during abnormal situations, but more vent gas may escape to the atmosphere increasing flaring risk
Solution Approach 1:
The rack case acts as an intermediary that receives vent gas from the battery module through its venting holes. This intermediary structure controls the direction and path of vent gas flow, ensuring that even with larger venting holes for efficient pressure relief, the gas is channeled in a way that minimizes direct exposure to ignition sources and reduces flaring risk.
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 prevents flaring and ignition by rerouting vent gas, minimizing the risk of thermal runaway and explosion, while maintaining cooling performance and preventing moisture ingress.
Implementation Method 1
The barrier membrane may melt or tear at the predetermined temperature or above to make the at least one guide hole and the at least one venting hole communicate with each other.
Data Source
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AI summary
A battery rack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of battery modules, each including at least one battery cell, wherein each battery module has at least one venting hole; a rack case accommodating the plurality of battery modules; and a plurality of support brackets disposed in the rack case such that each support bracket supports each battery module and is in communication with the at least one venting hole.