Battery Extinguishing Reservoir Wall for Thermal Runaway Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional batteries with integrated extinguishing devices for electric and hybrid vehicles have complex structures, high production costs, and a risk of failure, leading to potential battery fires and explosions due to the high reactivity of lithium-ion batteries, which are difficult to manage safely and cost-effectively.
Innovation Solution
A battery design featuring an extinguishing agent reservoir with a temperature-sensitive elastomer reservoir wall that maintains integrity at normal operating temperatures but fails and releases the extinguishing agent at elevated temperatures, eliminating the need for additional sensors and actuators, and utilizing a space-efficient and cost-effective configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fire suppression systems with sensors and actuators are used, then battery safety is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir wall material automatically responds to temperature changes by transitioning from a sealed state at normal temperatures to a breached state at elevated temperatures, eliminating the need for external sensors and actuators. The system serves itself by using the thermal environment to trigger the safety response.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electronic control system (sensors, control units, actuators) with a passive material-based system where the reservoir wall's physical-chemical properties automatically respond to thermal conditions, substituting complex mechanical control with material science-based automatic response.
2Reliability
If conventional fire suppression systems with multiple components are implemented, then battery safety is improved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir wall is designed as a single-use, disposable component that is inexpensive to manufacture. Once it has served its protective function by containing the extinguishing agent, it is intentionally destroyed to release the agent, and does not need to be recovered or reused.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into the single reservoir wall component: it serves as the container wall, the temperature sensor, the actuator trigger, and the release mechanism all in one integrated structure, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing manufacturing complexity.
3Ease of operation
If predetermined breaking points are used in the reservoir wall, then extinguishing agent release is enabled, but unintentional release may occur reducing battery lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses temperature as the triggering parameter for reservoir wall failure. The material is designed to maintain its structural integrity at normal operating temperatures but undergoes a phase transition or chemical change at elevated temperatures that causes controlled failure, ensuring release only when actually needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The reservoir wall is made from composite materials or specially formulated polymers that exhibit temperature-dependent mechanical properties. These materials maintain strength at low temperatures but become brittle or decompose at high temperatures, providing automatic temperature-triggered failure without risk of premature release.
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
This design allows for reliable and rapid cooling or extinguishing of overheated battery cells without additional sensors or actuators, reducing the risk of battery runaway and explosion, enhancing operational safety while maintaining a simple and cost-effective production process.
Implementation Method 1
the reservoir wall is designed to maintain a seal for retaining the extinguishing agent at a first wall temperature and to be destroyed by heat at a second wall temperature
Implementation Method 2
the reservoir wall incorporates an elastomer and is in contact with the battery wall, the battery cells, and the electrodes
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a battery (1) for a motor vehicle (2), comprising a battery wall (4) surrounding a battery interior (3), an extinguishing agent reservoir (5) arranged in the battery interior (3) in which an extinguishing agent (6) is received, and at least one battery cell (7) arranged separately from the extinguishing agent (6) in the battery interior (3), wherein the extinguishing agent reservoir (5) has a reservoir wall (8) for retaining the extinguishing agent (6), and wherein the battery (1) is designed such that the reservoir wall (8) has a first wall temperature at a normal operating temperature of the battery cell (7) and a second wall temperature at a limit operating temperature of the battery cell (7).The reservoir wall (8) is designed to maintain a tightness for retaining the extinguishing agent (6) at the first wall temperature and to be destroyed by heat at the second wall temperature, wherein the second wall temperature is higher than the first wall temperature, and wherein the reservoir wall (8) can be brought to the second wall temperature by means of the battery cell (7) of the battery (1). Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle (2) with an electric motor (13) and a battery (1) according to the invention.