Battery Module Inter-Battery Separator Thermal Insulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery modules face thermal damage due to excessive heat conduction between prismatic batteries, particularly when one battery abnormally generates heat, leading to potential damage of adjacent batteries.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an inter-battery separator with a three-layer structure, where a middle member with high thermal conductivity is sandwiched between two side members with superior thermal insulation, to reduce heat conduction between prismatic batteries and prevent thermal damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If prismatic batteries are stacked closely to increase energy density, then energy density is improved, but thermal insulation between adjacent batteries deteriorates leading to heat conduction and thermal damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy densityVSAvoidthermal damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The inter-battery separator is divided into three distinct segments: a middle member with high thermal conductivity and two side members with low thermal conductivity. This segmentation allows different regions of the separator to perform different thermal functions - the middle member dissipates heat laterally while the side members provide thermal insulation in the stack direction, thereby resolving the contradiction between close battery spacing for energy density and thermal protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the inter-battery separator are assigned different thermal properties. The side members have low thermal conductivity to provide thermal insulation between adjacent batteries in the stack direction, while the middle member has high thermal conductivity to dissipate heat laterally. This local differentiation of thermal properties allows the separator to simultaneously achieve thermal protection and heat management functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If thermal insulation between batteries is enhanced to prevent heat conduction, then thermal damage is reduced, but heat dissipation capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal damageVSAvoidheat dissipation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The separator employs local quality differentiation where side members have low thermal conductivity for thermal insulation while the middle member has high thermal conductivity for heat dissipation. This allows the structure to provide thermal protection in the stack direction while simultaneously enabling effective heat dissipation through the middle member, resolving the contradiction between thermal insulation and heat dissipation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The inter-battery separator is constructed as a composite structure combining materials with different thermal conductivity characteristics. The side members use materials with low thermal conductivity for insulation, while the middle member uses materials with high thermal conductivity for heat dissipation. This composite approach enables the single separator component to fulfill both thermal insulation and heat dissipation functions simultaneously.

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

This configuration effectively inhibits thermal damage to non-abnormally heating batteries by dispersing heat generated by an abnormal battery across a larger area, maintaining lower temperatures and preventing local hotspots, thus enhancing thermal insulation and energy density within the battery module.

Implementation Method 1

The first side plate-shaped member and the second side plate-shaped member are each made of a material that is superior in thermal insulation to the middle member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

a middle member having a plate shape, a first side plate-shaped member disposed on a first side of the middle member in the stack direction, and a second side plate-shaped member disposed on a second side of the middle member in the stack direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11721867B2Battery module and battery pack

Publication Date: 2023.08.08 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

A battery module has a battery stack that includes a plurality of prismatic batteries and an inter-battery separator disposed between every two of the prismatic batteries adjacent to each other in an X direction along which the plurality of prismatic batteries is stacked. The inter-battery separator includes: a middle member having a plate shape; a first side plate-shaped member disposed on a first side of the middle member in the X direction and made of a material that is superior in thermal insulation to the middle member; and a second side plate-shaped member disposed on a second side of the middle member in the X direction and made of a material that is superior in thermal insulation to the middle member.