Battery Cell Assembly Side Frames for Thermal Runaway Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a growing need for improved safety in secondary batteries used for mobility applications, as accidents such as fires can pose a significant risk to drivers and passengers.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a battery cell assembly and pack design that includes side frames with insulating spaces between adjacent cell blocks, which suppress heat transfer and prevent chain ignition, thereby enhancing safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If battery cells are arranged closely to increase energy density, then productivity and space utilization improve, but heat transfer between cells increases leading to higher safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces side frames with insulating spaces as intermediary structures between adjacent battery cells. These side frames act as thermal barriers that prevent direct heat transfer between cells while maintaining close arrangement for high energy density. The insulating space within the side frame structure serves as a thermal buffer zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery pack is segmented into modular units with side frames positioned between adjacent cells. This segmentation creates discrete thermal zones that isolate heat generation to specific cell regions, preventing thermal runaway propagation across the entire battery pack.
2Reliability
If side frames with insulating spaces are added between battery cells, then safety against thermal runaway improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The side frame structure is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: providing structural support for the battery pack, creating insulating spaces for thermal isolation, and serving as a mounting framework. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and minimizes overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the support structure and thermal insulation functions into a single integrated side frame assembly. By combining these functions, the design avoids adding separate insulation layers or support structures, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If insulating spaces are created between battery cells, then heat transfer is suppressed preventing chain ignition, but volume of the battery pack increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating spaces are strategically positioned only at critical interfaces between adjacent battery cells where heat transfer would most likely propagate. This localized approach provides effective thermal isolation without creating insulating barriers throughout the entire battery pack volume, thus minimizing the volume increase.
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 reduces the risk of thermal runaway and associated fires by creating insulating barriers between battery cell assemblies, thereby improving the structural safety and reducing damage from swelling batteries.
Implementation Method 1
The first plate, the second plate, and the third plate may be arranged to form an insulating space between the first plate and the surface of the first cover and between the second plate and the third plate
Data Source
AI summary
A battery assembly includes a first cell block; a first cover coupled to a first side of the first cell block; and a second cover coupled to a second side of the first cell block opposite the first side. The first cover includes a first extending portion extending from the first cover. The first extending portion includes a first plate spaced apart from a surface of the first cover in a first direction. The first extending portion further includes a second plate between the first plate and the first surface of the first cover.