Battery Cell Spacer Structure for Thermal Runaway Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal runaway in battery packs due to exothermic reactions can lead to irreversible damage, fire, and explosion, which existing thermal isolation and conduction methods fail to adequately prevent.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design incorporating spacers with a thermally insulating core and heat conductive structures on lateral surfaces to transfer heat away from hotspots, minimizing thermal impact on adjacent cells and preventing runaway.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thermal isolation methods are used to prevent heat transfer between battery cells, then thermal runaway prevention is improved, but heat dissipation from hotspots is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer incorporates different material properties in different regions: the core provides thermal insulation while the surface layer provides thermal conduction. This local differentiation allows the spacer to simultaneously prevent thermal runaway isolation and dissipate hotspots effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer is constructed as a composite structure with a core made of thermally insulating material and a surface layer made of thermally conductive material. This composite design enables the spacer to perform both thermal isolation and heat dissipation functions simultaneously.
2Temperature
If thermal conduction methods are used to dissipate heat from battery cells, then hotspot management is improved, but thermal runaway spread to adjacent cells is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer incorporates different material properties in different regions: the core provides thermal insulation while the surface layer provides thermal conduction. This local differentiation allows the spacer to simultaneously prevent thermal runaway isolation and dissipate hotspots effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer is constructed as a composite structure with a core made of thermally insulating material and a surface layer made of thermally conductive material. This composite design enables the spacer to perform both thermal isolation and heat dissipation functions simultaneously.
3Reliability
If heavy thermal management structures are used to control temperature, then thermal safety is improved, but weight efficiency is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer is constructed as a composite structure with a core made of thermally insulating material and a surface layer made of thermally conductive material. This composite design enables the spacer to perform both thermal isolation and heat dissipation functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides thermal isolation between cells, dissipates hotspots from cell surfaces, and maintains structural separation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional dedicated thermal management components.
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
Prevents thermal runaway by evenly distributing heat, reducing the risk of fire and enabling cost-effective repair by replacing affected cells, while maintaining weight efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The spacer (20) includes a thermally insulating core (22)
Implementation Method 2
at least one heat conductive structure (24, 26) arranged on or near a lateral surface of the spacer
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The present disclosure refers to a battery pack (10) including a battery cell stack (14) with a plurality of battery cells (12, 16) and at least one spacer (20) positioned between two adjected battery cells (12, 16) of the battery cell stack (14), further including a cooler (44) positioned at a bottom side (40) of the battery cell stack (14) and a venting side (42) opposite to the bottom side (40) of the battery cell stack (14), wherein the spacer (20) includes a thermally insulating core (22) and at least one heat conductive structure (24, 26) arranged on or near a lateral surfaces (32, 34) of the spacer (20) facing a lateral surface (52, 54) of the battery cell (12, 16), , wherein the heat conductive structure (24, 26) includes a center element (28) being arranged centrally in the lateral surface (32, 34) of the spacer (20) and trajectories (30) which extend from the center element (28) into peripheral areas of the lateral surface (32, 34) of the spacer (20).