Battery Thermal Mitigation Venting and Heat Shield Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery thermal runaway can propagate heat to nearby cells, leading to a chain reaction and increased risk of additional cells entering thermal runaway, which existing technologies have not effectively mitigated.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of thermal runaway mitigation systems in battery packs, including cooling elements to expel coolant onto cells in thermal runaway, heat shields to direct hot gases away from other cells, and venting systems to equalize pressure and prevent overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the number of battery cells is increased to provide sufficient electricity, then the power output is improved, but the risk of thermal runaway propagation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is divided into multiple isolated compartments or modules, each with its own thermal management system. This segmentation prevents thermal runaway from propagating across the entire battery pack, allowing higher cell density while maintaining safety through physical and thermal isolation barriers between cells or modules.
2Reliability
If thermal runaway mitigation systems are implemented, then the safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal mitigation system incorporates passive safety features such as heat shields, thermal barriers, and automatic venting mechanisms that activate based on temperature thresholds without requiring active control systems. These self-activating components provide thermal protection while minimizing the need for complex monitoring and control electronics.
3Reliability
If cooling elements are added to expel coolant onto cells in thermal runaway, then the thermal runaway propagation is mitigated, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling elements and thermal mitigation features are integrated into the existing battery pack structure, combining multiple functions into unified components. For example, structural elements serve dual purposes as both mechanical support and thermal barriers, while coolant channels are incorporated into existing heat management infrastructure, reducing the need for separate manufacturing processes.
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
These systems effectively mitigate the propagation of thermal runaway by isolating affected cells, reducing the risk of chain reactions and enhancing the safety and reliability of battery systems in vehicles and other applications.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling element configured, in response to the cell entering thermal runaway, to expel coolant onto the cell
Implementation Method 2
venting systems to equalize pressure and prevent overheating
Implementation Method 3
heat shields to direct hot gases away from other cells
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack for a vehicle electrical system includes a casing for receiving one or more battery modules. The battery modules are insertable into a casing of the battery pack. Additionally, the battery modules may include cooling plate to cool the battery module and provide coolant to another battery module in response to a triggering event. Additionally, the battery modules may include a top cover with a frangible insulating material to further thermally insulate one battery module from another battery module and allow gasses and active material to escape the battery module in response to a triggering event. The battery pack may additionally be configured with vents for venting the gases and active material, such as those generated by a battery module in a thermal runaway event. Additionally, the battery modules may include a heat shield to direct vented gases and active material away from a cabin of a vehicle.