Battery Pack Thermal Imaging With Prism-Based Runaway Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to effectively detect and prevent thermal runaway in battery packs, which can lead to hazardous consequences such as overheating and fire, due to the inability to accurately monitor and respond to temperature anomalies across battery cells.
Innovation Solution
An imaging device equipped with an infrared sensor and prisms forms a thermal map of battery cells, identifying temperature anomalies and using a heat source to disconnect overheated cells from the power grid by heating a fuse to its cutoff temperature, thereby preventing thermal runaway.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional temperature sensors are used to detect battery cell temperature, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision and coverage area are insufficient to detect thermal runaway across the entire battery pack surface
Solution Approach 1:
The field of view is divided into multiple parts with each prism handling a specific segment. The first prism receives infrared radiation from a first part of the field of view and the second prism receives infrared radiation from a second part of the field of view, allowing comprehensive coverage of the entire battery pack surface through segmented detection
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple prisms (first prism and second prism) are combined with a single infrared sensor to achieve wide-area temperature monitoring. The prisms work together to direct infrared radiation from different parts of the battery pack to the same sensor, merging multiple detection paths into one sensor unit
2Area of stationary object
If the infrared sensor is placed close to the battery pack for accurate detection, then the measurement precision improves, but the device cannot capture the entire field of view due to space constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The prisms redirect infrared radiation from different spatial angles and positions to the infrared sensor, effectively expanding the field of view coverage in multiple dimensions while maintaining accurate temperature detection across the entire battery pack surface
3Area of stationary object
If multiple sensors are used to cover the entire battery pack surface, then the area coverage is sufficient, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second prisms act as intermediary optical elements that redirect infrared radiation from different parts of the battery pack to a single infrared sensor, eliminating the need for multiple sensors while achieving complete surface coverage through optical path manipulation
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 system effectively prevents thermal runaway by accurately detecting temperature anomalies and disconnecting overheated battery cells from the power grid, reducing the risk of hazardous events and ensuring safety in battery packs.
Implementation Method 1
an infrared sensor configured to sense reflected infrared radiation from an imaging area
Implementation Method 2
a first prism configured to: receive a first infrared radiation emitted from an object, wherein the first infrared radiation is received from a first part of a field of view; and reflect the first infrared radiation to the imaging area
Implementation Method 3
a source of a heat generating radiation configured to direct the heat generating radiation to any of the battery cells
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatuses and systems for imaging a battery pack is disclosed herein. An example imaging device may include an infrared sensor configured to sense reflected infrared radiation from an imaging area. The imaging device may include a prism configured to form an infrared image of a surface of the battery pack on the imaging area. A thermal map of the surface may be generated and used for determining a battery cell with a temperature that may indicate a thermal runaway. A fuse electronically coupled to the battery cell may be cut off to prevent and/or mitigate a hazardous condition for the battery.