Battery Housing Vent Channel Using Coanda Flow Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery housings lack efficient mechanisms to manage thermal runaway events, which can lead to uncontrolled gas and particle release, posing safety risks to the battery pack, vehicle, and surrounding environment.
Innovation Solution
A battery housing design incorporating a vent channel with a curved convex surface that utilizes the Coanda effect to guide gases and trap particles, featuring a vortex generator and optional ridge for enhanced control, ensuring controlled gas flow and particle management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional vent channel is used without flow control features, then the structure is simple, but the gas flow direction is uncontrolled and may spread to sensitive areas
Solution Approach 1:
A curved convex surface is integrated into the vent channel to invoke the Coanda effect. This curved geometry causes the gas flow to adhere to the surface and follow a predetermined path towards the opening, preventing uncontrolled spread to sensitive areas while maintaining structural integration
2Reliability
If vents are positioned to release hot gases, then gas evacuation is enabled, but particles may escape and ignite external gases
Solution Approach 1:
Trapping mechanisms are introduced as intermediary elements within the vent channel. These mechanisms selectively retain particles while allowing hot gases to pass through to the opening, preventing particle escape and potential ignition of external gases
3Object-affected harmful factors
If thermal runaway occurs without controlled venting, then rapid gas release happens, but uncontrolled thermal spread damages the battery pack and vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The vent channel is designed with differentiated local features: a curved convex surface in the first region to guide gas flow away from sensitive areas, and trapping mechanisms in the second region to contain particles. This localized functional differentiation enables controlled thermal runaway management
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 improves the efficiency of gas and particle evacuation during thermal runaway, reducing the risk of uncontrolled spread and enhancing safety by guiding gases away from sensitive areas and trapping particles, thus ensuring thermal stability and structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a curved convex surface located in the vent channel between the vent and the opening, wherein the curved convex surface is configured to invoke the Coanda effect in a gas flowing past the curved convex surface
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3A
AI summary
A battery housing (100) comprising: a battery module (102) comprising at least one battery cell (104), the battery cell having a vent (106) for venting gas in case of thermal runaway; a vent channel (108) located between the battery module and an outer wall (110) of the battery housing and configured to fluidly connect the vent to an opening (112) in the outer wall of the battery housing; and a curved convex surface (114) located in the vent channel between the vent and the opening, wherein the curved convex surface is configured to invoke the Coanda effect in a gas flowing past the curved convex surface.