Battery Module Vent Cover for Pressure-Triggered Heat Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery modules face challenges in effectively managing heat energy discharge, suppressing inner pressure increases, and reducing the risk of ignition due to their sealed housing structures, which can lead to rapid overheating and explosion.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design featuring a housing with vent hole portions and a movable top cover mechanism, equipped with an elastic member and stopper, allows for controlled venting when internal temperature or pressure exceeds certain thresholds, facilitating the discharge of heat and flame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the housing is sealed to protect battery cells, then protection from external contaminants is improved, but heat discharge performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by implementing a movable top cover that can transition between closed and open states. The cover is driven by an elastic member that responds to internal pressure changes, automatically opening when pressure exceeds a threshold to allow heat and gas discharge, then closing when pressure normalizes. This dynamic mechanism resolves the contradiction by making the housing structure adaptive rather than static, allowing it to provide protection when needed and discharge heat when necessary.
2Strength
If the housing is sealed to maintain structural integrity, then structural strength is improved, but inner pressure discharge capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The movable top cover mechanism dynamically adjusts the housing's pressure discharge capability. When internal pressure builds up during battery operation or thermal events, the elastic member pushes the cover open to relieve pressure, preventing structural failure. When pressure returns to normal levels, the cover automatically closes to restore full structural integrity. This resolves the contradiction by making the pressure discharge capability conditional rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies self-service through the elastic member that automatically detects internal pressure changes and actuates the cover opening/closing mechanism without external control. The elastic member stores mechanical energy when the cover is closed and releases it when pressure builds, creating a self-regulating pressure relief system that maintains structural integrity while providing automatic pressure discharge capability when needed.
3Reliability
If insulating material is added between pouch cells to prevent ignition spread, then safety against ignition propagation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the primary safety function from the individual cell level and implements it at the system level through the movable top cover. Instead of adding insulating material between each cell, the design uses a single centralized venting mechanism that protects the entire battery module by allowing controlled discharge of heat and flammable gases before they can cause ignition or explosion. This approach improves safety while minimizing the increase in device complexity compared to cell-by-cell insulation.
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 delays temperature and pressure increases, preventing rapid explosions by allowing controlled venting of heat and flame, thereby enhancing safety and performance.
Implementation Method 1
The battery module includes an elastic member applying elastic force to the top cover such that the top cover moves from the first position to the second position
Data Source
AI summary
A battery module includes a housing which accommodates a plurality of battery cells therein, and has a vent-hole portion formed therein; a top cover which is movably installed on the housing so as to open/close the vent-hole portion; an elastic member which is installed to apply an elastic force to the top cover in a direction in which the top cover opens the vent-hole portion; and a stopper configured to support the top cover so that the top cover maintains a closed state of the vent-hole portion. The stopper can lose or reduce support to the top cover due to changes in temperature or pressure.