Battery Pack Vent Gas Passageway for Debris-Blocking Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrified vehicles, thermal events can cause battery cells to vent gases, which may lead to debris and liquid droplets being discharged, potentially exacerbating the thermal event and posing risks to the enclosure and surrounding environment.
Innovation Solution
A battery assembly with a vent gas passageway system that includes frangible inlet ports aligned with battery cell vents, a plate assembly with serpentine flow channels, and a design that directs vent gases through a circuitous path to prevent debris and droplets from being discharged, mitigating thermal events and protecting the enclosure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If battery cells are equipped with vents to release vent gas during thermal events, then the pressure buildup in battery cells is relieved, but debris and liquid droplets are discharged along with the vent gas, potentially exacerbating thermal events and posing risks to the enclosure
Solution Approach 1:
The vent gas passageway is divided into multiple sections (first section, second section, third section) with distinct functions. The first section handles initial vent gas intake, the second section provides filtration, and the third section manages controlled discharge. This segmentation allows the system to separate the pressure relief function from the harmful debris discharge function, enabling each section to optimize its specific role in the venting process
Solution Approach 2:
The vent gas passageway acts as an intermediary component between the battery cell vents and the external environment. Instead of allowing direct discharge from vents to the outside, the passageway provides an intermediate pathway that routes vent gas through filtered sections, thereby mediating the discharge process to remove harmful debris and liquid droplets while maintaining pressure relief functionality
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a vent gas passageway is introduced to manage vent gases, then debris and droplets can be prevented from being discharged, but the device complexity increases due to additional components and circuitous pathways
Solution Approach 1:
The vent gas passageway combines multiple functions into a single integrated structure. The first, second, and third sections are merged into one continuous passageway system that simultaneously provides vent gas reception, filtration of debris and liquid droplets, and controlled discharge. This merging approach achieves complex functionality without requiring multiple separate components, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining effective vent gas management
Solution Approach 2:
The vent gas passageway is designed as a multi-functional component that performs several operations within a single structure. It universally handles vent gas intake, particle filtration, liquid droplet removal, and controlled discharge through its different sections. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated components for each function, simplifying the overall device architecture while achieving comprehensive vent gas 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 solution effectively manages vent gases during thermal events, preventing debris and droplets from being discharged, thereby protecting the vehicle's enclosure and reducing the risk of further thermal propagation.
Implementation Method 1
each frangible section is configured to at least partially separate from a remainder of the second plate in response to a thermal event
Implementation Method 2
The vent gas passageway includes a first section and a second section, and the vent gas passageway is configured such that vent gas entering the vent gas passageway from one or more of the inlet ports flows into either the first section or the second section
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to a battery assembly of an electrified vehicle, and in particular to a battery pack with a vent gas passageway. An example battery assembly includes a battery array having a plurality of battery cells. Each of the battery cells includes a vent configured to release vent gas from a respective one of the battery cells. Further, the battery assembly includes an enclosure assembly surrounding the battery array, and a vent gas passageway within the enclosure assembly. The vent gas passageway includes a plurality of inlet ports, and each of the inlet ports is substantially aligned with a respective one of the vents.