Battery Module Vent Shield Channel for PCB Gas Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Battery modules in electric vehicles face issues with pressurized gas venting, which can damage temperature-sensitive components like printed circuit boards due to direct exposure to gases released during overcharge, necessitating a solution to redirect and shield these gases effectively.

Innovation Solution

A vent shield channel is integrated between the battery cell vents and the printed circuit board to block and redirect pressurized gases out of the battery module, protecting sensitive components and guiding the gases along a desired vent path.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If battery cell vents directly exhaust gases into the housing, then the venting function is simple and direct, but temperature-sensitive components like printed circuit boards are damaged by direct exposure to pressurized gases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of temperature-sensitive componentsVSAvoidstructure of venting system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A vent shield channel is positioned between the battery cell vent and the printed circuit board to serve as an intermediary structure. This shield channel blocks direct exposure of temperature-sensitive components to pressurized vented gases while redirecting the gases along a desired vent path, thus protecting components without adding excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The venting system is segmented into distinct functional zones: a vent shield channel for protection, a desired vent path for gas redirection, and a housing structure for containment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If vented gases are redirected along a desired vent path, then damage to components is reduced, but the venting system becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of electronic componentsVSAvoidconfiguration of venting system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vent shield channel and vent path are integrated as a unified structure within the battery module housing. The shield channel is fluidly coupled to the desired vent path, creating a combined protection and redirection system that achieves component protection without requiring entirely separate systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Duration of action of stationary object

If the vent shield channel blocks effluent from contacting the printed circuit board, then component life is extended, but the channel occupies space in the battery module

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelife of battery moduleVSAvoidspace occupied by venting structures
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The vent shield channel is implemented as a thin-walled structure that provides effective shielding against pressurized gases while occupying minimal space. This thin-film approach allows the channel to block effluent contact with the printed circuit board without significantly increasing the overall volume of the battery module

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 vent shield channel effectively absorbs thermal and kinetic energy from the vented gases, reducing damage to electronic components and extending the life of the battery module by preventing direct contact and ensuring safe gas expulsion.

Implementation Method 1

The vent shield channel is configured to absorb some of the thermal and kinetic energy of the vented gases

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal energy absorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

The vent shield channel is configured to absorb some of the thermal and kinetic energy of the vented gases

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectKinetic energy absorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3175499B1Manifold vent channel for a battery module
Publication Date: 2024.01.24 JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY CO
  • EP3175499B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3175499B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3175499B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present disclosure includes a battery module having a housing that includes a lid and a battery cell with a battery cell terminal and a battery cell vent on an end of the battery cell. The battery cell vent is configured to exhaust battery cell effluent. The battery module includes a printed circuit board positioned in an immediate vent direction of the battery cell, a vent shield channel positioned between the battery cell vent and the printed circuit board along the immediate vent direction of battery cell effluent, where the vent shield plate is immediately adjacent to the printed circuit board and configured to block the effluent from contacting the printed circuit board and to redirect the battery cell effluent along a desired vent path, and a module vent fluidly coupled to the desired vent path and configured to direct the battery cell effluent out of the battery module.