Battery Cell Vent Blocking Structure for Thermal Runaway Containment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery modules face challenges in preventing heat propagation and cascading thermal runaway, which can lead to safety issues and reduced performance.

Innovation Solution

A battery cell design that includes a case with an electrode assembly, a cap plate with a vent, a blocking member made of mica, and a fixing member that surrounds the case and cap plate to securely attach the blocking member. This configuration helps to prevent heat transfer and flame/gas propagation between cells.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stress or pressure

If a vent is provided in the cap plate to release pressure, then pressure relief function is improved, but heat and flame propagation risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure reliefVSAvoidheat propagation

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A blocking member is introduced as an intermediary component between the vent and the external environment. This blocking member selectively allows pressure relief while blocking heat and flame propagation, thus mediating between the conflicting requirements of pressure relief and heat propagation prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking member is made of a composite material structure that combines different properties: it has sufficient porosity or structural characteristics to allow pressure release, while simultaneously having heat-resistant and flame-blocking properties to prevent thermal runaway propagation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If a blocking member is added to prevent heat propagation, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking member is designed as a segmented or modular component that can be independently installed and removed. It is divided into a body portion and end portion structures that can be separately manufactured and assembled, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while maintaining safety functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of making the cap plate itself complex to achieve both venting and heat blocking, the invention inverts the approach by adding a separate, relatively simple blocking member to the cap plate. This separates the heat blocking function from the cap plate structure, maintaining cap plate simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If a fixing member is added to secure the blocking member, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixing reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing member is merged with the blocking member as an integrated structure. The fixing member extends from the blocking member body, combining the heat blocking function and the fixing function into a single component, thereby reducing the number of parts and simplifying manufacturing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking member serves multiple functions: it blocks heat and flame propagation, provides pressure relief through its vent structure, and secures itself to the cap plate through the integrated fixing member. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 proposed design effectively prevents heat propagation and cascading thermal runaway by using a mica blocking member and a fixing member to securely attach it to the cap plate, thereby enhancing the safety and performance of battery modules.

Implementation Method 1

a blocking member seated on the cap plate and facing the vent... The blocking member may include mica... effectively prevents heat propagation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

a vent in the cap plate and configured to open in response to a change in pressure in the case

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure-driven flow: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS20250183419A1Battery cell and battery module including the same

Publication Date: 2025.06.05 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD

AI summary

A battery cell includes: a case accommodating an electrode assembly; a cap plate on the case and sealing the case; a vent in the cap plate and configured to open in response to a change in pressure in the case; a blocking member seated on the cap plate and facing the vent; and a fixing member surrounding the case and the cap plate and fixing the blocking member to the cap plate.