Battery Module Ventilation Structure for Thermal Runaway Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy storage apparatuses face challenges in preventing the propagation of heat, flammable oil mist, flames, and debris between battery cells during thermal runaway, leading to secondary damage.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a ventilation unit with louver units and a duct system that guides flames and debris away from adjacent battery cells while blocking their flow, combined with a fire extinguishing agent direct spray system for additional protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a direct spray system is used to spray fire extinguishing agent directly into the vent of a battery cell, then fire suppression capability is improved, but response time is delayed causing flammable oil mist, flames, and debris to affect adjacent cells
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation unit is pre-positioned and structurally configured to immediately guide and block thermal runaway products as soon as they are ejected from the vent, without waiting for detection and activation of the direct spray system. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures immediate action before the fire extinguishing agent can be sprayed.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation unit divides the space around battery cell vents into distinct zones: a containment zone where thermal runaway products are captured and guided, and a protected zone where adjacent cells are shielded from exposure. This segmentation allows the system to manage heat and debris propagation in a controlled manner.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If thermal runaway occurs in a battery cell, then fire extinguishing agent can be sprayed directly to suppress fire, but heat and debris propagate to adjacent cells causing secondary damage
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation unit acts as an intermediary structure positioned between the vent of a battery cell experiencing thermal runaway and the adjacent battery cells. It captures and redirects heat, flames, and debris away from vulnerable areas, serving as a protective barrier that mediates the interaction between the thermal runaway source and surrounding cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation unit extracts and removes heat, flames, and debris from the immediate vicinity of adjacent battery cells by guiding them through designated pathways away from the battery module, preventing these harmful factors from causing secondary damage.
3Device complexity
If no structural protection is provided at module level, then device complexity is reduced, but heat and debris propagation between cells is uncontrolled
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation unit performs multiple functions simultaneously: it guides flames away from adjacent cells, blocks debris flow, and directs heat propagation in a controlled manner. This multi-functionality is achieved through a single integrated structural component rather than multiple separate protection devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation unit combines flame guidance, debris blocking, and heat direction functions into a single integrated structure mounted on the battery module, simplifying the overall system while maintaining comprehensive protection against thermal runaway propagation.
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
This solution effectively reduces heat and debris propagation between battery cells, minimizing secondary damage and enhancing the safety and reliability of energy storage apparatuses.
Implementation Method 1
guide flames ejected from the vent of one of the battery cells in the first direction
Implementation Method 2
block debris ejected from the one of the battery cells from flowing into adjacent ones of the battery cells
Implementation Method 3
configured to provide a fire extinguishing agent directly to the vents of the battery cells
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
An energy storage apparatus includes: a battery module including a plurality of battery cells arranged in a first direction, each of the battery cells having a vent; and a ventilation unit mounted on the battery module and configured to guide flames ejected from the vent of one of the battery cells in the first direction and to block debris ejected from the one of the battery cells from flowing into adjacent ones of the battery cells.