Battery Pack Venting Cavity Layout for Thermal Runaway Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs face challenges in managing thermal runaway events, where internal pressure rise leads to uncontrolled energy release, increasing the risk of explosion and fire propagation, and existing safety structures do not effectively prevent this.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack assembly with a safety arrangement featuring a cavity and an exit unit, where the gas stream from thermal runaway is cooled and particles are captured in the cavity, followed by flame extinguishment in the exit unit, maintaining high volumetric energy density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a safety arrangement with cavity and exit unit is added to cool and capture particles from thermal runaway gas streams, then the risk of explosion and fire propagation is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety arrangement is divided into two distinct functional segments: a cavity for cooling and particle capture, and an exit unit for flame extinguishment. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system manageability and reducing design complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cavity acts as an intermediary chamber between the battery cells and the external environment. It mediates the thermal runaway event by providing a controlled space for gas stream cooling and particle capture before the remaining gases exit through the exit unit, thereby protecting the surrounding structure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a cavity is added to cool the gas stream and capture particles, then the risk of fire propagation is reduced, but the volume occupied by the battery pack increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity is positioned on the same side as the cell degassing elements, utilizing the lateral space rather than adding significant volume in the primary battery pack dimensions. This dimensional arrangement allows effective cooling and particle capture without substantially increasing the overall battery pack volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety arrangement with cavity and exit unit is integrated into the existing battery pack structure, nesting the safety functions within the available space of the battery assembly. This nesting approach minimizes additional volume while providing comprehensive safety functionality.
3Reliability
If cell degassing elements are arranged on the same side to communicate with a single cavity, then the safety arrangement efficiency is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single cavity serves multiple battery cells simultaneously, acting as a universal collection point for gas streams from all cells. This multi-functional design improves safety arrangement efficiency by consolidating what would otherwise require multiple separate safety structures, while the standardized interface simplifies manufacturing alignment requirements.
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 cools down the gas stream and captures particles, preventing further energy release and reducing the risk of explosion and fire propagation while maintaining high energy density.
Implementation Method 1
the gas stream of the thermal runaway is cooled down and at least most of the particles therein captured in a cavity
Implementation Method 2
at least most of the particles therein captured in a cavity
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a~3b
AI summary
A battery pack assembly (100) and a vehicle battery. The assembly comprises battery cells (1) comprising cell degassing elements (6). The battery pack assembly (100) further comprises a safety arrangement (2), comprising a cavity (3) provided between a proximal wall (4) and a distal wall (5). The proximal wall (4) is arranged proximate to the plurality of battery cells (1), and the distal wall (5) is arranged distal to the plurality of battery cells (1). The cavity (3) is configured to communicate with the cell degassing elements (6) through said proximal wall (4). The safety arrangement (2) further comprises an exit unit (7) connected in fluid communication with the cavity (3) by a port (8), the degassing unit (7) comprising a vent (9) leading out from the safety arrangement (2). The exit unit (7) is arranged on a second side (14) of the plurality of battery cells (1), said second side (14) being arranged at least substantially orthogonally to the proximal wall (4) of the cavity.