Battery Venting Channel Layout for Cooling Thermal Runaway Gases
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery systems pose a danger of burns and fires due to hot, toxic venting products during thermal runaway, as they exit directly and at high temperatures, lacking effective thermal management to cool these products before they leave the system.
Innovation Solution
A battery system design with a venting path that directs venting products from the battery cells into a cell chamber, then through a guiding channel and passage to a system exit, allowing for increased thermal energy transfer to the cooling plate and channel walls, thereby cooling the products before they exit the system, eliminating the need for additional cooling elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If venting products exit directly from battery cells, then the venting process is simple and quick, but the venting products remain at high temperature causing burns and fires
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guiding channel as an intermediary component between the battery cells and the external environment. This channel forces venting products to pass through a longer path, increasing thermal energy transfer to the channel walls and cooling the products before they exit. The guiding channel acts as a mediator that transforms the direct, hot venting path into an indirect, cooled path without requiring additional active cooling systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful thermal energy of venting products into a beneficial cooling effect. By designing the guiding channel with specific thermal properties and geometry, the hot venting products transfer their excess heat to the channel walls during passage, effectively using their own thermal energy to cool themselves down before exiting. This transforms the harmful high temperature into a useful self-cooling mechanism.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a longer venting path is created to cool venting products, then the temperature of exiting products decreases, but the venting process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the guiding channel structure with the existing battery housing or case, integrating the cooling function into the structural components rather than adding separate, independent cooling systems. The guiding channel is formed as part of the housing structure, combining mechanical support and thermal management functions into a single integrated component, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding channel serves multiple functions simultaneously: it guides the flow of venting products, provides thermal cooling through increased surface area contact, and can be integrated with structural support elements. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying the overall system while achieving effective cooling.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If additional cooling elements are added to cool venting products, then the temperature control improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service cooling mechanism where the venting products themselves provide the cooling effect by transferring their thermal energy to the guiding channel walls during passage. No external cooling agents, active cooling systems, or additional energy input are required. The system uses the inherent thermal properties of the venting products and the guiding channel structure to achieve cooling autonomously.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding channel acts as a passive intermediary that facilitates heat transfer from venting products to the surrounding structure without requiring active cooling components. This intermediary structure enables thermal management through conductive and convective heat transfer mechanisms inherent in the materials and geometry, eliminating the need for complex active cooling systems.
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 design significantly reduces the temperature of venting products before they exit, minimizing the risk of burns and fires, and provides a safer venting process by ensuring that venting products are cooled down before reaching the environment.
Implementation Method 1
increased thermal energy transfer to the cooling plate and channel walls, thereby cooling the products before they exit the system
Data Source
AI summary
A battery system includes: a plurality of battery cells, each of the battery cells having a venting side including a venting exit configured to allow venting products to exit the battery cells during a thermal runaway and a cooling side opposite the venting side; a cooling plate, the cooling side of the battery cells being in thermal connection with a first side of the cooling plate; and a battery housing enclosing the battery cells in a cell chamber. A guiding channel is formed between a second side of the cooling plate opposite the first side and a channel wall of the battery housing facing the second side of the cooling plate, and a passage fluidly connects the cell chamber and the guiding channel. Thus, when the venting products are emitted by the battery cells from the venting side into the cell chamber, the venting products are directed along a venting path from the cell chamber through the passage into the guiding channel and through the guiding channel to an environment of the battery system via a system exit.