Battery Module Venting Path for Flame and Pressure Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large-capacity battery modules used in electric vehicles face safety issues due to fires or explosions, which can spread flames and high-temperature gas, causing damage to adjacent devices and posing risks to passengers.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design featuring a buffering space with partition members and a coupling member forming a zigzag movement path, which includes slits and slidable components to manage gas and flame flow, reducing pressure and temperature, and minimizing ejection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large-capacity battery module includes a plurality of battery cells to increase energy density, then the energy storage capacity is improved, but the risk of fire and explosion increases, causing harmful effects to spread to adjacent devices
Solution Approach 1:
The buffering space is divided into multiple segments by partition members, creating multiple small chambers. When fire or explosion occurs in one battery cell, the partition members restrict the spread of flames and high-temperature gas to adjacent cells, containing the harmful effects within localized segments rather than allowing system-wide propagation.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling member with its movement space acts as an intermediary element between battery cells. It provides a controlled pathway that allows pressure relief while the slits in the coupling member create resistance to flame propagation. The intermediary structure mediates between the need for pressure release and the need to contain fire, allowing gas to escape while blocking direct flame transmission.
2Reliability
If the buffering space is designed with partition members and coupling members to contain fire, then safety is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The partition members and coupling members serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide structural support for the battery module, create pressure relief pathways, and act as fire barriers. The coupling member both connects adjacent battery cells and provides controlled ventilation with flame-blocking capability. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated safety components, thereby limiting overall structural complexity while maintaining high safety performance.
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 design effectively reduces external damage by extinguishing flames and lowering gas pressure, enhancing safety by minimizing the discharge of high-temperature gas and flames, thus protecting external devices and occupants.
Implementation Method 1
a first partition member of the at least two partition members is disposed to be biased toward one side of the buffering space with respect to the center of the buffering space to form a gas or flame passage on the other end of the buffering space, and a second partition member adjacent to the first partition member is disposed to be biased toward the other side of the buffering space, such that the movement path (P2) is set in a zigzag shape
Implementation Method 2
The coupling member may include: an exterior part having a plurality of first slits extending from one side of a body of the exterior part to the other side of the body and including an insertion space formed by recessing a portion of the exterior part; and an interior part having a plurality of second slits communicating with the plurality of first slits, respectively
Data Source
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AI summary
A battery module includes a cell assembly including a plurality of battery cells, a lower case having an open upper portion and including an accommodating space in which the cell assembly is accommodated, an upper case coupled to the lower case to cover the open upper portion of the lower case and including a connection hole perforated to communicate with the accommodating space, an upper cover coupled to the upper case to cover an upper portion of the upper case, forming a buffering space between the upper cover and the upper case by being spaced apart from the upper case, and including a discharge hole perforated such that the buffering space communicates with the outside, a partition member located in the buffering space to form a movement path extending from the connection hole to the discharge hole and having a shape extending in a horizontal direction, and a coupling member located on the movement path, configured to be coupled to the partition member, and including a movement space formed by perforating a body of the coupling member from one side to the other side of the body.