Battery Pack Venting Paths and Cooling for Flame Propagation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium secondary battery packs face challenges in maintaining structural stability during thermal events, which can lead to fire or explosion if thermal propagation between cells is not properly controlled.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design featuring a pack housing with venting paths and a cooling module to guide and cool venting gas or flame, preventing simultaneous ignition of multiple cells by directing the flow of venting gas and/or flame away from the driver's side and minimizing rapid discharge outside the pack housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thermal propagation suppression measures are implemented, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is divided into multiple cell accommodation portions with barriers between them, creating segmented compartments that prevent thermal propagation while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. Each barrier acts as an independent fire wall, isolating thermal events to specific sections.
Solution Approach 2:
Cooling modules are positioned between battery cells as intermediary elements that actively prevent thermal propagation. These cooling modules serve as mediators that intercept and cool venting gases before they can ignite adjacent cells, adding safety functionality without requiring complete structural redesign.
2Reliability
If venting paths are provided for thermal event discharge, then safety is improved, but structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pack housing is designed with localized venting paths and cooling modules positioned at specific locations where thermal events are most likely to occur. This local quality approach provides safety functionality exactly where needed while preserving the overall structural integrity of the battery pack housing.
Solution Approach 2:
Venting paths are configured to discharge thermal events in specific directional dimensions away from the driver's side, utilizing spatial dimensionality to manage thermal propagation. The cooling modules are positioned to intercept venting gases along the discharge path, creating a three-dimensional safety architecture that maintains structural stability.
3Reliability
If cooling modules are added to cool venting gases, then thermal propagation is suppressed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling modules are merged with the existing pack housing structure and barrier system, integrating thermal management functionality into the structural framework. This merging approach allows cooling functionality to be added without creating completely separate systems, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The barriers and pack housing structures serve multiple functions: they provide mechanical support, create compartmentalization for safety, and serve as mounting structures for cooling modules. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components, thereby limiting complexity increases while achieving thermal propagation suppression.
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 minimizes or prevents thermal runaway and flame propagation between battery cells, reducing the risk of fire or explosion and ensuring safer operation by guiding and cooling venting gases and flames within the pack housing.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling module included in the lower part of the pack housing and configured to cool a venting gas or flame discharged from the battery cell and introduced into the second path
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack configured to maintain structural stability even when a thermal event occurs, and a vehicle including the same. The battery pack includes a battery cell, a pack housing configured to accommodate the battery cell within a cell accommodation portion and have a venting path including a first path and a second path in communication with the cell accommodation portion at a side and a lower part, respectively, and a cooling module include in the lower part of the pack housing and configured to cool a venting gas or flame discharged from the battery cell and introduced into the second path.