Battery Module Venting Channel for Thermal Runaway Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium secondary batteries are vulnerable to thermal runaway events, which can lead to a chain reaction of fires or explosions between battery modules due to uncontrolled discharge of gas and sparks, posing a significant safety risk.
Innovation Solution
A battery module with a venting unit featuring a protrusion that directs venting gas through a non-linear path, incorporating a plate portion and rim portion to manage the discharge of gases and sparks, and an adhesive member to enhance coupling and containment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a venting hole is formed in the module case to discharge venting gas, then the gas can be discharged from the battery module, but sparks and ignition factors may be discharged together with the gas causing fire propagation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a venting unit as an intermediary component between the module case and the external environment. This venting unit includes a venting channel and a protrusion that redirects the discharge path, allowing gas to be vented while preventing sparks and ignition factors from reaching oxygen-rich external environments, thus eliminating the harmful effect of fire propagation
Solution Approach 2:
The venting system is segmented into distinct functional components: the venting hole in the module case, the venting unit with venting channel, and the protrusion for flow redirection. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the venting hole provides gas escape, the venting channel guides the flow, and the protrusion redirects sparks away from oxygen sources
2Reliability
If thermal runaway is allowed to propagate between battery modules, then the energy release can be contained within the battery system, but the chain reaction causes explosion or fire
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful ignition factors (sparks, hot particles) from the venting gas stream by using the protrusion to redirect their trajectory. This separation allows the gas to be discharged safely while removing the combustion-initiating elements that would otherwise trigger thermal chain reactions in adjacent battery modules
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a battery module with an improved safety by appropriately controlling venting when a thermal event occurs inside the battery module. The battery module includes a cell assembly having at least one battery cell; a module case configured to accommodate the cell assembly in an inner space thereof and having a venting hole formed therein to discharge a venting gas generated from the cell assembly; and a venting unit provided at an outer side of the module case and having a venting channel so that the venting gas discharged from the venting hole is introduced therein and discharged to the outside, the venting unit having a protrusion configured to protrude toward an outer surface of the module case from the inside of the venting channel.