Battery Cell Wall Layout for Venting and Thermal Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery technologies face challenges in ensuring safety, particularly during thermal runaway events, where emissions from the pressure relief mechanism can potentially damage the thermal management component, leading to safety hazards and reduced effectiveness in regulating battery cell temperature.

Innovation Solution

A battery design incorporating a pressure relief mechanism on one wall and a thermal management component attached to a different wall, with a larger contact area to enhance temperature regulation and safety, including a support member to improve compressive strength and a collection cavity for emissions, and an isolation component to prevent thermal diffusion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the thermal management component is attached to the same wall as the pressure relief mechanism, then the temperature regulation effect is maximized, but the emissions from thermal runaway can damage the thermal management component

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety of batteryVSAvoiddamage to thermal management component

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The battery cell wall is segmented into different functional zones: the first wall is dedicated to the pressure relief mechanism for emission discharge, while the second wall is dedicated to the thermal management component for temperature regulation. This spatial segmentation prevents emissions from damaging the thermal management component while maintaining both functions' effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The battery cell structure acts as an intermediary element that directs emissions away from the thermal management component. By positioning the thermal management component on a different wall, the battery cell geometry serves as a mediator that prevents direct exposure of the thermal management component to emissions while maintaining thermal contact for effective temperature regulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the thermal management component is attached to a wall with smaller area, then the positioning is simpler, but the temperature regulation efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature regulation efficiencyVSAvoidpositioning complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Different walls of the battery cell are assigned different functional qualities: the first wall is optimized for pressure relief with appropriate opening positions, while the second wall is optimized for thermal management with maximum area contact. This local quality differentiation allows each component to perform its function at optimal efficiency without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the emissions are directed towards the thermal management component, then the pressure relief is more effective, but the thermal management component is damaged leading to thermal diffusion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure relief effectivenessVSAvoidthermal diffusion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The battery cell geometry is designed asymmetrically with respect to the thermal management component and pressure relief mechanism positions. The thermal management component is positioned on the second wall away from the emission discharge path of the first wall, creating an asymmetric layout that directs emissions away from the thermal management component while maintaining effective pressure relief and preventing thermal diffusion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

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 effectively directs emissions away from the thermal management component during thermal runaway, enhancing safety by preventing damage and improving temperature regulation efficiency, while also increasing compressive strength and preventing thermal diffusion.

Implementation Method 1

a thermal management component configured to regulate the temperature of the battery cell

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a first wall of the battery cell being provided with a pressure relief mechanism

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure relief: Depressurisation

Data Source

PatentUS20240162526A1Battery and electrical apparatus

Publication Date: 2024.05.16 CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) LIMITED

AI summary

A battery and an electrical apparatus are described. The battery includes: a battery cell, a first wall of the battery cell being provided with a pressure relief mechanism; a thermal management component configured to regulate the temperature of the battery cell, the thermal management component being attached to a second wall of the battery cell, and the second wall being different from the first wall; and a box body, the box body including an electrical cavity and a collection cavity, wherein the electrical cavity is configured to accommodate the battery cell and the thermal management component, and the collection cavity is configured to collect emissions from the battery cell when the pressure relief mechanism is actuated. The battery and the electrical apparatus of the embodiments of the present application can improve the safety of the battery.