Battery Pack Wall Venting With Guided Pressure Release Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery assemblies face challenges in efficiently venting heat and pressure, leading to potential disruption and environmental stress due to pressurized gas, with existing solutions failing to optimize the egress of these conditions effectively.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of strategically shaped and positioned pressure release valves and structural features in the battery assembly walls, including guiding ribs and deformable membranes, to facilitate controlled venting of heat and pressure, ensuring efficient egress and minimizing environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional venting systems are used in battery assemblies, then the structure is simple, but the venting efficiency is poor and pressurized gas cannot be effectively directed away from sensitive components
Solution Approach 1:
The venting system is segmented into multiple functional components: inlet openings, outlet openings, and guiding ribs that divide the venting path into controlled segments. This segmentation allows pressurized gas to be systematically directed through specific pathways away from sensitive components, improving venting efficiency without creating a monolithic complex structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Guiding ribs serve as intermediary structures between the inlet and outlet openings. These ribs actively mediate the flow of pressurized gas, shaping and directing it along predetermined paths. The guiding ribs translate random pressurized gas flow into controlled directional flow, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and effective venting.
2Reliability
If pressure release valves are added to optimize venting, then the venting control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure release valves are designed to operate autonomously based on pressure differential. When internal battery assembly pressure exceeds external pressure, the valves automatically open to release pressurized gas. This self-activating mechanism provides reliable venting control without requiring external control systems, sensors, or complex actuation mechanisms, thereby maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure release valves perform multiple functions: they control venting timing, regulate gas flow, and protect against overpressure conditions. By consolidating these functions into a single component type that can be strategically positioned, the system achieves reliable venting control without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If guiding ribs are installed to direct gas flow, then the trajectory control is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Guiding ribs are strategically positioned only in specific locations where trajectory control is most needed, rather than uniformly across the entire structure. This localized approach provides effective gas flow direction while minimizing the total amount of complex structural elements required, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity compared to a fully detailed design.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding ribs utilize curved or angled surfaces to smoothly redirect pressurized gas flow. These geometric features, while providing effective trajectory control, can be manufactured using standard forming and machining techniques. The curved surfaces guide gas flow more effectively than sharp edges, and can be integrated into existing manufacturing processes for battery assembly housings.
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 approach enhances the operational efficiency of battery cells by reducing environmental stress and improving packaging, while ensuring safe and effective venting of pressurized gas away from sensitive components.
Implementation Method 1
at least one guiding rib that modifies a trajectory of gas (e.g., at least one of ambient air or pressured gas generated as a result of heated battery cells changing conditions of the ambient air in a battery assembly) between the inner surface and the outer surface
Implementation Method 2
a gasket structured to form a continuous seal between the housing and the mounting wall
Implementation Method 3
the pressure release valve may comprise a housing configured to be secured to a mounting wall, a first membrane positioned towards a first side of the housing, a second membrane positioned adjacent to the first membrane and positioned towards a second side of the housing
Implementation Method 4
portions of the housing may be structured to mechanically deform (e.g., melt such that at least one membrane falls out of the housing) when subjected to the conditions corresponding to thermal runaway resulting from the operation of the battery cells in the battery assembly
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided to vent a battery pack system. The battery pack system comprises a first wall positioned in a first portion of a vehicle and a second wall positioned in a second portion of the vehicle. A first plurality of pressure release valves is embedded in the first wall, wherein the first plurality of pressure release valves is arranged release gas from between the first wall and another feature or component of the battery pack system. A second plurality of pressure release valves is embedded in the second wall, wherein the second plurality of pressure release valves are arranged to enable the egress of gas from between the second wall and another feature or component of the battery pack system.