Bus Bar Fuse Venting for Battery Short-Circuit Interruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy storage devices for vehicles, particularly those with multiple battery cells connected in series, face challenges in safely and quickly disconnecting internal short circuits, which can lead to fires.
Innovation Solution
A bus bar current interruption device is designed to safely and quickly break an electrical circuit by melting first and second fuse portions, with an exhaust opening allowing vapor and molten metal to escape, preventing long-lived plasma and reducing the risk of reignition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a current interruption device is arranged inside an individual battery cell, then the individual cell is protected in case of overpressure and internal short circuit, but the device cannot protect the entire energy storage device and requires larger enclosure volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple fuse portions (first fuse portion and second fuse portion) into a single integrated bus bar current interruption device that protects the entire energy storage device rather than individual cells. This consolidation provides comprehensive protection while reducing the total enclosure volume required compared to having separate protection devices in each battery cell.
2Reliability
If fuse portions are melted to break the electrical circuit, then internal short circuits are disconnected, but long-lived plasma and arcs are formed causing fire risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful plasma and arc byproducts from the enclosure by providing an exhaust opening that allows them to escape. The exhaust channel directs the plasma and arc outside the enclosure, preventing them from causing fire within the energy storage device while maintaining effective circuit disconnection.
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust channel acts as an intermediary that transports harmful plasma and arc from the fuse portion melting zone to the external environment. This mediator prevents direct contact between the plasma and flammable materials within the enclosure, reducing fire risk while preserving the circuit interruption function.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple battery cells are connected in series to achieve desired capacity, then energy storage capacity increases, but the risk of fire from short circuits increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides a unified current interruption device that protects the entire series-connected battery system rather than requiring separate protection for each cell. This centralized approach maintains the high energy storage capacity achieved through series connection while providing comprehensive fire protection across all cells.
Solution Approach 2:
By extracting plasma and arc through the exhaust opening, the patent removes the primary fire hazard that becomes more pronounced in high-voltage series-connected battery systems. This allows the system to operate at higher voltages and capacities with reduced fire risk.
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 bus bar current interruption device effectively reduces the risk of fires from internal short circuits by quickly and safely disconnecting the electrical circuit, while its compact design allows for easier integration into energy storage devices.
Implementation Method 1
breaking of an electrical circuit through the bus bar current interruption device by melting of the first and second fuse portions when the current therethrough reaches a predetermined threshold
Implementation Method 2
an exhaust opening configured to allow escape of vapor from the enclosure
Data Source
AI summary
A bus bar current interruption device comprising a casing, providing an enclosure, and a bus bar arrangement. The bus bar arrangement is arranged to extend through the enclosure and comprises a first terminal end portion and a second terminal end portion, each of said first and second terminal end portions arranged outside of the casing. The bus bar arrangement further comprised a first fuse portion and a second fuse portion arranged in the enclosure. The casing comprises an exhaust opening configured to allow escape of vapor from the enclosure. The exhaust opening is fluidly connected to an exhaust chamber or conduit formed by the casing or attached to the casing.