Battery Pack Wall Assembly for Heat Diffusion and Particle Shielding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery packs for vehicles face challenges in achieving high energy density while maintaining compact size and ensuring operational safety, particularly due to limited vehicle space and the need to manage thermal and mechanical events.

Innovation Solution

A wall assembly for battery packs comprising a carrier plate and a protection sheet thermally coupled to the carrier plate, where the protection sheet covers only a portion of the carrier plate, reducing material usage and weight, while providing mechanical and thermal protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the protection sheet covers the entire carrier plate surface, then mechanical protection against abrasive particles is improved, but the amount of material and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical protectionVSAvoidweight of protection sheet
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The protection sheet is designed to cover only specific high-risk areas of the carrier plate where thermal events are most likely to occur, rather than providing uniform coverage across the entire surface. This localized protection approach reduces material usage and weight while maintaining adequate protection where it is most needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of providing complete coverage of the carrier plate, the protection sheet applies partial coverage concentrated on critical zones. This partial action principle allows the system to achieve sufficient protection against abrasive particles without the excessive material requirement of full coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If the protection sheet is made thicker to improve ballistic shielding, then protection against abrasive particles is improved, but heat diffusion capability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveballistic shieldingVSAvoidheat diffusion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The protection sheet is constructed from composite materials that combine high abrasion resistance properties with adequate thermal conductivity. This allows the sheet to provide ballistic shielding against abrasive particles while still permitting heat diffusion to occur, resolving the contradiction between protection and heat management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The thickness and material composition of the protection sheet are optimized to specific parameter ranges that balance ballistic shielding capability with heat diffusion requirements. By carefully selecting material parameters, the design achieves both protection against particles and acceptable thermal performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Temperature

If the carrier plate area is increased to improve heat diffusion, then thermal management is improved, but the geometric size of the battery pack increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat diffusionVSAvoidcarrier plate area
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Heat diffusion is enhanced locally at critical areas through strategic placement of high-conductivity materials or heat sinks, rather than uniformly increasing the entire carrier plate area. This localized thermal management approach improves heat diffusion performance without proportionally increasing the overall plate size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Heat diffusion is improved by introducing intermediary thermal management components such as heat sinks, thermal vias, or conductive pathways that enhance heat transfer without requiring an increase in the carrier plate's geometric area. These intermediaries act as heat conduits that improve thermal performance within the existing footprint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Quantity of substance

If energy density is increased to improve driving range, then electric storage capacity is improved, but operational safety becomes more difficult to ensure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectric storage capacityVSAvoidoperational safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Safety measures are built into the battery pack design from the outset, including the protection sheet and carrier plate thermal management system, rather than adding them as afterthoughts. This preliminary incorporation of safety features allows high energy density to be achieved while maintaining operational safety through pre-planned protective mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The design converts potentially harmful thermal events into manageable situations by using the carrier plate and protection sheet system to contain and diffuse heat from thermal runaway events. This transforms the harmful effect of high energy density into a controlled thermal management challenge that can be addressed through the designed protective structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 wall assembly enhances the safety and service life of the battery pack by effectively diffusing heat and shielding against abrasive particles, allowing for higher energy density and compactness without compromising operational safety.

Implementation Method 1

the thermal coupling between the protection sheet and the carrier plate has the effect that heat energy may be diffused using the carrier plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4567984A1Wall assembly for a battery pack of a vehicle, battery pack for a vehicle, and vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.06.11 VOLVO CAR CORP
  • EP4567984A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4567984A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4567984A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a wall assembly (34) for a battery pack (12) of a vehicle. The wall assembly (34) comprises a carrier plate (14) and a protection sheet (16) connected to the carrier plate (14). Additionally, the protection sheet (16) and the carrier plate (14) are thermally coupled via a surface area of the carrier plate (14). Furthermore, the protection sheet (16) covers a portion of the carrier plate (14). Also, a battery pack (12) for a vehicle is presented. The battery pack (12) comprises an enclosure (36) including at least one wall assembly (34). Moreover, the battery pack (12) comprises a plurality of battery cells (18) arranged inside the enclosure (36). Moreover, each of the battery cells (18) includes a degassing valve. The degassing valves face the protection sheet (16) of the wall assembly (34). Furthermore, a vehicle having such a battery pack (12) is presented.