Cell Module Assembly Venting Seal for Flame Containment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lithium secondary battery packs face safety issues due to heat generation and swelling during overcharging, leading to potential flame discharge and venting gas diffusion to adjacent modules, which can cause additional events.

Innovation Solution

A cell module assembly structure is implemented with sealing materials along edges and the formation of specific venting holes in the cell modules and heat sink, allowing controlled discharge of gases and flames through a pack tray passage, preventing diffusion to adjacent modules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If cell modules are arranged in a pack structure with direct contact, then space utilization is improved, but safety deteriorates due to potential diffusion of venting gas or flame to adjacent modules

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidsafety

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A seal member is introduced as an intermediary component between adjacent cell modules. This seal member includes a venting hole that allows controlled venting while preventing direct contact and flame diffusion between modules, thus maintaining both space efficiency and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The seal member is designed with differentiated properties: it provides sealing contact between modules in most areas to prevent diffusion, but includes a specific venting hole region that allows controlled gas release. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between preventing diffusion and allowing safe venting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If venting holes are formed in cell modules, then safety is improved by allowing gas discharge, but risk of flame diffusion to adjacent modules increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidflame diffusion risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The seal member acts as a mediator between venting holes of adjacent modules. It provides a controlled pathway through its venting hole that prevents direct flame communication while allowing gas release, thus improving safety without increasing flame diffusion risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The venting hole in the seal member converts the potentially harmful direct venting path into a beneficial controlled pathway. It allows necessary gas discharge while the surrounding seal structure captures and redirects flame away from adjacent modules, transforming a safety risk into a safety feature.

Inventive Principle:

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

3Reliability

If seal member contact area with cell modules is increased, then sealing performance is improved, but heat dissipation capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidheat dissipation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The seal member is designed with local quality differentiation: it provides extensive sealing contact along the side surfaces of cell modules for effective sealing, while maintaining a smaller contact area at the bottom surface to preserve heat dissipation capability. This spatial differentiation resolves the contradiction between sealing and heat dissipation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 configuration ensures that venting gases or flames are directed outside, enhancing the safety of the cell assembly by preventing additional events among adjacent modules during overcharging incidents.

Implementation Method 1

a seal member configured to contact side surfaces of the plurality of cell modules, wherein a venting hole matched to the venting hole of each of the cell modules is formed in the seal member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 2

a pack structure surrounding the cell module array, wherein a passage allowing the venting hole of each cell module to communicate with the outside is formed in the pack structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3376557B1Cell module assembly having improved safety and pack structure for the cell module assemply

Publication Date: 2020.12.16 LG CHEM LTD

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AI summary

Provided is a cell module assembly including: a plurality of cell modules arranged at a predetermined interval; and a pack structure including a pack tray that supports the plurality of cell modules and in which a passage is formed, wherein at least one first venting hole is formed in each of the plurality of cell modules, and a second venting hole matched to the at least one first venting hole and communicating with the passage is formed in the pack tray.