Battery Cell Stack Thermal Isolation Using a Phase-Change Barrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
In high-energy density battery packs, heat transfer between tightly packed battery cells can lead to rapid thermal propagation and increased risk of temperature runaway, posing safety hazards and performance reduction, as existing solutions like heat transfer members and shape-changeable fillers are not effective in preventing heat conduction between adjacent cells.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design featuring a deformation member with a coolant that expands and changes phase to block heat transfer between cells when temperatures rise, using a shape-memory alloy and thermal insulation to prevent heat exchange between adjacent cells and direct heat to a cooling member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If battery cells are disposed in tight contact with each other to manufacture a battery pack having high energy density, then energy density is improved, but thermal propagation to adjacent battery cells occurs easily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces partition walls that divide the battery pack into multiple independent compartments, physically separating adjacent battery cells. This segmentation prevents direct thermal contact between cells while maintaining high energy density through optimized space utilization. The partition walls create thermal barriers that block heat transfer paths without significantly increasing the overall pack volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs heat transfer members as intermediary components positioned between battery cells and the housing or cooling structures. These intermediaries facilitate controlled heat dissipation to the cooling system while preventing uncontrolled thermal propagation between adjacent cells. The heat transfer members act as thermal mediators that redirect heat flow away from vulnerable cell interfaces.
2Temperature
If a heat transfer member is provided to discharge thermal energy, then heat dissipation is improved, but the heat transfer member functions as a heat transfer path between battery cells increasing thermal propagation speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements different thermal management strategies for different regions of the battery pack. Heat transfer members are strategically positioned only where needed for heat dissipation, while partition walls are placed at critical interfaces between cells to block thermal propagation. This localized approach allows efficient heat removal from individual cells without creating continuous thermal pathways between adjacent cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal management system is segmented into independent zones with individual heat transfer members for each cell or cell group. This segmentation ensures that heat dissipation from one cell does not directly transfer to adjacent cells through the heat transfer members, as each member is thermally isolated to its specific zone while still providing effective cooling to the targeted cells.
3Volume of moving object
If battery cells are arranged in tight contact with each other, then space utilization is improved, but heat transfer to other battery cells cannot be prevented when temperature rapidly increases
Solution Approach 1:
Partition walls are introduced to create physical segmentation between battery cells, maintaining tight overall packing while establishing thermal barriers at cell interfaces. The partition walls are designed with minimal thickness to preserve space utilization while providing sufficient thermal resistance to prevent heat transfer during thermal runaway events.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls and heat transfer members are pre-installed between battery cells during manufacturing to provide beforehand thermal protection. These preventive measures are in place before any thermal incident occurs, creating ready-made thermal barriers that immediately activate when temperature increases, preventing catastrophic heat transfer between adjacent cells.
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 solution effectively prevents heat transfer between battery cells at high temperatures, reducing the risk of thermal runaway and maintaining safe operating temperatures, thereby enhancing safety and performance in high-energy density battery packs.
Implementation Method 1
A battery pack design featuring a deformation member with a coolant that expands and changes phase to block heat transfer between cells when temperatures rise
Implementation Method 2
using a shape-memory alloy and thermal insulation to prevent heat exchange between adjacent cells
Implementation Method 3
direct heat to a cooling member
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack including a battery cell stack including a plurality of battery cells, a cooling member configured to cool the battery cell stack, a deformation member configured to discharge heat from the plurality of battery cells to the cooling member, and a housing configured to receive the battery cell stack, the cooling member, and the deformation member therein, wherein the deformation member includes a first deformation member interposed between the plurality of battery cells, and a coolant. It is possible to adjust the temperature of each of the plurality of battery cells to a predetermined level when the temperature of the battery cells is equal to or lower than a dangerous temperature, and it is possible to block heat transfer between the plurality of battery cells when the temperature of the battery cells is higher than the dangerous temperature.