Battery Module Vent Ducts and Extinguisher Sheet for Fire Spread Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Energy storage modules with multiple battery cells face challenges in preventing fire spread and heat propagation, making it difficult to extinguish fires effectively, which poses safety risks.
Innovation Solution
The energy storage module design includes insulation spacers with heat-insulating and flame-retardant materials between battery cells, a fire extinguishing agent system that emits agents through vents, and a top cover with discharge holes and protrusions to direct gases away from the module, preventing fire spread and cooling the cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple battery cells are arranged closely to increase storage capacity, then energy density is improved, but fire spread risk to adjacent cells increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces insulation spacers as intermediary components positioned between adjacent battery cells. These spacers are constructed with heat-insulating first sheets and flame-retardant second sheets that act as mediators to block heat transfer and flame propagation pathways, thereby preventing fire spread while maintaining close cell arrangement for high density
Solution Approach 2:
The insulation spacers utilize composite material construction combining heat-insulating materials (first sheets) and flame-retardant materials (second sheets). This composite structure provides dual protection: thermal insulation to block heat transfer and flame retardancy to prevent combustion spread, effectively addressing the fire risk while maintaining compact cell spacing
2Reliability
If insulation spacers are added between battery cells to prevent fire spread, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insulation spacers are designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: providing thermal insulation, offering flame retardancy, and maintaining structural spacing between cells. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate safety components, thereby improving fire safety without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies insulation spacers selectively at critical locations between adjacent battery cells where fire spread risk is highest. This localized application focuses safety measures on key areas rather than uniformly throughout the entire module, improving fire safety while minimizing the overall increase in device complexity
3Speed
If fire extinguishing agents are emitted through vents, then fire extinguishing speed is improved, but heat propagation to adjacent cells may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The insulation spacers serve as protective barriers between battery cells during fire extinguishing operations. When fire extinguishing agents are emitted through vents, the spacers with their heat-insulating and flame-retardant properties prevent intense heat and direct flame contact from propagating to adjacent cells, thereby enabling rapid extinguishing while protecting neighboring cells from heat damage
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 rapidly extinguishes and cools battery cells when a fire occurs, reducing the risk of heat and flame propagation to adjacent cells, enhancing safety by effectively managing fire and heat within the module.
Implementation Method 1
each of the insulation spacers comprises a heat-insulating first sheet and flame-retardant or non-combustible second sheets respectively adhered to opposite surfaces of the first sheet
Implementation Method 2
adhered to opposite surfaces of the first sheet by an adhesion member
Implementation Method 3
an extinguisher sheet between the top cover and the top plate, the extinguisher sheet being configured to emit a fire extinguishing agent at a temperature exceeding a reference temperature
Implementation Method 4
the top cover comprises protrusion parts on a bottom surface thereof, the protrusion parts covering an exhaust region and being coupled to an exterior of each of the ducts
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An energy storage module includes: a plurality of battery cells arranged in a length direction; a plurality of insulation spacers; a cover member including an internal receiving space; a top plate coupled to a top of the cover member, the top plate including ducts respectively corresponding to vents of the battery cells and having opening holes respectively corresponding to the insulation spacers; a top cover coupled to a top of the top plate and having discharge holes respectively corresponding to the ducts; and an extinguisher sheet between the top cover and the top plate, the extinguisher sheet being configured to emit a fire extinguishing agent at a temperature exceeding a reference temperature, the top cover including protrusion parts on a bottom surface thereof, the protrusion parts covering an exhaust region and being coupled to an exterior of each of the ducts.