Battery Cell Venting Structure for Directional Flame Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery cells fail to control the discharge direction of flames or gases generated during ignition, leading to instability and potential hazards in battery modules and packs, particularly in vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A battery cell design featuring a cell case with a non-sealing portion containing a cell venting portion, including a through hole and a thin film, which is designed to rupture before the sealing portion, allowing controlled discharge of flames or gases in a preset direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional battery cell design is used with full sealing, then structural integrity and containment are improved, but flame and gas discharge direction cannot be controlled leading to thermal runaway spread
Solution Approach 1:
The cell case is divided into sealing portions and non-sealing portions, with the non-sealing portion containing a through hole for controlled venting. This segmentation allows the battery cell to maintain structural integrity in most areas while providing a specific designated path for flame and gas discharge, preventing uncontrolled spread to neighboring cells.
Solution Approach 2:
A through hole is extracted or removed from the non-sealing portion of the cell case, creating a controlled opening that allows selective discharge of flames and gases in a predetermined direction. This extraction enables the system to release harmful substances through a controlled path rather than allowing random discharge from any sealing portion.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the cell case is made fully non-sealing for venting, then flame and gas discharge is improved, but structural integrity and containment capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the cell case have different sealing properties: the sealing portions maintain full integrity for structural strength and containment, while only the specific non-sealing portion with the through hole allows discharge. This local differentiation enables controlled venting without compromising overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cell case is segmented into sealing and non-sealing portions, allowing the majority of the structure to remain intact and strong while only a small specific area provides venting functionality. This segmentation maintains structural integrity while enabling controlled discharge capability.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If flame venting is enabled in battery cells, then gas discharge control is improved, but the risk of driver injury from flame leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The through hole is pre-configured in the non-sealing portion to establish a predetermined safe discharge path for flames and gases before any thermal runaway event occurs. This preliminary design ensures that when discharge is needed, it automatically follows the pre-planned safe direction away from the driver, rather than requiring real-time decision-making during an emergency.
Solution Approach 2:
The potential harmful effect of flame discharge is converted into a beneficial controlled venting mechanism. By providing a predetermined through hole in a safe direction, the harmful flame release is channeled away from critical areas, transforming what would be a dangerous uncontrolled leak into a protective feature that directs energy harmlessly.
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 design enables directional venting of flames and gases, preventing serial thermal runaway and enhancing the stability of the battery cell and vehicle systems.
Implementation Method 1
a thin film coupled to the non-sealing portion to block the through hole
Implementation Method 2
a cell venting portion for venting flame or gas generated from inside the battery cell in a preset direction
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Disclosed is a battery cell and a vehicle including the same. The battery cell includes an electrode assembly including a first electrode plate with a first polarity, a second electrode plate with a second polarity, and a separator interposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate; an electrode lead connected to the electrode assembly; and a cell case configured to accommodate the electrode assembly and support the electrode lead and having a sealing portion and a non-sealing portion, and a cell venting portion for venting flame or gas is formed in the non-sealing portion of the cell case.