Battery Module Center Guard Venting for Fire-Resistant Cell Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery modules lack efficient gas venting mechanisms, leading to increased fire risks and reduced space utilization due to stacked battery cells, which limits design flexibility and safety in applications like electric vehicles.
Innovation Solution
The battery module design features a hollow center guard with venting holes and a module case with additional venting structures, allowing for efficient gas discharge and preventing flame propagation by connecting battery cells in both longitudinal and thickness directions, enhancing safety and space utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If battery cells are stacked only in thickness direction, then assembly is simple, but space utilization is reduced and design flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends battery cell arrangement from single-direction (thickness) stacking to multi-directional configuration by introducing longitudinal direction connections through hollow center guards, transforming the structural dimensionality and enabling flexible adaptation to various spatial requirements
2Quantity of substance
If multiple battery cells are stacked in one module, then energy density increases, but flame propagation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the battery module into independent longitudinal unit cells separated by hollow center guards, creating physical segments that prevent flame propagation between cells while maintaining high cell density within each segment
3Device complexity
If no gas venting path is provided, then module structure is simple, but temperature rise and fire risk occur during internal venting
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow center guard serves as an intermediary structure that provides gas venting pathways, mediating between the battery cells and external environment to safely discharge internal pressure without requiring complex additional venting systems
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 design effectively manages gas discharge and prevents temperature rises and fires, improving safety and allowing for more flexible and efficient battery pack configurations by enabling the connection of battery cells in multiple directions.
Implementation Method 1
a first venting hole communicating with a hollow of the hollow center guard is provided in a sidewall of the hollow center guard, and a second venting hole communicating with the hollow of the hollow center guard is provided in the module case
Data Source
AI summary
A battery module includes a battery cell assembly formed by stacking two or more columns of longitudinal unit cells, each of which is composed of two or more battery cells arranged in a line in a longitudinal direction and connected, a hollow center guard disposed at a connection position of end portions of the battery cells, which face each other in the longitudinal direction, in the longitudinal unit cell, and a module case in which the battery cell assembly and the hollow center guard are accommodated, wherein a first venting hole communicating with a hollow of the hollow center guard is provided in a sidewall of the hollow center guard, and a second venting hole communicating with the hollow of the hollow center guard is provided in the module case configured to cover an upper portion of the hollow center guard. A battery pack includes the battery module.