Cooling Plate Layout to Limit Battery Cell Failure Propagation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Energy storage modules face significant challenges in preventing cell failure propagation due to localized heat release, which can lead to catastrophic energy releases and safety hazards, while maintaining high energy storage density.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of cooling plates with coolant flow channels between energy generating cells, which receive a coolant flow to limit heat propagation from a failed cell to neighboring cells, thereby preventing failure propagation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If cells are tightly packed for high energy density, then energy storage density is improved, but heat propagation between cells is enhanced leading to failure propagation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces thermal isolation barriers between adjacent cells that segment the thermal pathways. These barriers divide the continuous thermal conduction path into isolated segments, preventing heat from propagating from one cell to another while maintaining the tight packing configuration for high energy density.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs thermal isolation barriers as intermediary elements positioned between adjacent cells. These intermediaries block direct thermal contact between cells, acting as mediators that prevent harmful heat transfer while allowing the cells to remain in close proximity for maximum energy storage density.
2Temperature
If passive thermal management using adjacent cell heat capacity is used, then temperature rise is limited, but low thermal conductivity of battery material makes this ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces thermal isolation barriers as intermediary elements between cells. These barriers actively prevent heat transfer by blocking thermal conduction pathways, making the temperature control effective regardless of the low thermal conductivity of the battery material itself.
3Temperature
If phase change material is used to separate adjacent cells, then neighboring cell temperature rise is limited, but module energy density is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin thermal isolation barriers that function similarly to flexible shells or films. These thin structures provide effective thermal isolation to prevent heat propagation while occupying minimal space, thereby maintaining high energy density unlike bulky phase change materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies thermal isolation barriers with optimized local properties at critical interfaces between cells. By concentrating thermal isolation functionality at specific locations where heat propagation is most likely, the system achieves effective temperature control without requiring large volumes of isolation material throughout the module.
4Temperature
If high thermal conductivity plates are inserted between cells to enhance heat conduction, then contact temperature is reduced, but plate thickness significantly reduces energy density
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by using low thermal conductivity materials (thermal isolation barriers) instead of high thermal conductivity plates. This inversion blocks heat flow at the cell interfaces rather than conducting it away, achieving temperature control while minimizing space occupation and preserving energy density.
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 solution effectively suppresses cell failure propagation by maintaining neighboring cells at optimal operating temperatures, while ensuring that the energy storage module maintains a high energy density and is safe for use in applications requiring equipment and personnel safety.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one cooling plate further includes at least one coolant flow channel configured to receive a coolant flow therethrough to limit propagation of heat from one to the other of either one of the adjacent pair of energy generating cells when either one of the adjacent pair of energy generating cells fails
Implementation Method 2
The at least one cooling plate having opposing surfaces. The at least one cooling plate is disposed between an adjacent pair of said plurality of energy generating cells such that the opposing surfaces of the at least one cooling plate are in contact with surfaces of the adjacent pair of energy generating cells
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an energy module having a plurality of energy generating cells, and at least one cooling plate having opposing surfaces. The cooling plate is disposed between an adjacent pair of the energy generating cells such that the opposing surfaces of the cooling plate are in contact with surfaces of the adjacent pair of energy generating cells. The cooling plate has at least one coolant flow channel configured to receive a coolant flow therethrough to limit propagation of heat from one to the other of either one of the adjacent pair of energy generating cells when either one of the adjacent pair of energy generating cells fails.