Battery Cover Plate Venting to Block Thermal Runaway Propagation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In electric vehicle battery assemblies, thermal runaway in one battery can lead to cascading thermal runaway and potential fires or explosions in other batteries due to the spread of high temperature substances, compromising safety and stability.

Innovation Solution

A battery design featuring a cover plate with a high temperature resistant sheet that covers a first hole, including a weak portion which can break to create a channel for pressure and temperature relief, preventing thermal runaway propagation and ensuring the normal operation of the explosion-proof mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the first hole is left open for explosion-proof function, then the explosion-proof mechanism can function normally, but high temperature substances can enter the battery causing thermal runaway propagation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexplosion-proof functionVSAvoidthermal runaway propagation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a high temperature resistant sheet as an intermediary component covering the first hole. This sheet acts as a mediator that allows the explosion-proof mechanism to function while blocking high temperature substances from entering the battery, thus preventing thermal runaway propagation while maintaining explosion-proof capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The high temperature resistant sheet is specifically positioned at the first hole location with a weak portion design. The local quality of this sheet varies - it is intact in most areas to block contaminants, but has a weak portion that can break under pressure to maintain explosion-proof function, thus addressing both requirements locally

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the high temperature resistant sheet is made intact to block high temperature substances, then thermal runaway propagation is prevented, but pressure and temperature relief is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal runaway propagationVSAvoidpressure and temperature relief
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The high temperature resistant sheet is designed with a weak portion at a specific location. This creates local quality differentiation where most of the sheet remains intact to block high temperature substances, while the weak portion can break under excessive pressure or temperature to provide relief, thus resolving the contradiction between blocking and relieving

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Temperature

If the weak portion of the high temperature resistant sheet is positioned to break under pressure, then pressure relief channel is created, but the sheet may break prematurely affecting thermal runaway prevention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure reliefVSAvoidthermal runaway prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The weak portion is pre-designed and positioned at a specific location on the high temperature resistant sheet. This preliminary action ensures that when excessive pressure or temperature occurs, the sheet will break at the predetermined weak portion rather than randomly, creating a controlled relief channel that maintains reliability while providing pressure relief

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 reduces the probability of thermal runaway propagation and enhances safety by allowing pressure and temperature relief, thereby lowering the risk of battery explosions or fires.

Implementation Method 1

The high temperature resistant sheet is disposed on an upper surface of the cover plate body and covers an upper opening of the first hole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

The weak portion of the high temperature resistant sheet is located above the first hole and can be broken under certain conditions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFracture mechanics: Fracture Mechanics

Data Source

PatentEP4310997A1Battery, battery assembly and electronic apparatus
Publication Date: 2024.01.24 AESC JAPAN LTD
  • EP4310997A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4310997A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4310997A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A battery (100), a battery assembly (200), and an electronic apparatus (300) are provided. The battery (100) includes: a casing (2) having an opening (21); a cell (3) disposed in the casing (2); and a cover plate (1) covering the opening (21) of the casing (2). The cover plate (1) includes a cover plate body (11) provided with a first hole (111) and a high temperature resistant sheet (12) disposed on an upper surface of the cover plate body (11) and covering an upper opening of the first hole (111). The high temperature resistant sheet (12) has a weak portion, and at least a part of an orthographic projection of the weak portion is located in the first hole (111) in a direction perpendicular to the cover plate body (11).