Curable Composition for Battery Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in effectively managing heat in products with multiple components, such as battery modules or packs, where abnormal heat generation, ignition, or explosion can propagate to adjacent components. Additionally, phase change materials used for heat management often require encapsulation to prevent leakage, which complicates the process and affects the material's endothermic properties.
Innovation Solution
A curable composition comprising a resin component and a non-encapsulated phase change material is developed. This composition can be cured at room temperature or within a specific temperature range, allowing it to exhibit latent heat characteristics. The cured product maintains excellent handling properties, storage stability, and flame retardancy, while the non-encapsulated phase change material ensures stable endothermic properties over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a phase change material is used to absorb heat from abnormal heat generation, then heat absorption capability is improved, but the material may leak when phase-changing into liquid phase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible membrane to encapsulate the phase change material, creating a containment structure that prevents leakage while allowing the material to undergo phase change. The membrane acts as a barrier that maintains structural integrity during the phase transition process.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase change material is nested within a container structure that provides both containment and thermal conduction pathways. The nested design allows the PCM to be protected while maintaining thermal contact with the battery module components.
2Reliability
If encapsulation is applied to prevent phase change material leakage, then material containment is improved, but the endothermic properties are altered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a thermal conduction material as an intermediary between the phase change material and the battery module components. This intermediary ensures efficient heat transfer while maintaining the encapsulation barrier, thus preserving endothermic properties without compromising containment.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane used for encapsulation is designed to be thermally conductive, allowing heat to pass through while maintaining the physical barrier. This enables the membrane to serve dual purposes: containment and thermal conduction.
3Reliability
If encapsulation process is added to prevent PCM leakage, then material stability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the encapsulation function with the structural support function by integrating the membrane enclosure into the existing battery module housing design. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides encapsulation to prevent leakage, maintains structural integrity, and facilitates thermal conduction. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.
4Device complexity
If phase change material is used without encapsulation, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but material leakage occurs during phase change
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane provides a simple yet effective encapsulation solution that prevents leakage without requiring complex structural designs. The membrane can be easily integrated into the manufacturing process while providing reliable containment.
5Reliability
If encapsulated phase change material is used, then leakage prevention is improved, but precise matching of endothermic properties becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal conduction material acts as an intermediary that ensures accurate thermal contact between the phase change material and the battery components, allowing precise control and matching of endothermic properties while maintaining encapsulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent carefully selects and adjusts the thermal conductivity parameters of the encapsulation materials and thermal conduction media to maintain the endothermic properties of the phase change material while providing effective containment.
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 curable composition effectively responds to abnormal heat generation, ignition, and explosion in products by controlling heat and maintaining uniform temperature. It prevents the propagation of heat-related issues to adjacent components and ensures long-term stability of endothermic properties, even when using a non-encapsulated phase change material.
Implementation Method 1
a phase change material (PCM) which is capable of phase changing from a solid phase to a liquid phase
Implementation Method 2
the phase change material (PCM) which is capable of phase changing from a solid phase to a liquid phase, thereby exhibiting latent heat characteristics
Implementation Method 3
a curable composition comprising at least a resin component and a phase change material (PCM)... the curable composition may be cured
Data Source
AI summary
A curable composition and a use thereof. The curable composition can be applied to a product or an element that generates heat during driving, storage and/or maintenance, or has possibilities of ignition or explosion, capable of effectively responding to the heat, ignition, and explosion. For example, the composition is applied to an article comprising a plurality of products or elements as described above, thereby being capable of responding to abnormal heat generation, explosion, and ignition occurring in any one element or product, and preventing or minimizing propagation of such heat generation, explosion, and ignition to other adjacent elements or products. Also, the curable composition provides excellent handling properties, storage stability and flame retardancy. In addition, the curable composition or the cured product can stably maintain the above characteristics for a long period of time while achieving the above characteristics by using a non-capsulated phase change material.