Deformable Cell Frame for Thermal Runaway Pressure Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Water-cooled energy storage systems face a risk of explosion due to excessive internal pressure when a battery cell ignites, as the sealed container cannot manage pressure effectively.
Innovation Solution
A cell frame is designed with deformable sidewalls and partition walls, which can reduce internal pressure by expanding the accommodation space for battery cells during thermal runaway, and a cooling fluid is injected only into the upper region of the container to intensively cool the battery cell terminals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the container is sealed to protect battery cells, then protection against external contaminants is improved, but internal pressure management deteriorates when thermal runaway occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into multiple compartments by partition walls. When thermal runaway occurs in one battery cell, only the local compartment experiences pressure buildup, while other compartments remain intact. This segmentation prevents system-wide pressure issues while maintaining overall sealed protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls are designed to be deformable rather than rigid. When internal pressure increases due to thermal runaway, the partition walls can dynamically deform to accommodate pressure changes, preventing container failure while maintaining the sealed environment for protection against external contaminants.
2Temperature
If cooling fluid is injected into the entire container, then cooling coverage is improved, but the amount of cooling fluid required increases
Solution Approach 1:
Cooling fluid is injected only into specific regions where battery cells are located, rather than filling the entire container. The partition walls confine the cooling fluid to local areas, providing effective cooling coverage where needed while significantly reducing the total amount of cooling fluid required.
Solution Approach 2:
The container space is segmented into multiple regions by partition walls, allowing cooling fluid to be injected into individual regions or groups of regions. This segmented cooling approach ensures adequate cooling coverage for battery cells while minimizing the overall volume of cooling fluid needed compared to full-container flooding.
3Strength
If rigid walls are used to maintain container structure, then structural strength is improved, but the ability to manage internal pressure deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The partition walls are designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing them to deform elastically when internal pressure increases during thermal runaway. This dynamic response enables the structure to accommodate pressure changes without failure, while maintaining overall structural strength for normal operation and protection against external contaminants.
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 cell frame effectively reduces the risk of container damage from increased internal pressure during thermal runaway, while the partial cooling fluid injection reduces the amount of cooling fluid needed and intensively cools the heat-generating battery cell terminals.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of first sidewalls spaced apart from each other in a first direction and configured to be deformed by an external force; and a pair of second sidewalls spaced apart from each other in a second direction crossing the first direction, coupled to the pair of first sidewalls, and configured to be deformed by an external force
Implementation Method 2
a cooling fluid is injected only into the upper region of the container to intensively cool the battery cell terminals
Data Source
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AI summary
A cell frame includes a pair of first sidewalls spaced apart from each other in a first direction and configured to be deformed by an external force; and a pair of second sidewalls spaced apart from each other in a second direction crossing the first direction, coupled to the pair of first sidewalls, and configured to be deformed by an external force.