Directional Venting Cover for Battery Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery systems face challenges in managing hot gas venting during thermal events, as existing designs restrict gas flow paths, potentially leading to overheating of adjacent cells and sensitive components, and lack effective redirection of gases away from critical areas.
Innovation Solution
A touch cover with strategically designed openings, such as louvres, is implemented above battery cells to redirect vented gases away from adjacent cells and sensitive components towards a vent port, preventing heat transfer and contamination, while acting as a non-conductive barrier to manage thermal events effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a cover is placed over battery cells to protect sensitive components, then protection from hot gas is improved, but gas flow restriction occurs leading to overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is designed with localized openings (louvers) at specific positions and orientations to direct gas flow away from sensitive components while maintaining protection in other areas. The openings are strategically placed to provide directional venting rather than uniform coverage, allowing protection where needed while maintaining flow paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover acts as an intermediary component between the battery cells and the external environment. It mediates the thermal event by capturing hot gas at the source and redirecting it through controlled openings away from sensitive components, rather than allowing direct contact or uncontrolled dispersion.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If openings are added to redirect gas flow away from sensitive components, then protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is segmented with multiple discrete openings (louvers) rather than a single large opening or complete enclosure. Each louver is a separate element that can be independently positioned and oriented to control flow direction, allowing complex flow management through simple, modular features.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover is implemented as a thin planar structure with integrated openings, rather than a bulky three-dimensional enclosure. This thin-film approach provides the necessary flow redirection functionality while minimizing added volume and structural complexity.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If gas is vented upward from battery cells, then gas escape is enabled, but adjacent cells and sensitive components are exposed to heat
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful hot gas is extracted from its natural upward dispersion path and redirected through controlled openings in the cover. The openings are positioned and oriented to channel the gas away from adjacent cells and sensitive components, removing the thermal hazard from vulnerable areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas flow is redirected from a vertical upward path to a horizontal or angled path through the openings in the cover. This dimensional change in flow direction moves the hot gas laterally away from sensitive components rather than allowing it to rise directly over them.
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 touch cover effectively directs hot gases away from sensitive components, reduces the risk of thermal event propagation, and improves battery system performance by preventing overheating and contamination, thereby enhancing safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Openings in a cover arranged over the battery cell directs the gas from the upward direction to a predetermined direction and away from adjacent battery cells
Implementation Method 2
acting as a non-conductive barrier to manage thermal events effectively
Implementation Method 3
The heat generated by the battery cells and transferred (e.g., via convection) through the opening features activate the barriers to prevent flow between module bays
Data Source
AI summary
A battery system for an electric vehicle includes one or more battery modules that include one or more battery cells. Each of the battery cells include a plurality of vents on a first end and oriented in a first direction (e.g., an upward direction). The battery system also includes a touch cover arranged above the first end of the battery cells, wherein the touch cover includes a plurality of opening features configured to direct the gas to flow away from the plurality of battery cells, or away from sensitive components, to a predetermined direction that differs from the first direction. The plurality of opening features direct gas in a second direction different from the first direction. The opening features include louvres, arranged in strips or an array, or other suitable venting openings. The touch cover may be formed by pressing a sheet of material.