Expandable Battery Enclosure for Rupture Emission Containment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current battery enclosures are inadequate in containing emissions from battery cell ruptures, which can lead to venting of hot gases, noxious substances, and potential explosions, posing risks to devices and human safety, as they are not designed to withstand the forces associated with violent venting due to overcharging or overheating.
Innovation Solution
A battery enclosure with expandable sides made of fire-resistant materials like Nomex or Kevlar, equipped with a venting mechanism such as a valve or restricted orifice, that expands to contain emissions and allows controlled discharge, ensuring safety by directing expansion in a controlled direction and reducing pressure within the enclosure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid enclosures with thick walls and heavy materials are used to withstand battery cell rupture, then emission containment is improved, but weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic expandable structure. The sidewalls are configured to expand outward upon battery cell rupture, dynamically adapting to contain emissions while maintaining a compact form during normal operation. This resolves the contradiction by providing containment capability without requiring permanently thick walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure employs flexible expandable sidewalls instead of rigid thick walls. These sidewalls can deform and expand to contain emissions during rupture events while remaining thin and lightweight during normal operation, directly addressing the weight-containment contradiction.
2Reliability
If rigid enclosures with thick walls are used to withstand battery cell rupture, then emission containment is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic expandable design allows the enclosure to achieve containment performance without requiring permanently thick, heavy-walled construction. This reduces material usage and manufacturing complexity while maintaining reliability during rupture events.
Solution Approach 2:
Using flexible expandable sidewalls instead of rigid thick walls reduces material requirements and simplifies manufacturing processes, thereby lowering production costs while maintaining effective emission containment capability.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If battery cells are designed to expand to contain gases during normal operation, then gas management is improved, but ability to withstand violent venting is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure employs a dynamic expandable design that can adapt to different pressure conditions. During normal operation, it manages gas accumulation through controlled expansion, and during violent venting, it withstands the forces while containing emissions, resolving the contradiction between gas management and rupture resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure utilizes composite construction with an expandable framework and fire-resistant material coating. This combination provides both the flexibility needed for gas management during normal operation and the strength required to withstand violent venting forces.
4Reliability
If expandable sidewalls are used to contain emissions, then containment capability is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable sidewalls utilize a dynamic structure that transitions from a compact state during normal operation to an expanded state during rupture events. This dynamic design provides enhanced containment capability while maintaining relatively simple structural form during normal use, reducing the perceived complexity.
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 contains emissions from battery cell ruptures, preventing damage to devices and ensuring safety by expanding to manage pressure and venting gases safely, thereby reducing the risk of fires and injuries.
Implementation Method 1
The battery enclosure includes a first side of the battery enclosure that expands upon rupture of the case of the one or more battery cells within the enclosure
Implementation Method 2
A battery enclosure with expandable sides made of fire-resistant materials like Nomex or Kevlar
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for battery venting containment that include a battery enclosure configured to contain emissions from one or more battery cells within the enclosure upon a rupture of a case of the one or more battery cells. The battery enclosure includes a first side of the battery enclosure configured to expand upon rupture of the case of the one or more battery cells within the enclosure and a second side of the battery enclosure configured to be rigid.