Inter-Battery Gas Channel Venting for Thermal Runaway Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal runaway in large rechargeable energy storage systems poses a significant safety risk, particularly in vehicles, due to uncontrollable temperature increases leading to gas ejection, high temperatures, smoke, and fire, which can harm the vehicle and surrounding environment.
Innovation Solution
A gas venting arrangement is implemented in the ESS with side gas vent openings and inter-battery pack gas channels, utilizing safety valves and directional caps to safely release pressure, and interconnected battery packs to minimize risk and optimize space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If battery packs are arranged side-by-side with spacing to form inter-battery pack gas channels, then safety against thermal runaway is improved by directing gases away from surroundings, but device complexity increases due to additional venting structure requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the venting function with the existing battery pack housing structure by incorporating side gas vent openings directly into the side walls of the battery packs. This integration allows the housing to serve dual purposes: containing battery cells and providing controlled gas ejection pathways, thereby improving safety without adding separate complex venting systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new spatial dimension for gas venting by opening side gas vent openings to the sides rather than using traditional top or bottom venting. This lateral venting approach utilizes the inter-battery pack spacing to create gas channels that direct hot gases away from the vehicle surroundings, providing a novel three-dimensional solution to the thermal runaway problem.
2Stability of the object's composition
If battery packs are mechanically interconnected, then structural stability and space utilization are improved, but heat dissipation becomes more difficult due to reduced airflow between packs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the battery pack arrangement by maintaining deliberate spacing between adjacent battery packs, creating distinct inter-battery pack gas channels. This segmentation allows hot gases to escape laterally through side vent openings before they can propagate to neighboring packs, while mechanical interconnection provides structural stability. The segmentation thus decouples the structural and thermal management functions.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If side gas vent openings are positioned to direct gases into inter-battery pack channels, then protection of surroundings is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase for proper alignment and spacing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs mechanical interconnection structures between battery packs that automatically maintain the required spacing and alignment for gas channel formation. The interconnection mechanism serves the dual function of providing structural support and ensuring proper positioning of side vent openings, thereby achieving the desired gas direction without requiring high-precision manufacturing tolerances.
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 risk of thermal runaway by directing gases away from sensitive components, ensuring safety and compactness while maintaining a cost-effective design.
Implementation Method 1
such safety valves may be pressure release valve which opens at a certain set pressure to safely release overpressure and avoid an explosion or further destruction of the outer battery pack housing
Implementation Method 2
It is therefore important to place the venting ports in a good location so that gases/fire are not directed outwardly to the surroundings, risking igniting stationary structures or surrounding vehicles
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an electrical storage system (ESS) (1) comprising a plurality of battery packs (2a,2b,2c) arranged side-by-side, each of the battery packs (2a,2b,2c) being spaced from an adjacent battery pack (2a,2b,2c) such that the side surfaces (3a,3b,3c) of the adjacent battery packs (2a,2b,2c) form inter-battery pack gas channels (4) and wherein each of the battery pack (2a,2b,2c) is provided with a side gas vent opening (5a,5b,5c) to one of the inter-battery pack gas channels (4).