Laminate Battery Module Venting With Thermal Expansion Barriers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laminate batteries lack a mechanism to control the direction of outgassing derived from a malfunction, posing safety risks and potential for short circuits.
Innovation Solution
A laminate battery module design featuring an array of laminate batteries with a thermal expansion member between them, which expands at a predetermined temperature to control gas outgassing and includes a safety valve to manage pressure, thereby preventing heat and gas propagation to adjacent batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gas-pressure actuated valve mechanism is added to control outgassing direction, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A thermal expansion member is introduced as an intermediary component between adjacent laminate batteries. This member passively controls outgassing direction through thermal expansion when temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold, eliminating the need for complex active valve mechanisms while achieving the same safety function.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal expansion member automatically activates through its own thermal expansion properties when exposed to excessive heat. The member expands to fill the periphery region and block outgassing pathways without requiring external control systems, actuators, or complex mechanisms.
2Reliability
If thermal expansion member protrudes into outgassing region, then outgassing control is improved, but short circuit risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal expansion member is designed with non-uniform thickness, featuring a thicker portion at the protruding end that extends into the outgassing region. This localized thickness variation ensures that the member effectively blocks outgassing pathways while maintaining sufficient electrical insulation distance from the electrode tabs, preventing short circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal expansion member utilizes the thickness dimension to achieve its function. By varying the thickness along its length, particularly making the protruding portion thicker, it creates a three-dimensional barrier that controls outgassing while maintaining electrical isolation in the critical area where electrode tabs are located.
3Volume of stationary object
If multiple laminate batteries are arrayed with wide surfaces opposing, then space utilization is improved, but heat propagation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal expansion member acts as a segmentation barrier between adjacent laminate batteries. When it expands due to thermal exposure, it physically divides the space between batteries and blocks heat transfer pathways, preventing thermal runaway propagation while maintaining the compact arrayed configuration with opposing wide surfaces.
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 design effectively manages outgassing and pressure, reducing the risk of short circuits and heat propagation, enhancing safety by controlling gas release through a designated outgassing region.
Implementation Method 1
A portion of the thermal expansion member protruding in a region in the periphery of the wide surfaces, excluding the outgassing region, expands when a pre-determined temperature is exceeded
Data Source
AI summary
A laminate battery module has a plurality of laminate batteries, and a thermal expansion member. Each laminate battery has an exterior body, and an electrode body accommodated in the exterior body. The exterior body has a wide surface, and a sealing portion. The plurality of laminate batteries are arrayed sequentially so that the wide surfaces oppose each other, with an outgassing region being set in a pre-determined part of the periphery of the wide surfaces. The thermal expansion member is interposed between the wide surfaces of the plurality of laminate batteries, and protrudes in a region excluding the outgassing region. A portion of the thermal expansion member protruding in a region excluding the outgassing region expands when a pre-determined temperature is exceeded, and fills a region of the periphery of the laminate batteries, excluding the outgassing region.