Battery Pack Fixing Structure With Side-Cover Gas Discharge Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs face issues with concentrated stress on the tray's bottom surface acting as a coolant channel, leading to potential coolant loss and increased risk of secondary explosions or thermal runaway propagation among adjacent modules.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design with a tray and side covers that include gas exhaust portions and a module fixing bar, allowing indirect fixation of battery modules, gas discharge paths, and a cooling pipe accommodation, preventing stress concentration and facilitating safe gas release and coolant containment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If battery modules are directly fixed to the tray bottom surface, then fixation strength is improved, but stress concentration occurs on the coolant channel causing potential coolant loss
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing structure is segmented into multiple components: side covers that wrap around the tray sides, module fixing bars positioned at the widthwise center, and fastening holes distributed at specific locations. This segmentation distributes the fixation stress away from the vulnerable bottom surface coolant channel while maintaining strong module attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The side covers and module fixing bars act as intermediary elements between the battery modules and the tray. Instead of direct contact between modules and the tray bottom surface, these intermediaries transfer and distribute the mechanical stress through the side walls and center structure, protecting the coolant channel from stress concentration.
2Reliability
If gas discharge paths are added to prevent thermal runaway propagation, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The side covers serve multiple functions: they provide structural support for fixation, contain the coolant channels along the sides, and incorporate gas discharge paths that communicate with the interior spaces between modules. This multi-functionality allows safety features to be integrated into existing structural components rather than adding separate dedicated safety systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas discharge paths are nested within the side cover structure, which itself is nested around the tray and coolant channels. The exhaust holes in the side covers provide internal communication paths that guide gas discharge through the layered structure without requiring external or separate discharge mechanisms.
3Reliability
If cooling pipe is surrounded by side cover for protection, then protection from impact is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The side cover is designed as an integrated component that simultaneously performs multiple protective and structural functions: it covers and protects the coolant channels, provides fixation points for battery modules, and surrounds the cooling pipes. By merging these functions into a single integrated part, the number of separate components is reduced, simplifying the overall assembly process despite the enhanced protection capabilities.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a battery pack, which includes a plurality of battery modules respectively having a pair of fixing portions provided at both longitudinal sides thereof; a tray on which the plurality of battery modules are placed; a pair of side covers configured to cover both widthwise sides of the tray and having a first fastening hole formed at a location corresponding to a coupling hole formed in the fixing portion; and a module fixing bar positioned at a widthwise center of the tray and shaped to extend across an upper surface of the tray along a longitudinal direction of the tray, the module fixing bar having a second fastening hole formed at a location corresponding to the coupling hole formed in the fixing portion.