Battery Module Intake Closure for Thermal Runaway Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current battery packs face challenges in controlling thermal events like thermal runaway, which can lead to heat and gas propagation between modules, increasing the risk of fire or explosion, especially when modules are densely packed for high energy density.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design featuring intake and exhaust ducts with opening/closing members that manage cooling fluid supply and venting gas, preventing heat and gas propagation between modules by controlling the intake and exhaust channels, and using a separate space for exhaustion is not required, simplifying the structure and improving thermal safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If battery modules are densely located to increase energy density, then energy density is improved, but thermal safety deteriorates due to increased vulnerability to thermal runaway propagation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the battery pack into isolated compartments using partition walls between adjacent battery modules. This segmentation prevents thermal runaway propagation by physically separating modules, allowing dense packing while maintaining thermal safety through controlled isolation barriers.
2Temperature
If cooling ducts are used to supply cooling fluid to battery modules, then thermal control is improved, but thermal safety deteriorates because venting gas can propagate through the cooling duct to other modules
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful venting gas pathway from the cooling system by providing separate exhaust portions and exhaust ducts for each battery module. This removes the propagation route through cooling ducts while preserving the cooling function through dedicated intake ducts that remain isolated.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces partition walls as intermediary barriers between adjacent battery modules. These partitions act as mediators that block thermal and gas propagation while allowing independent cooling and exhaust operations for each module, thus maintaining both thermal control and safety.
3Reliability
If a separate space is provided for gas exhaustion, then thermal safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the exhaust function into the existing module structure by providing exhaust portions that communicate with the module interior and exhaust ducts that can be integrated with the cooling duct infrastructure. This combination achieves separate gas exhaustion without proportionally increasing overall structural 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 suppresses heat propagation between battery modules, preventing fires or explosions and enhancing thermal safety by isolating thermal events within individual modules, while also simplifying the battery pack structure and maintaining high energy density.
Implementation Method 1
an opening/closing member configured to close the intake portion when internal pressure increases
Implementation Method 2
A representative method for thermal control of a battery pack in the related art may include a method of preventing a temperature rise by supplying a cooling fluid into each battery module through a cooling duct
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack includes a plurality of battery modules each including one or more battery cells to store and release energy, each battery module further including an intake portion and an exhaust portion, an intake duct including an intake channel and communicating with the intake portion of each of the plurality of battery modules, and an exhaust duct including an exhaust channel and communicating with the exhaust portion of each of the plurality of battery modules. Each of the plurality of battery modules further includes an opening/closing member configured to close the intake portion when internal pressure increases.