Battery Module Interface Structure for Blocking Inter-Module Heat Diffusion

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery packs face challenges in preventing heat diffusion from abnormally heated modules to adjacent modules, leading to potential ignition and explosion, and increasing the width of thermal insulation pads to mitigate this issue compromises energy density.

Innovation Solution

A battery pack design incorporating heat spreader sheets and thermal insulation pads between adjacent modules, with bent ends contacting the battery pack case, to minimize heat transfer and prevent thermal runaway.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the width of the thermal insulation pad is increased to prevent heat diffusion, then heat diffusion prevention is improved, but energy density is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat diffusion preventionVSAvoidenergy density
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The thermal insulation structure is divided into multiple segments: thermal insulation pads are placed at both ends of the heat spreader sheet, creating a segmented insulation approach. This allows effective heat diffusion prevention through multiple localized insulation points rather than requiring a single wide insulation pad, thereby maintaining energy density while achieving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The heat spreader sheet acts as an intermediary component between adjacent battery modules. It conducts heat away from the interface between modules, working in conjunction with thermal insulation pads to prevent heat diffusion. This intermediary structure enables effective thermal management without requiring large-width insulation pads that would reduce energy density.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a thermal insulation pad is used to prevent heat diffusion, then heat transfer prevention is improved, but heat diffusion between adjacent modules remains unavoidable when heat dissipation reaches the limit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer preventionVSAvoidheat diffusion prevention effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Thermal insulation properties are applied locally at critical heat transfer paths - specifically at both ends of the heat spreader sheet where it contacts adjacent battery modules. This localized quality approach ensures heat transfer prevention at the most vulnerable points, maintaining reliability even when overall heat dissipation capacity is limited.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The thermal management system uses a composite structure combining heat spreader sheet (high thermal conductivity material) with thermal insulation pads (low thermal conductivity material). This composite approach allows heat to be conducted away from the module interface while simultaneously insulating against heat diffusion to adjacent modules, overcoming the limitations of using insulation alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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

Effectively prevents heat diffusion between adjacent battery modules, maintaining energy density while reducing the risk of thermal runaway.

Implementation Method 1

a thermal insulation pad 3 may be applied to prevent heat from being diffused from the battery module 1 that is abnormally heated to adjacent battery modules 1

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

a heat spreader sheet interposed between the first battery module and the second battery module

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4068473B1Battery pack having structure for preventing heat diffusion between adjacent battery modules, and ESS and vehicle including same
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4068473B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4068473B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4068473B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The present invention relates to a battery pack and ESS and vehicle including the same. The batter pack includes a battery module stack configured to include a first battery module and a second battery module disposed adjacent to each other; a battery pack case configured to accommodate the battery module stack; a heatsink interposed between a lower portion of the battery module stack and the battery pack case or provided to contact a bottom of the battery pack case; a heat spreader sheet interposed between the first battery module and the second battery module; and an thermal insulation pad interposed between the first battery module and the second battery module.