Battery Module Pressure Relief Channel for Thermal Runaway Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery packs with stacked module structures face challenges in thermal runaway propagation, leading to damage from high-temperature gases and electrolyte expulsion, affecting safety and space utilization.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design with spaced apart battery modules sharing a pressure relief channel, featuring pressure relief holes and explosion-proof holes, allowing high-temperature gases to be discharged into the channel, thereby isolating unaffected cells and improving thermal insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If battery modules are arranged in a stacked configuration to improve space utilization, then energy density is improved, but thermal runaway propagation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
A heat insulation component is introduced as an intermediary substance between adjacent battery modules. This component acts as a thermal barrier that prevents heat transfer and thermal runaway propagation while allowing the modules to maintain their stacked configuration for high energy density.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery pack is segmented into independent modules with thermal isolation between them. Each module is separated by heat insulation components, creating discrete thermal zones that prevent runaway propagation while maintaining the stacked arrangement for space efficiency.
2Reliability
If pressure relief holes are provided for each cell to enable thermal runaway discharge, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple pressure relief functions are merged into a shared pressure relief channel. Instead of providing separate discharge paths for each cell, the invention combines them into a common channel that collects and directs thermal runaway products from multiple cells, reducing structural complexity while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure relief channel serves multiple functions: it acts as a discharge path for thermal runaway products, a heat insulation barrier, and a structural component. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining safety performance.
3Volume of stationary object
If battery modules are spaced apart to form pressure relief channels, then space utilization is improved, but thermal insulation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Heat insulation is applied locally at the interfaces between adjacent modules where thermal runaway propagation risk is highest. The heat insulation component is positioned specifically in the pressure relief channel area, providing targeted thermal protection without requiring insulation throughout the entire battery pack structure.
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
Enhances energy density and safety by containing thermal runaway effects within a shared pressure relief channel, simplifying the structure and preventing thermal impact on unaffected cells.
Implementation Method 1
when thermal runaway occurs in a battery cell within a module, thermal runaway may easily spread to adjacent cells
Implementation Method 2
Multiple pressure relief holes are disposed on a side surface of the housing... allowing high-temperature gases to be discharged into the channel
Implementation Method 3
the heat insulation component is disposed in the pressure relief channel... providing thermal protection for the battery cells inside the battery modules
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
Provided is a battery pack. The battery pack includes at least two battery modules (100). Each battery module (100) includes a housing (1) and multiple battery cells (2) disposed in the housing (1). Multiple pressure relief holes (122) are disposed on a side surface of the housing (1). The multiple pressure relief holes (122) are in a one-to-one correspondence with the multiple cells (2). One end of each battery cell (2) has an explosion-proof hole. The explosion-proof hole communicates with a corresponding pressure relief hole (122). Two adjacent battery modules (100) form a module assembly. In the same module assembly, two housings (1) are spaced apart to form a pressure relief channel (300), and pressure relief holes (122) on the two housings (1) are facing the pressure relief channel (300).