Plastic Pressure Relief Element with Notch for Battery Overpressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrochemical batteries used in hybrid and electric vehicles face challenges in rapidly releasing overpressure, which can lead to explosions due to small cross-section openings that are insufficient for emergency gas release, necessitating a cost-effective and versatile overpressure safety means.
Innovation Solution
A pressure relief element with a predetermined breaking point, designed as a notch that irreversibly opens an exhaust path when overpressure is reached, manufactured from plastic material with a profiled surface for controlled tension and made in various shapes and forms for integration or replacement, allowing for rapid gas release and easy mounting within a pressure relief device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a small cross-section opening is used for air exchange during battery operation, then humidity control is maintained, but rapid gas release capability is insufficient during emergencies
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure relief element is segmented into a body portion and a breakable portion, where the breakable portion can be irreversibly separated from the body upon overpressure detection, transforming the single opening into a large exhaust path
Solution Approach 2:
The breakable portion is pre-positioned to cover the exhaust path during normal operation, and the system is prepared in advance with a predetermined breaking point (notch) that will automatically activate when overpressure occurs, enabling rapid response without delay
2Speed
If a predetermined breaking point is designed into the pressure relief element, then rapid pressure equalization is achieved, but the element becomes irreversible and single-use
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure relief element is designed as a disposable safety component made from inexpensive plastic material, where the breakable portion is intentionally designed to be consumed once activated, providing a cost-effective solution for critical safety applications
Solution Approach 2:
The irreversible breaking action, which destroys the element, is converted into a beneficial safety feature by designing the breakable portion to automatically open the exhaust path when overpressure occurs, transforming the element's destruction into the desired pressure relief function
3Ease of manufacture
If the pressure relief element is made from plastic material with profiled surface, then manufacturing cost and ease of production are improved, but structural strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure relief element features a profiled surface with varying wall thickness, where the breakable portion has reduced thickness for easy breaking, while the body portion maintains sufficient thickness for structural integrity and pressure containment during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The element uses plastic material with optimized structural design, combining regions of different material distribution (varying thickness) to achieve both ease of manufacture through molding and appropriate strength characteristics for different functional zones
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
Enables rapid pressure equalization and safe release of gases during overloads or short circuits, protecting the battery housing from explosions while being economically and reliably produced for mass use, with the ability to be replaced after activation.
Implementation Method 1
the pressure relief element has at least one notch which is designed as a predetermined breaking point where the pressure relief element breaks at a certain level of overpressure
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a pressure relief element (11) to be used as an overpressure safety means in devices where a gaseous medium must be rapidly released in case of overpressure, wherein the pressure relief element (11) has at least one notch (9) which is designed as a predetermined breaking point where the pressure relief element (11) breaks at a certain level of overpressure, thereby irreversibly opening an exhaust path for the gaseous medium. The present invention also relates to a pressure relief device of an electrochemical battery, comprising such a pressure relief element and a battery comprising such a pressure relief device.