Pouch Cell Venting Manifold for Battery Thermal Runaway Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increased power density and operating voltage in battery systems of electric vehicles lead to significant heating issues, which can cause premature failure and thermal runaway propagation among battery cells due to hot gas emission and convection.
Innovation Solution
An immersion cooling system using metal-encased, pouch-type battery cells with vents and a vent gas manifold to manage and remove vent gases, combined with dielectric fluid circulation and insulating members to prevent overheating and thermal runaway propagation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If power density and operating voltage are increased to improve productivity, then productivity is improved, but temperature increases causing thermal runaway propagation
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is divided into individual metal-encased pouch-type battery cells, each with its own venting system. This segmentation isolates thermal events to individual cells, preventing propagation to adjacent cells while maintaining high power density operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A vent gas manifold acts as an intermediary system that captures and redirects hot vent gases from individual battery cells before they can propagate to adjacent cells. The manifold serves as a mediator that manages thermal events at the system level.
2Temperature
If conventional cooling systems are used to manage heat, then temperature control is achieved, but thermal runaway propagation can still occur through vent gas convection
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful vent gases are extracted and removed from the battery enclosure through the vent gas manifold system. By taking out the hot gases that carry thermal energy, the system prevents thermal runaway propagation while maintaining effective temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The venting system, which initially appears to be a failure mechanism, is converted into a protective feature. The vents and manifold system captures thermal events and redirects them safely, transforming potential harm into a reliable thermal management mechanism.
3Reliability
If battery cells are enclosed in metal cases with vents to prevent thermal runaway, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual venting systems are merged into a single integrated vent gas manifold structure. This combining approach maintains the reliability benefits of individual cell venting while reducing overall system complexity through consolidation.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent gas manifold serves multiple functions: it collects vent gases from individual cells, redirects hot gases away from adjacent cells, and provides a unified exit path for thermal events. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems for each function.
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 system provides effective cooling, prevents thermal runaway propagation, and enhances battery life by managing vent gases, while allowing DC fast charging and maintaining optimal temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
immersion cooling system
Implementation Method 2
dielectric fluid circulation
Implementation Method 3
vent gas manifold is configured to remove vent gas passing through the C vents
Implementation Method 4
a thermal insulating layer arranged on the C metal cases around the C vents
Data Source
AI summary
An immersion cooling system for a battery system includes a battery enclosure and C metal-encased, pouch-type battery cells including C metal cases, C pouch-type battery cells arranged in the C metal cases, respectively, where C is an integer greater than one, and C vents on the C metal cases, respectively. A vent gas manifold is in fluid communication with the C vents of the C metal cases and is configured to remove vent gas passing through the C vents of the C metal cases from the battery enclosure.