Pouch Battery Module Venting for Thermal Runaway Pressure Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery modules face rapid pressure increases and potential collapse or explosion during thermal events, leading to uncontrollable fire spread and secondary damage.
Innovation Solution
A battery module design featuring a venting system with directional gas discharge through strategically placed holes, combined with a cell cover structure that maintains upright battery cell positioning and enhances cooling, using materials like stainless steel for stability and insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a battery module uses a sealed case structure to maintain integrity, then structural strength is improved, but internal pressure increases rapidly during thermal events causing collapse or explosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful high-temperature gas and particles from the battery module interior through strategically designed vent holes. These vent holes are positioned and sized to allow controlled ejection of thermal runaway products away from other battery cells, preventing pressure buildup while maintaining overall case integrity during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-positioning vent holes in specific locations and orientations before thermal events occur. The vent holes are designed with specific dimensions and angles to counteract the directional ejection of hot gas and particles, creating a predetermined safe discharge path that prevents uncontrolled pressure increase and potential explosion
2Object-affected harmful factors
If thermal runaway gas is ejected to contain pressure, then internal pressure control is improved, but heat propagates to other battery cells causing fire spread
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a localized protective structure around each battery cell using cell covers. These covers are positioned at specific locations to shield adjacent cells from heat and particle ejection while allowing controlled venting. The selective positioning and design of cell covers provide localized protection without compromising overall pressure release functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cell covers as intermediary protective elements between the venting system and adjacent battery cells. These covers act as mediators that allow controlled ejection of thermal runaway products while blocking direct heat and particle contact with neighboring cells, thus preventing heat propagation while maintaining pressure control
3Device complexity
If battery cells are positioned without individual protection, then device complexity is reduced, but thermal damage to adjacent cells increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the battery module into independent protected units by introducing cell covers for each battery cell. This segmentation creates isolated protective zones around each cell, preventing thermal runaway in one cell from directly affecting adjacent cells. The modular cell cover design provides individual protection while maintaining overall system simplicity through standardized components
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 design effectively manages internal pressure by directional venting and cooling, preventing rapid pressure increases and explosion, thereby reducing heat propagation to adjacent modules.
Implementation Method 1
when thermal runaway intensifies in a battery cell, high-temperature gas and particles (electrodes or active materials detached from an electrode assembly) may be ejected
Implementation Method 2
when a large amount of gas is generated due to thermal runaway of a battery cell, internal pressure of a module case may rapidly increase
Implementation Method 3
the ejected high-temperature gas and particles may cause thermal damage to other battery cells, and thus, heat may rapidly propagate between battery cells in the battery module
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a battery module, and a battery pack and a vehicle including the same. A battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of pouch-type battery cells, a module case in which the plurality of pouch-type battery cells are accommodated and a venting hole is formed, and a cell cover at least partially surrounding and supporting at least some of the plurality of pouch-type battery cells, in an inner space of the module case, wherein at least a portion of the cell cover is inserted into the venting hole.