Prismatic Battery Cell Venting Layout for Lower Pack Height
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery pack designs are vertically large due to safety considerations, cooling inefficiencies, and gas venting requirements, necessitating a reduction in vertical dimensions while maintaining safety and improving cooling efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The safety valve is positioned on the lower wall of the prismatic battery cell to vent gases downwards into a cavity that also serves as a spacer, and a heat exchanger is integrated into the upper portion to efficiently remove heat from the battery module.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the safety valve is positioned on the upper side of the battery cell shell to vent gases, then gas venting function is achieved, but the vertical dimension of the battery pack increases due to the need for an empty upper zone
Solution Approach 1:
The safety valve is repositioned from the upper side to the lower side of the battery cell shell, inverting the conventional gas venting direction. Gases are now vented downwards into the cavity between the cooling plate and the bottom wall, eliminating the need for an empty upper zone and reducing the overall vertical dimension of the battery pack.
2Temperature
If a horizontal cooling plate is provided at the base of the battery module, then cooling function is achieved, but the vertical dimension increases and cooling efficiency for upper components is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity between the cooling plate and the bottom wall is given multiple functions: it serves as both the cooling channel for heat removal and as the reception space for vented gases. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate gas venting space, reducing vertical dimensions while maintaining effective cooling.
3Reliability
If empty volume is provided below battery modules to space them from the bottom wall, then safety against collisions and intrusions is achieved, but this empty volume also serves as the cooling system space, increasing vertical dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity between the cooling plate and the bottom wall performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the safety spacing volume to protect against collisions and intrusions, serves as the cooling channel for heat removal, and acts as the gas venting space. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for separate dedicated spaces for each function.
4Temperature
If thermal conductors are added to transfer heat to the cooling plate, then cooling efficiency for upper components is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the need for additional thermal conductors by directly utilizing the cavity space for both cooling and gas venting functions. The cooling plate is positioned to directly face the lower walls of the battery cells, creating efficient thermal contact without requiring intermediate thermal conductor components, thus maintaining simplicity while achieving effective cooling.
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
This configuration reduces the vertical dimensions of the battery pack, enhances safety against collisions and intrusions, and improves cooling efficiency by eliminating the need for an upper gas venting space and optimizing heat removal.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger is integrated into the upper portion to efficiently remove heat from the battery module
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of channels, where a heat exchange liquid flows
Data Source
AI summary
A prismatic battery cell has a shell with an upper wall, from which at least one electrical connector protrudes, a lower wall and a perimetral wall; the battery cell further has a safety valve carried by the shell and configured to vent, outwardly, gases possibly generated within the shell; the safety valve is arranged in proximity to the lower wall of the shell so as to vent the gases into a cavity defined by a lower area of a battery pack where the battery cell is installed.