Battery Pack Compartment Venting for Thermal Runaway Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Secondary battery cells in battery packs can explode due to temperature increase or external impact, causing thermal propagation and consecutive explosions among adjacent cells.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design with sealed compartments and a vent pipe system that discharges flames and gas generated by an exploding cell externally, using a rupture disk or one-way door to control pressure and a blocking plate to isolate compartments, enhancing thermal conduction and reducing thermal propagation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If secondary battery cells are directly installed in a battery pack without modules, then productivity and energy density are improved, but thermal propagation risk increases causing consecutive explosions
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is divided into multiple sealed compartments, each accommodating one or more secondary battery cells. The frame unit includes partition walls that physically separate adjacent cells, preventing flame and gas from propagating between cells during thermal runaway events
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful flames and gas generated during battery cell explosion are extracted and directed outward through dedicated vent pipes. Each compartment has its own vent pipe that channels combustion products away from other cells, isolating the thermal hazard to a single compartment
2Object-affected harmful factors
If sealed compartments are used to isolate battery cells, then thermal propagation is prevented, but device complexity increases due to additional frame structures
Solution Approach 1:
The frame unit serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the battery pack, creates sealed compartments for cell isolation, and integrates vent pipes for hazard extraction. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and minimizes overall structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls and frame structure are merged into a single integrated component. The frame unit includes both the compartmentalization structure and the venting system as unified elements, reducing assembly steps and structural complexity while maintaining thermal isolation effectiveness
3Object-affected harmful factors
If vent pipes are added to discharge flames and gas, then thermal propagation is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vent pipes include flexible connection sections that can accommodate dimensional variations and misalignments during assembly. The dynamic flexibility of these connections compensates for manufacturing tolerances, allowing proper sealing and connection without requiring extremely tight precision
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
Prevents consecutive explosions by bypassing flames and gas from one cell to others, reducing thermal propagation and improving thermal conduction efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an opening adjustment portion is provided in the first connection hole to open the first connection hole when flames or gas are generated in the secondary battery cell disposed in the compartment
Implementation Method 2
The opening adjustment portion may be provided as a rupture disk configured to rupture when pressure in the compartment is higher than pressure in the vent pipe portion
Implementation Method 3
A thermal conductive material may be applied to an upper surface of the lower frame on which the secondary battery cell is seated, and the lower frame may directly discharge heat of the secondary battery cell externally
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack includes a number of secondary battery cells, and a frame unit including a number of sealed compartments in which the number of secondary battery cells are dispersedly accommodated, and configured to, when flames or gas are generated in a secondary battery cell disposed in one of the compartments, discharge the flames or gas.