Segmented Battery Enclosure Venting for Thermal Runaway Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The safety of batteries, particularly in electric vehicles, is compromised due to the risk of thermal runaway leading to high internal pressure and temperature, which can cause explosions and pose a threat to life and property.
Innovation Solution
A battery design featuring a housing with a pressure relief mechanism, where each battery cell is housed in a first box with a pressure relief region and multiple first boxes are accommodated in a second box, allowing for independent pressure relief and emission separation to prevent explosions and reduce the impact of thermal runaway on adjacent cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a battery cell housing is designed without a pressure relief mechanism, then the structural integrity and sealing are maintained, but the internal pressure buildup during thermal runaway can cause explosion and compromise safety
Solution Approach 1:
A pressure relief mechanism is pre-configured in the battery cell housing that activates automatically when internal pressure reaches a threshold level during thermal runaway. This preliminary preparation ensures that when pressure buildup occurs, the housing can rapidly relieve pressure through the pre-designed relief structure, preventing explosion while maintaining safety
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure relief mechanism converts the harmful effect of internal pressure buildup into a controlled pressure release. By designing the housing with a specific relief structure, the harmful high pressure is transformed into a beneficial controlled venting process that protects the battery system while providing pressure relief functionality
2Device complexity
If multiple battery cells are housed in a single common enclosure, then the device complexity is reduced, but thermal runaway in one cell can affect adjacent cells and compromise overall safety
Solution Approach 1:
The battery housing is segmented into multiple independent compartments, each capable of containing thermal runaway events separately. This segmentation allows each compartment to isolate thermal issues to a single cell or small group of cells, preventing propagation to adjacent cells while maintaining a manageable overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the housing are designed with different properties: some regions provide thermal insulation to isolate heat, while other regions provide structural support. This local differentiation of housing properties enables both thermal isolation and structural integrity without requiring complete redesign of the entire housing system
3Reliability
If emissions from a thermal runaway battery cell are not contained, then the pressure relief mechanism can function properly, but the emissions can cause short circuits and affect adjacent cells
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful emissions are extracted and directed away from adjacent battery cells through dedicated emission pathways in the housing design. This extraction separates the emissions from the functional battery areas, allowing pressure relief to occur while preventing emissions from causing short circuits or affecting neighboring cells
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 design enhances battery safety by reducing the influence of thermal runaway on adjacent cells, preventing explosions, and isolating emissions to prevent short circuits, thereby improving the overall safety and performance of the battery.
Implementation Method 1
the housing being configured to be actuated when an internal pressure or temperature of the housing reaches a threshold, to relieve the internal pressure of the housing
Implementation Method 2
the first box including a pressure relief region, and the pressure relief region being configured to relieve an internal pressure of the first box
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present application provide a battery, a power consumption apparatus, and a method and apparatus for producing a battery. The battery includes: a plurality of battery cells, the battery cell comprising a housing, the housing being configured to be actuated when an internal pressure or temperature of the housing reaches a threshold, to relieve the internal pressure of the housing; a plurality of first boxes, the first box being configured to accommodate at least one battery cell of the plurality of battery cells, the first box including a pressure relief region, and the pressure relief region being configured to relieve an internal pressure of the first box; and a second box, the second box being configured to accommodate the plurality of first boxes. According to the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the safety of the battery can be enhanced.