Segmented Cell Cover Structure for Battery Venting Isolation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery systems face challenges in securely managing thermal runaway of battery cells, where venting gas streams from a failing cell can cause thermal propagation and potential runaway in adjacent cells due to inadequate cover elements that may bend or lift, allowing gas to flow underneath and ignite neighboring cells.
Innovation Solution
A cover element composed of individual cell covers separated by slits, made from a heat-resistant material like mica, which tears away individually from each cell during a thermal event, preventing gas flow to adjacent cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a continuous cover element is used to cover multiple battery cells, then the cover provides comprehensive protection against venting gas, but the cover may bend or lift uniformly allowing gas to flow underneath and ignite neighboring cells
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous cover element is divided into multiple individual cell covers separated by slits. Each individual cell cover is associated with a specific battery cell and can tear away independently when its corresponding cell experiences thermal runaway, preventing uniform bending or lifting that would allow gas to flow underneath and ignite neighboring cells.
2Reliability
If individual cell covers are separated by slits, then each cover can tear away independently to prevent gas flow to adjacent cells, but the cover element structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cover element is segmented into individual cell covers separated by slits, allowing each cover to respond independently to thermal events in adjacent cells while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure based on a single cover element.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple individual cell covers are combined into a single continuous cover element that can be implemented as one piece, simplifying manufacturing and installation while maintaining the functional benefits of segmentation through the incorporated slits.
3Temperature
If the cover element is made from heat-resistant material like mica, then the cover can withstand high temperatures during thermal runaway, but the manufacturing and installation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cover element is designed with slits that enable individual cell covers to tear away under pressure, changing the mechanical response characteristics of the heat-resistant material to achieve both thermal withstand capability and controlled failure mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmentation into individual cell covers separated by slits allows the heat-resistant material to be used effectively while enabling controlled independent failure of each cover section, reducing the overall difficulty compared to designing a single complex heat-resistant structure.
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 solution effectively prevents thermal propagation by ensuring each cell cover tears away separately, shielding adjacent cells from venting gas, thereby mitigating the risk of further thermal runaway.
Implementation Method 1
each individual cell cover is adapted to get torn away individually from the covered battery cell by the pressure of the venting gas stream discharged from the covered venting exit
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present disclosure refers to a battery system (100) including a plurality of battery cells (12) arranged along a stacking direction, wherein each of the battery cells (12) includes a venting side with a venting exit (14) for discharging a venting gas stream (V), a cover element (20) covering the plurality of battery cells (12) at the venting sides to protect the battery cells (12) from the venting gas stream (V), wherein the cover element includes a plurality of individual cell covers, each individual cell cover covering one battery cell of the plurality of battery cells, wherein neighboring individual cell covers are separated from each other by slits penetrating through the cover element such that each individual cell cover is adapted to get torn away individually from the covered battery cell by the pressure of the venting gas stream (V) discharged from the covered venting exit.