External Short-Circuit Resistor Cooling for Battery Thermal Runaway
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In battery modules, thermal runaway due to overheating or gas leaks can rapidly spread to adjacent cells, leading to safety hazards like fires and explosions, necessitating quick detection and energy release to prevent propagation.
Innovation Solution
A battery module system incorporating a sensor, battery management system, and external short-circuiting device with a resistor and cooling device to detect temperature rises and gas leaks, and release energy externally while cooling the resistor to prevent fires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If an external short-circuiting device is activated to release energy quickly, then thermal runaway propagation is prevented, but the resistor temperature increases rapidly creating a fire hazard
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the resistor from the battery module structure and places it externally, connected via terminals. This separation allows the resistor to be cooled independently from the battery cells while still enabling quick energy discharge. The cooling device is specifically applied to the resistor rather than the entire battery module, addressing the localized heating problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cooling device as an intermediary between the resistor and the environment. This cooling device acts as a mediator that absorbs heat from the resistor during external short-circuiting operations, preventing the resistor temperature from reaching fire-hazard levels while allowing the energy release function to proceed.
2Reliability
If the resistor is cooled continuously to prevent fire, then safety is improved, but energy is wasted cooling the resistor even when not needed
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling device is designed to be dynamically controllable rather than operating continuously. The control system activates the cooling device only when the external short-circuiting device is triggered and the resistor temperature rises, and deactivates it when the short-circuiting operation is complete. This dynamic operation maintains safety while avoiding unnecessary energy consumption during normal battery operation.
3Volume of moving object
If the resistor is integrated within the battery module, then space efficiency is improved, but cooling effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the battery system into distinct functional modules: the battery module containing cells and terminals, and the external short-circuiting device containing the resistor and cooling mechanism. This segmentation allows the cooling device to be specifically optimized for resistor cooling without compromising battery module compactness, as the cooling components are positioned externally where they can access the resistor effectively.
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
Enables rapid detection and mitigation of thermal runaway, ensuring safety by releasing energy externally and cooling the resistor, thereby preventing the spread of overheating or fires to adjacent cells.
Implementation Method 1
a resistor disposed on the cooling device, and in direct or indirect contact with the cooling device
Data Source
AI summary
A battery module system includes a cooling device, a battery module disposed on the cooling device, the battery module being in direct or indirect contact with the cooling device, a sensor attached to the battery module to sense a temperature of the battery module or gas generated from the battery module, a battery management system to output a switching on/off signal with reference to a sensing signal transmitted from the sensor; and an external short-circuiting device connected between the positive electrode and negative electrode of the battery module to induce an external short circuit of the battery module, the external short-circuiting device including: a resistor disposed on the cooling device, the resistor being in direct or indirect contact with the cooling device; and a switch to electrically connect or isolate the battery module to/from the resistor according to the switching on/off signal.