Solid Battery Fire Barrier for Liquid Cell Modules

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing battery modules with liquid and solid batteries are prone to fire spread between adjacent liquid batteries due to air flow, even when all-solid batteries are alternately arranged, posing a safety risk.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a larger solid battery unit cell in contact with or surrounding the liquid battery to act as a barrier, utilizing either inorganic or organic solid electrolytes, and arranging multiple solid batteries in succession to prevent fire spread, with the solid batteries having a larger volume than the liquid batteries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If liquid batteries are alternately arranged with all-solid batteries, then fire spread between liquid batteries is suppressed, but air flow still allows fire to spread beyond solid batteries to other liquid batteries

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire suppression between liquid batteriesVSAvoidfire spread through air flow

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a solid battery as an intermediary barrier between liquid batteries. This solid battery unit physically blocks the direct path of fire spread through air flow, acting as a mediator that interrupts the harmful effect while maintaining the alternating arrangement structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The solid battery unit functions as a protective barrier (similar to a shell or film) that separates and protects the liquid batteries from each other. This barrier prevents fire and hot gases from directly contacting adjacent liquid batteries, effectively containing the harmful effects within a localized area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If solid batteries are used as barriers between liquid batteries, then fire spread is prevented, but the solid batteries occupy additional space and increase device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire barrier functionVSAvoidbattery module structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The solid battery units serve multiple functions simultaneously: they act as fire barriers between liquid batteries, provide structural support for the module, and contribute to the overall energy storage capacity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate protective structures, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the protective barrier function with the energy storage function by using solid batteries that serve both as fire barriers and as functional energy storage units. This combination eliminates the need for dedicated protective structures, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining safety functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11050108B2Battery module that comprises liquid battery and solid battery

Publication Date: 2021.06.29 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

A battery module includes a first liquid battery and a first solid battery. The first liquid battery is a unit cell. The first solid battery is a unit cell that has a larger volume than a volume of the first liquid battery.