Stacked Current Collecting Plates for Battery Thermal Runaway Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery modules face the risk of thermal runaway propagation due to insufficient heat dissipation, where a failed battery cell can cause adjacent cells to overheat, leading to burnout and potential vehicle loss.

Innovation Solution

A current collecting system with stacked, insulated current collecting plates that distribute heat generated by a failed cell to non-adjacent battery cells, using a configuration where each battery cell is connected to a specific current collecting plate with a minimum distance greater than the distance between neighboring cells, and an insulating layer to prevent direct heat transfer between plates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single current collecting plate is used to connect battery cells in parallel, then electrical connectivity is simplified, but heat from a failed cell concentrates on adjacent cells causing thermal runaway propagation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal safetyVSAvoidcurrent collecting system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The current collecting system is divided into multiple stacked current collecting plates (first current collecting plate, second current collecting plate, etc.) that are electrically insulated from each other. Each plate connects to different groups of battery cells, segmenting the heat conduction paths and preventing thermal runaway propagation between adjacent cells.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Insulating layers are introduced as intermediary components between adjacent current collecting plates. These insulating layers block direct thermal conduction between plates while maintaining electrical connectivity within each plate group, thereby preventing heat transfer from failed cells to adjacent cells.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If battery cells are connected in parallel to increase capacity, then energy storage is improved, but heat dissipation becomes insufficient and thermal runaway risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidheat dissipation

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

Battery cells connected in parallel are divided into different groups, with each group connected to a separate current collecting plate. This segmentation creates independent heat dissipation zones, preventing heat concentration and improving overall thermal management while maintaining high capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Power

If current collecting plates are placed close to battery cells for efficient connection, then electrical conductivity is improved, but heat transfer to adjacent cells increases causing thermal runaway

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical conductivityVSAvoidheat transfer

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Insulating layers are positioned between adjacent current collecting plates to act as thermal barriers. These intermediaries block heat transfer between plates while allowing each plate to maintain close proximity to its connected battery cells for efficient electrical conductivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 configuration effectively disperses heat across a wider area, maintaining each battery cell's temperature below the critical threshold and preventing thermal runaway propagation, thereby enhancing safety and reducing the risk of fire.

Implementation Method 1

a first current collecting plate and a second current collecting plate which are insulated from each other... an insulating layer to prevent direct heat transfer between plates

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

heat conduction path such as the negative or positive electrode current collecting plate... effectively disperses heat across a wider area

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11342633B2Current collecting system for battery module, battery module, and vehicle

Publication Date: 2022.05.24 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD

AI summary

A current collecting system for a battery module, a battery module including the same, and a vehicle are disclosed. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the current collecting system includes a first current collecting plate and a second current collecting plate stacked to be insulated from each other, wherein the first current collecting plate is connected to the battery cells of the first group through a plurality of first connectors, respectively, and the second current collecting plate is connected to the battery cells of the second group through a plurality of second connectors, respectively, and wherein a minimum distance between two first connectors in the first current collecting plate and a minimum distance between two second connectors in the second current collecting plate are greater than a distance between any pair of neighboring connectors.