Stepped Battery Pack Venting Through Integrated Cooling Passages

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery packs face challenges in efficiently discharging gas from battery cells without the use of additional ribs or ducts, which can compromise energy density and cooling efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The battery pack design incorporates a stepped arrangement of battery cells with height difference spaces and gas discharge holes, allowing for emission or discharge passages without additional structural elements, and a cooling fluid is used to cool the cells within a case that accommodates both the cells and the fluid.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional ribs or ducts are used for gas discharge passages, then gas discharge function is improved, but device complexity and energy density are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas discharge functionVSAvoidstructural elements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gas discharge passages are merged with the cooling fluid passages, eliminating the need for separate ducts. The case structure integrates both cooling and gas discharge functions into a unified passage system, reducing structural complexity while maintaining effective gas discharge capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling fluid passages serve dual functions: cooling the battery cells and providing gas discharge pathways. This multi-functional design eliminates dedicated gas discharge ducts, reducing device complexity while ensuring reliable gas discharge through the same passages that circulate cooling fluid.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If additional ribs or ducts are used for gas discharge passages, then gas discharge function is improved, but energy density is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas discharge functionVSAvoidenergy density

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The gas discharge passages are merged with the cooling fluid passages, eliminating the need for separate ducts. The case structure integrates both cooling and gas discharge functions into a unified passage system, reducing structural complexity while maintaining effective gas discharge capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling fluid passages serve dual functions: cooling the battery cells and providing gas discharge pathways. This multi-functional design eliminates dedicated gas discharge ducts, reducing device complexity while ensuring reliable gas discharge through the same passages that circulate cooling fluid.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If battery cells are arranged in stepped manner with height difference spaces, then gas discharge efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas discharge efficiencyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The battery cells are arranged in an asymmetric stepped configuration with different heights, creating height difference spaces that facilitate gas discharge. This asymmetric arrangement optimizes gas flow pathways while the case structure is designed to accommodate this specific configuration, balancing manufacturing feasibility with discharge efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The stepped arrangement introduces a vertical dimension variation to the battery cell configuration, creating height difference spaces that provide additional gas discharge pathways. This three-dimensional arrangement improves gas discharge efficiency by utilizing vertical space differentiation while maintaining manufacturability through standardized cell positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 energy density by eliminating unnecessary space and improves cooling efficiency, ensuring effective gas discharge and thermal management within the battery pack.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling fluid to cool the battery cells are configured to be accommodated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

first end portion of the second battery cell may have a gas discharge hole

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11742534B2Battery pack

Publication Date: 2023.08.29 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD

AI summary

A battery pack includes: battery cells including first battery cells and second battery cells, each of the first and second battery cells including a first end portion and a second end portion that are opposite each other in a length direction of the respective battery cell, adjacent first end portions being arranged in a stepped manner; and a case providing an accommodation space in which the battery cells and a cooling fluid to cool the battery cells are configured to be accommodated, the case including a first cover covering the first end portions of the battery cells, the first cover being arranged along a height difference between the first end portions of the first and second battery cells and defining a height difference space, corresponding to the height difference, on an outer side of the first cover.