Thermal Runaway Shield Module for Battery Cell Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal runaway propagation in energy storage devices, such as lithium-ion batteries, poses a significant risk due to the potential for spontaneous shorting and subsequent explosions, which can cause neighboring cells to also short and explode, leading to uncontrolled heat release and damage.
Innovation Solution
A thermal runaway shield module comprising walls with fibers and an inner cavity that can be filled with an aqueous solution or surfactant, designed to thermally isolate individual cells by converting heat energy into a gaseous state, thereby preventing the propagation of thermal runaway by dissipating heat and isolating adjacent cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If active cooling systems are used to prevent thermal runaway propagation, then thermal protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the thermal protection function from the battery cell itself and places it in a separate shield module. The shield contains phase change material and water reservoir that are independent of the battery's internal cooling systems, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining thermal protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal runaway shield acts as an intermediary barrier between adjacent battery cells. It uses phase change material and water as mediating substances to absorb and transfer heat away from vulnerable cells, providing passive thermal protection without requiring active cooling systems.
2Reliability
If thermal runaway shield modules are added to isolate cells, then thermal protection is improved, but device volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where the thermal runaway shield module is positioned within the battery pack architecture. The shield contains phase change material and water reservoir in a compact arrangement that fits within the existing battery module volume, minimizing additional space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield module uses thin-walled structures and flexible packaging for the water reservoir and phase change material containment. This reduces the overall volume of the shield while maintaining its protective function, allowing it to be integrated into compact battery designs.
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 thermal runaway shield effectively prevents the spread of thermal runaway by thermally isolating individual cells, reducing the risk of adjacent cells overheating and exploding, thus ensuring safer operation of energy storage devices.
Implementation Method 1
converting heat energy into a gaseous state
Implementation Method 2
The inner cavity is filled with a flame retardant material, water, or other liquid that can convert to a gaseous state to prevent thermal runaway propagation
Implementation Method 3
The inner cavity is filled with a flame retardant material, water, or other liquid that can convert to a gaseous state
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal runaway shield (“TRS”) having at least one TRS module. The TRS module comprises a first wall, a second wall, and fibers. The first wall has an exterior side and an interior side. The second wall has an exterior side and an interior side. The fibers are disposed on the interior side of the first wall and on the interior side of the second wall. The first wall is coupled to the second wall forming an inner cavity. The at least one of the exterior side of the first wall and the exterior side of the second wall has a shape for conforming to a shape of at least one energy storage device cell.