Traction Battery Guide Means for Fluid Flow Deflection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traction batteries in hybrid and electric vehicles face the risk of thermal runaway due to the transfer of heat from one battery module to adjacent modules, leading to potential chain reactions and failure, as existing solutions lack effective measures to manage the fluid volume flow and heat transfer during thermal events.
Innovation Solution
A traction battery design featuring a guide means that deflects the fluid volume flow emerging from safety valves towards a ventilation element through a venting channel, minimizing heat transfer to adjacent modules and reducing the risk of thermal chain reactions by directing the flow efficiently and reducing pressure losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a thermal event occurs in one battery module, then heat is released and can be transferred to adjacent modules, but this increases the risk of thermal chain reactions and total battery failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and redirects the harmful hot fluid volume flow from the battery module through a dedicated venting channel. The guide means directs the fluid flow away from adjacent battery modules toward a ventilation element, effectively separating the thermal hazard from vulnerable components and preventing heat transfer to neighboring modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The venting channel acts as an intermediary pathway between the safety valve and the external environment. This intermediate structure provides a controlled route for the hot fluid to escape, mediating between the internal thermal event and the external surroundings while protecting adjacent battery modules from direct exposure to the heat.
2Stress or pressure
If safety valves are equipped to release fluid volume flow during thermal events, then pressure is relieved, but the fluid flow can still transfer heat to surrounding components
Solution Approach 1:
The venting channel serves as an intermediary structure that allows pressure relief while controlling the thermal impact. It provides a dedicated pathway for the pressurized hot fluid to escape in a controlled manner, separating the pressure relief function from the thermal hazard to surrounding components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the hot fluid volume flow that carries thermal energy away from the battery module through the venting channel. By directing this fluid flow through a controlled pathway toward the ventilation element, the system removes the thermal hazard from the immediate vicinity of adjacent battery modules while maintaining the pressure relief function.
3Ease of operation
If the guide means is made regularly permeable to allow fluid flow, then the fluid can be directed to ventilation, but this may reduce the structural strength of the guide means
Solution Approach 1:
The guide means is designed with a regularly permeable structure containing multiple openings that allow fluid flow while maintaining structural integrity. This porous-like configuration enables the guide means to direct the hot fluid volume flow toward the ventilation element without compromising its mechanical strength, as the openings are distributed in a pattern that preserves overall structural rigidity.
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 effectively reduces the probability of thermal chain reactions, enhances safety, and maintains the operational capacity of the battery by quickly dissipating heat away from critical modules, thereby preventing fires and explosions.
Implementation Method 1
a guide means, which is regularly permeable at least in part to a designated fluid volume flow, for deflecting a designated fluid volume flow emerging from a safety valve in the direction of the ventilation element
Implementation Method 2
the amount of heat released can be transferred to adjacent battery modules, which means that adjacent battery modules and/or battery cells can also heat up
Implementation Method 3
the fluid volume flow that may be emerging from a battery module
Data Source
AI summary
A traction battery including a battery shell and a plurality of battery modules arranged in the battery shell. Each battery module has a safety valve. The traction battery also includes a battery cover and a ventilation element for aerating and/or venting the traction battery. The traction battery has a guide means, which is regularly permeable, at least in part, to a designated fluid volume flow, for deflecting a designated fluid volume flow emerging in a designated manner from a safety valve in the direction of the ventilation element. The traction battery has a venting channel which extends from the guide means to the ventilation element.