Underbody Battery Pack Venting Layout for Safer Gas Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery packs have a large size, reduced energy density due to additional members, and pose safety risks from gas emission during overheating or fire situations.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design with a vent portion facing the lower side, a pack case exposing the vent, a pack cover with integrated cooling channels and heat sinks, and a safety space below the pack case to guide gas and flame away from the vehicle's occupants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional members such as plate members, top cover, and heat sink are added to the battery pack, then the structural integrity and cooling function are improved, but the total size increases and energy density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The pack case integrates multiple functions: it serves as the structural container, incorporates cooling channels directly into its structure, and includes the vent portion for gas discharge. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate plate members, top cover, and heat sink components, thereby reducing overall battery pack size while maintaining structural integrity and cooling performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The pack case is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides structural support, thermal management through integrated cooling channels, and safety function through the vent portion. This universal design allows a single component to perform multiple roles that traditionally required separate parts, reducing volume while improving reliability.
2Reliability
If additional members such as plate members, top cover, and heat sink are added to the battery pack, then the structural integrity and cooling function are improved, but the energy density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling channels are integrated directly into the pack case structure rather than being separate heat sink components. This integration eliminates additional material layers and reduces the overall volume occupied by cooling infrastructure, thereby increasing the proportion of active battery cells and improving energy density while maintaining effective cooling function.
Solution Approach 2:
The pack case incorporates cooling channels only in the specific locations where thermal management is needed, rather than using a uniform thick-walled structure throughout. This localized approach to cooling functionality minimizes material usage and maximizes the volume available for energy-storing battery cells.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the vent portion faces the upper part of the battery pack, then gas can be discharged, but it poses a safety threat to drivers and passengers
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discharging gas upward toward the passenger compartment, the vent portion is inverted to face downward, directing gas discharge away from drivers and passengers. This inversion of the vent orientation eliminates the safety hazard while maintaining the gas discharge function.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent portion is designed to direct the potentially harmful gas discharge in a direction that benefits safety by away from occupants. The harmful gas release function is converted into a safety feature by orienting the vent downward, transforming what could be a hazard into a protective mechanism.
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
Achieves a more compact structure with increased energy density and improved safety by directing gas and flame away from the vehicle's interior during overheating or fire, enhancing passenger safety and reducing structural damage.
Implementation Method 1
The pack cover may have a cooling channel inside to cool the at least one battery cell
Implementation Method 2
The pack cover may include a bottom heat sink positioned in contact with the at least one battery cell
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes at least one battery cell including a vent portion to force gas out; and a pack case in which the at least one battery cell is accommodated such that the vent portion faces a lower side of the battery pack. The vent portion exposed from the battery pack.