TWM660986U - Thermal runaway prevention for battery modules - Google Patents

Abstract

A battery module for preventing thermal runaway from spreading includes: a battery pack, including a plurality of cells and a battery rack; a metal plate, arranged to surround a plurality of compartments together with the battery rack, and the adjacent compartments are separated by the battery rack; a fireproof expansion material, located in the compartment; and a top cover, arranged to surround a circuit board space together with the battery rack, wherein the battery rack is formed with a pressure relief opening of the compartment, so that the high-temperature objects released by the thermal runaway cells will pass through the compartment, the pressure relief opening, the circuit board space, and the vent holes of the metal plate to the outside. In this way, the pressure is first released, and then oxygen is prevented from assisting combustion, so as to avoid flames, sparks, etc. from spreading to the outside of the chassis, thereby ensuring the safety of surrounding personnel and equipment.

Description

Thermal runaway prevention for battery modules

This invention relates to a battery module, and in particular to a battery module for preventing thermal runaway from spreading.

The demand for high energy density energy storage systems is gradually increasing, such as energy storage for power grids, backup power for data centers, electric vehicles, etc. The battery modules of these energy storage systems have multiple safety requirements depending on the environment in which they are used. When the battery cells of the battery module thermally run away, high-temperature flammable gases and flames will be generated. For battery modules, one of the safety requirements is: in the event of thermal runaway, flames, sparks and other open flames can be effectively prevented from spreading out of the chassis containing the battery module to ensure the overall safety of surrounding devices and personnel.

Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a battery module that prevents thermal runaway from spreading, which can prevent flames, sparks, and other open flames from spreading out of the chassis that accommodates the battery module during thermal runaway.

The technical means adopted by the present invention to solve the problem of the prior art is to provide a battery module for preventing the spread of thermal runaway, comprising: a battery pack, including a plurality of cells and a battery rack, wherein the plurality of cells are arranged in a cell receiving hole of the battery rack; a metal plate, arranged to surround a plurality of compartments together with the battery rack, wherein adjacent compartments are separated by the battery rack, and the opening of the cell receiving hole is located in the compartment; a fireproof expansion material, arranged on the metal plate and The positive terminals of the plurality of battery cells are aligned with the fireproof expansion material in the bulkhead; and the upper cover is configured to surround the circuit board space together with the battery rack, the metal plate has a vent hole, connecting the circuit board space and the outside, wherein the battery rack is formed with a pressure relief opening of the bulkhead, the pressure relief opening is connected to the circuit board space, so that the high-temperature objects released by the battery cells in thermal runaway can pass through the bulkhead, the pressure relief opening, the circuit board space, the vent hole to the outside.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a battery module for preventing the spread of thermal runaway is provided, wherein the circuit board space is separated from a plurality of battery cells by the battery rack.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a battery module for preventing the spread of thermal runaway is provided, wherein the material of the battery frame is a high thermal conductivity plastic.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a battery module for preventing the spread of thermal runaway is provided, which further includes a flame retardant sheet covering the battery pack and the metal plate.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a battery module for preventing the spread of thermal runaway is provided, wherein the circuit board space is located on the radial side of the battery cell.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a battery module for preventing the spread of thermal runaway is provided, wherein two ends of a plurality of battery cells respectively correspond to a metal plate and a partition.

Through the technical means adopted by the battery module of this invention to prevent the spread of thermal runaway, the thermal runaway of the battery cell often sprays various substances from the positive end, and the positive end of the battery cell is aligned with the fireproof expansion material. Since the fireproof expansion material 3 is set on the metal plate and has a distance from the battery cell, when the battery cell sprays, it can first release pressure and release the flame energy. After about five seconds, the fireproof expansion material reacts and expands to cover the opening of the battery cell storage hole to prevent oxygen from assisting combustion. The high-temperature objects released by the battery cell will pass through the partition, the pressure relief opening, the circuit board space, and the vent to the outside, providing a long path. Thus, the thermal runaway-prevention battery module of the invention prevents flames, sparks and other open flames from spreading to the outside of the chassis in multiple ways, thereby protecting the safety of surrounding personnel and equipment.

The following describes the implementation of the present invention based on Figures 1 to 5. The description is not intended to limit the implementation of the present invention, but is an example of the implementation of the present invention.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a battery module 100 for preventing the spread of thermal runaway is applicable to a battery backup unit (BBU) and is installed in a chassis. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the battery module 100 for preventing the spread of thermal runaway includes: a battery pack 1, a metal plate 2, a fireproof expansion material 3, a top cover 4, a flame retardant sheet 5, and a battery management system (BMS) 6.

The battery pack 1 includes a plurality of cells 11, a cell holder 12, and a metal conductive sheet 13. The plurality of cells 11 are arranged in the cell receiving holes of the battery holder 12, and are connected in parallel and/or in series through the metal conductive sheet 13. The cells 11 are lithium-ion batteries. The metal conductive sheet 13 is a nickel sheet. The battery management system 6 manages the charging and discharging of the cells 11. In this embodiment, the material of the battery holder 12 is a high thermal conductivity plastic such as Nate, so as to be able to quickly disperse the heat energy of the high-temperature substance generated during thermal runaway, and the battery holder 12 itself has flame retardancy. The battery rack 12 can quickly lower its temperature by contacting the metal plate 2, thereby reducing the impact of thermal runaway energy on adjacent cells 11 and effectively delaying the runaway time of adjacent cells 11.

As shown in FIG. 2 , in this embodiment, the battery cells 11 are arranged horizontally. The positive ends of some of the battery cells 11 face the first direction d1 and align with the fireproof expansion material 3 on one side, and the positive ends of other battery cells 11 face the second direction d2 and align with the fireproof expansion material 3 on the other side. The first direction d1 and the second direction d2 are opposite to each other.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the two ends of the battery cell 11 each correspond to a metal plate 2. The metal plate 2 is configured to surround a plurality of compartments S1 together with the battery rack 12. Adjacent compartments S1 are separated by the battery rack 12, so that the high-temperature substances released by the battery cell 11 will only directly contact a portion of the battery cell 11. The metal plate 2 is metal to maintain its shape at high temperatures. The opening of the battery cell accommodating hole is located in the compartment S1. The two ends of the battery cell 11 each correspond to a compartment S1.

The fireproof expansion material 3 is attached to the metal plate 2 and is disposed in the bulkhead S1 by pasting. The reaction temperature of the fireproof expansion material 3 is higher than the working temperature of the battery cell 11, but lower than the temperature of the product of thermal runaway of the battery cell 11. Thus, when the high-temperature substance released by the thermal runaway battery cell 11 contacts the fireproof expansion material 3, the volume of the fireproof expansion material 3 expands and covers the opening of the battery cell storage hole. Since the fireproof expansion material 3 is disposed on the metal plate 2 and is spaced from the battery cell 11, when the battery cell 11 erupts, it can first release pressure and release the flame energy. After about five seconds, the fireproof expansion material 3 reacts and expands to cover the opening of the battery cell storage hole to prevent oxygen from assisting combustion.

The upper cover 4 is configured to surround the circuit board space S2 together with the battery rack 12. The battery management system 6 is disposed in the circuit board space S2. The battery rack 12 is formed with a pressure relief opening 121 of the partition S1. The pressure relief opening 121 is connected to the circuit board space S2. When the battery cell 11 sprays, the high-temperature object released by the battery cell 11 will pass through the partition S1 and the pressure relief opening 121 to the circuit board space S2.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 , there is one circuit board space S2 . All the compartments S1 flow through the same circuit board space S2 . The circuit board space S2 is located on the radial side of the battery cell 11 . The circuit board space S2 is separated from the plurality of battery cells 11 by the battery rack 12 . In this embodiment, the circuit board space S2 is disposed above the battery pack 1 .

As shown in FIG. 5 , in the battery module 100 for preventing the spread of thermal runaway according to the embodiment of the present invention, the metal plate 2 has a vent hole 21. The vent hole 21 connects the circuit board space S2 and the outside, so that the high-temperature object released by the battery cell 11 in thermal runaway passes through the partition S1, the pressure relief opening 121, the circuit board space S2, and the vent hole 21 to the outside. The arrow in the figure indicates the direction of pressure relief.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, according to the battery module 100 for preventing the spread of thermal runaway of the embodiment of the present invention, the flame retardant sheet 5 covers the battery pack 1 and the metal plate 2. The flame retardant sheet 5 can be YT516 aramid paper or Mylar film, which has insulating and flame retardant properties. In detail, the flame retardant sheet 5 includes an inner flame retardant sheet 51, a side flame retardant sheet 52 and an end flame retardant sheet 53. The inner flame retardant sheet 51 is a metal conductive sheet 13 arranged to cover the battery pack 1. The side flame retardant sheet 52 and the end flame retardant sheet 53 cover the metal plate 2 and the upper cover 4.

In summary, when the battery cell 11 erupts, it can first release pressure and release the flame energy. After about five seconds, the fireproof expansion material 3 reacts and expands to cover the opening of the battery cell storage hole to prevent oxygen from assisting combustion. The high-temperature object released by the battery cell will pass through the partition S1, the pressure relief opening 121, the circuit board space S2, and the vent 21 to the outside, providing a long path. In this way, the battery module of the invention that prevents the spread of thermal runaway can prevent flames, sparks, and other open flames from spreading to the outside of the chassis in multiple ways, thereby protecting the safety of surrounding personnel and equipment.

The above description and explanation are only the description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Those with ordinary knowledge of this technology can make other modifications according to the scope of the patent application defined below and the above explanation. However, these modifications should still be within the scope of the rights of the present invention for the novel spirit of the present invention.

100: Battery module for preventing thermal runaway from spreading 1: Battery pack 11: Battery cell 12: Battery rack 121: Pressure relief opening 13: Metal conductive sheet 2: Metal plate 21: Ventilation hole 3: Fireproof expansion material 4: Upper cover 5: Flame retardant sheet 51: Internal flame retardant sheet 52: Side flame retardant sheet 53: End flame retardant sheet 6: Battery management system d1: First direction d2: Second direction S1: Bulkhead S2: Circuit board space

[Figure 1] is a three-dimensional schematic diagram showing a battery module for preventing thermal runaway propagation according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] is a three-dimensional schematic diagram showing an explosion of a battery module for preventing thermal runaway propagation according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] is a side cross-sectional schematic diagram showing a battery module for preventing thermal runaway propagation according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] is a top cross-sectional schematic diagram showing a battery module for preventing thermal runaway propagation obtained along the A-A cross-sectional line according to Figure 3 of the present invention; [Figure 5] is a three-dimensional schematic diagram showing a portion of a battery module for preventing thermal runaway propagation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

100: Battery module to prevent thermal runaway spread

4: Upper cover

52: Side flame retardant sheet

53: End flame retardant sheet

S1: Bulkhead

S2: Circuit board space

Claims (6)

A battery module for preventing the spread of thermal runaway comprises: A battery pack, including a plurality of cells and a battery rack, wherein the plurality of cells are arranged in a cell accommodating hole of the battery rack; A metal plate, arranged to surround a plurality of compartments together with the battery rack, wherein adjacent compartments are separated by the battery rack, and the opening of the cell accommodating hole is located in the compartment; A fireproof expansion material, arranged on the metal plate and located in the compartment, wherein the positive terminals of the plurality of cells are aligned with the fireproof expansion material; and An upper cover, arranged to surround a circuit board space together with the battery rack, wherein the metal plate has a vent hole, which connects the circuit board space and the outside, The battery rack is formed with a pressure relief opening of the partition, and the pressure relief opening is connected to the circuit board space, so that the high-temperature object released by the battery cell in thermal runaway will pass through the partition, the pressure relief opening, the circuit board space, and the vent to the outside. A battery module for preventing the spread of thermal runaway as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit board space is separated from the plurality of battery cells by the battery rack. A battery module for preventing the spread of thermal runaway as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material of the battery frame is a high thermal conductivity plastic. The battery module for preventing the spread of thermal runaway as claimed in claim 1 further includes a flame retardant sheet covering the battery pack and the metal plate. A battery module for preventing the spread of thermal runaway as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit board space is located on the radial side of the battery cell. A battery module for preventing the spread of thermal runaway as claimed in claim 1, wherein two ends of a plurality of battery cells respectively correspond to a metal plate and a partition.

Images