The present invention is related to a battery device comprising a flame-retardant encapsulant, for protecting equipment of the battery device.
In recent years, the demand for battery devices has increased rapidly all over the world. Efficient batteries are needed in vehicles, in mobile devices and as backup solutions to support necessary functions in case of power failure or cut.
If a battery cell pack, located within the battery device, experiences a critical malfunction, it may go into thermal runaway. In this state combustion gases and flames may develop inside the battery cell pack, which may in turn affect other elements of the battery device. Combustion gases or flames resulting from the thermal runaway of a battery cell pack may lead to the entire battery cell pack or device catching fire or exploding. Further, there is an interest to protect equipment adjacent to the battery device. Hence, it may be of interest to provide a battery device which may protect elements of the battery device from a malfunctioning battery cell pack and/or reducing the risk of the fire propagating from the battery device to equipment adjacent to the battery device.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery device which can insulate the battery cell pack from the battery device. It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide an encapsulation of combustion gases and flames upon a malfunction of the battery cell pack.
To achieve at least one of these objects and other objects, a battery device in accordance with the independent claim is provided. Preferred embodiments are defined by the dependent claims.
According to a first aspect, a battery device is provided. The battery device may comprise a casing, a battery cell pack located within the casing, and a flame-retardant encapsulant. The flame-retardant encapsulant may be located within the casing and placed around the battery cell pack to isolate the casing from the battery cell pack. The encapsulant may form an envelope. The envelope may comprise an outlet coupled to a ventilation space for ventilation of gases and/or heat generated upon a malfunction of the battery cell pack.
The battery cell pack may include a plurality of battery cells. The battery cell pack may also be referred to as cell pack or an assembly of battery cells. Further, by the term “casing”, it is further meant, for example, housing, chassis, frame, enclosure or body.
The encapsulant may comprise a flame-retardant, such as a chemical and/or compound, which may increase the flame retardancy of the encapsulant. The flame retardant may be activated by the presence of an ignition source and is intended to prevent or slow down the further development of ignition.
Further, by the term “flame-retardant” it is further meant, for example, high-temperature resistant. The flame-retardant encapsulant may be able to withstand a temperature of at least 1500° C. for at least 300 seconds.
A malfunction of the battery cell pack may be understood as, for example, a thermal runway of the battery cell pack or of at least one battery cell of the battery cell pack, and/or an ignition of, or by, at least one battery cell of the battery cell pack. A malfunction may increase the temperature and/or pressure inside the encapsulant. The increase in pressure inside the encapsulant may be caused by the propagation of heat and/or the presence of combustion smoke and gases.
The flame-retardant encapsulant may comprise a flame-retardant and/or high-temperature resistant fabric. The fabric may comprise a flame-retardant chemical and/or compound. In general, the encapsulant may also be referred to as a fabric encapsulation.
The casing may comprise a vent. The vent may be arranged through a side of the casing. The outlet may be coupled to the ventilation space via the vent.
By the term “vent”, it is further meant, for example, duct, exit, outlet and/or opening.
Further, in the context of the present disclosure, the casing may comprise a top, a bottom and a number of sides. The number of sides may be any number, for example, one, three, four or more, depending on the geometry of the casing. However, the casing may in most cases have six sides (top, bottom, front, rear and two lateral sides). A side of the casing may therefore be a front side or a rear side of the casing.
The outlet may be hermetically coupled to the vent. The outlet may be substantially hermetically coupled to the vent.
By the term “hermitically coupled” is meant, for example, that combustion smoke and gases, and flames may not exit via the coupling. Further, the outlet may be coupled to the vent such that combustion smoke and gases, and flames may only exit the envelope via the vent.
The ventilation space may include a ventilation bag. The ventilation bag may be coupled to the outlet via the vent.
In some embodiments, the ventilation bag may be arranged outside of the casing. The ventilation bag may be hermetically coupled to the outlet and/or the vent.
Further, the outlet may be coupled to the ventilation bag such that combustion smoke and gases, and flames may only exit from the envelope into the ventilation bag. The ventilation bag may be configured to release air. Further, the ventilation bag may be configured to prevent combustion smoke and gases, and flames from exiting the ventilation bag. The ventilation bag may be coupled to the outlet through the vent.
The ventilation bag may be expandable. In a steady-state (or before any thermal runaway has occurred), the ventilation bag may be arranged in an unexpanded state. The ventilation bag may for example be arranged in an unexpanded state outside of the casing. The ventilation being in an unexpanded state may correspond to the ventilation bag being in a folded state and/or a compressed state.
The ventilation bag may be configured to expand upon the malfunction of the battery cell pack. The ventilation bag may be configured to expand from the unexpanded state to an expanded state upon the malfunction of the battery cell pack. The increase in pressure inside the encapsulant caused by the malfunction may cause the ventilation bag to expand. However, the heated air and/or combustion smoke and gases caused by the malfunction may exit the envelope via the vent, thereby expanding the ventilation bag. The pressure of the envelope and/or the ventilation bag may be kept substantially the same as the ventilation bag is expanding.
The ventilation bag may be arranged inside a compartment at a side of the casing. The compartment may be attached to a side of the casing. Further, the compartment may be pivotally attached to a side of the casing. Additionally, the compartment may be attached to the ventilation bag. The compartment may be arranged at the vent of the casing.
The compartment may be configured to open upon the malfunction of the battery cell pack. The compartment may be configured to open due to the pressure caused by the malfunction of the battery cell pack. Further, the compartment may be pushed and thereby opened by the ventilation bag as the ventilation bag is expanding.
The ventilation space may include an expandable ventilation bag. In some embodiments, the expandable ventilation bag may be coupled to the outlet and arranged inside the casing. The ventilation bag may be in an unexpanded state inside the casing before occurrence of a thermal runaway. The ventilation bag may be configured to expand upon the malfunction of the battery cell pack. Hence, the expandable ventilation bag may be configured to expand inside the casing. Additionally, the expandable ventilation bag may be arranged between the battery cell pack and a vent, or opening, of the casing. The ventilation bag may be configured to expand through the vent, or opening, of the casing, such that the ventilation bag is in an expanded state outside the casing.
A side of the casing may be configured to open upon expansion of the ventilation bag such that the ventilation bag can expand outside of the casing. A side of the casing may be pivotally attached to another side or the remaining of the casing. The side of the casing configured to be opened may be attached to another side by pivoting means (or a pivoting element). The side of the casing configured to open may be closed when the ventilation bag is in an unexpanded state.
The casing may comprise a locking member configured to keep the side of the casing configured to open, closed. The locking member may be configured to release the side of the casing configured to open upon pressure caused by the expansion of the ventilation bag. The locking member may be configured as, for example, a pin, a bump, a protrusion, or an indent. A side, bottom or top of the casing may comprise one or more indents or protrusions corresponding to the locking member, such that, when the side configured to open is in a closed position, the idents or protrusions of the side, bottom or top may lock together with the locking member. Hence, the ventilation bag may start to expand inside the casing. As the ventilation bag continues to expand, the pressure inside the casing may increase to a size large enough for disengaging the locking member, thereby opening the side configured to open.
The ventilation bag may comprise a flame-retardant and/or high-temperature resistant fabric. The ventilation bag may comprise a flame-retardant, such as a chemical and/or compound, which may increase the flame retardancy of the ventilation bag. The ventilation bag may be able to withstand a temperature of at least 1500° C. for at least 300 seconds. The encapsulation and the ventilation bag may comprise the same material(s). Further, the encapsulation and the ventilation bag may be formed together. In other words, the encapsulation and the ventilation bag may be comprised by the same piece of fabric(s).
It is noted that other embodiments using all possible combinations of features recited in the above described embodiments may be envisaged. Thus, the present disclosure also relates to all possible combinations of features mentioned herein.
Exemplifying embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
All the figures are schematic, not necessarily to scale, and generally only show parts which are necessary in order to elucidate embodiments of the present invention, wherein other parts may be omitted or merely suggested. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
The present invention will now be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplifying embodiments are shown. The present inventive concept may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, identical reference numerals denote the same or similar components having a same or similar function, unless specifically stated otherwise.
The battery device 1 shown in
The battery device 1 further comprises a battery cell pack 20. The battery cell pack 20 is located within the casing 10. For illustration purposes, the battery cell pack 20 depicted in
The casing 10 comprises a vent 13 arranged through a back (or rear) side 10a of the casing. The vent 13 shown in
The casing 10 may in some variants further comprise an inlet 11, arranged on another side (for example the back side) of the casing 10. The inlet 11 is configured as a channel arranged through a side of the casing 10. The battery device 1 shown in
The present inventive concept is however not limited to a battery device comprising an inlet 11 such as depicted in
The battery device 1 further comprises a flame-retardant encapsulant 30. The encapsulant 30 is located within the casing 10 and placed around the battery cell pack 20 to isolate the casing 10 from the battery cell pack 20. The encapsulant 30 forms an envelope around the battery cell pack 20. The envelope comprises an outlet 31 coupled to a ventilation space for ventilation of gases and/or heat generated upon a malfunction of the battery cell pack 20.
Further, the battery cell pack 20 and the encapsulant 30 may be tightly arranged inside the casing 10. In general, the battery cell pack 20 and the encapsulant 30 may be designed to fit tightly the inside of the casing. In the embodiment depicted in
In some embodiments, the encapsulant 30 may be in contact with both the casing 10 and the battery cell pack 20. Further, the battery cell pack 20 may be resting on a bottom of the casing 10 with the encapsulant 30 arranged therebetween. In other words, the battery cell pack may be arranged in the casing 10 without the need of any supporting structure and, thus, without requiring any openings in the encapsulant 30 to arrange the battery cell pack 20 inside the casing 10.
The outlet 31 of the encapsulant 30 shown in
A ventilation space may, for example, be a space at a distance from the battery device 1, or a space outside of the casing 10. For example, the vent 13 may be coupled via an auxiliary pipe to a ventilation space located further away from the battery device 1.
The coupling or electrical connections used for providing power supply to and from the battery cell pack of the battery device may be isolated, thereby isolating the casing 10 from the coupling or electrical connections. The encapsulant 30 may for example be formed around the coupling or electrical connections. Further, the encapsulant 30 may for example be formed or attached around the coupling or electrical connections at an opening of the inlet 11 on an inner surface of the casing 10 or at the battery cell pack 20.
The encapsulant 30 may for example be fitted around the coupling or electrical connections to prevent fire propagation. For example, the encapsulant 30 may be tightly fitted around the coupling or electrical connections. Additionally, the encapsulant 30 may be fitted around the coupling or electrical connection by tightening means or a tightening element. By the term “tightening means” or “tightening element”, it is meant, for example, a hose clip, a hose clamp, a snap grip, an O clip, a cable ties, or a flame-retardant adhesive and/or sealant. Further, a plurality of tightening means or tightening elements may be used.
The battery device described with reference to
The cross-section of the battery device 1 shown in
The casing 10 comprises a vent 13 in the form of a pipe arranged through a side of the casing. The encapsulant 30 comprises an outlet 31 coupled through the vent 13 to a ventilation space.
In the embodiment shown in
The embodiment illustrated in
The ventilation bag 40 may have a rectangular cuboid shape, with rounded corners and edges. The ventilation bag 40 comprises an opening on a side of the ventilation bag 40 facing the front side of the casing 10. The opening of the ventilation bag 40 is coupled to the encapsulation (not shown in
Another difference between the embodiment of the battery device 1 shown in
It should be noted that the embodiment illustrated in
The casing 10 further comprises a compartment 12. The compartment 12 is provided as a box with one opened side. In other words, the compartment 12 is configured as a container or a cavity within a side of the casing 10. The compartment 12 may be arranged with its opened side over the vent 13 and may be attached to (or be part of) the side of the casing 10. The ventilation bag 40 may then be arranged inside the compartment 12.
Before any malfunction of the battery cell pack, the ventilation bag 40 is in an unexpanded state inside the compartment 12. The outlet 31 is coupled to the ventilation bag 40 via the vent 13. In the present example, the ventilation bag 40 is configured to expand upon a malfunction of the battery cell pack 20. Further, the compartment 12 is configured to open upon a malfunction of the battery cell pack 20. The compartment 12 may for example be lightly attached to the side of the casing 10. By the term “lightly attached”, it is meant, for example, attached such that the pressure caused by the malfunction of the battery cell pack 20 is sufficient to detach the compartment 12 from the side of the casing 10, hanging from for example pivoting means (or a pivoting element), or resting over the vent 13. For example, the compartment 12 may be pivotally attached along one edge of the opened side of the compartment 12 to the side of the casing 10. According to another example, the compartment 12 may be attached to the ventilation bag 40 such that the compartment 12 is removed from the side of the casing 10 when the ventilation bag 40 expands.
The battery device shown in
In the present embodiment, except for the side at which the ventilation bag is arranged, the battery cell pack 20 and the encapsulant 30 may be tightly arranged with the other sides of the casing 10.
The battery device illustrated in
With reference to
The space may have a reduced size (i.e. it does not need to be as large as that shown in
In the present embodiment, the encapsulation 30 is placed around the battery cell pack 20 and the outlet 31 is coupled to the ventilation bag 40.
An example for providing a side of the casing that can be opened under the pressure of the ventilation bag being expanded (or under expansion) is illustrated in in
In this view, i.e. with the side 10a of the casing 10 being opened, the encapsulant 30, placed around the battery cell pack and arranged inside the casing 10 can be seen. The ventilation bag 40 is coupled to the outlet 31 of the encapsulant 30. The outlet 31 shown in
The expanded ventilation bag 40 has a width, a height and a length. The width, height and length of the expanded ventilation bag 40 shown in
While the present invention has been illustrated in the appended drawings and the foregoing description, such illustration is to be considered illustrative or exemplifying and not restrictive; the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the appended claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2020/069632 | 7/10/2020 | WO |