Thermal barrier assemblies for traction battery packs
Thermal barrier assemblies are provided for traction battery packs. An exemplary thermal barrier assembly may be configured to block or even prevent thermal energy associated with a battery thermal event from moving from cell-to-cell, compartment-to-compartment, and/or cell stack-to-cell stack within the traction battery pack. The thermal barrier assembly may include features such as a protective housing and a thermal insulating barrier provided within the protection housing. The protecting housing may be made of a metallic, ceramic, or polymeric material, for example. The thermal insulating barrier may include an aerogel, a foam, or an inorganic paper, for example.
1 . A traction battery pack, comprising:
a cell stack including a plurality of battery cells stacked between a first cross-member beam and a second cross-member beam,
wherein the first cross-member beam is positioned adjacent to a third cross-member beam of a second cell stack, and a venting passageway extends between the first cross-member beam and the third cross-member beam; and
a thermal barrier assembly arranged between a first battery cell and a second battery cell of the plurality of battery cells,
wherein the thermal barrier assembly includes a protective housing and a thermal insulating barrier that is disposed within the protective housing,
wherein the thermal insulating barrier includes an aerogel material, a foam material, or an inorganic paper.
2 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein the protective housing is comprised of a stainless steel foil, and the thermal insulating barrier includes the aerogel material.
3 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein the thermal barrier assembly further includes a fin.
4 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 3 , wherein a first fin section of the fin is disposed inside the protective housing, and a second fin section of the fin extends outside of the protective housing.
5 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 4 , wherein the second fin section extends at a transverse angle relative to the first fin section and is fixedly secured to an enclosure cover of the traction battery pack.
6 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 3 , wherein the fin is completely outside of the protective housing.
7 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein the protective housing is comprised of stainless steel, and the thermal insulating barrier includes the aerogel material.
8 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 7 , comprising a thermal fin that is mounted to the protective housing and to an enclosure cover of the traction battery pack.
9 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein the protective housing is comprised of stainless steel, and the thermal insulating barrier includes the inorganic paper having a honeycomb core.
10 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein the protective housing is comprised of a mica material, and the thermal insulating barrier includes the inorganic paper having a honeycomb core.
11 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein the protective housing is comprised of a polymeric material, and the thermal insulating barrier includes the aerogel material or the foam material.
12 . The traction battery pack as recited in claim 1 , wherein a vertically upper side of the venting passageway is established by an enclosure cover of the traction battery pack, and a vertically lower side of the venting passageway is established by a heat exchanger plate of the traction battery pack.
13 . A traction battery pack, comprising:
a cell stack including a plurality of battery cells; and
a thermal barrier assembly arranged between a first battery cell and a second battery cell of the plurality of battery cells,
wherein the thermal barrier assembly includes a protective housing and a thermal insulating barrier that is disposed within the protective housing,
wherein the thermal insulating barrier includes an aerogel material, a foam material, or an inorganic paper,
wherein an L-shaped fin extends from a first side of the protective housing and is secured directly to an enclosure cover of the traction battery pack, and a locator extends from a second, opposite side of the protective housing and is received within a slot of a heat exchanger plate of the traction battery pack.
14 . A traction battery pack, comprising:
a heat exchanger plate;
a cell stack positioned to interface with the heat exchanger plate;
a thermal barrier assembly arranged between a first battery cell and a second battery cell of the cell stack;
the thermal barrier assembly includes a protective housing and a thermal insulating barrier that is encapsulated inside the protective housing;
the thermal insulating barrier includes an inorganic paper having a honeycomb core; and
the protective housing includes a locator received within a slot of the heat exchanger plate for locating the thermal barrier assembly relative to the heat exchanger plate.