Method and Apparatus to Prevent Cell-to-cell Thermal-runaway Propagation
A battery module comprises at least two energy storage cells arranged in a row to form a block of cells. Each energy storage cell has a pair of electrical terminals. The block of cells is arranged such that the electrical terminals are all on a first side of the block of cells. An intumescent insulating sheet is disposed on the first side of the block of cells, and a high-temperature-resistant sheet is disposed on the first side of the block of cells over the intumescent insulating sheet.
1 . A battery module, comprising:
at least two energy storage cells arranged in a row to form a block of cells, each energy storage cell having a pair of electrical terminals, the block of cells arranged such that the electrical terminals are all on a first side of the block of cells;
an intumescent insulating sheet disposed on the first side of the block of cells; and
a high-temperature-resistant sheet disposed on the first side of the block of cells over the intumescent insulating sheet.
2 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the intumescent insulating pad and the high-temperature-resistant sheet each has apertures configured to facilitate access to the pairs of electrical terminals.
3 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein each pair of adjacent cells of the block of cells is separated by a temperature-insulating pad.
4 . The battery module of claim 3 , wherein the temperature-insulating pad is fabricated of a material that is sufficiently compressible to accommodate expansion of the energy storage cell over a service life of the energy storage cell.
5 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the intumescent insulating sheet and the high-temperature-resistant sheet each has an aperture to facilitate gas escaping from the energy storage cells.
6 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein each cell of the block of cells is in thermal contact with a heatsink.
7 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the intumescent insulating sheet is draped over the energy storage cells.
8 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the intumescent insulating sheet is fabricated from an inflexible material molded to fit onto the first side of the block of cells.
9 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the high-temperature-resistant sheet is draped over the intumescent insulating sheet.
10 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the high-temperature-resistant sheet is fabricated from an inflexible material molded to fit over the intumescent insulating sheet.
11 . The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the high-temperature-resistant sheet comprises silicone.
12 . A method of mitigating a thermal-runaway condition in a battery of energy storage cells, comprising:
disposing an intumescent insulating sheet on a first side of the block of cells; and
disposing a high-temperature-resistant sheet on the first side of the block of cells over the intumescent insulating sheet.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising incorporating apertures in the intumescent insulating sheet and the high-temperature-resistant sheet configured to facilitate access to the pairs of electrical terminals.
14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising separating each pair of adjacent energy storage cells of the block of cells by a temperature-insulating pad.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the temperature-insulating pad is fabricated of a material that is sufficiently compressible to accommodate expansion of the energy storage cell over a service life of the energy storage cell.
16 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising providing an aperture in each of the intumescent insulating sheet and the high-temperature-resistant sheet to facilitate gas escaping from the energy storage cells.
17 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising thermally coupling each cell of the block of cells to a heatsink.
18 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising draping the intumescent insulating sheet over the energy storage cells.
19 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising fabricating the intumescent insulating sheet from an inflexible material molded to fit onto the first side of the block of cells.
20 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising draping the high-temperature-resistant sheet over the intumescent insulating sheet.
21 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising fabricating the high-temperature-resistant sheet from an inflexible material molded to fit over the intumescent insulating sheet.