POUCH CONTAINMENT SYSTEM FOR THERMAL PROTECTION USING FOLDED AIRBAG AMPLIFICATION AND EXPANSION PATTERNS
This disclosure describes a battery device with at least two battery cells and a stainless-steel foil pouch with folded amplification and expansion patterns located between the battery cells. The metal foil pouch holds a liquid and/or chemicals that prevent and/or delay thermal propagation.
1 - 10 . (canceled)
11 . A method, comprising:
configuring a metal barrier with sealed chamber that expands according to temperature;
folding the metal barrier; and
placing the folded metal barrier between a plurality of battery cells.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the folded metal barrier is operable to separate cylindrical battery cells or prismatic battery cells.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the method comprises generating curvature during inflation of the sealed chamber when a thermal event occurs.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein folds of the folded metal barrier are orthogonally aligned to the principal axes of heat flow between the plurality of battery cells.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the metal barrier comprises one or more of titanium, stainless steel, and copper.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the folded metal barrier is constructed as a rollable strip, and the method comprises trimming the folded metal barrier for custom module geometries.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein folds of the folded metal barrier comprise thermally reactive joints that accelerate expansion upon heating.
18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein unfolding is assisted by a chemical phase change within the sealed chamber.
19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the expansion is initiated by water or water-based fluids within the sealed chamber configured to vaporize within 100-500 milliseconds of an onset of a thermal event.
20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the folded metal barrier comprises a plurality of fluid filled chambers.