Apparatus and method for initiating thermal runaway in a battery
US11387507B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 18, 2018 |
| Grant date | Jul 12, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 30, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P70/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method for initiating thermal runaway in a battery cell are provided. The apparatus and method may be used in safety research of battery cells and packs to initiate thermal runaway. The apparatus comprises a resistive heating element for positioning in thermal contact with the battery cell for transferring heat to a region of the battery cell. An energy source is electrically coupled to the resistive heating element. A switch selectively forms a circuit to send a current pulse through the resistive heating element to generate a power pulse at the resistive heating element to heat the region of the battery cell for initiating thermal runaway. Alternatively, the heating element is heated and held at a predetermined temperature until thermal runaway is initiated. The heat generation rate may be designed to be comparable to that of an internal short circuit within a cell, which is much faster than many existing slow heating methods used to initiate thermal runaway.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.