Electrochemical cell housing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021135314-A1
Application number	US-202117149329-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 14, 2021
Priority date	Jun 29, 2017
Publication date	May 6, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling the emission of gases and/or flames emitted from one or more electrochemical cells are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, gas emitted from an electrochemical cell located within an interior of an enclosure may be flowed through a flow restriction to reduce a pressure and/or temperature of the gas and/or the gas may be flowed through a catalyst prior to exiting through an outlet of the enclosure.

First claim

1 - 14 . (canceled)

15 . A method of mitigating a venting and/or thermal runaway event of an electrochemical cell, the method comprising:
reducing a pressure and temperature of a gas emitted from the electrochemical cell such that the temperature of the gas is less than an auto-ignition temperature of the gas; and flowing the gas at the reduced pressure and temperature through an outlet of an enclosure that the electrochemical cell is located in.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising exposing the gas emitted from the electrochemical cell to at least one catalyst prior to flowing the gas through the outlet.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the pressure of the gas is reduced by a factor between or equal to 5 and 20.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the temperature of the gas is reduced by a factor between or equal to 2 and 5.

19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising flowing the gas through a tortuous flow path between the interior chamber of the enclosure and the outlet.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising redirecting the gas from a predetermined venting direction of the electrochemical cell towards an inlet to the flow path extending from the interior chamber to the outlet.

21 . The method of claim 15 , wherein reducing the pressure and the temperature of the gas includes flowing the gas through at least one flow restriction.

22 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising exposing the gas emitted from the electrochemical cell to at least one catalyst located upstream from the at least one flow restriction prior to flowing the gas through the outlet, and wherein the at least one catalyst.

23 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising exposing the gas emitted from the electrochemical cell to at least one catalyst located downstream from the at least one flow restriction prior to flowing the gas through the outlet.

24 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising rupturing one or more seals above a threshold pressure, wherein the one or more seals seal the catalyst under a non-oxidizing atmosphere.

25 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one catalyst catalyzes lithium.

26 . A method of mitigating a venting and/or thermal runaway event of an electrochemical cell, the method comprising:
flowing gas emitted from the electrochemical cell through at least one flow restriction; exposing the gas emitted from the electrochemical cell to at least one catalyst; and flowing the gas through an outlet of an enclosure that the electrochemical cell is located in.

27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the at least one catalyst catalyzes lithium.

28 . The method of claim 26 , wherein flowing the gas through the at least flow restriction reduces a pressure and a temperature of the gas.

29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein flowing the gas through the at least flow restriction reduces the temperature of the gas to be less than an auto-ignition temperature of the gas.

30 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the pressure of the gas is reduced by a factor between or equal to 5 and 20.

31 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the temperature of the gas is reduced by a factor between or equal to 2 and 5.

32 . The method of claim 26 , further comprising flowing the gas through a tortuous flow path between an interior chamber of the enclosure and the outlet.

33 . The method of claim 32 , further comprising redirecting the gas from a predetermined venting direction of the electrochemical cell towards an inlet to the flow path extending from the interior chamber to the outlet.

34 . The method of claim 26 , wherein exposing the gas to the at least one catalyst includes exposing the gas to the at least one catalyst upstream from the at least one flow restriction.

35 . The method of claim 26 , wherein exposing the gas to the at least one catalyst includes exposing the gas to the at least one catalyst downstream from the at least one flow restriction.

36 . The method of claim 26 , further comprising rupturing one or more seals above a threshold pressure, wherein the one or more seals seal the catalyst under a non-oxidizing atmosphere.

Assignees

• Sargent Mfg Co

Inventors

• Bryla Mark

Classifications

• H01M50/367

  Internal gas exhaust passages forming part of the battery cover or case; Double cover vent systems · CPC title

• H01M50/3425

  in the form of rupturable membranes or weakened parts, e.g. pierced with the aid of a sharp member · CPC title

• H01M50/394

  Gas-pervious parts or elements · CPC title

• H01M50/392 Primary

  with means for neutralising or absorbing electrolyte; with means for preventing leakage of electrolyte through vent holes · CPC title

• H01M2200/20

  Pressure-sensitive devices · CPC title