US 12,087,927 B2
Immersion barrier for pouch battery cell thermal runaway mitigation
Ryan P. Hickey, Royal Oak, MI (US); Matthew Swift, Detroit, MI (US); and Goro Tamai, Bloomfield Hills, MI (US)
Assigned to GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Mar. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/697,719.
Prior Publication US 2023/0299379 A1, Sep. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. H01M 10/647 (2014.01); H01M 10/625 (2014.01); H01M 10/6566 (2014.01); H01M 10/6567 (2014.01)
CPC H01M 10/647 (2015.04) [H01M 10/625 (2015.04); H01M 10/6566 (2015.04); H01M 10/6567 (2015.04); H01M 2250/20 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A battery module comprising:
a first pouch battery cell and a neighboring second pouch battery cell;
a dielectric fluid in direct contact with and in circulation over and around each of the first pouch battery cell and the second pouch battery cell;
an immersion barrier positioned between the first pouch battery cell and the second pouch battery cell and defining an opening configured to control passage of the dielectric fluid between the first pouch battery cell and the second pouch battery cell to thereby facilitate localization of a thermal runaway event in the first pouch battery cell by blocking direct transfer of high temperature gases between opposing sides of the first pouch battery cell and the second pouch battery cell via the dielectric fluid and control propagation of the thermal runaway event in the battery module; and
a battery module enclosure surrounded by an external environment and configured to house and retain each of the first pouch battery cell, the second pouch battery cell, the dielectric fluid, and the immersion barrier;
wherein:
the battery module enclosure includes a plurality of lateral walls, a floor section, and a cover section, and wherein the immersion barrier extends to and directly contacts each of the plurality of lateral walls, the floor section, and the cover section, wherein each opening is positioned adjacent to one of the plurality of lateral walls, the floor section, and/or the cover section; and
the passage of the dielectric fluid between the first and second pouch battery cells is allowed solely via the opening.