A battery pack includes: a case; a plurality of batteries housed in the case; at least one of a heat-insulating material or an endothermic material disposed between the plurality of batteries; and a fire extinguisher disposed in the case. The heat-insulating material suppresses heat transfer to adjacent batteries when a battery is ignited. The heat-insulating material also blocks heat after the fire is extinguished by the action of the fire extinguisher.

A battery pack includes: a case; a plurality of batteries housed in the case; at least one of a heat-insulating material or an endothermic material disposed between the plurality of batteries; and a fire extinguisher disposed in the case. The heat-insulating material suppresses heat transfer to adjacent batteries when a battery is ignited. The heat-insulating material also blocks heat after the fire is extinguished by the action of the fire extinguisher.

A battery including a heat absorbing layer that has a large endotherm per unit volume. The battery comprises at least one heat absorbing layer, the at least one heat absorbing layer comprising an inorganic hydrate and at least one organic heat absorbing material selected from the group consisting of a sugar alcohol and a hydrocarbon.

A battery pack assembly includes a container assembly that holds a mixture of agents. The container assembly configured to release the mixture of agents in response to a thermal event proximate the container assembly. The mixture of agents can include sodium silicate granules, one or more ceramic-based beads, aluminum oxide particles, melamine poly (zinc phosphate), and aluminum tri-hydrate.

A battery pack assembly includes a container assembly that holds a mixture of agents. The container assembly configured to release the mixture of agents in response to a thermal event proximate the container assembly. The mixture of agents can include sodium silicate granules, one or more ceramic-based beads, aluminum oxide particles, melamine poly (zinc phosphate), and aluminum tri-hydrate.

A battery pack system for inhibiting thermal runaway includes a stack of battery cells wherein each battery cell has a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and side edges extending from the first end to the second end and wherein at least one of the side edges of each battery cell are adjacent to at least one side edge of another of the battery cells, a thermochemical material that undergoes endothermic reaction at temperatures above 50 C., the thermochemical material being located (a) within the stack of battery cells and exterior to battery cells or (b) adjacent to the stack of battery cells, or (c) both.

A battery pack system for inhibiting thermal runaway includes a stack of battery cells wherein each battery cell has a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and side edges extending from the first end to the second end and wherein at least one of the side edges of each battery cell are adjacent to at least one side edge of another of the battery cells, a thermochemical material that undergoes endothermic reaction at temperatures above 50 C., the thermochemical material being located (a) within the stack of battery cells and exterior to battery cells or (b) adjacent to the stack of battery cells, or (c) both.

A battery module includes a cell stack having a plurality of battery cells; and a phase change preheater disposed on the cell stack. The phase change preheater contains a phase change material that causes a phase change as crystal nuclei are formed, and accordingly causes an exothermic reaction.

A battery module includes a cell stack having a plurality of battery cells; and a phase change preheater disposed on the cell stack. The phase change preheater contains a phase change material that causes a phase change as crystal nuclei are formed, and accordingly causes an exothermic reaction.

Described herein are two-stage catalytic heating systems and methods of operating thereof. A system comprises a first-stage catalytic reactor and a second-stage catalytic reactor, configured to operate in sequence and at different operating conditions, For example, the first-stage catalytic reactor is supplied with fuel and oxidant at fuel-rich conditions. The first-stage catalytic reactor generates syngas. The syngas is flown into the second-stage catalytic reactor together with some additional oxidant. The second-stage catalytic reactor operates at fuel-lean conditions and generates exhaust. Splitting the overall fuel oxidation process between the two catalytic reactors allows operating these reactors away from the stoichiometric fuel-oxidant ratio and avoiding excessive temperatures in these reactors. As a result, fewer pollutants are generated during the operation of two-stage catalytic heating systems. For example, the temperatures are maintained below 1.000 C. at all oxidation stages.