SECONDARY BATTERY

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0118868, filed on October 05, 2018.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relate to a secondary battery.BACKGROUND ART

[0003] Secondary batteries are rechargeable unlike primarily batteries, and also, the possibility of compact size and high capacity is high. Thus, recently, many studies on secondary batteries are being carried out. As technology development and demands for mobile devices increase, the demands for secondary batteries as energy sources are rapidly increasing.

[0004] Secondary batteries are classified into coin type cells, cylindrical type cells, prismatic type cells, and pouch type cells according to a shape of a battery case. In such a secondary battery, an electrode assembly mounted in a battery case is a chargeable and dischargeable power generating device having a structure in which an electrode and a separator are stacked.

[0005] The electrode assembly may be approximately classified into a jelly-roll type electrode assembly in which a separator is interposed between a positive electrode and a negative electrode, each of which is provided as the form of a sheet coated with an active material, and then, the positive electrode, the separator, and the negative electrode are wound, a stacked type electrode assembly in which a plurality of positive and negative electrodes with a separator therebetween are sequentially stacked, and a stack / folding type electrode assembly in which stacked type unit cells are wound together with a separation film having a long length. Among them, the jelly-roll type electrode assembly is widely used because the jelly-roll type electrode assembly has an advantage that it is easily manufactured and has high energy density per weight.

[0006] US 2016 / 126584 A1, JP 2011 171014 A, and US 2013 / 130066 A1 disclose a battery having two cansDISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEM

[0007] One aspect of the prevent invention is to provide a secondary battery that is capable of reducing the number of manufacturing processes and securing reliability such as sealability, as defined in the appended claims.

[0008] Another aspect of the prevent invention is to provide a secondary battery that is disconnected between a can and an electrode assembly when an internal pressure of the battery reaches a critical point or more.TECHNICAL SOLUTION

[0009] A secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention as defined in the appended set of claims, the secondary battery comprises an electrode assembly in which a first electrode, a separator, and a second electrode are alternately stacked to be wound, a can provided with an accommodation part that accommodates the electrode assembly therein, the can comprising a first can and a second can, which have cylindrical shapes opened in a direction facing each other, and an insulator configured to insulate an overlapping portion between the first can and the second can, wherein the first can forms a first electrode terminal that directly contacts an end of the first electrode, and the second can forms a second electrode terminal that directly contacts an end of the second electrode.ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

[0010] According to the present invention, since the two cans are assembled in the press-fitting manner to allow each of the positive electrode and the negative electrode to be connected, the two cans may serve as the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal to simplify the manufacturing process, secure the reliability such as the sealability, and easily manufacture the large-capacity medium and large battery. Therefore, the high productivity and the low manufacturing costs may be realized.

[0011] In addition, according to the present invention, when the internal pressure of the battery reaches the critical point or more, the coupling of the two cans that are press-fitted into and coupled to each other may be released, and the electrode assembly coupled to the two cans may be disconnected. Therefore, when the internal temperature and pressure of the battery suddenly increase due to the overcharging and the external short-circuit of the secondary battery, the coupling of the two cans that are press-fitted into and coupled to each other may be released to perform the safety function such as the current interruption function without the additional safety device.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a temperature analysis of a can in the secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a temperature analysis of a can in a secondary battery according to a related art that is Comparative Example. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0013] The objectives, specific advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the reference numerals are added to the components of the drawings in the present specification with the same numerals as possible, even if they are illustrated in other drawings. Also, the present invention may be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. In the following description of the present invention, the detailed descriptions of related arts which may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention will be omitted.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a secondary battery 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an electrode assembly 110, a can 120 comprising a first can 121 and a second can 122, which accommodate the electrode assembly 110 therein, and an insulator 123 insulating an overlapping portion between the first can 121 and the second can 122.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Hereinafter, the secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the electrode assembly 110 may be a chargeable and dischargeable power generation element and have a structure in which an electrode 113 and the separator 114 are combined to be alternately stacked with each other. Here, the electrode assembly 110 may have a wound shape.

[0019] The electrode 113 may comprise the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112. Also, the separator 114 may separate the first electrode 111 from the second electrode 112 to insulate the first and second electrodes 111 and 112 from each other. Here, each of the first electrode 111 and the second electrode may be provided in the form of a sheet and then be wound together with the separator 114 so as to be formed in a jelly roll type. Here, the electrode assembly 110 may be wound, for example, in a cylindrical shape.

[0020] The first electrode 111 may comprise a first electrode collector 111a and a first electrode active material 111b applied on the first electrode collector 111a. Also, the first electrode 111 may comprises a first electrode non-coating portion 111c that is not coated with the first electrode active material 111b.

[0021] Here, the first electrode 111 may be provided as, for example, a positive electrode and comprise a positive electrode collector (not shown) and a positive electrode active material (not shown) applied on the positive electrode collector. Also, a positive electrode non-coating portion that is not coated with the positive electrode active material may be formed on the first electrode 111.

[0022] For example, the positive electrode collector may be provided as foil made of an aluminum material, and the positive electrode active material may be made of lithium manganese oxide, lithium cobalt oxide, lithium nickel oxide, lithium iron phosphate, or a compound or mixture thereof containing at least one or more of the above-described materials.

[0023] The second electrode 112 may comprise a second electrode collector 112a and a second electrode active material 112b applied on the second electrode collector 112a. Also, the second electrode 112 may comprises a second electrode non-coating portion 112c that is not coated with the second electrode active material 112b.

[0024] Here, the second electrode 112 may be provided as, for example, a negative electrode and comprise a negative electrode collector (not shown) and a negative electrode active material (not shown) applied on the negative electrode collector. Also, a negative electrode non-coating portion that is not coated with the negative electrode active material may be formed on the second electrode 112.

[0025] For example, the negative electrode collector may be provided as foil made of a copper (Cu) or nickel (Ni) material. The negative electrode active material may comprise synthetic graphite, lithium a metal, a lithium alloy, carbon, petroleum coke, activated carbon, graphite, a silicon compound, a tin compound, a titanium compound, or an alloy thereof. Here, the negative electrode active material may further comprise, for example, non-graphite-based SiO (silica) or SiC (silicon carbide).

[0026] The separator 114 may be made of an insulating material, and the first electrode 111, the separator 114, and the second electrode 112 may be alternately stacked. Here, the separator 114 may be disposed between the first electrode 111 and the second electrode on outer surfaces of the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112. Here, the separator 114 may be disposed at the outermost side in a width direction when the electrode assembly 110 is wound.

[0027] Also, the separator 114 may be made of a flexible material. Here, the separator 114 may be made of, for example, a polyolefin-based resin film such as polyethylene or polypropylene having micropores.

[0028] The can 120 may be provided with an accommodation part that accommodates the electrode assembly 110 therein and comprise a first can 121 and a second can 122, which have cylindrical shapes opened in a direction facing each other.

[0029] Here, the first can 121 may be electrically connected to the first electrode 111, and the second can 122 may be electrically connected to the second electrode 112. The first can 121 may directly contact an end of the first electrode 111 to form a first electrode terminal, and the second can 122 may directly contact an end of the second electrode 112 to form a second electrode terminal.

[0030] Also, the first can 121 and the second can 122 may be formed in shape corresponding to each other.

[0031] Also, each of the first can 121 and the second can 122 has the cylindrical shape. The first can 121 has an inner circumferential surface greater than an outer circumferential surface of the second can 122 so that the second can is inserted into the first can 121.

[0032] Furthermore, the first can 121 has one side 121b on which a first connection part 121a closed in one direction C1 is formed and the other side 121c in which a first opening 121d opened in the other direction C2 is formed. The second can 122 has the other side 122c on which a second connection part 122a closed in the other direction C2 is formed and one side 122b in which a second opening (not shown) opened in the one direction C1 is formed. Here, the first electrode 111 has one end connected to the first connection part 121a, and the second electrode 112 has the other end connected to the second connection part 122a. Here, for example, the first electrode non-coating portion 111c of the first electrode 111 may directly contact the first connection part 121a, and the second electrode non-coating portion 112c of the second electrode 112 may directly contact the second connection portion 122a.

[0033] For example, the first can 121 disposed at the outside may comprise aluminum (Al), and the second can 122 disposed at the inside may comprise steel. Here, the second can 122 may be made of steel coated with nickel (Ni).

[0034] Here, the first electrode 111 may be provided as a positive electrode, and the second electrode 112 may be provided as a negative electrode.

[0035] A length L1 of the electrode assembly 110 in a longitudinal direction L is greater than a length L2 of the second can 122 in the longitudinal direction L. Thus, an end of the second can 122 may not contact the first connection part 121a. Thus, it may be unnecessary that the insulator 123 surrounds an end of the second can 122 so as to easily prevent short circuit from occurring and prevent the end of the second can 122 from contacting the first connection part 121a.

[0036] A length V of an overlapping section between the first can 121 and the second can 122 is longer than a diameter r1 of the first can 121 and a diameter r2 of the second can 122. Thus, reliability such as sealability may be secured.

[0037] For example, the length of the first can 121 may be 70% or more of the length of the second can 122. Specifically, for example, the length of the overlapping section between the first can 121 and the second can 122 may be 70% or more and less than 100% of the total length of the can 120.

[0038] More specifically, for example, each of the lengths of the first can 121 and the second can 122 in the longitudinal direction L may be in a range of 100 mm to 250 mm. A length L3 of the can 120 to which the first can 121 and the second can 122 are coupled may also be in a range of 100 mm to 250 mm. Also, each of the diameters r1 and r2 of the first can 121 and the second can 122 may be in a range of 40 mm to 60 mm. When satisfying the above-described ranges, heat may be effectively dissipated, and the reliability such as the sealability may be secured.

[0039] The insulator 123 may comprise an insulating material to insulate the overlapping portion between the first can 121 and the second can 122.

[0040] Furthermore, the insulator 123 may comprise an insulating polymer. In this case, the insulating polymer may be, for example, a polymer. Here, the polymer may comprise, for example, any one of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0041] Also, the insulator 123 may be provided on an outer circumferential surface of the second can 122 in the form of one of tubing, wrapping, or coating.

[0042] For example, the tubing form may be a form in which the insulator 123 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the second can 122 in the form of a tube, and the wrapping form may be a form in which the outer circumferential surface of the second can 122 is wrapped by the insulator 123. In addition, the coating form may be a form in which a coating layer is formed by applying an insulating material on the outer circumferential surface of the second can 122.

[0043] Here, the first can 121 and the second can 122 may be coupled to each other in a press-fitting manner. That is, the second can 122 provided with the insulator 123 on the outer circumferential surface thereof may be press-fitted into and coupled to an inner circumferential surface of the first can 121.

[0044] In the secondary battery 100 configured as described above according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first can 121 and the second can 122 may be assembled in the press-fitting manner to allow the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112 to be connected to each other. Thus, the first can 121 and the second can 122 may serve as a first electrode terminal and a second electrode terminal to simplify the assembly, secure the reliability such as the sealability, and easily manufacture a large-capacity medium and large battery. Therefore, high productivity and low manufacturing costs may be realized.

[0045] When the internal pressure of the secondary battery 100 reaches the critical point or more, the coupling of the first can 121 and the second can 122, which are coupled to each other in the press-fitting manner, may be released, and the electrode assembly 110 coupled to the first can 121 and the second can 122 may be disconnected. That is, when the internal pressure of the battery reaches the critical point or more, the first can 121 and the second can 122 may be subjected to pressures by which the first can 121 and the second can 122 are spaced apart from each other. As a result, the first can 121 may move in one direction C1, and the second can 122 may move in the other direction C2 to release the press-fitted coupling between the first can 121 and the second can 122. Here, ends of the first electrode 111 and the second electrode 112, which directly contact the first can 121 and the second can 122, and the first can 121 or the second can 122 may be disconnected to interrupt the current. Therefore, when the internal temperature and pressure of the battery suddenly increase due to the overcharging and the external short-circuit of the secondary battery 100, the coupling of the first can 121 and the second can 122, which are press-fitted into and coupled to each other, may be released to perform a safety function such as the current interruption function without an additional safety device.

[0046] Hereinafter, a secondary battery according to another embodiment will be described.

[0047] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 4, a secondary battery 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises an electrode assembly 210, a can 120 comprising a first can 221 and a second can 222, which accommodate the electrode assembly 210 therein, and an insulator 223 insulating an overlapping portion between the first can 221 and the second can 222.

[0049] The secondary battery 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention is different from the secondary battery according to the foregoing embodiment in materials of the first can 221 and the second can 222 and polarities of the first electrode 211 and the second electrode 212. Thus, contents of this embodiment, which are duplicated with those according to the forgoing embodiment, will be briefly described, and also, differences therebetween will be mainly described.

[0050] In more detail, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, in the secondary battery 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention, the electrode assembly 210 forms a structure in which the electrodes 213 and a separator 214 are alternately stacked. Here, the electrode assembly 210 may have a wound shape.

[0051] The electrode 213 may comprise the first electrode 211 and the second electrode 212.

[0052] The first electrode 211 may comprise a first electrode collector 211a and a first electrode active material 211b applied on the first electrode collector 211a. Also, the first electrode 211 may comprises a first electrode non-coating portion 211c that is not coated with the first electrode active material 211b.

[0053] The second electrode 212 may comprise a second electrode collector 212a and a second electrode active material 212b applied on the second electrode collector 212a. Also, the second electrode 212 may comprises a second electrode non-coating portion 212c that is not coated with the second electrode active material 212b.

[0054] The can 220 may be provided with an accommodation part that accommodates the electrode assembly 210 therein and comprise the first can 221 and the second can 222, which have cylindrical shapes opened in a direction facing each other.

[0055] Here, the first can 221 may be electrically connected to the first electrode 211, and the second can 222 may be electrically connected to the second electrode 212.

[0056] Also, each of the first can 221 and the second can 222 may have the cylindrical shape. The first can 221 may have an inner circumferential surface greater than an outer circumferential surface of the second can 222 so that the second can is inserted into the first can 221.

[0057] Furthermore, the first can 221 may have one side 221b on which a first connection part 221a closed in one direction C1 may be formed and the other side 221c in which a first opening 221d opened in the other direction C2 is formed. The second can 222 may have the other side 222c on which a second connection part 222a closed in the other direction C2 is formed and one side 222b in which a second opening (not shown) opened in the one direction C1 is formed. Here, the first electrode 211 may have one end connected to the first connection part 221a, and the second electrode 212 may have the other end connected to the second connection part 222a. Here, for example, the first electrode non-coating portion 211c of the first electrode 211 may directly contact the first connection part 221a, and the second electrode non-coating portion 212c of the second electrode 212 may directly contact the second connection portion 222a.

[0058] For example, the first can 221 disposed at the outside may comprise steel, and the second can 222 disposed at the inside may comprise aluminum. Here, the first can 221 may be made of steel coated with nickel (Ni).

[0059] Here, the first electrode 211 may be provided as the negative electrode, and the second electrode 212 may be provided as the positive electrode.

[0060] The insulator 223 may comprise an insulating material to insulate the overlapping portion between the first can 221 and the second can 222.<Manufacturing Example>

[0061] FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a temperature analysis of the can in the secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0062] Referring to FIG. 6(a), a can comprising a first can and a second can, which have cylindrical shapes opened in a direction facing each other, was manufactured. Here, the first can disposed at the outside was made of aluminum, and the second can disposed at the inside was made of steel. Here, the first can has a thickness of 0.2 t (t=0.1 mm), and the second can has a thickness of 0.2 t.

[0063] Also, an insulator for insulating an overlapping portion between the first can and the second can was provided. Here, the insulator was made of a polymer material and formed to have a thickness 0.1 t (t=0.1mm).

[0064] Also, the outer can, which is the first can, was formed to have a length of 200 mm, the inner can, which is the second can, was formed to have a length of 199 mm, and the insulator was formed to have a length of 195 mm. In FIG. 6 (a), a blue color represents the inner can (second can), a purple color represents the outer can (first can), and a gray color represents the insulator.<Comparative Example>

[0065] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a temperature analysis of a can in a secondary battery according to a related art that is Comparative Example.

[0066] Referring to FIG. 7(a), the secondary battery was manufactured in the same method as that of Manufacturing Example except for an outer can has a length of 120 mm, an inner can has a length of 120 mm, and an insulator has a length of 50 mm. In FIG. 7 (a), a blue color represents the inner can, a purple color represents the outer can, and a gray color represents the insulator.<Experimental Example>

[0067] The temperature analysis was shown in FIGS. 6(b) and 7(b) by setting an initial temperature at 50°C.

[0068] Here, natural convection conditions were given only to a circumference (the purple color) of the outer can to compare time-varying temperatures.

[0069] As a result of the experiment, after 3,600 seconds, a maximum temperature of the can having the structure shown in Manufacturing Example was 39°C, but a maximum temperature of the can in Comparative Example was 43°C. As a result, it may be confirmed that the can structure proposed in Manufacturing Example is excellent in terms of heat dissipation characteristics.

[0070] Furthermore, the scope of protection of the present invention will be clarified by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A secondary battery comprising: an electrode assembly (110) in which a first electrode, a separator, and a second electrode are alternately stacked and have a wound shape; a can (120) provided with an accommodation part that accommodates the electrode assembly therein, the can comprising a first can (121) and a second can (122), which have cylindrical shapes opened in a direction facing each other; and an insulator (123) configured to insulate an overlapping portion between the first can (121) and the second can (122), wherein the first can (121) forms a first electrode terminal that directly contacts an end of the first electrode (111); the second can (122) forms a second electrode terminal that directly contacts an end of the second electrode (112); each of the first can (121) and the second can (122) has the cylindrical shape, and an inner circumferential surface of the first can (121) is greater than an outer circumferential surface of the second can (122) so that the second can (122) is inserted into the first can (121); the first can (121) has one side at which a first connection part (121a) that is closed in one direction is formed and the other side in which a first opening (121d) that is opened in the other direction is formed, and the second can (122) has one side in which a second opening that is opened in one direction is formed and the other side at which a second connection part (122a) that is closed in the other direction is formed, and the first electrode (111) has one end that is directly connected to the first connection part (121a), and the second electrode (112) has the other end that is directly connected to the second connection part (122a); and a length (L1) from the first electrode to the second electrode of the electrode assembly (110) in a longitudinal direction is greater than that of the second can (122) in a longitudinal direction.

2. The secondary battery of claim 1, wherein the insulator (123) comprises an insulating polymer.

3. The secondary battery of claim 1, wherein the first can (121) and the second can (122) have shapes corresponding to each other.

4. The secondary battery of claim 1, wherein the insulator (123) is provided on an outer circumferential surface of the second can (122) in the form of any one of tubing, wrapping, and coating.

5. The secondary battery of claim 4, wherein the first can (121) and the second can (122) are coupled to each other in a press-fitting manner.

6. The secondary battery of claim 1, wherein the first can (121) comprises aluminum, and the second can (122) comprises steel.

7. The secondary battery of claim 6, wherein the first electrode (111) is provided as a positive electrode, and the second electrode (112) is provided as a negative electrode.

8. The secondary battery of claim 1, wherein the first can (121) comprises steel, and the second can (122) comprises aluminum.

9. The secondary battery of claim 1, wherein an overlapping section between the first can (121) and the second can (122) has a length greater than a diameter of each of the first can (121) and the second can (122).

10. The secondary battery of claim 1, wherein a length of the first can (121) is 70% or more of a length of the second can (122).

11. The secondary battery of claim 10, wherein a length of an overlapping section between the first can (121) and the second can (122) is 70% or more and less than 100% of a total length of the can.

12. The secondary battery of claim 11, wherein a length of each of the first can (121) and the second can (122) in a longitudinal direction is in a range of 100 mm to 250 mm, a length of can, to which the first can (121) and the second can ()122 are coupled, in a longitudinal direction is in a range of 100 mm to 250 mm, and a diameter of each of the first can (121) and the second can (122) is in a range of 40 mm to 60 mm.