Accumulator Arrangement with Elastic Compensating Component
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Despite advanced accumulator technology, electric and hybrid vehicles face slow market acceptance due to limitations in weight, cost, and functionality of existing accumulator arrangements, particularly in prismatic-shaped cells that do not effectively accommodate changes in state of charge.
Innovation Solution
An accumulator arrangement featuring prismatic-shaped electrochemical cells with an elastically deformable compensating component to adjust thickness changes, securely fixing cells in a housing or frame while allowing for necessary movements, and a method for producing this arrangement with adjustable pretensioning elements to optimize weight and manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If lightweight thin-walled individual cell housings are used to reduce weight and manufacturing costs, then the accumulator arrangement's weight and costs are reduced, but the individual cells become more susceptible to damage from vibration loads and thickness changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by introducing a compensating component with elastic elements (springs or elastomers) that预先 absorbs and cushions the mechanical stresses and thickness changes experienced by individual cells. This elastic compensation mechanism protects the lightweight thin-walled cell housings from damage caused by vibration loads and SOC-induced thickness variations, allowing the use of lighter materials without compromising reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If individual cells are allowed to change thickness freely with state of charge, then the cells can operate with optimized lightweight housings, but the series arrangement experiences mechanical instability and positioning errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by allowing the compensating component's elastic elements to dynamically change their compression state in response to individual cell thickness variations. As cells expand or contract with state of charge, the elastic elements compress or extend accordingly, maintaining constant pretensioning force and stabilizing the series arrangement's mechanical composition while accommodating the necessary thickness adaptability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid fixing of individual cells is used to ensure stable positioning, then mechanical stability is improved, but the cells cannot accommodate thickness changes during charge discharge cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing rigid fixing with a dynamic compensating mechanism. The compensating component with elastic elements continuously adapts its configuration in response to cell thickness changes, maintaining stable positioning of the series arrangement while allowing individual cells to freely expand and contract during charge discharge cycles. This dynamic system bridges the contradiction between stability and adaptability.
4Reliability
If multiple compensating components are used to accommodate thickness changes, then the reliability and compensation capability are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining multiple compensating components into an integrated assembly where elastic elements (springs or elastomers) work together with pretensioning elements and support structures. This unified compensating mechanism accommodates thickness changes across the series arrangement while minimizing overall complexity through coordinated design, reducing the need for separate independent compensation systems for each cell.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables the use of lightweight cells with reversible thickness changes, enhancing the accumulator's durability against vibrations and environmental protection, while maintaining secure fixation and compensating for thickness changes, thus improving the overall performance and cost-effectiveness of the accumulator block.
Implementation Method 1
at least one elastically deformable compensating component is arranged at least at one end of the series arrangement of individual cells between the last individual cell and the housing or frame which is designed to accommodate and compensate for the changes in thickness of individual cells
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an accumulator arrangement comprising a plurality of individual cells, each in the form of electrochemical accumulator cells and each having a prismatic-shaped housing, wherein the individual cells are arranged one behind the other in at least one row and disposed in a housing or a frame so as to be held together to form an accumulator block, characterized in thata) one, several or all of the individual cells are formed as an accumulator cell which changes thickness as a function of the respective state of charge,b) at least one elastically deformable compensating component is arranged at least at one end of the series arrangement of individual cells between the last individual cell and the housing or frame which is designed to accommodate and compensate for the changes in thickness of individual cells occurring as a result of changes in the state of charge and the thereby resulting changes in the length of the series arrangement.The invention further relates to a method for producing such an accumulator arrangement.