Auxiliary Case for Secondary Battery Gas Discharge

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Secondary batteries face challenges in effectively discharging generated gases during the formation step, leading to increased thickness of the electrode assembly and battery case, and in efficiently injecting electrolyte into the battery, which prolongs the manufacturing time, especially in can-type batteries where gas treatment is difficult and electrolyte injection is limited.

Innovation Solution

A method involving an auxiliary case with separate paths for electrolyte and gas supply, using injection and discharge holes, and a pumping unit to efficiently inject electrolyte and discharge gases, ensuring effective gas removal and electrolyte penetration into the battery, while allowing for simultaneous electrolyte and gas supply steps.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If a separate degassing process is performed to discharge gas from the secondary battery, then gas discharge capability is improved, but the manufacturing process complexity increases and time is extended

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas discharge capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the degassing function with the electrolyte injection process by integrating a gas discharge path into the injection cap structure. This allows gas to be discharged during the electrolyte injection process itself, eliminating the need for a separate degassing process and reducing overall manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The injection cap is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the electrolyte injection pathway and the gas discharge pathway. By making the cap multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate components for gas discharge, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining effective gas removal capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Quantity of substance

If electrolyte injection time is extended to ensure sufficient permeation into electrode pores, then electrolyte injection effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrolyte injection effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables continuous electrolyte injection by maintaining pressure throughout the process. The injection cap with its pressure maintenance structure allows electrolyte to be injected continuously without interruption for gas discharge, ensuring sufficient permeation into electrode pores while minimizing total injection time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs gas discharge and electrolyte injection in a predetermined sequence through the integrated cap structure. By preparing the gas discharge path in advance and coordinating the timing of gas discharge with electrolyte injection, the system ensures effective electrolyte permeation without requiring excessive injection time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If can-type secondary battery structure is used with fixed case size, then battery structural stability is improved, but electrolyte injection amount and gas discharge efficiency are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery structural stabilityVSAvoidelectrolyte injection amount
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the injection cap into separate functional sections: an electrolyte injection path and a gas discharge path. This segmentation allows the fixed can-type case to accommodate both functions effectively, enabling sufficient electrolyte injection volume while maintaining structural stability and facilitating efficient gas discharge through the dedicated path

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This method effectively prevents electrode assembly and battery thickness increase by efficiently discharging gases and ensures timely electrolyte injection, enhancing battery capacity and reducing manufacturing time.

Implementation Method 1

a pumping unit for pumping the electrolyte within the auxiliary case to supply the electrolyte into the battery case

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure-driven fluid flow: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

the connection part serves as a path through which an electrolyte within the auxiliary body is supplied into the secondary battery or a path through which a gas within the secondary battery is supplied into the auxiliary body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure-driven gas flow: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3506409B1Method for manufacturing secondary battery and auxiliary case for manufacturing secondary battery
Publication Date: 2022.09.21 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP3506409B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3506409B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3506409B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed are a method for manufacturing secondary battery and an auxiliary case for manufacturing a secondary battery. According to the present invention, in a process of manufacturing the secondary battery, a gas generated in a secondary battery may be effectively discharged to prevent an electrode assembly and the secondary battery from increasing in thickness. Also, according to the present invention, in the process of manufacturing the secondary battery, an electrolyte may be efficiently injected into the secondary battery. To achieve the above object, according to an aspect of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a secondary battery includes: an accommodation step of accommodating an electrode assembly into a battery case; a connection step of connecting an auxiliary case forming an inner space to the battery case; an injection step of injecting an electrolyte into the battery case and the auxiliary case; an electrolyte supply step of supplying the electrolyte within the auxiliary case into the battery case; and a gas supply step of supplying a gas existing in the battery case into the auxiliary case.