Battery Case Force Distribution for Energy Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power storage devices face challenges in reducing manufacturing costs, achieving high energy density, and optimizing space usage.
Innovation Solution
A power storage device design featuring a case with multiple portions that apply compressive forces to stacked battery cells, including extruded metal members for enhanced strength and a cooling medium path, allowing efficient force transmission and reduced component count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional power storage device configurations are used, then manufacturing cost reduction is limited, but achieving high energy density and space saving becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The case integrates multiple functions: it provides structural support for the battery cell stack, applies compressive force to maintain contact between cells and current collectors, enables cooling through integrated cooling medium paths, and facilitates force transmission. By combining these functions into a single component rather than using separate elements, manufacturing cost is reduced while maintaining high energy density through optimized space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The case serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it acts as a structural housing, a force application mechanism, a cooling system, and a force transmission structure. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components needed, lowering manufacturing cost while maximizing the use of available space for battery cells, thereby achieving high energy density.
2Quantity of substance
If battery cells are stacked to increase capacity, then energy density improves, but space utilization and force distribution become challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The case utilizes three-dimensional force transmission through its multiple portions (first through sixth portions) that contact different surfaces of the stacked battery cells. By distributing compressive forces across multiple dimensions and surfaces rather than applying force from a single direction, the design efficiently accommodates vertically stacked cells, increasing energy density while maintaining optimal space utilization.
3Stability of the object's composition
If compressive force is applied to battery cell stacks, then cell contact and stability improve, but force distribution and structural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The case is divided into multiple distinct portions (first through sixth portions), each contacting specific surfaces of the battery cell stack. This segmentation allows compressive forces to be distributed across multiple contact points and transmitted through different pathways, enhancing stack stability while keeping each individual portion structurally simple and easy to manufacture.
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 design achieves cost reduction, high energy density, and space savings by effectively supporting the battery cell stack and distributing expanding forces across multiple surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
The stack is supported by the case along the first direction with the force received by each of the first portion and the second portion in the first direction being transmitted to all of the third portion to the sixth portion
Data Source
AI summary
A power storage device includes: a stack of a plurality of power storage cells stacked in a first direction; and a case that accommodates the stack. The case includes a first portion and a second portion facing respective end surfaces of the stack, a third portion and a fourth portion facing respective side surfaces of the stack, and a fifth portion and a sixth portion respectively facing an upper surface and a bottom surface of the stack. The first portion and the second portion are in abutment with the respective end surfaces of the stack, and each receive a force from the stack in the first direction. The stack is supported by the case along the first direction with the force received by the first portion and the second portion in the first direction being transmitted to all of the third portion to the sixth portion.