Battery Cell Conduit Layout for Bottom-Up Electrolyte Infiltration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lithium-ion battery cells face difficulties in electrolyte infiltration, interface problems, and inefficient electrolyte injection and degassing during the production process, leading to reduced cycle life and performance.

Innovation Solution

A battery cell design featuring an outer housing, cell body, upper cover, and conduit with a gap between the outer and inner walls, where the upper cover includes an electrolyte injection hole and a degassing hole in communication with the gap, allowing for bottom-up electrolyte infiltration guided by the conduit, which improves infiltration efficiency and avoids middle interface issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If top-down electrolyte infiltration is used, then the infiltration process is simple, but middle interface problems occur and infiltration efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfiltration process simplicityVSAvoidinfiltration quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional top-down electrolyte infiltration approach by implementing bottom-up infiltration through the conduit structure. The conduit extends from the bottom end of the outer housing toward the top end, allowing electrolyte to enter from the bottom and infiltrate upward, which avoids middle interface problems while maintaining infiltration effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If electrolyte injection hole is positioned at the center, then injection is straightforward, but middle interface damage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinjection operation simplicityVSAvoidmiddle interface integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the electrolyte injection function from the traditional central upper cover position and relocates it to the bottom end through the conduit structure. The conduit serves as a dedicated injection channel that bypasses the middle interface area, preventing damage while maintaining injection functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The conduit acts as an intermediary structure that mediates between the electrolyte injection hole and the cell body. It provides a protected pathway for electrolyte delivery, preventing direct contact with the middle interface and avoiding damage while ensuring proper infiltration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If degassing hole is not provided, then the structure is simpler, but gas accumulation reduces infiltration efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidelectrolyte injection efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The conduit structure serves multiple functions: it guides electrolyte infiltration from the bottom, provides a pathway for gas escape during injection, and supports the upper cover. By integrating these functions into a single structural element, the patent avoids additional complexity while improving infiltration efficiency through effective degassing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 enhances electrolyte injection efficiency by guiding the electrolyte from the bottom to the top, reducing pressure and preventing middle interface damage, resulting in improved infiltration and cycle life of lithium-ion batteries.

Implementation Method 1

One end of the conduit is connected to the electrolyte injection hole, and the other end extends into the gap and toward the bottom end... the conduit plays a guiding role. During the electrolyte infiltration, the electrolyte enters from the electrolyte injection hole and is guided by the conduit to the bottom of the gap

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGuided flow:

Implementation Method 2

gas generated during the infiltration can be discharged under negative pressure from the degassing hole to reduce the pressure in the gap, which makes the electrolyte injection smoother

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient flow: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS20230395957A1Battery cell, battery, and electric apparatus

Publication Date: 2023.12.07 CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) LIMITED

AI summary

A battery cell includes an outer housing having a top end and a bottom end, a cell body mounted inside the outer housing with a gap present between an outer wall of the cell body and an inner wall of the outer housing, an upper cover covering the top end and provided with an electrolyte injection hole and a degassing hole that are both in communication with the gap, and a conduit. One end of the conduit is connected to the electrolyte injection hole, and another end of the conduit extends into the gap and toward the bottom end.