Battery Cell Sealing Structure for Controlled Gas Venting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery cells lack effective gas discharge mechanisms, leading to venting phenomena that can result in the discharge of flammable gases, which may cause ignition and explosion due to inadequate sealing, particularly when internal pressure increases.

Innovation Solution

A battery cell design featuring a gas discharge portion with a unique sealing pattern that differs from the main sealing portion, allowing controlled gas discharge through a weaker, specifically designed area to direct gas away from the electrode lead location, utilizing alternating indentation and protrusion patterns in different directions to ensure controlled venting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a uniform sealing pattern is applied throughout the battery case, then sealing strength is maximized, but gas discharge cannot be effectively controlled when venting occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing strengthVSAvoidgas discharge control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing case is designed with different sealing patterns in different regions: a first sealing pattern with higher sealing strength in non-gas discharge areas, and a second sealing pattern with controlled sealing strength in the gas discharge portion. This local differentiation allows the sealing case to maintain overall integrity while enabling controlled gas discharge through the specific gas discharge portion when venting occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If no gas discharge mechanism is provided, then sealing integrity is maintained, but venting phenomenon causes uncontrolled gas discharge to vulnerable sealing parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing integrityVSAvoiduncontrolled gas discharge
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The gas discharge portion is designed to convert the harmful venting phenomenon into a controlled and beneficial process. When internal pressure increases, gas is directed to discharge through the specifically designed gas discharge portion rather than uncontrolled discharge to vulnerable sealing parts. The alternating indentation and protrusion structure guides the gas flow in a predetermined direction, transforming the potential hazard into a safe, controlled release mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Power

If energy density of battery cells is increased, then power output is improved, but the amount of gas generated inside the battery cells increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower outputVSAvoidgas amount
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The battery case is pre-designed with a gas discharge portion and alternating sealing patterns before the venting phenomenon occurs. This preliminary structure ensures that when high energy density batteries generate excessive gas, the discharge path is already prepared and positioned to direct gas away from vulnerable areas, preventing uncontrolled discharge and potential ignition even as gas generation increases with higher energy density.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4362196B1Battery cell and battery module comprising same
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4362196B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4362196B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP4362196B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

A battery cell according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a battery case including an electrode assembly mounted in a storage portion and a sealing portion having a structure in which an outer periphery thereof is sealed; and an electrode lead electrically connected to an electrode tab included in the electrode assembly and protruding in an outer direction of the battery case via the sealing portion. The sealing portion includes a gas discharge portion, a part of the sealing portion in which the gas discharge portion is not located is formed in a first sealing pattern, the gas discharge portion is formed in a second sealing pattern, and the first sealing pattern and the second sealing pattern are different from each other.