Secondary Battery Flow-Guiding Structure for Electrolyte Wettability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Secondary batteries face reduced service life due to poor electrolyte wettability and lithium precipitation, primarily because the electrolyte struggles to infiltrate the electrode assembly effectively, especially when the tab extends from the side portion of the battery case.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a flow guiding component with an avoiding portion that absorbs and diffuses the electrolyte, ensuring it contacts the electrode unit and maintains continuous electrolyte supply, while also allowing the tab to extend through the avoiding portion for a fixed connection, thereby enhancing electrolyte wettability and liquid retention capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the tab extends from a side portion of the electrode assembly, then the battery structure is simplified and manufacturing is easier, but the electrolyte cannot effectively infiltrate the electrode assembly from the bottom, leading to poor electrolyte wettability and reduced service life
Solution Approach 1:
The flow guiding component serves as an intermediary element between the electrolyte and the electrode assembly. It actively directs and guides the electrolyte flow into the electrode assembly's end portion, solving the infiltration problem without changing the tab extension structure. This mediator component enables effective electrolyte distribution while preserving the simplified side-portion tab configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow guiding component is designed with porous characteristics that enable it to absorb and release electrolyte. The porous structure allows the component to take up electrolyte from the bottom and gradually release it into the electrode assembly, ensuring continuous and effective electrolyte infiltration throughout the battery's service life.
2Reliability
If the flow guiding component is added to improve electrolyte infiltration, then electrolyte wettability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow guiding component performs multiple functions simultaneously: it guides electrolyte flow, absorbs and releases electrolyte, and prevents lithium precipitation. This multi-functional design achieves improved electrolyte wettability without requiring multiple separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow guiding component is designed as a thin, flexible plate-shaped structure that can be easily integrated into the existing battery assembly. Its simple geometric form factor minimizes the increase in structural complexity while still achieving the desired electrolyte distribution effects throughout the electrode assembly.
3Quantity of substance
If the flow guiding component contacts the electrode unit to improve electrolyte supply, then electrolyte retention is enhanced, but the tab may interfere with the flow guiding component structure
Solution Approach 1:
The flow guiding component is segmented with an avoiding portion that creates a dedicated passage for the tab. This segmentation allows the component to maintain continuous contact with the electrode unit for effective electrolyte supply while providing a clear path for the tab to extend through without interference. The tab passage is integrated into the flow guiding component's structure, minimizing additional complexity.
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 improves electrolyte wettability within the electrode assembly, reduces lithium precipitation, and extends the service life of the secondary battery by ensuring continuous electrolyte supply and enhanced liquid retention.
Implementation Method 1
part of the electrolyte injected into the accommodating cavity of the case could be absorbed by the flow guiding component
Implementation Method 2
the electrolyte could diffuse in the flow guiding component
Implementation Method 3
when the secondary battery swells during operation, the electrode assembly and the case could compress the flow guiding component, so that the flow guiding component could release the electrolyte stored therein
Data Source
AI summary
A secondary battery, a battery pack, and an electric device. The secondary battery includes: a case with an inner cavity in which an electrolyte is included; a cap assembly covering an opening of the case; and an electrode assembly located in the inner cavity, the electrode assembly including an electrode unit and tabs, and along a length direction, the electrode unit including two side portions disposed oppositely, the tabs extending from the side portions; a connecting component configured to connect the tabs and the cap assembly; a flow guiding component located between a corresponding connecting component and a corresponding side portion, being connected to the connecting component and provided with an avoiding portion configured to avoid the tabs, and being in contact with the electrolyte, at least part of the flow guiding component being in contact with the corresponding side portion, and the flow guiding component.