Rechargeable Battery Fuse Current Collector Overcurrent Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rechargeable batteries face the risk of explosion or fire due to internal or external short circuits, which cause overcurrent and excessive heat generation, as existing technologies lack effective mechanisms to stably cut off current in such scenarios.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a rechargeable battery design featuring a first current collector with a series of fuses, each with a lower melting point than the surrounding material, strategically positioned to melt and disconnect electrical pathways when an overcurrent occurs, effectively cutting off current flow between electrode assemblies and terminals during short circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a rechargeable battery uses a non-aqueous electrolyte and is formed by coupling a plurality of batteries in series to achieve high power and high energy density, then the power output and energy density are improved, but the risk of explosion or fire increases due to overcurrent from internal or external short circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates fuses into the current collector structure before the battery is put into service. These fuses are pre-positioned at specific locations where they will melt and interrupt current flow in the event of a short circuit, preventing the harmful effects of overcurrent before they can cause explosion or fire.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuse acts as an intermediary element between the power source (battery) and the potential short circuit. When a short circuit occurs, the fuse melts and interrupts the current flow, mediating the harmful effect by converting the electrical energy into thermal energy to break the circuit, thereby protecting the battery system from explosion or fire.
2Device complexity
If existing rechargeable battery designs lack effective current cutoff mechanisms, then the battery structure remains simple, but the battery cannot stably cut off current during short circuits leading to excessive heat generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fuse function with the current collector structure. The fuse is integrated into the current collector itself, combining the functions of current collection and overcurrent protection into a single component. This integration maintains relative structural simplicity while achieving reliable current cutoff during short circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuse in the current collector provides self-service protection by automatically melting and interrupting the current flow when a short circuit occurs. The system does not require external control or additional active components to detect and respond to the short circuit condition - the fuse automatically performs the protective function based on the excessive current itself.
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 design effectively prevents overcurrent flow by sequentially melting fuses, thereby stabilizing the battery and preventing explosions or fires, ensuring safe operation during internal and external short circuits.
Implementation Method 1
a first current collector coupling the terminal with the first electrodes of the electrode assemblies, wherein the first current collector includes a terminal connector coupled to the terminal, a plurality of electrode connectors, each of the electrode connectors being coupled to a respective one of the first electrodes, and a plurality of first fuses, each of the first fuses being between the terminal connector and a respective one of the electrode connectors
Implementation Method 2
When the overcurrent continuously flows, the rechargeable battery may explode or catch fire due to excessive heat generated inside of the rechargeable battery
Data Source
AI summary
A rechargeable battery includes: a plurality of electrode assemblies each including first and second electrodes; a case accommodating the electrode assemblies; a cap assembly coupled to the case and including a terminal; and a first current collector coupling the terminal with the first electrodes of the electrode assemblies. The first current collector includes a terminal connector coupled to the terminal and a plurality of electrode connectors, each of the electrode connectors being coupled to a respective one of the first electrodes, and a plurality of first fuses, each of the first fuses being between the terminal connector and a respective one of the electrode connectors and having a substantially constant cross section between the terminal connector and the respective one of the electrode connectors.