Battery Cell Holder Structure for Controlled Expansion in Modules

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Solution Overview

Problem

As secondary battery applications require larger capacities, the size of battery cells increases, leading to potential damage due to volume changes during charging.

Innovation Solution

A battery cell holder with partition walls, support walls, and protrusions is designed to prevent or mitigate damage by suppressing the expansion of battery cells. The support walls initially contact the battery cell, while the protrusions contact the cell only when it expands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If battery cell size is increased to increase energy density, then capacity is improved, but damage due to volume changes during charging worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery capacityVSAvoiddamage from volume changes

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The holder is divided into multiple partition walls that create separate compartments for battery cells. Each partition wall independently manages the expansion of adjacent cells, distributing the mechanical stress and preventing damage propagation across the entire battery module.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The partition walls incorporate protrusions at specific locations that locally adapt to the expansion characteristics of battery cells. These protrusions are positioned to contact cells at critical points during expansion, providing localized support and constraint where needed most.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If support walls are positioned close to the insertion hole center to contact the battery cell, then expansion suppression is improved, but insertion difficulty worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexpansion suppressionVSAvoidcell insertion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support walls are designed with movable protrusions that dynamically adjust their position based on cell expansion. During insertion, the protrusions remain retracted to allow easy cell placement. After insertion, as the cell expands, the protrusions move to contact and constrain the cell, providing adaptive support throughout the operational cycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If protrusions are added to contact the battery cell during expansion, then expansion control is improved, but device complexity worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexpansion controlVSAvoidholder structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protrusions are integrated directly into the partition walls, combining the functions of structural division and expansion control into a single component. This eliminates the need for separate expansion control mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining effective expansion management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The partition walls serve multiple functions: they divide the holder into compartments, provide structural support, and through their integrated protrusions, control cell expansion. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed in the holder structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250079619A1Battery cell holder and battery module including the same

Publication Date: 2025.03.06 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD

AI summary

A battery cell holder includes a plurality of partition walls defining an insertion hole into which a battery cell is inserted, a plurality of support walls positioned between the plurality of partition walls, and a plurality of protrusions formed on the plurality of partition walls, wherein a distance between a center of the insertion hole and the plurality of support walls may be less than a distance between the center of the insertion hole and the plurality of protrusions.