Secondary Battery Insulation Member With Flow Passage

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Secondary batteries face challenges in maintaining stable mechanical and electrical coupling of elements due to electrolyte stagnation, which can lead to short circuits and reduced performance over time.

Innovation Solution

The design includes a case with an electrode assembly, a cap plate, a terminal, a collector with parallel and bent portions, and an insulation member with a flow passage to allow electrolyte flow, preventing stagnation and ensuring stable coupling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an insulation member is placed between the collector and electrode assembly, then electrical insulation is improved, but electrolyte flow is blocked causing stagnation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical insulationVSAvoidelectrolyte stagnation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The insulation member is designed with a porous structure that allows electrolyte to flow through while maintaining electrical insulation between the collector and electrode assembly. The porous material permits ionic conduction of electrolyte while blocking electronic conduction, thus preventing both short circuits and electrolyte stagnation simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The insulation member acts as an intermediary component between the collector and electrode assembly, providing electrical isolation while maintaining electrolyte circulation. It mediates the conflicting requirements of insulation and fluid flow by being positioned strategically and designed with appropriate permeability characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the collector is positioned close to the electrode assembly for efficient coupling, then electrical coupling efficiency is improved, but the risk of short circuits increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical coupling efficiencyVSAvoidshort circuit risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The insulation member serves as a mediator component placed between the collector and electrode assembly, enabling close positioning for efficient electrical coupling while preventing direct contact that would cause short circuits. It maintains the necessary electrical isolation despite the reduced distance between components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The porous insulation member allows the collector to be positioned close to the electrode assembly for efficient current collection while its insulating properties prevent electrical short circuits. The porous structure maintains electrolyte flow paths even at reduced component spacing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

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 configuration maintains stable electrical and mechanical coupling, preventing short circuits and enhancing the long-term performance and reliability of secondary batteries by allowing electrolyte flow and reducing the risk of external short circuits.

Implementation Method 1

a flow passage between the collector and the insulation member configured to allow an electrolyte of the secondary battery to flow through

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Data Source

PatentEP2874196B1Connection and insulation elements inside of a secondary battery
Publication Date: 2018.06.06 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP2874196B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2874196B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2874196B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A secondary battery (1) including a case (10), at least one electrode assembly (20) housed in the case (10), and a cap plate (30) coupled to the case (10) includes a terminal (40) protruding through the cap plate (30), a collector (60) between the cap plate (30) and the electrode assembly (20) electrically coupling the terminal (40) and the electrode assembly (10), and an insulation member (70) between the collector (60) and the electrode assembly (20). The insulation member (70) may include a flow passage (FP) between the collector (60) and the insulation member (70) configured to allow an electrolyte of the secondary battery (1) to flow through.