Battery Cell Leak Inspection Using Vacuum Thickness Change
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to precisely and efficiently inspect battery cell leaks, particularly in secondary batteries used for mobile devices and electric vehicles, as they lack effective means to detect damage to the exterior material leading to pressure changes and gas leakage.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method utilizing a vacuum chamber with controlled pressure differences and sensors to measure thickness changes and volatile organic compound concentrations, determining leaks by comparing before-vacuum and after-vacuum thickness and gas composition, allowing for precise identification of defective battery cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional inspection methods are used, then the inspection process is simple, but the detection precision of battery cell leaks is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection system is divided into multiple functional modules: vacuum chamber for pressure control, thickness measuring sensor for dimensional measurement, TVOC sensor for gas composition analysis, and controller for data synthesis. Each module performs a specific function, and their combined results enable precise leak detection while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
2Reliability
If multiple measurement parameters are used to improve detection accuracy, then the reliability of leak detection increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple measurement parameters (thickness change under vacuum, TVOC concentration, pressure differential) into a single integrated inspection system. The controller synthesizes data from all sensors to determine leak status, where the combined measurement approach significantly improves detection reliability compared to using any single parameter alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum chamber serves multiple functions: it creates the pressure differential needed for thickness measurement, provides the environment for TVOC analysis, and enables both functional tests. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated equipment for each measurement type.
3Measurement precision
If vacuum pressure control is applied, then the thickness measurement accuracy improves, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum pressure is applied periodically only during the thickness measurement phase, not continuously. The system establishes vacuum conditions, performs measurements, then releases vacuum before the next inspection cycle. This periodic application significantly reduces energy consumption compared to maintaining continuous vacuum while preserving measurement accuracy during the actual measurement window.
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
Enables precise and efficient detection of battery cell leaks by calculating thickness differences and analyzing gas composition, effectively identifying defective cells through controlled pressure changes and sensor measurements.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum chamber (110) including an upper chamber (111) and a lower chamber (112) and configured to set a receiving space to a controlled pressure different from an external first pressure
Implementation Method 2
a thickness measuring sensor configured to measure a before-vacuum thickness of the battery cell under the first pressure and measure an after-vacuum thickness of the battery cell under the second pressure
Implementation Method 3
a total volatile organic compound (TVOC) sensor arranged on a sucking flow path of the internal gas to measure a concentration of total volatile organic compound from the sucked internal gas
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and a method for inspecting a leak of a battery cell are provided. An apparatus for inspecting a battery cell leak to inspect whether a battery cell leaks includes: a vacuum chamber including an upper chamber and a lower chamber and configured to set a receiving space to a controlled pressure different from an external first pressure, the upper chamber and the lower chamber being arranged to face each other with the receiving space for a battery cell therebetween and providing sealing for the receiving space; a vacuum pipe valve fluidly connected to the receiving space for the battery cell to set the receiving space to a second pressure less than the first pressure; and a thickness measuring sensor configured to measure a before-vacuum thickness of the battery cell under the first pressure and measure an after-vacuum thickness of the battery cell under the second pressure.According to the present disclosure, an apparatus and a method for inspecting a battery cell leak, capable of easily and precisely capturing damage to an exterior material of a battery cell are provided.