Battery Module Barriers with Elastic Inner Regions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery modules face challenges in maintaining a stable structure and heat dissipation due to volume expansions of secondary batteries, leading to potential deformation and instability over time.

Innovation Solution

The use of barriers with a soft, elastic inner region made of materials like silicone or rubber and a harder outer region, along with protruding portions, to absorb volume expansions and maintain constant spaces between batteries, while allowing air flow for heat dissipation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If barriers are made rigid to maintain structural stability, then structural strength is improved, but the ability to absorb battery volume expansion is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebarrier structural strengthVSAvoidbattery volume expansion absorption

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The barrier is divided into two regions with different material properties: a first region with higher elasticity modulus for structural support and a second region with lower elasticity modulus for absorbing battery expansion. This local differentiation allows each region to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The barrier uses composite material construction with two distinct regions having different elasticity moduli. The first region (higher elasticity) provides rigidity and structural stability, while the second region (lower elasticity) provides flexibility to accommodate battery volume changes, achieving both strength and adaptability in a single component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If barriers are made soft and elastic to absorb volume expansion, then adaptability is improved, but structural stability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery volume expansion absorptionVSAvoidbattery module structural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The barrier is divided into two regions with different material properties: a first region with higher elasticity modulus for structural support and a second region with lower elasticity modulus for absorbing battery expansion. This local differentiation allows each region to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The barrier uses composite material construction with two distinct regions having different elasticity moduli. The first region (higher elasticity) provides rigidity and structural stability, while the second region (lower elasticity) provides flexibility to accommodate battery volume changes, achieving both strength and adaptability in a single component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Stability of the object's composition

If barriers are made thick to maintain constant space between batteries, then positional stability is improved, but heat dissipation efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace between batteriesVSAvoidheat dissipation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The barrier has different material properties in different regions: the first region (with higher elasticity modulus) provides structural support for maintaining space, while the second region (with lower elasticity modulus) allows for thermal expansion and contraction, facilitating heat dissipation without compromising structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 effectively stabilizes the battery module by absorbing volume expansions and maintaining constant spaces between batteries, ensuring stable operation and efficient heat dissipation even during long-term use.

Implementation Method 1

each barrier includes a soft inner region formed of an elastic material and located in a center of each barrier

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The inner region may be elastically deformable

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS9324982B2Battery module

Publication Date: 2016.04.26 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD

AI summary

A battery module including a plurality of unit batteries disposed in one direction, and barriers between the plurality of unit batteries, each barrier including an inner region and an outer region, the inner region having elasticity and the outer region being located in a vicinity of the inner region and having greater hardness than the inner region.