Battery Module Barriers with Varying Protrusions for Swelling Accommodation
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Solution Overview
Problem
High output battery modules face challenges in securely fixing battery cells as they deteriorate and swell due to repeated charge and discharge cycles, leading to potential damage and vibration issues.
Innovation Solution
The battery module incorporates barriers with varying protrusions, including first and second protrusions of different heights and materials, strategically positioned to accommodate the swelling of battery cells and prevent vibration, ensuring stable fixation and electrical coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If battery cells are fixed rigidly to prevent vibration, then vibration resistance is improved, but the cells cannot accommodate swelling during charge-discharge cycles, leading to potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier is designed with different regions having different properties: the first region has a smaller step difference to accommodate swelling, while the second region has a larger step difference to provide stable fixation and reduce vibration. This local differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of swelling accommodation and vibration resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier is divided into multiple regions with different step differences, creating distinct functional zones. The first region handles swelling accommodation while the second region provides rigid fixation, allowing the barrier to perform multiple functions simultaneously.
2Ease of manufacture
If the barrier structure is simplified to reduce manufacturing complexity, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the ability to accommodate both swelling and vibration requirements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier design varies the step difference parameter across different regions, creating a gradient structure that optimizes both manufacturing feasibility and functional performance. This parameter variation allows the barrier to accommodate swelling while providing stable fixation.
3Device complexity
If uniform fixation strength is applied across the entire barrier surface, then manufacturing is simplified, but the center portion experiences excessive swelling force while peripheral portions are over-constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier provides different levels of fixation strength at different locations: the center portion has a smaller step difference to accommodate swelling forces, while peripheral portions have larger step differences for stable fixation. This local quality differentiation optimizes force distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells arranged in one direction, barriers interposed among the plurality of battery cells, a pair of first and second end plates arranged outside the battery cells, and coupling members that couple the first and second end plates, wherein at least one of the barriers includes at least one protrusion that provides a step difference between the protrusion and a surface of the barrier.