Solid Battery Module Constraint Release via Thermal Expansion Separator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery module disassembly methods face challenges in adjusting constraint pressure and extending constraint distance, particularly when dealing with solid battery cells containing active materials with large volume expansion, such as Li or Si, leading to potential damage to the constraint mechanism during disassembly.
Innovation Solution
A battery module configuration that includes a separator with a higher thermal expansion coefficient than the solid battery cells, allowing for controlled attenuation of constraint force through cooling, and a strut member with an expansion mechanism to adjust the end plate distance, enabling easy removal of solid battery cells while maintaining the integrity of the constraint mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If high pressure is applied to constrain battery cells to prevent position shift, then position stability is improved, but constraint mechanism damage risk increases during disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies thermal expansion parameter changes by selecting a separator material with a thermal expansion coefficient 10-100 times greater than the battery cell. When heated, the separator expands significantly, generating expansive force that automatically increases constraint pressure on the battery cells, preventing position shift while maintaining constraint mechanism integrity during disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes thermal expansion of the separator material to dynamically adjust constraint pressure. The separator's high thermal expansion coefficient causes it to expand when heated, creating automatic pressure increase on the battery cells without requiring external actuators, thus stabilizing cell positions while avoiding constraint mechanism damage during disassembly.
2Volume of moving object
If constraint distance is extended to accommodate volume expansion of solid battery cells, then cell expansion accommodation is improved, but constraint distance extension capability is limited by elastic region range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal parameter of the separator material, selecting a substance with exceptionally high thermal expansion coefficient (10-100 times that of battery cells). This allows the separator to provide significant volume expansion when heated, accommodating solid battery cell expansion containing active materials like Li or Si without being limited by the elastic region range of solid constraint members.
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
The solution allows for the easy removal of solid battery cells with suppressed constraint pressure variation, reducing the risk of damage to the cells and the constraint mechanism, while maintaining energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal expansion coefficient of the separator being greater than a thermal expansion coefficient of the solid battery cells
Data Source
AI summary
A battery module of the present invention includes a plurality of stacked solid battery cells, end plates disposed at one end and other end of the plurality of solid battery cells in the stacking direction, respectively, a constraint part configured to press against the plurality of solid battery cells from both ends via the end plates and constrain the plurality of solid battery cells, a separator disposed at least at one of between the plurality of solid battery cells and between the solid battery cells and the end plates, and a strut member installed between the end plates, a thermal expansion coefficient of the separator being greater than a thermal expansion coefficient of the solid battery cells.