Rechargeable Battery Pack High Voltage Interruption Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rechargeable battery packs face safety issues due to defects in unit cells, which can lead to overcharging, gas generation, and potential explosions, with existing safety devices causing operation distribution and resistance increases, and risking fires when interacting with electrolyte solutions.
Innovation Solution
A rechargeable battery pack design incorporating a high voltage interruption device at the first final terminal, which includes a pressure via-member, an inverting member, and a supporting member, that disconnects the high voltage line when excessive internal pressure is detected, ensuring safety by interrupting the voltage even if the defect is not detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If safety devices (CID and OSD) are provided in the unit cell, then overcharging and high voltage can be prevented, but operation distribution problems and resistance increase occur, and fire risk increases when defects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The high voltage interruption device is extracted from the unit cell level and relocated to the module level, where it directly interrupts high voltage lines without requiring interaction with electrolyte solutions. This separation removes the safety function from the problematic environment inside unit cells, eliminating fire risks while maintaining safety effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The high voltage interruption device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the unit cells and the external circuit. It monitors internal pressure through the pressure via-member and mechanically interrupts high voltage lines when defects occur, providing safety without requiring complex electronic control systems or interaction with electrolyte solutions.
2Reliability
If safety devices are provided in the unit cell, then overcharging can be prevented, but resistance increase and operation distribution problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The safety function is extracted from the unit cell and implemented at the module level through the high voltage interruption device. This device provides overcharge protection and high voltage interruption without the resistance increase and operation distribution problems associated with safety devices embedded in unit cells, thereby reducing energy loss.
3Reliability
If safety devices interact with electrolyte solution during defects, then safety response is activated, but fire risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The high voltage interruption device is completely extracted from the electrolyte solution environment. It is positioned at the module level where it interrupts high voltage lines through mechanical action driven by pressure changes, without any contact with electrolyte solutions. This eliminates the fire risk while maintaining effective safety response.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety response mechanism is replaced from a chemical/electrical interaction with electrolyte solutions to a purely mechanical system. The pressure via-member detects internal pressure changes and mechanically drives the inverting member to interrupt high voltage lines, eliminating fire risks associated with electrolyte solution interaction.
4Productivity
If high voltage interruption is based on defect detection, then targeted safety response is achieved, but safety may be compromised if defects are not detected
Solution Approach 1:
The high voltage interruption device provides preliminary safety protection by mechanically interrupting high voltage lines in response to internal pressure changes, regardless of whether defects are detected. This preliminary anti-action ensures safety even when defects escape detection, complementing the targeted safety response system.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure via-member provides continuous feedback on internal pressure conditions to the high voltage interruption device. This feedback mechanism ensures that the safety device can respond to defect conditions through pressure changes, maintaining safety even when defects are not otherwise detected.
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 effectively improves the safety of the rechargeable battery pack by mechanically interrupting high voltage, preventing potential explosions and fires, and ensuring safety even if the defect in the unit cell is not detected, thereby enhancing the reliability and durability of the battery pack.
Implementation Method 1
a high voltage interruption device configured to be provided at the first final terminal and to electrically connect or disconnect a high voltage line according to an internal pressure generated when a defect of a unit cell of the unit cells occurs
Data Source
AI summary
A rechargeable battery pack may improve safety of the rechargeable battery pack by interrupting a high voltage of a module when a defect of a unit cell occurs. A rechargeable battery pack includes: unit cells configured to be repeatedly charged or discharged; bus bars configured to electrically connect electrode terminals of the unit cells; a housing configured to accommodate the unit cells; a first final terminal and a second final terminal configured to draw respective electrode terminals provided at outermost unit cells of the unit cells out of the housing; and a high voltage interruption device configured to be provided at the first final terminal and to electrically connect or disconnect a high voltage line according to an internal pressure generated when a defect of a unit cell of the unit cells occurs.