Battery Pack Side Plate Structure for Module Swelling Restraint
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery modules experience swelling due to heat generation during charge/discharge, leading to deformation and potential electrolyte leakage, which compromises durability.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack design featuring a side plate with honeycomb-shaped through-holes, coupled with support and fixing protrusions, and an upper cover, which stabilizes the side plate to prevent volume expansion and deformation of battery modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of stationary object
If pouch-type secondary batteries are used in battery modules, then weight and manufacturing cost are reduced, but swelling occurs during charge/discharge due to heat generation
Solution Approach 1:
The battery module is divided into multiple compartments by partition walls, with each compartment containing a specific number of pouch-type secondary batteries. This segmentation allows individual management of swelling in each compartment while maintaining the overall lightweight structure. The partition walls act as barriers that contain swelling locally rather than allowing it to affect the entire module.
Solution Approach 2:
Partition walls are introduced as intermediary structures between adjacent pouch-type secondary batteries. These partition walls serve as mediators that absorb and distribute the swelling forces, preventing direct contact and force transmission between adjacent batteries. This intermediary structure maintains the lightweight design while protecting against reliability issues.
2Volume of stationary object
If battery modules are designed with high integration and small size, then energy density per volume increases, but heat dissipation becomes more difficult leading to increased swelling
Solution Approach 1:
The compact battery module is segmented into multiple compartments by partition walls, creating thermal zones that facilitate heat dissipation. This segmentation allows heat generated in each compartment to be managed independently, preventing heat accumulation in the high-density configuration while maintaining small overall volume.
Solution Approach 2:
Partition walls are strategically positioned at different heights and locations within the module, creating a three-dimensional thermal management structure. This dimensional approach allows heat to dissipate through multiple pathways in different directions, effectively managing temperature in the compact high-density configuration.
3Reliability
If swelling is not suppressed, then gas generation increases causing electrolyte leakage, but adding suppression structures increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The swelling suppression function is distributed across multiple simple partition walls rather than requiring a single complex suppression mechanism. Each partition wall is a simple structure that contains swelling locally, and collectively they provide comprehensive protection against electrolyte leakage without increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls serve multiple functions simultaneously: they compartmentalize batteries, suppress swelling, facilitate heat dissipation, and provide structural support. This multi-functionality allows effective swelling suppression without adding dedicated complex suppression structures, maintaining simplicity while improving reliability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The battery pack according to the present disclosure includes: at least one battery module having a plurality of battery cells; a pack tray having a module mounting portion configured to mount one or more of the battery modules and extending in a horizontal direction, and a side cover portion extending upwardly from an outer periphery of the module mounting portion to cover a side of the battery module; and at least one side plate coupled to any one or more of the module mounting portion and the side cover portion, provided on one or both sides of the battery module, having a plurality of through-holes, and configured to block at least one surface of the battery module when the battery module is expanded.