Battery Cell Pressure Relief Layout for Thermal Runaway Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery technologies face challenges in improving safety during thermal runaway, as substances discharged during thermal runaway can cause short circuits and high-voltage ignitions, leading to potential fires and explosions.

Innovation Solution

The battery cell design includes an electrode assembly with tabs extending from the electrode body, connected to output electrodes, and housed within a structure with a pressure relief unit at one end. This configuration ensures that active substances discharged during thermal runaway are directed away from the output electrodes and busbars, reducing the risk of short circuits and ignitions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the pressure relief unit and output electrodes are disposed at the same end of the housing, then the structure is compact and easy to manufacture, but the discharged substances during thermal runaway can cause short circuits and high-voltage ignitions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety during thermal runawayVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into a first end and a second end, with the pressure relief unit disposed at the second end and the output electrodes disposed at the first end. This spatial segmentation isolates the pressure relief function from the electrical connection function, preventing discharged substances during thermal runaway from causing short circuits while maintaining structural clarity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure relief unit is extracted from the end wall structure and disposed independently at the second end of the housing. This extraction allows the pressure relief unit to be positioned away from the output electrodes and busbars, eliminating the risk of discharged substances causing electrical failures while preserving the integrity of the end wall.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If the pressure relief unit is disposed away from the output electrodes, then thermal runaway substances are directed away from electrical connections, but the arrangement space for the pressure relief unit is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of electrical connectionsVSAvoidarrangement space for pressure relief unit

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The housing structure utilizes the longitudinal dimension by disposing the pressure relief unit at the second end and the output electrodes at the first end. This dimensional arrangement maximizes the use of available space along the length of the housing, providing sufficient arrangement space for the pressure relief unit while ensuring it is positioned away from the electrical connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If the pressure relief unit is integrated into the end wall, then the structure is simplified, but the opening pressure is affected by welding stress during busbar welding

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidopening pressure control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure relief unit is extracted from the end wall structure and disposed independently at the second end of the housing. This extraction eliminates the interference of welding stress from busbar welding on the opening pressure of the pressure relief unit, allowing for precise control of the opening pressure while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of operation

If the output electrodes are disposed at both ends of the housing, then electrical connection is facilitated, but the risk of thermal runaway substances causing short circuits increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection convenienceVSAvoidexposure to thermal runaway substances

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented into a first end and a second end, with the output electrodes disposed at the first end and the pressure relief unit disposed at the second end. This segmentation creates a spatial separation between the electrical connection area and the pressure relief area, protecting the output electrodes from thermal runaway substances while facilitating electrical connections at the first end.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250038320A1Battery cell, battery, and electric device

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) LIMITED

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a battery cell, a battery, and an electric device. The battery cell includes an electrode assembly, a first output electrode and a second output electrode, and a housing. The electrode assembly includes an electrode body, a first tab, and a second tab with an opposite polarity to the first tab. The first tab and the second tab extend from the electrode body. The first output electrode is electrically connected to the first tab, and the second output electrode is electrically connected to the second tab. The housing is configured to accommodate the electrode assembly. The housing is provided with a pressure relief unit. In a first direction (z), the first output electrode and the second output electrode are disposed at an end of the housing, and the pressure relief unit is disposed at another end of the housing.