Secondary Battery Retainer for Electrode Assembly Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Secondary batteries face issues with electrode assembly damage and unstable electrical connections due to external vibrations or impacts, leading to reduced durability and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A secondary battery design featuring a retainer that encloses the electrode assembly's non-coated portions and current collectors, providing structural rigidity and preventing movement, thereby stabilizing electrical connections and enhancing durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electrode assembly is left without additional fixing structures, then the device complexity is reduced, but the electrode assembly becomes vulnerable to damage from external vibrations and impacts
Solution Approach 1:
A retainer is introduced as an intermediary component between the electrode assembly and the battery case. The retainer directly couples to the electrode assembly and encloses its ends, providing mechanical support and stability without requiring fundamental changes to the battery case or electrode assembly design.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery structure is segmented into distinct functional components: the electrode assembly, the retainer, and the battery case. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the retainer can be designed specifically for mechanical support while the electrode assembly focuses on electrochemical function.
2Reliability
If the retainer is designed to tightly enclose the electrode assembly, then the electrical connection stability is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is designed with adjustable parameters including its length, width, and compression force. By optimizing these parameters, the retainer can provide sufficient mechanical support and electrical connection stability without requiring excessive manufacturing precision. The compression force parameter allows for compensation of minor dimensional variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer applies localized compression forces at specific contact points with the electrode assembly and current collectors. This localized action provides effective mechanical support and electrical connection stability without requiring uniform high precision across the entire assembly.
3Reliability
If the retainer compresses the electrode assembly to prevent movement, then the durability is improved, but the internal stress on the electrode assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer applies partial compression - sufficient to prevent movement and maintain electrical connections, but not excessive to cause damage. The compression is applied selectively at the ends of the electrode assembly where mechanical support is most needed, rather than uniformly across the entire assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer provides pre-compression to the electrode assembly before external vibrations or impacts occur. This pre-positioning and pre-compression create a cushioning effect that protects the electrode assembly from sudden shocks and movements during battery operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a secondary battery and a battery module including a plurality of secondary batteries that are connected to one another. The secondary battery comprises an electrode assembly (10) having a first electrode (11), a second electrode (12), and a separator (13) interposed between the first and the second electrodes (11, 12), and a case (34) for mounting the electrode assembly (10) therein. A retainer (80, 180, 280, 380) is provided coupled to the electrode assembly (10) and enclosing an end of the electrode assembly (10). According to an embodiment of the present invention including the retainer, an electrode assembly is prevented from moving and electrical connection of the electrode assembly is stabilized, and thus durability and reliability of the electrode assembly is improved.