Rechargeable Battery Segmented Current Collecting Pieces
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-capacity rechargeable batteries face safety risks due to potential short-circuits and overcurrents when a conductive foreign material penetrates, leading to increased internal pressure and the risk of fire or explosion, especially in large capacity batteries used for vehicles.
Innovation Solution
The rechargeable battery design features electrode assemblies separated in the height direction with differently sized current collecting pieces, where each piece is connected to a terminal with a fuse part that disconnects upon overcurrent, preventing the flow of excessive current to the other electrode assembly and minimizing the risk of short-circuit damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple electrode assemblies are connected in parallel to increase battery capacity, then the battery capacity increases, but the risk of overcurrent and short-circuit increases when a conductive foreign material penetrates
Solution Approach 1:
The current collecting member is divided into multiple separate current collecting pieces, each connected to a specific electrode assembly. This segmentation ensures that if one electrode assembly experiences overcurrent or short-circuit, the current path is isolated to that specific piece, preventing the propagation of harmful currents to other electrode assemblies while maintaining the overall battery capacity through parallel connection of multiple electrode assemblies.
2Device complexity
If a single current collecting member connects multiple electrode assemblies, then the device complexity is reduced, but the harmful effects of overcurrent spread across all electrode assemblies
Solution Approach 1:
The current collecting member is segmented into multiple independent current collecting pieces, each responsible for collecting current from a specific electrode assembly. This segmentation creates electrical isolation between electrode assemblies, preventing overcurrent from one assembly from affecting others, while still maintaining a relatively simple overall structure with each piece following a similar design pattern.
3Manufacturing precision
If all current collecting pieces have the same length, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the ability to isolate specific electrode assemblies during overcurrent is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The current collecting pieces have different lengths tailored to the specific requirements of each electrode assembly's position and configuration. This local differentiation in dimensions allows each piece to optimally connect to its associated electrode assembly while maintaining the isolation function, with longer pieces reaching deeper electrode assemblies and shorter pieces serving shallower ones.
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
This design effectively reduces the risk of overcurrent flow and internal short-circuits, enhancing safety by ensuring that only one electrode assembly is affected in case of penetration, thereby preventing widespread damage and potential fires or explosions.
Implementation Method 1
each piece is connected to a terminal with a fuse part that disconnects upon overcurrent, preventing the flow of excessive current to the other electrode assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A rechargeable battery includes a case having an inner space, a first electrode assembly inside the case, a second electrode assembly inside the case, a current collecting member including a first current collecting piece electrically connected to an electrode of the first electrode assembly and a second current collecting piece electrically connected to an electrode of the second electrode assembly, the electrode of the second electrode assembly having a same polarity as the electrode of the first electrode assembly, a first terminal electrically connected to the first current collecting member and protruding outside the case, wherein the first current collecting piece and the second current collecting piece have different lengths.