Battery Cell Separator Structure for Compact Thermal Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power supply devices for electric vehicles face challenges in suppressing heat transfer between adjacent battery cells without increasing the device's size, as thicker insulating separators are needed to prevent heat propagation, which compromises space efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The use of a sheet-like heat insulating member with a fiber structure, such as silica xerogel or aerogel, integrated with a restraining member and ribs to create a housing space that effectively insulates adjacent battery cells while maintaining the required functions, preventing heat transfer and expansion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a thick insulating separator is used to suppress heat propagation between battery cells, then heat insulation performance is improved, but the size of the power supply device increases and space efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The separator is constructed as a composite structure combining a resin base material with a heat insulating member having low thermal conductivity (such as aerogel, xerogel, or foam materials). This composite configuration achieves superior heat insulation performance with a thinner overall structure, resolving the contradiction between heat insulation effectiveness and device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat insulating member utilizes porous materials with low thermal conductivity, such as aerogel, xerogel, or foam structures. These materials provide excellent thermal insulation properties in a thin profile, enabling effective heat blocking between battery cells without increasing the power supply device volume.
2Volume of stationary object
If battery cells are disposed close to each other to improve space efficiency, then space efficiency is improved, but heat transfer between adjacent battery cells increases
Solution Approach 1:
The composite separator structure with integrated heat insulating member provides sufficient thermal blocking capability even when battery cells are closely spaced. This enables compact battery cell arrangement while maintaining safety against heat propagation.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat insulating member acts as an intermediary layer between adjacent battery cells, providing thermal blocking functionality that allows close spacing of battery cells without compromising safety. The interposed plate with integrated insulation serves as the mediating structure.
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 configuration effectively suppresses heat transfer between battery cells while maintaining the device's compact size, enhancing thermal insulation and preventing thermal runaway, thus improving the safety and efficiency of the power supply device.
Implementation Method 1
a heat insulating member having a sheet-like shape and disposed between the interposed plate and the adjacent battery cells
Data Source
AI summary
The power supply device includes a plurality of battery cells each having a rectangular outer shape, a plurality of separators configured to insulate adjacent battery cells, and a restraining member assembling the plurality of battery cells and the plurality of separators. Each of separators includes interposed plate disposed between adjacent battery cells, heat insulating member having a sheet-like shape and disposed between interposed plate and adjacent battery cells, peripheral wall protruding from interposed plate toward adjacent battery cells and defining a housing space housing adjacent battery cells, and a plurality of ribs provided inside peripheral wall. The plurality of ribs holds heat insulating member.