Assembled Battery Insulation Strategy for Short Circuit Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Assembled batteries face challenges in preventing short circuits between adjacent battery cells via heat transfer plates, leading to a drop in open end voltage, particularly when insulation treatments on the heat transfer plates are defective, and increasing the thickness of the battery to enhance insulation is not favorable.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves laminating battery cells with heat transfer plates on both sides and strategically placing insulating material only between adjacent battery cells connected in series, while omitting it between those connected in parallel, to prevent short circuits without increasing the battery's thickness, and optimizing the heat capacity of the insulating material to match that of the battery cells for uniform cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an insulation treatment is applied to the surface of heat transfer plates to prevent short circuits, then short-circuit prevention is improved, but when the insulation treatment is defective (breakage in insulating film), reliable prevention cannot be achieved and increasing thickness is not favorable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an insulating material as an intermediary component positioned between adjacent battery cells connected in series. This mediator physically separates the cells to prevent short circuits through heat transfer plates, eliminating the need for thick insulating treatments on the heat transfer plates themselves while maintaining reliable insulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating material is strategically placed only between specific adjacent battery cells that are connected in series, rather than universally between all cells. This localized application provides insulation precisely where needed to prevent short circuits while minimizing overall thickness increase of the battery assembly.
2Reliability
If insulating material is arranged between all adjacent battery cells to prevent short circuits, then short-circuit prevention is improved, but the thickness of the entire assembled battery increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating material is selectively positioned only between adjacent battery cells that are connected in series, where short circuit prevention is critical. By applying insulation locally rather than universally, the patent achieves effective short-circuit prevention while minimizing the overall thickness increase of the assembled battery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the insulation strategy by differentiating between battery cells connected in series and those connected in parallel. Insulation is applied only to series-connected adjacent cells where short circuits would have harmful effects, while parallel-connected cells omit the insulating material, thus reducing overall thickness.
3Ease of manufacture
If insulation treatment is applied only to heat transfer plate surfaces, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but short circuit prevention accuracy is insufficient when insulation is defective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the surface insulation treatment approach with a discrete insulating material intermediary positioned between battery cells. This mediator provides reliable physical separation and insulation that is not dependent on surface treatment quality, thereby improving short-circuit prevention accuracy while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through straightforward component placement.
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 short circuits and maintains open end voltage while ensuring uniform cooling and preventing supercooling or insufficient cooling of battery cells, all without increasing the battery's thickness.
Implementation Method 1
an insulating material for insulating the adjacent battery cells from each other is arranged between the two adjacent battery cells connected in series
Implementation Method 2
heat transfer plates arranged on both sides in the direction of lamination of each of the plurality of battery cells
Data Source
AI summary
An assembled battery disclosed herein includes a plurality of battery cells and a plurality of heat transfer plates. The plurality of battery cells are laminated in a prescribed direction. The plurality of heat transfer plates are arranged on both sides in the direction of lamination of each of the plurality of battery cells. As two battery cells adjacent to each other among the plurality of laminated battery cells, two adjacent battery cells connected in series and two adjacent battery cells connected in parallel are included, and an insulating material for insulating the adjacent battery cells from each other is arranged between the two adjacent battery cells connected in series among the two battery cells adjacent to each other but the insulating material is not arranged between the two adjacent battery cells connected in parallel among the two battery cells adjacent to each other.