Battery Internal Short-Circuit Evaluation Using Controlled Pressure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for evaluating the safety of lithium secondary batteries under internal short-circuit conditions are inaccurate, as they are influenced by the battery's constitution and structure, leading to improper evaluation of safety levels.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for causing a controlled internal short-circuit at a desired location within the battery, using pressure to remove a part of the insulating layer and detecting the short-circuit through changes in battery information such as voltage, temperature, sound, or light, allowing for comprehensive safety evaluation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional evaluation methods (nail penetration test, crush test) are used to evaluate battery safety under internal short-circuit conditions, then the evaluation process is simple and easy to perform, but the evaluation accuracy is insufficient and cannot accurately reflect the actual safety level

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveevaluation accuracyVSAvoidevaluation method complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating layer is removed in advance from the target area before conducting the short-circuit test. This preliminary action ensures that when pressure is applied during the test, a controlled short-circuit occurs at the predetermined location, enabling accurate measurement of safety characteristics without the complexity of conventional methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A pressure-applying device is used as an intermediary to induce the internal short-circuit in a controlled manner. By applying pressure to the battery with the pre-prepared insulating layer removal, the device enables precise control over where and how the short-circuit occurs, improving measurement accuracy while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If the insulating layer is made thinner to increase battery capacity, then the energy density and capacity are improved, but the risk of internal short-circuit increases due to physical contact between electrodes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidshort-circuit resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By removing the insulating layer in advance from specific areas, the invention creates controlled short-circuit points that allow for accurate safety evaluation. This enables manufacturers to assess and improve the reliability of thin insulating layer designs before mass production, ensuring that high-capacity batteries with thinner insulating layers maintain adequate safety standards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces random mechanical damage (such as nail penetration or crushing) with a controlled pressure-application system. This allows for precise control over the short-circuit location and conditions, enabling accurate evaluation of batteries with thin insulating layers and providing data to improve their reliability without sacrificing capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If pressure is applied to cause internal short-circuit for safety evaluation, then the evaluation comprehensiveness is improved, but the risk of causing actual battery damage or thermal runaway increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety evaluation comprehensivenessVSAvoidbattery damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating layer is removed in advance from the target area, which confines the short-circuit to a specific, controlled location. This preliminary preparation ensures that when pressure is applied during testing, the short-circuit occurs only where intended, preventing uncontrolled thermal runaway and reducing the risk of actual battery damage while maintaining comprehensive safety evaluation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention inherently provides a form of cushioning by controlling the short-circuit location through pre-removal of the insulating layer. This control acts as a safety mechanism that prevents the short-circuit from spreading uncontrollably, thereby reducing the harmful effects during testing while still enabling comprehensive safety assessment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 approach enables accurate evaluation of battery safety under internal short-circuit conditions, independent of the battery's local constitution, providing reliable safety rankings and optimal usage designs.

Implementation Method 1

applying a pressure to a battery to cause an internal short-circuit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

the short-circuit further expands due to Joule's heat generated by the short-circuit current

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 3

detecting the occurence of the internal short circuit by detecting battery information obtained from the battery

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVoltage detection: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 4

detecting changes in battery temperature, battery voltage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature detection: Temperature Gradient

Implementation Method 5

detecting battery information obtained from the battery or by visual inspection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound detection: Acoustic Emission

Data Source

PatentEP2337138B1Method for evaluating internal short-circuit of battery, device for evaluating internal short-circuit of battery, battery, battery pack and their manufacturing methods
Publication Date: 2012.10.17 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP
  • EP2337138B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2337138B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2337138B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods for evaluating battery safety under internal short-circuit conditions are improved to eliminate variations in evaluation results and accurately evaluate battery safety under internal short-circuit conditions. An internal short-circuit is caused in a battery by using an internal short-circuit causing method in which battery information obtained upon the occurrence of an internal short-circuit hardly changes with the structure of the battery. At this time, the battery information is detected to accurately evaluate the safety of the battery upon the internal short-circuit and identify the safety level.