Secondary Battery Tab Structure for Protrusion-Free Current Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods of manufacturing secondary batteries face issues with reduced processability due to uncoated parts protruding from current collection plates, which can lead to increased volume occupation and reduced energy density, as well as potential heat generation and damage.
Innovation Solution
The secondary battery design includes a first and second electrode assembly with electrode tabs bent in opposite directions, supported by auxiliary electrode tabs, and covered by a current collection plate, ensuring stable electrical connection without protrusions, thereby improving processability and structural stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple uncoated parts are welded simultaneously to the current collection plate, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but some uncoated parts protrude from the current collection plate reducing processability
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode tabs are pre-bent into predetermined directions before welding to the current collection plate. This preliminary shaping ensures that during simultaneous welding of multiple tabs, they maintain proper alignment and do not protrude, thereby improving processability while maintaining manufacturing efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameter of the electrode tabs by bending them in specific directions (first direction for tabs from first electrode assembly, second direction for tabs from second electrode assembly). This parameter modification allows all tabs to be welded simultaneously without protrusion, resolving the contradiction between productivity and ease of manufacture
2Device complexity
If uncoated parts protrude from the current collection plate, then welding may be simplified, but volume occupation increases reducing energy density
Solution Approach 1:
By bending the electrode tabs in predetermined directions before assembly, the invention optimizes their spatial arrangement. This ensures that after welding to the current collection plate, the tabs remain compact and do not protrude, thereby maximizing energy density while maintaining welding simplicity through the pre-configured geometry
3Ease of operation
If uncoated parts protrude from the current collection plate, then assembly may be easier, but heat generation and damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode tabs are pre-bent into their final configuration before assembly, ensuring proper alignment and contact with the current collection plate. This preliminary preparation facilitates easier assembly while preventing heat generation and damage by ensuring stable, protrusion-free connections that distribute thermal loads evenly
4Shape
If electrode tabs are bent in opposite directions, then spatial arrangement is optimized, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The opposite bending directions are applied during the tab formation process itself, before assembly. This preliminary action integrates the spatial optimization into the manufacturing flow rather than requiring additional complex steps, thereby achieving optimized spatial arrangement without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention deliberately applies asymmetric bending to different electrode tabs (first direction for tabs from first electrode assembly, second direction for tabs from second electrode assembly). This asymmetric configuration optimizes the spatial arrangement for compact stacking while the bending is performed using standard manufacturing processes, keeping the increase in manufacturing complexity manageable
Data Source
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AI summary
A secondary battery according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes a first electrode assembly including a first electrode tab which includes a plurality of 1-1 uncoated parts, each bent in a first direction, and a first auxiliary electrode tab protruding from the same side as the first electrode tab, a second electrode assembly which is stacked on the first electrode assembly in the first direction and includes a second electrode tab including a plurality of 2-1 uncoated parts, each bent in a direction opposite to the first direction, and a second auxiliary electrode tab protruding from the same side as the second electrode tab, and a current collection plate that entirely covers the first electrode tab and the second electrode tab, and is electrically connected to the first electrode tab and the second electrode tab, wherein the first electrode tab is bent in the first direction to contact the second auxiliary electrode tab, and the second electrode tab is bent in the direction opposite to the first direction to contact the first auxiliary electrode tab.