Secondary Battery Vent Member for Directed Gas Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional secondary batteries face challenges in directing gas discharge during thermal propagation, which can lead to increased fire risk due to rapid temperature rise and heat transfer to neighboring cells.

Innovation Solution

A secondary battery design featuring a vent member that protrudes outside the case, with one end joined to the case outer side, allowing gas to be discharged in a specific direction, and having a lower melting point than the sealant resin to facilitate venting at elevated temperatures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a liquid electrolyte is used in the secondary battery, then ionic conductivity is improved, but the battery is prone to short circuiting and has safety issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveionic conductivityVSAvoidshort circuiting risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a polymer electrolyte membrane (flexible film) as the electrolyte component, replacing traditional liquid electrolytes. This membrane allows ion transport while physically separating electrodes to prevent short circuits, directly addressing the safety issues associated with liquid electrolytes while maintaining ionic conductivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite materials including polymer electrolytes combined with ceramic particles or other functional materials. This composite structure provides both the ionic conductivity needed for battery operation and the mechanical strength/safety features to prevent short circuiting and thermal runaway.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If battery capacity is increased to meet energy demands, then energy storage is improved, but battery swelling increases and shortens lifespan

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidbattery lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The polymer electrolyte membrane acts as a flexible separator that accommodates volume changes during charge-discharge cycles without compromising structural integrity. This prevents electrode degradation and maintains battery lifespan even as capacity increases, directly addressing the swelling issue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the chemical and physical parameters of the electrolyte system by using solid or gel polymer electrolytes instead of liquids. This parameter change enables higher capacity operation while maintaining structural stability and preventing the swelling that typically reduces battery lifespan.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If polymer electrolyte is used to improve safety, then short circuiting is prevented, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshort circuiting preventionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The polymer electrolyte membrane is designed as a thin, flexible component that can be manufactured using scalable processes. While the material itself may be more expensive than liquid electrolytes, the thin-film structure reduces material usage and enables simpler assembly processes, partially offsetting the cost increase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The use of composite polymer electrolytes with ceramic particles or other additives improves safety performance while the composite structure can be optimized for manufacturability. The combination of materials allows for scalable production methods and reduces overall system cost compared to high-performance alternatives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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

The design improves safety by enabling controlled gas discharge, reducing the risk of fire and damage by directing gases away from critical components during abnormal conditions.

Implementation Method 1

In order to solve these problems, attention has been paid to the use of a polymer electrolyte or a gel electrolyte using a polymer as a solvent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

it has been proposed to use a gel electrolyte in which a gel structure is formed by adding an inorganic particle to a polymer electrolyte

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGel structure formation: Gel

Implementation Method 3

a gel structure is formed by adding an inorganic particle to a polymer electrolyte

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReinforcement:

Data Source

PatentEP4224612B1Secondary battery
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4224612B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4224612B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4224612B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a secondary battery having a vent member. The secondary battery may include an electrode assembly, a case for accommodating the electrode assembly; and a vent member, wherein the vent member is configured to protrude to the outside of the case, and one end of the vent member protruding to the outside of the case is joined to an outer side of the case.