Battery Cell Pressure Relief Protection Against Thermal Cracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery cells face reliability issues due to thermal runaway, which can lead to explosions and ignition, and the pressure relief mechanisms are prone to cracking failures from high-temperature materials, affecting their performance and safety.

Innovation Solution

A battery cell design incorporating a pressure relief mechanism with a protective member having a melting point greater than or equal to 300°C, which isolates high-temperature materials and reduces heat transfer to the mechanism, thereby reducing cracking failure risks and enhancing reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the pressure relief mechanism is exposed to high-temperature materials during thermal runaway, then the pressure relief function can be activated, but the mechanism is prone to cracking failures due to heat transfer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure relief mechanism reliabilityVSAvoidheat transfer to pressure relief mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A protective member made of ceramic material is introduced as an intermediary between the high-temperature materials and the pressure relief mechanism. This ceramic protective member has high heat resistance and low thermal conductivity, serving as a thermal barrier that protects the pressure relief mechanism from direct heat exposure while allowing the pressure relief function to operate when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The ceramic protective member creates a thermally inert environment around the pressure relief mechanism, isolating it from the harsh thermal conditions during battery thermal runaway. The ceramic material's inherent heat resistance properties establish a protective zone that prevents harmful heat transfer to the mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

2Reliability

If a protective member is added to cover the pressure relief mechanism, then the mechanism is protected from heat and impurities, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure relief mechanism protectionVSAvoidbattery cell structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective member is implemented as a thin ceramic coating or layer rather than a bulky protective structure. This thin-film approach provides effective thermal protection while minimizing the additional space and structural complexity introduced by the protective member

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The battery cell structure integrates the ceramic protective member as a composite material layer combined with the existing housing and pressure relief mechanism. This composite construction provides enhanced protection without requiring entirely separate protective components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If the protective member is made with high melting point material to withstand thermal shock, then the protection effectiveness is improved, but the manufacturing difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotective member thermal shock resistanceVSAvoidprotective member manufacturing

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The ceramic protective member is designed with specific material parameters including melting point ≥300°C and controlled thickness (0.1-1.0mm). These parameter specifications balance thermal shock resistance requirements with manufacturability, allowing the use of standard ceramic materials and conventional coating or sintering processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 protective member effectively isolates high-temperature materials from the pressure relief mechanism, minimizing heat transfer and cracking failures, thus increasing the battery cell's reliability and space utilization.

Implementation Method 1

The protective member has a melting point greater than or equal to 300°C and can withstand relatively strong thermal shock

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal shock resistance: Thermal Shock

Implementation Method 2

the protective member can withstand the thermal shock of the high-temperature material and is less likely to have problems such as deformation, melting through, etc., so that the pressure relief mechanism is isolated from at least a part of the high-temperature material to reduce a heat amount transferred to the mechanism

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP4715991A1Battery cell, battery, and electric device

Publication Date: 2026.03.25 CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO LTD

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AI summary

The present application provides a battery cell, a battery, and an electric device. The battery cell includes a housing, a pressure relief mechanism, and a protective member. The housing includes a wall portion. The pressure relief mechanism is provided at the wall portion, and can be actuated to release gas within the housing in a case where an internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell reaches a threshold value. The protective member has a melting point greater than or equal to 300°C, and the protective member covers at least part of the pressure relief mechanism in a thickness direction of the wall portion.