Bipolar Plate Battery Pack Layout Without Terminal Posts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery packs face challenges in achieving efficient electrical connections between batteries, leading to increased weight, volume, reduced energy efficiency, and safety concerns due to the use of terminal posts for series or parallel connections.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a bipolar plate between adjacent batteries in the energy storage apparatus facilitates direct electrical connections, reducing weight and volume while enhancing energy efficiency and safety by eliminating the need for external terminal posts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If terminal posts and bus bars are used to connect batteries in series or parallel, then electrical connection between batteries is achieved, but weight and volume of the battery pack increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bipolar plate merges the functions of electrical connection and battery separation into a single component. It directly connects the positive electrode of one battery to the negative electrode of the adjacent battery while also serving as a structural separator, eliminating the need for separate terminal posts and bus bars.
Solution Approach 2:
The bipolar plate performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as an electrical conductor for current flow, a physical separator between adjacent batteries, and a structural support element. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components needed and decreases overall battery pack weight.
2Reliability
If terminal posts and bus bars are used to connect batteries, then electrical connection is achieved, but volume of the battery pack increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bipolar plate combines the electrical connection function and separation function into one integrated component, eliminating the space required for separate terminal posts and bus bars, thereby reducing battery pack volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates unnecessary components (terminal posts and bus bars) from the battery pack structure, keeping only the essential bipolar plate that performs both connection and separation functions.
3Reliability
If conventional connection methods are used, then batteries can be connected, but heat generation increases and energy efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the bus bar component from the connection system, eliminating the additional contact resistance and heat generation associated with bus bar-to-terminal-post connections. The direct electrode-to-bipolar-plate contact reduces energy loss.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional connection methods are used, then batteries can be connected in series or parallel, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bipolar plate serves as a universal component that enables both series and parallel connections through its dual functionality as electrical conductor and separator, simplifying the overall battery pack structure while maintaining connection flexibility.
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 improves energy efficiency, safety performance, and reduces the overall weight and volume of the battery pack by enabling efficient electrical connections between batteries without the use of external terminal posts.
Implementation Method 1
the first electrode or the second electrode of one of the adjacent single batteries forms an electrical connection with the bipolar plate through contacting, and the second electrode or the first electrode of the other of the adjacent single batteries forms an electrical connection with the bipolar plate through contacting
Data Source
AI summary
An an energy storage apparatus is provided. the energy storage apparatus includes: a plurality of single batteries and a bipolar plate, each of the plurality of single batteries including a battery cell, the battery cell including a first electrode and a second electrode with opposite polarities and being insulated from each other; the bipolar plate is arranged between two adjacent single batteries, the first electrode or the second electrode of one of the adjacent single batteries forms an electrical connection with the bipolar plate through contacting, and the second electrode or the first electrode of the other of the adjacent single batteries forms an electrical connection with the bipolar plate through contacting.