Bus Bar Layout for Low-Height Power Storage Modules
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a demand to reduce the height of power storage modules, particularly in vehicle applications where high output voltage is required, while maintaining stable electrical connections between power storage devices and bus bars.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a bus bar with terminal connections and linking parts that extend along intersecting surfaces of the power storage device housing, allowing for reduced height and increased heat capacity while maintaining stable connections through curved or flat linking parts that absorb relative displacement between devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bus bar is placed on the terminal forming surface of power storage devices with a curved part protruding upward, then stable electrical connections are maintained by following relative displacement, but the height of the power storage module increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bus bar configuration transitions from a vertical protrusion (curved part extending upward from terminal forming surface) to a horizontal arrangement (linking part extending in direction intersecting the terminal forming surface). This dimensional change allows the bus bar to maintain electrical connection stability through relative displacement accommodation while reducing the vertical height of the power storage module.
Solution Approach 2:
The bus bar incorporates a curved part that can bend or deform to follow relative displacement between power storage devices. This curvature allows the bus bar to absorb mechanical stress and maintain stable electrical connections without requiring excessive height, as the curved geometry provides flexibility while staying compact.
2Length of stationary object
If the bus bar height is reduced to decrease module height, then installation space is reduced, but the ability to absorb relative displacement and maintain stable connections is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The linking part of the bus bar extends in a direction intersecting the terminal forming surface rather than protruding vertically upward. This reorients the displacement-accommodating geometry from the vertical dimension to the horizontal dimension, allowing reduced module height while maintaining the ability to follow relative displacement through the curved linking part.
3Productivity
If power storage devices are arranged in a plane with bus bars connecting them, then electrical connections are established, but the height of the module increases due to the vertical arrangement of terminals
Solution Approach 1:
The bus bar linking part extends in a direction intersecting the terminal forming surface, effectively utilizing the lateral dimension rather than the vertical dimension for connection. This allows electrical connections to be established between power storage devices while keeping the vertical profile compact, reducing overall module height.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved linking part of the bus bar is designed to be flexible and capable of deforming to follow relative displacement between power storage devices. This dynamic characteristic allows the bus bar to maintain reliable electrical connections even when devices shift position, without requiring a fixed rigid structure that would increase module height.
Data Source
AI summary
A power storage module includes a plurality of power storage devices and a bus bar electrically connecting the plurality of power storage devices. Each power storage device has a housing and a pair of output terminals disposed on a first surface of the housing. The bus bar has the plurality of terminal connections connected to the output terminals of each power storage device, and a linking part connecting the plurality of terminal connections. Each terminal connection part has a first part connected to each output terminal and a second part continuous from the first part and extending along a second surface spreading in a direction intersecting the first surface of the housing. Each linking part has a third part that connects the second parts of the adjacent terminal connections to each other.