Heat-Activatable Cell Disconnect for Battery Thermal Runaway
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies fail to effectively prevent the propagation of heat between electrochemical cells connected by metal bars, leading to thermal runaway and potential battery destruction.
Innovation Solution
A battery design incorporating a disconnection device with a heat-activatable element that deforms and disconnects the inter-cell connection part when a temperature threshold is reached, preventing heat propagation between electrochemical cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If metal bars are used to connect electrochemical cells, then electrical conductivity between cells is improved, but heat propagation between cells increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is divided into multiple segments: electrically conductive elements for current flow and thermally insulating elements for heat blocking. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve electrical conductivity and thermal insulation by separating these two functions into different components.
Solution Approach 2:
Thermally insulating elements are introduced as intermediary components between the electrochemical cells. These intermediaries block heat propagation while allowing electrical connection to be maintained through separate conductive paths, thus resolving the conflict between electrical conductivity and thermal insulation.
2Reliability
If disconnection devices are added to prevent heat propagation, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The disconnection device incorporates a heat-activatable element that automatically responds to thermal conditions without external control. When the temperature reaches a critical threshold, the element自行 activates to disconnect the cells, providing self-service safety functionality that reduces the need for complex external monitoring and control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat-activatable element utilizes phase transition or thermal deformation properties to trigger disconnection. This passive thermal response mechanism converts thermal energy directly into mechanical action (disconnection), eliminating the need for complex electronic sensors, processors, and actuators that would otherwise be required for active safety systems.
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 disconnection device effectively limits the spread of thermal runaway, reducing the risk of battery destruction and allowing for better heat dissipation during cell failures.
Implementation Method 1
a heat-activatable element (a) capable of deforming when a temperature of the heat-activatable element reaches a threshold value
Implementation Method 2
a material having a thermal conductivity less than or equal to 0.5 W/(m*K) disposed between the at least two electrochemical cells
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a battery comprising: -i) at least two electrochemical elements (d) connected to one another by a connection part (c), each electrochemical element comprising a container, -ii) a material arranged between said at least two electrochemical elements, and -iii) at least one disconnection device, said device comprising: a heat-activatable element (a) able to deform when its temperature reaches a threshold value, the heat-activatable element being arranged such that, when its temperature reaches said threshold value, it disconnects the connection part (c) from at least one electrochemical element (d) through its deformation, said heat-activatable element not contributing to the conduction of electric current when an electric current flows through said electrochemical elements, said heat-activatable element being placed in contact with the connection part (c) and with a current output terminal.