Battery Cell Module Vent Insulation for Reliable Fuse Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conductive materials from battery cell emissions can form paths between electrodes and current collector plates, preventing the reliable separation of abnormally high-temperature battery cells from the electric circuit, leading to continued heat generation.
Innovation Solution
A cell module design featuring an insulating film covering the area of the current collector plate facing the exhaust duct, preventing conductive materials from establishing an electrical connection between the electrode and the current collector plate, ensuring reliable separation of the battery cell from the circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the current collector plate is exposed without insulation, then conductive materials can form electrical paths between electrodes and current collector plate, but this prevents reliable separation of abnormally high-temperature battery cells from the circuit
Solution Approach 1:
An insulating film is introduced as an intermediary layer between the current collector plate and the exhaust duct. This insulating film prevents conductive materials from the battery cell emission from establishing electrical contact with the current collector plate, thereby maintaining circuit integrity and enabling reliable separation of abnormally high-temperature cells through the existing fuse mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating film is pre-applied to the current collector plate before any abnormal thermal events occur. This preliminary protective measure prevents the formation of conductive paths by conductive materials that may be discharged during safety valve operation, ensuring that the fuse can reliably interrupt the circuit when needed without interference from unintended conductive connections.
2Reliability
If conductive materials form a path between positive electrode and current collector plate, then the electric circuit configuration changes, but this hinders large current flow into the fuse preventing proper safety operation
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating film serves as a mediator that blocks conductive materials from creating alternative electrical paths. By preventing these unintended conductive connections, the insulating film ensures that large currents during abnormal conditions flow through the designated fuse path, enabling the fuse to operate reliably and maintain the stability of the electric circuit configuration.
3Reliability
If the insulating film is added to cover the current collector plate area, then conductive path formation is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A thin insulating film is applied to the current collector plate surface facing the exhaust duct. This thin film provides effective electrical insulation to prevent conductive path formation while adding minimal structural complexity. The film can be applied as a coating or thin layer, maintaining the compact design of the battery module while achieving the desired safety function.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating film is a simple, inexpensive component that can be applied during manufacturing. Even if the film degrades over time or during thermal events, it has already served its protective function. The film is replaced with the battery module itself, making it a cost-effective solution for preventing conductive path formation.
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 insulating film effectively prevents the formation of conductive paths, maintaining the original electric circuit configuration and ensuring safe separation of abnormally high-temperature battery cells, thereby preventing further heat generation.
Implementation Method 1
an insulating film that covers an area of the first current collector plate facing the exhaust duct
Implementation Method 2
a safety valve at a first end in a height direction, the safety valve being configured to open when an internal pressure inside the cell case reaches or exceeds a predetermined level
Implementation Method 3
an exhaust duct that guides an emission being discharged from at least one of the plurality of battery cells and passing through the through hole to an outside of the cell module
Implementation Method 4
designed to separate any battery cell through which a large current greater than or equal to a rated current has flowed from an electric circuit by blowing the fuse of the battery cell with Joule heat
Data Source
AI summary
A cell module includes a plurality of battery cells each having a safety valve at a first end in a height direction, a first current collector plate including a main body having a through hole that at least partly overlaps the safety valve when viewed along the height direction and a lead extending into the through hole from the main body and being electrically connected to a first terminal of each of the battery cells, an exhaust duct disposed over a surface of the first current collector plate remote from the battery cells, and an insulating film being made of an insulating material and covering an area of the first current collector plate facing the exhaust duct. The safety valve opens when an internal pressure of any of the battery cells reaches or exceeds a predetermined level.