Power Storage Cell Sidewall Groove for Electrolyte Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of a porous material around an electrode assembly in power storage cells improves ease of injection but reduces the space for housing the electrode assembly, potentially decreasing the energy density of the cell.
Innovation Solution
A power storage cell design featuring a case with a groove on the side walls to facilitate electrolyte solution flow, promoting capillary action and improving ease of injection without significantly reducing the space for the electrode assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a porous material is disposed around an electrode assembly, then ease of injection is improved, but the energy density of the power storage cell decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The groove structure is applied locally to specific side walls of the case rather than using porous material throughout the entire case. This localized approach provides capillary action where needed for injection ease while preserving the remaining space for housing the electrode assembly, thus maintaining energy density.
2Ease of operation
If a porous material is disposed around an electrode assembly, then the electrolyte solution can permeate the porous member, but the space for housing the electrode assembly is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The groove structure is applied locally to specific side walls of the case rather than using porous material throughout the entire case. This localized approach provides capillary action where needed for injection ease while preserving the remaining space for housing the electrode assembly, thus maintaining energy density.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential function of porous material (capillary action for electrolyte permeation) and implements it through a groove structure on the case surface. This extraction allows the case itself to provide the permeation function without requiring a separate porous material component that would occupy valuable internal space.
3Force
If the main wall is pressed by a restraint member, then appropriate surface pressure is applied to the electrode assembly, but the main wall surface must be flat
Solution Approach 1:
The groove structure is applied only to side walls where capillary action is needed, while main walls remain flat to ensure proper contact with restraint members. This localized differentiation allows each wall type to fulfill its specific function without compromise.
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 groove in the case enhances the flow of the electrolyte solution, improving ease of injection while maintaining the energy density of the power storage cell by minimizing the reduction in space for the electrode assembly.
Implementation Method 1
the flow of the electrolyte solution is promoted by permeation of the electrolyte solution into the groove due to a capillary action
Data Source
AI summary
A power storage cell includes a case, an electrode assembly, and an electrolyte solution. The case houses the electrode assembly and the electrolyte solution. The case has a first bottom wall, a peripheral wall, and a second bottom wall. The second bottom wall faces the first bottom wall. The peripheral wall connects the first bottom wall and the second bottom wall. The peripheral wall includes a pair of main walls and a pair of side walls. The pair of side walls connect the pair of main walls. Each of the pair of main walls has a larger area than an area of each of the pair of side walls. A groove is formed in a surface of at least one of the pair of side walls in the case. The groove extends in a direction from the first bottom wall toward the second bottom wall.