Multi-Material Copy Cell for Anisotropic Battery Thermal Testing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing copy cells made of a single material fail to accurately simulate the anisotropic thermal characteristics of real battery cells, as they do not allow for adjustable thermal conductivity in all directions, which is crucial for mimicking the thermal behavior of conventional battery cells.

Innovation Solution

A copy cell design featuring a cylindrical shape with distinct regions made of different materials, including a metal core, an insulating material in the form of foam or gel, and another metal region, allowing for adjustable thermal conductivity by varying the thickness ratios and materials to match the thermal conductivity of real battery cells.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a copy cell is made of a single material, then the manufacturing is simple and cost is low, but the thermal conductivity cannot be adjusted in all directions to simulate anisotropic battery cells

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal conductivity adjustmentVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The copy cell is divided into multiple regions with different materials: a first region made of a first material, a second region made of a second material, and a third region made of the first material. This segmentation allows different thermal conductivities in different directions, enabling the copy cell to simulate the anisotropic thermal characteristics of real battery cells.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The copy cell uses composite materials consisting of at least two different materials with different thermal conductivities. The first material and second material are combined in specific thickness ratios to achieve desired thermal conductivity values in different directions, particularly to match the lower thermal conductivity in the thickness direction of real battery cells.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If thermal testing is conducted on real battery cells at high temperatures, then the test data is more accurate, but the safety risk increases due to danger of testing at high temperature range

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetest data accuracyVSAvoidsafety risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of testing real battery cells directly at high temperatures, a copy cell is created that replicates the thermal characteristics of the real cell. The copy cell includes multiple regions with different materials designed to match the thermal conductivity of real battery cells in various directions, allowing safe high-temperature testing without the risks associated with actual battery cells.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

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 design enables the copy cell to closely mimic the thermal conductivity of real battery cells, particularly in the thickness direction, reducing the risk associated with high-temperature testing and providing a safer alternative for thermal testing.

Implementation Method 1

a first region (110) located at the center and made of a first material, a second region (120) located outside the first region (110) and made of a second material, and a third region (130) located outside the second region (120) and made of the first material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4379916A1Copy cell
Publication Date: 2024.06.05 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP4379916A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4379916A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4379916A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A copy cell having a first region made of a first material, a second region outside the first region and made of a second material, and a third region outside the second region and made of the first material, for simulating thermal characteristics of a real battery cell.