Covered Battery Plug Structure for Electrolyte Sealing and Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery designs with injection apertures for electrolyte injection and effluent release are prone to premature failure due to manufacturing defects and coupling issues, leading to electrolyte leakage and moisture ingress during normal operating conditions, which can cause battery failure.
Innovation Solution
A battery design incorporating a plug with multiple layers and a covering material, such as an ultraviolet adhesive, that strengthens the coupling between the plug and housing, preventing premature failure and allowing controlled egress of effluent during thermal runaway events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a plug is coupled to the housing over the injection aperture to seal the electrolyte, then electrolyte retention is improved, but manufacturing defects and coupling issues cause premature failure leading to electrolyte leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is constructed as a composite structure with multiple layers including a first plate, second plate, and lamination layer. The covering material is applied over the plug to create an additional protective composite structure that seals manufacturing defects and strengthens the coupling between the plug and housing, thereby preventing premature failure while maintaining electrolyte retention.
2Reliability
If the plug is sealed over the injection aperture to prevent moisture ingress, then battery protection is improved, but the plug must decouple at high temperatures to allow effluent release during thermal runaway
Solution Approach 1:
The covering material is designed to change its properties based on temperature parameters. At normal operating temperatures, the covering material maintains strong adhesion to seal the plug and protect against moisture ingress. At elevated temperatures during thermal runaway events, the covering material decouples from the plug, allowing effluent to escape through the injection aperture while maintaining battery protection during normal operation.
3Strength
If a covering material is applied over the plug to strengthen coupling, then plug integrity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The covering material is applied as a thin film or layer over the plug structure. This thin film approach strengthens the plug coupling and seals manufacturing defects without adding significant structural complexity. The covering material acts as a flexible seal that conforms to the plug surface, providing enhanced integrity while minimizing increases in device complexity compared to more substantial structural modifications.
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 covering material enhances the plug's integrity during normal conditions while ensuring it decouples at high temperatures, preventing electrolyte leakage and moisture ingress, and facilitating safe effluent release during thermal runaway events.
Implementation Method 1
The covering material includes an ultraviolet adhesive
Implementation Method 2
The covering material is configured to release from the plug at a temperature of 100° C.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery that includes a housing defining a housing aperture, a battery cell stack positioned in the housing, a plug coupled to the housing over the housing aperture, a covering material disposed on at least a portion of the plug. The plug includes a first plate coupled to the housing and defining a first aperture, a second plate, and a lamination layer coupling the first plate to the second plate and defining a second aperture. The first aperture and the second aperture are aligned with the housing aperture.