Current Collector Plate Resistance Unit for Battery Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Secondary batteries face safety concerns due to high short-circuit currents during nail penetration tests, leading to abnormal heat generation and thermal runaway.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a resistance increasing unit into the current collector plate to reduce and control short-circuit currents by increasing the resistance, thereby preventing ignition and explosion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a current collector plate with low resistance is used to ensure good electrical connection between electrode assemblies, then electrical conductivity is improved, but short-circuit current increases during nail penetration tests causing abnormal heat generation and safety issues

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidshort-circuit current
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The current collector plate is designed with non-uniform thickness, creating regions of different resistance. The first region has greater thickness for low resistance connection, while the second region has reduced thickness for higher resistance to limit short-circuit current. This local variation in quality allows simultaneous optimization of electrical connection and safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The resistance of the current collector plate is modified by changing its physical dimension (thickness). By reducing the thickness in the second region, the resistance increases to control short-circuit current magnitude, while the first region maintains sufficient thickness for proper electrical connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the resistance of the current collector plate is increased to limit short-circuit current, then safety is improved, but electrical connection quality between electrode assemblies deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshort-circuit currentVSAvoidelectrical connection
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the current collector plate serve different functions through localized thickness variation. The first region (greater thickness) ensures reliable electrical connection, while the second region (reduced thickness) limits short-circuit current. This spatial differentiation resolves the contradiction between connection quality and current limitation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The current collector plate is segmented into functional regions with different thicknesses. The first region handles electrical connection tasks, while the second region handles current limitation tasks. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 solution effectively suppresses abnormal heat generation and enhances safety by maintaining short-circuit currents at a controlled level during nail penetration tests.

Implementation Method 1

the resistance increasing unit is formed in the second region... reducing the magnitude of short-circuit current or controlling the same at a constant level

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical Resistance: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentEP2793292B1Secondary battery
Publication Date: 2020.05.20 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP2793292B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2793292B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2793292B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A secondary battery includes a plurality of electrode assemblies (110); a current collector plate (120, 130) electrically connecting the plurality of electrode assemblies; a case (140) accommodating the plurality of electrode assemblies; and a cap plate sealing the case, wherein the current collector plate has a resistance increasing unit (124) thereon to increase the resistance of the current collector plate.