Deformable End Plate for Battery Cell Stack Pressure Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current battery systems face challenges in maintaining optimal pressure conditions for battery cells over their lifetime due to susceptibility to length or positioning deviations, requiring precise production tolerances and costly adjustments, which traditional rigid end plates cannot adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A battery system with a displaceable end plate featuring deformable arms that allow for a constant pressure exertion on the cell stack, compensating for production tolerances and swelling through elastic and plastic deformation characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If rigid end plates are used to exert pressure onto the cell stack, then the structural stability is improved, but the susceptibility to length or positioning deviations increases, requiring precise and expensive production tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The end plate is designed with deformable arms that can dynamically adjust their position and deformation degree in response to variations in cell stack length. This dynamic capability allows the end plate to maintain stable pressure on the cell stack without requiring precise production tolerances, as the structure adapts to dimensional variations automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable arms are designed to change their physical state from rigid to flexible under load, allowing controlled deformation. This parameter change enables the end plate to compensate for positioning deviations and length variations in the cell stack, maintaining structural stability without expensive precision manufacturing.
2Force
If rigid end plates are used to maintain pressure on the cell stack, then the pressure application is improved, but the ability to compensate for cell stack swelling and length variations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable arms provide dynamic adaptability by adjusting their deformation degree in response to cell stack swelling and length variations. This allows the end plate to maintain consistent pressure application while automatically compensating for dimensional changes in the cell stack throughout its lifetime.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable arms automatically compensate for cell stack variations without requiring external adjustment mechanisms. The structure self-adjusts through controlled deformation of the arms, eliminating the need for additional positioning or adjustment components during assembly and operation.
3Reliability
If very precise production tolerances are implemented to mitigate displacement effects, then the cell stack performance is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable arms are designed with specific material and geometric parameters that enable controlled deformation within normal production tolerance ranges. This allows the system to achieve reliable cell stack performance without requiring expensive precision manufacturing, as the deformable structure absorbs dimensional variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable arms function as flexible structural elements that can bend and deform elastically. This flexibility allows the system to tolerate broader production tolerances while maintaining cell stack performance, eliminating the need for expensive precision components or adjustment mechanisms.
4Force
If additional adjustment mechanisms are added to position the end plate during assembly, then the pressure control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable arms automatically perform the pressure control function through their inherent elastic deformation capability. The structure self-regulates the pressure applied to the cell stack based on its own deformation, eliminating the need for additional adjustment mechanisms, sensors, or control systems during assembly and operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment function is extracted from separate mechanical components and integrated directly into the end plate structure itself through the deformable arms. This integration simplifies the overall device by eliminating additional adjustment mechanisms while maintaining pressure control capability.
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 displaceable end plate maintains consistent pressure on the cell stack, ensuring optimal performance and safety throughout its life cycle by adapting to variations in cell stack length and swelling, eliminating the need for additional adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
deformable arms allowing a displacement of the plate element along the stacking axis, and wherein the plate element, under a deformation of the deformable arms, exerts a pressure onto the cell stack
Implementation Method 2
compensating for production tolerances and swelling through elastic and plastic deformation characteristics
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2D
Figure 3A~3D
AI summary
The present disclosure refers to a battery system (100) including a plurality of battery cells (12) arranged along a stacking axis (A) to form a cell stack (10), and a cell stack frame (20) accommodating the cell stack (10), wherein the cell stack frame (20) includes a displaceable end plate (22) including a plate element (222, 222') facing the cell stack (10), the plate element (222, 222') being mounted on opposite sides thereof to side walls (24, 25) of the cell stack frame (20) via mounting elements (224, 224') of the displaceable end plate (22), wherein each mounting element (224, 224') is connected to the plate element (222, 222') via at least two deformable arms (226, 226') allowing a displacement of the plate element (222, 222') along the stacking axis (A), and wherein the plate element (222, 222'), under a deformation of the deformable arms (226, 226'), exerts a pressure onto the cell stack (10).