Elastic Cell Separator Structure for Battery Swelling and Thermal Barriers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cell separating elements in battery stacks face challenges in achieving effective heat dissipation during normal operation, while also providing adequate thermal insulation during thermal runaway and absorbing swelling forces without mechanical stress.
Innovation Solution
A cell separating element designed to be elastically compressible, featuring flexible outer walls and an intermediate plate with resilient support elements, which allows for efficient heat dissipation, effective thermal insulation, and absorption of swelling forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If stiff ceramic separating plates are used between battery cells, then thermal insulation is improved, but swelling forces cannot be absorbed and high mechanical stresses occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from stiff ceramic materials to flexible materials with elastically compressible properties. The cell separating element is designed to be elastically compressible in the stacking direction, allowing it to absorb swelling forces while maintaining thermal insulation functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining flexible outer walls made of elastomeric material with an intermediate plate. This composite structure integrates both flexibility for swelling absorption and thermal insulation properties in a single element.
2Strength
If flexible compression pads are used between battery cells, then swelling forces can be absorbed, but thermal insulation effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by using composite materials - the flexible outer walls are made of elastomeric material for swelling absorption, while the intermediate plate provides enhanced thermal insulation. This composite structure achieves both swelling compensation and effective thermal barrier functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The cell separating element is segmented into multiple functional components: flexible outer walls for mechanical compliance and an intermediate plate for thermal insulation. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function while working together as an integrated system.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If thick cell separating elements are used to improve thermal insulation, then thermal barrier effectiveness is improved, but heat dissipation during normal operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a non-uniform thermal conductivity structure. The intermediate plate provides high thermal insulation where needed (between cells), while the flexible outer walls maintain thermal contact with the cells for heat dissipation. This localized optimization allows simultaneous heat dissipation and thermal barrier functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure combines materials with different thermal properties - the intermediate plate with high insulation properties and the flexible outer walls with good thermal contact properties - to achieve optimized thermal management with balanced heat dissipation and thermal barrier effectiveness.
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 enables simultaneous achievement of optimal heat dissipation, thermal insulation, and swelling compensation, ensuring the integrity and safety of battery stacks by minimizing mechanical stress and maintaining thermal barrier effectiveness even under high swelling pressures.
Implementation Method 1
the cell separating element is designed to be elastically compressible at least in part with respect to a first direction which corresponds to the stacking direction
Implementation Method 2
heat can be dissipated from the cells as effectively as possible
Implementation Method 3
in the case of propagation, the best possible thermal barrier can be provided between the cells
Data Source
AI summary
A cell separating element for arrangement in an intermediate space between two battery cells of a cell stack arranged adjacent to one another in a stacking direction. The cell separating element has a first flexible outer wall and a second flexible outer wall which are at least partially connected to one another all around at the edges. An interior space of the cell separating element is located between the first and second outer wall. The cell separating element includes an intermediate plate which is arranged between the first and second outer wall, on which at least one first resilient support element is arranged, which resiliently supports the intermediate plate against the first outer wall, and on which at least one second resilient support element is arranged, which resiliently supports the intermediate plate against the second outer wall.