Electrode Assembly Segmentation for Stacking Stability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The manufacturing of stack-type secondary battery electrode assemblies is complicated due to the difficulty in achieving accurate alignment and requires numerous processes, particularly in the stack/folding type structure where full cells or bi-cells are stacked through folding.

Innovation Solution

An electrode assembly is designed with a cell stack part formed by repeatedly stacking radical units, each composed of alternately disposed electrodes and separators, and a fixing part to secure the stack, allowing for easy alignment and improved stacking stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If stack-type structure is used to manufacture electrode assembly, then productivity can be improved, but alignment accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidalignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode assembly is segmented into multiple electrode units, each comprising a cathode, anode, and separator stacked in sequence. This segmentation allows for standardized modular stacking that improves productivity while maintaining alignment through consistent unit design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a wrapping structure that extends in the width direction beyond the electrode surfaces, creating a dimensional framework that guides alignment during stacking. The wrapping structure acts as a dimensional reference that ensures accurate positioning of multiple electrode units

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of moving object

If stack/folding type structure is used to manufacture electrode assembly, then compact form factor is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly compactnessVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the alignment and securing functions from the stacking process itself and transfers them to a separate wrapping structure. This wrapping structure is applied after stacking to bind multiple electrode units together, simplifying the stacking process while achieving compact form factor

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The wrapping structure is designed to be applied in advance or during the stacking process, pre-establishing the binding and alignment framework before final assembly completion. This preliminary action simplifies subsequent manufacturing steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2876721B1Electrode assembly
Publication Date: 2022.09.14 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP2876721B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2876721B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2876721B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

An electrode assembly includes a cell stack part having (a) a structure in which one kind of radical unit having a same number of electrodes and separators alternately disposed and integrally combined is repeatedly disposed, or (b) a structure in which at least two kinds of radical units having a same number of electrodes and separators alternately disposed and integrally combined are disposed in a predetermined order, and a fixing part extending from a top surface along a side to a bottom surface thereof for fixing the cell stack part. The one kind of radical unit has a four-layered structure in which first electrode, first separator, second electrode and second separator are sequentially stacked or a repeating structure in which the four-layered structure is repeatedly stacked, and each of the at least two kinds of radical units are stacked by ones to form the four-layered structure or the repeating structure.