Electrode Assembly Through-Hole Fixing for Battery Swelling Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Secondary batteries experience swelling during charging and discharging cycles due to gas generation and high-temperature environments, leading to performance degradation and internal short circuits.
Innovation Solution
The electrode assembly includes a through-hole in the thickness direction with a fixing member to secure the assembly, which suppresses swelling and improves adhesion between electrode plates and separators, preventing gas generation and short circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electrode assembly is secured in the thickness direction using a fixing member through a through-hole, then swelling is suppressed and adhesion is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode assembly is divided into segmented structures with through-holes formed at regular intervals, allowing fixing members to be inserted at multiple discrete locations. This segmentation approach enables effective swelling suppression while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular fastening points.
Solution Approach 2:
A fixing member is introduced as an intermediary element that passes through the through-hole of the electrode assembly and is secured by spot welding to the electrode plates. This intermediary component provides the necessary mechanical constraint to suppress swelling and improve adhesion between the electrode assembly and separator without requiring direct modification of the electrode materials themselves.
2Reliability
If a through-hole is formed in the electrode assembly for inserting a fixing member, then swelling is suppressed, but gas release capability may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The through-hole, which initially appears to be a potential source of gas accumulation or structural weakness, is converted into a beneficial feature by using it to insert a fixing member. The fixing member provides mechanical constraint to suppress swelling while the controlled nature of the through-hole allows for managed gas release paths, transforming a potential harm into a benefit for both structural integrity and gas management.
Data Source
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AI summary
A secondary battery includes: an electrode assembly including a through-hole in a thickness direction thereof, a case having an opening and accommodating the electrode assembly, a cap plate coupled to an end of the case having the opening of the case, and an electrode terminal electrically connected to an electrode tab of the electrode assembly and penetrating through the cap plate. The secondary battery further includes a fixing member in the through-hole to secure the electrode assembly in the thickness direction.