Electrode Stack Side-Tab Layout for Safer Battery Cell Contacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery cells with electrode stacks face challenges in optimizing energy capacity, cooling, and size across various applications, leading to a need for improved designs that enhance safety and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a battery cell design with an electrode stack where tabs of one electrode type are formed to cover an area on one side of the stack, and contact elements are used to connect these tabs, reducing the risk of short circuits and facilitating energy extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tabs are extended to cover areas on multiple sides of the electrode stack, then safety is improved by reducing short circuit risk, but device complexity increases due to additional contact elements and manufacturing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The tab structure is segmented into multiple functional zones: a first tab portion extending in a first direction to contact a first contact element, and a second tab portion extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to contact a second contact element. This segmentation allows the single tab to serve multiple electrical connection functions, improving safety by reducing short circuit risk while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.
2Productivity
If tabs are formed to cover larger areas on the electrode stack, then energy extraction is improved through better contact, but weight increases due to additional tab material
Solution Approach 1:
The tab is designed with different portions having different extensions and functions: a first tab portion extending in a first direction for primary electrical contact, and a second tab portion extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction for additional contact. This local differentiation optimizes energy extraction at specific contact points without requiring uniform material distribution across the entire tab area, thereby improving energy extraction efficiency while minimizing unnecessary weight from excess tab material.
Data Source
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AI summary
A first aspect of this disclosure is related to a battery cell, comprising: - a housing ; - a electrode stack arranged in the housing with a plurality of electrodes of two different types, anodes and cathodes , each of which having a tab; and wherein the tabs of one type are formed such that they comprise a side part that covers an area on at least one side of the electrode stack ; - at least one contact element that is contacted to the side part of the tabs of the one type of the electrodes.