Battery Cell End Cap Reinforcement for Impact-Resistant Pressure Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
In battery cells, the pressure relief structure often opens prematurely when the cell is inverted, leading to a failure in implementing a normal pressure relief function due to increased vulnerability to external impacts.
Innovation Solution
An end cap with a reinforcing portion around the pressure relief region, which absorbs external impact energy and reduces the force transmitted to the pressure relief area, preventing premature opening and ensuring normal operation by maintaining the pressure relief function until the internal pressure reaches the initiation pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pressure relief structure is made vulnerable to external impacts, then it can open easily to relieve pressure, but it opens prematurely and fails to implement normal pressure relief function
Solution Approach 1:
The end cap is segmented into two functional regions: the pressure relief region with lower strength for pressure relief, and the reinforcing portion with higher strength for impact resistance. This segmentation allows each region to perform its specific function independently without interfering with the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the end cap are given different mechanical properties: the pressure relief region is designed with lower strength to open at initiation pressure, while the reinforcing portion surrounding it is designed with higher strength to resist external impacts. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between needing to open easily and resisting impacts.
2Ease of operation
If the pressure relief region is made with lower strength to open easily, then pressure can be relieved, but it becomes vulnerable to external impacts causing premature opening
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing portion acts as an intermediary protective layer between the external impact and the pressure relief region. It absorbs and distributes impact forces, preventing them from reaching the pressure relief region and causing premature opening, while allowing the pressure relief region to still open easily when internal pressure reaches initiation pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcing portion is pre-positioned around the pressure relief region to provide cushioning protection before external impacts occur. This beforehand protection ensures that the pressure relief region remains vulnerable to internal pressure but resistant to external impacts, preventing premature opening.
3Strength
If the reinforcing portion is added around the pressure relief region, then impact resistance increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing portion is merged with the end cap as an integrated structure, forming a unified component rather than a separate attachment. This merging approach increases impact resistance while minimizing the increase in device complexity, as the reinforcing portion becomes an inherent part of the end cap design.
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 reinforcing portion enhances the strength and impact resistance of the pressure relief region, allowing it to function correctly even under external impacts, thus ensuring the battery cell operates normally by preventing premature pressure relief.
Implementation Method 1
the reinforcing portion may absorb energy of the external impact, reduce the magnitude of an impact force transmitted to the pressure relief region
Data Source
AI summary
An end cap includes a cap body and a reinforcing portion. The cap body is provided with a pressure relief region arranged on a side of the cap body in a protruding manner in a thickness direction. The reinforcing portion is arranged around the pressure relief region.