Expandable Battery Containment for Pouch Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pouch battery cells face performance and life cycle limitations due to non-adjustable containment systems that fail to maintain constant pressure on electrodes as the cells expand and contract over their life cycle, leading to suboptimal performance and reduced cycle life.
Innovation Solution
An expandable battery cell container system with end plates coupled by elastic deformation devices that maintain constant pressure on pouch battery cells through relative movement and potential plastic deformation, ensuring optimal compression and performance throughout the cell's life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If non-flexible containment is used to constrain pouch cells, then mechanical stability is improved, but cell performance is reduced due to increased internal cell pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The containment system transitions from a static, non-flexible structure to a dynamic, flexible system that can adapt its shape and volume. The pouch cell containment device includes flexible side walls and end walls that can expand and contract with the battery cells during charge/discharge cycles, maintaining mechanical stability while accommodating cell expansion to prevent excessive internal pressure buildup.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs flexible shell structures made of materials that can deform elastically. The side walls and end walls are constructed with flexible materials that allow the containment device to expand when cells expand and contract when cells discharge, providing constant constraint without increasing internal cell pressure, thus maintaining both mechanical stability and cell performance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If pouch cells are allowed to expand with age, then adaptability to cell growth is improved, but constant pressure constraint on electrodes is lost reducing performance
Solution Approach 1:
The containment device is designed as a dynamic system that evolves with the battery cells. The flexible walls allow the device to expand permanently as cells age and undergo plastic deformation, while the elastic deformation capability maintains constant pressure constraint during cyclic expansion/contraction. This dynamic adaptation preserves electrode compression and optimizes performance throughout the cell's life cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges two deformation mechanisms: elastic deformation for maintaining constant pressure during cyclic operation, and plastic deformation for accommodating permanent expansion with age. The containment device combines these modes to simultaneously achieve adaptability to cell growth and constant pressure constraint, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and performance maintenance.
3Ease of manufacture
If static containment system is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but optimal pressure is only maintained at one instance in the pouch's life cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The containment system incorporates dynamic elements that allow it to adapt throughout the pouch's life cycle. The flexible walls with elastic and plastic deformation capabilities enable the system to maintain optimal pressure from initial assembly through aging and expansion, extending the duration of pressure optimization from a single instance to the entire operational life of the battery cells.
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 system optimizes the performance and life cycle of pouch battery cells by maintaining constant pressure on electrodes, enhancing power density and cycle life by accommodating the cells' expansion and contraction while preventing excessive pressure buildup.
Implementation Method 1
Each connecting device includes an elastic deformation device. As the battery cells housed within the battery container expand and/or contract the first and second end plates move, as constrained by the elastic deformation device, relative to each other so as to maintain a constant amount of pressure on the battery cells housed therebetween.
Implementation Method 2
Upon reaching the limit the connecting device plastically deforms in response to further battery cell expansion. During the plastic deformation and subsequent expansion/contraction cycles, the amount of pressure exerted on the battery cells housed between the end plates remains constant.
Data Source
AI summary
A pouch battery cell container, including at least, one battery cell compartment, is interposed between two end plates. The planar electrode surfaces of a pouch battery cell, housed within the battery cell compartment, are subjected to a constant and optimal amount of compressive force during cell expansion and contraction for battery cell optimization. A first end plate and a second end plate are coupled together by a plurality of connecting devices, wherein each connecting device includes an elastic deformation component. As the battery cells housed within the battery container expand and/or contract, the first and second end plates move relative to each other while constrained by the elastic deformation device so as to maintain a constant amount of compressive force on the planar electrode surfaces housed within the battery cell.