External Battery Short-Circuit Module Using a Meltable Contact
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lithium batteries face challenges in safely inducing thermal runaway for stability testing due to difficulties in externally short-circuiting without structural modifications, which can lead to ignition or explosion risks.
Innovation Solution
An external short-circuit device with a contact module that varies its physical state based on temperature, maintaining an open circuit at room temperature and short-circuiting at elevated temperatures using a heating unit to melt a contact module connecting extension electrodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a short-circuit device is installed inside the lithium battery to induce thermal runaway, then the battery can be tested for stability, but the battery structure must be modified which complicates the device and manufacturing process
Solution Approach 1:
The short-circuit device is extracted from the internal battery structure and placed externally. The extension electrodes connect to the battery terminals from outside, allowing the short-circuit function to be implemented without modifying the battery's internal structure. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining testing capability while eliminating structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Extension electrodes serve as intermediary components that bridge the external short-circuit device and the battery terminals. These electrodes allow electrical connection without requiring internal battery modification, thus enabling stability testing while keeping the battery structure intact.
2Reliability
If the contact module remains in solid state at room temperature, then the battery operates normally, but the short-circuit function cannot be activated without external intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The contact module's physical state is changed from solid at room temperature to liquid at elevated temperatures through temperature parameter variation. This automatic state change enables the short-circuit function to activate without external intervention when thermal runaway conditions are detected, resolving the contradiction between normal operation stability and ease of short-circuit activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact module automatically changes state and activates the short-circuit function based on temperature conditions without requiring external control. The heating unit melts the contact module when temperature rises, enabling self-activating short-circuit protection that simplifies operation while maintaining normal stability.
3Ease of operation
If extension electrodes are connected directly without a contact module, then the circuit is always closed, but thermal runaway cannot be controlled or tested safely
Solution Approach 1:
The contact module serves as an intermediary element between the extension electrodes, controlling circuit connectivity based on temperature conditions. This intermediary structure maintains simple electrode connections while adding thermal runaway control capability through its temperature-dependent state changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact module introduces dynamic control to the circuit connection, transitioning from a static always-closed state to a dynamically controlled state that opens or closes based on temperature. This dynamic behavior enables both simple connection and controlled thermal runaway testing.
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
Enables safe and controlled short-circuiting of lithium batteries from the outside, ensuring stability testing without structural changes and preventing thermal runaway-related hazards.
Implementation Method 1
when the heating unit provides a heat to at least one of the first extension electrode or the second extension electrode, the contact module melts
Implementation Method 2
the contact module melts to bring the first extension electrode into contact with the second extension electrode
Data Source
AI summary
An external short-circuit device is disclosed. The external short-circuit device includes a first extension electrode and a second extension electrode respectively connected to both electrode tabs of a battery cell, a short-circuit unit including a case that accommodates an end portion of the first extension electrode and an end portion of the second extension electrode, and a heating unit coupled to the short-circuit unit. The short-circuit unit further includes a contact module between the first extension electrode and the second extension electrode. When the heating unit provides a heat to at least one of the first extension electrode or the second extension electrode, the contact module melts to bring the first extension electrode into contact with the second extension electrode.