Foldable Pouch Battery Case for Internal Pressure Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pouch-type secondary batteries face safety issues due to potential explosions from high pressure gas generation during abnormal conditions, such as internal short circuits or external impacts, which existing technologies fail to adequately address.

Innovation Solution

The pouch-type battery case features a foldable structure in its upper and lower battery cases, allowing the battery to deform and separate electrode tabs from leads when pressure increases, thereby cutting off electric current and preventing further gas discharge.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a pouch-type secondary battery includes a venting passage for discharging gas, then the battery can prevent expansion due to high temperature and pressure, but the battery still risks explosion under abnormal conditions such as internal short circuits or external impacts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery explosion riskVSAvoidsafety under abnormal conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The battery case is pre-formed with a foldable structure that is ready to activate automatically when abnormal pressure occurs. The folded state is prepared in advance so that upon gas generation, the structure can quickly unfold to separate electrode tabs from leads, cutting off current before explosion occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful high-pressure gas that could cause explosion is converted into a beneficial force that triggers the safety mechanism. The gas pressure itself unfolds the foldable structure, using the harmful pressure to activate the current-cutting function that prevents explosion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Strength

If the battery case is made rigid to maintain structural integrity, then the battery can withstand external impacts, but the battery cannot deform to separate electrode tabs from leads during pressure increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoiddeformation capability for safety
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The battery case is segmented into multiple parts connected by foldable structures, allowing different sections to move relative to each other. This segmentation enables the case to deform in a controlled manner to separate electrode tabs from leads while maintaining overall structural integrity through the sealed configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The battery case transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic structure with foldable sections that can change configuration. The foldable structures allow the case to adapt its shape in response to internal pressure, enabling the safety function of separating electrical contacts while maintaining structural coherence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If additional safety devices are added to prevent explosion, then the battery safety is improved, but the manufacturing cost and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidbattery weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The safety function is merged into the battery case structure itself rather than being a separate device. The foldable structures are integrated into the case walls, combining the protective casing function with the active safety mechanism, thereby avoiding additional weight from separate safety devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The battery case performs its own safety function without requiring external safety devices. The foldable structures are self-activating, using the internal gas pressure to automatically unfold and separate electrical contacts, eliminating the need for additional powered safety systems that would increase weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If the battery case is made complex with multiple safety mechanisms, then the safety is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidmanufacturing process simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The foldable structures are pre-formed during the battery case manufacturing process, so the safety mechanism is already in place before battery assembly. This preliminary formation eliminates the need for additional complex assembly steps, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while providing advanced safety functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The battery case uses flexible portions with foldable structures that can be formed using standard forming processes. These flexible sections are integrated into the overall case structure, allowing the safety mechanism to be manufactured using conventional battery case fabrication methods without requiring complex additional processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

This design enhances the safety and service life of secondary batteries by preventing electrical current flow during pressure increases, reducing manufacturing costs and weight, and allowing for easier shape modification without additional installation processes.

Implementation Method 1

the pouch-type secondary battery is designed to deform a pouch-type battery case in a predetermined shape with the pressure or force of gas generated in the secondary battery

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

the pouch-type secondary battery is designed to deform a pouch-type battery case in a predetermined shape with the pressure or force of gas generated in the secondary battery and expanding the secondary battery or bursting a sealing portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP2602840B1Secondary battery pouch having improved stability, pouch-type secondary battery using same, and medium- or large-sized battery pack
Publication Date: 2015.07.08 LG CHEM LTD
  • EP2602840B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2602840B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2602840B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a pouch-type secondary battery having improved stability, and more particularly to a pouch-type secondary battery which is designed such that the shape of the pouch is changeable to disconnect the connection parts between an electrode lead and an electrode tab when the internal pressure of the pouch rises due to excessive charging or the like, and a battery pack including the same. The present invention can significantly increase the lifetime and stability of a pouch-type secondary battery, without the need for additional materials, devices, or the like in the manufacturing of the secondary battery, by fundamentally interrupting the current flow when gas is generated in the secondary battery, and the present invention can provide a pouch-type secondary battery capable of being low cost, light weight, and a battery that is easily changeable in shape, etc.