Integrated Valve Plug for Battery Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
AGM batteries with individual cell valves result in cell-to-cell pressure variation and require multiple plugs and flame arrestors, leading to inefficiencies and increased complexity.
Innovation Solution
An integrated-valve plug that combines the functionality of a valve and a flame arrestor into a single component, allowing for a common headspace with equal pressure across cell compartments by using a plug body with a valve, flame arrestor, and cap, which can be either a flap or umbrella valve, to control gas exhaustion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If individual cell valves are used in each cell compartment, then pressure control in each cell is achieved, but device complexity increases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual cell valves into a single common valve assembly that serves all cell compartments. This merging approach reduces the total number of separate components (plugs and flame arrestors) while maintaining pressure control functionality across all cells through a shared valving mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The common valve assembly performs multiple functions: it controls pressure for all cell compartments simultaneously, provides flame arrestment for the entire battery, and enables collective venting. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated valves in each cell, reducing overall device complexity.
2Reliability
If individual cell valves are used in each cell compartment, then pressure control in each cell is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual cell valves into a single common valve assembly that serves all cell compartments. This merging approach reduces the total number of separate components (plugs and flame arrestors) while maintaining pressure control functionality across all cells through a shared valving mechanism.
3Device complexity
If a common valve assembly is used for all cell compartments, then device complexity is reduced and manufacturing cost decreases, but cell-to-cell pressure variation may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The common valve assembly is segmented into individual valve elements or chambers, each corresponding to a specific cell compartment. This segmentation allows each cell's pressure to be independently managed within the unified assembly, preventing pressure variation between cells while maintaining overall system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The common valve assembly acts as an intermediary structure that distributes pressure control functions to individual cell compartments. It mediates between the need for simplified overall design and the requirement for precise cell-by-cell pressure management, ensuring equal pressure distribution across all 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 integrated-valve plug design simplifies the venting system, reduces the number of individual valves and flame arrestors needed, and maintains equal pressure across all cells, enhancing the efficiency and reliability of the battery's pressure control.
Implementation Method 1
a flame arrestor disposed in the plug chamber
Implementation Method 2
a valve disposed in the plug chamber... a vent flap that can vent a gas when a pressure of the gas overcomes the tension of the vent flap
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated-valve plug to be placed in a channel for conveying a gas is disclosed. The integrated-valve plug comprises a plug body having an opening for receiving the gas from the channel, and having a plug chamber. The integrated-valve plug further comprises a valve, a flame arrester, and a cap disposed in the plug chamber. The cap includes an aperture for exhausting the gas from the plug body. The integrated-valve plug further comprises a gas path defined in part from the opening, past the valve, through the flame arrestor, and through the aperture.A battery is also disclosed. The battery includes a first cell compartment, a second cell compartment, a first plug for the first cell compartment, and a second plug for the second cell compartment. The first plug includes a first plug chamber and a first plug outlet in fluid communication with the first plug chamber. The first plug chamber receives a first gas from the first cell compartment and exhausts the first gas via the first plug outlet. The second plug includes a second plug chamber and a second plug outlet in fluid communication with the second plug chamber. The second plug chamber receives a second gas from the second cell compartment and exhausts the second gas via the second plug outlet. The battery further comprises a degassing channel coupled to receive the first gas from the first plug outlet and to receive the gas from the second plug outlet, and a valve plug coupled to receive a gas including at least portions of the first gas and the second gas from the degassing channel. The valve plug controllably exhausts the gas. The valve plug can include the integrated valve plug comprising the valve and the flame arrestor to take further advance of the integrated valve plug.