Irregular Battery Cell Sealing via Electrode Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery cells face challenges in adapting to non-rectangular device shapes and spaces, leading to inefficient space utilization and complex electrical connections, especially when manufacturing battery packs with varying cell sizes.
Innovation Solution
A plate-shaped battery cell with an electrode assembly featuring partitioned electrode parts of different shapes and sizes, where the outer edges are sealed by thermal bonding, and an outside recess is formed at the corners to enhance sealing reliability and flexibility in device integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional rectangular battery cells are used, then manufacturing is simple and reliable, but adaptability to various device shapes is poor and space utilization is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode assembly is segmented into multiple electrode parts with different planar shapes and sizes, allowing the battery cell to achieve irregular overall shapes while maintaining standardized manufacturing processes for each component
Solution Approach 2:
The battery cell adopts asymmetric design with electrode parts of different shapes and sizes arranged in specific configurations, enabling adaptation to various device shapes while the cell case maintains a standardized pouch structure for easy manufacturing
2Quantity of substance
If battery cells are stacked to create battery packs, then various capacities can be achieved, but thickness increases and electrochemical reaction sharing is lost
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of stacking battery cells vertically (increasing thickness), the invention arranges electrode parts in planar configurations within a single cell layer, achieving capacity variation through area optimization rather than vertical stacking
3Volume of moving object
If irregular battery cell shapes are created, then space utilization improves, but sealing reliability at corners deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Outside recesses are pre-formed at the corner regions of the electrode assembly before cell case assembly, allowing the cell case to be thermally bonded over these recesses to create extended sealing areas that prevent leakage at corner regions
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing structure is modified by adding outside recesses that change the geometric parameters of the corner regions, creating overlapping sealed areas that maintain sealing reliability while accommodating irregular cell shapes
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 solution allows for a battery cell with an irregular structure that can be easily adapted to various device shapes, improving sealing reliability and space utilization while maintaining electrical connectivity, thus enhancing the battery's performance and versatility.
Implementation Method 1
outer edges of the cell case being sealed by thermal bonding
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is a plate-shaped battery cell including an electrode assembly, which includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator, and a cell case, in which the electrode assembly is mounted, outer edges of the cell case being sealed by thermal bonding, wherein the electrode assembly is configured such that each electrode plate having the same polarity is partitioned into at least two electrode parts having different planar shapes and sizes, the electrode assembly is provided at a region thereof at which outer edges of the electrode parts intersect each other with at least one outside corner, at which the outer edges intersect each other at an angle of 30 to 150 degrees, and an outside recess is formed in a region of each of the electrode plates and the separator corresponding to the outer corner such that the outside recess is formed so as to be recessed inward.