Pouch Battery Gas Pocket Sensing for Early Failure Warning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pouch-shaped secondary batteries face safety concerns due to gas generation during charging and discharging, which can lead to heat, explosion, and discharge of noxious gases, with existing safety devices failing to predict potential dangers accurately.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a danger sensing device with a gas pocket and current sensing portion on the electrode lead that moves in response to gas expansion, converting gas pressure into an electrical signal to detect imminent battery failure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a gas pocket is provided to receive generated gas, then battery damage due to gas is prevented, but overall battery volume increases and early warning capability is lacking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery safetyVSAvoidbattery volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The gas pocket is nested within the electrode lead structure rather than being a separate component. The electrode lead serves dual functions as both electrical conductor and structural support for the gas pocket, eliminating the need for additional space and reducing overall battery volume while maintaining gas reception capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The current sensing portion provides real-time feedback by detecting changes in electrical current caused by gas pocket expansion. When gas accumulates and expands the pocket, it displaces the current sensing portion, altering the electrical circuit and providing early warning of potential battery failure before catastrophic damage occurs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of information

If a separate safety device is added to detect gas generation, then early warning capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveearly warning capabilityVSAvoidsafety device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode lead performs multiple functions: it conducts electricity, provides structural support, and serves as the mounting structure for the gas pocket. The current sensing portion simultaneously monitors electrical current and detects mechanical displacement from gas pocket expansion, eliminating the need for separate sensing devices and reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The gas sensing function and electrical conduction function are merged into a single integrated structure. The gas pocket is formed within the electrode lead, and the current sensing portion integrates mechanical displacement detection with electrical current monitoring, creating a unified safety mechanism that reduces component count and simplifies the overall device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 early detection of gas generation, preventing battery malfunction and explosion by converting gas pressure into an electrical signal for rapid determination of abnormal conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a gas pocket disposed on an electrode lead and a current sensing portion configured to move in response to an expansion of the gas pocket

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas expansion: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

converting gas pressure into an electrical signal to detect imminent battery failure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical to electrical energy conversion: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP4113734B1Pouch-shaped secondary battery with improved safety and battery module including the same
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4113734B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4113734B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4113734B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a pouch-shaped secondary battery with improved safety including a gas pocket disposed on an electrode lead and a current sensing portion configured to move in response to an expansion of the gas pocket, wherein the pouch-shaped secondary battery is capable of indicating the extent of gas in a receiving portion in advance, and a battery module including the same.