Power Storage Module Insulation Layout for Early Heat-Triggered Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power storage modules fail to effectively suppress further temperature increases when excessive heat generation occurs, leading to potential safety hazards.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an insulating member with a lower melting point than the sealing member and separator, which melts first to facilitate an external short circuit, thereby preventing further temperature rise by forcing a discharge between electrode plates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the sealing member and separator have high melting points to maintain structural integrity, then the reliability of the battery element is improved, but the ability to suppress further temperature increase when excessive heat generation occurs deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidtemperature suppression capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the protective function into two separate components: the sealing member/separator for structural integrity (high melting point) and the insulating member for temperature suppression (low melting point). This segmentation allows each component to optimize its melting point for its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The insulating member acts as an intermediary component between the sealing member and the electrode plates. It mediates the temperature suppression function by melting first to enable external short-circuit, while the sealing member maintains structural integrity. This intermediary resolves the contradiction by assigning different melting point requirements to different functional layers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If the insulating member has a lower melting point than the sealing member, then the ability to suppress further temperature increase is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature suppression capabilityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating member is positioned to serve multiple functions: it provides electrical insulation during normal operation and acts as a temperature-responsive trigger for external short-circuit when excessive heat occurs. This multi-functionality justifies the additional component by consolidating insulation and temperature suppression roles into one element.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the parameter change (melting point difference) between the insulating member and sealing member to trigger the temperature suppression mechanism. The insulating member is specifically selected with a melting point lower than the sealing member, creating a parameter-based trigger that activates the protective function without requiring complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Speed

If the insulating member melts at a temperature lower than the separator to enable early external short-circuit, then the temperature suppression speed is improved, but the risk of internal short-circuit before external short-circuit occurs increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature suppression speedVSAvoidshort-circuit timing safety
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating member is positioned between the sealing member and the electrode plates, creating a preliminary protective layer that melts first to enable external short-circuit. This preliminary action prevents the need for internal short-circuit by providing an earlier escape route for the excessive heat, thus improving temperature suppression speed while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The insulating member provides beforehand cushioning by being positioned to melt first and enable external short-circuit before internal short-circuit can occur. This prior cushioning measure ensures that the temperature suppression mechanism activates before the more dangerous internal short-circuit condition develops, resolving the timing safety concern.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 early initiation of an external short circuit through the melting insulating member suppresses excessive temperature increases, ensuring safety by reducing the state of charge and preventing further thermal escalation.

Implementation Method 1

A melting point of the insulating member is lower than a melting point of the sealing member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 2

electric discharge occurs between the facing electrode plates

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectric discharge: Electric Arc

Data Source

PatentEP4415092B1Power storage module
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4415092B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4415092B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A power storage module (1) includes: a pair of electrode plates (10a, 10b); a sealing member (20); a battery element (30); and an insulating member (40). The sealing member (20) is provided between the pair of electrode plates (10a, 10b) to form a space (S1) together with the pair of electrode plates (10a, 10b). The battery element (30) includes a positive electrode active material layer (31) and a negative electrode active material layer (32). The positive electrode active material layer (31) is provided on a surface of one (10a) of the pair of electrode plates in the space (S1). The negative electrode active material layer (32) is provided on a surface of the other (10b) of the pair of electrode plates in the space (S1). The insulating member (40) is positioned between the pair of electrode plates (10a, 10b), the insulating member (40) being provided on a side opposite to the space (S1) when viewed from the sealing member (20). A melting point of the insulating member (40) is lower than a melting point of the sealing member (20).