Prismatic Battery Cell Design Using Nested Pouch and Polyhedral Case

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing technologies face challenges in converting pouch-shaped battery cells into prismatic battery cells for improved extensibility in assembly and safety, particularly in preventing explosions due to gas generation during abnormal operations.

Innovation Solution

A prismatic battery cell design that includes a pouch-shaped battery cell mounted in a polyhedral cell case with a terminal case having external input and output terminals, and a vent plug for gas discharge, allowing for the transformation of pouch-shaped batteries into prismatic structures with enhanced durability and safety features.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a pouch-shaped battery cell is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced and weight is decreased, but extensibility for module or pack assembly is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidextensibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The pouch-shaped battery cell is nested within a rigid cell case that provides structural support and defines a prismatic outer shape. This nested structure allows the flexible pouch cell to maintain its manufacturing advantages while the rigid case enables standardized module and pack assembly, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The battery cell combines the pouch-shaped cell (made of flexible laminate materials) with a rigid cell case (made of structurally supportive material) to create a composite structure. This composite design preserves the weight and cost advantages of the pouch cell while gaining the structural integrity and extensibility of a rigid housing for module assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If a vent member is provided to discharge gas during abnormal operations, then safety is improved, but toxic gas discharge may injure humans

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidtoxic gas discharge

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The vent plug acts as an intermediary component between the battery cell interior and the external environment. It provides a controlled discharge path for gas during abnormal operations, allowing pressure relief while filtering or directing the discharged gas away from users, thus maintaining safety while minimizing toxic exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The vent plug extracts the harmful function of uncontrolled gas discharge from the battery system by providing a dedicated, controlled exit path. This separates the gas discharge function from the battery's normal operation, allowing safe pressure relief while enabling the implementation of gas filtration or directional discharge to protect users from toxic exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS9634297B2Battery cell including pouch-type cell and transformed to prismatic shape

Publication Date: 2017.04.25 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a prismatic battery cell including a pouch-shaped battery cell having an electrode assembly mounted in a pouch-shaped battery case, a cell case, in which the pouch-shaped battery cell is mounted, the cell case having a polyhedral shape, and a terminal case including external input and output terminals, to which electrode terminals of the pouch-shaped battery cell are coupled, the terminal case being coupled to one end of the cell case, the terminal case having a polyhedral shape.