Prismatic Cell Electrode Stack for Low-Resistance Heat Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy storage elements with prismatic housings face challenges in achieving high energy density, low internal resistance, and efficient heat dissipation, particularly during fast charging, which can lead to thermomechanical stresses and power losses.
Innovation Solution
The energy storage element design includes a stack of anodes and cathodes with free edge strips that are welded or soldered to a contact element, providing a direct electrical connection and enhancing heat dissipation, while using a prismatic housing and separators or solid state electrolytes to maintain low internal resistance and high energy density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a prismatic housing design is used for energy storage elements, then the structural stability and manufacturability are improved, but the internal resistance increases and energy density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the electrode assembly into multiple individual cells, each with its own current collectors and active material layers. This segmentation allows for optimized electrical pathways within each cell while maintaining the overall prismatic structure, thereby reducing internal resistance without compromising structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional winding or stacking configurations to a layered arrangement where current collectors and active materials are organized in multiple dimensions. This dimensional reorganization creates more efficient electrical pathways and improves heat dissipation, reducing internal resistance while maintaining the prismatic housing structure.
2Power
If fast charging is implemented in energy storage elements, then the power delivery is improved, but thermomechanical stresses and power losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different material properties and structural characteristics to different regions of the energy storage element. Specifically, the current collectors are designed with enhanced thermal conductivity in areas subject to high heat flux during fast charging, while the electrode structure is optimized locally to reduce mechanical stress concentrations. This localized optimization enables fast charging capability while mitigating thermomechanical stresses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies key parameters such as current collector thickness, material composition, and electrode porosity to optimize performance during fast charging. By adjusting these parameters, the element can accept higher charging currents while maintaining structural integrity and reducing thermomechanical stresses through controlled thermal and mechanical property variations.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional electrode configurations are used, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but heat dissipation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reorganizes the electrode structure from traditional two-dimensional winding or stacking to a multi-dimensional layered configuration. This dimensional change creates additional thermal pathways through the prismatic housing, significantly improving heat dissipation efficiency while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized layer assembly processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses repetitive modular units of current collectors and active material layers that can be manufactured and assembled using standardized processes. This modular copying approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while the overall three-dimensional arrangement enables superior heat dissipation compared to traditional configurations.
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
This design achieves improved energy density, homogeneous current distribution, and excellent heat dissipation properties, along with enhanced manufacturability and safety, effectively addressing the limitations of existing energy storage elements.
Implementation Method 1
a contact element connected to a set of respective free edge strips by welding or soldering
Implementation Method 2
connected to a set of respective free edge strips by welding or soldering
Implementation Method 3
connected to a set of respective free edge strips by welding or soldering
Implementation Method 4
separated by separators or layers of a solid state electrolyte
Implementation Method 5
Electrochemical cells can convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy by virtue of a redox reaction
Implementation Method 6
This ion current crosses the separator and is ensured by an ion-conducting electrolyte
Data Source
AI summary
An energy storage element includes an assembly comprising a plurality of anodes, each respective anode of the plurality of anodes comprising an anode current collector having a main region loaded with a layer of negative electrode material and a free edge strip. The energy storage element further includes a plurality of cathodes, each respective cathode comprising a cathode current collector having a main region loaded with a layer of positive electrode material and a free edge strip. The anodes and the cathodes are stacked and are separated by separators or layers of a solid state electrolyte and the assembly is enclosed in a prismatic housing. The free edge strips of the anode current collectors protrude from one side of the assembly and the free edge strips of the cathode current collectors protrude from another side of the assembly.