Prismatic Battery Cell Venting With Heat-Protected Degassing Edges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prismatic battery cells face challenges in controlled outgassing during thermal runaway, as the releasable cell degassing opening may not function effectively, leading to uncontrolled gas release and potential damage to neighboring cells.
Innovation Solution
A prismatic battery cell design incorporating a heat protection element with a base element made from a material with a higher melting point than the cell housing, featuring side tabs and protective edges that reinforce and protect the cell housing edges, ensuring targeted outgassing through the designated opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cell housing is made more robust to prevent unintended gas release, then safety improves, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local reinforcement by adding a heat protection element specifically at the edges of the cell housing where thermal runaway propagation is most likely to occur, rather than making the entire housing more robust. This localized approach provides necessary safety reinforcement while minimizing additional weight compared to a complete housing redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat protection element is made from a material with a higher melting point than the cell housing material, creating a composite structure. This allows the housing to maintain its original lightweight design while the high-melting-point protective layer provides the necessary thermal resistance at critical areas.
2Reliability
If the cell housing is made more robust to prevent unintended gas release, then safety improves, but installation space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat protection element is applied locally at the edges and corners of the cell housing rather than increasing the overall housing dimensions. This localized protection maintains the original installation footprint while providing enhanced safety at vulnerable points.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat protection element extends slightly beyond the cell housing surface in the radial direction to provide protective coverage, rather than increasing the housing dimensions in the primary length, width, or height dimensions. This dimensional approach allows safety reinforcement without increasing installation space requirements.
3Reliability
If the cell housing is made more robust to prevent unintended gas release, then safety improves, but costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The safety function is segmented into a separate heat protection element that can be independently manufactured and then attached to the cell housing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function and manufactured using appropriate processes, reducing overall costs compared to manufacturing a completely integrated robust housing structure.
Solution Approach 2:
By using composite materials with a higher melting point for the heat protection element, the patent provides enhanced safety at lower cost than would be required to manufacture an entirely robust housing structure from high-temperature resistant materials.
4Reliability
If a releasable cell degassing opening is provided, then controlled outgassing is enabled, but unintended gas release may occur around the opening
Solution Approach 1:
The heat protection element is pre-installed at the edges and corners of the cell housing before thermal runaway occurs. This preliminary protective measure ensures that when thermal runaway does occur, the propagation is already constrained by the high-melting-point barrier, preventing unintended gas release around the designated degassing opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat protection element acts as an intermediary barrier between the thermal runaway propagation and the cell housing structure. This intermediate layer absorbs and resists the thermal stress, directing the gas release through the intended degassing opening rather than allowing uncontrolled propagation around the opening.
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 heat protection element effectively reinforces weak points in the cell housing, reducing the likelihood of unintended gas release and promoting controlled outgassing through the designated opening, thereby enhancing the safety and efficiency of the battery cell.
Implementation Method 1
a base element which is formed from a second material which has a higher melting point than the first material
Data Source
AI summary
A prismatic battery cell including a cell housing made of a first material. The cell housing includes a first cell wall with a releasable cell degassing opening. The battery cell includes a heat protection element with a base element which is formed from a second material which has a higher melting point than the first material, and which has two opposing side tabs and a base plate which connects these via a respective protective edge and has a through-opening. The base plate is arranged flat against the first cell wall or is integrated into the first cell wall so that the through-opening overlaps with the releasable cell degassing opening, and the respective first and second protective edges overlap with at least part of the respective first and second edges or are integrated into them.