Segmented Protective Battery Cell Plates for Thermal and Impact Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Batteries with prismatic cells, especially in electric vehicles, face issues with heat dissipation and force absorption, as they can be damaged by excessive heat and forces during impacts, leading to operational failures.
Innovation Solution
The use of protective and cooling battery cell plates configured to fail under threshold forces, featuring sections that shear or separate to absorb and dissipate forces and heat, with overlapping sections of reduced thickness to facilitate force absorption and cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid protective plates are used between battery cells, then force protection is improved, but heat dissipation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The protective plate is divided into multiple sections with varying thicknesses. Thinner sections allow for better heat dissipation while thicker sections provide force protection. The plate comprises a first section with a first thickness and a second section with a second thickness different from the first thickness, enabling differentiated functionality across different regions of the same plate.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the protective plate have different thickness properties to optimize local functions. The first section has a greater thickness for enhanced force absorption and protection, while the second section has a reduced thickness to improve heat dissipation. This local variation in thickness allows simultaneous optimization of both protective and thermal management functions.
2Force
If thick protective plates are used to absorb forces, then force absorption is improved, but heat dissipation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is segmented into regions of different thicknesses. The first section maintains a greater thickness for effective force absorption during impacts, while the second section has a reduced thickness specifically to enhance heat dissipation capability without compromising overall protective function.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective plate implements local quality variation through different section thicknesses. Force-absorbing regions (first section) have greater thickness, while heat-dissipating regions (second section) have reduced thickness. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction between force absorption and heat dissipation.
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform thickness plates are used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but functional versatility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is divided into multiple sections with different thicknesses to provide diverse functions within a single component. This segmentation enables the plate to simultaneously perform force protection, heat dissipation, and structural support functions that would otherwise require multiple separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective plate is designed as a multi-functional component that combines force absorption, heat dissipation, and structural support in a single element. By integrating these multiple functions into one plate with varied thickness sections, the design eliminates the need for separate protective plates and thermal management components, thereby improving both manufacturing efficiency and functional versatility.
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 solution effectively reduces force transfer between battery cells during impacts and enhances heat dissipation, protecting the battery cells from damage and maintaining functionality.
Implementation Method 1
A cross-section of the overlapping section may comprise a first portion of the first section and a first portion of the second section. The overlapping section may further comprise a thickness viewed in the cross section, wherein the thickness is less than a thickness of the at least a portion of the first section viewed in the cross section, and wherein the thickness is less than a thickness of the at least a portion of the second section viewed in the cross section.
Implementation Method 2
Some embodiments may be used to both cool such battery cells and to provide protection by, for example, being configured to fail under certain conditions to prevent excessive forces from being transferred to one or more battery cells within the battery.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus for protecting battery cells. In some embodiments, a battery may comprise a series of battery cells and one or more protective plates positioned between the adjacent battery cells. In some embodiments, the plates may also be configured to provide a cooling function relative to adjacent battery cells. The plate(s) may comprise a first section and a second section coupled with the first section. The plate may be configured to fail under predetermined conditions such that, upon experiencing the predetermined conditions, at least a portion of the second section is configured to separate from at least a portion of the first section.