Through-Pack Battery Fasteners for Monitoring and Thermal Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery designs face challenges in monitoring and thermal management due to extended dimensions, leading to reduced energy density and increased packaging complexity, as external sensors and probes compromise volumetric and gravimetric efficiency and struggle with cell swelling forces.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating fasteners that extend through the active regions of battery cells, allowing for reduced external structural thickness, improved access for monitoring, and enhanced thermal management while maintaining energy density, by using a configuration with apertures and compression plates that accommodate swelling pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external sensors and probes are used for monitoring and thermal management, then monitoring capability is improved, but energy density is reduced due to increased packaging complexity and reduced volumetric efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (monitoring, thermal management, and structural support) into a single integrated fastener system. The fasteners extend through the active regions and serve as both structural elements and conduits for monitoring sensors and thermal management, eliminating the need for separate external sensors and probes, thereby improving energy density while maintaining monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fasteners are designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: providing structural support, enabling cell monitoring through integrated sensors, and facilitating thermal management. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, improving volumetric efficiency and energy density while maintaining comprehensive monitoring and thermal management capabilities.
2Ease of operation
If external sensors and probes are used for monitoring, then monitoring access is improved, but packaging complexity increases and volumetric efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring sensors are integrated directly into the fastener structure, combining the fastening function with the monitoring function. This integration eliminates the need for separate external sensor mounting structures, reducing packaging complexity while maintaining easy access to cell monitoring data through the fastener interfaces.
3Device complexity
If conventional external monitoring structures are used, then monitoring is simplified, but thermal management capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener system is designed to simultaneously provide structural support, monitoring access, and thermal management pathways. The same fasteners that provide mechanical fastening and sensor access also serve as thermal conduction paths, eliminating the need for separate thermal management structures while enhancing thermal management capability.
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 approach increases battery energy density, improves pack footprint, facilitates comprehensive cell monitoring, and enhances thermal distribution across the battery stack, effectively addressing the limitations of conventional designs.
Implementation Method 1
The compression plate may be characterized by a profile in an uncompressed state to provide substantially equal pressure on the second circuit board when compressed by the retaining member
Implementation Method 2
The base plate may be characterized by a profile in an uncompressed state to provide substantially equal pressure on the first circuit board when compressed by the retaining member
Implementation Method 3
The base plate may define a plurality of channels configured to receive a heat exchange fluid
Implementation Method 4
A seal may be formed in an active region of each battery cell of the battery stack about the aperture defined through the active region of the battery stack
Data Source
AI summary
Energy storage devices, battery cells, and batteries of the present technology may include a base plate. The batteries may include a first circuit board overlying the base plate. The batteries may include a battery stack overlying the first circuit board and electrically coupled with the first circuit board. The battery stack may include a plurality of battery cells. The battery stack may define an aperture through an active region of the battery stack. The batteries may include a second circuit board overlying the battery stack and electrically coupled with the battery stack. The batteries may include a compression plate overlying the second circuit board. The batteries may include a retaining member compressibly coupling the compression plate with the base plate. The retaining member may extend through the aperture through the active region of the battery stack.