Patent DE-102012012065-A1 (DE)
Title: Converter cell, used in secondary battery e.g. lithium ion battery, comprises rechargeable electrode assembly, current conducting device, and housing having part that is intended to enclose electrode assembly and comprises function device
Inventor: SCHAEFER TIM
IPC: H01M50/105
Filed: 2012-06-15
Abstract: The converter cell comprises a rechargeable electrode assembly, which is intended to make an electrical energy to a particular consumer, comprises two electrodes having different polarity and is configured to convert chemical energy into electrical energy and temporarily convert the supplied electrical energy into chemical energy, a current conducting device (4), which is electrically connected to one of the electrodes of the electrode assembly, and a cell housing having a first housing part (6). The cell housing is provided to partly enclose the electrode assembly. The converter cell comprises a rechargeable electrode assembly, which is intended to make an electrical energy to a particular consumer, comprises two electrodes having different polarity and is configured to convert chemical energy into electrical energy and temporarily convert the supplied electrical energy into chemical energy, a current conducting device (4), which is electrically connected to one of the electrodes of the electrode assembly, and a cell housing having a first housing part (6). The cell housing is provided to partly enclose the electrode assembly. The first housing part comprises a function device that is provided to supply the energy from the electrode assembly to the consumer and is operatively connected with the electrode assembly for absorbing energy, and a first support member. The function device is partially formed with a porous foam, a partial hollow structure with a honeycomb structure, a cavity for a temperature, expandable regions having filler, which is provided to form the cavity and supply an activation energy caused by a functional element, a filler to perform phase transition within the predetermined operating temperature of the converter cell, a chemically reactive filler, which is made of a substance and chemically bond to the electrode assembly, and/or a first layer portion having a first wall thickness and a second layer portion having a second wall thickness that is smaller than the first wall thickness. The first layer region has a low density than the second layer region. The functional element is electrically connected to the electrode assembly, and is formed as a fluid passage. One of the electrodes in the electrode assembly is arranged for providing electrical energy during supply of oxygen from the ambient air or other oxygen source through the fluid passage. The cell housing further comprises a second housing part (6a) and a plate-like third housing part. The second housing part is connected to the first housing part. The first housing part and/or the second housing part comprises a receiving space, which is intended to receive the electrode assembly, and a second support member, which faces adjacent to the functional device and the electrode assembly and includes a fiber interspersed first polymeric material, a contact recess and/or a second polymeric material. The second polymeric material is formed as a thermoplastic polymer. The third housing part is partially connected with the first housing part, has an increased thermal conductivity than the first housing part, and includes a first heat transfer portion, which is provided to transfer thermal energy to the electrode assembly, a second heat transfer portion, which is provided to exchange thermal energy to the converter cell, and a current-conducting contact region. The current conducting device comprises an arrester tab, which is connected to the electrodes of the electrode assembly, and a current resistor (14), which is connected to the cell housing. An electrical interconnection is formed between the current conducting device and the function device for the electrical supply. The function device further comprises a control device and a sensing device for sensing an operational parameter of the converter cell. The cell control device is provided to monitor operation of the converter cell and to control an operating mode for charging and/or discharging of the electrode assembly. The cell has a load capacity of 3 Ah, a current of 100 A, a clamping voltage of 3.5 V, at an ambient temperature of -40 to 100[deg] C for 1 hour, and/or gravimetric energy density of 50 Wh/kg. Independent claims are included for: (1) a secondary battery; and (2) a method for manufacturing a converter cell.