| In 1995, Li-polymer surprised the battery world with a radical new design, the pouch cell. Rather than using a metallic cylinder and glass-to-metal electrical feed-through for insulation, conductive foil tabs welded to the electrode and sealed to the pouch carry the positive and negative terminals to the outside. Figure 1 illustrates such a pouch cell. | ||
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| The pouch cell makes the most efficient use of space and achieves a 90 to 95 percent packaging efficiency, the highest among battery packs. Eliminating the metal enclosure reduces weight but the cell needs some alternative support in the battery compartment. The pouch pack finds applications in consumer, military, as well as automotive applications. No standardized pouch cells exist; each manufacturer builds the cells for a specific application. | ||
| Pouch packs are normally Li-polymer. The energy density can be lower and be less durable than Li-ion in the cylindrical package. Swelling as a result of gas generation during charge and discharge is a concern. Battery manufacturers insist that Li-ion batteries do not generate excess gases that can lead to swelling when properly used. Nevertheless, some swelling can occur and most is due to faulty manufacturing. The pressure from swelling can crack a battery cover open and in some cases break the display or electronic circuit. Manufacturers say that an inflated cell is safe. While this may be true, do not puncture a swollen cell in close proximity of fire or heat; the escaping gases can ignite. Figure 2 illustrates a pouch cell that has swelled. | ||
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To prevent swelling, the manufacturer adds excess film to create a “gas bag” outside the cell. During the first charge, gases escape into the gasbag, which is then cut off and the pack is resealed as part of the finishing process. Gas buildup on subsequent charges is minimal; nevertheless, when designing the battery compartment for pouch cells, provision must be made to allow for some expansion. It is best not to stack pouch cells but to lay them flat side by side. The battery compartment must be made to protect the cell from mechanical stress and be free of sharp edges. | ||
Summary of Packaging Advantages and Disadvantages | ||
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Last Updated: 5-Jul-2016
Batteries In A Portable World
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On March 3, 2019, Alan wrote:
What is the chemical compersision of the gas that swells the cells ? then you will know what causes it / prevent it.
On February 11, 2019, Ken Bell wrote:
My experience is a sustained low SOC or failed BMS will cause pouch cells to swell. I've had some success with a pinhole, recompression then sealing with metallic furnace tape. The electrolyte solvent is smelly and likely toxic so best to do outdoors. Some LiFePO4 cells like CALB have vents to offgass so this problem has been known and considered in design.
On May 29, 2018, phil weatherley wrote:
The assertion "high humidity .... can damage pouch cells". This follows the statement that the thing is sealed - it puffs up, no gas escapes. If this is the case how does a sealed unit get affected by humidity? I am suspicious that a degree of unverified bunkum is attending these pages. The pessimistic accounts of the brevity of Li battery life is a surprise too. The Li batts in my nikon which I charge promptly have survived the rigours for now 8 years and the battery indicator in the camera says they're new..! The Nokia phone battery has sat in a drawer uncharged unused for 5 years. I got it out and charged it last week to see if it was still viable and it's holding charge very well. I think many of your authors here are not looking after their kit properly and paying the price.
On April 15, 2018, Tom wrote:
Maybe I am crazy but I would like to adapt an ebike to do some major touring through China. I have an ebike now that has a 20 amp sla battery - weights a ton (maybe 60 pounds?) The bike will carry about 130 kg, including the driver. I have been eyeing the thundersky pouch type batteries - it seems that they give the most energy for the weight. I have noticed that all of the info about these batteries talks about giving a compression to them. Does this mean a steel/metal box? How would that work? How are the C ratings on these big batteries?
On May 30, 2017, Get the Girl wrote:
I am leaning to number 2 as more likely, more data needed. Here is the scenario. The cell is discharged to a 100% discharged state of charge (SOC). Perhaps exacerbated by continued discharge current at near rated current. Then possibly left in the discharged state for extended period of time. When charging is finally applied the charging current may be at the rated max charge current.
On May 5, 2016, Peter Ettridge wrote:
What proportion of Li Ion batteries are in pouch cells vs. prismatic metal and cylindrical? Thanks! P
On August 31, 2015, ed wrote:
I just had this happen to my drones battery its only a few months old and I don't use it that much. So it might be all the faulty reasons and could happen over time. but yea I guess I'm gunu haft to get a chemistry degree to answer my question.
On January 8, 2015, Larry Nelson wrote:
I have now had 3 Lithium batteries swell up. iPod mini (battery 9 years old), Samsung phone (battery 4 years old) and Syma helicopter (battery 1 or 2 years old). And the question I have been trying to figure out is if this is normal. All of the information on internet seems to indicate that swelling is caused be a flaw in the battery, or the charger, or exposure to excess heat. My iPod mini came with only a cable so I used a cheap USB charger. Like wise with the helicopter. But the Samsumg phone was only charged with the charger that came with it. My hypothesis is that it is not caused by any fault. My hypothesis is that as the battery nears the end of its life and it gets charged more and more because the capacity is less and less, that eventually internal processes cause the swelling. 9 years is a long time for an iPod mini battery to last. During that time there were several complete discharges from just sitting unused. When I would use it, I would just leave it on the aftermarket USB charger so ti would be fully charged when I used it, which was typically for an hour and 15 minutes. At the point the run time decreased to 50 minutes, I changed the battery and am now holding the swollen Sanyo EC007-1 OEM battery in my hand. My feeling is this is normal, due to nothing. Anybody have any comments?
On October 29, 2014, Kathleen O'Connor wrote:
I am interested in the response to Paul Reeve's question as well.
On October 14, 2014, Paul Reeve wrote:
I have a macbook pro 1281 battery which started to inflate bulge with time. It holds charge accordingly with a 9% wear. but works great. Only problem is that I had to remove my laptop battery cover as it was pushing it. So I had to keep the battery with some tape. Question is, I've seen lot's of videos of people puncturing the cells to remove this gas. With a toothpick something which is not metal. Is this actually doable and safe? obviously doing this outside in open air. After you remove the gas what's the best method to seal the punturing hole? as it will need some kind of material resistant to stress and expansion. Thanks
On June 20, 2014, KS wrote:
Any suggestions on where to purchase a pouch pack? Any how to make the feedthrough connections?
On March 14, 2014, Rick wrote:
Any battery with lithium in its chemistry will swell if over charged or over discharged. Keeping HVC set at 4.2 volts per cell will prevent over charging and maximum life. (For Lifepo4 chemistry max charge is 3.65volts per cell) Not discharging total capacity below 20%SOC will also maximise cycle life. Problem with most lithium powered appliances I see is lacking a battery analyst ot montior consumption. So the user depends on the internal LVC to prevent over discharging.
On November 1, 2012, Bernardo David wrote:
Richard, The same is happening to our batteries, We do not know why this occurs because each LiPo battery has it own PCM to protect and prevent Overcharge and discharges, Our PCM control the charge at 4.28V max and discharge at 3.05V . But suddenly this week two of our Lipo are Inflated. Would be great if an expert can explain more about it
On October 31, 2012, Richard Jesch wrote:
Having observed this phenomenon on several occasions I am convinced that swelling of the pouch (as being inflated) is the result of the cell being at voltages outside of it's safe operating area. some scenerio comes to mind: 1.)Cell was charging while the terminals exceeded ~ 4.35 vpc (volts per cell) 2.)Cell was discharged such that the open cell voltage (OCV) dropped below ~2.5 vpc 3.)Cell was charged at an excessive current, exceeding ~1.5C (varies by formulation) 4.)Cell was discharged at an excessive current, exceeding it's rating, (varies) 5.)Cell was exposed to excessive temperature. I am leaning to number 2 as more likely, more data needed. Here is the scenario. The cell is discharged to a 100% discharged state of charge (SOC). Perhaps exacerbated by continued discharge current at near rated current. Then possibly left in the discharged state for extended period of time. When charging is finally applied the charging current may be at the rated max charge current. Under these conditions , Thesis is that the cell impedance is high, current is also high, and the electrode to media voltage increases and heat it generated in the wet part of the cell near the electrode. This thermal process runs away leading to structural problems in the cell and the evolved gas does not go back into solution because it has different character than the electrolyte it evolved from. This is just my own personal opinion. I wish some expert would come along and shed some light on this matter. We are losing too many cells to this problem.
On August 21, 2012, Stijn wrote:
How much can these cells swell in function of their original size?
On November 1, 2011, David wrote:
My pouch cell swelled to similar size as the one in the picture figure 2. After swelling there is no way you can put it back. With mine it happened quickly. One day it was working fine and the next it stopped. When I opened it up the battery just got bigger and bigger. Humidity could be the cause as I often used my MP4 player to watch movies in the bath!
On November 1, 2011, Hussam wrote:
Hello: I have some questions: For the pouch cells, how much will it swell and what maximum pressure should be applied to the battery pack? Also, does the inflate occurs during charging or gradually with time? Thanks
On June 30, 2011, David wrote:
I also have removed a battery cell from an MP4 player that wasn't holding charge. The thing is far too big to fit back into the slim case and looks like it's going to pop. How to dispose of these things? Is it safe to pop them?
On April 1, 2011, Mickey wrote:
Any harm in using a small pin to puncture a cell that is slightly beginning to expand? I noticed the article said not to puncture near flame or heat (duh, hydrogen gas in there), but what about in open air? This battery still holds a 4.5 out of 5 hour charge and I'd really hate to get rid of it if it has 100 or so more cycles left. The enclosure around the cells has started to exceed the tight constraints in which the laptop battery is meant to fit.
On March 14, 2011, James Kim wrote:
Now, I am a fresh student studying on the Li-ion pouch battery, especially lower swelling. I am much wondering the reasons of cell swelling. where is its reason from? Pz. help me~, somebody~~~~^^
On February 2, 2011, ROSHAN wrote:
SMALL USEFULBUT TRUBBLE FULL BATTERY
On January 17, 2011, BWMichael wrote:
The Pouch cell is available now. Some mobile phone batteries are Li-Po pouch cells. I blew one up the other day, very cool.
On January 12, 2011, navaratnam thangaratnavel wrote:
What is the EMF of a unit Pouch cell? How economical it will be, when commercially available? I think it may be good if made for one time use, provided environmentally friendly.