Non-Destructive Separator Testing for Lithium-Ion Batteries
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Summary
Problems
Existing battery testing methods for separator layers in lithium-ion batteries are costly, time-consuming, and prone to false positives due to high-voltage breakdown testing, which can destroy the separator and fail to detect contamination effectively.
Innovation solutions
A non-invasive method using a voltage source to apply a threshold voltage below the breakdown voltage of the separator, measuring partial discharges caused by contaminants or voids through a current logger, and analyzing the current data to determine the quality of the separator layer.
TRIZ Analysis
Specific contradictions:
General conflict description:
Principle concept:
If high voltage testing method is used to detect contaminants in separator layer, then detection capability is improved, but separator layer is destroyed causing false positives
Why choose this principle:
The patent applies partial discharge testing instead of full breakdown testing. By using voltages below the breakdown threshold (typically 450-500V for separator materials), the method detects contaminants through partial discharges without causing complete separator failure, thus avoiding false positives while maintaining detection capability
Principle concept:
If high voltage testing method is used to detect contaminants in separator layer, then detection capability is improved, but separator layer is destroyed causing false positives
Why choose this principle:
The patent performs preliminary testing at controlled voltage levels before reaching breakdown conditions. By monitoring partial discharges at sub-breakdown voltages, the method identifies contaminants early in the testing process, preventing the need for destructive full breakdown testing
Application Domain
Data Source
AI summary:
A non-invasive method using a voltage source to apply a threshold voltage below the breakdown voltage of the separator, measuring partial discharges caused by contaminants or voids through a current logger, and analyzing the current data to determine the quality of the separator layer.
Abstract
An apparatus, a method and a system for testing a battery are disclosed. A voltage source adapted to apply a voltage to an assembly having a first battery electrode, a second battery electrode and a separator layer disposed between the first and second battery electrodes. A current logger is adapted to measure a current caused by partial discharges in the separator layer caused by the contaminants or voids in the separator layer, or at an interface between the first battery electrode and the separator layer, or at an interface between the second battery electrode and the separator layer, or in the separator layer. The voltage is less than a threshold value of a characteristic breakdown voltage of the separator layer.