Waste battery discharging apparatus with leakage current restriction

Abstract

The present invention relates to a waste battery discharge device equipped with a leakage current limiting function. It discharges a waste battery for an electric vehicle, and is implemented to limit leakage current by expanding the surface area of ​​the discharge electrode connected to the neutral line of the DC / DC converter output terminal compared to the discharge electrode connected to the phase voltage line of the DC / DC converter output terminal, thereby preventing electric shock accidents to the human body.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a waste battery discharge device for discharging waste batteries for electric vehicles, and in particular to a waste battery discharge device equipped with a leakage current limiting function. Background Technology

[0002] Typically, the lifespan of an electric vehicle battery is 7 to 10 years, and when the battery capacity drops below 70% of its initial capacity, the battery in use must be discarded and replaced with a new one.

[0003] End-of-life electric vehicle batteries are composed of metals such as nickel and lithium and polymer electrolytes; therefore, incinerating them with general waste poses a risk of explosion, and landfilling may contaminate soil or groundwater; thus, they must be collected and disposed of separately.

[0004] When disposing of end-of-life electric vehicle batteries, the remaining current and voltage are detected to determine whether to reuse or dispose of them; if disposed of, the batteries are discharged and incinerated or landfilled to prevent explosions.

[0005] Accordingly, the inventors have conducted research on a waste battery discharge device for electric vehicles that discharges waste batteries and limits leakage current by expanding the surface area of ​​the discharge electrode connected to the neutral line of the DC / DC converter output terminal compared to the discharge electrode connected to the phase voltage line of the DC / DC converter output terminal. Prior art literature

[0006] Republic of Korea Published Patent No. 10-2022-0126077 (Published Sep. 15, 2022) Republic of Korea Registered Patent No. 10-2404806 (Published Jun. 12, 2014) The problem to be solved

[0007] The present invention aims to provide a waste battery discharge device equipped with a leakage current limiting function that discharges a waste battery for an electric vehicle, wherein the surface area of ​​the discharge electrode connected to the neutral line of the DC / DC converter output terminal is expanded compared to the discharge electrode connected to the phase voltage line of the DC / DC converter output terminal to limit leakage current. means of solving the problem

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned purpose, a waste battery discharge device having a leakage current limiting function comprises: a jack plug connected to a jack outlet of a waste battery storage device that stores waste batteries; a DC / DC converter that converts the waste battery voltage applied through the jack plug; a cylindrical first discharge electrode connected to a phase voltage line of the DC / DC converter output terminal; a cylindrical second discharge electrode connected to a neutral line of the DC / DC converter output terminal, implemented to surround the cylindrical first discharge electrode from the outside, and having a relatively large surface area compared to the surface area of ​​the cylindrical first discharge electrode to limit leakage current; and a discharge tank in which an electrolyte is contained, and the cylindrical first discharge electrode and the cylindrical second discharge electrode undergo an oxidation-reduction reaction within the electrolyte to induce electrolysis, thereby discharging the waste battery stored in the waste battery storage device.

[0009] According to an additional aspect of the present invention, a jack plug comprises a cylindrical first phase voltage terminal electrically connected to a cylindrical phase voltage terminal of a jack outlet of a waste battery storage device; and a cylindrical first neutral terminal electrically connected to a cylindrical neutral terminal of a jack outlet of a waste battery storage device, but implemented to surround the cylindrical first phase voltage terminal from the outside, thereby having a relatively large surface area compared to the surface area of ​​the cylindrical first phase voltage terminal to limit leakage current.

[0010] According to an additional aspect of the present invention, a plurality of pairs of cylindrical first discharge electrodes and cylindrical second discharge electrodes may be provided. Effects of the invention

[0011] The present invention has the effect of preventing electric shock accidents to the human body by discharging waste batteries for electric vehicles and implementing a method to limit leakage current by expanding the surface area of ​​the discharge electrode connected to the neutral line of the DC / DC converter output terminal compared to the discharge electrode connected to the phase voltage line of the DC / DC converter output terminal. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0012] FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of one embodiment of a waste battery discharge device having a leakage current limiting function according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of an embodiment of a waste battery storage device to which a waste battery discharge device having a leakage current limiting function according to the present invention is connected. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an embodiment of a waste battery storage device to which a waste battery discharge device having a leakage current limiting function according to the present invention is connected. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0013] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail through preferred embodiments described with reference to the attached drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily understand and reproduce it. Although specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and detailed descriptions are provided, this is not intended to limit the various embodiments of the present invention to a specific form.

[0014] In describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known functions or configurations could unnecessarily obscure the essence of the embodiments of the present invention, such detailed description will be omitted.

[0015] When it is stated that one component is "connected" or "joined" to another component, it should be understood that while it may be directly connected or joined to that other component, there may also be other components in between.

[0016] On the other hand, when it is stated that one component is "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another component, it should be understood that no other component exists in between.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of an embodiment of a waste battery discharge device having a leakage current limiting function according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the waste battery discharge device (100) having a leakage current limiting function according to this embodiment includes a jack plug (110), a DC / DC converter (120), a cylindrical first discharge electrode (130), a cylindrical second discharge electrode (140), and a discharge tank (150).

[0018] The jack plug (110) is connected to the jack outlet (220) of a waste battery storage device (200) that stores waste batteries (not shown in the drawing). At this time, the jack plug (110) may include a cylindrical first phase voltage terminal (111) and a cylindrical first neutral wire terminal (112).

[0019] The cylindrical first phase voltage terminal (111) can be implemented with a conductive metal or alloy material and is electrically connected to the cylindrical phase voltage line terminal (221) of the jack outlet (220) of the waste battery storage device (200).

[0020] The cylindrical first neutral wire terminal (112) is electrically connected to the cylindrical neutral wire terminal (222) of the jack outlet (220) of the waste battery storage device (200), and is implemented to surround the cylindrical first phase voltage wire terminal (112) from the outside, thereby limiting leakage current by having a relatively large surface area compared to the surface area of ​​the cylindrical first phase voltage wire terminal.

[0021] The reason is that, as described in the prior art field, Korean Registered Patent No. 10-1404806 (published June 12, 2014), the leakage current becomes smaller as the area of ​​the conductor connected to the (-) terminal (corresponding to the cylindrical first neutral line terminal of the present invention) becomes larger than the area of ​​the conductor connected to the (+) terminal of the power source (corresponding to the cylindrical first phase voltage line terminal of the present invention).

[0022] Specifically, when the jack plug (110) is connected to the jack outlet (220) of the waste battery storage device (200) and is submerged, and current leaks through the cylindrical first phase voltage line terminal (111), leakage current flows through the cylindrical first phase voltage line terminal (111) -> water -> cylindrical first neutral line terminal (112) -> cylindrical neutral line terminal (222) of the jack outlet (220) of the waste battery storage device (200).

[0023] In this process, the current leaking into the water through the cylindrical first phase voltage line terminal (111) does not flow into the human body, which has relatively very high resistance, but flows through the water to the cylindrical first neutral line terminal (112) and is introduced into the cylindrical neutral line terminal (222) of the jack outlet (220) of the waste battery storage device (200), thereby limiting the leakage current from flowing into the human body and minimizing the risk of electric shock to the human body.

[0024] The DC / DC converter (120) converts the waste battery voltage applied through the jack plug (110). When the residual voltage remaining in the waste battery storage device (200) is applied to the DC / DC converter (120) through the jack plug (110) connected to the jack outlet (220) of the waste battery storage device (200), the DC / DC converter (120) converts and outputs this voltage.

[0025] The cylindrical first discharge electrode (130) is connected to the phase voltage line of the output terminal of the DC / DC converter (120). For example, the cylindrical first discharge electrode (130) may be made of a material containing nickel (Ni) that causes an oxidation reaction, but is not limited thereto.

[0026] The cylindrical second discharge electrode (140) is connected to the neutral line of the output terminal of the DC / DC converter (120) and is implemented to surround the cylindrical first discharge electrode (130) from the outside, thereby limiting leakage current by having a relatively large surface area compared to the surface area of ​​the cylindrical first discharge electrode.

[0027] For example, the cylindrical second discharge electrode (140) may be made of a material containing titanium (Ti) that induces a reduction reaction, but is not limited thereto. Meanwhile, a plurality of pairs of cylindrical first discharge electrodes (130) and cylindrical second discharge electrodes (140) may be provided.

[0028] The discharge tank (150) contains an electrolyte, and the cylindrical first discharge electrode (130) and the cylindrical second discharge electrode (140) undergo an oxidation-reduction reaction within the electrolyte to induce electrolysis, thereby discharging the waste battery stored in the waste battery storage device (200). For example, the electrolyte may be sodium chloride (NaCl), but is not limited thereto.

[0029] Even if the human body comes into contact with the electrolyte solution contained in the discharge tank, the difference in surface area between the cylindrical first discharge electrode (130) and the cylindrical second discharge electrode (140) limits the flow of leakage current to the human body, thereby minimizing the risk of electric shock to the human body.

[0030] The reason is that, as described in the prior art field, Korean Registered Patent No. 10-1404806 (published June 12, 2014), the leakage current becomes smaller as the area of ​​the conductor connected to the (-) terminal (corresponding to the cylindrical second discharge electrode of the present invention) is larger than the area of ​​the conductor connected to the (+) terminal of the power source (corresponding to the cylindrical first discharge electrode of the present invention).

[0031] Specifically, when current flows into the electrolyte solution through the cylindrical first discharge electrode (130) in the electrolyte solution of the discharge tank, current flows through the neutral wire terminal of the output terminal of the cylindrical first discharge electrode (130) -> electrolyte solution -> cylindrical second discharge electrode (140) -> DC / DC converter (120).

[0032] In this process, the current flowing through the cylindrical first discharge electrode (130) into the electrolyte solution does not flow into the human body, which has relatively very high resistance, but flows through the electrolyte solution into the cylindrical second discharge electrode (140) and is introduced into the neutral wire terminal of the output terminal of the DC / DC converter (120), thereby limiting the leakage current from flowing into the human body and minimizing the risk of electric shock to the human body.

[0033] By implementing it in this manner, the waste battery discharge device equipped with a leakage current limiting function according to the present invention discharges a waste battery for an electric vehicle, and by implementing it to limit leakage current by expanding the surface area of ​​the discharge electrode connected to the neutral line of the DC / DC converter output terminal compared to the discharge electrode connected to the phase voltage line of the DC / DC converter output terminal, it is possible to prevent electric shock accidents to the human body.

[0034] In addition, the waste battery discharge device equipped with a leakage current limiting function according to the present invention can prevent electric shock accidents to the human body by implementing the leakage current limiting function by expanding the surface area of ​​the cylindrical first neutral wire terminal compared to the cylindrical first phase voltage terminal of the jack plug.

[0035] Meanwhile, according to an additional aspect of the invention, a waste battery discharge device (100) having a leakage current limiting function according to the present invention may further include a cooling system (160) for cooling the electrolyte solution temperature that rises due to heat generated by electrolysis.

[0036] Meanwhile, according to an additional aspect of the invention, a waste battery discharge device (100) having a leakage current limiting function according to the present invention may further include an electrolyte solution replenishment means (170) for replenishing an electrolyte solution that evaporates due to heat generated by electrolysis, etc.

[0037] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of an embodiment of a waste battery storage device to which a waste battery discharge device having a leakage current limiting function according to the present invention is connected, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an embodiment of a waste battery storage device to which a waste battery discharge device having a leakage current limiting function according to the present invention is connected.

[0038] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the waste battery storage device (200) having a leakage current limiting function according to this embodiment includes a main body (210), a jack outlet (220), and a lead portion (230).

[0039] The main body (210) is provided with a storage space (211) in which a waste battery module (not shown in the drawing) is stored. For example, the main body (210) may be implemented as a lower housing in the shape of a rectangular prism and an upper housing in the shape of a rectangular prism coupled thereto.

[0040] With the waste battery module stored inside the lower housing in the shape of a rectangular box, the upper housing can be combined with the lower housing, and the upper housing can be fastened so as not to detach from the lower housing through a fastening means (not shown in the drawing).

[0041] A jack outlet (220) is mounted on one side of the main body, and a jack plug (110) of a waste battery discharge device (100) is connected. At this time, the jack outlet (220) may include a cylindrical upper voltage line terminal (221) and a cylindrical neutral line terminal (222).

[0042] The cylindrical upper voltage line terminal (221) can be implemented with a conductive metal or alloy material and is electrically connected to the upper voltage line terminal (111) of the jack plug (110) of the waste battery discharge device (100).

[0043] The cylindrical neutral wire terminal (222) can be implemented with a conductive metal or alloy material and is electrically connected to the neutral wire terminal (112) of the jack plug (110) of the waste battery discharge device (100), and is implemented to surround the cylindrical upper voltage wire terminal (221) from the outside, thereby limiting leakage current by having a relatively large surface area compared to the surface area of ​​the cylindrical upper voltage wire terminal.

[0044] The reason is that, as described in the prior art field, Korean Registered Patent No. 10-2404806 (published June 12, 2014), the leakage current becomes smaller as the area of ​​the conductor connected to the (-) terminal (corresponding to the cylindrical neutral terminal of the present invention) is larger than the area of ​​the conductor connected to the (+) terminal of the power source (corresponding to the cylindrical phase voltage line terminal of the present invention).

[0045] Specifically, when the jack plug (110) is connected to the jack outlet (220) and is submerged, and current leaks through the cylindrical upper voltage line terminal (221), leakage current flows through the cylindrical upper voltage line terminal (221) -> water -> cylindrical neutral line terminal (222) -> neutral line terminal (112) of the jack plug (110) of the waste battery discharge device (100).

[0046] In this process, the current leaking into the water through the cylindrical upper voltage line terminal (221) does not flow into the human body, which has relatively very high resistance, but flows through the water to the cylindrical neutral line terminal (222) and is introduced into the neutral line terminal (112) of the jack plug (110) of the waste battery discharge device (100), thereby limiting the leakage current from flowing into the human body and minimizing the risk of electric shock to the human body.

[0047] The lead portion (230) may be implemented in a conductive metal or alloy material and electrically connects the jack outlet (220) and the terminals of the waste battery module. At this time, the lead portion (230) may include a phase voltage line lead portion (231) and a neutral line lead portion (232).

[0048] The waste battery module houses multiple battery cells arranged inside the waste battery module housing and is equipped with a charging terminal for charging, a high-voltage output terminal for outputting high voltage for motor driving, and an OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) terminal for supplying low-voltage power to the ECU (Electronic Control Unit), etc.

[0049] The upper voltage line lead portion (231) connects the cylindrical upper voltage line terminal (221) of the jack outlet (220) to the upper voltage line terminal (+) of the high voltage output terminal of the waste battery module, and the neutral line lead portion (232) connects the cylindrical neutral line terminal (222) of the jack outlet (220) to the neutral line terminal (-) of the high voltage output terminal of the waste battery module.

[0050] By implementing it in this way, the present invention can prevent electric shock accidents to the human body by limiting leakage current through the expansion of the neutral terminal area of ​​the jack outlet to which the jack plug of the waste battery discharge device is connected, while storing waste batteries for electric vehicles for inspection or discharge.

[0051] Meanwhile, according to an additional aspect of the present invention, a waste battery storage device (200) equipped with a leakage current limiting function may further include an ammeter (240) and a voltmeter (250).

[0052] The ammeter (240) detects the remaining current of the waste battery module. For example, the ammeter (240) may be connected to the OBD terminal of the waste battery module to detect the remaining current in the waste battery module and to display the detected current.

[0053] The voltmeter (250) detects the remaining voltage of the waste battery module. For example, the voltmeter (250) may be connected to the OBD terminal of the waste battery module to detect the remaining voltage in the waste battery module and to display the detected voltage.

[0054] The battery's remaining capacity (SoC: State of Charge) can be calculated using the remaining current or remaining voltage detected by the ammeter (240) or the voltmeter (250). The battery's remaining capacity (SoC) can be calculated by using the current integration method to measure the remaining current detected by the ammeter (240) over time and integrating it, or by using the voltage measurement method to compare the remaining voltage detected by the voltmeter (250) with the battery's discharge curve.

[0055] Meanwhile, according to an additional aspect of the present invention, a waste battery storage device (200) equipped with a leakage current limiting function may further include a GPS (Global Positioning System) module (260), an IoT (Internet of Things) module (270), and a control unit (280).

[0056] The GPS (Global Positioning System) module (260) detects the current location of the waste battery storage device (200) equipped with a leakage current limiting function.

[0057] The IoT (Internet of Things) module (270) wirelessly transmits the current location detected by the GPS module (260) to a user mobile terminal (not shown in the drawing).

[0058] The control unit (280) controls the entire device, including current location detection control via the GPS module (260) and current location transmission control via the IoT module (270).

[0059] By implementing it in this way, the present invention allows the current location of a waste battery storage device (200) equipped with a leakage current limiting function to be checked through a user mobile terminal carried by the user, so that location tracking is possible in case of loss, thereby reducing the risk of loss.

[0060] Meanwhile, according to an additional aspect of the present invention, a waste battery storage device (200) equipped with a leakage current limiting function may further include a nitrogen inlet (290a) or an air outlet (290b).

[0061] A nitrogen inlet (290a) is mounted on one side of the main body (210) and is configured to inject nitrogen into the storage space (211) of the main body (210). A check valve (not shown in the drawing) may be provided to prevent nitrogen filled inside the storage space (211) of the main body (210) from leaking out.

[0062] The battery explosion can be prevented by connecting the end of the nitrogen discharge hose of the nitrogen filling device (not shown in the drawing) to the nitrogen inlet (290a) and injecting nitrogen into the storage space (211) of the main body (210) to fill it.

[0063] An air outlet (290b) is mounted on one side of the main body (210) and is configured to vacuum air by removing it from the storage space of the main body (210). A check valve (not shown in the drawing) may be provided to prevent external air from entering the storage space (211) of the main body (210).

[0064] By connecting the end of the air intake hose of the air intake device (not shown in the drawing) to the air outlet (290b), the air filled inside the storage space (211) of the main body (210) is sucked in and discharged to the outside, thereby creating a vacuum inside the storage space (211) to prevent the battery from exploding.

[0065] By implementing it in this way, the present invention can prevent the explosion of waste batteries stored in a waste battery storage device (200) equipped with a leakage current limiting function, thereby enabling safe waste battery storage and discharge operations.

[0066] The various embodiments disclosed in this specification and drawings are provided merely as specific examples to aid understanding and are not intended to limit the scope of the various embodiments of the invention.

[0067] Accordingly, the scope of the various embodiments of the present invention should be interpreted as including all modifications or variations derived based on the technical concept of the various embodiments of the present invention, in addition to the embodiments described herein. Industrial applicability

[0068] The present invention is industrially applicable in the field of waste battery discharge technology and the field of application technology thereof. Explanation of the symbols

[0069] 100 : Waste battery discharge device 110 : Jack plug 111 : Cylindrical first phase voltage terminal 112: Cylindrical first neutral terminal 120 : DC / DC converter 130: Cylindrical first discharge electrode 140: Cylindrical second discharge electrode 150 : Discharge tank 160 : Cooling system 170: Electrolyte solution replenishment means 200 : Waste battery storage device 210 : Main body 211 : Storage space 220: Jack outlet 221 : Cylindrical phase voltage line terminal 222 : Cylindrical neutral terminal 230 : Lead section 231 : Phase voltage line lead 232 : Neutral wire lead 240 : Ammeter 250 : Voltmeter 260: GPS module 270 : IoT Module 280 : Control unit 290a: Nitrogen inlet 290b : Air outlet

Claims

Claim 1 A waste battery discharge device having a leakage current limiting function, comprising: a jack plug connected to a jack outlet of a waste battery storage device that stores waste batteries; a DC / DC converter that converts the waste battery voltage applied through the jack plug; a cylindrical first discharge electrode connected to a phase voltage line of the DC / DC converter output terminal; a cylindrical second discharge electrode connected to a neutral line of the DC / DC converter output terminal, implemented to surround the cylindrical first discharge electrode from the outside, and having a relatively larger surface area compared to the surface area of ​​the cylindrical first discharge electrode, thereby limiting leakage current from flowing to the human body due to the difference in surface area with the cylindrical first discharge electrode even if the human body comes into contact with the electrolyte solution contained in the discharge tank; and a discharge tank containing an electrolyte, wherein the cylindrical first discharge electrode and the cylindrical second discharge electrode undergo an oxidation-reduction reaction within the electrolyte to induce electrolysis, thereby discharging the waste battery stored in the waste battery storage device. Claim 2 A waste battery discharge device having a leakage current limiting function, wherein the jack plug comprises: a cylindrical first phase voltage terminal electrically connected to a cylindrical first phase voltage terminal of a jack outlet of a waste battery storage device; and a cylindrical first neutral terminal electrically connected to a cylindrical neutral terminal of a jack outlet of a waste battery storage device, implemented to surround the cylindrical first phase voltage terminal from the outside, thereby having a surface area relatively larger than the surface area of ​​the cylindrical first phase voltage terminal. Claim 3 A waste battery discharge device having a leakage current limiting function according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of pairs of a cylindrical first discharge electrode and a cylindrical second discharge electrode are provided.

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