Method and device for recovering energy parameters of battery

Abstract

An apparatus for recovering an energy parameter of a battery is provided. The apparatus includes a support frame, a controller, and a battery container configured to receive a battery therein, the battery container operably coupled to a control inverter and a motor including a motor reducer. The control inverter is configured to adjust a rotational speed of the motor. The motor reducer is configured to facilitate rotation of the battery container. A method of recovering an energy parameter of a battery is also provided.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 688,308, filed on March 7, 2022, entitled “METHOD AND DEVICE FOR RESTORATION OF A BATTERY'S ENERGY PARAMETERS,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of batteries, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for restoring energy parameters of a battery. Background Art

[0004] Lead-acid batteries are a common power source of choice due to their availability, ability to be recharged, and favorable energy output to cost ratio. In recent years, many improvements have been made in the lead-acid battery industry; however, despite these recent improvements and advantages, lead-acid batteries, and specifically valve-regulated lead-acid batteries ("VRLA"), do have some disadvantages. One such disadvantage is that the electrochemical processes occurring in the cell can lead to the separation of the electrolyte contained in the cell. The homogeneity of the acid concentration in the electrolyte is one of the main thermodynamic requirements for the efficient and reversible performance of the electrochemical processes during operation and storage of the lead-acid battery. The separation of the electrolyte in the lead-acid battery leads to the stratification of the sulfuric acid concentration within the cell. It has been confirmed that this side effect occurs both during the operation of the lead-acid battery and when they are stored for long periods of time, which has an adverse effect on the energy parameters of the battery.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus and method to homogenize the electrolyte concentration within the cell to restore the energy parameters of the lead-acid battery. Summary of the invention

[0006] One or more embodiments of the present invention can solve one or more of the above problems. According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a method and apparatus for homogenizing the electrolyte concentration within a cell to restore the energy parameters of a battery are provided. Specifically, according to a first aspect, a method for restoring the energy parameters of a battery is provided. The method includes: fixing a battery in a battery container; rotating the battery fixed in the battery container; and homogenizing the electrolyte concentration within the internal components of at least one cell contained in the battery.

[0007] According to certain embodiments, the method may further include balancing the weight of the battery while the battery is secured in the battery container.

[0008] According to certain embodiments, the method may further include electrically contacting the battery and the programmable charging device to restore one or more energy parameters of the battery. Restoring the one or more energy parameters may occur simultaneously with rotating the battery secured in the battery container.

[0009] According to certain embodiments, the method may further include connecting the battery to a bipolar overvoltage pulse generator and applying alternating positive and negative pulses to the battery.

[0010] According to some embodiments, the battery may be in operation. In other embodiments, the battery may be stored inoperably.

[0011] According to certain embodiments, the battery may be a lead-acid battery. In certain embodiments, the battery may be a valve-regulated battery. In certain embodiments, the battery may include a glass mat separator.

[0012] According to some embodiments, rotating the battery may include rotating the battery about a central rotation axis. In such embodiments, the battery may include a positive electrode on a first end, a negative electrode on a second end, and the central rotation axis may correspond to a center of the battery relative to the first end and the second end.

[0013] On the other hand, a device for restoring energy parameters of a battery is provided. The device includes a support frame, a controller and a battery container, the battery container is configured to receive a battery therein, and the battery container is operably connected to a motor and a control inverter, and the motor includes a motor reducer. The control inverter is configured to adjust the speed of the motor, and the motor reducer is configured to promote the rotation of the container. In some embodiments, the device may further include a programmable charging device, and the controller may be configured to communicate with the programmable charging device. The controller may be configured to communicate with the control inverter. In several embodiments, the controller may be configured to calculate electrochemical recovery parameters for the battery based on the characteristics of the battery. In some embodiments, the controller may be operated via a wireless connection. In other embodiments, the controller may be contained in the programmable charging device.

[0014] According to some embodiments, the apparatus may further include a bipolar overvoltage battery pulse generator. The bipolar overvoltage battery pulse generator may be configured to be connected to the battery and apply alternating positive and negative pulses to the battery.

[0015] According to some embodiments, the device may further include a programmable charging device.The programmable charging device may be operably coupled to the battery.

[0016] According to some embodiments, the apparatus may further include a bearing shaft having a central portion and a slip ring mounted on the bearing shaft.

[0017] According to certain embodiments, the battery may be a lead-acid battery. In certain embodiments, the battery may be a valve-regulated battery. In certain embodiments, the battery may include a glass mat separator.

[0018] In yet another aspect, a non-transient computer-readable medium is provided, the non-transient computer-readable medium having computer-readable program instructions stored therein. The non-transient computer-readable medium includes instructions that, when executed by a controller, are configured to cause a device to at least perform: calculating an electrochemical recovery parameter; and instructing a programmable charging device to deliver energy to a battery based on the electrochemical recovery parameter. Instructing the programmable charging device to deliver energy to the battery based on the electrochemical recovery parameter. In some embodiments, the instructions contained on the non-transient computer-readable medium, when executed by the controller, are further configured to adjust the energy provided to the control inverter to facilitate rotation of the battery so as to restore the energy parameters of the battery by homogenizing the electrolyte concentration throughout at least one cell contained within the battery. Homogenizing the electrolyte concentration throughout at least one cell contained within the battery includes mechanically manipulating the electrolyte contained within the internal components of the at least one cell until the sulfuric acid concentration is substantially uniform throughout the internal components of the at least one cell. In some embodiments, the non-transient computer-readable medium calculates an electrochemical recovery program based on characteristics of the battery. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Having generally described the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which:

[0020] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an apparatus for restoring energy parameters of a battery according to some embodiments of the present invention is illustrated;

[0021] Figure 2 A battery container according to some embodiments of the present invention is illustrated;

[0022] Figure 3A A battery container according to some embodiments of the present invention is illustrated;

[0023] Figure 3B illustrates a cross-section of an apparatus according to some embodiments of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 illustrates a block diagram of a controller according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 5 is a block diagram of a method for restoring energy parameters of a battery; and

[0026] Figure 6 The discharge capacity of various batteries after recovery is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Throughout, like reference numerals denote like elements. As used in the specification and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an", "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0028] In order for lead-acid batteries to maintain their energy parameters for extended periods of time, the sulfuric acid electrolyte solution must be homogeneous throughout the cell. Homogeneity of the acid in the electrolyte in a lead-acid cell is a requirement for the performance of all types of lead-acid batteries. However, this condition applies to the highest degree to valve-regulated lead-acid batteries, where the possibility of electrolyte homogenization is difficult.

[0029] To fully illustrate the necessity of electrolyte homogenization for the efficient and reverse performance of electrochemical processes during battery operation, this article discusses the mechanism of the charge and discharge reactions of a lead-acid cell. The speed of the electrochemical reactions inside a lead-acid battery depends on the electrode potential, temperature, electrolyte concentration, sulfuric acid solution concentration, and the composition and additives in the active electrode materials. The chemical composition of the material of the alloy of the conductive grid of the positive and negative electrodes is also a factor. These factors are derived from the following electrochemical processes performed during battery operation:

[0030] Charging reaction at the positive electrode:

[0031] (1)PbSO4+2H2O→PbO2+2H++H2SO4+2e -

[0032] Charging reaction at the negative electrode:

[0033] (2)PbSO4+2H++2e - →Pb+H2SO4

[0034] (3)Pb+1 / 2O2+H2SO4→PbSO4+H2O+Q 热

[0035] In addition to these charging reactions taking place at the electrodes, the following chemical decomposition of water occurs:

[0036] (4)H2O→2H++1 / 2O2+2e-

[0037] Additional reactions through different mechanisms include:

[0038] Chemical Mechanism:

[0039] (5)PbSO4+2H++2e - →Pb+H2SO4

[0040] Electrochemical mechanism:

[0041] (6) 1 / 2O2+2H+=2e - →H2O

[0042] During discharge, the following electrochemical reactions occur at the positive electrode of the cell:

[0043] (7)PbO2+2H+H2SO4+2e - →PbSO4+2H2O

[0044] During discharge, the following electrochemical reactions occur at the negative electrode of the cell:

[0045] (8) Pb + H2SO4 → PbSO4 + 2H + +2e -

[0046] As indicated by the electrochemical reaction shown above, at the beginning, water is consumed on the positive electrode and then the execution of the process of water decomposition and separation of oxygen begins. While charging, water is formed on the negative electrode. When the concentration of separated oxygen reaches a threshold, it begins to decrease on the negative electrode generating heat.

[0047] In order to drive the above reactions, an acceptable volume and concentration of sulfuric acid must be present throughout the unit. From the reactions shown above, in order to maintain the thermodynamic equilibrium of the Pb / PbO2 system ratio, it is necessary to keep the sulfuric acid concentration in the volume of the unit within certain limits.

[0048] The voltage of a lead-acid cell at equilibrium is about 2 V. This voltage value indicates that when the voltage value of the lead-acid cell is below 2 V, the reaction inside the cell causes Pb2 + The formation of, thus leading to an imbalance and ultimately to discharge. Alternatively, when the voltage value of the lead-acid cell is higher than 2V, the electrochemical reactions occurring in the cell lead to the formation of Pb and PbO2, leading to the opposite imbalance, but still ultimately leading to the discharge of the cell. While the mass values ​​of the positive and negative electrodes inside the lead-acid cell are taken into account, the balance value of water should also be considered. This potential balance value for the H2O / O2 pair is approximately 1.23V, and the potential balance value for the H2 / H2O pair is 0V. These values ​​indicate the formation of redox pairs in the lead-acid elements, a process described in the Nernst equation as follows:

[0049] [Equation 1] Е0=Е 0,标准+RT / nF[(Ox / (Red)]

[0050] The Nernst equation shows that in lead-acid elements, except for Pb / Pb 2+ and Pb 2+ / Pb 4+ In addition to the alkaline redox pairs, H2O / O2 and H2 / H2O (H2 / H3O + and ΟH - The secondary oxidation-reduction couple of / O2) also participates in the reaction because the electrolyte is an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid. This means that in order to fully complete the electrochemical process of charging and discharging in the lead-acid cell and battery, it is necessary to make the concentration of this electrolyte the same and available in all the volumes of the cell in the lead-acid battery, in the volume of the separator and in both the volume of the positive electrode and the volume of the negative electrode respectively.

[0051] The requirements for electrolyte homogeneity apply to a large extent to the valve-regulated lead-acid batteries widely used today, which differ significantly in their construction from other types of lead-acid batteries. In many lead-acid cells, the electrolyte solution of sulfuric acid is absorbed in the volume of the diaphragm by an absorbed glass matt (AGM), a pore system formed by fine glass fibers. The AGM diaphragm performs two functions, the first of which is to separate the positive and negative electrodes, and the second is to keep the necessary amount of electrolyte in the cell of the lead-acid battery within its volume. Precisely due to its specific construction, by using glass matts in this type of lead-acid battery, the conditions are created for effectively carrying out the water recombination of the oxygen and hydrogen released during charging. The possibility of operating the valve-regulated lead-acid battery under the conditions of a closed oxygen cycle significantly reduces the loss of water during its charging, resulting in an extended operating cycle.

[0052] The mechanism of obtaining the stratification effect is also clearly presented, since it takes an extended period of time for sulfuric acid to diffuse from places with a higher concentration to places with a lower concentration in the volume of a lead-acid battery. As an example, when a lead-acid battery is charged, the concentration increases over time and a charge is formed in the porous volume of the positive and negative electrodes due to sulfuric acid on the positive and negative electrodes. Since the electrolyte contained in this porous volume accounts for 20% of the total volume of the electrolyte inside the lead-acid battery, the concentration of electrolyte found in the pores of the electrodes becomes much higher than the concentration of sulfuric acid in the total volume of the electrolyte contained in the rest of the internal parts. In these cases, the concentration of sulfuric acid in the pores of the electrodes is high and it is much heavier than the acid in the volume of the separator and the free volume in the cell. When sulfuric acid begins to leave the structural pores of the electrode, it begins to flow towards the bottom of the cell, creating the effect of a sludge or stratification of the solution of sulfuric acid in the electrolyte, which has a detrimental effect on charging. This stratification of the electrolyte is the reason for obtaining a lower voltage in the upper part of the electrode, where the electrolyte is more diluted, while in the lower part of the electrode in the lead-acid cell, the voltage has a higher value due to the increased electrolyte concentration.

[0053] definition

[0054] As used herein, the term "battery" may refer to all components comprising a battery (including one or more cells, containers, etc.), as understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. The term "internal components of a cell" may refer to components contained within a cell container. For example, in some embodiments, the internal components of a cell may include a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrolyte mixture, a separator, etc., as understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.

[0055] As used herein, the term "energy parameter" may refer to a characteristic of a battery, such as service life, discharge capacity, charge acceptance, etc., as understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. When referring to improving an energy parameter, such improvements include extending the service life of the battery, restoring the discharge capacity to the specified level at the time of manufacture, and restoring the charge acceptance of the battery, among other commercially preferred characteristics.

[0056] As used herein, the term "electrochemical recovery parameter" may refer to a calculated or known parameter that may be used by a controller, a control inverter, and / or a programmable charging device to optimize the recovery of an energy parameter of a battery. The electrochemical recovery parameter may include, but is not limited to, a current value and a voltage value. The electrochemical recovery parameter may be calculated based on the characteristics of the battery.

[0057] As used herein, the terms "homogenization," "homogenizing," and the like may refer to the process of establishing a uniform concentration of sulfuric acid in an electrolyte contained throughout the internal components of a battery.

[0058] As used herein, the term "replaceable battery container" refers to a battery container that can be easily replaced when necessary and is mounted between self-adjusting bearings mounted on two oppositely mounted cantilevers of the support frame of the device described herein for homogenization.

[0059] As used herein, the term "custom battery container" refers to a battery container that has been manufactured according to the dimensions of the battery that will be subjected to homogenization.

[0060] As used herein, the term "operably coupled" may refer to one or more components being electrically, mechanically, thermally, chemically, or otherwise connected to another component(s) in a manner that facilitates at least one signal transmission between the components. For example, the components may be part of the same structure and / or integrated with each other (i.e., "directly coupled"). In other examples, the components may be connected via a remote device (e.g., via a signal transmitted to an electronic circuit).

[0061] As used herein, the terms "characteristics of a battery" and "battery characteristics" may be used interchangeably to refer to the degree of charge of the battery, the type of battery, the size of the battery, the energy capacity of the battery, the regime in which the battery is put into operation, etc., as understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art.

[0062] Device for recovering energy parameters

[0063] According to certain embodiments, the present invention includes an apparatus and method for homogenizing the electrolyte concentration within a cell to restore the energy parameters of the battery. Specifically, an apparatus 100 is provided. The apparatus 100 includes a controller 105 and a battery container 180, which is configured to receive a battery 190 therein. The battery container 180 is operably connected to a control inverter 111 and a motor, which includes a motor reducer 140. The control inverter 111 is configured to control the rotation speed of the motor, and the motor reducer 140 is configured to facilitate the rotation of the battery container 180.

[0064] refer to Figure 1 3, the apparatus 100 is illustrated. Figure 1 As shown, the apparatus 100 includes a support frame 110 having a desired size according to the size of the battery to be subjected to homogenization of the electrolyte contained therein. A drive belt 160 is fixed to the support frame 110 and a motor including a motor reducer 140 mounted thereon.

[0065] Two cantilevers 120a, 120b with self-adjusting bearings 130a, 130b are attached to the support frame 110, and the bearings 130a, 130b have half shafts 170, and the half shafts 170 are installed so that the centers of the self-adjusting bearings 130a, 130b are located on the same horizontal axis. A battery container 180 is installed in the half shaft 170 between the bearings 130a, 130b, and the battery 190 is placed in the battery container.

[0066] The battery container 180 is configured so that the battery 190 can be optionally weight balanced relative to a horizontal axis passing through the center of the bearings 130a, 130b. The axis further coincides with an imaginary axis that divides the electrodes in the lead-acid battery into upper and lower parts in height. The flexible belt 150 between the drive pulley 114 and the pulley 115 mounted on the half shaft 170 of one of the opposite bearings 130a, 130b is used to transfer energy from the motor reducer to the battery container, causing the battery container to rotate. Power supply and control of the motor reducer 140 are performed by a programmable electronic control inverter 111. The device 100 can be optionally configured to connect the battery 190 to the programmable charging device 112 using a slip ring connector 101.

[0067] According to certain embodiments, the battery can be operably coupled to a bipolar overvoltage pulse generator (BEAT) device (not shown), such as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 8,436,587 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,716,982, which are incorporated herein by reference. The BEAT device is configured to be connected to the battery and to apply alternating positive and negative pulses to the battery. Using the BEAT device together with the device described herein can further improve the energy parameters of the battery.

[0068] In some embodiments, the support frame is composed of a carbon-based material. In some such embodiments, the support frame is composed of a profiled steel element. In certain embodiments, the battery container is a custom battery container. In some embodiments, the battery container is a replaceable battery container. In some embodiments, the battery container is composed of a metal material. In other embodiments, the battery container is composed of a polymer carbon material.

[0069] According to certain embodiments, the battery may be a lead-acid battery. In some embodiments, the battery may be a valve-regulated battery. In certain embodiments, the battery may include a glass mat separator. In such embodiments, for example, homogenizing the electrolyte concentration within the cell may include homogenizing the electrolyte concentration within each of the positive and negative electrodes, the glass mat separator, and the remainder of the cell.

[0070] According to different embodiments, the device can be configured to accommodate batteries with a capacity ranging from 1Ah to 200Ah. In some embodiments, the battery can have a capacity of at least about 1.2Ah. In some embodiments, the battery can have a capacity of at least about 1.9Ah. In some embodiments, the battery can have a capacity of at least about 2.3Ah. In some embodiments, the battery can have a capacity of at least about 3Ah. In some embodiments, the battery can have a capacity of at least about 3.6Ah. In some embodiments, the battery can have a capacity of at least about 4Ah. In some embodiments, the battery can have a capacity of at least about 4.5Ah. In some embodiments, the battery can have a capacity of at least about 5Ah. In some embodiments, the battery can have a capacity of at least about 7Ah. In some embodiments, the battery can have a capacity of at least about 7.5Ah. In some embodiments, the battery can have a capacity of at least about 8Ah. In some embodiments, the battery can have a capacity of at least about 10Ah. In some embodiments, the battery can have a capacity of at least about 12Ah. In some embodiments, the battery can have a capacity of at least about 13Ah. In some embodiments, the battery can have a capacity of at least about 15Ah. In some embodiments, the battery may have a capacity of at least about 17Ah. In some embodiments, the battery may have a capacity of at least about 24Ah. In some embodiments, the battery may have a capacity of at least about 26Ah. In some embodiments, the battery may have a capacity of at least about 28Ah. In some embodiments, the battery may have a capacity of at least about 40Ah. In some embodiments, the battery may have a capacity of at least about 60Ah. In some embodiments, the battery may have a capacity of at least about 100Ah. In some embodiments, the battery may have a capacity of at least about 180Ah. In some embodiments, the battery may have a capacity of about 200Ah or less.For example, in some embodiments, the battery can have a capacity of at least about any of the following: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 155, 160, 165, 170, 175, 180, 185, 190, 195, 196, 197, 198, and 199 Ah; and / or have a capacity of at least about any of the following: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 155, 160, 165, 170, 175, 180, 185, 190, 195, 196, 197, 198, and 199 Ah; any of the following capacities: 200, 199, 198, 197, 196, 195, 190, 185, 180, 175, 170, 165, 160, 155, 150, 145, 140, 135, 130, 125, 120, 115, 110, 105, 100, 95, 90, 85, 80, 75, 70, 65, 60, 55, 50, 45, 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 4, 3 and 2Ah (e.g., about 2Ah-200Ah, about 25Ah-150Ah, etc.).

[0071] Figure 2 An example embodiment of a battery container 180 configured to receive a battery 190 therein is illustrated. The battery container 180 is composed of three parts, a top 180a, a middle 180b, and a bottom 180c, which are interconnected by studs 210. In any or all of the parts, the outer periphery of the part may define an opening that is configured to receive a battery therein. When the battery is placed in the battery container 180, the step of weight balancing the battery is performed by adjusting the studs 210. In some embodiments, the battery container may include more than three parts. In other embodiments, the battery container may include three parts. In other embodiments, the battery container may include less than three parts. In some embodiments, the battery container may include a single part configured to receive a battery therein.

[0072] Figure 3A A cross section of an example embodiment of a device 100 is illustrated, wherein the device 100 includes a slip ring connector 101 mounted in one of the half shafts 170a, 170b, through which an electrical connection can be made between a battery 190 and a programmable charging device 112.

[0073] Figure 3B The battery container 180 is shown mounted between two oppositely positioned half shafts 170 mounted on self-adjusting bearings 130a, 130b, with a battery 190 inserted therein, as shown along Figure 3A As shown by the line AA indicated in FIG.

[0074] Reference now Figure 4 , illustrating a block diagram of the controller 105. In some embodiments, the battery characteristics 400 may be input into the controller 105 via the user interface 430. In certain embodiments, for example, the controller 105 may be configured to execute an electrochemical recovery program (not shown) to determine the energy parameters of the battery. In some embodiments, the controller 105 may be a programmable logic controller (PLC). The controller 105 may include or otherwise communicate with a processing circuit 420, which may be configured to perform actions according to one or more embodiments disclosed herein. In this regard, the processing circuit 420 may be configured to perform and / or control the execution of one or more functions of the controller 105 according to various embodiments, and thus may provide a device for performing the functions of the controller 105 according to various embodiments. The processing circuit 420 may be configured to perform data processing, application execution, and / or other processing and management services according to one or more embodiments. In some embodiments, the controller 105 or a portion or component thereof (such as the processing circuit 420) may be embodied as or include a chip or a chipset. In other words, the controller 105 or processing circuit 420 may include one or more physical packages (e.g., chips) that include materials, components, and / or wires on a structural assembly (e.g., a substrate). The structural assembly may provide physical strength, retention of size, and / or limitation of electrical interactions for the component circuits included thereon. Thus, in some cases, the controller 105 or processing circuit 420 may be configured to implement embodiments of the present disclosure on a single chip or as a single "system on a chip." Thus, in some cases, a chip or chipset may constitute a device for performing one or more operations for providing the functionality described herein.

[0075] In some embodiments, processing circuit 420 may include processor 450, and in some embodiments (such as Figure 4 The processing circuit 420 may communicate with the user interface 430 and / or the communication interface 460 or otherwise control the user interface 430 and / or the communication interface 460. Therefore, the processing circuit 420 may be embodied as a circuit chip (e.g., an integrated circuit chip) configured to perform the operations described herein (e.g., using hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software).

[0076] The processor 450 can be implemented in a variety of different ways. For example, the processor 450 can be implemented as a variety of processing devices, such as a microprocessor or other processing element, a coprocessor, a controller, or one or more of various other computing or processing devices including integrated circuits (such as, for example, ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), etc.). Although shown as a single processor, it should be understood that the processor 450 may include multiple processors. Multiple processors can communicate with each other operatively and can be configured together to perform one or more functions of the controller 105 as described herein. In some embodiments, the processor 450 can be configured to execute instructions stored in the memory 440 or otherwise accessible by the processor 450. Therefore, whether configured by hardware or by a combination of hardware and software, the processor 450 can represent an entity that can perform operations according to embodiments of the present disclosure while being configured accordingly (e.g., physically embodied in a circuit in the form of a processing circuit 420). Therefore, for example, when the processor 450 is implemented as an ASIC, FPGA, etc., the processor 450 can be hardware of a specific configuration for performing the operations described herein. Alternatively, as another example, when the processor 450 is embodied as an executor of software instructions, the instructions may specifically configure the processor 450 to perform one or more operations described herein.

[0077] In some embodiments, the memory 440 may include one or more non-transient memory devices, such as volatile and / or non-volatile memory that may be fixed or removable. In this regard, the memory 440 may include a non-transient computer-readable storage medium. It should be understood that although the memory 440 is illustrated as a single memory, the memory 440 may include multiple memories. The memory 440 may be configured to store information, data, applications, instructions, etc., so that the controller 105 can perform various functions according to one or more embodiments. For example, the memory 440 may be configured to buffer input data for processing by the processor 450. In addition or alternatively, the memory 440 may be configured to store instructions executed by the processor 450. As another alternative, the memory 440 may include one or more databases that may store various files, content, or data sets. Among the contents of the memory 440, applications for execution by the processor 450 may be stored to perform functions associated with each corresponding application. In some cases, the memory 440 may communicate with one or more of the processor 450, the user interface 430, and / or the communication interface 460 via a bus for transferring information between components of the controller 105.

[0078] The user interface 430 may communicate with the processing circuit 420 to receive an indication of a user input at the user interface 430 and / or provide an audible, visual, mechanical, or other output to the user. Thus, the user interface 430 may include, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, a display, a touch screen display, a microphone, a speaker, and / or other input / output mechanisms. Thus, in some embodiments, the user interface 430 may provide a means for a user to access and interact with the device 100 according to different embodiments.

[0079] The communication interface 460 may include one or more interface mechanisms for enabling communication with other devices and / or networks. In some cases, the communication interface 460 may be any device (such as a device or circuit implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and software) configured to receive and / or send data from / to a network and / or any other device or module that communicates with the processing circuit 420. For example, the communication interface 460 may be configured to enable the controller 105 to communicate with the control inverter 111. Therefore, the communication interface 460 may, for example, include an antenna (or multiple antennas) and supporting hardware and / or software for enabling communication with a wireless communication network (e.g., a wireless local area network, a cellular network, a global positioning system network, etc.), and / or a communication modem or other hardware / software for supporting communication via cable, digital subscriber line (DSL), universal serial bus (USB), Ethernet or other methods.

[0080] Therefore, controlling the inverter 111 to promote the rotation of the battery so as to restore the energy parameters of the battery by homogenizing the electrolyte concentration throughout at least one cell contained in the battery. Specifically, homogenizing the electrolyte concentration throughout at least one cell contained in the battery may include mechanically manipulating the electrolyte contained within the internal components of the at least one cell until the sulfuric acid concentration is substantially uniform in the internal components of the at least one cell.

[0081] The controller 105 may optionally be coupled to a non-transient computer-readable medium having computer-readable program instructions stored therein. In such embodiments, the non-transient computer-readable medium may include instructions that, when executed by the device, are configured to cause the device to at least execute and calculate electrochemical recovery parameters, and to instruct the programmable charging device to deliver energy to the battery based on the electrochemical recovery parameters. In some embodiments, the non-transient computer-readable medium may include instructions that, when executed by the controller, are further configured to cause the controller to adjust the energy provided to the control inverter 111 to facilitate the rotation of the battery 190 so as to restore the energy parameters of the battery by homogenizing the electrolyte concentration throughout at least one cell contained within the battery. In such embodiments, homogenizing the electrolyte concentration of at least one cell contained within the battery includes mechanically manipulating the electrolyte contained within the internal components of the at least one cell until the sulfuric acid concentration is substantially uniform within the internal components of the at least one cell.

[0082] In some embodiments, the electrochemical recovery program executed by the controller 105 can calculate the desired energy parameters based on the battery characteristics 400. In some embodiments, the battery characteristics 400 can be input by a user using the user interface 430, for example.

[0083] Method for recovering energy parameters

[0084] refer to Figure 5 , a method for restoring energy parameters in a battery is provided. The method includes securing a battery in a battery container at operation 510, rotating the battery rotationally secured within the battery container at operation 520, and homogenizing the electrolyte concentration within the internal components of at least one cell contained within the battery at operation 530. Optionally, when the battery is secured within the battery container, the battery may be weight balanced, as shown in operation 511. In some embodiments, the method optionally includes connecting the battery to a bipolar overvoltage pulse generator (BEAT) device and applying alternating positive and negative pulses to the battery, as shown in operation 512. According to certain embodiments, the method optionally includes electrically contacting the battery and a charging device to restore one or more energy parameters of the battery, as shown in operation 521.

[0085] The method can be performed on a battery in operation or a battery that is no longer suitable for storage. According to some embodiments, the battery can be a lead-acid battery. In some such embodiments, the battery can be a valve-regulated battery. In certain embodiments, the battery can include a glass mat separator.

[0086] In some embodiments, rotating the battery may include rotating the battery about a central rotation axis. In such embodiments, the battery may optionally include a positive electrode on a first end, a negative electrode on a second end, and the central rotation axis may correspond to a center of the battery relative to the first end and the second end.

[0087] Example

[0088] Example 1

[0089] In this example, a method and device for homogenizing the electrolyte in a lead-acid battery is used on the unit during charging. For this purpose, a valve-regulated lead-acid battery with a capacity of 180 Ah declared by the manufacturer is selected. The battery is operated in floating charge mode. Before starting the electrolyte homogenization procedure of the selected battery, the values ​​of the internal resistance and the open circuit voltage are measured. These values ​​are shown in the following Table 1.

[0090] After measuring the internal resistance and open circuit voltage, the battery is placed in the battery container of the device. Next, the battery is balanced by a dynamometer and fixed on a shaft connecting the centers of two self-aligning bearings. Next, the control inverter is turned on to supply and control the motor reducer. The control inverter is used to adjust the rotation speed, which is maintained at 18rpm-20rpm. The device then performs an electrolyte homogenization procedure by rotating the battery for 1.5 hours.

[0091] The internal resistance and open circuit voltage values ​​were then measured and the obtained values ​​are reflected in Table 1.

[0092] Table 1 - Table showing cell characteristics before and after electrolyte homogenization

[0093] Internal resistance Open circuit voltage Before homogenization <![CDATA[InR1=4,03mΩ]]> <![CDATA[OCV1=12,29V]]> After homogenization <![CDATA[InR2=3,57mΩ]]> <![CDATA[OCV2=12,31V]]>

[0094] The results reported after completing an electrolyte homogenization procedure in a lead-acid battery illustrate the effect of the device on internal resistance and open circuit voltage. Specifically, use of the device resulted in the battery exhibiting reduced internal resistance while exhibiting only minimal changes in open circuit voltage values.

[0095] Example 2

[0096] In this example, an electrochemical restoration program is applied while homogenizing the electrolyte in the battery to restore the energy parameters of a lead-acid battery in service or storage. An electrochemical restoration program is a specialized charging program with defined values ​​for current, voltage and total execution time. An electrochemical restoration program is used to determine the parameters of the selected battery. The choice of an electrochemical program to restore the energy parameters of batteries depends on their degree of charge, battery type and size, which determines their energy capacity and the regime in which they are put into service.

[0097] For this example, a 180Ah valve-regulated battery was used. The values ​​selected for this battery constitute an electrochemical recovery procedure designated "EL1" and involve I ch1 =18A charging current and U ch1 = Limited charging voltage value of 14.4V for 16 hours.

[0098] The 180Ah valve-regulated battery is operated in float charge mode. The recovery procedure includes the following technical steps in the following order:

[0099] (1) The internal resistance and open circuit voltage values ​​of the selected battery were measured. Then, the battery was placed in a homogenization device in the same order and in the same operation as described in Example 1.

[0100] (2) The battery is electrically connected to the programmable charging device via a connector (in this example, a slip ring is used).

[0101] (3) Turn on the control inverter, which supplies power to the motor and controls the motor, and the speed of the battery is set at 10 rpm-12 rpm.

[0102] (4) While causing the battery to rotate, turn on the programmable charging device to execute an electrochemical process to restore the energy parameters of the battery.

[0103] Example 3

[0104] The 180Ah valve-regulated battery was operated in a float charge mode until the battery needed to be restored. To begin restoring the energy parameters of the battery, the battery was placed in an electrolyte homogenization device. The battery was then subjected to a rotational motion at a rotational speed of 10rpm-12rpm while engaging a programmable charging device to perform the EL1 electrochemical program and a patented bipolar overvoltage battery pulse generator (BEAT) device manufactured by WaveTech GmbH Germany. The results of this experiment are discussed in Example 4 below.

[0105] Example 4

[0106] To support the results of the methods and apparatus disclosed herein, three nearly identical cells were run for the same length of time at the same location and under the same conditions. The discharge capacity of each of the three cells was measured. These values ​​are shown in Table 2. The standard deviation of the discharge capacity was 0.28 Ah, indicating that it is suitable for comparison. Next, each cell was treated with the recovery method described as follows:

[0107] Only the first cell B1 was treated using the electrochemical restoration procedure (EL1).

[0108] A second cell B2 was processed using the apparatus and methods disclosed herein for electrolyte homogenization in conjunction with the EL1 electrochemical procedure (as described in Example 2).

[0109] A third cell B3 was processed using the apparatus and methods disclosed herein for electrolyte homogenization in combination with the EL1 electrochemical procedure and the BEAT apparatus (as described in Example 3).

[0110] After processing the cells, the discharge capacity of each cell was measured. These values ​​are shown in Table 2 and are Figure 6 Medium picture.

[0111] Table 2. Discharge capacity before and after battery treatment

[0112]

[0113] After the treatment, the discharge capacity value of battery B2 was 10.4% higher than that of battery B1. The discharge capacity value of battery B3 was more improved than that of battery B2. Battery B3 had a discharge capacity value 13% higher than that of battery B1.

[0114] The results of this experiment clearly support that the device and method disclosed herein significantly increase the efficiency of the procedure for restoring the energy parameters of a battery.

[0115] Modifications of the invention set forth herein will occur to those skilled in the art with the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and the associated drawings. Therefore, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation.

Claims

1. A method for restoring energy parameters of a battery, the method comprising: securing the battery in a battery container; rotating the battery fixed in the battery container; as well as The electrolyte concentration within the internal components of at least one cell contained within the battery is homogenized. 2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising weight balancing the battery while the battery is secured in the battery container.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising electrically contacting the battery and a programmable charging device to restore one or more energy parameters of the battery, wherein: Restoring the one or more energy parameters occurs simultaneously with rotating the battery secured in the battery container.

4. The method of any one of claims 1-3, further comprising connecting the battery to a bipolar overvoltage pulse generator and applying alternating positive and negative pulses to the battery.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The battery is in operation.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The battery is stored inoperably.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The battery is a lead-acid battery.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: The battery is a valve-regulated battery.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: The battery includes a glass mat separator.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein: Rotating the battery includes rotating the battery about a central rotation axis.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The battery includes a positive electrode on a first end, a negative electrode on a second end, and the central rotational axis corresponding to a center of the battery relative to the first end and the second end.

12. A device for restoring energy parameters of a battery, the device comprising: Support frame; Controller; as well as a battery container configured to receive the battery therein, the battery container being operably coupled to: A motor, wherein the motor comprises a motor reducer; as well as Control the inverter, Wherein, the control inverter is configured to adjust the rotation speed of the motor; and Wherein, the motor reducer is configured to facilitate rotation of the battery container.

13. The device according to claim 12, further comprising a programmable charging device, wherein: The controller is configured to communicate with the programmable charging device.

14. The device according to claim 12 or 13, further comprising a bipolar overvoltage battery pulse generator, wherein: The bipolar overvoltage battery pulse generator is configured to be connected to the battery and to apply alternating positive and negative pulses to the battery.

15. The device according to any one of claims 12 to 14, further comprising: a bearing shaft having a center portion; as well as A slip ring is mounted on the bearing shaft.

16. The device according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein: The controller is configured to calculate an electrochemical recovery parameter for the battery based on characteristics of the battery.

17. The device according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein: The controller is operated remotely via a wireless connection.

18. The device according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein: The controller is contained within the programmable charging device.

19. The device according to any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein: The battery is a lead-acid battery.

20. The device according to any one of claims 12 to 19, wherein: The battery is a valve-regulated battery.

21. The device according to any one of claims 12 to 20, wherein: The battery includes a glass mat separator.

22. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable program instructions stored therein, the non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a controller, are configured to: calculating electrochemical recovery parameters; and A programmable charging device is directed to deliver energy to the battery based on the electrochemical recovery parameter.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein: The instructions, when executed by a controller, are further configured to calculate the electrochemical recovery procedure based on characteristics of the battery.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 22 or 23, wherein: The instructions, when executed by the controller, are also configured to: regulating energy provided by the control inverter to facilitate rotation of the battery so as to restore energy parameters of the battery by homogenizing electrolyte concentration throughout at least one cell contained within the battery, Wherein, homogenizing the electrolyte concentration throughout the at least one cell contained within the battery comprises mechanically manipulating the electrolyte contained within internal components of the at least one cell until the sulfuric acid concentration is substantially uniform throughout the internal components of the at least one cell.

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