Liquid metal battery electromagnetic induction heating device

Abstract

The invention discloses an electromagnetic induction heating device for a liquid metal battery. The electromagnetic induction heating device comprises a shell, a first heating pipe arranged in the shell and second heating pipes uniformly distributed around the outer wall of the first heating pipe, a first coil is arranged around the outer wall of the first heating pipe, a second coil is arranged around the outer wall of the second heating pipe, and the spiral direction of the first coil is opposite to that of the second coil, so that a magnetic field generated by the first coil and a magnetic field generated by the second coil can form a closed loop; when the first coil and the second coil are electrified by alternating current, electrons in the first heating tube and electrons in the second heating tube can continuously move and collide to generate heat, and meanwhile, a magnetic field around the first heating tube and a magnetic field around the second heating tube continuously change to generate heat; therefore, the first heating tube and the second heating tube are heated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of liquid metal batteries, and in particular to an electromagnetic induction heating device for liquid metal batteries. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, liquid metal batteries are still in the trial operation and exploratory research stage. The battery temperature is mainly generated by the resistor element itself after being energized, and then the heat is conducted from the outside to the inside of the battery. This method is low-cost and technically mature, but it has the disadvantages of low thermal efficiency, slow heating, and easy to cause excessive temperature difference between the inside and outside of the battery, which may affect the battery life and safety.

[0003] Existing technologies also include liquid metal batteries that incorporate resistive elements internally and heat these internal elements. While this arrangement helps maintain temperature, reduce energy consumption, and alter the battery's internal resistance, the internal heating device hinders the circulation of ions and molten salt electrolyte, making precise control of the heating power impossible. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is: how to accurately control the heating power of liquid metal batteries.

[0005] The above-mentioned technical problems are solved by the following technical solution: This invention proposes an electromagnetic induction heating device for a liquid metal battery, which includes a housing, a first heating tube disposed between the housings, and a second heating tube uniformly distributed around the outer wall of the first heating tube; a first coil is disposed around the outer wall of the first heating tube, and a second coil is disposed around the outer wall of the second heating tube, the spiral directions of the first coil and the second coil are opposite, so that the magnetic field generated by the first coil and the magnetic field generated by the second coil can form a closed loop; when the first coil and the second coil are energized by alternating current, electrons located in the first heating tube and electrons located in the second heating tube can continuously move and collide to generate heat, and at the same time, the magnetic fields around the first heating tube and the magnetic fields around the second heating tube can continuously change to generate heat, thereby making the first heating tube and the second heating tube heat up.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment of the liquid metal battery electromagnetic induction heating device of the present invention: the housing includes a first body and a second body, the inner wall of the first body has a first receiving cavity, and the inner wall of the second body has a second receiving cavity.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the liquid metal battery electromagnetic induction heating device of the present invention: the bottom end of the first heating tube is disposed at the center of the top end of the second main body, and at least two sets of the second heating tube are provided; the top end of the first heating tube is disposed at the center of the bottom end of the first main body.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the liquid metal battery electromagnetic induction heating device of the present invention: the first heating cavity and the second heating cavity are simultaneously connected to the first receiving cavity and the second receiving cavity.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the liquid metal battery electromagnetic induction heating device of the present invention: electrolytes are distributed in the first heating chamber, the second heating chamber, the first accommodating chamber and the second accommodating chamber.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the liquid metal battery electromagnetic induction heating device of the present invention: an opening is provided at the end of the first body away from the second body, and the opening is sealed by an insulating connecting block.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the liquid metal battery electromagnetic induction heating device of the present invention: a negative electrode metal is provided on the inner wall of the first accommodating cavity, one end of the negative electrode current collector extends through the insulating connecting block into the first accommodating cavity and is connected to the negative electrode metal, and the other end of the negative electrode current collector is connected to an external wire.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the liquid metal battery electromagnetic induction heating device of the present invention: the first coil and the second coil are single helical coils.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the liquid metal battery electromagnetic induction heating device of the present invention: the first coil and the second coil are double helical coils.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the liquid metal battery electromagnetic induction heating device of the present invention: a positive electrode metal is provided on the outer wall of the second receiving cavity, and the second main body is connected to an external wire.

[0015] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: The present invention generates electromagnetic induction around the walls of the first and second heating tubes by passing high-frequency alternating current through the first coil and the second coil, thereby heating the first and second heating tubes, so that the liquid metal battery is heated evenly inside while reducing operating energy consumption.

[0016] A fixed-direction magnetic field is generated by passing a direct current through the first and second coils, thereby accelerating the movement of electrons located in the first receiving cavity, the first heating cavity, the second heating cavity, and the second receiving cavity. This provides the power for the movement of metal cations between the positive and negative electrodes of the battery, thereby improving the charging and discharging efficiency of the liquid metal battery and extending its service life. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention will be briefly described below. Obviously, the drawings described below only relate to some embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Wherein: Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of the electromagnetic induction heating device for liquid metal batteries is shown. Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the overall structure of the electromagnetic induction heating device for liquid metal batteries is shown. Figure 3 A top view showing the distribution of the first and second heating elements in an electromagnetic induction heating device for a liquid metal battery is shown. Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the remote control system structure of the liquid metal battery electromagnetic induction heating device is shown.

[0018] In the diagram: 1. Shell; 11. First main body; 111. First receiving cavity; 12. Second main body; 121. Second receiving cavity; 2. First heating element; 21. First heating cavity; 3. Second heating element; 31. Second heating cavity; 4. First coil; 5. Second coil; 6. Insulating connecting block; 7. Negative electrode metal; 8. Negative electrode current collector; 9. Positive electrode metal; 10. Remote control system; 11. Electrical control cabinet; 12. Electrolyte. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0020] The terminology used in this invention is that which is currently widely used in the art in consideration of the function of the invention; however, these terms may vary according to the intent of those skilled in the art, precedent, or new technology in the art. Furthermore, specific terms may be chosen by the applicant, and in such cases, their detailed meanings will be described in the detailed description of the invention. Therefore, the terms used in this specification should not be construed as simple names, but rather based on their meanings and the overall description of the invention.

[0021] Reference Figures 1-3 This embodiment provides an electromagnetic induction heating device for a liquid metal battery, including a housing 1, a first heating tube 2 disposed between the housings 1, and a second heating tube 3 uniformly distributed around the outer wall of the first heating tube 2; the first heating tube 2 and the second heating tube 3 are made of materials with good magnetic permeability.

[0022] The reason for uniformly distributing the second heating tube 3 around the outer wall of the first heating tube 2 is to make the ion flow in the battery symmetrical and uniform, and the second heating tube 3 and the first heating tube 2 form a closed magnetic field, while the closed magnetic field is distributed in a symmetrical shape in the battery.

[0023] A first coil 4 is arranged around the outer wall of the first heating tube 2, and a second coil 5 is arranged around the outer wall of the second heating tube 3. The spiral directions of the first coil 4 and the second coil 5 are opposite, so that the magnetic field generated by the first coil 4 and the magnetic field generated by the second coil 5 can form a closed loop. When the first coil 4 and the second coil 5 are energized with alternating current, the electrons located in the first heating tube 2 and the electrons located in the second heating tube 3 continuously move and collide, generating heat. At the same time, the magnetic fields around the first heating tube 2 and the second heating tube 3 continuously change, generating heat, thereby causing the first heating tube 2 and the second heating tube 3 to heat up.

[0024] Specifically, when the first coil 4 and the second coil 5 are energized with high-frequency alternating current, alternating current (i.e., eddy current) is generated in the first heating tube 2 and the second heating tube 3. The eddy current causes the charge carriers in the first heating tube 2 and the second heating tube 3 to move at high speed and randomly. The charge carriers collide and rub against each other with the atoms to generate heat energy, thereby making the first heating tube 2 and the second heating tube 3 heat up.

[0025] A stable (unchanging) magnetic field is formed by passing a direct current through the first coil 4 and the second coil 5, allowing ions inside the battery to move in a fixed direction. That is, electrons can be selectively allowed to move from bottom to top or from top to bottom, so that ions inside the battery can move to a designated position.

[0026] It should be noted that the first coil 4, which is wound around the outer wall of the first heating tube 2, does not contact the outer wall of the first heating tube 2, and the second coil 5, which is wound around the outer wall of the second heating tube 3, does not contact the outer wall of the second heating tube 3. The first coil 4 is separated from the first heating tube 2 by insulating material, and the second coil 5 is separated from the second heating tube 3 by insulating material.

[0027] In some implementations, refer to Figure 2 The housing 1 includes a first body 11 and a second body 12. The inner wall of the first body 11 has a first receiving cavity 111, and the inner wall of the second body 12 has a second receiving cavity 121.

[0028] Specifically, the bottom end of the first heating tube 2 is located at the center of the top end of the second main body 12, and at least two sets of the second heating tube 3 are provided; the top end of the first heating tube 2 is located at the center of the bottom end of the first main body 11.

[0029] Furthermore, the first heating chamber 21 and the second heating chamber 31 are simultaneously connected to the first receiving chamber 111 and the second receiving chamber 121; electrolyte 13 is distributed in the first heating chamber 21, the second heating chamber 31, the first receiving chamber 111 and the second receiving chamber 121.

[0030] It should be noted that the electrolyte 13 can move from the first receiving cavity 111 through the first heating cavity 21 or the second heating cavity 31 to the second receiving cavity 121; or the electrolyte 13 can move from the second receiving cavity 121 through the first heating cavity 21 or the second heating cavity 31 to the first receiving cavity 111.

[0031] Furthermore, the inner wall of the first receiving cavity 111 is provided with a negative electrode metal 7, one end of the negative electrode current collector 8 extends through the insulating connecting block 6 into the first receiving cavity 111 and is connected to the negative electrode metal 7, and the other end of the negative electrode current collector 8 is connected to an external wire. The outer wall of the second receiving cavity 121 is provided with a positive electrode metal 9, and the second main body 12 is connected to an external wire.

[0032] Furthermore, the end of the first body 11 away from the second body 12 is provided with an opening, which is sealed by an insulating connecting block 6.

[0033] In actual use, a temperature monitoring device is installed on the first heating element 2 or the second heating element 3 when it is turned off. The temperature monitoring device can monitor the temperature of the first heating element 2 or the second heating element 3 and upload the temperature data to the remote control system 10. After receiving the temperature data, the remote control system 10 makes a judgment based on the temperature data and sends a corresponding instruction to the electrical control cabinet 11 based on the judgment result.

[0034] In some implementations, the first coil 4 and the second coil 5 are single-helix coils.

[0035] The specific operation is as follows: When the temperature monitoring device detects that the temperature of the liquid metal battery is lower than the minimum operating temperature, the remote control system 10 supplies high-frequency current to the first coil 4 and the second coil 5 through the electrical control cabinet 11. This causes the magnetic field around the first heating element 2 and the magnetic field around the second heating element 3 to continuously change, generating heat and thus heating the first heating element 2 and the second heating element 3. The heat is transferred to the entire battery interior through heat conduction. By changing the current magnitude, the heating power and heating rate are controlled, and the power should be maintained so that the heating power of the first coil 4 is equal to the sum of the heating power of the second coil 5. Maintaining the heating power of the first coil 4 equal to the sum of the heating power of the second coil 5 ensures that half of the heat source is located at the center of the battery, while the other half is located around the center, which helps reduce heat loss.

[0036] Based on the battery temperature detected by the temperature monitoring device, the remote control system 10 controls the first coil 4 and the second coil 5 to be energized with alternating current or direct current, and controls their heating power and heating rate by changing the current magnitude, thereby achieving the purpose of precisely controlling the heating power of the liquid metal battery.

[0037] Reference Figure 4When the temperature monitoring device detects that the battery temperature is higher than the maximum operating temperature, the remote control system 10 switches the first coil 4 and the second coil 5 to the corresponding DC current through the electrical control cabinet 11, and determines whether the liquid metal battery is in a charging or discharging state according to the remote control system 10.

[0038] After system analysis and judgment, direct current in different directions is applied to the first coil 4 and the second coil 5 to control the direction of the magnetic field. By changing the magnitude of the direct current, the intensity of the electromagnetic field generated by the coil is adjusted to restrict the movement direction of An+ ions. The magnetic field direction is vertical, causing An+ ions to move vertically towards the negative electrode.

[0039] In some embodiments, the outer wall of the second receiving cavity 121 is provided with a positive electrode metal 9, and the second body 12 is connected to an external wire.

[0040] It should be noted that the double helix coil is a double closed-loop helix coil conductive circuit. One of the helix coils of the first coil 4 and one of the helix coils of the second coil 5 together form the first closed loop. The electrical control cabinet 11 supplies high-frequency current to the first coil 4 and the second coil 5. The first coil 4 and the second coil 5 perform induction heating on the liquid metal battery. By changing the current, the heating power and heating rate are controlled. The power should be kept so that the heating power of the first coil 4 is equal to the sum of the heating power of all the second coils 5.

[0041] When the temperature monitoring device detects that the battery temperature is higher than the maximum operating temperature, the electrical control cabinet 11 terminates the supply of high-frequency alternating current to one of the spiral coils of the first coil 4 and one of the spiral coils of the second coil 5, which together form a closed loop, thereby causing the temperature of the first heating tube 2 and the second heating tube 3 to drop. The other spiral coil of the first coil 4 and the other spiral coil of the second coil 5 together form a second closed loop. The electrical control cabinet 11 provides direct current to this second closed loop and determines whether the liquid metal battery is charging or discharging based on the charging and discharging control system. After analysis and judgment, the charging and discharging system controls the magnetic field direction by applying direct current in different directions to the first coil 4 and the second coil 5. By changing the magnitude of the direct current, the intensity of the electromagnetic field generated by the coils is adjusted to restrict the movement direction of An+ ions. The magnetic field direction is vertical, causing the An+ ions to move vertically towards the negative electrode.

[0042] Finally, it should be noted that the methods and devices described in detail above are merely embodiments, and those skilled in the art can modify these embodiments in different ways as long as they do not depart from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A liquid metal battery electromagnetic induction heating device, characterized in that: include, The housing (1), the first heating tube (2) disposed between the housings (1), and the second heating tube (3) evenly distributed around the outer wall of the first heating tube (2); A first coil (4) is arranged around the outer wall of the first heating tube (2), and a second coil (5) is arranged around the outer wall of the second heating tube (3). The spiral directions of the first coil (4) and the second coil (5) are opposite, so that the magnetic field generated by the first coil (4) and the magnetic field generated by the second coil (5) can form a closed loop. When the first coil (4) and the second coil (5) are energized with alternating current, the electrons in the first heating tube (2) and the electrons in the second heating tube (3) move and collide continuously to generate heat. At the same time, the magnetic field around the first heating tube (2) and the magnetic field around the second heating tube (3) change continuously to generate heat, thereby making the first heating tube (2) and the second heating tube (3) heat up.

2. The liquid metal battery electromagnetic induction heating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The housing (1) includes a first body (11) and a second body (12), the inner wall of the first body (11) having a first receiving cavity (111) and the inner wall of the second body (12) having a second receiving cavity (121).

3. The liquid metal battery electromagnetic induction heating device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bottom end of the first heating tube (2) is located at the center of the top of the second body (12), and at least two sets of the second heating tube (3) are provided; The top of the first heating tube (2) is located at the center of the bottom of the first body (11).

4. The electromagnetic induction heating device for liquid metal batteries according to claim 3, characterized in that: The inner wall of the first heating tube (2) is the first heating cavity (21), and the inner wall of the second heating tube (3) is the second heating cavity (31). The first heating cavity (21) and the second heating cavity (31) are simultaneously connected to the first receiving cavity (111) and the second receiving cavity (121).

5. The electromagnetic induction heating device for a liquid metal battery according to claim 4, characterized in that: Electrolytes (13) are distributed in the first heating chamber (21), the second heating chamber (31), the first receiving chamber (111), and the second receiving chamber (121).

6. The electromagnetic induction heating device for a liquid metal battery according to claim 1, characterized in that: An opening is provided at the end of the first body (11) away from the second body (12), and the opening is sealed by an insulating connecting block (6).

7. The electromagnetic induction heating device for a liquid metal battery according to claim 6, characterized in that: The inner wall of the first receiving cavity (111) is provided with a negative electrode metal (7). One end of the negative electrode current collector (8) passes through the insulating connecting block (6) and extends into the first receiving cavity (111) to be connected to the negative electrode metal (7). The other end of the negative electrode current collector (8) is connected to an external wire.

8. The liquid metal battery electromagnetic induction heating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first coil (4) and the second coil (5) are single helical coils.

9. The electromagnetic induction heating device for a liquid metal battery according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first coil (4) and the second coil (5) are double helical coils.

10. The liquid metal battery electromagnetic induction heating device according to claim 2 or 5, characterized in that: The outer wall of the second receiving cavity (121) is provided with a positive electrode metal (9), and the second main body (12) is connected to an external wire.

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