Method for improving battery performance

Abstract

[Problem] To develop a method for improving battery performance, with which it is possible to improve battery performance and retrofitting is possible, with a relatively simple mechanism. [Solution] A method for improving battery performance characterized in being capable of improving battery performance by allowing a magnetic body to stand still in the vicinity of a battery. Preferably, a solid ENE can be used as the magnetic body, and the magnetic body is manufactured by combining any one or two or more of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), boron (B), and metal powders of these metal components (including metal components containing these metal elements as constituent elements), and condensing the metal powders.

Description

How to improve battery performance

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for improving the performance of a battery.

[0002] Batteries are used in a variety of products, including automobiles, smartphones, and electrical appliances. Batteries consist of a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte, and discharge is possible by the movement of ions between the electrodes. Rechargeable batteries can be charged as well as discharged.

[0003] It is known that the performance of batteries can be degraded by various factors. For example, in low-temperature environments, the fluidity of the electrolyte inside the battery decreases, slowing the rate of ion migration, resulting in a decrease in battery output. It is also known that in high-temperature environments, chemical reactions are promoted, accelerating the decomposition of the electrolyte and electrode materials, leading to battery degradation. In response to these circumstances, methods for controlling battery performance have been disclosed (Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0004] JP 2024-033847 A JP 2023-138240 A

[0005] The prior art described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 discloses technologies for controlling the temperature of a battery. These prior art technologies are useful in that they precisely control the battery temperature without impairing battery performance. However, because the prior art technologies require control using a dedicated program, the structure itself tends to be relatively complex and expensive. In addition, the prior art technologies make it difficult to retrofit the control method itself. In these respects, the prior art technologies have problems.

[0006] In light of the current trend toward using electricity as a clean energy source in light of the issue of global warming, the inventors felt that a method was needed that would enable batteries to fully utilize their performance. With this in mind, the present invention aims to develop a method for improving battery performance using a relatively simple mechanism, and one that can be retrofitted.

[0007] As a result of extensive research, the inventor discovered that placing a specific solid body (magnetic body) near the battery improves the fluidity of the electrolyte inside the battery, thereby improving battery performance such as voltage performance and extended usage time, and thus completed the invention.

[0008] The present invention comprises the following configurations: [1] A method for improving battery performance, characterized by placing a magnetic material near a battery to improve battery performance. [2] The method for improving battery performance according to [1], wherein the magnetic material is a magnetic material made by agglomerating metal powders of any one of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), boron (B), and metal components (including metal components containing these metal elements as constituent elements), or a combination of two or more of these metal powders. [3] The method for improving battery performance according to [2], wherein the magnetic material is spherical, ellipsoidal, polygonal, or plate-shaped. [4] The method for improving battery performance according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the battery is selected from alkaline manganese batteries, lithium primary batteries, zinc-carbon batteries, lithium-ion batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, lead-acid batteries, and nickel-cadmium batteries.

[0009] [5] The method for improving battery performance according to [4], wherein the battery performance improvement is an improvement in voltage. [6] The method for improving battery performance according to [4], wherein the battery performance improvement is an extension of the battery's usable time. [7] The method for improving battery performance according to [4], wherein a magnetic material is directly attached to the battery body and placed nearby. [8] A battery that has been subjected to the method for improving battery performance according to [7], wherein the magnetic material is directly attached to the battery body.

[0010] The present invention provides a battery performance improvement method that can be retrofitted and improves battery performance with a relatively simple mechanism. That is, according to the present invention, battery performance can be improved simply by placing a predetermined magnetic material near the battery. Furthermore, the battery performance improvement method of the present invention can be easily retrofitted to any battery.

[0011] A diagram showing the appearance of the AAA alkaline battery and magnetic material used in Experiment 1. The black magnetic material used was about one-seventh the width of the AAA alkaline battery. A diagram showing the experiment being conducted in Experiment 3. (a) shows the lead-acid battery equipped with a voltage meter, and (b) and (c) are enlarged views of this. (d) shows the appearance of the magnetic material used; the plate-shaped magnetic material was wrapped in asbestos, which has insulating properties.

[0012] The battery performance improvement method of the present invention will be described. The battery performance improvement method of the present invention is characterized by improving battery performance by placing a magnetic material near the battery. Although the detailed mechanism of the present invention has not been fully clarified, various hypotheses are conceivable, such as the electromagnetic waves emitted by the magnetic material improving the fluidity of the electrolyte inside the battery, accelerating the electron transfer rate, or suppressing the formation of an interfacial layer on the electrode surface.

[0013] The magnetic material used in the present invention may be any material with typical magnetic properties, such as solid ENE (ENA). Solid ENE (ENA) is a magnetic material disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 7284921, the patent holder of which is the present applicant. Solid ENE is produced by agglomerating metal powders of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), boron (B), or any combination of these metal components (including metal components containing these metal elements). This agglomerated solid ENE can be molded into various shapes, including spheres, ellipsoids, polygons, and plates.

[0014] In this invention, by placing a magnetic material such as solid ENE near a battery, it is possible to improve battery performance, such as increasing voltage and extending battery life. In addition, this method can be retrofitted to batteries already in use, and has the advantage of being simple and inexpensive, making it compatible with a variety of batteries.

[0015] "Placing the magnetic material nearby" is defined as maintaining a relatively close position relative to the battery without moving (with minimal movement). The distance between the battery and the magnetic material is typically 0 to 10 cm, preferably 0 to 8 cm, more preferably 0 to 6 cm, and most preferably 0 to 5 cm, with 0 cm being the distance when the magnetic material is directly attached to the battery's body. The most preferable mode for "placing the magnetic material nearby" is to attach the magnetic material directly to the battery's body. This allows the magnetic material to constantly affect the battery, resulting in continuous improvements in battery performance.

[0016] The battery used in the present invention may be either a chemical battery or a solid-state battery, but is preferably a chemical battery. Examples of such a battery include alkaline manganese batteries, lithium primary batteries, zinc-carbon batteries, lithium ion batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, lead-acid batteries, and nickel-cadmium batteries. The battery may be a disposable battery such as a dry cell battery, or a rechargeable battery.

[0017] In another embodiment of the present invention, the battery may be configured with a magnetic material directly attached to the body.

[0018] The present invention will now be described in detail.

[0019] <<Experiment 1, Study using alkaline AAA batteries>> 1. A study was conducted to investigate whether it was possible to improve the performance of alkaline AAA batteries by placing a magnetic material on them.

[0020] 2. A magnetic material (solid ENE) was placed near an alkaline AAA battery, and the light was continuously turned on to measure the voltage. Figure 1 shows the alkaline batteries and magnetic material used, and Table 1 shows the experimental results. (1) Before the experiment (before use), the voltage of the alkaline AAA batteries was approximately the same, between 1.610 and 1.611 V. Note that the voltage measurement before use was performed without the magnetic material. (2) In the experimental examples where the magnetic material was placed, all experimental examples maintained a higher voltage than the comparative example 5 minutes after the light was turned on. (3) Similarly, all experimental examples maintained a higher voltage than the comparative example 10 minutes after the light was turned on. (4) These results indicate that placing the magnetic material helps maintain the voltage of the alkaline AAA batteries. 4. Furthermore, the illuminance of the light was higher in the experimental examples than in the comparative example (not shown). 5. These results suggest that placing the magnetic material suppresses the voltage drop of the alkaline AAA batteries and reduces power consumption.

[0021]

[0022] <<Experiment 2: Examination of performance improvement using alkaline batteries>> 1. A study was conducted to investigate the effect that placing a magnetic material on the voltage of an alkaline battery has.

[0023] 2. At a temperature of 22°C, a magnetic material was placed directly on a size D alkaline battery (product name: Panasonic Evolta Neo), and the voltage was measured after 5 minutes. 3. The results are shown in Table 2. In both Experimental Examples 3 and 4, the voltage after placing the magnetic material was improved compared to before leaving it. 4. These results demonstrate that placing a magnetic material on the battery improves the voltage of the alkaline battery.

[0024]

[0025] <<Experiment 3, Study using an automobile battery>> 1. A study was conducted to investigate the effect of placing a magnetic material on an automobile battery.

[0026] 2. Under conditions of an ambient temperature of 26°C, a magnetic material was attached to the body of an automobile battery, and the voltage was measured. Figure 2 shows the measurement process. (1) A 40A lead-acid battery was used as the automobile battery (Figure 2, a to c). (2) A flat magnetic material was used, wrapped in asbestos, a heat insulating material (Figure 2, d). 3. The experiment yielded the following results: (1) Two experiments were conducted, and in both cases, the voltage improvement shown in Table 3 was confirmed. (2) In addition, the application of magnetic materials was confirmed to improve illuminance and extend lighting time. (3) The power performance of the battery used in the hybrid vehicle was also confirmed to improve.

[0027] <<Summary>> 1. The above results demonstrate that placing a magnetic material near a battery improves battery performance. 2. In all experiments, from Experiments 1 to 3, an improvement in voltage performance was clearly demonstrated. 3. In addition, an improvement in illuminance in the light was confirmed, suggesting that the improvement in voltage performance may have contributed to this. 4. Furthermore, although no specific experimental example was given, it was confirmed that placing a magnetic material near a smartphone suppresses heat generation. The causal relationship between these experimental results is unclear, but it is possible that the improvement in voltage performance due to the magnetic material may have contributed to this.

Claims

1. A method for improving battery performance, characterized by placing a magnetic material near the battery to improve its performance.

2. The method for improving battery performance according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic material is a magnetic material made by agglomerating one or a combination of two or more metal powders of iron (Fe), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), boron (B), or any of these metal components (including metal components containing these metal elements as constituent elements).

3. The method for improving battery performance according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic material is in the shape of a sphere, an oval sphere, a polygon, or a plate.

4. A method for improving battery performance according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the battery is selected from the group consisting of alkaline manganese batteries, lithium primary batteries, zinc carbon batteries, lithium ion batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, lead acid batteries, and nickel-cadmium batteries.

5. The method for improving battery performance according to claim 4, wherein the improvement in battery performance is an improvement in voltage.

6. The method for improving battery performance according to claim 4, wherein the improvement in battery performance is an extension of the battery life.

7. The method for improving battery performance according to claim 4, wherein the magnetic material is directly attached to the body of the battery and placed nearby.

8. A battery that has undergone the method for improving battery performance as set forth in claim 7, wherein the magnetic material is directly attached to the battery body.

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