Battery Anode Refresh via Tailored Discharge for High-Temperature Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium-ion batteries degrade quickly when exposed to high temperatures, leading to accelerated aging, overpotential, and gas formation, especially when stored for long periods and then charged at room temperature, causing capacity degradation and lithium consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method that delays charging and performs tailored discharges to relax and refresh the anode surface of the battery before initiating a normal charge profile, based on detected temperature and usage data, to mitigate lithium plating and capacity degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If Li-ion batteries are held at medium ranges of SOC (30% to 80%) for longevity, then battery stability is improved, but battery life is reduced when exposed to high temperatures followed by room temperature charging due to lithium plating and capacity degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of high-temperature storage conditions and applies a preliminary discharge mode before normal charging to prevent lithium plating. The battery manager module detects temperature data and usage patterns, identifies batteries that have been stored at high temperatures, and applies a tailored discharge profile (e.g., C/50 discharge rate for 5 minutes) before initiating normal charging, thereby refreshing the anode surface and preventing capacity degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes charging parameters dynamically based on detected battery conditions. When high-temperature storage is detected, the system switches from normal charging parameters to a specialized discharge-then-charge sequence with controlled discharge rates (e.g., C/50, C/5) and specific time durations. This parameter adaptation allows the battery to be refreshed without causing lithium plating or capacity loss.
2Speed
If immediate charging is applied after high-temperature storage, then charging speed is improved, but battery degradation increases due to lithium plating and exothermic reactions
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies a preliminary discharge action before charging to prepare the anode surface. The battery manager module detects high-temperature storage conditions and initiates a discharge mode (e.g., C/50 discharge rate for 5 minutes) to refresh the anode surface and remove plated lithium, thereby preventing exothermic reactions and capacity degradation during subsequent charging.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies a preliminary discharge mode that acts against the harmful effects of high-temperature storage. By discharging at controlled rates before charging, the system counteracts lithium plating and reduces the risk of exothermic reactions, thereby protecting battery reliability while still enabling subsequent fast charging.
3Duration of action of moving object
If tailored discharge modes are applied before charging, then battery longevity is improved, but charging time increases due to the additional discharge step
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies a partial discharge mode (e.g., C/50 discharge rate for 5 minutes) that is sufficient to refresh the anode surface and prevent lithium plating, but not so excessive as to significantly extend total charging time. The discharge duration and rate are optimized to provide just enough protection against degradation while minimizing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a periodic discharge-charge cycle pattern. The discharge mode is applied periodically only when high-temperature storage conditions are detected, rather than continuously. This conditional periodic action extends battery longevity when needed while avoiding unnecessary time loss during normal charging scenarios.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Extends battery life by reducing lithium plating and capacity degradation, enhancing durability and longevity, and allowing for a wider operating temperature range.
Implementation Method 1
Li-plating at an anode surface of the battery due to high-temperature storage, which impacted graphite/anode material kinetic (diffusion) processes upon subsequent room temperature charging
Implementation Method 2
the batteries generated heat due to electrolyte reduction of lithium metal at the graphite/anode surface, releasing exothermic energy
Data Source
AI summary
The present document describes techniques for extending battery life after long-term and high-temperature storage. These techniques delay charging of a battery to detect battery conditions and determine whether the battery was exposed to high temperatures while in an idle or low-power state for a long period of time. These techniques include a methodology to relax and refresh an anode surface of the battery, after high-temperature storage, through distinct and tailored discharges prior to beginning a normal charge profile. These techniques can be applied to a wide range of chemistry platforms, which may have kinetic (Li-ion) limitations, to extend the longevity of the battery by reducing lithium plating and capacity degradation caused by long-term, high-temperature storage.