Battery Discharge Device with Non-Return Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
The recycling of battery cells is hindered by the difficulty in discharging high-energy cells like lithium-ion batteries, which can lead to unwanted chemical reactions and damage processing equipment due to undefined residual energy, making it challenging to connect cells in series or parallel for voltage increase, and requiring irreversible short-circuiting to prevent regeneration.
Innovation Solution
A discharge device with a contact-connection element and non-return devices for unidirectional electricity flow, combined with a short-circuiting element to irreversibly damage cells, allowing for simultaneous deep discharge of multiple battery cells while preventing regeneration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If battery cells are connected in series to increase voltage, then voltage is improved, but individual cells may reach zero voltage and retain residual charge, preventing complete discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the battery cell array into multiple parallel strings, each string being independently dischargeable. This segmentation allows each string to be fully discharged to zero voltage without affecting other strings, solving the problem of residual charge in series connections while maintaining high voltage through the parallel string architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a central common conductor as an intermediary that collects current from multiple parallel strings. This mediator enables each string to discharge independently to complete depletion while the overall system maintains high voltage through the parallel configuration, resolving the contradiction between voltage and complete discharge.
2Reliability
If battery cells are short-circuited to prevent regeneration, then regeneration prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the short-circuiting function with the existing contact-connection element by integrating non-return devices into the same structural component. This merging allows regeneration prevention to be achieved without adding separate complex short-circuiting mechanisms, as the contact-connection element itself performs both connection and prevention functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact-connection element is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the electrical connection mechanism and as the regeneration prevention device through integrated non-return components. This universal design eliminates the need for separate short-circuiting hardware, reducing overall device complexity while ensuring reliable regeneration prevention.
3Reliability
If non-return devices are added to prevent electricity return flow, then regeneration prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The non-return devices are merged into the contact-connection element structure, allowing the same component to provide both electrical connection and unidirectional current control. This integration prevents regeneration while avoiding the complexity of separate non-return device assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact-connection element achieves multi-functionality by incorporating non-return capabilities directly into its structure. This universal design allows a single component to perform both connection and current direction control, eliminating the need for additional complexity while ensuring reliable unidirectional electricity flow.
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
Enables efficient and safe discharging of battery cells with unknown states-of-charge, preventing regeneration and ensuring chemical purity for recycling, by ensuring unidirectional electricity flow and irreversible short-circuiting, thus improving the recycling process.
Implementation Method 1
each of the non-return devices (107) is configured to prevent any return flow of electricity from the respective battery cells (105), via the contact-connection element (101), into a battery cell which is assigned to the respective non-return device (107)
Implementation Method 2
The short-circuiting element (119) is configured to short-circuit the plurality of battery cells (105)
Data Source
AI summary
A discharge device for discharging a plurality of battery cells having an unknown state-of charge is disclosed. The discharge device includes a contact-connection element for the electrical contact-connection of respective battery cells in the plurality of battery cells, and a short-circuiting element. The contact-connection element includes, for each individual battery cell in the plurality of battery cells, an electrical contact having a non-return device. Each of the non-return devices is configured to prevent any return flow of electricity from the respective battery cells, via the contact-connection element, into a battery cell which is assigned to the respective non-return device such that electricity is removed in a unidirectional manner from the respective battery cell. Respective electrical contacts of the contact-connection element are electrically coupled in the direction of flow of electricity, down-circuit of the respective non-return devices. The short-circuiting element is configured to short-circuit the plurality of battery cells.