Battery Discharge Projection and Radiator Plate for Thermal Runaway Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium ion batteries often pose safety risks during disposal due to potential ignition when crushed, and existing discharging methods involve complex and costly processes with conductive liquids that can dissolve battery materials, leading to additional processing costs and complications.
Innovation Solution
A power storage device with a discharging mechanism featuring a secondary battery, an exterior body, a radiator plate, and a projection that causes a short circuit between the battery's positive and negative electrodes, allowing for safe and efficient discharge, with the projection being of a screw or nail type and made of metal to facilitate heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lithium ion battery is discharged using conductive liquid (acid or alkaline), then the battery can be safely discharged, but battery constituent materials are dissolved and precipitates are generated requiring costly processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a disposable conductive solid object (metal powder or conductive polymer) instead of expensive conductive liquids. The solid conductor is contained in a container that is discarded after use, eliminating the need for costly liquid processing and precipitate removal while achieving safe battery discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a container as an intermediary between the battery and the conductive substance. The container holds the metal powder or conductive polymer and facilitates contact with the battery terminals, enabling safe discharge without direct exposure of battery materials to the conductive substance.
2Reliability
If a lithium ion battery is discharged using conductive liquid, then the battery can be safely discharged, but handling becomes complicated requiring drying operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the liquid-based discharge system with a solid-based system. The metal powder or conductive polymer in solid form eliminates the need for drying operations and simplifies handling, while still achieving effective battery discharge through electrical conduction.
3Ease of manufacture
If a lithium ion battery is crushed for disposal, then the battery can be disposed of, but ignition may occur causing fire
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary discharge of the battery before disposal by creating a short circuit with the conductive solid. This preliminary action removes the stored energy that would otherwise cause ignition during crushing, enabling safe disposal without compromising disposal simplicity.
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 safe and easy discharge of lithium ion batteries, preventing ignition during disposal and reducing recycling costs by eliminating the need for complex discharging operations, while ensuring efficient heat management to prevent thermal runaway.
Implementation Method 1
The projection has a function of causing a short circuit between a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the secondary battery
Implementation Method 2
The radiator plate is preferably formed of a metal material... ensuring efficient heat management to prevent thermal runaway
Data Source
AI summary
A power storage device that can be discharged safely and easily is provided. The power storage device includes a secondary battery covered with an exterior body, a radiator plate in contact with a surface of the exterior body, and a projection. The projection has conductivity and is held over the exterior body in the normal condition. When the projection penetrates the exterior body to be inserted into the secondary battery, the secondary battery can be short-circuited and discharged. Heat can be efficiently released from the projection to the radiator plate. Thus, the secondary battery can be discharged safely at high speed without thermal runaway.