Lithium Secondary Battery Electrolyte Replenishing Unit for Sealed Refill
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium secondary batteries face reduced lifespan due to electrolyte depletion during continuous charging and discharging, and existing methods for replenishing electrolytes are either unsafe or inconvenient, especially for prismatic or cylindrical batteries where disassembly is required.
Innovation Solution
A lithium secondary battery design featuring an electrolyte replenishing unit filled with a preliminary electrolyte and a rupture member that deforms at specific temperatures to form a hole in the packaging member, allowing additional electrolyte injection without disassembly, using a thermoplastic synthetic resin film and a thermally deformable shape-memory alloy or bimetal rupture member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the battery is disassembled to inject additional electrolyte, then the electrolyte can be replenished, but the electrode may be oxidized when exposed to air and it is difficult to reseal
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is divided into a sealed battery body and a separate electrolyte storage unit. The electrolyte storage unit contains a rupture member that can be activated to release electrolyte into the battery without opening the battery seal, thus preventing electrode oxidation while enabling electrolyte replenishment.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrolyte storage unit is pre-filled with electrolyte and the rupture member is pre-positioned to block the injection path. When activation is needed, the rupture member deforms to open the path, allowing electrolyte to be injected without disassembling the battery.
2Ease of operation
If a sealing member is added for additional electrolyte injection, then electrolyte can be injected without disassembly, but the assembly process becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The rupture member is integrated directly into the battery case structure, combining the sealing function and the electrolyte injection function into a single component. This eliminates the need for separate sealing members and reduces assembly complexity while maintaining the ability to inject electrolyte without disassembly.
3Quantity of substance
If electrolyte is injected for each battery individually, then precise electrolyte replenishment is achieved, but the process is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The electrolyte storage unit is designed as a universal component that can be used across multiple battery units. The rupture member's deformation mechanism allows for rapid, simultaneous activation in multiple batteries, enabling efficient bulk electrolyte replenishment while maintaining precise delivery to each battery.
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
This solution extends the battery's lifespan by allowing electrolyte replenishment without disassembly, maintaining battery performance and reducing the complexity of the assembly process, while ensuring safety and convenience in electrolyte injection.
Implementation Method 1
a rupture member disposed adjacent to the electrolyte replenishing unit and may be deformed by a temperature change to form a hole in the packaging member
Implementation Method 2
the packaging member may be made of a polyethylene resin film... the rupture member may be thermally deformed at a temperature of 80° C. to 120° C.
Data Source
AI summary
A lithium secondary battery includes: an electrolyte replenishing unit filled with a preliminary electrolyte inside a packaging member; and a rupture member disposed adjacent to the electrolyte replenishing unit. The rupture member is deformed by a temperature change to form a hole in the packaging member so that the preliminary electrolyte inside the electrolyte replenishing unit can be injected.