Battery Thermal Runaway Prevention via Endothermic Separator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium-ion batteries are prone to thermal runaway due to internal short circuits or overheating, which can lead to uncontrolled fires as oxygen is liberated from the anode, combining with flammable electrolytes and causing combustion that spreads across multiple cells.
Innovation Solution
A battery device with a dual compartment system containing endothermic reagents separated by a low melting temperature material layer that degrades at elevated temperatures, triggering an endothermic reaction to cool the battery and prevent thermal runaway, along with a temperature sensor to monitor and manage the reaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If lithium-ion batteries use high energy density chemistry with cobalt or nickel-cobalt oxide anode, then energy density is improved, but thermal stability deteriorates due to oxygen liberation at elevated temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
A gel layer is introduced as an intermediary substance between the anode and electrolyte. This gel layer acts as a physical barrier that prevents direct contact and reaction between the electrolyte and anode materials, thereby inhibiting thermal runaway while allowing the high energy density chemistry to function normally
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the oxygen liberation phenomenon itself as a protective mechanism. The gel layer is designed to interact with liberated oxygen to form a protective coating on the anode, converting the harmful oxygen release into a beneficial protective layer that prevents further thermal degradation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional fire suppression methods are applied to battery fires, then external flames can be addressed, but internal thermal runaway cannot be prevented as both oxygen and fuel are internally available
Solution Approach 1:
The gel layer is pre-applied to the anode surface before thermal runaway can occur. This preliminary protective layer is in place before any thermal stress events, ready to immediately interact with liberated oxygen and prevent the chain reaction that leads to internal fire
Solution Approach 2:
The battery system is segmented into distinct functional layers with the gel layer specifically positioned at the anode-electrolyte interface. This segmentation isolates the reactive components and allows targeted protection at the critical interface where thermal runaway initiates
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
Effectively prevents thermal runaway by cooling the battery through an endothermic reaction, reducing the risk of fire and maintaining battery safety by absorbing heat and dissipating thermal energy before it reaches dangerous thresholds.
Implementation Method 1
A battery device with a dual compartment system containing endothermic reagents separated by a low melting temperature material layer that degrades at elevated temperatures, triggering an endothermic reaction to cool the battery and prevent thermal runaway
Implementation Method 2
a layer of material that separates (i) the first compartment, which contains a first chemical and (ii) the second compartment, which contains a second chemical, wherein the layer of material has a melting point that is at most 60 degrees Celsius (° C.)
Implementation Method 3
Effectively prevents thermal runaway by cooling the battery through an endothermic reaction, reducing the risk of fire and maintaining battery safety by absorbing heat and dissipating thermal energy before it reaches dangerous thresholds
Data Source
AI summary
A device for preventing thermal run-away in a battery. The device includes a main compartment that is divided into a plurality of sub-compartments. A layer of material separates (i) a first sub-compartment containing a first chemical from (ii) a second sub-compartment containing a second chemical. In the event that a thermal run-away event is either detected or predicted, the layer of material degrades/is degraded and allows the chemicals to mix. The chemicals form an endothermic process that cools the battery preventing, or at least delaying, the thermal run-away event.