Secondary Battery Failure Detection via Gas Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing secondary battery systems face challenges in accurately detecting failures caused by internal or external short circuits, which can be delayed due to gradual voltage changes, necessitating a more precise method for identifying leakage of active material.

Innovation Solution

A secondary battery system and failure detection system that collect and analyze gas from modules using a monitoring unit, SO2 gas detection sensor, and solenoid valves to identify modules with active material leakage, differing from traditional voltage change detection methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If voltage change detection method is used to detect battery failures, then the detection system is simple, but the detection accuracy is low and response time is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection system complexityVSAvoidfailure detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the electrical voltage detection method with a gas detection method using chemical sensors. Instead of monitoring electrical parameters (voltage changes) to detect battery failures, the system uses gas sensors to detect active material leakage through gas phase analysis, fundamentally changing the detection mechanism from electrical to chemical sensing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces gas as an intermediary medium to detect battery failures. Active material leakage from battery cells releases gases that can be detected by gas sensors, using the gas phase as a mediator to translate internal battery failures into detectable external signals, thereby improving detection accuracy compared to direct voltage monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If voltage change detection is used, then the apparatus is simple, but the response time to failure is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection apparatus complexityVSAvoidresponse time to failure
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary detection by monitoring gas emissions before significant voltage changes occur. Since active material leakage releases detectable gases early in the failure process, the gas detection system can identify problems before they progress to critical voltage deviations, enabling earlier intervention and reducing response time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes electrical field-based voltage monitoring with chemical field-based gas detection, leveraging the fact that gas release occurs earlier in the failure sequence than voltage changes, thereby achieving faster response times without significantly increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If gas detection method is used to identify active material leakage, then the detection accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactive material leakage detection accuracyVSAvoiddetection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the detection function from the battery system itself and places gas sensors in the surrounding environment. Instead of monitoring internal battery parameters, the system extracts and detects the gaseous byproducts of active material leakage from the external environment, simplifying the overall system architecture while improving detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses gas as an intermediary that carries information about internal battery failures to external detectors. This intermediary approach allows accurate detection of active material leakage without requiring direct contact with or complex internal monitoring of the battery cells, thereby improving measurement precision while controlling device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 approach allows for timely and accurate identification of modules with active material leakage, enhancing detection accuracy and response times compared to traditional methods.

Implementation Method 1

a SO2 gas detection sensor configured to detect a SO2 gas flowing through the main gas pipe

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas detection:

Implementation Method 2

a pump connected to the main gas pipe and configured to suck a gas supplied into the main gas pipe from the auxiliary gas pipe, into the monitoring unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 3

a plurality of solenoid valves provided in correspondence with the auxiliary gas pipes... configured to be opened/closed for connection/disconnection between the corresponding auxiliary gas pipes and the main gas pipe

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectValve control: Valve

Data Source

PatentEP2863471B1Secondary-battery system and secondary-battery-failure-detection system
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 NGK INSULATORS LTD
  • EP2863471B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2863471B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2863471B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention pertains to a secondary-battery system and a secondary-battery-failure-detection system, and has a monitoring unit (102), a principal conduit (104), a plurality of auxiliary conduits (106), and a plurality of electromagnetic valves (SV) provided so as to correspond to each auxiliary conduit (106). The monitoring unit (102) has: a pump (110) for drawing in gas introduced into the principal conduit (104); an active-substance detection sensor (112) for detecting an active substance included in the gas; a failure-module identification unit (116) for identifying a failure module (16) on the basis of the output from the active-substance detection sensor (112); and a sequence control unit (118) for executing an opening/closing operation of the electromagnetic valves (SV) according to a pre-set sequence.