Battery Insulating Support with Varnish Coating for Humidity Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lithium-ion batteries face safety challenges in humid environments due to the risk of electrical arcs and corrosion, particularly when exposed to high humidity and salt mist, which can lead to reduced lifespan and potential fires, especially when sealed in confined spaces that hinder heat dissipation.

Innovation Solution

An electrically insulating support with projecting or recessed zones to break water films and ensure water flows as drops, combined with a varnish coating that provides electrical insulation and allows direct air cooling, reducing the risk of conduction paths and enhancing heat exchange while protecting against corrosion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If accumulators are sealed in a confined box to protect from atmospheric conditions, then protection from humidity and corrosion is improved, but heat dissipation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from humidity and corrosionVSAvoidheat dissipation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a coating of varnish (thin film) on the accumulators that provides electrical insulation and protection from atmospheric conditions while allowing heat to pass through. This thin film approach maintains protection without the thermal insulation problems of thick sealed enclosures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent removes the traditional sealed box enclosure entirely, extracting the protective function and applying it directly to the accumulator surfaces through coating. This eliminates the heat trapping effect of enclosed spaces while maintaining protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Temperature

If air circulation is used for cooling, then heat dissipation is improved, but condensation and water ingress worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat dissipationVSAvoidcondensation and water ingress

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies hydrophobic coating to the accumulators before exposure to humid conditions. This preliminary treatment prevents water condensation and adhesion, so that even when air circulation brings humid air into contact with the accumulators, water does not form continuous films that could conduct electricity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of water condensation into a beneficial droplet formation. By using hydrophobic surfaces, condensation occurs but immediately forms discrete droplets that roll off, actually enhancing heat dissipation while preventing electrical conduction paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Temperature

If water film forms between battery modules in humid environment, then heat transfer is improved, but electrical conduction and fire risk worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transferVSAvoidelectrical insulation

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potentially harmful continuous water film into beneficial discrete water droplets. The hydrophobic coating ensures that water condenses but forms separated droplets that maintain electrical insulation while still providing thermal contact for heat transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different local properties to the water interaction: hydrophobic at the surface level to prevent adhesion and continuous film formation, while maintaining thermal conductivity through droplet contact. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between heat transfer and electrical insulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 improves safety by preventing electrical conduction paths and corrosion, while allowing effective heat dissipation through direct air cooling, thus extending battery lifespan and reducing the risk of fires in humid environments.

Implementation Method 1

one or more projecting or recessed zones capable of breaking the film of water likely to form and causing the flow of water in the form of drops

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface tension: Surface Tension

Implementation Method 2

causing the flow of water in the form of drops

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

allowing direct air cooling

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 4

An electrically insulating support

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical insulation: Dielectric

Implementation Method 5

allows effective heat dissipation through direct air cooling

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3087626B1Electrochemical battery with improved working security in humid environments

Publication Date: 2017.11.29 COMMISSARIAT A LENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES

Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~5
Figure 6~7C

AI summary

The invention relates to a battery comprising interconnected modules (M), electrical insulating supports (36) on which the modules are disposed, each support (36) having an upper face on which the module (M) rests and a lower face, and a rim (36.1) extending downwards so as to cause a stream of liquid to flow under the effect of gravity, as well as means for monitoring the impedance between the module and an electrical conductor element (38) located at least vertically in line with the rim.