Nickel-Hydrogen Battery Oxygen-Block Coating for Leak Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Nickel hydrogen secondary batteries used for continuous charging applications face issues with hydrogen storage alloy deterioration and increased oxygen gas generation, leading to oxidation of metal components and electrolyte leakage due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures and oxygen, which compromises battery performance and safety.
Innovation Solution
An alkaline secondary battery design featuring a coating layer made of blown asphalt or alkali-resistant rubber-based materials to block oxygen permeation, applied to critical metal components within the battery, ensuring a minimum thickness of 3 µm to prevent rust and electrolyte leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous charging is performed to maintain battery readiness, then battery availability is improved, but oxygen gas generation increases causing oxidation of metal components and electrolyte leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful oxygen gas generated during continuous charging into a beneficial effect by having it react with the hydrogen storage alloy negative electrode to form water. This oxygen absorption mechanism prevents oxidation of metal components and electrolyte leakage while maintaining battery availability for continuous charging applications
2Object-generated harmful factors
If hydrogen storage alloy is used to absorb oxygen, then oxygen permeation is reduced, but hydrogen storage alloy deteriorates over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the operating parameters of the hydrogen storage alloy by controlling the charging current and temperature conditions to optimize oxygen absorption while minimizing alloy deterioration. This parameter optimization extends the lifespan of the hydrogen storage alloy while maintaining effective oxygen permeation prevention
3Productivity
If metal components are exposed to oxygen and high temperature, then battery performance is maintained, but oxidation occurs leading to rust and electrolyte leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a protected environment within the battery by using the hydrogen storage alloy negative electrode to consume oxygen and maintain an oxygen-depleted atmosphere. This inert-like environment prevents oxidation of metal components such as the cover plate and positive electrode lead, eliminating rust formation and electrolyte leakage while preserving battery performance
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
The coating effectively prevents oxidation of metal components and suppresses electrolyte leakage, maintaining battery integrity and performance even under continuous charging conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a coating layer that covers at least a range where the one end portion of the positive electrode lead and the inner surface of the cover plate overlap each other, and suppresses permeation of oxygen therethrough
Implementation Method 2
even if oxygen gas is generated in the battery due to continuous charging, the cover plate and the positive electrode lead are protected by the coating layer, and oxidation by the oxygen gas is suppressed
Implementation Method 3
oxygen gas reacts with the hydrogen storage alloy of the negative electrode to form water. In other words, since the oxygen gas can be absorbed by the hydrogen storage alloy of the negative electrode, the increase in the internal pressure of the battery can be suppressed
Data Source
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AI summary
A nickel hydrogen secondary battery 2 includes an electrode group 22 including a positive electrode 24 and a negative electrode 26 that face each other via a separator 28, an outer package can 10 that has an opening at an upper end thereof, and accommodates the electrode group 22 therein together with an electrolyte, a sealing body 11 including a cover plate 14 fitted in the opening of the outer package can 10, and a positive electrode cap 20 which is electrically connected to an outer surface 14b of the cover plate 14, a positive electrode lead 30, one end portion 38 of which is electrically connected to an inner surface 14a of the cover plate 14 and the other end portion of which is electrically connected to the positive electrode 24, and an oxygen block layer 60 that covers at least a range where the one end portion 38 of the positive electrode lead 30 and the inner surface 14a of the cover plate 14 overlap each other, and suppresses permeation of oxygen therethrough, and a thickness of a thinnest portion of the oxygen block layer 60 is 3 µm or more.