Battery Regenerability Assessment Using Internal State Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining the regenerability of batteries without separating the electrode active material from the electrode group are inefficient, as they fail to accurately assess the battery's internal state, leading to improper reuse and recycling decisions.

Innovation Solution

A processing method and system that analyzes measurement data to estimate the internal state of batteries, determining regenerability by adjusting positive and negative electrode electric potentials or recycling electrode materials without disassembly, using a processing apparatus with a battery control unit, data analysis unit, and determination unit to assess capacity retention and ion migration resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the battery is reused or recycled based on simple state assessment without accurate internal state analysis, then the processing speed is improved, but the determination accuracy of regenerability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speedVSAvoiddetermination accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing charge-discharge tests and measuring internal resistance before final regenerability determination. This preliminary assessment of battery state (capacity retention rate and internal resistance) enables accurate prediction of regenerability without requiring actual regeneration attempts, thus improving both speed and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical disassembly and physical inspection with electrical measurement methods. By using voltage, current, and internal resistance measurements to assess battery state, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming physical separation of electrode materials, achieving fast and accurate determinations.

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

2Manufacturing precision

If the electrode active material is separated from the electrode group for recycling, then the regeneration accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveregeneration accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential information needed for regenerability determination (capacity retention rate and internal resistance) from the battery without requiring physical separation of electrode materials. This selective extraction of critical parameters enables accurate assessment while avoiding complex disassembly processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the assessment parameters from physical/chemical analysis of separated materials to electrical parameter measurements (voltage, current, internal resistance). This parameter transformation allows non-invasive evaluation of battery state and regenerability prediction without mechanical separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the battery is assessed without measuring internal resistance, then the ease of operation is improved, but the measurement precision of battery state deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidbattery state assessment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the measurement of capacity retention rate and internal resistance into a unified assessment framework. Both parameters are measured through standardized charge-discharge tests and combined to comprehensively evaluate battery state, providing accurate regenerability prediction without significantly increasing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4407742A1Processing method, processing apparatus, processing system, and processing program for battery
Publication Date: 2024.07.31 KK TOSHIBA
  • EP4407742A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4407742A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4407742A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In an embodiment, in a processing method for a battery, whether a target battery (2) is regenerable without separating an electrode active material serving as a positive electrode active material and an electrode active material serving as a negative electrode active material of the target battery (2) from an electrode group, based on the analysis result of measurement data for the target battery (2).