Battery Watering Detection via Electrolyte Temperature Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current battery watering systems lack reliable and consistent methods for recording watering events in batteries that require regular supplemental watering, as existing sensors can only measure electrolyte levels in two states and do not accurately detect the act of water supplementation.
Innovation Solution
A method using a temperature sensor to measure electrolyte temperature changes over time, determining sudden transitions greater than one degree Celsius per minute, and logging watering events, with a system controller embedded in a battery charger or monitor to record these events accurately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electrolyte level detectors are used to monitor battery electrolyte levels, then two states (sufficient and low/empty) can be measured, but the actual act of providing supplemental water to the battery cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from electrolyte level (binary state) to electrolyte temperature (continuous variable). When water is added to the battery, it causes a temporary temperature change in the electrolyte that the sensor detects, thereby reliably indicating the act of watering regardless of the electrolyte level.
2Loss of information
If log books are used to record watering events, then proof of watering compliance can be provided, but the logs may be falsified or improperly maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects and records watering events itself through temperature sensing, eliminating the need for manual logging. This self-monitoring capability ensures that watering compliance records are objectively generated and cannot be falsified, providing reliable verification for battery warranty requirements.
3Reliability
If temperature sensors are used to detect sudden transitions in electrolyte temperature, then watering events can be reliably detected, but the system complexity increases compared to simple level detectors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or electronic level sensing mechanisms with a simple temperature sensing approach. The temperature sensor naturally floats in the electrolyte and passively detects temperature changes caused by water addition, providing reliable watering detection with minimal system complexity and no moving parts.
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
Enables consistent and reliable detection and recording of watering events, ensuring proper maintenance and compliance with battery warranties by automatically logging water detection events.
Implementation Method 1
measuring a temperature of an electrolyte in a battery cell using a temperature sensor
Implementation Method 2
The sudden transition may indicate a change in temperature of the electrolyte of greater than one degree Celsius (C) per minute. In certain embodiments, the change in temperature of the electrolyte of greater than one degree C. of cooling per minute.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of battery cell monitoring includes measuring a temperature of an electrolyte in a battery cell using a temperature sensor, outputting from the temperature sensor a plurality of electrolyte temperature signals indicative of the temperature of the electrolyte over time, providing the plurality of electrolyte temperature signals to a system controller, determining by the system controller a sudden transition in the electrolyte temperature signals, and logging a watering event data indication in a memory in response to calculating the sudden transition.