Calcium Carbide Electrolyte Purification for Low Water Content
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for purifying ionic electrolytes, particularly those used in lithium-ion batteries, are complex and expensive, leading to high residual water content and impurities, which reduce battery performance and safety over time.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the use of calcium salts to dehydrate and purify ionic electrolytes, specifically by contacting particles of calcium carbide with the electrolyte to remove water and impurities, resulting in a highly effective and cost-efficient method for achieving low water content and high purity electrolytes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional purification methods are used, then the electrolyte can be processed, but the residual water content remains high and the process is complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts water from the electrolyte by adding calcium carbide particles that react with water to form calcium hydroxide and acetylene gas. The water is effectively removed through this chemical reaction, achieving water content below 20 ppm without complex equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses inexpensive calcium carbide particles as a disposable purification agent. The calcium carbide is added to the electrolyte, reacts with water, and the resulting calcium hydroxide precipitate is filtered off. This simple, low-cost approach replaces complex and expensive conventional purification systems
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional purification methods are used, then the electrolyte can be processed, but the residual impurity content remains high
Solution Approach 1:
The calcium carbide particles react with water and certain impurities in the electrolyte, extracting them through chemical reaction. The formed calcium hydroxide and other reaction products are then filtered out, achieving impurity content below 20 ppm through a simple two-step process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical environment by introducing calcium carbide, which alters the pH and chemical composition temporarily to facilitate impurity removal. The calcium carbide reacts with water to form calcium hydroxide, changing the chemical parameters to favor impurity precipitation and removal
3Reliability
If water content is not reduced sufficiently, then the electrolyte is easier to handle, but battery performance and safety deteriorate over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by removing water before battery assembly and operation. By pre-reacting calcium carbide with water in the electrolyte, the harmful effects of water (HF formation, electrode corrosion, self-discharge) are prevented from occurring during battery operation, ensuring long-term reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of water into a beneficial process by using calcium carbide to react with water, producing calcium hydroxide precipitate that can be easily filtered. The reaction CaC2 + 2H2O → Ca(OH)2 + C2H2 transforms water from a harmful impurity into a controlled chemical reaction that removes water and improves electrolyte 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
The process significantly reduces water content to less than 20 ppm, enhancing the stability and performance of lithium salts and electrolytes, thereby improving the longevity and safety of lithium-ion batteries.
Implementation Method 1
The introduction of CaC2 into the electrolytic solution makes it possible to reduce the residual water present after the dehydration and is accompanied by the formation of the gas acetylene
Implementation Method 2
a) of mixing the electrolyte with an amount of a calcium salt which corresponds to an excess of the amount of water to be removed, preferably of mechanical mixing carried out in a mixer and for a period of time of between 5 minutes and 3 hours, more preferably for a period of time of approximately one hour, and preferably with removal of the gases formed; b) of separating the solid phase, composed in particular of the calcium hydroxide formed in stage a) and of the excess of calcium salt, from the liquid phase, composed of the purified electrolyte, by settling, by centrifuging or by ultracentrifuging or by a mixture of at least two of these techniques
Data Source
AI summary
Process for the purification of an ionic electrolyte including at least one alkali metal salt, the process having at least one stage in which particles of at least one calcium salt are brought into contact. The process makes it possible to obtain electrolytes characterized in particular by particularly low water content. The corresponding electrochemical generators which incorporate the electrolyte as constituent component are characterized by a noteworthy stability and are particularly safe.