Dual-Separator Lithium Battery for Wide Temperature Safety
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current battery technologies for oil and gas drilling and monitoring industries lack high density, thermal stability, and safety over an extended temperature range, with many batteries being ineffective at both low and high temperatures and posing safety risks due to corrosive liquid electrolytes.
Innovation Solution
A non-aqueous battery design featuring a lithium anode, a fluorinated carbon cathode, and two distinct separators with different melting points, along with a non-aqueous electrolyte, which provides improved energy density, thermal stability, and safety by preventing internal short circuits and maintaining ion conductivity across a wide temperature range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single separator is used in the battery, then the device complexity is reduced, but the thermal stability and safety over extended temperature ranges deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The battery separator is divided into multiple distinct layers, each with specific functions: a first separator layer for thermal shutdown at lower temperatures and a second separator layer for structural stability at higher temperatures. This segmentation allows each layer to address different thermal conditions independently, improving overall thermal stability without requiring a completely complex multi-component system.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator system uses composite material construction with at least two different separator materials having different thermal properties. The first separator material provides shutdown functionality at lower temperatures while the second separator material maintains structural integrity at elevated temperatures, creating a composite separator system that addresses the full temperature range requirement.
2Adaptability or versatility
If batteries use liquid electrolyte as cathode active material to achieve extended operating temperature window, then the temperature adaptability is improved, but the safety deteriorates due to extreme corrosiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the harmful liquid electrolyte cathode material from the battery system. Instead, it uses a non-aqueous electrolyte in combination with a fluorinated carbon cathode and lithium anode, removing the extreme corrosiveness while preserving the extended operating temperature window through the selected electrolyte and electrode materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the electrolyte and electrode materials to achieve both extended temperature operation and improved safety. Specifically, it uses a non-aqueous electrolyte with carefully selected components and a fluorinated carbon cathode that together provide thermal stability and reduced corrosiveness while maintaining functionality across the desired temperature range.
3Quantity of substance
If traditional battery designs are used to achieve high energy density, then the energy capacity is improved, but the thermal stability and safety deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameters by using a lithium anode instead of traditional graphite anodes, and a fluorinated carbon cathode with specific composition ratios. These parameter changes enable higher energy density while the non-aqueous electrolyte and dual separator system provide the necessary thermal stability and safety for sustained operation.
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 battery exhibits increased energy density, extended operating temperature window, and enhanced safety compared to traditional batteries, passing abuse tests and maintaining performance across varying temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
a first separator having a melting point of from about 215° C. to about 500° C.; and a second separator having a melting point of from about 135° C. to about 210° C.
Implementation Method 2
a non-aqueous electrolyte that is in fluid communication with the anode, the cathode, the first separator, and the second separator
Data Source
AI summary
A non-aqueous electrochemical cell including a lithium anode, a solid cathode, a first separator and a second separator disposed between the anode and the cathode, and an electrolyte in fluid communication with the anode, the cathode, and the first and the second separators, the first separator having a higher melting point (or shut-down) temperature than the melting point (or shut-down) temperature of the second separator.