Electrolyte Remaining-Level Detection via Bubbles and Ultrasound
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods struggle to accurately measure and predict the remaining amount of electrolyte in a liquid storage container made of stainless steel, leading to inefficiencies and potential defects in secondary batteries due to bubble introduction during electrolyte discharge.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a light transmitting part in a suction tube to observe bubble characteristics and estimate remaining electrolyte amount, and/or oscillate ultrasonic waves to analyze waveforms for accurate measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a suction tube is used to discharge electrolyte from the liquid storage container, then electrolyte can be discharged efficiently, but bubbles are introduced into the suction tube when the water surface falls below the suction tube
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by injecting inert gas into the liquid storage container before the electrolyte level drops to the suction tube inlet. This pre-injection creates a gas cushion that prevents direct air contact with the suction tube, thereby avoiding bubble introduction while maintaining efficient electrolyte discharge throughout the process
2Productivity
If inert gas is injected early to ensure smooth electrolyte discharge, then discharge efficiency is maintained, but bubbles are introduced into the suction tube causing pump malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by using a level sensor to detect the electrolyte level in real-time and automatically controlling the inert gas injection based on the detected level. When the level reaches a predetermined threshold, the system automatically stops gas injection, preventing bubble introduction into the suction tube and pump malfunction while maintaining discharge efficiency
3Stability of the object's composition
If the liquid storage container is made of stainless steel to maintain electrolyte stability, then chemical stability is improved, but visual checking of remaining electrolyte amount becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary measurement system consisting of a level sensor and control unit that indirectly measures the electrolyte level without requiring visual inspection through the stainless steel container. The level sensor detects the electrolyte level electrically or capacitively, and the control unit processes this information to provide accurate remaining amount data, thereby solving the detection difficulty while maintaining container chemical stability
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 real-time, accurate estimation of electrolyte remaining amount, preventing bubble introduction and pump malfunctions, ensuring smooth electrolyte discharge and reducing chemical changes.
Implementation Method 1
a light transmitting part in a suction tube to observe bubble characteristics
Implementation Method 2
oscillate ultrasonic waves to analyze waveforms for accurate measurement
Data Source
AI summary
A method for measuring a remaining amount of a liquid within a liquid storage container includes: discharging the liquid within the liquid storage container to outside through a suction tube, observing a size or a number of bubbles contained in the liquid passing through a light transmitting part; and estimating the remaining amount of liquid based on the size and number of observed bubbles. Furthermore, the method may further include estimating the remaining amount using an ultrasonic carrier wave, wherein the estimating of the remaining amount using the ultrasonic carrier wave may include: oscillating ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic generator to the inside of the liquid storage container; receiving the ultrasonic waves returned after the oscillation to analyze a waveform of the ultrasonic waves; and comparing the waveform of the ultrasonic waves to previously provided reference data to estimate the remaining amount of liquid.