Fiber-Reinforced Aerogel Insulation for Thin Thermal Batteries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal batteries face challenges in heat management and insulation due to the brittleness and difficulty in handling of traditional aerogels, which limits their effectiveness and practicality in thermal battery applications.
Innovation Solution
Development of a uniformly thin, fiber-reinforced aerogel insulation material with improved durability and flexibility, capable of maintaining thermal performance while being easy to handle, which can be as thin as 1 mm with minimal thickness variation, enhancing the thermal battery's insulation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional aerogel materials are used for thermal battery insulation, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but handling difficulty and brittleness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines aerogel particles with a flexible binder matrix to create a composite insulation material. This composite structure maintains the superior thermal insulation properties of aerogel while the binder provides flexibility and ease of handling, directly resolving the contradiction between insulation performance and handling ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical state and mechanical properties of aerogel by transforming it from a rigid, brittle material into a flexible composite through chemical bonding with binders and controlled particle size distribution. This parameter change enables the material to be easily handled while retaining thermal insulation capabilities.
2Volume of moving object
If aerogel insulation thickness is reduced to minimize battery size, then device compactness is improved, but insulation effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the porous structure of aerogel particles within the composite material. The high porosity and low density of aerogel provide exceptional thermal insulation per unit thickness, allowing the battery to maintain compact size while preventing heat loss through the insulation layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure with aerogel particles distributed in a binder matrix creates a material with optimized thermal properties. The aerogel particles provide insulation while the binder holds them together, enabling thin yet effective insulation layers that reduce battery volume without compromising thermal performance.
3Weight of moving object
If aerogel insulation thickness is reduced to minimize battery weight, then weight is reduced, but thermal insulation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The aerogel particles in the composite material have extremely low density due to their porous structure, providing high thermal insulation performance per unit weight. This allows the battery to achieve reduced weight while maintaining effective thermal insulation through the optimized aerogel composite material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the density and thermal conductivity parameters of the insulation material by using aerogel particles with controlled size distribution in a binder matrix. This parameter optimization enables thin, lightweight insulation layers that maintain thermal performance, directly addressing the weight-insulation contradiction.
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 fiber-reinforced aerogel material significantly improves the thermal battery's performance by maintaining heat for longer periods, resulting in up to 300% increased runtime at specific temperatures, offering enhanced energy density and reduced costs.
Implementation Method 1
Aerogels are among the most effective insulators known to man
Implementation Method 2
Aerogels are formed by using innovative processing and drying techniques to replace the interstitial liquid phase of a gel with air
Implementation Method 3
The present invention provides a uniformly thin, fiber-reinforced aerogel insulation material which can be used in thermal battery applications
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a fiber-reinforced aerogel material which can be used as insulation in thermal battery applications. The fiber-reinforced aerogel material is highly durable, flexible, and has a thermal performance that exceeds the insulation materials currently used in thermal battery applications. The fiber-reinforced aerogel insulation material can be as thin as 1 mm less, and can have a thickness variation as low as 2% or less. Also provided is a method for improving the performance of a thermal battery by incorporating a reinforced aerogel material into the thermal battery. Further provided is a casting method for producing thin fiber-reinforced aerogel materials.