Inverse Hybrid Cell Passivation for Battery Self-Discharge Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cells, whether primary, secondary, or reserve, lose potential energy due to internal electrochemical processes, and there has not been a simple and effective way to slow down or stop these processes.
Innovation Solution
An external potential is applied to the cell using a series of resistors and a passivating cell, which controls the polarization of the primary cell, similar to preventing corrosion by using a magnesium electrode, and a microprocessor-controlled system is used to manage the passivation in hybrid-cell systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If an external potential is applied to control polarization and slow down electrochemical processes, then energy loss is reduced and cell life is extended, but device complexity increases due to additional components like passivating cells and control circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds a passivating cell within the primary cell structure, nesting the protective secondary cell inside the primary cell housing. This allows the passivation function to be integrated without requiring separate external components, thereby extending cell life while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The passivating cell is designed to automatically activate and provide protective polarization when the primary cell is stored or not in use. The system self-regulates the electrochemical processes without requiring external control, reducing the need for complex control circuits and maintaining simplicity while extending cell life.
2Loss of energy
If a passivating cell is added to prevent energy loss, then energy loss is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the primary cell and passivating cell into a single integrated hybrid cell assembly. By merging the manufacturing processes and using common materials and structures for both cells, the overall manufacturing complexity is reduced compared to producing and assembling separate cells, while still achieving reduced energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid cell structure is designed to serve multiple functions: energy storage by the primary cell and protective passivation by the secondary cell, both within a single unified structure. This multi-functionality allows standard manufacturing techniques to be applied to a versatile design, improving ease of manufacture while reducing energy loss.
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
This method effectively slows down or stops the energy loss in cells by controlling the polarization, extending the life of the cells and improving their efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
one can apply an external potential to it, controlling the 'polarization' of the primary cell by appropriate series resistors
Implementation Method 2
The reason batteries work is because anode materials dissolve into electrolytes. This is the same reason iron tanks corrode away into the ground
Implementation Method 3
a magnesium electrode hooked via a wire to the iron tank. Now the magnesium does the dissolving, delivering electrons to the iron tank or anode to be protected
Data Source
AI summary
A general problem with all batteries of the primary, secondary, and “reserve” kind is the fact that they lose charge and “idle” away their useful life. The need to monitor primaries and to recharge and watch over secondaries has, as of yet, not been obviated by electrochemical or metallurgical breakthroughs. This invention provides for the use of a long-lived cell, for example, of modern lithium design, which is encapsulated within, or without, any battery case or system and connected by means of a resistor to “polarize” the primary, activated reserve, or secondary cells whose life one wishes to extend. Experimental tests sufficiently determine, for various cells, that the amount of current required to polarize the primary and secondary electrodes prevents dissolution of the anode (oxidation) and reduction of the cathode. A reserve cell can be activated by providing electrolyte, electrode proximity, etc., and yet be prevented from running down by applying the aforesaid polarizing (keeping) potential. This will further the progress of applying hybrid cells and hybrid systems (Pat App no. 848224) to a wide sphere of activity because of the ability to hold, then activate the reserve cells by switching the hybrid front cell potential. This invention may also eliminate cumbersome methods of activating and efficiently using reserve cells, especially those of the active light metal kind.By monitoring the polarization of activated cells, applying a “keeping” potential to selected cells, one may increase efficiency, life, and practicability of hybrid cell systems. With the pervasiveness of secondary (lithium) batteries in electronics, cars, emergency power banks, etc.; this method will allow for integrated or non-integrated improvements to such systems. For example, one can now integrate a “disposable”, reactive light metal reserve component into an electric vehicle (thus eliminating the need of traditional recharging); as such systems already contain adequate computing & secondary battery components to enable the practicability of such inverse hybrid system designs.