Liquid Lithium-Air Battery Architecture for Rapid Refueling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery electric vehicles face 'range anxiety' due to unpredictable energy storage capacity, which limits their adoption, and increasing battery energy density prolongs charging times, necessitating faster charging methods.
Innovation Solution
A lithium-ion polymer liquid automotive battery design featuring an internal cavity structure with an ionic membrane, lithium metal and graphene porous carbon rod electrodes, and a solution of lithium polymer nanoparticle dry powder and lithium salt electrolyte, allowing for rapid charging by injecting new solution and recycling reactants, eliminating the need for grid-based charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the amount of battery energy per vehicle is increased to reduce range anxiety, then the vehicle range is improved, but the charging time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system transitions from a static solid-state design to a dynamic liquid flow system where electrolyte solution circulates continuously through external tanks and internal flow channels, enabling real-time replenishment of reactive materials during operation and rapid replacement during refueling
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state of the electrolyte from solid immobilized form to liquid flow form, and modifies the concentration and composition of reactive materials in the electrolyte solution to enable both extended operational duration and rapid recharge capability
2Productivity
If a large amount of electric power is supplied in a short period to shorten charging time, then the charging speed is improved, but the system requires infrastructure that enables rapid energy transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs hydraulic principles by using liquid electrolyte flow through pumped circulation systems to transport reactive materials, enabling rapid material exchange analogous to fuel delivery without requiring complex high-power electrical infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The battery system performs self-charging through continuous circulation and chemical reactions within the closed loop system, where the electrolyte automatically reacts with oxygen and regenerates during operation, requiring minimal external intervention beyond periodic refueling
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 fast charging akin to refueling with gasoline, generating electric charges through lithium-oxygen reactions, with a recyclable solution that restores lithium metal and separates electrolyte, reducing charging time and enhancing vehicle range confidence.
Implementation Method 1
lithium ions detach from the lithium polymer nanoparticle dry powder, pass through the ionic membrane, and enter the lower layer of the internal cavity structure to react with oxygen ions
Implementation Method 2
lithium ions detach from the lithium polymer nanoparticle dry powder, pass through the ionic membrane, and enter the lower layer of the internal cavity structure to react with oxygen ions emerging from the graphene porous carbon rod electrode, so as to generate electric charges
Implementation Method 3
an ionic membrane, separating the internal cavity structure into an upper layer and a lower layer
Data Source
AI summary
A lithium-ion polymer liquid automotive battery includes: an internal cavity structure; an ionic membrane, separating the internal cavity structure into an upper layer and a lower layer, wherein the upper layer is a lithium metal electrode cavity structure and the lower layer is a lithium-oxygen reactant residual cavity structure; a solution, formed by mixing lithium polymer nanoparticle dry powder with lithium salt electrolyte, wherein the solution is injected into the lithium metal electrode cavity structure; a lithium metal electrode, mounted on the lithium metal electrode cavity structure; and a graphene porous carbon rod electrode, mounted on the lithium-oxygen reactant residual cavity structure. On all positive and negative plates of the liquid battery, there is no need for electrochemical reactions and thus no need to use the grid for charging. Instead, the reaction of lithium and oxygen ions can generate electric charges to drive the electric vehicle.