Li-Ion Battery Charging Control for Lithium Plating Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium-ion batteries experience undesirable lithium plating when charged at rapid rates, leading to charge capacity loss and potential short circuits, due to the faster intercalation process not being able to keep up.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allows lithium-ion batteries to charge at different rates, including a normal rate and faster rates, with the ability to indicate when faster charging is available again after a threshold number of slower charge cycles, helping to reverse lithium plating and chemical degradation by allowing rest time and normal charges for intercalation and lithium homogenization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the battery is charged at a rapid rate, then charging speed is improved, but lithium plating occurs leading to charge capacity loss and potential short circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic charging cycles that alternate between fast charging instances and slower charging instances. After a fast charging instance, the system requires a threshold number of slower charge instances to occur before permitting fast charging again. This periodic alternation allows lithium plating to be reversed during slower charge cycles while still enabling rapid charging at other times, thus resolving the contradiction between charging speed and battery safety.
2Productivity
If fast charging is permitted continuously, then charging efficiency is improved, but lithium plating accumulates causing degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of battery conditions before permitting fast charging. It tracks the history of charging instances and determines whether a threshold number of slower charge instances have occurred since the last fast charge. This preliminary check prevents lithium plating accumulation by ensuring appropriate slower charge cycles occur before allowing fast charging again, while still maximizing charging efficiency when conditions permit.
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
Prevents lithium plating and chemical degradation by managing charge cycles, ensuring safe and optimal charging conditions, thereby maintaining battery health and preventing damage from rapid charging.
Implementation Method 1
lithium ion battery can result from charging the battery more rapidly than intercalation can occur
Implementation Method 2
lithium plating on an as ode of a lithium ion battery can result from charging the battery more rapidly than intercalation can occur
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a device includes a processor, at least one system component accessible to the processor, a battery accessible to the processor and that provides power to the processor and the at least one system component, a display accessible to the processor and powered by the battery, and storage accessible to the processor. The storage bears instructions executable by the processor to permit charging of the battery at a first rate during a first charging instance and to permit charging of the battery at a second rate during a second charging instance, where the second rate is slower than the first rate and the second charging instance is subsequent to the first charging instance. The instructions are also executable to provide an indication regarding the availability of again charging the battery at the first rate subsequent to the first charging instance.