Miniature Reserve Battery Arrays Capillary Activation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current liquid reserve batteries for munitions face challenges such as poor performance at low temperatures, slow rise time, large size due to electrolyte storage methods, and limited scalability and shelf life, particularly in micro- and mm-scale applications, which are critical for military and commercial uses.
Innovation Solution
Development of micro-scale and mm-scale liquid reserve batteries with a separate electrolyte compartment and a solid membrane that can be ruptured using inertial activation, allowing electrolyte to flow into the battery core via capillary action, eliminating the need for gravity or spin and enabling rapid activation and operation at extreme temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If glass ampoule or separate compartment storage methods are used for electrolyte, then battery can be kept inert during storage, but battery size becomes large and activation is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The electrolyte is nested within the porous electrode structure itself, with the electrolyte held in the pores of the electrode material. This eliminates the need for separate storage compartments or ampoules, significantly reducing battery size while maintaining the ability to keep the battery inert during storage. The electrolyte is released in-situ when the battery is activated.
Solution Approach 2:
A thin flexible membrane separates the electrolyte-containing electrode from the current collector. This thin film structure enables rapid electrolyte release during activation while maintaining compact battery dimensions. The membrane can quickly transition from retaining to releasing electrolyte, enabling fast activation compared to traditional bulky storage methods.
2Ease of operation
If traditional liquid reserve battery activation methods are used (gravity or spin), then electrolyte can be transported into battery cells, but device complexity increases and scalability to micro-scale is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical activation mechanisms (gravity-based flow or spin-based centrifugal force) with a chemical activation method. A small amount of water is introduced to trigger an exothermic reaction that generates heat, expanding the electrolyte and forcing it through the membrane into contact with the electrode. This chemical mechanism is scale-independent and works effectively at micro-scale dimensions where gravity and spin mechanisms become impractical.
Solution Approach 2:
The activation process utilizes a change in temperature parameter. Introduction of water triggers an exothermic reaction that rapidly increases temperature, causing thermal expansion of the electrolyte. This temperature-driven expansion forces the electrolyte through the membrane without requiring external mechanical forces, enabling simple activation suitable for micro-scale devices.
3Temperature
If thermal batteries are used with molten salt electrolyte, then battery can operate at high temperatures, but manufacturing complexity increases and miniaturization is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a gel polymer electrolyte that maintains its functional properties across a wide temperature range without requiring phase change or molten state. The gel structure provides mechanical stability and ion conductivity simultaneously, eliminating the need for complex thermal management systems or high-temperature processing during manufacturing. This allows simple fabrication processes while maintaining high-temperature operational capability.
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 solution provides reliable, rapid, and scalable power sources that can withstand high accelerations and temperatures, meeting the requirements for small-scale munitions and commercial devices with extended shelf life and reduced size, while ensuring safe activation without external power or sensors.
Implementation Method 1
allowing electrolyte to flow into the battery core via capillary action
Implementation Method 2
The porous electrode structure is configured to absorb electrolyte
Implementation Method 3
A heating element is positioned within the battery core and is electrically connected to the anode and cathode
Data Source
AI summary
A reserve battery including: a housing has first and second compartments separated by a membrane, the first compartment has an anode and cathode and a separator positioned there between. The second compartment has an electrolyte for use with the anode and cathode to produce electrical power. The electrolyte being sealed in the second compartment relative to the first compartment at least by the membrane. Electrodes are connected to the anode and cathode and each has a portion on an outside of the housing. Where the second compartment has a cavity in which a wick material is arranged. The wick material is configured to pull the electrolyte into the second compartment from the first compartment by capillary action when the membrane changes from a sealed state in which the electrolyte is sealed within the second compartment to an unsealed state in which the electrolyte can flow into the first compartment.