Negative Thermal Expansion Interrupter for Thermal Runaway Isolation

Solution Overview

Problem

Electric power systems, such as batteries, are prone to overheating, overcharging, and short circuits, which can lead to hazardous conditions like fires and explosions due to excess current flow, and existing technologies fail to effectively mitigate these risks.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a negative thermal expansion component, made from materials like oxides or composite materials, which contracts to form nonconductive gaps when temperature increases, disrupting current flow and preventing thermal runaway.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a current interrupter is added to prevent overheating and short circuits, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the thermal expansion principle by employing a negative thermal expansion material (NTE material) as the current interrupter component. When temperature increases during overheating or short circuit conditions, the NTE material contracts (negative expansion) to form a nonconductive gap that interrupts current flow. This passive thermal response mechanism provides safety functionality without requiring active sensors, control circuits, or power sources, thereby improving safety while minimizing added device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #37Thermal expansion

2Reliability

If a negative thermal expansion material is used to interrupt current flow, then protection against thermal runaway is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against thermal runawayVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs negative thermal expansion materials (such as zirconium tungstate, cubic boron nitride, or scandium fluoride) that contract when heated, creating a nonconductive gap to interrupt current flow and prevent thermal runaway. This passive thermal response mechanism provides automatic protection without requiring active sensors, control circuits, or power sources, thereby improving safety while minimizing added device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #37Thermal expansion

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes composite material structures combining negative thermal expansion materials with conductive materials (such as metal foils or carbon-based materials). These composites integrate the protective NTE functionality with electrical conductivity requirements, allowing the current interrupter to be manufactured as an integrated component rather than assembling multiple separate parts, thus reducing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If the current interrupter contracts to form a nonconductive gap, then current flow disruption is improved, but the structural integrity of the battery may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent flow disruptionVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs negative thermal expansion materials (such as zirconium tungstate, cubic boron nitride, or scandium fluoride) that contract when heated, creating a nonconductive gap to interrupt current flow and prevent thermal runaway. This passive thermal response mechanism provides automatic protection without requiring active sensors, control circuits, or power sources, thereby improving safety while minimizing added device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #37Thermal expansion

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes composite material structures combining negative thermal expansion materials with conductive materials (such as metal foils or carbon-based materials). These composites integrate the protective NTE functionality with electrical conductivity requirements, allowing the current interrupter to be manufactured as an integrated component rather than assembling multiple separate parts, thus reducing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 negative thermal expansion component effectively prevents overheating, overcharging, and short circuits by interrupting current flow, thereby eliminating the risks of fires and explosions in electric power systems.

Implementation Method 1

a negative thermal expansion material such that the first current interrupter contracts in response to an increase in temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative thermal expansion: Negative Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS20240071700A1Negative thermal expansion current interrupter

Publication Date: 2024.02.29 AMERICAN LITHIUM ENERGY CORP

AI summary

An electric power system such as, for example, a circuit, an electric appliance, an electric generator, and/or an energy storage system, can be coupled with a negative thermal expansion component. The negative thermal expansion component can be formed from a material having negative thermal expansion properties such that the negative thermal expansion component contracts in response to an increase in temperature. The contraction of the negative thermal expansion component can form a nonconductive gap that disrupts current flow through the electric power system. The disruption of the current flow can eliminate hazards associated with the electric power system overcharging, overheating, and/or developing an internal short circuit.