Negative Thermal Expansion Interrupter for Thermal Runaway Cutoff

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric power systems, such as batteries and energy storage systems, face risks from overheating, overcharging, and short circuits, which can lead to thermal runaway, fires, and explosions due to overcurrent issues, for which existing technologies lack effective solutions to prevent damage and hazards.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a negative thermal expansion component made from materials like oxides, zirconium tungstate, or perovskite oxides into the electric power system, which contracts to form nonconductive gaps upon temperature increase, interrupting current flow and preventing excess current exposure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional current interrupter is used, then it can interrupt current flow under normal conditions, but it fails to respond effectively to thermal runaway conditions caused by overheating and overcurrent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent interruption reliabilityVSAvoidthermal runaway risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies negative thermal expansion (NTE) materials that contract when heated, opposite to conventional materials. This contraction creates gaps in the current path during thermal runaway, enabling automatic current interruption in response to temperature increase. The NTE material's unique property allows the interrupter to activate precisely when thermal conditions deteriorate, solving the problem of conventional interrupters failing to respond to thermal runaway.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #37Thermal expansion

2Ease of manufacture

If the battery structure is simplified without current interrupters, then manufacturing cost decreases, but safety against overcurrent and short circuits is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidovercurrent damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The current interrupter incorporating NTE materials operates autonomously based on temperature changes. When overheating occurs, the NTE material automatically contracts to interrupt current flow without requiring external control systems, sensors, or power sources. This self-activating mechanism maintains safety functionality while minimizing structural complexity and manufacturing requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical state of the NTE material in response to temperature parameter changes. As temperature increases during thermal runaway or overcurrent conditions, the NTE material undergoes contraction, fundamentally altering its dimensional parameters to create conductive-to-nonconductive transition in the current path, thereby providing passive safety without complex control electronics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Use of energy by moving object

If existing current interrupter designs are used, then they maintain electrical connectivity under normal operation, but they cannot prevent thermal runaway propagation through effective current disruption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidthermal runaway prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The NTE material's contraction upon heating creates an automatic, temperature-dependent current interruption mechanism. This passive response eliminates the need for active control systems, sensors, or external power sources, maintaining energy efficiency while providing reliable thermal runaway prevention through physical dimension changes in response to thermal conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #37Thermal expansion

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 thermal runaway, fires, and explosions by creating nonconductive gaps that neutralize overcurrent risks, ensuring the safety and integrity of 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

PatentUS11842868B2Negative thermal expansion current interrupter

Publication Date: 2023.12.12 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.