Optical Waveguide Battery Separator for Fault Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring battery health, particularly in lithium-ion batteries, are inadequate for continuous and in-situ detection of impending faults, as they often require interrupting battery operation and are not suitable for periodic or continuous monitoring throughout the battery's life cycles, leading to potential catastrophic failures.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a light transmitting battery cell separator with a core section and cladding sections, along with an electrolyte and optical fibers for continuous monitoring, allowing light to be transmitted and detected to determine fault states without interfering with the battery's operation, enabling the detection of impending faults such as dendrite growth and chemical changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional battery health monitoring methods are used, then battery operation can be monitored, but the monitoring requires interrupting battery operation and cannot detect impending faults continuously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical intermediary system consisting of light sources, optical fibers, and detectors that mediate between the battery's internal state and the monitoring system. This optical intermediary allows continuous monitoring without electrical interference or operational interruption, resolving the contradiction between reliable fault detection and continuous battery operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional electrical or mechanical monitoring systems with an optical monitoring system. By using light transmission through the electrolyte and separator instead of electrical probes or mechanical sensors, the system achieves continuous monitoring capability without interrupting battery operation, as optical signals do not interfere with electrochemical processes.
2Reliability
If optical monitoring is integrated into the battery structure, then continuous monitoring is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the battery separator multi-functional by giving it both its traditional function of preventing electrode contact and a new optical function of transmitting light signals. The electrolyte similarly serves dual purposes: enabling ion transport and acting as the optical medium for fault detection. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity by eliminating separate monitoring components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the optical monitoring components (light sources, optical fibers, detectors) directly into the battery structure, combining the monitoring function with the battery's existing components. The optical fibers are integrated into the separator, and the light sources are positioned within the battery housing, creating a unified structure rather than separate add-on systems.
3Measurement precision
If light transmitting materials are used in the separator, then fault detection sensitivity is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the separator and electrolyte to enable fault detection. By selecting materials with specific light transmission properties and adjusting the electrolyte composition to optimize optical characteristics, the system achieves high fault detection sensitivity. The refractive index matching between components is carefully controlled to maximize light transmission and scattering effects for fault detection.
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
This approach allows for continuous, non-invasive monitoring of battery health, enabling early detection of faults and preventing catastrophic failures, while being applicable to various battery chemistries and types, including those in electric vehicles and grid storage systems.
Implementation Method 1
a battery cell separator formed of a light transmitting material that has light scattering characteristics that are a function of a state of impending faults of the battery cell
Implementation Method 2
a battery cell separator formed of a light transmitting material that has light transmission characteristics that are a function of a state of impending faults of the battery cell
Data Source
AI summary
Light is transmitted from a light source through or from a separator of a battery cell and received by one or more light detectors. The light that is normally transmitted through the separator is scattered, absorbed, wavelength-shifted or otherwise distorted by an impending fault in the vicinity of or within the separator. The change in light due to the impending fault is measured by a detector and a signal from the detector is processed to identify the impending fault so that a warning can be generated indicative of the impending fault. In particular, the separator and a battery cell electrolyte can be selected to provide waveguide properties.