Pressurized Electrochemical Battery With Deformable Chamber

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current electrochemical batteries face challenges in achieving optimal contact between active materials and solid electrolytes, leading to reduced charge/discharge capacity and increased risk of component deformation and cracking, particularly in sodium-ion batteries, while manufacturing processes are inefficient and costly due to the use of liquid electrolytes and limited automation.

Innovation Solution

A pressurized electrochemical battery design with deformable chambers and a fluid supply system to regulate pressure and temperature, enhancing contact between electrode sheets and solid electrolyte sheets, and an automated manufacturing process using rotating spindles and winding techniques to improve production rates and minimize costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If solid electrolyte is used to eliminate liquid electrolyte drawbacks, then reliability and lifetime are improved, but manufacturing precision and contact quality between components deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery lifetimeVSAvoidcontact quality between active materials and electrolyte
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-compressing the solid electrolyte and electrode materials during the manufacturing process to ensure optimal contact quality before the battery begins operation. This pre-compression compensates for the rigid nature of solid electrolytes, establishing good interfacial contact between components from the outset, which resolves the manufacturing precision challenge while maintaining the reliability benefits of solid electrolytes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If pressure is applied to improve contact between electrodes and electrolyte, then charge/discharge capacity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharge/discharge capacityVSAvoidpressure regulation system
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by designing the battery structure to automatically maintain optimal contact pressure through its own operational characteristics. The solid electrolyte and electrode materials are arranged and compressed during manufacturing to create a self-sustaining contact interface that maintains pressure through normal battery operation, eliminating the need for external active pressure regulation systems while preserving high charge/discharge capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If automated manufacturing processes are implemented to reduce costs, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction rateVSAvoidcomponent alignment and contact quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the battery manufacturing process into distinct modular stages that can be independently optimized for both automation and precision. The battery structure is designed with modular components that can be assembled through automated processes while maintaining precise alignment through standardized interfaces and positioning features, thus achieving high production rates without sacrificing contact quality between electrodes and electrolyte.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 improves the storage and discharge capacity, extends the battery's cycle life, and reduces manufacturing costs by optimizing contact and automating the production process, addressing the limitations of existing technologies with solid electrolytes and sodium-ion batteries.

Implementation Method 1

a deformable chamber arranged in contact with the electrochemical cell, with the deformable chamber supplied with a fluid that deforms the chamber to apply pressure to the electrochemical cell

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

several solid electrolyte sheets inserted between the electrode sheets

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP3799179A1Pressurized electrochemical battery and process for manufacturing the same
Publication Date: 2021.03.31 TORRES MARTINEZ MANUEL
  • EP3799179A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3799179A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3799179A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A pressurized electrochemical battery and process for manufacturing the same, which comprises several connectors (1,2) to at least one electrochemical cell (3) with several electrical energy collectors (5) that are connected to the connectors (1,2), with the electrochemical cell (3) comprising several electrode sheets (13) and several solid electrolyte sheets (14) inserted between the electrode sheets (13), and at least one deformable chamber (4) arranged in contact with the electrochemical cell (3), with the deformable chamber (4) supplied with a fluid that deforms the chamber (4) to apply pressure to the electrochemical cell (3).