Sodium-Ion Battery Pack With DC/DC Conversion for Wider Voltage Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sodium-ion batteries are not compatible with existing electronic components due to their wider voltage range, leading to inefficiencies and wasted energy when discharged below typical voltage limits, and there is a need to enhance the usable energy and safety of sodium-ion battery packs.
Innovation Solution
A sodium-ion battery pack design incorporating voltage converters, particularly DC/DC converters, to align the output voltage with external electronic components, allowing efficient access to energy across a broader voltage range, including low voltages, while maintaining safety and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If voltage converters are added to expand operational voltage range, then energy utilization efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A voltage converter is introduced as an intermediary device between the sodium-ion battery and the electronic component. This mediator transforms the voltage output to be compatible with the electronic component's requirements, enabling full energy utilization while protecting the component from voltage incompatibility issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage converter dynamically changes the electrical parameter (voltage) of the battery output to match the requirements of the electronic component. By adjusting the voltage parameter in real-time, the system achieves optimal energy utilization across different operating conditions.
2Ease of operation
If narrow voltage limits are used for compatibility, then ease of operation is improved, but energy utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using fixed narrow voltage limits, the system employs a dynamic voltage converter that can adapt its output voltage based on the battery's state of charge and the electronic component's requirements. This dynamic approach maintains compatibility while maximizing energy utilization across the full voltage range.
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage converter acts as a buffer that decouples the battery's natural voltage range from the electronic component's operating requirements, allowing the battery to operate at its full energy capacity while the converter ensures compatibility with the component.
3Ease of manufacture
If copper current collector is used in lithium-ion batteries, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to copper dissolution and safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the successful design paradigm from lithium-ion batteries (using copper current collectors) to sodium-ion batteries, creating a copied structure that is then optimized for sodium-ion specific chemistry. This allows leveraging established manufacturing processes while adapting to the new battery chemistry's requirements.
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 design enables access to nearly all energy stored in sodium-ion cells, increasing usable energy and specific energy density without adding unnecessary mass, and ensures compatibility with a variety of electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
one or more voltage converters, particularly DC/DC converters, to expand the operational voltage range and align the output voltage with electronic components
Implementation Method 2
both are capable of storing energy, and they both charge and discharge via a similar reaction mechanism. When a sodium-ion (or lithium-ion) battery is charging, Na+ (or Li+) ions de-intercalate from the cathode and insert into the anode
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a sodium-ion battery pack comprising one or more sodium-ion cells and one or more voltage converters. Methods and uses of such a sodium-ion battery pack are also disclosed.