Sodium-Metal Halide Battery Intermediate Temperature Operation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional high-temperature sodium-based rechargeable batteries face challenges such as thermal management issues, safety concerns, high operational costs, and energy inefficiency due to their high operating temperatures, which require expensive components resistant to these temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A molten sodium-metal halide battery system utilizing a molten eutectic mixture of sodium haloaluminate salts with a low melting point, allowing operation at temperatures between 160° C. and 220° C., featuring a metallic sodium negative electrode, a mixed molten salt positive electrolyte, and a sodium ion conductive solid electrolyte, which reduces thermal requirements and enhances safety and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional high-temperature sodium-based rechargeable batteries are used, then high specific energy density is achieved, but thermal management issues and safety concerns arise due to high operating temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating temperature parameter from conventional high temperatures (270-350°C for ZEBRA batteries) to intermediate temperatures (150-250°C) by using a novel electrolyte composition. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by maintaining high specific energy density while reducing thermal management issues and safety concerns associated with high-temperature operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite electrolyte system consisting of a molten salt electrolyte (sodium halide-based) combined with a solid ceramic electrolyte separator (beta-alumina). This composite material approach enables the battery to operate at lower intermediate temperatures while maintaining high specific energy density, thereby reducing thermal management issues and safety concerns.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional high-temperature sodium-based rechargeable batteries are used, then high specific energy density is achieved, but component costs increase due to requirements for expensive high-temperature resistant components
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the operating temperature parameter to intermediate ranges (150-250°C), the patent enables the use of less expensive components that do not require extreme high-temperature resistance, thereby reducing component costs while maintaining high specific energy density through the optimized electrolyte composition.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional high-temperature sodium-based rechargeable batteries are used, then high specific energy density is achieved, but energy efficiency decreases due to high energy requirements for heating and thermal management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating temperature parameter to intermediate ranges (150-250°C), which significantly reduces the energy required for heating the battery to operating temperature and for thermal management during operation. This improves energy efficiency while maintaining high specific energy density through the novel electrolyte system.
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 battery operates at lower temperatures, improving thermal management, reducing component costs, and enhancing energy efficiency while maintaining high specific energy density, thus addressing the shortcomings of conventional sodium-based batteries.
Implementation Method 1
a mixed molten salt positive electrolyte comprising at least two salts that can be represented by the formula NaAlX4-δ, where 0<δ<4
Implementation Method 2
During discharge, electrochemical reduction occurs at the cell's positive electrode, while electrochemical oxidation occurs at the cell's negative electrode
Implementation Method 3
During discharge, electrochemical reduction occurs at the cell's positive electrode, while electrochemical oxidation occurs at the cell's negative electrode
Data Source
AI summary
An intermediate temperature molten sodium-metal halide rechargeable battery utilizes a molten eutectic mixture of sodium haloaluminate salts having a relatively low melting point that enables the battery to operate at substantially lower temperature compared to the traditional ZEBRA battery system and utilize a highly conductive NaSICON solid electrolyte membrane. The positive electrode comprises a mixture of NaX and MX, where X is a halogen selected from Cl, Br and I and M is a metal selected Ni, Fe, and Zn. The positive electrode is disposed in a mixed molten salt positive electrolyte comprising at least two salts that can be represented by the formula NaAlX′4-δX″δ, where 0<δ<4, wherein X′ and X″ are different halogens selected from Cl, Br and I. The positive electrode may include additional NaX added in a molar ratio ranging from 1:1 to 3:1 of NaX:NaAlX′4-δX″δ.