Thermodynamic State of Charge Assessment for Electrochemical Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrochemical storage and conversion systems lack accurate methods for measuring key thermodynamic parameters such as entropy, enthalpy, and Gibbs free energy, which are crucial for predicting and optimizing the performance attributes of electrode materials and systems.
Innovation Solution
The development of systems and methods that simultaneously collect and measure a suite of interconnected electrochemical and thermodynamic parameters, allowing for the accurate characterization of electrode reaction states, including state functions like Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy, to predict performance attributes like energy, power density, and cycle life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional single-parameter measurement methods are used for electrochemical cells, then the measurement process is simple, but the accuracy of state of charge assessment is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple measurement parameters (open circuit voltage, temperature, and multiple thermodynamic parameters including entropy, enthalpy, and Gibbs free energy) into a single integrated measurement system. This merging of parameters allows for accurate state of charge assessment by considering the interconnected relationships between electrochemical and thermodynamic properties, rather than measuring each parameter independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement system is designed to simultaneously measure multiple parameters (voltage, temperature, entropy, enthalpy, Gibbs free energy) using a unified approach. This multi-functional capability enables the system to assess state of charge, predict performance attributes, and characterize electrode materials comprehensively, making the device universally applicable for various electrochemical cell types.
2Measurement precision
If multiple thermodynamic parameters are measured simultaneously, then the characterization accuracy improves, but the measurement time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary measurements of open circuit voltage and temperature, which are then used to calculate multiple thermodynamic parameters (entropy, enthalpy, Gibbs free energy) through mathematical relationships. By measuring the fundamental parameters first and deriving others from them, the system achieves comprehensive thermodynamic characterization without requiring separate measurement processes for each parameter, thus reducing total measurement time.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement system uses the measured parameters to continuously refine and update the state of charge assessment and performance predictions. The interconnected thermodynamic parameters provide feedback information that enhances the accuracy of each other's determination, allowing the system to achieve high precision characterization efficiently through iterative refinement rather than requiring extended measurement periods for each individual parameter.
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
Enables precise characterization of electrochemical cell performance, health, and safety by utilizing multidimensional profile analysis, enabling the prediction of energy, power density, and cycle life, and identifying phase transitions and defects in electrode materials.
Implementation Method 1
measuring a plurality of open circuit voltages of the electrochemical cell corresponding to a plurality of temperatures of the electrochemical cell; determining a plurality of thermodynamic parameters corresponding to the electrochemical cell, wherein the thermodynamic parameters are selected from the group comprising: a change in enthalpy (ΔH), a change in entropy (ΔS) and a change in free energy (ΔG)
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are methods, systems and devices for thermodynamically evaluating electrochemical systems and components thereof, including electrochemical cells such as batteries. The present systems and methods are capable of monitoring selected electrochemical cell conditions, such as temperature, open circuit voltage and/or composition, and carrying out measurements of a number of cell parameters, including open circuit voltage, time and temperature, with accuracies large enough to allow for precise determination of thermodynamic state functions and materials properties relating to the composition, phase, states of charge, health and safety and electrochemical properties of electrodes and electrolytes in an electrochemical cell. Thermodynamic measurement systems of the present invention are highly versatile and provide information for predicting a wide range of performance attributes for virtually any electrochemical system having an electrode pair.