Vehicle Energy Storage Electrode Split for Normal and Emergency Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle-use energy storage systems lack sufficient electricity supply during normal use times while reserving spare electricity, and their charge-discharge cycle performance is not adequately addressed by current techniques.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-use energy storage apparatus with a negative electrode containing a carbon-based first active material and a higher oxidation potential second active material, where the first material handles normal discharging and the second material handles emergency discharging, accompanied by a transmitting mechanism to signal the transition between these states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a single active material is used in the energy storage device, then the structure is simple, but the electricity supply during normal use time is insufficient while needing to reserve spare electricity
Solution Approach 1:
The negative active material is segmented into two distinct components: a first active material (carbon-based) that provides stable electricity supply during normal use, and a second active material that serves as reserved spare electricity. This segmentation allows the system to meet different electricity supply requirements at different times without requiring a completely complex multi-material system.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the negative active material are assigned different functional qualities: the first active material is optimized for normal discharge operations with good cycle stability, while the second active material is optimized for emergency discharge with higher capacity density. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing each material to specialize in its intended function.
2Quantity of substance
If the second active material is used more frequently, then the emergency electricity capacity increases, but the charge-discharge cycle performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by maintaining the first active material as the primary discharge source during normal operations, thereby preserving the second active material for emergency use. This preliminary usage pattern ensures that the second active material remains in a fresh state with high capacity, ready to provide emergency electricity without having undergone extensive charge-discharge cycling that would degrade its performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The first active material serves itself as the primary electricity source during normal operations, automatically handling the majority of discharge cycles without requiring intervention from the second active material. This self-service mechanism protects the second active material from premature degradation, maintaining its reliability for emergency situations while still providing sufficient emergency capacity.
3Quantity of substance
If the discharge lower limit voltage is lowered to increase electricity capacity, then the total electricity amount increases, but the charge-discharge cycle performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge voltage range is segmented into two zones: a first voltage range handled by the first active material during normal discharge, and a second lower voltage range handled by the second active material for emergency discharge. This segmentation allows the system to access lower voltages (and thus more total electricity) without subjecting the primary carbon-based material to excessive voltage stress that would degrade its cycle performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating voltage parameters dynamically: during normal operation, discharge stops at a higher voltage threshold to protect the first active material's cycle life, while during emergency operation, the discharge can proceed to lower voltages utilizing the second active material's higher capacity, thereby optimizing both cycle performance and total electricity availability.
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
Ensures a sufficient electricity supply during normal use while maintaining reserved electricity and enhancing charge-discharge cycle performance by using carbon for durability and silicon or other materials for emergency capacity, minimizing second active material deterioration.
Implementation Method 1
a first active material made of a carbon material; and a second active material having a higher oxidation potential than the carbon material
Implementation Method 2
a second active material having a higher oxidation potential than the carbon material and having a higher capacity per volume than the carbon material
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a vehicle-use energy storage apparatus, a vehicle-use discharge system, a discharge control method, and a vehicle-use energy storage device each capable of ensuring a sufficient amount of electricity as an amount of electricity used during a normal use time while ensuring an amount of electricity which is reserved as spare electricity, and possessing a sufficient charge-discharge cycle. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle-use energy storage apparatus including an energy storage device having a negative electrode including a negative active material which contains: a first active material made of a carbon material; and a second active material having a higher oxidation potential than the carbon material and having a higher capacity per volume than the carbon material. In performing discharging of the energy storage device, a main discharge reaction occurs in the first active material during a normal time, and the main discharge reaction occurs in the second active material during an emergency time.