Zeolite Battery Heater for Cold-Start Range Preservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery heating methods in electric vehicles consume energy, depend on infrastructure, take time, and may not effectively raise battery temperature in extreme cold, leading to reduced performance and range.
Innovation Solution
A portable zeolite heater that stores heat using zeolite's natural properties, releasing it to warm batteries through a heat coil, independent of grid or fuel sources, and rechargeable via a heat coil.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If resistive heating elements are used to heat the battery, then the battery temperature increases, but energy consumption increases reducing vehicle range
Solution Approach 1:
The zeolite heater is pre-charged with thermal energy before the vehicle journey, allowing it to release stored heat during operation without consuming the vehicle's battery energy. This preliminary energy storage resolves the contradiction by separating the heating energy source from the vehicle's power system.
Solution Approach 2:
The zeolite heater acts as an intermediary thermal energy storage device between the external power source (used for pre-charging) and the battery. It stores thermal energy in its crystalline structure and releases it passively to maintain battery temperature, eliminating the need for continuous energy input during vehicle operation.
2Reliability
If preheating is performed before driving, then battery performance improves, but time required before operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The zeolite heater is pre-charged with thermal energy in advance (overnight or before use), so that when the vehicle is needed, the heating system is already prepared and can immediately begin maintaining optimal battery temperature without requiring additional preheating time.
Solution Approach 2:
The zeolite heater automatically maintains battery temperature within the optimal range through passive heat release, eliminating the need for active control and monitoring during operation. The system self-regulates based on the thermal properties of the zeolite material.
3Temperature
If the battery is used to power heating elements, then the battery temperature increases, but the available range decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The zeolite heater serves as an intermediary that decouples the heating function from the vehicle's power system. It stores thermal energy externally and releases it passively to maintain battery temperature, allowing the vehicle's battery to be dedicated entirely to propulsion without sacrificing range to heating operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating function is extracted from the vehicle's power system and implemented as a separate, externally-powered thermal management system. This extraction allows the battery to focus solely on energy storage for propulsion, maximizing vehicle range.
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 battery operation in cold temperatures without additional energy consumption, expands operational environments, and maintains optimal battery performance.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a natural property of the mineral family of zeolites to store heat that can be later passively released
Implementation Method 2
The heat is transferred to the containers heat coil, that then transfers that heat to the battery
Implementation Method 3
The heat is transferred to the containers heat coil, that then transfers that heat to the battery
Data Source
AI summary
The invention utilizes the heat storage capabilities of the mineral family of zeolites. Zeolite media is stored in a container. There is a place to add water to the zeolite in the container that will then release heat. The zeolite media releases its heat and heats a coil that is within the container and extends outside the container to heat a battery or a surrounding area. When the heat stored in the zeolite is exhausted it is recharged by using the heat coil in reverse to heat the zeolite and evaporate the water. The steam leaves the container through a one-way steam valve. Once the water is evaporated the zeolite is recharged with heat and ready for another use. This invention has a simple functionality store heat in zeolite, add water to release heat from zeolite, reheat the zeolite when evaporating the water. The invention contains the infrastructure required.