Device for lithium ion battery storage and transportation

• US 20120313585A1
• Filed: 02/06/2012
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Frank Pereira
• Original Assignee: Frank Pereira
• Inventors: Pereira, Frank
• Application Number:
  US13/385,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20120313585A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/128
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4285 Testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/131 Electrodes based on mixed oxides or hydroxides, or on mixtures of oxides or hydroxides, e.g. LiCoOx
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/485 of mixed oxides or hydroxides for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiTi2O4 or LiTi2OxFy H01M4/505, H01M4/525 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to the area of energy storage. It more specifically relates to a device that increases the safety characteristics of a lithium ion battery during storage and/or transportation. The device comprises a conducting element placed across the terminals of the battery.

Claims

1. A device for increasing the safety characteristics of a lithium ion battery during storage or transportation, wherein the device comprises a conducting element placed across the terminals of the battery, and wherein the device does not result in more than a 30 percent decrease in the battery'"'"'s energy density when it is connected to the battery for more than 1 day.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises copper, and wherein it does not result in more than a 20 percent decrease in the battery'"'"'s energy density when it is connected to the battery for more than 28 days.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein it does not result in more than a 20 percent decrease in the battery'"'"'s energy density when it is connected to the battery for more than 56 days.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the device further comprises a micro-control unit, at least one shunt resistor and terminal connection hardware, and wherein the device does not result in more than a 30 percent decrease in the battery'"'"'s energy density when it is connected to the battery for more than 1 day.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the device further comprises a micro-control unit and connection circuitry to connect a battery contained micro-control unit, at least one shunt resistor and related circuitry, and wherein the device does not result in more than a 30 percent decrease in a battery'"'"'s energy density when it is connected to the battery for more than 1 day.

6. A battery system for transport, wherein the system comprises a battery and a device for increasing its safety characteristics, and wherein the device comprises a conducting element placed across the terminals of the battery, and wherein the device does not result in more than a 20 percent decrease in the battery'"'"'s energy density when it is connected to the battery for more than 56 days, and wherein the battery has an anode comprising lithium titanate spinel, and wherein the lithium titanate spinel has a surface area greater than 1 m²/g.

7. The battery system according to claim 6, wherein the device does not result in more than a 20 percent decrease in the battery'"'"'s energy density when it is connected to the battery for more than 112 days, and wherein the lithium titanate spinel has a surface area greater than 10 m²/g, and wherein particle aggregates of the lithium titanate spinel are roughly spherical in shape and hollow.

8. The battery system according to claim 7, wherein the device comprises copper, and wherein the lithium titanate spinel has a surface area greater than 20 m²/g.

9. A method of transporting a lithium ion battery, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

a) placing a device across the terminals of the battery, wherein the device comprises a conducting element, to form a battery system;

b) placing the battery system in a space within an automobile, truck, ship, airplane or rail car and transporting it to another location

wherein after the battery transported the device is removed and the battery is charged, and wherein the battery has not lost more than 20 percent of its energy density when the device has been connected to the terminals for at least 1 day.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the method comprises the additional step of

connecting a device to a micro-control unit of the battery, wherein the unit provides for the battery to bleed state-of-charge to a threshold level.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the device comprises copper, and wherein the battery has not lost more than 20 percent of its energy density when the device has been connected to the terminals for at least 7 days.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the battery has an anode comprising lithium titanate spinel, and wherein the lithium titanate spinel has a surface area greater than 1 m²/g.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the battery has not lost more than 20 percent of its energy density when the device has been connected to the terminals for at least 14 days, and wherein the lithium titanate spinel has a surface area greater than 10 m²/g, and wherein particle aggregates of the lithium titanate spinel are roughly spherical in shape and hollow.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the device comprises copper, and wherein the battery has not lost more than 20 percent of its energy density when the device has been connected to the terminals for at least 7 days, and wherein the battery has an anode comprising lithium titanate spinel, and wherein the lithium titanate spinel has a surface area greater than 1 m²/g.