Safety method, device and system for an energy storage device

• US 6,891,353 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2003
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quallion, LLC (EnerSys)
• Original Assignee: Quallion, LLC (EnerSys)
• Inventors: Tsukamoto, Hisashi, Kishiyama, Clay, Comarow, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US10/357,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20040004464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 320/118, 320/164, 320/124, 320/125, 320/127, 320/129, 320/131, 320/132, 320/135, 320/136, 320/147, 320/150, 320/155, 320/161
• US Class Current: 320/136
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4235 Safety or regulating additives or arrangements in electrodes, separators or electrolyte H01M10/4242 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/446 Initial charging measures
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/623 Portable devices, e.g. mobile telephones, cameras or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6551 Surfaces specially adapted for heat dissipation or radiation, e.g. fins or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6572 Peltier elements or thermoelectric devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/659 by heat storage or buffering, e.g. heat capacity or liquid-solid phase changes or transition
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/00 Safety devices for primary or secondary batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/10 Temperature sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/20 Pressure-sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method, device and system is disclosed for rapidly and safely discharging remaining energy stored in an electrochemical battery 104 in the event of an internal short circuit or other fault. In its best mode of implementation, if a sensor 116 detects one or more parameters such as battery temperature 204 or pressure 206, exceeding a predetermined threshold value 334, the terminals 144 of the battery or cell are intentionally short-circuited external to the battery through a low or near zero resistance load 150 which rapidly drains energy from the battery 104. Heat generated by such rapid drain is absorbed by a heat absorbing material 151 such as an endothermic phase-change material like paraffin. The rate energy is drained via the external discharge load 150 may be controlled with an electronic circuit 136 responsive to factors such as state of charge and battery temperature. Devices such as inductive charging coils 160, piezoelectric and Peltier devices 300, may also be used as emergency energy discharge loads. Heat absorption material 163 may be used to protect adjacent issue in medically-implanted devices.

Claims

1. An emergency energy discharge system comprising:

at least one energy storage device;

at least one detecting device for monitoring one or more operating parameters of said energy storage device;

means for storing predetermined safety threshold values for operating parameters of said energy storage device;

comparison means for comparing said predetermined safety threshold values with said operating parameters;

decision means for determining whether said operating parameters exceed one or more said predetermined operating threshold values;

activation means responsive to decision means;

energy discharge device for discharging said energy stored in said energy storage device so as to render said energy storage device safe before the fault or faults causing said monitored operating parameters to exceed said safety threshold values renders the energy storage device unsafe; and

heat absorbing material thermally coupled to said energy discharge device.

2. The emergency energy discharge system recited in claim 1 wherein said heat absorbing material comprises an endothermic phase-change material.

3. The emergency energy discharge system claimed in claim 2 wherein said heat absorbing material has a melting point about between 42°

C. and 80°

C.

4. The emergency energy discharge system recited in claim 2 wherein said endothermic phase-change material comprises paraffin.

5. The emergency energy discharge system recited in claim 1 wherein said heat absorbing material comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of:

paraffin, polypropylene, polyethylene, SiO₂, and water.

6. The emergency energy discharge system recited in claim 1 wherein said heat absorbing material and said energy discharge device are mutually encapsulated in a sealed enclosure.

7. The emergency energy discharge system recited in claim 2 wherein said heat absorbing material and said energy discharge device are mutually encapsulated in a sealed enclosure.

8. The emergency energy discharge system recited in claim 1 wherein said energy discharge device comprises a Peltier device.

9. The emergency energy discharge system recited in claim 6 wherein said energy discharge device comprises a Peltier device.

10. The emergency energy discharge system recited in claim 7 wherein said energy discharge device comprises a Peltier device.

11. A battery safety circuit comprising:

one or more first electrochemical cells;

at least one sensor monitoring at least one of the following conditions of said one or more first electrochemical cells;

voltage,

change in voltage,

rate of change in voltage,

current,

change in current,

rate of change in current,

state of charge,

change in state of charge,

rate of change in state of charge,

temperature,

change in temperature,

rate of change in temperature,

impedance,

change in impedance,

rate of change in impedance,

pressure,

change in pressure,

rate of change in pressure,

electrolyte pH,

electrolyte specific gravity,

amount of bulging of battery enclosure,

change in amount of bulging of battery enclosure, and

rate of change of amount of bulging of battery enclosure;

memory storage;

predetermined safety thresholds for said at least one condition;

a comparator circuit;

a control circuit;

a diverter switch device;

an energy discharge load;

heat absorbing material closely thermally coupled to said energy discharge load;

said comparator circuit comparing said monitored conditions with said stored predetermined safety thresholds and signaling said control circuit whenever said at least one monitored condition exceeds one or more said predetermined thresholds;

said control circuit sending an emergency energy discharge signal to said diverter switch device in response to signal from said comparator circuit; and

said diverter switch device causing electrodes of said one or more cells having conditions exceeding said predetermined thresholds to be connected to said energy discharge load.

12. The battery safety circuit recited in claim 11 wherein said heat absorbing material comprises an endothermic phase change material.

13. The battery safety circuit recited in claim 12 wherein said endothermic phase change material comprises paraffin.

14. The battery safety circuit recited in claim 11 wherein said heat absorbing material comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of:

paraffin, polypropylene, polyethylene, SiO₂, and water.

15. The battery safety circuit recited in claim 11 wherein said heat absorbing material and said energy discharge load are mutually encapsulated in a sealed enclosure.

16. The battery safety circuit recited in claim 12 wherein said heat absorbing material and said energy discharge load are mutually encapsulated in a sealed enclosure.

17. An implantable battery comprising:

one or more electrochemical cells;

a charging circuit;

a charging control circuit;

an implanted electronic device receiving its power from said one or more electrochemical cells;

an emergency energy discharge circuit further comprising at least one sensor monitoring at least one of the following conditions of said electrochemical cells;

voltage,

change in voltage,

rate of change in voltage,

current,

change in current,

rate of change in current,

state of charge,

change in state of charge,

rate of change in state of charge,

temperature,

change in temperature,

rate of change in temperature,

impedance,

change in impedance,

rate of change in impedance,

pressure,

change in pressure,

rate of change in pressure,

electrolyte pH,

electrolyte specific gravity,

amount of bulging of battery enclosure,

change in amount of bulging of battery enclosure, and

rate of change of amount of bulging of battery enclosure;

memory storage;

predetermined safety thresholds for said at least one condition stored in said memory storage;

a comparator circuit;

a control circuit;

a diverter switch;

an electrical discharge load;

heat absorbing material;

said comparator circuit comparing said monitored conditions with said stored predetermined safety thresholds and signaling said control circuit whenever said at least one monitored condition exceeds one or more said predetermined thresholds;

said emergency discharge circuit sending an emergency energy discharge signal to said diverter switch in response to signal from said comparator circuit;

said diverter switch causing electrodes of said one or more cells having conditions exceeding said predetermined thresholds to be connected to said energy discharge load.

18. An implantable battery as claimed in claim 17 wherein said heat absorbing material is thermally coupled to said electrical discharge load.

19. An implantable battery as claimed in claim 17 wherein said heat absorbing material comprises an endothermic phase-change material.

20. The implantable battery as claimed in claim 19 wherein said heat absorbing material has a melting point about between 42°

C. and 80°

C.

21. An implantable battery as claimed in claim 19 wherein said endothermic phase-change material comprises paraffin.

22. An implantable battery as claimed in claim 17 wherein said heat absorbing material comprises at least one substance selected from the group consisting of:

paraffin, polypropylene, polyethylene, SiO₂, and water.

23. An implantable battery as claimed in claim 17 wherein said heat absorbing material and said electrical discharge load are mutually encapsulated in a sealed enclosure.

24. An implantable battery as claimed in claim 19 wherein said heat absorbing material and said electrical discharge load are mutually encapsulated in a sealed enclosure.

25. A battery comprising:

one or more electrochemical cells;

a charging circuit;

a charging control circuit;

an electronic device receiving its power from said one or more electrochemical cells;

an emergency energy discharge circuit further comprising at least one sensor monitoring at least one of the following conditions of said electrochemical cells;

voltage,

change in voltage,

rate of change in voltage,

current,

change in current,

rate of change in current,

state of charge,

change in state of charge,

rate of change in state of charge,

temperature,

change in temperature,

rate of change in temperature,

impedance,

change in impedance,

rate of change in impedance,

pressure,

change in pressure,

rate of change in pressure,

electrolyte pH,

electrolyte specific gravity,

amount of bulging of battery enclosure,

change in amount of bulging of battery enclosure, and

rate of change of amount of bulging of battery enclosure;

memory storage;

predetermined safety thresholds for said at least one condition stored in said memory storage;

a comparator circuit;

a control circuit;

a diverter switch;

an electrical discharge load;

heat absorbing material;

said comparator circuit comparing said monitored conditions with said stored predetermined safety thresholds and signaling said control circuit whenever said at least one monitored condition exceeds one or more said predetermined thresholds;

said emergency discharge circuit sending an emergency energy discharge signal to said diverter switch in response to signal from said comparator circuit;

said diverter switch causing electrodes of said one or more cells having conditions exceeding said predetermined thresholds to be connected to said energy discharge load.

26. A battery as claimed in claim 25 wherein said heat absorbing material is thermally coupled to said electrical discharge load.

27. A battery as claimed in claim 25 wherein said heat absorbing material comprises an endothermic phase-change material.

28. A battery as claimed in claim 27 wherein said heat absorbing material has a melting point about between 42°

C. and 80°

C.

29. A battery as claimed in claim 27 wherein said endothermic phase-change material comprises paraffin.

30. A battery as claimed in claim 25 wherein said heat absorbing material comprises at least one substance selected from the group consisting of:

paraffin, polypropylene, polyethylene, SiO₂, and water.

31. A battery as claimed in claim 25 wherein said heat absorbing material and said electrical discharge load are mutually encapsulated in a sealed enclosure.

32. A battery as claimed in claim 27 wherein said heat absorbing material and said electrical discharge load are mutually encapsulated in a sealed enclosure.

33. A battery comprising:

one or more electrochemical cells;

a charging circuit;

a charging control circuit;

an electronic device receiving its power from said one or more electrochemical cells;

an emergency energy discharge circuit further comprising at least one sensor monitoring at least one of the following conditions of said electrochemical cells;

voltage,

change in voltage,

rate of change in voltage,

current,

change in current,

rate of change in current,

state of charge,

change in state of charge,

rate of change in state of charge,

temperature,

change in temperature,

rate of change in temperature,

impedance,

change in impedance,

rate of change in impedance,

pressure,

change in pressure,

rate of change in pressure,

electrolyte pH,

electrolyte specific gravity,

amount of bulging of battery enclosure,

change in amount of bulging of battery enclosure, and

rate of change of amount of bulging of battery enclosure;

memory storage;

predetermined safety thresholds for said at least one condition stored in said memory storage;

a comparator circuit;

a control circuit;

a diverter switch;

an electrical discharge load;

said comparator circuit comparing said monitored conditions with said stored predetermined safety thresholds and signaling said control circuit whenever said at least one monitored condition exceeds one or more said predetermined thresholds;

said emergency discharge circuit sending an emergency energy discharge signal to said diverter switch in response to signal from said comparator circuit;

said diverter switch causing electrodes of said one or more cells having conditions exceeding said predetermined thresholds to be connected to said energy discharge load.

34. A battery as claimed in claim 33 wherein said discharge load comprises one or more components of said device.

35. A battery as claimed in claim 34 wherein said one or more components of said device is at least one inductive charging coil.

36. A battery as claimed in claim 33 further including an alerting signaling device responsive to said emergency energy discharge circuit to issue an alert when said battery experiences a fault.

37. A battery as claimed in claim 36 wherein said electrical discharge load comprises at least said alerting signaling device.

38. A battery as claimed in claim 37 wherein said alerting signaling device comprises one or more of the following devices:

a radio transmitter,

a lamp,

a light emitting diode,

a sound generator,

a vibrating device.