WO2011142522A1

WO2011142522A1 - Battery recovery apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2011142522A1
Application number: PCT/KR2010/009573
Authority: WO
Inventors: Min Yun Kim; Eun Chul Jung
Original assignee: M&M21
Priority date: 2010-05-10
Filing date: 2010-12-30
Publication date: 2011-11-17
Also published as: KR20110124038A; WO2011142522A9

Abstract

The present invention provides a battery recovery apparatus, includes an SMPS; a high voltage pulse generator; a voltage/current measurement circuit; a switching unit; a polarity test circuit; the load resistor; a current limit circuit; a CPU; and a display unit. The present invention is to provide a battery recovery apparatus in which the specific gravity of sulfuric acid is made into an almost new level by dissolving a sulphate of a lead sulfate battery that is impossible to use through repetitive chemical reactions, thereby being capable of restoring the function of the battery to its original state and increasing the lifespan of the battery.

Description

BATTERY RECOVERY APPARATUS

The present invention relates to a battery recovery apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a battery recovery apparatus in which the specific gravity of sulfuric acid is made into an almost new level by dissolving a sulphate of a lead sulfate battery that is impossible to use through repetitive chemical reactions, thereby being capable of restoring the function of the battery to its original state and increasing the lifespan of the battery.

In general, a battery (for example, a lead acid battery) is being used in various industrial machines and vessels, including vehicles. The battery provides a power source to vehicles and various industrial machines and apparatuses by repeating charge and discharge processes for electric power generated by a generator. If the charge and discharge processes are repeated for several years, the electrolytic function of the battery is sharply deteriorated because of various causes generated in the battery, thereby making the battery impossible to exhibit its function. Consequently, the battery is wasted as an industrial waste.

For example, a lead acid battery includes a negative electrode (Pb) having a high ionization tendency, a positive electrode (PbO2) having a low ionization tendency, and an electrolyte (for example, dilute sulfuric acid) filled between the negative electrode and the positive electrode. The lead acid battery generates electromotive force through a chemical reaction according to the ionization. In the lead acid battery of a charge state, the electrolyte, together with the dilute sulfuric acid, exists in the state of water, and ions are divided into hydrogen ions and sulfate ions according to the ionization action. Accordingly, the negative electrode and the positive electrode are discharged while forming lead sulfate (PbSO4) through ionic bonds, and thus the specific gravity of the electrolyte gradually decreases. A charge process of the discharged lead acid battery is opposite to the discharge process thereof. The electrolyte is changed to the state of water along with dilute sulfuric acid, and thus voltage and the specific gravity of the electrolyte rise again.

However, in the lead acid battery based on the above principle, if the charge and discharge processes are repeated for several years, the positive electrode and the negative electrode are changed to a lead sulfate. In this process, a white lactic acid softening (white colored softening) phenomenon is generated on the surface of the lead sulfate. In this case, a thin film is formed in the electrodes, thereby deteriorating the conductivity of the electrodes. The thin film decreases lead peroxide and thus the concentration of the electrolyte is lowered, thereby making the recovery of electromotive force difficult. Consequently, the charge of the lead acid battery becomes impossible.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and the present invention is to provide a battery recovery apparatus in which the specific gravity of sulfuric acid is made into an almost new level by dissolving a sulphate of a lead sulfate battery that is impossible to use through repetitive chemical reactions, thereby being capable of restoring the function of the battery to its original state and increasing the lifespan of the battery.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a battery recovery apparatus, includes a Switching Mode Power Supply (SMPS) configured to receive external AC voltage and supply DC voltage for driving constituent elements of the battery recovery apparatus and for charging a battery; a high voltage pulse generator configured to receive the DC voltage from the SMPS and generate a high voltage pulse for removing a sulphate of the battery and for charging the battery; a voltage/current measurement circuit configured to measure current drained into the battery by detecting voltage across a shunt resistor when the high voltage pulse, generated by the high voltage pulse generator, is drained into the battery; a switching unit configured to connect or disconnect the battery and the high voltage pulse generator or the battery and a load resistor through a selective switching operation; a polarity test circuit electrically connected to the switching unit and configured to determine whether the polarity of the battery connected to the battery recovery apparatus is a forward direction or a backward direction; the load resistor configured to, when the load resistor is connected to the battery according to the switching operation of the switching unit, directly receive a power source from the battery, operate for a predetermined time, and determine whether the battery is normal; a current limit circuit configured to control the output current value of the SMPS; a Central Processing Unit (CPU) configured to control the operations of the constituent elements of the battery recovery apparatus, monitor the states of the constituent elements, limit the output current value of the SMPS within a capacitance value of the battery for a predetermined time through the current limit circuit, connect or disconnect the battery and the high voltage pulse generator or the battery and the load resistor through the switching unit, and generate control signals, regarding whether the battery recovery apparatus is operated, whether the battery is normal, and a test result through the load resistor; and a display unit configured to display whether the battery recovery apparatus is operated, whether the battery is normal, and the test result through the load resistor in response to the control signals generated by the CPU.

The high voltage pulse generator comprises an Integration Circuit (IC) for supplying current for generating a pulse, a Field Effect Transistor (FET) for receiving the current from the IC and raising an amount of the current, and a coil for receiving current having the raised amount from the FET and generating the high voltage pulse.

The polarity test circuit has a structure in which two photo couplers are connected in parallel.

The current limit circuit adjusts the output current value by changing a frequency of current flowing through a primary coil of an oscillation transformer within the SMPS and limits the output current value within 15% of a maximum capacitance value according to the capacitance (AH) of the battery.

The above features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a battery recovery apparatus according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the battery recovery apparatus according to the present invention.

201: SMPS 202: high voltage pulse generator

203: voltage/current measurement circuit

204: switching unit 205: polarity test circuit

206: load resistor 207: current limit circuit

08: CPU 209: display unit 210: battery

215: NG lamp 217, 218: up and down buttons

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a battery recovery apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a general external view of the battery recovery apparatus and FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the battery recovery apparatus.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the battery recovery apparatus 200 according to the present invention includes a Switching Mode Power Supply (SMPS) 201, a high voltage pulse generator 202, a voltage/current measurement circuit 203, a switching unit 204, a polarity test circuit 205, a load resistor 206, a current limit circuit 207, a Central Processing Unit (CPU) 208, and a display unit 209.

The SMPS 201 receives external AC voltage (for example, AC 220 V or 110 V) and supplies DC voltage (for example, DC 5 V and DC 15 V) for driving the constituent elements of the battery recovery apparatus 200 and for charging a battery 210.

The high voltage pulse generator 202 receives the DC voltage from the SMPS 201 and generates a high voltage pulse (for example, a pulse having a frequency of 15 kHz) for removing a sulphate of the battery 210 (for example, a 12V lead sulfate battery) and for charging the battery 210. The high voltage pulse generator 202 converts the received DC voltage (for example, DC 15V) into a pulse signal having a frequency of 150 V or higher and 15 kHz.

The voltage/current measurement circuit 203 measures current drained into the battery 210 by detecting voltage across a shunt resistor when the high voltage pulse, generated by the high voltage pulse generator 202, is drained into the battery 210.

The switching unit 204 connects or disconnects the battery 210 and the high voltage pulse generator 202 or connects or disconnects the battery 210 and the load resistor 206 through a selective switching operation.

The polarity test circuit 205 is electrically connected to the switching unit 204 and configured to determine whether the polarity of the battery 210 connected to the battery recovery apparatus 200 is a forward direction or a backward direction.

If the load resistor 206 is connected to the battery 210 according to the switching operation of the switching unit 204, the load resistor 206 directly receives a power source from the battery 210, operates for a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds), and determines whether the battery 210 is normal.

The current limit circuit 207 controls an output current value outputted from the SMPS 201.

The CPU 208 controls the operations of the constituent elements of the battery recovery apparatus 200, monitors the states of the constituent elements, limits the output current value of the SMPS 201 within a capacitance value of the battery 210 for a predetermined time through the current limit circuit 207, connects or disconnects the battery 210 and the high voltage pulse generator 202 or connects or disconnects the battery 210 and the load resistor 206 through the switching unit 204, and generates control signals, regarding whether the apparatus is operated, whether the battery 210 is normal, and a test result through the load resistor 206.

The display unit 209 displays whether the apparatus is operated, whether the battery 210 is normal, and a test result through the load resistor 206 in response to the control signals generated by the CPU 208. A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) may be used as the display unit 209.

The high voltage pulse generator 202 includes an Integration Circuit (IC) for supplying current for generating a pulse, a Field Effect Transistor (FET) for receiving the current from the IC and raising the amount of the current, and a coil for receiving current having the raised amount from the FET and generating the high voltage pulse.

It is preferred that the high voltage pulse generator 202 have a dual structure in which unit circuits, each including the IC, the FET, and the coil, are connected in parallel.

The polarity test circuit 205 has a structure in which two photo couplers are connected in parallel.

Furthermore, the switching unit 204 includes a structure in which two relays are connected in parallel.

The load resistor 206 has a resistance value of 0.1. The load resistor 206 is operated for 4 hours, 10 hours, or 23 hours according to a set time value after the battery recovery apparatus 200 is operated.

Furthermore, the current limit circuit 207 adjusts the output current value by changing the frequency of current flowing through the primary coil of an oscillation transformer within the SMPS 201 and limits the output current value within 15% of a maximum capacitance value according to the capacitance (AH) of the battery 210.

The operation of the battery recovery apparatus constructed above according to the present invention is described below.

In the state in which the battery recovery apparatus 200 of the present invention is operated by supplying a power source to the battery recovery apparatus 200, when the battery 210 to be charged and tested is connected to the battery recovery apparatus 210, the polarity test circuit 205 checks whether the polarity of the battery 210 is a forward direction or a backward direction. If, as a result of the check, the polarity of the battery 210 is a backward direction, a bell chimes several times (for example, 5 times) and an NG (No Good) lamp 215 is turned on. Here, the battery 210 is not connected to the high voltage pulse generator 202. If, as a result of the check, the polarity of the battery 210 is a forward direction, a ‘push start button’ is displayed in the display unit 209. A user inputs a capacitance value of the battery 210 using up and down

buttons

217 and 218.

Meanwhile, the CPU 208 limits the output current value of the SMPS 201 within 15% of the capacitance value of the battery 210 for 3 hours through the current limit circuit 207. At a fourth hour, the CPU 208 blocks the connection of the battery 210 and the high voltage pulse generator 202 through the switching unit 204 and connects the battery 210 and the load resistor 206 for 3 seconds. The lowest voltage value at this time is displayed on a screen of the display unit 209 as a ‘RUN’ voltage. If the ‘RUN’ voltage is, for example, 9.9 V or lower, it is determined that the driving capability of the battery for, for example, a vehicle, has decreased (that is, the battery cells are defective), and the operation of the battery is stopped. Next, ‘BAD-BATT’ is displayed on the screen of the display unit 209, and a bell chimes 5 times.

However, of the ‘RUN’ voltage is 10 V or higher, the CPU 208 connects the high voltage pulse generator 202 and the battery 210 again through the switching unit 204 and continues to perform a task of recovery the battery 210. While the battery recovery apparatus 200 is operated, current including a high voltage pulse continues to be supplied to the battery 210, and thus current is reduced little by little.

A recovery ratio is displayed in ‘Rate’ on the screen of the display unit 209 as percentage according to current. A load test is performed at a tenth hour and a twenty-third hour. If the connection of the battery 210 and the battery recovery apparatus 200 is blocked while the battery recovery apparatus 200 is operated, a relevant message, together with a bell, is displayed on the screen of the display unit 209. Accordingly, a user (that is, an apparatus operator) can connect the battery 210 and the battery recovery apparatus 200 again. The entire operation of the battery recovery apparatus 200 is terminated after 23 hours, and a message ‘Complete’ is displayed on the screen of the display unit 209.

As described above, according to the present invention, the specific gravity of sulfuric acid is made into an almost new level by dissolving a sulphate of a lead sulfate battery that is sulphated and impossible to use through repetitive chemical reactions. Accordingly, there are advantages in that the function of the battery can be restored to its original state and thus the lifespan of the battery can be expanded.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with specific items, such as the detailed elements, and the limited embodiments and drawings, it should be noted that they are provided only to help an overall understanding of the present invention and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Those skilled in the art can implement the technical constructions of the present invention in various forms without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be construed to be limited to the above embodiments, but should be construed to cover all modifications or variations induced from the meaning and range of the appended claims and their equivalents.

As it has been described so far, according to the present invention, the specific gravity of sulfuric acid is made into an almost new level by dissolving a sulphate of a lead sulfate battery that is sulphated and impossible to use through repetitive chemical reactions, thereby there are advantages in that the function of the battery can be restored to its original state and thus the lifespan of the battery can be expanded.

Claims

A battery recovery apparatus, comprising:

a Switching Mode Power Supply (SMPS) configured to receive external AC voltage and supply DC voltage for driving constituent elements of the battery recovery apparatus and for charging a battery;

a high voltage pulse generator configured to receive the DC voltage from the SMPS and generate a high voltage pulse for removing a sulphate of the battery and for charging the battery;

a voltage/current measurement circuit configured to measure current drained into the battery by detecting voltage across a shunt resistor when the high voltage pulse, generated by the high voltage pulse generator, is drained into the battery;

a switching unit configured to connect or disconnect the battery and the high voltage pulse generator or the battery and a load resistor through a selective switching operation;

a polarity test circuit electrically connected to the switching unit and configured to determine whether a polarity of the battery connected to the battery recovery apparatus is a forward direction or a backward direction;

the load resistor configured to, when the load resistor is connected to the battery according to the switching operation of the switching unit, directly receive a power source from the battery, operate for a predetermined time, and determine whether the battery is normal;

a current limit circuit configured to control an output current value of the SMPS;

a Central Processing Unit (CPU) configured to control operations of the constituent elements of the battery recovery apparatus, monitor states of the constituent elements, limit the output current value of the SMPS within a capacitance value of the battery for a predetermined time through the current limit circuit, connect or disconnect the battery and the high voltage pulse generator or the battery and the load resistor through the switching unit, and generate control signals, regarding whether the battery recovery apparatus is operated, whether the battery is normal, and a test result through the load resistor; and

a display unit configured to display whether the battery recovery apparatus is operated, whether the battery is normal, and the test result through the load resistor in response to the control signals generated by the CPU.
The battery recovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the high voltage pulse generator comprises an Integration Circuit (IC) for supplying current for generating a pulse, a Field Effect Transistor (FET) for receiving the current from the IC and raising an amount of the current, and a coil for receiving current having the raised amount from the FET and generating the high voltage pulse.
The battery recovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the polarity test circuit has a structure in which two photo couplers are connected in parallel.
The battery recovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the current limit circuit adjusts the output current value by changing a frequency of current flowing through a primary coil of an oscillation transformer within the SMPS and limits the output current value within 15% of a maximum capacitance value according to a capacitance (AH) of the battery.