Comments on Swayam Supercap Battery-Cell for EVs

proposed by Nirav Patel

1. Nothing comes free. If you want very high power density, you have to
compromise on energy density. Now Li-ion cells rated at 130C are
commercially available. Thumb rule is 10C corresponds to 1KW/kg. 130C
corresponds to 13KW/kg to 20KW/kg.
2. The proposed supercap battery cell is not a new invention or innovation but a
distorted or modified version of the technology that is nearly 20 years old.
3. The proposal or invention / innovation is very similar to Ramar Pillai’s
Mooligai Petrol. It was a news item at one point of time.
4. Several people who have not even gone to school have become
entrepreneurs by God’s gift. Mr.Nirav Patel is trying to join the gifted group.
From the ppt it looks like Mr.Nirav Patel does not know even the elements of
the periodic table. Does know the difference between silicon and silicone.
There are several typographical errors in the proposal.
Potecium - potassium
Silicone - Silicon
Descharging - discharging
Nagative - negative
Graphen - Graphene
Sefty - Safety
ATP - atmosphere
Sepretor - separator
Magnecium – Magnesium
Addictive - additive

5. Mr.Nirav Patel’s invention belongs to the family of “Ryden dual carbon

battery,” developed by Power Japan Plus and was a news item in 2014 for
quite some time. Researchers have been working on anion and cation
interaction into carbon for over 20 years. Power Japan Plus announced
 commercial production of Dual Carbon Cell in 2014. Carbon for the
electrode materials are from cotton. The same is proposed by Mr.Nirav
Patel.
6. There are several references to electrochemical intercalation of Li +, K+,
Mg+, PF6- ions into carbon electrode that is talked about as innovation in
this proposal.
Seel, J. A.; Dahn, J. R. Electrochemical intercalation of PF6- into graphite. J.
Electrochem. Soc. 2000, 147, 892−898.
Ishihara, T.; Koga, M.; Matsumoto, H.; Yoshio, M. Electrochemical
intercalation of hexafluorophosphate anion into various carbons for cathode
of dual-carbon rechargeable battery. Electrochem. Solid-State Lett. 2007,
10, A74−A76.
7. What is Vacuumed Argon Atmosphere? Several new words are coined by
him because of ignorance (He is not formally trained to perform scientific
research).
8. It is not liquid based gaseous electrolyte. The electrolyte will be in the liquid
form in the cell. It is Liquified gas electrolytes, first reported on in 2017,
are made, as their name suggests, from liquified gas solvents. They
function at both room temperature and at very low temperatures (down to
–60 °C) because they are more resistant to freezing than standard
electrolytes.
9. Several patents exist on the use of refrigerants as solvents instead of
aprotic carbonate (EC, PC, DMC, EMC) electrolytes.
10. The electrolyte solvent in the proposal is R32 (nothing but Difluoromethane,
CH2F2). Difluoromethane appears as a colorless odorless gas. Insoluble in
water and has a high thermal stability. Its vapors are heavier than air.
Under prolonged exposure to fire or intense heat the containers may
rupture violently and rocket. It is dangerous if the cell is thrown on fire.
11. Fluoromethane (CH3)-based liquified gas electrolyte allows for dendrite-free
Li-metal cycling with a relatively high efficiency (of 97.5%) by forming a
dense, uniform, ceramic-based solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) composed
mainly of LiF and Li2CO3 salt on the Li anode surface. This SEI is different to
 the inhomogeneous SEI that forms with conventional electrolytes, which is
unstable and produces dendrites.
12. Because of the exceptionally low melting point of the fluoromethane, its
minimal viscosity, and high dielectric-fluidity factor, the conductivity is well
maintained at low temperatures. Indeed, the conductivity is considerably
enhanced with an increase in concentration of the salt and additive.
Electrolyte based on liquified gas provide very good performance at low
temperature. The electrolyte conductivity does not change drastically as in
normal Li-Ion cells.

Conclusion :

1. This is not new invention or innovation. Well known over 20 years.

2. Power Japan Plus announced commercial production of Dual Carbon Cell in
2014.
3. To get good power density we have to compromise on energy density. LTO
cells have very high power density but specific energy is in the range of 50 to
70Wh/kg. (close to Ni-MH cells). Unacceptable for EV, if you need good range
per charge.
4. The system has not reached acceptable level of performance (sp energy,
energy density, power density, cost, safety, long life) for wide adoption by
EV OEMs.
As Li was inserted into graphite during electrochemical reactions, various “staged” Li–
graphite intercalation compound Li GIC phases were formed. By definition, a Li-GIC material
at stage
n has a single Li-intercalated layer for every n graphene sheets. Some of these Li-GIC
phases display unique colors, which can be used to obtain real-time and in situ spatial maps
of the graphite SOC or lithiation, which is defined as x in LixC6. Graphite is black or gray,
and the insertion of a small amount of lithium x 0.3, has little effect on the color. Once the
composition reached LiC18, the lithium-intercalated graphite became dark blue 0.3 ≤ x
≤0.5, referred to as dilute stage 2. A two-phase transition from the liquid like dilute stage-2
LiC18 to an ordered stage-2 LiC12 coincides with a color transition from blue to red 0.5 ≤ x ≤
0.9.
Another two-phase transition from LiC12 to stage-1 LiC6 coincides with a color transition from
red to gold.

1. Li-ion batteries too process a risk of unexpected environmental conditions or

defaults which could create an accidental or uncontrolled energy release that are
often catastrophic.

Possess is more appropriate

2. Introduction : PTC, CID are present only in 18650 cells. When you are writing in
general you have to say, you have to list several of them and say one or more of the
protection devices may be present in the cell

3. Primary lithium is more hazardous than secondary Li- ion cells. After the introduction
of Lithium ion and Li polymer cells the use of primary lithium has come down
drastically. It is uncommon in commercial application and main used in military
applications. All discussions related to and specific to primary lithium can be
eliminated.

4. This assembly as a whole is compactly housed in metallic or plastic case with built in
safety mechanisms [pressure release vent, PTC (Positive Temperature Co-efficient),
CID (Current Interrupt Device)].

with one or more of the safety mechanisms [burst disk, pressure release vent, PTC
(Positive Temperature Co-efficient), CID (Current Interrupt Device)].
 5. Case and vent design: Allowing the internal build-up pressure to escape.

Allowing the generated gases to escape

6. Over charging & Deep discharge : We cannot give a specific value such as 4.2V
and 2.5V. There are wide variery of materials for lithium ion cells. There are 1.5V
systems in Lithium ion cells If you consider LFP and LTO battery the voltages are in
the range of 1.5 to 1.9V. Less than 2.0V. LFP/LTO is recommended for city buses.

7. Deep Discharge : Li plating does not occur during discharge. It always occur during
charge at the anode. During discharge lithium goes to the cathode. There is no
lithium plating on the cathode.

8. High temperature : Is this paper restricted to space application or a general one? In

spacecraft it is always conduction and radiation. In ground applications it is mostly
convection. It is always fluid (air, coolant water – ethylene glycol water mixture or
refrigerant) circulation in ground systems.

9. Over current: In spacecraft or space applications overcurrent and overcharge are

used synonymously.

10. System Hardware: Connect/Disconnect switch: This is mainly used in high voltage
EV batteries for maintenance. In spacecraft K-relay is activated i.e undervoltage
protection for the battery. In case of power outage battery is expected to provide
power. When mains power is not there battery has to support. In S/C battery has to
support when SA does not provide power.

11. Battery protection electronics: Cell monitoring electronics just monitors the voltage.
It does not provide protection. There are protection or control logics to do it.

12. Battery protection electronics: Cell balancing is different from protection of cells from
overcharge and over discharge. In ABSL or SP conf. 18650 cell batteries we do not
have balancing but have battery level overcharge and over discharge protection.

13. Cell bypass: This can be done at any SOC. It all depends on what type of switch that
is used. “ Break before make” and “ make before break. “

14. Battery case design: In none of our space quality cells “MELCO”, “SAFT” LG, SONY
etc, the inner surface of the case is neither anodized nor has insulation coating. MS,
Al, SS are all stable in the electrolyte as long as they are not exposed to ambient
 atmosphere. The external surfaces are anodized or have insulation sheath (Heat
shrink tube.

15. Battery cell over charge protection logic: The value of OCP depends on the operating
point of charge balancing electronics. If charge balancing electronics does not control
and the voltage raises further then only OCP will operate. It is generally given at
battery level and not at individual cell level. CBE should take care of individual cells.

16. Battery reverse current logic: This is activated when current flows from bus to
battery through the discharge diode and not through the normal charge path.
Instead of battery to bus the current flows in the reverse direction. That is why it is
called reverse current logic.

17. Batery excess current logic (ECL): To safeguard battery and not battery capacity.

18. During visual inspections cells are placed in individual non-conductive compartments
with care not to stack or scatter the cells.

individual non-conductive compartments taking care care not to stack or scatter the
cells

19. Cells are transported in non-conductive carrying trays, to reduce the chances of cells
being dropped, causing shorting or other physical damage.
By just transporting in non-conductive carrying trays you cannot prevent cells being
dropped and damaged.

20. Care is implemented never to force the cells into battery holders or other types of
housings. This could deform the bottom of the case causing an internal short circuit.
I can always force using cell terminal or top of cell and force it. Will it not damage the
cell if I use the cell terminal to force it in the fixture?

21. Appropriate fire extinguishers are always placed nearby the work and storage area
(DRY Salt or sand for lithium-ion and with Lith-X class D for Lithium battery).
All safety precautions and fire protections related to primary lithium shall be suitably
modified or dropped in this review.
22. Never use water or CO2 only dry sand or salt to extinguish the fire.
Water is generally used in to put off lithium ion battery fire.
23. After salt water treatment the lithium will be incapable of a reaction, and disposing
them in regular garbage should be completely safe and legal.
After discharging to Zero volt cells are immersed in salt water for digestion over long
duration. Lithium ion cells cannot be thrown at any time in regular garbage. Most of
the lithium ion cells have Nickel and cobalt Both Ni and Co are carcinogenic. It is
banned for regular garbage.