# US 12,009,489 B2 · Desulfation of lead acid batteries using electrolyte agitator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,009,489 B2 - Document ID: US12009489B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/289,387 - Filed: 2018-11-09 - Published: 2021-12-23 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-09 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: YiChun Yan; Dave G. Rich; Saad Hasan; Lyall K. Winger; Varsha K. Sadekar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12009489B2 ## CPC - H01M 10/06: Lead-acid accumulators (semi-lead accumulators H01M10/20) - H01M 10/484: {for measuring electrolyte level, electrolyte density or electrolyte conductivity} - H01M 10/42: Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells (H01M10/60 takes precedence) - H01M 10/425: {Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing (printed circuits H05K1/00)} - H01M 2010/4278: {Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller} - H01M 2200/00: Safety devices for primary or secondary batteries - H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane - H01M 2300/0011: Sulfuric acid-based - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A battery maintenance system includes an enclosure including a plurality of walls. A plurality of battery cells are located in the enclosure and surrounded by electrolyte. An electrolyte agitator such as a piezoelectric device is attached to at least one of the walls of the enclosure and is configured to selectively agitate the electrolyte. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A battery maintenance system comprising: an enclosure including a plurality of walls; a plurality of battery cells located in the enclosure and surrounded by electrolyte; and an electrolyte agitator attached to an outer surface of at least one of the walls of the enclosure, the electrolyte agitator configured to selectively agitate the electrolyte. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The battery maintenance system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery cells include lead acid battery cells and wherein the electrolyte includes sulfuric acid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The battery maintenance system of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte agitator includes a piezoelectric device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The battery maintenance system of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte agitator includes a piezoelectric cantilever. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The battery maintenance system of claim 1, further comprising an energy dispersion material located between the electrolyte agitator and the electrolyte. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The battery maintenance system of claim 1, further comprising: a feedback device attached to the enclosure; and a controller configured to control the electrolyte agitator in response to feedback from the feedback device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The battery maintenance system of claim 6, wherein the electrolyte agitator includes a first piezoelectric device and the feedback device includes a second piezoelectric device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The battery maintenance system of claim 1, further comprising a flyback circuit to selectively provide power to the electrolyte agitator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A vehicle battery system for a vehicle, the vehicle battery system comprising: the battery maintenance system of claim 1; and a controller configured to determine when the vehicle has not been operating for a predetermined period and to cause the electrolyte agitator to agitate the electrolyte after the predetermined period. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle battery system of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to cause voltage pulses to be applied to the plurality of battery cells while the vehicle is not operating. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The vehicle battery system of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to prevent the electrolyte agitator from agitating the electrolyte after the predetermined period if a battery state of charge is less than a predetermined state of charge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The vehicle battery system of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to cause the electrolyte agitator to agitate the electrolyte within a predetermined period prior to starting the vehicle. ### Claim 13 A vehicle battery system for a vehicle, the vehicle battery system comprising: an enclosure including a plurality of walls; a plurality of battery cells located in the enclosure and surrounded by electrolyte; an electrolyte agitator,- attached to an outer surface of at least one of the walls of the enclosure, the electrolyte agitator configured to selectively agitate the electrolyte; a drive circuit configured to selectively drive the electrolyte agitator; and a controller configured to determine when the vehicle has not been operating for a predetermined period and to selectively cause the drive circuit to drive the electrolyte agitator after the predetermined period. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vehicle battery system of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to prevent the electrolyte agitator from agitating the electrolyte after the predetermined period if a battery state of charge is less than a predetermined state of charge. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The vehicle battery system of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to cause the electrolyte agitator to agitate the electrolyte within a predetermined period prior to starting the vehicle. ### Claim 16 A battery maintenance system comprising: an enclosure including a plurality of walls; a plurality of battery cells located in the enclosure and surrounded by electrolyte; a piezoelectric device arranged in at least one of the plurality of walls separating adjacent ones of the plurality of battery cells, the piezoelectric device configured to selectively agitate the electrolyte; a flyback circuit configured to selectively drive the piezoelectric device; and a controller configured to selectively cause the flyback circuit to output power to the piezoelectric device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The battery maintenance system of claim 16, wherein: the plurality of battery cells include lead acid battery cells; the electrolyte includes sulfuric acid; and the piezoelectric device includes a piezoelectric cantilever. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The battery maintenance system of claim 16, further comprising an energy dispersion material located between the piezoelectric device and the electrolyte. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The vehicle battery system of claim 13, further comprising an energy dispersion material located between the electrolyte agitator and the electrolyte. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The vehicle battery system of claim 13, wherein: the electrolyte agitator includes a first piezoelectric device; the vehicle battery system further comprises a feedback device attached to the enclosure; the feedback device includes a second piezoelectric attached to the enclosure; and the controller is configured to selectively cause the drive circuit to drive the electrolyte agitator in response to feedback from the feedback device.