Batteries In Japan Research Articles

Research and Development of Novel Secondary Batteries in Japan

Research and Development of Novel Secondary Batteries in Japan

Multi-Institutional Questionnaire Survey on Accidental Ingestion of Button and Coin Batteries in Japan

Multi-Institutional Questionnaire Survey on Accidental Ingestion of Button and Coin Batteries in Japan

The sectoral configuration of technological innovation systems: Patterns of knowledge development and diffusion in the lithium-ion battery technology in Japan

Technological innovation systems (TISs) have found favor for analyzing a technology’s innovation dynamics. Complementary to TISs, the sectoral innovation systems approach focuses on sectoral peculiarities regarding innovation. This paper represents a first step towards integrating the sectoral dimension into TIS analysis. This seems particularly relevant for multi-component technologies, since their underlying innovation dynamics involve multiple sectors. We introduce the “sectoral configuration” of a TIS, which relates to the number and types of sectors linked via a TIS’s value chain, and elaborate how the sectoral configuration plays out for a TIS’s functional dynamics. We apply our theoretical framework to the knowledge development and diffusion function. Based on a quantitative analysis of patent data for lithium-ion batteries in Japan (1985–2005), we find that different sectors vary in importance for knowledge development and diffusion, especially with regard to the technology’s evolution over time. Our findings suggest that the sectoral configuration deserves more attention in future TIS analyses. This would support a better understanding of functional mechanisms, and therefore offer the potential to derive enhanced TIS-based policy recommendations regarding the nature and balance between demand-pull, technology-push and interface improvement policies.

乾電池の購入・使用・廃棄に関する日本・英国・台湾の意識比較

乾電池の購入・使用・廃棄に関する日本・英国・台湾の意識比較

ニカド電池（Cd）及びリチウムイオン電池（Co）のフロー解析

ニカド電池（Cd）及びリチウムイオン電池（Co）のフロー解析

Quantitative Influence of Coke Oven Wall Irregularity on Pushing Force

Many of the coke oven batteries in Japan have been in operation for about 40 years. These coke ovens tend to become obsolete, resulting in a production impediment such as increase in pushing force. This paper proposed an experimental expression named as a resistive index that describes resistance received by a pushed coke cake being in contact with an uneven coke oven wall. The resistive index is calculated based on the shape of the deformed oven wall. Linear relationship between a resistive index and a pushing force was experimentally verified by using a simulated part of a coke oven. The resistive index was applied to actually working aged coke ovens. A newly-developed diagnosis apparatus equipped with a 3D profile measurement system was utilized to acquire irregularity data of high-temperature coke oven walls. Here, correlation between the resistive index and the force development during pushing was also clearly confirmed. From these results, it was concluded that the resistive index enables to quantitatively assess the harmfulness of damaged coke oven walls from the standpoint of a rise in pushing force. The resistive index is available for evaluating the needs and preferentiality of maintenance of damaged coke oven.

Presumption of Metal Amount and Waste Behaviors of Used Small Batteries in Japan

Presumption of Metal Amount and Waste Behaviors of Used Small Batteries in Japan

廃電池の排出動態とリサイクルの現状分析

廃電池の排出動態とリサイクルの現状分析

Test Program for Low-lead Long-life Batteries Developed with ITE Activator for Trucks, Buses, Taxies, and Regular Cars

The ITE Research Group in Japan has developed low-lead long-life batteries using an organic polymer activator Super-K. Some preliminary test results of the low-lead batteries have been made for 3,000 batteries in Japan and Middle East countries. The results were excellent. Therefore, we decided to perform large scale tests for 100 to 500 trucks, buses, taxies and regular cars in various parts of the world for low-lead batteries with 25-50% reduction of electrode plates.

Evaluation of the resource consumption and water pollution potential of metals caused by disposal of portable batteries in Japan

Evaluation of the resource consumption and water pollution potential of metals caused by disposal of portable batteries in Japan

Up-to-date development of lithium-ion batteries in Japan

In this paper, the authors review the up-to-date development of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), focusing mainly on the situation in Japan. The materials, constructions, and electrochemical performance of the latest commercially available LIBs, including lithium polymer batteries, which have come onto the market only fairly recently, are described in the first half of this article. The authors then discuss the recent trends in the development of battery materials for LIBs as well as those of large-scale LIBs.

R&D on metal hydride materials and Ni–MH batteries in Japan

Abstract The production of small-sized Ni–MH batteries, which amounts to some 40% of market share for portable appliances, is still growing because of an increase in the energy density per volume and also a reduction in price. Highly efficient electric vehicles (EV) propelled by a large-sized Ni–MH battery have been commercialized and have twice the driving range of a conventional EV with a Pb–acid battery. A hybrid vehicle with a high-powered Ni–MH battery has been brought onto the market, providing twice the gas mileage and half the CO 2 emissions of a gasoline vehicle. A fuel cell electric vehicle with hydrogen tank or methanol reformer, power-assisted by a Ni–MH battery, is under development. The Ni–MH battery will be a key component for the next generation of vehicles in addition to advanced information and telecommunication systems.

Large-scale development of lithium batteries for electric vehicles and electric power storage applications

Abstract In Japan there was a dramatic increase in the production of lithium secondary batteries which reached a value of 210 billion yen in 1997. There are signs that this trend is increasing. These lithium batteries are presently used as small portable power sources. For these uses there has been a broadening in the research and development of lithium batteries. At the same time, advances in the research of large type lithium batteries for electric vehicles and dispersed-type electric power storage systems have been conducted on a grand scale by Japanese universities, government research laboratories and private companies. The level of activity in the research and development of lithium batteries in Japan is apparent by the state of related patent applications and number of papers presented at meetings held in Japan. LIBES is at the center of the research and development into large-type lithium batteries in Japan. Hitachi, and Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery, as members of LIBES, are carrying out the research and development of large-type lithium batteries for electric-power storage. In FY1997, the 250 W h cells, made of 10 wt.% silver–graphite anodes and spinel-type manganese oxide cathodes, which were connected together and stacked in a series of eight to make a 2 kW h module, produced desirable results and showed the prospects for good safety.

Present status and future prospect for national project on lithium batteries

Sales of lithium-ion battery in Japan increased so sharply since the battery was on sale in 1992. `Dispersed-type Battery Energy Storage Technology' of New Sunshine (AIST) program have stimulated R&D of lithium batteries in Japan. In this project on lithium batteries, Osaka National Research Institute (ONRI) plays a main role by coordinating the project from a neutral standpoint and supporting it with a basic research for battery material. A research background for electrochemical devices and research activity in the field of lithium battery at ONRI are introduced. Then, future prospect of a role of battery in a society in the next century is described regarding to an `environment' and `human being'.

電池材料の開発とその事業化

Since Leclanche invented the dry battery with manganese dioxide and zinc as active materials, batteries have yielded revolutionary improvement with the growth of industry. Today, the production of the chemical batteries in Japan has reached 6 billion units, corresponding to 656 billion in sale. Most recent remarkable development of electronic devices has made appliances cordless and small-sized so that high performance batteries have attracted growing interest as small size and high energy density. Nowaday, batteries have been recognized as one of three key devices in electronic industry. We, Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd. started the commercial production of electrolytic manganese dioxide in 1949 and has produced variety of key materials for batteries, i. e., zinc alloy powders, lead alloys, cadmium oxide, lithium foils and hydrogen storage alloys. In this paper, high quality of electrolytic manganese dioxide and mercury-free zinc alloy powders will be introduced and Research Development activities for battery materials in Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd. will be outlined as well.

Lithium secondary batteries in Japan

The Lithium Battery Energy Storage Technology Research Association (LIBES) conducts research and development on ‘Dispersed Battery Energy Storage Technology’ of the New Sun-Shine Program of the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). This national project is being carried out based on the contract with New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). This R&D project for ten years with the budget of approximately Y14 billion has been started in the fiscal year 1992, and includes: (i) R&D of 20–30 kWh class high-performance ambient-temperature lithium secondary batteries, and (ii) study on the total system of lithium-battery application technology. This paper describes the project and current research activities.

特集 電池と高分子 電池の開発・市場動向

特集 電池と高分子 電池の開発・市場動向

Technical trends in industrial lead/acid batteries in Japan

Although there have been only a few major technological changes in stationary lead/acid batteries in the past, some rapid and remarkable developments have occured recently. The latter have included the introduction of catalyst plugs and valve-regulated lead/acid batteries (VRBs). Catalyst plugs have been used to avoid water addition with stationary lead/acid batteries. By virtue of their advantages (i.e., the elements retain electrolyte and equalizing charging and water addition are unnecessary), VRBs are being developed up to a maximum capacity of 3000 Ah. These designs have now captured about 50% of the stationary lead/acid battery market. The VRB technology has excellent characteristics, such as plate construction that can accommode grid growth, explosion-resistant plugs, good discharge characteristics, and minimal electrolyte stratification. Addition,by utilizing the benefits of VRBs, horizontal and multistoried systems can be assembled, though in early stages of development the construction was only interchangeability with flooded-electrolyte type batteries.

Historical development of rechargeable lithium batteries in Japan

The rechargeable lithium battery is very attractive for new applications, such as power supply for the electric vehicle and energy storage in the home. In this paper, the technology of the rechargeable lithium battery, which has been recently developed in Japan, is reviewed in the following terms: (1) the electrochemical characteristics of various cathode materials, especially metallic oxide cathodes; (2) lithium metal and graphite as anode materials; (3) the problems of the liquid and solid electrolytes were considered.

History and current status of valve-regulated lead/acid batteries in Japan

The valve-regulated design of the sealed lead/acid battery (VRB), developed in the first half of the 1960s in Japan for use in portable television sets, has achieved successful market growth. This paper reviews the history of development of VRBs during the past thirty years, present production models, production quality, major applications, and technical problems.