Electrochemical device and methods for energy conversion

• US 20050089738A1
• Filed: 07/25/2003
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sofc Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Celltech Power, Inc.
• Inventors: Bai, Wei, Tao, Tao T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,678,484 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/403
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/08 composed of a half-cell of a fuel-cell type and a half-cell of the secondary-cell type
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/90 Selection of catalytic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/9025 Oxides specially used in fuel cell operating at high temperature, e.g. SOFC
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/921 Alloys or mixtures with metallic elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1246 the electrolyte consisting of oxides
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/243 Grouping of unit cells of tubular or cylindrical configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2432 Grouping of unit cells of planar configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2484 characterised by external manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrochemical device. The device features an anode constructed of materials such that the device can be chemically recharged. In addition, the device is capable of switching between operating as a fuel cell or as a battery. The switch can occur without cessation of electrical output. In certain aspects of the invention, the device is capable of operating at a temperature of less than 1000° C. Other aspects feature a liquid anode which allows higher output, dispersion of fuel and minimal stresses in an interface comprising the anode. Preferably the anode is a liquid at a temperature of less than 1000° C. The invention also relates to methods for energy conversion in which a continual electrical output can be produced in both the presence of fuel without anode consumption or the absence of fuel.

Claims

1-51. -51. (canceled)

52. An anode being constructed of a material such that the anode is a chemically rechargeable anode.

53-59. -59. (canceled)

60. A stack of electrochemical devices, comprising:

a first and second electrochemical device, each device including an anode comprising a liquid, the anode being in ionic communication with an electrolyte and the electrolyte being in ionic communication with a cathode; and

an interconnect positioned intermediate and adjacent both the anode of the first device and the cathode of the second device.

61. The stack of claim 60, wherein the stack is substantially planar.

62. The stack of claim 60, wherein each device is substantially planar.

63. The stack of claim 60, wherein each device is tubular.

64. The stack of claim 60, wherein the devices in the stack are arranged in series.

65. The stack of claim 60, wherein the devices in the stack are arranged in parallel.

66. The stack of claim 60, wherein the stack comprises a series-parallel configuration.

67. The stack of claim 60, wherein each device is positioned within a casing.

68. The stack of claim 67, wherein each device is positioned within a casing non-permanently.

69. The stack of claim 60, wherein the stack comprises at least two devices.

70. The stack of claim 60, wherein the interconnect and cathode have thermal expansion coefficients that differ by less than about 30% at a temperature of less than about 1500°

C.

71. The stack of claim 70, wherein the thermal expansion coefficients differ by less than about 20% at a temperature of less than about 1500°

C.

72. The stack of claim 70, wherein the thermal expansion coefficients differ by less than about 10% at a temperature of less than about 1500°

C.

73. The stack of claim 70, wherein the interconnect and the cathode have the same composition.

74. A method for energy conversion, comprising:

providing an electrochemical device comprising an anode;

causing electricity to be produced in the presence of a fuel provided to the anode without anode consumption; and

causing electricity to be produced in the device in the absence of the fuel provided to the anode.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein either or both of the causing steps comprises providing an electrolyte in ionic communication with the anode and a cathode in ionic communication with the electrolyte.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein either or both of the causing steps further comprises directing an oxygen-containing gas flow to the cathode.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein either or both of the causing steps further comprises heating the device to a temperature from about 300°

C. to about 1500°

C.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the heating produces the anode in a liquid state.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein the anode achieves the liquid state at a temperature of less than about 1000°

C.

80. The method of claim 74, wherein the an electrical output is at least about 10 mWatt/cm².

81. The method of claim 74, wherein the an electrical output is at least about 100 mWatt/cm².

82. The method of claim 74, wherein the an electrical output is at least about 200 mWatt/cm².

83. The method of claim 74, wherein the anode comprises a liquid.

84. The method of claim 74, wherein the device is self-repairing.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein the anode further comprises a sealant precursor.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein the anode comprises a metal and the sealant comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide and a mixed metal oxide.

87. The method of claim 74, further comprising providing fuel to the anode to chemically recharge the anode.

88. A method for energy conversion, comprising:

providing an anode; and

delivering a fuel to the anode intermittently while producing a continuous electrical output by using the anode.

89. A method comprising:

providing an anode;

causing a portion of the anode to be oxidized such that electricity is produced; and

exposing the oxidized portion of the anode to a chemical reductant to reduce the oxidized portion.

90. The method of claim 89, wherein the reduced portion is capable of functioning as an anode.

91. The method of claim 89, wherein the anode is a component of an electrochemical device and the chemical reductant is a fuel.

92. The method of claim 89, wherein the anode comprises a metal.

93. The method of claim 92, wherein the anode comprises a liquid.

94. The method of claim 92, wherein the oxidized anode comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide and a mixed metal oxide.

95. The method of claim 92, wherein the metal has a standard reduction potential of greater than −

0.70 V versus the Standard Hydrogen Electrode.

96. The method of claim 89, wherein the anode comprises at least two metals.

97. The method of claim 96, wherein each metal has a standard reduction potential greater than −

0.70 V versus the Standard Hydrogen Electrode.

98. The method of claim 89, wherein the causing comprises providing an electrolyte in ionic communication with the anode and a cathode in ionic communication with the electrolyte.

99. The method of claim 98, wherein the causing further comprises heating the device to a temperature from about 300°

C. to about 1500°

C.

100. The method of claim 98, wherein the causing further comprises exposing the anode to a fuel.

101. (Cancelled)

102. An electrochemical device, comprising:

an anode; and

means for exposing a fuel to the anode, the anode being constructed of a material such that the device is capable of producing electricity involving the anode in both the presence of fuel without anode consumption, and in the absence of the fuel.

103. An electrochemical device, comprising:

an anode; and

means for intermittently exposing fuel to the anode to produce a continuous electrical output from the device.

104. An electrochemical device comprising:

a battery comprising an anode;

a fuel cell comprising the anode; and

a fuel comprising a material different from the anode.

105. The device of claim 104, wherein the anode is chemically rechargeable.

106. A method for energy conversion, comprising:

providing a battery; and

supplying a fuel to an anode in the battery, the fuel being of a different material than the anode.

107. The method of claim 106, wherein the step of supplying the fuel to the anode causes the battery to switch to a fuel cell.

108. A method for energy conversion, comprising:

providing a fuel cell; and

switching the fuel cell to a battery by ceasing a supply of a fuel to an anode in the fuel cell.

109. An electrochemical device comprising at least two fuel sources for supplying at least two different types of fuel to the device, the two fuel sources being interchangeable to allow selection of a type of fuel.

110. A housing comprising a solid-state electrolyte material, the housing containing a liquid anode.

111. A method for energy conversion, comprising:

providing a device comprising a liquid metal anode; and

oxidizing a portion of the anode to form a metal oxide concurrent with the generation of electricity.

112. The method of claim 111, wherein the step of oxidizing is initiated by exposing a fuel to the anode.

113. The method of claim 111, wherein the device is operable at a temperature of less than 1000°

C.