ELECTRIC POWER GRID BUFFER
First Claim
1. An electrochemical energy device which comprises a spatially separated electrochemical charging system and electrochemical discharge cell;
- wherein the electrochemical discharge cell comprises;
a plurality of electrodes;
each electrode having a fuel compartment with input and output sidewalls of dimension h and end walls of dimension w, wherein the fuel compartment is arranged between an input flow plate and output flow channel, the input flow plate adjacent to the input side wall and the output flow channel adjacent to the output side wall of the fuel compartment,the input flow plate comprising a porous membrane or a plurality of openings through which electrolyte can flow into the fuel compartment from an electrolyte source, wherein the porous membrane or the openings extend substantially along a surface of the input flow plate adjacent to the input side wall of the fuel compartment, thereby providing for the flow of the electrolyte through the fuel compartment in a direction essentially parallel to dimension w and into the output flow channel.
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Abstract
An electric power grid buffer for storing electric energy by converting low energy electrochemistry waste into higher energy electrochemistry fuel and supplying electric energy to an electric power grid by discharging the higher energy electrochemistry fuel under production of low energy electrochemistry waste. In one embodiment, the electric power grid buffer stores electric energy generated by renewable energy sources, such as wind power or solar cells, and supplies an electric current to an electric power grid such that the renewable energy source is completely isolated from the electric power grid.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An electrochemical energy device which comprises a spatially separated electrochemical charging system and electrochemical discharge cell;
- wherein the electrochemical discharge cell comprises;
a plurality of electrodes; each electrode having a fuel compartment with input and output sidewalls of dimension h and end walls of dimension w, wherein the fuel compartment is arranged between an input flow plate and output flow channel, the input flow plate adjacent to the input side wall and the output flow channel adjacent to the output side wall of the fuel compartment, the input flow plate comprising a porous membrane or a plurality of openings through which electrolyte can flow into the fuel compartment from an electrolyte source, wherein the porous membrane or the openings extend substantially along a surface of the input flow plate adjacent to the input side wall of the fuel compartment, thereby providing for the flow of the electrolyte through the fuel compartment in a direction essentially parallel to dimension w and into the output flow channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- wherein the electrochemical discharge cell comprises;
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19. An electrochemical cell for an electric power grid buffer comprising:
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a centrally arranged electrode; and at least two fuel compartments with output and input sidewalls of dimension h and end walls of dimension w, wherein each of the fuel compartments are arranged between an input flow plate and output flow channel, the input flow plate adjacent to the input side wall and the output flow channel adjacent to the output side wall of the fuel compartment, wherein the at least two fuel compartments are symmetrically arranged on either side of the electrode, the input flow plates comprising a porous membrane or a plurality of openings through which electrolyte can flow into the fuel compartments from an electrolyte source, wherein the porous membrane or the openings extend substantially along a surface of the input flow plates adjacent to the input side wall of the fuel compartments, thereby providing for the flow of the electrolyte through the fuel compartments in a direction essentially parallel to dimension w and into the output flow channels proximate to the electrode. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of supplying electrical energy to an electric power grid comprising:
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providing a flow-through electrochemical cell with an electrode and a fuel compartment with input and output sidewalls, wherein the fuel compartment is arranged between an input flow plate and output flow channel, the input flow plate adjacent to the input side wall and the output flow channel adjacent to the output side wall of the fuel compartment, and the input flow plate includes a porous membrane or a plurality of openings through which electrolyte can flow into the fuel compartment from an electrolyte source; providing a pulse valve to control the flow of electrolyte from an electrolyte source to the electrochemical cell, wherein the pulse valve provides an electrolyte flow cycle comprising staggered electrolyte flow over a pulse time period and a steady flow of electrolyte over a steady time period; and repeating a plurality of the electrolyte flow cycles. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification