Device, System and Method for Improving Efficiency and Preventing Degradation of Energy Storage Devices

• US 20100021798A1
• Filed: 09/21/2009
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Joseph R. Galgana, Shawn P. Kelly
• Original Assignee: Joseph R. Galgana, Shawn P. Kelly
• Inventors: Galgana, Joseph R., Kelly, Shawn P.
• Application Number:
  US12/564,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20100021798A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/49
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/06 Lead-acid accumulators semi-lead accumulators H01M10/20
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/12 Construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/345 Gastight metal hydride accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4214 Arrangements for moving electrodes or electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4235 Safety or regulating additives or arrangements in electrodes, separators or electrolyte H01M10/4242 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/12 of consumable metal or alloy electrodes use of alloy compositions as active materials H01M4/38
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/13 Electrodes for accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte, e.g. for lithium-accumulators; Processes of manufacture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/23 Drying or preserving electrodes after forming
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/24 Electrodes for alkaline accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/56 of lead
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/5825 Oxygenated metallic salts or polyanionic structures, e.g. borates, phosphates, silicates, olivines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method and related device for improving energy performance and substantially preventing degradation of a chemical-to-electrical energy conversion process of an energy storage device (10), comprising the steps of: mechanically exciting chemical reaction products within the energy storage device (10) at energy levels proximate which covalent bonds with a matrix (51) of the energy storage device (10) would form absent excitation, thereby substantially maintaining ionic bonding between the chemical reaction products and the matrix (51) and substantially preventing the chemical reaction products from covalently bonding with the matrix (51); and introducing the mechanical excitations into the energy storage device (10) via an active material (31) mechanically-responsive to electromagnetic signals, in response to an electromagnetic signal.

Claims

1. A method for improving energy performance and substantially preventing degradation of a chemical-to-electrical energy conversion process of an energy storage device (10), comprising the steps of:

mechanically exciting an energy storage device (10) at frequencies proximate resonant frequencies at which chemical covalent bonds between chemical reaction products and a matrix (51) of the energy storage device (10) would form absent excitation; and

introducing the mechanical excitations into the energy storage device (10) via an active material (31) mechanically-responsive to electromagnetic signals, in response to an electromagnetic signal.

2. The method of claim 1, said step of introducing said mechanical excitations further comprising:

introducing said mechanical excitations during at least part of a time while the energy storage device (10) is discharged;

introducing said mechanical excitations during at least part of the time while the energy storage device (10) is discharged at said frequencies proximate said resonant frequencies;

introducing said mechanical excitations during at least part of a time while the energy storage device (10) is charged; and

introducing said mechanical excitations during at least part of the time while the energy storage device (10) is charged at at least one frequency higher than said resonant frequencies;

the energy storage device (10) comprising a lead-acid battery; and

said step of mechanically exciting further comprising mechanically exciting the chemical reaction products at frequencies comprising approximately 3.26 MHz.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

doping at least one electrode of said matrix (51) with a doping material comprising said active material (31).

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing said active material (31) in mechanical connection with at least one electrode of said matrix (51).

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing an electrolyte of the energy storage device (10) comprising said active material (31).

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing a separator of the energy storage device (10) comprising said active material (31).

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing a casting of the energy storage device (10) comprising said active material (31).

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing said active material (31) in mechanical connection with at least one terminal of the energy storage device (10).

9. The method of claim 1:

said active material (31) comprising magneto-responsive material responsive to magnetic fields; and

said electromagnetic signal comprising a magnetic field;

said step of introducing said mechanical excitations further comprising;

introducing said mechanical excitations via said magneto-responsive material, in response to said magnetic field.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

electrically exciting, in addition to said mechanically exciting, the energy storage device (10) at frequencies proximate said resonant frequencies; and

introducing the electrical excitations into the energy storage device (10) via an electric current comprising non-DC components, in addition to said electromagnetic signal.

11. An energy storage device (10) which substantially improves energy performance and prevents degradation of its chemical-to-electrical energy conversion process, comprising:

an active material (31) mechanically-responsive to electromagnetic signals for introducing mechanical excitations into the energy storage device (10) in response to an electromagnetic signal, at frequencies proximate resonant frequencies at which covalent bonds between chemical reaction products and a matrix (51) material of the energy storage device (10) would form absent excitation.

12. The device of claim 11, said mechanical excitations comprising:

mechanical vibrations vibrating the chemical reaction products at a predetermined periodic oscillation frequency.

13. The device of claim 11, said mechanical excitations comprising:

mechanical pulses pulsing the chemical reaction products with a pulse of a predetermined rise time.

14. The device of claim 11:

the matrix (51) comprising lead (Pb);

the chemical reaction products comprising sulfate (SO₄); and

the covalent bonds comprising lead sulfate (PbSO₄) covalent bonds;

said mechanical excitations comprising a frequency of approximately 3.26 MHz.

15. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

a control module causing said mechanical excitations, during at least part of a time while the energy storage device (10) is discharged, to be introduced at said frequencies proximate said resonant frequencies; and

said control module causing said mechanical excitations, during at least part of a time while the energy storage device (10) is charged, to be introduced at to be introduced at at least one frequency higher than said resonant frequencies.

16. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

said active material (31) external to and in mechanical connection with the energy storage device (10).

17. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

an electric current comprising non-DC components, in addition to said electromagnetic signal;

electrical excitations, in addition to said mechanical excitations, introduced into the energy storage device (10) via said non-DC components, at frequencies proximate said resonant frequencies;

a control module causing said mechanical excitations to be introduced during at least part of a time while the energy storage device (10) is charged; and

said control module causing said non-DC components to be applied across the electrical potential during at least part of a time while the energy storage device (10) is discharged;

wherein;

said non-DC components are introduced into the energy storage device (10) by being applied across an electrical potential of the energy storage device (10).

18. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

electrical power from said energy storage device (10) provided to a motor vehicle; and

electrical power received into said energy storage device (10) from said motor vehicle.

19. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

a hybridizer causing energy from a supplemental source of energy in addition to energy from said energy storage device (10), in varying proportions responsive to varying operating conditions, to power a load.

20. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

an electrical connection between said energy storage device (10) and a power generation and distribution system enabling said energy storage device (10) to receive electrical power from said power generation and distribution system;

said electrical connection further enabling said energy storage device (10) to supply electrical power into said power generation and distribution system; and

a load balancer causing said energy storage device (10) to receive and supply said electrical power from and into said power generation and distribution system, in response to varying operating conditions.