Electrochemical Nanofluid or Particle Suspension Energy Conversion and Storage Device

• US 20100291429A1
• Filed: 05/11/2010
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Farmer, Joseph C.
• Application Number:
  US12/777,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20100291429A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/120
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• 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 10/0561 the electrolyte being constituted of inorganic materials only
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0569 characterised by the solvents
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/345 Gastight metal hydride accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 14/005 Photoelectrochemical storage cells light sensitive devices H01G9/20, semiconductors sensitive to light H01L31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/188 by recharging of redox couples containing fluids; Redox flow type batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/225 Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising particulate active material in the form of a suspension, a dispersion, a fluidised bed or a paste
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

An electro-chemical energy conversion and storage device includes an enclosure, a first electrode operatively connected to the enclosure, a second electrode operatively connected to the enclosure, a nanofluid or particle suspension in the enclosure, a heat transfer unit, and a circulation system for circulating the nanofluid or particle suspension to the heat transfer unit. The nanofluid includes nanoparticles plus a dielectric or ionic fluid. The particle suspension includes particles plus a dielectric or ionic fluid. A wide range of nanoparticles or particles can be used. For example the following nanoparticles or particles can be used: metal and metal alloy particles for anodic dissolution and thermal transport; hydrides as source of hydrogen ions; lithium and lithium alloys; intercalated graphite and carbon aerogel as Li source (anodic material); intercalated transition metal oxide as Li sink (cathodic material); and semiconductors for photovoltaic conversion in photo-electrochemical or hybrid electrochemical cell.

Claims

1. An electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus, comprising:

an enclosure,

a first electrode operatively connected to said enclosure,

a second electrode operatively connected to said enclosure,

a nanofluid or particle suspension in said enclosure,

a heat transfer unit, and

a circulation system for circulating said nanofluid or particle suspension to said heat transfer unit.

2. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 1 wherein said nanofluid or particle suspension includes nanoparticles and a dielectric or ionic fluid.

3. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 1 wherein said nanofluid or particle suspension includes particles and a dielectric or ionic fluid.

4. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 2 wherein said nanoparticles are hydrides as a source of hydrogen ions.

5. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 2 wherein said nanoparticles are lithium or lithium alloys.

6. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 2 wherein said nanoparticles are intercalated graphite or carbon aerogel as a Li source.

7. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 2 wherein said nanoparticles are intercalated transition metal oxide as a Li source.

8. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 1 wherein said circulation system includes a pump.

9. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 1 wherein said circulation system includes an agitator.

10. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 1 wherein said circulation system includes a nanoparticle supply and a fluid supply.

11. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 1 wherein said circulation system includes a vessel having a rounded bottom a nanoparticle supply, a fluid supply, and an agitator.

12. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 1 including a second enclosure, a pair of electrodes operatively connected to said second enclosure, a second nanofluid or particle suspension in said second enclosure, a second heat transfer unit, and a second circulation system for circulating said second nanofluid or particle suspension to said second heat transfer unit.

13. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 1 including an oxygen selective membrane and wherein said first electrode is an oxygen cathode

14. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 1 including a particle supply operatively connected to said enclosure that introduces nanoparticles or particles into said enclosure and a fluid supply operatively connected to said enclosure that introduces a dielectric fluid or ionic fluid into said enclosure.

15. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 15 including an agitator that mixes said nanoparticles or particles and said dielectric fluid or ionic fluid in said enclosure.

16. An electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus, comprising:

an enclosure,

a first electrode operatively connected to said enclosure,

a second electrode operatively connected to said enclosure,

a nanofluid in said enclosure,

a heat transfer unit, and

a circulation system for circulating said nanofluid to said heat transfer unit.

22. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 16 wherein said circulation system includes a pump.

23. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 16 wherein said circulation system includes an agitator.

24. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 16 wherein said circulation system includes a nanoparticle supply and a fluid supply.

25. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 16 wherein said circulation system includes a vessel having a rounded bottom a nanoparticle supply, a fluid supply, and an agitator.

17. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 17 wherein said nanofluid includes nanoparticles and a dielectric or ionic fluid.

18. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 17 wherein said nanoparticles are hydrides as a source of hydrogen ions.

19. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 17 wherein said nanoparticles are lithium or lithium alloys.

20. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 17 wherein said nanoparticles are intercalated graphite or carbon aerogel as a Li source.

21. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 17 wherein said nanoparticles are intercalated transition metal oxide as a Li source.

26. An electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus, comprising:

an enclosure,

a first electrode operatively connected to said enclosure,

a second electrode operatively connected to said enclosure,

a particle suspension in said enclosure,

heat transfer unit, and

a circulation system for circulating said particle suspension to said heat transfer unit.

27. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 26 wherein said particle suspension includes particles and a dielectric or ionic fluid.

28. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 27 wherein said particles are hydrides as a source of hydrogen ions.

29. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 27 wherein said particles are lithium or lithium alloys.

30. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 27 wherein said particles are intercalated graphite or carbon aerogel as a Li source.

31. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 27 wherein said particles are intercalated transition metal oxide as a Li source.

32. The electro-chemical energy conversion and storage apparatus of claim 26 wherein said circulation system includes a particle supply and a fluid supply.