BUBBLE BATTERY SYSTEM

• US 20160013510A1
• Filed: 07/09/2014
• Published: 01/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Powell, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US14/326,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20160013510A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0413 Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6567 Liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A battery system includes a plurality of rechargeable micro-batteries, fluid media, a battery media tank, a power extractor, and an electric load. The micro-batteries are immersed in the fluid media. The tank stores the fluid media and the micro-batteries. The power extractor is fluidly connected to the tank and extracts electric power charged inside the micro-batteries while the fluid media and the micro-batteries flow through the power extractor. The electric load is electrically connected to the power extractor and powered by the electric power extracted by the power extractor.

Claims

1. A bubble battery system comprising:

a plurality of micro-batteries storing electric power;

fluid media immersing the plurality of micro-batteries;

a tank storing the fluid media and the plurality of micro-batteries;

a power extractor fluidly connected to the tank and extracting the electric power that is stored in the plurality of micro-batteries while the fluid media and the plurality of micro-batteries flow through the power extractor; and

an electric load electrically connected to the power extractor and powered by the electric power extracted by the power extractor.

2. The bubble battery system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first power transfer disposed in each of the plurality of micro-batteries and transferring the electric power stored in each of the plurality of micro-batteries; and

a second power transfer disposed on the power extractor and receiving the electric power transferred from each of the plurality of micro-batteries by the first power transfer.

3. The bubble battery system according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of micro-batteries is rechargeable.

4. The bubble battery system according to claim 3, further comprising:

an external power source electrically connected to the second power transfer and providing external electric power, wherein

the second power transfer transfers the external electric power supplied from the external power source, and

the first power transfer receives the external electric power transferred from the second power transfer.

5. The bubble battery system according to claim 2, wherein

the first power transfer and the second power transfer wirelessly transfer the electric power.

6. The bubble battery system according to claim 5, wherein

each of the plurality of micro-batteries includes a first alignment part, the power extractor includes a second alignment part, and the first alignment part and the second alignment part magnetically attract each other, and

when the first power transfer is aligned with respect to the second power transfer, the electric power stored in the plurality of micro-batteries is transferred to the power extractor.

7. The bubble battery system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a separator within the tank that divides an inside space of the tank into a powered space and a depowered space, wherein

the powered space stores a plurality of charged micro-batteries and the depowered space stores a plurality of discharged micro-batteries.

8. The bubble battery system according to claim 7, wherein

the separator has a permeable membrane that allows the fluid media to flow between the powered space and the depowered space.

9. The bubble battery system according to claim 7, wherein

the powered space is refillable with the plurality of charged micro-batteries, and

the depowered space is emptyable of the plurality of discharged micro-batteries.

10. The bubble battery system according to claim 1, wherein

the electric load is a motor for a vehicle.

11. The bubble battery system according to claim 10, wherein the vehicle is at least one of a commercial, a recreational, or a heavy-duty vehicle.

12. The bubble battery system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an energy storage device electrically connected between the power extractor and the electric load, wherein

the energy storage device absorbs electric surge between the power extractor and the electric load.

13. The bubble battery system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a refilling device storing the plurality of micro-batteries, the refilling device fluidly connectable to the tank, wherein

the refilling device refills the tank with the plurality of micro-batteries.

14. The bubble battery system according to claim 9, further comprising:

a refilling device fluidly connectable to the tank, the refilling device including

a first container storing the plurality of charged micro-batteries, and

a second container storing the plurality of discharged micro-batteries, wherein

the refilling device transfers the plurality of discharged micro-batteries from the depowered space to the second container and refills the powered space with the plurality of charged micro-batteries from the first container.

15. The bubble battery system according to claim 14, further comprising:

an external power source electrically connected to the refilling device and providing external electric power, wherein

the refilling device charges the plurality of discharged micro-batteries that are stored in the second container using the external electric power supplied from the external power source.

16. The bubble battery system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an external power source providing external electric power; and

a wireless power transmitter electrically connected to the external power source and positioned externally adjacent to the fuel tank, wherein

the wireless power transmitter wirelessly charges the plurality of micro-batteries in the fuel tank using the external electric power supplied from the external power source.