Apparatus equipped with metallic manganese anode for generating power from voltage gradients at the sediment-water interface

• US 7,550,224 B1
• Filed: 02/13/2006
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Government Of The United States Of America, As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Lowy, Daniel, Tender, Leonard
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan; Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parsons; Thomas H.
• Application Number:
  US11/307,561
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 429/2, 429/119, 429/105, 429/50
• US Class Current: 429/50
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/04 composed of a half-cell of the fuel-cell type and of a half-cell of the primary-cell type
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/38 of elements or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/90 Selection of catalytic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/16 Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which microorganisms function as catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/20 Indirect fuel cells, e.g. fuel cells with redox couple being irreversible H01M8/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/22 Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising carbon or oxygen or hydrogen and other elements; Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising only elements other than carbon, oxygen or hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

An apparatus having a metallic manganese anode; a cathode capable of reducing at least one species found in marine water; and a rig coupled to the anode and the cathode capable of maintaining the anode below a marine sediment surface and maintaining the cathode above marine the sediment surface. A method of generating power by: positioning in marine sediment a metallic manganese anode; positioning in marine water a cathode capable of reducing at least one species found in marine water; and connecting electrical leads between the anode, the cathode, and an electrical load.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an anode comprising metallic manganese;

a cathode capable of reducing at least one species found in marine water; and

a rig coupled to the anode and the cathode capable of maintaining the anode below a marine sediment surface and maintaining the cathode above the marine sediment surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

electrical leads capable of connecting the anode and the cathode to an electrical circuit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anode comprises at least about 90% metallic manganese.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anode has a planar configuration.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the anode has a projected area of about 1 cm² to about 1 m².

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anode comprises a plurality of constituent anodes electrically connected in parallel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cathode comprises a plurality of constituent cathodes electrically connected in parallel.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cathode comprises graphite.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cathode is a graphite bottle brush electrode.

10. A method of generating power comprising:

positioning in marine sediment an anode comprising metallic manganese;

positioning in marine water a cathode capable of reducing at least one species found in marine water; and

connecting electrical leads between the anode, the cathode, and an electrical load.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein positioning the anode and positioning the cathode is performed with a rig coupled to the anode and the cathode.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the anode comprises at least about 90% metallic manganese.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the anode has a planar configuration.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the anode has a projected area of about 1 cm² to about 1 m².

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the anode comprises a plurality of constituent anodes electrically connected in parallel.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the cathode comprises a plurality of constituent cathodes electrically connected in parallel.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the cathode comprises graphite.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the cathode is a graphite bottle brush electrode.