System and method of altering temperature of an electrical energy storage device or an electrochemical energy generation device using microchannels
First Claim
1. An electrical energy storage device, comprising:
- a housing having an external surface and an internal surface;
at least one component within the housing, at least one component being configured to store electrical power in combination with at least one of other components, chemicals, or materials residing within the housing;
a plurality of microchannels located within the housing and coupled to at least one of the internal surface of the housing or the at least one component, wherein the plurality of microchannels are part of a closed fluid circuit; and
a thermal sink coupled to the microchannels, the thermal sink being configured to transfer heat to or from fluid flowing through the microchannels;
wherein the microchannels are formed in a portion of a wall of the housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is generally described which includes altering temperature. The method includes providing a housing having an external surface and an internal surface. The method also includes coupling at least one component within the housing. At least one component is configured to generate electrical energy in combination with other components, chemicals, or materials residing within the housing. Further, the method includes forming a plurality of microchannels coupled to at least one of the internal surface of the housing or at least one internal components. Further still, the method includes providing a thermal sink coupled to the microchannels. The thermal sink is configured to transfer heat energy to or from the microchannels. Yet further still, the method includes flowing a fluid through the microchannels and the thermal sink.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An electrical energy storage device, comprising:
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a housing having an external surface and an internal surface; at least one component within the housing, at least one component being configured to store electrical power in combination with at least one of other components, chemicals, or materials residing within the housing; a plurality of microchannels located within the housing and coupled to at least one of the internal surface of the housing or the at least one component, wherein the plurality of microchannels are part of a closed fluid circuit; and a thermal sink coupled to the microchannels, the thermal sink being configured to transfer heat to or from fluid flowing through the microchannels; wherein the microchannels are formed in a portion of a wall of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A fuel cell, comprising:
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a housing having an external surface and an internal surface; at least one component within the housing, the at least one component being configured to generate electrical power in combination with at least one of other components, chemicals, or materials residing within the housing; a plurality of microchannels located within the housing and coupled to at least one of the internal surface of the housing or the at least one component, wherein the plurality of microchannels are part of a closed fluid circuit; a thermal sink coupled to the microchannels, the thermal sink being configured to transfer heat to or from fluid flowing through the microchannels; wherein the microchannels are formed in a portion of a wall of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
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7. An electrical energy storage device, comprising:
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a housing having an external surface and an internal surface; at least one component within the housing, the at least one component being configured to store electrical power in combination with at least one of other components, chemicals, or materials residing within the housing; a plurality of microchannels located within the housing and coupled to at least one of the internal surface of the housing or the at least one component, wherein the plurality of microchannels are part of a closed fluid circuit; and a thermal sink coupled to the microchannels, the thermal sink being configured to transfer heat to or from fluid flowing through the microchannels wherein the microchannels are formed in the material including a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes a catalyst material. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. An electrical energy storage device, comprising:
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a housing having an external surface and an internal surface; at least one component within the housing, the at least one component being configured to store electrical power in combination with at least one of other components, chemicals, or materials residing within the housing; a plurality of microchannels located within the housing and coupled to at least one of the internal surface of the housing or the at least one component, wherein the plurality of microchannels are part of a closed fluid circuit; and a thermal sink coupled to the microchannels, the thermal sink being configured to transfer heat to or from fluid flowing through the microchannels; wherein the microchannels are formed in a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes a material and the material including a dielectric. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. An electrical energy storage device, comprising:
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a housing having an external surface and an internal surface; at least one component within the housing, the at least one component being configured to store electrical power in combination with at least one of other components, chemicals, or materials residing within the housing; a plurality of microchannels located within the housing and coupled to at least one of the internal surface of the housing or the at least one component, wherein the plurality of microchannels are part of a closed fluid circuit; and a thermal sink coupled to the microchannels, the thermal sink being configured to transfer heat to or from fluid flowing through the microchannels wherein the microchannels are formed in a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes a separator. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. An electrical energy storage device, comprising:
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a housing having an external surface and an internal surface; at least one component within the housing, the at least one component being configured to store electrical power in combination with at least one of other components, chemicals, or materials residing within the housing; a plurality of microchannels located within the housing and coupled to at least one of the internal surface of the housing or the at least one component, wherein the plurality of microchannels are part of a closed fluid circuit; and a thermal sink coupled to the microchannels, the thermal sink being configured to transfer heat to or from fluid flowing through the microchannels; wherein the microchannels are formed at least partially integrally on the internal surface of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A fuel cell, comprising:
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a housing having an external surface and an internal surface; at least one component within the housing, the at least one component being configured to generate electrical power in combination with at least one of other components, chemicals, or materials residing within the housing; a plurality of microchannels located within the housing and coupled to at least one of the internal surface of the housing or the at least one component, wherein the plurality of microchannels are part of a closed fluid circuit; a thermal sink coupled to the microchannels, the thermal sink being configured to transfer heat to or from fluid flowing through the microchannels; wherein the microchannels are formed in the material including a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes a catalyst material. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A fuel cell, comprising:
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a housing having an external surface and an internal surface; at least one component within the housing, the at least one component being configured to generate electrical power in combination with at least one of other components, chemicals, or materials residing within the housing; a plurality of microchannels located within the housing and coupled to at least one of the internal surface of the housing or the at least one component, wherein the plurality of microchannels are part of a closed fluid circuit; a thermal sink coupled to the microchannels, the thermal sink being configured to transfer heat to or from fluid flowing through the microchannels; wherein the microchannels are formed in a portion of at least one component and at least one component includes a dielectric. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification