Cross-flow electrochemical batteries

Abstract

A cross-flow electrochemical cell for producing electricity is disclosed that incorporates means for cross-flow pumping of electrolyte through both anode and cathode electrodes in the same direction to achieve markedly higher discharging and charging currents. Cross-flow pumping enabling use of thick mesh electrodes comprising scaffolds impregnated with high-surface-area metal nanoparticles and having high porosity are also taught.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 388,359 filed 30 Sep. 2010, and of International Patent Application No. PCT / US10 / 39885 filed 25 Jun. 2010, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12 / 800,658; 12 / 800,710; 12 / 800,657; 12 / 800,672 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,972,747 of 5 Jul. 2011); and 12 / 800,709 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,964,301 of 21 Jun. 2011)—all filed on 20 May 2010. All of these applications claim priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61 / 220,583 filed 26 Jun. 2009, are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and have been assigned to the assignee of this application.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not ApplicableTHE NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT[0003]Not ApplicableINCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK[0004]Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0005]1. Field of t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0065]It is therefore a first advantage of the present invention to provide a robust CFEB that provides greatly increased mass transport of ions by convection within the electrolyte and through porous electrodes.

[0066]A second advantage of the present invention is to provide a CFEB that uses incompressible forced convection—in addition to short path diffusion, dispersion or migration—as principal forces for promoting ion mobility.

[0067]A third advantage of the present invention is to provide a robust CFEB utilizing greatly increased active electrode areas exposed to flowing electrolytes in a compact cell volume.

[0068]A fourth advantage of the present invention is to provide a CFEB that does not have a tradeoff between electrode thickness and impedance.

[0069]A fifth advantage of this invention is to provide CFEB that create dynamic flows within electrolytes passing through open-cell, porous electrodes containing chemically active particles and surfaces to induce exceptionally high rates of mass transport to and from reduction-oxidation (redox) chemical reactions occurring at or on reactive surfaces.

[0070]A sixth advantage of this invention is to provide CFEB with low mass-transport-limiting and surface-limiting electrode characteristics and dynamic forced convective flow of electrolyte through electrodes that have very high surface area volumetric concentrations.

Problems solved by technology

However, not all of the faradaic surface exposed to electrolyte may contribute to cell charge or discharge current.

Both of these factors limit electric current in conventional cells and batteries.

This means that certain time-dependent processes, such as alternating current behavior and surge response, may not be accurately explained by the model.

These limitations of ion mobility under diffusion, dispersion and migration gradients are common to all prior art galvanic cells with porous electrodes.

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