Power generation device using dynamic electric conduction percolation

Abstract

To provide a power generation device which does not induce heat generation or increase of entropy when generating electricity.SOLUTION: There is provided a power generation device which generates electricity by arranging a medium including an electric conductor in the state of a percolation threshold of an electric conduction between two electrodes. Although the principle is that the free motion energy of the medium of the electric conductor in the state of a percolation threshold is converted to an electric energy, the present invention is not limited to the principle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a power generation device that generates electrical energy.

Background Art

[0002] Conventional primary batteries are composed of a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and an electrolyte. A metal with a large ionization tendency is used as the negative electrode, and a metal or carbon with a small ionization tendency is used as the positive electrode. The metal of the negative electrode dissolves into cations in the electrolyte, generating electrical energy.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] Since conventional primary batteries generate energy based on the ionization energy of the metal at the negative electrode, the loss of the negative electrode is inevitable during power generation. There is a need for a power generation device that generates power through a mechanism that does not cause the negative electrode to wear out.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] By using a medium of an electrical conductor in a state of electrical conduction percolation threshold instead of a conventional electrolyte, a method of obtaining energy from the random mechanical movement of fine particles in a state of electrical conduction percolation threshold has been invented.

Effects of the Invention

[0005] By using a medium of an electrical conductor in a state of electrical conduction percolation threshold, a metal or carbon-based material that does not ionize and dissolve in the medium can be used as an electrode. It is possible to prevent the negative electrode from ionizing and wearing out.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006]

Figure 1

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0007] Next, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1. The power generation device of the present invention comprises an electrode 1, a medium 4 containing an electrically conductive body in a percolation threshold state, and an electrode 2. It is desirable that the electrode does not ionize in the medium 4. The separation membrane 3 is used as needed.

[0008] As the electrodes of the positive electrode and the negative electrode that do not ionize, conductive materials such as gold, platinum, carbon materials, conductive organic materials, conductive ceramics, and silicon materials can be used. Examples of carbon materials include artificial graphite, natural graphite, graphites such as graphite sheets, carbon nanofibers, pitch-based carbon fibers, polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fibers, carbon hollow fiber membranes, activated carbon, etc. Also, carbon black, activated carbon, ketjen black, fullerene, and a solidified fine powder of charcoal may be used.

[0009] As the electrodes that do not ionize, the same or different materials can be used for electrode 1 and electrode 2.

[0010] In the case of an electrode using a material that does not ionize, molecules, atoms, ions, fine particles, etc. are used as the electrically conductive body in a percolation threshold state.

[0011] When gold or platinum is used as the electrode, a medium that does not dissolve them is selected.

[0012] When a metal or metal oxide having an ionization tendency is used as the electrode, it is desirable to use a medium that does not corrode it.

[0013] When a metal or metal oxide having an ionization tendency is used as the electrode, it is desirable to use a medium that has a function of temporarily ionizing and then naturally reducing.

[0014] As the medium of the power generation device having the function of naturally reducing even when ionized, those having a reducing action and a rust prevention function are used. As the electrolyte having a rust prevention function, amine salts of water-soluble rust preventives, rust preventives such as quaternary ammonium ions having a rust prevention function, etc. are used.

[0015] For the positive electrode of the power generation device having the function of naturally reducing even when ionized, metals with a low ionization tendency and carbon materials can be used. Examples of carbon materials include graphites such as artificial graphite, natural graphite, and graphite sheets, carbon nanofibers, pitch-based carbon fibers, PAN-based carbon fibers, carbon hollow fiber membranes, activated carbon, etc. Also, carbon black, activated carbon, ketjen black, fullerene, and a solidified fine powder of charcoal may be used.

[0016] As the material for dissolving or dispersing or holding the electrical conductor in the state of the percolation threshold, those having a specific resistance of 10 KΩ·cm or more are used. Water, organic solvents, oligomers, polymers, clay substances, thickened solutions, etc. are used. As long as it can hold the electrical conductor in the state of the percolation threshold, the material is not limited. A mixture or composite of multiple types may also be used.

[0017] As the electrical conductor in the state of the percolation threshold, fine particles of metals such as gold paste and platinum paste, fine particles containing metals, conductive ceramics, non-metallic conductive particles and semiconductor particles, and various ions are used. As non-metallic conductive particles, particles of carbon materials such as activated carbon, ketjen black, fullerene, charcoal, nanocarbon, and carbon tubes, and conductive substances such as powders of conductive ceramics are used. As long as it forms the percolation threshold of electrical conduction, the type is not limited.

[0018] The form of the electrical conductor in the state of the percolation threshold is not limited as long as it forms the percolation threshold of electrical conduction, and forms such as spherical, hollow, tube, flat, rod-shaped, and dissolved are acceptable.

[0019] Electric conductors in the state of the percolation threshold can be used by mixing or combining multiple types. By combining a plurality of media substrates and electric conductors in the state of the percolation threshold, it is also possible to form a multi-stage percolation threshold. A multi-stage percolation threshold may be formed by using the compatibility or incompatibility with the media substrate. If the state of the percolation threshold can be expressed without a medium, the medium may not be used.

[0020] The separation membrane 3 is used to prevent the short circuit between the two electrodes and to hold the space for forming the percolation threshold. If the percolation threshold is formed without a separation membrane, the separation membrane may not be used. As the separation membrane, non-woven fabrics such as polyester fibers, polypropylene fibers, and rayon, meshes, fibrous products with coarse meshes, and materials with holes such as pottery can be used. Also, various functional membranes such as ion separation membranes, separation membranes separated by particle size, and reverse osmosis membranes that create an osmotic pressure difference may be used to select the electric conductor in the state of the percolation threshold.

Examples

[0021] Next, the present invention will be described in more detail based on the following examples. The present invention is not limited by these examples.

[0022] Example 1 In the device shown in Fig. 1, for the electrodes 1 and 2, a plain weave carbon cloth #200 (KCCKU0010D) purchased from Tomato Industries Co., Ltd. (hereinafter abbreviated as carbon fiber) was used. The size of the electrodes was 5 cm × 5 cm. A non-woven fabric was used as the separation membrane. As the non-woven fabric, a non-woven fabric for stencil paper of Kurabo Industries Co., Ltd. with 70% polyester and 30% rayon (hereinafter abbreviated as non-woven fabric) was used. In the following examples and comparative examples, a non-woven fabric was used as the separation membrane. However, if the two electrodes are designed so as not to short-circuit, the separation membrane may not be used.

[0023] In the device shown in Fig. 1, the particles of the electrical conduction percolation threshold used were the aged ink of ground raw ink manufactured by Takeo Co., Ltd. (hereinafter abbreviated as ground raw ink aged ink). The ground raw ink is obtained by mechanically grinding solid ink. As the medium, a dilution of 90 g of tap water (hereinafter abbreviated as water) with respect to 10 g of ground raw ink was used. The potential difference of the device was about 47 mV.

[0024] Example 2 In the device shown in Fig. 1, carbon fiber was used for electrode 1 and electrode 2. As the medium, 10 g of citric acid (manufactured by Ken-ei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) was added to 90 g of tap water. The potential difference of the device was about 51 mV.

[0025] Comparative Example 1 Carbon fiber was used for electrode 1 and electrode 2 of the device. Water was used as the medium. The device did not generate a potential difference.

[0026] Comparative Example 2 Carbon fiber was used for electrode 1 and electrode 2 of the device. The aged ink of ground raw ink was used as the medium without dilution with water. The device did not generate a potential difference.

[0027] Example 3 In the device shown in Fig. 1, for electrode 1, pure gold (a laminate film manufactured by IRIS OHYAMA with the bamboo seal 24-karat gold leaf of Shizen-do Co., Ltd. of Horigane Foil Powder Co., Ltd. thermally adhered thereto, hereinafter abbreviated as gold electrode) was used. For electrode 2, carbon fiber was used. As the medium, a dilution of 10 g of the aged ink of ground raw ink with 90 g of water was used. The potential difference of the device was about 44 mV. The gold electrode was the negative electrode and the carbon electrode was the positive electrode.

[0028] Example 4 In the device shown in Figure 1, electrode 1 was made of carbon fiber. Electrode 2 was made of a gold electrode. The medium was made by diluting 10g of Shichiku made by Kuretake Co., Ltd. with 90g of water. Shichiku is made by adding calcium chloride, a stabilizer, and a preservative as additives to the raw materials of solid ink, such as soot and glue. It is called glue-based liquid ink, and the crucial difference between it and ground raw ink is that calcium chloride is added as a stabilizer. The potential difference was about 64mV. The gold electrode was the negative electrode and the carbon electrode was the positive electrode.

[0029] Example 5 In the device shown in Figure 1, electrode 1 was made of carbon fiber. Electrode 2 was made of a gold electrode. The medium was made by dissolving 10g of citric acid in 90g of water. Five pieces were made. The potential differences were about 71 mV, about 69 mV, about 63 mV, about 205 mV, and about 145 mV, respectively. When carbon fiber or pure gold was used as the electrode, the characteristic that the potential difference was not constant indicates that the power generation of the present invention is not by ionization but by the percolation threshold state. The gold electrode was the negative electrode and the carbon electrode was the positive electrode. When connected in series, the potential difference was about 550 mV.

[0030] Example 6 In the device shown in Figure 1, electrode 1 was carbon fiber. Electrode 2 was a gold electrode. The medium was a solution of 10 g of Hakata salt (hereinafter abbreviated as table salt) dissolved in 90 g of water. The potential difference was 115 mV. The gold electrode was the negative electrode and the carbon electrode was the positive electrode. Hakata salt is 98% sodium chloride with traces of magnesium, calcium, and potassium. The potential difference of the device was about 93 mV. The gold electrode was the negative electrode and the carbon electrode was the positive electrode.

[0031] Example 7 In the device shown in Fig. 1, carbon fiber was used for electrode 1, and a gold electrode was used for electrode 2. As the medium, a solution prepared by dissolving 10 g of sodium hydrogen carbonate (hereinafter abbreviated as baking soda) manufactured by Kenei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in 90 g of water was used. The potential difference of the device was about 69 mV. The gold electrode was the positive electrode, and the carbon electrode was the negative electrode. When a gold electrode and a carbon fiber electrode are used as the two types of electrodes, the polarity of the carbon fiber electrode may change depending on the type and state of the substance forming the electrical conduction percolation threshold.

[0032] Example 8 In the device shown in Fig. 1, carbon fiber was used for electrode 1, and a wide-thick aluminum foil for outdoor use of an aluminum plate (manufactured by Captain Stag, Pearl Metal Co., Ltd., hereinafter abbreviated as aluminum foil) was used for electrode 2. As the medium, a solution prepared by diluting 10 g of ground and strained raw ink with 90 g of water was used. The potential difference after leaving it for 30 days was about 685 mV. The visual appearance of the aluminum had no change and was shiny (◎).

[0033] Example 9 Three devices with the formulation of Example 8 were fabricated and connected in series, and after lighting an LED lamp (LED yellow manufactured by E-Kei Japan Co., Ltd.) for 30 days, the appearance of the aluminum was observed. The visual appearance of the aluminum had no change and was shiny (◎).

[0034] Example 10 In the device shown in Fig. 1, carbon fiber was used for electrode 1, and aluminum foil was used for electrode 2. As the medium, a solution prepared by diluting 10 g of black bamboo manufactured by Takebamboo Co., Ltd. with 90 g of water was used. Black bamboo is a raw material for solid ink such as soot and glue, to which calcium chloride as a stabilizer and a preservative are added as additives. It is called a gum-based liquid ink, and the decisive difference from ground and strained raw ink is that calcium chloride as a stabilizer is added. The potential difference after leaving it for 30 days was about 693 mV. The visual appearance of the aluminum was thinly whitened and slightly shiny (○).

[0035] Example 11 Three devices with the formulation of Example 10 were fabricated, connected in series, and after turning on an LED lamp (LED yellow manufactured by E-Kei Japan Co., Ltd.) for 30 days, the appearance of the aluminum was observed. The visually observed appearance of the aluminum was thinly whitened (○ to △).

[0036] Comparative Example 3 In the device shown in Fig. 1, carbon fiber was used for electrode 1. Aluminum foil was used for electrode 2. As the medium, a solution obtained by diluting 15 g of citric acid with 85 g of water was used. The potential difference after leaving it for 30 days was about 747 mV. The visually observed appearance of the aluminum was whitened and had lost its luster (×).

[0037] Comparative Example 4 Three devices with the formulation of Comparative Example 3 were fabricated, connected in series, and after turning on an LED lamp (LED yellow manufactured by E-Kei Japan Co., Ltd.) for 30 days, the appearance of the aluminum was observed. The visually observed appearance of the aluminum was whitened and had lost its luster (××).

[0038] Comparative Example 5 In the device shown in Fig. 1, carbon fiber was used for electrode 1. Aluminum foil was used for electrode 2. As the medium, a solution obtained by diluting 30 g of sodium chloride with 70 g of water was used. The potential difference after leaving it for 30 days was about 725 mV. The visually observed appearance of the aluminum had black rust (××).

[0039] Comparative Example 6 Three devices with the formulation of Comparative Example 5 were fabricated, connected in series, and after turning on an LED lamp (LED yellow manufactured by E-Kei Japan Co., Ltd.) for 30 days, the appearance of the aluminum was observed. The visually observed appearance of the aluminum was whitened, had brown rust, and had lost its luster (××).

[0040] Comparative Example 7 In the device shown in Fig. 1, carbon fiber was used for electrode 1. Aluminum foil was used for electrode 2. As the medium, a solution obtained by diluting 30 g of sodium chloride with 70 g of water was used. The potential difference after leaving it for 30 days was about 725 mV. The visually observed appearance of the aluminum had black rust (××).

[0041] Comparative Example 8 Three devices with the formulation of Comparative Example 7 were fabricated, connected in series, and after lighting an LED lamp (LED yellow manufactured by E-Kei Japan Co., Ltd.) for 30 days, the appearance of the aluminum was observed. The visually observed appearance of the aluminum was strongly whitened, brown rust had occurred, and the gloss had disappeared (××).

[0042] Comparative Example 9 In the device shown in FIG. 1, carbon fiber was used for Electrode 1. Aluminum foil was used for Electrode 2. As the medium, a solution obtained by diluting 15 g of baking soda with 85 g of water was used. The potential difference after leaving it for 30 days was about 990 mV. The visually observed appearance of the aluminum had slight white rust. It had a little gloss (△).

[0043] Comparative Example 10 Three devices with the formulation of Comparative Example 9 were fabricated, connected in series, and after lighting an LED lamp (LED yellow manufactured by E-Kei Japan Co., Ltd.) for 30 days, the appearance of the aluminum was observed. The visually observed appearance of the aluminum was whitened, iridescent rust had occurred, and the gloss had disappeared (×). The potential difference was about 975 mV. From the results of Comparative Example 9 and Comparative Example 10, it can be seen that as the electrically conductive substance forming the percolation threshold of electrical conductivity, ions with rust prevention ability are preferable.

[0044] Comparative Example 11 In the device shown in FIG. 1, carbon fiber was used for Electrode 1. Aluminum foil was used for Electrode 2. As the medium, a solution obtained by diluting 10 g of a softener (containing a surfactant and an ester-type dialkylammonium salt as softening components) of Procter & Gamble with 90 g of water was used. The potential difference was 753 mV. The visually observed appearance of the aluminum was slightly whitened (△~×).

[0045] Comparative Example 12 Three devices with the formulation of Comparative Example 11 were fabricated, connected in series, and after lighting an LED lamp (LED yellow manufactured by E-Kei Japan Co., Ltd.) for 30 days, the appearance of the aluminum was observed. The visually observed appearance of the aluminum was whitened (×). From the results of Comparative Example 11 and Comparative Example 12, it can be seen that as the electrically conductive substance forming the percolation threshold of electrical conductivity, ions with rust prevention ability are preferable and the addition of a rust preventive agent is effective.

Industrial Applicability

[0046] As described above, it can be expected that the power generation device of the present invention can generate electricity without consuming the electrodes. If seawater is used as a medium in the sea, it can be expected to convert kinetic energy into electrical energy while protecting and growing the ecosystem.

Claims

1. A power generating device having a medium including an electrical conductor that is at a percolation threshold of at least one type of electrical conductivity, and at least two electrodes disposed therein.

2. The power generating device according to claim 1, wherein the medium has an anti-corrosive effect on the electrodes.

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