Electrohydraulic Flow Battery for Robot Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern robots suffer from inefficiencies and limited autonomy due to inadequate energy storage systems, which are often cumbersome and have short battery life, restricting their size, weight, and design flexibility.
Innovation Solution
An electrohydraulic device that integrates hydraulic force transmission, actuation, and energy storage using a flow cell battery with a flowable electrolyte, enabling a geometric increase in system energy density and multifunctionality, inspired by biological systems like the human circulatory system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If conventional energy storage systems are used in robots, then the robots can operate autonomously, but the energy storage systems add to the size and weight of the robots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines energy storage and hydraulic actuation into a single integrated system. The flow battery's electrolyte serves dual purposes: as the energy storage medium and as the hydraulic fluid for actuation. This merging eliminates the need for separate hydraulic fluid reservoirs and pumping systems, thereby reducing overall system weight while maintaining autonomous operation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The flowable electrolyte in the battery performs multiple functions simultaneously: it stores chemical energy through redox reactions, transmits hydraulic force for actuation, and can be pumped to provide mechanical work. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, decreasing system weight while ensuring adequate battery life for autonomous robot operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional energy storage systems are used in robots, then the robots can perform basic functions, but the systems are cumbersome and limit design flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the energy storage system with the hydraulic actuation system into a single integrated unit, the patent reduces device complexity. The flow battery structure serves as both the energy storage container and the hydraulic actuator housing, eliminating the need for separate compartments, pumps, and fluid management systems, thereby enhancing design flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-functional flowable electrolyte that serves as both energy storage medium and hydraulic fluid reduces overall system complexity. This universal component approach allows for more adaptable and versatile robot designs, as the same system can be configured for different applications by simply adjusting the battery chemistry or actuator design without adding complex subsystems.
3Reliability
If separate energy storage and actuation systems are used, then each function can be optimized independently, but the overall system size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges energy storage and actuation functions into a single integrated system where the flow battery structure serves as the actuator housing and the electrolyte serves as the hydraulic fluid. This integration maintains functional optimization by allowing independent design of electrochemical and hydraulic components while significantly reducing overall system volume compared to separate systems.
4Use of energy by moving object
If traditional battery systems are used, then the energy can be stored chemically, but the system lacks multifunctionality and geometric energy density
Solution Approach 1:
The flowable electrolyte serves multiple functions: it stores chemical energy through redox reactions, transmits hydraulic force for actuation, and can be circulated to provide continuous power. This multi-functionality enhances the system's adaptability and versatility while maintaining high energy storage capacity, allowing the same component to serve multiple critical roles in the robotic system.
Solution Approach 2:
By combining energy storage and hydraulic actuation into a single integrated system, the patent achieves geometric energy density where the same volume contains both energy storage capability and actuation functionality. This merging allows the system to maintain high energy storage capacity while simultaneously providing mechanical work through hydraulic actuation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The electrohydraulic device enhances energy density, autonomy, and efficiency in robots, allowing for long-duration operation and complex form factors, while reducing the weight and size of energy storage systems by combining energy storage with actuation and force transmission.
Implementation Method 1
The battery may be a flow cell battery, such as, for example, a redox flow cell battery
Implementation Method 2
In a flow cell battery, the flowable electrolyte may a catholyte and/or an anolyte
Implementation Method 3
The actuator has a hydraulic chamber configured to be pressurized by the flowable electrolyte
Implementation Method 4
The actuator is configured to be actuated using the flowable electrolyte
Implementation Method 5
A cation exchange membrane may separate the vessel into an anolyte side and a catholyte side
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an electrohydraulic device. The device includes a battery having a vessel containing a flowable electrolyte. The battery may be a flow cell battery, such as, for example, a redox flow cell battery. In a flow cell battery, the flowable electrolyte may a catholyte and/or an anolyte. An actuator is in fluidic communication with the vessel of the battery. The actuator is configured to be actuated using the flowable electrolyte. A cation exchange membrane may separate the vessel into an anolyte side and a catholyte side. The actuator may be in fluidic communication with either side (anolyte side or catholyte side) of the vessel.