Metal Powder Power Plant for Grid-Scale Energy Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional electricity storage and production methods, such as batteries and pumped storage, face limitations in geographic and environmental constraints, and battery technology is limited in energy storage capacity.

Innovation Solution

A power plant system that uses metal powder as fuel for electricity production and storage, where metal oxide is converted back to metal powder using electricity from the grid, allowing for bidirectional energy conversion and storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If battery technology is used for energy storage, then portability and flexibility are improved, but energy storage capacity is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy storage capacityVSAvoidportability and flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the storage medium from conventional batteries to metal powder/oxide system. Metal powder can be stored in large quantities without the portability constraints of batteries, as it can be transported in bulk and converted to electricity on-demand through oxidation reactions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses metal powder as a copy or alternative representation of energy storage, where the metal powder itself serves as both the storage medium and the fuel source. This eliminates the need for complex battery structures while maintaining energy storage functionality through chemical potential energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Quantity of substance

If pumped storage is used for energy storage, then large scale energy storage is achieved, but geographic and environmental constraints are imposed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy storage capacityVSAvoidgeographic and environmental adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the mechanical pumped storage system with a chemical-based metal powder oxidation system. Instead of requiring gravitational potential energy from elevated water reservoirs, the system uses chemical energy stored in metal powder, eliminating the need for specific geographic features like elevation differences and large water bodies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention fundamentally changes the energy storage parameter from mechanical potential energy to chemical energy. This allows energy storage to occur in any location without requiring the specific geographic conditions needed for pumped storage, such as mountains, valleys, or large water bodies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If metal powder combustion is used for electricity production, then energy production efficiency is improved, but metal oxide recovery requires additional processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy production efficiencyVSAvoidmetal oxide recovery process

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention makes the system self-service by using the metal oxide produced during combustion as the direct feedstock for the next energy storage cycle. The metal oxide is reduced back to metal powder through electrolysis or other reduction processes, creating a closed-loop system where the combustion byproduct becomes the raw material for energy storage, eliminating the need for external metal powder production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements a recover and reuse cycle where metal oxide, which would normally be discarded as waste from combustion, is recovered and converted back to metal powder. This creates a sustainable cycle where the combustion process continuously regenerates its own fuel source through the reduction of its oxidation byproduct.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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 system enables efficient energy storage and production by using metal powder as a fuel and storage medium, reducing geographic and environmental limitations, and offering flexible operation modes to support grid demands.

Implementation Method 1

produce electricity and metal oxide by the combustion of metal powder

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 2

recovering, using electricity from a source electrical grid, the metal powder from the metal oxide

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrolysis: Electrolysis

Data Source

PatentUS11993858B2System and method for storing and generating electricity

Publication Date: 2024.05.28 HYDRO QUEBEC CORP

AI summary

Various configurations of a power plant are described. The power plant is configured to supply power to a receiving electrical grid by the combustion of metal powder. The power plant is also configured absorb power by recovering the metal powder from the metal oxide produced by the combustion of the metal powder, with electricity from a source electrical grid.