Metal-Based Electrochemical Storage with Separate Charge-Discharge Assemblies
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies for long-duration electricity storage, such as metal-air batteries and flow batteries, face challenges like rapid degradation of air cathodes, morphological changes in zinc anodes, and limited capacity due to metal anode thickness.
Innovation Solution
The electrochemical system comprises a charging assembly for metal deposition and a discharging assembly for metal dissolution, with mechanisms for containing metal and electrolyte, allowing for independent scaling of power and capacity, and enabling concurrent charging and discharging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If metal anode thickness is increased to increase capacity, then energy storage capacity is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the energy storage function into two independent parts: a thin metal anode for electrochemical reactions and a separate bulk metal storage reservoir. The thin anode layer (micrometers to millimeters) performs the electrochemical function while the bulk reservoir (liters to cubic meters) provides scalable capacity through simple geometric expansion. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by decoupling capacity scaling from anode thickness increases.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from two-dimensional planar electrodes to three-dimensional volumetric energy storage by introducing a bulk metal reservoir. Capacity is scaled by adding volume in the third dimension (height or depth of the reservoir) rather than increasing anode thickness, enabling capacity expansion without proportional increases in device complexity.
2Productivity
If conventional rechargeable battery designs are used, then power generation is achieved, but rapid degradation of air cathode and morphological changes in zinc anode occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-deposits metal onto the anode from the bulk reservoir before each discharge cycle, ensuring the anode is in an optimal, stable morphological state. This preliminary action prevents the cumulative degradation that would occur from repeated in-situ deposition during cycling, thereby improving reliability while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system treats the metal anode material as a consumable that is periodically replenished from the bulk reservoir rather than attempting to maintain it indefinitely. This approach acknowledges the limitations of continuous cycling and instead uses periodic recovery from the reservoir to reset the anode to a stable state, improving overall system reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If independent scaling of power and capacity is implemented, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bulk metal reservoir serves multiple functions: it acts as a storage container for metal, provides a source for anode replenishment, and enables independent capacity scaling. The same simple geometric structure (the reservoir) fulfills multiple roles, achieving versatility without adding device complexity.
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
This system effectively addresses the limitations of existing technologies by providing flexible, low-cost energy storage with high energy density, capable of continuous power generation and storage, and scalable capacity without thickness limitations.
Implementation Method 1
a charging assembly or device for metal deposition
Implementation Method 2
a discharging assembly or device for metal dissolution
Data Source
AI summary
An electrochemical cell system, including: a housing; an electrolyte disposed in the housing; a plurality of discharging cathodes immersed in the electrolyte and a plurality of first spaces between the discharging cathodes, a metallic material, when placed in the first spaces, forms a plurality of discharging anodes; an electrochemical system, including: a housing, an electrolyte disposed in the housing, a discharging assembly immersed in the electrolyte including one or more discharging cathodes and a first space amid the discharging cathodes and the interior surface of the housing, a metallic material, wherein the first space contains the metallic material to form one or more discharging anodes, and a second space above the discharging assembly contains the metallic material in excess of the portion in the first space; and methods of simultaneous charging and discharging.