Multi-element Liquid Metal Battery for Grid Energy Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrochemical energy storage devices face challenges in balancing supply and demand of electrical energy, leading to systemic strain and excessive emissions, particularly due to the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources and inefficient management of fossil fuel-based energy generation.
Innovation Solution
The development of galvanic cells with low-cost electrodes and electrolytes utilizing multiple active metals participating in faradaic reactions, allowing for improved energy storage capacity and efficiency through the transfer of cations between electrodes, which are maintained in liquid or partially liquid phases during operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If renewable energy sources like wind and solar power are deployed to generate electrical energy, then clean energy production is improved, but their intermittent nature causes supply-demand mismatch and reduces reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a liquid metal battery as an intermediary energy storage device between renewable energy sources and the electrical grid. The battery stores excess energy generated during high production periods and releases it during low production periods, mediating the intermittent supply to match demand and maintain grid reliability while enabling greater deployment of clean energy sources
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameters of the battery components (electrodes and electrolyte) to liquid phase at operating temperatures, enabling rapid ionic migration and fast reversible kinetics. This parameter change allows the system to respond quickly to supply-demand fluctuations, improving reliability while storing energy from renewable sources
2Reliability
If conventional electrochemical cells are used for energy storage, then supply-demand balancing is improved, but energy storage capacity and efficiency are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material structures with multiple active metals (such as lithium, calcium, magnesium) in the electrodes and a molten salt electrolyte containing cations of these metals. This composite approach enables multiple faradaic reactions to occur simultaneously, significantly increasing the energy storage capacity while maintaining the reliability improvements from rapid ionic migration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent operates the electrochemical cell at elevated temperatures where electrodes and electrolyte exist as liquid or partially liquid phases. This parameter change enables rapid ionic migration through the electrolyte and fast reversible kinetics at the metal electrodes, improving both storage capacity and efficiency beyond conventional electrochemical cells
3Quantity of substance
If liquid metal batteries are used to improve energy storage capacity, then storage capability is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the natural density differences between the liquid metal electrodes and the molten salt electrolyte to achieve self-segregation and automatic layering of components. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex mechanical structures, separators, or external control systems to maintain component separation, thereby reducing device complexity while enabling the use of multiple active metals for enhanced storage capacity
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 configuration enhances energy storage capacity and efficiency, reduces self-discharge current, and extends the service life of electrochemical cells, making them suitable for large-scale energy storage applications and integration with renewable energy sources.
Implementation Method 1
rapid ionic migration and fast, reversible kinetics at both metal electrodes
Implementation Method 2
The electrolyte is configured to allow the cations of the active metals to be transferred from the negative electrode to the positive electrode during discharging and to be transferred from the positive electrode to the negative electrode during charging
Implementation Method 3
galvanic cells using low cost electrodes and electrolytes which rely on a plurality of active metals participating in faradaic reactions
Implementation Method 4
In a charged state, energy is stored at the negative electrode, which is constituted mainly of a metal, referred to herein as the active metal or anodic metal, at a high chemical potential
Implementation Method 5
The electrolyte exists as a liquid phase and the negative electrode and the positive electrode exist as liquid or partially liquid phases at operating temperatures of the electrochemical cell
Data Source
AI summary
An electrochemical cell including: a negative electrode including calcium and an alkali metal; a positive electrode including one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Al, Si, Zn, Ga, Ge, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Te, Bi, Pb, Sb, Zn, Sn and Mg; and an electrolyte including a salt of calcium and a salt of the alkali metal. The electrolyte is configured to allow the cations of the calcium and alkali metal to be transferred from the negative electrode to the positive electrode during discharging and to be transferred from the positive electrode to the negative electrode during charging. The electrolyte exists as a liquid phase and one or both of the negative electrode and the positive electrode exists as liquid or partially liquid phases at operating temperatures of the electrochemical cell.