Sodium Aqueous Electrolyte Battery for Cost-Effective Energy Storage

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current secondary energy storage technologies, such as lead-acid batteries, face issues like environmental impact, performance degradation, and high maintenance needs, with no cost-effective alternatives available for intermediate size energy storage applications.

Innovation Solution

Development of a hybrid aqueous energy storage device using a sodium cation containing aqueous electrolyte, an anode electrode, and a cathode electrode capable of reversible alkali metal ion intercalation, allowing for deintercalation of alkali ions during charging and sodium ions during discharge, reducing the need for expensive non-aqueous electrolytes and enabling assembly in an open-air environment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If lead-acid battery chemistry is used for intermediate size energy storage, then cost is reduced and environmental cleanliness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecostVSAvoidenvironmental cleanliness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the battery system by using alternative chemistries (sodium-sulfur, zinc-bromine, iron-air) that eliminate lead and sulfuric acid while maintaining cost-effectiveness through abundant material usage and simplified manufacturing processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs inexpensive, abundant materials such as sodium, zinc, iron, and bromine that can be readily replaced or regenerated, eliminating the need for expensive lead recycling infrastructure while maintaining economic viability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Ease of manufacture

If lead-acid batteries are used for intermediate size energy storage, then initial cost is reduced but maintenance needs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinitial costVSAvoidmaintenance needs

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs batteries with self-regulating characteristics including automatic recombination of gases, self-heating during operation to prevent freezing, and inherent resistance to deep discharge damage, eliminating the need for routine maintenance interventions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs chemistries that can operate continuously without performance degradation, such as zinc-bromine flow batteries that can be deeply discharged and recharged indefinitely, and iron-air batteries that maintain stable performance over extended operational periods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Quantity of substance

If conventional battery chemistries are used, then energy storage capacity is achieved but performance degradation occurs at intermediate state of charge

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy storage capacityVSAvoidperformance stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the electrochemical parameters by using chemistries with flat voltage profiles and high exchange current densities that maintain stable performance across the entire state of charge range, eliminating the performance degradation seen in conventional lead-acid batteries at intermediate charges

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite electrode structures and electrolyte systems that combine multiple materials with complementary properties to achieve both high capacity and stable performance, such as using porous electrodes with catalytic coatings or mixed electrolyte compositions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution provides a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and stable energy storage system with extended cycle life and reduced production complexity, capable of operating over 500 cycles with minimal capacity loss, suitable for intermediate size energy storage needs.

Implementation Method 1

a cathode electrode which is capable of reversibly intercalating sodium cations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIntercalation:

Implementation Method 2

an initial active cathode electrode material comprises an alkali metal containing active cathode electrode material which deintercalates alkali metal ions during initial charging of the device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeintercalation:

Implementation Method 3

a sodium cation containing aqueous electrolyte

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS9088046B2Sodium based aqueous electrolyte electrochemical secondary energy storage device

Publication Date: 2015.07.21 AQUION ENERGY INC

AI summary

A secondary hybrid aqueous energy storage device includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode which is capable of reversibly intercalating sodium cations, a separator, and a sodium cation containing aqueous electrolyte, wherein an initial active cathode electrode material comprises an alkali metal containing active cathode electrode material which deintercalates alkali metal ions during initial charging of the device.