公开(公告)号：US20170187054A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-29

申请号：US14981104

申请日：2015-12-28

Applicant: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated

Inventor： Divyaraj Desai ,  Vedasri Vedharathinam ,  Martin Joseph Sheridan ,  Ashish V. Pattekar ,  Craig Eldershaw ,  Rajesh Kumar Padmarajan ,  Gabriel Iftime

IPC: H01M8/04276 ,  H01M8/2455 ,  H01M4/86 ,  H01M8/02 ,  H01M8/20

CPC classification number: H01M8/04283 ,  H01M4/8626 ,  H01M8/023 ,  H01M8/188 ,  H01M8/22 ,  H01M8/2455 ,  Y02E60/528

Abstract: A flowing electrolyte fuel cell system design (DHCFC-Flow) is provided. The use of a flowing oxygen-saturated electrolyte in a fuel cell offers a significant enhancement in the cell performance characteristics. The mass transfer and reaction kinetics of the superoxide/peroxide/oxide ion (mobile oxygen ion species) in the fuel cell are enhanced by recirculating an oxidizing gas-saturated electrolyte. Recirculating oxygen-saturated electrolyte through a liquid channel enhances the maximal current observed in a fuel cell. The use of a oxygen saturated electrolyte ensures that the reaction kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction are fast and the use of convection ameliorates concentration gradients and the diffusion-limited maximum current density. The superoxide ion is generated in situ by the reduction of the oxygen dissolved in the gaseous electrolyte. Also, a dual porosity membrane allows the uniform flow of fuel (e.g., methane) on the fuel side, without allowing phase mixing. The capillary pressure for liquid intrusion into the gas phase and vice versa is quite large, estimated to be 1-10 psi. This makes it easier to control the fluctuations in gas/liquid velocity which might otherwise lead to phase mixing and the loss of fuel cell performance. In one variation, a dual-porosity membrane structure is incorporated in the system to allow uniform flow of fuel and prevent mixing of fuel with a liquid electrolyte.

公开(公告)号：US09670077B2

公开(公告)日：2017-06-06

申请号：US14740202

申请日：2015-06-15

Applicant: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated

Inventor： Armin R. Volkel ,  Saroj Kumar Sahu ,  Divyaraj Desai ,  Vedasri Vedharathinam ,  Jessica Louis Baker Rivest

IPC: H01M8/18 ,  H01M8/20 ,  C02F1/469 ,  C02F1/46 ,  C02F101/12 ,  C02F103/08 ,  B01D61/46

CPC classification number: C02F1/4691 ,  B01D61/46 ,  C02F1/4604 ,  C02F1/4695 ,  C02F2001/46133 ,  C02F2101/12 ,  C02F2103/08 ,  C02F2201/46 ,  C02F2201/46115 ,  C02F2201/46165 ,  C02F2303/10 ,  Y02A20/134 ,  Y02A20/141

Abstract: An energy storage system employing a reversible salination-desalination process includes an electrochemical desalination battery (EDB) unit including an anode and a cathode. The EDB unit runs a salination process while storing energy from a direct current power supply unit, and runs a desalination process while releasing energy to an electrical load. The energy storage system can store power from a variable output electrical power supply unit such as solar cells and wind turbines while running a salination process, and release energy, e.g., during peak energy demand hours while running a desalination process. Combined with a capacitive deionization (CD) unit, the energy storage system can generate fresh water by running desalination processes in the EDB unit and the CD unit while releasing stored energy from the EDB unit. The energy storage unit can function as a dual purpose device for energy storage and fresh water generation.