Liquid metal alloy energy storage device
An electrochemical battery that exchanges energy with an external device. The battery includes a container containing a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an intervening electrolyte, the electrodes and electrolyte existing as liquid material layers in the container at the operating temperature of the battery so that adjacent layers form respective electrode-electrolyte interfaces. Positive and negative current collectors are in electrical contact with the positive and negative electrodes, respectively, both collectors being adapted for connection to the external device to create a circuit through which current flows. A circulation producer in the battery causes circulation within at least one of the layers to increase the flux of material in one layer to an interface with an adjacent layer, thereby giving the battery a greater current/power capability.
1. A storage device configured to exchange energy with an external device, the storage device comprising:
a container having walls and at least a portion of the container is electronically conductive;
a lid that covers the container;
a negative electrode;
a positive electrode contacting a portion of the walls of the container;
an electrolyte contacting the negative electrode and the positive electrode at respective electrode/electrolyte interfaces and contacting another portion of the walls of the container, wherein the negative electrode, the positive electrode, and the electrolyte comprise liquid material layers within the container at operating temperatures of the storage device and the negative electrode is electrically conductive; and
an electrically conductive structure suspended from the lid and configured to hold the negative electrode away from the walls of the container.
2. The storage device of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive structure is an electrically conductive composite structure.
3. The storage device of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive structure includes a sponge.
4. The storage device of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive structure includes a shaft and a contact portion that is configured to hold the negative electrode away from the walls of the container.
5. The storage device of claim 4 , wherein the contact portion includes one or more rods.
6. The storage device of claim 4 , wherein the contact portion holds the negative electrode around the contact portion via surface tension.
7. The storage device of claim 4 , wherein the contact portion is a mesh material.
8. The storage device of claim 7 , wherein the mesh material is folded into stacked layers.
9. The storage device of claim 7 , wherein the mesh material is coiled into a tube.
10. The storage device of claim 7 , wherein the mesh material comprises strands of material on the order of 0.1 to 1 mm in diameter.
11. The storage device of claim 4 , wherein the contact portion is a sponge.
12. The storage device of claim 4 , wherein the contact portion is an inverted cup structure.
13. The storage device of claim 4 , wherein the shaft holds the negative electrode to the shaft via surface tension.
14. The storage device of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive structure comprises a mild steel alloy or a steel alloy.
15. The storage device of claim 14 , wherein the mild steel alloy or the steel alloy contains nickel, chromium, or both.
16. The storage device of claim 1 , wherein the negative electrode comprises an alkaline earth metal.
17. The storage device of claim 16 , wherein the alkaline earth metal is selected from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium, and combinations thereof.
18. The storage device of claim 16 , wherein the positive electrode is selected from the group consisting of tin, lead, bismuth, antimony, tellurium, selenium, and combinations thereof.
19. The storage device of claim 16 , wherein the positive electrode comprises an alkaline earth metal and an element other than the alkaline earth metal.
20. The storage device of claim 16 , wherein the electrolyte comprises a halide of the alkaline earth metal.
21. The storage device of claim 16 , wherein the electrolyte comprises a salt of the alkaline earth metal and a halide salt of an alkali metal.
22. The storage device of claim 1 , wherein the positive electrode comprises at least one of tin, lead, bismuth, antimony, tellurium, selenium, or combinations thereof.
23. A storage device configured to exchange energy with an external device, the storage device comprising:
a container having walls and at least a portion of the container is electronically conductive;
a negative electrode;
a positive electrode contacting a portion of the walls of the container;
an electrolyte contacting the negative electrode and the positive electrode at respective electrode/electrolyte interfaces and contacting another portion of the walls of the container, wherein the negative electrode, the positive electrode, and the electrolyte comprise liquid material layers within the container at operating temperatures of the storage device, and the negative electrode is electrically conductive;
a positive current collector in electrical contact with the positive electrode; and
an electrically conductive negative current collector in electrical contact with the negative electrode, wherein the electrically conductive negative current collector is configured to hold the negative electrode away from the walls of the container and the positive current collector is formed from a portion of the container.
24. The storage device of claim 23 , further comprising a lid that covers the container, wherein the negative current collector is suspended from the lid.
25. The storage device of claim 23 , wherein the negative current collector is an electrically conductive composite structure.
26. The storage device of claim 23 , wherein the negative current collector includes a sponge.
27. The storage device of claim 23 , wherein the negative current collector includes a shaft and a contact portion that is configured to hold the negative electrode away from the walls of the container.
28. The storage device of claim 27 , wherein the contact portion includes one or more rods.
29. The storage device of claim 27 , wherein the contact portion holds the negative electrode around the contact portion via surface tension.
30. The storage device of claim 27 , wherein the contact portion is a mesh material.
31. The storage device of claim 30 , wherein the mesh material is folded into stacked layers.
32. The storage device of claim 30 , wherein the mesh material is coiled into a tube.
33. The storage device of claim 30 , wherein the mesh material comprises strands of material on the order of 0.1 to 1 mm in diameter.
34. The storage device of claim 27 , wherein the contact portion is a sponge.
35. The storage device of claim 27 , wherein the contact portion is an inverted cup structure.
36. The storage device of claim 27 , wherein the shaft holds the negative electrode to the shaft via surface tension.
37. The storage device of claim 23 , wherein the negative current collector a mild steel alloy or a steel alloy.
38. The storage device of claim 37 , wherein the mild steel alloy or the steel alloy contains nickel, chromium, or both.
39. The storage device of claim 23 , wherein the negative electrode comprises an alkaline earth metal.
40. The storage device of claim 39 , wherein the alkaline earth metal is selected from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium, and combinations thereof.
41. The storage device of claim 39 , wherein the positive electrode is selected from the group consisting of tin, lead, bismuth, antimony, tellurium, selenium, and combinations thereof.
42. The storage device of claim 39 , wherein the positive electrode comprises an alkaline earth metal and an element other than the alkaline earth metal.
43. The storage device of claim 39 , wherein the electrolyte comprises a halide of the alkaline earth metal.
44. The storage device of claim 39 , wherein the electrolyte comprises a salt of the alkaline earth metal and a halide salt of an alkali metal.
45. The storage device of claim 23 , wherein the positive electrode comprises at least one of tin, lead, bismuth, antimony, tellurium, selenium, or combinations thereof.