Galvanic electrochemical cells utilizing taylor vortex flows
Electrochemical cells ( 100, 500, 600 ) for converting chemical energy into electrical energy, such as batteries ( 102 ), flow cells ( 502 ) and fuel cells ( 602 ) with a cylindrical rotating ion-permeable filter ( 120, 414, 520, 620 ) that generates Taylor Vortex Flows ( 144, 146, 404, 544, 546, 664, 666 ) and Circular Couette Flows ( 148, 150, 568, 570, 668, 670 ) in thixotropic catholytes and anolytes between a cylindrical current collector ( 106, 506, 606, 108, 508, 608 ) and the filter ( 120, 414, 520, 620 ) are disclosed.
1. A galvanic electrochemical cell ( 100 , 500 , 600 ) for converting chemical energy into electrical energy comprising:
a. a first cylinder-like current collector ( 106 , 506 , 606 ) for connection to an external electrical circuit ( 114 );
b. a second cylinder-like current collector ( 108 , 508 , 608 ) for connection to the external electrical circuit ( 114 ) and located within the first current collector ( 106 , 506 , 606 ) so as to define a gap ( 118 , 518 , 618 ) between the current collectors ( 106 , 506 , 606 , 108 , 508 , 608 );
c. means ( 128 , 130 , 136 , 142 , 536 , 538 , 636 , 638 ) for circulating fluid in the gap ( 118 , 518 , 618 );
d. a cylinder-like filter ( 120 , 414 , 520 , 620 ) located in the gap ( 118 , 518 , 618 ); and
e. means ( 126 , 128 , 130 , 526 , 528 , 530 , 626 , 628 , 630 ) for creating relative rotational motion between the filter ( 120 , 414 , 520 , 620 ) and the first and second current collectors ( 106 , 506 , 606 , 108 , 508 , 608 ); so as to create Taylor Vortex Flows ( 144 , 146 , 404 , 544 , 546 , 664 , 666 ) in fluid located in the gap ( 118 , 518 , 618 ).
2. The galvanic electrochemical cell of claim 1 ( 100 , 500 , 600 ) comprising in addition:
means ( 148 , 150 , 410 , 568 , 570 , 668 , 670 ) for creating Circular Couette Flows ( 148 , 150 , 568 , 570 , 668 , 670 ) in the fluid in the gap ( 118 , 518 , 618 ).
3. The galvanic electrochemical cell of claim 1 ( 100 , 500 , 600 ) wherein the cell is a battery ( 102 ).
4. The galvanic electrochemical cell of claim 1 ( 100 , 500 , 600 ) wherein the cell is a flow cell ( 502 ).
5. The galvanic electrochemical cell of claim 1 ( 100 , 500 , 600 ) wherein the cell is a fuel cell ( 602 ).
6. The galvanic electrochemical cell of claim 1 ( 100 , 500 , 600 ) wherein the fluid is thixotropic.
7. The galvanic electrochemical cell of claim 1 ( 100 , 500 , 600 ) wherein:
a. the fluid in the gap ( 118 , 518 , 618 ) between one of the current collectors ( 106 , 506 , 606 ) and the filter ( 120 , 414 , 520 , 620 ) is a catholyte; and
b. the fluid in the gap between the other of the current collectors ( 108 , 508 , 608 ) and the filter ( 120 , 414 , 520 , 620 ) is an anolyte.
8. The galvanic electrochemical cell of claim 1 ( 100 , 500 , 600 ) wherein the fluid comprises:
decorated carbon particles ( 300 , 402 ).
9. The galvanic electrochemical cell of claim 1 ( 100 , 500 , 600 ) wherein the fluid comprises:
carbon particles ( 300 , 402 ) decorated with faradaic material flakes ( 302 ).
10. The galvanic electrochemical cell of claim 1 ( 100 , 500 , 600 ) wherein the fluid comprises:
carbon particles ( 300 , 402 ) decorated with catalytic material flakes ( 300 ).
11. The galvanic electrochemical cell of claim 1 ( 100 , 500 , 600 ) comprising in addition:
means ( 650 , 680 , 682 , 684 , 686 ) for transferring oxygen from air to fluid in the gap ( 118 , 518 , 618 ).
12. A galvanic electrochemical cell ( 100 , 500 , 600 ) for converting chemical energy into electrical energy comprising:
a. an outer cylinder-like current collector ( 106 , 506 , 606 );
b. an inner cylinder-like current collector ( 108 , 508 , 608 ); within the outer current collector ( 106 , 506 , 606 );
c. a cylinder-like, ion-permeable particulate filter ( 120 , 414 , 520 , 620 ) dividing a gap ( 118 , 518 , 618 ) between the outer ( 106 , 506 , 606 ); and the inner current collectors ( 106 , 506 , 606 );) into outer ( 122 , 522 , 622 ) and inner ( 124 , 524 , 624 ) electrolyte chambers for flowing a different electrolyte in each of the chambers ( 122 , 522 , 622 , 124 , 524 , 624 ); and
d. means ( 126 , 128 , 130 , 526 , 528 , 530 , 626 , 628 , 630 ) for providing relative rotation between the filter ( 120 , 414 , 520 , 620 ) and the current collectors ( 106 , 506 , 606 , 108 , 508 , 608 ) to create Taylor Vortex Flows ( 144 , 146 , 404 , 544 , 564 , 664 , 666 ) in the electrolyte in one electrolyte chamber ( 122 , 522 , 622 , 124 , 524 , 624 ).
13. The galvanic cell electrochemical cell ( 100 , 500 , 600 ) of claim 12 comprising in addition:
an electrolyte containing electroconductive particles ( 300 , 402 ) flowing through one of the electrolyte chambers ( 122 , 522 , 622 , 124 , 524 , 624 ).
14. The galvanic electrochemical cell ( 100 , 500 , 600 ) of claim 13 wherein the electroconductive particles ( 300 , 402 ) comprise:
carbon.
15. The galvanic electrochemical cell ( 100 , 500 , 600 ) of claim 13 wherein the electroconductive particles ( 300 , 402 ) have surface areas of:
at least 1,400 square meters per gram.
16. The galvanic electrochemical cell ( 100 , 500 ) of claim 13 wherein the electroconductive particles ( 300 , 402 ) are decorated with:
faradaic flakes ( 302 ).
17. The galvanic electrochemical cell ( 600 ) of claim 13 wherein the electroconductive particles ( 300 , 402 ) are decorated with:
catalytic flakes ( 302 ).
18. The galvanic electrochemical cell ( 100 , 500 , 600 ) of claim 12 wherein the means ( 126 , 128 , 130 , 526 , 528 , 530 , 626 , 628 , 630 ) for providing relative rotation between the filter ( 120 , 414 , 520 , 620 ) and one current collector ( 106 , 506 , 606 ) to create Taylor Vortex Flows ( 144 , 564 , 664 ) in the electrolyte in one electrolyte chamber ( 122 , 522 , 622 ) comprise:
means for creating Taylor Vortex Flows ( 146 , 566 , 666 ) in the electrolyte in the other electrolyte chamber ( 124 , 524 , 624 ).