Power plants – Motor operated by expansion and/or contraction of a unit of... – Unit of mass is a gas which is heated or cooled in one of a...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-03
2001-08-14
Nguyen, Hoang (Department: 3748)
Power plants
Motor operated by expansion and/or contraction of a unit of...
Unit of mass is a gas which is heated or cooled in one of a...
C060S659000, C060S668000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272856
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a method in which thermal energy is stored in rapidly chargeable high temperature accumulators which can be converted directly via a thermionic generator into electrical drive energy or via a Sterling engine directly into pressure energy for the driving of hydraulic motors.
High temperature accumulators which operate on an electrochemical basis are known like the sodium/sulphur high temperature system of ABB which has the highest output at the present time with 0.08-0.1 kWh/kg and the sodium
ickel chloride high temperature system of AEG Anglo Batteries, under the product name ‘Zebra Battery’ with 0.08 kWh/kg.
These so-called high temperature systems require operating temperatures of about 300° C. at which the oxide ceramic electrolyte is conductive to ions and permits the electrode reactions resulting from the current supplied. To maintain the operating temperature continuous heating is required, otherwise the accumulator fails and discharges within a few days.
Apart from the danger of accidents, the high cost, the high weight, the low operational range and the high charge times are negative factors which make these systems noncompetitive with internal combustion engines. The Zebra Battery which is ripe for reproduction, is still 500 DM/kWh even when produced in quantity and at drive powers like those of a gasoline engine with a storage capacity of 50 kWh, can have a weight of 600 kg and an accumulator cost of 25,000 German marks.
A significant problem with such systems is the reactive and corrosive melts which can, in the case of a serious accident, ignite upon contact with water and air. Liquid sodium reacts explosively in combination with water. The alkali sulfur melt is highly corrosive to steel and causes breakdown of the battery housing even in the case of hairline cracks and ignites upper contact with air.
In combination with water highly poisonous hydrogen sulfide can result. For these reasons, ABB has limited work on the sodium/sulfur battery.
By contrast with these electrochemically operating high temperature accumulators which by comparison with the method of the invention can be considered low temperature accumulators, the high temperature accumulator system of the invention operates with a many times higher temperature which, depending upon the respective accumulator material used, can be higher by a factor of 10.
The object of the high temperature accumulator process according to the invention is to operate vehicles of all kinds, whether land vehicles, water vehicles, air vehicles or space vehicles, independent from electrical networks in as comfortable a manner or more comfortably than with internal combustion engines without the drawbacks of the latter, like release of toxic materials, high noise level and high maintenance requirements. A further object is the provision of an immediately available stationary energy store independent of power networks.
These objects are attained in that the highest possible quantity of heat per unit weight or unit space is stored in a fuel free manner in a high temperature accumulator according to the invention, is conserved over the longest time possible and upon demand is discharged again with the highest possible efficiency as drive energy.
The basic material for attaining the objects is graphite which serves as the carrier, storage pressure retentive, reinforcing and high temperature insulating material and is used simultaneously also for heat and current conduction and for resistance heating. Carbon is the material with the highest temperature resistance of about 3500° C. in the solid phase, is not wetted by molten metal and is thus used as a carrier material and as a material for heating up the high temperature accumulator but also as the heat storage material itself and is thus optimal for the high temperature accumulator.
Carbon can be worked and shaped as required. Carbon is a high capacity product as to its properties like thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, density, compressive strength and tensile strength and can be produced with accurate dimensions in production processes. The product palette in carbon ranges from large blocks through fibers to composite materials, foils and insulating felts. From this availability of products alone it is possible to produce a carbon accumulator with a maximum capacity of 25 kWh/l.
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Consumer Energy Information EREC Reference Briefs (Materials reviewed in 1997).
Dubno Herbert
Nguyen Hoang
LandOfFree
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