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None of these “alternative or green” sources
are remotely practical without some sort of storage because they are so
unpredictably variable and not controllable as fossil fuel and nuclear
generation are. Much of our increasingly great demand for energy and
power could be ameliorated by a truly practical means of storing large
quantities of energy cheaply.
To date electrochemical batteries of one
type or another have been developed and produced to satisfy these needs.
Unfortunately, these battery performances are inadequate to the tasks,
frequently resulting in leaving the need unfulfilled. They are either too
expensive, too heavy or have too short an operating life.
Research and development continues world
wide to solve these problems, but there is a fundamental barrier to the
next leap in energy technology – and that barrier is nature!
Electrochemical systems or couples, as they are more specifically known
have an upper limit to their ability to store or produce energy. That
limitation is determined by the very nature of the mechanisms of the
chemical processes. The energy produced by a “couple”, meaning that
between two different chemical species, is the voltage multiplied by the
amount of electrical charge per reaction for any given quantity of
molecules of the reactants. The most energetic of the available
reactions on a weight basis is that between lithium and fluorine. The
maximum potential available between two inorganic reactants (lithium and
fluorine) is 6 volts. Multiplying that by the number of molecules of
lithium and fluorine per pound, the maximum energy is close to 3 kWH per
pound of material, a figure dwindled by those for fossil fuels such as
gasoline at over 6 KWH/lb, (35 KWH/gallon).
That figure can never be realized because of
inefficiencies, dead weight of battery structure and other losses.
However, it is a very attractively high energy density. In all
probability no such battery will ever be made and used because of the very
reactive and hazardous nature of lithium and fluorine. These materials
are so reactive that they are impossible to contain in a controlled, light
weight and reliable manner. Because of reasons of this sort the batteries
we have now are not even 10% of that maximum value. In fact, most
batteries are in the range of 10 to 30 WH/lb useable, and with output
voltages is the range of 1.2 to 3 volts. The realities of life descend
upon even the most optimistic of us.
However, a new device has been explored and
developed to store energy in the convenient electrical form. It is a
battery-like device, but not a battery in any conventional sense. It does
not depend upon a fixed voltage of an electrochemical couple. This new
storage system makes use of what is known as the colligative properties of
matter, and hence is not limited to the properties of specific materials.
It functions in an entirely different fashion. In fact, it its
characteristics more closely resemble those of an electronic capacitor, or
in a mechanical sense , the principles of compressing a gas to store
energy. The device can be charged electrically and the energy stored for
an indefinitely long time for later use. It makes use of safe, cheap and
plentiful materials. The most attractive aspects of this method can best
be understood by those with some knowledge and experience with
conventional batteries and their proneness to the various ills of
electrochemical cells. Most important is the fact that the materials on
both sides of this new concentration cell are the same. Hence, any
invariable transport of ions or molecules from the positive to the
negative side of a cell will not in any manner reduce its life. Its
construction is such that it may endure significant maltreatment
electrically or mechanically while suffering no loss in operating .life.
Seems like a panacea, but there are
practical limitations to this as well. For example, the energy is not
delivered at a near constant as it is with most batteries. This rather
steep slope in voltage versus state of charge necessitates some external
control circuitry. However, this sort of control is quite common with
many systems and is readily achieved with standard circuitry.
The outstanding advantages (attributes) of
the device which we call a concentration intensive cell (CIC) are:
1.
Low cost materials, $2 to $10/KWH
2.
Present energy storage density is at 30 WH/lb.
Future non-aqueous electrolytes will enable the achievements of almost an
order of magnitude increase in density and voltages.
3.
Operating potentials, at present is @ 2 to 5
volts/cell, Future cells will attain 3 to 30 volts/cell
4.
Very long operating and storage life
5.
Extremely rugged and abuse resistant
The low cost, simplicity and dependability
of this new system renders it eminently suitable for many applications
ranging from emergency home supplies, portable electronics and electric
vehicle propulsion.
It could very well be an answer to many of
our continuing energy needs.
Present status is that of a mature
technology based upon well known and understood science. There are no
fundamental problems to be overcome before it can be applied to some
uses. Additional engineering will result in improved overall
performance. There are no remaining fundamental problems to be solved
before it can be useful in a practical sense.
The technology appears to be the only one on
the horizon that might provide a short term solution to many of our energy
needs. The energy cells function on the basis of producing immense
differentials (ratios) in concentrations of ionic materials within a cell,
which creates electrical voltages and electric currents. It can truly
make the electric and hybrid car a reality as well as contribute to the
practicality of solar and wind energy where needed in remote areas. The
possibility also presents itself for modular storage of energy for home
and factory applications wherein energy is stored locally from the
electric utilities. In that instance the electric power would always be
drawn from the modular storage system and recharged from the power lines.
That would eliminate the need for large and costly power lines to supply
periodic surge demands, and practically eliminate even short duration
power outages in much the same fashion as one’s UPS device does when
connected to a computer or other home electronics.
Source of this information is directly from
the author, Dr. Ralph Zito, physicist and developer of the technology.
Prior to this most recent work the author developed three distinctly new
Redox battery systems for load leveling. He has over 50 years in R&D with
Westinghouse, G.E. and other R&D organizations, founder of TRL, Inc. an
independent research company begun in Cambridge MA., relocated to the
Research Triangle Park in NC then to the Spruce Creek Fly-In community in
Port Orange, Florida. An aviation enthusiast & pilot, he authored over 50
patents in various fields of electronics and thermodynamic systems, and
over 40 scientific papers including the recent “Energy Storage – A New
Approach” book published by Scrivener-Wiley in 2010.
This article was
contributed by
Dr. Ralph Zito of Technology Research Laboratories, Inc..
View points expressed in the article are those of the Author and
not those of EnvironBusiness. To obtain further details please
contact the author.
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