Energy-Harvesting Reactor Based on Diffusion of Aluminum in Gallium
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsIan S. McKay, Ruaridh R. MacDonald, Erich J. Brandeau
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Abstract
Aluminum may be used as a fuel source to power small vehicles, unmanned vehicles or underwater vehicles, other small robotics, backup or regular underwater power sources (e.g., for oil rigs), or as an emergency power source in flooded or disaster areas. Reactors are described that harvest energy produced by the exothermic oxidative reaction of aluminum or an aluminum alloy with water, with the assistance of liquid gallium as a depassivating agent.
Claims20
An electrochemical reactor for use in an energy storage system comprising:
- a housing configured to continuously circulate fluid in a unidirectional loop, the fluid comprising liquid gallium;
- an aluminum port configured to introduce aluminum or an aluminum alloy in a solid phase into the housing;
- a water injection port configured to introduce water into the housing;
- a thermal energy harvester coupled to the housing and configured to convert heat into electrical energy;
- and
- a waste separation system in fluid communication with the housing and configured to remove aluminum hydroxide from the fluid.
A method of using an electrochemical reactor, the method comprising:
- providing a fluid comprising liquid gallium in a housing, the housing forming a loop and configured to continuously circulate the fluid in one direction within the loop;
- introducing aluminum or an aluminum alloy in a solid phase into the fluid at a first location in the housing so that the aluminum or the aluminum alloy substantially dissolves in the fluid;
- introducing water into the fluid at a second location in the housing, wherein the first location is upstream from the second location producing an aluminum oxide, hydrogen and heat;
- converting the heat into electrical energy using a thermal energy harvester coupled to the housing;
- removing the aluminum oxide from the fluid;
- and
- recirculating the fluid in the housing upstream from the first location.
A method of using a chemical reactor, the method comprising:
- providing a fluid comprising liquid gallium in a housing, the housing forming a loop and configured to continuously circulate the fluid in one direction within the loop;
- introducing aluminum or an aluminum alloy in a solid phase into the fluid in the housing, whereby a liquid aluminum/gallium alloy is produced at a first location within the loop;
- and
- introducing water into the fluid in the housing, whereby an aluminum oxide, hydrogen and heat are produced at a second location within the loop, wherein the first location is in fluid communication with, and separate from, the second location.
A method of using a chemical reactor, the method comprising:
- circulating a fluid comprising liquid gallium within a housing, wherein in a first sector of the housing, the fluid comprises substantially liquid gallium;
- introducing aluminum or an aluminum alloy in a solid phase into the fluid whereby in a second sector of the housing, the fluid comprises substantially a liquid aluminum/gallium alloy;
- and
- introducing water into the fluid in the housing whereby in a third sector of the housing, the fluid comprises substantially a mixture of gallium, an aluminum oxide, and hydrogen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.