Micro gap flow through electrochemical devices with self adjusting reactive surfaces
OwnerRichard Clarkeinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Contemplated electrochemical devices and methods include an electrolyte flow path in which substantially all of the electrolyte has laminar flow. A segmented electrode contacts the electrolyte, and each of the segments in the segmented electrode is preferably coupled to a control device to provide control over the flow of current to and/or from the electrolyte. Thus, it should be appreciated that the redox state of the electrolyte can be changed in a single-pass through the flow path, which effectively eliminates problems associated with mass transport phenomena and reduced current efficiency.
Claims20
An electrochemical device comprising an electrolyte conduit having a length-to-depth ratio of at least 30 that is configured for laminar flow of at least 85% of an electrolyte flowing along the conduit, and further comprising a plurality of neighboring electrode segments that run along the length of the conduit, wherein the electrode segments are electrically insulated from each other, wherein the electrode segments are arranged for sequential contact of the electrolyte with the electrode segments, and wherein at least two of the electrode segments are electronically coupled to at least two respective current control devices.
A method of operating an electrochemical device comprising:
- pumping an electrolyte having a first oxidation state along a flow path having a length-to-depth ratio of at least 30, wherein the flow path comprises a plurality of neighboring electrode segments that run along the length of the flow path and are arranged for sequential contact of the electrolyte with the electrode segments, and wherein the flow path is configured such that at least 85% of the electrolyte has laminar flow in the flow path;
- wherein the electrode segments are electrically insulated from each other;
- and
- changing the first oxidation state of the electrolyte to a second oxidation state on the electrode segments in the flow path such that at least 85% of the electrolyte has the second oxidation state at a location downstream of the flow path.
A method of manufacturing an electrochemical reactor having a first electrolyte reservoir with a first electrolyte at a first oxidation state, a second electrolyte reservoir with the first electrolyte at a second oxidation state, and an electrolytic cell having an anode, a cathode, and a separator between the anode and the cathode, wherein the cell has a flow path that fluidly couples the first and second electrolyte reservoirs, and wherein the flow path allows the first electrolyte to contact the anode, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming a length of the flow path between the first and second electrolyte reservoirs as a flow path having a length-to-depth ratio of at least 30 such that at least 85% of the first electrolyte has a laminar flow in the flow path along the length of the flow path;
- and
- forming the anode from a plurality of neighboring electrode segments that are electrically insulated from each other in the flow path such as to allow change of oxidation state of at least 85% of the first electrolyte from the first to the second oxidation state upon traversing the length of the flow path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.