Dual Electrochemical Stack Direct Heat to Electricity Generator

A thermogalvanic electrochemical system includes two battery sources connected together in a switchable circuit to provide electric current to an electrical load in the circuit. The battery sources are located in a thermal environment having a varying temperature, and each battery source has a corresponding electrical potential that varies with temperature of the thermal environment. A power management processor operates the circuit to: form a closed circuit at a first temperature with current flow from a first battery source through the electrical load to a second battery source until reaching a first thermal equilibrium, and then form an open circuit, then form a closed circuit at a second temperature with current flow from the second battery source through the electrical load to the first current source until reaching a second thermal equilibrium, and then form an open circuit.

Researchers

Carl Thompson / Lin Xu / Patrick Linford / Yang Shao-Horn

Departments: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Technology Areas: Communication Systems: Wireless / Energy & Distribution: Electrochemical Devices, Geothermal

  • electrochemical stack direct heat to electricity generator
    United States of America | Granted | 10,305,149

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