Device, System and Method for Improving Efficiency and Preventing Degradation of Energy Storage Devices

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method and related device for improving energy performance and substantially preventing degradation of a chemical-to-electrical energy conversion process of an energy storage device ( 10 ), comprising the steps of: mechanically exciting chemical reaction products within the energy storage device ( 10 ) at energy levels proximate which covalent bonds with a matrix ( 51 ) of the energy storage device ( 10 ) would form absent excitation, thereby substantially maintaining ionic bonding between the chemical reaction products and the matrix ( 51 ) and substantially preventing the chemical reaction products from covalently bonding with the matrix ( 51 ); and introducing the mechanical excitations into the energy storage device ( 10 ) via an active material ( 31 ) mechanically-responsive to electromagnetic signals, in response to an electromagnetic signal.

1 . A method for improving energy performance and substantially preventing degradation of a chemical-to-electrical energy conversion process of an energy storage device ( 10 ), comprising the steps of:
 mechanically exciting an energy storage device ( 10 ) at frequencies proximate resonant frequencies at which chemical covalent bonds between chemical reaction products and a matrix ( 51 ) of the energy storage device ( 10 ) would form absent excitation; and   introducing the mechanical excitations into the energy storage device ( 10 ) via an active material ( 31 ) mechanically-responsive to electromagnetic signals, in response to an electromagnetic signal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , said step of introducing said mechanical excitations further comprising:
 introducing said mechanical excitations during at least part of a time while the energy storage device ( 10 ) is discharged;   introducing said mechanical excitations during at least part of the time while the energy storage device ( 10 ) is discharged at said frequencies proximate said resonant frequencies;   introducing said mechanical excitations during at least part of a time while the energy storage device ( 10 ) is charged; and   introducing said mechanical excitations during at least part of the time while the energy storage device ( 10 ) is charged at at least one frequency higher than said resonant frequencies;   the energy storage device ( 10 ) comprising a lead-acid battery; and   said step of mechanically exciting further comprising mechanically exciting the chemical reaction products at frequencies comprising approximately 3.26 MHz.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 doping at least one electrode of said matrix ( 51 ) with a doping material comprising said active material ( 31 ).   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 providing said active material ( 31 ) in mechanical connection with at least one electrode of said matrix ( 51 ).   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 providing an electrolyte of the energy storage device ( 10 ) comprising said active material ( 31 ).   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 providing a separator of the energy storage device ( 10 ) comprising said active material ( 31 ).   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 providing a casting of the energy storage device ( 10 ) comprising said active material ( 31 ).   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 providing said active material ( 31 ) in mechanical connection with at least one terminal of the energy storage device ( 10 ).   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 :
 said active material ( 31 ) comprising magneto-responsive material responsive to magnetic fields; and   said electromagnetic signal comprising a magnetic field; said step of introducing said mechanical excitations further comprising:   introducing said mechanical excitations via said magneto-responsive material, in response to said magnetic field.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 electrically exciting, in addition to said mechanically exciting, the energy storage device ( 10 ) at frequencies proximate said resonant frequencies; and   introducing the electrical excitations into the energy storage device ( 10 ) via an electric current comprising non-DC components, in addition to said electromagnetic signal.   
     
     
         11 . An energy storage device ( 10 ) which substantially improves energy performance and prevents degradation of its chemical-to-electrical energy conversion process, comprising:
 an active material ( 31 ) mechanically-responsive to electromagnetic signals for introducing mechanical excitations into the energy storage device ( 10 ) in response to an electromagnetic signal, at frequencies proximate resonant frequencies at which covalent bonds between chemical reaction products and a matrix ( 51 ) material of the energy storage device ( 10 ) would form absent excitation.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , said mechanical excitations comprising:
 mechanical vibrations vibrating the chemical reaction products at a predetermined periodic oscillation frequency.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , said mechanical excitations comprising:
 mechanical pulses pulsing the chemical reaction products with a pulse of a predetermined rise time.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 :
 the matrix ( 51 ) comprising lead (Pb);   the chemical reaction products comprising sulfate (SO 4 ); and   the covalent bonds comprising lead sulfate (PbSO 4 ) covalent bonds;   said mechanical excitations comprising a frequency of approximately 3.26 MHz.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a control module causing said mechanical excitations, during at least part of a time while the energy storage device ( 10 ) is discharged, to be introduced at said frequencies proximate said resonant frequencies; and   said control module causing said mechanical excitations, during at least part of a time while the energy storage device ( 10 ) is charged, to be introduced at to be introduced at at least one frequency higher than said resonant frequencies.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 said active material ( 31 ) external to and in mechanical connection with the energy storage device ( 10 ).   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an electric current comprising non-DC components, in addition to said electromagnetic signal;   electrical excitations, in addition to said mechanical excitations, introduced into the energy storage device ( 10 ) via said non-DC components, at frequencies proximate said resonant frequencies;   a control module causing said mechanical excitations to be introduced during at least part of a time while the energy storage device ( 10 ) is charged; and   said control module causing said non-DC components to be applied across the electrical potential during at least part of a time while the energy storage device ( 10 ) is discharged; wherein:   said non-DC components are introduced into the energy storage device ( 10 ) by being applied across an electrical potential of the energy storage device ( 10 ).   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 electrical power from said energy storage device ( 10 ) provided to a motor vehicle; and   electrical power received into said energy storage device ( 10 ) from said motor vehicle.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a hybridizer causing energy from a supplemental source of energy in addition to energy from said energy storage device ( 10 ), in varying proportions responsive to varying operating conditions, to power a load.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an electrical connection between said energy storage device ( 10 ) and a power generation and distribution system enabling said energy storage device ( 10 ) to receive electrical power from said power generation and distribution system;   said electrical connection further enabling said energy storage device ( 10 ) to supply electrical power into said power generation and distribution system; and   a load balancer causing said energy storage device ( 10 ) to receive and supply said electrical power from and into said power generation and distribution system, in response to varying operating conditions.