LOW FLAMMABILITY ELECTROLYTES FOR STABLE OPERATION OF LITHIUM AND SODIUM ION BATTERIES
This invention is related to Localized high concentration electrolytes (LHCE) that are stable with alkane metal anode, graphite anode, and various cathode materials in an electrochemical cell. LHCE electrolytes contain two parts of the solvents. First part of the solvent or solvent mixture (A) (such as carbonate solvents, ether solvents, or carbonate/ether solvent mixtures) has a high solvability for the active salt or salt mixture (S). When used separately, these high concentration electrolytes are stable with anode (such as lithium, sodium and graphite), cathode (including both ion intercalation and conversion compounds) and current collectors (such as Cu and Al) that are often unstable in the case of low concentration electrolytes. The second part of the solvent or solvent mixture (B) is miscible with the part A of the solvents used in the electrolytes, but has only a very low solvability of the active salt (S). Solvent B is also stable with anode (such as lithium, sodium and graphite), cathode (including both ion intercalation and conversion compounds) and current collectors (such as Cu and Al) even at low concentration conditions. When the active salt or salt mixture S is added to the solvent mixture consists of solvent A and B, salt S will preferentially coordinate with the solvent A and form a localized high concentration electrolyte which is stable with other part of the electrochemical cells, but the overall concentration of the electrolyte is still be low. The electrolyte containing localized high concentration salt consists of salt S, solvent A, and solvent B is not only stable with anode by forming high quality solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layers, but also stable with high voltage cathodes, thereby improving long-term cycling stability of electrochemical cells. Furthermore, addition of solvent B effectively decreases the salt concentration (lowered cost), reduces the electrolyte viscosity and improves the ionic conductivity and wetting ability of the electrolyte. This invention could be widely applied to a variety of electrochemical systems, including lithium (Li) metal batteries, Li ion batteries, Li-S batteries, Li-O2 batteries, sodium metal and sodium ion batteries, magnesium ion batteries, aqueous Li batteries (such as dilution of concentrated LiTFSI/NaTFSI aqueous electrolyte), super capacitors, sensors.
CONTROL APPROACH FOR POWER MODULATION OF END-USE LOADS
Proposed a novel control methodology to modulate the aggregated power of a population of heterogeneous end-use loads to follow desired power modulation signals Applied proposed control methodology for end-use loads to provide two different grid services Frequency regulation Damping of inter-area oscillations Technical novelties: Novel signal decomposition method to facilitate load controller design so that heterogeneous end-use loads can provide the service of frequency regulation for the first time (in the literature, only homogeneous end-use loads were considered for frequency regulation) With proposed control approach, it is also for the first time that end-use loads can damp inter-area oscillations for improving grid reliability (in the literature, only transmission-level control was considered)
POLYFUNCTIONAL SORBENT MATERIALS
Disclosed herein is a material comprising a functionalized solid support surface, wherein the functionalization comprises a thioalkylene linker bound to the support surface and the thioalkylene linker is coupled to a moiety derived from a ligand, wherein the ligand includes a terminal alkenyl and at least one first functional group configured to bind to at least one predetermined target species.
METHOD OF CONVERTING ETHANOL TO HIGHER ALCOHOLS
In this invention we have developed a catalyst and process to convert ethanol to higher alcohols via Guerbet condensation chemistry at high selectivity (~90% selectivity to higher alcohols at ~50 percent one pass ethanol conversion). The unconverted ethanol will be easily recycled back to the reactor for further conversion so the ideal over all yield will be ~90%. The uniqueness of this invention is we can achieve this in one single catalytic bed over hydrogen atmosphere at 325 degrees C and 300psig (very mild condition) and also shown the catalyst steady life time greater than 200hrs with consistent selectivity and conversion.
MODERATELY SOLVATING ELECTROLYTES FOR RECHARGEABLE METAL-SULFUR BATTERIES (iEdison No. 0685901-23-0296)
This invention is related to novel moderately solvating electrolytes (MSEs) that have moderate solubility of polysulfide species and are stable with metal anode and polysulfides formed from the sulfur cathode in metal-sulfur batteries such as lithium-sulfur (Li-S), sodium-sulfur (Na-S), magnesium-sulfur (Mg-S), aluminum-sulfur (Al-S) batteries, etc. These designed electrolytes generate high-quality solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layers on both metal anode and sulfur cathodes, thereby improving the long-term cycling stability of the metal-sulfur batteries. Furthermore, the designed electrolytes effectively decrease the polysulfide solubility in the electrolyte and suppress the polysulfide shuttle in the metal-sulfur batteries. As a result, these electrolytes significantly improve the Coulombic efficiency (CE) and decrease the self-discharge of metal-sulfur batteries during storage. This invention could be widely applied to a variety of electrochemical systems, including Li-S, Na-S, Mg-S and Al-S batteries. It is also applicable to regular Li metal batteries, Li-ion batteries, Li-O2 batteries, sodium metal and sodium ion batteries, magnesium ion batteries, supercapacitors, and sensors.
Process for Producing Cyclic Compounds
The invention relates to a method for producing cyclic amine compounds such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone. In the preferred embodiment the precursor is diammonium succinate prepared from fermentation. The invention reports on a way of producing an intermediate that can be purified before the ultimate step, which requires precious metal catalysis. Impurities in the fermentation broth can harm such catalysts. Several examples are given that illustrate the invention.
Intelligent Sensor and Controller Framework for the Power Grid
The number of sensors connected to the electric power sys- tem is expected to grow by several orders of magnitude by 2020. However, the information networks which will transmit and an- alyze the resulting data are ill-equipped to handle the resulting volume with reliable real-time delivery. Without the ability to manage and use this data, deploying sensors such as phasor measurement units in the transmission system and smart meters in the distribution system will not result in the desired improve- ments in the power grid. The ability to exploit the massive data being generated by new sensors would allow for more efficient flow of power and increased survivability of the grid. Addition- ally, the power systems of today are not capable of managing two-way power flow to accommodate distributed generation ca- pabilities due to concerns about system stability and lack of sys- tem flexibility. The research that we are performing creates a framework to add ”intelligence” to the sensors and actuators being used today in the electric power system. Sensors that use our frame- work will be capable of sharing information through the various layers of the electric power system to enable two-way informa- tion flow to help facilitate integration of distributed resources. Several techniques are considered including use of peer-to-peer communication as well as distributed agents. Specifically, we will have software agents operating on sys- tems with differing levels of computing power The agents will cooperate to bring computation closer to the data. The types of computation considered are control decisions, data analysis, and demand/response. When paired with distributed autonomous controllers, the sensors form the basis of an information system that supports deployment of both micro-grids and islanding. Our efforts in the area of developing the next generation information infrastructure for sensors in the power grid form the basis of a broader strat- egy that enables better integration of distributed generation, dis- tribution automation systems and decentralized control (micro- grids).
METHOD OF USING HYDROGEN TO EXTEND CATALYST LIFE FOR ETHANOL TO BUTADIENE CONVERSIONS (iEdison No. 0685901-23-0266)
What is claimed is the use of hydrogen as an additive to a feed stream to convert ethanol and acetaldehyde to butadiene to enhance the lifetime of the catalyst. The hydrogen feed may originate from the conversion of ethanol to acetaldehyde; the products from that reaction being supplemented with additional ethanol in a second reactor to produce butadiene.
Redox Flow Batteries Having Multiple Electroactive Elements
A new Redox flow battery system, vanadium-iron hybrid redox flow system, is developed. By using V2+/3+ redox couple containing solution in anolyte and using Fe2+/3+ and V4+/5+ containing solution as catholyte, this new system combines the advantages of both Fe-V and all vanadium systems, and eliminates their major disadvantages. Advantages with this new system over the previous systems have been demonstrated. To prevent Fe2+/3+ and V2+/3+ cations cross over through membrane, mixed Fe2+/3+ and V2+/3+ solutions is used for this new system.
ACTIVE MAGNETIC REGENERATIVE LIQUEFIER USING PROCESS GAS PRE-COOLING FROM BYPASS FLOW OF HEAT TRANSFER FLUID
A process for liquefying a process gas comprising: introducing a heat transfer fluid into an active magnetic regenerative refrigerator apparatus that comprises (i) a high magnetic field section in which the heat transfer fluid flows from a cold side to a hot side through at least one magnetized bed of at least one magnetic refrigerant, (ii) a first no heat transfer fluid flow section in which the bed is demagnetized, (iii) a low magnetic or demagnetized field section in which the heat transfer fluid flows from a hot side to a cold side through the demagnetized bed, and (iv) a second no heat transfer fluid flow section in which the bed is magnetized; continuously diverting a bypass portion of the heat transfer fluid from the cold side of the low magnetic or demagnetized field section into a bypass flow heat exchanger at a first cold inlet temperature; and continuously introducing the process gas into the bypass flow heat exchanger at a first hot inlet temperature and discharging the process gas or liquid from the bypass flow heat exchanger at a first cold exit temperature; wherein the temperature difference between bypass heat transfer first cold inlet temperature and the process gas first cold exit temperature is 1 to 5 K.