Tweet
Experimental Electrochemical Power Source
Hi, I’m doug68Us2. I’ve been working on electrochemical cells that utilize gravity to produce an electric current flow through an external load. Presently these cells produce about 150 millivolts across an external load resistance.
At the heart of this technology is the dissimilar metal/metal-ion anode junction. Said junction is formed at the solid-liquid interface when a solid metal anode (e.g., a solid copper anode) is immersed into a metal salt reactant solution having dissimilar metal cations, positively charged metal ions, (e.g., calcium cations of a calcium chloride salt reactant solution), metal cations other than (or dissimilar to) the metal species of the anode. (See Electrical Double Layer)
The immersed surface of the solid copper anode forms the anode side of the junction, and the surface of the dissimilar calcium salt reactant solution in immediate contact with the solid copper anode, forms the reactant side of the junction.
From the point of view of the second law of thermodynamics having solid copper atoms disposed on one side of the junction and calcium cations disposed on the other side of the junction is a highly ordered (regimented) high potential energy situation, and forms the original high potential energy state of the junction.
At this high potential energy state, the sole aim of the junction is to reduce its high potential energy state by moving copper material from the anode side of the junction to the reactant side of the junction in order to equalize the concentration of copper material on both sides of the junction.
The junction will attempt to reduce the high ordered state to a disordered state by spontaneously oxidizing solid copper anode atoms from the anode side of the junction. The oxidized copper cations cross the junction from the anode side of the junction to the reactant side of the junction where they accumulate on the reactant side of the junction, thus equalizing the concentration of copper material on both sides of the junction and reducing the energy state of the junction.
From the point of view of the second law of thermodynamics having the concentration of copper material equalized within both layers of the anode junction is a highly disordered low potential energy situation.
The electrons produced by the oxidation reactions have enough push (junction voltage) that they will exit the cell through the anode, flow through the external load resistance and return to the cathode of the cell; thus transferring the electrical energy from the cell to the external load and discharging the junction.
The junction is recharged and returned to a high potential energy state by the action of gravity, by way of buoyancy forces floating or sinking the accumulated copper cations away from the reactant side of the junction, consequently allowing fresh reactant solution to reconnect with the surface of the anode, thus restoring the junction back to its original highly ordered high potential energy state of the solid copper atoms disposed on one side of the junction and the calcium ions disposed on the other side of the junction.
As the copper anode oxidizes, copper material is eroded away from the anode and the anode loses copper mass, and as copper cations reduces out of solution and become electroplated onto the cathode, the cathode gains copper mass. Once the anode has lost enough mass and once the cathode gains enough mass, the two can be switched places so that the cycle can be repeated.
Of course the charging and discharging of the junction occur simultaneously for a smooth and uninterrupted current flow, with no need for storage batteries between charge and discharge cycles. Gravoltaic cells are an emerging technology that needs more research and development in order to enter the mainstream.
Well, that’s the quick description. Opinions welcome. Thank you for your time.
Hi, I’m doug68Us2. I’ve been working on electrochemical cells that utilize gravity to produce an electric current flow through an external load. Presently these cells produce about 150 millivolts across an external load resistance.
At the heart of this technology is the dissimilar metal/metal-ion anode junction. Said junction is formed at the solid-liquid interface when a solid metal anode (e.g., a solid copper anode) is immersed into a metal salt reactant solution having dissimilar metal cations, positively charged metal ions, (e.g., calcium cations of a calcium chloride salt reactant solution), metal cations other than (or dissimilar to) the metal species of the anode. (See Electrical Double Layer)
The immersed surface of the solid copper anode forms the anode side of the junction, and the surface of the dissimilar calcium salt reactant solution in immediate contact with the solid copper anode, forms the reactant side of the junction.
From the point of view of the second law of thermodynamics having solid copper atoms disposed on one side of the junction and calcium cations disposed on the other side of the junction is a highly ordered (regimented) high potential energy situation, and forms the original high potential energy state of the junction.
At this high potential energy state, the sole aim of the junction is to reduce its high potential energy state by moving copper material from the anode side of the junction to the reactant side of the junction in order to equalize the concentration of copper material on both sides of the junction.
The junction will attempt to reduce the high ordered state to a disordered state by spontaneously oxidizing solid copper anode atoms from the anode side of the junction. The oxidized copper cations cross the junction from the anode side of the junction to the reactant side of the junction where they accumulate on the reactant side of the junction, thus equalizing the concentration of copper material on both sides of the junction and reducing the energy state of the junction.
From the point of view of the second law of thermodynamics having the concentration of copper material equalized within both layers of the anode junction is a highly disordered low potential energy situation.
The electrons produced by the oxidation reactions have enough push (junction voltage) that they will exit the cell through the anode, flow through the external load resistance and return to the cathode of the cell; thus transferring the electrical energy from the cell to the external load and discharging the junction.
The junction is recharged and returned to a high potential energy state by the action of gravity, by way of buoyancy forces floating or sinking the accumulated copper cations away from the reactant side of the junction, consequently allowing fresh reactant solution to reconnect with the surface of the anode, thus restoring the junction back to its original highly ordered high potential energy state of the solid copper atoms disposed on one side of the junction and the calcium ions disposed on the other side of the junction.
As the copper anode oxidizes, copper material is eroded away from the anode and the anode loses copper mass, and as copper cations reduces out of solution and become electroplated onto the cathode, the cathode gains copper mass. Once the anode has lost enough mass and once the cathode gains enough mass, the two can be switched places so that the cycle can be repeated.
Of course the charging and discharging of the junction occur simultaneously for a smooth and uninterrupted current flow, with no need for storage batteries between charge and discharge cycles. Gravoltaic cells are an emerging technology that needs more research and development in order to enter the mainstream.
Well, that’s the quick description. Opinions welcome. Thank you for your time.