Study Finds a Way to Prevent Fires in Next-Generation Lithium Batteries

https://www6.slac.stanford.edu/news/2015-06-17-study-finds-way-prevent-fires-next-generation-lithium-batteries.aspx

by DenisM • 11 years ago

27 7 11 years ago

www6.slac.stanford.edu

DenisM• 11 years ago

This seems like a really big deal. Two important quotes:

The findings [...] could help remove a major barrier to developing lithium-sulfur and lithium-air batteries, promising future technologies that could store up to 10 times more energy per weight than batteries now used in consumer electronics and electric cars

In tests, batteries with both chemicals added operated at 99 percent efficiency after more than 300 charge-discharge cycles, compared to significantly decreased efficiency after 150 cycles for batteries treated with lithium nitrate alone

heimatau• 11 years ago

I wonder if Tesla's patents helped with this. If not, I look forward to when someone takes both innovations and creates something world changing like enduring and safe batteries.

contingencies2• 11 years ago

Good for mobile applications. For fixed location (eg. renewable energy for off-grid housing) I'm still keen to see the performance of Velkess flywheels: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1340066560/velkess-ener... which, being kinetic and held in vacuum, nominally don't wear out for a very long time and provide other benefits (reduce losses due to AC/DC conversion).

ChuckMcM2• 11 years ago

Interesting web site, (velkess) but I worry about the lack of actual information. The "A" version (http://www.velkess.com/products/#VelkessA) for example, 750 lbs, 15kwH seems like it would have to be spinning quite rapidly in order to avoid provide that energy, and making bearings that can carry that load and work reliably is pretty tough. I look forward to reading reviews of their products though, flywheel type systems have been successfully deployed in many places, one at this price point would make for an interesting midpoint between grid tied and full off grid solar.

contingencies2• 11 years ago

I'm no civil engineer but the info on their kickstarter is more engineering-oriented. I don't vouch for them, I just think they seem pretty legit and interesting. Obviously, the "it can't move" and "it's damn heavy" factors make it useless for the majority of applications, but for off-grid renewable energy purposes it does seem ideal.

Someone• 11 years ago

A similar idea at scale is https://www.ecn.nl/news/item/floating-train-at-2000-kmh-set-....

That does away with bearings by using a maglev train that stores 20GWh of energy. I would build quite a few of them; if you build one, accidents would be catastrophic, even in an underground tunnel, as the accident could disrupt electricity supply for months.

Study Finds a Way to Prevent Fires in Next-Generation Lithium Batteries

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