A seawater battery includes an anode and a cathode corresponding to the anode. The cathode cooperates with the anode to produce a current and includes a metal substrate and a mixture coating layer. The mixture coating layer covered on the metal substrate includes a conductive polymer material and a plurality of carbon nanotubes mixed with the conductive polymer material.

A seawater battery includes an anode and a cathode corresponding to the anode. The cathode cooperates with the anode to produce a current and includes a metal substrate and a mixture coating layer. The mixture coating layer covered on the metal substrate includes a conductive polymer material and a plurality of carbon nanotubes mixed with the conductive polymer material.

Systems, methods, and apparatus configured for the osmotic injection of water in electrochemical systems are generally described. In certain embodiments, water can be transported from a water-containing liquid in an environment outside the electrochemical cell into the electrochemical cell across an osmotic medium fluidically separating an interior compartment of the electrochemical cell from the environment outside the electrochemical cell. The systems, methods, and apparatus described herein can be, according to certain embodiments, configured to be part of an electrochemical system in which water is consumed (e.g., as a reactant).

Systems, methods, and apparatus configured for the osmotic injection of water in electrochemical systems are generally described. In certain embodiments, water can be transported from a water-containing liquid in an environment outside the electrochemical cell into the electrochemical cell across an osmotic medium fluidically separating an interior compartment of the electrochemical cell from the environment outside the electrochemical cell. The systems, methods, and apparatus described herein can be, according to certain embodiments, configured to be part of an electrochemical system in which water is consumed (e.g., as a reactant).

The invention provides a water-activated, deferred-action battery having a housing containing at least one cell, comprising at least one anode selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, zinc and alloys thereof; a cathode comprising a skeletal frame including conductive metal and having a portion of its surface area formed as open spaces, and further comprising a heat-pressed, rigid static bed of active cathode material encompassing the skeletal frame, the cathode material comprising basic copper sulfate, said cathode material being compacted and fused to itself and to the skeletal frame under pressure and/or heat, to form a heat-fused, conductive, electrochemically active phase; at least one cavity separating the cathode and the at least one anode, and at least one aperture leading to the at least one cavity for the ingress of an electrolyte-forming, aqueous liquid.

The invention provides a water-activated, deferred-action battery having a housing containing at least one cell, comprising at least one anode selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, zinc and alloys thereof; a cathode comprising a skeletal frame including conductive metal and having a portion of its surface area formed as open spaces, and further comprising a heat-pressed, rigid static bed of active cathode material encompassing the skeletal frame, the cathode material comprising basic copper sulfate, said cathode material being compacted and fused to itself and to the skeletal frame under pressure and/or heat, to form a heat-fused, conductive, electrochemically active phase; at least one cavity separating the cathode and the at least one anode, and at least one aperture leading to the at least one cavity for the ingress of an electrolyte-forming, aqueous liquid.

An electrochemical-type power supply source is provided with: an electrochemical stack generating electric power, in the presence, internally, of electrolytic fluid, provided with a number of distinct groups of galvanic cells and of a corresponding number of electrolyte inlet pipes for introducing electrolyte into respective groups of galvanic cells and with electrolyte outlet pipes for extracting electrolyte from respective groups of galvanic cells; a main tank, fluidically coupled to the electrochemical stack and containing electrolytic fluid; and a recirculation system, defining a circulation path of the electrolytic fluid between the main tank and the electrochemical stack. A valve system that can be coupled to the electrolyte inlet and/or outlet pipes and operatively controllable to modify hydraulic and electric characteristics of the circulation path, in response to a power delivery condition by the power supply source.

Example biosensor devices having wake-up batteries and associated methods are disclosed. One example device includes a biosensor that has a first electrode for insertion into a subcutaneous layer beneath a patient's skin, and a second electrode coupled to the first electrode for insertion into the subcutaneous layer, and a first battery to apply a voltage across the first and second electrodes, the first battery at least partially electrically decoupled from the electrodes. The device also includes a second battery having an anode material coupled to the first electrode for insertion into the subcutaneous layer, and a portion of the second electrode. The second battery is activatable upon immersion in an electrolytic fluid. The device also includes a wake-up circuit to receive a signal from the second battery and, in response, to electrically couple the first battery to the first and second electrodes to activate the biosensor.

Example biosensor devices having wake-up batteries and associated methods are disclosed. One example device includes a biosensor that has a first electrode for insertion into a subcutaneous layer beneath a patient's skin, and a second electrode coupled to the first electrode for insertion into the subcutaneous layer, and a first battery to apply a voltage across the first and second electrodes, the first battery at least partially electrically decoupled from the electrodes. The device also includes a second battery having an anode material coupled to the first electrode for insertion into the subcutaneous layer, and a portion of the second electrode. The second battery is activatable upon immersion in an electrolytic fluid. The device also includes a wake-up circuit to receive a signal from the second battery and, in response, to electrically couple the first battery to the first and second electrodes to activate the biosensor.

The present disclosure relates to a system for storing and time shifting at least one of excess electrical power from an electrical power grid, excess electrical power from the power plant itself, or heat from a heat generating source, in the form of pressure and heat, for future use in assisting with a production of electricity. An oxy-combustion furnace is powered by a combustible fuel source, plus excess electricity, during a charge operation to heat a reservoir system containing a quantity of a thermal storage medium. During a discharge operation, a discharge subsystem has a heat exchanger which receives heated CO.sub.2 from the reservoir system and uses this to heat a quantity of high-pressure, supercritical CO.sub.2 (sCO.sub.2) to form very-high-temperature, high-pressure sCO.sub.2 at a first output thereof. The very-high-temperature, high-pressure sCO.sub.2 is used to drive a Brayton-cycle turbine, which generates electricity at a first output thereof for transmission to a power grid. The Brayton-cycle turbine also outputs a quantity of sCO.sub.2 which is reduced in temperature and pressure to a heat recuperator subsystem. The heat recuperator subsystem circulates the sCO.sub.2 and re-heats and re-pressurizes the sCO.sub.2 before feeding it back to the heat exchanger to be even further reheated, and then output to the Brayton-cycle turbine as a new quantity of very-high-temperature, high-pressure sCO.sub.2, to assist in powering the Brayton-cycle turbine.