Renault-Nissan usarán la batería de Phinergy

[Fernando M]

http://www.hybridcars.com/renault-nissan-to-use-phinergys-aluminum-air-battery/

6 June 2014

While details are yet scarce, yesterday Phinergy CEO and Founder, Aviv Tzidon confirmed talks with Renault-Nissan are tentatively set for a proposed series production electric car due in 2017 using its range-extending aluminum-air battery.



After we questioned further, Tzidon said this would be under ideal circumstances, and unforeseen delays on the the French automaker's side could conceivably push it back to maybe 2018 or 2019, he conjectured, although 2017 was by all appearances the date that is "on the table."


Almost that amazing, Phinergy's aluminum-air battery combines de-ionized (drinkable) water into an alkaline electrolyte solution and breathes in air to create a chemical reaction that dissolves aluminum plates to produce electricity.

Aluminum is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust and Phinergy's durable technology reliably extracts 8.1 kilowatt-hours of electricity– about half of which is byproduct heat – per kilogram.

This was shown in Montreal this week by the Phinergy/Alcoa EV converted from a formerly gas-burning Citreon C1. The car covered a several-hour-long demonstration drive without recharging – and actually the car can go 1,850-2,500 miles on 100 kg of aluminum.

As great as it sounds, this means Phinergy is not proposing its new technology replace lithium-ion, but rather, says Aviv Tzidon, it's a complement.

Why? Tzidon, said Phinergy's approach is "humble" enough to see the strengths and weaknesses of the aluminum-air battery. Its strength is vastly improved energy storage to make range limitations no longer a concern.

However, lithium-ion battery packs are useful to create powerful, quick cars that recharge from plugging into the grid or by regenerative braking. "Our aluminum system cannot do that,".


How It Works





In simplified terms, the cross-section of the battery (see graphics below) shows where a chemical reaction takes place to release electrons and thus generate electricity.

The 10mm-thick aluminum plate is the battery's anode, and the cathode is a semi-permeable membrane using the same technology as Gore-Tex.

These plates can be added as needed, and each plate provides about enough energy for 20 miles. So, 50 plates – or aluminum-air battery cells – would offer 1,000 miles of extended-range driving.

In general terms, one kilogram of aluminum requires one kilogram of oxygen and one liter of water for the reaction to take place.

The chemical reaction involves oxidizing the bare aluminum which forms a layer of aluminum hydroxide – kind of like an aluminum rust.

The novelty of the system is it is all microprocessor controlled. The electrolyte bath can be flushed as needed by a pump, and in doing so, it wipes clean the oxidation exposing again a fresh surface of aluminum. Phinergy's microcontroller and battery management system monitor temperature, chemical composition, and oxidation rate.

The trick is to oxidize the aluminum enough that electricity is given off but no so badly that the entire reaction stops. So, the system can flush through the electrolyte solution as required at a rate that exposes aluminum just enough to repeat the oxidation, and not so aggressively as to prematurely erode the aluminum.

This incredible difficulty of this process – and contamination of the air cathode in previous experimental attempts by carbon dioxide – has been what relegated aluminum-air batteries to a lab experiment until now.







Since releasing formerly confidential info last month, the company is gaining the attention of the public, as it has behind-the-scenes talks underway with European automakers.

President Obama asked Tzidon whether Phinergy was talking with American companies and Tzidon asked in turn with a smile whether the president had any connection with GM or Ford?

At this, Obama laughed, saying he thought he did, as Phinergy continues to work toward further proving its tech, and bringing it toward production.

[RubenZOE]

Buena noticia  ya la he publicado en el caralibro/twitter.

[Antonio B]

Yo siempre había pensado que el aliminio era bastante contaminante, no digamos óxidos e hidróxidos de aluminio. No me parece el camino, ir tirando por el tubo de escape agua con óxidos de aluminio......

[Bipo]

Es un ciclo cerrado, el Al permanece a bordo y luego es reprocesado

[Fernando M]

No tiene tubo de escape, no emiten nada.

Baterías de aluminio-aire son células primarias ; es decir, no recargable. Una vez que el ánodo de aluminio se consume por su reacción con el oxígeno atmosférico en un cátodo sumergido en un electrolito a base de agua para formar hidratada de óxido de aluminio , la batería dejará de producir electricidad. Sin embargo, es posible recargar la batería mecánicamente con nuevos ánodos de aluminio hechos de reciclar el óxido de aluminio hidratado.


4Al + 3O2 + 6H2O → 4Al(OH)3 + 2.71 V

El problema es que cuando la placa de aluminio se oxida, la capa de hidróxido de aluminio que se forma no deja que la reacción continúe con el resto del aluminio.

Parece que el electrolito retira de alguna forma esa capa.