General Electric Company

James Lowe Sudworth

Roger Neil Bull

Guillermo Daniel Zappi

Charles Dominic Iacovangelo

Mohamed Rahmane

David James

Benjamin Hale Winkler

Job Thomas Rijssenbeek

Christopher James Chuah

Robert Christie Galloway

Paul Sudworth

Vincent Boccanfuso

Stuart Towle

A method of assembling a rechargeable battery is disclosed. The method includes inserting rechargeable energy storage cells into a battery housing, the battery housing having a base portion, a side portion extending from the base portion, and an aperture defined by the side portion, wherein the rechargeable energy storage cells are inserted into the battery housing through the aperture; installing an insulator on the rechargeable energy storage cells; and securing a housing cover to the battery housing such that the insulator and the rechargeable energy storage cells are maintained in compression between the housing cover and the housing base portion. Also disclosed is a rechargeable battery including a battery housing, a housing cover, a plurality of rechargeable energy storage cells disposed within the battery housing, and an insulator disposed between the rechargeable energy storage cells and the housing cover and maintained in compression.

Rechargeable battery and method

An electrochemical cell is presented. The cell includes a housing having an interior surface defining a volume, and an elongated, ion-conducting separator disposed in the volume. The separator usually extends in a vertical direction relative to a base of the housing, so as to define a height dimension of the cell. The separator has a first circumferential surface defining a portion of a first compartment. The cell further includes a shim structure disposed generally parallel to the first circumferential surface of the separator between the interior surface and the first circumferential surface of the separator. The structure includes at least two shims, a first shim and a second shim, that substantially overlap each other. An energy storage device including such an electrochemical cell is also provided.

Electrochemical cells, and related energy storage devices

A positive electrode composition is provided. The positive electrode composition includes at least one electroactive metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, vanadium, niobium, molybdenum, nickel, iron, cobalt, chromium, manganese, silver, antimony, cadmium, tin, lead, copper, zinc, and combination thereof, an alkali metal halide, and aluminum, present in an amount of at least 0.5 weight percent, based on the weight of the positive electrode composition. Optionally, an amount of sodium iodide of up to about 1.0 weight percent, based on the weight of the sodium halide in the positive electrode composition, is included. The composition may be included in a positive electrode with a molten electrolyte salt comprising the reaction product of an alkali metal halide and an aluminum halide. An energy storage device including the composition is provided, as well as a method of operating the device.

Composition, energy storage device, and related process

A system and method of use including a controller responsive to a deviation in absolute value or relative slope and operable to terminate a discharge operation in an energy storage device is provided. The absolute value or relative slope is determined at sampling frequency based upon a combination of measured operating parameters, for example, potential and current. Any deviation in the absolute value or relative slope indicates that a threshold limit in the available energy of the system has been reached, for example when active materials in the device are at a point of depletion, indicating a need to cease the discharge operation. The system and method operate on a real-time basis, providing instantaneous SOH information with regard to the device.

Method and system for controlling energy storage device

The invention provides a cathode for an electrochemical cell comprising: a first particulate material having particles comprising a mixture of at least one alkali metal halide and at least one metal; and a second particulate material comprising at least one alkali metal halide, wherein the second particulate material has a particle size smaller than that of the first particulate material.

Cathode for an electrochemical cell

An electrochemical cell includes an outer casing defining at least a portion of an anode electrode chamber, an ionically conducting separator disposed within the outer casing, an inner surface of the separator defining a cathode electrode chamber, a cathode electrode disposed within the cathode chamber, a conductive current collecting body coupled with the cathode electrode, an alkali metal-containing electrolyte disposed in the cathode electrode chamber, and a sealing body coupled with the outer casing and sealing the anode electrode chamber from an external atmosphere disposed outside of the outer casing. The electrolyte supplies alkali metal through the separator to the anode electrode chamber in response to an electric charge applied to the conductive current collecting body. A first content of a gas component in the anode electrode chamber is in the anode electrode chamber in an amount that is less than an amount of a second content of the gas component in ambient air.

Growing community of inventors

Bretby, United Kingdom

James Lowe Sudworth