Ut-battelle, Inc.

Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation

Other

Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc.

Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc.

The United States As Represented by the United States Department of

Timothy D. Burchell

James W. Klett

Timothy D Burchell

James William Klett

Roddie Reagan Judkins

Marit Jagtoyen

Theodore M Besmann

Ashok Choudhury

Michael R Rogers

Frank Derbyshire

Bill R Chilcoat

Charles E Weaver

Jeffrey L Bailey

Kirk A Wilson

Herbert Herman

Dominic J Varacalle, Jr

A process for producing a carbon foam heat sink is disclosed which obviates the need for conventional oxidative stabilization. The process employs mesophase or isotropic pitch and a simplified process using a single mold. The foam has a relatively uniform distribution of pore sizes and a highly aligned graphic structure in the struts. The foam material can be made into a composite which is useful in high temperature sandwich panels for both thermal and structural applications. The foam is encased and filled with a phase change material to provide a very efficient heat sink device.

Pitch-based carbon foam heat sink with phase change material

A thermally conductive carbon foam is provided, normally having a thermal conductivity of at least 40 W/m&#xb7;K. The carbon foam usually has a specific thermal conductivity, defined as the thermal conductivity divided by the density, of at least about 75 W&#xb7;cm/m&#xb7;&#xb0; K&#xb7;gm. The foam also has a high specific surface area, typically at least about 6,000 m/m. The foam is characterized by an x-ray diffraction pattern having 'doublet' 100 and 101 peaks characterized by a relative peak split factor no greater than about 0.470. The foam is graphitic and exhibits substantially isotropic thermal conductivity. The foam comprises substantially ellipsoidal pores and the mean pore diameter of such pores is preferably no greater than about 340 microns. Other materials, such as phase change materials, can be impregnated in the pores in order to impart beneficial thermal properties to the foam. Heat exchange devices and evaporatively cooled heat sinks utilizing the foams are also disclosed.

Pitch-based carbon foam and composites and use thereof

A thermally conductive carbon foam is provided, normally having a thermal conductivity of at least 40 W/m&middot;K. The carbon foam usually has a specific thermal conductivity, defined as the thermal conductivity divided by the density, of at least about 75 W&middot;cm /m&middot;&deg;K&middot;gm. The foam also has a high specific surface area, typically at least about 6,000 m /m . The foam is characterized by an x-ray diffraction pattern having &ldquo;doublet&rdquo; 100 and 101 peaks characterized by a relative peak split factor no greater than about 0.470. The foam is graphitic and exhibits substantially isotropic thermal conductivity. The foam comprises substantially ellipsoidal pores and the mean pore diameter of such pores is preferably no greater than about 340 microns. Other materials, such as phase change materials, can be impregnated in the pores in order to impart beneficial thermal properties to the foam. Heat exchange devices and evaporatively cooled heat sinks utilizing the foams are also disclosed.

Pitch-based carbon foam and composites and uses thereof

A method of making an adsorbent carbon fiber based monolith having improved methane gas storage capabilities is disclosed. Additionally, the monolithic nature of the storage carbon allows it to exhibit greater thermal conductivity than conventional granular activated carbon or powdered activated carbon storage beds. The storage of methane gas is achieved through the process of physical adsorption in the micropores that are developed in the structure of the adsorbent monolith. The disclosed monolith is capable of storing greater than 150 V/V of methane &lsqb;i.e., >150 STP (101.325 KPa, 298K) volumes of methane per unit volume of storage vessel internal volume&rsqb; at a pressure of 3.5 MPa (500 psi).

Method of making improved gas storage carbon with enhanced thermal conductivity

A gas separation device includes an inner conduit, and a concentric outer conduit. An electrically conductive filter media, preferably a carbon fiber composite molecular sieve, is provided in the annular space between the inner conduit and the outer conduit. Gas flows through the inner conduit and the annular space between the inner conduit and the outer conduit, so as to contact the filter media. The filter media preferentially adsorbs at least one constituent of the gas stream. The filter media is regenerated by causing an electric current to flow through the filter media. The inner conduit and outer conduit are preferably electrically conductive whereby the regeneration of the filter media can be electrically stimulated. The invention is particularly useful for the removal of CO from the exhaust gases of fossil-fueled power plants.

Device for separating CO2 from fossil-fueled power plant emissions

An activated carbon fiber composite for separation and purification, or catalytic processing of fluids is described. The activated composite comprises carbon fibers rigidly bonded to form an open, permeable, rigid monolith capable of being formed to near-net-shape. Separation and purification of gases are effected by means of a controlled pore structure that is developed in the carbon fibers contained in the composite. The open, permeable structure allows the free flow of gases through the monolith accompanied by high rates of adsorption. By modification of the pore structure and bulk density the composite can be rendered suitable for applications such as gas storage, catalysis, and liquid phase processing.

Activated carbon fiber composite material and method of making

Bipolar plate/diffuser for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell

A carbon fiber carbon matrix hybrid adsorbent monolith with enhanced thermal conductivity for storing and releasing gas through adsorption and desorption is disclosed. The heat of adsorption of the gas species being adsorbed is sufficiently large to cause hybrid monolith heating during adsorption and hybrid monolith cooling during desorption which significantly reduces the storage capacity of the hybrid monolith, or efficiency and economics of a gas separation process. The extent of this phenomenon depends, to a large extent, on the thermal conductivity of the adsorbent hybrid monolith. This invention is a hybrid version of a carbon fiber monolith, which offers significant enhancements to thermal conductivity and potential for improved gas separation and storage systems.

Gas storage carbon with enhanced thermal conductivity

A combination bipolar plate/diffuser fuel cell component includes an electrically conducting solid material having:

Growing community of inventors

Oak Ridge, TN, United States of America

Timothy D Burchell