Waste Heat Energy Conversion using Ammonia-based Battery
ID# 2014-4238
Technology Summary
The disclosed invention is a thermally regenerative ammonia-based battery (TRAB) that can capture waste heat from industrial machinery and turn it into electricity. The power is derived from copper-based battery electrode reactions, with recharging achieved by separating out ammonia (NH3) from spent electrolyte using a closed-loop system with waste heat.
Application & Market Utility
Low-grade heat utilization has potential for carbon-neutral electricity production. Large amounts of low-grade heat energy is available at many industrial sites; it can also be produced from geothermal and solar-based processes.
The proposed invention has a maximum power density 60Wm-2 which is significantly higher than liquid-based thermal-electric energy-based systems (<10Wm-2). The energy density was 453 Whm-3 which was higher than current reverse electrodialysis systems (118 Whm-3).
Next Steps
Patent 10,431,842 issued 10/1/2019. Seeking licensing partners.