25-06-2012, 01:27 PM
MIXING ENTROPY BATTERIES
MIXING ENTROPY BATTERIES.doc (Size: 263.5 KB / Downloads: 42)
ABSTRACT:
A MIXING ENTROPY BATTERY REFERS TO ONE WHICH TAKES THE ADVANTAGE OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SALINITY OF THE FRESH WATER AND THE SALT WATER WHICH INTURN HELPS US IN PRODUCING ELECTRICITY.
THIS PRODUCTION OF ELECRTICITY IS BASED ON THE MECHANISM OF INCREASE IN THE ELECTRIC POTENTIAL BETWEEN TWO ELECTRODES DUE TO THE CHANGE IN THE SALINITY OF WATER.
THE WATER BODIES:
AS WE KNOW, 79% OF THE EARTH’S SURFACE IS OCCUPIED BY THE WATER BODIES AND THE REST IS OCCUPIED BY THE LAND.VERY FEW OF US ARE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT 97% OF THE WATER IS IMPURE,WHICH MEANS THAT 97% OF THE WATER ON EARTH IS CONTAINED WITH SALT.AND HENCE IT IS JUST 3% OF THE WATER WHICH WE USE TO SURVIVE.
DIFFERENCE IN SALINITY:
THIS IS THE MAIN THEME OF THIS BATTERY ON THE BASIS OF WHICH IT WORKS.THE WATER BODIES CAN BE CLASSIFIED AS RIVERS,OCEANS AND SEAS.THESE WATER BODIES DIFFER IN THEIR SALINITY AND HENCE IN THEIR PURITY.
WHEN ONE WATER BODY FLOWS INTO AN OTHER ONE(FOR EX-A RIVER FLOWS INTO A SEA),THERE ARISES A POINT WHERE THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN SALINITY OF THE TWO WATER BODIES WHICH IS ESSENTIAL IN SERVING THE PURPOSE.
THE BATTERY:
THE BATTERY IS SIMPLE,COMPRISED OF TWO ELECTRODES-ONE POSITIVE AND ONE NEGATIVE IMMERCED IN A LIQUID CONTAINING ELECTRICALLY CHARGED PARTICLES OR IONS.
INITIALLY,THE BATTERY IS FILLED WITH FRESH WATER AND A SMALL ELECTRIC CURRENT IS APPLIED TO CHARGE IT UP. THE FRESH WATER IS THEN DRAINED AND REPLACED WITH SEA WATER. BECAUSE SEA WATER IS SALTY,CONTAINING 60 TO 100 TIMES MORE IONS THAN FRESHWATER,IT INCREASES THE ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL,OR VOLTAGE BETWEEN THE TWO ELECTRODES. THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO REAP FAR MORE ELECTRICITY THAN THE AMOUNT USED TO CHARGE THE BATTERY.
ONCE THE DISCHARGE IS COMPLETE,THE SEAWATER IS DRAINED AND REPLACED WITH FRESHWATER AND THE CYCLE CAN BEGIN AGAIN.TO ENHANCE EFFICIENCY,THE POSITIVE ELECTRODE OF THE BATTERY IS MADE FROM NANORODS OF MANGANESE DIOXIDE. THAT INCREASES THE SURFACE AREA AVAILABLE FOR INTERACTION WITH THE SODIUM IONS BY ROUGHLY 100 TIMES COMPARED WITH OTHER MATERIALS.THE NANORODS MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE SODIUM IONS TO MOVE IN AND OUT OF THE ELECTRODE EASILY,SPEEDING UP THE PROCESS.
CONCLUSION:
THUS IN THIS WAY THE SALTWATER CAN BE USEFUL IN THE PRODUCTION OF THE ELECTRICITY.BUT THERE ARE VARIOUS FACTORS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED SUCH AS THE MATERIAL USED.AND THE WATER FOR THIS METHOD DOES NOT HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY CLEAN,STORM RUNOFF AND GRAY WATER COULD POTENTIALLY BE USABLE.A POWER PLANT OPERATING WITH 50 CUBIC METERS OF FRESHWATER PER SECOND COULD PRODUCE UP TO 100 MEGAWATTS OF POWER,ACCORDING TO THE TEAM’S CALCULATIONS.THAT WOULD BE ENOUGH TO PROVIDE ELECTRICITY FOR ABOUT 1,00,000 HOUSEHOLDS.