Tubular hydro-voltaic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12308764-B2
Application number	US-202318311584-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2023
Priority date	Nov 14, 2022
Publication date	May 20, 2025
Grant date	May 20, 2025

Abstract

The invention discloses a tubular hydro-voltaic device configured to generate voltage and current. The device includes a tubular structure containing activated porous carbon of predetermined thickness and length. The tubular structure is placed in a reservoir of fluid whereby the contact between the tubular structure and fluid produces a capillary action of the fluid into the tubular structure forming an electric double layer at carbon particle-water interfaces of the activated porous carbon material leading to voltage and current generation. The voltage and current generated by the tubular hydro-voltaic device are a function of the thickness of the tubular structure, the length of the tubular structure, or a combination thereof. The device has potential to provide power at remote locations, as a device of size 50 mm length×10 mm diameter×1.5 mm thickness is capable of generating mA level currents at 0.85 V or more.

First claim

We claim:

1. A hydro-voltaic device comprising
a tubular structure of activated carbon (TAC) and having a top end, a bottom end, a predetermined length, a predetermined diameter and a predetermined thickness, a first electrode affixed to the top end and a second electrode to the bottom end; and
a reservoir comprising water with the tubular structure in contact therewith, wherein capillary action forms an electric double layer at carbon particle-water interfaces in the tubular structure, thereby generating voltage and current flow between the first electrode and the second electrode.

2. The hydro-voltaic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the predetermined length is 30-80 mm, the predetermined diameter is 8-15 mm and the predetermined thickness is 1-2 mm.

3. The hydro-voltaic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the predetermined length is 50±2 mm, or the predetermined diameter is 10±0.5 mm, or the predetermined thickness is 1.5±0.2 mm.

4. The hydro-voltaic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to generate enhanced voltage on optical irradiation.

5. The hydro-voltaic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the generated voltage is in a range 0.6 V to 1 V.

6. The hydro-voltaic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tubular structure comprises activated carbon with mesoporosity in the size range 2 and 20 nm.

7. A method of generating voltage and current in a hydro-voltaic device comprising:
providing a tubular hollow structure comprising activated carbon of predetermined dimensions of 30-80 mm in length, 8-15 mm in diameter, and 1-2 mm in thickness, the structure having electrodes at either end thereof;
placing the tubular structure in a reservoir comprising water;
allowing the water to flow through the tubular structure by capillary action; and
forming an electric double layer (EDL) at carbon particle-water interfaces, thereby generating voltage and causing flow of current across the ends of the tubular structure.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 , comprising the step of exposing the device to a light source to enhance the voltage generated.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7 , comprising maintaining an acidic pH of the water, thereby enhancing the voltage and current drawn from the device.

Assignees

• Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

Inventors

• Lal Sujith
• Batabyal Sudip

Classifications

• H02N1/06 Primary

  Influence generators · CPC title

• H02N11/002 Primary

  Generators · CPC title