Abstract: A multi-stage quick charging system is proposed. The system uses an intermediate power battery as voltage supporting point so that a converter having a fraction of the output voltage may control the entire power flow towards or from the battery of a vehicle or an electrical power device. The intermediate battery comprises several stages in series, associated with respective small chargers allowing a management of the charge balancing of the stages of the intermediate battery, since the chargers may be controlled in order to separately vary the contribution of each stage.

Abstract: A positive-electrode material for a lithium secondary battery. The material includes a lithium oxide compound or a complex oxide as reactive substance. The material also includes at least one type of carbon material, and optionally a binder. A first type of carbon material is provided as a coating on the reactive substance particles surface. A second type of carbon material is carbon black. And a third type of carbon material is a fibrous carbon material provided as a mixture of at least two types of fibrous carbon material different in fiber diameter and/or fiber length. Also, a method for preparing the material as well as lithium secondary batteries including the material.

Abstract: The invention concerns a protected system for controlling power transactions for an electric vehicle. Identification modules are incorporated into the vehicle battery management system and box, and integrity sensors of the box and of the battery are connected to a monitoring module. The system comprises a processing module for processing information produced by the battery management system, the vehicle management unit, the integrity monitoring module, and an identification module for identifying devices connected to a bus between the devices. A memory stores data indicative of technical characteristics of the battery, and data concerning events, transactions and energy depending on the information received. A calculation unit determines an energy balance according to the event, transaction and energy data. A communication module transmits a warning in case of an imbalance in the energy balance and a breach in integrity revealed by the data.

Abstract: An electrode comprising an electrode material of the same type as electrode materials used in Li-ion batteries and a dye is provided. The electrode may further comprise a semiconductor material. The electrode is used in the manufacture of a battery that is rechargeable using light.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for determining severity of a geomagnetic disturbance on a power grid using similarity measures are provided herein. A method includes extracting multiple features of activity associated with geomagnetically induced currents from multiple heterogeneous data streams; comparing the extracted features to historical data related to geomagnetically induced currents to determine a level of similarity between each of the extracted features and the historical data; assigning a level of severity to one or more of the extracted features having a level of similarity with the historical data above a given threshold; and generating a notification comprising (i) a prediction of activity associated with geomagnetically induced currents based on the extracted features having a level of similarity with the historical data above the given threshold, and (ii) the level of severity assigned thereto.

Abstract: A bidirectional charging system for an electric vehicle including a bidirectional terminal connected to the electrical network, a cable for connection to an electric vehicle, a control panel accessible from the terminal and a means of communication to the control system of the electrical network, the vehicle includes a bidirectional charger, said bidirectional charger allows the transfer of electrical energy from the terminal to the battery of the vehicle and vice versa, wherein the user of said vehicle can specify the minimum level of charge of the battery through the terminal of the control panel.

Abstract: A positive-electrode material for a lithium secondary battery which includes a lithium oxide compound or a complex oxide as reactive substance. The material also includes at least one type of carbon material, and optionally a binder. A first type of carbon material is provided as a coating on the reactive substance particles surface. A second type of carbon material is carbon black. And a third type of carbon material is a fibrous carbon material a mixture of at least two types of fibrous carbon material different in fiber diameter and/or fiber length. Also, a method for preparing the material as well as lithium secondary batteries including the material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of charge/discharge of a Li—S battery or cell. Moreover, the invention relates to a device for carrying out the process according to the invention. The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing a Li—S battery, the process embodying the charge/discharge process according to the invention.

Abstract: Synthesis process for new particles of Li4Ti5O12, Li(4-?)Z?Ti5O12 or Li4Z?Ti(5-?)O12, preferably having a spinel structure, wherein ? is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 0.5 (preferably having a spinel structure), ? representing a number greater than zero and less than or equal to 0.33, Z representing a source of at least one metal, preferably chosen from the group made up of Mg, Nb, Al, Zr, Ni, Co. These particles coated with a layer of carbon notably exhibit electrochemical properties that are particularly interesting as components of anodes and/or cathodes in electrochemical generators.

Abstract: Method for preparing a particulate material including particles of an element of group IVa, an oxide thereof or an alloy thereof, the method including: (a) dry grinding particles from an ingot of an element of group IVa, an oxide thereof or an alloy thereof to obtain micrometer size particles; and (b) wet grinding the micrometer particles dispersed in a solvent carrier to obtain nanometer size particles having a size between 10 to 100 nanometers, optionally a stabilizing agent is added during or after the wet grinding. Method can include further steps of (c) drying the nanometer size particles, (d) mixing the nanometer size particles with a carbon precursor; and (e) pyrolyzing the mixture, thereby forming a coat of conductive carbon on at least part of the surface of the particles. The particulate material can be used in fabrication of an anode in an electrochemical cell or electrochemical storage energy apparatus.

Abstract: This invention concerns a device for an outdoor switching apparatus of an electrical power line, the switching apparatus being enclosed within a case. The device includes a wall made of electrically conductive material capable of blocking sun rays. The device also includes a fastening assembly for fastening the wall with respect to the case in a position for blocking, at least partially, sun rays from hitting the case during day time. The fastening assembly has at least one spacer made of insulating material for spacing the wall with respect to the case, thus delimiting an air gap between the wall and the case. The device also includes at least one electrical connector for electrically connecting the wall to circuitry of the switching apparatus, located inside the case, for powering and voltage monitoring.

Abstract: Synthesis process for new particles of Li4Ti5O12, Li(4-?)Z?Ti5O12 or Li4Z?Ti(5-?)O12, preferably having a spinel structure, wherein ? is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 0.5 (preferably having a spinel structure), ? representing a number greater than zero and less than or equal to 0.33, Z representing a source of at least one metal, preferably chosen from the group made up of Mg, Nb, Al, Zr, Ni, Co. These particles coated with a layer of carbon notably exhibit electrochemical properties that are particularly interesting as components of anodes and/or cathodes in electrochemical generators.

Abstract: A method for modifying graphite particles having a prismatic shape or a cylindrical shape characterized by an edge function fe and a basal function fb, said method providing increase of the edge function and lowering of the basal function, wherein the method includes submitting the graphite particles to at least one physical means selected from attrition, jet mill, ball mill, hammer mill, or atomizer mill, in the presence of at least one chemical compound chosen from the group of compounds of the formula MFz, in which M represents an alkaline or alkaline-earth metal and z represents 1 or 2, NaCl and NH4F or a mixture thereof, said compound or compounds being added in solid form, at the beginning of the step using the physical means.

Abstract: Method for preparing a particulate material including particles of an element of group IVa, an oxide thereof or an alloy thereof, the method including: (a) dry grinding particles from an ingot of an element of group IVa, an oxide thereof or an alloy thereof to obtain micrometer size particles; and (b) wet grinding the micrometer particles dispersed in a solvent carrier to obtain nanometer size particles having a size between 10 to 100 nanometers, optionally a stabilizing agent is added during or after the wet grinding. Method can include further steps of (c) drying the nanometer size particles, (d) mixing the nanometer size particles with a carbon precursor; and (e) pyrolysing the mixture, thereby forming a coat of conductive carbon on at least part of the surface of the particles. The particulate material can be used in fabrication of an anode in an electrochemical cell or electrochemical storage energy apparatus.

Abstract: A method and a system for continuously in-line annealing a forwarding ferromagnetic amorphous alloy ribbon in a curved shape to improve its magnetic properties without causing the ribbon to become brittle and which operates at significant high ribbon feeding rates. The amorphous alloy ribbon is fed forward, tensioned and guided along a path at a preset feeding rate and is heated at a point along the path at a rate greater than 103° C./sec to a temperature to initiate a thermal treatment. Then the ribbon is initially cooled at a rate greater than 103° C./sec until the thermal treatment ends. During the thermal treatment, a series of mechanical constraints is applied on the ribbon until the amorphous alloy ribbon adopts a specific shape at rest after the thermal treatment is ended. After the initial cooling, the amorphous alloy ribbon is subsequently cooled at a sufficient rate to a temperature that will preserve the specific shape.

Abstract: The locating of a fault on a de-energized power line section is carried out by measuring a reflection signal characterizing the fault and deriving from a voltage signal applied on the section. An application of the voltage signal and corresponding measurements of reflection signals are simulated with a model of the section for a fault located at different locations along the section. The simulated reflection signals are compared with the measured reflection signal. A location of the fault is located based on the location of the fault for the simulated reflection signal having a highest correlation with the measured reflection signal.

Abstract: A support frame for an electrical transformer assembly, comprising two loop-shaped parts, each loop-shaped part having a plurality of limbs, each limb having a peripheral recessed portion in which a primary electrical coil is mountable, and at least one secondary coil is mountable in piggyback on the primary electrical coil, one limb of each loop-shaped part having a straight section. The frame also includes an adjustable attaching means for attaching one of the loop-shaped parts with respect to the other loop-shaped part and adjusting a distance therebetween, so that only the straight sections are adjacent and form a central leg, the central leg being for receiving a magnetic core distinct from the attaching means. The frame provides a means and a method to efficiently secure adjacent windings in a circular core transformer kernel.

Abstract: Modified graphite particles obtained from graphite or based on graphite, the said particles having impurities in their internal structure and having on the surface a low, even nil, rate of an impurity or several impurities. In addition, these particles have at least one of the following characteristics: a tab density between 0.3 and 1.5 g/cc; a potatolike shape; and a granulometric dispersion such that the D90/D10 ratio varies between 2 and 5 and the particles have a size between 1 and 50 ?m. These particles can be used for fuel cells, electrochemical generators, or as moisture absorbers and/or oxygen absorbers and they have important electrochemical properties. The electrochemical cells and batteries thus obtained are stable and safe.

Abstract: A positive electrode material, having particles having a complex oxide OC1 core, an at least partial complex oxide OC2 coating, and an adhesive carbon surface deposit. The material is characterized in that the complex oxide OC1 is an oxide having a high energy density and in that the oxide OC2 is an oxide of a metal having a catalytic effect on the reaction of the carbon deposit, the oxide having good electronic conductivity. The presence of the OC2 layer facilitates the deposit of a carbon adhesive layer at the surface of the oxide particles, and improves the conductivity of the material when the latter is used as an electrode material. The electrode material can particularly be used in the manufacture of a lithium battery.

Abstract: Method for preparing a particulate material including particles of an element of group IVa, an oxide thereof or an alloy thereof, the method including: (a) dry grinding particles from an ingot of an element of group IVa, an oxide thereof or an alloy thereof to obtain micrometer size particles; and (b) wet grinding the micrometer particles dispersed in a solvent carrier to obtain nanometer size particles having a size between 10 to 100 nanometers, optionally a stabilizing agent is added during or after the wet grinding. Method can include further steps of (c) drying the nanometer size particles, (d) mixing the nanometer size particles with a carbon precursor; and (e) pyrolyzing the mixture, thereby forming a coat of conductive carbon on at least part of the surface of the particles. The particulate material can be used in fabrication of an anode in an electrochemical cell or electrochemical storage energy apparatus.