Patents Assigned to Hydro-Québec
  • Publication number: 20200052302
    Abstract: This application describes an electrode material comprising an indigoid compound, i.e. indigo blue or a derivative thereof, for instance, together with particles of an electrochemically active material dispersed in a binder. Processes for the preparation of the electrode material and electrodes containing the material, as well as to the electrochemical cells and their use are also contemplated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Applicants: HYDRO-QUÉBEC, MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Charlotte MALLET, Sylviane ROCHON, Jean-Christophe DAIGLE, Narumi ARAI, Shinichi UESAKA, Karim ZAGHIB
  • Publication number: 20200024140
    Abstract: Here are described methods for the delithiation of carbon-free olivines, for instance, by the addition of an external carbon source in the presence of an oxidizing agent, e.g. a persulfate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicants: HYDRO-QUÉBEC, CIC ENERGIGUNE
    Inventors: Montserrat GALCERAN MESTRES, Montserrat CASAS CABANAS, Abdelbast GUERFI, Michel ARMAND, Karim ZAGHIB
  • Patent number: 10536019
    Abstract: A process of charging or discharging a Li—S battery or cell is provided. A device for carrying out the process of charging or discharging the Li—S battery or cell is also provided. A process for manufacturing the Li—S battery is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: Karim Zaghib, Chisu Kim, Abdelbast Guerfi, Myunghun Cho
  • Publication number: 20200013561
    Abstract: Mixture of particles comprising a non-conducting or semi-conducting nucleus covered with a hybrid conductor coating and hybrid conductor chains located between the particles of the mixture to constitute a conductivity network, that is prepared by mechanical crushing. Due to a very good conductivity of the network, a low resistivity, a very good capacity under elevated current and/or a good density of energy, these mixtures of particles are advantageously incorporated in anodes and cathodes of electrochemical generators, resulting in highly performing electrochemical systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicant: HYDRO-QUEBEC
    Inventors: Karim Zaghib, Patrick Charest, Abdelbast Guerfi, Michel Perrier, Kimio Kinoshita
  • Publication number: 20190384873
    Abstract: The present system and method allow non-intrusive estimation of a number of electronic thermostats in an area, where each electronic thermostat controls at least one thermal load. The system comprises a power sampler, an analog/digital converter and a processing unit. The power sampler collects, at one electric entry for the area, a finite sequence of samples of aggregated electric power consumed by the area. The analog/digital converter converts the samples of aggregated electric power into discrete-time samples. The processing unit converts the finite sequence of discrete-time samples of aggregated electric power into a discrete-frequency representation using a Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) to identify dominant frequency components and analyze the dominant frequency components to estimate a commutating frequency of the electronic thermostats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicants: 3R VALO, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, HYDRO QUEBEC
    Inventors: NILSON FERNANDO HENAO, KODJO MAWUPE AGBOSSOU, SOUSSO KELOUWANI, MICHAEL FOURNIER
  • Publication number: 20190386310
    Abstract: A copolymer including a monomer A with a molar ratio a varying between around 0.01 and around 0.20, a monomer B with a molar ratio b varying between around 0.2 and around 0.4, and a monomer C with a molar ratio c varying between around 0.50 and around 0.70, the monomer A being a hydrophilic monomer including a pendant chain of poly(ethylene oxide) (POE) with low molar weight, the monomer B being a hydrophobic monomer with a glass transition temperature (Tg) of around ?30° C. or less, the monomer C being a monomer that is more hydrophobic than the monomer B and having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of around 80° C. or more, said monomers being organised in a hydrophilic segment, a hydrophobic segment and an intermediate segment located between the hydrophilic segment and the hydrophobic segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe DAIGLE, Karim ZAGHIB
  • Publication number: 20190381572
    Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing nanoparticles comprising the steps of feeding a core precursor into a plasma torch in a plasma reactor, thereby producing a vapor of silicon or alloy thereof; and allowing the vapor to migrate to a quenching zone of the plasma reactor, thereby cooling the vapor and allowing condensation of the vapor into a nanoparticle core made of the silicon or alloy thereof, wherein the quenching gas comprises a passivating gas precursor that reacts with the surface of the core in the quenching zone produce a passivation layer covering the core, thereby producing said nanoparticles. The present invention also relates to nanoparticles comprising a core covered with a passivation layer, the core being made of silicon or an alloy thereof, as well as their use, in particular in the manufacture of anodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicants: HYDRO-QUÉBEC, TEKNA PLASMA SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Jiayin GUO, Richard DOLBEC, Maher BOULOS, Dominic LEBLANC, Abdelbast GUERFI, Karim ZAGHIB
  • Publication number: 20190367375
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of nanofilament particles of SiOx in which x is between 0.8 and 1.2, the process including: a step of a fusion reaction between silica (SiO2) and silicon (Si), at a temperature of at least about 1410° C., to produce gaseous silicon monoxide (SiO); and a step of condensation of the gaseous SiO to produce the SiOx nanofilament particles. The process may also include using carbon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: Dominic LeBlanc, Abdelbast Guerfi, Karim Zaghib, Pierre Hovington, Julie Trottier
  • Patent number: 10497966
    Abstract: There is provided a secondary battery including: a cathode; an anode including a titanium-containing compound; and an electrolytic solution including a dicarbonyl compound. A content of the dicarbonyl compound is from 0.01 wt % to 5 wt % both inclusive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignees: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Yuichiro Asakawa, Karim Zaghib, Shinichi Uesaka, Jean-Christophe Daigle
  • Publication number: 20190363363
    Abstract: Described are positive electrode materials comprising at least one complex oxide of olivine structure, the complex oxide comprising a transition metal in oxidation state III, the positive electrodes comprising them and their manufacturing processes. Electrochemical cells comprising these electrodes, a polymer electrolyte and a negative electrode are also contemplated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Applicant: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: Karim ZAGHIB, Michel ARMAND, Abdelbast GUERFI, Patrick BOUCHARD, Martin DONTIGNY, Julie HAMEL-PÂQUET, Pierre HOVINGTON
  • Publication number: 20190288260
    Abstract: This application describes a process for the preparation of flexible electrode-separator elements or assemblies, which includes the application of an electrode material on the separator. The electrode material comprises graphene, for instance produced by graphite exfoliation. The electrode-separator elements obtained by the process as well as their use in electrochemical cells are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicants: HYDRO-QUÉBEC, Transfert Plus, S.E.C.
    Inventors: Nicolas DELAPORTE, Diby Benjamin OSSONON, Karim ZAGHIB, Daniel BELANGER
  • Publication number: 20190288349
    Abstract: A process for recycling an electrode material comprising graphene and an electrochemically active material is described. The process comprises a step of adding, in any order, water and a non-miscible solvent to the electrode material, thereby forming a biphasic system comprising an organic phase and an aqueous phase; and a step of separating and filtering the organic phase to recover graphene. The process optionally comprises additional steps of washing, drying, and/or thermally treating. Also described are electrodes including the recycled graphene, as well as the electrochemical cells and their uses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicants: HYDRO-QUÉBEC, TRANSFERT PLUS, S.E.C.
    Inventors: Nicolas DELAPORTE, Diby Benjamin OSSONON, Karim ZAGHIB, Daniel BELANGER
  • Patent number: 10403893
    Abstract: A positive electrode material is used to produce a positive electrode of a lithium secondary battery, the positive electrode material being a composite lithium material that includes a first lithium compound and a second lithium compound. For instance, the first lithium compound is in the form of particles and comprises at least one compound selected from a layered lithium compound and a spinel-type lithium compound. Preferably, the second lithium compound comprises at least one compound selected from a lithium-containing phosphate compound and a lithium-containing silicate compound. An amorphous carbon material layer and/or graphene-structured carbon material layer is present on the entire surface of the first lithium compound and the second lithium compound. The second lithium compound forms a thin-film layer on part or the entirety of the carbon material layer present on the surface of the first lithium compound particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignees: HYDRO-QUEBEC, SEI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takehiko Sawai, Shinji Saito, Kazunori Urao, Kazuma Hanai, Karim Zaghib, Abdelbast Guerfi, Martin Dontigny
  • Patent number: 10378937
    Abstract: A method for clustering of transient signals is provided. The method comprises the steps of acquiring the transient signals as they come, dynamically building up clusters of similar transient signals in a hyperspace based on comparison and clustering rules so that each new one of the transient signal acquired ends up in a cluster with similar transient signals formerly acquired, analyzing the clusters to determine respective signatures defined by the transient signals gathered in the clusters, and processing the signatures to detect a phenomenon connectable to an intrinsic attribute of the transient signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventor: François Léonard
  • Patent number: 10381642
    Abstract: Anode comprising an anode material, a protective material and a current collector is provided. The anode material is a mixture comprising an active material, at least one electronically conductive agent and at least one binder. The active material may be an alloy of silicon and lithium or an alloy of silicon oxide and lithium. There is provided a process for the preparation of the anode. Also, there is provided use of the anode in the fabrication of a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: Karim Zaghib, Dominic Leblanc, Abdelbast Guerfi, Julie Trottier, Patrick Charest
  • Patent number: 10371862
    Abstract: A method of receiving a substorm activity data log from one or more remote sensors, where substorm activity is due to solar activity. The method also includes receiving a harmonic distortion data stream from one or more remote observatories monitoring disturbances on a power grid, where the distortion is due to geomagnetically induced currents. The method also includes applying a mathematical model to the harmonic distortion data stream to create a derived harmonic distortion data log, and comparing phase-to-phase similarity of the three phases from the derived harmonic distortion data log. The method also includes predicting future adverse events due to geomagnetically-induced currents on the power grid based at least in part on the comparison and the substorm activity data log, and creating a warning based on the prediction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignees: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: Chumki Basu, Luc Cauchon, Sébastien Guillon, Innocent Kamwa, Manikandan Padmanaban
  • Publication number: 20190207275
    Abstract: A process for the recycling of an electrochemically active material is described. The process comprises the steps of reacting the electrochemically active material with an oxidizing agent or a reducing agent in a solvent without addition of a strong acid, to produce a lithium salt and a delithiated electrochemically active material precipitate. This precipitate is separated from the lithium salt and used in the regeneration of the electrochemically active material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Applicant: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: Kamyab AMOUZEGAR, Patrick BOUCHARD, Nancy TURCOTTE, Karim ZAGHIB
  • Patent number: 10329157
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of nanofilament particles of SiOx in which x is between 0.8 and 1.2, the process comprising: a step consisting of a fusion reaction between silica (SiO2) and silicon (Si), at a temperature of at least about 1410° C., to produce gaseous silicon monoxide (SiO); and a step consisting of condensation of the gaseous SiO to produce the SiOx nanofilament particles. The process may also comprising using carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUéBEC
    Inventors: Dominic Leblanc, Abdelbast Guerfi, Karim Zaghib, Pierre Hovington, Julie Trottier
  • Patent number: 10320029
    Abstract: All-solid-state lithium-sulfur electrochemical cells and production methods thereof are described. The Li—S electrochemical cells comprise at least one multilayer component which comprises an ion-conductive solid electrolyte film, a positive electrode film containing a sulfur composite, and a negative electrode film containing lithium. Positive electrodes films, prefabricated electrolyte-positive electrode elements, their uses as well as methods of their production are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: Karim Zaghib, Chisu Kim, Abdelbast Guerfi, Francis Barray, Catherine Gagnon, Julie Trottier
  • Publication number: 20190157679
    Abstract: This application describes an electrode material comprising particles of an electrochemically active material dispersed in a polymer binder, where the polymer binder is an acidic polymer or a mixture comprising a binder soluble in an aqueous solvent or a non-aqueous solvent (e.g. NMP) and an acidic polymer. The application also further relates to processes for the preparation of the electrode material and electrodes containing the material, as well as to the electrochemical cells and their use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicants: HYDRO-QUÉBEC, SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe DAIGLE, Yuichiro ASAKAWA, Shinichi UESAKA, Karim ZAGHIB