Patents Assigned to Hydro-Quebec
  • Wireless telecommunication system for an equipment in an underground structure
    Patent number: 11171402
    Abstract: A wireless telecommunication system for an equipment in an underground structure is disclosed. The system comprises a metal cover fitting in an opening of the underground structure while being supported by a shoulder. A porthole is formed in the cover. The porthole has a lens in plastic material letting radio waves pass. A cradle hangs across the opening. An antenna arrangement is mounted on the cradle and extends near and in alignment with the lens. A radio transceiver connects to the antenna arrangement and to the equipment in the underground structure to establish a wireless telecommunication with the equipment via the antenna arrangement and the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: Sylvain Riendeau, Pierre Gingras, François Bélanger
  • Assembly of electric accumulators
    Patent number: 11167631
    Abstract: An assembly module for tubular electric accumulators is disclosed. The assembly module comprises support elements made of insulating material, having arrangements of openings for receiving and holding a group of accumulators in a parallel configuration. Sheets of electrically conductive material extend on surfaces of the support elements. The sheets are welded to the respective terminals of the accumulators and form electrical contact surfaces with the accumulators. Similar assembly modules are arranged in series with complementary arrangements of fastening elements between the adjacent support elements of the modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: Samuel Lavoie, Ghislain Lambert, Karim Zaghib
  • Signal checking for communicating meters
    Patent number: 11165520
    Abstract: A device is provided for determining an RF coverage quality of a wireless mesh network at a given location. The device includes a communication module, a processing module, and a visual interface. The communication module is configured to communicate with nearby neighbours in the wireless mesh network. The processing module is configured to detect and calculate good neighbours having an RF signal strength above a first predetermined threshold, and a tickle success rate above a second predetermined threshold. Methods to install and validate the installation of a wireless electric meter and a passive antenna are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: Alexandre Lemire, Louis Dupont
  • DETECTION OF ANOMALIES IN AN ELECTRICAL NETWORK
    Publication number: 20210325441
    Abstract: The disclosed method detects anomalies in an electrical network. An ohmic matrix model of the network is initially generated from consumption measurements produced by meters connected to a same transformer. The model has currents carried by the meters as input, relative voltage drops of the meters referenced to a voltage of a reference node located on the network as output, and resistive quantities initially determined by currents and voltages based on the consumption measurements as matrix terms, the relative voltage being a voltage difference between a voltage determined for a meter and an average of voltages determined for a set of meters of the network. The model is iteratively modified according to detected anomalies, and a diagnosis of the network characterizing the detected anomalies is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: François LÉONARD, Arnaud ZINFLOU, Alexandre BOUFFARD, Mathieu VIAU
  • ADDITIVES FOR ELECTROLYTE AND CATHODE MATERIAL IN Li-ION BATTERIES COMPRISING METAL-BASED CATHODE MATERIAL WHICH PRODUCES M2+ METAL IONS
    Publication number: 20210305555
    Abstract: Method of improving the performance of a Li-ion battery comprising metal-based cathode material which produces M2+ metal ions. The method comprises using a small organic compound in association with the electrolyte of the battery or using a polymer compound in association with the cathode active material of the battery. The small organic compound and the polymer compound comprise at least one chemical group suitable for forming complexes with the M2+ metal ions thereby preventing dissolution thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicants: HYDRO-QUÉBEC, MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Charlotte MALLET, Jean-Christophe DAIGLE, Sylviane ROCHON, Karim ZAGHIB
  • METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING AND TRACING METAL PRODUCTS
    Publication number: 20210285073
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for chemically marking metal products such as metal ingots and other rough or processed metal materials. More specifically, the aim of the present invention is the use of tracers during the method for casting or other methods for manufacturing metal products. These tracers in turn can be identified by physico-chemical methods for confirming the specification of the product, the source of the products or of other similar elements and to assist anti-counterfeiting measures or the identification of production batches or cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Applicant: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: Dominic LEBLANC, Patrick BOUCHARD, Karim ZAGHIB, Réal LAPORTE
  • Electrode materials and processes for their preparation
    Patent number: 11114668
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignees: HYDRO-QUÉBEC, MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Charlotte Mallet, Sylviane Rochon, Jean-Christophe Daigle, Narumi Arai, Shinichi Uesaka, Karim Zaghib
  • BATTERY SAFETY VENT ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20210273288
    Abstract: A battery safety vent assembly for a battery casing with an upper surrounding clamp-like shape is disclosed. The assembly has a positive cap, a safety vent disk extending under a disk element of the positive cap, a gasket insulator snugly fitting into the clamp-like shape of the battery casing and providing support to the positive cap, the safety vent disk and a circuit interrupt device embedded in an underside recess area of the gasket insulator. The circuit interrupt device is coupled to a button downwardly projecting from the safety vent disk. Gas release passages, openings and interfaces between parts of the assembly are arranged so that when gas pressure inside the battery casing exceeds a predetermined threshold limit of pressure, weak lines in the safety vent disk allow gas to safely exit the battery casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: Pu Wang, Mustapha El Mazouzi, Karim Zaghib
  • Resistance-measuring device and method
    Patent number: 11092632
    Abstract: A resistance-measuring device mountable to a component of a current-carrying transmission line. The device includes a body having a base and two arms with interconnected first ends and spaced-apart second ends. The arms define a gap therebetween. Each arm has an inner portion facing the gap. The body is displaceable to mount the body about the component and position the component within the gap. The body has an abrading mechanism mounted to the arms. The abrading mechanism has an electrically-conductive abrading element disposed along the arm and facing inwardly toward the gap. The abrading element rubs against an outer surface of the component upon displacing the body to mount the body about the component. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUEBEC
    Inventors: Samuel Lavoie, Ghislain Lambert
  • Flexible electrode-separator elements and processes for their preparation
    Patent number: 11081761
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignees: HYDRO-QUÉBEC, TRANSFERT PLUS, S.E.C.
    Inventors: Nicolas Delaporte, Diby Benjamin Ossonon, Karim Zaghib, Daniel Belanger
  • ELECTROLYTE COMPOSITION AND USE THEREOF IN LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES
    Publication number: 20210218060
    Abstract: Electrolyte compositions comprising lithium hexafluorophosphate, lithium 4,5-dicyano-2-(trifluoromethyl)imidazolate, a solvent, and at least one electrolytic additive, are herein described. The present application also describes the use if these electrolyte compositions in batteries, e.g. within a temperature range higher than or equal to 25° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicants: HYDRO-QUÉBEC, ARKEMA FRANCE
    Inventors: Sabrina PAILLET, Gregory SCHMIDT, Ian CAYREFOURCQ, Julie HAMEL-PÂQUET, Ali DARWICHE, Gabriel GIRARD, Joël FRÉCHETTE, Sébastien LADOUCEUR, Abdelbast GUERFI, Karim ZAGHIB
  • Coated metal oxide particles with low dissolution rate, methods for preparing same and use thereof in electrochemical systems
    Patent number: 11050059
    Abstract: Particles including a core and a coat covering at least part of the core surface. The core has more than 50% of an acidic metal oxide and the core coating is based on a polymer, preferably based on a solid polymer with high electrochemical stability. The particle has a solubility rate (ds), in fixed time, of the metal oxide migrating towards the electrolyte, per cycle, which is less than 5 per 10000. The particles are obtained by mixing the polymer and a metal oxide, via dry process with addition of solvent. The electrodes constituting an electrode substrate at least partly coated with a mixture consisting of at least 40 of those particles have remarkable electrochemical properties, in particular regarding the lifetime of batteries in which they are incorporated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: Patrick Charest, Michel Perrier, Martin Dontigny, Michel Petitclerc, Abdelbast Guerfi, Karim Zaghib
  • Process for the recycling of lithium battery electrode materials
    Patent number: 11050098
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: Kamyab Amouzegar, Patrick Bouchard, Nancy Turcotte, Karim Zaghib
  • Heat energy-powered electrochemical cells
    Patent number: 11049667
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a heat energy-powered electrochemical cell including an anode, a cathode, and a solid metal polymer/glass electrolyte. The solid metal polymer/glass electrolyte includes between 1% and 50% metal polymer by weight as compared to total solid metal polymer/glass electrolyte weight and between 50% and 90% solid glass electrolyte by weight as compared to the total solid metal polymer/glass electrolyte weight. The solid glass electrolyte includes a working cation and an electric dipole. The heat energy-powered electrochemical cells may be used to capture heat from a variety of sources, including solar hear, waste heat, and body heat. The heat energy-powered electrochemical cells may be fabricated at large-area, thin cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: John B. Goodenough, Maria Helena Sousa Soares De Oliveira Braga, Andrew Murchison
  • GLYCIDYL-CONTAINING POLYMERS, POLYMER COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING THEM AND THEIR USE IN ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
    Publication number: 20210189036
    Abstract: Glycidyl-containing polymers and polymer compositions comprising them are described, as well as their use in electrode materials and/or as coatings for battery components. Also described are electrode materials, electrodes, electrochemical cells and batteries comprising the polymers and their uses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicants: HYDRO-QUÉBEC, MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe DAIGLE, Yuichiro ASAKAWA, Karim ZAGHIB
  • CONTROL OF AN ELECTRIC WATER HEATER AS PER A LOAD SHEDDING REQUEST SIGNAL AND A SALUBRITY INDEX
    Publication number: 20210180829
    Abstract: A system and a method for controlling an electrical water heater as per a load shedding request signal are disclosed. A temperature sensor is positioned so as to measure a water temperature in a lower area of a tank of the water heater to be controlled. A controller continuously determines a salubrity index of the water heater as a function of the temperature measured by the sensor and a time measurement, and decides to interrupt an electrical power supply of the water heater through a switch so as to interrupt or not interrupt an operation of the water heater upon the load shedding request signal and only if the salubrity index meets a preestablished criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: Alain Moreau, André Laperrière, François Laurencelle
  • COPOLYMER BINDER
    Publication number: 20210159504
    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 Band 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: February 4, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe DAIGLE, Karim ZAGHIB
  • CERAMICS, METHODS FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF AND USES OF SAME
    Publication number: 20210147299
    Abstract: This document describes processes for preparing ceramics, especially lithium-based ceramics. The ceramics produced by this process and their use in electrochemical applications are also described as well as electrode materials, electrodes, electrolyte compositions, and electrochemical cells comprising them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: Andrea PAOLELLA, Sylvio SAVOIE, Vincent GARIEPY, Wen ZHU, Abdelbast GUERFI, Karim ZAGHIB
  • POLYMERS COMPRISING IMIDAZOLE DERIVATIVES AND THEIR USE IN ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
    Publication number: 20210147604
    Abstract: Here are described polymers comprising monomeric units from vinylimidazole derivatives and their use in electrode materials and/or electrolyte compositions, as well as their methods of preparation. Also described are electrode materials, electrodes, and electrochemical cells comprising the polymers and their use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicants: HYDRO-QUÉBEC, MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe DAIGLE, Charlotte MALLET, Yuichiro ASAKAWA, Melanie BEAUPRE, Shinichi UESAKA, Karim ZAGHIB
  • ASSEMBLY OF ELECTRIC ACCUMULATORS
    Publication number: 20210135312
    Abstract: An assembly module for tubular electric accumulators is disclosed. The assembly module comprises support elements made of insulating material, having arrangements of openings for receiving and holding a group of accumulators in a parallel configuration. Sheets of electrically conductive material extend on surfaces of the support elements. The sheets are welded to the respective terminals of the accumulators and form electrical contact surfaces with the accumulators. Similar assembly modules are arranged in series with complementary arrangements of fastening elements between the adjacent support elements of the modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: Samuel Lavoie, Ghislain Lambert, Karim Zaghib