Patents Assigned to Hydro-Quebec
  • Publication number: 20220013786
    Abstract: Described are polymers comprising norbornene-based monomeric units derived from the polymerization of norbornene-based monomers for use as electrode material additives, binder compositions comprising said polymers as additives, electrode materials comprising said polymers as additives, electrode materials comprising said binder compositions, their methods of production and their use in electrochemical cells, for instance, in lithium or lithium ion batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicants: HYDRO-QUÉBEC, MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe DAIGLE, Yuichiro ASAKAWA, Karim ZAGHIB
  • Publication number: 20210384518
    Abstract: The present technology relates to self-standing electrodes, their use in electrochemical cells, and their production processes using a water-based filtration process. For example, the self-standing electrodes may be used in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Particularly, the self-standing electrodes comprise a first electronically conductive material serving as a current collector, the surface of the first electronically conductive material being grafted with a hydrophilic group, a binder comprising cellulose fibres, an electrochemically active material, and optionally a second electronically conductive material. A process for the preparation of the self-standing electrodes is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Applicant: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: Nicolas DELAPORTE, Abdelbast GUERFI, Karim ZAGHIB
  • Publication number: 20210380745
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a polymer comprising at least one ester repeating unit and one ether repeating unit for use in an electrochemical cell, particularly in electrochemical accumulators such as lithium batteries, sodium batteries, potassium batteries and lithium-ion batteries. More specifically, the use of this polymer as a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE), as a matrix for forming gel electrolytes, or as a binder in an electrode material are also contemplated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Applicant: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: Basile COMMARIEU, Jean-Christophe DAIGLE, Pierre-Michel JALBERT, Gilles LAJOIE, Catherine GAGNON, Abdelbast GUERFI, Michel ARMAND, Karim ZAGHIB
  • Publication number: 20210376381
    Abstract: Method of improving the performance and safety of a Li-ion battery. The method includes using a nitrile-based small organic compound of general formula I, V or IX outlined in the application in association with the electrolyte of the battery. An electrolyte including a nitrile-based small organic compound. A battery including the electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicants: HYDRO-QUÉBEC, MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Charlotte MALLET, Sylviane ROCHON, Karim ZAGHIB
  • Patent number: 11186486
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignees: HYDRO-QUÉBEC, CIC ENERGIGUNE
    Inventors: Montserrat Galceran Mestres, Montserrat Casas Cabanas, Abdelbast Guerfi, Michel Armand, Karim Zaghib
  • Patent number: 11181568
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: François Léonard, Arnaud Zinflou, Alexandre Bouffard, Mathieu Viau
  • Publication number: 20210355257
    Abstract: Described are polymers, polymer binders, hydrogel polymer binders, hydrogel polymer binder compositions comprising them, electrode materials comprising them, their methods of production and their use in electrochemical cells, for instance, in silicon-based electrochemical cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Applicants: HYDRO-QUÉBEC, MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe DAIGLE, Birhanu Desalegn ASSRESAHEGN, Yuichiro ASAKAWA, Karim ZAGHIB
  • Patent number: 11177474
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a rechargeable electrochemical cell including an electrolyte side, a cathode side, and a polymer/plasticizer. The electrolyte side includes a solid glass electrolyte including an electrolyte mobile cation and electric dipoles, as well as an anode including a metal of the electrolyte mobile cation and contacting the solid glass electrolyte at an anode: solid glass electrolyte interface. The cathode side includes a cathode including a cathode active material into which a cathode guest cation is reversibly extracted/inserted. The cathode active material has a voltage versus lithium (Li) metal of between 3V and 15V. The polymer/plasticizer contacts the solid glass electrolyte at a solid glass electrolyte:polymer/plasticizer interface and the cathode at a polymer/plasticizer:cathode interface such that the cathode guest cation is confined to the cathode side and the electrolyte mobile cation is confined to the anode side during charge and discharge of the electrochemical cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUÉBEC
    Inventors: John B. Goodenough, Maria Helena Sousa Soares De Oliveira Braga
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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