Patents by Inventor Todd Trimble
Todd Trimble has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11923568Abstract: A fuel electrode incorporates a first and second corrugated portion that are attached to each other at offset angles respect to their corrugation axis and therefore reinforce each other. A first corrugated portion may extend orthogonally with respect to a second corrugated portion. The first and second corrugated portions may be formed from metal wire and may therefore have a very high volumetric void fraction and a high surface area to volume ratio (sa/vol). In addition, the strands of the wire may be selected to enable high conductivity to the current collectors while maximizing the sa/vol. In addition, the shape of the corrugation, including the period distance, amplitude and geometry may be selected with respect to the stiffness requirements and electrochemical cell application factors. The first and second corrugated portions may be calendared or crushed to reduce thickness of the fuel electrode.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: FORM ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Joel Ryan Hayes, Ramkumar Krishnan, Todd Trimble, Clifford Anderson
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Publication number: 20220344677Abstract: A fuel electrode incorporates a first and second corrugated portion that are attached to each other at offset angles respect to their corrugation axis and therefore reinforce each other. A first corrugated portion may extend orthogonally with respect to a second corrugated portion. The first and second corrugated portions may be formed from metal wire and may therefore have a very high volumetric void fraction and a high surface area to volume ratio (sa/vol). In addition, the strands of the wire may be selected to enable high conductivity to the current collectors while maximizing the sa/vol. In addition, the shape of the corrugation, including the period distance, amplitude and geometry may be selected with respect to the stiffness requirements and electrochemical cell application factors. The first and second corrugated portions may be calendared or crushed to reduce thickness of the fuel electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2022Publication date: October 27, 2022Inventors: Joel Ryan HAYES, Ramkumar KRISHNAN, Todd TRIMBLE, Clifford ANDERSON
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Patent number: 11335918Abstract: A fuel electrode incorporates a first and second corrugated portion that are attached to each other at offset angles respect to their corrugation axis and therefore reinforce each other. A first corrugated portion may extend orthogonally with respect to a second corrugated portion. The first and second corrugated portions may be formed from metal wire and may therefore have a very high volumetric void fraction and a high surface area to volume ratio (sa/vol). In addition, the strands of the wire may be selected to enable high conductivity to the current collectors while maximizing the sa/vol. In addition, the shape of the corrugation, including the period distance, amplitude and geometry may be selected with respect to the stiffness requirements and electrochemical cell application factors. The first and second corrugated portions may be calendared or crushed to reduce thickness of the fuel electrode.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2017Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: FORM ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Joel Ryan Hayes, Ramkumar Krishnan, Todd Trimble, Clifford Anderson
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Patent number: 11245143Abstract: An exemplary electrochemical cell incorporates at least a first battery electrode, such as a zinc electrode, at least a second battery electrode, such as a reversible metal electrode such as nickel, and at least an oxidant reduction electrode, such as an air cathode. The oxidant reduction electrode(s) is configured in a cell housing such that it is essentially orthogonal to the first and second electrodes. The cell housing contains electrolyte therein and the electrodes are immersed, at least partially, in the electrolyte. The positioning of the oxidant reduction electrode(s) on the side of the cell and relatively perpendicular to the first and second (metal) electrodes, allows for more consistent ionic resistance across all the metal electrodes. Optionally, a fourth or oxygen evolving electrode may be provided in the cell housing, horizontal, orthogonal, and below the first and second electrodes to provide oxygen bubbles for mixing the electrolyte.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2019Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: FORM ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Ramkumar Krishnan, Joel Ryan Hayes, Todd Trimble
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Patent number: 10818988Abstract: Provided is a rechargeable electrochemical cell system for generating electrical current using a fuel and an oxidant. The system includes a plurality of electrochemical cells. A controller is configured to apply an electrical current between charging electrode(s) and a fuel electrode with the charging electrode(s) functioning as an anode and the fuel electrode functioning as a cathode, such that reducible metal fuel ions in the ionically conductive medium are reduced and electrodeposited as metal fuel in oxidizable form on the fuel electrode. The controller may selectively apply current to a charging electrode and third electrode between fuel electrodes of separate cells to increase uniformity of the metal fuel being electrodeposited on the fuel electrode. The controller controls a number of switches to apply current to the electrodes and select different modes for the system. Also provided are methods for charging and discharging an electrochemical cell system, and selecting different modes.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2016Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: FORM ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Ramkumar Krishnan, Cody Friesen, Joel Hayes, Todd Trimble, Grant Friesen
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Patent number: 10651522Abstract: Disclosed is a hybrid electrochemical cell having two (or more) sub-cells each with different cell chemistry. For example, a second electrochemical sub-cell has a metal fuel electrode with the same type of metal fuel in a first electrochemical sub-cell, but has a different battery chemistry than the first sub-cell. A controller is configured to selectively generate an electrical current from at least one sub-cell in a discharge mode and selectively apply an electrical current to at least one sub cell in a charge mode, e.g., by controlling an open or closed state of switches. The operating modes may be controlled based on input parameters.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2016Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: NANTENERGY, INC.Inventors: Ramkumar Krishnan, Mark Naden, Jonathan Goldberg, Joel Hayes, Todd Trimble
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Patent number: 10541438Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrochemical cell comprising a fuel electrode for oxidizing a fuel, an oxidant electrode for reducing an oxidant, and an ionically conductive medium for conducting ions between the fuel and oxidant electrodes to support electrochemical reactions at the fuel and oxidant electrodes. The ionically conductive medium comprises at least one active additive for enhancing (controlling the rate, overpotential and/or the reaction sites for) at least one electrochemical reaction within the cell. The cell further comprises an additive medium in contact with the ionically conductive medium and containing the at least one active additive capable of corroding or dissolving in the ionically conductive medium. The additive medium and/or casing is configured to release the active additive to the ionically conductive medium as a concentration of the active additive in the ionically conductive medium is depleted during operation of the cell.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2018Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: NANTENERGY, INC.Inventors: Todd Trimble, Ramkumar Krishnan, Sergey Puzhaev, Grant Friesen
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Publication number: 20190348729Abstract: An exemplary electrochemical cell incorporates at least a first battery electrode, such as a zinc electrode, at least a second battery electrode, such as a reversible metal electrode such as nickel, and at least an oxidant reduction electrode, such as an air cathode. The oxidant reduction electrode(s) is configured in a cell housing such that it is essentially orthogonal to the first and second electrodes. The cell housing contains electrolyte therein and the electrodes are immersed, at least partially, in the electrolyte. The positioning of the oxidant reduction electrode(s) on the side of the cell and relatively perpendicular to the first and second (metal) electrodes, allows for more consistent ionic resistance across all the metal electrodes. Optionally, a fourth or oxygen evolving electrode may be provided in the cell housing, horizontal, orthogonal, and below the first and second electrodes to provide oxygen bubbles for mixing the electrolyte.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2019Publication date: November 14, 2019Inventors: Ramkumar KRISHNAN, Joel Ryan HAYES, Todd TRIMBLE
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Patent number: 10461554Abstract: An electrochemical cell system and a process for operating the same, the system having at least two fuel electrodes for receiving electrodeposited metal fuel; at least one oxidant electrode spaced apart from the fuel electrode; at least one charging electrode; an ionically conductive medium communicating the electrodes of the electrochemical cell system for conducting ions to support electrochemical reactions at the fuel, oxidant, and charging electrodes; and, one or more controllers configured to operate the cell system in discharging and charging modes and monitor a state of charge for each fuel electrode. The controllers may assign each fuel electrode in a discharging unit having a state-of-charge meeting a predetermined depletion criteria from the discharging unit to the charging unit, and each fuel electrode in the charging unit having a state-of-charge meeting a predetermined loading criteria from the charging unit to the discharging unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2016Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: NANTENERGY, INC.Inventors: Cody A. Friesen, Joel Hayes, Sergey Puzhaev, Ramkumar Krishnan, Todd Trimble
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Publication number: 20190319278Abstract: A fuel electrode incorporates a first and second corrugated portion that are attached to each other at offset angles respect to their corrugation axis and therefore reinforce each other. A first corrugated portion may extend orthogonally with respect to a second corrugated portion. The first and second corrugated portions may be formed from metal wire and may therefore have a very high volumetric void fraction and a high surface area to volume ratio (sa/vol). In addition, the strands of the wire may be selected to enable high conductivity to the current collectors while maximizing the sa/vol. In addition, the shape of the corrugation, including the period distance, amplitude and geometry may be selected with respect to the stiffness requirements and electrochemical cell application factors. The first and second corrugated portions may be calendared or crushed to reduce thickness of the fuel electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2017Publication date: October 17, 2019Inventors: Joel Ryan HAYES, Ramkumar KRISHNAN, Todd TRIMBLE, Clifford ANDERSON
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Publication number: 20190103614Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrochemical cell comprising a fuel electrode for oxidizing a fuel, an oxidant electrode for reducing an oxidant, and an ionically conductive medium for conducting ions between the fuel and oxidant electrodes to support electrochemical reactions at the fuel and oxidant electrodes. The ionically conductive medium comprises at least one active additive for enhancing (controlling the rate, overpotential and/or the reaction sites for) at least one electrochemical reaction within the cell. The cell further comprises an additive medium in contact with the ionically conductive medium and containing the at least one active additive capable of corroding or dissolving in the ionically conductive medium. The additive medium and/or casing is configured to release the active additive to the ionically conductive medium as a concentration of the active additive in the ionically conductive medium is depleted during operation of the cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2018Publication date: April 4, 2019Inventors: Todd Trimble, Ramkumar Krishnan, Sergey Puzhaev, Grant Friesen
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Publication number: 20190081328Abstract: An electrochemical cell system is configured to utilize an ionically conductive medium flowing through a plurality of electrochemical cells. One or more gas vents are provided along a flow path for the ionically conductive medium, so as to permit gasses that evolve in the ionically conductive medium during charging or discharging to vent outside the cell system, while constraining the ionically conductive medium within the flow path of the electrochemical cell system.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2018Publication date: March 14, 2019Inventors: Cody A. Friesen, Ramkumar Krishnan, Grant Friesen, Todd Trimble, Michael Mihalka, Andrew Goodfellow
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Patent number: 10153503Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrochemical cell comprising a fuel electrode for oxidizing a fuel, an oxidant electrode for reducing an oxidant, and an ionically conductive medium for conducting ions between the fuel and oxidant electrodes to support electrochemical reactions at the fuel and oxidant electrodes. The ionically conductive medium comprises at least one active additive for enhancing (controlling the rate, overpotential and/or the reaction sites for) at least one electrochemical reaction within the cell. The cell further comprises an additive medium in contact with the ionically conductive medium and containing the at least one active additive capable of corroding or dissolving in the ionically conductive medium. The additive medium and/or casing is configured to release the active additive to the ionically conductive medium as a concentration of the active additive in the ionically conductive medium is depleted during operation of the cell.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2016Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: NANTENERGY, INC.Inventors: Todd Trimble, Ramkumar Krishnan, Sergey Puzhaev, Grant Friesen
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Patent number: 10128509Abstract: An electrochemical cell system is configured to utilize an ionically conductive medium flowing through a plurality of electrochemical cells. One or more gas vents are provided along a flow path for the ionically conductive medium, so as to permit gasses that evolve in the ionically conductive medium during charging or discharging to vent outside the cell system, while constraining the ionically conductive medium within the flow path of the electrochemical cell system.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2015Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: NANTENERGY, INC.Inventors: Cody A. Friesen, Ramkumar Krishnan, Grant Friesen, Todd Trimble, Michael Mihalka, Andrew Goodfellow
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Publication number: 20180269550Abstract: Provided is a rechargeable electrochemical cell system for generating electrical current using a fuel and an oxidant. The system includes a plurality of electrochemical cells. A controller is configured to apply an electrical current between charging electrode(s) and a fuel electrode with the charging electrode(s) functioning as an anode and the fuel electrode functioning as a cathode, such that reducible metal fuel ions in the ionically conductive medium are reduced and electrodeposited as metal fuel in oxidizable form on the fuel electrode. The controller may selectively apply current to a charging electrode and third electrode between fuel electrodes of separate cells to increase uniformity of the metal fuel being electrodeposited on the fuel electrode. The controller controls a number of switches to apply current to the electrodes and select different modes for the system. Also provided are methods for charging and discharging an electrochemical cell system, and selecting different modes.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2018Publication date: September 20, 2018Inventors: Ramkumar Krishnan, Cody Friesen, Joel Hayes, Todd Trimble, Grant Friesen
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Patent number: 9893396Abstract: A process for conditioning an electrochemical cell system comprising at least two electrochemical cells comprises selecting from the fuel electrodes of the electrochemical cells groups comprising: a charged group and a reset group. The process also comprises holding the fuel electrodes within the charged group at a predetermined state of charge associated with a set concentration of metal fuel ions in solution in the ionically conductive medium. The process further comprises resetting the fuel electrodes within the reset group. An electrochemical cell system includes a plurality of fuel electrodes and one or more controllers configured to regulate the concentration of reducible metal fuel ions in solution with an ionically conductive medium by maintaining a predetermined state of charge of at least one of the fuel electrodes, and initiate a charging, discharging, or resetting process on at least one other fuel electrode. Other features and embodiments are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: FLUIDIC INC.Inventors: Todd Trimble, Sergey Puzhaev, Joel Hayes, Ramkumar Krishnan, Cody A. Friesen
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Patent number: 9761920Abstract: The present invention relates to a metal-air electrochemical cell with a high energy efficiency mode.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2011Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: FLUIDIC, INC.Inventors: Cody A. Friesen, Ramkumar Krishnan, Todd Trimble, Joel Hayes
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Publication number: 20170047757Abstract: An electrochemical cell system and a process for operating the same, the system having at least two fuel electrodes for receiving electrodeposited metal fuel; at least one oxidant electrode spaced apart from the fuel electrode; at least one charging electrode; an ionically conductive medium communicating the electrodes of the electrochemical cell system for conducting ions to support electrochemical reactions at the fuel, oxidant, and charging electrodes; and, one or more controllers configured to operate the cell system in discharging and charging modes and monitor a state of charge for each fuel electrode. The controllers may assign each fuel electrode in a discharging unit having a state-of-charge meeting a predetermined depletion criteria from the discharging unit to the charging unit, and each fuel electrode in the charging unit having a state-of-charge meeting a predetermined loading criteria from the charging unit to the discharging unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2016Publication date: February 16, 2017Inventors: Cody A. Friesen, Joel Hayes, Sergey Puzhaev, Ramkumar Krishnan, Todd Trimble
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Patent number: 9484587Abstract: An electrochemical cell system and a process for operating the same, the system having at least two fuel electrodes for receiving electrodeposited metal fuel; at least one oxidant electrode spaced apart from the fuel electrode; at least one charging electrode; an ionically conductive medium communicating the electrodes of the electrochemical cell system for conducting ions to support electrochemical reactions at the fuel, oxidant, and charging electrodes; and, one or more controllers configured to operate the cell system in discharging and charging modes and monitor a state of charge for each fuel electrode. The controllers may assign each fuel electrode in a discharging unit having a state-of-charge meeting a predetermined depletion criteria from the discharging unit to the charging unit, and each fuel electrode in the charging unit having a state-of-charge meeting a predetermined loading criteria from the charging unit to the discharging unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: FLUIDIC, INC.Inventors: Cody A. Friesen, Joel Hayes, Sergey Puzhaev, Ramkumar Krishnan, Todd Trimble
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Publication number: 20160276723Abstract: Provided is a rechargeable electrochemical cell system for generating electrical current using a fuel and an oxidant. The system includes a plurality of electrochemical cells. A controller is configured to apply an electrical current between charging electrode(s) and a fuel electrode with the charging electrode(s) functioning as an anode and the fuel electrode functioning as a cathode, such that reducible metal fuel ions in the ionically conductive medium are reduced and electrodeposited as metal fuel in oxidizable form on the fuel electrode. The controller may selectively apply current to a charging electrode and third electrode between fuel electrodes of separate cells to increase uniformity of the metal fuel being electrodeposited on the fuel electrode. The controller controls a number of switches to apply current to the electrodes and select different modes for the system. Also provided are methods for charging and discharging an electrochemical cell system, and selecting different modes.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2016Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: Ramkumar Krishnan, Cody Friesen, Joel Hayes, Todd Trimble, Grant Friesen