Possible to Store Energy in Ionized Gas?

[Misha Kuznetsov]

How plausible would it be to store energy in the form of ionized gas? The idea is that a gas (I am assuming a noble gas would work best) would be ionized so that some outer electrons are removed from the atoms and then a positively charged Van de Graaff generator (or something that can fulfill the same function) would drain the electrons. My guess is that this would leave a gas with positively charged atoms as the loose electrons would be removed. Am I correct so far in my reasoning?

Then if an electrode in the ionized gas links it to ground or another source of electrons, wouldn't there be current flow in a wire connecting the electrode and ground? I curious to know if I am missing anything fundamental that would prohibit this from working and your thoughts on it (such as maybe it would be totally energy inefficient or something).

Thanks in advance!

 

[tech99]

How plausible would it be to store energy in the form of ionized gas? The idea is that a gas (I am assuming a noble gas would work best) would be ionized so that some outer electrons are removed from the atoms and then a positively charged Van de Graaff generator (or something that can fulfill the same function) would drain the electrons. My guess is that this would leave a gas with positively charged atoms as the loose electrons would be removed. Am I correct so far in my reasoning?

Then if an electrode in the ionized gas links it to ground or another source of electrons, wouldn't there be current flow in a wire connecting the electrode and ground? I curious to know if I am missing anything fundamental that would prohibit this from working and your thoughts on it (such as maybe it would be totally energy inefficient or something).

Thanks in advance!

I think you are correct, but the ionised gas will contain relatively few atoms if collisions are to be avoided, so the capacity (capacitance) will be very small. Why not use a metal as your store of charge, as it already contains a vast number of free electrons which can be pumped out. In fact, how about the V de G sphere?

 

[Misha Kuznetsov]

I think you are correct, but the ionised gas will contain relatively few atoms if collisions are to be avoided, so the capacity (capacitance) will be very small. Why not use a metal as your store of charge, as it already contains a vast number of free electrons which can be pumped out. In fact, how about the V de G sphere?

What would be the problem with having collisions within the ionized gas?

I was thinking that to increase the possible capacity of the gas it could be compressed to add more of it in a set volume (which would lead to even more collisions, so if collisions aren't allowed that wouldn't work).

What I found interesting about ionizing gasses is that they can be ionized to a very high degree where multiple electrons are removed from each atom. Is this possible with metals also, or are they limited to having 1 free electron (such as copper)?

Either way, I think you're right since getting the same amount of free electrons in a set volume of gas as metal (even if metal can give up to one electron per atom) would take pressurizing the gas to near liquid.

Again, thanks for your reply. :)