53results about "Insertable electrodes" patented technology

A device / system having an integrated refuelable and rechargable metal-air FCB based power supply unit for generating and providing electrical power to at least one electrical-energy-consuming load device disposed therein. An external power source is used to recharge the metal-air FCB subsystems embodied therein. A control subsystem automatically transitions between discharging mode (wherein at least one metal-air FCB subsystem supplies electrical power to the electrical power-consuming load device) and a recharging mode (wherein the external power source is electrically coupled to at least one metal-air FCB subsystem to thereby recharge the metal-air FCB subsystem(s). The metal-air FCB subsystem(s) are refueled by manually loading and unloading metal-fuel from the metal-air FCB subsystem(s). Preferably, electrical power provided to the at least one electrical power-consuming load device is supplied solely by electrical power generated by discharging metal-fuel in the metal-air fuel cell battery subsystem(s). In addition, the metal-air FCB subsystem(s) preferably has a modular architecture that enable flexible and user-friendly operations in loading of metal-fuel, unloading of consumed metal-fuel, replacement of the ionic-conducting medium, and replacement of the cathode.

A metal air cell system comprises a frame structure configured with variable airflow paths. The variable airflow paths provide alternatives between direct open loop airflow and semi-closed loop air flow, wherein air is at least partially circulated around the cell components. This is particularly useful for operation in different temperature environments. The open loop mode is useful for high temperature environments, and the semi-closed loop mode is useful for low temperature environments.

Improved metal-air fuel cell battery systems having metal-fuel realized in the form of metal-fuel tape cartridges and metal-fuel cards, which can be either manually or automatically inserted within the power generation bay of the system. In order to produce a range of output voltages, the metal-fuel tape has a plurality of electrically-isolated metal-fuel tracks and the metal-fuel cards have a plurality of electrically-isolated metal-fuel strips. An output voltage configuration subsystem is provided for configuring the voltages produced by the individual cells to produce a desired output. A subsystem is provided for detecting oxide formation on the metal-fuel tracks and strips so that only metal-fuel that has been oxidized is reduced during recharging operations. A subsystem is also provided for controlling the flow of oxygen into the power generation head in order to control the power output from the system.

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for extending path-length of metal-fuel tape during discharging and / or recharging operations so that a supply of metal-fuel tape contained within a cassette device or on a supply reel can be rapidly discharged and / or recharged in an improved manner. During discharging operations, a plurality of discharging heads are selectively arranged about the extended path-length of metal-fuel tape so as increase the rate at which electrical power is powered from the system. During recharging operations, a plurality of recharging heads are selectively arranged about the extended path-length of metal-fuel tape to decrease the time required to recharge the metal-fuel tape transported through the system.

Disclosed is a metal-air fuel cell battery system, wherein metal-fuel tape can be transported through its discharging head assembly as well as its recharging head assembly in a bi-directional manner while the availability of metal-fuel therealong is automatically managed in order to improve the performance of the system.

An improved metal-air fuel cell battery (FCB) system and a method of producing and supplying electrical power to an electrical power consuming device. The method involves packaging and distributing together (i) a metal-air FCB module for producing electrical power using a metal-fuel card insertable within the metal-air FCB module, and (ii) a supply of metal-fuel cards, available as metal-fuel consumable within the metal-air FCB module. The metal-air FCB module includes a cathode structure and an anode contacting structure wherebetween a metal-fuel card can be inserted during a metal-fuel card loading operation, when electrical power is required from the metal-air FCB module. By virtue of the present invention, consumers can now quickly and easily refuel a metal-air FCB module used to power electrical power consuming devices, without wasting or otherwise replacing the typically massive, expensive, and non-consumed components of the metal-air FCB module.

Disclosed are various types of metal-air FCB-based systems comprising a Metal-Fuel Transport Subsystem, a Metal-Fuel Discharging Subsystem, and a Metal-Fuel Recharging Subsystem. The function of the Metal-Fuel Transport Subsystem is to transport metal-fuel material, in the form of tape, cards, sheets, cylinders and the like, to the Metal-Fuel Discharge Subsystem, or the Metal-Fuel Recharge Subsystem, depending on the mode of the system selected. When transported to or through the Metal-Fuel Discharge Subsystem, the metal-fuel is discharged by (i.e. electro-chemically reaction with) one or more discharging heads in order produce electrical power across an electrical load connected to the subsystem while H2O and O2 are consumed at the cathode-electrolyte interface during the electro-chemical reaction. When transported to or through the Metal-Fuel Recharging Subsystem, discharged metal-fuel is recharged by one or more recharging heads in order to convert the oxidized metal-fuel material into its source metal material suitable for reuse in power discharging operations, while O2 is released at the cathode-electrolyte interface during the electro-chemical reaction. In the illustrative embodiments, various forms of metal fuel can be discharged and recharged in an efficient manner to satisfy a broad range of electrical loading conditions.

A method of and system for flushing one or more cells or components thereof in a particle-based electrochemical power source is provided. Reaction solution is delivered to and withdrawn from the one or more cells when the electrochemical power source is in a standby mode of operation.

In an air-metal fuel cell battery (FCB) system, wherein metal-fuel tape, the ionically-conductive medium and the cathode structures are transported at substantially the same velocity at the locus of points at which the ionically-conductive medium contacts the moving cathode structure and the moving metal-fuel tape during discharging and recharging modes of operation. In a first generalized embodiment of the present invention, the ionically-conductive medium is realized as an ionically-conductive belt, and the metal-fuel tape, ionically-conductive belt, and movable cathode structure are transported at substantially the same velocity at the locus of points which the ionically-conducing belt contacts the metal-fuel tape and the cathode structure during system operation. In a second generalized embodiment of the present invention, the ionically-conductive medium is realized as a solid-state (e.g. gel-like) film layer integrated with the metal-fuel tape, and the metal-fuel tape, ionically-conductive film layer and movable cathode structure are transported at substantially the same velocity at the locus of points which the ionically-conducing film layer contacts the metal-fuel tape and the cathode structure during system operation. In a third generalized embodiment of the present invention, the ionically-conductive medium is realized as a solid-state film layer integrated with the movable cathode structure, and the metal-fuel tape, ionically-conductive film layer and movable cathode structure are transported at substantially the same velocity at the locus of points which the ionically-conducing film layer contacts the metal-fuel tape and the cathode structure during system operation. By transporting the movable cathode structure, ionically contacting medium and metal-fuel tape within the system as described above, generation of frictional forces among such structures are minimized during system operation, and thus the damage to the cathode structure and metal-fuel tape is substantially reduced.