Disclosed is an electrical
power generation system comprised of a network of
metal-air fuel
cell battery (FCB) subsystems connected to an output power
bus structure and controlled by a
network control subsystem. The operation of each
metal-air FCB subsystem is controlled so that, on the average, the amount of
metal-fuel in each of the FCB subsystem is substantially the same, regardless of the total amount of metal-fuel remaining within the
system available for electrical power generation. The electrical
power generation system can be used as an electrical power
plant that can be installed in virtually any
system, device or environment in which there is a need to satisfy the peak
power demand of an
electrical load (e.g. motor, appliance, machinery, tools, etc.) independent of the total amount of metal-fuel remaining within the
system. The system is provided with a network-based metal-fuel management subsystem adapted for use in managing the discharging and recharging of metal-fuel in the system in an efficient manner. In the illustrative embodiment, the electrical
power generation system is embedded within an automotive vehicle that is provided with
hybrid types of electrical power generating sources, as well as an auxiliary power source, for providing electrical power to the input
bus structure for carrying out recharging operations.