Refuelable electrochemical power source capable of being maintained in a substantially constant full condition and method of using the same
First Claim
1. A refuelable electrochemical power source, comprising:
- one or more electrochemical cells adapted to employ particulate material electrodes, the one or more cells including a cell body defining an interior cell cavity, a constantly, periodically, or intermittently circulating flow path in the cell cavity through which particulate material and fluid flow, an electroactive zone within the cell cavity, and a fluid mechanical device between said flow path and said electroactive zone that allows particulate material to pass from the flow path into the electroactive zone and is adapted to keep the fluid flow velocity in the electroactive zone substantially below the fluid flow velocity in the flow path, thereby filling or maintaining the electroactive zone in a substantially constant full or maximum electroactivity condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A refuelable electrochemical power source includes one or more electrochemical cells adapted to employ particulate material electrodes. The one or more cells include a cell body defining an interior cell cavity, a flow path in the cell cavity through which particulate material and fluid flow, an electroactive zone within the cell cavity, and a fluid mechanic device adjacent or within the flow path capable of filling the electroactive zone or maintaining the electroactive zone in a constantly full or maximum electroactivity condition. A method for filling or maintaining one or more cells of a refuelable electrochemical power source at a constantly full condition includes providing the above-described apparatus and constantly, periodically, or intermittently circulating particulate material and fluid through the flow path in the one or more cells, past the fluid mechanic device, so that the electroactive zone of the one or more electrochemical cells is maintained in a constantly full or maximum electroactivity condition.
57 Citations
58 Claims
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1. A refuelable electrochemical power source, comprising:
- one or more electrochemical cells adapted to employ particulate material electrodes, the one or more cells including a cell body defining an interior cell cavity, a constantly, periodically, or intermittently circulating flow path in the cell cavity through which particulate material and fluid flow, an electroactive zone within the cell cavity, and a fluid mechanical device between said flow path and said electroactive zone that allows particulate material to pass from the flow path into the electroactive zone and is adapted to keep the fluid flow velocity in the electroactive zone substantially below the fluid flow velocity in the flow path, thereby filling or maintaining the electroactive zone in a substantially constant full or maximum electroactivity condition.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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26. A method of filling one or more cells of a refuelable electrochemical power source or maintaining said cells at a substantially constant full condition, comprising:
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providing a refuelable electrochemical power source having one or more electrochemical cells adapted to employ particulate material electrodes, the one or more cells including a cell body defining an interior cell cavity, a flow path in the cell cavity through which particulate material and fluid flow, an electroactive zone within the cell cavity, and a fluid mechanical device within or adjacent said flow path capable of filling or maintaining the electroactive zone in a substantially constant full or maximum electroactivity condition;
constantly, periodically, or intermittently circulating particulate material and fluid through the flow path in said one or more cells, past said fluid mechanical device, so that said electroactive zone of said one or more electrochemical cells is maintained in a substantially constant full or maximum electroactivity condition or is periodically or intermittently refilled.
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51. A refuelable electrochemical power source, comprising:
- one or more electrochemical cells adapted to employ particulate material electrodes, the one or more cells including a cell body defining an interior cell cavity, a flow path in the cell cavity through which particulate material and fluid flow, an electroactive zone within the cell cavity, and means adjacent or within said flow path for filling the electroactive zone or maintaining the electroactive zone in a substantially constant full, maximum electroactivity condition.
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52. A refuelable electrochemical power source, comprising:
- one or more electrochemical cells adapted to employ particulate material electrodes, the one or more cells including a cell body defining an interior cell cavity, a flow path in the cell cavity through which particulate material and fluid flow, an electroactive zone within the cell cavity, and a fluid mechanical device adjacent or within said flow path capable of filling or maintaining the electroactive zone in a substantially constant full or maximum electroactivity condition.
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53. A power system for a mobile, stationary or portable electrically powered device, comprising:
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a source of particulate material and fluid;
a refuelable electrochemical power source adapted to provide electrical power and in communication with said source of particulate material and fluid, said power source comprising;
one or more electrochemical cells adapted to employ particulate material electrodes, the one or more cells each including a cell body defining an interior cell cavity, a flow path in the cell cavity through which particulate material and fluid from said particulate material and fluid source flow, an electroactive zone within the cell cavity, and a fluid mechanic device adjacent or within said flow path capable of filling the electroactive zone or maintaining the electroactive zone in a substantially constant full or maximum electroactivity condition; and
at least one pump interconnected with said particulate material and fluid source and said refuelable electrochemical power source and adapted to impart a flow of particulate material and fluid from said particulate material and fluid source to said one or more cells. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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Specification