Method of and system for flushing one or more cells in a particle-based electrochemical power source in standby mode

• US 20030213690A1
• Filed: 05/17/2002
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zinc8 Energy Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cinergy Ventures II, LLC (Duke Energy Corporation), Josh Lampl, Micro-Generation Technology Fund, LLC, New Juno LP, Nth Power Technologies Fund II, L.P., Perseus 2000, LLC, Teck Cominco Metals Ltd., Thomas Page, Utech Climate Challenge Fund, L.P.
• Inventors: Grochulski, Frederick R., Smedley, Stuart I., Smedley, Kent I., Novkov, Donald James, Alstadt, Raymond H.
• Granted Patent: US 6,764,588 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/247.2
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/065 with plate-like electrodes or stacks of plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2004/024 Insertable electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/02 Electrodes composed of, or comprising, active material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0258 characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04186 of liquid-charged or electrolyte-charged reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04225 during start-up
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04753 of fuel cell reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/225 Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising particulate active material in the form of a suspension, a dispersion, a fluidised bed or a paste
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/241 with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

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 Reaction solution is delivered to and withdrawn from the one or more cells when the electrochemical power source is in a standby mode of operation.

Claims

1. A method of flushing one or more cells or components thereof in a particle-based electrochemical power source comprising:

delivering reaction solution to the one or more cells when the electrochemical power source is in a standby mode of operation; and

withdrawing reaction solution from the one or more cells when the electrochemical power source is in a standby mode of operation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the delivering step comprises pumping reaction solution to the one or more cells when the electrochemical power source is in a standby mode of operation.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising containing reaction solution in a container.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the delivering step comprises delivering reaction solution from the container to the one or more cells.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the withdrawing step comprises withdrawing reaction solution from the one or more cells and placing it in the container.

6. The method of claim 3 further comprising combining the reaction solution from the one or more cells with that in the container.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

ensuring that the reaction solution delivered to the one or more cells in the standby mode of operation is essentially free of fuel particles.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the ensuring step comprises:

placing a rotatable sleeve valve engaged with a sleeve in a position which blocks particles of fuel from being introduced through one or more holes in the sleeve to the reaction solution delivered to the one or more cells.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the ensuring step comprises:

moving a movable spout tube for spouting the reaction solution withdrawn from the one or more cells to a position which blocks particles of fuel from being spouted by the spout tube to one or more areas of a container from which reaction solution is pumped to the one or more cells.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the ensuring step comprises:

maintaining a spout tube in a dormant state.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the delivering and withdrawing steps are performed periodically at a predetermined frequency.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the delivering and withdrawing steps are performed at the end of a discharge cycle.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more cells each have a particulate anode, and the delivering and withdrawing steps are used to flush the particulate anode(s) of the one or more cells and maintain their porosity.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the reaction solution from the one or more cells carries small fuel particles prone to clogging from the one or more cells.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the reaction solution from the one or more cells carries dissolved reaction product from the one or more cells.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the reaction solution from the one or more cells carries solid reaction product precipitate from the one or more cells.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the dissolved reaction product is diluted when the reaction solution from the one or more cells is combined with that in a container.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the reaction solution delivered to the one or more cells is taken from the container.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the reaction solution delivered to the one or more cells has a diluted concentration of dissolved reaction product compared to the reaction solution withdrawn from the one or more cells.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the reaction solution delivered to the one or more cells is essentially free of fuel particles.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the reaction solution delivered to the one or more cells bears fuel particles.

22. A system for flushing one or more cells or components thereof in a particle-based electrochemical power source comprising:

a delivery and withdrawal subsystem for delivering reaction solution to the one or more cells and withdrawing reaction solution from the one or more cells; and

an actuator for actuating the delivery and withdrawal subsystem when the electrochemical power source is in a standby mode of operation.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the delivery and withdrawal subsystem comprises one or more pumps and related conduits.

24. The system of claim 22 further comprising a container for containing reaction solution.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the delivery and withdrawal subsystem delivers reaction solution from the container to the one or more cells.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the delivery and withdrawal subsystem withdraws reaction solution from the one or more cells and places it in the container.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the reaction solution from the one or more cells is combined with that in the container.

28. The system of claim 22 further comprising:

ensuring means for ensuring that the reaction solution delivered to the one or more cells during the standby mode of operation is essentially free of fuel particles.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the ensuring means comprises:

a rotatable sleeve valve engaging a sleeve having a first position in which particles of fuel are blocked from being introduced through one or more holes in the sleeve to the reaction solution delivered to the one or more cells, and a second position in which particles of fuel situated in one or more areas of a container may be introduced through one or more holes in the sleeve to the reaction solution delivered to the one or more cells; and

a second actuator for placing the rotatable sleeve valve in the first position when the electrochemical power system is in the standby mode of operation.

30. The system of claim 28 wherein the ensuring means comprises:

a movable spout tube for spouting the reaction solution withdrawn from the one or more cells, the spout tube having a first position in which particles of fuel are blocked from being spouted by the spout tube to one or more areas of a container from which reaction solution is delivered to the one or more cells, and a second position in which particles of fuel may be spouted by the spout tube to the one or more areas of the container; and

a second actuator for placing the spout tube in the first position when the electrochemical power source is in the standby mode of operation.

31. The system of claim 28 wherein the ensuring means comprises:

a spout tube, pump and related conduits which, when actuated, are configured to spout particles of fuel to one or more areas of a container from which reaction solution is delivered to the one or more cells; and

a second actuator configured to avoid activating the spout tube, pump and related conduits when the electrochemical power source is in the standby mode of operation.

32. The system of claim 22 wherein the actuator is configured to actuate the delivery and withdrawal mechanism periodically at a predetermined frequency.

33. The system of claim 22 wherein the actuator is configured to actuate the delivery and withdrawal mechanism at the end of a discharge cycle.

34. The system of claim 22 wherein the reaction solution from the one or more cells carries small fuel particles prone to clogging from the one or more cells.

35. The system of claim 22 wherein the reaction solution from the one or more cells carries dissolved reaction product from the one or more cells.

36. The system of claim 22 wherein the reaction solution from the one or more cells carries solid reaction product precipitate from the one or more cells.

37. The system of claim 22 wherein the reaction solution delivered to the one or more cells is essentially free of fuel particles.

38. The system of claim 22 wherein the reaction solution delivered to the one or more cells bears fuel particles.

39. The system of claim 35 wherein the dissolved reaction product is diluted when the reaction solution from the one or more cells is combined with that in a container.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein the reaction solution delivered to the one or more cells is taken from the container.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein the reaction solution delivered to the one or more cells has a diluted concentration of dissolved reaction product compared to the reaction solution withdrawn from the one or more cells.

42. A method of flushing one or more cells or components thereof in a particle-based electrochemical power source comprising:

a step for delivering reaction solution to the one or more cells when the electrochemical power source is in a standby mode of operation; and

a step for withdrawing reaction solution from the one or more cells when the electrochemical power source is in a standby mode of operation.

43. A system for flushing one or more cells or components thereof in a particle-based electrochemical power source comprising:

means for delivering reaction solution to the one or more cells and withdrawing reaction solution from the one or more cells; and

means for actuating the delivering and withdrawals means when the electrochemical power source is in a standby mode of operation.