Fluid regulating microvalve assembly for fluid consuming cells
First Claim
1. An electrochemical cell, comprising a housing comprising one or more fluid inlet apertures, a negative electrode, a fluid consuming positive electrode, and a microvalve assembly operatively connected to the one or more fluid inlet apertures for controlling passage of fluid to the fluid consuming positive electrode, wherein the microvalve assembly comprises;
- (a) a stationary microvalve body comprising an aperture located between a first surface and a second surface;
(b) a movable microactuator connected to the microvalve body and capable of moving between a first position where fluid cannot pass through the microvalve body aperture and a second position which allows fluid to pass through the microvalve body aperture; and
(c) a latch, operatively connected to the microvalve body, the latch comprising a moveable latch component that changes shape upon application of a potential across the moveable latch component.
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Abstract
A fluid regulating microvalve assembly for use to control fluid flow to a fluid consuming electrode, such as an oxygen reduction electrode, in an electrochemical cell. The microvalve assembly includes a stationary valve body having an aperture and a microactuator movable from a first position where the microvalve body aperture is closed to fluid flow to at least a second position where fluid is able to pass through the microvalve body aperture. The fluid regulating microvalve assembly can utilize cell potential or a separate source to open and close the microvalve. The fluid regulating microvalve assembly can be located outside the cell housing or inside the cell housing, for example between one or more fluid inlet apertures and the fluid consuming electrode. The invention includes a method of making a multilayer microvalve assembly, particularly one for use in a fluid depolarized battery, using a printing process to deposit at least one of the layers.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electrochemical cell, comprising a housing comprising one or more fluid inlet apertures, a negative electrode, a fluid consuming positive electrode, and a microvalve assembly operatively connected to the one or more fluid inlet apertures for controlling passage of fluid to the fluid consuming positive electrode, wherein the microvalve assembly comprises;
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(a) a stationary microvalve body comprising an aperture located between a first surface and a second surface; (b) a movable microactuator connected to the microvalve body and capable of moving between a first position where fluid cannot pass through the microvalve body aperture and a second position which allows fluid to pass through the microvalve body aperture; and (c) a latch, operatively connected to the microvalve body, the latch comprising a moveable latch component that changes shape upon application of a potential across the moveable latch component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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12. An electrochemical cell, comprising a housing comprising one or more fluid inlet apertures, a negative electrode, a fluid consuming positive electrode, and a microvalve assembly operatively connected to the one or more fluid inlet apertures for controlling passage of fluid to the fluid consuming positive electrode, wherein the microvalve assembly comprises;
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(a) a body comprising an aperture located between a first surface and a second surface; (b) a movable actuator connected to the body and capable of moving between a closed position where fluid cannot pass through the aperture and an open position which allows fluid to pass through the aperture; and (c) a latch for holding the actuator in the open position without consumption of power by undergoing a change in shape in response to application of a potential across the moveable latch component. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification