METHODS FOR CHARGING METAL-AIR CELLS

• US 20110199055A1
• Filed: 02/11/2011
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Revol Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Revol Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Ngamga, Romuald Franklin, Burchardt, Trygve
• Application Number:
  US13/026,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20110199055A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/148
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/08 composed of a half-cell of a fuel-cell type and a half-cell of the secondary-cell type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00711 with introduction of pulses during the charging process
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method of charging a metal-air battery is provided. The method comprises charging the metal-air battery using one of constant current charging or constant voltage charging during a first portion of a charging cycle. The method further comprises detecting the occurrence of a condition. The method further comprises charging the metal-air battery using the other of the constant current charging or constant voltage charging during a second portion of the charging cycle after detecting the occurrence of the condition.

Claims

1. A method of charging a metal-air battery, the method comprising:

charging the metal-air battery using one of constant current charging or constant voltage charging during a first portion of a charging cycle;

detecting the occurrence of a condition; and

charging the metal-air battery using the other of the constant current charging or constant voltage charging during a second portion of the charging cycle after detecting the occurrence of the condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition comprises a depth of charge of the metal-air battery exceeding a depth of charge threshold, and wherein the method comprises charging the metal-air battery using constant current charging during the first portion of the charging cycle and constant voltage charging during the second portion of the charging cycle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition comprises a rate of change of a voltage of the metal-air battery exceeding a voltage rate of change threshold, and wherein the method comprises charging the metal-air battery using constant current charging during the first portion of the charging cycle and constant voltage charging during the second portion of the charging cycle.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

detecting that a rate of change of a current of the metal-air battery has exceeded a current rate of change threshold; and

stopping the constant voltage charging based on the rate of change of the current exceeding the current rate of change threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting that a charge of the metal-air battery has met or exceeded a maximum charge of the metal-air battery; and

stopping charging the metal-air battery based on the charge meeting or exceeding the maximum charge.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting the occurrence of at least one of an impedance of the metal-air battery exceeding an impedance threshold or a rate of change of impedance of the metal-air battery exceeding a impedance rate of change threshold; and

stopping charging the metal-air battery based on the at least one of the impedance exceeding the impedance threshold or the rate of change of impedance exceeding the impedance rate of change threshold.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a temperature of the metal-air battery; and

adjusting the condition based on the detected temperature.

8. An apparatus for charging a metal-air battery, the apparatus comprising:

a battery charger configured to charge the metal-air battery, wherein the battery charger is configured to;

charge the metal-air battery using one of constant current charging or constant voltage charging during a first portion of a charging cycle;

detect the occurrence of a condition; and

charge the metal-air battery using the other of the constant current charging or constant voltage charging during a second portion of the charging cycle after detecting the occurrence of the condition.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the condition comprises a depth of charge of the metal-air battery exceeding a depth of charge threshold, and wherein the battery charger is configured to charge the metal-air battery using constant current charging during the first portion of the charging cycle and constant voltage charging during the second portion of the charging cycle.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the condition comprises a rate of change of a voltage of the metal-air battery exceeding a voltage rate of change threshold, and wherein the battery charger is configured to charge the metal-air battery using constant current charging during the first portion of the charging cycle and constant voltage charging during the second portion of the charging cycle.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the battery charger is further configured to:

detect that a rate of change of a current of the metal-air battery has exceeded a current rate of change threshold; and

stop the constant voltage charging based on the rate of change of the current exceeding the current rate of change threshold.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the battery charger is further configured to:

detect that a charge of the metal-air battery has met or exceeded a maximum charge of the metal-air battery; and

stop charging the metal-air battery based on the charge meeting or exceeding the maximum charge.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the battery charger is further configured to:

detect the occurrence of at least one of an impedance of the metal-air battery exceeding an impedance threshold or a rate of change of impedance of the metal-air battery exceeding a impedance rate of change threshold; and

stop charging the metal-air battery based on the at least one of the impedance exceeding the impedance threshold or the rate of change of impedance exceeding the impedance rate of change threshold.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the battery charger is further configured to:

detect a temperature of the metal-air battery; and

adjust the condition based on the detected temperature.

15. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions are executable by a processor to implement a method of charging a metal-air battery, the method comprising:

charging the metal-air battery using one of constant current charging or constant voltage charging during a first portion of a charging cycle;

detecting the occurrence of a condition; and

charging the metal-air battery using the other of the constant current charging or constant voltage charging during a second portion of the charging cycle after detecting the occurrence of the condition.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the condition comprises a depth of charge of the metal-air battery exceeding a depth of charge threshold, and wherein the method comprises charging the metal-air battery using constant current charging during the first portion of the charging cycle and constant voltage charging during the second portion of the charging cycle.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the condition comprises a rate of change of a voltage of the metal-air battery exceeding a voltage rate of change threshold, and wherein the method comprises charging the metal-air battery using constant current charging during the first portion of the charging cycle and constant voltage charging during the second portion of the charging cycle.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

detecting that a rate of change of a current of the metal-air battery has exceeded a current rate of change threshold; and

stopping the constant voltage charging based on the rate of change of the current exceeding the current rate of change threshold.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

detecting that a charge of the metal-air battery has met or exceeded a maximum charge of the metal-air battery; and

stopping charging the metal-air battery based on the charge meeting or exceeding the maximum charge.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

detecting the occurrence of at least one of an impedance of the metal-air battery exceeding an impedance threshold or a rate of change of impedance of the metal-air battery exceeding a impedance rate of change threshold; and

stopping charging the metal-air battery based on the at least one of the impedance exceeding the impedance threshold or the rate of change of impedance exceeding the impedance rate of change threshold.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

detecting a temperature of the metal-air battery; and

adjusting the condition based on the detected temperature.