ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL SYSTEM WITH SHUNT CURRENT INTERRUPT
First Claim
1. A dispersing system for an ionically conductive medium comprising:
- a fluid inlet configured to receive the ionically conductive medium therethrough;
a disperser configured to separate the ionically conductive medium into a plurality of discrete droplets;
a chamber for receiving the plurality of discrete droplets, and collecting the plurality of discrete droplets to recombine into recombined ionically conductive medium;
a fluid outlet configured to provide an outlet for the recombined ionically conductive medium;
an air inlet communicated to the chamber; and
an air pump configured to pump an amount of air into the chamber through the air inlet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrochemical cell system is configured to utilize an ionically conductive medium flowing through a plurality of electrochemical cells. One or more disperser chambers are provided to disrupt or minimize electrical current flowing between the electrochemical cells, such as between the cathode of one cell and the anode of a subsequent cell by dispersing the ionically conductive medium. Air is introduced into the disperser chamber to prevent the formation of foamed ionically conductive medium, which may reconnect the dispersed ionically conductive medium, allowing the current to again flow therethrough.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A dispersing system for an ionically conductive medium comprising:
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a fluid inlet configured to receive the ionically conductive medium therethrough; a disperser configured to separate the ionically conductive medium into a plurality of discrete droplets; a chamber for receiving the plurality of discrete droplets, and collecting the plurality of discrete droplets to recombine into recombined ionically conductive medium; a fluid outlet configured to provide an outlet for the recombined ionically conductive medium; an air inlet communicated to the chamber; and an air pump configured to pump an amount of air into the chamber through the air inlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electrochemical cell system comprising:
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one or more electrochemical cells, each comprising; (i) a fuel electrode comprising a metal fuel; and (ii) an oxidant electrode spaced from the fuel electrode; an ionically conductive medium for conducting ions between the fuel and oxidant electrodes to support electrochemical reactions at the fuel and oxidant electrodes; a circulation path for flowing the ionically conductive medium through and among the cells; wherein the fuel electrode and the oxidant electrode are configured to, during discharge, oxidize the metal fuel at the fuel electrode and reduce an oxidant at the oxidant electrode to generate a discharge potential difference therebetween for application to a load; and one or more dispersing systems positioned along the circulation path and configured to disrupt an electrical shunt current in the ionically conductive medium between at least two of the electrochemical cells, each dispersing system comprising; (a) a disperser configured to separate the ionically conductive medium into a plurality of discrete droplets; and (b) a chamber for receiving the plurality of discrete droplets, and collecting the plurality of discrete droplets to recombine into recombined ionically conductive medium; wherein at least one of the one or more dispersing systems further comprises an air inlet configured to allow air into the chamber; and an air pump configured to pump an amount of air into the chamber through the air inlet. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for disrupting electrical current in an ionically conductive medium, the method comprising:
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dispersing, in a chamber, the ionically conductive medium into a plurality of discrete droplets; permitting, in the chamber, the plurality of discrete droplets to recombine into recombined ionically conductive medium; adding an amount of air into the chamber to inhibit growth of ionically conductive foam on the recombined ionically conductive medium. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A housing for one or more electrochemical cells, wherein each of the one or more electrochemical cells comprise:
- (i) a fuel electrode comprising a metal fuel; and
(ii) an oxidant electrode spaced from the fuel electrode; and
wherein an ionically conductive medium conducts ions between the fuel and oxidant electrodes to support electrochemical reactions at the fuel and oxidant electrodes;
the housing comprising;a circulation path for flowing the ionically conductive medium through the one or more electrochemical cells; a first dispersion chamber positioned on the circulation path before the one or more electrochemical cells, and configured to disperse the ionically conductive medium before its flowing through the one or more electrochemical cells; a second dispersion chamber positioned on the circulation path after the one or more electrochemical cells, and configured to disperse the ionically conductive medium after its flowing through the one or more electrochemical cells; wherein each of the first dispersion chamber and the second dispersion chamber comprises; (a) a disperser configured to separate the ionically conductive medium into a plurality of discrete droplets; and (b) a lower portion for receiving the plurality of discrete droplets, and collecting the plurality of discrete droplets to recombine into recombined ionically conductive medium. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
- (i) a fuel electrode comprising a metal fuel; and
Specification