ZINC-AIR BATTERY
First Claim
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1. A zinc-air cell comprisinga zinc-containing anode;
- at least one porous structure capable of absorbing oxygen from the air as the cathode of said cell;
a casing in which said anode and cathode are positioned, said casing further comprising an alkaline electrolyte fluid;
an inlet and outlet in said casing, whereby said inlet and outlet are constructed so as to permit exchange of said electrolyte fluid in said cell with an electrolyte fluid located in an external reservoir; and
wherein said anode and cathode are electrically connectible across a load.
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Abstract
A zinc-air cell, a battery which is a low weight, low volume, or higher energy system, or a combination thereof and an apparatus for recharging the same are disclosed.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A zinc-air cell comprising
a zinc-containing anode; -
at least one porous structure capable of absorbing oxygen from the air as the cathode of said cell; a casing in which said anode and cathode are positioned, said casing further comprising an alkaline electrolyte fluid; an inlet and outlet in said casing, whereby said inlet and outlet are constructed so as to permit exchange of said electrolyte fluid in said cell with an electrolyte fluid located in an external reservoir; and wherein said anode and cathode are electrically connectible across a load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for charging a zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery, said apparatus comprising:
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a reservoir comprising a zinc-containing electrolyte fluid; an export feed operationally connected to said reservoir; a fluid drainer; whereby; said apparatus is operationally connectible to said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery for which charging is desired; said reservoir of said apparatus is located externally to said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery for which charging is desired and said export feed allows for the delivery of said zinc-containing electrolyte fluid from said reservoir to said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery for which charging is desired; said fluid drainer is operationally connectible to said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery and facilitates draining of at least a portion of an electrolyte fluid located in a discharged or not fully charged zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery; and said drained electrolyte fluid is conveyed to said external reservoir or to a discharge reservoir; said apparatus further comprising and operationally connected to said zinc-air cell comprising; a casing; at least one porous structure capable of absorbing oxygen from the air as the cathode of said cell placed within said casing; a slurry consisting essentially of zinc and electrolyte solution placed within said casing; a separator positioned between said porous structure and said slurry; at least one current collecting electrode placed in said casing and in contact with said slurry; an inlet and outlet in said casing; whereby said inlet and outlet are constructed so as to permit exchange of said slurry, introduction and exchange of electrolyte fluid or a combination thereof in said cell with a slurry, an electrolyte fluid, or a combination thereof located in said reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
and wherein said electrolyte fluid conveyed from said reservoir to said air cell is a zinc-containing slurry and said electrolyte fluid conveyed from said zinc-air cell to said reservoir or to a second discharge reservoir is a zinc-containing slurry.
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23. The method of claim 22, wherein said apparatus further comprises an agitator.
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24. The method of claim 22, wherein said method facilitates the collection of particulates or aggregated by-products sinking or present at the bottom of said cell and facilitates cleansing of the surfaces of said cell.
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25. The method of claim 22, wherein said apparatus further comprises a regeneration unit operationally connected to said reservoir, said regeneration unit comprising:
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a cathode for zinc deposition; and an anode for hydrogen oxidation; wherein said method comprising zinc regeneration from zinc oxide in said regeneration unit, said zinc regeneration comprises the formation of zinc on said cathode and the oxidation of hydrogen on said anode.
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26. The method of claim 25, wherein said hydrogen is supplied to said anode by reforming of natural gas.
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27. An apparatus for charging a zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery, said apparatus comprising:
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a reservoir, said reservoir comprising; i. an alkaline electrolyte fluid containing dissolved zinc oxide; and ii. solid phase zinc oxide; an export feed operationally connected to said reservoir; a fluid drainer; whereby; said apparatus further comprising and operationally connectible to said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery for which charging is desired; said reservoir of said apparatus is located externally to said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery for which charging is desired and said export feed allows for the delivery of said alkaline electrolyte fluid containing dissolved zinc oxide from said reservoir to said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery for which charging is desired; said fluid drainer is operationally connectible to said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery and facilitates draining of at least a portion of an electrolyte fluid located in a discharged or not fully charged zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery in said device; and said drained electrolyte fluid is conveyed to said reservoir or said drained electrolyte fluid is conveyed to a second discharge reservoir; wherein said zinc-air cell or zinc-air battery comprising; a casing; at least one porous structure capable of absorbing oxygen from the air as the cathode of said cell placed within said casing; an anode placed within said casing; an inlet and outlet in said casing; whereby said inlet and outlet are constructed so as to permit introduction and exchange of said electrolyte fluid in said cell with an electrolyte fluid, located in said reservoir, wherein; said apparatus further comprises a regeneration unit operationally connected to said reservoir, said regeneration unit comprising; a cathode for zinc deposition; and an anode for hydrogen oxidation; and/or wherein; said zinc-air cell further comprises an agitator. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
wherein said apparatus further comprises a power supply and said method further comprises applying current to said zinc-air cell.
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29. The method of claim 28, wherein said power supply comprises a DC charger.
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30. The method of claim 28, wherein said zinc-air cell comprises auxiliary electrodes and said power supply applies current to said auxiliary electrodes.
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31. The method of claim 28, wherein said method facilitates the collection of particulates or aggregated by-products sinking or present at the bottom of said cell and cleansing of the surfaces of said cell.
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32. The method of claim 28, wherein said method comprising zinc regeneration from zinc oxide in said regeneration unit, wherein said zinc regeneration comprises the formation of zinc on said cathode and the oxidation of hydrogen on said anode.
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33. The method of claim 32, wherein said hydrogen is supplied to said anode by reforming of natural gas.
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34. The method of claim 28, wherein the steps of promoting conveyance of zinc-containing electrolyte fluid from said reservoir to said zinc-air cell via said export feed;
- and promoting conveyance of electrolyte fluid from said zinc-air cell to said apparatus via said fluid drainer, precedes the step of applying current to said zinc-air cell, thus allowing cleaning of zinc oxide from said anode.
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35. The method of claim 28, wherein discharge of said zinc-air is conducted in cycles such that:
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said zinc-air cell is only partially discharged each cycle; the resultant zinc oxide product on the anode is cleaned off after each partial discharge cycle by flowing electrolyte from said reservoir; electrical charging by said current is commenced once every few cycles.
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Specification