Electrical energy storage system

• US 4,304,823 A
• Filed: 03/05/1980
• Issued: 12/08/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Original Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Inventors: Lemelson, Jerome H.
• Primary Examiner(s): LeFevour, Charles F.
• Application Number:
  US06/127,399
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 429/17, 429/19, 429/61, 429/62, 429/72, 429/81, 429/93
• US Class Current: 429/430
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4214 Arrangements for moving electrodes or electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04186 of liquid-charged or electrolyte-charged reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0432 Temperature; Ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04365 of other components of a fuel cell or fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0444 Concentration; Density H01M8/04492 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04447 of anode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04753 of fuel cell reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04761 of fuel cell exhausts
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/188 by recharging of redox couples containing fluids; Redox flow type batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/20 Indirect fuel cells, e.g. fuel cells with redox couple being irreversible H01M8/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

An electric storage battery and a method for monitoring the operation of the battery and automatically replenishing chemicals employed to operate the battery and provide its electrical energy output. In one form, a computer or microprocessor receives, processes and automatically analyzes signals received from a plurality of sensors which sense the battery condition and operation. The microprocessor generates control signals for controlling the flow of chemicals to and from the battery operating chamber or chambers. As a result, the battery is kept in a predetermined state of charge or operating condition.

Claims

1. A chemically-powered generating system comprising:

a housing,

first means supported within said housing for generating electricity by chemical action,

second means accessible to the exterior of said housing for outputing electrical energy generated by said first means,

third means including a supply of fluid chemical for use by said first means in generating electricity,

fourth means for effecting flow of said chemical between said third means and said first means,

fifth means for controlling said flow of fluid chemical to said first means,

sensing means for sensing the operating condition of said first means and generating analog electrical signals which are indicative of the condition sensed,

sixth means including electronic processing means and computing means for receiving signals generated by said sensing means,

said electronic processing means being operable to receive and convert the analog electrical signals generated by said sensing means to digital signals,

said computing means being operable to perform computational analysis of said digital signals and to generate output control signals when the signals generated by said sensing means attain a predetermined value, and

means for applying said control signals to said fifth means to cause said fifth means to properly control the flow of said fluid chemical to said first means to maintain said first means in a predetermined operating condition for properly generating electricity on said second means.

2. A power generating system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the operation of said first means involves a chemical change in the fluid chemical disposed within said first means, further including seventh means controlled by the signals generated by said computing means for controllably removing chemically changed fluids from said first means.

3. A power generating system in accordance with claim 2 including means for controllably removing chemically changed material from said first means, said sensing means including means for sensing the condition of chemicals in said first means and means for generating electrical signals indicative of such chemical condition, and eighth means for controlling flow of fluid chemical material from said first means, means for receiving fluid flowed from said first means, means for using the control signals generated by said computing means to control the operation of said eighth means to cause said eighth means to controllably remove said chemical from said first means.

4. A power generating system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said eighth means is operable to control the operation of said fifth and seventh means to respectively control the flow of chemical to and from said first means.

5. A power generating system in accordance with claim 4 wherein said eighth means comprises said electronic computer.

6. A power generating system in accordance with claim 4 wherein said sixth and eighth means comprises an electronic microprocessor means.

7. A power generating system in accordance with claim 4, further including a reservoir for receiving liquid chemical discharged by said first means.

8. A power generating system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said reservoir is located within said housing.

9. A power generating system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said reservoir is formed integral with said housing.

10. A power generating system in accordance with claim 1 including display means viewable from the exterior of said housing for displaying information which is indicative of the condition of the liquid chemical disposed within said first means.

11. A power generating system in accordance with claim 1 including display means for displaying information which is indicative of the condition of the liquid chemical in said reservoir.

12. A chemically powered energy generating system comprising in combination with a unitary housing:

first, second and third interconnected reservoirs for fluid chemicals provided within said housing,

said first reservoir having a supply of unused fluid chemicals,

means in said second reservoir for generating electrical energy using chemicals from said first reservoir in a reaction in which the chemical fluid supplied to said second reservoir is spent in said second reservoir and requires removal therefrom,

said third reservoir being operable to receive spent fluid chemicals from said second reservoir,

first flow control means for controlling the flow of fluid from said first reservoir to said second reservoir,

second flow control means for controlling the flow of fluid from said second reservoir to said third reservoir,

means for sensing the condition of fluid in said second reservoir and generating a signal which is indicative of such condition, and

electronic computing means comprising a microelectronic processor for receiving and processing said signal, analyzing same and generating control signals which are operable to control the operation of said fluid flow control means so as to cause the flow of replenishing fluid from said first reservoir to said second reservoir,

said electronic computing means being also operable to control the operation of said second fluid control means to cause the removal of spent fluid from said second reservoir and to cause said spent fluid to flow to said third reservoir so as to allow fluid from said first reservoir to be contained in said second reservoir.