Cell for a metal-air battery

• US 6,057,052 A
• Filed: 03/03/1998
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electric Fuel Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Electric Fuel Ltd.
• Inventors: Gutkin, Alex, Schneider, Vladimir, Gilon, Yoel, Shrim, Yaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Maples, John S.
• Application Number:
  US09/033,725
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 429/27, 429/26, 429/34, 429/38, 429/39, 429/72
• US Class Current: 429/406
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6556 Solid parts with flow channel passages or pipes for heat exchange closed pipes H01M10/6552
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6557 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/065 with plate-like electrodes or stacks of plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/1385 Hybrid cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/50 Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/522 Inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/42 Grouping of primary cells into batteries H01M6/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The invention provides a modular zinc air cell for use in an electrochemical zinc-air multi-cell battery, each cell being of the type provided with a housing having, two outer major surfaces, and two spaced-apart inner walls, the inner walls defining a first inner chamber for containing therein a zinc electrode, and in conjunction with the outer major surfaces defining two outer chambers for receiving reaction air; two generally planar, gas-permeable, but liquid-impermeable air electrodes, each of the electrodes being installed in a window-like opening provided in each of the inner walls, an electrolyte in contact with the zinc electrode and the air electrodes, and means for directing a flow of the reaction air into a first inlet provided in a first outer side surface of the housing through both of the outer chambers substantially in a uniform flow distribution across the outer faces of both of the air electrodes, and out of a second outlet provided in an opposite outer side surface of the housing.

Claims

1. A modular zinc-air cell for use in a multi-cell metal-air battery comprising

a housing having two outer major surfaces and two spaced-apart inner walls, said inner walls defining a first inner chamber for containing therein a zinc electrode, and in conjunction with said outer major surfaces defining two outer chambers for receiving reaction air;

two generally planar, gas-permeable, but liquid-impermeable air electrodes, each of said electrodes being installed in a window-like opening provided in each of said inner walls;

an electrolyte in contact with said zinc electrode and said air electrodes; and

means for directing a flow of said reaction air into an inlet provided in a first outer side surface of said housing through both of said outer chambers substantially in a uniform flow distribution across the outer faces of both of said air electrodes, and out of an outlet provided in an opposite outer side surface of said housing.

2. A modular cell according to claim 1, wherein a first of said inner walls is provided with a frame-like opening sized to receive and accommodate, in tight friction fit, a second of said inner walls, a bottom and opposing side surfaces of said first inner wall forming the base and sides of said housing respectively and a top portion of said first inner wall constituting a seamless upper portion of the assembled cell.

3. A modular cell according to claim 1, wherein said cell is provided with a single inlet and a single outlet for reaction air.

4. A modular cell according to claim 1, wherein said outer major surfaces of said cell housing are made of a plastic material.

5. A modular cell according to claim 1, wherein said means for directing said flow of reaction air substantially in a uniform flow distribution across said outer faces of both of said air electrodes comprises a series of substantially horizontal rails supported in said window-like opening in said inner wall, the spaces formed between said rails defining upper and lower walls of horizontal ducts directing said reaction air received from said inlet towards said outlet.

6. A modular cell according to claim 5, further comprising a plurality of webs extending in a vertical direction and interlinking and reinforcing said rails, and further providing support for said air electrodes, while creating a turbulent air flow in said horizontal ducts.

7. A modular cell according to claim 1, wherein each of said inner walls is provided with a peripheral recess sized to accept one of said two outer major surfaces and a window-like opening sized to accept one of said two air electrodes, each of said recesses and each of said openings serving to position one of said electrodes and one of said surfaces and to facilitate the formation of an air-impermeable joint between said outer surfaces and said peripheral recesses.

8. A modular cell according to claim 1, wherein said outer major surfaces are joined to said inner walls by ultrasonic welding.

9. A modular cell according to claim 1, further provided with a manifold arranged to feed reaction air to the sides of each cell.

10. A modular cell according to claim 1, wherein said outer surfaces comprise plastic sheets 0.3 to 1.5 mm thick of sufficient strength for protection of said air electrode from physical damage during cell handling.

11. A modular cell according to claim 1, wherein a first of said inner walls is provided with an integral cell contact housing containing a spring clip contact electrically connected via a metal conductor to contacts of the air electrode, said clip contact being adapted to receive flanges extending from an anode current collector member of an adjacent cell, wherein said integral cell contact housing is provided with a stepped configuration enabling nesting alignment between adjacent cells and the insertion of the flanges of a current collector member of an adjacent cell therein.

12. A modular cell according to claim 11, wherein said integral cell contact housing is sealed by a closure member.

13. A modular cell according to claim 12, wherein said integral cell contact housing and said closure member are formed of non-conductive, KOH-resistant plastic.