Electro-chemical power generation systems employing arrays of electronically-controllable discharging and/or recharging cells within a unitary support structure
First Claim
1. A metal-air FCB system comprising:
- a first array of anode-contacting elements arrangeable in spatial registration a first array of cathode elements so as to produce a plurality of first discharging cells for loading metal-fuel material therewithin and generating a first quantity of electrical power therefrom during discharging operations; and
a second array of anode-contacting elements arrangeable in spatial registration to a second array of cathode elements so as to produce a plurality of second discharging cells for loading metal-fuel material therewithin and generating a second quantity of electrical power therefrom during discharging operations, wherein the second quantity of electrical power generated from the second discharging cells is higher than the first quantity of electrical power generated from the first discharging cells.
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Abstract
A novel fuel cell battery construction having arrays of different type metal-air fuel cells. The first type-cells are preferably formed by a cathode structure having a plurality of first-type cathode elements, and an anode structure having one or more anode-contacting elements on an anode-contacting element support plate. The second-type-cells are preferably formed by a cathode structure having a plurality of second-type cathode elements, and an anode structure having one or more anode-contacting elements on an anode-contacting element support plate. In one embodiment, the first-type cathode elements and corresponding cells are optimized for discharging operations, while the second type of cathode elements and corresponding cells are optimized for recharging operations. Alternatively, the first-type cathode elements and corresponding cells may be optimized for low-power discharging operations, while the second type of cathode elements and corresponding cells are optimized for high-power discharging operations. In addition, each cell is preferably independently activated (i.e. enabled) using a transistor-based power switching element operated under the control of a switching controller. The power switching device elements may be controlled to produce selectable output characteristics (voltage level, current level, etc.) during discharge operations, and control recharging cells during recharging operations. In addition, the power switching elements may be used to produce high-frequency electrical currents for generating stepped-up voltages, which are subsequently rectified and low-pass filtered.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A metal-air FCB system comprising:
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a first array of anode-contacting elements arrangeable in spatial registration a first array of cathode elements so as to produce a plurality of first discharging cells for loading metal-fuel material therewithin and generating a first quantity of electrical power therefrom during discharging operations; and
a second array of anode-contacting elements arrangeable in spatial registration to a second array of cathode elements so as to produce a plurality of second discharging cells for loading metal-fuel material therewithin and generating a second quantity of electrical power therefrom during discharging operations, wherein the second quantity of electrical power generated from the second discharging cells is higher than the first quantity of electrical power generated from the first discharging cells. - View Dependent Claims (2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14)
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3. A metal-air FCB system comprising:
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a first array of anode-contacting elements arrangeable in spatial registration a first array of cathode elements so as to produce a plurality of first recharging cells for loading discharged metal-fuel material therewithin and supplying a first quantity of electrical power thereto during recharging operations, and a second array of anode-contacting elements are provided in spatial registration t a second array of cathode elements so as to produce a plurality of second recharging cells for loading discharging metal-fuel material therewithin and supplying a second quantity of electrical power thereto during recharging operations, wherein the second quantity of electrical power supplied from the second discharging cells is higher than the first quantity of electrical power supplied from the first discharging cells. - View Dependent Claims (4, 7, 9, 12)
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15. A metal air fuel cell battery device for discharging or storing power using electrochemical reactions comprising:
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a first array of cathode elements arrangeable in spatial registration to a first array of anode elements so as to produce a plurality of first cells when a metal fuel card is inserted in ionic contact with the first array of cathode elements and in electrical contact with the first array of anode elements;
a second array of cathode elements arrangeable in spatial registration to a second array of anode elements so as to produce a plurality of second cells when said metal fuel card is inserted in ionic contact with the second array of cathode elements and in electrical contact with second first array of anode elements. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification