System for proclusion of electrical shorting

• US 6,759,158 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2002
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Largo Clean Energy Corporation (Largo Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Premium Power Corporation
• Inventors: Tomazic, Gerd
• Primary Examiner(s): Maples, John S.
• Application Number:
  US10/038,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20030124415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 429/61, 429/90, 429/51, 320/136
• US Class Current: 429/61
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4214 Arrangements for moving electrodes or electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/085 Zinc-halogen cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/30 Preventing polarity reversal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The invention comprises a system for identifying an electrical short in a flowing electrolyte battery. The system for identifying an electrical short in a flowing electrolyte battery comprises a detection device for detecting direction of current flow through the battery, wherein the flow of current in a first direction is indicative of proper current flow and the flow of current in a second direction is indicative of an electrical short within at least a portion of the battery, and a switch, for example, for ceasing current flow upon detection of current flow in the second direction. The system further contemplates an identifying component which visually and/or audibly alerts an operator as to an electrical short.

Claims

1. A system for identifying an electrical short in a flowing electrolyte battery wherein the system comprises:

means associated with the flowing electrolyte battery for detecting direction of current flow through a battery, wherein the flow of current in a first direction is indicative of proper current flow and the flow of current in a second direction is indicative of an electrical short within at least a portion of the battery; and

means for ceasing current flow upon detection of current flow in the second direction.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the flow detection means includes a device capable of sensing an electro-magnetic field associated with at least a portion of the battery.

3. The system according to claim 2 wherein the flow detection means is associated with at least one electrical conduit associated with the flowing electrical battery.

4. The system according to claim 3 wherein the electrical conduit comprises a wire or cable.

5. The system according to claim 2 wherein the flow detection means includes a ring sensor.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the flow detection means is associated with an electrical conduit.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the flow detection means includes at least one of a digital or analogue sensor.

8. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the system further includes means for identifying the direction of current flow.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein the identifying means includes an audible signal upon detection by the detecting means of the flow of current in the second direction.

10. The system according to claim 1 wherein the identifying means includes a visual signal upon detection by the detecting means of the flow of current in the second direction.

11. The system according to claim 1 wherein the identifying means includes an audible signal and a visual signal upon detection by the detecting means of the flow of current in the second direction.

12. The system according to claim 1 whereby the means for ceasing the flow of electric current comprises at least one of an electrical, electro-mechanical or mechanical switch.

13. A system for identifying an electrical short in a flowing electrolyte battery wherein the system comprises:

means associated with the flowing electrolyte battery for detecting direction of current flow through a battery, wherein the flow of current in a first direction is indicative of proper current flow and the flow of current in a second direction is indicative of an electrical short within at least a portion of the battery;

means for ceasing current flow upon detection of current flow in the second direction; and

means for identifying the direction of current flow.

14. The system according to claim 13 wherein the flow detection means includes a device capable of sensing an electro-magnetic field associated with at least a portion of the battery.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein the flow detection means is associated with at least one electrical conduit associated with the flowing electrical battery.

16. The system according to claim 15 wherein the electrical conduit comprises a wire or cable.

17. The system according to claim 14 wherein the flow detection means includes a ring sensor.

18. The system according to claim 13, wherein the flow detection means is associated with an electrical conduit.

19. The system according to claim 13 wherein the flow detection means includes at least one of a digital or analogue sensor.

20. The system according to claim 13 wherein the identifying means includes an audible signal upon detection by the detecting means of the flow of current in the second direction.

21. The system according to claim 13 wherein the identifying means includes a visual signal upon detection by the detecting means of the flow of current in the second direction.

22. The system according to claim 13 wherein the identifying means includes an audible signal and a visual signal upon detection by the detecting means of the flow of current in the second direction.

23. The system according to claim 13 whereby the means for ceasing the flow of electric current comprises at least one of an electrical, electro-mechanical or mechanical switch.