Electrochemical system and methods for control thereof
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- measuring a property of an electrochemical system;
correlating the measured property to a concentration of an anode species in an anode of an electrochemical device associated with the electrochemical system;
controlling the introduction of at least one of a fuel and oxygen to the electrochemical device based at least in part upon the concentration of the anode species in the anode of the electrochemical device;
flowing the fuel into the electrochemical device through a restriction sized and adapted to provide an upstream to downstream pressure ratio across the restriction of at least 1.1;
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flowing the fuel into a bottom portion of an anode compartment of the electrochemical device, the anode compartment having the bottom portion and a wall ascending from the bottom portion;
forming a bubble of the fuel on the bottom portion of the anode compartment until the bubble contacts the wall of the anode compartment;
allowing the bubble to travel up the wall of the anode compartment.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an electrochemical device. The device features an anode constructed of materials such that the device can be chemically recharged. In addition, the device is capable of switching between operating as a fuel cell or as a battery. In certain aspects of the invention, the device includes a liquid anode and is capable of operating at a temperature of less than 1000° C. Other aspects feature a control system and a fuel delivery system for the electrochemical system.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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measuring a property of an electrochemical system; correlating the measured property to a concentration of an anode species in an anode of an electrochemical device associated with the electrochemical system; controlling the introduction of at least one of a fuel and oxygen to the electrochemical device based at least in part upon the concentration of the anode species in the anode of the electrochemical device; flowing the fuel into the electrochemical device through a restriction sized and adapted to provide an upstream to downstream pressure ratio across the restriction of at least 1.1;
1;flowing the fuel into a bottom portion of an anode compartment of the electrochemical device, the anode compartment having the bottom portion and a wall ascending from the bottom portion; forming a bubble of the fuel on the bottom portion of the anode compartment until the bubble contacts the wall of the anode compartment; allowing the bubble to travel up the wall of the anode compartment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An electrochemical system, comprising:
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an electrochemical device comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte, the electrochemical device connectable to a fuel delivery system constructed and arranged to provide fuel to the electrochemical device, and connectable to an oxygen delivery system constructed and arranged to provide oxygen to the electrochemical device; and a control system, comprising; a sensor constructed and arranged to measure a property of the electrochemical device and produce a sensor signal representing the property, and a controller constructed and arranged to receive the sensor signal from the sensor, correlate the sensor signal to a concentration of an anode species in the anode, and provide a control signal to at least one of the fuel delivery system and the oxygen delivery system based, at least in part, on the concentration of the anode species in the anode, wherein the electrochemical device comprises an anode compartment constructed and arranged to at least partially contain a liquid anode, the fuel delivery system comprises a feed conduit fluidly connected to the anode compartment, and the electrochemical system further comprises an anode flow prevention device associated with the feed conduit. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An electrochemical system, comprising:
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an electrochemical device comprising a liquid anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte, the electrochemical device connectable to a fuel delivery system constructed and arranged to provide fuel to the electrochemical device, and connectable to an oxygen delivery system constructed and arranged to provide oxygen to the electrochemical device; and a control system, comprising; a sensor constructed and arranged to measure a property of the electrochemical device and produce a sensor signal representing the property, and a controller constructed and arranged to receive the sensor signal from the sensor, correlate the sensor signal to a concentration of an anode species in the anode, and provide a control signal to at least one of the fuel delivery system and the oxygen delivery system based, at least in part, on the concentration of the anode species in the anode. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An electrochemical system, comprising:
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an electrochemical device comprising a chemically rechargeable anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte, the electrochemical device connectable to a fuel delivery system constructed and arranged to provide fuel to the electrochemical device, and connectable to an oxygen delivery system constructed and arranged to provide oxygen to the electrochemical device; and a control system, comprising; a sensor constructed and arranged to measure a property of the electrochemical device and produce a sensor signal representing the property, and a controller constructed and arranged to receive the sensor signal from the sensor, correlate the sensor signal to a concentration of an anode species in the anode, and provide a control signal to at least one of the fuel delivery system and the oxygen delivery system based, at least in part, on the concentration of the anode species in the anode.
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Specification