Electrochemical cell, and particularly a metal fueled cell with non-parallel flow
First Claim
1. An electrochemical cell for use with an electrolyte, oxidizable solid fuel, and an oxidizer to generate electrical power, the electrochemical cell comprising:
- a permeable electrode body provided along a flow path for receiving a flow comprising at least the electrolyte, the permeable electrode body being configured to permit the electrolyte to flow therethrough, the permeable electrode body also being configured to collect the solid fuel thereon from the electrolyte flowing therethrough so as to comprise a first electrode for oxidizing the fuel to generate electrons for conduction by the first electrode;
a second electrode for receiving electrons and reducing an oxidizer;
the first electrode and the second electrode being spaced apart to define a gap therebetween for receiving the flow from the permeable electrode body;
a plurality of return channels directly communicated to the gap and disposed radially outward from the permeable electrode body; and
a flow generator configured to generate the flow comprising at least the electrolyte (i) through the permeable electrode body and towards the second electrode across the gap to transport at least the electrolyte and the oxidized fuel ions away from the permeable electrode body and towards the second electrode, and (ii) then through the plurality of return channels to transport at least the electrolyte and any by-product formed in the gap by the reaction of the oxidized fuel ions and the reduced oxidizer ions away from the gap without flowing through the second electrode.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an electrochemical cell for use with an electrolyte, oxidizable solid fuel, and an oxidizer to generate electrical power. The electrochemical cell includes a permeable electrode body provided along a flow path for receiving a flow including an electrolyte. The permeable electrode body is configured to permit the electrolyte to flow therethrough and to collect solid fuel thereon from the electrolyte flowing therethrough so as to comprise a first electrode for oxidizing the fuel to generate electrons for conduction by the first electrode. The cell also includes a second electrode for receiving electrons and reducing an oxidizer. The first electrode and the second electrode are spaced apart to define a gap therebetween for receiving the flow from the permeable electrode body. One or more return channels are directly communicated to the gap.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. An electrochemical cell for use with an electrolyte, oxidizable solid fuel, and an oxidizer to generate electrical power, the electrochemical cell comprising:
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a permeable electrode body provided along a flow path for receiving a flow comprising at least the electrolyte, the permeable electrode body being configured to permit the electrolyte to flow therethrough, the permeable electrode body also being configured to collect the solid fuel thereon from the electrolyte flowing therethrough so as to comprise a first electrode for oxidizing the fuel to generate electrons for conduction by the first electrode; a second electrode for receiving electrons and reducing an oxidizer; the first electrode and the second electrode being spaced apart to define a gap therebetween for receiving the flow from the permeable electrode body; a plurality of return channels directly communicated to the gap and disposed radially outward from the permeable electrode body; and a flow generator configured to generate the flow comprising at least the electrolyte (i) through the permeable electrode body and towards the second electrode across the gap to transport at least the electrolyte and the oxidized fuel ions away from the permeable electrode body and towards the second electrode, and (ii) then through the plurality of return channels to transport at least the electrolyte and any by-product formed in the gap by the reaction of the oxidized fuel ions and the reduced oxidizer ions away from the gap without flowing through the second electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An electrochemical cell system comprising:
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an electrolyte; oxidizable solid fuel; and a plurality of electrochemical cells arranged in an array; each electrochemical cell comprising; (i) a permeable electrode body provided along a flow path for receiving a flow comprising at least the electrolyte, the permeable electrode body being configured to permit the electrolyte to flow therethrough, the permeable electrode body also being configured to collect the solid fuel thereon from the electrolyte flowing therethrough so as to comprise a first electrode for oxidizing the fuel to generate electrons for conduction by the first electrode; (ii) a second electrode for receiving electrons and reducing an oxidizer; (iii) the first electrode and the second electrode being spaced apart to define a gap therebetween for receiving the flow from the permeable electrode body; and (iv) a plurality of return channels communicated directly to the gap and disposed radially outward from the permeable electrode body; and one or more flow generators configured to generate the flow in each electrochemical cell comprising at least the electrolyte (i) through the permeable electrode body and towards the second electrode across the gap to transport at least the electrolyte and the oxidized fuel ions away from the permeable electrode body and towards the second electrode, and (ii) then through the plurality of return channels to transport at least the electrolyte and any by-product formed in the gap by the reaction of the oxidized fuel ions and the reduced oxidizer ions away from the gap without flowing through the second electrode. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for generating electrical current using an electrochemical cell, the method comprising:
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flowing an electrolyte comprising an oxidizable solid fuel or ions thereof through a permeable electrode body provided along a flow path, the permeable electrode body permitting the electrolyte to flow therethrough and collecting the solid fuel thereon from the electrolyte so as to comprise a first electrode, the first electrode being spaced apart from a second electrode to define a gap therebetween; oxidizing the oxidizable solid fuel at the first electrode and reducing an oxidizer at the second electrode whereby electrons are generated for conduction from the first electrode to the second electrode via a load, and the oxidized fuel ions and reduced oxidizer ions react to form a by-product; and flowing the electrolyte (i) through the permeable electrode body and towards the second electrode across the gap to transport at least the electrolyte and the oxidized fuel ions away from the permeable electrode body and towards the second electrode, and (ii) then through a plurality of return channels disposed radially outward from the permeable electrode body to transport at least the electrolyte and the by-product formed in the gap by the reaction of the oxidized fuel ions and the reduced oxidizer ions away from the gap without flowing through the second electrode. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. An electrochemical cell for use with an electrolyte and reactants comprising a fuel and an oxidizer, the electrochemical cell comprising:
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electrodes comprising;
(i) an anode for oxidizing the fuel into at least oxidized fuel ions and electrons, and (ii) a cathode for accepting electrons and reducing the oxidizer into at least reduced oxidizer ions;a first of the electrodes being provided along a flow path for receiving a flow comprising the electrolyte and a corresponding first of the reactants, a second electrode for receiving a corresponding second of the reactants, the first and second electrodes being spaced apart to define a gap therebetween for receiving the flow from the first electrode; a plurality of return channels communicated directly to the gap and disposed adjacent to and radially outward from the first electrode and opposite the gap from the second electrode; and a flow generator configured to generate a flow comprising at least the electrolyte (i) from the first electrode and towards the second electrode across the gap to transport at least the electrolyte and the ions formed from oxidation or reduction of the first reactant at the first electrode away from the first electrode and towards the second electrode, and (ii) then through the plurality of return channels to transport at least the electrolyte and any by-product formed by the reaction of the oxidized fuel ions and the reduced oxidizer ions away from the gap. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification