Collection, storage and use of metal-air battery pack effluent
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A battery pack optimization system, comprising:
- a battery pack comprised of at least one metal-air cell and further comprised of a battery pack air outlet and a battery pack air inlet, wherein said battery pack is configured for use within an electric vehicle and to provide power to said electric vehicle;
a gas tank mounted within said electric vehicle, wherein said battery pack air outlet is coupled to a tank inlet of said gas tank, and wherein said battery pack air inlet is coupled to a tank outlet of said gas tank; and
a compressor interposed between said battery pack air outlet and said tank inlet, said compressor configured to compress oxygen-rich effluent from said battery pack air outlet prior to filling said gas tank with said oxygen-rich effluent.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for collecting, storing and using the oxygen-rich effluent generated when charging a metal-air battery pack is provided.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A battery pack optimization system, comprising:
-
a battery pack comprised of at least one metal-air cell and further comprised of a battery pack air outlet and a battery pack air inlet, wherein said battery pack is configured for use within an electric vehicle and to provide power to said electric vehicle; a gas tank mounted within said electric vehicle, wherein said battery pack air outlet is coupled to a tank inlet of said gas tank, and wherein said battery pack air inlet is coupled to a tank outlet of said gas tank; and a compressor interposed between said battery pack air outlet and said tank inlet, said compressor configured to compress oxygen-rich effluent from said battery pack air outlet prior to filling said gas tank with said oxygen-rich effluent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method of operating a metal-air battery pack mounted within an electric vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
-
coupling a battery pack outlet to a tank inlet of a gas tank mounted within said electric vehicle, wherein a compressor is interposed between said battery pack outlet and said tank inlet; coupling a battery pack inlet to a tank outlet of said gas tank; compressing oxygen-rich effluent passing through said battery pack outlet with said compressor, wherein said oxygen-rich effluent is at least partially generated by said metal-air battery pack, and wherein said compressing step is performed during a battery pack charge cycle; storing said oxygen-rich effluent compressed by said compressor during said battery pack charge cycle in said gas tank; and transferring said oxygen-rich effluent through said tank outlet of said gas tank to said battery pack inlet of said metal-air battery pack during a battery pack discharge cycle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification