METAL-AIR FUEL CELL BATTERY SYSTEM EMPLOYING A PLURALITY OF MOVING CATHODE STRUCTURES FOR IMPROVED VOLUMETRIC POWER DENSITY
First Claim
1. A metal-air fuel cell battery (FCB) system for generating electrical power, comprising:
- a plurality of movable cathode structures, each mounted within a housing to enable movement about a closed path;
a supply of metal-fuel tape transportable relative to said movable cathode structures, along a predetermined tape path extending within said housing;
an ionically-conducing medium disposed between said plurality of movable cathodes and said metal-fuel tape during system operation, for contacting each said movable cathode structure and said metal-fuel tape being transported thereover, and supporting ionic conduction between said movable cathode structure and said metal-fuel tape during system operation; and
a transport mechanism for transporting said plurality of movable cathode structures, said metal-fuel tape and said ionically-conductive medium relative to said housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an air-metal fuel cell battery (FCB) system, wherein a plurality of movable cathode structures are mounted within a compact housing through which metal-fuel tape is transported along a predetermined path while an ionically-conductive medium is disposed between the metal-fuel tape and each movable cathode structure at points of contact. In illustrative embodiments, the movable cathode structures are realized as rotatable cathode cylinders, and transportable cathode belts. The ionically-conductive medium is realized as a solid-state ionically-conductive film applied to the cathode structures and/or metal-fuel tape, as well as ionically-conductive belt structures transported at the same velocity as corresponding cathode structures (e.g. cathode cylinders or belts) at the locus of points at which the ionically-conductive medium contacts the moving cathode structure and the moving metal-fuel tape. By virtue of the present invention, the volumetric power density characteristics of FCB systems can be significantly improved, while the likelihood of damage to the cathode structures and metal-fuel tape is substantially reduced.
26 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A metal-air fuel cell battery (FCB) system for generating electrical power, comprising:
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a plurality of movable cathode structures, each mounted within a housing to enable movement about a closed path;
a supply of metal-fuel tape transportable relative to said movable cathode structures, along a predetermined tape path extending within said housing;
an ionically-conducing medium disposed between said plurality of movable cathodes and said metal-fuel tape during system operation, for contacting each said movable cathode structure and said metal-fuel tape being transported thereover, and supporting ionic conduction between said movable cathode structure and said metal-fuel tape during system operation; and
a transport mechanism for transporting said plurality of movable cathode structures, said metal-fuel tape and said ionically-conductive medium relative to said housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of producing electrical power from a metal-air fuel cell battery (FCB) system having a housing, a plurality of movable cathode structures, a supply of an ionically-conducing medium, and an source of ionically-conductive medium for supporting ion transport between each said movable cathode structure and said metal-fuel tape during system operation, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) arranging said plurality of moving cathode structures and said supply of metal-fuel tape within said housing so that said ionically-conducing medium is disposed in physical contact with each said movable cathode structure and said metal-fuel tape; and
(b) moving each said movable cathode structure, said metal-fuel tape and said ionically-conductive medium relative to said housing during operation of said system. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A metal-air fuel cell battery (FCB) system for generating electrical power, comprising:
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a plurality of movable cathode structures, each mounted within a housing to enable movement about a closed path;
a supply of metal-fuel tape transportable relative to said movable cathode structures, along a predetermined tape path extending within said housing; and
an ionically-conducing medium disposed between said plurality of movable cathodes and said metal-fuel tape during system operation, for contacting each said movable cathode structure and said metal-fuel tape being transported thereover, and supporting ionic conduction between said movable cathode structure and said metal-fuel tape during system operation. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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38. A metal-air fuel cell battery system for generating electrical power, comprising:
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a plurality of movable cathode structures mounted within a housing; and
a supply of metal-fuel tape transportable relative to said plurality of movable cathode structures during operation of said system, wherein each said movable cathode structure has an ionically-conductive coating on the outer surface thereof, disposed between said movable cathode structure and said metal-fuel tape, for contacting said movable cathode structure and said metal-fuel tape and supporting ionic conduction therebetween during operation of said system. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. A metal-air fuel cell battery system for generating electrical power, comprising:
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a plurality of cathode structures mounted within a housing;
a supply of metal-fuel tape transportable relative to said plurality of cathode structures during operation of said system; and
an ionically-conductive belt disposed between each said cathode structure and said metal-fuel tape, for contacting each said cathode structure and said metal-fuel tape and supporting ionic conduction therebetween during operation of said system. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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Specification